-095- The Broken Helm! (3/3)

Most adult Broken Helm Wheels are above level forty, with many having even surpassed the level fifty cap. These creatures are exceedingly rare, dwelling primarily in the depths of the sea. Capturing one is no simple feat.

It is said that when an adult Broken Helm Wheel swings its anchor with full force, it can even knock out a Roaring Whale King in a single blow. Such is the extent of its formidable power.

"It looks like this will be a tough battle," Tong Si began to grow cautious.

"What’s wrong? Scared?" Song Xuyang laughed heartily, clearly delighted at the look of surprise on Tong Si’s face. Soon, he hoped to see an expression of agony when Tong Si lost the match. Song Xuyang was already imagining the scene when Tong Si’s Electric Sprite fell.

"Let the match begin," Zhu Di interrupted Song Xuyang directly.

"Broken Helm Wheel, use Switcheroo!"

The battle had barely begun when Song Xuyang issued his command.

"Helm…" The massive anchor of the Broken Helm Wheel was hurled forth.

"Electric Sprite, dodge with Quick Attack!" Tong Si called out.

"Beep beep!"

But just as Electric Sprite was about to move, the anchor struck it squarely.

"Beep beep?" Electric Sprite was startled—its magnet was actually pulled off its body! Not only that, but a purple orb had appeared attached to Electric Sprite.

"That’s… a Toxic Pearl!" Tong Si immediately recognized the item.

"This fellow is actually carrying a Toxic Pearl!"

Tong Si was stunned. How could a Broken Helm Wheel be carrying such a rare item? Unless… Song Xuyang had planned from the very start to use Switcheroo to swap the held items, forcing Electric Sprite into a poisoned state.

The Toxic Pearl’s power is to inflict severe poisoning on the Pokémon holding it. Such pearls aren’t even sold in stores; they’re extremely rare.

"Heh heh! Tong Si, I went to great lengths to defeat you," Song Xuyang’s eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light. He truly sought revenge. Having been beaten by Tong Si three times in a row, the proud young master of the Song family—who should have been riding high after acquiring his Pokémon—found Tong Si to be a constant stumbling block on his path to success.

A month ago, determined to win, Song Xuyang had used his family’s resources to search for a Broken Helm Wheel. Rare as it was, and living in the deep sea, capturing one was a daunting task.

After spending a fortune, he finally obtained a Broken Helm Wheel just days ago. At the same time, he leveraged his family’s influence to trade with another great clan for a Toxic Pearl. All of this, for one purpose: to eliminate Tong Si as an obstacle once and for all. Only by defeating him could Song Xuyang conquer the obsession in his heart.

"What an elaborate scheme," Tong Si thought, regarding Song Xuyang as little short of a madman.

"Electric Sprite, throw away the Toxic Pearl!" Tong Si shouted. If Electric Sprite held onto it, it would be plunged into a severe poisoned state.

"Too late!" Song Xuyang’s eyes turned cold. "Use Phantom Uproar!"

"Helm…"

Just as Electric Sprite flung the Toxic Pearl away, the Broken Helm Wheel maneuvered the pearl with a swift attack, catching Electric Sprite off guard.

"Beep beep…" Electric Sprite was struck and fell to the ground, a faint purple glow emanating from its body.

"Damn! Electric Sprite is poisoned!" Tong Si saw the purple tint on Electric Sprite and immediately knew it had been poisoned.

"This has to be a quick battle!"

"Electric Sprite, accelerate with Quick Attack and use Thunder Punch!"

"Beep beep…" Electric Sprite squinted, anger simmering within it. Its magnet, a gift from Tong Si, was now attached to the anchor of Broken Helm Wheel—it had to get it back.

"It’s useless! Broken Helm Wheel, use Gyro Ball!"

Song Xuyang laughed. From the moment Electric Sprite was poisoned, he believed victory was assured. All that remained was to stall until the poison drained Electric Sprite’s life away.

"Helm…"

Broken Helm Wheel’s own speed was not high; its Switcheroo attack had been swift only because of the anchor throw. The anchor could be hurled much faster than the creature could move itself. In the deep sea, Broken Helm Wheel would be even quicker, but on land, its speed was sluggish compared to Electric Sprite.

As Electric Sprite closed in, it unleashed a Thunder Punch that had been charging for a while. At the same moment, Broken Helm Wheel’s Gyro Ball attack was completed.

Bang!

A fierce collision reverberated with a jarring sound. Broken Helm Wheel, being a Steel-type, gained a fifty percent power boost to its Steel moves.

"Helm…" With a mighty swing, Broken Helm Wheel sent Electric Sprite flying.

Thud—

Electric Sprite crashed to the ground, bouncing several times before finally coming to a stop.

"Electric Sprite…" Tong Si called out, his mood uneasy. This opponent was in a different league from those he had faced before. Even a juvenile Broken Helm Wheel was immensely powerful, especially in physical attacks.

"I’m back. How’s the battle?" In the spectator stands, Chu Xuanxuan finally returned from the infirmary. After her battle with the Mushroom, her Cottony had been poisoned, so she had gone to the infirmary to get it treated. Once Cottony was detoxified and resting, Chu Xuanxuan hurried back, unable to rest easy without seeing the match through.

No sooner had she returned to the stands than she saw Electric Sprite lying on the ground.

"That Pokémon… isn’t that a Broken Helm Wheel?" With her considerable knowledge of Pokémon lore, Chu Xuanxuan recognized the rare creature at a glance. But such Pokémon were supposed to be extremely scarce—how did Song Xuyang come to possess one?

"This battle… Tong Si might…" Xia Yan began to speak but trailed off. Would she have to resign as homeroom teacher? Perhaps it would be for the best—a change of job might not be so bad. She’d been teaching at Jia Hua University ever since graduating, but was she truly suited to being a teacher? In truth, she’d much rather raise Pokémon and become a Pokémon breeder.

Just as Xia Yan was lost in thought, a sudden cry erupted from the battlefield.

"Beep beep…" Electric Sprite stood up, sparking with electricity.

"Electric Sprite!" Tong Si saw its determination and knew it had not given up.

"Electric Sprite, eat an energy cube!"

The battle was not over—there was no reason to give up.

"Beep beep!" Though its magnet had been stolen by Broken Helm Wheel, Electric Sprite still had its energy cube. Grabbing the powder-blue cube, it tossed it into its mouth, enduring the strange taste as it swallowed.

In moments, Electric Sprite’s stamina and life force revived, its body seemingly growing stronger. Though the poison remained, it was as though, just like being recalled into a Poké Ball, the severe poisoning had been reset to the first stage—at least, that was Tong Si’s observation based on the fading purple hue on Electric Sprite.

He quickly jotted down in his notebook: while the powder-blue energy cube couldn’t cure severe poisoning, it could at least delay the onset.

… (To be continued)