Chapter 91: Goodra

Chapter Ninety-One: Goodra

A light of absolute purity, white and blinding, settled over Snorlax’s massive body as though in the midst of evolution.

The gluttonous beast transformed the terrible nourishment stored within it into the purest force of destruction, flinging it outward in reckless abandon.

A resonant hum rolled across the field. Endless light and heat, together with the most dreadful surge of force, turned heaven and earth into a sea of white radiance.

Even the spectators in the stands, protected by special measures, could feel waves of strange hot wind drifting through the seats.

A wet sound rang out.

On the wrecked battlefield, crimson blood, threaded with faint golden sparks, spilled to the ground.

The moment it struck the searing earth, it rose in wisps of pale smoke and vanished into the air.

"I was careless..."

Lu Yun lay sprawled on the ground, trembling hands forcing his battered body upright.

The pure white fur that had once been immaculate was now covered in black scorch marks beneath the terror of that energy; the tremendous impact had left his insides a ruin. From his ears, nostrils, and the corners of his mouth, blood flowed endlessly, like springs from hell.

At his chest, a jade-green light shone like a lamp in the night, ceaselessly delivering dense plasma and carrying the hope of life through his whole body.

"Well fought, Snorlax."

Warm words lingered on Norn's lips as he casually handed the Pokeball to the staff member behind him.

Looking at Lu Yun, still barely clinging to life on the field, a strange curve touched the corner of his mouth.

"It's over."

"Let the final finish be yours, Goodra."

A cry rose, clear and high, as a violet-pink figure landed on the ground.

On its soft, pale-lavender body, supple as a slug's, viscous green fluid dripped down, like chemical nitric acid, corroding tiny pits into the ground. Wisps of green vapor scattered in the wind; white-green translucent ringed plates glimmered around its thick neck, flashing with an eerie light as it breathed.

The powerful pseudo-legend from the Kalos region, Goodra, had finally entered the battle.

With the proud air peculiar to Dragon-types, Goodra’s green eyes swept indifferently over Lu Yun ahead.

"Mrr."

A plaintive cry echoed over the field, as if complaining to Norn that its opponent was merely a badly injured Mareep, and not enough to satisfy it.

"All right, all right, next time I'll make sure you can enjoy yourself."

"Go on, make your move."

Behind it, Norn spoke with indulgent affection.

Goodra gave a slight nod, and with a thought formed a mass of thick green acid before itself.

Just as it was about to hurl it, it suddenly froze.

Something seemed to be awakening within the battered Mareep before its eyes.

Fizz—

Dense golden currents burst from every part of Lu Yun’s body, like threads woven from light into a dazzling garment.

Its cells wailed as though they were sponges being wrung dry, the last traces of electrical energy squeezed from them by overwhelming force.

Like the twilight of sunset, dark gold arcs with the finality of ending gathered over Lu Yun’s body, condensing into calm, steady plasma.

Power.

Vast power rose from every part of his body, accompanied by a tormenting agony.

At last, after a long silence, Lu Yun’s strongest technique, the Thunder Armor, reappeared on the stage of the Alliance tournament!

His black pupils were swallowed by gold lightning, and Lu Yun seemed like a precision machine pushed far beyond its limit.

Though it possessed dreadful power far beyond its usual state, it could also be shattered at any moment.

"Playing at mystery and magic?"

Goodra sneered and flung the Acid Bomb that had already been prepared in its hand toward Lu Yun from afar.

Gone.

Leaving behind a golden afterimage, Lu Yun vanished from his spot as if teleporting.

"Hm?"

As Goodra was still startled, a fierce gust of wind suddenly struck from behind.

Too late to turn around, the two thick horns on its head crossed like a cross, and large amounts of corrosive mucus overflowed from the top.

Sizzle.

The dense golden current, the instant it touched the green mucus, electrolyzed it into pale green vapor.

A soft, yielding sensation came from beneath Lu Yun’s feet. All he felt was that the explosive force he had unleashed sank like a stone into the sea, dissolving into Goodra’s horns.

Whoosh—

The air was ripped apart, letting out a shrill howl.

Goodra's thick tail lashed viciously toward Lu Yun.

With a thought,

Lu Yun’s left foot stamped suddenly onto the magnetic field spread across the battlefield, kicking off empty air.

Lightning spilled everywhere.

The next second, that figure wrapped in a plasma armor appeared high above the arena.

Compressed, condensed,

vast quantities of electrical power gathered in Lu Yun's grasp, and a deep rumble echoed through the air.

Crackle—

Like a thunderbolt of natural ruin, a jagged crossing arc of lightning suddenly split down from the heavens.

With scorching heat, the great power of the Electric type raged over Goodra’s smooth skin.

A howl.

The enormous voltage, beyond the body's limit of endurance, plunged Goodra into rigid numbness. It could not move.

"Now!"

Lu Yun's eyes lit up. He turned the last of the electricity within his body into a brilliant gauntlet that coiled around his fingers.

"Thunder Punch!"

With a kick into empty air, using the magnetic field's accelerating force, he shot downward like a golden meteor straight at Goodra.

Danger!

A fierce premonition of death crashed down from above. Goodra struggled within its numb stiffness, terror flooding its eyes.

Then, a sudden change!

The yellow meteor falling at speed abruptly slowed in a bizarre fashion.

Scarlet color flickered faintly within the gleaming lightning.

A burst of blood mist erupted.

Forced to overdraw the Thunder Armor under grievous injuries, it had lasted less than thirty seconds before breaking apart completely.

The lightning vanished, replaced by great beads of blood overflowing from the body's surface.

The small form tumbled from the sky and rolled across the hard ground.

Only now did Goodra finally break free from its numbness.

Within its emerald, proud eyes was nothing but venomous light.

"I almost... almost died."

A relieved smile curved his mouth as the towering shadow of the opponent covered Lu Yun’s body.

...

"Is it finally about to end?"

A clear female voice came through the broadcast.

"After taking the full blast of Snorlax’s Self-Destruct earlier, he should already be at his limit."

Dr. Shuda shook her head slightly and said in a low voice,

"There are no miracles left."

...

Damaranchi let out a faint sigh.

He stood up and stretched.

It was time to present the championship award for this year's tournament.

At the corner of the stands,

a figure wrapped beneath a long coat stood silently, gazing at the arena ahead.

Under the shadow of the hood, deep violet eyes held a trace of disappointment.

Her toes turned, and she was about to leave,

when she seemed to notice something astonishing and stopped abruptly. Long straight purple hair fell beside her ear.

...

Unwilling.

Lu Yun forced his eyes open with difficulty. His black pupils reflected the proud figure of his enemy before him.

Red sparks flashed in the darkness of his heart, taking anger as kindling and arrogance as breath, becoming a blaze of heaven-shaking fury that burned everything to ash.

His surging blood crashed through his meridians, finally sweeping away that last trace of golden-green sediment and turning it into vigorous, seamless electric power.

"I made it..."

His will condensed. A trembling finger lifted and pressed lightly on the Evolution button.