Chapter 105: Impulse, the Devil

After defeating the Nido clan's strongest members, the team chose not to capture any other Pokémon aside from Nidoking.

Many Adventurer's Guild missions could be accepted repeatedly, and Will was already used to the team's habit of changing plans on the fly. 

Now that Lance's Charizard had broken through to Pseudo-Elite Four, the entire team's overall strength had significantly increased.

However, entering deeper into Mount Silver wasn't just about training Charizard.

Although Lance hadn't revealed all his Pokémon, it was undeniable that both Dragonair and Altaria were stuck at Peak Elite level.

Thus, their training continued, but now, their mission requirements became even more demanding.

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Following Lance's suggestion, Will specifically searched for missions involving groups containing at least one Pseudo-Elite Four Pokémon.

If not, the bare minimum was encountering at least eight to ten Peak Elite Pokémon, otherwise, they wouldn't even consider it.

After all, with so many team members, if everyone barely had a chance to fight, there would be no real training value.

"Our next mission is at Dripping Lake, where a flock of Golduck has taken over. According to the reports, at least ten of them are Peak Elite level," Will stated, reciting the gathered intelligence.

"Dripping Lake is rich in Mystic Water. If we get the chance, we should try to find one or two,"

White added. Clearly, he was also familiar with the area. Will glanced at him before nodding.

"Ten Golduck. Let's each claim our share, I'll take three," Lance said, raising his fingers as he looked at the group.

"I'll take three as well," Will replied concisely.

"I'll take one!" Clair raised her hand excitedly.

"I'll handle two," Sato said cautiously. This time, he planned to use Carvanha, so he preferred to play it safe.

"Then I'll take the last one," White said with a helpless smile.

Being a Breeder didn't require combat skills, but well-trained Pokémon often had decent battle strength, one Golduck wouldn't be too difficult.

"That makes me the support then," Rose Joy said with a gentle smile, preparing to play her role as the team's healer.

"If any unexpected high-level threats appear, call for help immediately. We'll provide mutual support" Lance added a final precaution.

With the assignments set, the group moved swiftly toward Dripping Lake.

The moment they arrived, they could see plenty of Psyduck sitting by the lake, clutching their heads as if contemplating life.

"The first target, who's up?" Lance pointed at a Golduck lounging near the lake, resting.

"I'll go first. Carvanha, Aqua Jet!"

Sato stepped forward without hesitation, tossing Carvanha's Poké Ball.

A flash of red light vanished, and in an instant, a blue water silhouette shot forward at high speed, charging straight at Golduck!

"Golduck!"

Golduck's eyes snapped open!

It only looked like it was resting, but in reality, it had been on high alert. The moment Carvanha appeared, Golduck detected it instantly!

A blue Psychic energy wave exploded outward, despite not being a Psychic-type, Golduck's Psychic abilities were stronger than many true Psychic Pokémon!

Psychic!-"Boom!"

Golduck was sent flying backward, crashing into the lake with a look of utter disbelief.

Its Psychic power had been completely ineffective, it hadn't even gotten a proper look at the attacker, yet its abilities had failed entirely!

"Golduck! Gold! Gol!"

The quick-witted Golduck immediately sounded the alarm.

In an instant, Dripping Lake erupted like a boiling pot, the Psyduck near the shore stood frozen for a moment before panicking and diving into the water.

At the same time, nearly forty Golduck leaped out from the lake, their eyes filled with caution as they locked onto Sato.

Sato was stunned. Didn't Will say there were only about ten of them? Why are there so many?!

Upon closer inspection, they ranged from Ordinary High to Peak Elite, so technically, the report wasn't wrong.

Yeah, right!

Sato didn't hesitate to retreat, waving for his excited Carvanha to pull back as well. There was no way he was messing with this many Golduck!

Meanwhile, Lance and the others were laughing uncontrollably.

Sato had charged in confidently, looking for a fight, only to turn tail and flee in less than a minute.

At that moment, they finally remembered, Sato was still a rookie!

The Nido clan had been different. Since their evolution required a Moon Stone, the number of Nidoking and Nidoqueen was strictly limited.

As a result, aside from the one Nidoking and eight Nidoqueen, the rest of the Nidorino and Nidorina had remained stuck in their second stage for years.

And based on the ratio between king and queen, it was likely that most Nidorino never even got the chance to evolve.

But Golduck were completely different.

Once they reached the required level and accumulated enough experience, they could evolve naturally.

So while the top-tier strength only included about ten Peak Elite Golduck, there were plenty of others at various levels!

"Gyarados, Dragonair, Thunderbolt!"

"Exeggutor, Magical Leaf! Starmie, Thunderbolt!"

"Gyarados, Thunderbolt! Seadra, Octazooka!"

"Jolteon, Discharge!"

Even while laughing, Lance and the others swiftly moved in to assist.

A barrage of Electric-type attacks tore through the lesser Golduck, wiping out most of the weaker ones.

However, there were still 20 to 30 Golduck left, completely unfazed!

The fading green light revealed that several Golduck had used Protect, successfully blocking Thunderbolt and Thunder!

"Carvanha, Crunch! Ariados, Sticky Web!"

Sato's face remained expressionless, he had realized it now.

Lance had casually asked who wanted to go first, and he had rushed in without hesitation.

Impulsive… truly the devil!

The battle instantly descended into chaos.

Electric-type moves were highly effective against Golduck, but with so many Pokémon using them at once, the flashes of electricity were so bright that it was difficult to even keep their eyes open.

Lance, Will, and Sato instinctively spread out, each holding their position to avoid interfering with one another while facing the incoming Golduck assault.

However, there were more than expected.

Left with no choice, Sato sent out Zoroark to barely hold back the waves of attacks from the remaining Golduck!

Ariados controlled the battlefield.

Carvanha darted around for quick strikes.

Zoroark faced them head-on.

With Rose ready to heal at any moment, Sato finally stabilized his position.

On Lance's side, Dragonair and Gyarados alone were enough to wreak havoc, their power was so immense that Sato could feel the tremors in the ground from a distance!

Will hadn't sent out more Pokémon either, Exeggutor's mastery over Magical Leaf was so precise that the raining leaves resembled Pupitar's Rock Slide!

Combined with Starmie's explosive firepower, it was clear that, judging by their performance in Mount Silver, Will was just like Lance, only one step away from breaking through!

"Zoroark, Dark Pulse! Carvanha, Crunch! Ariados, Swords Dance!"

Dark Pulse struck again, forcing back the Golduck attempting to surround them.

Among them, the two strongest Golduck barely retreated at all, so Carvanha locked onto one and charged forward at full speed!

Snap!

Golduck screamed in pain, struggling as it grabbed Carvanha with both hands, trying to pull it off its head!

"Ariados, X-Scissor!"

Boosted by Swords Dance, Ariados surged forward.

Taking advantage of the distraction caused by Carvanha, it raised its forelegs high and slashed down in an X-formation!

Ariados secured the first knockout!