Luxio's Revenge

Shinx was already level 19. One more level, and he could evolve.

Liu Xin only needed to train him for a while to complete the first task.

"Now that we've formed a contract, can you grind levels on your own?"

"I could just beat that guy up for you and chase him off. Then we'd be done."

Crackle!

Another bolt of Falling Thunder flashed down. Clearly, Shinx wanted no part of that.

He wanted to defeat his opponent with his own strength.

Liu Xin waved a hand. "All right, all right. No need to get so worked up. I was only joking."

There were plenty of Pokémon nearby, so training for levels wouldn't be a problem.

Should I let my own Pokémon out too?

But the moment I do, they'll probably run all over the place and ignore me.

Whatever. Getting stronger matters more.

He let out Cubone, Gabite, Onix, and Phanpy.

Sure enough, they immediately ran off to cause trouble.

This forest is in for it.

Shinx watched the four Pokémon disappear into the distance, longing in his eyes.

"No way. Don't tell me..."

"You're not thinking of copying those four, are you? Don't. Being that disobedient will get you into trouble."

"Shinx."

Mind your own business!

With that, Shinx went off to find another Pokémon to battle.

Liu Xin looked around at the now-empty area and felt desolate.

He couldn't control his own Pokémon, let alone the one he'd just formed a contract with.

"At least you're still here with me, Eggy."

He stroked the pet egg with wings. A few new cracks had appeared on its shell lately; it would hatch very soon.

Golden light enveloped Shinx, and a gust swept outward.

Liu Xin felt a stir of excitement. After an entire afternoon of grinding, Shinx was finally evolving.

Within the golden light, Shinx's body began to change, his appearance transforming with it.

A few seconds later, the light faded, and Luxio stood before Liu Xin.

He was somewhat larger now. His head and the front half of his body were blue, while the back half was black.

A thick black mane covered his head. Each foreleg bore two yellow bands, and his tail ended in a yellow four-pointed star.

His gaze had grown sharper, and he looked fiercer than before.

Luxio!

"No need to thank me. With my guidance, evolving was nothing. Beating that bastard should be a piece of cake."

"Come on. Stick with me, and you'll eat well."

Liu Xin noticed that Luxio's stats hadn't changed much after evolving, but his ability had grown considerably stronger.

Luxio:

Attack: 180

Sp. Atk: 220

Ability: Falling Thunder (Every attack brings down a bolt of Falling Thunder. The more times Luxio attacks, the stronger the bolts become.)

That ability would be excellent in a prolonged battle.

But thinking Luxio could take on Voltorb right now would still be wishful thinking.

They kept training, seeking out Electric-type Pokémon in particular.

"Hold on! You have to withstand these shocks!"

Luxio was battling a level 23 Blitzle whose special attack was considerably stronger than his.

Lightning kept falling, hammering Luxio.

No matter how he dodged, he still got hit.

He gritted his teeth and endured!

Despite taking hit after hit, he refused to fall or give up.

His body was charred all over.

"Luxio!"

He roared and charged forward, refusing to lose.

Spark!

Lightning wrapped around his entire body in flowing layers, like a suit of golden armor. He looked magnificent.

The boost made him several times faster, and he closed the distance in an instant.

Spark!

Blitzle was likewise wrapped in electricity. Both Pokémon had used the same move.

They collided as they closed in. Lightning erupted at the point of impact, and the gust that swept outward forced Liu Xin's eyes shut.

Electric arcs crackled and tangled together as several bolts of Falling Thunder struck.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Heavy blows rang out. Luxio's ability was in full force.

Blitzle had been pushing Luxio back, but now he cried out in pain under the falling bolts.

"Push through!"

"Luxio!"

With a roar, he drew all the electricity around his body into a single point, bringing it to a peak!

He flashed past, leaving only a few sparks in the air.

"Blitzle..."

Blitzle, who had held the advantage moments before, went down to Luxio in a single strike.

The prolonged battle ended in Luxio's victory.

Experience flooded into Luxio. He finally passed level 20 and reached level 21.

"A whole day of grinding just to reach level 21. You need a lot of experience, don't you?"

"Luckily, all the Points you earned count toward my total too."

It seemed the system accepted their contract without objection.

After recalling his own Pokémon, Liu Xin went to sleep.

The next day.

Liu Xin reminded Luxio, "Once you reach level 22, you can challenge Voltorb."

"So stay sharp and get used to taking Electric-type attacks."

"Luxio."

With a cry, he went off to find an opponent.

Liu Xin's four Pokémon had gained experience and levels from the havoc they'd wreaked yesterday.

They were a little closer to evolving, too.

Golden light flashed beneath shafts of sunlight.

Level 22.

Luxio had finally reached his target. Next came the final goal: Voltorb.

Voltorb was sleeping leisurely on its turf. Given its strength, few challengers came looking for it.

"Luxio, go pick a fight!"

Voltorb slowly opened its eyes and glared fiercely at Luxio.

It was somewhat surprised that its opponent had evolved and grown stronger, but it still wasn't afraid.

Its cries remained full of Taunt.

Light Screen.

A faint wall appeared before Voltorb, greatly bolstering its defenses.

Luxio had told Liu Xin that this Light Screen was the hardest thing to deal with.

It weakened every attack Luxio threw at it. What a pain.

He's not the same Pokémon he was three days ago.

Charge.

The markings all over Luxio's body began to flash with electricity. The energy built in layers, steadily increasing his special attack.

"It can block a lot of special attacks?"

"Let's see if it can withstand all of them."

With Charge complete, Luxio stood wrapped in electricity, looking imposing.

Thunder Shock.

He unleashed a torrent of electricity, provoking Voltorb into attacking first.

Voltorb tried to attack, only to find itself held fast.

The currents formed an electric net around it, paralyzing it so it couldn't move.

Paralysis only had a chance of taking effect. Luxio had gotten lucky.

Spark!

After Charge, the electricity wrapped around Luxio was thicker and brighter. Wild arcs leaped free, blasting small holes in the ground.

The fearsome display made Liu Xin step back. Its power was frightening.

Layer upon layer of lightning swallowed Luxio's form until all that remained was a terrifying silhouette of electricity.

Voltorb's pupils contracted. It had a bad feeling.

"Go! Finish it in one hit!"