Elf: I have a secret realm of emerald green.

Beside him, the entrance to the alternate dimension opened once more.

Xia Shen's face lit up with joy. In this way, he would not only avoid being at a disadvantage, but also gain the initiative in the next round of attacks!

But the next second, a sudden change on the field left him momentarily stunned.

……

Just as Dorambaruto was about to enter the alternate dimension, a sharp and thick dark blue stone pillar rose from the ground, heading straight for Dorambaruto in front of the spatial rift.

It turns out that the rock werewolf's backward kick was just a feint to confuse Xia Shen. The move he was going to use was not Rock Charge, but Sharp Stone Attack!

Compared to the Circle Bear's Stone Attack, the Mane Rock Lycan's Stone Attack is much faster, and the summoned stone pillars are also larger and thicker.

The deep blue color of the stone pillar indicates that its texture is much harder than that of ordinary light blue stone pillars.

Even more terrifying is that the stone pillar summoned by the Lycanroc was in a very tricky position, cleverly blocking the only way for Dramberto to enter the alternate dimension.

"Stop right now!" It was definitely too late to protect him, so Xia Shen could only pin his hopes on his Rejuvenation Roar.

After all, it's the master's ace Pokémon, with top-notch awareness of danger and reaction speed.

Before Xia Shen could finish speaking, Doronbarut abruptly stopped the car in front of the sharp stone pillar.

If his reaction had been 0.1 seconds slower, or if he hadn't had the speed boost from Dragon Dance, Xia Shen had no doubt that Dragapult would have been smashed to pieces by now.

Before he could even feel relieved, Xia Shen decisively shouted, "Surfing!"

With his opponent closing in relentlessly, Xia Shen was certain that his attack with the sharp stone, which had missed, would not give up easily. He would either use the sharp stone attack again or close in with a rock-rushing attack.

In the game Stone Attack, you only have 5 PP. While there is no such limitation in reality, the energy consumption is still enormous.

Xia Shen bet that he wouldn't use it carelessly when the opportunity wasn't good.

Therefore, he anticipated and used Surf, hoping that as long as Lycanroc got close to Dragapult, this Water-type move, which is twice as effective against Lycanroc, would give him an advantage.

In this fast-paced match, neither side had any room to breathe. A flash of white light appeared, and the Lycanroc's figure appeared ghost-like beside Draco.

As expected, it was a rock-climbing challenge. Xia Shen was secretly delighted; he had made the right bet!

However, Xia Shen guessed the beginning, but not the ending...

The Rock Wolf in its ultimate speed and sword dance state has an astonishingly large impact force.

It's said that wolves have heads of bronze, bones of iron, and waists of tofu. Whether the Mane Rock Werewolf's waist is tofu or not is unknown, but its head is definitely made of iron.

The part of Dorambaruto that was hit by the mane rock werewolf even showed obvious deformation visible to the naked eye.

He had just cast Surf before he could react and was sent flying more than ten meters away!

Xia Shen was shocked. This was nothing like the rock-crushing attack with a power of only forty. Even a self-sacrificing collision wouldn't be this powerful.

Fortunately, at the very moment that Draco was launched into the air, a surging wave swept over the Lycanroc, who had nowhere to escape.

Waves imbued with special water energy relentlessly pounded against the Lycanroc at the center of the attack.

The double-counter move caused even the Lycanroc, which is strong in offense but weak in defense, to show a pained expression.

But compared to Dorombalto, who was just knocked away, his injuries were undoubtedly much less severe.

Xia Shen smiled wryly. He thought that the exchange between Surfing, which had higher damage and double the counter, and his opponent’s Rock Rush would give him the advantage, but the result was exactly the opposite.

He felt a chill run down his spine. This Lycanroc's energy level should be several levels higher than Yan Yu's ace Pokémon, Dragapult!

----------

Author's Remarks

I was a bit busy today. After get off work, I didn't go home; I stayed home and wrote for almost an hour. Luckily, I finished it. Praise me!

2022-05-31 18:00

## Chapter Ninety-Seven: Sword King - Mane Rock Werewolf

After surfing, the battlefield was covered in water stains.

The mane-wielding werewolf shook off the water from its wet fur, its scarlet eyes fixed on Dramberto, who was just recovering from the pain.

Father Yan was no longer as casual and indifferent as he had been before the battle. He looked at Xia Shen thoughtfully, then shouted towards the field:

"Rock Wolfman, slash!"

斩？

What does it mean?

Xia Shen didn't know, but he guessed it was probably similar to his own "fast" and "steady," a secret code unique to him and the mane rock werewolf.

How to change the attack rhythm? What combination of moves should be used?

Anything is possible; the only certainty is that the situation on the field is about to change drastically.

Xia Shen's already tense nerves tightened even more.

"Dorambaruto, be ready to protect at any time."

Fearing that Lycanroc might use Sword Dance again, he didn't immediately have Draco Barut use Phantom Assault, but instead gave a more flexible command.

With everything prepared, Xia Shen narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the mane rock werewolf who was waiting patiently for its prey.

Finally, the mane-shaped werewolf made a move.

Without any warning, the ground beneath Dorombalut suddenly cracked open, and sharp, deep blue stone pillars rose up from the ground like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

It's a sharp stone attack!

"Protect it quickly!" Xia Shen, who was keeping a close eye on the situation on the field, shouted the moment the stone pillar broke through the ground.

As expected, Dorambaruto, who had been on guard for a long time, created a transparent barrier out of thin air, firmly protecting his lower body.

It's just that Draco is a dragon. If it were a humanoid Pokémon, and there was no protection or even if it managed to dodge, the scene would be painful to even think about.

It's not over yet!

Just as the Lycanroc finished casting Stone Attack, he charged forward, enveloped in white light, heading straight for Dralongaruto, who had just used his Protection ability.

Rock climbing again!

Xia Shen hurriedly shouted, "Get out of the way!"

Even after Dragon Dance, Dragapult's speed is still not as fast as Lycanroc using Rock Smash.

But compared to the Lycanroc's sprint distance of over ten meters, he only needs to dodge slightly.

With a narrow escape, Dorambaruto narrowly missed the mane-like werewolf that flashed like a yellow lightning bolt.

Xia Shen smiled bitterly. After the match, the words he shouted the most were actually the ones he used to despise the most, like "Get out of the way."

This mane-like werewolf is putting too much pressure on itself.

The immense impact of the unstoppable mane-shaped werewolf easily shattered the deep blue stone pillar behind the original location of Dramberto.

Xia Shen looked at the rocks that had been shattered into countless pieces by the erosion and breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, I dodged it...

The relief lasted only half a second. The next instant, the mane-like werewolf's actions startled Xia Shen once again.

……

On the field, the mane-like werewolf that smashed through the stone pillar leaped high into the air and actually caught a sharp stone shaped like a short sword in its mouth.

What does that mean? Cosplaying Zacian?

Are you the Sword King o Mane Rock Werewolf?

Xia Shen then understood what Yan's father meant by "slaying".

Joking aside, he dared not be careless in the slightest.

Without a doubt, the Lycanroc in this state will be even more aggressive.

The next rock-climbing challenge might just turn into a "Giant Beast Slash"...

Taking a deep breath, Xia Shen decided that he couldn't continue to be passive like this, otherwise he would have to keep dodging just from Chongyan.

He shouted in a deep voice, "Dorambaruto, Dragon Arrow!"

[Dragon Arrow: Draco's signature move, launches two Draco Mesias hidden on its head, dealing damage twice.]

Without needing to charge up at all, two Doromecias shot out from the triangular nose of the Dorombalut aircraft with a "whoosh," heading straight for the Mane Rock Werewolf one after the other.

A flash of white light disappeared, and it was another rockfall!

A gust of wind was stirred up, and the mane rock werewolf with the stone sword in its mouth charged at Dorambaruto once again.

Although Xia Shen guessed the moves the Lycanroc would use, he still couldn't stop it.

The saying "one trick is all you need" perfectly describes this mane rock werewolf.

"Bang—" The deep blue, sharp stone sword failed to break through the barrier's protection.

The tiny sparks that fly up from it are enough to demonstrate the immense power of this stone sword.

Xia Shen did not relax. Although he managed to hold off the rock attack by protecting it, the mane-like werewolf was already close, and Doronbaluto's current situation was even more dangerous.

"A surprise attack by stealth!" After much deliberation, Xia Shen decided to make a strategic retreat first.

No matter how fast Doronbalto opens the portal to another dimension, it's still not as fast as Lycanroc's sword, which is within arm's reach.

Just before he squeezed into the crevice, the "Giant Beast Slash" still struck him.

Enduring excruciating pain, Dorambaruto vanished into the void.

Then, the two Doronmesia, which had missed their target, circled around and belatedly flew back.

However, the experienced driver had already set off before they returned, leaving the two Drornmesias to stare at the fierce-looking Mane Rock Wolfman, waiting together for Drornbalut's return.

"Rylai King, Sword Dance!"

Yan's father didn't care about all that and used the same trick again.

No matter how new or novel the design is, as long as it works, that's fine.

The mane-wielding werewolf with its stone sword in its mouth began to dance once more.

Xia Shen stared intently at the mane-like werewolf's movements, silently counting down in his mind.