Chapter 1421: Aura and Evil

Announcer: "Gyarados is out! Milotic claims another opponent! Trainer Zhulan has turned the situation around!"

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the entire arena.

Milotic is truly a Pokemon with exaggeratedly strong endurance; not only did it battle Dragonite, Lucario, and Gyarados in succession, but it also successfully took down two Dragon-type Pokemon, Dragonite and Gyarados.

It can be called a Dragon-slayer!

The Team Rocket trio gazed down at the arena below, their hands holding the selfie stick stiffened.

"So strong! As expected of the Sinnoh Champion, Zhulan!"

"Meowth is worried about the twerp..."

"Are we going back to the way things were before?"

The Team Rocket trio had almost passively participated in all of Satoshi's League Conferences, witnessing him go from not even reaching the finals to his ranking gradually climbing higher.

Kalos and Alola were the two with the best results; one where he won the Conference championship, and another where he directly became the Regional Champion.

Everything was getting better!

But...

Now we're going back to the past again?

At Professor Oak's Laboratory, the Pokemon were worried sick; Professor Oak and Hanako were relatively calm, while Kenji only felt it was a pity.

Inside the arena, Satoshi was a bit unable to figure it out.

Why?

Why did Milotic appear at a position higher than Gyarados, and why didn't he see the opponent's movement at all?

"It's obviously Bounce, idiot."

Baimu caught sight of Satoshi's bewildered expression on the close-up shot and knew he hadn't figured out the reason for his defeat.

Visual obstruction has always been a two-way street; while Milotic couldn't see Gyarados, it also meant Gyarados couldn't see Milotic.

And Bounce is a move Milotic mastered back in its Feebas period; because it has no attack or status effect, usually almost no Trainers would invest in using it.

In certain special situations, Trainers with exquisite battle skills would use it to turn the tide.

For example Baimu, and for example Zhulan right now.

However, Satoshi's loss this round isn't too unjust; at least Gyarados was taken down by Dragon Pulse, not falling to Iron Head like in the original plot.

Ding!

Under the big screen, among Satoshi's five exposed Pokemon icons, the second one dimmed.

He let out a long breath: "Heh..."

Since he had already lost there was nothing to be done; no matter how much he lingered on it, the outcome wouldn't change.

Satoshi quickly recalled Gyarados, "You worked hard! Gyarados!"

If he hadn't been obsessed with quickly taking down Milotic while its stamina was poor, it wouldn't have ended up losing just like that.

"Go! Lucario!"

Satoshi threw with all his might; the Poké Ball carrying the power of Aura suddenly opened, and dazzling blue light descended onto the field.

Mega Lucario raised its head and howled long, "Awoo—"

The power of Aura surged back and forth across its body surface, churning like a tangible substance, then slowly spreading out like waves.

Satoshi stood behind it, sensing the unrest in Mega Lucario's heart, and said in a low voice: "That's right! This is my thought too!"

To 'avenge' the fallen comrades!

"Go!"

"Awoo!"

Mega Lucario responded, its powerful hind legs exploding with force, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.

At the same time, the calm-looking Zhulan glanced at the heavily panting Milotic, and without much hesitation said: "Hydro Pump!"

"Milo~"

Milotic rallied its spirit, suppressing the fatigue from inside out; water vapor instantly surged around its body, fine streams of water rapidly gathering into its mouth, compressing into a high-density deep blue torrent.

The next instant, a thick pillar of water erupted with a boom!

Boom!

The water current carried a crushing impact, tearing through the air with a dull tearing sound, like a galloping roaring water dragon, pressing straight toward Mega Lucario's torso!

But this time, Mega Lucario didn't dodge in the slightest, nor did it use Double Team; its fist face merely lit up with dazzling silver-white radiance, forming an airtight fist shield.

"Awoo—"

"Bullet Punch!"

Satoshi suddenly swung his fist and shouted loudly; Mega Lucario went all out, facing the booming Hydro Pump and swinging out terrifying fist shadows like a violent storm!

"Wuwuwu!!"

It screamed loudly; as fast as its fists were, that urgent was its cry; extreme speed made the fist wind tear the air, forming a continuous wall of fist force; the moment fist force collided with the water current, it let out dense and deafening explosion sounds!

Boom boom boom boom boom—!!

Fist force and Hydro Pump collided intensely; huge impact force continuously erupted centered on the two; water splashes flew everywhere, forming barriers of water mist that covered most of the field.

The protective devices on all four sides fully activated, continuously bearing the shockwaves from the clash point of the moves. And in the depths of the water mist barrier, Mega Lucario, relying on the augmentation of formidable power, forcibly broke through the Hydro Pump's obstruction; its fist force undiminished, continuing to close in on Milotic.

Zhulan's gaze deepened, "What terrifying power! Dragon Tail!"

"Milo..."

Milotic cut off the Hydro Pump, pulled back to adjust its posture; its tail suddenly tensed, indigo dragon flames rapidly wrapping its tail fin, carrying incomparably overbearing power, suddenly sweeping out like a long whip, trying to intercept Mega Lucario's offensive.

The latter had already been tricked once, so naturally it couldn't be driven back a second time; sharp-eyed, it shifted laterally, dodging the tail fin while swinging a fist at Milotic's lower waist where it had no ability to wrap!

Bang!

The condensed fist force heavily smashed into Milotic's tail; amidst the dull sound, Milotic was shaken by the giant force until its figure swayed, the dragon flames on its tail fin dissipating.

Before it could stabilize its form, Super Lucario had already closed in completely, arms raised as aura power compressed, each palm gathering a dazzling blue energy sphere.

"Roar——"

"Aura Sphere!"

In Ash's shout, it fiercely merged the two Aura Spheres into one, forming a brilliant, condensed sphere larger than before.

Aura surged wildly at its core, emitting dazzling blue light, as Super Lucario roared, pressing tightly against Mamoswine's body, the exaggerated rotational force seeming to twist it.

Zilan: "Mirror Shot!"

"Meow——"

Mamoswine endured the pain, hastily forming a crystalline mirror shield around its body, attempting to withstand the Aura Sphere's force and reflect it back.

But the Aura Sphere's power now far exceeded before, the reflected brilliance surpassing the shield's limit, cracking like glass.

The Aura Sphere struck unimpeded, violent energy erupting, tearing apart what little strength remained.

"Cackle!!"

Mamoswine let out a low, choked whimper, its body flung backward like a broken kite, then slammed hard into the ground, kicking up dust.

It struggled to rise, its long body trembling slightly, but ultimately could not hold on, head and tail fin limp, eyes instantly turning into black rings.

Deng Pei entered the field: "Mamoswine has lost battle capability! Lucario wins!"

"Ultimate Steel and Fierce Combo! Ash successfully seized the initiative!"

The host shouted repeatedly: "Mamoswine finally exits the field! This Pokémon that fought long and hard has come to its rest!"

The audience seats buzzed with excitement and passion, some regretting Mamoswine's fate, others believing Super Lucario's attack was truly fierce.

Hep clutched his chest: "Back and forth? Too nerve-wracking!"

Zilan's suppression was extraordinary, but Ash, relying on Super Lucario, barely recovered some disadvantage.

The score now is two to two.

However, Ash's side has only one Pokémon unseen, while Zilan still has two.

The latter still has ample room for choice.

"Excellent! Lucario! Keep this momentum!" Ash cheered on Super Lucario.

Zilan recalled Mamoswine into its ball, soothing: "Thank you for your efforts all along, rest easy, I'll handle what comes next."

Then, a Poké Ball was thrown out.

"Shiftry! Enter the field!"

Bang!

"Gahaha!"

A dark, twisting halo shrouded the ground as Shiftry slowly emerged from within, pressure descending once more.

"Arch-rivals" meeting again, eyes red with hatred, its gaze toward Super Lucario full of malice, grin ferocious and terrifying, making many viewers shiver.

Super Lucario's brow bore solemnity, yet also filled with even greater resolve.

It was determined to take down this Pokémon too!

"Roar!"

In an instant, Super Lucario surged forward at extreme speed, eyes suddenly blazing with incredible blue light, a force like aura flowing like a tide toward the opponent.

Zilan quickly commanded: "Shiftry! Shadow Sneak!"

As the words fell, Shiftry's evil spirit surged forth, as if breaking free from wedge stone, sinking underground against the sunlight.

"Roar?"

Super Lucario, confused, probed surroundings with aura, but the attack was both hidden and swift, far beyond what its "ordinary" aura could casually detect.

A blurred shadow silently appeared behind Super Lucario, Shiftry's evil spirit instantly condensed, wrapping in thick ghostly energy, fiercely striking its back!

Boom!

Super Lucario's aura alarm blared, it instinctively dodged right, steps immediately scattered.

And when it swiftly turned to look behind, Shiftry had already vanished without trace.

Ash shouted: "In front of you!"

"Roar……"

Super Lucario turned its head, Shiftry indeed returned to the wedge stone, emitting its strange laugh.

This strike was silent yet extremely swift, and crucially left it defenseless, truly hard to handle.

This is precisely the trait of Ghost-type Pokémon.

"Shadow Sneak!"

Zilan issued the order again, Ash then shouted: "Bullet Punch! Attack the sealing stone!"

He didn't believe Shiftry could fully escape the seal, having encountered it multiple times in past adventures, even sealing it himself.

Thus, compared to others' ignorance of Shiftry, Ash clearly knew this creature couldn't easily break free from the wedge stone.

Indeed.

When Super Lucario swung its fist at the wedge stone, Shiftry shifted from rear attack to frontal defense.

Bang bang bang bang——

Bullet Punch madly struck the lifted black giant shadow, like mud entering stone flow, unable to stir even a ripple.

But just as Ash thought the attack ineffective, a tremendous explosion erupted between them, rolling shockwaves like tidal waves hurling both apart, reopening the distance.

"Dark Pulse! Continuous attack!"

Zilan completely ignored the smoke, directly ordering Shiftry to launch a group assault.

Shiftry's evil spirit spun wildly, surrounding ghostly energy frenziedly gathering, forming dozens of pitch-black, deep shadow balls like black holes, pulsing as if each contained energy devouring all.

In an instant, it launched these shadow balls in succession, making them scatter smoke and dust, and bombard Super Lucario within.

"Wave Missile!"

Satoshi naturally didn't want to surrender, shouting for Super Lucario to counterattack, and the latter immediately manipulated Wave Power, condensing several Wave Missiles the size of human heads in deep blue, colliding with the incoming Shadow Balls.

The audience seats erupted in exclamations.

Wave Missile is a Fighting-type move—using it against the opponent's Ghost-type Shadow Ball?

It won't work, will it?

To everyone's surprise, when the incoming Shadow Ball collided head-on with the Wave Missile, the two energies exploded like ordinary forces, sending tremors across the battlefield!

Dark black and pale blue intertwined at the center of the field, as sky-borne energy fragments and dust scattered everywhere, shockwaves rippling outward, the already fractured ground cracking further under the impact.

The host shouted: "Amazing move clash! Super Lucario's Insight has granted it the power to touch Ghost-types!"

Exactly.

It's precisely 【Insight】.

Upon seeing the Flower Rock Beast, Super Lucario instinctively grasped 【Insight】, enabling it to break through the Fighting-type limitation that prevented it from hitting Ghost-types.

Chilan also saw this, so she never doubted whether Super Lucario could defeat the Flower Rock Beast.

More importantly, her goal had been achieved.

"You never learn, Satoshi."

She smiled and said: "Hypnosis!"

In the smoke-filled arena, the Flower Rock Beast suddenly extended its evil spirit, charging into the mist and lunging straight at Super Lucario.

The opponent was using Wave Sense to detect its presence, sensing its approach—not only did it not dodge, but it intensified its perception.

Thus, when the pink-purple light washed over, Super Lucario reacted more violently than any other Pokémon, as if struck hard on the back of the head by a massive hammer, overwhelming drowsiness flooding its body like a tide, consciousness instantly sinking.

Thud.

It swayed its body and collapsed to the ground.

Satoshi gasped, "What!?"

The host also shouted: "Hypnosis hit! Super Lucario has lost its ability to resist!"

Chilan swiftly issued the next command: "Dream Eater!"

"Ha ha ha!"

The Flower Rock Beast laughed maniacally, releasing a thick pink mist toward the slumped Super Lucario, brows furrowed in pain.

Satoshi urgently shouted: "Lucario! Wake up!"

"Pika pika!"

Pikachu cried out alongside, unable to bear watching any longer.

"Uuu..."

Super Lucario mumbled in its sleep, pain and drowsiness showing simultaneously on its face, revealing its current struggle.

The Flower Rock Beast sucked hard, gaining the energy drain it desired.

Satoshi gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and used Wave Power to call out—his heart-to-heart link allowing his voice to gradually break through the barrier of reality.

"Wake up! Lucario!"

"Ahh..."

"Wake up!!!"

"Ahh!!!"

In an instant, Super Lucario's beast eyes flew open!