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At the critical moment, Krookodile exerted force from its feet! With a flash, it arrived in front of Ariel!
The explosive wind from the punch almost ignited the air!
Dragonite's massive Fire Punch, carrying destructive high temperatures, collided violently with the emerald green Protect barrier held up by Krookodile.
There was no stalemate, not even a second of buffer.
"Crack!"
A crisp shattering sound rang out, and the Protect barrier, like glass struck by a hammer, was instantly covered in cobweb-like cracks before collapsing with a bang, turning into a sky full of light specks.
The Fire Punch's momentum didn't fade, slamming solidly into Krookodile's chest!
Amidst a dull roar, Krookodile let out a cry of pain, its massive body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, smashing heavily into the distant rock wall, kicking up a cloud of dust, and completely losing consciousness.
One hit!
Just one hit!
Ariel's heart lurched.
This was the strength of Lance, an insurmountable chasm.
As he was pushed back by the shockwave of that power, a swift black shadow had already wrapped around his waist, pulling him away from Dragonite's attack range.
It was Weavile.
Ariel stabilized himself and, without even looking at the blown-away Krookodile, immediately recalled it into its Poké Ball.
Now was not the time for sadness or anger; any flicker of emotion could lead them beyond redemption.
His brain was racing, every possible plan instantly deduced and then immediately rejected.
The gap in strength was too large; a direct confrontation was a dead end.
"Dar!"
Ariel's voice was hoarse as he shouted to his companion not far away,
"Use that move!"
Dar was stunned for a moment, then his pupils constricted as he immediately understood Ariel's intention.
It was that mutual destruction skill!
Gengar's Destiny Bond!
In their previous battle, Gengar had used this very move to nearly take down Ariel's ace, Weavile.
It was an unreasonable, rule-based skill; as long as it was successfully activated, no matter how large the level gap, it could force a one-for-one trade!
This was their only chance: use a Superior-level Gengar to trade for Lance's terrifying Quasi-Elite Four Level Dragonite!
This deal was a massive profit!
"Gengar! Use Destiny Bond on Dragonite!"
Dar issued the command without hesitation.
A cold aura began to spread from Gengar, and wisps of eerie purple energy slowly condensed around its body.
Its eyes lit up with an ominous red light, firmly locked onto the Dragonite in the air.
However, the level chasm was vividly apparent at this moment.
The energy for Destiny Bond gathered exceptionally slowly, as if mired in a swamp; mobilizing every energy particle seemed incredibly difficult.
Although the rules of this skill were terrifying, its drawbacks were also significant.
In the air, Lance, riding on Charizard's back, had a faint sneer on his face, as if watching a clumsy performance.
He didn't even have Dragonite make a move.
"Gyarados."
He simply uttered those words softly.
"Roar!"
The red beast let out a sky-shaking roar, its massive body turning into a bolt of red lightning as it charged toward the charging Gengar!
"Mismagius! Stop it! Magical Leaf!"
Dar shouted.
Countless leaves shimmering with green light appeared out of thin air, shooting toward Gyarados like flying knives.
But these attacks hit Gyarados's hard scales and failed to even spark before being entirely deflected.
Gyarados opened its bloody maw, and a high-pressure jet of water erupted!
It wasn't Hydro Pump; it was Brine!
"Psh!"
The Brine accurately hit Gengar, and the purple energy that had just condensed instantly dissipated. The casting of Destiny Bond was crudely interrupted! Gengar let out a scream and flew backward.
The final hope was shattered.
Ariel's face darkened completely, and a sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.
All tactics, all struggles, seemed so ridiculous in the face of absolute power.
His gaze involuntarily turned toward Poison Snake.
Ariel had been keeping an eye on the bulging pocket at her waist; there had to be something in there.
"Is there any other way?"
Ariel's voice was heavy,
"Even a way to escape! We've delayed long enough!"
Poison Snake glanced at him, her face showing no signs of nervousness.
She pulled three pitch-black spheres from her waist and weighed them in her hand.
"A way? Of course there is."
She chuckled,
"Hold your breath; this is my trump card."
As soon as she finished speaking, she slammed the three Smoke Balls onto the ground!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The black spheres shattered upon impact, and large plumes of thick, yellow-green poisonous smoke instantly erupted, spreading wildly in all directions like living things!
A pungent, nauseating odor instantly filled the air. Ariel and Dar's expressions changed, and they immediately covered their noses and mouths with their sleeves.
Poison Snake, however, looked as if she were in her own garden, taking a comfortable deep breath.
"This is specially made from the venom of over a dozen Toxic pokémon mixed with Victreebel spores. Never mind humans—even a Quasi-Elite Four Level pokémon would feel dizzy after a single breath."
The poisonous smoke spread extremely fast, completely enveloping the hundred-meter area in the blink of an eye, making it impossible to see one's own hand.
"Go!"
Just as they were about to escape in the chaos, Lance's slightly playful laughter came from above.
"Paltry tricks."
The next second, a gale suddenly rose!
It was Gyarados! It flapped its massive tail fins, whipping up a tornado that reached the sky!
Hurricane!
Whoosh—!
The violent airflow created immense wind pressure, and the sand and stones on the ground were all swept into the sky.
The thick poisonous smoke was as fragile as a thin veil before this absolute power, instantly torn to shreds and swept away by the gale!
Light returned once more, and the three of them were exposed in a sorry state under Lance's gaze.
Their hearts sank to the bottom.
Just then, a low growl full of anger and pain came from behind them.
The three of them turned their heads sharply.
They saw Suicune, who had been used as a shield and had long since collapsed, now actually trembling as it stood back up.
Its body was covered in scars from energy burns and blasts, its blue fur was dull and lackluster, but its eyes burned with a raging fire.
That rage was aimed unreservedly at Ariel, Dar, and Poison Snake.
Clearly, in Suicune's eyes, it was they who had brought about this undeserved calamity.
Lance's Dragonite and Gyarados hovered in front, blocking the path.
Behind them was the angry Legendary Pokémon, Suicune.
Wolves in front, tigers behind.
A dead end.