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Before the voice even faded, the giant flower on its back suddenly bloomed.
Countless petals shot out from the pistil.
Petal Blizzard!
The pink petals spun in the air, carrying an aura as sharp as a blade!
They covered the entire battlefield!
Group attack!
Facing three Pokémon simultaneously!
"Scatter!" Roy shouted.
Charizard flapped its wings and shot straight into the sky!
Zapdos flashed, turning into a streak of golden light!
Venusaur used its four legs to push off and leaped to the side!
However, those petals seemed to have a life of their own, tracking their trajectories!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The petals struck Charizard's body, exploding into sparks!
"Crackle!"
Zapdos was grazed by the petals, letting out sharp cries!
Venusaur had it the worst; its large size made it the most obvious target, and it was forced back repeatedly by the countless petals!
Roy gritted his teeth, his mind racing.
This old thing is playing for real.
Petal Blizzard, area-of-effect damage, and the damage isn't low either.
And its energy reserve is like a bottomless pit.
It doesn't even catch its breath after using such a wide-range move?
Is this the strength of an Elite Four Level?
But Roy didn't retreat. He expanded his Aura to communicate fully with the three Pokémon, assisting them in releasing their skills.
"Charizard, gain altitude, don't clash head-on with the petals!"
"Zapdos, use Agility, create an electric field around it!"
"Venusaur, find an opportunity, prepare Solar Beam!"
The three Pokémon executed the orders immediately.
Charizard flapped its wings and soared high, exiting the petals' attack range.
Zapdos flickered, leaving afterimages in the air as currents permeated the atmosphere.
Venusaur steadied itself, and the flower on its back began to condense light.
Emerald green light spots gathered from all directions.
Solar Beam.
The ultimate move of the grass-type.
But it requires charging.
And during the charge, Venusaur can barely move.
This is a huge risk.
That's why Roy hadn't let Venusaur use it until now.
But now, the timing was just about right.
However, he still needed to stall a bit more.
"Charizard, Fire Blast!"
"Zapdos, Thunderbolt!"
Roy's command was issued again.
Charizard dove down, opening its mouth to spray a flame in the shape of a giant character!
Zapdos flapped its wings, releasing a thick current!
The two attacks, one from the left and one from the right, went straight for the leader!
The Venusaur Leader swung its Vine Whip, easily swatting away the flames and the current.
But its attention was drawn by these two Pokémon.
It didn't notice the light on the back of the Venusaur on the ground growing brighter and brighter.
Time passed second by second.
Roy's tactics were very clear.
Charizard and Zapdos were responsible for harassing, pulling, and creating opportunities.
Venusaur was responsible for charging, waiting, and the fatal blow.
Sweat beads seeped out on Roy's forehead.
Using Aura to command three Pokémon simultaneously consumed a significant amount of mental energy.
Twenty-five minutes in.
The Venusaur Leader's offensive slowed down slightly.
Not because it was tired.
But because...
It got used to it.
It got used to the rhythm of Charizard and Zapdos.
It got used to the cycle of dodging, defending, and counterattacking.
It was even a bit...
Slack.
Roy's eyes lit up suddenly.
This is it!
"Venusaur, Solar Beam, release!"
After charging for a long time, the flower on Venusaur's back finally bloomed completely!
An unimaginably thick golden beam of light shot out from the pistil!
Carrying a world-destroying momentum, it went straight for the leader!
At the same time...
"Charizard, Fire Blast!"
"Zapdos, Thunder!"
Three attacks landed simultaneously!
Fire Blast blocked the left!
Thunder blocked the right!
Solar Beam struck head-on!
The three attacks wove into a net of death, completely shrouding the Venusaur Leader!
The Venusaur Leader's pupils constricted.
It wanted to dodge.
But it was too late.
The speed of the three attacks was too fast.
And...
It was paralyzed.
The electric field created by Zapdos earlier made its body stiffen for an instant.
In that very instant, the three attacks slammed solidly into its body!
Rumble—
A deafening explosion!
Blinding light!
Heat waves rolled!
The ground shook violently!
A small mushroom cloud rose from the center of the explosion!
Dust filled the air!
Gravel splashed!
When the dust cleared slightly, a huge crater appeared on the ground.
At the edge of the crater, the soil was scorched black.
In the center of the crater, the Venusaur Leader lay there.
Motionless.
Its body was covered in burn and electrical shock marks.
The petals on its back were more than half scorched.
Roy punched the air excitedly!
"Holy cow!"
"I did it!"
"Defeated an Elite Four Level Venusaur Leader!"
He turned around and looked at the Venusaur beside him.
Venusaur was panting heavily.
The final Solar Beam charge had almost exhausted all of its stamina.
But it looked at Roy, its eyes full of excitement.
Master did it.
We did it.
Roy grinned, about to say something, then he froze.
Because he saw countless emerald green light spots drifting out from the flowers, grass, and trees in the surrounding garden.
Floating and drifting, they gathered toward the center of the crater.
Those light spots exuded an aura of life.
Roy's pupils constricted sharply.
"This..."
The light spots drifted into the dust.
Then, movement came from the dust.
"Rustle, rustle..."
It was the sound of grass rubbing.
It was the sound of petals blooming.
The dust dispersed, and in the crater, the Venusaur Leader stood up.
Its injuries were all healed.
The burns were gone.
The electrical shock marks were gone.
The petals bloomed again.
Even... more vivid, larger, and more dazzling than before.
Its aura had not weakened; instead, it was... stronger.
Roy watched this scene, chuckled, and then blurted out:
"Holy cow, it's cheating!"
Ten thousand Arceus were running through his mind.
What is this thing?
Super Synthesis?
Ultimate Natural Recovery?
Resurrected on the spot with full health and full status!
How is this playable?
But complaining aside, Roy didn't really intend to fight this guy to the bitter end.
He glanced at the mission timer.
Thirty minutes were up.
Since the time was up, why keep fighting?
He wasn't an idiot who had to fight to the death with a cheating Elite Four Level leader.
"Time to go!"
Roy decided immediately, took out a Poké Ball, and red light flashed.
"Charizard, Zapdos, return!"
Two beams of red light accurately hit Charizard and Zapdos in the air, recalling them into the balls.
Then he turned around and waved at the Venusaur beside him.
"Let's go!"
Venusaur understood, pushed off with its four legs, and ran out with Roy.
One human and one Pokémon, running wildly.
The speed was fast.
The surrounding grass and trees retreated rapidly.
The wind howled in his ears.
He had only one thought in his mind: mission accomplished, retreat quickly!
What happened behind him had nothing to do with him.
Let the Venusaur Leader recover however it wants, let it cheat however it wants.
He wasn't going to accompany it!
However, they hadn't run very far.
Rumble, the ground suddenly shook.
Roy's pupils constricted, and his Aura sensed danger.
The next second.
In front, on the left and right, and even behind, countless thick vines broke through the soil!
These vines were emerald green all over, with a faint fluorescent light on the surface, and each one was as thick as an adult's thigh.
They grew, intertwined, and entangled crazily.
In the blink of an eye, they formed walls of vines that were airtight.
Trapping Roy and Venusaur in the middle.
Roy stopped.
Venusaur also stopped.
"..."
Roy looked at the vine wall in front of him, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly.
He turned around and looked behind him.
That Venusaur Leader was walking over slowly.
Its pace was slow, but every step was firm.
The aura exuding from its body was still as majestic and unfathomable as before.
The flower on its back had fully recovered, and was even a circle larger than before.
Emerald green halos flowed on the petals, beautiful and dangerous.
Roy sighed slightly.
"Fine."
He reached out to touch the Poké Ball at his waist.
Not to fight again.
He was preparing to use Psychic to teleport away.
Just as Roy was about to release his Psychic, the Venusaur Leader spoke.
"Don't be in such a rush to leave, human."
Roy's movements paused.
He looked up at the Venusaur Leader.
The Venusaur Leader was also looking at him.
In those huge eyes, there was no hostility, no killing intent.
Instead, it carried a trace of... appreciation?
Roy frowned slightly.
He didn't let his guard down, but he didn't rush to teleport either.
"You have passed my test."
The Venusaur Leader's voice sounded again.
"The battle just now really let me see your strength."
Its gaze moved away from Roy and fell on the Venusaur beside him.
"At the same time, it also let me see the tacit understanding and bond between Venusaur and you."
There was a hint of emotion in the Venusaur Leader's voice.
"When you ran away, you didn't abandon him."
"When you were in danger, he didn't abandon you either."
"The bond between you is very deep."
Roy didn't speak.
Venusaur didn't move either.
It just stood there, head held high, looking at the Venusaur Leader.
The Venusaur Leader's gaze returned to Roy.
"You are a trustworthy human."
"At the same time, you are also a very powerful human."
Its tone became solemn.
"So, although I also very much hope to keep him in this garden..."
"But if it's you, I am willing to trust."
"Following you, he can also become just as powerful at the peak."
Speaking of this, the flower on the Venusaur Leader's back suddenly emitted a gentle green light.
The light drifted out, turning into countless emerald green light spots, floating and drifting, gathering toward the Venusaur beside Roy.
Venusaur felt the energy contained in this light.
The light spots merged into Venusaur's body.
The wounds on its body caused by the petals healed instantly.
Venusaur narrowed its eyes comfortably and let out a low cry.
Roy watched this scene and completely relaxed.
He let go of the hand holding the Poké Ball.
He also dispersed the gathered Psychic.
He let out a long breath.
Then, a smile appeared on his face.
"You should have said so earlier!"
"I thought you were going to keep me here as fertilizer!"
Venusaur Leader: "..."
This guy, his face changes too fast, right?
Just a moment ago, he was ready to fight to the death.
Now he's all smiles?
Roy didn't care what it thought.
Since he had passed the test, and the Venusaur Leader had made it clear it wouldn't attack anymore, and even seemed to appreciate him, why be polite?
He walked up swaggeringly and circled the Venusaur Leader twice.
His gaze scanned its body.
Finally, it landed on the huge flower on its back.
"Oh, Great Leader!"
Roy clicked his tongue in wonder.
"Your recovery ability is really super strong!"
He pointed to the Venusaur beside him.
"Look at our Venusaur, as you just said, it's a very promising junior, right?"
The Venusaur Leader nodded.
Roy's eyes lit up, and he stepped closer.
"Then look... can you teach this very promising junior your recovery ability?"
"Anyway, they are all the same race, right?"
"Teaching it wouldn't be a loss."
"Look at our Venusaur, it's intelligent and learns everything quickly!"
"Guaranteed to learn it as soon as you teach it!"
With the danger resolved, Roy instinctively started looking for benefits.
The Venusaur Leader was a bit speechless looking at Roy's appearance.
However, it wasn't angry.
Instead, it felt... a bit funny.
This human is quite interesting.
It shook its head gently and explained: "The recovery ability I use is entirely based on the natural power of this forest."
"This forest is my source of power."
"As long as I stand here, every tree and every flower in the forest will provide me with energy."
"Therefore, my injuries can be recovered instantly."
The Venusaur Leader looked at Roy's Venusaur.
"If your Venusaur stays here with me, practicing in this forest."
"Then, he can fully inherit this power."
"Even, one day, he might be able to surpass me."
Speaking of this, the Venusaur Leader paused.
Roy's smile froze on his face.
"Huh?"
He blinked.
"Stay here all the time?"
The Venusaur Leader nodded.
"Then forget it."
Roy waved his hand, and the smile appeared again.
"It's better for him not to be separated from me."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Venusaur beside him leaned over and rubbed its head against his shoulder.
Roy reached out and touched its head.
The Venusaur Leader watched this scene, a trace of relief flashing in its eyes.
"Although you cannot inherit and take away this natural power."
It suddenly spoke again.
"However, I can give you a seed."
The flower on the Venusaur Leader's back suddenly bloomed.
In the center of the bud, a seed emitting emerald green light condensed.
A rich aura of life radiated from the seed.
The Venusaur Leader extended a vine, carefully taking down the seed.
Then, it slowly handed it to the top of Roy's Venusaur's bud.
The vine released, the seed fell, and it landed right in the center of Venusaur's bud.
The next second, the seed touched Venusaur's bud, just like a drop of water merging into the sea.
Roy widened his eyes, waiting to see what would happen.
Venusaur was also full of confusion.
It seemed...
No change?
Just when Roy was about to ask, a prompt suddenly popped up in front of him.
A translucent light screen appeared in his field of vision out of thin air.
[Abnormal Leech Seed: Compared to an ordinary Leech Seed, the recovery capability provided is increased by 100%!]