Chapter 411: Battle Tower
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Later, Battle Frontier – Battle Tower]
The sun began its slow descent as the group trekked across the sprawling grounds of the Battle Frontier. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of excitement and reverence. Behind them lay the memories of their triumphs over the Guts, Luck, Tactics, Knowledge, and Spirit symbols.
Now, towering over the horizon like a monolith of glass and steel, the Battle Tower loomed. Azure led the way, with Pikachu and Eevee perched comfortably on his shoulders, while Green walked beside him, her hand occasionally brushing his.
Sapphire and Ruby trailed just behind, Ruby adjusting his Poké Ball belt with a nervous energy that Sapphire countered with her usual wide-eyed enthusiasm. Bringing up the rear, the disguised Mew—still in its Pichu form—bounced along, its tail twitching with hidden power.
As they reached the base of the tower, the sliding glass doors hissed open. The lobby was silent, a stark contrast to the cheering crowds of the Battle Dome or the wild humidity of the Battle Palace.
Standing at the center of the polished marble floor was a girl with short, violet hair and a calm, unshakeable aura. She didn't look like a warrior; she looked like a master of meditation.
Anabel said calmly, her voice soft but carrying across the room with surprising clarity, "You've finally arrived."
Scott announced, stepping forward with a flourish grin, "Salon Maiden Anabel. The final wall Azure Sky must scale."
Anabel stepped forward, her eyes scanning Azure. Unlike the other Brains, she didn't just look at his Pokémon—she seemed to be listening to them.
She gave a small, enigmatic smile to Pikachu and Eevee, who both tilted their heads in curiosity. She said calmly, clasping her hands behind her back, "I am Anabel, the Salon Maiden of the Battle Tower. To win the Ability Symbol from me, you must prove more than just strength. You must prove the absolute harmony between your mind and your Pokémon's."
She gestured toward the elevator banks that lined the lobby. Anabel explained the Battle Tower rules, "The rules here are the most straightforward, yet the most demanding. In the Battle Tower, there are no environmental hazards, no restrictions on commands, and no forced strategies. It is a pure test of your Ability. You will engage in a gauntlet of battles—seven trainers per set. Usually, a challenger must defeat five sets, thirty-five trainers in total, just to earn the right to face me for the Silver Symbol."
She paused, her gaze intensifying as if she were reading Azure's thoughts. She continued, "However, like Spenser before me, I have watched your progress. I have felt the resonance you share with your team. To make you face thirty-five novices would be a waste of our time. Scott has authorized a direct challenge as thanks for helping us with Sird."
Ruby nodded in approval while Sapphire let out a muffled, "Whoa!"
Anabel raised three fingers as she stated her rules in a serious voice, "The rules for our match are as follows: It will be a 3-on-3 Single Battle. No time limits. No substitutions. Once a Pokémon is sent out, it stays until the end. Most importantly, I do not use words to command my Pokémon. I communicate through the heart—through the soul. If you cannot match that level of connection, the Battle Tower will be your final stop."
She turned toward the elevator as she stated boldly, "I will be waiting at the summit. Bring your three most trusted partners, Azure. Show me the 'Ability' that conquered the rest of the Frontier."
As she stepped into the elevator, she cast one last look at the Pichu (Mew) following them. Her eyes lingered on the disguised Mew for a second longer than a normal trainer would, a faint sparkle of recognition in her violet eyes before the doors closed.
Azure adjusted his cap, his spirit burning with a cold, focused fire. He whispered, "The final one… Let's go."
The lobby of the Battle Tower hummed with a quiet, high-tech energy. While the others marveled at the sleek architecture, Azure headed straight for the glowing green screen of the PC terminal near the recovery counter.
Meanwhile, no one noticed that Scott was already gone as the group was occupied with Azure's preparation. Sapphire called out, jogging over with Ruby and Green in tow, asking, "Wait, Master! Are you switching up your team now? After Sceptile and Gengar did so well at the Palace?"
Azure didn't look back, his fingers dancing across the keyboard as he replied, "Anabel is an empath. She doesn't just see the move; she feels the intent behind it. Sceptile and Gengar are brilliant, but against someone who can read your heart, I need raw, crushing pressure and technical perfection."
*Click*
*BEEP*
The screen flickered to life, showing a video feed. A young teenager with twin blue pigtails and a serious expression appeared, Crystal, the Johto Dex Holder and Professor Oak's star Catcher.
Crystal said happily with a professional smile at him, "Azure! I heard you were tearing through the Frontier. I take it you're at the Battle Tower already? I have your partners ready and waiting."
Azure smiled as he replied casually to her, "Hey, Crys. Yeah, it's time for the final push. Transferring Sceptile and Gengar over now. Send me the heavy hitters."
Green leaned over his shoulder as the Transporter began to hum. Two Poké Balls materialized in the tray with a heavy clack.
*CLACK*
Crystal smiled as she saluted, giving Azure the best of luck, "Tyranitar and Scizor have been transferred. I wish you the best of luck, Azure!"
*Beep*
The PC turned off just as Azure pocketed the two balls and turned to his friends. Pikachu, sensing the shift in tone, hopped onto his shoulder, his cheeks sparking with intense, yellow electricity.
Azure announced with a determined grin on his face, "The team is set. Tyranitar, the desert king; Scizor, the red warrior; and my Partner Pikachu. Let's go."
The elevator ride was silent, the floor numbers ticking upward with a digital chime. As they climbed higher, the glass walls revealed the entire Battle Frontier spread out below them like a miniature map.
Floor 10: Sapphire noticed Azure's hand resting on the Poké Ball of his Scizor. She knew that Scizor was one of Master's main battle partners in the Ninth and Tenth Pokémon League Tournaments, a Pokémon that turned every flick of a claw into a lethal strike.
Floor 40: Ruby watched the sky turn from the orange of sunset to a deep, royal purple. He thought about Tyranitar. When he was in the Johto region, Tyranitar was a force of nature—a Pokémon that could change the very weather just by stepping onto the field.
Floor 80: The air grew thin and cold. Green looked at Azure. He wasn't nervous; he was in a trance-like state of focus.
He was preparing his mind to face a girl who could read it. Finally, the elevator chimed for the last time. The doors hissed open to reveal the Salon, a massive outdoor arena at the very peak of the Tower.
The wind howled up here, whipping Azure's jacket around him. Anabel was standing at the far end of the arena, her back to them.
As the group stepped out, she didn't turn around, yet she spoke as if she had been watching them the whole time. She said softly, "Your heart is louder now, Azure. The two Pokémon you brought from the PC... they are old allies. Fierce. Protective. And your Pikachu..."
She finally turned, her violet eyes meeting his, and, surprised, "His bond with you is a roar that drowns out the wind."
She stepped to her side of the battlefield, the moon rising behind her as she stated, "No more talk. Let our hearts decide the victor."
The atmosphere at the summit of the Battle Tower was already electric, but just as Azure and Anabel prepared to take their positions, the heavy double doors leading to the spectator balcony swung open with a resounding thud.
*THUD*
Both halted in what they were doing as Scott opened his mouth, yelling, "Hold your Rapidash, Anabel! You didn't think we'd miss the grand finale, did you?"
Scott led the procession, his grin wider than ever, followed by the six Frontier Brains Azure had already defeated. The presence of so many elite trainers in one place was stifling, a gathering of the strongest spirits in the region.
Noland adjusted his goggles, his eyes fixed on Azure. He began stating proudly, "I've been crunching the numbers ever since our match, kid. You've got the data, but Anabel is an outlier. Show me how you handle a variable you can't calculate."
Greta punched her palm, her fighting spirit radiating as she stated, "Hey! You better not go down easy after beating me in the Arena! Give her a real brawl!"
Lucy remained poised, her gaze sharp as she stated to him, "The Queen of the Pike doesn't acknowledge many, but your luck has held this long. Let's see if it survives against our resident Salon Maiden."
Tucker struck a dramatic pose, his cape fluttering in the high-altitude wind as he flamboyantly stated, "A marvelous spectacle! The final act of a legendary performance. Don't let the curtain fall early, Azure!"
Brandon stood like a mountain, his arms crossed over his chest as he stated bluntly, "You faced the Regis and survived. Your foundations are solid. Now, show the Salon Maiden the strength of a true explorer's soul!"
Spenser leaned on his staff, a knowing smile on his face as he offered his words to him calmly, "The spirit I saw in the Palace has only grown. You have chosen your partners wisely for this climb."
The Brains moved to the stands, joining the rest of the group. Eevee hopped down from Azure's head to sit beside Pikachu (who was staying on the field for now) before deciding to nestle in Green's lap.
Ruby and Sapphire moved to the front row, their eyes wide as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Frontier's elite. The Pichu (Mew) perched itself on the railing, its tiny eyes glowing with a faint, psychic curiosity as it looked at Anabel.
Scott yelled from the center of the stands, acting as referee, shaking in excitement, "The stage is set! Seven Frontier Brains, the Hoenn Dex Holders, and the three-time Champion! This is the peak of the Battle Frontier!"
Anabel waited for the noise to subside, her calm never wavering. She looked at the gallery of her peers and then back to Azure.
Her hands moved to her Poké Balls as she said calmly, "It seems the world is watching us, Azure Sky. I can feel their expectations... and I can feel your resolve. It's like a storm held behind a dam."
Azure stepped onto the challenger's mark. He felt the weight of the two Poké Balls he'd just received from Crystal and the familiar spark of the Pikachu at his side.
Azure replied, his voice steady against the howling wind, "The storm is about to break, Anabel. Let's see if your Tower can stand against it."
Azure steadied his breathing as he gazed at his final Frontier Brain opponent. Scott stepped onto the referee's platform, his usual grin replaced by the severity of the moment. He held up a remote control and pressed a red button.
*Click*
*Hummmmm*
A low-frequency vibration vibrated through the floor as high-tech emitters around the perimeter of the roof flared to life. A shimmering, translucent energy field rose up, enclosing the battlefield in a protective cube.
Azure blinked, looking at the insurmountable protective cube as he thought curiously, 'So Scott has the money to pay for this… just how rich is that man?'
Scott announced, his voice amplified by the tower's speakers, "Safety barriers engaged! This is the final match for the Ability Symbol! A three-on-three Single Battle! No time limits! No substitutions! Let the battle begin!"
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A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!