Chapter 71

Once Qing Wu learned that Kuraki was a Poison Person, he immediately understood that Golbat's Poison-type moves were basically useless. On top of that, they had to guard against Arbok's venomous attacks.

Kuraki really was a troublesome opponent.

Arbok's Poison Blade was cut into several pieces in midair by Golbat's Air Slash. Arbok showed no fear whatsoever, instead throwing Golbat a provocative glance.

"Glare." The instant Kuraki saw Golbat looking at Arbok, he issued the command.

Arbok bared a fierce expression and glared viciously at Golbat.

"Golbat, Aerial Ace." Golbat flapped the white currents of air swirling around it and flashed to Arbok's back, unleashing Air Slash at it.

Several blades of air struck Arbok directly in the back. Arbok let out a wail, and black blood gushed from its wounds.

"Arbok, Poison Spray." A large amount of purple venom seeped from Arbok's red fangs, transforming into countless purple droplets that rained toward Golbat.

"Golbat, fly up and use Quick Attack toward the sky." Qing Wu gave a precise command. Golbat instantly turned into a streak of blue light and vanished from its original position.

After losing its target, the venom scattered across the ground, corroding countless holes into it as white smoke hissed upward.

Arbok was indeed an extremely powerful Pokémon, an absolute overlord on the ground. However, it was helpless against Golbat flying through the air.

After all, Arbok could not fly. If Qing Wu sent out Kecleon, it might not necessarily be a match for Arbok.

Arbok flicked its tongue and constantly provoked Golbat.

Golbat, meanwhile, circled overhead, examining Arbok for weaknesses.

Arbok could do nothing to Golbat, but Golbat likewise could not do anything to Arbok. However, Golbat's advantage was that it could use Flying-type moves for ranged attacks.

"Golbat, keep your distance and continuously use Air Slash against Arbok." Air Slash's blades of wind were still effective against Arbok.

Arbok slithered in a zigzag, dodging some of the wind blades. Before long, several struck it, leaving its body covered in blood and crisscrossed with wounds.

"Kuraki, looks like you've lost." Qing Wu looked at Kuraki as he spoke.

"It's not over yet. The outcome is still uncertain." Kuraki gave a sinister laugh.

"Arbok, after playing around for so long, you've locked onto Golbat's flight path, haven't you?" Kuraki suddenly asked Arbok.

Arbok nodded. Snakes relied on their tongues to gather information from their surroundings.

After these few rounds of battle, Arbok had completely locked onto Golbat's flight path.

"Poison Spray, Poison Tail. You know what to do, Arbok." Kuraki smiled, revealing a mysterious victorious grin. His already pale face became even whiter, as if all its color had been drained away.

Arbok looked at Kuraki worriedly.

"It's all right, Arbok. Victory is the best gift you can give me." A trace of black blood seeped from the corner of Kuraki's mouth.

"Give it everything you've got, Arbok." Kuraki's words strengthened Arbok's resolve.

Countless streams of venom spewed from Arbok's mouth, while its tail simultaneously secreted an enormous amount of poison.

"Golbat, Aerial Ace." Golbat shifted from the air to Arbok's back. Before it could steady itself, Arbok's venom-coated sickle tail swept horizontally toward it.

"Wing Attack." Seeing that it could not dodge, Qing Wu could only have Golbat take the attack head-on.

White light radiated from Golbat's wings as it crashed into the incoming Poison Tail. Yet, unexpectedly, the Arbok before it was sliced in two by Wing Attack. What was going on?

(￣▽￣;)...(￣▽￣;)...(￣▽￣;)... Golbat froze. At that moment, the ground suddenly cracked into several pieces, and a black shadow burst from beneath it, snapping its sharp fangs at Golbat.

Golbat hurriedly beat its wings, trying to fly into the sky, but it was ultimately too slow to dodge.

The fangs tore open a gash in Golbat's abdomen, and venom seeped inside.

"So that's how it is." Qing Wu understood Kuraki's strategy.

The Poison Sting had been a feint, intended to lure Golbat into using Aerial Ace and flashing behind Arbok. Arbok had already used its shedding ability to leave a Snake Shed on the battlefield.

Its true body had gone underground by burrowing.

At the instant the Snake Shed was torn apart by Golbat, Arbok used Poison Fang against it.

In its haste, Golbat's abdomen had been torn open, allowing the venom to seep into its body.

"Clap, clap, clap." Qing Wu applauded Kuraki.

"What a strategy." Qing Wu gave a thumbs-up. Arbok's most powerful weapons were its two sharp fangs and its sickle-shaped tail.

As long as a Pokémon was struck by its fangs or swept by its Poison Tail, it would be guaranteed to enter a poisoned state. On top of that, Arbok had been cultivated from Kuraki's poisonous blood, making its venom even more terrifying.

"Qing Wu, surrender. Otherwise, your Golbat will be poisoned to death. You don't have an antidote." Kuraki smiled happily. The throne of the number-one Trial Participant was already within his grasp.

"My dictionary doesn't contain the word surrender. I'd rather die on my feet than surrender." Qing Wu spoke with a smile.

Fortunately, Qing Wu had prepared in advance and hidden a high-grade Detox Poffin inside Golbat's mouth.

With his experience as a Breeding Master, Qing Wu had gathered the ingredients on the island and made only three Detox Poffins.

"Is that so? Are you really planning to let your Golbat rot to death like this?" A sickly smile appeared on Kuraki's face.

"Cough, cough, cough." Kuraki covered his mouth with his hand. Suddenly, his throat itched, and he coughed up a mouthful of black blood.

Qing Wu could see that Arbok was also at the end of its strength. It had already suffered heavily from Air Slash and bled profusely, then lost even more vitality through shedding. Now it was panting heavily, staring at Kuraki worriedly.

"It's time to end this. Golbat, use Wing Attack against Arbok." Qing Wu issued his final command.

Golbat transformed into a blue bolt of lightning. After Flying-type energy infused its wings, they turned white, and it charged toward Arbok without hesitation like a roaring bomber.

Arbok was struck by Wing Attack. Using the momentum of its body, it slammed heavily into the wall outside the arena and collapsed there, motionless, its fate unknown.

"How could this be?" Kuraki's pupils contracted sharply. How had the situation he had been certain to win suddenly been turned around by Qing Wu?

Kuraki could not understand it no matter how hard he thought. The strain of thinking made him cough violently, as if he were about to cough up his lungs.

Large clots of black blood seeped between Kuraki's fingers and fell onto the floor.

Kuraki suddenly felt his vision go dark. His body involuntarily toppled backward and crashed heavily to the ground.

Through his dazed eyes, Kuraki only saw Qing Wu hurry over and stuff something into his mouth.

A sweet Berry flavor spread through his mouth.

So sweet. That was Kuraki's final thought before darkness swallowed him.

"Doctor! Doctor!" Qing Wu shouted anxiously. Blondie, who had been beside Kuraki, hurried over, summoned Bellsprout, bound Kuraki with it, and sent him straight to the medical room at the Team Rocket base.

"Semifinal: Qing Wu versus Kuraki. Qing Wu is the victor." After seeing the result, Coach Frostwolf quickly announced it.

Afterward, Cang and Qiong hurried after him toward a certain place. They had just received word that Leader Sakaki had arrived at the Trial Base not long ago and had watched Qing Wu's battle with Kuraki from beginning to end.