Chapter 33: Defeat
Chapter 33: Defeat
Around Lu Yun’s body, powerful electric currents surged through the Cotton Spores, floating up and down like stars in the night sky.
A crackling sound echoed.
Lu Yun carefully controlled the electric currents within him, spreading them outward.
A buzzing rippled through the air, yellow electromagnetic waves emanating with a sharp, crisp sound, suddenly overflowing.
“Electromagnetic Wave!”
The waves, infused with fierce currents, roared forward, sweeping the charged Cotton Spores floating around Lu Yun’s body straight toward the Natural Bird.
Charge + Cotton Spore + Electromagnetic Wave!
This was a combination move Lu Yun had conceived back when he was just a Mareep. Only recently, with his greatly improved ability to manipulate electricity, had he finally been able to execute it.
Beyond its destructive power, this combination was most notable for its broad coverage and control in battle.
First, he used Charge to increase his internal energy reserves, preparing for the massive release of electricity to come;
Then, he released Cotton Spores, infusing them with some of his electrical energy, so that any enemy touching them would suffer intense paralysis and some electrical damage.
Cotton Spores, when first released, weren’t flexible, only able to float around the main body; further spread depended on airflow.
So Lu Yun chose to finish with Electromagnetic Wave, using it to disperse the Cotton Spores and, to some extent, enhance their impact.
Streaks of yellow electric ripples flashed across the field, dazzling Cotton Spores spread like chess pieces, resembling a golden river of stars sweeping across the arena.
The Natural Bird’s gaze sharpened. With its barely recovered mental strength, it endured the stabbing pain in its mind and activated Protect.
A shield of faint blue psychic energy enveloped its body.
The Cotton Spores, shining like stars, struck the shield in rapid succession, like a summer downpour—dense and swift.
The once sturdy shield dimmed under the relentless barrage of Cotton Spores, tiny cracks appearing.
Feeling his mental energy nearly exhausted, the Natural Bird was overcome by despair.
“I truly underestimated him…”
He closed his eyes, silently lamenting.
Lu Yun, seeing the Natural Bird with eyes shut, decided to press his advantage.
He gathered the remaining charge from the earlier Charge and unleashed one final move: Thunderbolt.
A violent lightning flash streaked across the sky, and the shield protecting the Natural Bird shattered with a sharp crack.
The intense voltage, carrying terrifying heat, surged toward the Natural Bird...
With a dull thud, a charred figure trailing wisps of smoke fell from the sky, rolling twice across the dim floor.
Merg’s eyes were vacant, devoid of spirit.
The pride of a genius within him had been utterly shattered in this battle.
Mechanically, he took out a Poké Ball and recalled the unconscious Natural Bird.
Merg, as if soulless, weakly opened the door and walked out.
On the other side of the field.
Lin Si watched Merg’s departing figure with a hint of pity in her eyes.
Though she hadn’t experienced it herself, she understood the deep sense of loss and defeat Merg felt now.
She turned her gaze to Lu Yun, whose body still glimmered faintly with electricity, her expression complex.
This fluffy sheep was anything but ordinary. The electric energy it contained, and its precise control, were far beyond what any Pokémon in its growth phase should possess.
Even more astonishing was the creative genius displayed in battle, inventing new combinations.
If these moves were indeed invented by this sheep, then the organization might soon have a Pokémon capable of rivaling the league champions.
...
Merg, despondent, returned to the starting point of the Battle Tower, quietly arranging his withdrawal with the staff.
Nearby, several members who had failed high-level challenges were loudly discussing the powerful Pokémon they’d encountered.
“Watch out for the Gengar in 8-F. Its Poison moves are terrifying.”
“Don’t pick room 6-J. There’s a pseudo-legend: Zweilous. Its combat ability is much higher than others on that floor.”
“The Rhydon in 7-A is clumsy. Use agile Pokémon against it.”
“…”
The discussion grew heated. One member caught sight of Merg heading toward the exit.
Surprised, he called out.
“Merg!”
“Why are you leaving so early?”
“How far did you get?”
Voices of concern echoed from behind, but to Merg, they sounded harsh.
He stopped, turned, and spoke in a flat, emotionless tone.
“Don’t pick 3-C.”
With that, ignoring the questions behind him, Merg walked straight out of the base.
“How odd.”
“Why is he leaving so early?”
“Why did he specifically mention 3-C?”
“The third floor is just for warming up, isn’t it?”
Conversations broke out among the members.
Suddenly, a voice rang out in the crowd.
“What’s the point of just talking?”
“Let’s try it ourselves!”
The crowd fell silent for a moment, then burst into even louder commotion.
“Yeah! Let’s go check out 3-C!”
“Right, I don’t believe the third floor could be that tough!”
“Let’s go!”
The members, previously only discussing, now became action-takers, submitting their route requests to the staff.
When the Battle Tower staff received the forms, he glanced at them, a bit puzzled.
Although the challengers’ routes were all different, strangely, they all included room 3-C. Was the guardian Pokémon in that room particularly weak?
He wondered to himself. The Battle Tower was meant to train the members; if everyone only looked for easy wins and shortcuts, it would defeat the purpose.
Yet, it wasn’t his concern. If they didn’t strive to improve, they’d only encounter more setbacks in the future.
With that, he divided the routes according to the forms and handed tablets to each challenger.
As the excited members headed for the entrance, the staff member reminded them,
“When you challenge 3-C, remember to leave thirty minutes between battles so the guardian Pokémon can rest.”
“Got it!”
“Okay!”
Their energetic replies echoed as they disappeared deeper inside.
The staff member smiled and shook his head.
“Let them be, then.”