area51novel Page 17
Page 17
"boom--!!!!!"
A deafening, terrifying roar, powerful enough to rip eardrums, exploded throughout the entire enclosed cave!
The sound wasn't an impact; it was more like a pure explosion!
A destructive white ring-shaped shockwave suddenly spread out from the point of impact, sending all the dust and debris on the ground flying!
The ferocious expression on the face of the level 45 elite Golem had not yet completely solidified.
It couldn't even unleash one of the simplest skills.
Its massive and heavy body, upon contact, was like a block of tofu hit head-on by a siege cannon; the rock armor on its chest shattered inch by inch and caved inward rapidly!
Immediately, its massive body was blasted away by an irresistible force, crashing heavily onto a rock wall dozens of meters away.
"Crack——!"
With a chilling sound of bones and rocks shattering, its massive body crashed into the hard rock wall, creating a huge crater, before sliding helplessly to the ground, instantly losing all fighting ability.
one strike.
Instant kill!
This overwhelming and absolute power, transcending the level of suppression, heralded the official birth of the unshakeable and indisputable absolute ace in Lin Che's future team!
Lin Che looked at his imposing companion with satisfaction.
Arcanine simply stood there calmly, its golden fur swaying slightly in the aftershocks of energy, exuding a kingly majesty.
The rewards of this trip to the volcanic ash wonderland far exceeded his wildest expectations before setting off.
He retrieved his satisfied Pokémon, the heavy Poké Ball in his hand as if he were holding the entire future in his grasp.
He replanned his return route.
Looking forward to the upcoming university life, to that broader, more exciting stage for trainers, filled with countless strong individuals.
His heart was filled with unprecedented confidence and anticipation.
Chapter 21 An Encounter in the Secret Realm Square: The School Beauty Was Shocked!
When Lin Che reappeared in the supply town square at the entrance to the volcanic ash secret realm, he looked as if he had just escaped from a violent storm.
The surface of that expensive insulated jacket was completely covered with a layer of fine, grayish-black volcanic ash, losing its original color. The texture of it clinging tightly to his skin was somewhat rough and abrasive. He raised his hand and wiped his face, leaving a clear mark where his fingertips had traced the surface. Waves of exhaustion washed over him, making his eyelids feel heavy.
However, beneath this layer of fatigue, his dark eyes shone with an astonishing light.
It's a sense of satisfaction and sharpness that comes from within after a successful return.
The rewards of this trip to the hidden realm far exceeded my expectations.
He first dragged his heavy steps toward the elf rental center on the edge of town. After returning the burrowing mole that had dutifully dug a life-saving passage for him in the underground tunnel, he didn't hesitate to pay a generous thank-you fee far exceeding the rental fee.
After doing all this, he shouldered the enormous backpack, which was almost wider and thicker than himself, and went to the bus station back to the city, intending to find a corner to rest for a while.
Just as he put down his backpack and the soreness in his muscles spread from his back, a clear female voice, tinged with uncertainty and surprise, came from behind him.
"Lin Che? Is it really you?"
Lin Che turned around upon hearing the sound, his movements pausing slightly.
Two beautiful young women were standing not far away, their clothes spotless, a stark contrast to his disheveled state.
One of them was Xu Qingyan, who was from the same school as him and was privately known as the "school beauty of No. 2 Middle School" by countless boys.
At that moment, she was staring at him with wide, curious eyes, looking him up and down with undisguised surprise, her gaze sliding from his dusty hair down to his worn-out hiking boots.
"Why are you here too?"
Xu Qingyan's tone was full of pure curiosity, without the slightest pretense.
"Are you also here to explore this hidden realm during your holiday?"
"Well, it is."
Lin Che nodded and responded succinctly. All he wanted to do right now was get in the car as soon as possible and get a good night's sleep.
"Wow, Qingyan, is this the top scorer in the city from your school? He looks amazing!"
Xu Qingyan's best friend nudged her gently with her elbow and lowered her voice, but her sparkling, gossipy eyes betrayed her excitement.
Xu Qingyan's pretty face flushed slightly.
She then seemed to remember something, straightened her back, and a barely perceptible hint of pride and smugness appeared on her brow. She carefully took out a sleeping fairy egg from her arms, its shell adorned with red and blue triangular patterns.
No, to be precise, it was no longer a simple egg.
A tiny, creamy-yellow creature, recently hatched from its egg, is using the half-broken eggshell as a cradle, hugging its former "home," and sleeping soundly.
It's Togepi.
"Lin Che, look, this is the starter Pokémon my dad spent a lot of money to get for me!"
Xu Qingyan's tone was filled with uncontrollable joy. She gently pushed the Togepi forward, afraid of disturbing the little guy's sweet dream.
"I've assessed its potential, and it's 'near-King level'!"
The Eye of Truth has quietly opened.
In Lin Che's field of vision, a light blue data panel flashed above Togepi, and the information on it clearly confirmed her words.
"A Togepi at the near-Champion level is indeed very rare and powerful."
Lin Che objectively commented that this was the truth. For a high school student who hadn't even started school yet, this was almost a dream start.
"Of course!"
Her best friend immediately seized the opportunity and praised her with pride.
"Togepi's final evolution is Togekiss! A powerful Flying/Fairy type Pokémon that's both cute and strong. I wonder how many people envy Qingyan's good luck!"
Amidst the exclamations of praise, Xu Qingyan's gaze returned to Lin Che, her bright eyes gleaming with even stronger anticipation.
"By the way, Lin Che, what's your starter Pokémon?"
She pressed for more information out of curiosity.
"Can we let it out to see?"
Lin Che instinctively wanted to refuse.
He didn't want to be too high-profile. If the current state of the Gyrocopter were exposed to the public eye, it would inevitably attract countless troubles and covetous eyes.
But looking into the other person's clear, pure eyes, eyes that seemed to want to share their joy with their classmate, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Never mind, it's just a glance.
He finally nodded.
This simple action brought excited expressions to Xu Qingyan and her best friend.
Lin Che untied a Poké Ball from his waist and gently pressed the switch in the middle with his thumb.
A dense red light burst forth from the sphere, rapidly expanding, intertwining, and shaping on the open ground in front of it.
There was no earth-shattering noise, nor any special effects of surging air currents.
The next second, a lion appeared silently in the open space of the square.
Its size far exceeds any conventional data recorded in any encyclopedia, with a shoulder height of nearly two meters, resembling a solid golden wall. On its orange-red fur, the black stripes are deep and wild, and its mane is like flowing golden flames, slowly burning and swaying in the windless platform, radiating a visible heat.
A terrifying aura belonging to the peak of LV.40 elite level, mixed with the savage and ancient pressure originating from the Flame Stone Slab, was no longer an ethereal feeling, but transformed into a tangible pressure storm that instantly swept across the entire platform!
The air stopped moving at that moment, and the temperature suddenly soared.
Arcanine simply stood there calmly, without even barking. It merely turned its head slightly and glanced indifferently at the Togepi that was still asleep in Xu Qingyan's arms with its majestic and wise golden eyes.
That gaze held no hostility, no provocation.
There is only one kind of absolute indifference that originates from the very top of the hierarchy of life.
The entire square fell into a deathly silence in an instant.
My best friend, who was just chattering excitedly and gossiping a moment ago, now has her mouth wide open enough to fit an elf egg, but no sound comes out of her throat, and the color drains from her face at a visible speed.
Xu Qingyan instinctively covered her mouth tightly with one hand to prevent herself from screaming out loud.
In those beautiful eyes, all curiosity, pride, and anticipation were swept away at this moment, leaving only an emotion of utter shock and disbelief.
She stared blankly at the majestic creature before her, a being that seemed to have stepped out of a myth, whose very existence was enough to suffocate her.
Her mind went blank.
Chapter 22 The Secret of the Flame Tablet, The Shock to the Parents!
Inside the bus returning to the city, the air seemed to become thick and sluggish.
The scenery outside the car window rushed past, turning into blurry patches of color.
In the front row, my best friend, who had been chattering and lively just moments before, now sat ramrod straight, her body stiff and rigid. Her gaze kept drifting, through the reflection in the rearview mirror, to the figure behind her.
Every time she came into contact with Lin Che's calm profile, her gaze would snap away as if electrocuted, filled with an almost instinctive sense of awe.
That is submission to absolute power.
However, Xu Qingyan, who was standing next to Lin Che, presented a completely different picture.
Deep within the volcanic wonderland, the image of the gigantic Growlithe descending like a king, cleansing everything with its sacred flames, had become an indelible mark, deeply etched into her mind, playing repeatedly.
The initial shock and disbelief have faded, replaced by a more complex and intense emotion.
Her eyes reflected Lin Che's figure, shimmering with an indescribable brilliance.
The name of that light is worship.
The vehicle engine emitted a low roar and slowly started.
"Lin Che, that..."
Xu Qingyan finally mustered her courage and broke the delicate silence, shifting slightly closer to Lin Che. The unique fragrance emanating from the young girl, accompanied by her slightly shy voice, wafted over gently.
"Can I... add you as a contact?"
She quickly added, seemingly trying to find a plausible excuse for her abruptness.