Chapter 57

"Clear--"

Just as Qiao Ran thought he was about to be knocked away, a Golden figure suddenly swept through the air.

It was Golden Altaria —suddenly radiating light, it blocked Qiao Ran's path.

"Altaria?... That's... the Brave Bird??"

Qiao Ran's eyes widened in surprise. Altaria was always taciturn, and sometimes Qiao Ran didn't quite understand her thoughts, but at this moment, she still stood in front of Qiao Ran.

"Boom!"

The two Pokémon Tackle Pokémon, and after a loud crash, Altaria flew backward at an even faster speed than before.

Immediately afterwards, her body slammed into the wall and became deeply embedded in it.

Although Altaria is quite strong, as the lowest-level Pokémon in the team, she couldn't gain much of an advantage in this battle. In Qiao Ran's opinion, this Type: Null covered with a strange aura was far stronger than a typical level 40 Pokémon.

"The Altaria!"

Qiao Ran looked at her with some concern, but before he could watch for long, the Type: Null charged at him again.

"This guy... is he still sprinting?!"

Qiao Ran gritted his teeth. Why was this Pokémon so stubborn?

However, with the time bought by the Altaria, the outcome this time is destined to be different.

"Ti!!!"

"Aww!"

!"

Dianxi and Suicune had already arrived from both sides, and Dianxi immediately entered Mega Mode. In this situation, there was no need for hesitation.

Suicune opened its mouth and Spit Up a powerful Water Cannon, while Dianxi unleashed Diamond Storm. Both powerful attacks struck the Type: Null body directly—this time, her pace finally slowed down.

"We'll launch an attack too! Don't give them a chance to breathe!"

Mei, standing nearby, also directed her Pokémon to begin a siege against the Type: Null.

Their strategy this time is quite different from when they faced Nihilego. Nihilego had a considerable number of subordinates and was the one Beat Up, but this time, Qiao Ran Mei are the ones Beat Up.

"Decidueye, Spirit Shackle!... Salazzle, Flamethrower!"

Mei unleashed the most powerful moves of her Pokémon, and six beams of energy Tackle the Type: Null directly.

"Roar... Roar!!"

Even this "Beast Killer" let out a painful Growl under such intense skill bombardment.

She had gained the upper hand earlier only because she attacked Qiao Ran first. Now that the initiative was in Qiao Ran's hands, it didn't take long for her to collapse on the ground, Type: Null and panting.

Her aura began to dissipate, and the light spread outwards like ripples on water. She lay helplessly on the ground, her head raised.

"That's about it."

Qiao Ran took out the Beast Ball and prepared to put it back into the sphere.

Under the protection of Dianxi and Suicune, he walked to a certain distance from the Type: Null and then Fling the ball—the Type: Null kept its head up, as if it had not yielded, and the gap in the limiter, where the eyes were originally, was still flashing with a bright red light.

"Bite--"

The Beast Ball shook a few times before successfully capturing it, as if it had been captured again. However, Qiao Ran still remembered those Red eyes, so, amidst Lillie Mei's puzzled gazes, Qiao Ran released it again.

"..."

As the light faded, Type: Null remained lying on the ground in the same position, her head still held high, the limiter on her head still flashing with an indomitable light.

"This guy... he doesn't seem to be giving up at all."

Is the resentment stemming from a group fight?

Qiao Ran couldn't guess what she was thinking, so he simply put her back into the ball again and then released her.

However, no matter how many times he tried to subdue it, Lillie Mei, who were watching from the side, became numb, but the Type: Null still did not yield.

She kept her head held high, staring intently in Qiao Ran's direction.

Qiao Ran even felt that as long as she had a sliver of strength left, she would likely launch an attack on him.

"... Fine, I'll try again."

This was the first time Qiao Ran had encountered such a stubborn Pokémon; its personality was truly unique.

Qiao Ran had no choice but to prepare for one last try. After all, trying like this wouldn't solve the problem, and if it couldn't be solved now, then they would just have to take it one last time later.

Qiao Ran put it back into the ball. The ball still wobbled a few times, and after it calmed down, Qiao Ran prepared to release it again.

However, just as Qiao Ran had half of the ball, he paused slightly, and as if by some strange inspiration, switched the ball to his left hand.

For some reason, he suddenly had an extremely bold idea.

A surge of emerald energy erupted from his arm, instantly enveloping the entire sphere. The blue Beast Ball was completely submerged in this green ocean in that instant.

"Such strong suction."

The Beast Ball trembled, Qiao Ran could even feel his Tokiwa Power being consumed very quickly, soon causing him to feel aches and pains in his back.

Mei didn't notice Qiao Ran's subtle actions, but the Pokémon associated with Qiao Ran couldn't help but feel a jolt in their hearts and swallow hard.

He actually... he actually soaked in it...

How comfortable... how comfortable will this be?

This didn't last long. It wasn't that Qiao Ran didn't want to continue, but rather that he couldn't sustain this intense exertion. If it continued like this, he was afraid he would really turn into a dried-up corpse standing up.

"This is the last time... If there's no other way, then let's just give up."

With the idea of giving it one last try, Qiao Ran threw the Beast Ball out of his hand. Even if it failed, it would still be a valuable experience.

However, this time... after the light condensed, an extremely bizarre scene appeared before everyone. Not only did Mei and Lillie stare wide-eyed, but even Qiao Ran himself gaped open.

"This..." Qiao Ran was completely shocked.

The aloof and defiant Type: Null that had been ready to fight to the end was now rolling around on the ground like a... animal, kicking its limbs wildly and making embarrassing, strange Growl.

The voice sounded like a cat, a dog, and a bit like a bird.

Not only that, the red light inside the restraints on her head also completely changed color—it turned pink...

Section 107, page 104: [Why?]

??]

"What... what's going on??"

Qiao Ran was stunned, Mei was stunned, Lillie was stunned, and all the Pokémon present were stunned.

Without exception, they all felt the genuine joy and excitement emanating from the Type: Null.

They were clearly enemies just a moment ago, so why are they suddenly rolling around on the ground so happily?

Qiao Ran was well aware of the power of the Tokiwa Power, but the fact that it could reach this level was something he had never anticipated.

The Type: Null that was supposed to resist to the bitter end before is now like a completely different Pokémon. The contrast is just too great!

"... This is terrifying, this power is terrifying. It truly lives up to its name as the Tokiwa Power..."

Qiao Ran held her left hand, which trembled slightly.

After rolling around on the ground a few times, Type: Null realized that something was wrong with her situation. When she looked up, she saw that she was surrounded by a large crowd of innocent onlookers. She shuddered and then her body went limp.

What... what's going on...?

The Type: Null didn't know what had happened, but feeling the piercing gazes of the Pokémon around her, a deep sense of shame began to well up from within her.

Driven by shame, she even abandoned all her previous resistance, softened her will to fight against humanity, and turned to Qiao Ran for help.

"Waaah--"

A strange sound came from her mouth, and this time, Qiao Ran suddenly understood what she meant. Before, the sounds she made were just random, Rage roars; this was the first real communication between her and Qiao Ran.

However, the first thing she said was this—

"Hurry... hurry up and let me in!!!"

Type: Null had already gone all out; she'd rather go inside the sphere than endure this merciless, humiliating spectacle. If it weren't for the metal restraints on her head, she probably would have dug a hole and buried herself in it first.

"This guy..." Qiao Ran's lips twitched.

This guy looks a lot like Suicune!

So... guys like Rotom, who have absolutely no morals, are actually in the minority?

Although he couldn't help but complain in his heart, it was normal and reasonable for Qiao Ran to reluctantly accept the offer since the other party had taken the initiative to score. After all, he wasn't some kind of devil who liked to let the other party play around.

"Bite."

This time, the Type: Null was successfully captured in the Poké Ball without any trembling. In fact, this was the first time Qiao Ran had encountered Pokémon that resisted so fiercely. He had already captured hundreds of wild Pokémon before, but none of them were as stubborn and persistent as this Type: Null. Even as it was captured and released again and again, the light in its eyes never changed.

Until—after she discovered that the Poké Ball she was in was being soaked in a green energy... everything started to change.

"It seems... it worked."

Lillie walked over and looked curiously at the Beast Ball in Qiao Ran's hand, but her expression was slightly flushed and looked somewhat unnatural.

It's obvious that Lillie, as one of the Pokémon, knows what happened before, and not only her, but Qiao Ran's other Pokémon are also fully aware of it.

Only Mei, standing to the side, still had a full head of hair...????

Wait, what just happened?? Why is the disobedient Type: Null suddenly rolling around on the ground with joy?? And why did it willingly go into the ball???

Mei always felt that she had grasped something key, but whenever she thought about it further, she always felt that something was not right, and every time she thought about this kind of problem, she would lose a lot of brain cells.

Mei could only cough a few times to change the subject.

"Ahem... ahem. Anyway, there are still two balls in that box. What are you planning to do with them? What if they're still like that when we open it..."

"I'm afraid it's the same as this one, also with Type: Null," Qiao Ran replied.

"There's no way around it, we'll probably have to wait until next time for those two. After all, dealing with just one is already a bit of a hassle..."

Qiao Ran shrugged helplessly. Although the Type: Null had finally made it into the ball on her own initiative, Qiao Ran knew that he would have to do a lot of ideological work with her when he got back. Simply getting her into the ball like that wouldn't be enough to make her truly convinced.

Most importantly, even if Qiao Ran were to release Type: Null from those two orbs now, he wouldn't have the energy to activate the Tokiwa Power.

He felt utterly destitute and at his wit's end.

Filling Poké Ball with the Tokiwa Power is not as simple as it seems. Although Poké Ball looks small from the outside, its internal structure is actually quite large.

According to Lillie, who experienced it firsthand, the Poké Ball is a comfortable space where she can completely empty her mind, as if she's in a light sleep. However, after a while, even such a place can become boring, and there's always a sense of restriction and unease. Not all Pokémon like this feeling.

After cleaning up the Battle Court, Qiao Ran Mei returned to their room.

Qiao Ran also went over the next steps with Mei.

"Lillie and I will stay here to rest tonight. Tomorrow I'll stay and catch some Nihilego before leaving. As for Lillie, she'll stay here to help you."

"I know, but are you really only staying for one night?"

"What's wrong? Do you want me to stay any longer?"

Qiao Ran couldn't help but smile.

"Who said that? I'd love for you to leave sooner rather than later. As long as Lillie is here, that's all that matters."

Mei snorted and affectionately wrapped her arms around Lillie's neck, indicating that Qiao Ran's absence wouldn't affect her much, since she and Lillie were the only ones working hard on the reconstruction.

Qiao Ran will at most rest here for a while and catch some wild jellyfish. After all, Qiao Ran usually has a lot to do in the other world, and it is impossible for him to take care of both.

"Okay, let's get some rest early tonight, I'm very tired."

Qiao Ran Yawn and then walked into one of the rooms. He had used up a lot of energy today and really needed to rest.

Watching Qiao Ran leave, Mei pulled Lillie aside and whispered in her ear.

"That... that Type: Null from just now, do you know what happened? That guy must have done something behind the scenes."

As a Trainer, Mei was very interested in Qiao Ran's method of taming the Type: Null. However, Lillie couldn't help but exclaim "Eh!" upon hearing her words, and then paused.

"I... I don't know anything..."

Lillie not only looked away, but also kept touching her long hair. Even Mei could clearly sense that her good friend was hiding something from her.

Lillie... seems to have changed a lot since she left with that guy...