Pokémon: I just became a Gym Leader, and Cynthia proposed to me.

Chapter 789 A true master always retains the heart of an apprentice.

On the scree slope of the road to victory, summer's gaze changed.

No longer the gentle, shy boy he once was, but a burning, earnest, and determined light.

"Mr. Shuwen, please give it your all. Not just a casual fight, but your full strength. I want my Pokémon to break through, and I also want my psychic power, Mantra, to break through."

Jin Baosan peeked out from behind the rock.

"Brother Tian, ​​keep it up! You're ranked 99th on the OK charts! Show your spirit!"

His voice was trembling.

Summer took a deep breath and threw the Poké Ball.

The coal turtle emerged from the white light, its shell covered with a thick rocky carapace, and its limbs as thick as pillars.

The coal turtle's eyes are not fierce, but calm, like a stone that has been warming by a stove for a long time.

Li Shuwen raised his hand and threw out the Poké Ball.

The Poison Skull Frog emerged from the white light, arms crossed, a signature smile playing on its lips.

The Poison Skull Frog looked at the Coal Turtle, tilted its head, and stared at it as if it were examining a piece of tofu ready to be cut.

"Coal Turtle, Iron Wall—Use Flame Vortex by retracting your limbs into your shell!" Summer's voice carried a strange rhythm, each word like a chant.

The coal turtle retracts its limbs and head into its shell, which shines with a metallic luster, fitting together perfectly and airtight.

Then the Coal Turtle began to spin, and vortexes of flame spewed out from the gaps in its shell, enveloping its entire body in a swirling ball of blazing fire.

The Coal Turtle, like a spinning top on fire, rushed towards the Poison Skull Frog at lightning speed.

"Vacuum wave." Li Shuwen's voice was as calm as still water.

The Poison Skull Frog raised its hand and swung its fist repeatedly, and an invisible wave of air gathered and shaped, striking the spinning flames.

The surging air currents directly dispersed the vortex of flames, sending them flying in all directions.

The coal turtle's rotation slowed down, and the firelight on its shell flickered.

The Poison Skull Frog lunged forward, its right palm glowing with a white light.

Splitting tiles.

One palm strike, two palm strikes, three palm strikes!

The coal turtle was shaken out of its shell and rolled several times on the ground.

He looked somewhat disheveled.

"Smoke!" Xia Tian's voice rose.

The coal turtle opened its mouth, and scalding hot smoke billowed from deep within its throat, enveloping the poisonous skull frog.

Without even blinking, Toxapex charged through the thick smoke to Coalossal, its right fist glowing with the white light of a Exploding Fist, and slammed into Coalossal's abdomen.

The coal turtle was knocked away, crashed into a rock, bounced up, and then fell again.

He lay prone among the rubble, the red light emanating from his turtle-shell vest beginning to waveguide, and black smoke billowing from the corner of his mouth.

But Torkoal didn't faint. He struggled to his feet, even though he was trembling all over. He couldn't let his trainer down.

Summer's eyes reddened. "Coal Turtle, we haven't lost yet! Burn to ashes, bring out all the flames!"

"Let Mr. Shuwen feel our power!"

The coal turtle's eyes lit up.

With a long cry, the Coal Turtle opened its mouth, and a blinding white light shone from deep within its throat. A thick pillar of fire spewed from its mouth, so hot that the surrounding air distorted.

Jin Baosan clenched his fist, "Brother Tian, ​​yes, that's how you fight!"

Li Shuwen raised an eyebrow, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Swallow Returns!"

The Poison Skull Frog's figure drew an arc in the air as it used the Swallow Return technique.

It cut in from the side of the pillar of fire in an arc, and the Coal Turtle couldn't keep up with it at all. It burned out and swept past the Poison Skull Frog.

The Poison Skull Frog circled behind the Coal Turtle and punched it in the back.

The power in his fist was a combination of the speed of Swallow Return and the force of Explosive Punch. Coal Turtle lay on the ground, its eyes finally closing.

But the corners of his mouth were turned up.

The final burst of combustion just now had pushed the Coal Turtle beyond its limits.

In the summer, I squatted down and gently stroked the coal turtle's charred shell.

"You've already tried your best."

He recalled Torkoal into its Poké Ball and looked at Li Shuwen. "Torkoal, I'm counting on you from now on."

The guardian dragon emerged from the white light, its head shield resembling a massive shield with edges as sharp as knives.

His body was as heavy as a mountain, his limbs as thick as pillars, and his eyes as steady as iron.

Standing there, silent and still, it was like a thick, imposing city wall.

Li Shuwen recalled his Toxapex and threw out a second Poké Ball.

Cong Youbing emerged from the white light, his spear pointing diagonally at the ground, his posture composed.

Looking at the city's guardian dragon, it nodded slightly, as if in a gesture of respect.

"Iron Head," Xia Tian gave the order first.

The city-guarding dragon lowered its head, and its shield shone with a blinding white light as it charged towards the Onion Warrior.

It was fast and powerful, carving a shallow trench in the ground wherever it went.

"Iron Wall," Li Shuwen said calmly.

The Onion Warrior held his shield in front of him, the emerald green shield gleaming with a metallic sheen.

The dragon's head shield slammed into the shield with a loud bang!

The onion soldier remained completely still.

Summer's eyes were filled with surprise.

"Splitting tiles," Li Shuwen said.

"Iron Wall!"

The shield of the city-guarding dragon suddenly lit up.

The Onion Soldier swung his spear suddenly, the shaft wreathed in white light, and struck the shield of the city dragon.

boom!

The city-guarding dragon was swept aside several steps, leaving a white mark on its shield.

Summer's eyes widened. "Iron Wall—Full Power Defense!"

The guardian dragon's body shone with a metallic luster, increasing its defensive capabilities.

"Meteor Strike!"

Onion Soldiers fired again, rapidly releasing their energy.

The spear transformed into a white meteor, piercing straight into the chest of the city-guarding dragon.

The city dragon parried with its head shield, but the spear tip pierced through the shield's defense, sending the dragon flying. It tumbled in the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

Jin Baosan swallowed hard. "The difference is just too big..."

A-Liu stood to the side, her gaze never leaving the arena. "This is Mr. Shuwen's normal strength. In the Sinnoh region, he'd be at least in the top ten."

The city guard dragon got up from the ground. He didn't fall down; he was unwilling to just fall like that.

His body shone with a metallic luster once more, his iron walls and defensive capabilities were enhanced once more.

The city guard dragon could feel that his body had reached its limit, but he did not want to give up.

Summer's voice trembled, "Guardian Dragons, how much have we endured along the way? Today, right here, let them see our power!"

The dragon's eyes lit up, and its head shield glowed.

Unleash the power within your body in a more intense and violent way, and your body will radiate a dazzling light—a powerful impact!

They charged toward the Onion Soldiers with a thunderous roar.

Onion Soldiers' eyes flashed with admiration, and they began to move as well.

With another meteor strike, the spear transformed into a white meteor, heading head-on towards the oncoming iron wall.

Two beams of white light collided, exploding into a blinding shockwave.

The city-guarding dragon was blasted away, bounced twice on the ground, and the earth trembled violently. The city-guarding dragon's eyes were closed.

Become unconscious.

Cong Youbing landed smoothly, his spear pointing diagonally at the ground, his posture composed, his chest rising and falling slightly.

Summer recalled the guardian dragon, remained silent for a moment, and lingered on the Poké Ball for a long time.

"Guardian Dragon, you did the best!"

Then he looked up, his gaze falling on Li Shuwen. "Dorombaluto, the last match is your chance."

Dorombalto emerged from the white light, its slender figure resembling a stealth fighter jet.

Its eyes are sharp as knives, and its tail sways gently behind it, as if it could disappear into thin air at any moment.

Li Shuwen recalled his Farfetch'd and threw out his third Poké Ball.

The abandoned monkey emerged from the white light, arms crossed, a smile on its lips, as if it had seen an interesting toy.

"Surprise attack by stealth!" Xia Tian ordered.

Dorombalut's figure disappeared from the spot.

The abandoned monkey squinted its eyes, suddenly turned around, and its right fist glowed with a scarlet light—the Fist of Wrath.

He slammed his fist into a patch of void to his side, and just as his fist landed, Dorambaruto emerged from the void.

He sent Dorombalto flying with a single punch.

"Dance of the Dragon," Xia Tian's voice rose.

Dorombalut steadied himself in mid-air and began to spin.

The Abandoned Monkey's right fist glowed crimson again as it unleashed a furious punch at Dralongbaruto in mid-air.

Dorambaruto forcibly changed direction while spinning, trying to avoid the Abandoned Monkey's punch, but the Fist of Wrath was too fast and directly knocked it back several meters.

"Dragon Arrow." Xia Tian gritted his teeth.

Doronbalut's tail glowed with a deep purple light, and two dazzling dragon arrows shot out from the tips of its tail, striking the chest of the Abandoned Monkey.

The abandoned monkey straightened its chest and bravely took both dragon arrows.

The arrow exploded in its chest, blasting out two balls of purple light. The Abandoned Monkey's body swayed, but it did not retreat, nor did it even close its eyes.

It looked at Dorombalto, its eyes clearly saying: Is this all the power you have?

Dorombalut's eyes reddened.

Its body was enveloped in deep blue dragon energy, transforming into a ferocious dragon—the Dragon God Dive, its power at least 30% greater than before.

The Abandoned Monkey's right fist glowed crimson again, the power of the Fist of Wrath expanding once more. With a single punch, a crimson beam of light sent the blue dragon flying backward.

"Push harder," Li Shuwen said.

The Abandoned Monkey's grin widened as it watched the Doronbaluto tumbling through the air.

Dorambaruto steadied himself and began to spin—Dragon Dance, faster and more rapid than before.

Summer was trembling with excitement. "Dorambaruto, break through! Break through your own limits! I believe in you!"

Dorambaruto's spinning became faster and faster, and the light of the Dragon Dance grew brighter and brighter.

It broke through—both speed and power were elevated to unprecedented heights.

The dragon god swooped down with tremendous force, twice as thick and twice as fast as before.

The Abandoned Monkey's right fist glowed crimson again, but this time, the light did not radiate outwards.

It compresses all its anger, all its power, and all its fighting spirit into its fist, so restrained that there is not a trace of fluctuation.

Jin Baosan exclaimed in amazement, "Dragon Dance by Dorambaruto has improved so much!"

A-Liu nodded, "He already has half the flair of Mr. Shuwen's Dragon Dance."

The blue dragon clashed with the scarlet fist.

There was no loud explosion, only a muffled thud, like a hot knife cutting into butter.

Dorombalut was thrown backward from the explosion, crashed to the ground, bounced twice, then once more, and slid several meters.

His eyes were closed, his tail drooped limply, and there was a dark fist mark on his chest.

Summer stared at the fallen Dorombalto and remained silent for a long time.

Then he squatted down and gently stroked its head. "We haven't lost yet, stand up."

Dorombalut did not move.

Summer didn't give up. She continued, her voice very soft, "We've come so far, trained for so long, and sweated so much. Are you satisfied?"

Dorombalut's eyelids twitched. It struggled to stand with its eyes closed, but its body wouldn't obey its commands.

Li Shuwen spoke up. "Xia Tian, ​​your Pokémon are very well-trained, each one is very solid. But they lack a certain passion, they're not energetic enough in battle."

"Perhaps we should start with you, the trainer, and ignite your passion and will. A trainer's emotions can influence Pokémon and improve their battle strength."

Summer was stunned.

He looked down at his hands, at the hand that was still holding the Dragapult Poké Ball.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again.

The tension and hesitation in his eyes were gone, replaced by a calm and resolute light.

"Thank you, Mr. Shuwen."

Li Shuwen nodded, then looked at A Liu.

"Ah Liu, you too. Your Pokémon are very strong, but you're too cautious, so cautious that you lack passion."

"Pokémon need to feel your heart in order to unleash their true power."

He threw out a Poké Ball, and Kommo-o appeared from a white light.

He turned to look at A-Liu. "Come on, A-Liu, send out your hunting swallowtail butterfly."

"I will show you and Summer the true Dragon Dance, and how to engage your own emotions and those of your Pokémon."

Ah Liu decisively sent out hunting swallowtail butterflies.

"Hunting Swallowtail Butterfly, Air Slash!"

The hunting swallowtail butterfly flapped its wings, and silver wind blades swiftly slashed out.

"Dragon Dance!"

The staff-tailed armored dragon danced lightly, the swift wind blades never even glancing at its edge.

"Shadowball!"

"Dragon Dance!"

The Staff-tailed Armored Dragon continued to dance, dodging the attack of the Hunting Butterfly.

Ah Liu clenched her fist, "Swallow Return!"

……

"Paralyzing powder!"

……

It didn't work! It still didn't work!

A masterful dragon dance, effortlessly dodging all attacks.

A-Liu took a deep breath, "Hunting Swallowtail Butterfly, Ultimate Impact."

The Kommo-o-Tai stood in the center of the field and suddenly closed its eyes.

Li Shuwen also closed his eyes, and the power of waveguide surged within his body.

When he opened his eyes again, they shone with a deep blue light.

That wasn't the power of waveguides; it was fighting spirit and determination.

"Morphodon, let them see our bond! Fiery Soul Dance, Sonic Boom!"

The eyes of the Staff-tailed Armored Dragon lit up, and its body began to dance.

It's not your average Dragon Dance, with its scale noises and soul-stirring sonic booms; it's the Blazing Soul Dance, which ignites the very soul of the Staff-tailed Armored Dragon.

The scales trembled, each scale releasing a sonic wave.

The sound waves converged into a blazing purple torrent, sweeping towards the Hunting Swallowtail Butterfly.

The ultimate attack of the hunting swallowtail butterfly collided with the purple torrent and crumbled upon contact.

The torrent engulfed her figure and blasted her away.

The hunting swallowtail butterfly landed on the ground, its wings drooping limply, its eyes closed, but the corners of its mouth were turned up; it was smiling.

Summer's mouth was agape, and Jin Baosan's jaw almost dropped to the ground.

"This...this...this..."

"That's incredibly powerful! Is this really a move a Pokémon could use?"

A-Liu stood in the center of the arena, looking at the staff-tailed scaled dragon and the purple sound wave that had not yet completely dissipated, and remained silent for a long time.

Jin Baosan's voice was barely audible, "Mr. Shuwen... if you're so strong, why did you change your approach and come to the Road to the Championship?"

Li Shuwen recalled the Staff-Tailed Scaled Dragon and looked at the distant, cloud-shrouded mountain peak.

He was silent for a moment, then laughed.

"A true master always has the heart of a student. Although I am not yet a master, I feel that I should do so."

The setting sun cast long, long shadows of the four people.

On the road to the championship, Li Shuwen's figure appeared both exceptionally small and exceptionally tall in the afterglow of the setting sun.