The ground trembled as Slaking strode forward, charging toward Aggron and slamming his fist into the metal beast's body.
Thump!
A dull, heavy sound echoed. Aggron's massive frame barely wobbled before he casually swatted Slaking aside. He patted the spot where he had been hit, his eyes glimmering with a hint of disdain.
Slaking scrambled up from the ground with a furious roar, lunging at Aggron once more, only to be sent flying again.
Whenever Slaking couldn't take any more, Jiang Chen's other Pokémon would step in. Lucario, Charizard, and Blastoise took turns testing their might against Aggron.
Two days had passed since the battle between Jiang Chen's Gardevoir and Aggron. Jiang Chen had successfully convinced the metal titan to serve as a sparring partner for his own team. Of course, this arrangement wasn't free. Jiang Chen had to provide for the Aggron's clan, primarily in the form of food.
These creatures loved Iron Ore. Jiang Chen had asked Ning Ya to prepare a batch of high-quality ore and have it delivered to the site. It was only because of this steady supply of premium ore that Aggron had agreed to be their coach.
"Looking at Aggron's majestic display now, it's really hard to imagine that just the other day, he was being completely one-sidedly thrashed by Gardevoir," Xiao Luoxue remarked, glancing at the battle while enjoying some of her homemade ice cream.
Jiang Chen's Pokémon took turns going up, but none were a match for Aggron. Even that arrogant Garchomp couldn't hold his own.
Metal Claw, Headbutt, Iron Tail Aggron unleashed move after move, dominating the field. Even the newly caught Scyther was being suppressed; his scythes simply couldn't break through Aggron's hide.
An assassin-type Pokémon like Scyther truly had no answer for a beast like Aggron, whose physical defense was already at its limit. After Aggron used Iron Defense, his durability easily surpassed Jiang Chen's Metagross. If Scyther couldn't even dent Metagross, he stood no chance against this Aggron.
"Are you planning to lure this Aggron away too? You know, like you did with Scyther," Ling Wanqiu asked as she sat beside Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen shook his head. "I have no such plans. Aggron won't come with me. He's the leader of a pack; he would never abandon his clan to follow me. He's different from Scyther."
Scyther had been a lone wolf, but this Aggron was the protector of a whole community. As their leader, he wouldn't leave easily.
"Honestly, even Scyther joining me was a surprise," Jiang Chen admitted. He hadn't expected to catch him, knowing how aloof and proud Scyther was. The fact that the mantis had proactively chosen to follow him had caught him off guard.
"However, if we wanted to catch an Aron or a Lairon, I don't think Aggron would object."
Jiang Chen turned his gaze toward the smaller ones. A group of Aron and Lairon were watching them, looking quite adorable in their own way. There were other Aggron in the pack as well; though they weren't as powerful as the leader, two of them had reached the Elite Four level.
Naturally, those weren't for catching either. They were the pack's shields and wouldn't leave their home.
"I'm not interested in Aron," Xiao Luoxue said. She already had several Pokémon in training and felt she couldn't manage another one.
"I still prefer Dragon types," Ling Wanqiu added, her interest in Aron also being quite low.
Jiang Chen's eyes swept over the Aron nearby. The ones outside were only a small portion of the clan; many more were hiding deep within the caves.
"If I find one with exceptional talent, I might consider catching it," Jiang Chen said. To him, "exceptional talent" meant at least Elite Four level potential. He wouldn't settle for anything less. Since they were staying here for a few days anyway, he had time to observe. With so many Aron and Lairon around, he refused to believe he couldn't find one with high potential.
"Stop that! You can't eat this!" Xiao Luoxue scolded, rapping Munchlax on the head.
Munchlax was clutching a piece of Iron Ore. Seeing the Aron eating so happily, he had wanted to try a bite for himself, only to nearly shatter his teeth.
"You have a nerve looking aggrieved. Why do you try to eat everything?" Xiao Luoxue glared at him, exasperated that he had actually tried to chew on a rock.
"Is the little guy acting up again? Want me to help you train him?" Jiang Chen grinned at Munchlax.
The little glutton jumped, looking at Jiang Chen with pure terror. He definitely didn't want another training session with Jiang Chen. The last time had nearly cost him half his life.
Xiao Luoxue gave Jiang Chen a thumbs up. "Your threats are remarkably effective."
"Just be a bit stricter with him from now on, and your own warnings will carry more weight. Anyway, I'm going to go pick one out and see if there's a suitable Aron." Jiang Chen stood up and walked toward a nearby cave entrance.
These tunnels had been excavated by the Aron and Lairon seeking iron ore. They dug these caves both for shelter and to reach the minerals inside. Once the local ore was depleted, the clan would migrate.
"You're really going to catch an Aron?"
"Yeah. Just look at how strong that guy is. Don't you want one for yourselves?" Jiang Chen pointed at the leading Aggron. Taking on a whole group alone was a testament to his power.
Among Jiang Chen's current team excluding Articuno and his Champion-tier Beedrill only Dragonite and Gardevoir could reliably defeat this Aggron. Even Metagross wouldn't be able to win. Seeing how valiant the leader was, Jiang Chen was determined to get one for himself.
However, he didn't plan on targeting an adult. There were three Elite Four level Aggron in this pack, including the leader. The others only had Quasi-Elite Four potential. Since the three powerhouses were off-limits and the rest didn't meet his standards, his only option was to find an unevolved Aron or Lairon.
"Munchlax is enough of a headache for me, and I still have to train Larvitar. I don't have plans for more Pokémon right now," Xiao Luoxue sighed. She didn't hate Aggron they were cool and intimidating, after all but she simply didn't have the bandwidth to raise another one.
"I'm not considering other Pokémon for now either," Ling Wanqiu reiterated.
"Then would you two like to come into the cave with me and take a look?"
"Sure," Ling Wanqiu agreed immediately.
Initially, Xiao Luoxue wasn't interested in a pitch-black cave, but seeing Ling Wanqiu agree, she couldn't afford to be left behind. Especially in a dark cave who knew what might happen if Jiang Chen and Ling Wanqiu were left alone together?
"I don't have anything else to do, so I'll come along too," Xiao Luoxue said, standing up quickly.
Ling Wanqiu's face showed a flash of disappointment. It would have been better if Xiao Luoxue had stayed behind; the cave would have been a perfect chance for some private time with Jiang Chen.
"I'll grab the flashlights from my bag first."
Jiang Chen opened his backpack and pulled out the lights, and the three of them headed toward the tunnels. Normally, outsiders entering the Aron's caves would be driven out, but Jiang Chen and his group were not stopped. Since Jiang Chen had brought so much food, he was a hero in the eyes of these simple Pokémon. They certainly weren't going to block his way.
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