CHAPTER 370: SHADOW POKEMONS

Shadow Pokemon has returned?

John froze momentarily, but Ben Gray had already bolted toward the Pokemon Center entrance. John hastily chased after him. At the Pokemon Center’s entrance, a group of trainers were commanding their Pokemon in battle against several Pokemon shrouded in black aura. These Pokemon wrapped in dark energy were undoubtedly Shadow Pokemon. Their eyes glowed scarlet, as if their sole purpose was to tear apart any enemy before them.

"Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!" a trainer shouted. The twin cannons on Blastoise’s shell immediately fired two torrents at a Shadow Starmie. This trainer had clearly trained his Blastoise well. The water streams spiraled forward through the air, their tips forming spike-like points that resembled battering rams, designed to pierce through opponent defenses. However, the Shadow Starmie easily absorbed the attack with its jewel-like hardened body, then countered with the same move.

But the Shadow Pokemon’s Hydro Pump wasn’t ordinary. The water streaming from its dark red gem looked like black sewage mixed with sludge. "Shadow Wave!" The jet-black water bombarded Blastoise, immediately sending it flying until it slammed into a wall. When Blastoise finally slid down, it was unconscious. Judging by the moves’ effects, both Pokemon had similar power levels and should have been evenly matched, yet one attack had no effect while the other achieved an instant knockout. Something was definitely wrong.

Blastoise’s special defense was even higher than Starmie’s, after all. Seeing this, John suddenly remembered: Shadow Pokemon didn’t use ordinary moves, they used Shadow Moves. These had the unique property of being "super effective" against any Pokemon, as if there was an attribute that overrode all others and had advantage over every type. Only other Shadow Pokemon could resist them effectively.

But darkness wasn’t technically a type. Starmie still retained its Water typing, so it could resist Water moves with type advantage. Meanwhile, Blastoise, also a Water type, took double damage from the shadow-infused water. Damn, Shadow Pokemon were completely overpowered. This was exactly why John needed to train his Shadow Aerodactyl.

Facing Shadow Pokemon for the first time, not only was Blastoise’s trainer caught off guard, other trainers encountered the same problem. Even when deliberately using Pokemon with type advantages, the best result was mutual destruction. Seeing several trainers defeated consecutively, and with the remaining trainers lacking sufficient strength, John decisively intervened.

"Aggron, Heavy Slam!" Shiny Aggron burst from its Pokeball. Its golden body gleamed as it landed, the Heavy Metal ability granting it tremendous weight. "ROAR!!" Shiny Aggron bellowed excitedly. Usually, its trainer had it fight weak Pokemon, finally, some worthy opponents! Slightly crouching, its body leaned forward before charging ahead like a golden mountain, directly ramming a Shadow Electivire.

Heavy Slam’s power increases with weight difference. John’s Aggron weighed several tons, while Electivire weighed around 300 pounds. Nearly ten times the difference! The move hit with maximum force. But the Shadow Electivire didn’t realize what it was up against. Seeing Aggron charge, it raised its fist and launched a Shadow Thunder.

BOOM!

A violent collision between flesh and steel. In the next instant, no, the very next moment, Electivire seemed to vanish entirely, disappearing from sight. Only distant thuds and an Electivire-shaped hole in a wall proved it had ever existed.

"Metal Claw!" John continued. Shiny Aggron paused briefly, twisted its golden body, and swiped at a Shadow Scyther nearby.

"Look out!" Just as Aggron was demonstrating its might, an alarmed shout came from the side. John looked up to see a Shadow Rhydon charging wildly while using Horn Drill. Unable to stop, it smashed through the Pokemon Center’s glass door and bulldozed inside, heading straight for Nurse Joy at the front desk.

At the critical moment, before John could have Gardevoir intervene, a red blur suddenly flashed before everyone, blocking Nurse Joy’s path.

BOOM!

Rhydon seemed to have hit a steel wall. The red blur had firmly caught Rhydon’s Horn Drill. Despite Rhydon’s tank-like size and weight, it was forced to an immediate stop. No matter how much force it exerted, it couldn’t advance further.

"Mmm~" A soft growl sounded as Rhydon’s massive body seemed to lose gravity and float in the air. The next second, it was hurled out of the Pokemon Center, crashing into another Shadow Pokemon mid-battle. Both were sent flying together.

"Latias!!" Many people immediately recognized the red blur. In Altomare, the water capital, Latias and Latios were practically totems. Every important landmark featured their statues, and their stories were still told today. In legend, Latias was Altomare’s guardian, it was Latios who had once defeated the Shadow Pokemon that invaded the city!

"Tios!" Outside the Pokemon Center, a blue blur descended, striking down two Shadow Pokemon with Dragon Claw before stopping at the entrance. It looked at Latias, then immediately soared skyward. It was the other legendary protagonist, Latios.

"Latias~" Latias responded softly, then hurried after her big brother.