met free Chapter 401 "Summer Pool Cup" Semi-Finals: Magic Masked Cat VS Dragonite!
Chapter 401 "Summer Pool Cup" Semi-Finals: Magic Masked Cat VS Dragonite!
Chapter 401 "Summer Pool Cup" Semi-Finals: Magic Masked Cat VS Dragonite!
Although Dragonite's special attack power is not to be underestimated with the Bond Pact bonus, the [Dragon Pulse] did not cause the expected serious damage to Meowth.
There are two reasons.
Firstly, the [Dance of Death] spell on her is in effect.
Secondly, and more importantly, the Steel type it gains after shifting gears provides excellent resistance to Dragon-type moves.
boom--
The energy sphere of Dragon Wave exploded violently, and the golden-purple dragon shadow energy surged out like a raging tide, completely annihilating the rock where the Magic Masked Cat had been standing into dust.
However, a green figure enveloped in the remaining silvery-gray light burst forth from the center of the explosion.
The speed did not decrease; instead, it used the shockwave of the explosion to unleash the ultimate speed brought by the [gear shift], transforming into a green lightning bolt that was difficult to see with the naked eye, heading straight for the Dragonite suspended in mid-air.
The Magic Masked Cat did not immediately condense specific attack energy; only the shrieking sound and blurry energy flow generated by the high-speed friction of its claws against the air were heard.
This posture of holding back the attack brings the greatest tactical pressure.
Dragonite couldn't predict whether she would use Play Rough to switch to Fairy immunity, use Triple Slash for a strong attack, or use another type of surprise attack.
Uncertainty has become the sharpest weapon for Magic Masked Cat at this moment.
Do you want to continue using Dragon-type moves, stack Dragon attribute bonds, and pursue the ultimate leap in all abilities?
The decision lingered in Dragonite's mind for only a fleeting moment before the answer became crystal clear.
Stack them, they must be stacked!
Now is the perfect time for layering.
The full protection of [Multiscales] remains, providing valuable damage buffer.
If you give up now out of fear of your opponent's counterattack, and wait for your scales to break and your health to drop, then trying to safely stack up layers while enduring the onslaught of the Magic Masked Cat's attacks is nothing short of a pipe dream.
The balance between risk and reward is clearly tilting towards the latter at this moment.
Seeing the green lightning bolt closing in, Dragonite no longer hesitated.
It let out a low roar, its right claw clenched, and a surge of powerful dragon energy erupted from its body, instantly condensing into a solid, dark green dragon claw phantom.
Energy surged at the edge of the phantom, dragon might emanated, and with the power to tear through space, it slammed down on the oncoming magical masked cat.
Before the sharp claw-like wind even arrived, the rubble below was already being compressed and slightly lifted into the air.
Dragon Claw!
Faced with the unavoidable slam of the giant claw, the Magic Masked Cat showed no panic, and the nature of its internal energy instantly switched once again.
Fairy type!
Pinkish-purple fairy energy flowed within her body, and the magical masked cat's attributes completed a perfect transformation from steel to fairy just before the dragon claw touched her body.
laugh--
The terrifying, dark green dragon claw phantom slammed heavily onto the Magic Masked Cat, instantly evaporating the extremely dense dragon attribute energy before quickly disappearing without a trace.
The magical masked cat's counterattack erupted at the very moment the immunity took effect.
"Meow!"
On its forepaws, the pinkish-purple fairy light suddenly shone to its fullest extent.
Following the dragon claw arm that had not yet fully retracted, like a living vine thorn, it suddenly pierced into the dragon's body in the opposite direction.
Playful!
The double-strength fairy energy frantically invaded Dragonite's body, searching for any opening that could cause destruction.
"Ugh—!"
Dragonite let out a deep, painful groan, its massive body trembling violently in the air.
Fortunately, the [Multi-scale] property played a crucial role at this moment.
That invisible, tough, scale-like energy shield forcibly neutralized nearly half of this cunning and ferocious demonic energy.
The remaining damage, while still considerable, was not enough to throw it off balance.
It endured the discomfort, flapped its wings violently, and managed to stabilize itself in the air, but the solemnity in its eyes deepened.
The magical masked cat struck once and then continued relentlessly.
She pressed her advantage, using the slight recoil generated by their playful close proximity to the dragon, twisting her waist and moving her body like a boneless whip, getting close to the dragon again at an incredible angle.
This time, however, what gathered on her right claw was no longer the pinkish-purple fairy light, but an extremely cold, pale white vortex that seemed to freeze even the air.
The cyclone spun rapidly, emitting a sharp whistle. Inside, tiny ice crystals could be seen growing wildly. The surrounding temperature plummeted, and even the tailwind swirling around Dragonite's body seemed to become viscous.
Triple Spin!
Magic Masked Meow isn't worried at all that Dragonite will continue to stubbornly use Dragon-type moves.
Because while the [Playful] attack dealt massive damage, the life steal effects of [Dance of Death] and [Bloodthirster] were already triggered.
It instantly restored her health points, which had been depleted by the dragon's energy and her own health, to a near-full state.
At this moment, her blood volume is healthy and she is in good condition.
Even if Dragonite uses Dragon Claw again, she can simply switch to Fairy type again for the next attack, which will just mean taking another sip of blood.
Dragonite naturally saw through Magic Mask Meow's intentions.
Use a high-power, four-times-effective move to force it to abandon stacking, or take massive damage head-on.
It also clearly felt the growing gap in health points between itself and its opponent.
but...
opportunity!
She gave herself the opportunity to continue layering!
Although it's unclear why Magic Masked Cat would "allow" it to use Dragon-type moves even when it had such a significant advantage.
But to Dragonite, this was undoubtedly a glimmer of hope in adversity.
As for the [Triple Spin] which is four times more effective?
Although it hurts, it wasn't like it hadn't been through something much worse in the last match against Latias.
No battle is without injuries.
At worst, I can just soak in the hot springs for a few more days after the game.
With this thought in mind, Dragonite's eyes showed no more hesitation, only a burning determination.
It completely ignored the claws that the Magic Masked Cat had already unleashed, which were carrying an ice storm, and frantically mobilized the dragon-type energy within its body once again.
The right claw, which had just dimmed from using the Dragon Claw technique, was instantly enveloped again by dark green dragon-shaped energy and fiercely tore at the Magic Masked Cat.
laugh-
Two distinctly different sounds exploded almost simultaneously.
The first part of the Magic Masked Cat's [Triple Spin] landed squarely on Dragonite's chest and abdomen.
The extremely cold ice-type energy exploded, and the invisible [Multiscale] protective membrane on Dragonite's body made a sound of being overwhelmed.
The light dimmed rapidly, but it did not shatter completely, stubbornly negating most of the power of the first attack.
Dragonite shuddered violently, and the part of the dragon that was hit was instantly covered with a layer of white frost, with a biting cold seeping in frantically.
Almost simultaneously, Dragonite's [Dragon Claw] tore through the air and struck Magic Mask Meowth.
However, the delayed damage effect of [Dance of Death] on the Magic Masked Cat reappeared.
The damage from the dragon claw did not immediately burst out in full; instead, a significant portion of it was converted into a subsequent continuous bleeding effect.
Furthermore, since Dragon-type has no type advantage over Ice-type, the immediate damage caused by this claw attack was far less than Dragonite expected.
But this is not the end.
The magical masked cat's attacks were fluid and relentless.
The first three-spin attack had just hit her when her body spun slightly with the force of the reaction, and the second attack followed immediately.
This strike was faster, colder, and more powerful!
Thud—
This time, the tough protective membrane finally cracked with a clear sound, completely disintegrating into points of light and disappearing.
The remaining icy force slammed into Dragonite's body without hindrance, causing it to let out a painful roar. Its massive body was slammed backward several meters, the white frost on its chest spread rapidly, and its movements became noticeably stiff and sluggish.
Meanwhile, the third stage of the Magic Masked Cat arrived like a relentless, icy meteor, chasing after its prey from mid-air.
At this moment, she demonstrated the essence of the [Combo Style Secret Technique] to the fullest. The three attacks were seamlessly connected, with the power increasing layer by layer, so fast that only a white afterimage remained.
Dragonite's pupils contracted sharply, and it barely managed to raise its right arm, which was imbued with the energy of its dragon claws, to block.
Boom—
The final triple spin attack collided violently with the remaining energy of the hastily parried dragon claw.
A terrifying ice explosion, mixed with the dissipating dragon energy, bloomed in the air as a flower of death, interwoven with blue, white, and dark green.
The low-temperature air ring diffuses in a spherical shape, instantly condensing the moisture in the air into ice crystals, which then fall.
Dragonite was struck as if by a heavy blow; the frost covering it almost froze its entire forearm.
It could no longer maintain its levitation and was slammed hard into the ground by the force, carving a long trench in the broken rock. It barely managed to support its body with its wings and its not-yet-completely-frozen left claw.
In contrast, Magical Masked Cat, after completing her three-hit combo, used the recoil from the explosion to perform several backflips in mid-air before landing on a rock.
His posture was composed, and his breathing was steady.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly as she looked down at the rather disheveled Dragonite, her gaze filled with a knowing, mocking, and scrutinizing expression.
High judgment.
The delayed damage from [Dance of Death] prevented Dragonite's claws from posing a sufficient threat, while the full three-stage damage from [Triple Spin] dealt a solid blow to Dragonite.
And the life steal effect was triggered again. The health that Magic Mask Cat lost due to the dragon claw was instantly pulled back above the health line, and the loss was almost imperceptible.
With each in-and-out movement, the gap in physical strength between the two sides widened further.
Dragonite was panting, its [Multiscale] was broken, its body was covered in frost, and its health was significantly reduced.
Meanwhile, the Magic Masked Cat's health was good, as if the intense battle just now was merely a warm-up.
After a brief standoff, the Magic Mask Cat made a move.
She pushed off the rocks with her hind legs and shot out again. This time, the tips of her claws shone with an undisguised pinkish-purple fairy light.
Playful!
And it's all done openly!
Her tactical intentions were laid bare before Dragonite: I'm going to use this move.
If you attack with a Dragon-type move, I'll be immune and then I'll retaliate by draining your life.
If you don't use Dragon-type moves... are you willing to give up the Dragon attribute bond that you've already stacked four times?
This is an open and obvious strategy, forcing Dragonite to make a painful choice between "enduring ineffective attacks and continuing to stack layers" and "giving up stacking layers and seeking other ways to break the deadlock".
Although Dragonite doesn't understand the term "sunk cost," its instincts allow it to deeply understand the current predicament.
Continue layering?
If your opponent has good health but you are in poor condition, will you be able to withstand their four times stronger counter moves in the next fight?
If you can't withstand it, no matter how many layers you add, it's all just a mirage.
Therefore, we must be willing to give it up!
You can try again to reach higher floors, but once your health is depleted, there's no chance of a comeback.
The four accumulated Dragon attribute bond layers can be considered purely for increasing all attributes by about 80%, which at least provides a tangible boost to attack, defense, and speed, so it's not a complete waste.
Having made up its mind, Dragonite no longer tried to gather Dragon-type energy. Facing the rushing pink and purple fairy light and shadow, it raised its head and let out a battle roar. Instantly, a layer of silver-white energy plating with a metallic cold light covered its head!
Iron Head!
The pinkish-purple fairy flower and the silver-white steel skull collided violently in mid-air.
The energy surged, producing a deafening sound like metal clashing.
Dragonite, thanks to the stat boost from four Bond Pacts, managed to withstand the double-superior [Play Rough].
The two figures separated instantly upon contact, each bouncing back several meters and landing on the shattered ground, confronting each other through the billowing smoke and the aftershocks of energy.
In terms of strength, they were evenly matched.
Magic Mask Cat shook its slightly numb front paws, not surprised by the result.
Dragonite already has extremely high base stats, and now with the added buffs and Bond Pact, it's no surprise that it can withstand its own Taunt.
But this is only the beginning.
Her goal was never to win in one blow, but to drag Dragonite into a carefully woven quagmire of rhythm through a continuous offensive, causing it to lose focus and eventually bleed to death slowly.
Without the slightest pause, the rubble beneath Magic Mask Cat's feet exploded, and his figure shot up once more!
This time, however, what lingered between her claws was a chilling, awe-inspiring white current that seemed capable of freezing the soul!
Triple Spin!
The intention remains clear: to force Dragonite to make a choice.
Use a Dragon-type move?
It can't match up against a four-fold counter.
Use other techniques?
Abandoning layering may not necessarily lead to an advantage.
Dragonite's decision was more decisive than the last time.
It reacted almost the instant the Magic Masked Cat was activated.
His right fist clenched tightly, and scorching, explosive fire energy surged forth from nowhere, coiling around it and dispelling some of the surrounding icy aura. His fist seemed to transform into a miniature burning meteorite.
Flame Fist!
Fire-type physical moves are one of the most effective countermeasures it can think of against Ice-type Magic Masked Meow in the current situation.
boom-
Extreme cold and explosive heat collide once again.
The Magic Masked Cat's [Triple Spin] three-hit combo is like three surging ice waves, each one stronger than the last, slamming into Dragonite's fiery fist and body.
The first segment was partially neutralized by the flames, the second segment broke through the fire wall, and the third segment exploded solidly on the Dragonite.
Dragonite let out a miserable groan as the flames on its fist were completely extinguished. Its entire arm and even half of its body were covered with thick frost, making its movements extremely stiff and slow. Its health dropped sharply again.
What weighed heavily on Dragonite's mind was that this devastating [Triple Spin] had once again triggered Masked Meow's Life Drain.
The health lost due to [Flame Fist] and the aftershocks of the collision was instantly restored to almost full.
The physical condition of the two elves presents a stark and despairing contrast.
Dragonite was badly injured, its breathing was disordered, it was covered in frost, and its health was less than half.
Meanwhile, the Magical Masked Cat remained elegant and composed, her breathing steady, and her health bar dazzlingly healthy, as if this fierce battle had nothing to do with her.
"it's over..."
On the sidelines, Dan Di let out a slightly regretful sigh.
Not long ago, when watching Dragonite battle Latias, he said the same thing, and at that time it was Latias who was judged to have "finished".
Now, the roles are reversed, and the ending he speaks of belongs to Dragonite.
The same core tactics are combined with the Dragon attribute synergy to seek a qualitative change and turn the tide.
Dragonite succeeded against Latias, using its type and ability advantages to drag it into its own rhythm.
However, this tactic was completely countered by the Magic Masked Cat.
The [Changeable] ability gives Meowth almost absolute initiative when facing Dragon-type moves.
More importantly, she possesses the artifact [Dance of Death], which delays and diverts the damage of any effective attack from Dragonite.
Each successful [Triple Spin] attack by the Magic Masked Cat not only deals massive damage but also instantly restores its health.
As one thing rises and the other falls, Dragonite's health drops visibly, while Masked Meow remains at a high level.
Even if Dragonite were incredibly lucky and survived until the Ten Dragon Bond was fully realized, it would still face a nearly fully-equipped Masked Meowth whose type could be switched at any time to counter it.
The probability of turning the tide is extremely low.
Although Dan Di was unaware of the underlying reasons for bonds and equipment.
But as a champion, his insight is enough to see through the essence from the outward appearance.
The Dragonite's tactics were completely suppressed, and the balance of victory had already tipped, beyond repair.