Chapter 269

Not far away, Suicune and Latias, who were observing the situation, couldn't help but speak up as well.

"He's been quite tired lately, so it's good that he can rest a bit." Latias recalled the previous battle; while the Pokémon could recover quickly, Qiao Ran, being human, took a long time to wake up.

"However, this is not the best recovery." A mysterious smile appeared on Suicune's face. She couldn't help but recall what she had overheard at Dianxi's doorstep.

She brought her mouth close to Latias's ear and whispered something in his ear.

"Actually... only by doing it this way can it be..."

"Huh?"

Latias's face instantly turned red.

"Really... really? Is there really such a thing?"

She had never even heard of such a thing!

The next day, the group packed their things and set off from the Aether House early in the morning, preparing to head to the Malie City.

Only by setting off at this time can we guarantee that we will arrive in Malie City before dark. If it is night, the darkness will have a huge impact on human Trainer. Perhaps only Lillie and Mei can maintain their normal state with the help of Qiao Ran, who has the Aura Power.

To see off a few people, the children, who usually don't get up this early, also got up very early.

"Sister Acerola, you must defeat that monster!"

"Uncle Modan, keep it up!"

Modan and Acerola were like family to them, accompanying them through countless days and nights. Although their minds couldn't comprehend many things, they knew that what Acerola and Modan were about to do was also for their sake.

"Older Brother Qiao Ran, this is for you..."

Even Qiao Ran received a small amulet from the children, with a pattern drawn on it in crooked handwriting, which seemed to be some kind of peculiar belief native to Alola.

"Thank you, I'll keep it safe."

Qiao Ran smiled as she took the items from the children's hands and carefully tucked them into her arms.

Qiao Ran would not let the children's good intentions go to waste, and most importantly, he was fully prepared to win this battle.

"Qiao Ran, let's go."

Mei took Qiao Ran's hand and led him away from the Aether House.

"Mom, you must protect them." Lillie added this before leaving, and Lusamine nodded, smiling to reassure Lillie.

Since she made a promise, she will definitely keep it.

Leaving the Aether House, the group returned to the Alola sun. Modan and Acerola seemed a little out of place, having spent too much time inside the building before.

"There might be quite a few Ultra Beast on the road, you guys..."

As a senior, Modan was about to say a few words when he saw that Qiao Ran and the others had already taken their positions and skillfully released their Pokémon.

"...!"

This... this is...

The layman sees the spectacle, but the expert sees the details. As a former International Police, he immediately realized that the positions Qiao Ran and his group were standing in were not random whims, but rather a formation that allowed them to observe all directions. Furthermore, considering the safety of the Trainer, they had specifically placed a relatively agile Pokémon close to the Trainer's side.

"It seems... I don't need to teach anything."

Modan chuckled and scratched his head. Were all these things things they figured out themselves through actual combat?

This level of understanding... it's just too amazing.

It was almost like they had a telepathic connection.

"Hmm..." Acerola touched her lips beside her. Although she didn't see as many things as Modan, she did notice one thing— Mei and the others' Pokémon were clearly much stronger than when they first met.

During this period, she herself made virtually no progress.

"Acerola, if you don't keep up, you'll fall behind!"

Mei turned around and glanced at Acerola, who was still standing there, and couldn't help but call out to her.

Acerola usually seems to daydream easily, her mind always filled with all sorts of whimsical ideas, but in such a dangerous place, perhaps she shouldn't be daydreaming?

"Here it comes~"

Acerola responded and hurriedly jogged after her, surrounded by several Ghost-type Pokémon.

She can't stay stagnant like this anymore.

Mei and the others are all fighting and constantly improving, and as a Trainer, she also needs to keep moving forward.

"Huh? You want my help? Why should I bother you?"

Upon arriving in Po Town, they found Guzma, the former leader of the Team Skull. However, when Qiao Ran and the others suggested that he join them, Guzma showed a dismissive attitude.

"Uncle Guzma wouldn't..."

"Guzma!"

Standing behind him, Plumeria suddenly interrupted his boasting, her expression extremely serious, as did the other members of the Team Skull around him.

This is the only chance.

"Yeah, boss, we're almost out of food here."

"If we can solve the problem over there, we can survive too!"

"..." Guzma fell silent at the words of his former subordinate, and he couldn't help but frown.

Seeing an opportunity, Acerola, sitting opposite her, added, "Actually, Chairperson Lusamine also hopes you can participate; your strength is indispensable."

"...!"

Guzma's expression froze instantly.

After a long pause, his finger twitched.

"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll reluctantly help you out."

Guzma jumped up from his chair, his attitude changing drastically.

Qiao Ran stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Did she really think the name Lusamine could have such an effect?

That's so weird!

Along the way, they caught a Guzma. The small team then headed towards Malie City. Other Trainer were needed to defend Po Town, so Plumeria and the other Team Skull did not follow. Besides, in battles of this level, more people were not necessarily better; it was essential to keep the team at a certain level.

"Have you fought that Monster before? Can you describe what it was like?"

Before the battle, Qiao Ran also hoped to obtain more information. Although he already had a concept of "that thing" in his mind, he believed that it would be more accurate to obtain firsthand accounts from those who had experienced it.

"That was a... Ultra Beast that was two or three stories tall, with a huge mouth on its belly, constantly devouring everything around it."

Acerola pondered for a moment, then shared her thoughts.

"Moreover, neither my attacks nor Uncle Modan's attacks seemed to cause it much damage; it was as if they were being resisted."

"Um..."

Qiao Ran stroked his chin. If it really was that Ultra Beast with both Dark type and Dragon-type, it could indeed perfectly counter Acerola's Ghost-type and Modan's Dark type.

--Ultra Beast, Guzzlord.

For two Trainer who specialize in Ghost type and Dark type, a Pokémon capable of withstanding their combined attacks is essentially a guaranteed kill.

And this Guzzlord is indeed one of the most difficult Ultra Beast to deal with.

Unlike Nihilego and Buzzwole, which are Ultra Beast with clearly defined species, Guzzlord does not have a so-called species.

This is the Ultra Beast that devoured the world in legend. Moreover, because its form is very similar to Zygarde, one of the three Zygarde of Kalos, there is also a legend that it is Zygarde on the verge of collapse. If this legend is true, it will undoubtedly be another huge tragedy.

--The guardians who originally maintained the ecosystem have become destroyers who destroy everything, with the sole purpose of ultimately annihilating everything and returning to the original starting point.

"Ha! I've fought that thing before, and it felt pretty good. But because I had to consider my men's situation, I didn't linger with it."

Compared to Acerola and Modan, Guzma, who was skilled in Bug-type attacks, was clearly much more pleased with himself. His attacks weren't completely ineffective; the creature would still feel pain.

"Bug-type attacks are indeed quite effective. If I'm not mistaken, that Ultra Beast, besides being weak to Bug, also has weaknesses to Fighting type, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy type, and among these, Fairy type attacks are the most effective."

Qiao Ran has confirmed the other party's identity. The next step is to have everyone use targeted Pokémon and moves.

"Fairy type moves..." Modan's face twisted into a strange expression. His Dark type Pokémon hadn't learned many of these types of moves, but if he really wanted to, he could still manage to use some.

In this situation, Guzma, who joined midway, indeed became an indispensable main force. Bug-type Pokémon can always exert tremendous power when facing Dark Type.

Continuing along the main road of Ula'ula Island, the group methodically dealt with the Ultra Beast they encountered. Finally, they gradually approached the island's largest city—

Malie City.

This is a city built by the sea, and the style of the houses and the local customs are very oriental. High-rise buildings are quite rare here, or rather, in the relatively underdeveloped Alola Region, high-rise buildings are very scarce.

"The monster you're talking about is...?"

As they approached the city center, Qiao Ran and his group saw destroyed houses and a series of ruins. In the center of one of the ruins, the ground looked as if a piece had been gnawed away, leaving a large hole.

This large hole continued to extend into the distance, like a long tunnel had been dug out.

"If we follow this, we'll definitely find it."

Acerola already had some experience; this was a trace left by the Monster, which would devour everything around it without restraint, even chewing up the ground as it walked.

"This is really... a case of being so hungry they'll eat anything."

Qiao Ran couldn't help but sigh. To be able to eat the ground like this, it's not a question of whether the creature has good teeth or not, but rather, could it even actually swallow this thing?

"Everyone, get ready."

Upon arriving in this area, the opponent could appear at any time, so it's essential to be vigilant. However, the only good news is that, perhaps because this Ultra Beast is so terrifying, they haven't encountered any other Ultra Beast interfering with them along the way, which is quite good news.

Although the Malie City lacks modern industry and towering skyscrapers, its natural scenery remains incredibly attractive.

Many wealthy people from the Johto Region choose to build vacation villas here. In the city center, there is a Golden tower and a courtyard with a very Johto Region style, which is said to have been built under the Coaching some people from the Johto Region in ancient times.

However, this was all the former glory of Malie City. Now, Malie City is nothing but ruins, with remnants devoured by Ultra Beast everywhere. The once beautiful Alola Johto has become a meal for Ultra Beast. Because of the fear of the terrifying Monster here, the former Acerola never even considered coming to explore.

"..."

Following the passage carved out by the Guzzlord, Qiao Ran gradually heard rumbling sounds, accompanied by the cracking of stones. Qiao Ran had never heard such sounds before, but connecting them with everything that had happened here, the imagined scene appeared in his mind.

Seriously... are we eating dirt?

"..."

He closed his eyes slightly and used his Aura Power to explore forward. Within a radius of several hundred meters, he did not detect the presence of any living creature, not even Ultra Beast.

They were probably all scared away by that Monster.

"We're almost there," Acerola whispered, as the Ghost Pokémon huddled even closer to her.

Qiao Ran and the others exchanged glances and shared their thoughts.

Our first meeting was our opportunity.

With Lillie and the others, Qiao Ran can use his abilities to communicate, but with Acerola and the others, Qiao Ran still needs to make things clear.

If that Guzzlord is truly as terrifyingly powerful as Acerola claims, then their first attack upon their first encounter might actually be the most crucial.

"As soon as you see it, immediately attack with Pokémon."

Don't hesitate.

Qiao Ran gave a word of advice: this time, it wasn't just him, Lillie, and Mei who were participating in the battle; their connections made them very close. However, Acerola Guzma and the others were beyond Qiao Ran's ability to keep an eye on them.

In situations like these, they can only rely on their own abilities.

Following the gnawed furrows forward, as the sounds grew louder, the group spotted a figure on the distant horizon that resembled what Acerola had described.

Black body, golden stripes.

However, compared to what Acerola described as only two or three stories high, the current Guzzlord appears to be at least ten meters tall, and its round, bulging body exudes Pressure.

From the very center of that enormous body, which is more than ten meters tall, in what would be the "abdomen" of other creatures, there is an incredibly huge, blood-red maw, like a black hole, seemingly connected to nowhere. And from within that giant maw extend two pincers that look like small mouths.

Of course, what appears to be a small mouth here is only in comparison to its actual height. If compared to the height of a human, this "small mouth," resembling that of a black snake, could devour several humans in one gulp.

"..."