The Dragapult that was originally hidden on his right quietly moved away a bit.
It had a bit of trouble dealing with the Hydreigon, because the latter always had a gaze that was friendly yet hostile, with a strong sense of competition hidden within.
This ultimate evolution of Brother Dragapult was simply its nemesis, making its scalp tingle if stared at for even a moment.
In the distance.
Xiaoyao's hand brushed over the array of Pokeballs on her waist, finally selecting the Pokémon to enter the battle.
And when she looked up at Baimu, the latter had already thrown the Pokeball.
Bang!
White light flickered.
"Roar!"
A low roar sounded, but even more astonishing than the sound was the terrifying body resembling a giant heavenly pillar.
The nearby streetlights could only illuminate part of it, and its head, like the skull of a giant beast, was largely hidden in the night, with its molten copper eyes filled with a domineering gaze that was especially captivating.
"Hiss——"
"It's so big!"
"Is Four Heavenly Kings Shiba's Steelix really this big!?"
Everyone's heads instinctively tilted high, looking either excited or frightened at the giant Steelix, which seemed to be forged from pure steel, discussing animatedly.
Xiaoyao's expression was stiff, her motion to throw the Pokeball paused halfway.
She had to admit she was scared; she had seen Pokémon like Steelix before, her former travel companion Xiaogang had one, but it was definitely not this large.
It seemed to be at least twenty meters!
As she hesitated, her younger brother, Xiaosheng's enthusiastic cheers suddenly came over.
"Sister! Go for it! I believe you can do it!"
Xiaoyao turned her head and saw Xiaosheng, amidst the crowd watching with amazement, clenching his fists slightly nervously as he looked at her.
This revitalized her spirit.
Her mind felt like it was doused in a cold shower, rapidly calming down.
"Inhale... exhale..."
Xiaoyao closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. When she opened them again, she suddenly posed her hands like a camera lens in front of her, seriously talking to herself: "Adventurers of the world, thank you for waiting.
The Xiaoyao Expedition Team has encountered an unprecedented crisis. A giant Steelix is blocking our way. Can the Xiaoyao Expedition Team overcome it and get through this tough challenge? Let's wait and see!"
After she finished her long speech, many onlookers had strange expressions, and Xiaosheng covered his face, feeling embarrassed.
Only Baimu on the opposite side was full of smiles.
The "Xiaoyao Expedition Team", what a nostalgic sight. I remember Xiaoyao often posed like a TV host in the animation, relieving her inner tension, and it also stemmed from Xiaoyao's habit of watching TV.
I remember she would watch Pokémon dramas alone almost every night... Perhaps she would have something in common with Mawile?
While thinking.
"It's up to you, Blaziken!"
Xiaoyao shouted loudly, throwing the Pokeball forward.
Bang!
White light flashed.
The tall and strong Blaziken landed, and upon seeing the mighty figure of the giant Steelix, flames of determination ignited on its wrists, emitting waves of intense heat.
"Kecleon!"
"Jet Flame!"
Xiaoyao quickly commanded, intending to take the first strike advantage.
Blaziken also reacted swiftly, using its excellent bouncing power to effortlessly leap up to eye level with the giant Steelix.
The white-feathered chest and abdomen swelled as it reared back, and brilliant flames overflowed from its beak.
The next moment.
Fierce flames spewed out, roaring like a torrential rain, pouring towards Steelix!
"Quicksand Hell."
As the flames surged towards it, a violent airflow carrying sand from the ground rushed to intercept them, clashing with the flames in a great burst, then dragging the scorching flames away through the airflow.
In an instant, fire and sand whirled.
The two briefly formed a terrifying fiery tornado on the surface of the giant Steelix, which suddenly enlarged like a huge wall, slamming the descending Blaziken away!
But as Xiaoyao's ace Pokémon, it was not to be underestimated, regaining its balance with a backflip and lightly landing on the ground.
It raised its head, looking alertly at the swirling giant Steelix, its broad horizontal steel body exposed as the flames dissipated, controlling the wild sand.
"Kecleon!"
"Not bad, not bad."
Baimu's smile remained undiminished.
Using the Quicksand Hell Shield to resist flame-type attacks easily driven by wind has long been a basic habit for Steelix, which doesn't require a command to execute.
Xiaoyao exclaimed, "Counterattack Shield!?"
"You know it?"
Baimu was slightly surprised. Ash Ketchum was the one who first created this special tactic in the Sinnoh Region, which should not have been developed during the Mikoli Club period in Sinnoh.
Xiaoyao replied a bit embarrassedly, "Xiaogang told me about it once. I battled him, and he used it."
So that's how it is.
Xiaogang truly has been actively utilizing this special technique at all times, whereas the creator Ash Ketchum hasn't used this technique in Super Wishes, XY, or Sun and Moon; he might have used it in his journey, but he doesn't remember clearly.
Baimu pondered pensively, and Xiaoyao immediately seized this opportunity, shouting:
"Blaziken! Heaven-Piercing Fist!"
Bam!
Grass debris and sand splashed, Blaziken charged forward fiercely, its claws wrapped in a brown-red airflow, the surging Fighting Attribute Energy almost turning into a pair of gloves.
Heaven-Piercing Fist, Heaven-Piercing Fist.
Not only is it punching fiercely into the sky, but it also forces opponents to be lifted upwards!
"Chirp!"
Blaziken's eyes were resolute, ignoring the whirling sands, it charged straight towards the jaw of the Giant Steelix!
However, just before it leaped up, the Giant Steelix suddenly bowed its head, its brass-like eyes staring directly at the incoming Blaziken, its massive mouth slightly ajar like a black hole.
Trapped!
A common color flashed in the eyes of Baimu and Steelix.
"Jarring Sound!"
"Roar—!!"
The roar erupted, and a transparent light wave shot from Steelix's mouth, quickly forming a sound wave that surged towards the leaping Blaziken!
The latter forcefully endured the pain from the sound wave, continuously swinging its fists, causing Fighting Attribute Energy and the sound wave to collide, blasting a milky white shock wave in mid-air!
Bam!
The Blaziken, not yet possessing Flying Ability, was forced to fly backward, enveloped by a blue lowering airflow due to the Jarring Sound's Physical Defense lowering effect, but Baimu did not intend to let it go so easily.
"Tie Tight!"
"Roar!"
Steelix charged forward fiercely, and when Blaziken fell to the ground, its long snake-like body quickly turned, binding Blaziken tightly like chains, exerting continuous pressure.
"Chirp—"
Blaziken let out a painful wail.
"Blaziken! Use Overheating to attack Steelix's head!"
Xiaoyao couldn't help but panic, but quickly thought of a way to escape the Giant Steelix's Binding.
Baimu shouted, "Don't give it a chance! Earthquake!"
In the grass.
The continuously compressed Blaziken suddenly turned crimson, its strong will allowing it to defiantly open its beak, from which terrifying high temperatures began to leak.
"Roar!"
Steelix couldn't allow it to continue, lifting its tail high that held Blaziken, then suddenly slammed down!
Thud!!
Like a jackhammer pounding the earth, in a dull rumble, a dirt-yellow energy shock wave instantly blasted countless yellowed weeds and stones into the air, sand and gravel flying everywhere.
Onlookers covered their ears and retreated, even though they were far enough away, not willing to get covered in flying sand and dust.
But soon, a heart-palpitating scorching white flame soared into the sky!
Boom—!!
The heavens were illuminated by a whirling pillar of fire.
Like a momentary firework, the pillar of flame suddenly appeared and disappeared.
In the smoke, Xiaoyao covered her mouth and nose with her arm, coughing while waving away the dust, she anxiously looked towards the previous location of Steelix and Blaziken.
"Blaziken!"
She tried to call her Pokémon, seeking to confirm its condition.
Suddenly, a strong wind came, and the obstructing dust was blown away, exposing the scene on the grass to everyone's eyes.
Only to see in the shallow pit, a still-standing Giant Steelix slowly rotated its lateral steel skeleton, its head and the connecting spot of its torso showing obvious scorch marks from the intense burning flames.
Underneath it.
Blaziken lay in a spread-eagle posture, with eyes replaced by black mosquito coil patterns, clearly having lost its combat ability.
"… It seems Xiaoyao's expedition might not make it through today."
Xiaoyao thought dejectedly.