Glastrier!
Calyrex had just entrusted Johan with capturing its two beloved horses, and Glastrier, representing ice and snow, appeared before his eyes on its own.
They didn’t even need to use "Ice Radish."
It saved effort, though it was sowhat unexpected.
"Neighhhh——"
Glastrier neighed and stepped forward happily toward those standing ice blocks, not really thinking about how these seemingly delicious ice blocks had suddenly appeared in this place that usually only had grassland.
However, when Glastrier got closer, it finally saw the figures behind those translucent ice walls.
Hmm?
Not the Butterfree colony?
After a brief mont of confusion, anger rose in Glastrier’s heart.
How dare they touch my food in my territory?
In Glastrier’s view, the tender grass in this grassland was naturally its exclusive domain, territory it had claid after competing with Spectrier.
As for how to determine whether Johan and the others ca to steal its grass...
Need you ask?
Such delicious grass was rare in the vast Crown Tundra. The Butterfree were fine—they were "guarding" the grassland for it. But this group of suddenly appearing Pokémon, especially that human, weren’t they here to steal food?
Just humans setting foot in its territory was sothing Glastrier couldn’t accept.
Sensing the hostility from Glastrier, Johan’s Pokémon imdiately beca alert.
"Neighhhh——!"
Glastrier raised its front hooves high, its already snow-white body looking even more crystalline.
Starting a direct attack without any discussion?
No wait.
The two sides hadn’t even exchanged a single word!
However, facing the incoming attack, Johan wasn’t panicked. He grabbed the eager Gengar by the spike on its head, then shouted:
"Tinkaton!"
With Gengar’s current strength, even without borrowing ga Evolution or similar enhancent thods, wrestling with the "third-tier legendary" Glastrier should be no problem.
Even with the blizzard’s assistance, combined with ga Evolution and Johan’s commands, beating up Glastrier should... also be no problem.
But since they already had a relatively reliable ace in the hole, shouldn’t they let other Pokémon practice with this opportunity?
Everyone was fired up inside.
As soon as he finished speaking.
"Cha!!"
A huge hamr ca spinning out from behind Johan, directly smashing through a standing ice wall and flying toward Glastrier.
Whoosh—Bang!!
Though Glastrier was a horse, its biggest weakness was slow speed.
The hamr hit Glastrier square in the face, striking the ice crystal mask it wore with a crisp sound.
Glastrier, which had reared up on its hind legs, also beca briefly rigid at this mont.
Fake Out!
Already slow, combined with a priority move...
Seizing the initiative!
However, while Glastrier’s weakness was slow speed, its advantage was outstanding defenses, combined with the blizzard’s physical defense boost for Ice-type Pokémon...
The damage dealt wasn’t significant at all.
But it was enough.
For Johan and his Pokémon, who were rich in battle experience, this firmly seized the initiative and advantage.
"Urshifu, Coach!"
"Ceruledge, Bitter Blade!"
"Tyranitar, Rock Slide!"
Three commands fired out like bullets from Johan’s mouth in steady succession.
The three Pokémon acted as if they already knew what to do, as if they already understood what commands Johan would give, starting to move before his words had completely finished.
"Garruu~zzZ"
Urshifu, with a snot bubble, called out lowly, but a mysterious aura spread out from it as the center. Tinkaton, Ceruledge, and Tyranitar all seed to be inspired, their montum rising as their Attack and Defense abilities were significantly boosted.
Whoosh—
Ceruledge flashed and disappeared from Johan’s side. A blue-black arc of light swept through the pale air, quickly crossing the distance between their side and Glastrier.
Sizzle!!
A tiny blue fla flickered briefly on Glastrier’s body, as if extinguished by the wind and snow, but after a brief mont, the flas suddenly blazed up. No matter how fierce the wind and snow, that blue fla clung like a bone maggot, burning freely.
Ceruledge’s figure also reappeared in the snow behind Glastrier, glancing coldly at Glastrier before turning around and completely disappearing into the blizzard.
At the sa ti.
As Ceruledge swept past Glastrier, a huge rock ca from nowhere, accompanied by a "Bangi" roar, arriving almost in perfect timing with Ceruledge.
Bang!!
The massive rock struck Glastrier squarely on the head.
"Neighhhh!!!"
Glastrier, which had been preparing to retaliate, was hit by this series of attacks before it could make any significant moves, truly seeing red with fury.
"Tsk."
Johan clicked his tongue.
Rock Slide hit, but it didn’t flinch Glastrier again.
This luck... he was used to it by now.
Buzz—
A massive ice spear ford almost instantly. Glastrier, having recovered from Fake Out’s cowering state and feeling trendous pain, changed its neighing tone and imdiately prepared to counterattack!
The enormous ice spear hung suspended at an angle, its point aid directly at Johan!
Though Glastrier was angry, as soone who had followed Calyrex and galloped across this snowfield for a thousand years, having seen quite a few trainers large and small, it clearly understood that in this situation, the human was its greatest enemy.
So it directly ignored the several Pokémon that had attacked it, locking onto Johan as its target.
Whoosh—
The ice spear broke through the air with bone-chilling cold.
Icicle Crash!
But facing this massive ice spear, Johan stood in place without even moving.
The next mont.
A figure carrying fierce winds swept out from behind him, directly facing the ice spear and throwing a punch!
Boom!!!
Crack crack crack—
The ice spear’s downward diagonal thrust stopped abruptly, even producing harsh scraping sounds.
"Garruu!!"
Bang!!
With a furious shout, the massive ice spear shook violently. A huge crack actually appeared on its solid surface, then it completely shattered, turning into countless fragnts of various sizes that scattered down.
Glastrier was stunned. Its gaze passed through the falling ice crystals and snowflakes to see Urshifu slowly raising its head and a pair of now-opened, extrely sharp eyes!
That gaze made Glastrier’s heart suddenly jump in alarm.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Suddenly, a hamring sound ca to its ears. It seed to sense a threat and quickly turned to look.
It saw a tal hamr, already huge, growing larger and closer in its vision!
Gigaton Hamr!
Bang!!
The heavy hamr struck directly down. The terrifying force actually made Glastrier, already known for its strength and endurance, stagger heavily, its head nearly buried in the snow.
Boom!!
A terrifying shockwave spread out with Glastrier as the center. The ground beneath its feet suddenly collapsed and sank, with cracks spreading densely.
"Neigh, neigh..."
Glastrier neighed in pain, but before it could finish venting, the sound stopped abruptly.
Because nurous rock spikes rose from underground, perfectly positioned against it as it was being hamred down.
These two forces, one from above and one from below, almost made it into a sandwich.
Was Glastrier stronger in blizzard weather? But in blizzard weather, were Johan’s Pokémon weak?
You have to know.
From the very beginning, Johan had established a tactical system centered on Ninetales’s Snow. Tinkaton, Urshifu, Ceruledge, and even Tyranitar—which one hadn’t long since beco accustod to and adapted to snowy conditions?
Even utilizing and borrowing from snowy weather was part of their daily training.
Secondly.
Steel-type Tinkaton, Fighting-type Urshifu, Fire-type Ceruledge, and Rock-type Tyranitar—which one didn’t completely overwhelm Ice-type Glastrier in terms of type matchups?
Ice-type had four weaknesses total: Fighting, Rock, Steel, and Fire. They had assembled all of them at once.
Not to ntion the synergy between the four Pokémon under Johan’s coordination, their mutual understanding bringing benefits far beyond simple four-on-one.
How many hits had Glastrier taken after using just one move?
Even if each hit wasn’t particularly fatal, which one could be completely ignored?
However, at this mont, Glastrier was truly beside itself with rage.
This was intolerable!
"Neighhhh!!"
Wind and snow swirled, air currents spun, bloodshot eyes filled its icy crystal pupils, and an unrestrained, wild horse’s violent aura was displayed without reservation.
Thrash!!
Glastrier directly started galloping, no longer caring who its target was, just charging and ramming completely without any strategy.
Johan’s eyes grew cold, but he relaxed slightly in his heart.
Going wild wasn’t scary—what was scary was going wild with brains. This kind of move similar to Outrage just looked fierce.
After weathering it, the outco would be decided.
"Urshifu!"
And weathering it was undoubtedly Coach’s "specialty"!
"Garruu!"
Taking a step forward, snow exploded under its feet. Urshifu took a stance and flashed in front of the angry Glastrier, facing its completely unstructured ramming without fear.
Detect!
Blocking with fists, lifting knees, sweeping, crouching—all movents flowed like water in one continuous motion, yet it managed to parry Glastrier’s charging and kicking attacks without letting a single one through.
Even.
After becoming familiar with Glastrier’s habitual movents and adapting to its attack rhythm...
"Close Combat!"
With Johan’s command, Urshifu began counterattacking.
Directly getting up close to Glastrier, parrying while striking back.
Bang bang bang bang—
The sounds of collision were endless.
Bang!!!
With Urshifu’s final punch colliding with Glastrier’s head charge, Urshifu’s feet carved two furrows in the snow, while Glastrier also backed up so distance on all fours.
Urshifu was temporarily in a state where its old strength was spent and new strength hadn’t yet erged, while Glastrier was slightly better, but...
Urshifu wasn’t alone—Glastrier was just one!
"Bangi!!"
Tyranitar spread its arms and roared, thick rock pillars piercing up from beneath Glastrier again.
"Bangi?"
Seeing this scene, Tyranitar scratched its head.
Eh?
In this snowy ground... it actually couldn’t summon magma?
It had actually wanted to use Precipice Blades, but it turned into Stone Edge instead...
Johan also glanced at Tyranitar, gaining so understanding in his heart.
In the vast snowy sky, extrely cold land, frozen tundra, and high altitude, Tyranitar had deficiencies in this move. This gave them a new direction for strengthening moves and abilities.
So.
Real combat was the best way to test one’s shortcomings.
Wasn’t this exactly the necessity of battles in certain situations?
Of course, discovering shortcomings was one thing—it wouldn’t have too much impact on Johan’s command of this battle or his Pokémon’s conduct of this fight.
Any one of Tinkaton, Urshifu, Ceruledge, and Tyranitar individually might not be a match for Glastrier in a blizzard without going all out or using ga enhancents.
But if they couldn’t take down Glastrier working together, then in Johan’s words...
All these years of training would have been wasted!
The massive resources he’d invested, the enormous effort he’d spent, the dangerous incidents he’d been involved in—wouldn’t they all be useless?
Boom!!
Glastrier’s Thrash hadn’t ended. Its physical defense was indeed strong—after being impacted by Urshifu’s Close Combat, Tinkaton’s Gigaton Hamr, and Tyranitar’s Stone Edge, it could still forcefully rage.
The huge rock spikes shattered with a crash. The furious Glastrier didn’t care about anything else and directly locked onto Tinkaton, who was closest to it.
It snorted heavily, large amounts of white mist erging from its nostrils.
However, at this mont, Glastrier suddenly froze.
Because in that vast blizzard, it saw a spark that suddenly appeared, looking particularly conspicuous in the hazy wind and snow.
That feeling was like suddenly seeing an extrely bright star in the pitch-black night sky—surprising.
Moreover, this spark rapidly grew larger, and a scorching heat arose.
Heat?
In a place like Crown Tundra, there was actually hot air?
Especially in such a blizzard...
Soon, Glastrier understood the reason.
It saw an extrely hot golden-red fireball transform from a small spark in the blink of an eye, instantly reaching its vicinity.
Behind the massive firelight.
Was a Pokémon clad in golden armor, carrying a thick cannon barrel, with fire blazing in its eyes.
Armarouge!
That cannon barrel spewed flas, the heat actually burning a brilliant vacuum zone in the wind and snow!
Heat waves surged forward.
Wasn’t Glastrier supposed to have high physical defense in heavy snow?
Try taking this Armor Cannon!
Boom!!
In an instant, the golden-red massive fireball completely swallowed Glastrier. The surrounding snow—both accumulated and falling—didn’t even have ti to turn to water before only rising white mist and dissipating water vapor remained, as if they were in a desert!
"Neighhhh——!!"
From within the flas ca Glastrier’s mournful cry.
You... don’t play fair!!
The Butterfree, tapod, and Caterpie on the nearby grassland all stared blankly at Glastrier, which they saw as a fearso beast, barely able to resist under the siege of these four Pokémon.
When the flas finally dispersed.
Glastrier, lying on the charred ground, still hadn’t lost its ability to battle. It neighed and roared, trying to stand up again.
"Outrageous..." Johan shook his head.
It really was outrageous.
Reasonably speaking, after such an unreasonable combination attack from his team, how could an Ice-type Pokémon withstand it?
Even a Champion-level Pokémon would be the sa.
But legendary Pokémon... sotis were just this unreasonable.
Fortunately.
Glastrier’s struggling attempt to stand stopped.
Because a black cannon barrel emanating heat was already pressed against its forehead.
"Goka!"
Armarouge’s eyes burned with flas, but its expression was quite stern.
Buzz buzz buzz—
Flas gathered in the cannon barrel once again, faintly accompanied by aura power, condensed but not released, looking like it was accumulating an even stronger move.
"Cha!"
Tinkaton shouldered its massive, heavy tal hamr, swishing its twin tails, baring its teeth and grinning as it appeared at Glastrier’s side.
Joining it was Urshifu, with sharp eyes, feet positioned front and back, fists raised and elbows bent, its fur flowing upward from bottom to top.
"Garruu!"
"Bangi——!!"
Tyranitar in the distance pounded its chest, and at both its feet and Glastrier’s feet, wisps of sand were flowing, as if they could turn into a sandstorm sweeping this place at any mont.
Gulp—
Glastrier swallowed lightly.
A drop of cold sweat slid down its forehead.
This... are they going to finish off?
Kicked an iron plate?
The last ti it was beaten this thoroughly... was probably when Calyrex was still around, right?
Johan looked at the Luxury Ball in his hand and thought... better not waste it.
He walked forward.
Due to the earlier battle, it wasn’t so cold here anymore.
He wore a smile on his face, glanced at Ninetales, and Ninetales imdiately understood, using its tail to produce an Ice Radish from who knows where.
When it saw the Ice Radish, Glastrier, who had been looking fierce and angry just monts ago, imdiately stared wide-eyed, as if it would start drooling the next second.
It completely forgot it had just been beaten up and was currently being "threatened."
No wonder.
Since Calyrex fell asleep and Freezington’s residents gradually forgot about worship and forgot about Calyrex, how long had it been since it had eaten Ice Radish?
It had almost forgotten that delicious taste.
Seeing Glastrier’s appearance, Johan couldn’t help but be amused.
This Glastrier might actually be a foodie...
"We an no harm..."
Having just said this, facing the pitiful Glastrier, Johan still stopped mid-sentence.
After beating soone up like this, saying such things, even if true, was sowhat inappropriate.
"I represent Calyrex in seeking you."
Calyrex?
Hearing this, Glastrier reluctantly shifted its gaze from the Ice Radish. If not for being pinned down right now, it would have pounced on it to eat.
But regarding Calyrex, Glastrier’s feelings were sowhat complex.
"As long as you cooperate with , I have quite a few more Ice Radishes."
As Johan spoke, Ninetales produced several more Ice Radishes, and Glastrier’s eyes imdiately beca even more focused.
Cooperate?
If before being beaten, asking Glastrier to "cooperate" wouldn’t be possible with just a few Ice Radishes.
But after being beaten, then bringing up Calyrex’s na, and finally the crowning Ice Radishes...
After Glastrier felt Armarouge and the other Pokémon slightly loosen their restraints, it stood up and snorted loudly through its nose to express so displeasure.
But facing the Ice Radishes...
Under the watchful and wary eyes of the Pokémon, Glastrier ran to Johan and began eating eagerly.
Delicious!
How long had it been since it ate these?
Glastrier felt like its tears were about to fall.
Back then, although following Calyrex ant losing freedom, it also enjoyed endless Ice Radishes under Calyrex’s care—eating a hundred or so a day was common.
Glastrier was warlike with a rough personality, unable to resist challenging powerful opponents when facing them.
But when facing truly powerful beings stronger than itself, it would restrain itself, just like when it once submitted to Calyrex.
Isn’t this just cooperation?
Should have said so earlier!
Glastrier "comforted" itself in its heart that this was voluntary cooperation, not being beaten into submission, and ate even more enthusiastically.
"Eat up, I have plenty more."
Seeing Glastrier hesitate when reaching the last Ice Radish, Johan said with a smile.
"Neighhhh?"
More?
Glastrier’s eyes imdiately brightened—this information beca the last straw that broke the yak (crossed out) white horse’s back.
"Try so other things too."
Speaking, Johan took out several energy cubes made by Ninetales. Under Glastrier’s suspicious gaze, after it swallowed them, it...
"Neighhhh——"
Glastrier suddenly reared up on its hind legs, unable to contain its inner joy and excitent.
These energy cubes contained the taste of Ice Radish, plus many other flavors that surprised it. This... was no less impressive than pure Ice Radish?
This human...
Johan showed a serious expression, placed a box of energy cubes and several Ice Radishes on the ground, then stepped back and said:
"Now you have two choices. One is to cooperate with , and these foods are yours, with more to co in the future. Two is—"
Before he finished.
Gengar, wearing sunglasses and clenching its fists, floated out from behind Johan ready to back him up.
Only to find Glastrier had already lowered its head to eat what was on the ground, completely ignoring the second choice.
Johan laughed despite himself.
Glastrier wasn’t stupid.
It was just cooperation, not capture—if Johan had thrown out a Poké Ball just now, it wouldn’t have been so compliant. Moreover...
It really was delicious.
Soon.
The energy cubes in the box and the Ice Radishes were swept clean by Glastrier.
It still looked unsatisfied, occasionally glancing longingly at Johan.
Seeing this made Johan’s mouth twitch.
This horse absolutely cannot be carelessly fed!
He pretended not to see and walked toward the Butterfree in the grass.
Aura exists within the heart!
"Would you be willing to co with ? I can provide you with a safe, stable, comfortable living environnt."
Through aura, Johan conveyed his aning.
His island was still developing. When it was eventually planted with nurous plants and flowers, it would inevitably need Pokémon like butterflies and bees to help with pollination and such.
The Caterpie didn’t understand, and the Butterfree looked at each other, finally turning to their leader.
"You don’t need to give an answer now. I’m not ready to leave Crown Tundra yet either. When I’m about to leave, I’ll co find you again."
Speaking, Johan left so energy cubes and food again before waving goodbye.
Give them so ti to think.
As for Glastrier...
Bring it along.
Since they could beat it once, they weren’t worried about it acting up again, especially since they had a grip on its stomach.
"Ka-kaah?"
On the way back.
Gengar floated beside Johan, looking at Glastrier following not far away with an excited expression.
Why not ride back?
How majestic that would be!
Such a magnificent white horse—what a waste not to ride...
Johan glanced at it and said with suppressed amusent: "You can try."
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar had been waiting for Johan to say this.
Then it sohow produced an Ice Radish and imdiately floated toward Glastrier.
Soon after.
"Ka-kaah!! o(TヘTo)"
Gengar’s sowhat piercing cry echoed through the vast blizzard, startling the Ice-type Pokémon in the snow into thinking there was a snow ghost.
It was seen with tears in its eyes, clutching its crotch, diving back into Johan’s shadow in a flash.
"Neighhhh——"
Glastrier nearby snorted gloatingly.
Johan and his Pokémon exchanged glances, then couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
"Pff—hahaha—"
Glastrier was just cooperating, not captured. Moreover, without "Reins of Unity," it was inherently difficult to capture. Did Johan really not want to experience riding Glastrier?
Even Calyrex needed to rely on "Reins of Unity."
To make Glastrier truly cooperate.
They still needed to craft "Reins of Unity" first.
Returning to Freezington.
Compared to the snowfield, Freezington was much less affected by the blizzard due to its geographical location.
However, because of the blizzard, the already sparsely populated Freezington seed even more desolate. Johan brought his Pokémon straight to the mayor’s house.
"This, this, this is..."
The mayor who opened the door was completely shocked when he saw Glastrier beside Johan.
Freezington had lost the legends about Calyrex, but because Glastrier was still active in the snowfield and had even beco a dangerous existence that Freezington had to guard against, the mayor imdiately recognized this seemingly harmless white horse as the legendary Glastrier!
"t it on the road, chatted for a bit, got acquainted, so I brought it back."
"Chat, chatted for a bit?" The mayor stared blankly at the magnificent Glastrier behind Johan.
Glastrier imdiately snorted irritably, showing no good face to the mayor, its fierce look flashing briefly.
It was willing to cooperate with Johan because Johan had strength, background, and food.
Johan lightly patted Glastrier’s neck twice to calm it.
"Mayor, I have sothing I’d like your help with," Johan said.
"Oh, oh..."
After the mayor fearfully glanced at Glastrier again, he ca to his senses and quickly responded.
"Co, co inside."
"Speaking of which, Mayor, have you seen Flint? The red-haired explosive head who ca with ." Johan noticed Flint wasn’t at the mayor’s house.
ntioning Flint, the mayor relaxed sowhat, also showing a smile and so helplessness:
"That young man is a good kid. The villagers said there were Pokémon sightings at the village outskirts, and I was going to check it out when he volunteered to go himself."
The blizzard still affected the village, especially with so Ice-type Pokémon that beca active during blizzards.
With Flint’s personality, the mayor couldn’t have stopped him even if he tried.
"I hope nothing serious happens."
Johan understood. "I see."
He waved his hand: "Don’t worry, Mayor. That guy... will be fine."
With Flint’s strength, even if he encountered Glastrier or Spectrier, he definitely wouldn’t be afraid. Ordinary Ice-type Pokémon... couldn’t trouble him.
As long as he didn’t get lost.
The mayor nodded, seeming to have a new understanding of both their strengths after witnessing Johan bringing Glastrier.
Darmanitan brought Johan a cup of hot water.
"Thank you." Johan smiled and thanked it.
The two sat by the fireplace to warm up.
The old mayor also took a water cup from Darmanitan’s hands, saying with so emotion:
"I found this child injured in the mountains and brought it back. I intended to let it leave on its own after healing, but this child refused to go and ended up staying with this old man."
Darmanitan seed to hear the mayor talking about it, showing an embarrassed smile and scratching its head.
As a result, it scratched down so snow and quickly picked up a broom to sweep it away.
Johan watched this scene with a smile.
Pokémon were just like this—whoever treated them well, they could truly feel it and would repay it tenfold or a hundredfold.
The friendship and bonds between humans and Pokémon were built up bit by bit like this.
The mayor chatted with Johan for quite a while, perhaps because he hadn’t had anyone listen to him for so long that he couldn’t seem to stop.
Johan didn’t interrupt, just listened quietly, occasionally agreeing, which would earn him the elder’s simple smile.
"Look at , didn’t you say you needed my help with sothing earlier?" The mayor finally rembered, slapping his forehead sowhat embarrassedly.
Johan didn’t mind, just saying:
"I’d like the mayor to help make two reins."
"Reins?"
The old mayor was stunned.
Then he slowly said:
"This was originally a craft that everyone in Freezington mastered, but I don’t know when people stopped making them. If not for my grandfather’s teaching and insistence that I learn, I probably wouldn’t know either, and this craft would have been lost..."
He didn’t ask Johan how he knew about his ability to make reins.
Actually, he didn’t know why his grandfather had insisted he learn to make reins back then—Freezington didn’t raise horses either...
He guessed that perhaps Freezington used to have the custom of raising Mudsdale.
However, the old mayor looked troubled again:
"I don’t know what kind of reins you want? The village doesn’t have many material choices..."
Johan took out two "Radiant Petal" petals.
Then he looked at Gengar, who was huddled by the fireplace, warming its bottom by the fire.
"Gengar."
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar casually produced a tuft of "Black Mane."
Then it took out scissors, grinning wickedly as it passed through Johan, went through the wall, and floated outside.
This old ghost’s crotch wasn’t so easily frozen!
Soon.
"Neighhhh!!!"
Glastrier’s "pitiful" neighing ca from outside.
Then Gengar floated back in holding a tuft of snow-white mane.
Looking at the materials in his hands, the old mayor was stunned.
"These, these, these materials..."
He swallowed and said:
"The reins you want to make, they wouldn’t be ’Reins of Unity,’ would they?"
"The mayor indeed knows." Johan said.
The old mayor opened and closed his mouth, not knowing what to say. After pondering for a long while, he asked with so disbelief:
"Could it be... the ’Guardian Deity’ is real?"
Johan remained silent.
As Freezington’s mayor, he no longer knew of Calyrex’s existence, only referring to it as the "Guardian Deity."
No wonder Calyrex lanted the changes over ti.
However, the old mayor still knew about "Reins of Unity" and had inherited the thod for making them. Calyrex should find so comfort in this.
"Thank you for your trouble, Mayor."
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Powerstones?
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