Chapter 49: The Sonic Dragon

Chapter 49: The Soundwave Dragon

A strange, high-frequency vibration continuously emanated from the large ears of the Soundwave Dragon. Even on the field, both the Snow Sprite and the Cool Panther wore pained expressions.

“Damn it!” A-zhe half-knelt, his right hand clenched into a fist and slammed hard against the ground. Despair filled his face—the coordinated attack he and his partner had just attempted was their final desperate gamble. Yet, in the face of Noel’s mocking laughter, it had amounted to nothing.

Suddenly, a vibration came from his waist.

At the most perilous moments, trainers put their faith in the partners who had accompanied them through thick and thin. Only those Pokémon who had spent years closely bonded to their trainers could, in the shortest time, understand the intentions of their human friends. That was why, in their last stand, A-zhe had chosen not to send out the obviously stronger Lu Yun, but rather the Snow Sprite he had raised from childhood.

Indeed, the Snow Sprite had lived up to his expectations. The instant it was released, it grasped the situation on the battlefield and, together with Xiao Zhu’s Cool Panther, executed a flawless combination. Unfortunately, the attack lacked sufficient power—it had failed to inflict any real damage on Noel.

Now, the black-and-yellow Poké Ball containing Lu Yun suddenly shook violently at A-zhe’s waist, surprising him. The Soundwave Dragon before him, able to withstand a joint assault from both Snow Sprite and Cool Panther with just its physical might, was clearly an elite among elites. Such a vast gulf in power could not be bridged by sheer numbers.

In A-zhe’s mind, Fluffy Sheep should be conserving its strength, waiting for a chance on the road ahead, or perhaps holding out until they reached the inner ranks of the Pokémon Hunter organization before making a move. To confront a powerhouse like the Soundwave Dragon now would serve only to increase its injuries, with no other outcome.

But the Poké Ball’s trembling grew even more intense, as though the Pokémon within was expressing a fierce will.

“So…” A-zhe murmured, “You’re not willing to give up, are you?”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. His right hand trembling, he drew out Lu Yun’s black-and-yellow Poké Ball and hurled it skyward with all his might.

“Oh?” Noel’s eyes glinted with ridicule, unconcerned as A-zhe threw the Poké Ball. “A futile struggle, nothing more.”

With a “bang,” a cloud of black mist billowed out like a thundercloud. Amid the mist, dazzling yellow lightning flickered.

Noel’s eyes lit up at the dramatic entrance. But as Lu Yun’s form grew clear in the shadows, his admiration twisted into an even sharper sneer.

“Ha ha ha!” he laughed raucously. “Is this the best ‘Dark Star’ has to offer? You can only send out a Fluffy Sheep? I thought I’d see something impressive—what a joke!”

His scornful laughter echoed through the cavern. Within the black mist, Lu Yun stood quietly, ignoring Noel’s taunts and calming his mind. The oppressive aura radiating from the Soundwave Dragon ahead almost made it hard to breathe. Facing such a formidable foe, he had to keep his cool at all times.

Exhaling deeply, the crystalline orb at the tip of Lu Yun’s tail suddenly flashed, casting a blinding blue light through the cavern.

With a roar, the immense magnetic force that had been building within him burst forth, enveloping the entire cave in an instant.

Mysterious electromagnetic energy spread wildly through the air, shattering every soundwave encountered along its path. The Soundwave Dragon seemed to be thrust into a vacuum—its ultrasonic waves, released from its ears, now vanished without a trace, as if submerged in the sea.

This constant barrage of debilitating sound had to be suppressed before the battle could truly begin.

Sparks crackled before Lu Yun, swiftly coalescing into a round orb. “Electro Ball!” Electric ions danced in the air, forming a translucent sphere of brilliant yellow light, which Lu Yun launched fiercely at the Soundwave Dragon.

Within the magnetic field, countless currents were drawn along the path of the Electro Ball, fusing tightly to it, causing it to swell ever larger like a rolling snowball. At the same time, the field’s magnetic force acted upon the sphere, accelerating its already blistering speed.

In Lu Yun’s eyes, the dazzling orb became a yellow blur, streaking through the cavern with a sharp whistle.

The Soundwave Dragon barely had time to react before the now-giant Electro Ball slammed into its supple purple belly.

A wail erupted from the dragon’s wide mouth as aggressive currents, searingly hot, ravaged its delicate skin.

Noel was so startled by the attack’s power that he staggered back, disbelief etched across his face. He had never imagined that this seemingly harmless little sheep could unleash such a fearsome move.

Glancing at the Soundwave Dragon’s scorched and blackened abdomen, Noel’s lips twitched uncontrollably. The mocking smile that had played at his lips faded, replaced by solemn seriousness.

He was, after all, a professional Pokémon hunter. However twisted his personality, he could still judge the strength of an opponent. In terms of technique, this Fluffy Sheep was already on par with the Soundwave Dragon—a fact that demanded Noel’s full attention.

A nervous, manic giggle escaped him again. “How interesting,” Noel murmured, eyes fixed on Lu Yun. Who would have thought this assignment would yield such a pleasant surprise? A Fluffy Sheep of this caliber would fetch a handsome price on the black market.

His laughter echoed even louder through the cavern.

Meanwhile, the piercing soundwaves in the air had vanished. Supporting each other, A-zhe and Xiao Zhu managed to stand. Witnessing the terrifying might of Lu Yun’s Electro Ball, hope flickered anew in their hearts. Another helping hand could only improve their odds, so they each commanded their Pokémon to join the fray.

“Snow Sprite, use Ice Shard!”

“Cool Panther, Pursue with Malice!”

Cool Panther’s slender forelimbs flared with dark brown energy, surging forward with the wind toward the Soundwave Dragon.

“Trash like you should stay out of my sight!” Noel shouted savagely, baring his teeth. “Soundwave Dragon, clear them off the field!”

The Soundwave Dragon’s mighty roar reverberated through the cave, tinged with humiliation. Having been caught off guard and forced to cry out in pain by Fluffy Sheep in front of its master was already shameful enough. Now, these two foolhardy opponents dared attack it, rubbing salt in its wounds.

A vicious gleam flashed across the dragon’s face. Its right claw flared with brilliant violet energy. Fist clenched, it swung hard at the charging Cool Panther.

A violent crash rang out as the dragon’s brute force met Cool Panther’s leap. The panther howled, its body halted mid-air by the blow. The force from below sent it tumbling skyward, pain like tearing flesh lancing through its forelimbs as it curled up defensively.

A rush of air sounded overhead—Soundwave Dragon’s long, whip-like black tail was coming straight at Cool Panther. Still airborne, the panther could do nothing but squeeze its eyes shut, resigned to its fate.

A thunderous boom echoed out as the dragon’s tail struck Cool Panther’s purple frame, sending it crashing into a rock wall and raising a cloud of dust.

At that moment, Snow Sprite’s Ice Shard finally formed, whistling as it sped toward the Soundwave Dragon’s back.