Emotionless

Bzzzt.

Wisps of Thunder Wave gathered above Dratini's head.

Just as Xia Yan had said, there were enough free electrons around here, so Dratini's Thunder Wave was far more impressive than when it had fought the two Golbat outside.

It deliberately slowed its pace and sent the attack toward the other end of the corridor.

At the same time, following Xia Yan's command, Weedle unleashed Electroweb at the wall-like Magnemite. Just like Dratini's attack, the current coursing through Weedle's Electroweb was far denser.

The key now was whether Weedle's Electroweb could wake the Magnemite, and whether Dratini's Thunder Wave could draw their attention.

Under Xia Yan and Lance's somewhat nervous gazes, the Electroweb successfully stuck to the Magnemite, who had shown no intention of dodging.

Bzzzt—

Like Thunder Shock, quite a few Magnemite gave a slight shudder.

Then, the blankness in their eyes slowly gave way to clarity.

The Magnemite.

Had awakened!

If it had been an ordinary attack, it might not have woken them at all. It might even have provoked their ferocity instead. But this was an Electric-type move.

The Magnemite immediately felt the hunger in their bodies once they came to their senses.

They blinked and happened to see a distant cluster of delicious current, fluffy like cotton candy. It was their favorite!

"Bzzzt~~"

Amid a chorus of cheerful cries, one Magnemite after another broke away from their original positions and floated toward the Thunder Wave Dratini had released. They formed a magnetic chain of Magnemite throughout the corridor.

"It worked!" Delight filled Lance's eyes.

"Go!" Xia Yan barked, darting out first while keeping close to the wall.

Lance followed right behind him.

Though some Magnemite had not awakened, a sizable gap had appeared in their wall, enough for the two of them to pass through.

After leaving the Magnemite behind, Xia Yan and Lance did not slow down, quickly turning the corner.

Who knew whether the Magnemite would go mad from not getting enough to eat?

"After one more turn, we'll reach the control room." Lance glanced at the map on the wall.

"There's another rather serious problem." Xia Yan pursed his lips, his expression a little strange.

"What?"

"Even if we reach the control room, do you know how to operate those panels?"

Lance: "..."

Lance froze for a moment, then understood.

That was right!

Even if they reached the control room, let alone operate those panels, they probably would not even be able to understand them.

He looked around. "We've already made it this far, and it'll take Goldenrod City's people quite a while to get here. Let's go take a look first."

"Mm."

There really was no other option. They had already come this far.

But the closer Xia Yan and Lance got to the control room, the grimmer their expressions became.

Because in the air—

They caught the scent of blood!

Then, several corpses that appeared to belong to Power Plant staff came into view.

Lance briefly examined their wounds and causes of death.

"It wasn't done by humans," he said gravely. "It was probably some Pokémon."

Xia Yan suddenly thought of something. "Perhaps... the person controlling the Power Plant hasn't left yet."

It was not impossible!

"Electa!!"

As the two of them pondered their own thoughts, a fierce roar came from deep within the corridor, and the overhead lights began to flicker.

A yellow-and-black Pokémon charged toward Xia Yan and Lance with heavy footsteps. Its limbs were thick and powerful, a lightning-shaped marking made of black fur lay across its chest, and two antennae on its head crackled with yellow arcs of electricity. Its eyes were bloodshot and ferocious.

An Electric-type Pokémon!

Electabuzz!

Crackle, crackle—

As lightning arcs danced, a solid mass of golden current gathered in its hand. Like a burly man gripping a discus, it bent down, drew back, and flung it in one fluid motion.

Thunder Shock!

It attacked them without a word.

Xia Yan and Lance reacted quickly as well.

"Weedle, Electroweb!"

"Dratini, Twister!"

The two Pokémon immediately understood. Weedle opened its mouth and spat out an Electroweb, wrapping up the incoming Thunder Shock. At the same time, Dratini swung its tail and whipped up a small Twister, batting the Thunder Shock away just as the Electroweb enclosed it.

But at the same time, taking advantage of the opening while they dealt with its attack, Electabuzz transformed into a folded streak of light and instantly closed the distance.

Quick Attack!

It was faster than any Pokémon Xia Yan had seen so far.

And Electabuzz had targeted the seemingly weaker Weedle.

This attack could not be avoided!

Bang!

The solid, muffled collision, combined with the difference in size and strength, sent Weedle flying.

"Wuu!"

Weedle cried out in pain.

Meanwhile, Lance did not panic just because Weedle had been knocked away. Using the brief pause in Electabuzz's movement after the impact—

"Dratini, Bind!"

"Draaat—"

Like a snake, Dratini swiftly appeared at Electabuzz's side, its slender, smooth body wrapping tightly around Electabuzz.

As its scales wriggled and gradually tightened, Electabuzz felt the air rapidly leaving its chest.

"Electa!!"

With a furious roar, the muscles across its body bulged instantly. Its two antennae erupted with dazzling lightning, and dense currents surged wildly outward, electrocuting both itself and the Dratini wrapped around it.

"Xia Yan!" Seeing Dratini take the hit, Lance's expression turned grave, but he did not panic as he shouted.

"I know." Xia Yan narrowed his eyes, then quickly said to Weedle, "Get close! Poison Sting!"

After landing, Weedle quickly crawled back and returned to Xia Yan's side. Its seven pairs of legs moved as it rushed toward Electabuzz and Dratini as fast as it could.

Dratini and Electabuzz were currently entangled together, and Electabuzz was still struggling frantically. Weedle could not guarantee that Poison Sting would not accidentally hit Dratini.

Moreover, after clashing with Electabuzz twice, Xia Yan had roughly determined that its Ability was not the common Static, but the hidden Ability Vital Spirit.

That also explained why it had not fallen into confusion like the Magnemite.

So Weedle would not be in any danger approaching it.

Weedle raised its head and aimed at Electabuzz's exposed body.

It arched its body, leaped into the air, and fixed its eyes on the lightning-shaped black fur across Electabuzz's chest.

"Wuu!"

This time, it did not fire three Poison Sting needles, but only one, aimed at Electabuzz's chest.

Squelch—

The Poison Sting passed precisely through a gap in Dratini's Bind, pierced Electabuzz's skin, and sank into its chest.

"Electa!!"

Electabuzz's eyes widened as it let out a scream. The fur on its chest was instantly corroded away, exposing the flesh beneath.

A dark purple mark rapidly spread like a spiderweb, while thick black fluid slowly seeped from the single puncture wound.

It was poisoned.

Lance watched the scene in surprise. When Weedle had fought the Golbat earlier, he had not been able to tell just how potent its poison was, but now he had seen it.

He could not help saying, "That poison is intense."

Xia Yan nodded. "Encore."

Weedle immediately fired another Poison Sting, which sank into Electabuzz's ankle.

Electabuzz had barely managed to hold on, but after suffering another dose of poison, it could no longer control its body. It staggered and fell to the ground, while Dratini also released it.

Bang!

Electabuzz lay on the ground, twitching constantly as purple rapidly consumed its body. The signs of poisoning became increasingly obvious.

"Such powerful poison," Lance sighed.

He had seen Dratini's struggle with Electabuzz earlier. Dratini had only barely managed to restrain it.

Such a strong body had been brought down by just two Poison Sting attacks. Judging by Electabuzz's condition and how quickly the toxin was spreading, if it did not receive treatment within half an hour, it would likely be poisoned to death.

Terrifying poison!

Still somewhat shaken, Dratini came to Weedle's side.

"Draaat~~" It lifted its tail and gently rubbed Weedle's body, showing goodwill.

Anyone who did not know better might have thought it was a Weedle wearing a Dratini shell showing goodwill to a Dratini wearing a Weedle shell.

"Wuu!" Weedle lifted its head with a trace of pride, the horn atop it gleaming.

I, Weedle, have no feelings!

I had something to do this morning, so the update came a little late. There will still be three updates today!