Chapter 176
Pokémon with Psychic type?!
The feeling of Teleport was familiar to Qiao Ran.
He had already learned his lesson from the Psychic-type he encountered with Nebby. These strange abilities were incredibly illogical; they were clearly spatial skills, yet they were categorized as "Psychic."
In order to take some countermeasures, Qiao Ran also considered whether to develop a plan to deal with possible Psychic attacks. However, because there were more pressing matters to be addressed at the moment, Qiao Ran put the idea aside.
However, Qiao Ran ultimately underestimated the changes in the situation.
What was that suddenly attacked him?
"... Where is your Trainer?"
Qiao Ran gripped his Long Sword tightly and swung it forcefully towards the spot he caught in the corner of his eye. Keeping his opponent behind him was extremely disadvantageous for him; at the very least, he had to force the opponent away.
"...!"
However, the other person slightly shifted their body and suddenly jumped away from behind Qiao Ran, creating distance between them.
No, that guy's goal wasn't to get close!
Qiao Ran suddenly exerted force with his other hand, turning the direction of the sword blade. At the same time, the eyes hidden in the cloak of the opponent also shone with a red light.
--"...!"
There was no sound, but Qiao Ran could feel a powerful force collide with and touch his sword blade. However, it was immediately shattered into nothingness by the power of the sword itself.
Behind the blade lies Qiao Ran's waist—the location of the Poké Ball.
The opponent's sudden movement behind him wasn't to launch an attack, but to confirm the location of the Poké Ball!
Is that guy wary of Pokémon?
Are you trying to use the same skill as before to teleport my Poké Ball away?
"... Who is your Trainer?"
"..."
Qiao Ran's question went unanswered; only the hollow echoes around him responded.
From the moment he was transferred here, everything happened in just a few seconds. Qiao Ran gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to summon other Pokémon.
Most importantly, in order not to alert the enemy, Qiao Ran did not send all his Pokémon to attack at once.
Teleport, that's a bit tricky.
If the gap widens significantly, won't the other party simply run away and leave?
Qiao Ran stared intently at his opponent, observing their movements. However, after a failed attack, the opponent seemed to freeze in place, staring at him with a strange gaze.
Qiao Ran.
What is this?
What is this?
... What did this person suddenly pull out? And how did it manage to block my Confusion??
No...
We can't delay any longer.
When the first attack failed, the man in the black cloak used his Confusion to secretly press several Poké Ball hidden in a corner.
A yellow fox-shaped Pokémon and several clown-shaped Pokémon suddenly appeared in front of Qiao Ran.
--Alakazam! Mr. Mime!
The moment Alakazam emerged from the ball, the slender Alakazam crossed its arms, its two spoons overlapping, and a powerful Psychic emanated from the collision of the spoons; meanwhile, the other Mr. Mime waved their hands in the air, instantly creating a transparent wall of air that surrounded Qiao Ran in the center.
Trapped and killed!
However, Qiao Ran had already prepared for this move.
A dark shadow suddenly darted out from behind Alakazam, its vicious claws tearing Alakazam's back apart; meanwhile, in several other places, Whirlwind of diamonds and ice suddenly erupted, engulfing Mr. Mime.
"...!"
Alakazam's attacks became disorganized, striking the surrounding ground, while the walls created by Mr. Mime were completely breached from the outside, and even Alakazam itself was affected by the attack.
The sudden series of changes caused the man in the black cloak to change his expression and couldn't help but make a sound.
"... What?"
The woman in the black cloak had no idea. She was the one who set up the scene and placed the Pokémon. This man was only here for the first time, and only a few seconds had passed. How could he possibly have had time to release his Pokémon?
What did he do?
The man in the black cloak had no idea that Qiao Ran could also communicate with Pokémon through telepathy, and that he could do many things that others couldn't even imagine.
For example, just now—he released Mimikyu in advance, which contained Dianxi and Vulpix in a Poké Ball, allowing the Ghost type to hide in the darkness, and then Mimikyu released the remaining Pokémon.
All of this may seem incredible, but given Qiao Ran's synergy with his Pokémon, it's entirely possible.
"Humans?"
Qiao Ran keenly caught the slight slip-up in the other person's expression of surprise. Although it was only for a moment, he still Frisk that it was a human voice.
Or rather, the female form of humanity.
"You're human?... Psychic?"
Qiao Ran continued to press for answers, but as before, his questions remained unanswered.
"..."
Oh no, we've already exposed too much.
According to Black Cloak's initial plan, she would directly subdue her opponent while concealing her identity. In the worst-case scenario, she would activate the Poké Ball she had secretly prepared to directly control her opponent.
But now, what exactly is it...?
However, just as she was gritting her teeth and at her wit's end, a shadow that her gaze inadvertently caught surprised her once again.
What...
The man in the black cloak suddenly widened his eyes.
Her gaze caught a figure Levitate in from the darkness. During the previous battle, she hadn't clearly seen the opponent 'Pokémon's moves or the Pokémon it had sent out, but this time, she was absolutely certain she saw it clearly.
A pink Gem.
... Dianxi!
"..."
Who exactly is this man...?
No, we have to retreat.
Things were getting increasingly out of control, and a sense of foreboding began to creep into my mind.
With a flick of her wrists, the woman in the black cloak used her Confusion to return the Poké Ball to her hands. Then, she recalled the Pokémon around her, preparing to Teleport away immediately.
"... Want to leave?"
However, just as she activated her Psychic and Teleport, a hand suddenly landed on her back.
"...!"
Her Psychic seemed to be blocked, colliding with the opponent.
Why... did it not activate?
And... who is it?!
The man in the black cloak felt his heart sink to the bottom.
She turned around and saw a girl dressed in a strange Maid outfit with red pigtails standing behind her with a smile.
The Maid wore an apologetic expression, as if she were complaining to a guest about her poor hospitality.
"Sorry, this is my responsibility today."
"That's why I can't let you leave."
As the Red-Haired Woman Latias said, she was indeed in charge of guarding Qiao Ran today. However, due to the rules that unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter the dressing room backstage and that Pokémon were not allowed to be released backstage, she could not stay by Qiao Ran's side and could only hide in the crowd outside in human form.
Through Confusion and communication with Qiao Ran, she could easily locate Qiao Ran's location.
Even if you are suddenly attacked and teleported to another location, the same applies.
"..."
Looking at the hand resting on his shoulder, the man in the black cloak felt a storm raging within him.
Humans...?
What is this ridiculous outfit?
How could this person's Confusion possibly contend with mine?
She even began to feel a sense of being gradually suppressed.
--already
She hadn't experienced this feeling for a long time, or rather, ever since she awakened her Psychic.
Her talent in Psychic even surpassed that of most Pokémon with Psychic type. In the entire region... no, or rather the entire world, after she became aware of things, it was probably difficult to find many people who could rival her in Psychic.
Impossible!
The black cloak gathered power once more, trying to break free from the shackles imposed on her, but when the other person placed their hand on her shoulder, it all seemed to be in vain.
"... That won't work."
The red-haired Maid's smile remained unchanged; however, Qiao Ran, who was communicating with her telepathically, also sensed a hint of surprise.
This person... even when being suppressed by Latias, does he still have a chance to resist?
Although Latias's level isn't high yet, having only trained a little in the last few days, it's still Pokémon —Latias and a legendary Pokémon at that.
... Where did this super- Magic City come from? They're actually having a Psychic contest with Pokémon?!
After exchanging a glance with Mimikyu, who was hiding in the shadows, Mimikyu skillfully moved its body and climbed onto Qiao Ran's shoulder. Qiao Ran, gripping his Long Sword tightly, cautiously approached its opponent.
He was fully prepared. Latias had already overpowered his opponent, Mimikyu was on him, and Vulpix and Dianxi were also there to provide cover.
Everything is ready.
So--
It's time.
Qiao Ran stopped in front of the black cloak, extended his sword, and lifted the thin black robe.
--"...!"
Swish!
A slight rustling sound of fabric echoed in the empty warehouse. With the help of the sparse light filtering in from outside, Qiao Ran could see the other person's face hidden under the cloak.
With neat bangs, waist-length hair, and narrow eyes, the woman standing before Qiao Ran was undoubtedly a standard beauty—provided that she wasn't blushing and displaying a humiliating expression of defeat.
"Who are you..."
Looking at the other person's hairstyle, Qiao Ran's memory gradually became clear. In fact, a few days ago, he had seen someone with similar long hair and a similar hairstyle.
Although he didn't see the other person's face at the time, Qiao Ran was certain that he hadn't mistaken him for someone else.
Moreover, looking at the other person's appearance, Qiao Ran even had a strange thought in his mind.
"Wait, haven't I seen you somewhere else before?"
The more Qiao Ran looked at the other person, the more familiar their face seemed, especially with their distinctive hairstyle and ridiculously powerful Psychic.
"That..."
Qiao Ran felt it was necessary to communicate with the other party.
Twenty minutes later, Qiao Ran returned to the simple dressing room.