Withdraw combined with Scale Shot... hmm, it has a taste of Ash's counter-attacking tactics!
The only drawback is that during Withdraw, you can't move, making you a pure stationary target.
"Counter-attack, huh... that's quite in Blastoise's style."
Caesar was quite satisfied with this unexpected combo move, which meant he had an additional powerful burst trump card.
After resting in reality, he restarted the trial.
After defeating the Blastoise on the 9th floor, the subsequent tower climbing process was much smoother.
The Caterpie on the tenth floor, the Metapod on the eleventh floor, the Butterfree on the twelfth floor... these were all like mere chickens and dogs in the Sandstorm weather. Caesar didn't even need to lift a finger; the sand alone could scratch them to death.
Experience points soared, and Caesar swept through everything until the fifteenth floor.
The System's alert sound rang, and the opponent's name made Caesar perk up.
[NO.015 Beedrill]
The white light dissipated, and a huge killer bee appeared in the center of the arena. It was entirely yellow, with black stripes on its two legs and three-segmented abdomen. Its forelegs were like two sharp long spears, and its tail was a massive poisonous stinger.
The moment the battle began, a colorful light burst forth from Beedrill's body!
Mega Evolution!
Mega Beedrill!
Its form became even sharper, its arm and tail stingers grew thicker and longer, and the hind legs on its abdomen also transformed into stingers, resembling five sharp spears.
"Buzz—!"
A piercing buzz sounded, and Mega Beedrill's figure instantly vanished from its spot.
Caesar's heart tightened. Before he could react, a sharp pain came from behind him.
Aerial Ace!
Caesar staggered from the blow. Before he could steady himself, he saw a yellow shadow flash past him, and a spray of blood burst open on his chest.
U-turn!
Mega Beedrill used the recoil from this attack to instantly create distance, returning to the other end of the arena.
The entire process was smooth and fluid, so fast that Caesar's dynamic vision almost couldn't keep up.
My goodness, what an aggressive Fighting style! Is there no foreplay at all?
Caesar grimaced in pain, about to activate Sandstorm to change the terrain, but then he saw Mega Beedrill's eyes glow with an eerie red light.
Outrage!
Where did this bee learn a dragon-type ultimate move?!
Caesar's mind froze for a moment.
Mega Beedrill transformed into a cyan stream of light, abandoning all technique, and charged straight forward with an unreasonable posture, its long stinger serving as its spearhead!
Too fast!
Caesar only had time to raise his claws and cross them in front of him.
"Boom!"
The violent impact made his arms numb, and the entire Dragon was sent flying backward, crashing heavily against the spatial barrier.
[Ding! Challenge failed...]
Caesar's vision went black, and his consciousness returned to the real world.
"I was one-shotted?"
He found it somewhat unbelievable.
He, a quasi-Divine template, was actually one-shotted by a Beedrill?
"This guy's attack speed is too outrageous."
Due to excessive Mental Energy consumption, Caesar first dry-heaved for a while, then calmed down to analyze. Mega Beedrill's ability is Adaptability, which directly doubles the power of its same-type attack moves. Coupled with its terrifying speed and attack base stats, it was simply a complete glass cannon assassin.
But it's absurd for this thing to not have a poison-type STAB but a dragon-type skill. Could it be that Alpha Beedrill from Scarlet and Violet?
Again!
The second battle began.
Caesar learned his lesson. The moment the opponent Mega Evolved, he immediately activated Withdraw, preparing to hide and unleash Sandstorm.
Thick scales instantly covered his entire body.
Come on! Let's hurt each other! If you have the guts, come hit this counter-armor of mine!
Mega Beedrill once again used Aerial Ace to charge forward.
However, just as its stinger was about to pierce Caesar, its attack trajectory suddenly changed, and the stingers on its arms glowed with Fighting-type energy!
Brick Break!
"Crack—!"
A crisp cracking sound echoed.
Caesar watched in disbelief as his proudly displayed "pseudo-shell," under the effect of Brick Break, shattered instantly like paper!
Layers of scales burst open, and immense force penetrated his body.
"Damn it! That too?!" Caesar was almost split into a folding chair by that blow.
The intense pain made him gasp, and his HP plummeted.
Fortunately, Brick Break's power itself wasn't top-tier, and Mega Beedrill was a glass cannon. Caesar endured the damage and retaliated with a Sandstorm!
The 황yellowish-brown dust instantly enveloped the entire arena.
Mega Beedrill's vision and speed were affected, while Caesar's Sand Veil ability allowed him to thrive.
The ensuing battle became an ugly war of attrition.
Although Mega Beedrill's attacks were sharp, its HP continuously dropped under the sustained damage of the Sandstorm.
Caesar, on the other hand, used Sand Veil and Scale Shot to constantly harass it, finally relying on the last bit of Sandstorm damage to scratch this terrifying assassin to death.
[Ding! Challenge successful!]
[Obtained experience points: 3000 points.]
Phew... Caesar let out a long breath, finally safe and sound.
The subsequent Pidgey on the sixteenth floor and Pidgeotto on the seventeenth floor were no longer suspenseful; they were still dealt with by activating Sandstorm.
Caesar only needed to activate Sandstorm, but the opposing flying-type pokémon had much more to consider.
After climbing 8 consecutive floors, Caesar gained a total of 21600 experience points, 180 additional HP (more than doubling his blood volume), and his size also increased by 0.3.
The biggest gain was the TM blueprint for U-turn, obtained after defeating Beedrill.
When he finally stood in the preparation space on the 18th floor, looking at the massive Pidgeot opposite him, Caesar chose to stop.
His condition wasn't optimal, and calculating the time, half a month was almost up. A certain little Silver Dragon, whose skin he had licked bald, should also be waking up... In the real world, deep within the cave.
"Crack... crack..."
A faint cracking sound echoed.
A crack appeared on the massive light cocoon encasing Cecilia.
Immediately after, the cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb.
"Bang!"
The light cocoon completely shattered, transforming into countless specks of light that dissipated into the air.
A small, chubby Silver Dragon blinked her eyes, still groggy.
Who am I? Where am I?
Cecilia shook her head. She felt like she had a very, very long dream.
In her dream, she broke through the shackles of her bloodline and gained new power.
Right, slumber!
Cecilia remembered that she had fallen into the True Dragon Clan's unique phase-based growth slumber.
However, unlike the previous phase-based slumber, this time she had no worries. Because she believed that her reliable ally would definitely protect her well.
Cecilia looked around and found herself in an unfamiliar cave.
Her ally had indeed moved her to a safe place!
This made Cecilia very satisfied.
Although this Breakthrough felt a bit difficult and consumed much more energy than expected, the result was good!
Compared to those vulgar True Dragons of her age, she was definitely a Genius among Geniuses!
Not only did she successfully advance to Silver Rank (LV.21), but she also comprehended a new Secret Art from her bloodline inheritance!
Cecilia proudly puffed out her small chest.
Most importantly, according to the Dragon Clan's growth patterns, every phase-based Breakthrough should be accompanied by a significant increase in size.
She couldn't wait to show off her majestic new body to Caesar, and then perhaps set off a Celebrate firework to Celebrate!
(Cecilia: Little Earth Dragon, did you see? this young lady is a big Dragon now! Do you know how powerful I am?)
(Caesar: Lady Cecilia, invincible.)
Thinking of this, Cecilia excitedly lowered her head, preparing to admire her grown Dragon body... Hmm?
Strange.
Why... does it seem like there's no change at all?
No, that's not right.
Cecilia wiggled her round body. Why did it feel like... she had even shrunk a bit?
She looked up in confusion, and then saw her "ally" standing not far away.
The next second, Cecilia's little brain completely froze.
The Caesar in front of her was a full size larger than before she fell asleep!
Cecilia remembered that before her slumber, Caesar was only about a head taller than her when he stood up.
Now this one... standing up, he must be over two meters tall, right?
His entire body was like a small mountain, and the invisible oppressive aura he exuded made her feel a little breathless.
"Um... Caesar?"
Cecilia tentatively called out, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty she herself didn't detect.
"I seem to have... gotten smaller. Do you have any idea why?"
Faced with the little Silver Dragon's eager question, Caesar's guilt lasted only a tenth of a second.
He replied without changing his expression: "No, you're mistaken."
"That's because I've gotten bigger."
"Huh?"
Cecilia was startled, then she moved her four short legs and circled Caesar's massive body.
Wow, it's true!
This guy really got so much bigger!
But why? Why did he get bigger, and she didn't grow at all? This doesn't conform to Dracology!
Cecilia's little head was filled with big question marks.
"It's just that kind of reason, I suppose." Caesar looked at her conflicted expression and decided to strike first.
He cleared his throat and said in a deep, wise tone: "Cecilia, you must understand, you are a True Dragon of pure bloodline, a noble among the Dragon Clan."
Cecilia nodded subconsciously. That's right, this young lady is that noble.
"Therefore," Caesar continued to mislead, "your growth pattern is different from ordinary Earth Dragons like us. Yours is called delayed development... no, it's called 'Major Achievement in Later Years,' understand? The longer the accumulation, the stronger the break outburst!"
"Major Achievement in Later Years?" Cecilia tilted her head, chewing on this new term.
"Exactly!"
Caesar swore, his tone resolute.
"A Major Achievement in Later Years Metal Dragon! This is the proof of a top-tier bloodline! Far from being comparable to those Dragons that just add a bit of composite metal and dare to put 'bridge' in their name."
(Duraludon: Indeed, that would be me!)
Although she completely didn't understand what her ally, the Earth Dragon, was talking about in the latter part of his sentence, the terms "Major Achievement in Later Years" and "top-tier bloodline" deeply resonated with Cecilia.
That's right!
I am a noble Silver Dragon!
How can my growth method be the same as those common, vulgar Dragons?
A little delayed development just means I have great potential!
Cecilia instantly felt relieved, even finding a perfect explanation for herself.
If any Dragon asks why she's still so small in the future, she'll just say... she deliberately used Shrink!
...That's right, that's it!