Chapter 181: The Impending Prelude

Chapter 181: The Impending Prelude

At the critical moment, the old man Akagi showed no panic at all.

A white light flashed, and Infernape, bathed in fighting spirit, shot out and, with one punch, blasted away all the bursting flames before it!

And Charizard spread its wings, shielding the old man Akagi from the scattered sparks.

"Infernape, [Mach Punch]!"

In an instant, multiple phantoms appeared inside the volcano. The sonic booms caused by breaking the sound barrier rang out frequently.

In just a short moment, the Slugma, as if struck by some unknown force, were sent flying backwards one after another.

"!"

The members of Team Magma, who had been silent, couldn't help but show a look of surprise in the face of such a swift attack from Infernape.

"Swoosh." All the phantoms merged into one. Infernape returned from extreme speed to stillness, half-squatting in front of the old man Akagi, relaxing its hands by opening and closing them to relieve the stiffness from the punches just now, as well as the burning pain entwined around its fists.

Slugma, as its name implied, had a body composed of lava, with an extremely high temperature. Even though Infernape was a Fire-type Pokémon, when its flesh-and-blood fists came into contact with a Slugma, it was inevitable to be burned by the extreme heat on its surface.

However, the faint pain greatly stimulated Infernape's nerves. In the eyes of the three Team Magma members opposite, the bright light shooting from this monkey's eyes made them all unable to help but take half a step back.

"Who are you people?"

The old man Akagi had a guess in his heart but still asked in a deep voice.

The members of Team Magma did not answer, silently striking their right fist against their open left palm.

The familiar action made the old man Akagi's heart tighten.

"It really is you!"

His rich life experience naturally also allowed the old man Akagi to recognize the action these people had just made. Recalling the disaster that had swept through the entire Middel Region ten years ago, the old man Akagi couldn't help but shout sternly, "Are you now trying to replicate the cataclysm from ten years ago... Not good!"

He instantly realized.

The organization that was hidden behind the scenes ten years ago has appeared here. Doesn't that mean...

The giant red shadow, leaving a trail of barren land for thousands of miles wherever it passed—scene after scene surged up from the depths of his memory. This was a terrifying memory in the hearts of all the people of the Middel Region, and a deep, lingering nightmare.

The old man Akagi stared intently at the deepest part of the volcano.

He no longer planned to delay.

"Partner, Infernape, let's go together! We need to get to the deepest part of the volcano as soon as possible!"

Several Houndour and a Magmar were summoned by the Team Magma members, furiously spitting flames at Charizard and Infernape.

Hearing the old man Akagi's command, Infernape unhesitatingly took a step forward, and at the same time, stared at those restless Pokémon with eyes full of ferocious aura.

[Leer]!

It was a move that almost any Pokémon with eyes could naturally comprehend. It had no gorgeous effects, no super-strong power, only a simple and unadorned effect: to make the opponent fearful with a sharp gaze, thereby lowering the opponent's defense.

But such a simple move, under Infernape's peerless fighting spirit, also became a super-strong move that made the opposing Pokémon feel fear in their hearts.

"Oof..."

As if intimidated, the Houndour and Magmar whimpered and cowered, their bodies even trembling.

What made them even more afraid was the terrifying pressure that suddenly erupted from that giant dragon!

Just then, an even louder sound came from the depths of the volcano.

Suddenly, in the mist pervading the volcano's interior, a blade-like sharp claw attacked in an instant!

…

In the deepest part of the volcano.

It was almost an ocean of lava, with only a few small patches of land connecting to the path into the volcano.

The high-level members of Team Magma were almost all gathered here.

"…"

The leader, Red Flame, was currently sitting with her eyes closed.

In front of her, nearly 100 stones were arranged. These stones were not the kind you could see everywhere on the roadside. Their appearance was amber, and in the core of the stone, a seemingly eternal flame was burning. It was one of the unique energy stones of the Pokémon world—the Fire Stone.

The Fire Stone was not particularly rare, but its production was not high, so its price was relatively expensive.

If Rio were here, he would definitely be so surprised his mouth would hang open.

It should be known that back then, the energy of just two Water Stones could evolve a Hegemon-level Pokémon. And here there were nearly 100 Fire Stones. One could imagine what a huge amount of energy that was.

Several of Team Magma's executives were quietly watching this scene.

In their eyes, the placed Fire Stones were continuously emitting thread-like energy, which then flowed into the lava in front. And the lava was churning and undulating, as if something wanted to break free from its cage, wanting to escape.

The sound of battle from the entrance distracted several of the executives.

Liya, who had always maintained a meticulous appearance, frowned.

"Have we been discovered?"

Liya glanced at the leader, Red Flame, then turned and said to the tall and burly Fire Wing, "The leader has now reached the most critical moment and cannot be disturbed. Fire Wing, go and stop the intruders."

"If necessary, you can eliminate the intruders!"

"Anyway, after today's matter is accomplished, we will no longer need to hide our names."

Fire Wing turned and, together with that ferocious Incineroar, disappeared into the mist.

…

On Fiery Volcano, the Volcanic Hot Spring Celebration was still in progress.

Rampardos, facing Frogadier, used its most proficient move—[Headbutt].

Using the hardest and most prominent part of its entire body, its skull, the [Headbutt] it unleashed had considerable power.

Frogadier calmly watched the furiously charging Rampardos, quietly waiting for its trainer's command.

"Frogadier, [Bubble]!"

The youth's command arrived in time.

The charging Rampardos suddenly felt its body become slippery.

In the brief moment of its charge, it barely managed to see that a large pile of crystal-clear bubbles was stuck to its body, which made it, as a Rock-type, feel somewhat uncomfortable.

However, compared to other high-power Water-type moves, Rampardos reckoned it could still handle a [Bubble] attack. So it simply ignored the bubbles that were almost blocking its vision and continued to charge fiercely towards Frogadier.

"Snap!"

Red snapped his fingers, a triumphant smile appearing on his lips.

"Ram... Pard?!! (Pokémon Language) Watch me ram you to death... Ugh, ahhh?!!"

Rampardos, which was speaking harsh words in Pokémon language, suddenly slipped and its entire Pokémon self crashed to the side.

Following it was the Frogadier that had already leaped high into the air.

"Here's our chance! Frogadier, [Waterfall]!"

Its entire body wrapped in surging water, Frogadier descended from the sky with soaring momentum!

"Boom!" Water splashed open. What was left was only Frogadier, still standing with its arms crossed, and the dizzy Rampardos on the ground.

Red made a gun shape with his finger and made a shooting motion at the dejected Trainer C.

"Bang! The victor is decided! The battle is over!"

On Trainer C's wristband, the last green light went out!

And Míng Rìzhào, on the side, who still had some energy to observe Red, couldn't help but complain, "This guy, how come he becomes so flamboyant when he battles?"

In front of the girl, the crescent-shaped Lunatone and the Corphish that had been waving its pincers energetically just now had both collapsed on the ground, having lost their ability to battle.

Eevee panted, but still walked up like a big boss, patting the Lunatone and Corphish with its soft little paws.

"Eevee~ Eevee~"

Cheer up, little bros. The future is yours.

Míng Rìzhào facepalmed.

"How come my Bubu is also like this?"

Then she still opened her arms to welcome the Eevee that was walking over with a swagger.

"Eevee?"

Eevee, in Míng Rìzhào's arms, opened its large, watery eyes wide.

"Alright, alright. You don't have to take a bath with water for the next few days."

Looking at the excitedly娇 (acting cute/spoiled) Eevee, Míng Rìzhào "smiled coldly" in her heart: Hmph, hmph, but I didn't say I wouldn't use the hot spring to wash you. A hot spring and water aren't the same thing.

Returning to the scene, the three trainers dejectedly walked towards the exit of Fiery Volcano.

Although the three of them had exploited a loophole in the rules, trying to team up to snipe other contestants to gain an advantage, after facing their own defeat, they also left cleanly, without staying behind to make a scene.

This was also the current situation for a large number of trainers. They weren't good people, but they couldn't be called bad people either. Most of them followed some inherent trainer principles.

However, those evil organizations that attempted to subvert the entire world, the ones inside them were not trainers like this.

…

As the lava surged more and more violently, the temperature also became higher and higher.

Under the expectant gazes of everyone in Team Magma.

"Pop!"

An orb, shimmering with a vermilion light, abruptly rose from the lava!