"No… there's still a chance!!"
A dangerous glint flashed through Aaron's eyes, like a gambler pushing all his chips in.
Standing at the back of the group, Aaron quietly let Greninja out.
Greninja seemed to sense the heaviness in Aaron's heart. Its calm eyes rested on him, and it gave a silent nod.
"I'm counting on you… Frog Boss…"
Aaron murmured softly.
"Gre-ni—"
Greninja nodded once more, and its figure vanished from the spot—as if it had never been there at all.
"Huff…"
Aaron took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"What's wrong?"
Grace noticed the change in him and turned back, asking with a puzzled expression.
"Nothing…"
Aaron forced a stiff smile and replied lightly.
Grace looked at him suspiciously for a moment, but didn't press the issue.
At that moment, Major Grant had already risen from his seat on the podium. He stepped forward, swept his gaze across the crowd, and spoke:
"This training camp Pokémon tournament has officially come to an end!!"
"You've shown us the passion of youth, as well as the bonds forged between Trainers and their Pokémon!!"
"It was an outstanding and thrilling competition!!"
"And now, I officially announce—"
"The champion of this training camp Pokémon tournament is—"
"Camp One, representing Sealine Trainer Academy!!"
"Congratulations to them!!"
...
As Major Grant's passionate announcement came to an end,the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause, faces lit up with bright, joyful smiles…
But Aaron's expression remained solemn.
"Ding~ Congratulations on completing the mission: Win the Training Camp Tournament!!"
"Rewards obtained: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken (Skill Card) x1, Armament Haki (Skill Card) x1, Observation Haki (Skill Card) x1"
At last, the system's voice rang out in Aaron's ear.
A flicker of excitement flashed through his eyes.
"It's finally here…"
He immediately opened the system inventory and checked the Rasenshuriken Skill Card:
[Name: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken]
[Attribute: Flying (Wind)]
[Type: Special]
[Power: 180]
[Description: A tremendously powerful Wind Release technique that compresses energy to the extreme, possessing devastating cutting power. It places enormous strain on the body and can be used a maximum of three times per day...]
...
A 180-power skill!!
Aaron's pupils shrank sharply, followed by a surge of excitement.
Perfect timing!!
Even if it could only be used three times per day, that was more than enough.
Without hesitation, Aaron assigned the skill to Greninja—while keeping his awareness locked on his surroundings.
Just moments ago, a strange, unexplainable sense of unease had risen within him…as if something terrible was about to happen.
"It's coming…"
All of a sudden, Aaron's pupils flickered with a faint silver-white glow.
His heart began pounding violently, like an engine pushed to its limit.
At that exact moment—
While everyone was still clapping and laughing, a shrill alarm tore through the entire military base:
"Beep—beep—beep—beep—"
"Warning! Warning! Unknown Pokémon intrusion detected!"
"Warning! Warning! Unknown Pokémon intrusion detected!"
"Warning! Warning! Unknown Pokémon intrusion detected!"
...
The entire military base flashed with blinding red warning lights. Everyone in the plaza froze in shock.
The sudden turn of events caught everyone completely off guard.
In the next instant, several pitch-black figures burst up from the ground of the plaza— six Gengar, and a humanoid figure shrouded in dense black mist, a pair of blood-red eyes glowing eerily within it.
"Geh-geh-geh-geh-geh—"
"You pathetic little pests… despair!!"
"Welcome to hell!!"
The black-mist figure let out a vicious, twisted laugh as it hovered in midair.
Then, a colossal Shadow Ball rapidly condensed in its hand—at least five meters in diameter.
The power it radiated was terrifying, like an impending natural disaster.
Violent winds howled. The sky dimmed.
And the massive Shadow Ball was hurled straight toward the area where the seven training camps' students were gathered!!
"You dare!!!"
Major Grant, standing atop the podium, witnessed the scene unfold.
His eyes instantly filled with bloodshot fury—like a raging lion ready to tear everything apart.
…