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Greninja's Camouflage combined with its stealth ability was simply undetectable.
But unfortunately, its stealth ability couldn't be shared with teammates.
In this case, the Camouflage move became full of flaws.
Even with Riolu pulling them along using Magnet Rise, and even when Greninja used Extrasensory from a dozen or twenty meters away, it was still the same.
Of course, the most critical factor was still those two troublesome little Meowths.
After landing, instead of finding their own little group, they actually meowed and ran back.
Running back wasn't the big issue.
Over at the Iron Cats, several Yungoos and Gumshoos turned their gazes this way, and even attracted some Hoothoots.
These Pokémon were excellent scouts, not to mention they knew Foresight and Odor Sleuth.
Sure enough, upon noticing something sneaky behind them, they decisively activated moves like Foresight.
Incineroar and the others were instantly revealed.
"It's an Incineroar!"
"An outsider!"
"And a dog! A Riolu!"
'Why don't you go find your mother! Why run back here?!'
Incineroar nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, but there was no avoiding it. So many spotlight-like eyes were now fixed on it.
Riolu, perched on its shoulder, sighed. One small oversight after another.
Greninja's Camouflage was exposed, but its concealment was still active; no one was paying attention to it.
It was like a transparent frog, forgotten in a corner.
Although it did feel pretty good when you caused trouble, everyone else got caught, and you alone escaped unscathed.
"Yo. Hello, everyone."
Since they were already exposed, Incineroar decided not to hide anymore. It openly greeted these fierce-looking cats, big and small.
Riolu clung to its mane, not speaking. The way these cats were looking at it felt very uncomfortable. It reminded it of those cats that used to bully it back in the day.
Thinking about it now, it was truly a mix of complicated, hard-to-describe feelings.
Of course, it wouldn't take its anger out on these cats. That was its past nightmare, and it couldn't bother it anymore.
There was no reason to dwell on the past.
"Who are you?"
"What's your relationship with that Riolu?"
"Enemy?"
"Ah! My children!"
Amidst the noisy chatter, there was finally a line Incineroar wanted to hear.
The speaker was a sleek-looking Persian. Seeing the two little Meowths, it rushed over with tears in its eyes.
"Da Lang! Er Lang!"
When the two Meowths saw that Persian, they also excitedly rushed back, calling out "Mom!"
'What kind of names were these!'
Incineroar had no energy to mock. It pointed at the two little Meowths, "Just returning them. That's it. See you around, folks."
Not giving them a chance to respond and not wanting too much involvement with these weak cats, Incineroar turned to leave.
However,
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave, this... colleague?"
A slightly arrogant voice rang out, followed by a long string of eerie howls, long and terrifying.
Incineroar frowned, only to find that the surrounding woods were now filled with dark figures of all sizes. A large group of canine Pokémon had surrounded them.
Leading them were a Houndoom and an Arcanine, heads slightly raised, faces full of condescending arrogance.
Weavile and Honchkrow stood on branches, snickering as they watched.
'Well, well. An ambush?'
Looking at the large number of Pokémon before it, Incineroar showed not a hint of panic. Instead, it revealed ferocious grin.
"Honestly, I've actually held back for a long time. Can we fight now, shorty?"
"I'd love to say that the best strategy is to run, but in this situation, not fighting would make it hard to get out."
Riolu, sitting on its shoulder, replied, "Since they come with ill intentions, then let's strike with full force."
Although they didn't want to trouble Li Xiang, they couldn't back down when faced with trouble.
This was also what Li Xiang taught them.
Under a nearby tree, Greninja was quietly approaching the Weavile and Honchkrow on the branches.
No way was it going to just watch the show.
"Then let's go!"
Incineroar growled lowly, its belt glowing faintly. It took a step back, preparing to charge at the Houndoom!
"Wait!"
Just as Big Bro Incineroar was about to strike hard,
A group of cats suddenly surrounded it.
They were clearly members of the Iron Cats. Facing the dog pack of the Savage Hounds, they shielded Incineroar behind them, continuously hissing.
"What's this?"
Incineroar turned its head and saw a rather tall and imposing Luxray walking over.
Behind it were two Pangoros (formerly known as "Ruffian Pandas") that looked like gang bosses, holding twigs in their mouths, and a Zangoose with red thunder-patterned fur on its face, looking cool.
These few seemed to be the leaders of the Iron Cats, with Luxray being the big boss.
"Are you treating the Dean's words as nothing? Want to start a war again!?"
Luxray stepped in front of Incineroar, looking at the Houndoom and Arcanine seriously, "The Iron Cats are never afraid of war! As long as you can pay the price!"
As if echoing its words, the cats of the Iron Cats roared.
'Damn! One call, a hundred responses! So freaking awesome!'
The anger that originally filled Incineroar's heart was replaced, quite inappropriately, by envy for Luxray.
Damn it! Back at Li Xiang's place, whether human, ghost, or Pokémon, it couldn't order anyone around.
Not far away, Houndoom looked at all those cats, its arrogant head lowering slightly, revealing a crafty smile.
"How could that be? I've always remembered Dean Grandpa's words. I just saw an acquaintance and came over to say hello."
Though much shorter than the Arcanine beside it, this guy was clearly in the dominant position, both in stance and in speaking.
Arcanine looked at Incineroar with keen interest, its sharp eyes full of fervent desire for battle.
It knew this guy had worn down the Houndoom with terrifying endurance, even though neither side had used too many tricks.
"Acquaintance?"
Luxray tilted its head, glanced at Incineroar, then turned back, "I don't care about that. This cat is under my protection today! Take your people and disperse! If you have anything to say, say it on the arena!"
The arena referred to those huge rock platforms within the stone forest.
The Pokémon gangs in the conservation base used them to resolve grievances with each other.
Not long ago, after a rather intense battle, the Savage Hounds couldn't accept defeat and in a fit of pique started a war.
They received their due punishment.
—The boss of the Savage Hounds, a Level 78 Zoroark, was locked up by Dean Grandpa of the conservation base and confined for half a year.
During this time, it also had to do some work to make up for its wrongdoing. Besides that, many other members were also punished.
However, the Iron Cats wasn't unscathed either.
Their boss, a Level 77 Perrserker, and the cat involved in the incident that provoked the Savage Hounds' retaliation were also taken away by 'Dean Grandpa', confined, and made to do hard labor.
For one month.
Both small groups suffered significant blows.
At the same time, this outcome deterred the other small groups as well. The small frictions that had just shown signs of flaring up immediately became matters to be settled on the arena.
Quite commendable.
"Haha, don't be so fierce. We're all cadres here, wouldn't it be better to be peaceful?"
Houndoom laughed strangely, clearly confident and unafraid, but it glanced at the Riolu on Incineroar's back and ultimately chose to retreat.
This little dog was smart; it wouldn't lose its head. Better to retreat for now.
To avoid this guy snitching to that human boy.
"Woooo—"
It raised its head and let out a terrifying long howl. Amidst this howl, countless dark figures in the woods retreated.
Arcanine glanced sideways at Houndoom, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with its decision, but said nothing and turned to leave.
Weavile on the tree said "Eh" in disappointment, and Honchkrow also cawed chaotically.
Less than two meters behind them, Greninja, who had its blades ready and was just waiting for Incineroar to act so it could strike, let out a silent sigh.
'Talked for so long and still no fight! These guys really are... are they called fierce-looking but weak inside?'
"Colleague, we'll meet tomorrow if there's a chance."
Houndoom looked at Incineroar, spat out a strange fireball with purple smoke, and giggled as it left.
It was said this guy's flames carried extremely potent poison. If burned by them, the pain would be unbearable no matter how much time passed.
"Tomorrow, huh? So it retreated and went back?"
Incineroar clicked its tongue, inexplicably irritated, because it didn't know whether it should actively tell Li Xiang about what happened here.
What if that guy snitches?
"Don't tell."
Riolu, as if reading its mind, whispered in its ear, "Pokémon matters belong to Pokémon, humans belong to humans. Everyone can have privacy. That's what he himself said."
"Then if he asks, I'll say it was you who wouldn't let me tell."
Incineroar responded instantly.
Riolu: "???"
'The ink isn't even dry on this, and you've already sold me out! A bit too fast, isn't it? Bro!'
"...Whatever." Riolu snorted.
While the cat and dog were communicating, the Iron Cats Pokémon were also talking. Looking at the affectionate cat and dog, their expressions were somewhat strange.
Finally, Luxray spoke first, "Friends, thank you very much for bringing Da Lang and Er Lang back. And I'm sorry for involving you in our conflict. Please allow us to thank you properly."
This creature, which looked somewhere between a lion and a big cat, spoke very methodically. One could tell it was quite high-level.
Incineroar and Riolu discussed it briefly. Since dawn was still far off, they decided to follow along.
Thanks or not wasn't important; the key was satisfying their curiosity.
Look how enthusiastically they were invited.
And they were already involved anyway. If caught by someone they knew, what more was there to say?
At worst, they'd get scolded!
What else could happen!?
They were ready to act recklessly since things were already bad.
"Why didn't you guys fight?" Greninja suddenly appeared beside them, startling the cats, big and small.
"Fight my ass."
Incineroar rolled its eyes. Seeing the surrounding Pokémon were all startled, it said, "It's always like this. Don't mind it."
Appearing and disappearing suddenly—they were already used to it.
Luxray gave the three powerhouses a deep look and proactively walked forward, saying, "Follow me."
It led the way forward. The other cats followed behind it.
Incineroar's eyes unconsciously showed envy again.
"Thank you so much for your help."
A voice sounded from the side, followed by two lively voices.
"Thank you!" "Thank you!"
The speaker was the Persian and its two children. The two little Meowths blinked their adorable eyes, full of yearning for Incineroar's body.
But because Riolu was there, they didn't dare.
Fortunately, the considerate Riolu actively jumped down from Incineroar's shoulder.
Only then did the two little Meowths cheer and pounce over.
"Ah, Da Lang! Er Lang! Don't be rowdy!"
The Persian panicked, wanting to call the Meowths back, "Sorry, sorry."
Incineroar casually waved its paw, letting them climb all over it, "It's fine."