Riolu vs. the Hell White Tiger

[Riolu's strength has rapidly increased. Riolu thinks highly of you. Affection +20, now 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 affection quickly, fighting alongside Riolu 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 over there."

Riolu fixed a battle-hungry gaze on 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 it apart."

Dai Huabin's face twisted savagely. His White Tiger Martial Soul possessed him, unleashing a violent aura. He activated his third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, and charged straight 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 but couldn't push it back an inch.

He froze for a moment, seemingly unable to believe 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 slashed upward at an angle.

Slash! A silver-white arc cut through the air.

Dai Huabin scrambled backward, but the strike still opened a bloody gash across his chest.

He retreated in pain, but Riolu had no intention of letting him catch his breath. Riolu sprang forward to press his advantage.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Dai Huabin was forced into close combat with Riolu.

Clang, clang, clang!

Tiger claws clashed repeatedly with Metal Claw. Dai Huabin grew more stunned by the second. He was a level-thirty-seven assault-type Soul Elder, yet a little dog was beating him down in hand-to-hand combat?

No. Impossible!

Dai Huabin erupted with all his strength and roared, driving Riolu back with a White Tiger Fierce Light Wave.

The blast sent Riolu flying. After several flips through the air, Riolu landed steadily.

[Riolu's affection +2.]

Riolu was utterly exhilarated. This kind of all-out fight was what he had always craved.

Now that Chi Hong was fighting beside him, his affection was rising, and his strength was growing rapidly too.

Seeing this, Chi Hong smiled.

"Riolu, unleash your full potential! 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 fighting spirit grew so intense it seemed tangible, soaring to a new height.

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

Dai Huabin's pupils contracted. A bad feeling struck him. At this rate, he really might not be a match.

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

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

Chi Hong seized the chance and clicked his tongue.

"So you're the only one who gets to make noise? Riolu, use Screech!"

Riolu inhaled deeply, his chest swelling before he unleashed an ear-piercing screech. The sound waves stabbed into the Hell White Tiger's ears like blades.

The little kitty stopped roaring at once. It shook its head and staggered in circles, plainly miserable.

After a brief recovery, the Hell White Tiger charged at Riolu in a fury. It towered over him, and every step left an enormous paw print in the ground.

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

Still, Chi Hong judged that Riolu probably couldn't withstand the Hell White Tiger's attack yet.

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

Ding—

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

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

Boom!

A Golden Cannon blast thundered toward the Hell White Tiger.

Golden light swept past. Struck squarely from behind, the Hell White Tiger's entire body turned into a golden statue on the verge of breaking apart.

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

Chi Hong grinned. Huo Yuhao was thoughtful enough to hand him the finishing blow.

Riolu leaped high. Visible force gathered along the edge of his palm, and he brought a sharp chop down on the white tiger statue.

Voom—

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

Bang! Two screams followed, and Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu collapsed unconscious.

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

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

Elsewhere, Charizard was fighting He Caitou. Of everyone here, only this man's Soul Tools could knock Charizard out of the sky.

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

After landing that strike, Huo Yuhao felt a surge of satisfaction. Once again, he had tasted the pleasure of revenge.

Wang Dong laughed with undisguised delight.

"Dai Huabin had it coming! If the teachers weren't watching, I'd sneak in another hit right now. He actually dared send assassins after me."

Huo Yuhao steadied himself.

"All right. It looks like Chi Hong doesn't want to team up with us. Let's help the others first."

He looked across the field.

Greninja was locked in a fight with Jiang Nannan.

Though Jiang Nannan was a Soul Ancestor specializing in agility, she still couldn't keep up with Greninja's speed.

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

This Soul Beast was clearly 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's head swiveled as he tried to track Greninja, but he could never pin down Greninja's position.

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 making it impossible for me to fight. Even the air I breathe feels foul with you here."

Xu Sanshi replied with heartfelt devotion, "No matter what happens, I'll protect you."

Seeing that Riolu had already defeated an opponent, Greninja's form suddenly blurred. Several identical copies appeared in an instant, surrounding Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi, while the real Greninja darted among them at high speed.

Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi went on guard. Unable to tell which one was the real Greninja, they dared not make a move.

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