Liu Xin, the King of Traps

They had been grateful to Liu Xin before. After all, he had driven off the Treasure Hoarders. But now...

Pretty much everyone wanted to kill him.

"How much farther until we reach the treasure at the end? This is driving me nuts!"

"I'd better not run into that Liu Xin bastard, or I'm going to beat him black and blue."

Outside the lighthouse.

Sen Anxiang was utterly puzzled. "What's happening in there?"

"Why is everyone cursing Liu Xin? Did he do something?"

The Lighthouse Guardians and some people who hadn't participated all shook their heads, indicating that they had no idea what was happening inside.

If they had known, they definitely wouldn't have been able to resist complaining about Liu Xin. He was such a bastard.

Meanwhile, several furtive figures slowly approached outside.

If Liu Xin and the others had been there, they would have recognized them at a glance. It was the Team Rocket duo.

Dadi asked curiously, "Are you sure an ambush here will work?"

Chuan Yamei said solemnly, "After meticulous calculations and consideration, I'm certain this is the route they'll take."

"If we set a trap here and catch them when they come through, won't getting the treasure be a piece of cake?"

Suddenly, several figures slowly emerged and addressed Dadi and his partner. "You're from Team Rocket?"

"Perfect. Can you count us in on your plan?"

"After all, we want a little revenge too."

Chuan Yamei nodded. "The more hands, the easier the job. Come join us."

The dragon pressure was powerful, but its intensity was constant.

It didn't fluctuate at all, so Liu Xin and Ito Hei soon adjusted to it.

To speed up their progress, they both had their Pokémon use moves as they advanced.

Metang's Confusion proved quite useful. It offset most of the dragon pressure, making walking considerably easier.

On Liu Xin's side, although Super Gible was under tremendous pressure, he thoroughly enjoyed it.

For him, dragon pressure of this level was both a challenge and an opportunity.

Liu Xin could see that as they advanced, Super Gible's experience kept increasing, even faster than when they fought monsters outside.

They were almost there, just a few meters away.

This treasure glimmered blue, and everything about its aura was gentle.

It was completely different from the previous red treasure. Before Liu Xin even saw what it was, he could more or less guess its function.

Got it!

Liu Xin put the treasure away and immediately hurried onward.

Once he stepped out of the dragon pressure, his whole body felt light. It was incredibly comfortable.

He felt as though he'd been reborn, refreshed from head to toe.

"They all have to endure the dragon pressure. They won't get through that quickly."

"We have plenty of time to make more advanced traps now."

Ito Hei let out a long breath. "Good thing you're not my opponent, or I'd be in serious trouble."

"Nobody does dirty tricks like you. What's the plan?"

The corners of Liu Xin's mouth rose. He already had plenty of ideas, all completely different from the earthen walls.

Earthen walls were still too easy for those people.

When the others emerged from the dragon pressure, they took a close look ahead.

"Phew, finally, no earthen walls blocking the way."

"That kid must have exhausted himself resisting the dragon pressure. He couldn't make any."

"Come on, hurry! They've already taken two treasures. We need to pick up the pace."

They had no idea that beneath the calm scene before them lurked hidden danger.

Intent on catching Liu Xin up ahead, they paid no attention to their surroundings.

Suddenly, the trap activated.

Several people at the front were sucked straight into the ground ahead, sinking into it.

It was Super Gible's move, Sand Tomb, concealed with Metang's Confusion.

Although it couldn't last very long, holding them up was easy. It would waste even more of their time than the earthen walls.

The passage was too narrow. The group stuck in the dirt blocked the way forward.

"Liu Xin!"

"We won't let you get away with this!"

"And you too, Ito Hei! Once we catch you, we'll xxx you good!"

Blocked from advancing, the people behind them began using every trick at their disposal.

They used their Pokémon to leap over the trapped group.

But who could have expected another Sand Tomb waiting ahead?

They fell into it again. Every move and thought of theirs had been perfectly anticipated.

And just like that, the third treasure was theirs for the taking.

"By the time we're ready to take the fourth treasure, they'll definitely have escaped the traps."

"So we need to set a third trap. This one's going to be a real killer."

Ito Hei was now completely won over by Liu Xin. This guy's dirty ideas came one after another, seemingly without end.

When the others reached the third treasure's area, it had indeed already been taken.

Everything still looked peaceful on the surface, with nothing in sight.

"Be careful, everyone. It might look calm here, but the place could be full of traps."

"We have to stay cautious. Don't let your guard down."

They really were scared.

Liu Xin's tricks had terrified them. A trap on every level—who could take that?

As a result, hardly anyone dared to go first. Who would stick their neck out now?

The first one to stick their neck out got it chopped off. That was easy enough to understand.

A muscular, burly man stepped forward and roared, "I'll take him on!"

"As the saying goes, if I don't descend into hell, who will?"

"Just remember to let me have a look if you get anything good. I'm going in."

The burly man was the very picture of righteousness. Even his retreating figure looked tragic and heroic, as though he were marching to his death.

Everyone behind him watched with solemn respect.

It was as though they were all saying, Rest in peace!

One step, two steps, three steps... He was already dozens of meters away, yet nothing had happened.

No way.

Were there really no traps at all? Given Liu Xin and his partner's methods, that made no sense.

The burly man laughed. "Ahahaha! There really aren't any traps!"

"Brothers, until we meet again! I'll be going on ahead!"

His Pokémon was an Arcanine, incredibly fast. In an instant, he left them all behind.

Damn it.

Only then did all the Trainers come to their senses, shoving and jostling their way forward.

They'd miscalculated. Who would have thought there actually weren't any traps on this level?

Instead, they'd wasted quite a bit of time here, getting held up even longer than before.

They set off in pursuit, one after another. The burly man soon spotted Liu Xin and Ito Hei. "Aha! Finally caught you!"

"Just watch me overtake you!"

But only when the kid drew closer did he notice the strange smiles on Liu Xin's and Ito Hei's faces.

He seemed to hear some rather ominous music playing in his ears.

"What the hell? Young people have no honor! Sneak attacks, ganging up—you're all attacking a spirited fourteen-year-old!"

Metang and Super Gible struck simultaneously. They didn't even give him a chance to react, taking him out on the spot.

They hit and ran, leaving immediately.

They fled as fast as they possibly could. When the others arrived, they found the burly man who had been leading the charge.

They all stopped in their tracks, sensing something wrong. "Why did he suddenly collapse here? Could this place be trapped?!"

"Everyone, stay on guard!"