chsdbacks Chapter 178 VS Nemo
Chapter 178 VS Nemo
Chapter 178 VS Nemo
"Huff, huff—"
"The stairs in Tabletop City are really, really hard to climb!"
A short while later, a girl ran up from below.
She wore the cool orange-yellow school uniform of Orange Academy, had healthy wheat-colored skin, and her jet-black hair was tied up at the back of her head with a few strands of green hair dyed on her forehead. At least from the outside, she was a very energetic and sporty girl.
but,
She was leaning on her knees, panting as she complained about the table-like stairs.
It seems like...his physical strength isn't very good.
"Huff, huff..."
After a moment, Nemo propped herself up on her knees, looked around, and then said, "Mr. Aoki, you said you found me a 'rival,' who is it? I'm so excited!"
Aoki gestured to Sawaki and said, "Nemo, the opponent I found for you is this Mr. Sawaki."
Ze Shu smiled at Nemo and said, "Hello, Nemo."
He never expected that on his first day in Padia, he would meet his "secret crush," senior Nemo.
This is a battle fanatic.
In the Kitakami Township storyline within the game, Wuli and Danyu, whom Zeshu knew, were challenged to over ten matches by this senior, Nemo, in a single day, leaving them completely bewildered. Nemo laughed, "Haha, hello Zeshu, let's start with a match!"
Next, relying on the battlefield in front of the Orange Academy gate, Nemo and Zeki stood on either side, while Aoki stood listlessly in the middle.
He symbolically raised his briefcase, acting as a referee.
This is, after all, the gate of Orange Academy, and there are quite a few other students here.
"Ahhh—it's Nemo-senpai! She's battling someone? Who is she battling?"
"I heard that when she last tried to become a Champion-level Trainer, she defeated Elite Four member Pidgey and Elite Four member Sinri, but narrowly lost to Elite Four member Aoki. You could say she was very close to becoming a Champion-level Trainer!"
"We have to go check it out!"
that's it,
Besides Ze Shu and his group, there were also quite a few students gathered around the arena to watch the excitement. They all looked at Nemo with expectant eyes. As for Ze Shu? Well, the students' occasional glances at him were mostly filled with doubt and unfamiliarity.
This is perfectly normal.
Ze Shu watched this scene silently.
It seems that Senior Nemo has a high reputation among the students.
However, Nemo, this formidable rival, is different from the rivals of the previous eight eras. Unlike Shigeru and Silver, she doesn't progress in strength alongside the protagonist. When she appears in the game, she is already on "New Game Plus"—meaning she has already cleared the entire region.
Although Nemo is not yet a Champion-level Trainer at this point in time and has not yet completed the first playthrough, she should not be underestimated.
And the title of Champion Trainer...
This is a title established by Ye Ci, which is different from other regions and belongs exclusively to the Padiya region. It refers to the trial of passing through the "Champion's Path" of the Four Heavenly Kings, and finally defeating Ye Ci who was holding back, so as to point out that on the surface, Ye Ci ranked the Crystal Flower last, but the hidden side of holding back is not something that outsiders can know.
He is probably above the Four Heavenly Kings and below the Compassionate One.
As Ze Shu was pondering, Nemo's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement: "Since it's just a cut, and the battle rules are 11 singles, then the partner I'm sending out is it!"
With a flick of her glove, a flash of white light appeared, and an adorable electric groundhog stood upright in front of her.
Its fur was fluffy, and there were stray hairs on its head that looked like a hairstyle. It had a battery in each of its hands and was in a fighting stance, with its fists outstretched one in front of the other. It stood with its legs spread apart, looking like a tiger...a mouse with a watchful eye.
"—a Babu Tubo."
The "electric mouse," a unique creature of the Parthian region, possesses both electric and fighting attributes.
Meeting Nemo's fervent gaze, Ze Shu smiled:
"The personnel I need to send out..."
"Bonito?"
A flash of white light, and the strange creature appeared bewildered beside Ze Shu. Seeing so many onlookers around, it couldn't help but shrink back.
She nestled close to Ze Shu's waist, appearing somewhat nervous.
It wasn't wearing a mask at this moment, but instead revealed its adorable citrus face—after becoming Ze Shu's partner, E Gui no longer needed to hide its true appearance with a mask.
"We'll have a match," Ze Shu said softly. "Is that alright?"
"Bo?" Ergui was taken aback, then nodded in delight, "Boni! Boni!"
Of course.
Fighting for Zeki, being able to help Zeki... that's what it longs for!
To show his determination, Ergui even picked up a thorny vine club, disregarding the onlookers he had been afraid of. The spiked club with sharp thorns even startled the students watching nearby, causing them to take a few steps back.
"Did you wear the mask?" Ze Shu suddenly asked again. "That's very important."
"Pop?" Upon hearing this, Ergui blinked, then his starry eyes widened in disbelief as he exclaimed, "Pop ni?!"
Ze Shu nodded with a smile: "Yes. I have found a way to activate the power of your mask."
"Bonnie? Bonnie!"
Overjoyed, Ergui pulled out all four masks in a row.
Ze Shu chuckled and said, "No need for so many, just pick one you like and put it on first?"
In the end, the evil spirit chose to wear the green grass mask that had been with it the longest.
The mask of the ferocious, laughing Green Grass was put on its face, and it seemed to regain its former appearance as the "Demon of Ghost Mountain". The students around it, who were originally confused about what the Pokémon Urgot was and marveling at how cute Urgot was, were all startled by this change.
Nemo's eyes widened in surprise:
"What kind of Pokémon is this?"
A Rotom phone hovering around her emitted a "ding-ding-ding" notification sound from the Pokédex, but then sadly remarked, "The Pokédex has no data, Rotom~"
"No matter what, let's fight first!"
But Nemo was not disappointed. Seeing Ze Shu nod, she launched the first attack.
"Babu the Groundhog moved at high speed closer, and then... rubbed its cheek!"
An electric current, as if by instinct, spread through Babu Tubo's fluffy fur, like a bolt of lightning, propelling its body straight toward the laughing masked monster. As it charged, the secondary charge sac beside Babu Tubo's cheek also began to fill with electricity.
This is the precursor to "rubbing cheeks".
While this cheek rub may not have much power, it can conduct electricity into the enemy's body, causing them to fall into a state of paralysis. If Egui falls into paralysis, it will undoubtedly be a great disadvantage at the beginning of the battle.
Babu Tubo was about to approach Egui at high speed.
Its cute yet electrifying cheeks are about to brush against the eerie mask.
"Don't be nervous... listen to me, hold your breath and concentrate." Ze Shu slowly observed, "Yes, now... tie a grass knot!"
"Bonnie!"
Upon hearing the command from the other party, Nemo's eyes widened abruptly: "Babu Tubo, stop!"
But Babu Tubo was moving at high speed and could not stop suddenly. In the blink of an eye, a wisp of grass-colored energy underwent a subtle change from the ground. A ring of grass sprouted from the soil and tied a strong knot in Babu Tubo's path.
There was a loud "poof" sound!
The knot of grass wrapped tightly around Babu Tubo's rat paws.
Babutu stumbled and lost his balance. No matter how wide he opened his eyes or how hard he tried to steady himself, he couldn't stop himself from falling flat on his face in front of the Orange Academy gates.
It even plowed a long crack in the ground.
Make it look very wolfish.
A series of exclamations came from the crowd of students watching, all saying things like "How pitiful, how miserable Babu Tubo is."
Nemo immediately commanded, "Babu, stand up! This is just a minor incident!"
"Cloth, cloth..."
Babu Tubo originally thought the same thing.
But as it struggled to prop itself up with its palms, it suddenly felt a shadow looming over it. When it looked up, it was met with the grotesque, grinning green grass mask of the evil spirit, which startled Babu Tubo.
"Yeah, thorny vine stick, from bottom to top, home run!"
Ze Shu's devilishly mocking voice reached Babu Tubo's ears.
With a desperate cry of "Bonio!" from the evil creature, a thorny vine club with sharp spikes came whistling through the air. With a loud "thud," and amidst gasps from the onlookers, Babu Tubo's orange-yellow electric rat body was suddenly sent flying into the air!
The eyes of everyone present followed Babu Tubo's body as it drew a smooth arc in the air.
Finally, with a "plop," Babu the Groundhog was smashed into the ground in front of Nemo, kicking up a lot of dust.
Nemo asked worriedly, "Babu the Groundhog! Are you...are you alright?!"
"Cloth, cloth..."
Babu Tubo struggled to his feet.
Aside from a bruise on his cheek and a slightly erratic, unsteady gait, he seemed to be otherwise unharmed.
"Mr. Ze Shu's practical command skills are truly impressive!"
Nemo breathed a sigh of relief, then focused her mind.
Being able to counter her attacks according to her commands—with just a simple "tying a knot in the grass," Babu Tubo was so cunning and ruthless. This kind of judgment and targeted approach can only be achieved by a combat expert with extremely rich experience.
Those academic trainers don't have this kind of experience!
Moreover, Nemo felt that her Pelipper was at least one level stronger than the masked stranger Pokémon in terms of actual combat ability. If she didn't intervene in the command and let them fight each other directly, Nemo thought that her Pelipper would definitely win.
Furthermore, Nemo noticed that Ze Shu's instruction, "Don't be nervous," during his command had given her a lot to consider.
That masked Pokémon is probably not one of Sawaki's main Pokémon... or at least it likely has relatively little battle experience.
So, he's here to "train" his troops?!
Even so.
Now, however, she is at a disadvantage.
This forced Nemo to be extremely careful!
"In that case,
"Babu Tubo, we..."
But at that moment, the commotion coming from the other side caught Nemo's attention.
Zeshu picked up a small bead, which corresponded perfectly with the masked Pokémon.
Nemo recognized it as the Crystal Bead. This combat system had been introduced in Padia a few years ago, precisely during the years she had grown up, so Nemo was extremely familiar with it.
However...
"Awaken the power hidden within your mask."
A virtual phantom of the Taijing ore appeared, enveloping the body of the Egui. Before long, accompanied by the Egui's desperate cries...
The illusory image of the Taijing ore shattered, and the Egui successfully entered the Taijing form.
only.
This is a highly crystalline state.
It doesn't resemble the crystal-like attribute mark on Nemo's head at all!
Instead, it was a situation involving Taijing that Nemo had never seen before!
The green grass mask that originally covered Egui's face miraculously detached itself as if "swift as fire and as fast as the wind," and the maniacal laughter on the mask appeared even more ferocious and terrifying under the dazzling light of the crystal.
"What exactly is this... crystallization...?"
Amidst the uproar from the surrounding student audience, Nemo couldn't help but murmur.
Aoki, who was acting as referee with little energy, also opened his eyes wide, despite his heavy dark circles.
He clearly remembers giving Ze Shutai the crystal bead just now, right?!
Ze Shu not only succeeded in crystallizing the tree on the first try...
And it even produced such a distinctly different crystallization?!
No wonder Ye Ci entrusted him with such a serious task of taking good care of Ze Shu when he arrived.
Based solely on this performance,
And I have lived up to Ye Ci's solemn promise...
But no matter what the onlookers thought, Ze Shu's idea was simple: the battle was still ongoing, so naturally the first priority was to resolve the battle!
"Evil spirit, give it a try and experience the power hidden within you."
"Bonnie!"
An eerie voice came through the mask.
Nemo only saw the green grass mask floating in front of Egui suddenly emit a brighter light. Out of the corner of her eye, she could also see that behind the mask, the thorny vine club that Egui was holding also shone with a light unique to Taijing!
Obviously,
This power has been greatly enhanced!
Alert, Nemo quickly regained her composure and swiftly gave instructions:
"Babu Tubo, we..."
But no matter how quickly she reacted,
It seems it's useless now...
Under the "shadow reflection" behind the Evil Crystal, their speed increased dramatically. In the few breaths after Nemo regained her senses, the hideous and evil-looking green grass mask was already close enough to them.
Babu Tubo only had time to hastily unleash a tile-splitting attack, which smashed directly at the approaching Taijing Bicao mask.
But it was to no avail.
The green grass mask swayed slightly.
Behind the mask, the thorny vine club in the hands of the evil spirit, gleaming with the light of the crystal, had been accumulating for a long time!
With a sudden "poof," the Egui leaped out of the Taijing Mask and, to Babu Tubo's shocked and bewildered gaze, mercilessly smashed it down on its head!
!!!
The light belonging to the Taijing burst forth!
Babu Tubo was smashed into the ground by the blow, kicking up clouds of dust.
And after the dust settled...
Babu Groundhog: "zzZ..."
Clearly, Babu Tubo had already fallen into a peaceful sleep.
Ni San's eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe that she had lost the battle so easily.
The students and crowds in the surrounding villages suddenly erupted in a clamor.
"I, my Nisanxue, the Nisanxue who's about to become a champion-level trainer, I, Orange Academy, against the strongest student council president, just... just like that, I lost?!"
"What kind of Pokémon is this? What's its name...? It's amazing! I love it! I want to catch one too!"
"According to that trainer, it's called... Devil Trigger? Hmm, Devil Trigger, that seems to fit the characteristics of this Pokémon quite well!"
Even though the mask looks a bit menacing, it's still so cool!
Amid cheers from the crowd.
As the evil spirits dissipated and the crystallization occurred, Xingxing's eyes were filled with glistening tears. She bounced and skipped back, throwing herself into Zeshu's arms.
"Bonnie!!!"
"Congratulations, you've become stronger," Ze Shu said with a smile.
Ergui squinted his eyes happily and rubbed his soft, bouncy tangerine against Zeshu's chest. Zeshu continued in a low voice, "Listen, the people of Zhouxiang are cheering for you!"
"Although he thinks you're a demon, did you hear that? He actually finds you, this demon, quite handsome."
Ergui shook his head from Ze Shu's embrace, letting out a short "pop!"
It doesn't care about other people's opinions anymore!
What it cares about is Ze Shu's affection for it!