"Finish them off. Keep up the Fury Cutters."

  Although the Trapinch hadn't been pletely defeated, they were already in bad shape. Pressing the attack was the best choice.

  As soon as Julian gave the order, Honedge sprang into a, with a swift flurry of Fury Cutters, the remaining Trapinch colpsed, uo tinue fighting.

  Houro look at Julian.

  "Well done."

  Its bde gleamed faintly, radiating a happy aura.

  Julian and Honedge were gradually developing a deeper sense of coordination.

  However, orapinch had yet to make a move—the stro of the group, at Level 33.

  It had been waiting patiently, the fight while also direg the remaining five Trapinch due to its superior level.

  As the five weakerapinch charged at Honedge, one of them suddenly used Sand Attack, kig up a cloud of dust that pletely blocked Honedge's vision.

  At that moment, the Level 33 Trapinch finally moved. With a powerful leap, it uself into the air.

  As its jaws parted, a massive white energy maw formed in the air above Hohis wasn't Bite, it was the much stronger ch*.

  Honedge, uo see through the sand, could sehe danger but had no way to tell where it was ing from.

  For a brief moment, it wavered.

  "Calm down. Use Protect!"

  Julian's voice echoed in its mind.

  Without hesitation, a shimmering green barrier enveloped Honedge.

  CRACK!

  The massive jaws of bsp;smmed down onto the shield. The teeth scraped against the protective barrier, produg a grating sound, but Protebsp;held strong.

  By the time Honedge's vision cleared, it finally caught sight of the real threat—the Level 33 Trapinch below. But Honedge didn't a its own—it waited for Julian's and.

  "Swords Dance!"

  Honedge spun is bde gleaming with a crimson light as its attack power rose sharply.

  "Ssh!"

  Sensing dahe Trapinch immediately used Dig, vanishing underground in the blink of a was a natural burrower—esg like this was sed nature to it.

  But Honedge's Ssh had already struck the ground. Although Trapinch had disappeared, a deep crack spread from the point of impact, following the path of Trapinch's escape tunnel.

  CRACK! CRACK!

  As the fissure widened, a Trapinch was suddenly unched into the air.

  With Swords Danbsp;active, Honedge's attack power had increased signifitly.

  "Aerial Ace!"

  Honedge became a streak of light, disappearing from sight in an instant. When it reappeared, its bde tip had already pierced the airborrapinch.

  Trapinch let out a pained screech, then its eyes rolled back as it colpsed onto the ground.

  Seeing that it had defeated a Trapinch of the same level, Honedge could hardly believe it had achieved such a feat.

  Before, it could only bully weaker oppos—taking down an equal-level foe had never been within its reach.

  Its first Trainer had treated it well—providing food, resources, and care—but their battle ands were nowhere near Julian's level.

  Back then, Honedge hought its first Trainer cked skill. It had always bmed itself, believing that it was simply too weak to win against Pokémon of the same level.

  But now, under Julian's and, it had not only beaten an equal-level oppo but also taken down multiple Level 20+ Trapin the process.

  Honedge: 'So it wasn't me eak… It was my Trainer'

  At this moment, its respect for Julian was rapidly rising.

  Looking at the fallen Trapind the oill restrained by Metagross's Psychic, Honedge suddenly decred:

  "I take on ten more!"

  The fighting spirit within it fred, a deep thirst for victory taking root in its heart.

  By nature, its species were born for battle.

  However, its previous Trainer's poor and had held it back, preventing it from reag its full potential, whi turn had shaken its fidence.

  Julian, of course, was unaware of this—he had only retly taken Honedge in.

  Its recovered fidence urely a happy act.

  Still, Julian noticed a ge in Honedge's Aura—it had beore focused, more resolute.

  Julian gave Metagross a look, Metagross released its Psychibsp;hold orapinch.

  Honedge: "e at me, you trash!"

  Trapinch: "We're gonna bite you to death!"

  Julian: 'Getting a little cocky there… but that's exactly how my Pokémon should be'

  With each Trapinch that Honedge defeated, Metagross would release more, and Julia direg the battle.

  In this high-iy training, Julian and Honedge's synergy improved at an astonishing rate. There was no longer aation in Honedge's movements—it followed Julian's ands with plete trust.

  At the same time, its experience points tio rise rapidly. Finally, when the fiftieth Trapinch fell, Honedge's level increased from 33 to 34—just one level away from evolving.

  However, by this point, it had pletely exhausted its strength, and its body was covered in injuries.

  The battle couldn't tinue any longer.

  After praising Honedge, Julian gave it a healing potion aur to its Poké Ball for rest.

  Meanwhile, Dragonite had already retrieved the treasure the Dowsing Mae dispyed.

  "Earth Gem, not bad."

  Julian examihe dull gray, apple-sized Earth Gem—a valuable item perfect fround- and Rock-type Pokémon, capable of improving their potential.

  However, the Earth Gem was only effective for Pokémon below -tier.

  On the market, it was sidered a rare treasure, highly sought after by Rock- and Ground-type Trainers. After all, improving a Pokémon's potential was no small matter.

  For example, if your Rock- round-type Pokémon had Green potential but was just a step away from reag , then this Earth Gem might be able to help you.

  There had been many recorded cases of this happening, which was why Earth Gems remained highly valuable and expensive.

  "Might as well give it to Aggron as a snack," Julian muttered to himself. With that, he tossed the Earth Gem into his system ste.

  To him, its only real use was as a treat fron.

  "Let's go"

  Julian hopped ontonite, swiftly leaving the area.

  The Trapinch regaiheir ability to move, shrieked furiously at the sight of him flying away.

  Trapinch: "If you have the guts, don't run! I'll bite you to death!"

  The Treasure Hunt tinued.

  As Juliaured deeper, it wasn't long before he arrived at the core of Earth Ridge, here two Elite Pokémon had their territories.

  One was a Gigalith, and the other was a Cydol.

  These two Pokémon had pletely cimed the tral area as their own. Of course, other Pokémon still lived here, but none of them exceeded the pseudo-Elite level.

  Any Pokémon that grew to was either driven out or ht eliminated.

  For Pokémon with their owablished territory, allowing weaker Pokémon to coexist was fine. But any potential challeo their dominance?

  Absolutely not.

  *****

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