Pocket Monsters Are Also Yokai

[Shedinja: Normal Template, Pocket Monster/Pokemon, Temporary Summon Unit, Bug + Ghost Dual Type.

HP=1, MP=60. Strength 9, Agility 6, Spirit 6, Charm 8.]

[Summoned Creature Ability -- Wonder Guard]

[Known Moves (Skills): Scratch, Harden, Metal Claw.]

Seeing the Shedinja floating motionlessly in the sky, Cheng Tian couldn't help but take a deep breath of the river-scented air.

Pocket Monsters, also known as Pokemon, Pet Little Monsters, and Magical Babies, have long since broken out of the simple gaming sphere and expanded into various fields.

Some might call Bulbasaur a "garlic toad," Diglett "dog shit," and Dugtrio "three lumps of dog shit," but as the eternal mascot of the Pokemon series, Pikachu is basically recognizable by everyone.

The amount of money this electric mouse, along with the entire Pokemon IP series, has earned Nintendo is already immeasurable.

It doesn't seem too far-fetched to say that Pocket Monsters are part of Japanese traditional Yokai.

Pocket Monsters! They are also Yokai!

As an old gamer, Cheng Tian naturally must have played Pokemon. In fact, the moment he realized he had transformed into a Shedinja, commonly known as "Ghost Cicada," a series of terms that those in the know would understand, such as "Struggle Bug," "Will-O-Wisp," "Endure," "Grudge," "Safety Goggles," "Ability Swap," "Sturdy," and "Focus Sash," flashed through his mind.

However, compared to Cheng Tian's brainstorming, the ones who reacted most strongly to the Ghost Armor turning into a Ghost Cicada were the Ghost Armor horde that was attacking.

Their reaction was quite swift. Upon discovering that one of their companions had been NTR'd into a Ghost Cicada, the two closest Ghost Armors immediately launched an attack.

It was Shadow Force plus Shield Bash, with their massive shields, almost like tower shields, slamming directly towards the expressionless, hollow Ghost Cicada.

Whether it was unable to receive Cheng Tian's command or a problem with its own nature, the Ghost Cicada made no attempt to dodge, allowing the shields to strike its insect shell... Then, both shields passed directly through the Shedinja's body and, with a clang, collided with each other.

The Ghost Cicada's body, as if in a phase space, was in perfect coordinate overlap with the two shields "inside" it, yet completely unaffected.

Its pitiful 1 HP showed no signs of wavering.

[Wonder Guard: Pokemon Ability. Possessing incredible protective power, under its guard, only moves of the "super effective" type can hit Shedinja.]

As one of the most special existences among the thousands of Pokemon in the entire Pokedex, Shedinja/Ghost Cicada's HP will always remain at 1 HP, no matter how powerful it becomes.

But in return, only attacks of specific types can hit it and deplete its seemingly fragile yet incredibly sturdy single HP.

If classified by Pokemon types, the Ghost Armor could be categorized as "Ghost + Steel," similar to Honedge and Aegislash.

Of course, this refers only to their existing form. In reality, fighting a Ghost Armor is no different from fighting a remotely controlled Karrablast armor. However, in terms of attack methods, the Ghost Armor only has one type of move that can be classified as "Normal"—a shield bash.

In other words, they couldn't hit the Ghost Cicada at all.

Perhaps due to the skill's influence creating a temporary bond of "Trainer and Pokemon Partner," Cheng Tian could faintly read a thought of confusion from the Ghost Cicada's vacant gaze: "Trainer, why aren't you giving orders yet?"

At this moment, Cheng Tian's chuunibyou kicked in.

"Shedinja! Use Metal Claw on the backs of the enemies near you!!!"

Cheng Tian shamelessly shouted his trainer command loudly. The Ghost Cicada, upon receiving the command, suddenly lit up like a Gundam powering up, its eyes shining like the main camera that had just received power.

A strange power fluctuation surged along with the Ghost Cicada's exertion. At the same time, its very short and cute little hands began to glow with a silvery-white light.

Its small but powerful wings blurred into afterimages. Using its pseudo phase shift state, it passed through the Ghost Armor, circled behind it, and then a silver light flashed.

Two very distinct X-shaped claw marks appeared on the back of the Ghost Armor that the Ghost Cicada had chosen as its target, and its body was knocked forward a certain distance!

[Metal Claw: D-Rank Skill/Lv1, Pokemon Move, Active Skill. Strengthen or construct claws with steel energy to slash your opponent.

Deals Strength * 2 damage as physical Steel-type damage to the target. Each attack has a 10% chance to trigger the "Attack Boost" status effect, but also a 5% chance of missing.

Requires 2 MP to use, with no skill cooldown.]

While the Ghost Cicada was executing its temporary trainer command, Cheng Tian simultaneously used the one-handed axe he had crafted based on the one One-Ear had traded for his Goblin Cleaver at the campfire as a magic throwing item, aiming a parabolic throw at the Ghost Armor that had just been hit by the Ghost Cicada's Metal Claw.

Axes were one of Arthur's preferred weapons in his lifetime, so Cheng Tian's throwing accuracy with throwing axes was far superior to that of cleavers.

If Cheng Tian hadn't removed his Vampire Hunter template, Simon's experience with throwing axes would have further improved the accuracy.

The throwing axe successfully evaded the frontal defense of the tower shield and struck the Ghost Armor's head, the one with the X on its back. The force of the impact was so great that it knocked its helmet off, revealing a headless knight-like appearance.

However, this headless Ghost Armor completely ignored Cheng Tian, who was throwing axes below, and continued to approach the Ghost Cicada, raising its shield again.

As mentioned before, the specters inside the Ghost Armor were the lowest level, merely soul units with basic consciousness. They couldn't execute complex commands. At their execution level, the highest priority was "interfering with humans crossing the river."

The second priority was self-defense against the closest enemy unit.

The Ghost Cicada's Metal Claw counterattack directly activated this second-priority mechanism, triggering a chain reaction.

As long as Cheng Tian and his companions maintained their current position and didn't approach the riverbank, the Ghost Armors would ignore them and prioritize ganging up on the Ghost Cicada.

...But the Ghost Cicada's sole 1 HP remained unshaken.

The clanging sounds of shields colliding echoed continuously above the heads of the three men. All shield bashes attempting to attack the Ghost Cicada ultimately clashed with their own colleagues.

And interspersed with this were the piercing, hollow clangs like gongs being struck—

Yes, the throwing axe had also done its part.

Under the perfect kiting of the unparalleled 1 HP tank, the Ghost Cicada, combined with Metal Claw and Cheng Tian's throwing axe to the back, cleared a total of 3 waves, or 18 Ghost Armors, before no new ones appeared.

Drifting downstream were fragments of armor parts of all sizes.

The three living individuals seized this rare opening and, after two consecutive running jumps, crossed the last two narrow river channels.

The Ghost Cicada, which had endured countless useless shield bashes, slowly landed beside Cheng Tian, their eyes meeting.

Then, its chubby little insect claws, which showed no sign of the sharpness they possessed when using Metal Claw, tapped against Cheng Tian's fist.