Chapter 233: 233. Against Steven’s Aggron
Ash successfully got his second official Gym Badge in his Hoenn Region journey, the Knuckle Badge.
Not only that, his Grovyle has also completed its evolution and awakened his signature attack, Leaf Blade.
Finally, there was no need to rely only on his Absorb and Mega Drain to consume opponents physical strength in protracted battles. He can just beat them in a regular battle.
It was quite gratifying to think about it.
Since Leaf Blade is a physical slashing skill, Ash had no way to train it with him other than constantly cutting things, so he simply teleported Grovyle back to Professors Lab at the Pokémon Center in Dewford Town.
He has a Pokémon at the level of a great swordsman that can help his Grovyle master his Leaf Blade.
Ash was a little stunned by his one-trick-and-sword style back at the Silver Conference.
Of course it was non other than his Red Flash, his Scizor.
Ash talked to him and he gave him the heavy responsibility of passing on the skills he learned to other Pokémon since their return.
The same goes for his Annihilape. All those Pokémon who have returned from studying under masters of their respective arts, so they are constantly strengthening Ash's reserve power back at the Lab.
As for how to get better at using Leaf Blade, Ash decided that Grovyle needs to practice that under his very experienced Scizor.
Ash just hoped that he isn't putting Grovyle under that hell-like special training that he once spoke of.
Not only Grovyle, Ash also teleported Taillow back and gave him to his Shiny Noctowl for training for some time. His Alpha Pidgeot and Zapdos now like to fight each other all day long when they have nothing to do, but his Noctowl has no friends at the same level to battle against.
In this way, Ash only had 3 Pokémon left by his side, but thinking of having to fight with Chanmpion Steven of the Hoenn Region next, Ash simply teleported his ferocious Tyranitar over.
Not only did he say he wanted a good fight, he was also one of his stronger Pokémon's, so he wants to gave a good fight with Steven with Tyranitar.
"The last time I spoke to Steven was a couple days ago. He said that he is going to search inside of Granite Cave for something important or whatever." Brawly said to Ash while they were both healing up their Pokémon's in the Pokémon Center.
"Ash, I believe you will definitely gain something good there like how I did after I got crushed by his powerful Aggron!" Brawly, who is the Gym Leader of this place, certainly knows about Steven.
Now Ash really believes that he must fight against Steven to gain something.
Steven was using his main team Steel and Rock-type Pokémon Aggron, and Brawlys main Fighting-type Pokémon's couldn't even leave a scratch on Steven's Aggron even though he had the much better type advantage and much more Pokémon's.
Even if Ash didn't know the outcome of the battle, there really was no need to guess the results.
Steven will definitely win, it was just that the level and their ability to order their Pokémon was on a completely different level, the difference was just too far for Brawly to do anything.
Granite Cave was located northwest part of Dewford Town. The terrain here was staggered with ups and downs. Except for the first layer when entering the cave entrance, the remaining layers were all very dark.
Ash was able to clearly explore the route because of his almost Night Vision, thanks to his Aura powers, but he was also responsible for the safety of his traveling companions.
Fortunately, his Ralts quickly learned the Flash skill and was now floating above of Ash's head to provide light for everyone.
"Hey, guys, did you hear anything?" Ash's words suddenly made everyone quiet down.
Only the rustling sounds of stones could be heard coming from the cave ahead of them, and it seemed that a large group of Pokémon's were coming towards them.
Ash frowned a little, a blue light flashed on his body, and he was suddenly startled, "Oh shit, avoid them quickly! Move out of the way!"
What appeared in front of them was a small steel-armored Pokémon, the first stage form of Aron.
Aggron is often regarded as one of the strongest Pokémon's in the entirety of the the Hoenn Region.
Although this sound is a little misunderstanding, it also illustrates the great strength of Aggron.
Aron in its initial form should not be underestimated either. Even though it is only a small creature with a height of only 0.4 meters, its weight can reach up to 70 kilograms. Its full attack while rolling can easily destroy a heavy mine car.
And now there were who knows how many Aron coming towards them at the same time in full speed.
No wonder even Ash has changed his color.
"It's an Aron!" At this time, Max also recognized the Pokémon in front of him, and was also frightened, so he quickly pulled his sister and ran away to the other side.
Ash took them to hide in another of the many caves and thus avoided theie force.
"Are you guys okay?" A magnetic voice sounded from behind everyone.
A handsome young man with silver-blue hair walked out of the darkness, followed by another Aron.
"The Pokémon's living in this cave all try to live quietly. So please try to be quiet and don't disturb them." He said softly.
The person in front of him was non other that the Ex-Champion of the Hoenn Region, Steven.
He was now wearing what looked to special equipment made for cave exploration. Ash thought that as a Champion, Steven's style was much better than that of Lances red cloak and his leather armor.
Just the aura he was unknowingly releasing just by standing there was a bit chilly.
The two of them have completely different temperaments. Steven is good at Steel and other such types of Pokémon's to fight, and his temperament was as resolute and cold as the steel he uses. While Lance on the other hand is mainly good at using his Flying-types along with some Dragon-type Pokémon's mixed in with them, he had a more enthusiastic personality and a bit of a more domineering personality.
And Ash, who also qualifies as a Champion ranked Trainer, is a mix of the two of them.
He not knelt has their extremely high level to command his Pokémon's, he also has the aura that comes with being a Champion level Trainer.
His personality was also a mix of Steven and Lance. His attitude in a battle is like that of Lance and a little bit of Steven, while his attitude outside of battle more like that of Steven.
Overall, Ash was more similar to Steven than to Lance.
"Mr. Steven, I am Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. If possible, I hope to have a Pokémon battle with you!" As a Trainer, the moment their eye contact is when a challenge for a battle starts.
Ash got straight to the point without trying it sugarcoat his words. His intention was quickly recognized by Steven.
And when he heard Ash's name, Steven's eyes suddenly lit up brightly, "Yes, it's you. I heard that your Charizard can evolve into a true dragon, Lance even told he of how jealous he is of this. And your powerful Blastoise has also gone undergone the same unknown changes at the Silver Conference! Did you come here specifically to find me to battle?"
"That's right!" This is the exact reason on why Ash exchanged his Tyranitar from the Lab.
Blastoise did undergo Bond Evolution at the Silver Conference, but it only entered a transitional stage, with the cover of water flow, but Steven's champion's eyesight will definitely be able to spot the weakness in that form. So Ash decided to go with the stronger Pokémon to make sure this doesn't happen.
Although Ash could have used many of his other Pokémon's to fight against Steven, it just felt right to battle him with his Tyranitar.
"Okay, I'm willing to fulfill your request for a battle. I also want to know how powerful you are since you managed to beat Lance in that battle!"
Steven would obviously not refuse the request for a battle from a Trainer of Ash's caliber, but their current location was obviously not a good place for their upcoming destructive battle.
So Steven took the group to a waterfall in a mosh large part of the cave. There was light here from the hole on the top and also from the blue crystals around them. There were also a large area to move around in, it was the best place for a battle if this size in the whole cave.
"Lets have a spectacular battle, Aggron!" Both parties stood still, and Steven took the lead in throwing out his Poké Ball. It was Aron's final evolved form, Aggron, who was once mistaken by many for a being a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
This Pokémon is a very defensive oriented Pokémon as its whole body is wrapped in hard metal armor. And the size of this Champion-level Aggron is even more terrifying than its usual size, it was a whole 2.5 meters.
If Ash's Tyranitar hadn't grown in size so much under his training, she might have been a whole head shorter.
"Lets get ready for the rumbling , Tyranitar!" Ash threw out one of his Poké Balls that contained one fo his strongest Pokémon's before going through Bond Evolutions.
Aggron is obviously not Steven's strongest Pokémon. His strongest one is his rare Shiny Metagross. However this guy is his second strongest Pokémon after his ace Metagross.
There was less need to let out a roar as Tyrantitar became more and more stronger as the time passed, and she gradually began to restrain her inner self. She just looked at the opposite Aggron opposite to her quietly, waiting for her masters orders.
Seeing this very strong and big Tyranitar, Steven also stopped thinking about going easy on Ash as he is younger than him. Even if this Tyranitar is not as strong as his Metagross, it has definitely reached the same level as his Aggron, the one he had trained since his first year as a Trainer and has been with him for years.
He looked at Ash who was opposite him. If he had known Ash would be this strong, he would have led them out of the cave to not cause any major damage to the cave he found.
"Tyranitar, Mega Punch!"
"Aggron, use Metal Claw!"
Ash and Steven used their close range attacks at the same time. They knew it tacitly. If their more stronger mid quarters range attacks collided, the blast might cause the entire cave to collapse!
However, even this collision was strong enough to blow Ash's group away into hiding behind a study looking stone wall.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Tyranitar had a body that is motionless under any attack. Her opponents arm was a bit short in proportion to its body, but it is was still very powerful.
Under the collision, neither side took a step back.
Tyranitar: 255/255
Boom!
Her evenly matched opposition made Tyranitars fighting spirit burning, and her Bind Value finally reached its peak with Ash.
One of Ash's strongest Trump Cards, Tyranitar, was ready to use her Bond Evolution for the very first time.
"TYRA!" Feeling the power emerging from her body, Tyranitar roared with absolute pure excitement. The entire cave was shaking under her loud roar. Sand began to fall from the entrance above his head, and it seemed that it was about to collapse.
Ash was wondering if any wild Salamence heard the roar and was thinkusing someone was challenging them to a fight.
The roaring sound was endless, and a large amount of gravel suddenly floated under her terrifying stance, forming a huge rock ball to wrap her around.
"This is?"
Steven did not let Aggron continue to attack, but instead quietly watched the change that was happening to Ash's Tyranitar right in front of him.
"Tyranitar, out bond finally became one right now!" The power from Tyranitar was also flowing in Ash's body just like Ash's power was seeping into her.
Tyranitar felt a feeling of pure destruction, as if everything can be destroyed if she wishes it to be!
Tyranitar also underwent the process of turning into a cocoon during her own Bond Evolution like all of Ash's other Pokémon's did when they first used their Bond Evolutions.
Right now, she is like a Pupitar, so what Ash was waiting for this time was the moment for its true transformation!
"TYRAN ROARRRRAA!" The violent roar came again, and Tyranitar punched the rock ball that wrapped around herself into many small pieces.
At this moment, her back split open due to the amazing power, forming six irregular spikes on both sides of its body!
Not only the back, but also the top of the head, both legs, and the end of the tail have spikes growing outward! Especially the arms, which has evolved to be much thicker. Those spikes poke out, as if it is extending from the arm. Three sharp claws, making the claws much more dangerous.
The carapace on its abdomen and back turned into red gold, and the hole in front of the moon became larger, like a pair of scarlet eyes, and the carapace on its abdomen formed a frightening and terrifying face.
The last thing here was a bunch of dragonic looking scales appearing throughout her body.
Name: Ash-Tyranitar
Attribute: Rock, Dark
Ability: Sand Stream (When appearing, the weather will change into Sandstorm.)
Sand Power (During the Sandstorm weather condition, the power of Rock-types, Ground-types and Steel-type moves will be increased.)
Scale Mail (Unavailable.)
Skills: Rock Slide, Dark Pulse, Crunch, Iron Defense, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Hyper Beam, Sandstorm, Mega Punch, Ice Punch…
Now Ash's Tyranitar now had three abilities in total in this form.
One old ability and two new abilities.
'System, what is this Sand Power and Sale Mail ability?'
[Notice, Sand Power is the absolute pinnacle of Sand Veil while Scale Mail is a Secret Ability that the host will have to find about themselves. Additionally, it should be taken into consideration that it giver Tyranitar Dragon-type features and thus will take a long time to master.]
The battle still continued, Ash's and Steven's orders are issued at the same time again.
"Aggron, Iron Head!"
"Tyranitar, Crunch!"
The two collided again. Aggron lowered his head and hit the new and stronger armor on Tyranitars abdomen.
Tyranitar didn't care about such a hit at all. Her Dark-type condensed and formed a pair of sharp and menacing looking fangs that bit directly into Aggron's heavy and sturdy steel armor.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone