Even a clay man has a temper, let alone a Golem.
After being thrashed by Garchomp and then battered by Slaking, Golem was absolutely livid.
In its rage, Golem unleashed Explosion, detonating exactly as Slaking drew near.
Explosion was widely considered one of the most powerful moves in existence, and the blast sent Slaking flying through the air. The earth groaned and the mountains trembled. The entire peak was shaken, sending a rain of boulders cascading down the slopes.
"Gardevoir!" Jiang Chen shouted immediately.
Connected to him in heart and mind, Gardevoir understood his intent perfectly. She raised her hands, using Confusion to intercept the falling rocks before hurlilng them aside. Simultaneously, she erected a barrier to shield them from the shockwave of the Explosion.
"Half the mountain has collapsed," Xiao Luoxue muttered, her eyes wide with shock. Was Golem's Explosion really that terrifying?
"I didn't expect this Golem to have such a violent temperament," Jiang Chen said as he hurried over to check on Slaking.
Slaking hadn't lost consciousness, but its injuries were severe. It struggled even to stand, let alone continue the fight. Taking the full force of a point-blank Explosion was a brutal ordeal. It was understandable, really; Golem was at the sixth stage of the Elite Four level. An Explosion from such a Pokémon was more than enough to incapacitate a second-stage Elite Four level Slaking. Golem's strength was the real deal.
"I actually wanted to remind you earlier that a Golem might use Explosion or Self-Destruct," Ling Wanqiu said to Jiang Chen. "If you bully a Pokémon like that and it has a bit of a short fuse, it'll choose to take you down with it."
"Fair point," Jiang Chen replied, scratching his head awkwardly. He then called Mew over. "Mew, use Heal Pulse to treat Slaking and Golem."
Severe injuries were no problem as long as Mew was around; healing them would be a simple task.
However, before Mew could act, Gardevoir stepped forward and used Heal Pulse herself. But her strength wasn't quite high enough; her Heal Pulse couldn't fully restore Slaking and Golem to their original states.
"Gardevoir...?" She lowered her head dejectedly, feeling useless because she couldn't heal them completely.
In the past, Jiang Chen had always relied on Gardevoir for healing, but ever since Mew arrived, the little mythical Pokémon had taken over that role. This left Gardevoir feeling a bit neglected. She had been desperate to prove herself, but the results had been disappointing. Her Heal Pulse simply couldn't compare to Mew's.
"You did a great job, Gardevoir. This is your reward." Seeing her downcast look, Jiang Chen took out a lollipop and handed it to her.
Bolstered by Jiang Chen's encouragement, Gardevoir was instantly revitalized. She vowed to practice Heal Pulse diligently; she couldn't let Mew steal her position entirely.
"Why do you always have lollipops on you?" Xiao Luoxue asked, fishing another one out of Jiang Chen's pocket.
"Because Gardevoir and Mew like sweets, so I keep them ready," Jiang Chen explained. He pulled out two more, handing one to Ling Wanqiu and the other to Mew, who was watching him with pleading eyes. "Now that you've taken my candy, hurry up and heal Slaking and Golem."
Mew reached out a small hand, indicating that one lollipop wasn't enough.
"Learning how to haggle now, are we?" Jiang Chen tapped the little head lightly before producing one more lollipop.
After pocketing the treats with nimble movements, Mew quickly healed Golem and Slaking.
"Will Golem use Explosion again now that it's healed?" Xiao Luoxue asked worriedly.
They hadn't been far from the blast site earlier. If Gardevoir hadn't blocked it, they might have been blown to bits.
"I'll go talk to it," Jiang Chen said, walking toward Golem.
"Be careful," Ling Wanqiu cautioned.
"Don't worry. With Mew here, do you really think Golem can hurt me?" If Golem could harm him right in front of Mew, it wouldn't be standing there in the first place.
As Jiang Chen approached, Golem's eyes flared with clear suspicion and alertness.
"Relax, Golem. I mean you no ill will." Jiang Chen took a few more steps forward. Golem didn't retreat; it wasn't about to be intimidated by a human.
Then, Ling Wanqiu and Xiao Luoxue watched in amazement as Golem's attitude shifted. The hostility and rage vanished, replaced by a peaceful gaze. It no longer harbored any enmity toward Jiang Chen.
"That level of affinity... I truly can't compare," Ling Wanqiu admitted. To dissolve such deep-seated hostility so easily was a talent she and Xiao Luoxue simply didn't possess. If they were faced with a rampaging Golem, they would have run as far as possible.
"Sorry about that, Golem. I'll send you back shortly. Take this as an apology." Jiang Chen handed over some Pokémon Food.
Golem accepted the gift with a magnanimous air, signaling it no longer held a grudge.
"Mew, take Golem back to where it came from," Jiang Chen instructed.
After Mew teleported Golem away, it looked at Jiang Chen, asking if it should go grab another Pokémon.
"Keep looking for strong ones, then lead us to them. Don't just snatch them here directly." Jiang Chen felt it was better to ask for an opponent's consent before starting a battle. Thanks to Ling Wanqiu's reminder, he realized that dragging a Pokémon away by force was exactly why Golem had been so enraged.
Soon, Mew signaled that a target had been found.
"Lead the way then."
Using Teleport, the group appeared in a forest. They were still within the Yunheng Mountains, specifically the woods at the base of the range. The moment they arrived, they were pinned by a sharp, piercing gaze. A green figure stood before them, its eyes as sharp as knives.
"It's a Scyther. Do all strong Pokémon in the wild have so many scars?" Xiao Luoxue asked, looking at the marks covering the green Pokémon's body.
"Most powerful wild Pokémon carry scars. To them, those marks are honors," Jiang Chen replied. This Scyther, much like the Tyranitar they had encountered before, was covered in battle scars, yet its combat presence was immense. This Scyther was a seventh-stage Quasi-Elite Four, even more formidable than the Golem.
The Scyther stared at them with its blade-like eyes but didn't attack immediately.
"I want to challenge you. Scyther, will you battle me?" Jiang Chen asked directly, holding up a Poké Ball. Most Scyther were inherently battle-hungry; they rarely turned down a challenge.
"Scy!"
Leaping down from a tree, Scyther flicked its blades, cleanly severing a nearby trunk. Wild Pokémon that survived many battles possessed a savage, fierce aura. A person with less courage might have been paralyzed with fear, but Jiang Chen remained unfazed.
"I'll take that as a yes. Let's do this." Jiang Chen released his Metagross.
"Mew, keep an eye on the surroundings. Don't let their battle cause too much destruction." Although he wanted a fight, Jiang Chen didn't want to ruin the forest. Ever since Pokémon had arrived in this world, people had become very protective of the environment. The forest was home to many Pokémon; destroying it would only lead to a backlash from the wild inhabitants.
Mew nodded in understanding, watching with great interest as the battle between Scyther and Metagross began. Jiang Chen and the girls stepped back to avoid being caught in the crossfire of an Elite Four level clash. Even with Mew's protection, there was no need to stand so close; they could see the fight perfectly well from a distance.
Mew generated an energy shield, enveloping the area so the shockwaves from the battle wouldn't spread beyond the clearing.
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