Chapter 181: The Radiant Stone

Champion Dawu!?

Baimu in the alley felt dizzy and lightheaded, as if he hadn't expected the Champion of the Hoenn region to show up in Iron Town.

Even to help them fight the Shadow Team.

Is this deus ex machina?

——Regardless of whether it is or not, Baimu was definitely enjoying it; he was just about to retreat when suddenly the Champion arrived to help.

You should know that Steven's Mega Metagross is a powerful Pokémon that can go several rounds against Primal Kyogre!

Isn't dealing with the Shadow Team's lackeys a breeze?

"Keep retreating! Don't get bogged down! Pull back all injured Pokémon and wounded personnel! Hurry!"

Baimu didn't forget what he needed to do; he ran out with Gulpin to buy time for his comrades' evacuation, then turned to Wu, "Go! Get the second line to move in! No more hiding! Launch the full counterattack! Now!"

"Got it!"

Wu had just snapped out of his shock at Dawu's arrival and rushed out with his two Pokémon in a hurry.

Baimu followed behind him; Gulpin's peripheral vision caught a Shadow Pokémon charging toward them—he snapped his head around, slamming his massive jaws like a sledgehammer and blasting it away!

Boom!

"Thanks!"

He gave Gulpin a thumbs-up, then shouted toward the slowly ceasing sandstorm-emitting Steelix:

"Dig all you want! I give you permission to dig!"

The shrunken Azumarill darted between the Pokémon, racing under the exhausted Steelix and restoring its stamina with Heal Bell.

The latter just happened to hear Baimu's voice; his eyes lit up instantly, his lower body surged with power, and four horizontal steel bones spun like a leaping fish—CRASH! —plunging into the ground.

Then, with another BOOM, he burst back out, flinging countless Shadow Pokémon chasing the retreating Pokémon, leaving behind one terrifying crater after another.

Then.

Amid the chaos, Baimu spotted Bagon.

It was covering a group of Pokémon's retreat; seeing its trainer approach, its eyes instantly brightened, "Grrr!"

"How are you holding up?"

Baimu glanced at Bagon's condition; fortunately, the Shadow Pokémon couldn't use normal moves, so Bagon hadn't taken any Ground- or Fighting-type attacks—it was still holding up for now.

But its stamina was likely on its last legs.

"Grrr!"

Bagon grinned fiercely at its trainer, raising one clenched fist to show it could still fight.

"Good. Let's go!"

Baimu leapt onto Bagon's back, Gulpin stood atop its head, and used Transfer to shift all its own status effects—【Iron Defense】 and 【Electro Float】—onto Bagon.

"Charge! Body Slam! Let them feel the hardness of your skull!"

"Roar—!"

Bagon let out a mighty roar and surged forward.

Along its path, whether Shadow Team members or Shadow Pokémon, all were effortlessly knocked flying.

The Azumarill, which had just been casting Heal Bell on other Pokémon, saw this and darted forward with astonishing agility—its speed suddenly surged beyond what any nearby Shadow Pokémon could match, successfully grabbing hold of Bagon's tail.

"Lucky!"

Azumarill shouted, erecting a shield of light to block attacks coming from all directions.

Sensing its companion's presence, Bagon whipped its tail sharply, sending Azumarill tumbling into Baimu's arms.

"Lucky~"

"You're here too!"

Baimu smiled and patted its head, then looked around at the chaotic scene and the endless waves of charging Shadow Pokémon: "Perfect. Originally it was just the four of us—now it's still just the four of us! If that's the case, it's time to sound the counterattack horn!"

"Charge—!"

"Roar—!"

His shout merged with Bagon's roar, echoing thunderously through the street.

Hearing his voice, N stepped out from hiding, gazing at the Shadow Pokémon with deep sorrow, then raised his right hand toward the front and shouted:

"To defend our home! Advance—!"

Behind N, countless Pokémon surged forth from nowhere.

Dawu, who had been continuously knocking away wave after wave of Shadow Pokémon, heard their cries and saw Bagon with Baimu on its back, and N leading a horde of Pokémon—he couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"Hahahaha! That's it!"

At that moment.

A beam of light suddenly exploded in the sky, shattering into countless energy masses like meteorites—BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—they rained down, but not on their location—on other places.

"Looks like the old captain has already entered too. Good. Perfect!"

Dawu's smile didn't fade; he hadn't fought so freely in a long time.

Even though the opponents were all petty thugs, what truly thrilled him was fighting alongside these people. Even without any communication, even if they'd never met, just seeing their battles—couldn't he understand?

The most inspiring battle in the world is when Pokémon and humans work together, advancing toward the same goal!

When they give everything to protect what matters, the unique value and brilliance hidden within bursts forth.

To Dawu, this was no different from unearthing precious gems buried in rock walls.

No.

This was the most precious, most radiant diamond—the very thing he, as a Shi Zhi collector, loved!

"I should give it my all too!"

Dawu pulled out Poké Balls from his pocket and hurled them high into the air.

In an instant, numerous Pokémon symbolizing champion-level strength flew out from within, roaring as they launched attacks against the Shadow Team members and Dark Pokémon!

—

An Underground dungeon.

Lei Ou and the others had finished off a group of Shadow Team members, and had N bring the Pokémon he had liberated from the neutral dungeon surging up toward the surface, immediately starting to contact All Baimu.

"Sword Come"

But they couldn't get through.

"Looks like something happened on the surface. It's time for us to make our move!"

Lei Ou looked at the trainers of Agate Village around him, receiving their unanimous agreement.

But just as they were about to head up, they received a secret communication from Master Liu Ge: "You can move now! Come to me to switch equipment, I'll send you the coordinates!"

"Switch equipment? But what about All Baimu's side—"

"Someone's helping on All Baimu's side! Come quick! Every second counts!"

Lei Ou and the others were somewhat puzzled, but still followed Master Liu Ge's instructions and arrived at the designated location, immediately seeing Shan Ren, who had brought back an entire convoy.

"These are—!"

"Reinforcements from the Devon Corporation." Shan Ren was all smiles, about to urge them to gear up, when an extremely terrifying roar came from the distance. Countless thick black-purple beams of light flew wildly across the sky, sweeping across the ground and igniting towering flames wherever they passed.

Immediately after.

One Gyarados after another, one Dragonite after another, took flight from the ground.

Lei Ou and the others were somewhat astonished.

"Ah, those are the dragon tamers brought by Hoenn's Dragon Elite Four Captain Shi Yuan Zhi. They came to help, and along the way to look for the orphans they lost in this region."

Shan Ren's smile grew even more fervent. "Come on, we can't afford to waste any more time."

Only then did Lei Ou and the others nod in acknowledgment.