Scyther

As they traveled, Su Hao and Litten defeated several more wild Pokémon.

Most Pokémon on the outskirts of the forest were only around level ten, so there was no need for Carbink to step in.

After defeating quite a few wild Pokémon in succession, Litten reached level 8.

Pokémon: [Litten]

Type: [Fire]

Gender: [♂]

Ability: [Intimidate]

Level: [8]

Moves: [Scratch, Ember, Growl, Fake Out, Heat Wave, Nasty Plot, Payback, Lick, Roar, Fury Swipes]

From the moment Litten activated Intimidate at the start of battle, he held the advantage. Wild Pokémon would often stiffen up, only to be bombarded by the agile and nimble Litten. Even if they managed to endure, they were swiftly dealt with when facing a Litten still in perfect condition.

Litten had accumulated enough experience, so Su Hao recalled him and decided to head deeper into the forest to find some Normal Level Pokémon for Carbink to practice against.

Before long, after Su Hao deliberately bypassed lower-level Pokémon, their exploration speed increased significantly. Once they reached the depths of the forest, a suitable wild Pokémon appeared.

This Pokémon was extremely cunning, silently following behind Su Hao and Carbink as it waited for a chance to strike.

It was a Liepard that had been stuck at the Late Normal Level for a long time.

If Su Hao had not possessed Wave Power, Liepard might have succeeded in its sneak attack.

However, from the moment Liepard entered the detection range of his Wave Power, the ambush was doomed to fail.

After communicating with Carbink through Telepathy, Su Hao deliberately exposed an opening.

Sure enough, after waiting for so long without finding an opportunity, Liepard spotted the opening. The muscles beneath its streamlined body instantly tensed, and its yellow-furred limbs shifted and darted as it silently appeared behind Su Hao.

Liepard raised its right paw. Its sharp claws were gradually covered in purplish-black energy—the move Shadow Claw.

Beneath Liepard's emerald eyes, which usually carried an alluring air, there was now forty percent smugness, thirty percent killing intent, and thirty percent indifference.

Every one of Liepard's movements was exposed within Su Hao's Aura vision. Just as Liepard swung down its right paw, Su Hao rolled aside in advance and escaped its attack range, his mouth never stopping.

"Carbink, use Ancient Power!"

"Nah nah!"

More than a dozen rocks formed by Ancient Power rapidly appeared around Carbink before shooting out at high speed.

Yet Liepard did not panic after missing its first strike. Its nimble body continued to weave and dart, easily evading Ancient Power's attack.

Although Liepard dodged every rock from Ancient Power, Su Hao remained calm. He understood that speed-oriented Pokémon were difficult to hit, but the solution was simple: lure them into attack range, then use an area attack to strike from every angle. That could secure the win.

Su Hao linked with Carbink and had it use Harden, waiting for Liepard to approach.

Watching Carbink continuously strengthen itself, the previously unhurried Liepard began to grow anxious.

After thinking briefly, Liepard transformed into a phantom and appeared behind Carbink within a few breaths.

This time, Liepard used both claws. Its sharp double claws were dyed a pure black as Foul Play activated.

Seeing Liepard take the bait, Su Hao did not relax. He immediately directed Carbink to unleash the final blow.

"Carbink, use Dazzling Gleam!"

"Nah!"

Brilliant multicolored light surged from the diamonds on Carbink's body. The omnidirectional, unavoidable rays left Liepard, still in midair and unable to adjust its posture in time, with nowhere to evade. It could only grit its teeth and endure the onslaught of this super effective move.

The result went without saying. Liepard, struck directly by Carbink's full-powered Dazzling Gleam, had its purple-and-yellow fur scorched black. The entire Pokémon was Out of Battle.

After dealing with Liepard, Carbink finally reached level 20, officially entering the Normal Level.

Pokémon: [Carbink] [Mutation 20%]

Type: [Rock, Fairy]

Gender: [♀]

Ability: [Clear Body]

Level: [20]

Item: [Diancie Mega Stone]

Moves: [Tackle, Harden, Dazzling Gleam, Meteor Beam, Reflect, Light Screen, Ancient Power, Defense Curl, Flail, Sharpen, Knock Off, Stealth Rock, Protect]

The high-intensity battles had accelerated Carbink's Mutation progress, which had already reached twenty percent. Perhaps before Su Hao's College Entrance Exam, Carbink could completely transform and become the Mythical Pokémon—Diancie.

Liepard had attacked Su Hao and Carbink with malicious intent. Though Su Hao would not finish off an Out of Battle Liepard, he had no intention of treating it either.

Ignoring the Out of Battle Liepard, Su Hao continued onward with Carbink.

Not long after, the sound of a sharp weapon chopping through trees came from ahead.

Su Hao withdrew his all-encompassing Aura scan and instead extended it straight ahead.

A green Pokémon appeared within Su Hao's Aura.

It was a Scyther.

Scyther was a Bug and Flying-type Pokémon. Its head resembled that of a reptile and bore three separate horns. The great scythes on its arms glinted faintly silver; it was said that Scyther's scythes were as sharp as Divine Weapons. It also had two pairs of small wings, its thighs were covered in thorn-like ridges, and each foot had three toes tipped with sharp claws.

At that moment, Scyther was swinging the scythes in its hands, carving one mark after another into a massive tree before it.

The trees around Scyther bore more or less signs of being cut. This stretch of forest was likely both its territory and training ground.

Pokémon: [Scyther]

Type: [Bug + Flying]

Gender: [♂]

Ability: [Technician]

Level: [30]

Moves: [Leer, Quick Attack, Fury Swipes, False Swipe, Wing Attack, Double Team, Double Hit, Slash, Focus Energy, Night Slash, Air Slash]

This was a Scyther that had just entered the Elite Level. Reaching the Elite Level while still in its prime, it was very likely the leader of a nearby Scyther colony.

The force and momentum behind every one of Scyther's slashes showed that it was not merely a hollow shell with a high level, but a battle-hardened warrior.

To be honest, seeing such an outstanding Scyther made Su Hao somewhat tempted.

To put it bluntly, Su Hao wanted its body—he wanted to catch it.

But before catching it, they would definitely need to fight first.

Su Hao called Carbink over and headed toward Scyther.