Milotic's powerful tail, wrapped in surging water energy, slammed into Lairon with unstoppable force.
Lairon's head rang. Its heavy body flew backward, skidding across the rocky ground. Even with Steel- and Rock-type toughness, it still couldn't withstand Milotic's strength—especially with Water-type power amplifying the blow.
As Milotic created distance again, Aiden made a decisive call.
"Good! Just like that—Milotic, hit it again. Hydro Pump!"
In the next instant, Milotic gathered an overwhelming torrent. A thick pillar of water erupted forward and crashed into Lairon dead-on.
The impact flipped Lairon over once more.
Three consecutive Water-type strikes hammered its stamina down at a terrifying speed. If Lairon hadn't been a higher level than Milotic, it would've already collapsed completely.
"Lairon," Aiden said calmly, "you're not my opponent. How about you surrender?"
Lairon's response was pure rage.
"ROAAAR!"
A screeching metallic shockwave exploded outward—Metal Sound. The piercing noise made Milotic grimace in pain, and even Aiden had to clamp his hands over his ears.
Metal Sound wasn't just loud—it shredded defense.
And Lairon didn't waste the opening.
It lowered its head and charged like a battering ram—Take Down, straight at Milotic!
But Aiden wasn't about to let it turn the tables.
"Milotic—Water Pulse!"
Fighting through the lingering pain, Milotic released a concentrated spiraling blast. It was thinner than Hydro Pump, but the penetration was far more vicious.
The moment it struck Lairon—
that sturdy, stubborn mountain of steel finally couldn't hold on anymore.
Lairon toppled over and went still, completely losing its ability to battle.
Ding! Milotic defeated Lairon and gained 387 EXP.
Milotic leveled up—current level: 34!
The surrounding Aron immediately lowered their heads.
Their leader had fallen.
Aiden flicked a Poké Ball forward.
The ball struck Lairon, absorbed it in a red flash, and shook once… twice… three times…
Click.
Captured.
With that, Aiden had secured the tribe's leader—and the possibility of taking this unusual Aron clan with him became very real.
When Lairon woke up inside Aiden's system space and realized it had arrived somewhere completely new, it froze for a moment.
Then its eyes widened.
An endless stretch of rocky ridges, dense mineral veins, and towering mountain chains sprawled out before it—like a paradise tailor-made for its kind.
Lairon's excitement burst out instantly.
After letting it roughly understand the system space's environment and rules, Aiden released it again and spoke seriously.
"Lairon, you've seen my system space. There's a whole mountain range inside—perfect for you and your clan to live in.
You wouldn't have to separate from them. You could even expand your tribe faster there. If you're willing… bring your people in."
As the newly captured Pokémon, Lairon's closeness with Aiden had already started climbing. After all, Aiden had defeated it head-on—no tricks, no dirty methods.
So Lairon understood.
It hesitated… but the desire to protect its clan—and make it stronger—won out.
In the next moment, Lairon did something that would've made any human blink twice.
It became Aiden's spokesperson.
It turned toward its tribe and began "convincing" them with fierce gestures and loud, confident roars—selling the idea of a safer home, richer minerals, and no predators.
Most of the Aron were clearly tempted.
Their leader was speaking. Their king.
But the other two Lairon in the clan didn't look convinced.
If anything, their eyes carried rebellion.
Maybe seeing their leader defeated and captured had stirred ambitions they'd been hiding.
Aiden didn't bother arguing.
He simply raised his hand.
"Then let's settle it the Pokémon way."
He challenged the other two Lairon directly.
With Milotic and Grovyle battling together, the two opposing Lairon were defeated quickly—cleanly, decisively.
Aiden tossed two more Poké Balls.
Shake… shake… shake… Click.
Captured.
With those two subdued, the Aron tribe had no remaining resistance.
And so—
over three hundred Aron, plus three Lairon in total, were transferred into Aiden's system space.
Only one Pokémon was treated differently.
That golden-colored Aron.
The shiny one.
Aiden singled it out and used a Luxury Ball.
A red flash swallowed the small, metallic creature.
The ball rocked once… twice… three times…
Click.
Captured.
A panel immediately appeared before Aiden.
Pokémon:Aron (Shiny)
Level: 22
Ability: Heavy Metal
Type: Steel / Rock
Aptitude: Gold
Bond Evolution: Locked
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Harden, Metal Claw, Rock Tomb, Dragon Rush, Iron Head, Head Smash…
Friendship: 100
Background: Lived peacefully within the tribe. After a mysterious powerhouse took the entire clan, it calmly became his Pokémon—met at Dewford Town.
Hobby: Eating metal
Aiden's eyes lit up.
A shiny Aron… and Gold aptitude on top of it?
Heavy Metal, too—its hidden ability.
Yes, it would double the Pokémon's weight.
But that meant stronger presence, stronger collision power, sturdier physical pressure. And once it fully evolved into Aggron, it was never going to be a speed demon anyway.
So why fear weight?
If its attack and defense climbed higher, it would simply crush opponents faster.
Even pseudo-legendaries rarely started at Gold aptitude from the beginning.
So what would happen after Aron evolved twice?
Would its aptitude climb even further… maybe even touching the realm only legendary Pokémon reached?
Aiden couldn't help feeling excited.
Still… he couldn't help smiling too.
So this little guy was a glutton.
After successfully bringing the entire Aron tribe into the system space, Aiden released the first Lairon he'd captured again and narrowed his eyes.
"Lairon. Your tribe's aptitude is abnormally high.
That's not normal. So tell me—what's special about this place? Is there something here that's been affecting you all?"
Lairon looked confused.
Aptitude? That word meant nothing to it.
But after thinking hard… it did recall something.
Something strange.
Something its tribe often ate from deep within the mining area.
So Lairon turned around and started leading Aiden deeper into the mine.
Seeing that there really was a hidden treasure behind this clan's abnormal quality, Aiden's smile widened.
He followed without hesitation.
The deeper they went, the quieter the surroundings became. There were almost no other wild Pokémon nearby—like the area itself was "claimed," forcing everything else to stay away.
After traveling several kilometers, down into the belly of a mountain, Aiden finally saw it.
And the system reacted instantly.
Ding!
Special item discovered — Aptitude Evolution Stone!
Ding!
Aptitude Evolution Stone effect:
If carried during evolution, there is a high probability of increasing the Pokémon's aptitude. It also increases the chance of producing higher-aptitude offspring.
The moment Aiden read the description, everything clicked.
No wonder this Aron tribe started at Blue aptitude across the board… with piles of Purple… and even a Gold.
They hadn't just been "lucky."
They'd been living beside a miracle.
And now—
that miracle belonged to him.
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