Higher Than Ever Before
The sky had changed.
This wasn't the same battlefield anymore.
The floating platforms were smaller now—unstable, constantly shifting, some barely large enough to stand on. The air was thinner. The wind no longer flowed in patterns.
It clashed.
It collided.
It screamed.
This was the upper arena of the Flying Championship.
Only a few remained.
Standing alone on a narrow platform—
Elior looked ahead.
His breathing was steady—
But his eyes were sharp.
"…This is different."
Every step now mattered.
Every mistake would end everything.
Across from him—
A figure landed lightly.
No dramatic entrance.
No unnecessary movement.
Just pure presence.
Ravion.
His eyes were cold.
Focused.
Like someone who never loses.
"…You made it this far," Ravion said calmly.
A pause.
"This is where it ends."
Elior didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
He observed.
Ravion's stance.
His breathing.
Even the way he stood against the wind—
Perfectly balanced.
"…He's dangerous," Elior thought.
Not aggressive.
Not flashy.
Just… precise.
The signal flashed across the sky—
BEGIN!
Ravion didn't waste a second.
"Go."
A flash of light—
A dark, sleek flying Pokémon emerged.
Sharp wings.
Narrow eyes.
Silent presence.
"Noctyra"
It didn't roar.
Didn't flap wildly.
It simply—
Disappeared.
"Skyrend—go!"
Skyrend launched into the air.
The wind hit hard—
But it held steady.
Better than ever before.
"…Where did it go?" Elior whispered.
Silence.
Only wind.
Then—
A sharp impact.
Skyrend was hit from behind.
Elior's eyes widened.
"…I didn't even see it move."
Ravion spoke quietly:
"You're looking too much."
A pause.
"In this sky… sight is your weakness."
Noctyra struck again.
And again.
Each attack precise.
Silent.
Unavoidable.
Skyrend was being pushed back.
Slowly losing ground.
Elior clenched his fist.
"…Think."
Everything he learned—
Flowing.
Breaking control.
Stillness.
None of it applied directly.
This was something else.
"…If I can't see it…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Then I shouldn't rely on sight."
"Skyrend—close your eyes."
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Even Ravion looked slightly surprised.
"…Interesting."
Skyrend hovered—
Eyes closed.
The wind brushed against its feathers.
Subtle changes.
Tiny shifts.
Then—
It moved.
Noctyra attacked—
But this time—
Skyrend reacted instantly.
Dodging without seeing.
The attack missed.
Elior smiled slightly.
"…We found it."
Ravion's eyes narrowed.
"…So you adapted."
The sky erupted again.
But now—
It was different.
Noctyra moved silently—
Skyrend responded instinctively.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Ravion spoke:
"Precision beats instinct."
Elior responded quietly:
"Only if you can predict it."
The attacks became faster.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
Platforms broke apart beneath the pressure.
Wind currents collapsed and reformed.
The sky itself felt unstable.
"End it."
Noctyra appeared directly in front of Skyrend—
Too fast.
Too close.
A direct strike landed.
Skyrend was sent crashing downward.
Hard.
Elior's eyes widened.
"…Skyrend!"
It struggled.
Barely able to stand.
One more hit—
And it was over.
Elior stepped forward.
His voice calm.
Strong.
"…You're not done."
A pause.
"…Neither am I."
Noctyra charged again—
Faster than ever.
Invisible.
Unstoppable.
"Now… trust everything."
Skyrend opened its eyes—
But didn't rely on them.
It moved.
Not seeing.
Not predicting.
But knowing.
Both Pokémon collided mid-air.
A massive shockwave exploded across the sky.
The wind stopped—
For a single second.
Silence
Two figures fell.
Landing on separate platforms.
Neither moving.
Noctyra remained still.
Skyrend trembled—
Struggled—
Then slowly stood.
WINNER — ELIOR
Aftermath
Ravion recalled his Pokémon.
He looked at Elior—
No anger.
No frustration.
Just acknowledgment.
"…You surpassed your limits."
A pause.
"That's why you won."
He turned away—
Disappearing into the wind.
Elior exhaled deeply.
"…We made it."
Skyrend stood beside him.
Exhausted.
But stronger than ever.
But something deeper had changed.
High above—
Watching silently—
Aero.
This time—
No distance.
No indifference.
Only focus.
"…Now you're ready."
The tournament board lit up.
Only two names remained.
Elior
Aero
The wind howled louder than ever before.
The sky itself seemed to hold its breath.
And the journey continues....