He was no hero of justice; his intervention was purely for profit.
It wasn't that he wanted to capture this pokémon.
Although Corphish's Water and Dark-type combination after evolving into Crawdaunt would fit Jiang Han's Dark-type team.
However, Jiang Han already had another candidate in mind for a pokémon with that dual typing.
Jiang Han raised his wrist, and the pokédex in his hand emitted a faint red light, scanning the Corphish that was striking an intimidating pose.
"Corphish, the Ruffian pokémon, Level 14. Ability: Hyper Cutter (prevents the Attack stat from being lowered). Physical development: normal. Shell hardness: excellent... Overall potential assessment: advanced!"
Seeing the word "advanced" pop up on the screen, Jiang Han's mind was made up.
It was a success.
An advanced potential meant this Corphish had enough talent to grow past Level 30 without any bottlenecks and evolve into Crawdaunt.
A pokémon with this kind of potential would definitely be a hot commodity on the black market, fetching a price that would satisfy him.
This trip was definitely worth it.
While Jiang Han was calculating the price, the atmosphere on the other side had dropped to freezing point.
After killing three humans and one pokémon, Sandile's Moxie ability had stacked to a terrifying level.
For every opponent defeated, its Attack stat increased by one stage.
Three pirates and one Rattata—exactly four.
Adding the pirate killed at the very beginning and the Hone Claws Sandile had used...
Its Attack stat had increased by six stages!
In pokémon stat boosts, the first stage increases the base by 1.5 times, and each subsequent stage adds another 0.5 times.
A six-stage Attack boost meant that Sandile's physical attack power was now exactly four times its normal state!
"Wuuu—!"
An irrepressible low growl rolled from deep within Sandile's throat, and its already crimson eyes were now so red they looked ready to drip blood.
Its body even seemed a size larger due to its bulging muscles; beneath its thick skin, veins bulged with explosive power as it charged toward Corphish.
Although Corphish was intimidated by Sandile's aura, the ferocity in its bones made it advance instead of retreating.
It raised its proud, massive pincers and snapped them shut violently against Sandile's charge!
It wanted to use its pincers to snap this ignorant desert monster in two!
However, it had severely underestimated Sandile's current power.
*Crack!*
A crisp sound of snapping.
It wasn't Sandile's bones, but Corphish's pincer!
Sandile didn't even dodge, letting the pincer clamp onto its body before using even more violent force to Bite down directly on Corphish's head.
The hard orange shell was as fragile as a cracker before a Bite move boosted by six stacks of Attack increases.
Sharp fangs easily pierced the shell, embedding themselves deep within the flesh.
"Corphish! Corphish!"
Corphish let out a shrill scream before losing its ability to battle.
A Level 14 Corphish didn't even have a chance to fight back against a Sandile that was only Level 8!
This was the dominance of the Moxie ability; once it started to Snowball on the battlefield, it became a ruthless killing machine.
After its success, Sandile's killing intent grew even stronger.
It stepped forward again, opening its blood-stained maw to deliver the final blow to the Corphish.
"That's enough, Sandile."
A calm voice rang out.
Jiang Han's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of cold water poured over Sandile's boiling bloodlust.
Sandile's footsteps came to a sudden halt, stopping just a single step away from Corphish.
It slowly turned its head, its blood-red eyes staring at Jiang Han, a threatening "wuuu" sound coming from its throat as if dissatisfied with its master interrupting the slaughter.
Jiang Han met its gaze expressionlessly.
Human and Pokémon faced off in the bloody cabin.
The air seemed to freeze.
A few seconds later, the blood-red color in Sandile's eyes slowly faded at a visible rate, and the savage aura that had almost been ready to devour people gradually subsided.
Jiang Han breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, although this fellow had gone into a bloodlust, it hadn't reached the point of turning on its own.
Just then, a soft white light suddenly lit up on Sandile's body.
A warm current enveloped its entire body, and the minor wounds left from the battle healed rapidly within the light.
It had leveled up.
After this hearty battle, its level had successfully risen to Level 9.
As the white light dissipated, Sandile looked much more energetic. It subconsciously raised its front claw and stomped heavily on the ground.
*Buzz—*
A strange energy ripple spread out.
Centered on its claw, the sand and dust on the ground were suddenly swept up by an invisible force, forming a small vortex.
Jiang Han's eyes lit up.
Is this... a new move?
He raised the pokédex again.
"Sand Tomb: Creates a Sandstorm to trap the opponent, binding them and causing damage. While Sand Tomb is active, the opposing Pokémon cannot be switched out." (This Sandstorm does not create Sandstorm weather.)
Jiang Han rubbed his chin.
This was an unexpected pleasant surprise.
A binding-type continuous damage move; although its power wasn't high, its utility was exceptional. Whether used to wear down an opponent or create an opening for teammates, it was quite practical.
Moreover, the Sandstorm created by this move did not count as weather, so it wouldn't be overridden by other weather conditions, nor would it trigger abilities that required Sandstorm weather.
But looking at Sandile now, it was clearly not very familiar with this move.
But these weren't major issues; it would just need more practice in the future.
He nodded with satisfaction and turned toward the three cold pirate corpses.
The cabin still smelled of that nauseating metallic and bloody scent, but Jiang Han acted as if he couldn't smell it, skillfully searching the bodies.
His technique was professional and his movements agile.
Soon, he pulled a red-and-white Poké Ball from the waist of the third pirate.
Jiang Han weighed it in his hand and aimed it at the incapacitated Corphish on the ground.
With a flash of red light, Corphish was pulled inside.
Captured!
A pokémon that has already been caught cannot be caught again unless the original Poké Ball is destroyed or the Trainer voluntarily releases the pokémon, severing the bond between the ball and the pokémon.
Jiang Han stuffed the Poké Balls into his pocket and searched the bodies once more. After confirming there was nothing else of value to scavenge, he stood up and brushed the dust off his hands.
He casually fed Sandile a few pokéblocks.
This matter was concluded.
It was time to check on Laic's situation.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the narrow passage; the closer he got to the deck, the clearer the roar of the waves and the howling of the wind and rain became.
When Jiang Han pushed open the iron door leading to the deck, it had already started raining at some point.
And the rain was getting heavier, turning into a downpour in the blink of an eye!
The deck was already a mess.
Over a dozen pirate corpses lay scattered about, their blood washed by the rain into dark red rivulets flowing toward the cruise ship's scuppers.
Clearly, while he was dealing with the small fry in the cabin, Laic had unleashed a one-sided slaughter on the deck.
And in the center of the deck, the final battle was still ongoing.
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