Riolu vs. the Hell White Tiger

[Riolu's strength rose rapidly. Riolu felt a strong sense of approval toward you. Friendship +20, now at 42.]

[Riolu learned new moves: Work Up, Rock Smash, Screech, and Quick Guard.]

Chi Hong climbed down from Charizard and stood behind Riolu.

If he wanted to raise Riolu's Friendship quickly, fighting alongside him was the best way. He couldn't stay too far back.

Chi Hong pointed ahead.

"Riolu, let's start with an appetizer. That little kitty up there will do."

Riolu's eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he looked toward Dai Huabin and bumped his fists together.

"Chi Hong, are you looking down on me? You dare challenge me with a little dog? Fine. I'll tear him apart."

Dai Huabin's face twisted. His White Tiger Martial Soul possessed him, and a ferocious aura erupted as he activated his third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, and charged at Riolu.

"Riolu, Quick Guard."

Chi Hong gave the command calmly.

Riolu thrust both palms forward, raising a transparent wall of force before him.

Dai Huabin's tiger claws slammed into the wall and could not advance an inch.

He froze for a moment, seemingly unable to believe that a little dog had blocked his attack.

"Metal Claw. Counterattack."

Another command followed.

Riolu knocked Dai Huabin's hands aside with the wall of force. A faint metallic sheen covered his claws as he swept them upward.

Slash! A silvery strike flashed past.

Dai Huabin threw himself backward, but a bloody gash still opened across his chest.

He retreated in pain, but Riolu had no intention of giving him room to breathe. With a kick of his legs, he pressed his advantage.

Fighting through the pain, Dai Huabin was forced into close combat with Riolu.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Tiger claws and Metal Claw collided again and again. Dai Huabin grew more shocked by the second. He was a level-thirty-seven assault-type Soul Elder, yet a little dog was overpowering him in hand-to-hand combat?

No. Impossible!

Dai Huabin roared and unleashed a burst of strength. A White Tiger Fierce Light Wave drove Riolu back.

Riolu flipped several times through the air before landing steadily on the ground.

[Riolu's Friendship +2.]

He was utterly exhilarated. This kind of all-out battle was what he had always craved.

Now that Chi Hong was fighting alongside it, its Friendship was rising, and its strength was growing just as fast.

Chi Hong smiled at the sight.

"Riolu, let your potential run wild. Use Work Up!"

Riolu drew a deep breath and clenched his fists. A scorching current surged through his body, then burst outward.

His gaze sharpened. His fierce fighting spirit seemed to take shape as it soared skyward, reaching a new height.

"Something's wrong. How can this Soul Beast give off such a powerful aura?"

Dai Huabin's pupils contracted. An ominous feeling gripped him. At this rate, he might truly be no match for Riolu.

"Zhu Lu, use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"

Zhu Lu nodded. The next moment, they embraced. Gold and shadowy light flickered, and the phantom of a giant white tiger appeared, roaring imperiously across the field.

Chi Hong clicked his tongue at the opening.

"You're not the only one who can make noise. Riolu, use Screech!"

Riolu inhaled deeply, his chest swelling, then let out a shriek so piercing it set teeth on edge. The sound waves stabbed into the Hell White Tiger's ears like blades.

The little kitty immediately stopped roaring and staggered about in place, shaking its head in obvious distress.

After a brief recovery, the Hell White Tiger charged at Riolu in a rage. The difference in their size was enormous. Every step the tiger took left a massive paw print in the ground, making for an intimidating sight.

But Riolu showed no fear. His innate ability, Inner Focus, gave him the courage to face any powerful foe.

Chi Hong judged, however, that Riolu probably could not withstand the Hell White Tiger's attack yet.

He was about to call Charizard down to cover Riolu when a flash of golden light nearby made him change his mind.

Ding—

Behind the Hell White Tiger, a pair of Spirit Eyes framed by Rain Butterfly wings stared straight at it.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong held each other tightly. Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was complete.

Boom!

A Golden Cannon blasted out, aimed straight at the Hell White Tiger.

Golden light swept past. The Hell White Tiger took the strike squarely from behind, and its entire body turned into a golden statue on the verge of crumbling.

"Beautifully done. Riolu, finish it with Rock Smash!"

Chi Hong grinned. Huo Yuhao was considerate enough to serve him the victory on a platter.

Riolu kicked off the ground and leaped high. A visible layer of force gathered along the edge of his palm, and he brought a sharp hand chop down on the tiger statue.

Whoosh—

The force roared through the air, as though it could shatter solid rock in a single blow.

With a crash and two screams, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu lost consciousness and collapsed.

[Riolu defeated the trainers Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu and gained a large amount of experience.]

[Riolu's age increased to four thousand years. Riolu learned a new move: Force Palm.]

Elsewhere, Charizard faced He Caitou. He was the only one here whose Soul Tools could shoot Charizard out of the sky.

Charizard was thoroughly fed up with the bald, dark-skinned man.

After firing that attack, Huo Yuhao felt immensely satisfied. Once again, he had tasted the pleasure of revenge.

Wang Dong laughed with malicious glee.

"Dai Huabin had it coming! If the teachers weren't watching, I'd give him another blow right now. How dare he send assassins after me?"

Huo Yuhao composed himself.

"All right. From the look of it, Chi Hong doesn't want to join forces with us. Let's help the others first."

He turned his gaze elsewhere.

At that moment, Greninja was keeping Jiang Nannan occupied.

Jiang Nannan was an agility-type Soul Ancestor, yet she still could not keep up with Greninja's speed.

Greninja deflected every attack she made. After several exchanges, she realized what was happening.

The Soul Beast was plainly toying with her. Greninja had no intention of knocking her down.

That irritated Jiang Nannan enough, but the hanger-on buzzing beside her was even worse.

Xu Sanshi darted his head from side to side, trying to follow Greninja's movements, but he could never track Greninja down.

All he could do was stand guard beside Jiang Nannan with his Xuanming Shield.

"Don't be afraid, Nannan! I'll protect you!"

Jiang Nannan said with disgust, "Xu Sanshi, can you get lost? You're getting in the way of my fight. Even the air I'm breathing smells foul with you here."

Xu Sanshi replied earnestly, "No matter what, I'll protect you."

Seeing that Riolu had already taken down an opponent, Greninja's figure suddenly blurred. Several identical copies appeared in an instant, surrounding Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi, while Greninja's real body moved swiftly among them.

Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi grew wary. Unable to tell which was the real Greninja, they dared not act rashly.

Xu Sanshi declared confidently, "Don't worry, Nannan. If this Soul Beast wants to hurt you, it'll have to step over my dead body!"