HxH : Pokemon Master-Chapter 84: Lucario!

"ROAARR!" Lucario also struck a pose directed at Jim.

As a Fighting-type Pokémon, it knows a few martial arts moves. The blue and black color scheme added a touch of coolness. The spikes on the back of its hands faintly gleamed with a cold light under the illumination.

"Another Aura Beast..." Bisky gaze slightly faltered as she carefully examined Lucario on the field, murmuring to herself. Clearly, Lucario appearance didn't match any of the Aura Beasts Pyon had previously described to her.

It seems to be a close-combat type?

At this moment, the same question that once crossed Satotz mind appeared in Bisky thoughts.

Just how many Aura Beasts does Akira have?!

It seems no one has ever seen all of his Aura Beasts!

Before Jim could make a move, Lucario took the initiative. Several translucent swords inexplicably appeared around Lucario, spinning around it as if dancing.

Materialized swords?

Jim heart tightened as he pondered how his opponent would use the swords to attack. However, the swords dissipated into the air moments later, as if they had never existed. Jim pupils contracted as he felt the aura of this unknown Aura Beast surge once again!

So it's an ability that can amplify strength?

What Lucario had just used was "Swords Dance"!

Normally, Lucario should use "Nasty Plot" to enhance its abilities in battle, as it typically specializes in special attacks. However, the base stats for Lucario physical and special attacks aren't that far apart, making it perfectly viable to adopt a mixed attacking style, utilizing both physical and special attacks.

For physical attacks, it can use moves like Swords Dance, Close Combat, and Bullet Punch. For special attacks, it can rely on Nasty Plot, Vacuum Wave, and Aura Sphere.

Facing Jim, a martial artist, Akira wanted Lucario to engage in close combat rather than keeping its distance and spamming ranged attacks. Thus, for this battle, Akira decided to have Lucario focus on physical attacks!

Feeling the overwhelming aura emanating from Lucario, Jim gritted his teeth, realizing he couldn't afford to remain passive. Who knew if this Aura Beast could unleash that same ability again? If it could, he might as well forfeit.

In an instant, a dark flash streaked across the arena, and Jim fists turned pitch black, gleaming like they were coated in black paint.

With a powerful stomp, he lunged toward Lucario at incredible speed. The audience only saw Jim vanish from his original position, followed by a streak of black light, faintly resembling a dark flash.

"Boom!"

A dull thud echoed from the arena, quickly spreading outward. When the spectators could see Jim again, he was already standing face-to-face with Lucario. Jim fists were pressed against Lucario palms, and the loud noise had been the result of their collision.

Feeling the force transmitted through Lucario palms, Jim rugged face showed a hint of disbelief. Even after using his Aura Ability, his strength was only on par with Lucario!

In fact... it seemed Lucario might even have a slight edge!

Akira carefully observed Jim Aura Ability, which reminded him of the Armament Haki from the world of One Piece. They did look quite similar.

"Roar!" Lucario suddenly raised its arm, pushing Jim away. Seizing the opportunity, Lucario swiftly drove its elbow into Jim abdomen, sending him flying backward.

Jim stumbled several steps before regaining his footing. When he looked down, he saw a large hole torn in his shirt, revealing the dark, metallic skin beneath.

Jim had activated "Body of Steel" on his abdomen just in time, preventing any serious damage. His expression grew more serious.

If he hadn't used his Aura Ability in time, he would have been in trouble! With the boost from Swords Dance, every one of Lucario strikes now packed even more power.

Jim took a deep breath, then dashed forward, reappearing in front of Lucario with a series of sonic booms. His previous move had been more of a probe; now, Jim was getting serious!

As the dark fist rapidly filled Lucario vision, it remained calm and composed. Gathering its Aura into its own fist, a silvery-white light began to glow on its surface.

It met Jim aggressive attack with equal speed. The Steel-type move—Bullet Punch!

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

Both combatants were now fully engaged, exchanging punches at a rapid pace, each collision producing a resounding impact. Their movements were so fast that, to the ordinary spectators, they appeared as two shadowy figures clashing repeatedly.

The force of their movements left the arena floor pockmarked with craters, and fragments of stone and debris scattered across the battlefield.

According to reason, such rapid exchanges should make it difficult for the audience to follow, as they could only see two blurry black shadows darting around.

Yet, far from complaining, the crowd grew even more excited! In fact, they were more thrilled than during any previous Floor Master challenge match!

This was the kind of bone-crunching, flesh-pounding battle they wanted to see!

The Floor Masters were incredibly powerful, and the audience knew this well. That was precisely why so many people loved watching their matches. The problem was that the Floor Masters were all Nen Users.

If the audience was lucky, they might witness a battle between Enhancer or Conjurer-type Nen Users. In those cases, they could still see something. But if it was Emission or Transmuter-type Nen Users...

The audience would have no idea what was happening before the match result was announced.

Take, for example, the previous match between Akira and Lina. The Plant Thought Beasts Lina summoned were invisible to ordinary people.

So, what the audience saw was this: After the match started, Lina suddenly began to dance, and then a forest inexplicably appeared, knocking her off the stage.

Although the sudden appearance of the forest surprised them, it wasn't what they truly wanted to see.

Now, the battle between Lucario and Jim was what they loved!

They didn't even bother questioning how Lucario had appeared. According to the commentator, Lucario was conjured by Akira through magic... Magic or not, as long as they could enjoy the show, it was enough!

Unlike the exhilarated audience, Jim grew more and more astonished as the battle progressed!

He was shocked by Lucario abilities! To the audience, the fight between man and beast seemed evenly matched, but Jim knew better.

Every move he made was anticipated by Lucario, which defended itself before he even completed his attack. Every action of his was seen through!

Akira watched as the four appendages on Lucario head, glowing faintly blue, floated slightly. At first glance, they resembled four braids.

When Lucario sensed or manipulated Aura, these appendages would rise and tremble slightly. Lucario was known as the "Aura Warrior" precisely because it possessed the "Aura Power"!

In the Pokémon world, there were several special abilities, such as Psychic Power, Viridian Power, and Aura Power...

Psychic Power: The ability to use psychic abilities like Psychic-type Pokémon. A typical example was Sabrina of Saffron City. Her psychic talent even surpassed most Psychic-type Pokémon, to the point where she could turn people into dolls.

Viridian Power: The ability to heal Pokémon and communicate with them more effectively. It also seemed to enhance a Pokémon's potential to some extent. A typical example was the girl, Yellow.

Aura Power: According to Pokémon lore, all things possess Aura, but very few can harness this power. Aside from Pokémon like Lucario, only a handful of humans could master Aura Power. Aura Power was somewhat like an upgraded version of Observation Haki from "One Piece."

It included abilities like moving objects, defending against attacks, launching attacks, seeing through objects, and detecting thoughts.

Under Lucario Aura detection, Jim thoughts were laid bare. Intercepting his attacks in advance was child's play.

After another exchange of blows, Jim still refused to give up and wanted to try one more time.

Jim steeled his heart, gathering a massive amount of Aura in his hands in exchange for a more powerful attack.

He was willing to sacrifice some of his defense! He needed to break the current deadlock—no, the predicament. He had to take a risky approach; otherwise, defeat was inevitable.

"Hohoho, going all out now, are we?" Bisky noticed Jim suddenly concentrating his Aura in his hands, reducing the protection in other parts of his body. She immediately guessed Jim intention. He was looking for a breakthrough!

Even though she wasn't in the match, the experienced Bisky could sense something was off. The fight on the stage was clearly not evenly matched; every move Jim made was effortlessly countered by Lucario.

Those "fierce" exchanges seemed more like Lucario was just playing around.

Moments later, a large mass of Aura enveloped Jim hands, then transformed into the "Body of Steel" through his Aura Ability. Such a high-intensity transformation was something even the battle-hardened Jim rarely used.

Whether it was Akira imagination or not, under the massive Aura conversion, Jim fists seemed to grow larger. A tremendous aura burst forth from Jim, sending a wave of dust rolling off the stage.

Akira, however, showed no reaction, while the referee beside him couldn't help but feel his legs go weak. Even though he had retreated to the very edge of the ring, he still felt no sense of security. It wasn't Jim attack he was afraid of—it was Akira counterattack.

The last referee who was knocked off the stage by Akira reportedly lay unconscious for several days before waking up. That was considered lucky, at least he had a chance to get up. If the attack had been a bit more severe, a bit more lethal, he might never have gotten up again.

He really shouldn't have taken the "generous" reward to be the referee for the "legendary" Akira. What if he ended up with money but no life to spend it?

Unaware of the referee internal dilema, Akira was pondering how Lucario would respond to Jim. Lucario, facing Jim charged attack, showed no fear. Its thoughts were simple.

If you're powering up, then I'll power up too!

Jim suddenly looked at Lucario, his aura faltering slightly, beads of cold sweat appearing on his shiny forehead. Following his gaze, several translucent swords once again materialized around Lucario.

Another "Swords Dance"!

At this moment, Lucario aura surged even higher, becoming even more terrifying!

Jim worst fear had come true. He grimaced, not expecting Lucario to be able to perform such a boost again. But the arrow was already on the bowstring, he had no choice but to shoot!

Looking at his transformed fists, the dark, massive fists exuded a menacing aura. Even if he lost, he would do so without regrets!

With unwavering determination, Jim charged at Lucario, even though the hope of victory was slim.

"Impressive resolve." Akira couldn't help but praise Jim, who, despite knowing the gap, was still willing to go all out. Jim pursuit of martial arts was stronger than any previous floor master!

For that, Akira was willing to give him a proper response.

"Roar!" Lucario dashed toward Jim, its fist clenched, a dazzling white light enveloping it, with faint specks of fluorescence scattering.

For a moment, it seemed as if two comets had descended, their magnificent movements concealing the devastating power of the punches!

Steel-type move – Meteor Mash!

After two consecutive Swords Dances, Lucario physical attack had been boosted to an extremely high level. Facing this terrifying punch, Jim exerted all his strength to resist, but could only hold on for a few more breaths.

"Boom!!"

Jim was sent flying backward as if hit by a large truck. He only stopped when he crashed into the wall behind him, though it was a forced stop. The once smooth wall now had a human-shaped crater, with Jim embedded in its surface.

His shirt had turned into tatters, and his body was covered in blood, making him look extremely ferocious and horrifying. After spitting out several mouthfuls of blood, Jim slumped down from the wall to the ground, completely unconscious.

The audience was momentarily confused.

Wasn't it supposed to be an evenly matched fight?

Now, only Akira stood on the field. After the intense collision, a large crater had formed in the center of the arena! It looked as if a real meteor had struck.

The referee, sensing the danger, had already flipped off the arena before the collision between man and beast. Now, trembling, he climbed back up to announce Akira victory.

Akira... had won!

"Akira! Akira! Akira..."

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the audience quickly erupted into cheers, almost everyone's face beaming with bright smiles.

This was Akira final match!

The next one would be against the reigning champion! They were witnessing the rise of a superstar! Everyone was cheering for Akira, and it seemed no one cared much about Jim lying on the ground.

Only the relevant staff were rushing over to take Jim away for treatment. After all, it was clear that Jim injuries were severe.

Akira glanced at Jim, who was still spitting blood, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips. After a few breaths, he turned and left with satisfaction.

Bisky watched Akira walk away, then glanced at Jim, whose complexion had improved slightly. A hint of a smile appeared in her wine-red eyes.

"Another plus point..."

Even if Jim had died, Bisky wouldn't have thought less of Akira. But the fact that Akira chose to have Jim treated undoubtedly aligned with Bisky preferences, earning him a plus point.

Facing a determined opponent, showing respect without holding back, and then being willing to treat them afterward... It sounded foolish... But she liked people like that.

Akira didn't think too much about it. He simply followed his instincts and casually treated Jim. After all, it didn't cost him anything. Compared to those Floor Master who sought fame and glory, Jim was one of the more agreeable ones Akira had encountered.

From the information Lucario had conveyed, this Jim had never crossed the line to try and kill him. Of course, whether he could do it was one thing, but whether he had the intention was another.

Judging by his appearance, his solid muscles somewhat resembled the Wrath from The Seven Deadly Sins. But the vibe he gave off was completely different.

In this regard, Jim was more like Chairman Netero, whom Akira had fought before. The aura they exuded was somewhat similar, both holding a deep respect for combat and pursuing the highest realm.

Jim had always treated battles as a way to hone himself, with only the pursuit of martial arts in his heart. It would be a pity for such a pure person to die.

What Akira didn't know was that his casual act had earned him quite a few points from a certain "muscle woman." But even if he had known, Akira wouldn't have cared.

He always acted according to his own will, disdaining to pay attention to others' opinions.

With the fall of the last floor master, only the so-called reigning champion stood before Akira!

He had no idea how strong that champion might be, but he hoped it would provide him with a substantial amount of experience points.

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