Chapter 271

Before the battle, Acerola brought very important information; without this information, no one knows what would have happened.

Riding on the back of the Altaria, Qiao Ran stared at the ground. In his vision, the roaring Guzzlord's body twisted, then it lightly Splash from the ground, and finally—slammed heavily onto the ground.

"Snap!"

Something broke.

This was the first time Qiao Ran had heard such a clear cracking sound.

A deafening roar filled his ears, as if he had gone deaf, with unbearably Hyper Voice.

Countless clear cracks spread from beneath the Guzzlord's body, gradually expanding outwards, causing the entire ground to shake violently, with the very center even collapsing.

The deafening roar was like lightning in the sky, and the dust cloud had obscured all vision. The Altaria flapped its white wings and finally broke through the spreading dust cloud. Qiao Ran looked at the highest peak of Alola in the distance, and he even felt that it was shaking.

"This... is too exaggerated..."

He couldn't help but swallow. If the Earthquake she used when fighting Cynthia was an incredibly precise skill, then this was the ultimate in power. The already damaged ground was ravaged once again. Although it was now covered by dust, Qiao Ran could already imagine the terrible scene inside.

On the other side, Lillie Mei also burst out of the dust, as did Acerola and Modan.

"Wait, where's Guzma?"

Qiao Ran's expression changed as he looked at the group of people who had appeared before him. Why was Guzma, who had been acting alone, missing?

"...!"

The expressions of those present instantly darkened. If Guzma hadn't reacted quickly enough, the impact of such an attack would likely have...

However, just as everyone was beginning to feel uneasy, a voice suddenly came from the dust.

"I'm fine!"

A Scizor hugs

A disheveled, white-haired, burly man emerged from the dust, his head covered in yellow dust.

"If you're all alright, how could I possibly be in trouble?"

"Call."

Seeing Guzma suddenly pop up, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although this guy used to be a hoodlum, given the current situation, it's best to hope he doesn't get into any trouble.

"Is this what they call Monster...?"

Mei gazed at the horrific scene below, her expression complex. She had visited Malie City before, even staying there for a considerable period. The city boasted unique architecture, exquisite courtyards, and classical pagodas, making it a truly special place in the Alola Region.

However, this place has now become such a desolate sight.

"This Ultra Beast is on a completely different level from the ones we've dealt with before."

"Yes."

Qiao Ran nodded in agreement. Among all the Ultra Beast, Guzzlord was perhaps the most unique, not only because of its similarity to Zygarde, but also because of its ability to devour everything. As it continued to devour, its power seemed to increase accordingly. The reason why the one in front of them had become so large was probably related to this.

As the smoke and dust below gradually dissipated, Qiao Ran and the others were able to see the current situation on the ground.

The shattered ruins had become even more obscured, even taking on the shape of a "bowl," with the enormous Guzzlord perched in the center, and the ground around it almost completely destroyed.

"..."

None of them spoke; they simply exchanged glances and then nodded simultaneously.

Even though their opponent was so terrifying, they still had hope of winning. Everything else had been said before the battle began, and now they could only continue fighting until they achieved final victory.

This war of attrition lasted a long time.

From afternoon until evening, from daytime until nightfall.

Qiao Ran and the others remained on edge, without a moment's respite, for even the slightest mishap could mean the difference between life and death.

The land within several kilometers had been turned upside down, and even the clouds in the sky had not been spared.

Qiao Ran and Lillie had reached their physical limits. In order to allow Lillie to recover quickly, he even put Lillie into Poké Ball halfway through the journey so that she could rest in the Wild Area.

After all, compared to official Trainer like Mei and Mei, Lillie's physical abilities are still somewhat lacking. Even though her recent performance has improved a lot, she is still quite far behind most Trainer.

Finally--

"Zacian! Behemoth Blade!!!"

With Qiao Ran's roar, the Hero unleashed her final attack. As she Splash high into the air, a sword light large enough to cover her massive body began to flash in the night sky.

It appears to be one sword strike, but it is also countless sword strikes.

Zacian can consistently inflict considerable damage on large Pokémon.

"Roar! Roar! Roar... Roar...!"

The Guzzlord's massive body began to sway. Under the relentless attacks of the group and its own constant exhaustion, it finally reached the point where it could no longer hold on.

Finally—with an even more pitiful Growl —its body collapsed heavily to the ground.

"!!!!!"

A pitch-black, unidentified substance Spit Up from its body and then dissipated into the air, leaving not a trace behind.

Everything disappeared into the night sky.

"This is..."

Qiao Ran couldn't help but think of the Genesect and Hoopa he had fought before. After he Defeat those Pokémon, they gradually disappeared into thin air without giving him a chance to capture them. Could it be that this Ultra Beast was in a similar situation?

Or is it just a coincidence?

"We won!!! We won!!!!!"

Unlike Qiao Ran, who was lost in thought, the others were already overjoyed with victory. They cheered and waved their arms, and even Guzma had a smile on his face.

"As expected of... this great master."

His clothes were already tattered, and in this battle, he fought with a level of ferocity that was no less than anyone else's, always charging to the front lines.

"That's great! That's great!"

Lillie smiled happily. This time, they had won again, which was certainly good news for both the children and the people of Po Town.

"Um..."

Qiao Ran nodded, but before he could speak, Mei Mei rushed over and hugged him excitedly.

In the previous battles, they had brushed shoulders with death countless times, and had even imagined their own or others' miserable fates. Now, having achieved victory, and filled with the joy of triumph...

After being filled with joy, their first feeling was actually the joy of surviving a disaster.

"Everyone's alright, that's so great..."

Compared to the quiet Lillie, the outgoing Mei Mei are more inclined to express their emotions directly. In such a state of excitement, they ended up hugging each other.

"You're all the same, it's good that you're alright."

Qiao Ran didn't say much, but patted their backs to calm them down.

Acerola, watching from the side, hesitated, unsure whether to go over or not.

If it were just a normal chat, there wouldn't be any problem, but what kind of strange scene is this?!

Acerola looked at Qiao Ran, who had one in each hand, and then at Lillie, who was standing next to her with a gentle expression. Her expression gradually became "???".

Wait a minute... what exactly is the relationship between these people?

You guys are being really weird!

As for Guzma and Modan, who were further away, they slightly averted their gaze.

"Cough."

Uncle Modan coughed lightly. He was already in his forties or fifties and still all alone, with only his group of Meowth for company every day. He couldn't bear to see such a scene.

Guzma is doing a bit better, but his previously distorted mindset prevented him from focusing on romance. However, now that he's started a new life, he should gradually change.

"Well done this time, Guzma."

"Oh."

Upon hearing Modan's voice, Guzma simply grinned.

When he was with the Team Skull, no one acknowledged his strength; he only received Flatter from his subordinates. But now, he has seen a new world.

This feeling of being needed and recognized.

Maybe it's not bad.

The fierce battle was finally coming to an end. Compared to the last battle on the island, this one was also full of dangers, but it did not reach the level of pressure that required bearing such immense pressure.

Although Qiao Ran and the Pokémon were exhausted, they could gradually recover from the fatigue, and they had not overexerted themselves.

Nebby didn't witness the battle. After evolving, it seemed to be asleep, and Lillie couldn't send it into battle. Unless she actually used it as Fling, it might cause some minor damage. As for fighting, forget it.

"It's about time... we should head back."

Qiao Ran really wanted to lie down on the spot, but even after dealing with this terrifying Guzzlord, this place was not a safe place.

Without the suppression of Guzzlord's aura, the other Ultra Beast will likely take over this area soon. If they were in their normal state, they might be able to hold their own against these Ultra Beasts, but after such a long battle, they can no longer continue.

"If we're going back to the Aether House, it will take at least seven hours, by which time it will probably be dawn."

Acerola sighed. It seemed they would have to keep working hard; it was far from time for them to rest.

"If you don't mind... cough."

Guzma suddenly coughed lightly, interrupting the conversation. He slightly turned his gaze away, displaying a rather arrogant expression.

"Po Town is an option... If it's just a few people, we can definitely free up some rooms."

"Really? Uncle Guzma?"

Hearing Guzma's voice, Acerola looked in his direction with delight. If they could spend the night in Po Town, it would indeed be the best solution. It wouldn't take more than a few hours to get Po Town, and then they could get a good rest.

Would I, your humble servant, lie to you?

Guzma turned around and started walking.

"If you want to come, then come along."

Following Guzma to Po Town, they quickly found three rooms that could be used for temporary rest, thanks to his arrangements.

"Although this room was previously used to store supplies, there's no other way now, so please make do with it."

The Team Skull members who led the way looked apologetic. Although they didn't know much about Qiao Ran and Qiao Ran group before, after hearing what they had done, the Team Skull members were filled with admiration.

"Thanks."

Qiao Ran didn't refuse, and the others nodded as well. They weren't picky about finding a place to rest at a time like this. As for Guzma himself, he had already gone back to his room to sleep.

The arrangement of the three rooms was nothing special; the four girls each stayed in two rooms, while Qiao Ran, unsurprisingly, shared a room with Uncle Modan.

"..."

Perhaps this was the first time Qiao Ran had shared a room with an older man.

The two fell silent without saying a word for a long time.

In terms of Trainer strength, Modan is undoubtedly a powerhouse, and a prominent figure in the Pokémon World. He's not only an Elite Four-level Dark type master but also a senior officer in International Police.

Officer, to become International Police, you need more than just strong Trainer; you also need to excel in other areas.

Even after he retired, his ability to judge people remained remarkably accurate.

"Qiao Ran... right?"

Uncle Modan suddenly made a sound after turning over.

"You did a great job in today's battle. If it weren't for you, our side might have encountered serious problems."

Qiao Ran is an excellent commander. This ability is not only reflected in his command of Pokémon, but also in his precise allocation of personnel and choice of tactics.

Moreover, he is no slouch in terms of both ability and courage.