Chi Hong Said Nothing and Kept Stacking Swords Dance

[Professor Oak examined Charizard...]

[Professor Oak sent a message: Your Charizard has leveled up too quickly, leaving its foundation unstable. To reach ten thousand years, it needs a sufficiently powerful Source of Life.]

[Once it reaches ten thousand years and its friendship reaches 90, it will meet the conditions for Mega Evolution.]

Chi Hong studied the messages and considered his options.

Charizard and Greninja are both stuck at 89 friendship. Looks like that's a threshold. As for a Source of Life... I can buy the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife and leave the curse to Professor Oak.

Since Charizard can't level up right now, I'll send Riolu into the next battle. It's time to raise his friendship and help him evolve into Lucario as soon as possible.

"Riolu!"

Riolu raised his hands in delight. He sensed Chi Hong's intentions, and his excitement surged.

Of the three Pokémon, he was the most eager to fight and grow stronger.

After all, he lagged behind his two seniors in both age and strength, and he had yet to reach his final form.

The chance to battle different Soul Masters in the tournament had left him itching to get started.

"Full of energy, aren't you, Riolu? Greninja, give him the Life Orb for now. He's up next."

Chi Hong rubbed Riolu's head.

Riolu's little tail spun like a fan.

[Ding! Professor Oak is delighted by how well you've trained Riolu.]

[He has sent you three TMs: Drain Punch, Aura Sphere, and Focus Punch.]

"Whoa, Professor Oak, you're a godsend! With Drain Punch, he can make up for the health he loses even while using the Life Orb."

Delighted, Chi Hong gave Riolu the TMs for Drain Punch and Aura Sphere.

Focus Punch was the most powerful move, but it required time to gather energy. Its windup was too long for a fragile Pokémon like Riolu, who already needed to stack Swords Dance.

Besides, the next match was about to begin. There wasn't enough time to learn it.

Greninja handed Riolu the Life Orb hanging around his neck without much hesitation.

Riolu stared at the slime-covered orb in Greninja's hand, thoroughly put off. He really didn't want to touch it.

The thing looked downright disgusting.

Greninja coolly rinsed it with a stream of water and tossed it over.

Only then did Riolu catch the Life Orb. Feeling his vitality swell, his blood began to race.

He immediately clenched his fists and started practicing his moves.

The Soul Arena.

The first match of the round-robin stage.

Shrek faced Yun Luo Academy in a one-on-one knockout match.

Still wearing his hat, Chi Hong stood in the center of the Soul Arena.

Across from him, Yun Luo Academy had sent out its team captain.

The captain was only a Soul Ancestor, but his expression was calm. He seemed unafraid of his opponent.

Chi Hong tossed a ball with one hand and summoned Riolu.

Tap!

Riolu appeared in the arena, staring at his opponent with determination.

"Wow! Shrek has a Soul Beast this cute too? I'm dying!"

A dog lover shrieked from the stands.

"He looks pretty weak. Nowhere near as cool as that fire dragon or water frog."

Others were skeptical.

The Yun Luo captain's gaze sharpened.

"Shrek really is impressive, raising even a Soul Beast this small to over five thousand years of cultivation. But I won't surrender. Come at me!"

The captain brought out his Soul Tool and aimed it at Riolu, waiting for him to attack.

No one had seen Chi Hong use Riolu before, so the captain knew nothing about his moves. That made him all the more cautious.

But after waiting a while, he found it strange. Why wasn't his opponent attacking?

And why was that little dog spinning in circles?

Was this some kind of circus act?

Chi Hong said nothing. He just kept having Riolu stack Swords Dance.

Riolu made no sound. He simply spun faster and faster, his attack power soaring.

A one-on-one Knockout Stage match was ideal for Riolu. He couldn't be focused down by multiple opponents, and each time he defeated one, he could quietly stack another Swords Dance.

With Drain Punch to sustain him, his injuries wouldn't pile up too much, either.

Riolu kept spinning, faster and faster.

Soon, every turn cut through the air with a sharp whistle, as though an unsheathed blade were tracing countless arcs through it.

"Not good!"

The Yun Luo captain finally realized something was wrong. The violent gusts kicked up by the spinning pup were striking his face.

"Soul Cannon barrage!"

Gritting his teeth, he activated every Soul Cannon around him and aimed them at Riolu. Dozens of beams fired at once.

The Soul Cannon blasts roared toward Riolu with terrifying force.

Chi Hong smiled faintly.

"You realized too late. Riolu, use Endure!"

Riolu stopped spinning. The fighting spirit in his eyes was fierce enough to pierce straight through someone.

He stood straight, his body taut, utterly unafraid as countless Soul Cannon shells bore down on him.

A faint golden film of light covered Riolu's entire body.

Boom! Boom!

Explosions thundered through the Soul Arena. White flashes filled the air, and clouds of smoke and dust blocked everyone's view.

Meng Hongchen covered her mouth.

"Brother, that adorable little blue dog didn't just die, did he? Poor thing."

Xiao Hongchen leaned back in his chair, relaxed.

"Don't worry. Chi Hong isn't that stupid."

As the smoke cleared, a small but resolute figure still stood in the center of the Soul Arena beneath everyone's anxious gaze.

After the bombardment, Riolu's fur was scorched and disheveled, and his body was covered in wounds.

He had just 1% of his health left, but the fighting spirit in his eyes had not dimmed at all.

Chi Hong tugged down the brim of his hat.

"The battle's only just begun. Riolu, use Drain Punch!"

The Yun Luo captain's eyes widened.

"No. That's impossible!"

Riolu couldn't hold back any longer. He had spent all that time stacking attack at the start for this moment.

He clenched his right fist, and a soft emerald glow spread across it.

But there was nothing soft about its power.

Four stacks of Swords Dance, plus a Life Orb. Think about that.

Riolu kicked off hard and closed the distance in an instant.

Before the Yun Luo captain could surrender, a green-glowing fist slammed into him.

Pfft!

The Yun Luo captain's pupils lost focus as he coughed up blood.

As the force of the punch tore through him, emerald light flowed from Riolu's fist back into his body.

The Yun Luo captain collapsed and lost consciousness.

Riolu withdrew his fist.

A warm surge of life flowed back up his arm.

Within seconds, his wounds healed before everyone's eyes. His fur regained its shine, and his injuries had all but vanished.