Pokémon: Above the Top

According to the data, the seventh underground level wasn't the bottom of Iron Island. If they kept going, even greater challenges would surely await them.

But following the logic that anything glowing must be unusual… this small pool in front of them was definitely not ordinary.

Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~

Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~ Bzzzz~

Suddenly, Sato felt the Poké Ball on his belt shaking non-stop.

"…Pupitar?" A trace of confusion flashed in Sato's eyes, but he released it immediately.

"…Tar~"

As soon as Pupitar appeared, it stared unblinkingly at the pale yellow pool, its eyes filled with yearning.

"THIS ISN'T A POOL!"

Suddenly, Joseph's voice rang out. His hands had begun to glow faintly green, subtly resonating with the "water" in the pool.

Mark turned and looked at Lucario, as if asking for confirmation. But Lucario only gave him a flat glance before turning its gaze toward Sato's Pupitar.

"Boss, you think this water(?) is good for Pupitar?" Mark followed Lucario's gaze and noticed Pupitar's desire.

"Pupitar, if you want to do something, go ahead," Sato said gently.

"Pupitar!"

Pupitar turned to look at Sato, then nodded seriously and slowly moved toward the "pool," manipulating the ground beneath it.

Krookodile, Reuniclus, and Bayleef all had envy in their eyes. Only Lucario looked completely unsurprised, as if it had known this would happen all along…

"Tar Pupitar~ Tar!"

Just as Pupitar was about to step into the pool, it suddenly turned back to look at Sato, a faint trace of anticipation and request in its eyes.

"Need me to do something?" Sato instinctively stepped forward and asked.

"I'll handle it~"

A flash of white light appeared, and Ralts suddenly landed on Sato's shoulder. Still half-asleep, it clung to his ear as a message came through via Telepathy.

"Ralts, this pool…" Seeing Ralts awake, Sato asked right away.

"I don't know how you all found this place… but for Pupitar, it's a huuuge opportunity. In a bit, follow my command, and you'll need to help it with some Dark Energy."

Ralts spoke to both Sato and Pupitar at once. The Trainer and Pokémon exchanged glances and nodded together.

Though nothing was explicitly stated, everyone present could sense what was coming…

Elite to Ace… for a pseudo-legendary, perhaps it was only natural.

A cross-level fight… wasn't always necessary!

Then, Pupitar turned again, looking at the pool of yellow glowing "water," and slowly slid into it until it was completely submerged.

~Bzzzzz~

Centered around Pupitar, the pale yellow light suddenly intensified, forcing everyone to squint.

Once their eyes adjusted again, the three quickly noticed that the pool was now faintly rippling, and Pupitar, like a suction cup, was rapidly absorbing something from the "water".

"I'd guess this 'water' is… liquid Rock-type energy?" Joseph said slowly, drawing even Ralts to glance at him.

Sato and Mark didn't speak, but they clearly agreed with that.

After all, Krookodile was right beside them. Although full of envy, it didn't show the same kind of craving as Pupitar.

So it couldn't be Ground-type energy.

Pupitar continued to absorb the liquid Rock-type energy from the "pool". Sato stepped closer and could visibly see Pupitar's armor slowly dissolving and reforming anew.

Gradually, the "water" level began to lower, and Pupitar also visibly grew much larger.

At the moment the old armor fully dissolved, Pupitar began to glow with an even more intense light.

This time, it was the light of… evolution.

The small cave lit up as if it were daytime. The fallen Pupitar slowly stood upright, growing taller and taller at an astonishing rate.

"NOW! DARK ENERGY!" Ralts' voice rang out. Sato, who had been waiting, released the Dark Energy without hesitation, sending it straight into the evolving Pupitar.

The glow of evolution flared even brighter. The black Dark Energy didn't weaken the light, it instead fueled Pupitar's absorption of the energy beneath it.

The pool, which had only been half-consumed, surged once more into Pupitar's body.

But the evolution didn't end even after over ten seconds. Sato couldn't even control the flow of Dark Energy, he was being forcibly drained.

Seeing this, Ralts frowned slightly, then immediately moved behind Sato and sent out Zoroark without hesitation.

"Zoro, lend a hand too. Help guide your Dark Energy to Sato."

"Zoroark!"

Zoroark squinted slightly. Though it didn't fully understand what was happening, it obeyed Ralts' command immediately.

As a Mid Ace Zoroark, it could skillfully control its internal Dark Energy. Once its strength joined the evolution, the stalemate finally broke.

Sato and Zoroark both suddenly felt a massive chunk of their Dark Energy pulled out, and the Rock-type energy in the pool dropped to just a shallow layer.

As the light of evolution slowly faded, the Pokémon standing in the pool had completely transformed…

Its entire body was wrapped in deep green, menacing armor. From head to tail, its back was lined with sharp, terrifying spikes.

A single silver plate covered its belly -its weakest point- and even in the dark cave, it shimmered faintly with a cold metallic glint.

Claws, fangs, and a thick, massive tail… every feature was a weapon born for battle…

After five full years of build up.

Pupitar had finally completed its transformation…

Becoming a super-powerful force like its mother…

The pseudo-legendary, Tyranitar!

"TYRAAAAAAAAN!"

A deafening roar exploded outward, shaking the cave itself. Tyranitar's aura surged outward completely, pressing even Krookodile back several steps in shock.

High Ace!

In a single leap, Tyranitar had instantly become the highest-level member of Sato's team.

The terror of a pseudo-legendary… was finally on full display.

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After a long while, the excited Tyranitar finally released its emotions. Standing three meters tall, it slowly lowered its head to look at Sato, who only reached its chest.

Beside Sato, Ralts and Zoroark calmly watched Tyranitar.

…But they had long been preparing for the worst.

Sato wore a smile at the corner of his lips, quietly sensing the Champion level Dark-type potential within Tyranitar.

Judging from the way it had evolved, it wasn't hard to guess its Rock-type potential had reached Champion level as well…

One step to the top!

"Tyran~"

The powerful Tyranitar lowered its head slightly, carefully controlling its new body, letting Sato place his hand on its forehead.

"Let's tear our way to the top… Tyranitar!"

"TYRAAAAANITAR!"

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150 PS = Chap, bro.

Hey! I've already given a few people a "♥" (like the ones who give me PS or leave comments), but… what does giving a "♥" on someone's Webnovel profile even do? does something good happen or what? (

("DyingAllTheTime" I see you, bro. Don't say a word, I already gave you one. Pretty sure you were like the third or fourth person ever to support me with PS… "Kamikaze_Eagle" I see you to, thxs for the grammar notes)

Whoever explains it to me (if I haven't already) I'll hit you with a "♥" too!