There's Something Off About My Pokémon [109]
His mind racing, Ren Li's expression turned savage as a dark resolve flashed in his eyes.
"Golem, Mega Punch! Krookodile, Crunch that Duosi!"
Krookodile lunged forward, jaws wide open, powerful hind legs propelling it toward Xie Yuan and Liu Shengnan in a vicious attack. At the same time, Golem swung a thick, scaled fist, its immense energy whistling through the air as it aimed a massive blow directly at Liu Shengnan!
A gust from the punch lifted Liu Shengnan's bangs, and though a flicker of panic crossed her eyes, she quickly steadied herself. Four bullets left, she reminded herself.
She executed a graceful backbend just in time, and Golem's fist crashed into the hallway wall, leaving a gaping hole as the entire second floor shook. But Golem wasn't giving up; red eyes blazing, it drew back its arm for another punch—only for this one to be intercepted by Parasect's thick mushroom cap.
"Parasect!" Parasect let out a pained cry as its vibrant mushroom cap dented inward, releasing a cloud of fluffy spores that scattered like tiny winged insects, instantly enveloping Golem. Each spore latched onto Golem's rocky crevices, spreading deep within its body, causing it to cry out in agony.
"Golem!" Ren Li's face twisted in shock.
Visible streams of green energy began flowing from Golem back into Parasect, whose pained expression softened as Xie Yuan's own tension eased. Raising his hand, he called out, "Parasect, Giga Drain!"
The unsettling sight of the oversized, spidery mushroom Pokémon unfurling its limbs and exposing a stark pattern on its underside was accompanied by an intense gathering of Grass-type energy.
If this Giga Drain hit, Golem would be done for!
Ren Li's face paled. Just as he was about to direct Krookodile to save Golem, a bullet suddenly tore into his shoulder!
He stared in disbelief at Liu Shengnan's raised gun, blood gushing from the wound.
Did I miss? Liu Shengnan brushed her sweat-drenched hair aside, her cold gaze fixed on Ren Li. Oh well, capturing him alive works just as well.
With a loud thud, Golem was struck by the Giga Drain, collapsing in agony.
"Come back and protect me, Krookodile!" Ren Li ordered as Krookodile retreated to his side. As Liu Shengnan and Xie Yuan closed in, his expression turned increasingly deranged.
"Golem, Self-Destruct!"
---
The strange-looking Duskull seemed off somehow; though its body was ghostly and ethereal, a black tail trailed behind it. But that didn't seem to slow it down! Suddenly, Duskull peeled away from the wall, a pair of sharp, bony claws emerging from within, glinting with a cold light as it lunged straight at Lu Cheng!
Lu Cheng's expression shifted. Whether due to his system training or his instincts honed over the past month, he reacted almost on reflex. His hand slapped his belt as he shouted, "Ditto, Transform!"
Ditto, having grown impatient from waiting, instantly covered Lu Cheng's body. Lu Cheng extended his fist and swung it hard toward Duskull! Encased around his arm, Geodude used Harden, turning his fist into a jagged, stone-hard weapon that glinted with an icy edge.
Duskull crashed into Lu Cheng's arm, but instead of dealing damage, it was sent flying back with a wail of pain.
"Awwooo!"
"What...?" Lu Cheng blinked in surprise. His punch had landed a hit on Duskull?
Yet, as the ghostly form wavered, its true shape emerged—a scruffy-looking Zorua, baring its fangs in a fierce glare at Lu Cheng!
"Zorua…" Lu Cheng murmured, just as another figure lunged at him from the side! Without hesitation, he sidestepped, bent low, and landed a solid punch.
The scrawny boy curled up in pain, but he still managed to yell out, "Wang Yingjie, get out there and help the boss!"
Wang Yingjie didn't hesitate. With a surge of speed, he darted toward the small cabin door. But Lu Cheng was still grappling with the scrawny boy, giving him pause!
"Get off me!" Gritting his teeth, Lu Cheng drove his knee into the boy's stomach, sending him crashing into the wall, where he slumped, coughing violently.
But in that split second that Lu Cheng was distracted, Wang Yingjie had already burst through the door!
Just then, Ren Li's voice echoed from the hallway outside: "Golem, Self-Destruct!"
---
"You're insane!" Wang Yingjie froze at the door, yelling at Ren Li. Using Self-Destruct in a cramped hallway like this—forget them, the entire ship might be affected!
Ren Li, clutching his bleeding wound, laughed wildly, eyes bloodshot. "You little punk, you can just go to hell with me!"
Liu Shengnan suddenly darted over, grabbing Lu Cheng by the collar and shouting, "Get behind Duobi's Light Screen!"
"Lu Cheng, Xie Yuan, tell your Pokémon to use Protect as well!"
Just as the blinding white glow around Golem grew unavoidable, Wang Yingjie's cold voice echoed down the hall. "Wartortle, Hydro Pump!"
Lu Cheng instinctively commanded Vulpix to use Protect, but the Hydro Pump wasn't aimed at them! Instead, a powerful jet of water struck Golem head-on, chipping away large chunks of rock from its body as it cried out in agony. The radiant light of Self-Destruct began to fade!
The water surge ceased, and Golem slumped over, fainting on the spot. Ren Li's crazed smile froze in place.
"This…" Xie Yuan still looked bewildered.
"You… you're something else!" Ren Li's face twisted in rage as he sneered, "Wang Yingjie, you think you're so clever!"
Liu Shengnan was the first to react, raising her handgun. "Seize him!"
At that moment, a white-hatted crew member walked in. He stopped short at the sight of the wreckage, looking startled. "That noise just now…"
"Stay back!" Liu Shengnan shouted. "Tell security to lock down this area!"
But it was already too late. The crewman was an ordinary civilian, without even a Poké Ball on him. Seeing him, Ren Li looked like a drowning man clutching at his last straw. He suddenly lunged, grabbing the crew member in a chokehold, shouting, "Don't move!"
"If anyone moves, I'll snap his neck!"
"Damn it, why now of all times…" Liu Shengnan muttered, clearly frustrated, while Ren Li shouted back, "That's right, you wretched woman!"
"Put the gun down!"
Ren Li's face was smeared in blood, his shirt soaked red, but his eyes were still ablaze with the hope of survival.
"Stay right where you are, and I won't kill him!"
Liu Shengnan kept her gun raised, though her fingers trembled slightly.
"What are you doing?! Drop the gun now!" The crew member's face was turning a shade of blue as his breath faltered, and, with a sigh, Liu Shengnan slowly lowered her hand.
While everyone's focus was on the hostage situation, Wang Yingjie silently made his way along the wall to the end of the hallway. Staring at Ren Li's manic expression, a hint of disdain appeared on his face. Taking out his Dusk Ball, he pointed it at the crew member and pressed the button.
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