Chapter 255: Take It Down

"Very good, Leaf Eevee, that's it, use Magic Leaf!" Leaf Eevee let out a clear, ringing cry from its throat, its body glowing with dense emerald light, a massive shower of energy‑shimmering leaves pouring down like a storm, precisely blasting toward the angry swarm of large hornets and flying mantises gathered ahead.

Where the leaves swept, the Pokemon let out mournful cries, instantly knocked unconscious on the ground, losing their ability to fight.

"Well done, come back, Leaf Eevee." Huo La smiled and raised his hand.

Leaf Eevee hopped back to his side, rubbing its fluffy head against his palm, then affectionately nuzzling the faces of Fire Rock Mouse and Claw‑tail Scorpion, sharing the joy of victory.

Huo La's gaze swept over the floor of fainted Pokemon, and he shook his head.

Since leaving the village yesterday, he has been having the three Pokemon battle in rotation, constantly refining moves and raising levels—this is the fastest way he can think of to boost strength, after all the opponent is the king of Hisui, and no sloppiness can be afforded.

"Let's go, the Giant Tree Battlefield is ahead." He put away his Pokeball, looked up at the sky; the sunset had already sunk into the woods, dusk deepening, "We'll spend the night here, and tomorrow morning go see the Axe Mantis King."

At the edge of the Giant Tree Battlefield, a campfire blazed beside Ju Yi's dwelling, the leaping flames stretching the two of their shadows long.

Huo La and Ju Yi sat by the fire, cradling steaming vegetable porridge in their hands, with a few fragrant roasted nuts beside them.

Members of the Pearl Team and support staff of the Galaxy Team were holding torches, patrolling back and forth around the dwelling, their footsteps unusually clear in the silent forest.

"Field Master Ju Yi, is it really that serious? They're even starting patrol alerts." Huo La bit into a roasted nut, his gaze sweeping over the solemn patrol members.

Ju Yi sighed, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of the bowl, his face a bit heavy: "It can't be not serious."

He looked toward the distant Giant Tree Battlefield, where faint angry metallic scraping sounds could be heard, "Since the Axe Mantis King was struck by that purple thunder, it completely lost its mind, attacking not only those who approach, but also every other Pokemon in the forest."

"A teammate just tried to approach and calm it, but it cleaved a nearby giant tree with a single axe swing, almost causing a disaster." Ju Yi's voice was full of anxiety, "It is usually gentle, the king that guards Deepwood Forest, but now…"

He looked at Huo La, his eyes holding a hint of hope, "Dr. Laventon said the thunder that struck the Axe Mantis King carried Abnormal Energy from a Time and Space fissure, and that energy is what made it lose its mind."

"Speaking of Dr. Laventon, where is he?" Huo La set down the roasted nut in his hand and asked.

Ju Yi pursed his lips toward Deepwood Forest, his tone helpless yet admiring, "Where else could he be? He must be observing from the spot closest to the Axe Mantis King yet relatively safe. He said he needs to record the pattern of energy fluctuations to find a way to calm the RageState."

As soon as the words ended, a deafening scream erupted from deep within the distant forest—a sharp, frenzied sound with a harsh metallic scrape, instantly tearing the night's silence.

Immediately followed by a "Ka‑cha—Boom!" thunderous crash, as if a massive tree were cleaved at the waist, the ground trembling slightly, the campfire's flames flaring wildly a few times, nearly extinguishing.

Ju Yi's complexion turned deathly pale in an instant, and he sprang up, "It's the Axe Mantis King! It's raging again!"

Huo La also rose at once, sprinting with Ju Yi toward the Giant Tree Battlefield; Fire Rock Mouse, Leaf Eevee, and Claw‑tail Scorpion followed closely, all three Pokemon tensing, ready for immediate combat.

The wind among the trees carried a chill, and the air was tinged with a faint burnt smell, the scent of energy scorching vegetation.

The closer they got to the Giant Tree Battlefield, the more pronounced the ground's tremor, and the Axe Mantis King's roar grew clearer, mixed with the rapid "buzz‑buzz" of its wing vibrations, unsettling anyone who heard it.

"Dr. Laventon!" Huo La shouted loudly while darting through the trees, but received no reply.

At that moment, the thicket ahead shook violently, a dark silhouette borne on a fierce gust rushed toward them—it was a massive branch that had been cleaved.

Huo La's pupils contracted; he twisted aside just in time, the branch smashing into the ground, scattering a spray of earth.

He looked up and saw, not far away on a clearing, a figure bathed in violet‑gold Electric Light rampaging wildly, surrounded by Pearl Team and Galaxy Team investigators—it was the Axe Mantis!

Its eyes glowed crimson as it swung its massive scythe‑shaped forelimbs, frantically hacking the surrounding trees.

Behind a huge boulder at the battlefield's edge, Dr. Laventon crouched, clutching a Detector, his face pale as he logged data, completely unaware that a fragment of stone was flying toward him!

"Watch out!" Huo La shouted, "Leaf Eevee, use Magic Leaf to fling that stone!"

Leaf Eevee leapt instantly, its body shimmering emerald, several energy‑charged leaves striking the fragment precisely, shattering it.

Dr. Laventon finally reacted, looking up to see Huo La and waving urgently, "Huo La! You're here! This energy fluctuation is too unstable; if it continues, the Axe Mantis King will be completely devoured by the energy!"

"What should we do?" Huo La asked, eyes on the wildly rampaging Axe Mantis King, his brows furrowed.

In this situation, not even calming it is possible; getting close is difficult.

"Take it down!" Dr. Laventon, clutching the Energy Detection Device, said urgently, "We must first suppress its RageState, then we have a chance to strip away that Abnormal Energy!"

"Damn, Dr. Laventon, are you kidding?" Huo La widened his eyes, looking at him in disbelief, "There are so many Galaxy Team and Pearl Team investigators here; you expect me, a rookie, to—"

"Their Pokemon already fought the Axe Mantis King this afternoon and were injured; they can't fight again now." Dr. Laventon spoke rapidly, his tone grave, "In the whole team, only your Pokemon are unharmed, and only you can suppress it!"

Huo La was speechless; this was like forcing a duck onto a perch.

Yet, seeing the Axe Mantis King's increasingly intense violet glow and the surrounding trees constantly collapsing, he knew there was no way out.

He turned his head toward the Axe Mantis King bathed in violet‑gold light, his mind flickering; the system instantly retrieved the opponent's data, displaying it before his eyes without reservation.