Chapter 941: Steel Snake Clash

Gladion was unwilling to leave the field.

He hadn't even had the chance to use his Z-Move.

He had intended to use Dark-type moves after using an illusion to confuse All Baimu and Blissey.

As it turned out...

"Where exactly did I fall short?"

The wealthy young master, who had only relied on his money, was extremely frustrated.

It was precisely because he knew Blissey's physical defense was weak that he chose to have Zoroark engage in close-quarters combat.

Who would have thought he would suffer such a huge loss against Minimize?

Sigh!

Gladion bowed expressionlessly. As he turned to leave, his mind was frantically replaying the match; he didn't even react when Lillie called out to him.

It wasn't until the Shiny Nihilego poked him in the waist with a tentacle that he snapped out of it.

He twitched, clutching his stomach, and after a long while, he smiled at the flustered Lillie: "I'm fine... Li, Lillie, what's wrong?"

Lillie said, half-reproachfully and half-concerned: "I noticed you didn't really eat anything tonight, Brother..."

"Good!"

The sister-complex boy grabbed a skewer of corn and started gnawing on it, continuing to replay the match in his head as he ate.

Lillie didn't bother him further, instead whispering to Nihilego, explaining the incorrect behavior from earlier.

Nihilego: Doing my own thing. jpg

"Finally, it's my turn!"

Ash stepped excitedly onto the sandy beach with his bare feet.

Pikachu's lightning-bolt-shaped tail flicked back and forth, following closely behind the Rotom Pokédex, which was shouting, "Ash, wait for me!"

Unfortunately, it wasn't Pikachu's turn to enter the field.

That was because Ash preferred giving his new partners opportunities to grow.

In many roadside battles or even Gym battles, even if he knew Pikachu had a better chance of winning, his first choice remained his newly captured Pokémon.

This time was no different.

"Go! Lycanroc!"

The Poké Ball flew high into the air.

Bang!

A giant wolf with orange and white fur, sporting stone-like bone spurs on its neck and head, landed on the field.

"Awoooo—!!"

Under the moonlight.

The Dusk Form Lycanroc tilted its head back and howled, looking like a celestial dog devouring the moon.

At the same time.

All Baimu, having already recalled Blissey, threw out a Dusk Ball.

"Go."

Bang!

Within the thick black mist, Dragapult appeared, carrying its two Dreepy.

Recently, the Dreepy siblings had grown tired of living in the Luxury Ball and wanted to move into a different type of ball.

After much pestering, the older sister finally agreed.

The opinion of the socially anxious Dragapult?

It didn't matter.

It was completely wrapped around the fingers of the two Dreepy—especially the older sister.

He heard that Tinkaton and the others were secretly shipping the two of them.

All Baimu, for one, couldn't get behind it.

The size difference was just too great.

"The same Pokémon I saw last time!"

Ash wore an excited expression, and the Rotom Pokédex finally came in handy, helping him recall information about Dragapult.

And when battling Ash, the one thing that always required vigilance was the same old thing—

Speed!

Speed so fast that it prevented him from using that clever brain of his to come up with some outlandish tactics.

For example, the Lycanroc All Baimu was facing would, in the near future, use Counter-Counter.

Which meant countering the damage that someone else had already countered back!

It was practically digging a trench!

All Baimu didn't want to suffer such a dull loss.

"Accelerock!"

"Dragon Dance."

Both sides gave their orders.

Lycanroc moved first, lunging forward swiftly, its body glowing with a bright light.

Dust flew up into the air.

Dragapult watched the approaching Lycanroc silently, vanishing just before the collision.

The next moment.

It appeared in mid-air, its body wreathed in flame-like Dragon-type energy, twisting and turning freely.

The light symbolizing an increase in stats lit up.

Ash shouted: "Jump! It's in the sky behind you!"

Lycanroc immediately turned and jumped, the speed boost from Accelerock still active, allowing it to easily reach mid-air.

To its surprise, at the critical moment, the latter vanished strangely and silently again, like a ghost.

"Awo!?"

Lycanroc landed nimbly, looking solemnly at the sky.

The Rotom Pokédex reminded him: "Dragapult is also known as the Stealth Pokémon; invisibility is its specialty, Roto!"

Ash pinched the brim of his hat, his gaze darting around the sky.

Unfortunately, the night added a layer of camouflage to Dragapult's invisibility, making it impossible to confirm its location with the naked eye.

"In that case—Odor Sleuth! Its body can be invisible, but its scent can't, right?"

He shouted and waved his hand.

Lycanroc's nose twitched, and within moments, it caught the specific scent of Dragapult.

"Awoooo!"

"You found it? Then I won't hold back!"

Ash spun his hat around, saying confidently: "Let's settle this all at once! Lycanroc!"

He crossed his hands to reveal the shining Z-Ring.

All Baimu was surprised that Ash brought out a Z-Move so quickly; it was likely that Gladion's performance in the previous match had taught him a lesson—

Opportunities are fleeting!

"Dragon Dance."

"Dreepy."

Dragapult appeared, continuing to rotate and twist in the air, increasing its speed and Attack.

On the other side.

Ash and Lycanroc's movements reached their climax, and he shouted: "This is our full power—"

"Awo—"

A brilliant golden light instantly illuminated the pitch-black night sky!

"Splintered Stormshards!!"

"Woo!!"

Lycanroc roared while standing on the peak of a raised mountain rock.

Furthermore, it suddenly leaped to a high place.

Countless brownish-red boulders flew into the sky together, all aiming at the circling Dragapult!

As Ash's arms closed like teeth.

Lycanroc howled, manipulating the array of boulders filling the sky, which rushed toward Dragapult like a violent storm.

"Now! Quick Attack!"

All Baimu's command rang out.

In an instant.

Dragapult transformed into a streak of white light, difficult for the naked eye to track!

The enhanced 【Quick Attack】 it had learned from Juan's Flygon was displayed to its fullest potential at this moment!

A Z-Move that was impossible to dodge in the game was now completely left behind by its ghostly movements.

And while Dragapult was seeing Lycanroc's Z-Move for the first time.

To it, this move was not much different in form from Hydreigon's three-headed Draco Meteor.

In terms of density, they were also on par.

Therefore.

Dragapult was very familiar with it!

The sky over the beach.

Aside from the terrifying boulders crashing down from the sky, there was only a streak of shining white light, like a smear on black cloth!

Boom, boom, boom!!

The shattered boulders kicked up dust that reached the sky, obscuring All Baimu and Ash's vision.

But both sides knew clearly that 【Splintered Stormshards】 had missed!

There was no time for surprise or regret.

Ash hurriedly warned: "Watch out behind you!"

Unfortunately, after two consecutive speed boosts, Dragapult's speed was approaching that of Regieleki!

Lycanroc had just caught the scent of something approaching rapidly when the dust behind it was pierced. Dragapult, like a streak of light, slammed into its spine!

Bang!

"Woo!"

Lycanroc let out a low howl, but was then entangled by Dragapult's tail, which grabbed its hind leg and flung it violently into the air!

Ash shouted: "Use Accelerock to steady yourself!"

"Awo!"

It hurriedly adjusted its posture, its body glowing with elemental energy.

But inadvertently.

Lycanroc saw Dragapult facing it head-on, the two Dreepy inside the launch ports glowing with excitement.

"Dragon Darts!"

Bang, bang!

Fire sprayed!

The two Dreepy shrieked wantonly, like two launched missiles!

Their lightning-fast speed bore down on Lycanroc, who was about to land!

"Jump again!"

Ash's command was quick.

Lycanroc, in its moment of crisis, was just as quick, preparing to push off and jump the moment its claws touched the ground.

But the two Dreepy were not some ordinary, straightforward move.

They arched their bodies, chasing the jumping Lycanroc like homing missiles, one striking the jaw and the other the abdomen!

Thud, thud!

Dragon fire mixed with smoke exploded.

Ash shouted nervously: "Lycanroc!!"

Unfortunately.

Lycanroc could no longer hear what he was saying; by the time it fell from the smoke, it had already fainted.

All Baimu breathed a sigh of relief in secret.

His intention had been to throw Lycanroc high into the air and finish it off with Dragon Darts, but who knew 【Accelerock】 would speed up its descent.

Fortunately, the two Dreepy's tracking skills hadn't been practiced in vain.

"Dreepy!"

Dragapult recalled the Dreepy, looking at its fainted opponent, a glimmer of excitement appearing in its slightly sleazy triangular eyes.

In the past, it would only care about whether it had lost or not.

Now, under the influence of its many partners, it could somewhat appreciate the joy of victory.

Much like the Galarian Corsola that was forced to work hard by the motivated All Baimu.

"Lost..."

Ash turned his hat brim back to the front, recalled Lycanroc, and said regretfully yet happily: "Good work! All Baimu's Pokémon are truly amazing!"

Pikachu nodded in agreement, "Pika!"

It still hadn't forgotten the Mega Aggron that had caught its Z-Move.

The Rotom Pokédex recorded the entire battle, whispering: "Database updated! Dragapult's battle method!"

The three were about to leave.

Pikachu was suddenly called over.

"After battling three times in a row, I'm a little exhausted, I need Pikachu to heal me!"

All Baimu lied through his teeth.

Yet Ash believed him; while Pikachu felt a bit ashamed, it didn't refuse and trotted over hurriedly.

"Pika-pi~"

"Good boy~"

All Baimu hugged Pikachu, kneading its chubby, soft body.

Pikachu's design had been modified several times; in the original series, it didn't even have a neck, looking like a short, chubby lump.

It wasn't until several generations of changes that it became the cute appearance it had now.

Brock stepped up to take his turn.

He had taken off his shirt at some point, revealing his toned, chocolate-colored chest, and joked:

"You've gotten stronger again, All Baimu! If you were to become a Gym Leader, I doubt anyone would ever get a badge."

"I'd give them out just the same if they won, as long as they met the standard."

Said All Baimu, who had once served as the temporary Gym Leader of the Sootopolis Gym.

Both of them threw out their Poké Balls.

Bang, bang!

In an instant.

Two incredibly massive figures appeared, growling at each other.

"Gong!"

"Gong-roar~"

It was none other than Steelix and Mega Steelix!

Brock laughed: "Looks like we were thinking the same thing!"

All Baimu also revealed a smile, adding:

"After all, you've taught me so much, and as your student, it's time to hand in my homework."

As the words fell.

Both of them pulled out their Key Stones.

"Mega Evolve!" x2

Under the moved gazes of the few people in the distance, both Steelix were covered in colorful light, completing a world-shaking transformation in an instant!

The normal-sized and the giant-sized Mega Steelix stared at each other again, then, without waiting for their trainers to command, roared and charged at each other!

Thud!!

The loud sound of metal colliding was as deafening as a giant bell!

Both Mega Steelix entangled each other, locking onto the other's joints and tightening their grip!

Once upon a time.

The super-giant Steelix had been bound so tightly by Brock's Mega Steelix that it couldn't move, but today.

It finally achieved a counterattack, using its larger body and more terrifying strength to suppress Brock's Mega Steelix!

Crack, crack, crack—

The teeth-gritting sound of metal fatigue rang out continuously.

Brock knew something was wrong and shouted: "Use Gyro Ball to spin your body! Break free!"

"Gong!"

His Mega Steelix struggled to twist its horizontal steel bones, attempting to separate from the super-giant Steelix like a lock being undone.

Clang, clang, clang!

The sound of metal striking metal rang out continuously!

All Baimu wouldn't give him that chance: "Bite its face and slam it into the ground! High Horsepower!"

"Gong!"

The super-giant Steelix bit down on its opponent's chin and slammed it into the ground with all its might!

Boom!!

Like a mountain collapsing.

Sand flew into the air like a waterfall, and the two giant beasts continued to entangle, not separating for even a moment!

Brock finally understood what it meant for the student to surpass the master.

His Mega Steelix was actually retreating step by step in front of the Gigantamax Steelix.

"Dig! Go underground!"

"No chance, use Drill Run on its forehead!"

Both sides gave their orders.

The super-giant Steelix used its longer body to stand up its giant tail, tilting its crystalline tail and spinning it at high speed to turn it into an earthy-yellow drill!

Vroom!!

It thrust toward its opponent's chin with all its might!

Sizzle—

Sparks flew wildly, and Brock's Mega Steelix let out a miserable howl; the intense vibration made it dizzy.

Even though it had been perfectly fine after slamming its head into a mountain.

Brock was helpless and could only watch as the muffled roar of his Mega Steelix came to an abrupt halt.

The super-giant Steelix let go of its opponent.

Thud!

The falling giant body shook up some dust again, and it returned to its original form amidst the flowing colorful light.

"A perfect answer, then."

A hint of helplessness appeared in Brock's squinted eyes.

In fact.

When he had taught All Baimu's giant Steelix how to properly use Bind, he had guessed that this day would come sooner or later.

It was just that All Baimu and his Pokémon's learning ability was truly powerful.

Some techniques that ordinary people needed to practice day and night, they could learn with almost no effort.

"Congratulations, All Baimu! Your Steelix course has successfully graduated!"

He shouted.

All Baimu didn't speak, holding Pikachu with one hand and bowing to Brock.

The two were extremely close friends, but they also had another layer of relationship as teacher and student.

One should show respect to those who generously share their knowledge.

In the distance.

Although the few people didn't hear the content of All Baimu and Brock's conversation, the sight of the two giant beasts fighting each other was truly visually striking.

Lillie replayed the images on her phone, having the urge to post them online.

She was debating whether or not to do so.

Gladion's voice came from beside her ear.

"Lillie, it's your turn."

"Eh?"

Lillie was slightly startled, suddenly remembering that she had also agreed to battle All Baimu just to join in the fun.

This...

The performance of the previous four people made her feel somewhat uneasy at this moment.

Could she really battle All Baimu?

Ash encouraged her: "Go for it! Lillie! It's fine! Didn't everyone else go? Go for it! You can do it!"

"That's right, Lillie! Go for it! What's important has never been winning or losing!"

Misty said persuasively.

Gladion didn't speak, only looking at her with encouraging eyes.

Lillie looked at them, then at All Baimu who was waiting, and gathered her courage.

"Then... I'm going!"

She lifted her skirt and walked toward the beach. ===== CHAPTER 942 =====