Mienshao was currently Shen's only Pokémon with Cyan-grade potential, and she had heavily invested resources into its growth. As a result, Mienshao's strength was second only to Machamp.
In front of the massive male Ursaring, Mienshao's slender frame seemed tiny, as though it could be crushed with a single hand.
This Ursaring was clearly far stronger than the female one. With Machamp injured, Shen had no choice but to rely on Mienshao.
Facing the charging Ursaring, Mienshao raised its hands, launching pale blue Aura Spheres.
Boom!
The Aura Spheres didn't land a direct hit, but they managed to slow the Ursaring's charge.
Using this moment, Shen established a Heart's Eye link with Mienshao.
In an instant, her vision switched to Mienshao's perspective. The bond between them allowed them to sense each other's thoughts and emotions.
Previously, Shen could only trigger her Heart's Eye ability under emotional duress, and its success was uncertain.
However, after entering Imperial University, her homeroom teacher, Frank, arranged for her to train under a teacher who had also awakened the Heart's Eye.
This marked the start of Shen's proper mastery of the skill.
As the male Ursaring charged toward them again, Shen and Mienshao's synchronized gaze scanned its movements. Mienshao's slender body swayed like a fragile tree branch in the wind, gently shifting its position.
When Ursaring was less than ten meters away, it suddenly leaped into the air, claws extending. The white claws tore through the air in four sharp streaks, the sound of ripping air reaching Shen's ears.
Mienshao moved like a wisp of smoke. Its toes lightly tapped a rock, raising a puff of fine dust. By the time Ursaring's claws slashed down, Mienshao had already vanished from its original spot.
"Roar!"
The male Ursaring roared furiously, swinging its claws to the left.
The attack intercepted Mienshao's Fake Out.
Shen: "Mienshao, its level is much higher than yours, and it has far more battle experience. Simple sneak attacks won't work."
Mienshao nodded solemnly.
With the boost from Shen's Heart's Eye, Mienshao's combat ability had improved, but it still couldn't match the overwhelming strength of this Ursaring.
Moreover, Shen had only recently begun mastering her Heart's Eye, so the enhancement it provided was limited.
Mienshao was forced back by Ursaring's swipe. As it was sent flying, it executed a series of agile backflips in mid-air, dissipating the force of the blow.
Taking advantage of the opening, Ursaring lunged toward Shen again.
Its objective was clear from the start: Shen.
Ursaring had encountered humans before and knew that eliminating the Trainer would make dealing with their Pokémon significantly easier.
As Mienshao landed, it kicked off the ground, its light body accelerating with blinding speed. It overtook Ursaring in an instant, placing itself firmly between the rampaging Pokémon and Shen.
The male Ursaring stood upright, growling furiously at Mienshao.
'After I finish this human, you're next'
"Weak spot!!"
Shen and Mienshao's gazes locked onto the Ursaring's belly, zeroing in on the yellow ring in the center of its torso.
Through the Heart's Eye, the circle radiated a faint, reddish glow, marking it as the weak point.
With a powerful kick off the ground, Mienshao turned into a white streak of lightning, appearing before Ursaring in an instant. Its palm struck swiftly, landing directly on the glowing ring.
In the next moment, Ursaring felt a surge of force explode from Mienshao's palm. The attack targeted the area previously injured by Lucario, which hadn't fully healed.
Under the impact of Mienshao's Force Palm, Ursaring experienced a searing, ripping pain in its chest.
The shockwave from the strike sent Ursaring flying through the air.
"Great job, Mienshao!"
Shen's excited voice echoed in Mienshao's mind.
But her excitement was short-lived.
As the male Ursaring was flung backward, the female Ursaring took advantage of the momentary distraction, charging in from behind.
Boom!
Caught off guard, Mienshao was tackled to the ground.
The female Ursaring extended its claws, unleashing a flurry of savage slashes on the pinned Mienshao. The air filled with the sound of rending strikes, accompanied by Mienshao's pained cries.
Mienshao's slim build clearly indicated its speed-focused nature, and its defenses couldn't withstand the onslaught.
The intense pain shattered their Heart's Eye connection. Shen was abruptly forced out of the link, her face pale as she collapsed to the ground from exhaustion.
Just as she tried to process what was happening, a white blur streaked past her.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Several trees were snapped and toppled by the white figure.
When the motion stopped, Shen realized it was Mienshao, battered and lying near the broken trees.
"Roar!"
The injured male Ursaring staggered to its feet, blood dripping from its mouth. Its chest was visibly caved in from Mienshao's earlier strike, yet its eyes burned with feral rage as it fixated on Shen and the fallen Mienshao.
With heavy steps, it began striding toward Shen.
Shen's strength was completely drained, her Heart's Eye having sapped nearly all her energy. She struggled to even sit up.
Seeing Ursaring closing in, she desperately reached for her Poké Balls at her waist, only to find her belt empty.
Turning her head in panic, she saw that her belt had snapped when she fell earlier, scattering her Poké Balls on the ground.
To conserve energy due to a lack of Pokémon food, Shen had locked all her Poké Balls except for Machamp's and Mienshao's.
So even if her other Pokémon wanted to come to her aid now, they couldn't.
"Machamp!!"
At the critical moment, Shen's starter Pokémon, Machamp, stepped between the male Ursaring and her. Despite having been sent flying earlier by Ursaring's Hammer Arm, with several bones already broken, Machamp stood firm.
Each step it took was a struggle, every movement accompanied by excruciating pain, yet it forced itself forward to shield Shen.
Machamp turned its gaze toward Mienshao, who had just managed to stagger back to its feet: "Take our trainer and leave. I'll hold them off."
Its unwavering determination left no room for Mienshao to argue.
Mienshao knew all too well what Machamp's decision meant.
Machamp: "Go!!"
Without waiting for a response, Machamp wrapped its four arms tightly around the male Ursaring. Its battered body surged with an unimaginable burst of strength. Its legs drove forward like pistons, shoving the Ursaring back with unrelenting force.
Then, with a swift motion, Machamp freed two of its arms and grabbed the female Ursaring as well.
The Ursaring pair struggled desperately, snarling and thrashing, but even in their rage, they couldn't break free from Machamp's iron grip.
Fueled by its unwavering resolve to protect its trainer, Machamp drew upon strength far beyond its limits, holding them both in place.
Meanwhile, Mienshao rushed to Shen's side, scooping her up without a word. It grabbed the scattered belt from the ground and bolted in a direction away from the Ursaring pair.
Shen pounded her fists against Mienshao's arms, tears streaming down her face. She understood all too well what Machamp intended to do. The fierce and strong-willed young woman found herself powerless, her voice cracking with desperation.
"Mienshao, put me down! Let me go!"
She struggled frantically, but Mienshao pressed on, its ears deaf to her cries.
"Machamp! Machamp!!"
Her screams echoed through the forest, but Machamp's figure blurred as tears clouded her vision.
Back at the battlefield, Machamp's arms had been savaged by the Ursaring pair's relentless bites. Blood flowed freely, and its limbs hung mangled, yet it refused to loosen its grip.
Its strength waned, its body battered beyond recognition, but its mind was sharper than ever. Amid the chaos, it heard Shen's voice, her sobs cutting through the noise.
Machamp: 'I'll miss you too'
*****
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