Chapter 269: Kingdra: I Refuse

The *Thunderbolt* didn't deliver the result Julian had anticipated. Kingdra took the full brunt of the attack, its tough scales enduring the electric surge. Instead of showing damage, the scales seemed to shine even brighter after the assault.

"Freeze the water with Ice Beam!"

Seeing Kingdra plummeting back toward the pool, Julian acted quickly.

In the water, Kingdra could not only hide but also amplify the power of its Water-type moves.

The freezing cold of the *Ice Beam* turned the pool's surface into solid ice, the chilling air spreading outward with the mountain wind.

Kingdra landed on the frozen surface, just as Dragonite closed the gap between them. Sparks crackled from Dragonite's fist as it unleashed a *Thunder Punch*, the yellow glow illuminating Kingdra's face.

Kingdra responded swiftly, puffing up its cheeks and spitting out a jet of inky black liquid that splattered across Dragonite's face.

Momentarily blinded, Dragonite didn't panic. It continued its attack along the same trajectory, swinging its electrified fist.

However, the moment the ink struck its face, there was a slight hesitation in its movements. That tiny pause was enough for Kingdra to evade the attack with *Agility*.

Even on the ice, Kingdra's movements were fluid and precise, as if it were a seasoned figure skater. In a blink, it had put considerable distance between itself and Dragonite.

*Boom!*

Dragonite's *Thunder Punch* smashed into the ice, sending shards flying in every direction like sharp daggers.

Julian: 'Are you seriously thinking about switching trainers?'

Two particularly sharp ice shards shot toward Julian with alarming speed. He could see them coming but couldn't react fast enough.

Praying his body could withstand the impact, Julian raised his arms to shield his vital areas, bracing himself.

Just then, Kingdra reappeared, blasting the shards with a *Bubble Beam*, shattering them into harmless fragments.

For a moment, Julian thought Kingdra looked incredibly cool, almost as if it were glowing.

But his admiration was short-lived. The next second, Kingdra's tail whipped out, sending him flying backward.

Kingdra: 'Stay back. If you die here, it'll ruin my day.'

Julian wasn't hurt from the blow and instead felt oddly grateful, smiling at Kingdra.

If he had known what Kingdra was truly thinking, he probably wouldn't have felt so thankful.

Meanwhile, Dragonite regained its vision just in time to see Kingdra tossing Julian aside. Its typically goofy face twisted into a furious expression.

Dragonite: 'How dare you attack my Trainer?! I'll destroy you!!'

To Dragonite, Julian wasn't just its Trainer. He was the first person it had seen upon opening its eyes, a figure it saw as both a trainer and a father.

Now, seeing Julian suffer because of its failure, Dragonite's anger reached a boiling point.

There was no way it would let this slide.

In its overwhelming fury, Dragonite instinctively activated *Outrage*, its once-innocent gaze now replaced by a blood-red glow. Crimson energy surged from its body, enveloping it like a fiery aura.

With a powerful stomp, Dragonite shattered the frozen surface of the pool entirely, sending shards of ice flying everywhere.

Julian noticed Dragonite had misunderstood the situation but chose not to explain.

After all, he hadn't forgotten the reason they were here.

While Kingdra had helped him earlier, that didn't absolve him from completing his mission.

"Roar!!"

With a deafening roar, Dragonite charged at Kingdra, closing the distance in an instant. Kingdra tried to repeat its previous tactic, spitting ink, but this time Dragonite dodged it with ease.

Dragonite's *Dragon Claw* tore through the air with unstoppable momentum. The green energy typical of a Dragon-type move was now tainted with a crimson hue, like boiling blood, its intensity deeply unsettling.

With a resounding slash, Kingdra was sent hurtling through the air, crashing through multiple trees before slamming into a mountainside.

The sheer force of the impact created a massive crater over a hundred meters wide, with the epicenter several dozen meters deep. From Kingdra's point of impact, cracks spidered out across the mountain's surface.

Having learned from earlier incidents, Julian wisely stayed far from the mountainside.

Watching chunks of rock tumble down from the impact, he gave himself a mental pat on the back for his foresight.

*"Roar!"*

Dragonite wasn't done yet. Roaring once more, it closed in on Kingdra and unleashed a relentless barrage of *Thunder Punches*, each strike landing like a hammer.

Blue scales flew from Kingdra's body under the relentless assault, and streaks of red blood began to drip from its battered frame. Behind it, the mountain wall caved in further with every blow, the cracks widening with ominous creaks and groans.

Despite the overwhelming attacks, Kingdra remained silent, not letting out a single cry of pain, even as it slipped into unconsciousness.

"Dragonite, stop!"

Julian called out, alarmed. Kingdra was already out cold, and if this went on, Dragonite might kill it.

Though *Outrage* had heightened Dragonite's strength and made it more aggressive, it hadn't completely lost its sense of reason. Hearing Julian's command, Dragonite gradually slowed its attacks.

With deep breaths, the blood-red energy surrounding Dragonite began to dissipate, eventually vanishing completely.

Dragonite flew back to Julian, its eyes filled with worry as it examined him.

"Don't worry, I'm fine, Kingdra was just trying to protect me earlier."

Julian reassured, patting Dragonite's belly.

Pulling a Full Heal from his system's inventory, Julian handed it to Dragonite.

"Use this on Kingdra."

Kingdra had shown him kindness, and Julian intended to repay it in kind.

(T/N: this mf)

The potion, a product of the system, worked wonders. Within minutes of using it, Kingdra stirred and slowly regained consciousness.

The first thing it saw upon waking was Julian's wide, goofy grin.

"You're awake. Sorry about Dragonite hitting a bit too hard earlier," Julian said apologetically.

Kingdra looked at Dragonite, who now had a dopey and harmless expression, a stark contrast to its earlier berserk state.

If it weren't for the familiar energy lingering around Dragonite, Kingdra might have thought it was a completely different Pokémon.

Seeing Kingdra remain silent, Julian pressed on. "How about joining me?"

He extended the invitation. After all, trainers who entered the Dragon's Den Secret Realm were granted the right to capture one Pokémon.

While Kingdra wasn't a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type, its exceptional qualities had caught Julian's eye. Taking such a beating from Dragonite without even crying out spoke volumes about its resilience and willpower.

However, Kingdra shook its head without hesitation.

Kingdra: 'Do you think I'm sick? Why would I willingly sign up for someone to boss me around?'

Julian: 凸-.-凸

The rejection was so decisive it left Julian speechless. Couldn't it have at least pretended to consider his offer for a moment?

This was his first time actively inviting a Pokémon to join him, and it ended in failure just like that.

Not all Pokémon were as perceptive as Steelix, apparently.

Kingdra had no idea what it was passing up by refusing. If it had known, it might have been the one begging Julian to take it in someday.

"Well, okay. Here, have a berry."

Julian didn't push further. Instead, he pulled out a Sitrus Berry and handed it to Kingdra. The berry would help it regain some energy.

If Kingdra wasn't interested, so be it. Julian hadn't come here intending to capture Kingdra anyway; it was only after witnessing its remarkable qualities that he had changed his mind.

Some things, like partnerships between Pokémon and trainers, were best left to mutual consent. It was all about being willing on both sides. Forced relationships never worked out.