Chapter 703: This Is a Swordsman Worthy of Respect, the Paper Sword!

Chapter 703: This Is a Swordsman Worthy of Respect, the Paper Sword! (Two-in-One, Monthly Votes Requested!)

"Alright, pick a little one to help you."

Jinghe managed to muster some enthusiasm, his smile carrying a deeper meaning as he spoke to Tapu Bulu.

With that, he threw out a Poké Ball, summoning all of his Pokémon.

"Gengue~"

Gengue, with a mischievous grin, stood with arms crossed, but from the shadows beneath its feet, shadowy tendrils extended, waving at Tapu Bulu.

At this sight, Tapu Bulu, who had been somewhat lazy, instantly widened his eyes and instinctively took a step back.

He then looked at Ninetales, whose chilling aura immediately made Tapu Bulu pass without a second thought. Cold was something he despised the most.

Next, he glanced at Dratini, who was grinning and flapping its small wings. With its over three-meter height, round belly, and short arms, it was clear that Dratini wasn't the best choice for scratching an itch, so it was a pass.

Just as he looked at Forger, he saw it swinging its twin pigtails and gently placing its hammer on the ground.

Thud!!

The dull sound and the ground's slight tremor made a bead of cold sweat appear on Tapu Bulu's forehead.

"Chaa?" Forger smiled warmly, pointing at itself.

Tapu Bulu quickly waved his hands in refusal.

His gaze shifted again.

Thicklipuku, with its muscular build but still snoring and drooling, seemed like a great choice for scratching an itch, but it was fast asleep.

Tapu Bulu hated being disturbed while sleeping, so he wouldn't disturb Thicklipuku either.

Next to Thicklipuku was the Crimson Blade Phantom.

Clang!!

The sharp blade, enveloped in a deep blue flame, seemed to burn the soul, making Tapu Bulu pass once again.

"Moo!!"

He couldn't help but stand up.

None of them are normal!

Don't you have a single normal Pokémon?

"Bark?"

Blastoise, who had been sitting on the ground, clapped its hands and stood up, leaving a clear imprint of its bottom, and pointed at itself.

Is it me?

I'm really good at scratching itches!

Seeing the imprint, Tapu Bulu's eye twitched.

The only one who looked somewhat decent was Snivy, but it was holding its head high, looking at Tapu Bulu with disdain.

Noticing Tapu Bulu's gaze, Snivy bared its teeth.

"Hisss! I'll strangle you for sure if you choose me!"

Choose me, and you'll be strangled for sure!

Tapu Bulu: "."

Forget it!

[Forget it, then.]

Tapu Bulu took a deep breath.

"Forget it? Want to take a look at these ones?"

Jinghe took out another Poké Ball and summoned Regieleki and Regidrago.

"Regi—"

"Drago—"

Tapu Bulu's expression froze, and he waved his hands at Jinghe.

Forget it. I don't need to risk my life just to scratch an itch.

Jinghe couldn't help but chuckle.

He knew his Pokémon well. Honestly, in the entire Pokémon world, he doubted anyone else would dare ask them for help with scratching an itch.

Tapu Bulu slowly flew up, then headfirst dug a small pit in the ground. He waved his arms, and an unknown seed was dropped into it.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The bell on his tail jingled, and a bright green glow emanated from his body, gradually seeping into the soil.

"Hiss?" Snivy couldn't help but squint, watching the scene.

This moo-moo has some tricks up its sleeve?

In the next moment.

Rustle—rustle—rustle—

The seed Tapu Bulu planted quickly took root, sprouted, and grew branches. In just a few breaths, it had grown into a towering tree, covered in white flowers.

This was Jinghe's most envied ability.

Tapu Bulu then landed next to the thick trunk, pressing his back against the rough bark and rubbing it back and forth.

"Moo"

Tapu Bulu let out a contented sound.

Jinghe's expression was peculiar.

You have such a skill. Why didn't you use it earlier?

Was it really necessary to go through so much trouble?

But in the next second.

Jinghe's Pokémon's expressions changed, and Tapu Bulu, who had been rubbing against the tree, immediately crouched down, his hooves on the ground, and assumed a push-up position.

Swish—

A bright white arc of light flashed across the tree trunk where Tapu Bulu had been rubbing.

Snap—

The thick trunk suddenly split into two, the smooth cut allowing the upper half to slide down and crash to the ground.

Bang!!

Dust rose in a cloud.

"This is..." Jinghe was taken aback.

"Moo"

Tapu Bulu seemed unsurprised, floating up with a look of resignation.

This was why he had asked Jinghe and the others to help him scratch his itch instead of growing a tree himself.

"Gucha."

The Crimson Blade Phantom's eyes glowed with fiery light.

Since it hadn't been paying much attention to Tapu Bulu's scratching, the Crimson Blade Phantom hadn't seen the previous scene. However, the perfectly clean cut on the tree trunk and the lingering sharpness in the air made it realize something. Its blades trembled slightly, emitting a sharp hum.

"Moo!!"

Tapu Bulu let out a low moo, his frustration rising after a brief moment of resignation. It wasn’t just once or twice; every time he was about to scratch an itch, this thing would show up, and the feeling...

Being interrupted mid-scratch was worse than not scratching at all, and it was far more aggravating.

Crack! Crack!

Suddenly, one after another, thin slashes of light appeared in the air, as if the sky itself had been cut open, revealing small rifts leading to unknown places.

In the center of these rifts, a small figure was finally in sight.

At first glance, it looked like a child’s paper toy, with a humanoid structure and its head folded into its body. A yellow four-pointed star was cut into the center, resembling both a mouth and eyes. Its long, single-layer paper arms glinted with a cold, sharp edge, like blades capable of cutting through anything.

Another pointless target!

"Got a clear shot of Lot!" The Rotom Dex zoomed in, finally capturing the figure in the air, and Gengue, who was usually mischievous, stayed quiet.

"Indeed, Paper Sword", Jinghe said softly.

"Begin recording!" The Rotom Dex activated its information collection, analysis, and recording functions.

As the International Police Chief, Jinghe officially named the creature.

"Code name: UB04: Slash. Name: Paper Sword, a Sword Draw Pokémon with Grass and Steel types. Its body is as thin as paper and can transform into a blade that can cut through anything. Danger level: Extremely high!"

He had already reviewed some of the Ultra Beast data collected by the UB Countermeasures Department.

Besides UB01: Parasite, provided by the Aether Foundation, and UB02: Bloat, which Jinghe had subdued, the UB Countermeasures Department primarily focused on UB05: Big Eater, also known as Guzzlord.

It was said that Guzzlord had arrived in the Pokémon world with Lillie ten years ago and had been hiding and sleeping somewhere until recently showing signs of awakening.

Paper Sword was a first-time appearance, so Jinghe directly took the naming rights.

"Record! Record! Lot!"

The Rotom Dex recorded the information and images, sending them in real-time to the UB Countermeasures Department.

Meanwhile.

At the UB Countermeasures Department headquarters on Melemele Island, Lillie and Dr. Burnet received the live feed from the Rotom Dex.

"Another Ultra Beast? UB04: Slash, a Sword Draw Pokémon, Paper Sword?" Lillie furrowed her brow.

"There’s no sign of an Ultra Wormhole."

Dr. Burnet’s hands rapidly typed on the keyboard, confirming that no Ultra Wormhole had opened.

The primary goal of the UB Countermeasures Department was to reliably detect every opening of an Ultra Wormhole and develop Poké Balls capable of capturing Ultra Beasts.

Otherwise, even if they defeated an Ultra Beast, it would be a waste if they couldn’t capture or return it.

In this area, the UB Countermeasures Department collaborated with the Aether Foundation.

It was a challenging task, but with the assistance of the Muscle Man Pokémon provided by Teacher Jinghe, they made breakthrough progress.

Both real-time monitoring of Ultra Wormholes and the development of Ultra Balls were nearing completion.

But even so, they still couldn’t detect the Ultra Wormhole that brought Paper Sword to the Pokémon world.

"Perhaps..." Lillie hesitated for a moment before continuing, "it was already in the Pokémon world before we arrived."

Such Ultra Beasts were rare, but not unheard of, like UB05: Big Eater, Guzzlord, which they had always feared.

"It’s possible", Dr. Burnet nodded, starting to receive the data from the Rotom Dex.

"Wait, that Pokémon is—"

But then, Dr. Burnet noticed the Pokémon facing off against Paper Sword.

"The guardian of Ula'ula Island, Tapu Bulu!" Lillie said sternly.

In the scene.

Tapu Bulu stood facing Paper Sword, a bright green glow emanating from his body. The ground beneath him quickly sprouted a vast expanse of lush green grass.

Grassy Terrain!

Swoosh—

Paper Sword’s hands merged into a sharp blade, the yellow four-pointed star on its head flickering as if conveying a message.

"Moo!!"

Tapu Bulu’s eyes were serious, his hooves clashing at his chest, producing a hoof-like "clack" sound.

In the next moment.

Both figures charged at each other.

There was no loud collision or flashy moves; they simply flashed past each other in a blur.

"Moo—"

Tapu Bulu’s serious and angry expression turned to one of frustration.

He lowered his head to examine his body.

Bright white arcs of light burst from his body, accompanied by the crisp sound of cutting, turning into a web of fine cuts in an instant.

Even the surrounding air, the energy it released, and the Grassy Terrain were all sliced through!

But Tapu Bulu didn’t fall. He slowly landed on the ground, the green glow reappearing, and his wounds rapidly healed.

Paper Sword, on the other hand, seemed to have done something trivial, slowly turning around with a cold expression, the blade reverting to its arms.

Another pointless opponent!

"Truly a swordsman who can cut through any foe", Jinghe muttered, smacking his lips.

Tapu Bulu had met its match with an Ultra Beast that could counter it effectively.

As a bulky Pokémon with immense strength but unable to reach its own back, Tapu Bulu was a typical "clumsy" type. Encountering a Paper Sword, which was only palm-sized, incredibly fast, and had a sharp blade, was a significant challenge.

While the Paper Sword didn't have a type disadvantage, its agility was far superior.

Of course, the Paper Sword could injure Tapu Bulu, but it couldn't defeat the Ultra Beast with its strong recovery abilities. The two were evenly matched, but the Paper Sword, being more offensive, could take the initiative.

Tapu Bulu looked at Jinghe.

"This is my second problem."

The Paper Sword had arrived on Ula'ula Island a few years ago. Initially, it would cut anything in its path, causing minor disturbances in the wild but putting many wild Pokémon in danger.

As the island guardian, Tapu Bulu had no choice but to find the Paper Sword. In the end, Tapu Bulu ended up being constantly pestered by the Paper Sword.

The Paper Sword saw Tapu Bulu as a worthy opponent to challenge.

However, Tapu Bulu, being lazy and averse to trouble, ignored the Paper Sword once it stopped harassing other areas and Pokémon.

But while Tapu Bulu could be lazy, the Paper Sword couldn't.

Thus, whenever Tapu Bulu planted a tree, the Paper Sword would cut it down, forcing Tapu Bulu to engage in a proper battle, allowing the Paper Sword to slash to its heart's content.

"Whoosh!"

The Paper Sword stood tall in the sky, the wind rustling its paper-like body.

Standing only thirty centimeters tall, the Paper Sword's ambition far exceeded its size. Its goal was to cut through everything—matter, energy, and even space.

The Paper Sword could cut through space!

Thanks to this ability, it had sliced through the barrier between the Ultra Space and the Pokémon world, traveling to this unfamiliar land, Alola, in search of worthy opponents.

But Tapu Bulu's lazy nature left the Paper Sword unsatisfied.

However, following Tapu Bulu's gaze, the Paper Sword finally noticed Jinghe and his Pokémon.

So many powerful Pokémon!

The Paper Sword's spirits soared.

More opponents to test its blades!

"Whoosh!"

In the sky, the Paper Sword's form trembled slightly before vanishing from sight.

Here it comes!

"Geng!"

Gengue, undaunted, hopped on its short legs and vanished from the spot.

In Jinghe's Waveguide, he "saw" the Paper Sword, wielding its blade, clash with Gengue, much like the earlier encounter between Tapu Bulu and the Paper Sword.

Both Pokémon's movements paused.

"Whoosh!"

The Paper Sword's expression was cold, almost disdainful.

Its blade returned to its arms.

"Geng!"

Gengue's face showed "terror" as its chubby body was cleanly sliced in half!

Cut right down the middle!

"Whoosh"

Another boring opponent, cut down.

The Paper Sword's gaze swept over Jinghe's Pokémon again.

As for Gengue,

A Pokémon that couldn't withstand a single strike and was cut in half wasn't worth a second glance.

What puzzled the Paper Sword was why the humans and their companions below seemed indifferent to Gengue's fate.

So cold?

But then Jinghe sighed, "Alright, Gengue, stop playing around."

"Geng!"

Behind him, Gengue's laughter echoed.

Huh?

The Paper Sword turned sharply.

There, the purple, chubby Pokémon was waving one hand and holding its severed "lower half" with the other, rubbing it back together.

Stitch, stitch?!

"Geng~"

Gengue looked down at its little feet, wiggling them to check if they were still working. Satisfied with their responsiveness, it patted its belly in a "relieved" manner and let out a long sigh.

The Paper Sword: "?"

Jinghe chuckled and shook his head, beckoning Gengue over. The chubby Pokémon, with a playful grin, floated back under the Paper Sword's puzzled gaze.

"Geng~"

I was so scared, I thought I was really cut in half~

Its cheeky demeanor earned it a rough play session from Jinghe and the other Pokémon.

"Crimson Blade Phantom", Jinghe said, tapping Gengue's forehead.

"Gucha!"

Crimson Blade Phantom stepped forward, looking up at the Paper Sword in the sky, flames rising in its eyes.

If there was one Pokémon who was most eager to battle the Paper Sword, it was Crimson Blade Phantom.

Both wielders of "blades" and swordsmen, the Paper Sword's agile movements and sharp strikes excited Crimson Blade Phantom to no end.

Jinghe, of course, had his own plans when he sent out the Crimson Blade Phantom.

On one hand, Crimson Blade Phantom's fighting spirit was a significant factor. On the other hand, as a Grass and Steel Ultra Beast, Paper Sword was quadruple weak to fire, which added another layer of complexity.

Most importantly, this Paper Sword was estimated to be at least on par with a typical champion-level Pokémon. For Crimson Blade Phantom, it was definitely a worthy opponent. Even with the quadruple type disadvantage, a battle was still within reach.

"Swish!!"

Faced with Gengue's "playful" antics, Paper Sword clearly became irritated. It raised its hand and pointed at Jinghe, releasing a near-tangible pressure blade that slashed toward him. The sharpness of the attack made Jinghe feel as if he had thorns on his back.

"Gucha!"

But then, Crimson Blade Phantom swept his blade at the incoming attack.

Clang!!

The sound of metal clashing with metal was accompanied by a few sparks as Paper Sword's pressure blade was deflected to the side.

Pfft—

It left a thin but deep sword mark on the ground.

"Swish?"

Paper Sword looked at Crimson Blade Phantom, its four-pointed star slightly opening and closing, its expression gradually becoming more serious. It sensed the aura of a fellow sword master from Crimson Blade Phantom, an aura that cut through everything with unwavering determination.

Paper Sword slowly descended from the air to be at eye level with Crimson Blade Phantom. Its paper-thin arms rotated slightly, like a sword ready to strike from its sheath, and a battle spirit gradually welled up within its body.

"Swish!"

You, not bad!

Crimson Blade Phantom slowly raised his blade, pointing it at Paper Sword, his eyes narrowing slightly as the deep blue flames in them grew more intense.

Just not bad?

Buzz—

His blade spun, emitting a buzzing sound as the deep blue flames instantly enveloped it.

He crossed his arms and blade in front of him.

All the hard training, growth, and battles he had endured weren't just to be called "not bad"!

Such an evaluation...

You're not giving me any respect!

The deep blue flames in Crimson Blade Phantom's eyes suddenly burst forth, and his figure blurred, leaving only a scorched footprint behind.

"Swish!"

Paper Sword's expression turned solemn in an instant.

What incredible speed!

A deep blue arc of light flashed toward him, and Paper Sword immediately closed its arms into a blade, meeting Crimson Blade Phantom head-on without hesitation.

Sizzle—

Sparks flew, and a piercing, teeth-grating sound filled the air as Crimson Blade Phantom and Paper Sword passed each other.

What incredible speed!

What sharp blades!

Both Crimson Blade Phantom and Paper Sword had the same thought.

Pfft!

A clean cut appeared on the black-purple armor of Crimson Blade Phantom, and a deep blue flame flickered on Paper Sword's paper blade.

Before Crimson Blade Phantom and Paper Sword could react, Forger's expression turned pained.

Not because he was worried about Crimson Blade Phantom, but because he was concerned about the armor.

Don't damage it...

"It's fine", Jinghe said, though he also felt a twinge of pain. But it was just a cut.

After the brief initial clash, both Crimson Blade Phantom and Paper Sword took their opponent more seriously.

"Swish!!"

Paper Sword's body was enveloped in an energy similar to that of an Ultra Wormhole, its aura rising.

Ability: Beast Boost!

[Beast Boost: When a Pokémon with this ability defeats an opponent with an attacking move, it randomly increases one of its stats (excluding HP)!]

However, it was clear that Paper Sword's situation was different from the usual "Beast Boost" ability. It seemed that as the battle continued, its energy would gradually increase!

"Cheating!"

However, Crimson Blade Phantom didn't back down because of the change in Paper Sword's aura. He let out a low growl.

"Gucha!"

Crack—

A crack appeared on his black-purple armor, and tendrils of deep blue flame licked out from the fissure.

Shattered Armor!

While his physical defense decreased, his speed was significantly increased!

"Chah!" Forger clenched the hammer handle tightly.

Even Jinghe felt a bit pained by this.

But for Crimson Blade Phantom and Paper Sword, this was just the beginning!

In an instant.

Clang!!

Crimson Blade Phantom and Paper Sword turned in unison, their blades slicing toward each other.

Sparks flew, and the sword clashed with a resounding ring!

The Paper Sword's single blade locked with the Crimson Blade Phantom's dual blades, and the deep blue flames surged instantly.

"Whoosh!"

Fire was the Paper Sword's greatest nemesis, and this deep blue flame, which clung to its body like a parasite, made it feel as if it were burning alive.

In the second clash, despite the boost from Beast Boost, the Paper Sword not only failed to gain the upper hand against the Crimson Blade Phantom but also suffered intense burns from the flames.

The Crimson Blade Phantom noticed the Paper Sword's condition, seeing the slight charring on its blade, and glanced down at its own dual blades.

After a moment of contemplation, it looked at Jinghe.

Jinghe, seeing the new crack that appeared on the Crimson Blade Phantom's armor, suppressed the pain in his heart and nodded slightly, saying:

"Do what you must."

"Goocha!"

With Jinghe's approval and the unconditional trust he felt from Jinghe, the Crimson Blade Phantom felt an overwhelming surge of power. It gently turned its blade.

Hum—

The deep blue flames on the dual blades dissipated.

The Paper Sword was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the Crimson Blade Phantom to extinguish the flames on its own.

However, when it met the Crimson Blade Phantom's gaze, the Paper Sword suddenly understood.

The opponent it had been seeking, the one "worthy of a decisive strike", had finally appeared!

"Whoosh!!"

The Paper Sword's aura was once again boosted by Beast Boost.

Facing a true swordsman, it had to display the aura of a swordsman as well!

Previously, it was the Crimson Blade Phantom who had been on the offensive, but now, out of respect,

The Paper Sword's eyes sharpened, and its body moved like the wind, rapidly shooting toward the Crimson Blade Phantom.

While the Crimson Blade Phantom might be inferior to the Paper Sword in strength and defense, it had a clear advantage in speed!

Clang!!

The blades clashed again.

Without the influence of the flames, the Paper Sword had a significant edge in the pure clash!

Despite its small frame, it exuded an overwhelming presence.

Even though its blade was pressing against the Crimson Blade Phantom's blade, it seemed as if there were countless and rampant "sword auras" surrounding them.

"Shadow Claw!" Jinghe called out in time.

Although the Crimson Blade Phantom chose not to use flames, it could still use other moves.

It really wanted to spar with the Paper Sword and exchange sword techniques.

"Goocha!"

The Crimson Blade Phantom's blade, which was holding the Paper Sword's attack, lifted with great effort, creating some space. The other blade then swung toward the Paper Sword.

The chilling ghostly aura posed a significant threat to the Paper Sword.

However,

At that moment, the blade formed by the Paper Sword's merged arms split into two, returning to its dual-arm form.

Or, more accurately, dual blades!

Clang!

The Paper Sword's left arm blade clashed with the Crimson Blade Phantom's right blade.

Suddenly,

The Paper Sword's expression became calm.

"Whoosh"

This is how dual blades are used.

One blade rides the wind, the other cleaves the waves. Feel it, my opponent!

Clang!!

The Crimson Blade Phantom was somewhat surprised.

It had thought the Paper Sword was a single-blade user, but it turned out to be a dual-blade user as well!

But with the Paper Sword's sudden aggressive attack, the Crimson Blade Phantom could only struggle to block with its dual blades.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each strike from the Paper Sword was accompanied by a terrifying hum, flying sparks, and the trembling of the Crimson Blade Phantom's dual blades.

It seemed that if the Paper Sword continued to slash, the Crimson Blade Phantom's blades might be severed.

This time, Forger, who was beside Jinghe, was genuinely worried.

A cracked armor could be fixed; it would just require more materials, and he was skilled at it.

But if the Crimson Blade Phantom's blades were broken, the repair would be much more costly.

"Crimson Blade Phantom."

Jinghe's Waveguide had fully expanded, merging with the Crimson Blade Phantom's Waveguide. This not only allowed him to see the battle clearly but also synchronized their intentions.

Merely defending is not what a true swordsman should do, but if there is a strategy behind the defense, it's a different story.

"See it clearly?" Jinghe murmured.

Crimson Blade Phantom didn't respond, only staring intently at the Paper Sword, his eyes blazing brighter as he struggled to parry.

At the same time.

Crimson Blade Phantom's aura began to rise rapidly.

Sword Dance!

Using the force of parrying, he executed Sword Dance!

The clanging of blades drowned out any other sound.

But that wasn't all!

With each parry, Crimson Blade Phantom's strength subtly increased.

Indeed, battle is the best way to improve.

The Paper Sword was also surprised by Crimson Blade Phantom's transformation.

And right then.

"The sun is just right, Solar Blade!"

Having familiarized himself with the Paper Sword's techniques, it was time to counter!

"Guchaa!"

The flames within Crimson Blade Phantom were compressed to their utmost, erupting like a volcano.

He didn't break his earlier "promise" to release the flames.

Instead, he converted this power into a burst of energy!

At the same time.

The one-hit technique he had learned from Bear Sensei was unleashed without reservation!

"Guchaa!!"

This strike, try to block it!

Crimson Blade Phantom swung his sword, deflecting the Paper Sword's dual blades. After a brief pause, he surged forward, his blade covered in a radiant, scorching energy, and slashed.

The Paper Sword's expression changed, sensing the power of this strike.

"Saa"

The blade.

Clang!!!

The sharp sound of metal on metal rang out, and the small Paper Sword was sent flying like a cannonball, the ground rising and then collapsing with the impact.

Rumble—

Was it over?

Lila and Dr. Barnett, watching the "live stream", were stunned by the scene before them, unable to shake the thought.

But in the next instant.

Boom!!

The Paper Sword burst out of the ground, its dual blades still sharp, and its aura reaching new heights!

At this moment, the Paper Sword had reached the level of a typical Champion-Level Pokémon!

Its eyes burning, it pointed its sword at Crimson Blade Phantom and roared.

"My opponent, no more holding back! Show me your strongest strike!"

Strongest strike?

Crimson Blade Phantom and Jinghe exchanged a glance.

Hiss.

A puff of white vapor escaped from beneath Crimson Blade Phantom's mask.

The blade turned.

Roar!!

Flames, even more intense than before, rose from the blade.

One strike to vanquish evil, one to calm the soul!

Beneath Crimson Blade Phantom's feet, a spiral of deep blue flames burned, as if accompanied by countless ghosts.

At this moment, it seemed as if the heavens and the sun dimmed.

"Crimson Blade Phantom!"

Jinghe and Crimson Blade Phantom's eyes snapped open, blue Waveguide surging.

Remorse Blade!

"Guchaa!"

The dual blades, a resplendent slash!

In an instant.

Speed reached its peak, Waveguide surged to its limit, the one-hit technique, dual blades resplendent!

"Saa!!"

Come on!

The Paper Sword's heart raced, advancing to meet Crimson Blade Phantom, its dual blades enveloped in sunlight, unafraid to engage!

Solar Blade!

One dark, one bright, one dim, one luminous.

Clang!!!

They passed each other.

The outcome was decided!

"Guchaa!"

Crimson Blade Phantom cried out in pain, a jagged crack appearing in his chest armor as he knelt on one knee.

"Saa"

The Paper Sword turned calmly, looking at Crimson Blade Phantom with a satisfied expression.

This trip was worth it.

Hiss!!

Flames rose suddenly, and he collapsed lightly to the ground.

His eyes swirled.

"Guchaa."

This is a swordsman worthy of respect.

Crimson Blade Phantom shakily stood up, his eyes filled with respect.

Jinghe clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain.

Not physical pain, but the pain of losing rare metals and materials.

How many more will be wasted in this battle?

But, seeing Crimson Blade Phantom's satisfied expression, his renewed confidence, and his enhanced strength.

It's worth it.

Jinghe sighed softly.

It was worth it.

He then picked up the Rotom Dex from the "live stream" and looked at Lila, who was still in shock, and said quietly:

"Who's going to review this footage, me or you?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end