Chapter 492: You Want to Dance in Front of My Froslass Queen!?

"That's impossible! He must have cheated!"

Maya stared at the battlefield in disbelief. "Caleb is a Gym-level Trainer, and his Ninetales is already mid-stage Gym. How could it lose that easily?"

David's wife and Tyler were just as shocked. Among the Warrens, only David looked down at Aaron with growing excitement.

So this is the strength of the number one Trainer on the Hidden Dragon Rankings...

Aaron was even more monstrous than the rumors suggested. Champion level might not even be his ceiling. If he continued developing at this rate, who knew how far he could eventually go?

And if Maya married him...

David could already see the Warren family rising along with him.

The thought alone made his face twitch with excitement.

On the other side of the stands, Victor and Aaron's mother were watching their son with obvious pride. His very first match in front of them had lasted only two attacks.

Aaron's mother could not resist pointing him out to some of the nearby spectators.

"See that handsome boy in black out there? That's my son," she announced happily. "Did you see that? He won in just two moves! My boy's amazing, isn't he?"

...

Back on the field, the referee raised his flag.

"Ninetales is unable to battle! Red side, send out your next Pokémon!"

Only then did Caleb snap out of his daze.

His face darkened as he stared at Aaron. "You're a Gym-level Trainer too?"

Aaron gave him a puzzled look.

"Why didn't you say that earlier?"

"You never asked."

Caleb's expression stiffened.

Aaron continued innocently, "What, am I supposed to introduce myself to everyone I meet by announcing that I'm a Gym-level Trainer?"

He shrugged.

"I'm shy. I don't like showing off as much as you do."

Caleb nearly choked.

Was this bastard calling him a show-off?

He took several deep breaths and forced himself to calm down before recalling Ninetales. His face was still burning from the humiliation. Losing was bad enough, but losing that badly in front of Maya, her family, and an entire crowd was unbearable.

He needed to win back some dignity.

Caleb pulled out another Poké Ball and threw it hard.

"Come out, Beartic!"

A flash of light spread across the battlefield, revealing a massive snow-white bear nearly nine feet tall.

"ROAR!"

Beartic pounded its chest and let out a fierce roar, overflowing with fighting spirit.

Aaron immediately checked its information.

[Name: Beartic]

[Gender: Male]

[Nature: Serious]

[Type: Ice]

[Ability: Slush Rush — Doubles Speed during snow.]

[Base Stats Total: 505]

[Level: Gym (Mid Stage)]

[Potential: Class Champion]

[Known Moves: Ice Punch (Perfect), Superpower (Perfect), Aqua Jet (Master), Thrash (Master), Slash (Master), Rest (Proficient), Icicle Crash (Proficient), Focus Punch (Proficient), Swords Dance (Proficient), Rock Slide (Proficient), Bulk Up (Proficient), Endure (Proficient), Growl (Proficient)...]

[Description: Beartic, the Freezing Pokémon. It evolves from Cubchoo and thrives in extremely cold environments, using its powerful body to overpower its opponents.]

Aaron immediately understood Caleb's choice.

Slush Rush doubled Beartic's Speed in snow.

So he wants to use Froslass Queen's own weather against her.

The corner of Aaron's mouth lifted.

Unfortunately for Caleb, he still had no idea what Froslass Queen could actually do.

"Beartic, Swords Dance!"

This time, Caleb had no intention of giving Aaron the first move.

"Roar!"

Beartic immediately began the strange, rhythmic movements of Swords Dance as a faint red glow surrounded its body.

Aaron almost laughed.

"You really want to stand there dancing in front of my queen?"

He looked toward her.

"Ice Meteorfall."

"Fros!"

Ice-blue energy erupted from Froslass Queen.

The heavy snow swirling above the battlefield suddenly began gathering overhead as enormous masses of ice condensed in midair. Within moments, they fused into a gigantic sphere of ice looming above Beartic like a meteor.

It was enormous.

The attack covered nearly half the battlefield, and the sheer pressure radiating from it made even the spectators in the stands uneasy.

Several people instinctively leaned back in their seats.

"What the hell is that...?"

Caleb's eyes went wide.

The enormous mass of ice began to fall.

Wind screamed around it as it tore downward toward Beartic, who was still halfway through Swords Dance.

For a second, Caleb looked like he might actually piss himself.

"What the hell are you still dancing for?!"

He pointed frantically across the field.

"Move! Get out of there!"

Beartic immediately stopped.

Then it looked up.

The enormous ice meteor filled its entire field of vision.

Beartic froze.

Even with Slush Rush doubling its Speed, there was one fairly obvious problem.

Where the hell was it supposed to dodge?

It slowly turned its head toward Caleb with an expression so miserable that Aaron could practically imagine what it was thinking.

Boss... I'm fucked.

The Ice Meteorfall came crashing down.

BOOM!

The entire arena shook violently.

A deafening explosion echoed through the venue as a powerful shockwave burst outward from the battlefield, sending fierce winds sweeping across the stands.

Several spectators had to grab onto their seats to keep from being knocked over.

...