"Sizzle!"
A piercing sound accompanied by scorching steam, the mass of magma lunged like a fire snake toward that seemingly fragile rock wall.
Jiang Han's heart instantly leaped into his throat.
Behind that rock wall was the Team Rockets Survey Team!
If the magma melted through and the Survey Team was exposed before Steven, the consequences would be unthinkable. The scheme he had meticulously laid out was on the verge of falling apart.
No, absolutely not!
In the nick of time, a spark of inspiration flashed through Jiang Han's mind. He immediately turned to look at Steven beside him, his face instantly switching to a worried, righteous expression that cared for the world.
"Steven! We must stop them!"
Jiang Han's voice carried a hint of urgency as he pointed at the two pokémon fighting tooth and nail.
"Look, both of these pokémon are incredibly powerful. If they keep fighting like this, they'll tear this cave apart! When the whole cave collapses, we'll all be buried alive!"
At this point, Jiang Han changed his tone, adding a touch of regret and persuasion:
"More importantly, that precious Crystal Vein rock wall you just found will be buried forever under the rubble! That's a rare discovery!"
Sure enough, at the mention of the "Crystal Vein," Steven's gaze instantly changed.
That rock wall was a significant discovery of this trip, representing a brand-new mineral composition. To a stone enthusiast like him, its value far exceeded money.
"Jiang Han, you have a point."
Steven nodded in deep agreement, no longer hesitating in the slightest.
He steadily reached out and unclipped a Poké Ball from his waist that he had never used before.
His hand was clad in a specialized gray glove, every movement appearing professional and decisive.
"This was sent by my family to protect me. Now, it's time for it to act."
As the Poké Ball opened, a flash of blue light streaked out.
A pokémon with a lithe build and a cold expression appeared before the two of them.
Its body was a mix of blue and black, with four black appendages hanging behind its ears, a spike on its chest and the back of each hand, and a gaze that held a disdainful pride for the world.
Lucario!
Jiang Han's pupils suddenly constricted.
What shocked him even more was that the Aura emanating from this Lucario far surpassed any pokémon he had ever seen.
Lucario, Level 66! (Quasi-Elite Four Level)
Jiang Han's breath hitched for a moment.
Level 66! Quasi-Elite Four Level!
He had only guessed before that someone like Steven, a top-tier wealthy heir and the sole successor of Devon Corporation...
...couldn't possibly go on an adventure without bodyguards. Even if they weren't human bodyguards, he would definitely have top-tier pokémon protectors.
But he never expected that this bodyguard would be a genuine Quasi-Elite Four Level Lucario!
This wasn't just a bodyguard; it was practically a mobile strategic weapon!
Jiang Han's mind was in turmoil, yet his face still maintained a perfect level of shock and admiration, as if he were an ordinary stone enthusiast who had never seen much of the world, completely awestruck by this powerful pokémon.
He secretly felt relieved that he had chosen to use his wits from the start, approaching under the guise of a stone enthusiast.
If he had been hot-headed enough to try and snatch the Beldum by force back then, he would probably be a ghost under this Lucario's hands by now.
That was close, truly too close!
While Jiang Han's thoughts were racing, the situation on the battlefield had already undergone a world-shaking change.
"Lucario," Steven called out calmly.
That Lucario understood perfectly, its form instantly turning into a blue afterimage.
Extreme Speed!
Its speed was so fast it was almost impossible for the naked eye to track; one second it was in front of Steven, and the next it had appeared like a phantom beside the rampaging Camerupt.
"Bang!"
A dull, heavy thud.
Lucario delivered a clean Close Combat, striking the Camerupt's flank with precision.
That massive body, weighing hundreds of kilograms, was sent flying like a tattered sack, tracing a pathetic parabola through the air before slamming heavily into a rock wall over ten meters away, sending stone fragments flying.
One hit, just one hit!
The Level 44 Camerupt lost its ability to fight, lying on the ground gasping in pain.
The wild Aggron on the other side hadn't even realized why its companion had suddenly flown off before a gust of wind struck its lower body.
Lucario didn't even glance at the Camerupt; it ducked low and swept a swift Low Kick across the Aggron's thick hind legs.
"Clang!"
A massive metallic clanging sound echoed through the cave.
Under this kick, the steel body the Aggron took such pride in had a defense like paper; its massive body lost balance and crashed into the nearby rock wall.
What was even more terrifying was that the strength of Lucario's kick was perfectly measured; not only did it bring the Aggron down, but it also embedded half its body deep into the hard rock, leaving it unable to move.
The entire process was fluid and clean.
In just two moves, the two powerful Level 44 pokémon that had been fighting fiercely with grand momentum were completely suppressed.
Standing to the side, Jiang Han's eye couldn't help but twitch.
He was completely dumbfounded.
Was this the power of a Quasi-Elite Four Level? Was this the absolute crushing force of Level 66 against Level 44?
It was practically a dimensional strike!
He had originally worried these two pokémon would be locked in combat for a while, but he didn't expect the battle to end so quickly—so fast it caught him off guard.
At this moment, the Team Rockets Survey Team hiding behind the rock wall was also startled by the succession of massive noises.
A young team member nervously peeked around and whispered:
"Brother Erlang, outside... is a fight breaking out? The noise is too loud. Should we go check it out?"
"Check what?!"
Erlang yanked him back and scolded sharply, "Have you forgotten the Executive Sir's orders? Complete the mission and retreat immediately; do not clash with anyone!"
He looked back at the survey equipment and data terminals the members had already packed.
"All information has been collected! Everyone, listen up: leave the cave through the backup passage immediately and return to base! Move!"
Erlang's eyes were full of awe.
The terrifying noise just now made him even more convinced of Lord Jiang Han's power and mystery.
The Lord must be outside solving a massive problem for them. The only thing they needed to do now was to not fail the Lord's expectations and evacuate safely!
...Perspective returns to Jiang Han's side.
Looking at the two wild pokémon groaning in pain and heavily injured on the ground, greed sprouted wildly in Jiang Han's heart like bamboo shoots after rain.
A Level 44 Camerupt and a Level 44 Aggron!
If he could swoop in and capture them, his strength would skyrocket instantly!
The temptation was too great! So great that his heart was pounding wildly, almost leaping out of his chest.
However, reason eventually triumphed over impulse.
No.
Jiang Han forcibly suppressed the desire that was almost overflowing.
Steven was right beside him, and his current persona was that of a pure, upright Trainer who loved stones.
If he showed greed for capturing the injured pokémon now, all his previous groundwork would collapse instantly.
To lose the opportunity that Steven represented for these two pokémon, and possibly even expose his identity, was not worth the cost.
A little impatience spoils great plans.
Jiang Han took a deep breath, shifted his greedy gaze away from the two pokémon, and replaced it with an expression of pity.
At this moment, Steven spoke.
"That's enough, Lucario." He looked at the two pokémon that had lost their ability to fight and signaled Lucario to stop.
Then, he had Lucario step forward to try and communicate with them, wanting to find out why these two powerful wild pokémon were fighting so fiercely here.
Lucario walked with steady steps toward the two pokémon.
Although the Aggron was embedded in the wall, its eyes were still filled with defiance and anger.
The Camerupt also struggled to get up, a low growl coming from its throat.
They were clearly resistant to this powerhouse that had suddenly appeared and defeated them in an instant.
Lucario seemed to grow a bit impatient.
It said nothing, only slowly turned its head and gave a cold glance with its crimson eyes.
"Hmm?"
A low grunt carrying the power of Aura exploded in the minds of the two pokémon like a clap of thunder.
It was an absolute suppression stemming from the level of life itself!
Instantly, the Camerupt and Aggron froze, all their defiance extinguished as if by ice water. They immediately became incredibly docile, like two children who had done something wrong, lying obediently on the ground.
Then, through mental fluctuations, they told Lucario everything that had happened in detail.
Lucario listened quietly, then turned and walked to Steven, transmitting the received information to its master through Aura.
Having completed its task, it turned into a flash of red light and returned to its Poké Ball on its own.
The entire process was without a single wasted movement.
Jiang Han watched from the side with envy; this was a true god-tier pet! Powerful, clever, and absolutely obedient to orders.
When would he be able to have a pokémon like this?
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