Chapter 17: An Unforgettable Lesson!
"All I can do is congratulate the two of you. Aurora, Marshadow. You have come a long way in just a few weeks."
"Epsilon! Get out of here! We've already defeated Eternatus! And we'll continue to defend the tower if we have to!"
A spark of amusement flickered in the robotic eyes of the helmet.
"You may not believe me, but I had no other intention than to leave you be. You two put up a great fight and were ultimately victorious. I won't bother you any more today. I'm only here because I unfortunately still need that guy over there!"
Epsilon pulled his Feathersword out of a holder on his back and pointed it directly at Eternatus. Within seconds, the dragon had completely disappeared and Epsilon followed. Only now did Aurora notice the other Pokemon present. Team Fossil, both Tyrantrum and Aurorus, stood wordlessly in the entrance to the level, their eyes filled with shock.
"Aurora, Marshadow! What... the hell happened here?"
"And what the fuck did you do to our tower?!"
Only now did Aurora see how devastated this entire floor was. And she was pretty sure that the other three contested floors weren't in a much better condition. Aurorus made a sensible decision. "Let's go to our office first. We can talk there."
No sooner said than done, because just minutes later Team Polarna vatra found themselves in the league founders' office once again.
"So, let's start with the most important thing: Are you two hurt? Should we call someone?"
"Nothing that a little rest can't heal. Let's get straight to the point."
Aurora expressed this thought for the whole team, knowing that Marshadow's condition was even better than hers.
"Well then, how about you tell us what the hell happened here? Was that Eternatus and Epsilon up there just now? How the hell did they get into this tower?"
When she heard Tyrantrum's question, Aurora immediately remembered Eternatus' words.
"They knew! Epsilon knew about the raid! That's why he sent Eternatus! He knew that the tower was practically unguarded!"
Team Fossil exchanged worried glances.
"It almost sounds like they knew about it even before this morning. But that would mean..."
Tyrantrum jumped in.
"That we've got a traitor! Somebody from the four teams that knew about the raid! And I have my suspicions!"
His gaze fell very clearly on Marshadow.
"So you think I told Epsilon about the raid just so that I could fight off Eternatus today? I does not seem to make a lot of sense."
To Aurora's surprise, Tyrantrum actually didn't say another word. He had to admit himself by now that Marshadow was trustworthy.
"Fine, you've got a point!. Fine. But either way, the damage to the tower, especially on the fiftieth floor, is enormous! Rebuilding it will take days! Not to mention the cost!"
As he often did, his own team partner interrupted Tyrantrums' complaints.
"That's enough now! This damage is secondary, and you know that yourself, as much as you like to complain. So, Marshadow, Aurora, I'd like to summarize briefly. You two had an incredible victory in the league a week ago and clearly demonstrated your strength. Today you two were ambushed and attacked by Eternatus, one of Epsilon's most notorious supporters. And despite that, you fought for all the Pokemon of Kira Town, risking your own lives. And not only that, you even managed to win a battle that seemed almost unwinnable from the outside. Team Polarna vatra, I take the liberty of speaking on behalf of all of Kira Town when I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts today. And even if we can't give you as much of a reward as would be deserved, you really shouldn't have to leave empty-handed. Rest for three days so we can meet again at floor 50 in four."
Tyrantrum obviously understood what Aurorus was offering long before Polarna vatra did.
"Are you fucking serious? These two have had TWO league battles! Two! That is simply incompatible with all principles of this league! They have not proven themselves yet!"
For the first time since she had known the two, Aurorus seemed to have no patience left with his teammate. "Can you shut the fuck up for five minutes! I know that you don't like Team Polarna vatra, even if only Plot knows why, but have you lost your sense of thought? These two have not proven themselves to you? Did you sleep through this entire ordeal?"
He turned away from his team partner.
"You two. In four days at noon you will compete against us up on floor 50. Polarna vatra against Fossil. If you show the performance that I expect from you, you will be promoted to the Upper League. This is the highest reward I can bestow today."
A chance to move up into the Upper League? Aurora completely understood Tyrantrum's surprise. But of course she wanted to accept the challenge and make use of it! As soon as her team was out of the Lower League, their real rise could begin!
"We will be there and we won't disappoint you! I promise!"
After a look at Tyrantrum, she corrected herself again.
"Well, at least we won't disappoint you, Aurorus."
Once again, a few days passed without any major events. The team rested for the rest of Thursday, until word of the events slowly spread in the evening after the other teams slowly returned. Team Nordika, Team Slash and Team Fossil also decided to call another joint meeting to find out what Epsilon knew. To be honest, Aurora didn't expect any effective results. Team Polarna vatra also took the following day off, albeit rather involuntarily, as Marshadow knew full well that Aurora needed the rest more than she wanted to admit. Instead, they both sat down together and planned a little for their qualifier match against Team Fossil. Both Pokemon were very sure that they didn't need to win to pass the test. If they were wrong, the probability of their success would be almost zero. Of course, they also talked a little about the battle against Eternatus and Marshadow had been very optimistic ever since it happened.
"Almost none of the teams could have defeated Eternatus, Aurora. We really don't have to worry. We already immortalized ourselves in history as part of the elite the day before yesterday."
"Don't overestimate us. Just because we win a real fight doesn't mean we're good in the ring. And I'm not really convinced that Team Slash, for example, wouldn't have managed to pull that win off."
"Well, to be fair... very few people know the trick with the crystal. That's why they wouldn't have made it, for example. And also, I doubt that whatever you did in the end is a common technique."
What exactly the reasons were was ultimately irrelevant. Because Aurora had promised herself that this victory would not get to her head and that she would have to focus on the future. For example, the qualification, which was soon to take place. Fresh and fit, Team Polarna vatra entered the level of the generator, where they had finished their battle just days before. Their current challengers were already there.
"Well then, Polarna vatra. I hope you're ready. Give everything you've got in this duel. You don't have to win, of course, and to be honest, it would be a bit surprising. We may be a quite rusty, but we used to be a top 20 team in our prime, even finishing a season in 7th place. We'll do a regular one-round league match and at the end we will decide whether you're ready for the Upper League or not."
He added quietly.
"Well, you two most certainly are, but give it your all anyway."
Team Polarna vatra had already developed a strategy based on reverse psychology. Aurora had started in every league match she was part of so far, which is why Team Fossil wouldn't be expecting it this time. And that's exactly why Aurora started again. The goal: She should compete against Tyrantrum. Marshadow had such a huge advantage against Amagarga that he could actually win, and Aurora's chances were also better against Tyrantrum. And as soon as she stepped into the ring, she saw that her estimates were correct. Her opponent in the first duel was Tyrantrum. However, he himself seemed pleased with his opponent.
"That's what I thought!"
"It is? Wouldn't you be better off against Marshadow and Aurorus against me?"
A malicious glint appeared in the dinosaur's eyes. Was this what Kel had claimed to see on the very first day?
"But I wanted to teach you a lesson! Well then, I'll show you your place in this league!"
The fight began as Aurorus' and Tyrantrum's words both circled in Aurora's mind.
"Your place in the league..."
"I know you don't like Team Polarna vatra..."
What exactly drove Tyrantrum? Why was it that he was so distrustful of Aurora and Marshadow? Did he still think they had something to do with Epsilon? Was he jealous of their success? But whatever it was, Aurora was determined to return the favor of an unforgettable lesson. She immediately created a ring of ice on the ground where she had been standing at the start of the battle. Tyrantrum also remained motionless at first as stone pillars filled the battlefield. One of them appeared right next to the dinosaur and he immediately used it as his weapon. A strong tail blow hurled rocks to various places on the battlefield, including where Aurora was standing.
However, Aurora was fully prepared to avoid the first blow and froze parts of the battlefield as she moved in order to become even more agile than she already was. When Tyrantrum created more stone pillars, Aurora saw a split second in which she could get her first hit in. Just like Eternatus, Tyrantrum was also a dragon, but because of the secondary types, the fairy type was much more effective against this opponent. Moonblast would take too long in this situation, which is why a weaker Fairy Wind should do the first bit of damage.
Tyrantrum, however, had fully accepted this hit, knowing that he would now have a huge advantage. Not only did his earthquake hit the entire ring, the stone pillars that were scattered all over the place also collapsed, leaving Aurora no room to escape. She quickly found herself caught under a layer of rock, from which she first had to free herself. She did not manage to do this quickly enough before Tyrantrum could take advantage of her defenselessness. His dragon attacks were ineffective, which he of course knew, and a rock-type attack could not bring Aurora to the edge of the ring, but even a simple claw strike was just as powerful of an attack with Tyrantrum's strength.
Aurora found herself in the extreme gravity of the danger zone, but still managed to narrowly avoid the next rock. Immediately, Tyrantrum used another earthquake, not leaving Aurora any room to breathe, but due to the strong gravity it was quite ineffective. The danger zone limited Aurora's mobility but increased her stability. Nevertheless, her first priority was now to escape from this area. Only then would she be truly safe enough to be able to play the fight offensively again. But it didn't seem as if Tyrantrum wanted to give her even the slightest chance. More rocks missed her by inches, but out of the corner of her eye the Plot Warrior also saw Tyrantrum launch a direct attack, straight at her. And that was just what she had been waiting for!
The moment Monargoras arrived at the point where Aurora had started the battle, exactly on the ring of ice that she had created there, she struck. The ring on the ground immediately grew into an icy pillar, which, as it grew, also took the heavy Monargoras with it and, due to his very own momentum, propelled him far into the air. Aurora was still in the danger zone, but now she had the time she needed to summon her most powerful fairy attack, Moonblast. Having just landed roughly, Tyrantrum had no chance of dodging and, after landing in the danger zone himself, was knocked straight out of the ring. After his big speech at the beginning of this duel, Aurora could not help but feel a little malicious glee.
"Well then, oh great master, where is my place in the league? I thought you wanted to show me?"
Confused, Tyrantrum sat up. For a moment he didn't seem to be able to really process what had just happened.
"I... lost? Lost? To a ice-type? No! Never! I can't lose to someone like you! You are nothing like you think you are! Aurora... you will regret this!" He immediately left the room, full of anger, leaving Aurora confused. Despite everything, she was not used to such a reaction from the fossil. She was so lost in thought that she barely noticed how Marshadow also won his duel due to his type advantage.