Chapter 137
This world is his homeland. After witnessing the devastation in other Pokémon regions, Qiao Ran vowed never to let this world become like that.
"Give me the location... I'll tell Dr. Lilia... and I'll set off right now!"
Mei also immediately took action; for her hometown, she was willing to give everything.
"Oh, I just finished my call with my girlfriend."
Qiao Ran hung up the phone, but immediately received a complaint from Yi Ruoyun. Seeing Qiao Ran's speechless expression and the desire to explain something, Yi Ruoyun once again answered first.
"... Needless to say, I understand everything."
Qiao Ran: "..."
I understand... I understand what?
"I know you've only ever been a trainer on the go before, you've probably never experienced anything like this before, right? It's understandable that you're nervous."
"If you're really nervous, you can talk to me."
Seemingly finding Qiao Ran's current reaction quite interesting, Yi Ruoyun's words gradually took on the feel of a caring older sister.
"But it's alright, you don't need to worry too much. Although your combat strength is decent, no matter what the outcome of this battle is, it's not your fault. Even if something happens, I will cover for you. After all, I am the Elite Four of the Pokémon League, after all."
Although Yi Ruoyun's promise was substantial and touching—if he were truly a novice Trainer, he should really appreciate such a senior— Qiao Ran genuinely wanted to say that he had seen this kind of situation far too many times... truly.
The shattered steel earth, towering beasts tens or even hundreds of meters high, the intense light under the dim Blood Moon staining half the sky red, even the Great Dao itself was worn down... cough cough.
Qiao Ran couldn't help but cough a few times, interrupting his increasingly outrageous memories. Before him and Yi Ruoyun, the scene inside Hangcheng slowly unfolded.
Throughout the city, there were chaotic battles between Genesect and their Trainer. Since a single Genesect is already very powerful in combat, it usually takes several Trainer to deal with one. Therefore, these Sainosect did not choose to fight together, but instead dispersed.
The largest Battlefield in the city was the area most severely Beat Up.
The originally scattered Genesect were as if they had been...
They were so attracted that they swarmed around the area.
"... What place is that?" Qiao Ran asked.
"The Pokémon Gym in Hangcheng."
Yi Ruoyun gave an answer and urged them on.
"... Let's hurry! Judging from the situation, there aren't enough Pokémon Trainer left in the city, and the Gym probably won't be able to hold out for much longer!"
Section 265, Chapter 261 [From Heaven]
The Pokémon Gym in Hangcheng is Water-type Pokémon Gym.
Before coming to Hangcheng, Qiao Ran had already done some research on the subject. Originally, his plan was to take Lillie around the city, see the famous attractions, and try the local snacks before challenging Gym. If possible, he also wanted Lillie to experience what it was like to challenge Gym.
However, due to a sudden accident, everything has been disrupted, and the originally planned itinerary has become worthless.
"We'll go straight in from the top of the Stadium!"
"Good!"
Yi Ruoyun and Qiao Ran exchanged a brief conversation. To facilitate their support, they chose the simplest method of infiltration. Moreover, Gym Stadium are usually designed as open-air venues to ensure the competitiveness of Pokémon Competition, which also made it easier for the two to move around.
"..."
Qiao Ran squinted, observing the situation in the Stadium. As he got closer, the scene inside gradually became clearer.
--In the center of the Battle Court stood a group of Trainer and their Pokémon, led by a muscular man wearing swim trunks and a shirt. Surrounding them was a large circle of Genesect; Qiao Ran counted them briefly and felt the number had exceeded ten.
Under the Beat Up of such a large number of Genesect, the Trainer and their Pokémon were exhausted, but to Qiao Ran's surprise, they were still Facade and showed no signs of giving up.
"Gentlemen! We haven't lost yet! Before reinforcements arrive, let's show these things our strength!"
The leader roared and commanded the Swampert in front of him to charge forward and fight Genesect.
"We haven't lost yet!"
The others seemed to be inspired as well, their eyes once again igniting with fighting spirit.
"..."
Qiao Ran watched all this, took a deep breath, and knew that it was time for him to make his appearance.
"... Yveltal! Zacian!"
"... Suicune! Dianxi!"
Communicating with his partner, Qiao Ran made Altaria descend in a straight line, and then—at the most opportune moment, he released all of his most powerful Pokémon at once.
Qiao Ran hadn't originally planned to send Dianxi and the others, as Qiao Ran felt the events of last night would have some impact. However, it seemed that Yveltal had returned earlier, had leaked the information, causing them to send a message directly to Qiao Ran through Rotom.
--They will also join this battle.
Qiao Ran had no reason to refuse them. Besides, the situation was indeed very serious this time, and it was always better to have more combat power. Since they took the initiative to ask, Qiao Ran let them join the battle.
"Roar!!!"
Several Pokémon suddenly appeared, descending from the sky to launch an attack. Yveltal flapped its huge wings, spewing out black energy blasts; Zacian bit its Long Sword, cleaving a chasm in the Stadium floor; Suicune unleashed a fierce Water Cannon with a raging north wind; and Dianxi became the center of Whirlwind, creating a pink Diamond Storm.
"... boom!!!!"
Everything happened in an instant. The Trainer who were originally in the Stadium didn't even feel anything before the deafening explosion rang out around them.
Then—the ground in front of them was pulverized and crushed, turning into dust under the attack.
"Sizzle... sizzle..."
In this attack, only a few Genesect managed to dodge, while most suffered heavy blows, flying out of the Smokescreen covered in wounds, and some Genesect even more severely injured and rendered unresponsive.
--For example, the two that were pinned to the shattered ground by Yveltal's claws as it fell from the sky.
"What's this?"
The Trainer in the Stadium stared in disbelief at the scene before them. Although they had fantasized countless times during the previous battles about divine intervention and support, to their surprise, this "divine intervention" had actually occurred.
And it appeared so violently and powerfully.
The battle on the field had changed, but the scene in mid-air was quite different.
Qiao Ran's attack was incredibly swift, but he and the Altaria were able to achieve such rapid movement only by launching a vertical charge towards the ground.
Even Yi Ruoyun, who came with him, did not expect Qiao Ran's actions.
Are you crazy?!
"...!"
Is this guy crazy?!
He'll fall to his death!
Charging towards the ground at this height, no Flying type Pokémon could react in time, and there would be no way to change direction!
"No!"
Yi Ruoyun didn't even care about the situation in the Gymnasium. She urged her remaining Skarmory to hurry up and chase after Qiao Ran to abduct him.
She had said on the way that she wouldn't let Qiao Ran get into trouble.
If she can't even keep her promises, what Pokémon League of Elite Four is she?
"Hurry up! Hurry up!"
The Skarmory gave chase with all its might, but it always fell just short.
After all, Yi Ruoyun couldn't be as reckless as Qiao Ran, and even if she were, the Skarmory would still hold back when carrying out orders.
This distance was like an insurmountable chasm; she simply couldn't catch up.
Damn it!
Yi Ruoyun cursed, a strange sense of powerlessness welling up inside her. Why... was there also a distance she couldn't reach?
However—just as she was thinking this, something unexpected happened again.
Qiao Ran, who was charging vertically, suddenly retracted the Altaria beneath him, causing himself to fall vertically.
"...!"
What is he doing?
Yi Ruoyun couldn't understand the other person's behavior, but what happened next once again overturned her imagination.
Just as Qiao Ran was about to fall to the ground, he suddenly opened the Poké Ball in his hand again, and the Altaria that had been caught inside appeared on the ground. Then--
"Pfft..."
As if he had fallen into cotton, Qiao Ran's figure disappeared into the cloud wings of the Altaria. However, this was not surprising. What was surprising was that after landing, he quickly stood up as if nothing had happened.
From the outside, it didn't seem to have suffered a single injury.
"... You're kidding... right?"
This series of actions left even the Elite Four Yi Ruoyun dumbfounded.
... Are these things really something that Trainer and Pokémon can do?
Section 266, Page 262 [Two Hearts as One]
If you break down this series of operations, they aren't actually that difficult, at least not for Yi Ruoyun. But—when all of this happened in such a short time and so smoothly and naturally, the first four words that came to Yi Ruoyun's mind were...
--That's impossible.
Putting aside whether the Trainer can overcome the psychological barrier of a straight-line emergency landing, even if they could adapt to the feeling, it would be impossible for a normal person to make such a crazy choice in such a short period of time.
Moreover, even if the Trainer issues such a command, the Pokémon might hesitate about how to execute it, and once it hesitates, it's impossible to achieve such a surprise attack.
Therefore, the scenario that Yi Ruoyun could imagine was that Qiao Ran made a judgment in an instant, then gave commands to the Pokémon, and finally, the Pokémon carried out Qiao Ran's commands without even hesitating.
But—is that even possible?
Pokémon are not machines; they have their own thoughts. Trainer need to train Pokémon commands. Moreover, this is only limited to some regular commands. If the commands go beyond these, Pokémon will also become confused.
... Just how much does that guy trust that guy's Pokémon?
Even such an order could be executed instantly without the slightest hesitation; it was as if he were a madman.
"Support... support has arrived!"
"Look, that's Elite Four Yi Ruoyun in the sky! And this one is..."
The appearance of Qiao Ran and Yi Ruoyun excited the trapped Trainer. Their faces were filled with excitement and the joy of surviving a disaster, especially when they saw Yi Ruoyun. However, looking at Qiao Ran who had landed on the ground, they were still somewhat puzzled. Who exactly was this person?
As Gym Trainer, they often meet important figures in the Pokémon League and investigate information about important missions, but there is no doubt that they have never seen this boy before.
Even so, they did not underestimate the boy who had fallen from the sky. Putting aside his strange entrance, the strength he was displaying was enough to open their eyes.
"Dianxi!"
Stepping onto the Sturdy ground, Qiao Ran a deep breath to calm her somewhat disordered breathing, and then—pulled out the Key Stone that always hung around her neck from her collar.
The gathered light transforms into dazzling Gem, and the united spirit will ultimately unleash a new power!
The Key Stone in Qiao Ran's hand began to glow.
"... Let's unleash our full power! Mega Evolution!!"
With Qiao Ran's roar, light emanated from his body and converged into Dianxi's body.
Like a flower suddenly blooming, Dianxi's originally petite body also changed. In that instant, the Diamond Princess changed into her own special dress, with lace ribbons fluttering in the wind behind her.
"Ti--!!!"
A powerful energy fluctuation spread throughout the Stadium. Dianxi's Mega Evolution this time surprised even Qiao Ran. Could it be a sign of progress in their relationship, a result of their Mega Evolution?
Can power also be manifested in evolution?
"Wow, that's powerful... What kind of Pokémon is that?"
"... Is that it? I think I saw this Pokémon in a Pokémon Contest video before, but it looks a little different from this one."
"Was that one that just now evolved?"
The Gym Trainer couldn't understand what was happening before their eyes. Even the man in the lead, who looked like the Gym Leader, just stared blankly.
Of course, it wasn't just them; the Genesect who were attacked also reacted immediately, regarding Qiao Ran as a dangerous individual.
"The lid... creak..."
The still-active Genesect gathered together. Qiao Ran counted them briefly; there were still more than ten left. As for those that had been Smack Down in the previous assault, they were rescued by a Ring that suddenly appeared, just like before.