Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

Su Bai's reminder quickly snapped everyone back to reality.

This steep mountain cliff was not a place suited for battle!

Immediately, the trainers gave urgent commands to their Pokémon, seizing this brief moment of reprieve to make a mad dash toward the summit.

On top of Gyarados, Zhou Xiaofei winced in pain, his head throbbing from backlash, yet he still muttered in guilt,

"I'm sorry… It's all my fault. I'm the one who attracted Articuno's attention…"

In Zhou Xiaofei's mind, if he hadn't taken it upon himself to use the Power of Bonding to try and communicate with Articuno, none of this chaos would've happened.

"You're underestimating a Tier 2 Legendary too much. Even if you hadn't used the Bonding power, it still wouldn't have let you reach the summit unchallenged…"

Su Bai's voice came through the Pokéball communicator, gentle but firm.

Truthfully, Zhou Xiaofei's actions weren't reckless. With the state Articuno was in, they would've faced its aggression no matter what once they reached the top.

If there had been a chance to express goodwill before direct contact, perhaps they could've avoided battle altogether.

Su Bai knew Zhou Xiaofei well—this attempt was inevitable, given his nature.

Even if the result wasn't ideal, it wasn't a mistake.

At this point, the team couldn't afford to be cautious anymore.

Torterra drove its massive feet into the frozen cliffside, climbing upward like a mountain tank, closely following behind Gyarados.

Its massive body rumbled forward, the ice crunching beneath its weight.

In contrast, Arcanine, with its four legs slipping on the slick ice, lagged behind at the rear of the group.

Still, it managed to catch up to those without mounts, like Pei Jingguo, scooping them up mid-run.

A thunderous rumble followed them as the group charged toward the summit with desperate speed.

But Articuno, despite being a Tier 2 legendary, was still a Pokémon at heart.

And wild Pokémon—especially apex predators like Articuno—were extremely territorial.

To the enraged Articuno, the trainers' mad dash looked less like a retreat and more like an invasion!

Just because they'd blocked Blizzard didn't mean they were safe.

"Breehh!!"

A savage screech rang out as Articuno flapped its massive wings again.

A windstorm, similar yet distinct from the last one, began to howl across the mountainside.

"Oh no—it's Hurricane!"

Su Bai's shout came from the Pokémon Center in alarm.

He'd seen Blizzard firsthand—he knew this wasn't the same.

Blizzard was an Ice-type move where the real danger lay in the sharp ice and snow hidden within the wind.

But this time… there were no ice shards.

Instead, the wind itself was the threat.

Far stronger. Far more direct.

Just the opening gust nearly knocked over the 300+ kilogram Torterra.

On its back, Wang Tao couldn't even open his eyes against the razor-sharp gale!

If Torterra was struggling, then Arcanine, whose paws were scrabbling against the slick ice, stood no chance.

Its claws dug deep into the frozen slope, but even so, its entire body was being pushed backward by the howling winds.

Even Gyarados, despite flying, could only barely stay aloft—it was losing altitude.

Barely seconds after surviving one crisis, the trainers were once again plunged into danger!

The steep terrain was one problem, but Articuno's relentless onslaught only magnified it.

"Damn it! If this keeps up, we'll be blown off the mountain before we ever reach the top!"

Pei Jingguo clenched his jaw, gripping a branch on Torterra's shell with all his might—he was already being lifted off the ground by the wind!

And Hurricane—like Blizzard—was a 110 power move. But this was just the beginning.

Articuno's wings continued to beat, the storm growing stronger and stronger with each pass!

Suddenly, within the gale, a faint green glint came slicing toward Torterra like a razor blade.

CLANG!

A sharp metallic sound rang out.

Pei Jingguo, sword in hand, barely managed to deflect the green blade midair.

But the impact was so intense that even Haicheng's famed Sword Genius almost lost his grip!

The green light changed course, slicing past his face and leaving a stinging pain.

A thin cut appeared on his cheek.

"A wind blade…? That's insane!"

His hands tingled with pain as he steadied his sword.

That single slash… nearly disarmed him.

"This Articuno… It's too strong."

He turned to warn the others—but the moment he looked forward, his pupils shrank in horror.

Before Articuno—

Countless specks of green light twinkled like stars across the sky.

"Protect yourselves!!"

Pei Jingguo didn't hesitate.

Just one wind blade had hit like a master swordsman's strike—he couldn't imagine what a storm of them could do.

His skin prickled. His instincts screamed at him—this was going to be devastating.

He turned toward Gyarados—toward Zhou Xiaofei and Liu Qiaoqiao.

The others were all Awakened—strong enough to survive.

But those two?

Zhou Xiaofei was a Contractor with little combat ability. Liu Qiaoqiao… was basically helpless.

Worse, Zhou Xiaofei was clutching his head in pain—like he was being overwhelmed by something.

There was no way they could withstand the next attack!

"This is bad…"

Even Pei Jingguo, who had kept calm through everything, now showed true despair.

He didn't care about getting hurt himself.

What terrified him was losing his teammates.

But just then—

On Torterra's massive shell, a faint footstep echoed.

"Luuu!!"

A fierce roar, full of courage, rang out.

In Pei Jingguo's stunned gaze, Lucario—the one that had joined them midway—suddenly leapt high into the air!

Though small in stature, Lucario's body radiated immense power.

That single step had pushed Torterra's massive form even deeper into the icy slope.

Even Torterra let out a low groan from the pressure!

Using the momentum from that kick, Lucario shot upward, its blue Aura flaring like wildfire!

Then—like a vortex turning inward—all of that energy gathered into Lucario's hands!