Chapter 32: Proactive Challenge

"Kai Luo Si, use Clamp!" With a bright command, the samurai youth Kai Luo Si suddenly unfurled a pair of sharp giant horns atop his head and, like an arrow released, charged at Huo La's Big Needle Bee, stirring up fallen leaves with the gust of his run.

"Big Needle Bee, take to the air and dodge, then use Poison Liquid Impact!" Huo La stood still, expression calm, tone without any panic.

The Big Needle Bee beat its wings, emitting a buzzing sound, and rose lightly into the air, just avoiding Kai Luo Si's Clamp.

Immediately, its tail condensed a lump of purple Poison, which it spewed toward the ground‑bound Kai Luo Si like a sharp arrow.

"Kai Luo Si, dodge and then use Substitute!" The samurai youth reacted extremely quickly, instantly adjusting the command.

Kai Luo Si swiftly sidestepped the Poison, his form flickered, and the arena instantly split into two identical figures—one standing steadily in place, the other assuming an attacking stance, making it hard to tell which was real.

"Substitute?" Huo La's mouth curled into a light laugh, murmuring softly, "If you hadn't practiced precision yesterday, you might still have fooled me," he raised his voice and ordered, "Big Needle Bee, Poison Liquid Impact, Point Shot!"

As soon as the words fell, the Big Needle Bee adjusted its posture in the air; the tail's Poison was no longer a wide spray but condensed into tiny droplets, shot out with arrow‑like precision—"whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" a few times, the Poison droplets consecutively struck the two Kai Luo Sis.

One of the figures instantly turned into blue smoke and vanished—it was the Substitute; the other hurried backward, and although it avoided the vital spot, its forelimb still brushed a bit of Poison, faintly swelling reddish.

"What precise control!" a flash of surprise crossed the samurai youth's eyes, then his fighting spirit reignited, "Kai Luo Si, use Harden! Then leap up and use Earth Toss!"

Huo La narrowed his eyes; yesterday he had been pondering whether he could meet this warrior, and hadn't expected to run into him today, and was further surprised that this Kai Luo Si could even perform the skillful Earth Toss.

He deliberately refrained from using the system to check Kai Luo Si's data, just to enjoy the thrill of an "unknown battle," and the samurai youth's tactics were clearly more subtle than he had anticipated.

Kai Luo Si's body surface shimmered with a gray‑white sheen, the effect of Harden activating, instantly boosting his defense.

Then, its hind legs powered, and it leapt fiercely—though lacking Flying ability, the jump surged to nearly three meters high, its forearms reaching toward the airborne Big Needle Bee, evidently intending to grab it and then execute Earth Toss.

Huo La understood—Big Needle Bee had deliberately stayed at a lower altitude to ensure Poison Liquid Impact's accuracy, but unintentionally gave Kai Luo Si an opening.

Yet he was not flustered; instead he calmly ordered, "Big Needle Bee, abandon Poison Liquid Impact, circle behind Kai Luo Si."

The Big Needle Bee's wingbeat frequency suddenly accelerated, its form turning into a blurred yellow Shadow, instantly evading Kai Luo Si's grasp and circling to its back. Kai Luo Si, unable to adjust his posture in midair, could only watch helplessly as the target slipped behind him.

"Now! Big Needle Bee, use Multi Slash!" Huo La's command rang clearly, the Big Needle Bee's Double Needle instantly glimmered with a cold, sharp light, like two razor blades, slashing fiercely at Kai Luo Si's unguarded back.

"Crack!" a crisp impact sound accompanied by the faint crack of a shell, Kai Luo Si winced sharply, emitting a deep hum, his massive body losing balance and plummeting straight toward the ground.

"Boom" a huge blast, it slammed heavily onto the leaf‑covered ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Fortunately, the Harden skill had raised his defense, preventing him from losing combat ability outright, but now as he struggled to rise, his steps were noticeably unsteady, and two deep slash marks remained on his back shell, clearly indicating serious injury.

"Kai Luo Si, are you okay?" the samurai youth hurried over, crouched and gently patted Kai Luo Si's shell, his tone full of concern.

"Roo~" Kai Luo Si shook his towering horns, took a small step forward, nudging the samurai youth's hand with his head, as if indicating he could still fight.

"Alright, come back, Big Needle Bee." Huo La didn't press the attack, instead he waved toward the air.

The Big Needle Bee beat its wings and descended, landing beside him, its Double Needle still alert but no longer exuding an aggressive aura.

He looked at the samurai youth, his tone sincere: "Your Kai Luo Si is impressive, especially that Earth Toss after leaping, which brings a power‑type Pokemon's technique to its fullest. I also leveraged the type advantage for a big edge, but it's now injured; continuing would be unfair to it and wouldn't defeat the Big Needle Bee."

The samurai youth silently stared at the slash marks on Kai Luo Si's back, finally sighed, reached out and pulled a Pokeball: "I lost. Your Big Needle Bee is not only fast, but its control over move precision is astonishing—when it used Poison Liquid Impact to pierce the Substitute just now, it was the first time I'd seen anyone wield an area skill so finely."

"It was all practiced in the forest yesterday."

He paused, then asked, "Want another match? This time I'll use Bulbasaur; do you have any other Pokemon?"

The samurai youth's eyes lit up, then he helplessly shook his head, "I only have Kai Luo Si and an Ironclad Pupa. The Ironclad Pupa only knows Harden and Tackle, it's no match for your Bulbasaur, so let's skip it."

"What a pity." Huo La felt a bit regretful; he had originally hoped that if the samurai youth had other Kai Luo Si, it would give Bulbasaur a chance to train its response, but it seems they'll have to wait for next time.

At that moment, two cold‑glinting Air Blades suddenly struck from the side, and with a "swish" they slammed onto the ground before Huo La, cutting two grooves about half a finger deep, scattering soil.

Huo La's pupils narrowed slightly, his gaze sharply fixed toward the direction of the incoming Air Blades.

Not far away, on a large tree, a green figure perched steadily on a branch, its scythe‑like forelimbs crossed before it, sunlight bathing it and reflecting a cold sheen.

It's a Flying Mantis!

Its compound eyes locked onto the Big Needle Bee beside Huo La, wings trembling slightly, clearly the Air Blades had come from it. The Big Needle Bee instantly tensed, its Double Needle aimed at the Flying Mantis, wingbeat frequency quickening, ready for combat.

"A wild Pokemon that actively challenges?" Huo La felt both surprise and joy—he had been planning how to find a Flying Mantis, and hadn't expected the opponent to come to him.

He slowly reached into his backpack, pulled out a Pokeball and said, "Looks like you're my new partner."

The Flying Mantis on the tree seemed to understand, emitting a crisp call, its scythe‑like forelimbs swinging again, another Air Blade lunging at the Big Needle Bee—this time its aim was clear: to duel the Big Needle Bee.

The samurai youth also withdrew Kai Luo Si, stepping aside, his eyes full of excitement, "A wild Flying Mantis! And it looks strong! Huo La, be careful, its speed and attack power seem no weaker than your Big Needle Bee!"

Huo La nodded, his gaze locked on the Flying Mantis, a battle‑filled smile curling his lips, "Big Needle Bee, prepare to fight! This opponent has no type advantage against us."

The Big Needle Bee emitted a responding buzz, beat its wings and rose into the sky, facing the Flying Mantis at a distance.