Chapter Seventy-Two: Groudon! Use Flamethrower!

“Falling Rocks… Powder Snow, Icy Wind, Ice Beam—why does she keep cycling through the same few moves?” Zhao Fang did a quick tally in his mind and then glanced at the Glacial Dragon before him.

The Glacial Dragon and the Snow Sprite had already been sparring for a while, but Zhao Fang couldn’t shake the odd feeling he got from the Glacial Dragon. It was as if she were holding back on purpose. There was a moment when the falling rocks were about to hit, but the Glacial Dragon used Ice Beam to deflect them, almost toying with her opponent like a cat playing with a mouse.

The Snow Sprite seemed to catch on to the Glacial Dragon’s intentions. With an angry roar, it produced several icy blocks and hurled them at the dragon’s eyes. The Glacial Dragon paid it no mind, dispersing the projectiles with Icy Wind, but immediately realized the Snow Sprite was charging at her, mouth open, ready to bite.

“Dodge, Glacial Dragon! Then counterattack—stop fooling around!” Zhao Fang felt a headache coming on. In a real battle, this kind of temperament could be a real liability.

But before he could finish the thought, Zhao Fang’s eyes widened in surprise. He watched as the Glacial Dragon sidestepped the bite with graceful, dance-like steps, her eyes wide with anger. With her roar, the flurry intensified, and a sudden blizzard battered the Snow Sprite, wounding it.

“Blizzard?” Zhao Fang quickly made a mental note of the move. This was one of the most powerful ice-type techniques. Still, from the look of the Glacial Dragon, casting Blizzard seemed to put a considerable strain on her.

“You worked hard. Thank you, Glacial Dragon.” Zhao Fang stopped her from continuing the fight and affectionately stroked her neck. The Glacial Dragon happily nuzzled him, then strutted proudly past the Snow Sprite, leaving Zhao Fang half amused, half exasperated.

No wonder she was the offspring of the Frost Tyrant. Zhao Fang couldn’t help but wonder—what kind of formidable being could earn the title of Frost Tyrant?

He didn’t rush to leave. Instead, he treated the Snow Sprite’s wounds with healing medicine. Though the Snow Sprite could recover on its own, Zhao Fang felt it was better to help it heal.

Next, he gave a pill to the Glacial Dragon. Her body color shifted from white to a normal pale blue, but she seemed unhappy with the change, protesting with a series of calls. It took Zhao Fang quite a while to explain before she finally settled down.

“A special attacker, perhaps?” Sitting inside his tent, Zhao Fang watched as the Glacial Dragon played with Dragomesia, lost in thought.

So far, the Glacial Dragon had only demonstrated special attack moves, whereas the Gyarados was definitely a physical attacker. If the Glacial Dragon specialized in special attacks, that could be good as well. Zhao Fang just wasn’t sure if the Glacial Dragon had any other strengths. All he’d seen was her remarkable talent for ice-type moves, while her rock-type abilities seemed rather ordinary.

However, Zhao Fang had yet to conduct systematic tests, so he didn’t know what other moves she might possess. The uncertainty gave him a strong urge to rush back to Whitevale Town and consult Professor Odawara.

Just as Zhao Fang was about to use his Pokédex to contact Professor Odawara and May, he heard a rustling sound outside the tent.

He quickly lay down by the window and peeked outside. Not far ahead, a flash of fire lit up the night. Zhao Fang hesitated, then recalled the Glacial Dragon to her Poké Ball, quickly packed up his tent, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and set off to investigate.

He wasn’t sure what was happening, but if someone was in danger, he had to check it out. In this kind of blizzard, it was rare for fire-type Pokémon to be out and about.

With Dragomesia coiled around his neck, Zhao Fang reached the spot where he’d seen the firelight. But as soon as he arrived, he dropped to the ground, for he saw a trainer ahead.

The trainer was clad in red, with a red bandana on his head—unmistakably the uniform of Team Magma.

Pressing himself into the snow, Zhao Fang peered forward and saw a Numel standing in front of the Team Magma member. Opposite them was a very familiar figure.

“A Froslass?” Zhao Fang was a bit surprised. He couldn’t tell if this was the same Froslass he’d seen earlier, but considering how rare their evolution was, it was highly likely.

What Zhao Fang couldn’t understand was why a Team Magma member would be here targeting a Froslass. After all, Team Magma’s goal was to awaken Groudon and expand the land. An ice-ghost-type Pokémon like Froslass surely didn’t fit their plans.

“Groudon, use Flamethrower!” As he listened to the Team Magma member command his Numel, Zhao Fang’s expression grew complicated. Groudon, really? He couldn’t help but think of Azalea, who called her Graveler “Terrakion.” Suddenly, Zhao Fang felt he’d been too timid; maybe he ought to start calling the Glacial Dragon “Kyurem.”

Lost in these odd musings, Zhao Fang saw the Numel’s Flamethrower streak toward Froslass. She dodged swiftly, but the flames still grazed her, and she let out a mournful cry.

“I can’t wait any longer—I’d better contact Officer Jenny.” Zhao Fang hurriedly took out his Pokédex and sent a request for backup to the nearest Officer Jenny, then drew his second Poké Ball.

He didn’t know what other Pokémon the Team Magma member might have, but right now, Zhao Fang’s best strategy was to launch a surprise attack and finish the fight in one move.

“Gyarados, use Water Pulse,” Zhao Fang murmured.

Gyarados opened its massive jaws, and a jet of water slammed into Numel.

With a quadruple weakness to water, Numel didn’t stand a chance. Caught off guard by the sudden assault, it collapsed on the spot and was even pushed back several feet by the force of the water.

“Who’s there?!” The Team Magma member shouted in shock and anger, staring toward the source of the water.

“To prevent the world from being destroyed—never mind! Since you asked so sincerely, I’m just a passing trainer!” Zhao Fang shouted, but at the same time recalled Gyarados and quickly moved to a new position with it.

He didn’t know if this Team Magma member had companions nearby. Recklessly revealing himself could be dangerous—unless Steven was right by his side, Zhao Fang preferred to lie low for now. Once Officer Jenny arrived, this guy wouldn’t be able to escape anyway.

“Who dares interfere with Team Magma’s business? Don’t you know Mt. Chimney is our turf?” The Team Magma member hurriedly recalled his Numel and tossed out two more Poké Balls—out came a Golbat and a Poochyena.