NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Who Will Reap the Spoils?
"It's getting late; let's finish this battle."
"Go, Charizard! Use Blast Burn!"
Seeing that nothing unexpected had occurred, Marlon finally lost his patience and ordered Charizard to unleash a powerful attack.
Blazing flames coalesced into a massive fireball that descended from above, hurtling straight for Rhydon's face.
With a roar, Rhydon countered with Head Smash, its most powerful move.
Leaping from the ground, Rhydon clashed head-on with the incoming Blast Burn.
Flames scattered in all directions as Rhydon stubbornly stood its ground against the fiery onslaught.
But due to its limitations in strength, move power, and endurance, Rhydon could only watch helplessly as it was blasted away by the overwhelming flames.
Normally, using Blast Burn would render a Pokémon unable to act for a short time due to the move's aftereffects.
However, after surpassing the Elite level, reaching Champion level, such restrictions began to diminish.
Unless Charizard used its full strength to execute Blast Burn, it wouldn't face immobilization issues.
True to this, Charizard was still capable of following up with moves like Air Slash to press its advantage.
Rhydon, partially protected by its resistance to fire and the mitigation from Head Smash, quickly rose again, switching to Earth Power and Stone Edge to defend itself.
The earlier exchange had made Rhydon painfully aware that it wasn't a match for Charizard—even with a slight type advantage.
Realizing this, Rhydon began to retreat, preparing to endure the onslaught for a while longer before conceding.
Don't assume every Champion level Pokémon is the type to fight to the death even when outmatched. In reality, most Pokémon that reach such heights do so by knowing when to retreat; otherwise, they would have been defeated long ago.
As Rhydon's resolve to fight waned, the power of its attacks noticeably decreased.
Finally, with a roar that seemed more for show than aggression, it leaped back, glaring angrily at Marlon and Charizard but showing no desire to continue the fight.
At that moment, multiple attacks—including a few rocket-propelled projectiles—suddenly rained down on both Rhydon and Marlon's group.
"Charizard, use Fire Spin!"
On the other side, Rhydon instinctively used Earth Power to absorb some of the bombardment.
As the suppressive fire continued, several individuals in matching uniforms emerged from their hiding spots, releasing their Pokémon while charging forward.
Distant artillery fire didn't let up, with shells landing constantly.
The attackers' goal was clear: Rhydon. Within moments, several Pokémon surrounded it.
"Thank you for helping weaken it. I'll be taking this Rhydon now."
After separating Marlon from Rhydon, a soft yet sinister voice echoed.
The next instant, thick vines erupted from underground, reaching for Rhydon. Clouds of Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, and Poison Powder enveloped the air.
Standing at the source of the assault was a towering Vileplume, accompanied by a man in a tailored suit, gold-rimmed glasses, and an air of scholarly elegance—Burd, the leader of the Ghostvine Poaching Syndicate.
"I was wondering who it could be. Turns out it's you, Burd," Marlon said nonchalantly, showing no concern despite the clear disadvantage he was in.
"I'm honored that you've heard of me," Burd replied, his tone dripping with mock politeness. "This Rhydon is mine now. Let's hope we don't cross paths again."
As he spoke, Burd commanded Vileplume to intensify its attack.
Already weakened by the poachers' ambush and Charizard's sustained pressure, Rhydon struggled under the relentless onslaught of grass-type moves that exploited its fourfold weakness.
Burd was determined to defeat Rhydon before his team's endurance gave out. With Vileplume leading the charge, his subordinates focused all their firepower on Rhydon, seeking a quick victory.
Marlon, however, seemed unfazed. Calmly, he directed Charizard to eliminate Burd's advancing grunts one by one.
Against the overwhelming strength of a Champion-level Charizard, the grunts' Pokémon stood little chance, falling swiftly despite their best efforts.
"It's about time we dealt with these vermin," Marlon remarked.
"Come forth, Ninetales! Use Will-O-Wisp!"
"Charizard, Fire Spin!"
Seeing Rhydon endure yet another Petal Blizzard from Vileplume, Marlon stopped holding back. He released his hidden ace, Ninetales, and commanded it and Charizard to launch a coordinated attack.
The combined efforts of two Champion-level Pokémon were devastating. The fiery tornado conjured by Charizard swept across the battlefield, felling any Pokémon in its path.
Meanwhile, Ninetales manipulated its flames with incredible precision, forming a towering, ten-meter-tall fiery fox that charged directly at Burd.
"Damn it! Retreat!"
Burd's once-refined demeanor twisted into rage as he realized Marlon had two fire-type Pokémon. Knowing he was outmatched, he quickly ordered a retreat.
Even though Rhydon was mere moments from defeat, Burd understood that Marlon's Pokémon could easily decimate his forces and then turn their attention to him.
Under Burd's command, the poachers began a systematic retreat, showing the professionalism that had helped them rise from obscurity to notoriety.
Explosions thundered in the distance as the retreating poachers unleashed heavy artillery to block Marlon's pursuit.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Vileplume unleashed a barrage of powders, forming a vibrant, multi-colored barrier.
Without Charizard and Ninetales clearing the way, Marlon's rangers found it difficult to mount an effective chase.
In just a matter of seconds, Charizard obliterated the poachers' last line of defense. But Marlon didn't pursue further.
Beyond avoiding potential traps, Marlon was focused on tending to the injured Rhydon.
As for whether Rhydon would willingly join him after recovering, Marlon felt confident—it was why he had waited until now to deal with Burd's gang.
Understanding Marlon's intentions, Burd had retreated decisively. Otherwise, Marlon would have been more than willing to secure both the Champion-level Pokémon and the accolades for defeating the Ghostvine Syndicate.
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