Greninja's Battle Bond

Scarface Charizard was furious!

He swore no one had ever dared humiliate him like this!

Xu Mu was the first!

"Roar!"

[You're dead!]

Charizard unleashed Flamethrower at Xu Mu in a furious blast!

Xu Mu had no time to dodge. Fortunately, Greninja appeared just in time.

"Croak!"

[Touch my young master, and you're asking for it, you overgrown lizard!]

Greninja stopped the Flamethrower with a Hydro Pump, then landed on Fearow's back and glared at Scarface Charizard with equal fury.

"Calm down, Charizard! What happened?"

Just as the two sides were about to clash, Flame City's lord, Lin Haiyuan, arrived.

Riding Rapidash, Lin Haiyuan shouted for Charizard to calm down.

No chance. How could Charizard stomach being accused of fathering another Pokémon's child?

When Scarface Charizard saw Greninja block his Flamethrower, old grudges and fresh anger surged together.

With a roar, Scarface Charizard unleashed Dragon Pulse!

"Rapidash, Inferno!"

As the lord of a city, Lin Haiyuan was a genuine Elite Four-level powerhouse.

Seeing Scarface Charizard ignore his warning, Lin Haiyuan grew angry too.

So what if Charizard was Master Class?

If he wanted a fight, he would get one!

This was human territory. If Charizard dared cause trouble here, not even God could save him!

That was the confidence of a powerful human trainer.

"Roar!"

Dragon Pulse collided with Inferno, releasing a violent burst of energy.

Rapidash was visibly weakened after that exchange.

Lin Haiyuan hurriedly shouted to Chen Qi, "Make your move! There's no settling this peacefully!"

Up in the air, Xu Mu felt a stir of emotion.

Lin Haiyuan knew he was no match for Charizard, yet he had risked his life to stand with a stranger and block Charizard's attack.

"Senior, it's all right. Let me handle this myself."

Xu Mu directed Fearow to land beside Lin Haiyuan and spoke with a grave expression.

Lin Haiyuan froze.

What did he mean, handle it himself?

That was a Master Class Charizard!

What could a rookie trainer possibly do against him?

"Don't be ridiculous, kid!"

Lin Haiyuan frowned, scolded him, and released his other Pokémon, ready for battle.

"No, I'm serious. I can do this. Please stand down, senior."

"He just wants to fight my Pokémon. Once we've fought, this will be over."

"I don't want to drag everyone into it."

The consequences of a Master Class Pokémon's fury could be terrifying.

If Lin Haiyuan declared war on Charizard here on humanity's behalf and failed to defeat him,

humans would suffer enormous casualties.

Xu Mu refused to let that happen.

"Greninja, battle!"

"Croak!"

[I've been ready!]

It wasn't as though Xu Mu had no trump card.

But he was a newcomer to this world, alone and without support. He had to keep something in reserve.

Now, though, he had seen Lin Haiyuan willingly face a Master Class Charizard for a stranger.

He could give up that last resort.

"Everyone, stand back! Let me fight Charizard one-on-one!"

Charizard heard Xu Mu too.

"Roar!"

[Fine! I respect your guts, kid. I'll leave your corpse intact today!]

Lin Haiyuan wanted to say more, but before he could, Xu Mu roared,

"Greninja, stop holding back that power! Battle Bond!"

"Croak!"

Energy surged from Greninja's body, and white light enveloped him in an instant.

It looked just like the light of evolution!

Lin Haiyuan's mouth fell open as he stared at the scene in disbelief.

Impossible!

Greninja could evolve again?

Absolutely impossible!

Yet the truth was right before his eyes. He had no choice but to believe it!

Greninja—Bond Form!

He had arrived!

"Croak!"

[Come on, overgrown lizard!]

After transforming, Greninja had reached the peak of Elite Four-level strength.

He was still far below Scarface Charizard, who stood at the peak of Master Class, but his type advantage gave him a fighting chance.

"Peak Elite Four level still isn't enough, kid," Lin Haiyuan muttered, anxiously watching Xu Mu.

In the air, Scarface Charizard gave a dismissive snort.

"Roar!"

[A bug's still a bug, even if it changes its looks!]

Blazing Charge!

As a king, he refused to use his advantage in the air against a weaker opponent.

Scarface Charizard had his pride!

Yet Xu Mu showed no sign of panic as Charizard swooped down.

Greninja was just as calm.

"We may not be as strong as you, but this is the difference between Wild Pokémon and a trainer's Pokémon!"

"With me here, Greninja will beat you!"

"Because right now, our hearts are one. Greninja isn't fighting alone!"

"Croak!"

[That's right!]

At the instant Scarface Charizard's attack was about to hit, Greninja used Double Team!

Seeing his attack would miss, Scarface Charizard stopped his dive. His powerful wings spread wide like a canopy, holding him aloft.

Greninja's counterattack came!

He appeared behind Scarface Charizard like lightning and hurled two Water Shuriken!

Scarface Charizard didn't even look. He swept his massive wings backward and unleashed Heat Wave!

A scorching gale stopped the Water Shuriken and swept toward Greninja with devastating force.

Ordinarily, Scarface Charizard's combination would have worked brilliantly.

But today was no ordinary day.

With Xu Mu and Greninja's hearts in sync, giving commands had become instinctive.

Almost the instant Greninja launched the Water Shuriken, he used Quick Attack to leap into the air.

And as Scarface Charizard used Heat Wave, Greninja's Toxic found its mark.

Toxic poisoned its target, draining more and more of the opponent's stamina as the battle went on!

Scarface Charizard took the Toxic hit but seized the opening at once.

He raised his head and fired a Fire Blast!

Greninja couldn't dodge in midair. Fire Blast was about to strike.

Suddenly, a pale green barrier sprang up around Greninja!

It was Protect.

In the distance, Lin Haiyuan, Chen Qi, and the others held their breath for Greninja.

A battle between masters could turn in an instant.

In just a few seconds, Greninja and Charizard had completed their first exchange, and Greninja had come away with a slight advantage.

"Beautifully done, kid!" Lin Haiyuan shouted, fists clenched.

Beside him, Chen Qi was so excited he nearly jumped!

"Greninja, if you win, I'll forgive you for beating all six of my Pokémon on your own!"