Still mid-air from being sent flying, Don's heart suddenly sank as he saw the Tyranitar that seemed to have crawled out of hell.
It was like beholding a terrifying demon god.
What truly made his expression darken wasn't Tyranitar's appearance—over the years in the Dark Continent, he'd seen all sorts of bizarre creatures.
Even beings more horrifying and powerful than this were nothing new.
What troubled him was that barely into the fight, he was already at a disadvantage.
Don didn't even need to stop moving to sense the damage around his waist.
Although that tail swipe was mainly meant to send him flying, the sheer force behind it was undeniable.
That single tail strike could have easily shattered a mountain.
What Don didn't know was that Mega Tyranitar was already formidable, and it had performed multiple Dragon Dances.
Not only had its speed increased, but its strength had also grown significantly.
[But now isn't the time for reflection.]
Don glanced at the rapidly approaching Tyranitar, which left not even a blur in its wake.
If it were someone like Ging or Beyond, they wouldn't be able to see Tyranitar's movement at all.
They'd only perceive it as teleporting, appearing in another location instantly.
But Don was different—he could track Tyranitar's figure and observe its movements.
Despite its massive, mountain-like steel body, its reactions were surprisingly agile.
No sooner had he been sent flying than it kicked off the ground, appearing before him like lightning.
At the same time, the demonic face emerging from the abyss also caught Don's attention.
He could distinctly feel his pores standing on end after that eerie pattern appeared.
It was as if he were submerged in thick mud, every movement slowed considerably.
For ordinary people, Tyranitar's Ghastly Visage wouldn't feel so pronounced.
But at Don's level, they were acutely aware of every minute change in their bodies.
Even the slightest alteration would be immediately noticeable.
That's why the speed reduction felt so stark to him.
[What a nuisance...]
Don's gaze turned cold as he watched Tyranitar about to strike him, the black mist around him churning violently.
It seemed to fluctuate with his emotions.
In places others couldn't see, beneath Don's wide black robe, his withered skin was covered in dark lines.
These lines resembled the roots of a great tree, branching out endlessly in intricate patterns.
Thus, nearly his entire body was marked with these dark lines—a sight that would chill anyone who saw it.
Now, as Don willed it, these lines emitted an eerie black glow, though the mist concealed it from view.In an instant, Tyranitar charged forward menacingly, its thick and powerful arms enveloped in a dense, fiery orange-red Aura.
The Fighting-type move—Brute Force!
With a single devastating punch, it effortlessly whipped up a violent gust of wind, carving a massive crater into the sand below.
The terrifying fist bore down on Don's head, as if victory was already assured—there was no way the opponent could escape.
Multiple boosts from [Dragon Dance], combined with the slowing effect of [Ghastly Visage], had Tyranitar convinced that its opponent stood no chance of dodging this attack.
This [Brute Force] strike would land, no matter what.
Yet, the next moment—Tyranitar's fist met nothing but air!
"BOOM!!"
The [Brute Force] slammed into the endless sand, instantly blasting countless grains into the air, forming a swirling cloud of dust.
At a glance, the battlefield was engulfed in a sudden storm, violently churning the sand and dust into a massive sandstorm.
Amid the dim, swirling sandstorm, Tyranitar's crimson eyes burned with unmistakable fury, radiating pure savagery.
With a forceful swing of its arm, the last remnants of orange-red Aura dissipated, and the surrounding sandstorm was torn apart in an instant.
Following its gaze, Don stood calmly on an open patch of ground not far away, looking completely unfazed.
His eyes locked onto Tyranitar, a spark of battle intent flickering within them.
On the other side, Akira's eyes gleamed faintly as he took in every movement between Don and Tyranitar.
Don had vanished from Tyranitar's fist in an instant—such speed...
[Was it sheer movement speed?]
[No, it wasn't some teleportation-like ability!]
Akira was certain that Don had used some form of instantaneous movement to evade Tyranitar's relentless assault.
And indeed, that was the case.
Don exhaled slowly as he observed the colossal beast before him, quietly assessing his own physical condition.
Seeing that his body wasn't under too much strain, his expression eased slightly.
That kind of instantaneous movement wasn't something he could use without cost—he couldn't rely on it repeatedly in a short time.
[Well then... it's time to bring out the hidden move.]
A ruthless glint flashed in Don's eyes as his concealed hand clenched tightly within his sleeve.
The sand beneath Tyranitar's feet trembled abruptly, and five seeds suddenly sprouted at an alarming speed.
Vibrant green vines shot up several meters in an instant, coiling around Tyranitar's body in thick, snaking tendrils.
Its legs, waist, and even other parts of its body were entangled, rendering it immobilized.
Tyranitar gritted its steel-like teeth, exerting all its strength in an attempt to shatter the vines.
But the more it struggled, the tighter the vines constricted—originally just clinging to its body to restrict movement.
Now, with its resistance, the vines began digging into its armored hide, leaving deep, visible marks.
Most terrifying of all, these vines could even absorb Tyranitar's Aura, growing thicker and stronger by the second.
For the moment, Tyranitar could only stand frozen, unable to break free from the vines' grasp.
Akira raised an eyebrow, intrigued. [Huh, these vines are quite something.]
The seeds had emerged from the sand—likely planted by Don at some opportune moment.
What Akira didn't know was that Don had originally intended to place them at a different spot, but Tyranitar had moved again.Fortunately, he had used some unusual Aura to conceal the seeds to avoid detection by [En].
This Aura could now be utilized to move the seeds through the sand toward Tyranitar's feet for a sneak attack.
Akira wasn't interested in how Don had managed to plant the seeds in the sand.
Instead, his focus was on the vines themselves.
The fact that they could restrain Tyranitar spoke volumes about their extraordinary nature.
[Struggling Vines]: A special type of vine whose seeds require significant energy absorption to sprout.
Once germinated, they grow rapidly to a considerable size within a short time.
Each seed typically produces three to five vines.
These vines latch onto the nearest object with the strongest life energy, clinging tightly to absorb it.
Their unique internal structure causes them to constrict when the bound creature struggles.
Due to their durability, most creatures ensnared by them face only two outcomes:
Either they are strangled to death—or even torn apart—during their struggle, or their life force is completely drained.
Their sole weakness is fire. No matter how large the vines, contact with flames reduces them to ash instantly.
...
[Struggling Vines, huh... Fitting name for their effect.] Akira nodded slightly.
Such a tool was perfect for trapping enemies, as demonstrated by Tyranitar's current predicament.
Moreover, their ability to continuously drain life energy explained why Tyranitar's Aura was being siphoned.
These vine seeds had also been deliberately chosen.
Though Akira didn't know much about Tyranitar, their brief encounters convinced him it was a Brute Force-type opponent.
An ideal target for these vines in a sneak attack.
Akira had to admit—Don was formidable. So far, he was the first to ever put Tyranitar at a disadvantage.
Unlike previous opponents, who were predictable with their distinct but one-dimensional styles,
Don had wandered the Dark Continent for centuries. His strength wasn't just due to his raw power or Nen Ability.
It was also his accumulated treasures!
These vines were just one example.
[Hmm... After this fight, I should ask Don for a few seeds. JudDon by his demeanor, he must have plenty in stock.]
If he could casually use several in a sparring match, Akira doubted Don didn't have more Struggling Vine seeds.
In fact, he probably had other valuable items—something to trade for later.
As for what to offer...
Akira figured Meowth's inventions would appeal to Don. Besides, the very thing Don sought was already in his hands.
By now, Don would find only devastation in the heart of the swamp forest—the [Nitro Rice] he desired had vanished without a trace.
...
Don observed Tyranitar, tightly bound by the vines, without surprise. He knew full well the vines' potency.
Though this Aura Beast had peculiar abilities—boosting allies while weakening foes—
It was more akin to a support-type Aura Beast's skillset.
Not that it mattered, as long as there were no fire-based attacks—the vines' sole weakness.
Don's eyes gleamed faintly. This desert-summoned behemoth hardly seemed the type to wield flames.
So, the giant's chances of breaking free? Slim at best.Even if he could emerge, by then he would be fully prepared.
That's right!
He also intended to apply a buff to himself—after all, such abilities weren't exclusive to his opponent.
He had them too.
In an instant, Don's black robe fluttered violently as eerie waves of Aura surged from his body.
His gaze grew even sharper.
Immediately afterward, Don's form began to change rapidly.
His original appearance had been quite bizarre—aside from one massive right arm, the rest of his body was emaciated and skeletal.
Extremely asymmetrical.
But now, Don's entire body began to inflate as if being pumped full of air, with solid, powerful muscles forming abruptly.
At the same time, his complexion improved significantly, shifting from pale and feeble to robust and full of vitality.
His face flushed with vigor, even his previously cloudy eyes cleared somewhat, and his graying hair turned jet black.
It was as if he had reverted to his youthful self, shedding countless years in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, Don transformed into a powerfully built, exceptionally robust middle-aged man.
Gone was the lifeless demeanor from before—his expression now exuded determination, his eyes gleaming with a chilling intensity.
And he still hadn't stopped. His body continued to grow larger, as if evolving toward the form of a giant.
The aura radiating from him steadily intensified.
...
Tyranitar, who had been charDon forward menacingly moments ago, was now entangled by unknown plants, while Don's aura surged relentlessly.
The tide of battle had shifted in an instant.
Muheer and the others observed the momentarily paused combatants, finally grasping the situation on the field.
Only when both sides remained stationary could they vaguely follow the action.
Once movement resumed, they could only catch occasional glimpses of clashes.
Muheer's eyes widened as he muttered under his breath:
"As expected of a battle between Nen Ability users, isn't it?"
"The fight changes in the blink of an eye—the tables can turn in an instant."
The tense onlookers nodded unconsciously at his words.
Clearly, they all agreed with Muheer's assessment.
One moment they thought Tyranitar was about to win, the next it seemed Don Freecss would emerge victorious.
Ging's gaze remained steady as he watched the field, silently noting.
'Ever-changing indeed...'
...
Akira observed Don continuously intensifying aura, unsurprised that he too possessed enhancement abilities.
But...
Since you interrupted my side earlier, how could I simply sit back and let you power up?
Akira's lips curled slightly as the thought flashed through his mind.
Sensing this, Tyranitar ignored the vines binding it and abruptly looked up at Ging.
A massive surge of black Aura erupted from its body, rising past the vines to gather above.
Forming a bizarre pattern.
It resembled a hand, beckoning and teasing its target before vanishing after a few waves.
Dark-type skill—Taunt.
[Taunt]: Forces the target to only use damaging moves for the next three turns.
Like [Protect], [Taunt] was in some ways a divine skill, often appearing in supportive scenarios.
After being hit by this move, the target couldn't use buffs, debuffs, or other supportive abilities.
Only direct offensive moves remained available.
Abruptly, Ging's expanding body froze mid-transformation, his entire form locking up.
The energy he'd been using to enhance his physique and enlarge his body inexplicably dissipated into nothingness.Ging suddenly looked up, only to see the pattern that had just dissipated above Tyranitar's head. His expression changed.
This Aura Beast!
It was even more exaggerated than he had imagined.
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