The Dragon Cavern Secret Realm.
This stretch of continuous mountain range on the outskirts of the Magic City, thanks to its unique geography and energy field, had become a natural cradle for Dragon-type Pokémon to multiply and thrive.
The moment Kudo Shiba stepped into the secret realm, a presence completely different from the outside world rushed toward him.
The air was no longer just thin gas. It felt slightly viscous, and with every breath he could clearly sense a warm, mellow Dragon-type energy flowing in through his nasal cavity into his lungs, then spreading through his entire body.
That energy carried a vast, ancient majesty that made Kudo Shiba's spirit stir.
The reaction from the Dratini and Aerodactyl at his side was even more direct.
Dratini's pure, round eyes sparkled with joy, a faint blue radiance naturally forming around its body as it stretched its slender form in contentment. Aerodactyl spread its stone-textured wings wide, letting out a low, excited growl from deep in its throat, as if it had returned to its ideal home ground.
"As expected of a training paradise."
The corners of Kudo Shiba's mouth lifted in satisfaction.
His goal on this trip was clear—the cliff mentioned in the Golden Prophecy, and the Gible with Champion potential that dwelled there.
However, the rules of a secret realm were always simple and cruel: behind every opportunity, danger of the same level was lurking in the dark.
After he followed the map deeper into the dense forest, moving in the direction of the cliff for about half an hour, a sudden chorus of violent, frenzied roars erupted from within the canopy ahead without warning!
"Rooaar—!"
It wasn't a solo roar, but a layered, overlapping bellow, brimming with raw, undisguised killing intent.
Kudo Shiba's steps halted, his eyes sharpening instantly.
The next second, the shadows between the trees surged violently.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
A dozen or so vicious shapes, their bodies entirely crimson, shot out like arrows released from the bowstring, from behind towering trees and dense bushes all around. Their heavy footsteps pounded the ground with dull thuds as dead branches and fallen leaves were crushed to powder beneath them.
Druddigon.
This was a Dragon-type Pokémon known for its ferocity and extremely strong territorial instinct.
They locked Kudo Shiba firmly in the center, forming a tight, impenetrable ring. In every Druddigon's eyes burned naked hostility and brutality, as if they were staring at a mortal enemy that had barged into their lair.
The one in the lead was a size larger than the others. Its muscles knotted and bulged beneath its armor, whose color was darker and more ominous. A savage scar ran from its left eye down to its jaw, adding to its vicious air. The aura it gave off had firmly stepped into the peak of the Elite tier—it was without question the leader of the horde.
"What a hassle… and in a pack, no less."
Kudo Shiba's brows drew together.
Pointless roadblocks like this were the greatest waste of time.
He didn't bother with any unnecessary chatter. With a single look, Dratini and Aerodactyl understood at once, taking positions to his left and right to guard him.
Battle erupted in an instant!
"Dratini, Dragon Rage!"
Dratini opened its small mouth. A blue energy sphere quickly condensed, then transformed into a raging dragon-shaped beam that blasted straight toward one of the Druddigon in front.
Boom!
The Druddigon took the hit head-on, letting out a shrill cry as it was thrown backward, smashing through a small tree. But its companions showed no fear at all. Instead, the smell of blood further inflamed their savagery as they roared and lunged in.
Aerodactyl let out a piercing screech. With a flap of its wings, it became a gray blur, weaving back and forth through the group of Druddigon with astonishing speed. Sharp wing claws scraped across their hard armor, throwing off sprays of sparks.
However, two fists could not beat so many hands.
There were simply too many Druddigon, and they were fighting with total disregard for their lives. They used their bodies to block Aerodactyl's flight paths, using the most primitive charges and bites to grind down Dratini's stamina.
Dragon Rage was powerful, but every use drained a huge amount of energy. After firing it several times in a row, Dratini's breathing clearly grew heavier, and the glow around its body dimmed significantly.
Aerodactyl was not in a good state either. One Druddigon's claws had raked open a bloody gash in its wing, throwing its flight off balance and dragging down its speed.
The scales of the battle were slowly tipping away from Kudo Shiba.
The Druddigon leader had been watching coldly from the side. Now that it sensed the moment was ripe, a glint of cruel mockery flashed in its eyes. It locked its target on the human Trainer who had stayed at the rear the whole time.
Take down the commander, and the rest will fall.
"ROOOAR!!"
The leader let out a deafening bellow. It suddenly opened its massive jaws wide as a destructive energy began to gather madly. A blinding purple sphere swelled rapidly in its mouth, and the air around it crackled and screamed under the strain of such extreme power.
The next moment, a Hyper Beam that could instantly vaporize an Elite-level Trainer and their Pokémon alike roared forward, intent on blasting straight through Kudo Shiba's chest!
Where the beam passed, the ground was plowed into a charred trench.
"Courting death."
A flash of icy killing intent streaked through the depths of Kudo Shiba's pupils.
Even faced with this fatal strike, his breathing did not falter in the slightest. There wasn't a trace of panic on his face. His right hand flashed toward the Poké Ball at his waist, his motion smooth and practiced, as if he had rehearsed it a thousand times.
This was the trump card that his mother, Ogata Hanae, had solemnly pressed into his hand before he departed.
"Come out, Goodra."
At his calm call, a beam of red light burst from the Poké Ball.
When it touched the ground, a huge Pokémon appeared—its entire body composed of translucent, viscous slime, with a pair of cute little wings on its back. Its beady eyes made it look almost dopey and harmless, as if it had no attack power at all.
Yet in the instant it appeared—
A thick, crushing pressure descended over the battlefield, so heavy it felt as though even the soul itself might shudder. It was like the invisible weight at the bottom of the ocean, ten thousand meters deep, slamming down on everything in sight.
The aura of a King-tier Pokémon.
Buzz—!
It was as if time had been switched to slow motion.
The sound of the wind stopped. The birds fell silent. The entire world plunged into dead stillness.
Every Druddigon in the middle of its crazed assault, movements and thoughts alike, froze completely in the same breath. The brutality and bloodlust in their eyes evaporated in an instant, replaced by primal terror from the depths of their bloodline—irresistible and absolute.
Their bodies trembled violently, their hard jaws chattering audibly. Several of them went weak at the knees and collapsed on the ground, a foul-smelling liquid spreading beneath them.
And that Hyper Beam, which had almost reached Kudo Shiba and was about to swallow him whole, seemed like a child's game before this overwhelming force.
Goodra merely raised one sticky arm and gave the beam a casual swipe.
No earthshaking collision. No violent explosion of energy.
The Hyper Beam was simply smacked aside, knocked off course. It veered wildly to one side and slammed into a distant cliff face, blasting out a massive crater.
The whole thing was no different from swatting away a bothersome fly.
"Finish them."
Kudo Shiba issued a command as short as it was absolute, his tone flat—as if he were giving an order about something utterly trivial.
Goodra's goofy face tilted in a very humanlike nod.
It slowly raised its head, looking over the crimson "statues" below, all frozen in fear.
It opened its mouth.
Brilliant starlight began to gather and compress inside, radiating a Dragon-type energy so pure and intense that it made the heart pound.
The next second, Goodra raised its head and let out a long, ringing dragon cry.
The sky changed in response.
The heavens above the battlefield split open with sudden rifts in space, and countless meteors wreathed in orange-red flames streaked out, tails blazing. They howled down from the cracks, like a doomsday cataclysm, each one locked precisely onto a Druddigon below.
Dragon-type ultimate move—Draco Meteor.
"RUMBLEEEEE—!!"
The explosions merged into a single roar. Terrifying shockwaves turned into waves of white energy visible to the naked eye, crashing outward in all directions. The earth heaved and groaned; towering ancient trees were ripped up by their roots and then shredded into splinters by the raging force.
The entire Druddigon horde, including that arrogant Elite-tier leader, didn't even manage a complete scream before they were swallowed and obliterated by this world-ending power.
When the dust finally cleared—
The once-lush forest had become a scorched landscape cratered with smoking pits. Every Druddigon lay at the bottom of those craters, eyes rolled back, bodies blackened, completely devoid of fighting strength.
This was the absolute might of a King-tier Pokémon.
One move—full wipe.
(End of Chapter)
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