Pokémon: Reborn as Lucario

Chapter 95: The Real and Fake Culprit

Inside the power plant, it was deathly quiet. All the various machines that should have been running were completely still.

Rio volunteered to walk at the front of the group, extending his Aura to search for the culprit behind the power outage.

"An aura as active as a flash of lightning is Uncle Wattson... that ball of pure, flawless aura is Xiao Zhao... the small, gently flowing aura is Ruru... besides that, there are no other situations..."

As they ventured deeper, Rio did not detect any unfamiliar Aura energy with his senses.

However, he vaguely felt a gaze constantly watching their group.

Due to his reluctance to expose his ability to communicate with other humans for the time being, he relayed the results of his scouting to Ming Rizhao through telepathy.

And Ming Rizhao, after embellishing it a bit, reported it in a low voice to Uncle Wattson.

Although Uncle Wattson was very curious about what kind of ability this unfamiliar Pokémon possessed, he also knew that now was not the time to be concerned with such things, so he focused his attention on their surroundings.

"Ahead is the core area of the power plant. If it's not anywhere else, it's probably there," Uncle Wattson told Ming Rizhao and the two Pokémon in a hushed voice, then added, "Be careful."

"Aura Perception, enhance!"

Rio silently increased the power of his Aura, and the range of his perception expanded accordingly.

Suddenly, a strange aura flashed past at the edge of Rio's Aura sense.

"Careful!"

Rio immediately gave a warning, simultaneously assuming a fighting stance, ready to face an enemy at any moment.

One step, two steps, three steps, they slowly advanced.

"There!"

The strange aura in his Aura sense appeared again in the front right. Rio, without thinking, lunged forward.

"Bzzzt!" The black shadow was startled, leaving a faint trail of electricity in the air as it once again disappeared into the gaps between various machines.

"Well? Did you catch it?"

Ming Rizhao and Uncle Wattson, behind Rio, couldn't see clearly. Seeing Rio seem to have grabbed something, they hurriedly asked.

Opening his empty arms to show the two of them, Rio shook his head, indicating he hadn't caught it.

But at this moment, Rio quietly gave Ralts a wink and simultaneously communicated telepathically.

"Ruru, in a moment, pretend you're not paying attention and walk forward. When you pass that cylindrical machine, use [Confusion] to your left!"

Ralts, understanding immediately, feigned nonchalance and walked towards Rio in front.

Then, a pinkish-purple light shone from Ralts's eyes. Formless, colorless psychic power, like a cast net, grabbed towards the left!

"Nnnngh, nnnngh..."

A black shadow, bound by the psychic power, was pulled out from the gap between the machines.

The two humans quickly went forward.

"Ah, this is just... a Minun?"

Rio also moved closer to take a good look. The captured black shadow was a small rabbit-like Pokémon. Its whole body was covered in pale yellow short fur, and the tips of its ears, tail, and hands were blue. The most eye-catching feature was the two blue circular electric sacs on its cheeks, each with a pale yellow minus sign on it, just like the negative terminal of a battery.

Minun continuously shook its tail, which also bore a minus sign, trying to break free from the psychic bonds, but it was useless against Ralts's powerful telekinesis.

Uncle Wattson, an expert on Electric-types, observed it carefully based on his experience.

He could feel the not-yet-fully-dissipated Electric-type energy still overflowing from Minun's body. From this, it could be seen that Minun had been constantly absorbing electricity. Connecting this with the recent power outages, it was easy to draw a conclusion.

"So it was you, little fellow, who's been causing all this trouble."

As if feeling the problem was solved, Uncle Wattson's face also relaxed.

However, Rio felt that things weren't that simple.

Because the captured Minun had been continuously shouting in Pokémon language: "(Pokémon Language) Let me go! Let me go! That guy is about to come..."

That guy?

Rio's heart tensed, and he expanded his Aura perception to its limit.

As his Aura perception continuously expanded in a semicircle, he finally discovered something was wrong.

"Careful!"

Disregarding the exposure of his special ability, Rio hurriedly sent a telepathic warning to Ming Rizhao, Uncle Wattson, and Ralts.

"Boom!" A giant, circular black shadow plummeted from the top of the power plant in an instant!

With no time for words, Rio grabbed Ralts and rolled, narrowly avoiding the falling giant black shadow.

"Ugh, what is that?"

Due to the lack of power, only a few emergency lights were still on in the power plant. Under the sunlight from outside the window and the faint indoor light, that figure, which was entirely disc-shaped like an unidentified flying object, landed steadily.

"…"

The unknown Pokémon did not speak. The red eye in the center of its body stared coldly at Ming Rizhao's group.

"Cough, cough."

Uncle Wattson had just pulled Ming Rizhao aside to dodge and had inadvertently inhaled some of the kicked-up dust. He coughed twice, only then having the energy to observe this unknown Pokémon.

But one look and his eyes widened.

"This is? Magnezone?"

"Magnezone?"

"Yes, this is the Pokémon that evolves from Magneton... Dodge!"

Before Uncle Wattson could finish his sentence, a beam of electric current was already heading towards them!

The current beam was so fast that Ralts and Rio, who were still some distance away, didn't even have time to come forward and block.

So at this moment, Wattson didn't have time to think. He threw a Poké Ball and summoned his Pokémon.

"Manectric, use [Substitute]!"

A Pokémon with electricity arcing through its body and a yellow mane stood out. It let out a long howl, and a Pokémon substitute identical to itself appeared in front of the current beam.

Even at this time, Uncle Wattson didn't forget to pass on his experience to Ming Rizhao.

"Do you know why I didn't use another Electric-type move to counter this?" Wattson pointed to the various machines around them. "If we used Electric-type moves to clash head-on, the electric sparks generated during the collision could easily cause damage to the surrounding environment. In a serious case, it could even cause destruction, which would be disadvantageous for us. Therefore, using the risk-reducing [Substitute] move can both take the opponent's attack and ensure our own safety."

"Actually, under normal circumstances, using the [Charge] move would be more appropriate, but look at my Pokémon's current state," Uncle Wattson said helplessly.

Ming Rizhao focused her gaze. Perhaps due to the high-intensity magnetic field in the power plant, coupled with the fact that the [Substitute] move itself consumed considerable energy, the Manectric, which had appeared with high spirits, was now panting with its head lowered, looking dispirited.

"Therefore, when a trainer is in battle, besides considering the opponent's moves, they must also consider their own situation and their Pokémon's condition. Sometimes, attacking isn't the best choice; the most appropriate choice is the best choice."

Speaking of which, Uncle Wattson took out his Poké Ball again and recalled Manectric.

"Well then, I'll leave dealing with Magnezone to you now. Remember what you've learned!"

Magnezone's body levitated under the effect of magnetism, and the two magnet-like components on its front continuously emitted a "buzzing" sound.

"Rio, prepare for battle!"

A muffled voice came from inside the protective suit. Ming Rizhao stood opposite Magnezone, ready for battle.

Rio rolled his shoulders and stood in front of Ming Rizhao.

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