CRACK! The Rathian hit the ground with enough force to daze it and break several bones. If not for its thick hide, the fall from that height would have been instantly fatal.
Faced with such a prime opportunity, neither Zhang Tian nor his Pidgeot would let it pass.
"Helm Breaker!" He leaped from his mount's back, descending toward the downed queen.
Pidgeot was even faster, its three stacks of Agility propelling it forward.
"SKREEE!" It unleashed its ultimate move, Brave Bird.
BOOM! Pidgeot became a bird-shaped projectile of pure light, slamming into the Rathian's head from above. A sickening crunch echoed as the monster's skull caved in, scales flying everywhere. A mixture of white and red fluid trickled from its nose and mouth; its brain had been severely damaged.
"Roar..." The Rathian twitched, struggling to move.
Helm Breaker! Zhang Tian's blade came down, slicing a massive wound across the monster's body. He had been aiming for its head, but the slight movement had shifted its position, causing his blade to strike its torso instead.
"That should be enough," he thought, looking at the miserable state of the wyvern. He threw a Luxury Ball.
Fwoosh!
The red beam drew the Rathian inside.
Whir... Whir...
CRACK! After shaking just twice, the ball exploded.
Just as Zhang Tian was about to throw a second one, he heard the rush of wind and the powerful beat of wings from above. Without a second thought, he dove to the side. Pidgeot reacted even faster, grabbing him and rocketing hundreds of meters away in an instant. Three stacks of Agility made it impossibly fast.
"ROAR!"
A second after they had moved, a massive red shadow crashed down where they had just been, blasting a huge crater into the ground.
"A Rathalos!"
Zhang Tian looked back at his attacker. It was a twenty-meter-long red wyvern, very similar to the Rathian, but crimson instead of green. This was the King of the Skies. In terms of strength, a Rathalos was an entire ecological tier higher than a Rathian or a Blood Orange Bishaten.
Rathalos
Level: 58 (Elite Four Tier)
In the wild, Rathian and Rathalos often formed mated pairs. Unlucky hunters would sometimes find themselves ambushed by the husband after engaging the wife, turning a simple hunt into a deadly two-on-one.
"A mated pair?"
He raised his hand and released Gardevoir.
Fwish! The moment she appeared, she used Teleport, whisking him and Pidgeot away. He had given her these instructions when they'd first set out. If he ever released her in the field, she was to teleport them to safety immediately.
"ROAR!"
Seeing his prey vanish, the Rathalos let out a furious roar. His mate had been attacked, and he was burning to kill the culprit, but the enemy was gone. His rage was palpable.
"A shame the Rathalos can fly. Otherwise, we could have taken it," Zhang Tian mused. "After all, I have five Gym Leader-tier Pokémon. With me, it would have been six against one. Too bad only Pidgeot can fly." He shook his head regretfully and began to survey their new surroundings.
They were in a dark cave filled with a fishy stench.
"Looks like we've teleported into some monster's lair." He covered his mouth and started walking toward the exit. The smell was unbearable.
The moment he, Pidgeot, and Gardevoir stepped out of the cave, they came face-to-face with a monster. It was twenty meters long and stood six or seven meters tall, closely resembling a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Its back was black, its belly red. It was an Anjanath. An Anjanath was on the same ecological tier as a Rathian.
Anjanath
Level: 49 (Gym Leader Tier)
"ROAR!" Seeing them emerge from its lair, the Anjanath became enraged. It let out a furious roar and charged.
"Can't beat your big brother, can't beat the Rathalos, but I can definitely beat you!" Zhang Tian was already in a foul mood.
"Gardevoir, teleport us to its head."
"Voir." She nodded slightly.
A pink light flared, and they vanished, reappearing directly above the charging Anjanath.
"Helm Breaker!"
He plummeted from the sky, his blade slamming down. The sheer kinetic energy drove the Anjanath's head into the ground.
CRASH! The brute wyvern collapsed, letting out a cry of pain. Zhang Tian stood on its head, his Wroggi Long Sword stuck deep in its skull.
"This elite-tier Long Sword can't keep up with me anymore," he thought, looking at the embedded blade. "If this were a Gym Leader-tier weapon, like one made from the Bishaten, it would have split its skull open instead of getting stuck."
"Pidgeo!" At the same moment, Pidgeot's attack arrived. Its massive wings slammed into the Anjanath's jaw in a Wing Attack.
CRACK! The Anjanath's jawbone fractured, and several teeth shattered.
"Roar!" As it struggled to rise, Zhang Tian released the rest of his team. The Blood Orange Bishaten and the Tobi-Kadachi appeared directly on the Anjanath's back, their combined weight slamming it back to the ground.
What followed was a six-on-one beatdown. Zhang Tian, Pidgeot, Tobi-Kadachi, Bishaten, Great Izuchi, and Arzuros pummeled the Anjanath relentlessly, easily knocking it unconscious. It never stood a chance.
"Hah... much better," Zhang Tian exhaled softly, then threw a Luxury Ball.
Whir... Whir... It shook twice and then clicked shut.
[Successfully captured the Anjanath!]
[Anjanath beginning Pokémonization...]
[Pokémonization successful!]
[Anjanath's Pokémon data is as follows:]
Anjanath
Level: 49 (Gym Leader Tier)
Type: Fire/Dragon
Ability: Anger Point (After being angered, Attack x1.5. If angered while at low health, Attack x2.)
Unique Skills: Nasal Vents, Flame Breath, Skullcrusher Bite, Roar, Wyvern Rush, Shoulder Tackle
HP Base Stat: 100
Attack Base Stat: 160
Defense Base Stat: 80
Special Attack Base Stat: 80
Special Defense Base Stat: 80
Speed Base Stat: 80
Total Base Stats: 580
"A powerful physical attacker with a good ability," he noted. "A base stat total of 580, same as the Bishaten, and only 20 points shy of a pseudo-legendary." He then looked at its skills. Nasal Vents immediately caught his eye.
Nasal Vents
Category: Status
Description: The Anjanath opens the heat-dissipating membranes on its body. When using a Fire-type skill, its Special Attack will rise sharply until it matches its Attack stat.
"A fantastic skill. With this, the Anjanath's Special Attack can be considered 160, the same as its physical Attack." His eyes lit up. With this skill, the Anjanath could function as either a physical or a special attacker.