Pokémon: Join Team Rocket at the Beginning

Chapter 862 Kiku

"Goodra, use Dragon Pulse!"

Deep within the Obsidian Plains, in a place called the Giant Tree Battlefield, a boy is commanding Pokémon in battle.

The boy was short, wearing an oversized hat and a Pearl team uniform. He was carrying a small brown bag that smelled strongly of perfume.

"Damn it, we can't 'pacify' the area at this rate."

The boy's strength was undoubtedly not weak, but his opponent was even stronger. It was a mantis-type Pokémon whose entire body was covered in dark brown rocks. It was very tall and had a pair of huge stone axes on its forelimbs, making it look extremely terrifying.

The king of the forests in the Obsidian Plains—the Scyther Mantis.

As the leader of the Pearl Team stationed in Obsidian Plains, the short boy, Kiku, was filled with regret. He had previously admired the power of the Mantis too much and disregarded Pearl's instructions to pacify it. Now it seemed that he had indeed been too naive.

Dragon Pulse erupted from Goodra's mouth, a rainbow-colored wave of light sweeping towards Scizor. However, the giant Pokémon merely shifted its body slightly, its stone-axe-like forelimbs slicing the Dragon Pulse in two with a casual swing. The remaining energy exploded on its rocky armor, but didn't even leave a crack.

"What—" Kikui's eyes widened.

The praying mantis moved.

Its speed was incredible; its heavy body carved a deep trench in the ground of the giant tree battlefield, covering a distance of tens of meters in the blink of an eye. Kikui couldn't even see its movements clearly; she only heard a loud "boom" as the massive body of the Nume Dragon was sent flying, crashing into two large trees before finally coming to a stop.

However, this one attack was not enough to bring down Kikui's Goodra. Unlike the modern Goodra, the Goodra of the Green Age had a huge shell on its back. This shell was extremely hard and could withstand most of the damage to the Goodra. It was because of this that the Green Age Goodra had the Steel type.

The moment Goodra was knocked away by Scizor, its soft body instantly curled up into its shell, absorbing most of the damage.

Taking this opportunity, Kikui is going to start her counterattack.

"Good Dragon, use Water Pulse!"

The mantis had just landed, its stone axes still embedded in the mud, not yet pulled out.

This is precisely the opportunity.

"Good Dragon, use Water Pulse!"

The Goodra, curled up in its steel shell, let out a deep, muffled roar, and a brilliant blue light suddenly burst forth from the cracks in its shell. Water gushed from its mouth, spinning rapidly as it transformed into a massive jet of water that hurtled towards the Scizor.

The scyther has the rock attribute, and Kiku knows all too well the affinity between rock and water.

The mantis tried to pull its forelegs out to dodge, but the massive stone axes were stuck too deep. It could only watch helplessly as the jet of water crashed into its chest.

"boom--!"

Water splashed everywhere. Countless cracks instantly appeared on the rocky armor on the mantis's chest, and white steam hissed out from the fissures. It let out a painful screech, its massive body staggering back two steps, finally pulling the pair of stone axes from the ground.

"Perfect opportunity!" Taking advantage of the moment when the Scizor was hit, Kiku quickly took out a small brown bag and threw it at the Scizor.

In order to "pacify" the out-of-control King and Queen, the Pearl Team and the Kong Team each created special "treasures" using their favorite foods. Theoretically, as long as the treasures are thrown out, the out-of-control "King" will regain his senses and gradually calm down.

The brown sachet arced through the air, landing precisely at the feet of the praying mantis. A rich aroma instantly filled the air—the scent of sweet tree fruit mixed with special spices, a favorite of the praying mantis.

The mantis paused for a moment.

It lowered its head, its massive stone axe forelimbs trembling slightly. Through the cracks in the rock shattered by the water's ripples on its chest, the deep red carapace beneath was faintly visible. The fragrance seeped into its senses, like a distant and warm memory being gently stirred.

Kiku held her breath, watching the scythe's reaction intently.

"Please... calm down..."

However, the next second, the scyther suddenly raised its head.

Those once chaotic eyes were now even more crimson, burning not with sparks of reason, but with a deeper madness. As streams of black energy surged from the axe-wielding mantis, it let out a deafening roar, raising its massive stone axe high before bringing it crashing down—

"boom!!!"

The sachet, along with the surrounding ground, was shattered in an instant, with dirt and gravel flying everywhere. Kiku instinctively covered her face with her arm, but was still forced back several steps by the shockwave.

"How could this be..."

The treasure is ineffective.

"Lady Kikui! Danger!"

Two Team Pearl members rushed forward, attempting to cover their manager's retreat. However, Scizor simply swung its forelegs casually, sending the two members and their Pokémon flying with a sharp gust of wind.

"stop!"

Kikui's shouts were drowned out by the deafening roar. The mantis had locked onto its target, and it moved with heavy strides, each step leaving deep footprints in the ground as it approached Kikui.

The sticky dragon struggled to its feet, but the attack had already seriously injured it, even causing tiny cracks in its steel shell. It let out a low, anxious growl, but was powerless to stop the approaching behemoth.

Kikui's hand instinctively reached for another Poké Ball at his waist, but his fingers were trembling.

He knew perfectly well that his other Pokémon were no match for the King of the Forest.

Twenty meters.

Fifteen meters.

ten meters.

The axe-wielding mantis raises its forelegs, its massive stone axe casting a deathly shadow in the sunlight.

At this very moment—

A water cannon shot out from the forest and struck the side of the stone axe that the axe-splitting mantis had raised.

"clang--!"

The sharp clang of metal clashing echoed across the battlefield. The forelegs of the Mantis were slightly deflected by the force of the impact, and the massive stone axe grazed past Kikui as it cleaved down, carving a deep furrow beside him.

Kiku stood frozen in place, even feeling the sharp wind from the stone axe stinging her cheeks.

Behind Scizor, a huge Gyarados was looking down at it. Unlike ordinary Gyarados, this Gyarados was covered with a layer of divine red scales, making it look very different.

"Chief of the Pearl Shells!"

When Kikui saw three figures not far away, she almost burst into tears.

Although he did not recognize the two unfamiliar men beside Zhubei, he believed that as long as Zhubei, as the leader, took action personally, she would definitely be able to subdue the Mantis.

However, he was wrong; this time, it was not pearls that made the move.