Chapter 493: The Terrifying Ice Meteorfall!

A violent gale swept through the arena as dust and icy mist rolled across the battlefield.

The hotel's emergency ventilation system kicked in almost immediately, but it still took a while before the air cleared enough for everyone to see what had happened.

The spectators covered their mouths and noses as they stared toward the field, only for their eyes to widen when they saw the damage.

Half of the battlefield had been turned into a crater several meters deep, and Beartic lay unconscious at the bottom with its eyes spinning, completely unable to continue.

Unfortunately, it had not even managed to finish its Swords Dance.

Given another few seconds, maybe Beartic could have put on a decent performance.

Aaron, however, had shown absolutely no interest in letting it finish and had dropped one of Froslass Queen's strongest attacks straight on its head.

The attack had not only torn apart the battlefield; it had shattered Caleb's confidence along with it.

Covered in dust, Caleb stared blankly at the crater until his legs finally gave out and he dropped to the ground. He swallowed hard before forcing out in a hoarse voice, "I... lost. I concede."

Caleb had finally understood the gap between them. Continuing the battle would only mean humiliating himself even further, so there was no point dragging it out.

Behind the referee's platform, the referee cautiously poked his head out. He had thrown himself behind cover the moment Ice Meteorfall came crashing down and was still pale from the experience.

My first time refereeing a Pokémon battle and I almost got killed...

After making sure nothing else was about to explode, he stepped back onto the field, dusted off his flag, and raised it.

"The red side has conceded! The winner is the blue side!"

The stands immediately erupted.

"Holy shit!"

"That kid is incredible!"

"That Froslass is insane!"

"She completely destroyed them!"

"Hey, handsome! Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Marry me!"

Aaron's performance had thoroughly won over the crowd. Even Maya was looking at him differently now.

A few minutes ago, she had been certain Caleb would humiliate him, yet Caleb had surrendered after losing two Pokémon without putting up any meaningful resistance.

David's reaction was even more obvious. His eyes practically burned as he stared down at Aaron.

Champion potential... No question about it.

The more he saw, the more convinced he became that reconnecting with Victor had been the best decision he had made in years.

Nearby, Victor and Aaron's mother were beaming with pride. Aaron's mother could not resist turning toward the people seated around them.

"See that handsome boy in black down there? That's my son," she announced proudly. "Did you see that? He won again! My boy's amazing, isn't he?"

Lily was even louder. She bounced excitedly in her seat before turning toward Maya with a smug grin.

"Hey, whatever-your-name-is! What happened to your amazing boyfriend?"

Maya's face darkened.

"Why'd he give up?" Lily continued. "You were talking so much before. Hurts when it comes back around, doesn't it?"

Maya did not answer. Her face had gone red with humiliation, but when she looked back toward the battlefield, her expression slowly changed.

Aaron stood there calmly, completely unfazed by the destruction around him, while Caleb looked utterly defeated. The contrast was impossible to ignore.

For the first time, Maya actually felt a trace of disappointment toward Caleb, and when her gaze returned to Aaron, there was something different in it.

...

"Good work, Froslass Queen."

Aaron walked over to her with a smile.

"Fros..."

She shook her head lightly, as though telling him that a battle like this had barely counted as exercise. Then a strange glint appeared in her ice-blue eyes.

Before Aaron could figure out what she was planning, Froslass Queen leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, then immediately slipped back into her Poké Ball.

Aaron froze for a second before touching his cheek in disbelief.

"What the hell? Did my own Pokémon just ambush me?"

He stared at the Poké Ball for a moment, then cleared his throat and casually lowered his hand.

Not that he was complaining.

Caleb approached soon afterward. The confident young man who had walked into the hotel earlier was nowhere to be seen. His clothes were covered in dust, his expression was exhausted, and even his voice had lost most of its earlier arrogance.

He looked at Aaron with complicated eyes. "You're really about to start your first year at university?"

Even now, he found it difficult to accept that someone this strong had only recently graduated from high school.

Aaron smiled and nodded, then left Caleb behind and walked toward his family.

"Aaron!"

Lily immediately rushed over and wrapped herself around him. Aaron stumbled half a step before prying her off.

"You're not a Bewear. Get off."

Lily laughed and immediately tried to cling to him again.

Before she could, David hurried over.

"Hahaha! Aaron, that was incredible. To be this strong at your age... your future is limitless."

His enthusiasm was almost painfully obvious as he moved closer.

"When you and Maya get engaged, Uncle David will support you however I can. Whatever resources your Pokémon need, just tell me. If I can get them, I'll get them."

He spoke as though he were offering Aaron the world, staring at him with barely concealed anticipation.

Aaron listened quietly, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint, mocking smile.

...