Awakening: Dragon Rush!

"Come on, Swablu, show me how much you've improved!"

Seviper, the Fang Snake Pokémon, had a vicious temperament.

When Seviper saw the tiny Swablu looking to fight it, it immediately opened its mouth in a fury and lunged with a bite. Its sharp fangs glinted red, and the blade on its tail, sharpened against rocks, also had a hint of ferocity about it. From its appearance alone, it was clearly no gentle creature.

"Dodge!!! And watch its tail!!"

The blade on Seviper's tail could secrete deadly poison and was its best weapon. Its nimble, sharp tail was also its best asset against Zangoose.

"Chaa~!!!" Having missed Swablu, Seviper grew even angrier. A piercing Screech came from its mouth, making Terrance clamp his hands over his ears. But trying to compete with Swablu in sound was the wrong approach. At Terrance's command, Swablu produced a sound just as powerful and even higher-pitched, quickly drowning out the Screech.

"Agility, then Peck!!"

White light flashed over Swablu's body as it swiftly and carefully dodged the Poison Tail Seviper swung around wildly. At the same time, it pecked Seviper hard on the head, making it cry out in pain.

Seizing the chance, Terrance continued, "Attack wildly!"

Its small, agile body was Swablu's greatest asset in its hit-and-run battle with Seviper. Furious after taking a Peck, Seviper spat out a cloud of Haze as Swablu flew at it again, blocking both Terrance's and Swablu's view.

"Haze..." Unable to see what was happening, Terrance gave an order. "Fly up high."

"Whoosh~~~!!" The pale blue body emerged from the Haze and flew into the sky, gaining a slight advantage. But soon after Swablu flew out, a spray of venom shot up from the Haze after it. If Terrance hadn't been watching what was happening in the Haze the whole time, the venom would likely have hit Swablu as it turned in flight.

"Swablu, stay up there and use Hidden Power!! Attack the Haze with everything you've got!!"

At Terrance's command, Swablu immediately unleashed a stream of blue energy that struck the Haze, sending out a shockwave that scattered it. Seviper, however, seemed unaffected inside the Haze.

With no time to think further, Terrance immediately ordered the two obstructive moves Cotton Guard and Feather Dance to interfere with Seviper. Faced with the white cotton and feathers swarming toward it, Seviper grew agitated.

When Seviper seemed to be stuck in the feathers, Terrance's eyes lit up. "Use Hidden Power again!!"

Swablu timed it perfectly. Seviper paid it no attention as it struggled to break free of Feather Dance, and the blue-purple Hidden Power struck it squarely on the head. It was highly effective!

Seeing Seviper's dazed expression, Swablu immediately cried out in delight, as if cheering for its own victory. But just then, Seviper shook its head and let out an even more furious roar. Its bloodshot eyes glared straight at Swablu as it snarled in rage. Caught off guard while still immersed in its joy, Swablu was startled, its nerves paralyzed. Its body went limp, and it lost its balance and slowly fell from the sky.

"That's... Glare!" Terrance's heart jolted at the sight, and he silently cursed his carelessness. The battle wasn't over yet, but Swablu had already let its guard down and, in its carelessness, had been hit by its opponent's move!!

This Seviper... Glare...

"Are you all right, Swablu?!!" Terrance hurried over and picked Swablu up, rummaging for medicine to treat paralysis.

"Chirp~~ chirp~~" Swablu gave a soft cry. Terrance could see that it wasn't doing well; the paralysis caused by Glare had a major effect on the young Swablu.

"Found it!!" Delighted, Terrance pulled out a bottle of medicine and immediately used it on Swablu. Only when he saw its expression ease a little did he breathe a sigh of relief.

But just then, a dark shape slithered up behind Terrance, hissing. He looked back to see Seviper staring at him with its mouth wide open-

"Smack~" Its thick tail swept over and sent Terrance flying. He groaned at the terrible pain, but to keep Swablu from getting hurt, he hurriedly shielded it in his arms and turned over, sliding a long way across the ground on his back.

"Are you all right... Swablu?" The pain caused a visible change in Terrance's expression. Seeing Seviper slither toward them again, he gritted his teeth. "Swablu, do your best to fly."

Swablu had yet to fully recover from its paralysis. This was no time to fight Seviper.

Meanwhile, Seviper showed no sign of stopping. It continued to stare at them fiercely, intent on attacking again.

"Bang!!!" Another spray of venom came flying at them. Terrance hurriedly rolled over several times with Swablu, narrowly dodging it.

"Chirp~~~~~~"

At that moment.

The numbness slowly eased, and Swablu's mind gradually cleared. Realizing that its life was in danger, it broke free of Terrance's arms and flew up!

"Chirp!!!!!!"

At that moment, both Terrance and Seviper turned their gazes to Swablu.

Watching Swablu take flight, Terrance didn't think it was planning to run away.

If I remember correctly... both Swablu and Altaria are proud Pokémon...

Once they had a Trainer whose heart was in tune with theirs-

Putting their pride on the line and giving their all for that Trainer was Swablu's dignity!

"Chirp!!!!!!"

"Chirp!!!!!!"

Circling in the air, Swablu saw Terrance's clothes, worn through on his back, and let out a cry of grief.

An incomparably piercing cry rang out, filled with nothing but extreme anger and self-reproach!

"Chirp!!!!!!"

"Chirp!!!!!!"

To the recently hatched Swablu, Terrance was like a parent, always caring for it in every possible way. And now-

Terrance was fleeing in a sorry state and getting attacked to protect it. This battle shouldn't have involved the Trainer, yet its own carelessness had drawn Terrance into it.

"Chirp~~!"

The lingering numbness in its nerves only made the flames of anger in Swablu's heart burn more fiercely!

The moment Seviper attacked Terrance, it had touched a taboo in Swablu's heart.

It wanted to make up for its carelessness!

"You've recovered, Swablu..." Terrance stood up calmly. As its Trainer, he could feel how Swablu felt. What he needed to do now was reclaim their dignity together with Swablu!

But everything that happened next was beyond Terrance's expectations!

Something seemed a little strange about Swablu's condition!

Swablu still seemed not to be fully conscious. Its cries were filled with anger, like a volcano about to erupt-

This was-

Suddenly, Swablu sped up. Blue-purple flames flared over its body, releasing a terrifying aura that even Terrance could feel. With a ripping sound, it shot through the air at a speed comparable to Agility, the blue-purple flames surging over its body. It was like Take Down, a move Terrance hadn't valued because Swablu was simply too small for it to be very effective. But now, the flames covering its body propelled Swablu forward, and its conviction mingled with an aura full of killing intent. At the sight, Terrance froze and cried out in shock.

"Dragon... Rush!"