With the previous Attack Order already neutralized, Rhydon's Stone Edge attack was now hurtling directly toward Vespiquen's offensive!
"Bzzz bzzzt!"
Vespiquen's gaze sharpened, a flash of red flickering within her eyes.
In the next instant, the Combee surrounding her body also began to emit a crimson glow.
"Bzzzz~"
The Combee rapidly beat their wings, darting to position themselves in front of Vespiquen. The red light radiating from them merged into a single sheet of energy, forming a barrier!
Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!
The razor-sharp stones whistled through the air, reaching the Combee in an instant and slamming into the crimson barrier!
A series of relentless impacts rang out. Under the onslaught of Rhydon's Stone Edge attack, the red light of the barrier flickered wildly before cracks like spiderwebs suddenly appeared!
Rhydon was, after all, an advanced-tier Pokémon. In battle, it didn't know the meaning of "holding back." With its full strength unleashed, this Combee-formed barrier could not withstand it!
With a shattering sound, the barrier broke apart, and the Combee were blasted away like kites with their strings cut, tumbling from the sky!
"Defense Order!" Aven's eyes flashed with insight.
From what he knew, Defense Order could be used in two ways—either to bolster allies or to form a defensive shield. Judging from the earlier exchanges, Vespiquen's mastery over Defense Order was extremely skilled!
"RHYYY!!"
Seeing its attack blocked, Rhydon was not discouraged—in fact, it seemed more excited.
Rhydon: Finally, I've found another worthy opponent! All of you, get out of the way—this one's mine!
With a thunderous roar, Rhydon's massive form charged forward. Rock-type energy condensed around its fist, and it swung a heavy punch directly toward the Combee-formed barrier before it!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The force of Rock Slide burst forth instantly, smashing through the barrier in a single blow!
The sheer force of the blast sent the Combees scattering, completely unable to slow Rhydon's relentless advance!
Now, Vespiquen was forced to split her attention—using Attack Order to fend off the Vileplume while also casting Defense Order to block incoming strikes. Before long, she was falling into a disadvantage.
With Rhydon closing in rapidly, Vespiquen had no choice but to summon more Combee to her side, strengthening her defenses!
Soon, Rhydon was directly in front of Vespiquen. It swung its fist once more, bringing it crashing down toward her!
"Bzzzz bzzt!"
Vespiquen's expression was solemn as she hastily activated Defense Order.
At the same time, several unborn Combee larvae inside her hive peeked out, their eyes flashing red.
In the next moment, a crimson shield formed around Vespiquen's body, solidifying in front of her!
Boom!
Rhydon's fist—imbued with the force of Rock Slide—slammed heavily into the barrier, but this time it didn't budge an inch!
Now, Vespiquen's energy had merged completely with that of the larvae inside her body. The fully concentrated shield could withstand even the full-force blow of an advanced-tier Pokémon!
"Bzzzt!"
Immediately after, Vespiquen's body erupted with multicolored light, condensing into a beam that blasted forward!
This time, Attack Order was executed directly by Vespiquen herself, infused with the strength of her larvae—its power was immense!
Rhydon crossed its arms, rock-type energy swirling defensively before it!
The multicolored beam slammed into Rhydon, sending the massive Pokémon flying backward before it crashed heavily into the ground!
Seeing this, the Pokémon beside Aven all reacted with alarm, some even wanting to rush to help—but Aven raised a hand to stop them.
"Leave this battle to Rhydon!" Aven took a deep breath and stepped forward.
By now, the battle in the field was nearing its conclusion. Against the combined forces of the Vileplume tribe and the Nidoking tribe, the Combee stood no real chance.
If not for Vespiquen's Attack Order empowering them—allowing them to fire multicolored beams in succession—and her Defense Order blocking enemy strikes, they would have already fallen.
Now, the only remaining true threat was Vespiquen herself—especially in her current state, having merged with the strength of her larvae. This gave her the battle power of a solid advanced-tier Pokémon!
From the Nidoking leader's perspective, this Vespiquen—empowered by her larvae—was only slightly weaker than itself, placing her among the top of the advanced-tier Pokémons!
"Rhydon, the real battle starts now!"
As Aven's voice fell, Rhydon quickly climbed to its feet and let out a mighty roar of fighting spirit!
"Good! Go straight for Stone Edge!"
Upon hearing the order, Rhydon stomped heavily on the ground, summoning a torrent of sharp stones that shot straight toward Vespiquen!
Faced with the incoming barrage, Vespiquen didn't dare show the slightest carelessness—she instantly used Defense Order, gathering her Combee to block the attack!
"Bzzzz bzzzz~"
The Combees were already exhausted from repeated assaults, yet they did not dare to disobey her command. Gritting their teeth, they flew into position, their bodies flashing red as they bore the brunt of the Sharp Stone Attack!
The crimson barrier barely held for a heartbeat before shattering. The sharp stones struck the Combee head-on, sending them plummeting from the sky!
From her place beside Aven, Shiny Vespiquen's face darkened as she watched Combee after Combee fall from the air.
She could clearly see these Combees had long since lost most of their fighting power, yet Vespiquen still forced them to shield her—showing no regard whatsoever for their lives!
"Bzzzzt!"
In the distance, after commanding her Combees to block the attack, Vespiquen's eyes flashed red once more.
A new multicolored beam gathered in her hands and blasted toward Rhydon—recklessly engulfing the Combee still in its path!
This sight chilled the hearts of Shiny Vespiquen and the Combees by her side. To strike Rhydon, Vespiquen hadn't hesitated to harm her own subjects!
If it were me, I would protect them, Shiny Vespiquen thought, clenching her fists tightly.
Boom!
The multicolored beam struck, filling the air with thick clouds of dust and smoke!
The surrounding Pokémon paled at the sight—except for Luxio and Petilil, whose expressions remained calm.
When the dust cleared, the battlefield lay in ruin—but Rhydon was nowhere to be seen.
Luxio and Petilil's expressions shifted. Quickly, they turned their gazes toward the space behind Vespiquen—through their energy sensing, they knew Rhydon was there!
Moments later, the ground beneath that spot suddenly split open. Rhydon burst out and immediately unleashed Ancient Power!
The Ancient Power shot forth as a brilliant beam, moving at incredible speed. Before Vespiquen could react, it struck her directly, sending her tumbling through the air in two full flips!
Yet, with a flash of crimson light, Vespiquen steadied herself midair. Her twin wings flared, lifting her higher as she turned to face Rhydon, breathing slightly heavier.
Defense Order, aside from forming a barrier, could also bolster physical and special defense. Combined with Vespiquen's already exceptional durability, she managed to withstand the Ancient Power.
Even so, with Rock being four times super effective against her, there was no way she emerged unscathed—she had taken a significant hit!
"Bzzzzt!"
Vespiquen's gaze turned sharp.
Her ruby-like eyes swept over the field, locking onto several Combees.
Under her stare, the chosen Combees shuddered violently, and motes of green light began drifting out from their bodies—gathering swiftly into Vespiquen, rapidly healing her wounds.
Drained of so much stamina, the Combees crashed to the ground one by one, unconscious on impact!
"Healing Order—the last of the Three Orders," Aven exhaled heavily.
It was said Vespiquen embodied both the nurturing instinct of a mother and the authority of a queen, fighting to protect her young.
But this Vespiquen before them showed no such care—instead treating her Combee purely as disposable tools of war!
"Rhydon, finish her! Stone Edge!"
Aven's gaze hardened. The Three Orders were powerful, but they relied entirely on having a swarm of Combee to command.
Once she lost her subjects, Vespiquen's strength would rapidly decline—possibly even dropping below advanced-level. And Rhydon, with its Rock-type advantage, held a quadruple-type edge over her!
"RRHHHYYY!!"
On the ground, Rhydon too seemed angered now, hurling wave after wave of Stone Edge.
Vespiquen's greatest racial weakness was her mobility. Faced with the unending hail of stones, she could only defend.
With each Defense Order, more Combee fell from the sky, until the ground was littered with their bodies.
Shiny Vespiquen hovering beside Aven lowered her head, fists clenched tight.
Then, as Vespiquen cast Defense Order once more, Shiny Vespiquen abruptly raised her head—her blood-red eyes locking onto the airborne queen!
"BZZZT—!!!" Stop it. I said STOP!!
With a furious cry, Shiny Vespiquen shot skyward, her eyes blazing crimson.
In an instant, the same red light enveloped the Combees in Vespiquen's shield, freezing them midair!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The sharp stones whistled past, bypassing the immobilized Combee, and slammed directly into Vespiquen's body!
The red light around her flickered, then shattered. Vespiquen was blasted back violently, her body cut by flying shards of rock!
"Bzzz bzzzt!!"
Shiny Vespiquen cried out again. Beating her wings, she summoned a roaring tornado from the ground that surged toward Vespiquen!
Caught completely off guard, Vespiquen was swept into the cyclone. The larvae within her hive were also flung out by the tremendous force, sucked into the vortex as well!
When the storm subsided, the larvae plummeted toward the ground, while Vespiquen alone remained aloft—her eyes locked on Shiny Vespiquen with disbelief.
She could not understand how this Shiny Vespiquen had been able to disrupt her command over her own subordinates!
The wind still whispered through the air.
Shiny Vespiquen's wings beat gently, and behind her appeared a great host of Combee.
These Combee hovered at her back, their eyes filled with anger as they stared at their former queen.
Slowly, Shiny Vespiquen raised her hand. Multicolored light flared across the Combee, the energy merging into a single massive beam—one that pierced straight through the airborne Vespiquen!
(End of Chapter)