Chapter 1173

Baimu saw Zhu Lan reveal a gentle, soft smile.

Zhu Lan rose gracefully, extending her hand warmly: "Hello, Mr. Baimu. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

Baimu politely shook her hand.

Zhu Lan was his favorite champion from childhood—whether in appearance, strength, or preferred Pokémon, she struck all the right chords with him.

Thus, he naturally felt strong affection toward her.

Though he no longer harbored the intense admiration of his youth, seeing Zhu Lan in person—poised, elegant, beautiful, and intelligent—was still a source of great joy.

Beside her, Cadenceyra performed an elegant curtsy, lifting her skirt slightly, and whispered: "Please take care of me, Mr. Baimu, on our first meeting."

"The pleasure is mine."

Baimu nodded in return.

Ascelora stared blankly at the three of them, murmuring: "Zhu Lan… Cadenceyra… Champion and Elite Four?"

She was so astonished she couldn't close her mouth, only able to cover it with her hand.

Ordinary libraries usually only attract children—how could this place draw in these two?

Zhu Lan glanced at her with a soft, smiling gaze and spoke gently: "You must be the librarian here, Miss. Sorry for the disturbance."

"We heard this library holds records of Alola's history, and we'd like to take a look."

"Please excuse us~"

Cadenceyra bowed again; the young woman already carried the poised grace of a blossoming maiden.

Yet compared to Zhu Lan's mature feminine charm beside her, she seemed hardly different from a little girl.

As for Ascelora…

A little girl!

Undeniably a little girl!

She flusteredly waved her hands: "No need to be so formal! Please, feel free to browse!"

Ascelora's face lit up with delighted surprise, reminding Baimu that in the game, she too held a position among the Elite Four and was a descendant of Alola's royal family.

"Thank you."

Zhu Lan smiled faintly, sat down, and continued reading, her expression serious as she immersed herself in the book.

She is a professional archaeologist with a doctorate, just like Champion Dawu, enjoying travel to explore the histories of various worlds.

Cadenceyra initiated conversation with Baimu, saying: "The official match is the day after tomorrow, but I'm already eager—would you like to have a practice battle now?"

"If you'd like, I'm always ready."

How could he possibly shy away from a fight?

Cadenceyra immediately broke into a sweet smile: "I like your straightforwardness—let's go!"

The two walked out without hesitation.

Zhu Lan looked up, calling to Ascelora, who was about to follow: "Librarian Miss, do you have any more books on Alola's history here?"

"I'll help you find them!"

Ascelora eagerly ran toward the movable ladder, beginning to search for books for Zhu Lan.

Outside the library.

Cadenceyra and Baimu found an open clearing.

She said: "How about one-on-one? I don't want to keep Zhu Lan waiting too long."

"Agreed."

Baimu casually pulled out a Poké Ball.

Though he wanted to say that even a full battle wouldn't take much time either way,

he considered that, as this was their first meeting, such boastful talk would be inappropriate to blurt out casually.

In the end, he held back his harsh words, and Cadenceyra spoke instead.

"I heard from Wan Long and Yueju that you defeated Ailis's Double Axe Battle Dragon with your Three-Headed Evil Dragon, becoming the new Dragon King of Dragon's Hometown?"

"That's correct."

"I know you're strong, but this time I will not lose to you! I and Zhu Lan have an agreement—we must meet as Masters! No one can stop us!"

As she spoke, Cadenceyra's feet left the ground; her delicate frame floated midair, her wavy golden hair drifting in the breeze.

Several Poké Balls appeared out of nowhere, wrapped in a soft blue light.

She raised her head and said: "I hope this battle excites me—then you certainly won't be disappointed!"

As a powerful psychic, Cadenceyra and her Pokémon share a telepathic bond, enabling additional power amplification.

This also makes her the foremost among the Unova Elite Four.

"I'm very much looking forward to it."

Baimu smiled and threw his Poké Ball.

Bang!

Light flashed.

Galarian Sun Coral rolled onto the field, opening its eyes filled with resentment.

It knew leveling up brought more harm than good—normally, in such a state, it would choose not to battle?

Or was it only because it had just leveled up?

Galarian Sun Coral resolved to end this battle as quickly as possible.

In the distance, Cadenceyra's Pokémon slowly rose.

"Li Duo!"

The dashing and spirited Elreldo's eyes gleamed sharply, like a peerless swordsman gathering strength for a strike.

Gaudelia revealed her bracelet.

The crystal-clear keystone instantly burst into radiant light, enveloping Elreldo's slender frame!

Baimu's eyelids twitched slightly.

Upon learning this morning that he would face Gaudelia, he had commissioned Multi-Beast 2 to gather information on her.

Soon after, he discovered something that shocked him immensely.

Gaudelia possesses multiple Mega Evolutions!

Champion Alys hasn't mastered even one, yet Elite Four Gaudelia has mastered several?

Drought kills by drought, flood kills by flood.

Of course Baimu knows—this is simply because Alys herself didn't want it.

The Kalos Alliance distributed keystones and Mega Stones to each region, enough to equip champions, Elite Four members, and even some gym leaders.

The Ore Alliance is no exception.

Bartlas, Zhengyi, and others' Mega Evolution bracelets have already been replaced with official versions, but research into Mega Evolution waves was certainly not in vain.

Only because the initial purpose of developing the Mega Evolution bracelet was to allow challengers to also possess Mega Evolution.

At the moment Elreldo completed Mega Evolution, Baimu issued his command.

"Will-O-Wisp."

Sun Coral moved in sync, numerous purple fireballs spinning rapidly like a fire wheel, rushing toward the opponent!

But before it could fully close in.

Slice!

Slice-slice!

Cold light flashed, and the fire wheel was instantly severed into countless segments!

"Saw!"

Sun Coral angrily rolled forward, launching its first-ever proactive attack against the opponent!

Gaudelia softly said: "Don't get too close to it—its tentacles can immobilize your body, rendering you unable to move."

"Li Duo!"

The knight-transformed Mega Elreldo swept its cloak, arm blades glowing red, repeatedly slashing at the rolling Sun Coral, releasing numerous pink-purple light blades!

Slice-slice-slice!

【Spirit Blade】!

"Saw!"

Sun Coral let out a soft cry, rolling while raising a gleaming blue shield, blocking all the light blades.

Mobile defense?

Gaudelia blinked in surprise.

After all, maintaining defense is a move requiring great stability—Pokémon moving quickly absolutely cannot qualify as stable.

"Li Duo!"

Mega Elreldo's eyes flickered, suddenly manifesting numerous clones that surrounded Sun Coral.

Immediately, giving Baimu no time to react, its arm blades emitted a piercing black-red glow, attacking Sun Coral from multiple directions!

【Smack Down】!

"Tide Spin!"

Splash!

The tide surged!

Beneath Sun Coral, a sudden surge of azure water vortex erupted, scattering the numerous afterimages of Mega Elreldo lunging at it.

This maneuver successfully exposed the opponent's true form, yet its light blades remained undiminished, piercing through the surging vortex straight to the spine!

Boom!

Water mist exploded!

Mega Elreldo immediately withdrew backward.

How could it know that after retreating just two steps, its body would suddenly feel a intense paralysis, rendering it unable to move?

At this moment, Gaudelia, sharing a psychic link with it, furrowed her brow.

Captured?

After all, Gaudelia had long prepared for Sun Coral's smoky tentacles.

Therefore, during its attack, Mega Elreldo deliberately extended its light blades to ensure sufficient reach.

But how could she have imagined that Sun Coral's level had risen dramatically in a short time, and under the nourishment of the Spirit Vein, its "soul" had undergone a tremendous transformation?

For example...

Merging into the water mist!

"Absorb Power."

Baimu's voice reached the ears of both Pokémon.

"Li Duo!"

Mega Elreldo and Gaudelia's eyes simultaneously glowed blue, immense psychic power gradually freeing it from the water mist's restraint.

But before that, countless gleaming green rays shot from its surface, rushing rapidly into Sun Coral's body.

When it successfully broke free and departed.

A pale blue glow gradually lit up, symbolizing a significant drop in its attack power.

Jadeliya's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, but then quickly relaxed.

Although the power absorption reduced the attack, at least 【Smack Down】 hit, successfully taking the Evolution Stone from Sun Coral.

"Lirido!"

"What?"

The message transmitted by the Pokémon left her stunned.

What does it mean to not feel anything being slapped down?

Super Elreydo was silent; normally, after 【Smack Down】 hits an opponent's item, there is a sensation, even if the eyes cannot see, its mental power can detect the dropped object.

But there was none.

There wasn't even an extra stone on the ground!

"... Not brought?"

Jadeliya proposed a hypothesis.

Recalling the situation she had just "seen," she found that due to excessive energy chaos, she could not determine the specific circumstances at all.

Try again!

"Psychic Blade!"

"Will-O-Wisp."

Both sides issued orders simultaneously.

Super Elreydo, relying on its innate speed advantage, was slightly faster by a step.

It turned its body like a dance, swiftly moving around Sun Coral, and in the blink of an eye, seven or eight pink-purple blades pierced the air!

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!

The blades tore through the water mist, shooting toward Sun Coral from all directions.

Slice! Bang!

The hard-to-dodge light blades frenziedly cut Sun Coral, then exploded like bombs, with large clouds of smoke rising high.

What was the result?

Amid the swirling smoke, under Jadeliya's gaze, one after another dark-purple fireball blossomed.

They seemed alive, tracing arcs in midair, rushing one after another toward Super Elreydo.

"Can't hit..."

Jadeliya's eyebrows furrowed deeply.

After just one attack reduction, could it not even interrupt a move?

Clearly, there is an Evolution Stone present!

Could it really be that the power absorption effect is too strong, or perhaps Sun Coral's defense is too solid?

Maybe all three factors are at play.

Tricky!

Jadeliya's mental power fluctuated violently.

Although the battle had just begun not long ago, she felt she was facing some kind of predicament.

In fact, Jadeliya's judgment was completely correct; Sun Coral indeed possesses all three factors.

Why wasn't its Evolution Stone slapped down?

The reason is very simple.

Just spit it out before getting slapped, right!

The principle of 【Smack Down】 is to act through the opponent's body, applying energy to the item, rendering it ineffective for a short time.

If so, actively throwing the item away would avoid being 【Smack Down】 by the opponent, right?

After Baimu consulted the materials and put it into practice, he enabled Sun Coral and Duodian Shou2 to master this operation.

It must be said, Super Elreydo's attack is extremely fierce; without the Evolution Stone, Sun Coral would have nearly lost half its HP from a single 【Smack Down】.

Fortunately, it had just leveled up not long ago.

But every advantage has its drawback; such exaggerated physical attack also makes the 【Absorb Power】 effect outstanding, allowing it to effortlessly reabsorb lost stamina in an instant.

Even Jújú openly slapped once before; he surely must consider countermeasures.

A single move eating all under heaven is still relatively rare in Pokémon battles, unless the gap between the two is truly enormous.

On the field.

Will-O-Wisps howled as they flew past.

【See Through】!

"Lirido!"

Super Elreydo's eyes glowed slightly, leisurely strolling to dodge the impenetrable Will-O-Wisp barrage.

Immediately after, it fiercely unfurled its cloak, summoning numerous translucent sword blades.

Just as the blades began to spin.

Hum!

A powerful mental surge surged into its body, causing the translucent sword blades to flicker wildly.

Fortunately, it still had Jadeliya's mental power support, and in just an instant, it broke free from the immobilization spell's shackles, completing the Sword Dance.

The lost attack power was compensated, but the immobilization spell's effect was also applied to it.

"Lirido..."

Super Elreydo took a deep breath, then immediately began spinning at extreme speed!

Countless pink-purple light blades shot out like a storm, seemingly poised to unleash a relentless assault, leaving Sun Coral struggling to breathe!

However, the Sun Coral wouldn't foolishly take hits just because it couldn't reach its opponent.

If it couldn't lower the opponent's attack, wouldn't raising its own defense work?

Its grayish-white body surface gleamed with metallic luster, and countless incoming light blades striking it produced only crisp ding-dong sounds.

Seeing this, Gaudelia clenched her pink fists.

She was a bit broken through.

Had this been before, her mental power might have already run wild.

Fortunately, after undergoing "training" in the United Regions, this ordinary predicament...

... was anything but ordinary!

Gaudelia secretly resented the Sun Coral for being so troublesome—unhittable, unupgradable.

It seemed she could only try using a special attack—

Swish!

Another slash of orange light descended, a strange feeling lingering around Gaudelia's heart.

She looked at the Sun Coral; as a psychic, she was very clear that the opponent had used 【Meditation】.

Gaudelia: "..."

Black Mist!

She needed Black Mist!

Gaudelia began to regret for the first time why she had agreed to a one-on-one match with Baimu.

If it were two-on-two, she would have another chance.

"【The King of Change】..."

She recalled what Orange and Wan Long had once told her, and suddenly felt fortunate this wasn't an official match.

Of course, Super Elreldo wasn't without advantages.

It was very fast!

Inside the arena, Super Elreldo circled the Sun Coral "scraping," producing incessant clanging sounds.

The Sun Coral stood motionless, even leisurely deploying a 【Reflective Wall】 to boost physical defense, occasionally meditating to raise special attack and defense.

Gaudelia began to show signs of anxiety.

Especially when she noticed Zhulan had appeared beside her at some point.

This couldn't continue.

Use 【Pat Down】 once more—

The moment the thought formed, the Super Elreldo, highly synced with her spirit, paused its spinning motion.

Baimu's mouth corner curled into a smile, "Got you."

"Screech!"

The Sun Coral roared angrily, instantly forming a dark shadow ball hundreds of times its size, which howled toward Super Elreldo!

Gaudelia widened her eyes in an instant, "Look—"

Too late.

How could Baimu let the opportunity he had waited so long for slip away?

The scene looked as if Super Elreldo had actively rushed toward the incoming massive shadow ball, and the two collided with a tremendous impact!

Boom——!!

Purple-black energy waves mixed with smoke, overturning the entire battlefield!

Gaudelia was dazed.

Her psychic link with Super Elreldo was severed.