For the previous fifteen days, Shiko had absorbed a full seven percent of the Steel-type Law.
By all logic, with so many Steelix helping now, in ten days' time he should have been able to raise the Steel-type Law inside his body by at least another seven percent.
But the reality was—
He had only increased it by two percent.
That could only mean one thing.
The Steel-type resources and items inside the valley had already been consumed almost completely, and it would be hard to find any more.
In other words—
It was time to close the net and start putting his plan into action!
"Chi-chi!!"
On the mountaintop, the soil beside Shiko bulged upward. Dugtrio burst out of the ground, chattering excitedly as it bobbed toward him.
After it squeaked and rambled for a while, Shiko's eyes slowly lit up.
"Over these ten days, under your surveillance, the amount of resources they've gathered from those liquid-alloy materials is only about half of ours!"
"In that case…"
"At the current collection speed, if he wants to scrape together enough quantity, he'll need at least half a year."
"Which means the eight percent of liquid alloy I'm holding onto is his lifeline!"
Shiko muttered a few lines to himself, his gaze fixed on the distance.
In his mind, plans and arrangements began to assemble at high speed.
His unusual behavior also drew Himeko's attention from not far away.
Seeing Shiko deep in thought, and doing a quick count of the days herself, she immediately understood. She took a deep breath and clenched her fist.
It's starting.
Shiko was probably going to make a move on that third-tier Legendary right now!
"Recall me, and head for the deepest mountain."
Shiko looked at Himeko and said.
"Is it time?" Himeko asked.
"Yeah." Shiko nodded, letting out a long breath, his eyes filled with complicated emotions—excitement, tension, and anticipation.
Whether he could grasp that final sliver of the Steel-type Law…
Would depend on how well this plan was carried out.
Himeko took out a Poké Ball and recalled Shiko.
Then she swung herself onto Pidgeot's back and set off toward the deepest part of the Mt. Silver range—the mountain at its very core.
It was the tallest peak in the entire range.
Its whole body was silver-white.
From afar, it looked as if it had been forged out of metal.
The Mt. Silver range got its name precisely because of this mountain.
Under the sunlight, it even reflected a dazzling glare like the sun itself.
Pidgeot beat its wings and accelerated, streaking across the sky like a meteor.
A little over ten minutes later, it had already approached the mountain's outer perimeter.
But all of a sudden, it flapped hard to stabilize itself and stopped about one kilometer outside the mountain.
It didn't choose to go any farther.
"What's wrong, Pidgeot?" Himeko asked, puzzled.
"Pii!!"
Pidgeot cried out, its voice trembling.
It seemed to have sensed an intense, terrifying aura coming from that mountain ahead.
And at that exact moment—
A silver storm, visible to the naked eye, swept over them.
"Pii!!"
Pidgeot immediately folded its wings inward, shielding Himeko.
Himeko's surroundings went dark in an instant.
Behind Pidgeot's massive wings, she could still feel how sharp and cutting the storm outside was—
Like metal daggers slicing through the air.
"Pii!!"
Pidgeot let out a miserable screech.
At Gym-level, it had no ability to resist in the face of this metallic storm.
Its body was carved open into countless tiny cuts by the razor-edged gale, blood spraying out.
After the storm passed, Pidgeot forced itself to steady its body, then slowly descended.
It landed as smoothly as it could, set Himeko down…
And had already reached the limit of its stamina.
"Pidgeot!"
Seeing how badly it was hurt, Himeko's nose stung.
Even though this guy wasn't her own Pokémon…
The way it had thrown itself in front of her to protect her still moved her deeply.
She hurriedly rummaged through her backpack and pulled out potion spray.
Himeko carefully cleaned Pidgeot's wounds.
At the edges, she could still feel residual Steel-type energy—sharp enough to cut.
She wasn't careful for a moment, and even her own fingertip was sliced open.
"Ow!"
Then, without warning—
The storm that had already swept past actually curled back around and returned!
It was so fast there was no time to react at all!
By the time Himeko looked up, that roaring, surging silver tidal wave was already right in front of her.
Himeko's face went pale.
Her whole body locked up on the spot.
A storm returning after leaving—she had never encountered something like that before!
This is bad!!
Feeling that razor-sharp aura slam toward her, Himeko's heart tightened, and she gripped a set of silver Electric-type gems.
"Pii…"
Pidgeot let out a weak sound.
It braced its talons against the ground, dragging its heavy, exhausted body as it tried to spread its wings again—still wanting to shield Himeko.
Right then—
The Poké Ball at Himeko's brow trembled.
Red light surged out.
Shiko emerged from the Poké Ball.
He stood there, unmoving.
In that instant, his four-meter frame radiated an overwhelming sense of security and raw power.
"ROAR!!"
Shiko let out a thunderous roar.
His draconic pressure erupted outward—
Carrying his fierce Steel aura as it collided head-on with the metallic storm!
Clangclangclangclang!!
In an instant, the silver storm and Shiko's unique aura—interwoven silver and red—burst into showers upon showers of dazzling sparks!
The two forces locked in a brief stalemate.
Then, the next second—
Crack! Crack-crack!!
A chain of shattering sounds rang out.
Shiko's aura…
Actually crushed that metallic storm into pieces by sheer force!!
(End of Chapter)
[200 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
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