Chapter 534: Twin Dragons in a Fierce Battle!

Baimu walked to the spot where Mi Ke Li had originally been standing, head lowered as he thought through his next strategy.

That Gyarados...

It's strong!

At the very least, its energy level can't be low — otherwise, even with the rain boost, a single Water Pulse wouldn't have been enough to one-shot Porygon2 that easily.

The Eviolite had been hanging on Porygon2 the whole time, after all.

"Maybe there's a gap of ten levels or more… or its physical Attack was trained to an extreme."

"In the end, I'll leave it to you."

Baimu pulled a Poké Ball from his pocket, his peripheral vision sweeping over the state of the field.

Just as the second bout was about to begin, Light Screen and Trick Room had both faded, and the rain was showing signs of stopping — everything had returned to how it was at the start.

This was a good thing for him.

Suddenly.

Mi Ke Li's laughter drifted over from afar.

"Ah~~ What a brilliant move. My attention was entirely on Porygon2 — I never expected the Discharge was just to obscure my vision."

The intense flash from the Electric-type move had blinded Mi Ke Li's eyes, which was why he hadn't noticed the falling Corsola right away — and by the time he saw it, it was already too late.

The existence of Trick Room, and Ludicolo's remaining stamina, were both insufficient to withstand Corsola's Dark Void.

Also, just as Adam had said, for most of the first bout, the pace of the battle had been firmly held in Baimu's hands.

Even though Mi Ke Li had tried several times to seize back the initiative through status conditions or by separating Porygon2 and Corsola, his opponent had always managed to defuse it and use the opening to look for a chance to attack.

Porygon2 and Corsola's raw offensive power admittedly wasn't outstanding, but the strategy Baimu had laid out — from Light Screen and Trick Room to Substitute and Curse — had step by step become the decisive factor in their victory.

This kind of victory, built up gradually through the cooperation between Pokémon and Trainer, truly moved Mi Ke Li deeply.

If this were an ordinary Gym Challenge, the performance in the first bout alone would have been enough to make him willingly hand the Beacon Badge over to Baimu.

But...

"Then let's see what other stunning performances you have in store for me next. I'll be watching with great anticipation."

Mi Ke Li threw his Poké Ball.

Pop!

The white light flew into the pool and transformed into a massive figure.

"Rooooar!

Gyarados appeared once more, its terrifying howl making one's scalp crawl and body tremble.

It stared at the strange Pokémon across from it with shifty eyes, somewhat surprised that its Intimidate ability hadn't worked — it clearly looked scared.

And when its gaze fell on the top of the opponent's head, it froze for a moment.

This is a trio Pokémon, right? Why did only one of the small ones get affected?

"Rooar?"

In Gyarados's small pupils, there was a great big question.

"Oh? A Dragapult with Clear Body? Though the situation looks a little odd."

Mi Ke Li did recognize Dragapult — after all, he even knew Porygon2.

What puzzled him was the tiny figure huddled inside one of Dragapult's launchers — a blue stat-reduction glow had actually lit up on it.

【Clear Body】.

An ability that prevents stats from being lowered by an opponent's or ally's moves or abilities — in other words, Intimidate shouldn't have worked.

"..."

Baimu's expression didn't change — he knew exactly why.

In theory, when the Drizzile live in the launchers on Dragapult's head, they're treated as a single entity, like Exeggcute or Doduo.

So when their stats are affected by the opponent, the drops or boosts are synchronized.

However, when the stat changes on Drizzile and Dragapult aren't synchronized, according to the information he'd looked up, the reason is that one of the Drizzile or the Dragapult hasn't fully accepted the other yet.

Pokémon are a wonderfully idealistic species.

For example, the flames on a Rapidash won't burn the person it likes, and a Sharpedo's Rough Skin won't harm its own Trainer.

But it's not a big problem.

In official battles, Drizzile are only allowed to be used by Dragapult to fire Dragon Darts, and the power of Dragon Darts is determined by Dragapult — it has nothing to do with Drizzile's own Attack or stat changes.

"Double Team."

Baimu waved his hand and gave the order.

"Lutuo."

Dragapult let out a heavy sigh of relief.

It had long been unable to stand Gyarados's "aggressive" gaze — another second of being stared at and it felt like ants were crawling all over its body.

It couldn't figure out what there was to look at!

Its body lit up with a white glow.

In an instant.

Countless identical figures flickered into existence, densely filling the air above the field.

They moved rapidly around Gyarados, making the latter's eyes dart left and right.

"Don't be fooled! Wipe them all out in one go! Hurricane!"

Mi Ke Li knew well that while Double Team was highly disorienting, the illusory copies it created were paper-thin — any move at all could shatter them.

"Rooooar—"

Gyarados tilted its head back and took a deep breath, then suddenly blasted it out!

Whoosh!

The violent air currents shrieked as they ravaged the sky above the field, and the Dragonite Baluchitherium afterimages were snuffed out like candle flames in an instant—every last one of them!

"Hm?"

Mi Ke Li raised his brows and shouted, "Expand the attack range! It's turned invisible!"

He had been watching those afterimages closely ever since Dragonite Baluchitherium used Shadow Clone, even counting their number, and yet despite all that, the opponent had still managed to vanish from sight.

This was getting a little troublesome.

Both were born with the ability to turn invisible, but the Kecleon's invisibility still left some traces—the red jagged pattern on its middle. Dragonite Baluchitherium's invisibility, however, was virtually flawless, able to hide even the Dragonite Messias it launched from its launch holes…

No wonder it was classified as a stealth Pokémon.

"Roar!"

The long-breathed Gyarados swung its head like a blower, trying to sweep everything in the field into the range of its raging storm.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, Dragonite Baluchitherium hid in silence, and the two Dragonite Messias in its launch holes also covered their mouths.

One major drawback of invisibility is that it cannot block out sound. Once before, during a battle with another Pokémon, the opponent had remarkably sharp ears, and the little Dragonite brother kept laughing nonstop, which led to Dragonite Baluchitherium's unfortunate capture.

Ever since then, whenever they turned invisible together, the Dragonite Messias would voluntarily cover their mouths. Even if it didn't help much, at the very least it wouldn't hold them back, right?

They silently waited for their chance.

On the field.

The pale-white violent air currents flowed everywhere, but found nothing.

"Didn't find it?"

Mi Ke Li was stunned for a moment. He thought the storm had attacked nearly every part of the field, and if Dragonite Baluchitherium hadn't cheated by running off the field, then only—

His gaze fell toward the area around Gyarados, and as if a light bulb flashed on, he shouted: "It's hiding right beneath you! Lift your body and use Hydro Pump!"

In an instant.

Across the field, All Baimu also shouted, "Dragon Arrow!"

Light and shadow flickered in mottled patterns.

Dragonite Baluchitherium, nearly parallel to Gyarados's belly, appeared, and fire sprayed in all directions from the launch holes on its head!

Bang bang!

The Dragonite Messias trailed long plumes of smoke behind them, flying toward Gyarados, only two or three meters away, like high-speed missiles!

"Roar!"

The latter abruptly leaned back and raised its upper body, trying to put distance between itself and Dragonite Baluchitherium, but at such close range, dodging was basically impossible.

The excited little Dragonite brother slammed headfirst into Gyarados's nose, and the big Dragonite sister followed right behind, targeting Gyarados's left eye.

Peng Peng!

Two plumes of smoke exploded.

"Roaaar—"

Gyarados let out a scream. Even though its massive body was thick-skinned and tough, its nose and eyes were still undeniably vulnerable spots.

"So fast!"

Miss Liuqi exclaimed, and immediately saw the reeling Gyarados swing its tail hidden beneath the water. A glowing blue pillar burst through the surface and lashed toward Dragonite Baluchitherium.

"Aqua Tail!"

Even while wounded, it still remembered to attack its opponent by other means. Mi Ke Li's Pokémon were truly extraordinary.

Unfortunately, Dragonite Baluchitherium had already retreated under cover of invisibility, and the two successful Dragonite Messias also giggled as they vanished together into the air.

Gone again…

Even someone as experienced as Mi Ke Li, when faced with this situation, couldn't help but let the gravity he felt inside show plainly on his face.

He had naturally been battling All Baimu very seriously all along, but he had to admit that the latter's strength far exceeded his imagination.

He should have known that not only the strength rules of a Gym battle, but even the Gym Leader restriction rules—such as only the challenger being allowed to swap Pokémon—ought to be abolished.

Mi Ke Li clearly realized that he was paying the price for having "looked down on" All Baimu.

"Gyarados!"

"Roar!"

A bellow answered in reply. Gyarados raised its body and shook its massive head; visible wounds could be seen on its snout and left eye, especially that tightly shut left eye.

Mi Ke Li knew that for now, Gyarados could only observe its opponent through one eye.

"—Use Dragon Dance around the pond!"

"U-turn!"

The two gave their orders almost simultaneously.

Gyarados suddenly leaped up, its massive form unscientifically leaving the water's surface to float in the air, and began circling around the pond at the center of the field.

At the same time, a streak of green light materialized out of thin air!

Whoosh—

The air let out a sharp shriek. A fierce glint appeared in Gyarados's single eye. It had just been preparing to collide head-on and see who was tougher, but it hadn't expected the opponent to be far swifter than it.

In almost a flash, it grazed past the fin on its back.

Peng!

A small puff of smoke exploded.

"Roar!"

Gyarados only felt its back as if someone had struck it. To say it didn't hurt was a bit painful; to say it hurt, it was actually nothing much.

What just happened?

It was utterly baffled, and Miss Liuqi in the spectator stands was even more baffled by what All Baimu had done.

"Why switch Pokémon? Dragonite clearly has the advantage!"

"……"

Adam said nothing. Though he had been a Gym Leader for decades, he still could not see through every trainer's tactics.

What is All Baimu planning?

He and Mi Ke Li shared a small doubt in their hearts.

"It's your turn! Meteor Mash!"

The instant All Baimu recalled Dragonite, he threw out a Poké Ball.

Poof!

Bai Guang flickered.

"Roaaar!"

Hydreigon threw back its head and howled, energy gathering at visible speed in its chest and belly.

Not far away, as Gyarados spun at high speed based on Dragon Dance, fierce winds howled across the field with a rumbling roar, waves churning in the pool as if about to surge upward!

"Roar!"

Its howl was thick with fury.

The rules strictly require that when a trainer switches, they must wait until the red light from the previous Pokémon has been fully absorbed into the Poké Ball before sending out a new one by throwing a Poké Ball or pressing the button.

Otherwise it counts as a violation.

To ordinary trainers this interval might feel very brief, but for powerful trainers, it's enough to command a Pokémon through a tactic that turns defeat into victory!

Mi Ke Li gazed at the three massive energy orbs Hydreigon spewed into the sky, making the air tremble, his expression unmoved.

Boom!

The three energy orbs exploded in unison, hundreds of light trails dragging long orange-red flame tails, raining down like a meteor shower!

The intense light dimmed even the stadium's own lighting.

But this is.

"Draw the flowing water! Soar into the heavens!"

"Roaaar——!"

A ferocious water dragon, its entire body wrapped in glowing blue currents, screeched and spiraled up into the sky. The exploding light trails smashed down madly but could only splash up layer upon layer of ripples.

It couldn't break through that water membrane!

Gyarados looked down from above at the distant Hydreigon, its body coiled like a spring compressed to its limit.

"Waterfall!"

Mi Ke Li, like a commander directing cavalry into a charge, swung his hand heavily.

The next instant.

The towering water dragon bathed in light trails high in the sky hurtled toward Hydreigon like a speeding train!

Boom——!

The air let out an unstoppable explosive roar!

So fast it nearly flashed. In the stands, Miss Liuqi only felt her vision blur, and the massive dragon head had already slammed heavily into Hydreigon. The fierce water impact was like a colossal waterfall crashing down, as if it would burst the eardrums!

The shockwave's aftershocks rippled outward, madly whipping the hems of All Baimu and Mi Ke Li's clothes, and completely dispersing the few remaining dark clouds in the sky.

What a terrifying strike!

"Ah!"

She covered her mouth that had let out a gasp, her eyes fixed tightly on the field.

Adam also rose to his feet.

But they were not moved by the power Gyarados displayed — the two, who were familiar with Mi Ke Li, had long grown used to similar scenes.

What truly surprised the two was Hydreigon.

It was still standing right there, stubbornly withstanding Gyarados's terrifying offensive — channeling the pool's water through Dragon Dance and Waterfall into a ten-thousand-ton waterfall crashing head-on!

What kind of defense? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it an iron wall!

……Wait!

Adam narrowed his eyes.

Vaguely, he seemed to see between them a shattered honeycomb-shaped light shield.

"Protect… I see, but even so, being able to withstand it head-on is worthy of praise," he said softly.

The words had just fallen.

The flowing water surrounding Gyarados scattered across the ground, instantly turning the once-flat grass into a muddy mess.

But the two Pokémon did not separate, because Hydreigon's left and right heads were viciously biting Gyarados's two side horns, making it impossible for the latter to retreat.

"Roaaar——"

Hydreigon stared at the Gyarados right before it, the crimson gleam in its eyes making even the latter shudder!

Not good!

Seeing this scene, Mi Ke Li immediately thought things looked bad and shouted:

"Ice Fang!"

"Thunder Fang!"

All Baimu's command rang out almost at the same instant as his.

In a flash.

Bright lightning writhed like little snakes, spreading from Gyarados's two horns across its entire body, making its frame twitch uncontrollably!

The greatest characteristic of Electric-type moves——

Quick!

But at the same instant, a giant fang formed of glacial ice bit savagely into the Three-Headed Wicked Dragon!

Boom!

The smoke exploded outward.

Then a gust of fierce wind blew the smoke away.

It was the Three-Headed Wicked Dragon retreating; its lower body bore a touch of frost, but its spirit was utterly undimmed.

"Raaargh—!

It threw back its head and roared wildly.

Not far off, Feraligatr lay sprawled on the ground, wisps of white steam rising from its whole body, its hide crisscrossed with charred-black scorch marks.

The old steward called out loudly:

"Feraligatr is unable to battle!"