Chapter 96: Tapu Bulu: There's No Way to Play This

Normal-type energy coalesced into an illusory long sword; surrounded by red light, Mimikyu's attack power surged, yet at the same time, Tapu Bulu's wooden hammer descended from the sky, slamming Mimikyu heavily into the ground and leaving a massive crater.

Kukui murmured, "Tapu Bulu is getting serious."

Kukui understood clearly why Tapu Bulu chose to go all out: simply because Luo Mu and Mimikyu were not like those trainers participating in the Island Challenge; they already possessed the strength to genuinely threaten Tapu Bulu.

Even if Mimikyu's strength was inferior to Tapu Bulu's, the fact that Mimikyu could injure Tapu Bulu would not change in the slightest.

Having endured this terrifying strike, Mimikyu's condition had barely declined; the mysterious energy enveloping the Pikachu plush vanished, the plush flopped down with a pat, and the Disguise ability triggered.

Not only did it nullify Tapu Bulu's thunderous strike, but it also gained an opportunity for enhancement; the Disguise ability is truly divine! (Roaring loudly)

Having failed to achieve the desired result, Tapu Bulu paused for a moment; Luo Mu seized this opportunity, shouting, "Now! Play Rough!"

Wrapped in Fairy-type light, Mimikyu, whose attack power had improved greatly after Swords Dance, directly rammed the still-unreacting Tapu Bulu into the rock wall.

Shaking off the gravel from its body, Tapu Bulu half-closed its eyes and let out an extremely faint cry of pain; although this had little effect on its immense stamina, pain was still pain.

However, nourished by the endless vitality flowing from the Grassy Terrain, Tapu Bulu recovered to its peak condition once again.

Luo Mu smacked his lips; Tapu Bulu was far more troublesome than that angry fire bird back home—being an old legendary beast with such a long health bar, there was simply no way to beat it.

If it wasn't knocked out quickly, Tapu Bulu would rapidly recover under the support of the Grassy Terrain; Luo Mu speculated that defeating Tapu Bulu with just himself and Mimikyu in their current state would be very difficult, though there might be a chance if Luxray were present.

The probe of strength concluded, and Luo Mu lost any desire to continue fighting Tapu Bulu; he directly revealed the Z-Ring already embedded with Mimikyu's Z-Crystal and shouted, "Mimikyu!"

Called by name, Mimikyu immediately became excited, while the Dragonite behind it had already prepared the opening stance.

Suddenly, for some unknown reason, Luo Mu had a whimsical idea and pulled out the Tera Orb that had finished charging at the Orange Academy; with a strange expression, he said, "Since there are no restrictions on holding items now, it should work, right...?"

Acting immediately, knowing that failure would only mean pestering Tapu Bulu for another chance, Luo Mu had a premonition that Mimikyu's Tera Type was likely that one; under Kukui's surprised gaze and Tapu Bulu's confused look, Luo Mu threw the shining Tera Orb toward Mimikyu!

The crisp sound of crystallization startled the arriving Serperior, Bai Pengpengs, and Growlithe, while the Pokémon behind them had green eyes radiating with admiration.

What a beautiful crystal!

After a crisp shattering sound, Mimikyu, bathed in the brilliance of Terastallization, became covered in crystals on its surface, with a giant pink heart topped with white wings resting on its head.

The gamble paid off; Mimikyu's Tera Type is Fairy!

After completing Terastallization, Luo Mu knew success or failure hinged on this single move; without hesitation, he crossed his arms before him, causing the Z-Ring to burst forth with dazzling light, as Luo Mu's hands, Mimikyu's Shadow Claw, and the Dragonite, thoroughly enjoying the dance movements, all struck their full-power poses.

The light from the Z-Ring, along with more than half of his own stamina, was poured entirely into Mimikyu; the Terastallization phenomenon on its surface did not block the influx of light, and to Luo Mu's delighted gaze, the illusory icon unique to Z-Moves appeared before Mimikyu!

Suppressing his sense of shame and swearing in his heart to find a way to omit the Z-Move dance in the future, Luo Mu declared solemnly, "Mimikyu, Let's Snuggle Forever!"

Dragonite also raised its arms, roaring loudly, "Bwooo~~!!"

The two real eyes on the Mimikyu doll burst forth with dazzling brilliance, its movement speed instantly skyrocketing as it launched directly at Tapu Bulu.

Now it was the hunter, and Tapu Bulu was the prey!

Tapu Bulu's excellent senses detected a massive crisis approaching; undoubtedly, that feeling came from the Mimikyu that had not only used a Z-Move but whose surface had transformed into a structure resembling crystal.

Tapu Bulu chose to flee at full speed from Mimikyu's predation, and across the grass-covered field, it engaged in a chase with Mimikyu.

In this game of chase, Mimikyu in its current state ultimately proved superior; just as it was about to catch Tapu Bulu, Mimikyu leaped high, its plush body transforming into a giant "capture net" that descended straight down!

Driven by a huge sense of crisis, Tapu Bulu, in its desperation, lowered the shell on its head, entering the defensive posture that all members of the Seeing Kapu family could assume, hoping its hard shell could withstand Mimikyu's attack.

After Mimikyu "predated" upon Tapu Bulu, accompanied by a colossal collision sound like thunder and large amounts of pink smoke rising around Mimikyu, light shards enhanced by Terastallization scattered and danced like fireflies.

Luo Mu knew that Mimikyu's current attacks were falling upon Tapu Bulu like raindrops.

Such attacks continued for a full minute, and coincidentally, the location where Mimikyu captured Tapu Bulu was near the large crater originally left by the wooden hammer.

However, the crater had now expanded several times over.

The sounds of attack gradually subsided; Mimikyu, whose condition was visibly declining, left the crater, while inside the crater, Tapu Bulu revealed its true form after Dragonite blew away the pink smoke.

"Oh my god..."

Kukui's eyes widened as if he had witnessed something beyond his worldview.

Inside the crater, Tapu Bulu, with its shell shattered, lay covered in wounds; although, due to the effect of the Grassy Terrain and Tapu Bulu passively beginning to absorb energy from the surrounding vegetation because of its injuries, its shell and wounds were repairing at a terrifying speed.

Yet Kukui had to accept this fact.

That was, Luo Mu and Mimikyu had just severely injured the Island Guardian, Tapu Bulu; for him, a native of Alola, this was completely unimaginable.

Even having challenged the Elite Four of the Kanto region, Kukui had never imagined he would fight an Island Guardian and achieve victory.

In roughly ten breaths' time, Tapu Bulu's condition had already recovered by more than half, and its shattered shell had completed its repair.

It floated up with some lingering fear; it had been so close—if not for its strength and durability being superior to Mimikyu's, it would have been instantly knocked out just now!

What exactly is the situation with this outsider?

Compared to the shocked Kukui and Tapu Bulu, Luo Mu, Mimikyu, and Dragonite lowered their eyelids in unwillingness; could they not defeat the Island Guardian Tapu Bulu even after going to such lengths?

From their perspective, Tapu Bulu had recovered its ability to act within three breaths, while Mimikyu, burdened by the dual strain of Terastallization and the Z-Move, was unable to pursue.

If the battle continued, they would definitely be the ones to lose.

Tapu Bulu did not know Luo Mu and the others' thoughts; it simply dissolved the Grassy Terrain with a solemn expression, looked at Luo Mu and Mimikyu, and spoke: "Tapu Moumou!"

Your trial is passed!

Regarding updates: after this weekend passes, we will return to the regular schedule of two chapters totaling 4K words; if I have free time to write more, additional chapters of varying quantities will be released.

(End of Chapter)