Urban Pokémon [29]

For someone in power, a mere villa wouldn't do — space was a given.

Even in Magic City, where every square inch of land came at a premium, this villa boasted a fully equipped, generously sized battle arena.

Before long—

Ye Qing and Tang Rong arrived at the training grounds.

"Come out, Nidoqueen."

Stepping inside, Ye Qing didn't hesitate to send out her ace Pokémon.

Nido!

A powerful Nidoqueen appeared at the center of the battlefield, emanating a commanding presence.

Due to recent skirmishes with the Flying Eagle Gang, Nidoqueen had been deployed in one battle after another.

As such, she assumed this summoning meant yet another fight — she immediately dropped into a combat stance.

But—

The field was empty.

"Nidoqueen, no battles today. We're testing something."

"Here — hold onto this."

Ye Qing handed the [Life Orb] to Nidoqueen.

The moment Nidoqueen laid eyes on the gem, a strange, primal desire stirred within her — as if this item had been crafted just for her.

Without hesitation, she equipped it.

Sensing her Pokémon's mood shift, Ye Qing felt a sudden conviction: Maybe the [Life Orb's] side effects really don't apply to my Nidoqueen.

"Qing-jie, how do we test it? Should I send out a Pokémon for a mock battle?"

Tang Rong, Poké Ball in hand, was practically itching to jump in.

She was dying to know if what Ye Qing claimed was true.

"No need to make it that complicated."

Ye Qing shook her head, then recalled the moves her daughter had mentioned.

She gave a crisp command: "Nidoqueen — [Earth Power]!"

Nido!

The moment she activated the Life Orb, Nidoqueen felt a rush of new energy surging through her.

She lifted her thick, muscular right foot — and slammed it into the ground.

In the next instant—

The entire battlefield trembled.

Cracks the width of a thumb spread across the once-smooth surface, chunks of rock jutting upward in jagged formations.

Watching the sheer destructive force unfold, Tang Rong drew in a sharp breath.

"So this is what the [Life Orb] can do?"

"No wonder people have been obsessively researching how to negate its side effects."

"If you could use this thing freely... the power is terrifying."

Ye Qing responded only with a calm, knowing smile.

She stepped forward and asked, "Nidoqueen, do you feel any fatigue? Any drain on your stamina?"

There had been numerous studies on the [Life Orb], many with detailed records of the symptoms that signaled side effects.

Nidoqueen tilted her head, then shook it — she felt perfectly fine.

That confirmed it.

The two women now had solid proof: Nidoqueen was immune to the [Life Orb's] side effects.

Tang Rong couldn't hold back her excitement.

"Qing-jie, what's the secret?!"

She could hardly wait to try it with her own Pokémon.

But—

Ye Qing's answer was disappointing.

"As far as I know, only Nidoking and Nidoqueen can ignore the [Life Orb's] side effects."

While it was theoretically possible for Pokémon with the [Sheer Force] or [Magic Guard] abilities to do the same, no known species with those traits had been confirmed yet.

From what Ye Qing understood, only the hidden abilities of Nidoking and Nidoqueen allowed them this immunity.

Tang Rong's face fell, clearly disappointed.

Still, her curiosity toward the mysterious teacher mentoring Xiao Xue grew even stronger.

"Qing-jie, once we settle things with the Flying Eagle Gang, you have to bring me along to pick up Xiao Xue."

She looked at Ye Qing imploringly.

Ye Qing nodded. "No problem."

Afterward, she tested every move her daughter had mentioned: [Earth Power], [Body Slam], [Poison Jab], [Sludge Bomb]—

Every single one triggered the [Life Orb's] effects.

With the details now clear, Ye Qing began mobilizing the Azure Dragon Society for a counterattack.

...

Half a month later.

At the Flying Eagle Gang's headquarters, Ying Tou sat with a face like thunder.

"Have you figured it out yet? Why has that woman Ye Qing's Nidoqueen gotten so much stronger all of a sudden?"

In a world where power was determined by Pokémon, a single high-level fighter could tip the tide of any battle.

The Flying Eagle Gang had previously dominated the Azure Dragon Society because Ying Tou himself outmatched Ye Qing.

But ever since Nidoqueen was equipped with the [Life Orb], everything had changed.

"Boss Ying," one of the gang's division leaders spoke up cautiously, "according to reports, Ye Qing equipped her Nidoqueen with the [Life Orb]. That's why she's so powerful now."

But the words had barely left his mouth—

When Ying Tou snapped.

"You think I don't know that?!"

"I heard about the [Life Orb]!"

"But does that even make sense?"

"Everyone knows the [Life Orb] boosts move power at the cost of stamina!"

"That's universally accepted!"

"But that Nidoqueen of Ye Qing's fought for an entire afternoon last time and didn't even look winded. How the hell could she be holding a [Life Orb]?"

The [Life Orb] rumor had actually been started by Ye Qing herself.

Because she knew—

Anyone who faced her Nidoqueen in battle would immediately rule that option out.

And without the correct answer in the mix, good luck uncovering the truth.

Just as Ying Tou was fuming over his subordinates' incompetence, a man with a shadowy gaze stepped quietly to his side.

"Boss. We've got something."

Ying Tou's eyes lit up.

He leaned in. "Lin Ke — is the intel solid?"

Lin Ke nodded.

"Absolutely."

"They even sent photos. No doubt about it — the girl's Ye Qing's daughter, Su Qingxue."

"Also, our source spotted men from the Elite Bodyguard Company in the area."

"Excellent."

Ying Tou clapped his hands together in satisfaction.

The others looked up at him in surprise.

Noting their attention, he gave a small cough and said coolly, "You're all dismissed for now."

"Don't provoke the Azure Dragon Society for the time being."

The men looked puzzled but none dared disobey.

Once they'd cleared out, Ying Tou turned to Lin Ke, his expression grim.

"Lin Ke. Take your best men and bring me Su Qingxue."

"If I've got her as a hostage, let's see if Ye Qing can keep playing tough."

Climbing up from the slums, Ying Tou had never been the type to believe in things like 'don't involve innocents.'

If you stood in his way—

He'd do whatever it took to crush you.

"Understood, Boss."

"I'll leave right away."

Lin Ke gave a respectful nod and left to gather his team.