[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham":3,"chapter-pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-678":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Pokemon: The Reemployment of a Paldea Former Champion",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2324695,4546,"Chapter 678: One Hand Catches the Dragapult Car!","pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-678",678,"\u003Cp>The site of the Dragapult clan’s chieftain election remained the same open, solid rocky ground that Luo Mu knew well, where they daily fought one another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, ten fierce, warlike adult Dragapults would determine which among them was the strongest, earning the right to challenge the chieftain and gain recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not necessary to defeat the Dragapult chieftain—only to earn its approval; then that Dragapult would be taken to the mysterious place to qualify for the magical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most members of the Dragapult clan were rather gentle and not warlike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, gathering exactly ten warlike Dragapults had made the entire ceremony unusually special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond these ten Dragapults, other wild Dragapults and Haxorus arrived with their families, bringing along the tiny Dratini—who normally never left the lake except during shedding—like spectators, surrounding the area in force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu wasn’t sure whether to say it or not, but he felt the Dragapults on this island seemed especially fond of watching spectacles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether when he first arrived at Dragapult Island or when his drowning bear pupil was rescued, they always rushed to the scene first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the site, cries of “bo-mu,” “lu-mu,” and “mi-mu” rose and fell continuously, as if debating whether the Dragapults who had broken through the competition would earn the chieftain’s approval and inherit its duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for defeating the chieftain, not a single Dragapult had ever thought of it—not even the youngest Dratini in the clan knew that, though aged, the chieftain could single-handedly beat ten Dragapults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was simply no comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was thanks entirely to that magical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bo-mu~” (So many Dragapults~)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pichu, perched on Luo Mu’s shoulder, was ecstatic; normally, these Dragapult-line Pokémon would gather at the lake’s habitat, but many Dragapults and Haxorus wandered off the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the current chieftain election could bring together all these Dragapults capable of traveling the four seas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been lonely in Aindook for too long—even with wild Pokémon around—Pichu always preferred these lively scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were too many Dragapults; even the usually bold Tepig, slightly allergic to unfamiliar creatures, hesitated to show its face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, the Chatot folded its wings across its chest and sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“De-li!” (A bunch of quadruple-weak-to-ice!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its view, aside from its own Dragapult companion, all other wild Dragapults were pathetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Chatot could take on ten of them at once—let alone a Dragapult!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After delivering its threat, Chatot quietly lowered its body and tidied up the mess caused by its tail, which had been left untethered, spilling all its stored items onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chatot deeply felt its species’ trait was somewhat unfriendly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it had to hold its tail with one wing, its full strength could never be unleashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when defeating that brat Pikachu, it had used only one wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bai-a—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trailing closely beside Luo Mu, the bear pupil surveyed its surroundings; whether because Luo Mu was there or not, its expression seemed unusually timid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——As if, when someone trustworthy was present, its true nature finally surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu noticed this and raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Praise to Teacher Joy Lin’s teaching, and his own relentless, head-down studying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could the great *Pokémon Psychology* achieve repeated triumphs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bear pupil, whose origins remained unclear, might have a personality differing from the typical one for its species.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When people speak of bear pupils, they usually mean the type that is resolute, fearless, enduring grueling, monotonous training to grow stronger and master techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the unrecorded Pokémon Dex in this world, that’s how most bear pupils’ personalities were described.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bear pupils diligently train body and mind, accumulating hardship over time, carefully studying moves—they are serious Pokémon. If they lose a battle, they become even more devoted to training, choosing to strive harder rather than sink into despair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu couldn’t yet judge its training enthusiasm since they’d only just met, but in terms of personality, he sensed this bear pupil seemed somewhat introverted and insecure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it had accidentally been caught in a shipwreck while training its physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Luo Mu even more curious about the bear pupil’s origins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wild bear pupils usually sought waterfalls or large rocks for training—why had this one risked training at sea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, under the watchful eyes of a massive Dragapult and the Dragapult chieftain’s judgment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Dragapult clan’s chieftain election was nothing as complicated as human elections for class monitor, town mayor, or city governor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any Dragapult confident in its strength simply stepped onto the “arena” and accepted challenges from any Dragapult below who disagreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who remained standing until all others accepted its superiority gained preliminary qualification; then, it only needed to demonstrate exceptional ability in battle against the chieftain and earn the chieftain’s subjective approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, when Luo Mu first heard the “rules” relayed by the Flareon, he suspected it had embellished them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Because, what kind of rules were these, full of glaring flaws?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he remembered other wild Pokémon, like the former gang leader, Houndoom, now reformed on the farm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their clan’s chieftain selection seemed to involve directly challenging the current chieftain: win, and you become the new chieftain; lose, and the old chieftain might either banish you or spare you, depending on mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to that primitive system, the Dragapult clan’s election at least had a rudimentary structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Though many parts seemed unreasonable at first glance, upon closer thought, they didn’t seem entirely illogical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a new commotion stirred on the ordinary open rocky ground that served as the “arena.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep-green Dragapult with a fierce expression stepped forward first, crossed its claws over its chest, and exhaled a gust of air from its nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ao-wu—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it roared, the shiny Dragapult raised a claw and beckoned toward the several adult wild Dragapults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——As if taunting them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, the fact that it dared to be the first to step onto the arena under these rules—rather than conserving energy to enter later in a wheel battle—showed it had strong confidence in its own strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the several young, hotheaded wild Dragapults prepared to charge, Luo Mu patted the back of his Dragapult and whispered, “Go first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bo-mu~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopping its habit of chewing its own paws, the Dragapult nodded and immediately took flight to the “arena,” showing not a trace of hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the wild Dragapults, his Dragapult understood perfectly why Luo Mu wanted it to go first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Victory by waiting for others to weaken was inferior; only by fighting from start to finish could one truly earn respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether or not the Dragapults of this island would ever work for the farm, even just to build an “Ecological Egg” in this sea, he needed their clan’s approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the Dragapult appeared on the arena, the surrounding wild Dragapults showed expressions of shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That outsider from another clan was actually entering the chieftain election!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dragapult chieftain, upon seeing this, grew hopeful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of the reason, Luo Mu’s Dragapult participating in the election already pleased it greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it would see whether the Dragapult truly possessed the qualification, as the guardian deity claimed, to inherit the chieftain’s position and access that magical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But compared to their reactions, the shiny Dragapult was now stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the slender Dragapult across from it, it found itself utterly unable to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, it struck a pose it considered very cool, then let out a cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ao-wu—” (You surrender. I, the clan’s pride, won’t fight a little female Dragapult—especially not you—)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shiny Dragapult’s “kindness” was met with serious warning from the Dragapult, its big, innocent eyes fixed on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bo-mu~” (If you won’t strike, then I will—)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as it spoke, the Dragapult’s expression turned serious. Without taking flight or releasing any move, it sprinted forward several steps toward the shiny Dragapult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its claws, gleaming with a chilling sheen, were not wrapped in energy—they struck with pure physical force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the shiny Dragapult was entranced by the Dragapult's \"beauty,\" years of practical training with the chieftain forced it to react instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It crossed both arms and claws in front of its chest, preparing to block the Dragapult’s blow head-on!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its view, a physical attack from this frail little female Dragapult didn’t even warrant dodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shiny Dragapult had already planned its next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Dragapult realized its attack was useless, it would gently pin it down—enough to declare victory without causing harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——The clan’s pride was simply brilliant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the shiny Dragapult daydreamed about whether the Dragapult might fall in love with its strength,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Dragapult’s “claw” struck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the moment of contact, the shiny Dragapult wore a calm expression, already imagining how coolly it would catch the blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the next instant, an unstoppable force surged through its crossed arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Then came the sensation of weightlessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the stunned wild Dragapults, the shiny Dragapult flew backward like a ball struck by the Dragapult, crashing into a nearby boulder and embedding itself deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force was so great that even without feeling it, one could imagine how painful it must be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene fell utterly silent, broken only by the faint, broken moans coming from inside the boulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did the shiny Dragapult’s head spin from the impact, leaving it dazed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it also couldn’t fathom how it had been knocked flying by a Dragapult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it underestimated the opponent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the Dragapult grown stronger because of that human?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shiny Dragapult couldn’t understand—but it hadn’t lost its fighting ability just from being knocked back. After all, it was a fully evolved, rigorously trained “late-blooming Pokémon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the shiny Dragapult finally pulled itself out of the rock, the Dragapult’s next attack was already coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Still a simple claw strike, but this time, the Dragapult infused its claws with emerald energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shiny Dragapult no longer dared to slack off; it knew exactly what kind of occasion this was, and no more carelessness would be tolerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ao-wu—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It roared, lowered its body, and after a vibration in the air, its own claws were enveloped in emerald energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same “Claw” move—it refused to lose to the Dragapult!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The claw of the shiny Dragonite crossed with the claw of the Dragonite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the way the shiny Dragonite was flung backward faster, it was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——This time again, it was Dragonite’s overwhelming victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dragonite chief watched with great delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragonite had suppressed the shiny Dragonite, which it had once held in high regard, purely through raw power—its guardian deity’s recommendation was indeed correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subsequent battle between Dragonite and the shiny Dragonite further confirmed its judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragonite didn’t even use any other moves—just the single move “Dragon Claw” forced the shiny Dragonite into constant retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dragon Pulse,” “Ice Beam,” “Fire Blast,” “Thunderbolt”—all were shattered by Dragonite’s single “Dragon Claw.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the shiny Dragonite’s desperate “Dragon Rush” was stopped dead in its tracks by Dragonite’s single claw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catch a Dragon Rush with one hand, kid!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap between them was plain to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the shiny Dragonite left the arena, dazed and defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Luo Mu sighed, “Ah, level suppression, ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like in the anime, when Jasmine’s Garchomp fought against Shinji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how cleverly Shinji attacked, targeting every weakness of the Garchomp,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Garchomp, unmoved, absorbed Shinji’s Pokémon’s ultimate moves—and still crushed each one like a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap between Dragonite and the shiny Dragonite was just like Luo Mu’s example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragonite didn’t even need to try hard—it ended the battle easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, the other wild Dragonites that took the stage met the same fate as the shiny Dragonite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely what Luo Mu had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since yesterday, when he saw the Dragonite chief training them, Luo Mu had already gauged the strength of these wild Dragonites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If those gentle Dragonites, with almost no battle experience and evolved purely through natural growth and time, were equivalent to an Elite Trainer’s main Pokémon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then these aggressive wild Dragonites were at best the main Pokémon of a regular Gym Leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current Dragonite could take on even the Elite Four’s main Pokémon without trouble—let alone these wild Dragonites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time, all ten wild Dragonites competing in the chief election lay defeated on the ground before Dragonite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding Dragonites, who had initially watched with curiosity toward this outsider of their kind, now looked at it with respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Even among Dragonites, the rule of “strength reigns supreme” could not be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragonite’s feat of defeating ten opponents won their recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragonites with hands clapped; those without hands—Haxorus and Dratini—cheered with cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Luo Mu and his group became the center of attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Because the Dragonite that had defeated the other ten wild Dragonites now had the chance to fight the Dragonite chief and earn his approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu turned his gaze toward the Dragonite chief and slowly narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was too little information to judge just how strong the Dragonite chief truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, perhaps through this battle, he could catch a glimpse of the secret behind that so-called “miraculous power”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2184,"2026-06-20T17:11:50.049Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6a59e2494dfabc4a81ddb3419a9e47ef00fc5237433135d442755add3a5c2424","pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-679","pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-677",695,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fpokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-cover.jpg"]