Chapter 136 – Grotle’s Evolution!

With Wang Tao's ecstatic shout, a brilliant flash of light erupted behind him.

From the glow, a majestic figure emerged—Torterra, charging forward like an unstoppable tank, slamming directly into the oncoming Tailless Rampaging Bull!

"I knew it!"

Su Bai's eyes lit up as he watched Torterra crash into the S-Class death beast like a steel juggernaut.

"They just needed the right kind of push!"

Gabite evolved after Grotle got beat up—now it was Grotle's turn to return the favor. Just like how even the calmest person can be terrifying when truly angry, this usually mellow Pokémon had finally snapped!

Now fully evolved, Torterra was clad in thick, earthen armor. Standing over two meters tall, its massive body bore a sturdy tree atop its back, along with three angular, stone platforms, making its shell resemble a miniature continent.

Its crimson eyes glinted beneath jagged edges of its hardened beak-like mouth.

At that moment, Torterra was a roaring tank , its powerful limbs rooted deep into the earth as it held firm against the rampaging beast.

Then, while still bracing the bull, Torterra raised its right foreleg—

BOOM!!

With a thunderous stomp, a shockwave burst outward , tearing through the ground.

Cracks spread like spiderwebs across the earth beneath them. Even the mountain-like Tailless Rampaging Bull staggered , its immense body trembling.

"That's Earthquake!"

Liu Yunlan gasped, wide-eyed. Even though she wasn't in the attack's direct path, she could barely keep her balance .

The sheer power of the attack rippled from Torterra's massive frame in a feral pulse, crashing into the ground in front of it.

Several A-Class death beasts, who had been standing off to the side waiting for an opening, were instantly caught in the shockwave .

This was no ordinary tremor— Torterra's fury-fueled Earthquake was a full-force AoE attack , boasting a power rating of 100 !

And now, thanks to evolution, Torterra had gained a second type: Ground —stacking power onto its original Grass nature!

The devastating waves crashed outward, slamming into the nearby A-Class death beasts and sending them flying like rag dolls.

Even the mighty S-Class bull was finally pushed back a step by the repeated seismic pulses.

And as it staggered backward, Torterra pressed forward one step .

From a distance, it looked like Torterra was pushing back a mountain , step by grinding step.

The overwhelming surge of power sent a chill of adrenaline rushing through the veins of every trainer present.

And then— Torterra roared .

A surge of raw Grass-type energy erupted from its body, coalescing in the air above the bull's head.

In a blink, the energy condensed into a massive wooden mallet , and then—

SMASH!!

With a thunderous crack, the giant hammer slammed into the Tailless Rampaging Bull's skull , driving its head into the ground!

For the second time since the battle began, the bull's face was smashed into the dirt —

Once by Meloetta.

And now, by Torterra's Wood Hammer —a powerful Grass-type move with a base power of 120 !

Torterra let out a pained grunt and stumbled back half a step. Despite the blow's might, Wood Hammer came with a price —a third of the damage dealt would recoil back onto the user.

But even with the step back, Torterra had lost none of its imposing presence .

After all, it was going toe-to-toe with a S-Class death beast .

The gap between A-Class and S-Class … was like the chasm between heaven and earth.

"A-Amazing…"

Liu Yunlan stared at the imposing Torterra, completely shaken.

That thing… had just flattened an S-Class death beast ?!

It was barely believable.

Not long ago, Wang Tao was just a nobody —a bottom-tier Awakener who likely wouldn't have even qualified for a city guard post after graduating from Haicheng No. 1 High.

And now, his Pokémon had just bodied an S-Class Death beast?

"Too strong!"

Zhang Qun's eyes gleamed with admiration and just a hint of smugness.

After all, it was because his own Gabite had been beaten up that Grotle got so mad and evolved. If that didn't scream "bonded brothers," what did?

But just as everyone was basking in Torterra's glory, Su Bai's voice cut in —mildly dissatisfied and dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't tell me you guys actually think S-Class death beasts are that easy to beat?"

"Especially physical-enhancement types. Their vitality is off the charts."

"What's next? You want me to take my Pokémon back and fight it for you?"

He sighed, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.

These guys really did lack experience— especially when it came to handling S-Class beast .

A newly evolved Torterra using Earthquake and Wood Hammer was impressive, yes—but that didn't mean it had the raw strength to instantly defeat a monster of this level.

Strength in battle wasn't just about move power .

It was also about training depth .

A 100 attack stat and a 500 attack stat could both use the same move— but the damage output? Worlds apart.

And Torterra… had just evolved.

As if to underscore Su Bai's point, the Tailless Rampaging Bull raised its head again .

S-Class death beasts had already begun to develop a degree of intelligence .

And intelligence came with emotion .

Right now, the bull was absolutely seeing things .

This was an S-Class beast—yet it had just had its face smashed into the dirt twice , by two tiny Pokémon.

Utter humiliation.

With a violent snort, the bull slammed its forelegs down and lunged upward.

Its horn rammed directly into Torterra's shell before the latter could react.

WHOOOSH!

A jet-like vortex of air burst from its nostrils as the rampaging beast unleashed a monstrous force.

Torterra was driven backward , unable to withstand the raw strength.

At this stage, it still couldn't go blow for blow with the bull.

But then—

CRACK!!

A sudden bolt of lightning arced through the air and blasted the bull in the side !

Sparks exploded across its body, forcing its movement to halt.

It was a powerful jolt , and it had just saved Torterra from being overrun.

Wang Tao turned and gave a grateful nod to Li Xiaoyu.

The thunderbolt had come from Jolteon —and accompanying it was Umbreon's Helping Hand !

The lightning was so intense, smoke rose from the bull's hide , even through its thickened skin.

"Su Bai was right. We can't win one-on-one…"

"But who says we can't win as a team?!"

With a shout, a blur of scarlet flame streaked into the sky.

Monferno launched itself like a flaming comet, spinning in mid-air before rocketing down at full force toward the bull!

At the same time—

Prinplup's Brine.

Fletchinder's Acrobatics, diving in from above.

One strike after another—

The coordinated assault had begun!