Chapter 30: Kirulian

Chapter 30: Kirlia

As Merg pushed open the heavy door, it felt as though electricity flickered before his eyes.

“Oh?”

He rubbed his eyes and looked closely.

It was a spacious room, much like the previous two floors, but in the corner sat a frail woman dressed in black, whom Merg assumed was a staff member.

At the center of the room stood the guardian Pokémon of this floor, waiting quietly.

“Wooloo?”

“Interesting.”

In Merg’s memory, Wooloo was a gentle Pokémon, not particularly adept at combat, more often seen in breeding farms.

He knew that to appear in the Battle Tower and serve as the third-floor guardian, this particular Wooloo must be extraordinary. Still, he couldn't help but underestimate it, especially given his absolute confidence in the newly captured Pokémon at his side.

“Come forth, Kirlia!”

“Kiyaa!”

...

Linse heard the sound of the door opening and shifted her gaze from her phone to the entrance.

She caught sight of a face that seemed familiar, and quietly searched her memory.

Linse was a member of the “Dark Star” intelligence division. Because of her work, she was acquainted with notable figures within the organization. After a swift mental search, she recalled the information about the man before her.

“He should be the ‘genius’ researcher from the science department, I think his name is Merg?”

“I remember his ace Pokémon was supposed to be a natural bird with exceptional psychic abilities, but this time he’s sent out a Kirlia, which wasn’t recorded in the data.”

“Is he training a newly captured Pokémon?”

A subtle smile curled at Linse’s lips. With interest, she glanced between Kirlia and Wooloo, her slender left leg swaying gently.

Lu Yun watched the challenger’s Pokémon with a grave expression, a sense of unease growing in his heart.

Standing barely a meter tall, Kirlia’s form resembled a child; her white body flared like a ballet dress, slender green legs poised and straight. Two red antennae, like hairpins, adorned the fringe draping her shoulders. Faint psychic waves rippled gently in the air. Her amber eyes, mysterious and deep, locked onto Lu Yun.

“Kirlia, huh?”

Lu Yun certainly knew this Pokémon, adored by players in his previous life, and he was well aware that beneath Kirlia’s delicate and graceful appearance lurked formidable power.

The dual typing of Psychic and Fairy gave her moves an unpredictable edge; whether mysterious psychic techniques or peculiar fairy abilities, all were troublesome in real combat.

Lu Yun felt a headache coming on. He became increasingly cautious, realizing that the battle ahead would likely be a fierce one.

Faint pink waves spread stealthily through the air, catching Lu Yun’s attention.

“A Psychic-type ‘scent,’ already setting up the field?”

Not to be outdone, Lu Yun flicked his tail. The blue crystal orb at its tip shone brilliantly, unleashing a powerful magnetic field.

“Bang!”

A subtle clash sounded in the air as Kirlia’s pale pink psychic wave collided with Lu Yun’s magnetic field and was scattered, dissolving into nothingness.

Kirlia’s body swayed slightly. She had been setting up her psychic domain on the field, as usual—a space that would amplify her moves and improve her control over energy.

But unexpectedly, Wooloo seemed to sense her intention and shattered her psychic wave with an overpowering electric magnetic field.

In that instant of aura conflict, Kirlia’s formidable perception pierced into the depths of Lu Yun’s magnetic field, bringing back to her mind the sensation of an endless storm of raging lightning.

In Kirlia’s short few years since birth, this level of terrifying energy was a first.

Her body trembled, as if caught in a thunderstorm. The calm composure in her eyes vanished, replaced by deep fear.

Merg frowned as he watched Kirlia, who seemed lost in thought with her back to him.

“Kirlia, don’t let your mind wander during battle!”

“Quickly defeat your opponent with ‘Psybeam’!”

In her mind, the unique psychic link between trainer and Pokémon carried his command.

Kirlia forced herself to focus, gathering energy at her chest. Yet the normally smooth psychic energy now felt sluggish and muddled, hindered by fear.

A move that she could usually gather and launch in an instant now took several seconds just to initiate—a fatal flaw in battle.

Fortunately, Lu Yun didn’t realize that Kirlia had been intimidated by the electric energy in his magnetic field, causing her casting to falter.

He simply thought she was preparing some powerful move that required a lengthy charge, and his heart raced with alarm.

Silently comparing their distance, he judged that a sudden attack wasn’t wise—it was likely that Kirlia’s skill would be ready mid-charge, and he’d have no time to react while rushing in.

Thinking quickly, Lu Yun channeled electricity into his legs, unleashing explosive power. With a springing start, he darted irregularly around Kirlia’s perimeter, hoping to confuse her aim.

His body, wrapped in powerful current, accelerated with the magnetic field, leaving behind blurred afterimages across the arena.

“Buzz!”

At last, ‘Psybeam’ was fully charged. A beam of rainbow-hued, uncanny light shot forth, its colors shifting and flickering.

“Bang!”

One of Lu Yun’s afterimages was pierced, leaving a small crater in the floor behind.

Lu Yun stopped his rapid movement, panting out breaths crackling with yellow electricity. He glanced at the faint mark left by ‘Psybeam’ and couldn’t help but feel a touch of surprise.

“That’s it?”

Merg stood to the side, his expression sour.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with Kirlia. She was fine just now, but now she’s acting as if she’s lost her mind, completely out of sorts.”

“That Wooloo really lives up to the role of guardian Pokémon—its speed is unexpectedly impressive.”

“But it’s still just a Wooloo; nothing to be too concerned about.”

“Kirlia, use ‘Psybeam’ again—focus!”

In his mind, Merg shouted his command to Kirlia.

Watching Kirlia gather energy once more, Lu Yun’s expression turned strange; he was beginning to suspect Kirlia’s true strength.

Wild currents surged throughout his body, a piercing screech reverberated through the room, and dazzling light illuminated the arena. Lu Yun gave a fierce grin.

“This time… it’s my turn!”