Chapter 99: Grasping the Sword
The moment they saw Arthur grasp the Honedge's hilt, the rescue team outside the glass wall had already signaled, preparing to move in for the rescue.
However, the very next moment, their action, poised like an arrow nocked on a bowstring ready to be released, came to an abrupt halt for an instant.
Because on the other side of the glass wall, Arthur, after grasping the hilt, hadn't collapsed weakly entangled in the ribbon as they had anticipated. Instead, he drew the sword, swiftly turned around, forcefully swung his arm, and unleashed a stunning sword light!
Swish!
The suit of silver half-armor lying on the ground behind him split instantly upon impact, sliced clean into two pieces.
The bright silver sword light lingered in the air for a long time after the blade descended, resembling a crescent moon.
"Is that—the Normal-type move 'Slash'?"
The staff member responsible for directing spoke uncertainly.
To be able to wield the Honedge by his own will and use a skill... could this kid have already conquered that sword so quickly?
The staff member's heart was filled with horror.
In reality, of course, it hadn't been that fast. The moment after swinging the sword, Arthur clearly felt his arm tighten; the blue ribbon had already wrapped itself firmly around his right forearm like a slithering snake.
Yet, he didn't panic. Instead, he smiled faintly and, with a reverse grip, tightened his hold on the hilt even more forcefully!
This sword was destined to be wielded by him!
Because this was precisely the purpose for which he had come here.
Why had he disregarded so many other Pokémon in the world, choosing uniquely to travel thousands of miles to Lavender Town in search of a dangerous Honedge?
It was precisely because this type of Pokémon, once tamed, could be held in hand, directly strengthening the trainer's own combat capabilities.
Perhaps saying this might sadden Frogadier somewhat, but it was undeniable that within Arthur's current small team, the strongest combatant was still Arthur himself, and it was likely to remain him for a very long time to come...
Frogadier, even after evolving, still felt trepidation whenever they sparred alone, afraid that if his master slipped up just once, his own frog life would come to an end...
However, the competitive rules of this era did not permit trainers to personally enter the battlefield, leaving him no venue to exert his own strength during matches.
But what Arthur planned to do next was to track the movements of the Stitched Shadow Army, this transnational terrorist organization. During this pursuit, he would no longer be bound by the rules of arena competition.
In that case, the most efficient way to rapidly enhance combat power was no longer to strengthen his Pokémon, but rather to strengthen himself!
This was the true purpose behind his insistence on choosing Honedge!
The staff member had instructed him to first communicate with the Honedge, then slowly form a relationship, and finally have the Honedge acknowledge him and assist in combat?
No, that was fundamentally not what Arthur needed.
From the very beginning, what he needed was to grasp this sword!
This was a contest of willpower!
The talent of Ghost-type Pokémon to suck life energy was not unbeatable; Arthur was certain of this.
Because back when he was educating his Gengar, he had, on more than one occasion, suppressed the opponent's innate ability through direct contact.
Ultimately, the clash of souls is the clash of wills. There has never been a principle stating that the living are inherently inferior to ghosts!
At this moment, the ribbon at the end of the hilt was continuously tightening. Simultaneously, Arthur's right hand was also continuously applying force without showing any sign of weakness.
Turning around, he immediately unleashed another powerful, heavy sword slash!
At this time, Honedge's entire inner consciousness was completely dumbfounded.
It only remembered taking a short nap. How did it wake up to encounter such a terrifying situation?!
While the ribbon was entangling this person, a bridge between their souls was also established, and the contest began.
As a result, Honedge quickly discovered with horror: this person's willpower was simply tough like a monster's!
It managed, with great effort, to absorb a tiny bit of life energy, but the very next second, this person used their supreme will, via the soul bridge, to issue a command, forcibly compelling it to release all the absorbed energy in the form of a skill, fundamentally allowing no refusal.
After several repetitions in succession, not only had it failed to absorb any energy into its possession, but the continuous full-load attacks had instead cost it a great deal of its own energy, leaving Honedge nearly half-dead from exhaustion.
WTF!
This person is toxic!
After several sword strikes, the ribbon on Arthur's arm finally retreated completely. Subsequently, the sword in his hand began to vibrate frantically.
This was Honedge desperately trying to break free from Arthur's grasp.
It couldn't take it anymore!
It wouldn't absorb anymore!
Absolutely, under no circumstances, would it absorb anymore!
Right now, all it wanted was to quickly escape this person, hide away in a sword mound somewhere, and sleep properly.
Damn it, in all its existence, it had never encountered such a ridiculous human!
This astonishing turn of events once again left the onlookers outside the glass wall stunned.
The rescue team, not understanding the situation, looked towards the staff member.
"How is the young man doing? Do we still need to go in for the rescue?"
The staff member, at this moment, was looking at the display screen of the monitoring device before him, wearing an expression that suggested he was fundamentally questioning life itself.
"Mr. Arthur's life signs are normal. I believe... you temporarily shouldn't need to go in. Instead... Honedge's life signs are fluctuating greatly. The data shows... shows... Honedge is currently experiencing anxiety and fear."
Saying this, the staff member himself felt it was utterly ridiculous.
Monica, standing aside, was even more riddled with question marks upon hearing this, initially suspecting the Ghost Tower staff were falsifying facts to shirk responsibility.
"What? The Honedge's ribbon wrapped around him for that long, and his life signs are still normal? Don't you dare falsify the data! Even if he signed the agreement, if something truly happens, you won't be able to escape partial responsibility!"
The staff member revealed a bitter smile.
"It's really not me falsifying the report. The data genuinely shows this right now."
"Who are you trying to fool? A Honedge wrapped around someone would become fearful itself?"
"..."
The staff member found it very difficult to explain to her at that moment.
Because if the screen before him didn't truly display this, he himself would think it was utter nonsense.
Perhaps this Honedge just had a nightmare during its short nap?
He could only explain it to himself this way.
And subsequently, just as Monica couldn't resist protesting again, a new situation developed on the other side of the glass wall.
Now, Monica suddenly began to believe the staff member's words somewhat.
Arthur, gradually becoming intolerant of the Honedge's ceaseless struggling in his hand, spoke formidably to Frogadier, "Hit it with 'Dark Pulse'. Right beside me."
Buzz buzz buzz buzz!!
In that instant, the Honedge in his hand was shaking so violently it almost seemed to produce ripples.
No matter how adept it was at absorbing energy or swallowing souls, Honedge was, after all, a Ghost-type Pokémon, with Ghost/Steel typing.
Dark-type is a weakness that all Ghost-type Pokémon are destined never to escape.
If Frogadier's Dark Pulse hit solidly at this close range, the Honedge, currently unable to escape with its hilt gripped firmly, would at the very least lose a layer of skin.
It just absolutely couldn't understand.
Is this human insane? At such close proximity, what about himself?
The real world doesn't have 'friendly fire immunity'; "Dark Pulse" erupts in a ring shape. If Honedge gets hit, Arthur can't escape either.
Just then, a calm yet resolute voice came through the soul connection from Arthur.
"Submit, and become my sword hereafter."
"Refuse, and you will be heavily injured, while I will be lightly injured."
"It's impossible for you to escape my grasp. This 'Dark Pulse' will definitely hit you first. I said so."
WTF!!
In that moment, Honedge's inner self completely collapsed.
Since its birth, the number of humans it had drained, if not a hundred, was close to eighty. Although it had never completely devoured a person's soul, the humans it had drained in the past would, at the very least, need to return home and lie in bed for two or three days to feel right again.
Who could have imagined that this day would come, where it would actually be given a final ultimatum by a human?
It was furious!
It danced wildly!
Its sword body vibrated, emitting an incomparably piercing, sharp sword cry, as if loudly roaring, "Honedge will never be slaves!"
However, Frogadier before it paid it no mind at all. The next second, it had already begun gathering Dark-type energy with exceptional smoothness and decisiveness.
Now, Honedge was completely dumbfounded.
Damn it!
This human isn't normal, how come his Pokémon is damn abnormal too?
Is there any Pokémon that would so decisively unleash a skill upon its own master?
You don't even hesitate for a damn second?
In fact, if Frogadier could hear its thoughts, it would probably just scoff loudly.
During countless past training sessions, if it ever dared to hesitate for even a second when using a skill, Arthur could instantly beat it down to the ground, so fast that it often couldn't even react in time.
Hesitate?
Non-existent.
It was absolutely certain that its master would be fine after taking one hit from "Dark Pulse."
Conversely, if one day it happened to take a full-power punch from its master, perhaps it really would have some problems...
Towards its master's strength, Frogadier held considerable trust.
And so, at the final moment, the frantically twisting Honedge finally quieted down...
In that instant, the display screen before the staff member once again showed something he couldn't comprehend.
Because the life signs displayed upon it showed—
Honedge was actually... crying...
(End of Chapter)
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