Chapter 264: The Immovable Reef

Under the Yoga posture, Qia Lei Mu was like a phantom.

Not only did it soar into the air like a giant roc, but as it retreated it left behind streaks of glowing blue afterimages — a sight that looked quite miraculous.

"Grab it! Body-binding technique!"

All Baimu was hardly willing to let it slip away just like that.

The Galarian Sun Coral, wanting to get off work early, absolutely would not allow the prey right at its jaws to fly off just like that; its eyes lit up with an eerie blue light and surged toward Qia Lei Mu.

The latter immediately froze mid-air, as if someone had hit pause.

"Break free! Don't let the tide influence you!"

Teng Shu shouted at the top of his lungs, "Match its surge! Rise and fall, rise and fall—"

Under his guidance, Qia Lei Mu's body trembled violently as it fought desperately against the Galarian Sun Coral's binding; the power of the curse seeped out from the shadows, continuously infiltrating its body and steadily draining its stamina.

Its aura seemed to be growing faint.

The situation looked excellent, yet All Baimu felt something was off.

Why was this light getting brighter and brighter?

He quickly lowered his head to look at the Galarian Sun Coral; its slight trembling immediately told him just how fierce Qia Lei Mu's resistance was.

Something was wrong!

"—Dive into the tidal vortex!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Qia Lei Mu in mid-air blazed with light, its body shining so brightly no one could look at it directly; its legs crossed as it hovered in the air, looking as though it were in deep meditation.

In the span of a breath, a terrifying spiritual force spread toward the Galarian Sun Coral, which had half its body submerged in the tidal vortex.

Swooosh—

The azure water vortex quietly vanished, as if wiped away by a pair of invisible great hands, exposing the round, plump Galarian Sun Coral; the latter gazed at the radiant Qia Lei Mu, and its usual listless expression now showed a hint of panic.

All Baimu was also a little flustered.

What kind of logic is that — in a Gym battle, the challenger's Pokémon hasn't even powered up yet, but the Gym Leader's Pokémon powers up first?

But then he recalled that when fighting Ash, Teng Shu's Hariyama had even evolved; and recalling past encounters, had he not seen plenty of opponents suddenly powering up?

All Baimu's mindset instantly steadied — he knew that no matter how strong Qia Lei Mu became after powering up, he would just play it by ear.

"Don't panic! It can't hurt you!"

The pressing matter was to speak up and steady the Galarian Sun Coral's state; it had probably encountered such sudden situations rarely, and if it didn't stabilize, it was done for.

"Whether you can break through the giant wave, you'll only know by trying!" Hearing his words, Teng Shu grinned, "Psycho Headbutt!"

"Kia!"

The lightbulb-like Qia Lei Mu pressed its hands together, and with its head and hands swaying, charged toward the Galarian Sun Coral; the spiritual force gathered on its forehead formed a blue vortex, as if it would twist space itself.

"Gah…"

The terrifying aura made the Galarian Sun Coral involuntarily shrink back a little.

"Don't be afraid! You can do it! Bring out the patience you used against Aggron!" All Baimu shouted again, "Trust me!

Absorb power!

The Galarian Sun Coral echoed its trainer's shout; the will contained in those words was like a flame igniting, giving it courage.

Its drooping mouth corners suddenly pressed into a straight line, and its gaze abruptly turned resolute.

"Gah!"

It thrust out its smoke-like branches with all its might; the four tentacles on its back suddenly shattered, transforming into a thick fog that swept toward the oncoming Qia Lei Mu!

Whoosh!

Qia Lei Mu charged into the fog without hesitation, nimbly flipping itself completely upside-down, and like a heavy blade slammed down hard upon the Galarian Sun Coral.

The tremendous force instantly smashed it into the ground!

Thud!

The ground quaked violently.

Debris flew, thick smoke billowed.

The field fell into utter silence — not a single sound could be heard.

Teng Shu confidently crossed his arms, looking as though Qia Lei Mu was sure to take down the Galarian Sun Coral. "No matter how stubborn the tide, there will come a day it is broken!"