Chapter 71: Frost and Chill

Chapter 71: Frost's Chill

Suddenly, a biting chill swept through the air.

In the vast, arid canyon, beautiful, crystalline snowflakes appeared abruptly, drifting down like a scene from a dream. The powerful magnetic field that Zeraora had cast over the arena seemed to be affected by some mysterious force, compelled to slowly contract inward.

High above, a magnificent and graceful form stretched out in full, radiating dazzling light. Wings as clear as carved ice reflected the sunlight in a blaze of brilliance; its body was covered in splendid blue feathers, pure and pristine, unmarred by any flaw. At a glance, one could sense the piercing cold emanating from it. Atop its head, three deep-blue diamond-shaped plumes were arranged to form a crest like that of a princess’s crown—proud and regal.

Its short, gray beak gleamed with a metallic sheen, and from its tail trailed an extraordinarily long, elegant plume, smooth and lustrous as silk, floating lightly in the air and occasionally shedding shimmering shards of frost.

On the ground below,

Louis stood rooted in place, gazing up at the sky, his eyes filled with awe.

This Articuno was the secret weapon he had brought from the organization. Though he had possessed its Pokéball for some time, this was his first time releasing it. As a crucial piece in the organization’s major operation, this unexpectedly acquired legendary beast was of immeasurable value. If not for the extreme importance of Louis’s mission and the need for overwhelming force, he might never have learned that the organization even possessed an Articuno.

It was precisely because of this powerful Articuno that Dark Star had the confidence to launch their operations in the Kela Mountains.

A distant, lonely cry echoed from the sky.

Zeraora’s eyes flashed with gravity—unlike the rabble it had faced before, this Articuno radiated a power that matched its own.

Silver-white sparks crackled around Zeraora’s body as potent electricity gathered within.

In the sky,

Articuno soared with delight. Though the space inside its Pokéball was ample enough for flight, for Articuno, nothing could compare to the boundless sky.

Suddenly, it sensed a surge of hostile, potent energy rising from below. With a sharp beat of its wings, dazzling icy light scattered through the air. Lifting its regal, crown-like head, it exuded an air of noble arrogance.

Its dark-gray eyes fixed on Zeraora below, a trace of anger flickering within. How presumptuous for this unfamiliar Pokémon to show hostility toward a legendary beast! Utterly reckless!

Its wings, seemingly sculpted from ice, folded slightly, gathering frost. Luminous blue energy coalesced, forming a small orb.

Aiming at Zeraora, Articuno gave another powerful wingbeat.

A sharp crack resounded.

From the bright blue orb shot a beam of blue-white light.

“Ice Beam!”

The beam twisted and curved in a strange arc as it shot toward Zeraora on the ground, freezing every droplet of moisture in its path, wisps of white mist drifting outward.

As an Electric-type Pokémon, Zeraora was innately gifted with extraordinary speed. Although Articuno’s Ice Beam was swift and unpredictable, the significant distance between it and Zeraora allowed the latter ample time to react.

With a subtle crouch, Zeraora’s feet flared with brilliant white light. Powerful currents surged through its muscles, unleashing explosive strength. With a mighty leap, its black-and-yellow form, laced with silver-white sparks, darted aside.

The beam struck the ground, instantly freezing a vast patch of earth into a smooth, glassy sheet of ice. The chill radiating from it was so intense that even Louis and his team, far away, could feel it.

The sheer force of the attack made Zeraora all the more cautious. With a blast of such power, even its formidable physique could not withstand many more.

A sharp crack rang out—the onslaught was not over.

No sooner had the first Ice Beam hit the ground than another shot forth from above.

White light flashed as Zeraora displayed terrifying speed, darting across the ground to evade Articuno’s relentless attacks. In the sky, Articuno was like an inexhaustible artillery battery, raining blasts upon the earth.

In the face of Zeraora’s agility, Articuno revealed a patience and composure at odds with its elegant appearance. Over its long life, it had faced countless speedy opponents like this. While they could dodge its opening attacks, as time wore on, fatigue would set in, and the biting cold would stiffen their limbs, presenting an opportunity.

And should one of its Ice Beams so much as graze an opponent, the beam’s formidable freezing effect would instantly immobilize everything it touched.

After that, things became far simpler—defeating the foe was only a matter of one or two more attacks.

A hint of a relaxed smile flickered in Articuno’s dark-gray eyes.

Ice Beams rained down as if energy was limitless, Articuno unconcerned by any depletion of its reserves. As a legendary beast, it possessed such vast stores of energy that it could keep firing all day without worry.

On the ground,

While dodging the relentless beams, Zeraora’s mind raced.

Constant evasion was no solution. It knew that the best way to deal with an opponent like Articuno was close combat. Yet with Articuno high in the sky, that was easier said than done.

Though Zeraora’s “Electromagnetic Levitation” granted it flight for brief periods, it was not a Flying-type Pokémon. In the air, its agility and flexibility would be drastically limited. To fight Articuno in its element would be courting death.

What to do?

Zeraora pondered frantically.

Suddenly, inspiration struck—its long years of battle experience coming to the fore.

Above, Articuno continued to unleash Ice Beams, freezing vast swathes of land into slick ice.

Suddenly, Zeraora, dashing at high speed, appeared to lose its footing, slipping and tumbling to the ground.

Opportunity!

Articuno intensified its barrage, sending a flurry of Ice Beams hurtling down in the blink of an eye.

Thunderous impacts shook the ground, clouds of dust and white frost billowing out.

Was it over?

Articuno wondered, yet an intense sense of unease suddenly welled up inside.