Chapter 452: Death and Rebirth

The battle erupted instantly.

Heryue Bear charged straight at Gouzang Dog, the strongest of the Three Treasures, lunging forward without a word and launching an immediate attack! Gouzang Dog's eyes flashed with malice as it whipped its venomous chain collar, ready to teach the reckless Heryue Bear a lesson.

But unfortunately, with Heryue Bear's battle experience—even Luo Mu praised it endlessly—and especially after learning the Three Treasures all possessed poison-type traits, how could it possibly ignore the venomous chain? Timing its move perfectly, Heryue Bear's sharp claws struck the chain, sending sparks flying and knocking it away.

Seizing the opportunity, Heryue Bear used its far stronger physique to knock Gouzang Dog down! Speedster Dog turned to face Yuanzeng Monkey.

At first, it thought this short, scrawny monkey was no threat—but after several failed lunges, its fiery temper cooled down. Speedster Dog remembered Luo Mu and Flareon's teachings, began to calm itself, and started observing Yuanzeng Monkey's every movement.

Quickly.

It noticed Yuanzeng Monkey always moved to a position where it could dodge Speedster Dog's attacks—even before Speedster Dog moved.

This instantly made Speedster Dog realize something.

Sometimes, when it stayed with Regigigas on the farm, it had felt the same chilling sensation—as if it had been completely seen through.

Was it… precognition? Speedster Dog wasn't sure how far into the future Yuanzeng Monkey could see, so it unleashed Flame Charge, surrounding itself with searing flames to block poison, then cautiously probed Yuanzeng Monkey's limits step by step.

Gyarados faced the last of the Three Treasures: Jizhiji.

Honestly, it had considered slacking off.

But yesterday, trapped in that cramped pool, slapped repeatedly by ChouChou Fish while listening to its scolding about how disappointed it was, Gyarados finally understood.

The Trainer who captured them both was clearly no ordinary person.

Since it was captured, it had to prove its worth to secure better treatment for both of them in the future.

Gyarados roared in fury, as if entering a frenzy, ignoring Jizhiji's pheromones that could bewitch countless Pokémon and humans, and launched a relentless assault.

After one Dragon Dance, moves like Water Tail, Ice Fang, and Dragon Pulse rained down as if they cost nothing.

Even Jizhiji, whose mind had been clouded by the massive toxins injected by Taodailang—basically, it was half-insane—felt like cursing.

This idiot was completely unaffected by its dazzling charm!

While the three battled fiercely over there, things weren't quiet here.

"Ji bai ji bai!"

Taodailang screamed in fury at the masked demon before it.

After all these years, it had finally completed its plan: using Taoze Store as the core, it had distributed food and ingredients laced with its poison throughout Emerald Town, gaining control over most of its population.

Now, Eguipeng had come again to interfere.

Taodailang decided that after capturing Eguipeng, it would make it its most loyal servant.

It had already issued orders to all the humans under its control—they would arrive here within minutes.

Then,

Whether it was Eguipeng or that human who gave it a bad feeling, both would be forced to hold back out of fear for their people—and become its loyal servants!

And now… as long as it could avoid being knocked down by Eguipeng!

"Venomous Chain!" Taodailang raised its tiny hand, and instantly, several chains erupted from thin air—similar to those on the Three Treasures.

These chains pierced the air with a "swish-swish" sound, hurtling straight toward Eguipeng.

Eguipeng had experienced this move long ago.

Even then, in a state of extreme rage, even after countless years had passed,

Its body still remembered what to do.

Under Luo Mu's astonished gaze, Eguipeng dodged the barrage of Venomous Chains with astonishing agility.

Its movement wasn't as fluid as Kingdra's.

In fact, it looked somewhat clumsy.

But Eguipeng achieved it all through sheer innate talent and reflexes.

Compared to when it was entangled by Arbok, Eguipeng now seemed like a completely different Pokémon.

"Could it be the mask?"

Luo Mu widened his eyes, thinking to himself.

If there was anything different about Eguipeng now compared to before, besides resolving its inner turmoil and being captured by him, it was the Jade Grass Mask repaired by Mr. Xuezhong.

Combined with the three other masks lost elsewhere, could these masks be like Groudon's Crimson Pearl, Kyogre's Indigo Pearl, or Latias and Latios' Heart Drops—enhancing Eguipeng's abilities or altering its form? As Luo Mu's mind raced, Eguipeng successfully dodged all of Taodailang's Venomous Chains and reached a position nearly face-to-face with Taodailang. A thick, spiky club made of Grass energy appeared in Eguipeng's right hand, wrapped in thorny vines.

As Eguipeng gripped the "Spiked Club," Taodailang's pupils shrank—it immediately tried to close its incredibly hard shell to dodge the attack.

It was precisely because of the defensive power of its peach-shaped shell that it had survived after the Three Treasures were all sent away.

As for enduring damage, Taodailang was confident it was unmatched! But unfortunately, Eguipeng was in peak condition today.

"Ega Pong—!"

Eguipeng tightened its grip on the glowing green thorned club and swung it straight into the closing gap of Taodailang's shell! CRASH! With a sharp, thunderous sound, Taodailang was smashed to the ground like a baseball.

Dust exploded everywhere, and a deep crater formed in the earth.

Even the battles between the Three Treasures and Speedster Dog paused for several seconds due to the noise.

While roaring to drive back Gouzang Dog, Heryue Bear glanced sideways and its face twisted in disbelief.

Holy crap, holy crap! It had thought Eguipeng was some fragile little kid—but this kid had insane strength!

If Heryue Bear was stunned, Wu Li, Eguipeng's loyal fan, had eyes shining like stars.

"Sss…"

Luo Mu sucked in a sharp breath—he suddenly realized the stories about Eguipeng taking on three or four opponents at once were actually true. This raw power was incredible.

"Ji bai!"

Struck hard before its shell could fully close, Taodailang let out a pained cry.

Especially when it struggled to float up despite its weakened body, only to see Eguipeng, expressionless, walking toward it with the thorned club dragging behind.

Taodailang panicked, flailing wildly, looking left and right as if searching for an escape route.

But just as Eguipeng stopped before it, Taodailang's panicked expression vanished, replaced by a smug grin as it spat a thick cloud of toxic sludge directly into Eguipeng's eyes.

"Sludge Bomb!" After releasing the Sludge Bomb, Taodailang faintly heard the sound of sludge splattering against something, but didn't even look—immediately soaring into the air, pretending to flee from Eguipeng.

As it flew, it let out mocking cries.

"Ji bai ji bai!"

How's that for sludge-blinding? At that moment,

A high-speed object whistled through the air—a gust of wind rushed past. As Taodailang instinctively turned to look, the spinning thorned club slammed straight into its face! Before Taodailang could react, an unmatched force struck evenly across its entire face.

Boom—this time, the sound of a direct hit on the body.

Taodailang crashed to the ground faster than it had flown, like a failed helicopter, creating another deep crater.

"Ji bai…"

Feeling a searing pain on its face, Taodailang struggled to float up again—only to find Eguipeng standing before it once more.

Now, Eguipeng had removed the Jade Grass Mask, holding it in its left hand like a shield, while its right hand gripped the thorned club. The green spikes formed from energy on the mask were slowly fading, and the sludge on its surface vanished with them.

Taodailang's eyes widened in shock.

Thorns Defense!?

Panicked, Taodailang turned its gaze toward Luo Mu behind it.

Now it remembered—right after releasing the Sludge Bomb, that human had shouted something. He'd warned Eguipeng to use a defensive move! Taodailang's teeth ground together in rage.

Looking at Taodailang, Eguipeng suddenly found it boring. Its peaceful life had been destroyed by this thing.

It no longer cared why Taodailang had ordered the Three Treasures to brutally injure that man just for the masks.

Compared to before, since this morning, its mindset had changed completely.

Now, it only wanted to end this decades-long hatred—and step into a new life.

As Eguipeng drew closer, Taodailang truly panicked, frantically commanding Gouzang Dog, Jizhiji, and Yuanzeng Monkey to come to its aid—but the three Pokémon, already barely holding their own, had no room to help.

Gouzang Dog was covered in wounds from Heryue Bear's attacks, Jizhiji's beautiful feathers were torn and ragged, and Yuanzeng Monkey's precognition had been shattered by Speedster Dog's blinding "Extreme Speed"—even when it foresaw the future, it couldn't react in time and was knocked flat by Speedster Dog's charge, unable to rise for a long while.

Seeing the Three Treasures were useless, Taodailang turned its attention to the humans it controlled.

But when it sensed them, though much time had passed, it realized none of the humans had moved at all.

Taodailang was stunned.

Who could stop so many people? Among those it controlled were several Trainers!

Taodailang felt despair rising.

Meanwhile,

Near Emerald Town's Civic Hall.

Looking at the two reliable figures blocking its path, Sha Li exhaled in relief, clutching the three masks.

Around her,

The mindless zombies chanting "Ji bai ji bai" were bound tightly by Kingdra's vines; the ground was littered with Pokémon—all released by the controlled humans—now paralyzed by Luxray's electric attacks.

Due to level advantage, even many Ground-type Pokémon couldn't resist the power of this Electric move.

After all, most of these Pokémon weren't battle-trained.

Inside the Civic Hall, the townsfolk who had just been shouting for Sha Li to pay the price now dared not make a sound.

These people loved money, but knew how to avoid danger.

After a few fearless townsfolk were taught a lesson by Kingdra's brutal example, they wilted.

They had been aggressive only because they knew Sha Li wouldn't attack them.

But these two Pokémon looked dangerous—and clearly had nothing to do with Sha Li. They couldn't risk being the next target of Luxray's electricity or Kingdra's vines.

Suddenly, all fell silent. They huddled quietly inside the Civic Hall.

Everyone's here to make money—who wants to die?

Sha Li glanced at Luxray and Kingdra, and for once, felt a flicker of unease.

Although she knew they were all Luo Mu's Pokémon, her voice still unconsciously grew cautious after witnessing their overwhelming power.

"That… don't you need to go help over there?"

She pushed the mask in her arms forward, implying something.

Riolu and Kingdra glanced at her and shook their heads simultaneously.

No need.

With Luo Mu there, nothing can happen over there. Better to intimidate this mob first, so they don't cause trouble.

Return to the standoff between E Gui Pong and Tao Dailang.

Tao Dailang's shifting gaze locked onto a ditch.

Through the creatures it controlled, it knew this ditch carried water flowing from nearby Apple Hill, used to irrigate the apple trees, leading straight to the nearby rivers and lakes!

As long as it still lived, it could summon any servant it needed. As long as the green mountains remain, firewood will never run out. Faced with E Gui Pong's absolute violence, Tao Dailang had already conceived the idea of fleeing.

But this time, E Gui Pong would not give it another chance.

E Gui Pong glanced behind it.

Meeting Luo Mu's encouraging gaze—"Go ahead, I've got your back"—E Gui Pong's heart warmed, and it turned back to Tao Dailang.

At that moment, taking advantage of E Gui Pong's momentary turn, Tao Dailang regained a sliver of mobility and staggered toward the ditch.

If only if it could reach there! "Boni—"

E Gui Pong's starry eyes, usually filled with laughter, were now cold. All it wanted now was to end this decades-long hatred, then let that person know it had begun a new life, with new companions.

Already far faster than Tao Dailang, E Gui Pong barely exerted itself and blocked its path outright.

Stopped, Tao Dailang froze, realizing it had to do something.

It looked left and right: Gurdurr, Gible, and Oranguru had all been knocked down, and with no sign of reinforcements, it finally understood: it had no cards left.

As the battles ended one by one, the air around grew silent and still.

The Pokémon, Wu Li, Dan Yu, Xue Zhong, and Shu Zi all remained silent, as if waiting for E Gui Pong's decision.

Even Wu Li and Dan Yu, who didn't know the true story, had just been told the truth by Xue Zhong and Shu Zi.

They all knew the evil Tao Dailang had committed—

Too many to record!

Luo Mu kept watching E Gui Pong's back, lost in thought.

E Gui Pong gripped the glowing green Thorn Whip and walked step by step toward Tao Dailang.

Suddenly—

Tao Dailang let out a shrill cry.

"Ji Bei Ji Bei!" (I'm sorry! I won't do this again! Spare me!) To make its plea seem more sincere, Tao Dailang followed its homeland's custom, prostrating itself fully in a deep bow of supplication.

At this moment, all of Tao Dailang's greedy thoughts vanished.

Yet E Gui Pong's expression didn't change at all.

It didn't even deign to speak to Tao Dailang—only shook its head, raised the Thorn Whip, as Tao Dailang's expression slowly sank into despair.

You merely face the consequences of your own deeds.

Silently whispering these words, E Gui Pong swung the Thorn Whip with full, unwavering force.

"Boom!"

The massive explosion echoed throughout Emerald Town.

(End of Chapter)