Chapter 135 – Gible’s Evolution! Growth Through Pressure!

The Rampaging Bull's charge was so ferocious, it gave the Trainers no time to think.

Instinctively, Wang Tao commanded his Grotle to intercept the attack.

But in the very next second, the sheer might of the S-rank death beast made itself known.

The Grotle—who had always stood like an immovable fortress in battle—was launched into the air by a single, brutal hit from the beast's massive horns!

In that instant, the Trainers were left exposed before the raging Tailedless Rampaging Bull.

As if venting all the frustration it had taken from Meloetta earlier, the monstrous creature let out a thunderous roar:

"MOOOO——!!"

Its mountain-sized bulk radiated raw intimidation.

"…As expected," Su Bai murmured with a trace of regret as he shook his head. An S-rank death beast was something even a not-yet-fully-evolved Grotle couldn't hope to hold back.

If these Trainers didn't step up, then his carefully crafted trial would be wasted.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the toppled Grotle, then instinctively turned to look at Meloetta and Diancie, who had just arrived.

In their eyes, only those two Mythical Pokémon could restrain something of this level.

But Su Bai's voice cut through the battlefield:

"Meloetta won't step in so easily! This one's on you guys!"

"Believe in yourselves!"

He even gave them a cheerful thumbs-up.

The group fell into speechless despair.

"Are you serious?!" Liu Yunlan shouted, nearly tearing her hair out.

"This is an Sr-ank death beast! How are we supposed to believe in ourselves?!"

As the bull lowered its head to charge again, the Trainers were frozen in place—until a voice cried out from behind:

"Eh? Gible?!"

It was Zhang Qun's voice.

At the same time, a radiant light exploded beside him.

From that brilliant glow, a streamlined figure burst forth—racing straight toward the charging bull!

What was once a round, clumsy body had transformed. Twin horn-like spikes jutted from its head, matching the fierce glint in its eyes and the rows of sharp fangs. The aura of a Dragon-type pseudo-legend was beginning to bloom.

In a flash, the newly evolved Gabite leapt onto the bull's back, baring its fangs—and sank them deep!

"Wait, Gible finally evolved?" Su Bai noted thoughtfully.

"Given its level, it should have evolved a while ago."

After all, Gible evolves into Gabite at Level 24. Zhang Qun had been raising it for quite some time, and as a seasoned Trainer, its level shouldn't be low.

Su Bai had always found it odd that the Gible hadn't evolved sooner.

Now it made sense—pseudo-legendaries were notoriously hard to train. They demanded more experience and often had stricter evolution conditions.

Zhang Qun had always treated Wang Tao as his big brother. Ever since he became a Trainer, this rich-kid sidekick had followed Wang Tao around, and naturally, their Pokémon grew close.

Gabite might be fierce by nature, but Grotle was its "big bro" who had carried it through countless battles.

So when Grotle was struck down, Gabite couldn't stand by.

With enough training and the emotional trigger in place—evolution became inevitable.

And with its razor-sharp bite, Gabite's teeth sank into the Rampaging Bull's thick hide!

The move: Bite.

The Rampaging Bull roared in agony, a new sensation overwhelming it—fear.

That was Bite's secondary effect: a chance to cause flinching.

Though still massively outclassed, Gabite had made an impact.

"MOOOO!!"

Furious and humiliated, the beast thrashed violently and bucked upward.

Gabite was thrown off like a ragdoll!

"Gabite!" Zhang Qun's joy turned to horror as his partner was hurled through the air.

Without hesitation, he rushed to its side, stuffing it with healing sprays as fast as he could.

Gabite may have been flung, but its move had halted the bull's charge.

Su Bai's voice rang out again:

"Of course an S-rank death beast isn't something you can solo right now."

"But you're not alone."

"From the start, you've always faced these death beasts together."

"A full A-rank awakened team can hold an S-rank at bay for a time."

"So why not your buffed-up Pokémon?"

"If you really think your Pokémon aren't even as good as an awakened team... maybe they've chosen the wrong Trainers."

He even shook his head in mock disappointment.

Liu Yunshuang shot Su Bai a sideways glance, muttering, "You're being too gentle again."

She called out to the others loudly, her voice sharp:

"Su Bai says—if you can't take this S-rank down, he'll recall all your Pokémon and give them to Trainers who actually can fight!"

"This is about the fate of humanity. Your feelings don't matter!"

"You hear me?! Go and take down that monster!!"

Su Bai turned to her in shock.

Liu Yunshuang just shrugged. "Told you—you're too soft. Young people need pressure."

Pressure…?

Su Bai stroked his chin. That wording felt kind of off somehow...

While the two chatted idly, chaos erupted among the Trainers.

None of them doubted Su Bai could actually reclaim their Pokémon.

After all, Su Bai was the Pokémon Tamer, a unique class. Every Pokémon in this world had come through him.

If anyone had the authority to take them back—it was him.

And everyone knew: these powerful Pokémon were humanity's greatest hope.

Losing them wouldn't just be a personal loss—it could cripple their species' survival.

Sure, they'd spent money acquiring them… but in this world, money wasn't the point.

Power must not be wasted. That was the law of the land.

Feelings and personal attachments? They didn't matter much here.

If you couldn't handle your Pokémon, someone else would.

And the city lords would happily pay the price.

Liu Yunshuang's threat was no bluff—and everyone knew it.

Their eyes turned bloodshot.

These Pokémon—so adorable, so loyal—weren't just battle tools. They had become family.

Losing them?

Unthinkable.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!" Liu Yunlan nearly exploded with desperation.

She was ready to charge with her Monferno and Growlithe herself.

She couldn't lose them. She'd rather die.

But just then—Wang Tao shouted from behind:

"It evolved! Grotle evolved!!"