Chapter Sixteen: Duel with the Emperor of Alchemy! The Thousand-Faced Chameleon Versus the Dire Jackal Dragon!

The so-called Veiled Chameleon is, in fact, a chameleon. The swift and fierce water jet attack of the Thousand-Faced Chameleon is remarkably similar to the chameleon’s tongue, which strikes with both speed and precision.

“If you don’t come up with a plan, you’ll be elegantly eliminated,” Champion Dandy remarked with a smile.

“The Dread Direwyrm lacks any ranged attacks, and its movements aren’t as agile as the Thousand-Faced Chameleon’s,” Su Yi frowned deeply.

Though both the Dread Direwyrm and the Thousand-Faced Chameleon were reptiles—giant lizards, in essence—their combat compatibility was notably poor. One was a heavily-armored warrior, the other a nimble sharpshooter. Whichever was pinned down by the other’s strengths would fall into a grave disadvantage.

“Thousand-Faced Chameleon, snipe!” Dandy had clearly noticed the weakness of the Dread Direwyrm and intended to capitalize on it.

“We’ll just have to try rushing in close! Dread Direwyrm, do your best to dodge and close the distance!” Su Yi could only resort to this clumsy approach.

The Dread Direwyrm, understanding its predicament, summoned its strength and charged ahead with impressive momentum, its massive form thundering across the field.

“Thousand-Faced Chameleon, show time! Mobile shooting!” Dandy had anticipated this move and called out immediately.

The Thousand-Faced Chameleon darted nimbly away from the Dread Direwyrm, aiming and firing single-handedly as it retreated, resembling a hunter gliding backward while loosing arrows.

The Dread Direwyrm’s bulk had become a hindrance; it tried to evade but was struck repeatedly. Fortunately, its massive size granted it ample stamina, preventing it from showing signs of weakness.

“Is there really no way out?” Watching the Dread Direwyrm’s energy being steadily depleted, Su Yi clenched his fists, his forehead beading with sweat.

The Dread Direwyrm halted, panting, looking fatigued—yet its eyes remained fierce. It opened its jaws as if about to unleash something.

“What’s wrong, Dread Direwyrm?” Su Yi noticed the anomaly and became concerned.

The Dread Direwyrm bellowed, its roar growing sharper and more savage, brimming with wild ferocity. As the force built to a climax, it finally erupted with real power.

A savage roar condensed into a wave of dark energy, rippling outward as a sonic blast. The Thousand-Faced Chameleon, just about to snipe, was caught in the wave, its movements halted and its expression twisted in discomfort. The next instant, a ghostly blue light, symbolizing decay, swept over its body, reducing the chameleon’s special attack.

“Oh? It’s learned a new move on the fly?” Dandy sounded surprised.

“What’s this…” Su Yi was stunned, but the experienced Master Mustard recognized it at once. “That’s Scary Roar—a Dark-type special move.”

Su Yi quickly opened the Hunter’s Guide, flipped to the Companions section, and checked the Dread Direwyrm’s skill list. Sure enough, Scary Roar was now included.

“So you’ve learned a new move! Dread Direwyrm, now’s your chance—close in and use Dragon Claw!” Su Yi seized the opportunity.

The Dread Direwyrm lunged forward, claws wreathed in draconic energy, and slashed with full force.

“Thousand-Faced Chameleon, dodge it!”

There it was—the classic command: “Dodge it, quick!”

The Thousand-Faced Chameleon flipped and leaped away, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp claws.

Su Yi grinned broadly and shouted, “Now! Devour it whole!”

“Huh?” Both Mustard and Dandy were taken aback by the unfamiliar move’s name. Dandy instantly became wary.

The Dread Direwyrm opened its jaws wide and lunged to bite the Thousand-Faced Chameleon.

“A biting attack, is it?” Dandy swept his arm. “Fend it off!”

With agile movements, the Thousand-Faced Chameleon twisted away, its long tail striking the Dread Direwyrm’s jaw, dodging the bite.

“Grab hold and toss it!” Su Yi commanded instantly.

The chameleon saw the Dread Direwyrm’s fierce gaze as its maw, knocked aside, snapped back and clamped down on the chameleon’s tail. Then, the Dread Direwyrm reared up, swinging the chameleon high into the air.

“What?!” Dandy gasped.

“Swallow it now!” Su Yi shouted triumphantly.

The Dread Direwyrm opened its jaws wide and gulped down the airborne chameleon in one bite.

“What kind of move is that?!” Dandy was utterly astonished.

Inside the Dread Direwyrm’s belly, the Thousand-Faced Chameleon was assailed by dark energy-infused stomach acid, its muffled cries of pain sounding almost suffocating.

“Thousand-Faced Chameleon, use Water Jet to blast your way out!” Dandy’s acumen as a champion showed itself—he immediately seized upon the dire situation as an opportunity, realizing the Dread Direwyrm had just exposed a fatal weakness.

Su Yi understood as well: the Dread Direwyrm was about to suffer serious internal damage from its captive. So, as Dandy gave his command, Su Yi shouted, “Spit it out!”

The Dread Direwyrm’s stomach convulsed, and it regurgitated the chameleon, now covered in potent stomach acid.

“Are you alright, Thousand-Faced Chameleon?” Dandy asked, worried as he saw the corrosive wounds marring its body.

The chameleon rose, mimed a finger-gun, and replied with vigor.

“Truly astonishing! So this is the power of a Pokémon from a distant continent?” Dandy adjusted his hat, his enthusiasm growing.

“Dread Direwyrm, charge in and use Dragon Claw!” Su Yi wouldn’t let slip the chance to attack while the chameleon’s defenses were down.

“Thousand-Faced Chameleon, dual-gun mode!” Dandy ordered. The chameleon raised both hands, and blue energy gathered at its index fingers.

The Dread Direwyrm’s claws slashed, but the chameleon dodged nimbly, firing twin shots.

The Dread Direwyrm snarled, enduring two sniper hits as it swung its claws at the chameleon’s abdomen.

The chameleon doubled over from the blow, clutching its belly in pain.

“Such a savage attack… but is the damage really that high?” Dandy wondered aloud. The chameleon had only previously suffered from stomach acid, and its injuries had seemed light—how could a single Dragon Claw seem so devastating?

“Dandy, it’s likely the acid corroded its defenses,” the seasoned Master Mustard surmised.

“Is that so?” Dandy looked to Su Yi, who nodded and praised, “Well deduced, Master Mustard—worthy of a former champion.”

“I see. Then we’ll have to get serious, too!” Dandy’s fighting spirit only grew.

“It’s called ‘Direwyrm’ and knows Dragon Claw; unless I’m mistaken, this Pokémon is Dragon-type, isn’t it?” Dandy guessed with a smile.

Su Yi arched an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

So that’s it—Kangaskhan and Tyrantrum were renamed to Kangabeast and Rhinosteel so they wouldn’t be mistaken for dragons. If you don’t have Dragon typing, you’re out of the club, huh? What would Lance think of that?

“It seems I’ve guessed right. Thousand-Faced Chameleon, Ice Beam!” Dandy commanded, sweeping his arm.

The chameleon aimed at the Dread Direwyrm and fired a frigid blue beam from its finger.

“Here it comes! Type advantage—Dread Direwyrm, dodge it!” Su Yi called anxiously.

The Dread Direwyrm sensed the threat from the energy and sprinted with all its might.

“Keep on it!” Dandy barked.

The chameleon swung its finger, the Ice Beam chasing after the direwyrm and freezing everything in its path.

In the end, the Dread Direwyrm’s speed faltered, and it was struck squarely by the Ice Beam, frost rapidly spreading from its tail across its massive form.