novelraw Chapter 442 In the Land of Wind and Soil
Chapter 442 In the Land of Wind and Soil
Chapter 444 In the Land of Wind and Soil
As Archie sailed across the sea between Hoenn and Unova, he was convinced that he could blend into the shadows of this distant land.
Leveraging the wealth he'd accumulated through years of smuggling and the intelligence network he'd built during his time at Hoenn TV, he initially believed Team Aqua could easily infiltrate this area and become a third force independent of the United States League and Team Plasma—
Even if things escalate to the worst possible point, at least we won't have to continue getting into endless disputes with those earth worshippers with vastly different beliefs, just like we did back in our hometown.
However, reality did not go as planned. After accepting the alliance with Team Plasma, which was only based on words, he now faced an opponent who was most skilled at controlling Ground-type Pokémon.
"Dragon-headed groundhog, 'Straight-through drill!'"
With the man's calm command, the massive steel drill bit suddenly cleaved through the sea of sand and roared out.
The Thousand-Faced Avoid Wolf Fox, who had previously made contributions in sniping operations, jumped away, but ultimately could not outrun the opponent's speed, which was greatly increased due to the "Sand-Sweeping" property.
The edge of the drill bit grazed its right leg, and its slender body immediately lost its balance and was violently thrown away.
Who would have thought that this "desert" battlefield, now shrouded in yellow sand, was once a lush wetland?
However, with the addition of excessive sand and rocks thrown by Kiku, the "sandstorm" caused by multiple Pokémon has formed such a huge sea of sand that it has completely buried the original swamp and grass!
Fortunately, the dust kicked up by Pokémon moves dissipates naturally after the battle, preventing permanent damage to the Snowflake Wetlands. However, a large amount of fine sand seeps deep into the soil, irreversibly robbing it of moisture.
Before the next rainy season arrives, this land covered in sand will likely struggle to sprout new greenery.
Right now, the sandstorm is still raging, and visibility is so low that you can't even see your hand in front of your face.
The traps and lurking Pokémon that had been set up beforehand were completely useless. The Team Aqua members could only fight on their own, and were attacked from above by the Unova Flying-type Gym Leader, who was high above Dust Cloud, using ranged attacks to move around them like a helpless flock of sheep.
With the continuous energy supply from dozens of sandy rocks, even changing the weather has become a luxury.
Left with no other choice, Mizuki, Ushio, and a few other core members of the Water Fleet who were still able to maintain their fighting strength had to take the initiative to try to clear away the rocks that formed the core of the "sandstorm" one by one.
But that's easier said than done.
More than sixty rocks, scattered from the sky, lay scattered haphazardly within the sand dunes, their surroundings further concealed by the energy of the ground and rocks disturbed by the "sandstorm." Their water-type Pokémon, adept at wreaking havoc in oceans and rivers, found themselves practically helpless in this environment.
At this moment, even Water Archie herself was in trouble. "Found it, it's at the nine o'clock position. Thousand Faces Refugee, get up quickly and use 'Water Gun'!"
"You actually had the energy to dismantle props while fighting me?"
Wearing dust goggles, Boss Ju pressed down on the brim of his cowboy hat, which was being whipped around by the gale, and said in a voice as cold and hard as if carved from rock, "Dragon Head Groundhog, '100,000 Horsepower'!"
"Use 'acrobatics' to dodge it!" Shui Wutong shouted angrily.
"It's no use. Didn't you see the injury on its leg?"
The "King of Mines" let out a chuckle.
Although Archie, who wasn't wearing goggles, couldn't clearly see the minor wounds on his own Pokémon on the sandstorm-swept battlefield, he didn't mind shattering his opponent's remaining confidence with words.
"Dragon Head Mole, deliver the final blow—'Iron Head'!"
Amidst the surging sand waves, the Dragon Head Ground Rat approached the Thousand-Faced Avoid with lightning speed, like a bolt of metal lightning, and suddenly appeared before it.
Before Inteleon could even unleash its "Water Gun" attack, a heavy headbutt slammed out from the side, determined to completely crush the already injured Pokémon.
However, Shui Wutong remained unmoved, indifferently ignoring her and saying, "Hmph, she was just a useless pawn to begin with."
Almost at the same moment that the Thousand-Faced Avoid collapsed and fainted, a jet-black dorsal fin suddenly pierced out of the yellow sand beside it. In a second, the dorsal fin flipped over, and the sand waves exploded, revealing a blood-red maw full of sharp teeth.
It's a trap!
"Megatus, 'Water Break'!" Water Archie's command was even deliberately a beat slower than her partner's action, waiting for this moment of surprise.
Unfortunately, this scheme backfired—"Save your energy—I heard all the noise you made in the sand!"
Ju Laoda's figure emerged from the swirling dust and wind. He raised his thick, rock-like fingers and pointed to a half-hidden, already opened dark sphere in the sandy battlefield.
The next moment, a giant blue hand covered in tumor-like protrusions suddenly emerged from the sand and gripped the Megalodon's side fin tightly. The Toad King, capable of sensing vibrations and space through its tumor-like growths, revealed its enormous size.
But Archie's reaction was equally decisive. As the situation changed, a net shot flew out of her hand, unleashing a powerful attack: "Ice Fang!"
The battle situation changed rapidly, and at the same time, the gym leader's command rang out: "Switch sides! Excadrill, use Metal Claw to intercept!"
"Don't even think about it! Megalodon, use 'Taunt'!"
Amidst the yellow sand, Shui Wutong endured the stinging pain from the sand and tried her best to keep her eyes wide open to observe the battle situation; at this moment, her eyes were already bloodshot.
He was not without experience in desert warfare—he had previously fought against a branch of the Lava Team in a similar desert environment, but at that time he had not encountered the leader or officers of the opposing organization, and the intensity of the battle was far greater than it was now.
At his command, Megalodon broke free from the Toad King's grip and let out a strange, contemptuous roar at Dragonhead Grub.
The "provocation" worked!
The dragon-headed gopher, which had locked onto the Dianthus sea lion, suddenly froze, its attack abruptly reversed. Its "metal claws," which were disadvantageous to water-based creatures, slammed into the Megalodon's "rough skin" covered in thorns, producing a series of ear-piercing scraping sounds.
The toad king, now without cover, was precisely bitten on the back of the neck by the Dianthus sea lion's fierce "Frozen Fang," letting out a painful growl.
"Press the attack!" Archie's command followed immediately. "Use 'Mount Tai Press' like that! Megalodon, 'Water Jet'!"
"It's meaningless."
Ju Laoda simply shook his head calmly.
"In the end, you're just fighting with your eyes closed. As the Gym Leader of Sailba City in the Unova region, I have no reason to lose to an opponent like this—Excadrill. Use that move."
Before the words were even finished, the dragon-headed exploding grub, which had just been struck by the Megalodon, used the recoil to leap out of the sand, suddenly raising its metallic claws and slamming them down onto the ground—
"earthquake"!
Boom! ...
During the foggy period, violent shockwaves, accompanied by towering sandstorms, engulfed everything.
When vision is completely obscured, everything is plunged into a dark and chaotic state.
In the darkness, only the dull stomping and heavy thuds of those detestable ground-type elves echoed one after another, like a chaotic drumbeat pounding on the heart.
As the sandstorm subsided, Water Wutong barely opened her eyes and saw that the Megalodon had been violently thrown far away, covered in mud and in a terrible state.
On the other side, although Deinjac used its thick layer of fat to withstand most of the damage, it was tightly entangled by Toad King—the Unova Pokémon's "Poisonous Hand" ability had been triggered, and the toxins were gradually eroding Deinjac's stamina along its blood vessels, making it difficult to sustain a prolonged battle.
"How is it? Are you satisfied with this 'terroir' of the Unova region?"
Boss Ju slowly walked out from the still-settled dust, as if the earth-shaking tremor just now was nothing more than a routine blasting test in his mine.
Shui Wutong shoved a mouthful of sand onto the ground and sneered, "Haven't you noticed yet?"
He raised his hand and pointed directly at the sky. Suddenly, a small gap of azure blue was torn open in the dim yellow sand clouds.
In the distance, the Thousand-Faced Beastman, who was thought to have already fainted, was stubbornly standing with his battered body.
Around it, nine sandy rocks, firmly sealed by the "Frozen Wind," lay scattered on the ground, indicating that this "agent" had successfully completed its entrusted mission.
Under this small patch of blue sky, the sandstorm temporarily subsided, and the ever-accumulating yellow sand finally stopped pouring down.
Once the mineral dust settles, the groundwater will inevitably flow again.
Shui Wutong slowly moved her wrists, her knuckles making a crisp sound. "Now, it's my turn to take over this open space."