webnovelfull Chapter 464 Three-way confrontation
Chapter 464 Three-way confrontation
The pungent smell of gunpowder mixed with the stench of blood and the chill of ice, condensing into eerie white frost in the sub-zero air.
However, in stark contrast to this hellish scene were the flames burning in the eyes of the survivors of the defense line.
Tang Jingchuan's appearance and thunderous strike were like injecting boiling blood back into a dying heart.
The soldiers helped each other to their feet and gripped the Poké Balls again with their frozen fingers;
The wounded Pokémon growled, their scales and feathers bristling in the cold wind, their eyes fixed on the surging, leaden-gray sea of clouds ahead, which held the boundless fury of Kyurem.
Genesect hovered at the forefront of the defensive line, its cold metal muzzle shimmering with a ghostly blue energy, pointing towards the faintly visible, icy blue vertical pupil deep within the dark clouds, like the most solid shield.
Mega Heracross stood beside it like a mountain, its massive horns with dark gold patterns drooping, and its strong limbs covered with angular carapace slightly bent, ready to tear apart any invading enemy at any moment. It was an invincible sword.
Tang Jingchuan himself rode the enormous Overlord Butterfly, slowly landing next to the relatively intact command bunker at the rear.
Duan Suyue stood there, his face ashen as he looked at the battlefield ahead, which looked as if it had been gnawed by a giant beast, but his eyes were also burning with fire.
His Gallade stood quietly by his side like the most loyal guardian, its Psychic-type energy flowing silently through the blades on its arms.
Tang Jingchuan leaped down from his chin and walked a few steps to Duan Suyue's side. His voice was extremely low, yet carried a sharp, cold edge: "Duan, the situation is worse than expected."
Duan Suyue did not turn around, his gaze still fixed on the all-consuming dark cloud: "It didn't stop in the Land of a Thousand Islands?"
"The plan failed." Tang Jingchuan's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible annoyance and gravity. "I did manage to provoke it a few times. The two champions, Risvale and Manji, did indeed take action, and the scene was quite intense at one point. I originally planned to deliver a fatal blow to Kyurem while they were locked in combat, completely igniting the war and dragging the Thousand Islands into the fray..."
He paused, his eyes flashing with even more cold light: "But just before the final 'addition,' the situation suddenly changed. No matter how much I lurked on the edge and provoked them, the clouds over Kyurem seemed to have received orders, ignoring the attacks from the Thousand Islands Kingdom and completely disregarding my harassment."
Meanwhile, Articuno of Risvald was finally able to stop Genesect, using its superpowers to freeze a beam of light.
"They seem to have reached some kind of... eerie understanding? Or did the Kyurem suddenly change its target priority? In any case, it just ignored the symbolic interception by the Thousand Islands, silently and directly crossed their territorial waters, entered the high seas, and then... clearly targeted us."
Duan Suyue suddenly turned his head, his sharp gaze piercing Tang Jingchuan like a hawk: "So, the 'weather plus snow concealment, large-scale self-destruction' tactic... this tactical style, this precise strike method, doesn't it seem like it was done by someone?"
Tang Jingchuan's lips curled into a cold smile, conveying a knowing "I knew it" attitude.
"Old Duan, you were absolutely right. Don't forget, the strongest champion from the Thousand Islands Kingdom, his ace is that elusive Ice-type legendary Pokémon that uses the Snow Cloak ability to its fullest extent—his understanding of how to hide in a blizzard, launch a surprise attack, and deliver a fatal blow is unparalleled."
His voice was lowered even further, almost a whisper: "Moreover... the only Pokémon with the Snow Cloak ability combined with Self-Destruct, and the ability to levitate and infiltrate every corner of the defense line regardless of terrain, is Iceberg!"
Tang Jingchuan's eyes showed a hint of apprehension; such tactical tactics were truly unbeatable on the front lines.
Because you never know when a particularly eerie "ice cream" will appear next to you. It not only chuckles at you, but it can also suddenly turn into a deadly bomb.
"Do you think a wild Pokémon could come up with such a combination of characteristics and a suicide tactic? There must be someone behind this who is familiar with Ice-type Pokémon, proficient in tactics, and has a clear understanding of the weaknesses of human defenses."
The battle intelligence and unique fighting style of Ice-type Pokémon both point to the Thousand Islands Country.
Duan Guanjun listened to the analysis and agreed with it in his heart, because he had always believed that such tactics were manipulated by someone.
Normal Pokémon waves don't involve such tactical maneuvers; they're just a clash of forces charging forward.
"Watch me, I'll force them out..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Jingchuan rode the Overlord Butterfly straight to the front line, hovering above the Ice Wave battlefield.
"Genesect, Mega Heracross!"
"Let's loosen up their muscles and bones."
Genesect's steel-type beam cannon and Mega Heracross's violent tearing apart were like a red-hot wedge driven into a white wave of death.
The ice-type legion howled and collapsed under the crushing force of the two insect gods, but Tang Jingchuan's gaze remained fixed on the distance like that of a hawk—the heavy shadow cast by the floating iceberg, which seemed to devour the light.
"Still not coming out?" Tang Jingchuan's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then let's add fuel to the fire!"
He abruptly pointed to the heart of the churning dark clouds on the horizon, where the icy blue vertical pupils were located: "Genesect! Target—the clouds above! High-tech beam cannon, Dragon! Blast it out of the clouds!"
"Om-!"
The cannon muzzle on Genesect's back instantly switched to a deep indigo blue cassette tape!
Dragon-type energy converged wildly, distorting the space around the cannon muzzle due to the violent energy!
A beam of indigo light, powerful enough to pierce through mountains, tore through the wind and snow, carrying a destructive dragon's might, and pierced straight into the faintly visible, icy blue vertical pupil deep within the dark clouds!
Just as this cannon shot, powerful enough to shake even the gods, was about to blast into the dark clouds—
"唳——!!!"
A piercing cry that seemed to penetrate the soul erupted from the shadows of the iceberg! A pale purple figure flashed before the path of the light cannon at a speed beyond the reach of sight!
It's the champion of the Thousand Islands - Galarian Articuno from Risvald!
Its slit-like ice-blue pupils burst forth with tangible super-powerful light, and its wings flapped forward with a sudden burst!
In an instant, an invisible superpower was formed, creating a wall of superpower energy that stretched across the heavens and the earth!
Genesect's devastating dragon-type beam cannon slammed into the prism wall!
“Sizzle——!!!”
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a teeth-grinding, sharp sound of energy friction!
The indigo dragon energy was forcibly deflected and decomposed by the super-energy prism!
The violent stream of light, like waves crashing against rocks, transformed into countless tiny streaks of light that scattered and splashed in all directions, carving deep ravines into the surrounding ice plains, yet ultimately failing to touch the dark clouds in the slightest!
"Hmph! Tang Jingchuan! I underestimated you!" Lisgu's icy voice, transmitted through the megaphone carried by Bald Eagle Na, pierced the eardrums of everyone on the battlefield like an ice pick.
He and another champion, Manji, finally emerged slowly from the shadow of the iceberg, hovering behind the Galar Articuno, facing off against Tang Jingchuan from a distance.
Manji was surrounded by a pale purple aura, and his lips curled into an undisguised sarcasm: "Chinese champion, instead of putting out the fire at home, you come to our territorial waters to stir up trouble? And you even dare to attack the core of the Dark Cloud? Do you think the wrath of Kyurem isn't burning hot enough, and want to drag our Thousand Islands Nation down with you?"
The Galar Slowking floated silently beside her, its ink-like poisonous mist energy slowly spreading out, like a venomous snake poised to strike, quietly blocking Tang Jingchuan's possible detour towards the Thousand Islands.
Facing the intimidation of the two champions, Tang Jingchuan remained unfazed, his voice booming and clear across the battlefield: "Stirring up trouble? Using such insidious methods as the 'Snow Concealment Self-Destruction Tactic' to harm our soldiers on the Chinese defense line! Lis Valley! Controlling blizzards and directing the suicide attacks of Duoduo Ice—besides your domestic champion, who else could execute such tactics with such mastery?!"
"You're spouting nonsense!" Ries Valley's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and the vulture beneath him let out a threatening growl.
"When China suffers a disaster, you resort to slandering neighboring countries? I think you're trying to divert domestic pressure, or even... weaken our country through Kyurem!"
He made no mention of the "Snow Cloak Self-Destruct" tactic, but the even stronger psychic energy emanating from Galar Articuno seemed poised to ignite a battle between champions at any moment.
Just as the two champions were engaged in a heated debate, their attention fully focused on each other—
"call out--!"
A faint, almost imperceptible sound of something cutting through the air was perfectly masked by the raging wind and snow!
About 100 meters behind Tang Jingchuan, in a seemingly empty snow-covered area, space suddenly distorted!
A frozen bird, its feathers sculpted like the purest sapphire and its body shrouded in near-perfect optical camouflage, suddenly appeared without warning!
The moment it appeared, its wings had already gathered a terrifying chill capable of freezing the soul! Its target was Tang Jingchuan's unsuspecting back!
Absolute zero!
A legendary, deadly technique of the ice element! Once it hits, the creature will instantly be turned into an eternal ice sculpture!
This strike was perfect in timing, angle, and concealment! It capitalized on the moment when Tang Jingchuan was completely distracted by the two champions!
The manipulator clearly has a deep understanding of the limits of a champion-level expert's perception!
"Watch out, champion!!" Lin Tao, who was engaged in a fierce battle amidst the ice-type waves below, roared in fury, his eyes wide with rage!
Tang Jingchuan seemed completely oblivious, still facing Ris Valley and Manji.
However, just as the freezing cold was about to touch Tang Jingchuan's winter coat—
"Whoosh—!"
The black-clad figure who had been guarding Duan Suyue suddenly unleashed a blinding dark light in its eyes!
"Dark Dark Strike!"
The ultimate Dark-type attack skill was activated! The space behind Duan Guanjun was instantly enveloped by an invisible layer of Dark-type energy!
Within the evil energy, the martial arts bear master, with the energy compressed to its limit, suddenly threw a punch, and black and red intertwined to form a huge fist that charged forward!
"Crack!!!"
The absolute zero cold air slammed into the black and red fist!
The skill vibrated violently, and the absolute zero energy beam was instantly covered with spider web-like cracks, seemingly about to break under the strain!
Although it wasn't directly broken, the terrifyingly low temperature still permeated through the cracks!
The overlord butterfly beneath Tang Jingchuan was the first to be hit. Thick layers of ice instantly formed on the edges of its huge wings, and it let out a painful cry before its body sank sharply downwards!
Tang Jingchuan then "realized" and turned around to look at the Articuno in its normal form, which had missed its attack and was about to use its Snow Cloak ability to disappear again!
His eyes blazed with a furious rage: "A Snow Cloak Articuno?! Damn it! It really is you! Casanova!!"
With Tang Jingchuan's roar, and amidst the slightly regretful gazes of Lis Valley and Manji, a lean man with dark skin, wearing a Southeast Asian-style short-sleeved shirt, slowly emerged from the shadows of the iceberg, flanking the two ice ghosts!
"Kasavan! You missed your chance!"
Mandina's voice, tinged with a seductive and ingratiating tone, rang out. She didn't feel any inappropriateness in attacking the Chinese champion; she only felt regret for not being able to deliver a decisive blow.
Kasavan ignored Manji's flattering words, staring at Tang Jingchuan with a sinister look, and then looked back at Duan Guanjun, who had just stopped him.
Speaking in heavily accented Common Tongue: "Tang Jingchuan, your bugs have been hopping around on the ice plains for too long. Duan Suyue, you hateful Chinese. The hunt... begins."
As he moved, more Ice-type Pokémon figures, exuding powerful auras, began to appear and disappear from the shadows of the iceberg.
Among them were powerful Ice Demon Guardians and Frozen Bears, and even ghostly shadows flickering in the distance! He was not alone!
The battlefield situation changed drastically in an instant!
Chinese champions (Tang Jingchuan and Duan Suyue)!
Three champions from the Thousand Islands (Liskov, Manti, and Casavan)!
And, deep within the dark clouds, lies the frost dragon (Kyurem), brimming with devastating fury!
The three forces clashed violently in the air above this deadly sea soaked in blood and ice, all because of Tang Jingchuan's "luring the snake out of its hole" plan!
The fragile balance has been completely shattered, and a greater chaos and deadly situation has only just begun!