20demayo Chapter 788 Ah Liu, you've really made something of yourself!
Chapter 788 Ah Liu, you've really made something of yourself!
On the scree slope of the Champion's Road, two figures are locked in fierce combat.
Summer stood on the sidelines, his forehead covered in sweat, as his Draco Bratt sped through the air, firing Dragon Pulse after Dragon Pulse at the ground.
But the opponent's Dragon King Scorpion was faster, its attack aimed at vital points and condensing into a jet-black blade.
Cutting through the gap in the Dragon's Pulse, it delivered a swift and clean slash to Dralongaru's side.
Dorombalut let out a painful scream, fell from the sky, hit the ground, bounced twice, and did not get up again.
Xia Tian stood there, stunned. Jin Baosan poked his head out from behind the rock, "Brother Tian, it's not that you're not strong, it's just that A Liu is too amazing."
"She's the champion of the latest Lily of the Valley Tournament. She's taken the championship to the next level. Tian, it's not shameful for you to lose to A-Liu."
Summer smiled wryly, withdrew her Dragon Balut, and looked at the scarred Dragon Scorpion. "Indeed."
Ah Liu walked over, his face still bearing the immaturity of a young man, but his eyes had already lost the impetuousness of a newcomer.
He crouched down and gently patted Dracovish's head, then stood up and smiled at Xia Tian, "Your Dragapult is very fast, and its Dragon Pulse is quite powerful."
Li Shuwen happened to walk over there. "Wow, there are so many people."
Xia Tian turned to look at Li Shuwen, who was standing not far away.
"Awen, this is A-Liu, the champion of the Lily of the Valley Tournament, and ranked second on the OK list. He's going to challenge the number one spot tomorrow, so he's just warming up today."
A-Liu followed Xia Tian's gaze and looked over, her eyes lingering on Li Shuwen for a moment.
He couldn't explain why, but looking at this dark-skinned, ordinary-looking man, the tension in his heart inexplicably eased a bit. It was as if he had seen him somewhere before, or perhaps it was just a gut feeling.
"Let's have a match," A-Liu said. "I just came down from up there, and I'm in great shape. I'm going to challenge the number one player tomorrow, and I'm a little nervous. I want to practice my Pokémon a bit."
"You're new to the Road to Champions, so it's a good opportunity for me to see a newcomer."
Li Shuwen smiled and nodded. "This is a good opportunity for me to witness the strength of the new tournament champion and improve my Pokémon."
"Please give it your all."
Unexpectedly, one day he would be the one being guided by A-Liu.
A-Liu throws out a Poké Ball, and Scyther emerges from a white light, its twin blades crossed in front of its chest, its eyes sharp.
Li Shuwen raised his hand and threw a Poké Ball. Electivire landed on the ground, its two tails swaying behind it, and its two fists collided with a dull thud.
"A flash of lightning!" Ah Liu gave the order first.
The flying mantis's wings vibrated at high speed, leaving afterimages in the air; its speed was astonishing.
"Thunder Fist," Li Shuwen said calmly.
Electivire's right fist crackled with golden electricity as it unleashed a punch the instant Scyther charged in.
As their fists clashed, an electric current traveled up the mantis's twin blades, causing the mantis's body to shudder violently and its wing vibrations to become briefly disordered.
But A-Liu remained calm. "Sword Dance!"
The flying mantis spun rapidly, its twin blades drawing streaks of silver-white light around its body.
This is not only an enhanced skill, but also an attack. Each rotation brings with it sharp sword energy that cuts towards the electric monster.
Li Shuwen did not retreat. "Lightning Strike!"
The Electrified Beast's body lit up with blue and white lightning as it crashed head-on into the storm of sword energy.
boom--!!!
The lightning collided with the sword energy, and the Flying Mantis was knocked back several steps, the current on its twin blades not yet completely dissipated.
He shook his arm to shake off the remaining current, but he was a beat too slow.
"Bodybuilding," Li Shuwen's voice rang out again.
The electric monster's muscles swelled, veins bulged, and its aura surged.
A-Liu's eyes narrowed; the Electrifying Beast's defense and attack power had both increased.
"Shadow clone, approach at high speed." A-Liu's voice was calm.
The Scyther's figure suddenly split into two, four, eight, and countless others, covering half the field and surrounding the Electabuzz from all directions.
"A series of kills!" Ah Liu's voice rose.
Scyther appeared behind Electivire, its twin blades glowing green, moving with a smoothness even more fluid than chopping meat.
The Electivire withstood the attack, its two tails extending like two agile snakes, tightly wrapping around the mantis's waist.
The mantis was still swinging its blades, but its body was already firmly locked in place by its tail.
"Thunder," Li Shuwen said.
A golden bolt of lightning exploded from the Electivire's body, striking down from its head, piercing through itself and also through the Scyther, which was entangled by its tail.
The mantis's body trembled violently in the lightning, its twin blades hung limply, and the flapping of its wings completely stopped.
Summer was so shocked she stood up. "Awen's Electabuzz... it can even fight with its back turned?"
Jin Baosan's mouth gaped open, wide enough to fit a fist. "Brother Tian, is this guy really a newbie?"
Ah Liu's voice pierced through the lightning. "Scyther, we can't let Mr. Shuwen down! Use the Phillips Shears for the final blow!"
The flying mantis suddenly opened its eyes.
The two swords were crossed into a cross shape, and a yellow-green light blade condensed on the blade. With a single slash, the light blade struck the back of the Electrified Beast, leaving a deep cross-shaped wound.
The electric monster's body shuddered, and the current output became even more intense.
The lightning bolt changed from gold to blazing white. The Scyther's body trembled violently again amidst the lightning.
As the lightning dissipated, the Flying Mantis lay motionless on the ground, its body charred black, its twin blades hanging limply at its sides.
The electric monster knelt on the ground, supporting its body with its hands, panting heavily.
Summer looked away. "Awen won. But Scyther's final cross-shaped attack was also impressive."
Jin Baosan swallowed hard. "Brother Tian, do you think this guy is just pretending to be weak while actually being strong?"
A-Liu recalled her Scyther and looked at Li Shuwen. "You're very strong, and your Electivire is very strong too."
His gaze sharpened. "The next match is yours, Scizor."
A flash of red light, and the Scizor landed on the ground, its red metallic armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Li Shuwen recalled Electivire and threw out a second Poké Ball.
The Blaziken emerges from a white light, its flames leaping in the sunlight.
"Flame Fist!" Li Shuwen gave the first order.
Blaziken's right fist burst into crimson flames as it charged toward Scizor.
The mantis remained motionless, but its two pincers began to vibrate rapidly, gathering airflow and forming a thin air cushion on the pincers.
The flaming fist slammed into the pincers, and sparks exploded.
The power of the Flame Punch was largely neutralized by the air cushion, and the remaining heat was absorbed by the metal armor. The flames dissipated, and the Scizor was unharmed.
"Metal claws!" A-Liu's order followed immediately.
The scyther's right pincer gleamed with a silvery-white light, and it suddenly threw a punch.
Blaziken raised its hand to block the attack, but the immense force sent it flying.
Blaziken is in the air, using its feet to shoot flames to stabilize itself.
"Flash Charge!" Li Shuwen ordered.
Blaziken's body burst into golden flames, transforming into a golden meteor as it swooped down towards Scizor.
"Ultimate Impact!" A-Liu's voice rose.
The scyther's pincers glowed white, and its entire body transformed into a white shooting star, facing the golden shooting star head-on.
boom--!!!
Two meteors collided, exploding into a blinding burst of light.
"Air Slash!" A-Liu then gave the order.
The Scizor unleashed two invisible air blades from its pincers, slashing towards Blaziken.
"Flame Kick, Shatter!" Li Shuwen ordered.
Blaziken's right foot burst into golden flames as it kicked an air blade, shattering it.
Then he charged straight up and unleashed a series of fiery kicks with both feet.
Ah Liu shouted, "Wings, defend!"
The mantis crosses its pincers in front of its chest, spreading them out like wings. Airflow circulates across the pincers, forming a wall of air.
One kick after another, each kick carrying scorching flames... striking the mantis's pincers.
Blaziken squinted, seized the opening, and its right foot pierced through the gap between the pincers, striking Scizor squarely in the chest.
The mantis suddenly arched its back.
But he did not give up. His wings flapped violently, he hovered in the air, and swung out with his pincers.
Air Slash!
The air blade slashed hard across Blaziken's abdomen, sending it flying.
The Blaziken crashed to the ground, its body glowing a deep red light.
Crimson Lotus Mode, activated!!
The Blaziken's eyes turned gold, and the flames around its body changed from orange-red to incandescent, reaching a temperature so high that the rocks beneath its feet were melting.
"Flash Charge," Li Shuwen said.
Blaziken transformed into a white shooting star, moving so fast that it left a trail of white sonic boom clouds in the air.
The Scizor used its wings to defend itself, but they were mercilessly smashed.
Blaziken: We're all trying our best to live!
Summer gasped. "Blizzard... its Blaze Charge after activating Blaze is incredibly powerful."
Jin Baosan gasped, "No, this is the Blazing Fire ability?"
A-Liu recalled her Scizor, remained silent for a moment, then raised her head and looked at Li Shuwen.
Throwing out the third Poké Ball, Drapion emerged from a white light, its scarred carapace a testament to its battle-hardened past.
Li Shuwen recalled Blaziken and threw out the third Poké Ball.
Lucario emerged from the white light, his agile figure in blue and black, his eyes calm and steady.
In the last few battles, Electivire and Blaziken have both been on the field, and he's been watching from the sidelines the whole time.
He had been waiting, waiting for an opportunity.
"Sludge bomb!" Ah Liu gave the order first.
Dracovish opened its mouth, and purple venom condensed into mud bombs, which rained down on Lucario.
Lucario's eyes lit up with blue light as it unleashed its full Aura.
The trajectory of the sludge bombs was clearly visible to it. It sidestepped the first one, slid to avoid the second, jumped to avoid the third, and landed as the fourth flew overhead.
"Lightning speed!" Li Shuwen ordered.
Lucario disappeared. Drapion only felt a gust of wind rushing towards it from the front, and before it could react, it was struck heavily in the chest.
The punch was very powerful, and the Dragon King Scorpion was forced to stagger back several steps.
"Beat them with bone clubs!" Li Shuwen ordered again.
Lucario conjured a blue bone club in his hand and slammed it down on Drapion, one blow after another, at such a speed that Drapion had no time to dodge.
Ah Liu shouted, "Tail, catch it!"
The Dragon King Scorpion swung its tail, blocking the bone club's attack path.
The bone club slammed into the carapace of the tail, sending sparks flying, and blocked most of the attack for the Dragon King Scorpion.
"Flame Fang!" A-Liu's voice rose.
Draconis's hands glowed with crimson flames as it lunged at Lucario.
Lucario abandoned the bone club, his figure transforming into a rapidly moving afterimage.
"Wave missile".
Lucario conjured a blue Aura Missile in his hand and shot it toward Drapion.
The Dragon King Scorpion swung its tail, and the iron tail struck the Wave Missile.
The missile was deflected, changed direction, and then swerved, striking the Dragon Scorpion in the waist from the side.
Jin Baosan blinked. "A missile that can curve? How can that be allowed?"
The Dragon King Scorpion hissed in pain and swayed.
Lucario once again condensed its Bone Club and unleashed a burst of speed. One club struck Drapion's head, the second its chest, the third its side, and the fourth its leg.
The Dragon King Scorpion let out a deep, angry roar, its tail slamming against the ground.
earthquake!
A shockwave, a yellowish-brown color, ripped through the ground, sending Lucario staggering back several steps.
Draco, panting heavily, looked at Lucario, his eyes showing no sign of defeat.
Lucario stared at the Dracovish, the bone club in his hand dissipated, and he clasped his hands together in front of his chest, condensing all his Aura power into a giant Aura Missile.
Ah Liu's voice was hoarse, "Dragon King Scorpion, Ultimate Impact!"
Draconis's body was enveloped in a purple vortex, transforming into a purple meteor that crashed into Lucario.
A giant wave missile collides with a purple meteor?
boom--!!!
The explosion engulfed the entire site.
Xia Tian and Jin Baosan were forced to retreat by the shockwave.
When the smoke cleared, two Pokémon were found lying in the crater.
Lucario and Drapion were lying in the rubble, both covered in wounds.
Lucario twitched his fingers, trying to stand up by bracing himself against the ground, but his arms gave way and he fell back down.
The Dragon King Scorpion's tail trembled slightly, but it did not lift up.
Neither of the two Pokémon stood up.
draw.
Summer fell silent.
Ah Liu's Dragon King Scorpion, ranked second on the OK list, the ace of the tournament champion, ended in a draw.
Arvin's Lucario, a newcomer to the Path of Champions, fought to a draw with Skarner.
Lucario seized the opportunity it had been waiting for.
It proved that it was no weaker than Electabuzz or Blaziken.
Jin Baosan's mouth was still open. Xia Tian nudged him, but there was no response. She nudged him again, but there was still no response.
Jin Baosan's body jolted suddenly, as if he had come back to his senses.
"Brother Tian, could this guy really be pretending to be weak while actually being strong?"
Summer didn't answer, she just watched the man who was taking back Lucario.
A-Liu stood frozen in place, staring at the fallen Dragon King Scorpion, her lips trembling slightly, "Mr. Shuwen... I knew it was you!"
He practically shouted it out. Li Shuwen recalled Lucario, turned around, and looked at A-Liu.
He smiled, and the power of waveguide energy receded.
That dark, ordinary face began to change; the angularity of its features became more defined, its skin returned to its fair complexion, and its height returned to normal.
"I wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but I didn't expect you to recognize me, A-Liu."
Ah Liu excitedly went up the mountain, saying, "I will never forget Mr. Shuwen's guidance!"
Li Shuwen stood on the gravel slope, the wind blowing the hem of his clothes, and the sunlight falling on him.
Jin Baosan's eyes widened like saucers, and his voice cracked, "So handsome!"
"No, he's the strongest gym master in history, the Midas Touch Li Shuwen! I even took five hundred yuan in protection money from him!"
His legs went weak and he almost knelt down.
Li Shuwen patted A-Liu on the shoulder, "A-Liu, you've really made something of yourself!"
"Your battle just now was absolutely commanding. Keep up the good work, and within a year—no, even six months—you could become one of the Four Heavenly Kings!"
Ah Liu's hands trembled with excitement. "Yes, I will definitely work hard!"
Summer's eyes welled up with tears.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm. "Mr. Shuwen, may I... have a serious fight with you?"
Li Shuwen looked at Xia Tian, his eyes filled with tension, anticipation, and awe.
"sure."
Summer clenched her fists and nodded vigorously.