Chapter 38: A Situation of Utter Defeat
Back on the battlefield.
Just as the countless fist shadows blooming in the sky were about to descend upon the heads of the un-dodging Nidoqueen and Sandslash, a snake-like tail swept over, knocking the two dazed Pokémon out of the way in the nick of time.
"Boom—"
With no target to attack, Machop's powerful [Bullet Punch] could only vent itself on the empty ground, the explosive fist power blasting a large crater.
"Damn it! They even managed to dodge that."
Machop rubbed his tingling wrist in frustration.
Amidst the kicked-up dust, a snake's mouth suddenly shot out. Purple-black venom sprayed from its fang-filled mouth, drenching the unprepared Machop.
"Ah!"
Suddenly attacked and drenched by the venom, Machop felt his skin burn as if on fire. His vision blurred, and he couldn't help but cry out in pain.
The venom drenching Machop's body emitted a foul stench and was extremely corrosive. In a short time, it even burned black spots onto Machop's grey skin.
Arbok flicked its forked tongue, slithering to the edge of the crater.
Oh no, this is bad!
Knowing things were not looking good, Machop struggled to support his body, staggering as he tried to escape.
But how could Arbok let Machop escape so easily? With a "swish," it extended its long, thick tail and directly coiled around Machop.
"Hisss, you are my prey. How could I let you escape!" Arbok glared with red eyes, tightening its tail forcefully.
"Ugh." Unable to break free, Machop felt as if he was being bound so tightly he could barely breathe.
[Bind], the signature move of snake-like Pokémon, using their flexible tails to tightly entangle the opponent.
Seeing Machop trapped, Scyther, who was panting and resting nearby, didn't hesitate and directly used [Quick Attack]. It streaked through the air like a flash of lightning, rushing towards Arbok in an attempt to relieve Machop's predicament.
However, as Scyther charged forward, a purple claw suddenly appeared!
Nidoking grabbed Scyther's head with one hand and then, slammed it hard onto the ground!
"Boom—"
The immense power, stemming from a level difference of nearly 20 levels, directly caused Scyther to be knocked unconscious.
"Machop! Scyther!"
Seeing his two companions subdued made the Squirtle Boss suddenly tense up. Just as he was about to move forward to rescue his two companions, a sharp voice sounded from behind him: "Don't move, or I can't guarantee her safety!"
The Squirtle Boss froze and looked back.
Sandslash stood there with its sharp front claws raised, the pointed tips aimed at Flower (Vileplume). Beside them was a newly dug hole.
It turned out Sandslash had unknowingly used [Dig] to sneak up beside Flower and, when the time was right, suddenly leaped out to hold Flower hostage and threaten the Squirtle Boss.
Flower, startled, was about to shake the flower on her head to release Stun Spore or Sleep Powder to prevent Sandslash from holding her, but as soon as she moved, Sandslash keenly noticed. Sandslash immediately pressed its sharp claws in a little deeper, warning, "If you move recklessly again, watch out for your own life."
A few drops of fresh blood trickled from Sandslash's sharp claws.
The Squirtle Boss was caught in a dilemma, his heart filled with anger and guilt, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
"You... What is your purpose?"
Forcing himself to calm down, the Squirtle Boss questioned Hegemon Nidoking.
"Our great master needs more power, the power to rule the world."
A fanatical flame and a few abnormal fluctuations flashed in Hegemon Nidoking's eyes.
"Master? Rule the world? Don't be ridiculous! Does your so-called master not know how vast the outside world is? You think you can rule the world with just yourselves? What a fantasy!"
Although his companions were held hostage by the opponent, the Squirtle Boss couldn't help but scoff.
Hegemon Nidoking's lv40 was indeed overwhelmingly strong in Newmoon Forest, but in the vast world outside, lv40 was merely the starting point for powerful Pokémon, not to mention various legendary Pokémon.
Facing the Squirtle Boss's ridicule, Hegemon Nidoking, uncharacteristically, did not get angry.
"You don't understand."
He shook his head.
"You don't understand what divine power is. Our great master possesses the power of a god. We humble Pokémon are merely adding to our god's glory..."
Just as Hegemon Nidoking was about to continue, its ear twitched, as if receiving some signal.
Carrying the unconscious Scyther, its blood-red eyes glanced at the Squirtle Boss, then it turned and walked into the forest.
"We'll take your companions this time. Next time, it will be your turn!"
"Hisss, hisss, hisss," Nidoqueen, carrying Arbok which was still coiled around Machop, swaggered behind Hegemon Nidoking, casually freeing its own Pokémon stuck on the logs along the way.
"Squirtle..."
Flower looked at the Squirtle Boss's expression of pain and self-blame, yet not daring to act rashly. She called out softly, then was prodded by Sandslash's claws, signaling her to follow.
The Pokémon from the Toxic Swamp, under their leader's command, slowly left Sunrise Valley, leaving behind only a field of dust, rubble, broken wood, and scattered branches—a scene of utter devastation.
"…"
Somewhat dejectedly, the Squirtle Boss slumped to the ground, his heart filled with anger and unwillingness.
"Why can't I evolve? Why?"
As the leader of Sunrise Valley, in the duel against Hegemon Nidoking, the leader of the Toxic Swamp, even after using every trick up his sleeve and combining various moves with such exquisite skill, it was all in vain. The capability gap between evolved and unevolved Pokémon was still an insurmountable chasm.
If he could have evolved into his final form, Blastoise, that one [Surf] move could have instantly taken out the opposing Pokémon. After all, Water-type moves naturally countered Ground-type Pokémon. Then the previous scenario requiring other Pokémon to coordinate with moves wouldn't have occurred, and it certainly wouldn't have led to the rashly advancing Machop and Scyther being captured.
"Damn it!"
The Squirtle Boss vented his emotions, slamming his right fist hard onto the ground.
…
A vast contingent of Pokémon marched through the forest, heading eastward.
On the ground behind this group of Pokémon, an inconspicuous mound of earth had risen. This mound of earth moved along with the Pokémon contingent, trailing not too far behind.
Two small holes appeared in the mound of earth.
"Rio, they're on the move! Dig quickly!"
Inside this protruding mound were, surprisingly, Takuma and Rio, who hadn't been seen for a long time. A tunnel had been dug beneath the earth. Takuma, wearing the observation visor he had taken from Rio's head, kept an eye on the movements of the Toxic Swamp Pokémon through the small holes in the mound, occasionally whispering to Rio the direction they needed to advance.
And Rio, with Takuma riding on his back, had his paws equipped with the previously forged steel claw equipment and was desperately digging the tunnel using the earth-energy-filled [Dig] move.
"Thank goodness I learned this move from the Geodude..."
Rio felt somewhat fortunate.
His original intention when learning this move from the Geodude was to dig an escape tunnel underground if he encountered an unbeatable enemy; this was one of the trump cards he had when he initially agreed to go on an adventure with Machop. But now, [Dig] wasn't being used for escape, but for tracking. Indeed, life was unpredictable.
"What do we do after we follow them back to their lair?"
Takuma asked while keeping an eye on the situation above ground.
"Fighting them is out of the question. First, let's see where the captured Machop and the others will be locked up. Then we'll go back and join forces with the Squirtle Boss and the Golduck Leader for a surprise attack. They can draw fire from the front, and then we'll see if we can secretly rescue Machop and the others."
Rio analyzed.
"Moreover, I'm very curious about that so-called god."
An image of that silvery-white figure with a purple tail flashed in his mind. Rio said with deep gravity, "I hope it's not the Pokémon I'm thinking of..."
That rebellious, powerful, unparalleled "deity"!