The three hunters nodded to each other, a silent pact of murder and greed formed in an instant.
Why work for a salary and commissions when they could retire today? Thirteen million in the bank meant living like kings for the rest of their lives. They had completely forgotten to wonder why a rich man would come to the wilderness to meet criminals without a massive security detail.
In their minds, what could one little Meowscarada do against three battle-hardened Houndooms?
The leader pretended to reach into his bag for a POS machine. Instead, he and his two partners fanned out, surrounding Li Yuan from three sides. When they were close enough to guarantee a hit, the leader whipped out a high-caliber handgun—a Desert Eagle—and pointed it straight at Li Yuan's head.
The other two goons drew their weapons as well, while the Houndooms blocked every exit.
"Stupid brat. Give us the card and the PIN, and then you can crawl away," the leader sneered. He couldn't believe how easy this was. Millions of RMB for the price of a few bullets.
"A double-cross? I should have expected as much from your kind," Li Yuan said, his voice flat. His face showed zero emotion.
Under the scan of his Aura, he had seen them chambering their rounds minutes ago. He just didn't care. While firearms were still dangerous to humans in this era, a bullet couldn't kill a "Super Cheater."
"You don't look scared," the leader noted, his brow furrowing. He had expected the boy to piss his pants. Does he have backup? No, my Houndooms would have smelled them.
"Why be scared? I'll bet you a million that there isn't a bullet in that gun," Li Yuan said mockingly.
"Die, then." The leader felt a surge of unease. He didn't like the kid's confidence. He decided to cripple him first.
BANG!
The Desert Eagle roared, a tongue of fire spitting from the barrel. The lethal round tore through the air at supersonic speeds, aiming right for Li Yuan's thigh.
In the goon's mind, the kid's leg was about to be shattered. But reality was much harsher.
When the bullet hit Li Yuan's leg, there was no blood. Instead, a metallic CLANG echoed through the forest. The bullet deformed and ricocheted off his skin, spinning harmlessly into the dirt.
Li Yuan's pants weren't even torn.
"Impossible! Is he a Ditto in disguise?!" the goon screamed. He couldn't wrap his head around it. No human skin could stop a .50 caliber round at point-blank range.
But the Houndooms would have known if he was a Pokémon. There was no scent of a transformation. It was as if the boy was made of solid steel.
"Stop guessing. You can ask the Reaper in person," Li Yuan's eyes turned cold, a murderous intent flooding the clearing.
He had intended to play fair for the sake of future business with J, but since they had tried to murder him, he had no reason to keep them alive. He hated being interrupted while he was thinking about his harem.
A terrifying pressure exploded from Li Yuan's body. The three Houndooms, known for their vicious nature, immediately whimpered and backed away, their fur standing on end. They felt a threat from this human that was greater than any Legendary they had ever heard of.
The goons stumbled back, their faces pale with terror. They finally realized what they were dealing with.
"He's an... an Ability User!"
In this world, it wasn't just Pokémon that held power. A rare few humans possessed supernatural abilities. Some could lift half a ton; others could use telekinesis to turn people into dolls. They were essentially "Human Pokémon."
The aura Li Yuan was radiating was stronger than their own Ace Pokémon. It was a level of power that defied the laws of nature.
"Huanhuan, end them. Kill the trainers first," Li Yuan ordered coldly.
As he spoke, he raised his hand. Blue energy began to swirl in his palm, condensing into a vibrating sphere of raw power.
An Aura User who can use Aura Sphere? That's not a human, that's a monster!
The leader tried to fire again, but Li Yuan was faster. He launched two Aura Spheres in quick succession. The first was intercepted by a Houndoom that leaped in front of its master, taking the hit and being blown apart. But the second sphere was unavoidable.
It didn't explode when it hit the leader's chest. Instead, it behaved like a hot knife through butter, punching a hole straight through his heart and spine and exiting through his back. The man stared at his own blood-spattered chest, his plea for mercy dying in his throat as he collapsed.
Meanwhile, Huanhuan had already finished her part. She didn't bother with the Houndooms. While the dogs were busy guarding their masters' fronts, she simply Teleported behind them.
Two flashes of emerald light—two Leaf Blades—cut through the air.
The remaining two goons didn't even have time to scream. Their heads were severed from their necks in a clean, surgical strike. Blood sprayed into the air like a fountain as their bodies slumped to the ground.
The Houndooms stood frozen, watching their masters' heads roll into the dirt. They couldn't understand. What kind of Grass-type cat can use Teleport?!