With its claws crossed, Garchomp's edge grew sharper, like a blade drawn from its sheath!
White currents of air coiled around its right foot alongside brown energy, and then it stamped down hard on the ground!
Bang!
The ground shook, rippling shock waves spreading outward in ring after ring. Steelix's enormous body took the full force of the attack!
Yong was unusually calm now, even expectant, much like the Steelix he could sense within his heart, awakening from its lethargy...
Yes, lethargy!
To suppress its own overwhelming power, Steelix had been forced to keep its consciousness half asleep, preventing excessive stamina consumption and an overly excited mental state!
But now, the blows had jolted it awake!
Looking at the system panel... Mainstay had granted a 30% stat bonus!
The roll wasn't particularly lucky, but it wasn't bad, either!
Especially for Steelix, whose physical defense was a full 200. A 30% increase brought it to 260!
For Garchomp to have beaten it awake despite that immense defense showed just how powerful its opponent was-powerful enough for Steelix to awaken its dormant consciousness and take this battle seriously!
"Hagaa..."
Shaking its enormous head, Steelix slowly raised its body. Strange creaks and groans kept coming from its frame, and large amounts of sand and gravel spilled from the gaps between its body segments.
Its dark steel body gradually reflected streaks of rich metallic luster, as though coated in a layer of wax.
The dark gold patterns seemed to come alive, flowing slowly along both sides of Steelix's body.
As Cynthia's and Garchomp's expressions gradually changed, Steelix turned its head from side to side, as if trying to remember something. Then it opened its great mouth. Was it smiling?
Suddenly, a pair of scarlet eyes snapped open within sockets as deep as black holes!