Chapter 51: Do You Even Know What the Bloodthirster Is? (Seeking Monthly Votes!)
Leaf Storm!
This move, considered the ultimate Grass-type technique, had never been used by Lin Lange in any of his previous matches.
Yet now, at the very start of the final, he unleashed it outright!
Could it be that the seemingly lackluster fighting style displayed by Serperior before the final was all a deliberate concealment of strength by Lin Lange?
The answer was self-evident.
Thousands of rapidly spinning leaf blades locked tightly onto the Sprigatito, emitting a piercing shriek through the air.
At the moment Leaf Storm made contact, the pale green transparent barrier in front of Sprigatito cracked like a spiderweb.
It was easy to imagine that if this terrifying move landed, even Sprigatito’s natural resistance to Grass-type attacks would not prevent severe damage.
But the true terror was not just in the damage this move could inflict.
After Serperior finished Leaf Storm, a faint golden glow representing a surge in power surrounded its body—
Because of Serperior’s Contrary ability, which reverses stat changes, the usual drawback of Leaf Storm lowering Special Attack drastically was instead converted into a significant boost!
Xia Chi’s expression remained calm.
The tactic of using Contrary in tandem with Leaf Storm’s Special Attack drop to instead raise Special Attack was not uncommon.
Xia Chi had also anticipated that Lin Lange might be hiding this strategy in prior matches.
After all, the Sprigatito he had abandoned a year ago had an exceptionally rich moveset.
It made no sense that Serperior, which had been trained for much longer, would not be able to learn Leaf Storm.
Leaf Storm itself wasn’t inherently terrifying.
High-powered moves consumed correspondingly high energy.
If Serperior had simply treated Leaf Storm as a bombardment tactic, it would have been fine—
Because in that case, before Sprigatito could fall, Serperior would have exhausted its energy first.
What Xia Chi truly feared was that Lin Lange would use Leaf Storm as a trick to boost Special Attack, then switch to other moves.
“Serperior, Dragon Pulse!”
Xia Chi: “...”
No, I tolerated Leaf Storm, but Dragon Pulse too?
This move has a “never miss” trait in the games, unless the user is not on the field.
Similar moves like Aura Sphere share this trait.
In reality, this characteristic translates to “tracking.”
“Quick, dodge the divine technique?”
Try dodging one!
At this moment, with Serperior’s Special Attack greatly enhanced by Leaf Storm, Dragon Pulse was the most fitting attack.
But the problem was...
In the games, only the evolved Serperior could learn this move, right?
And here you have a Serperior using it?
Is that even legitimate?
Putting aside these questions, Xia Chi commanded, “Sprigatito, Quick Attack and rush forward!”
---
If Sprigatito had Fairy-type moves, countering Dragon Pulse would have been a breeze.
But since it didn’t, it had to rely on other means.
Thanks to the “Swift Assault” bond, Sprigatito’s move execution speed was faster than usual Pokémon.
Combined with Quick Attack’s inherent priority, this was an unbelievably swift surprise strike.
No sooner had Xia Chi spoken than Sprigatito’s body glowed with dazzling white light, transforming into a ball of light as it sprinted toward Serperior at top speed.
A deep purple Dragon-type energy coalesced before Serperior—not gathered into a sphere, but rolling forward like a wave to crash against the charging Sprigatito.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Was Sprigatito really going to tear apart Dragon Pulse with its small frame?
Just as the surging tide of purple energy was about to engulf Sprigatito—
Xia Chi shouted, “Jump!”
Without hesitation, Sprigatito leapt, propelled by Quick Attack’s priority energy.
It gracefully vaulted over the roaring Dragon Pulse like a fish leaping over a waterfall.
“Get behind Serperior!”
Xia Chi’s next command caused Lin Lange’s expression to darken.
Was he trying to redirect the destructive Dragon Pulse using its tracking property?
Sprigatito couldn’t entirely avoid Dragon Pulse’s damage, but Serperior wouldn’t get off easy either.
Once the energy left the body, it didn’t discriminate its source.
Whether it was Sprigatito or Serperior, it would strike indiscriminately.
Quick Attack’s speed was almost synchronous with Dragon Pulse.
When Sprigatito’s body landed behind Serperior, the pursuing wave of deep purple energy detonated precisely there.
Boom—
Like the mouth of an abyss, the energy engulfed both Pokémon.
Standing in front, Serperior suffered heavier damage than Sprigatito, emitting a pained groan.
Xia Chi seized the advantage, calling out, “Acrobatics!”
Lin Lange grit his teeth, shouting, “Use Dragon Tail to knock it away!”
Lin Lange’s Serperior was bred for a Special Attack build and was not skilled in close combat.
Its physical moves were limited to Seed Bomb and Dragon Tail.
Engaging Sprigatito in melee was clearly unwise.
Compared to its evolved form, Serperior’s tail was shorter and stouter.
It was not suited for moves like Iron Tail or Dragon Tail.
Serperior awkwardly twisted its body backward but was evaded by the prepared Sprigatito’s leap.
Then, its sharp claws glowed with a blue-green light.
Its razor-sharp talons, charged with Flying-type energy, struck down hard!
The screech of talons scraping against Serperior’s scales at high speed was piercing.
---
But no one noticed—
At the point of contact, an almost imperceptible green thread flowed from Serperior back into Sprigatito—
The Lifedrain effect of the Bloodthirsty Sword was activating!
——————
Lin Lange’s expression was icy.
From the start until now, he had hardly gained any advantage over Xia Chi.
This was something never seen in previous battles.
Watching the Sprigatito he had once abandoned now press Serperior hard—
His resolute heart wavered slightly.
Could it be that I was truly wrong?
That frightening thought barely surfaced before he crushed it harshly.
Never!
Whether in offense or defense, my Serperior is the best!
“Dragon Pulse!”
Even if it harms me as much as the enemy, so what?
My health bar is higher than yours!
Lin Lange was confident in Serperior’s endurance, far superior to the unevolved Sprigatito.
Xia Chi retorted defiantly, “Acrobatics!”
You want to compare endurance with me?
Do you even know what the Bloodthirsty Sword is?
It was just unfortunate that the move’s name wasn’t very impressive.
Otherwise, the clash of their roars would have been quite majestic.
At close range, the newly released Dragon Pulse exploded with a roar.
The deep purple wave of energy surged deep into both Sprigatito and Serperior’s bodies.
The brutal self-destructive attack drew an enthusiastic cheer from the crowd.
They cared little about the carnage.
This was the bloody spectacle they came to see!
Sprigatito’s sharp claws again carved white cracks into the tough scales.
The doubly effective Flying-type energy pierced beneath the skin along its claws.
Meanwhile, Serperior, enduring the assault of Dragon Pulse’s energy, gritted its teeth and groaned in pain.
In comparison, Sprigatito’s condition was much better.
Though its pale green fur was singed black, and its body trembled from two consecutive Dragon Pulse hits,
It still maintained ample fighting capability and willpower.