Struck head-on by a move that countered it perfectly, yet relying on sheer durability and abundant stamina to forcibly endure the blow—then deliberately displaying exaggerated pain to lull its opponent into complacency—followed by a bluffing Iron Tail to mask the real killing move that came next…
Kael couldn't help rubbing his chin as he sighed in admiration.
"That was a frighteningly deep setup," he muttered.
"That Onix is a real veteran."
To devise such a layered trap in such a short span of time spoke volumes about the creature's combat experience. It was so impressive that Kael even felt a flicker of temptation—if he could capture this Onix, he'd instantly have a proper tank on his team. And once it evolved into Steelix, its combat power would be nothing to scoff at.
Onix shook its massive stone head. The burning pain in its back made it deeply uncomfortable—but the outcome was favorable. The intruder that had dared invade its territory and injure its underlings was now sprawled before it.
All that remained was to finish the job.
A hint of killing intent surfaced in Onix's pale eyes. Its colossal tail rose high into the air, poised to come crashing down and end everything tonight.
"Lulu, get ready to save him," Kael said tightly, tugging at his collar as he spoke to the Ralts beside him.
He had traveled all this way—there was no way he'd allow this Sneasel to be beaten to death right in front of him.
"Lulu understands!"
The little one nodded. With a wave of her small hand, five steel pellets—each eight millimeters in diameter—floated into the air, all of them precisely aimed at the most fragile targets on Onix's body: its eyes.
All that was needed now was Kael's command.
Though Lulu still didn't quite understand what her master meant every time he called this move an "Italian Cannon."
Death loomed.
The Reaper's scythe was already raised high.
Blood seeped from where Sneasel had bitten through its own lip in agony.
"S–Snea…sel…"
The hoarse, blood-soaked screech echoed sharply through the night.
Onix's massive body shuddered.
For just a moment, fear crept unbidden into its heart.
At the brink of annihilation, Sneasel unleashed Leer, forcing Onix's movement to stall for a split second.
In that fleeting instant, Sneasel raised its left hand and slammed it down onto its already broken right arm.
Crack.
A dull, horrifying sound.
After that blow, the right arm hung limp—like a strand of cooked noodle.
How much pain did that take?
Kael couldn't even imagine it.
He was completely shaken by the sight before him. In both his past life and this one, he had suffered countless injuries—but none compared to this. In that small, trembling figure, he seemed to see the silhouette of an unyielding warrior standing tall against the heavens.
Sneasel dropped to one knee.
Its body trembled violently.
Win or lose, with injuries this severe, its death already felt inevitable.
The debuff from Leer faded.
Snapping back to itself, Onix flew into a rage.
This insignificant little pest still dared to resist?
Its Iron Tail lashed out with a deafening crack of air, sweeping horizontally—
The ground exploded beneath Sneasel's feet.
Its figure vanished.
Agility.
Dragging its broken arm, Sneasel landed squarely atop the massive tail as it swept past. At that moment, it focused every ounce of will it had left, pushing its speed and dexterity to the absolute limit.
Onix went berserk, smashing violently into the surrounding rock walls, trying to dislodge the creature clinging to its body.
All in vain.
Agility—again. A flash of motion like lightning.
Sneasel surged forward, arriving atop the stone horn at the center of Onix's head. It leapt high into the air, its left arm raised in a chopping stance—
And as the move activated, the muscles in that arm visibly swelled.
Crack—
The sound of stone shattering rang out.
Onix's enormous body went rigid.
The fire vanished from its bell-sized eyes in an instant.
Then its massive form collapsed forward, slamming into the ground and kicking up a towering cloud of dust.
Sneasel leapt down from Onix's head, leaning weakly against its fallen body, its left hand clutching the mangled right arm.
Its consciousness was slipping.
It looked as though it might collapse at any second.
At that moment, the Geodude that had been hiding nearby all emerged. Seeing their leader beaten so badly by an intruder, fury ignited within them.
A healthy Sneasel was something they would never dare provoke—but this one looked like it was barely clinging to life.
A group beating?
That, they dared.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Several dull impacts rang out.
Three Geodude that had rushed forward were sent flying, instantly losing their ability to fight. Embedded squarely in their foreheads were steel pellets.
"If you don't want a beating, then get lost—now."
Using Teleport, Kael appeared abruptly in the center of the Geodude encirclement.
Seeing the fate of the three foolish ones who had charged ahead, the remaining Geodude froze in place, blinking at one another in uncertainty.
They didn't know what to do.
But letting the intruder just walk away like this—
That didn't sit right with them either.