"Slowking... is still standing!"
The stadium erupted in cheers.
In this Psychic-type confrontation, Slowking had triumphed, defeating Alakazam head-on.
"Phew... we won in the end. But that attack was truly terrifying..."
Ethan looked at Slowking's battered figure with a serious expression.
Even with the three barriers, the Water Tornado, its high Special Defense, and the reinforcement from the move Calm Mind, the fact that Alakazam's psychic power still caused so much damage showed just how frightening it had been.
And it wasn't only Slowking: even Shellder, who had been meditating, was awakened by the impact.
With Shellder awake, Slowking's aura began to visibly weaken... until it returned directly to the professional level.
It was evident that earlier Slowking and Shellder had been in a state of perfect mental synchronization. In that state, the psychic power of both Pokémon completely unified, merging into a single force.
Now, with Shellder awakening, that state of mental unity was broken, and as a consequence, the strength of both returned simultaneously to the professional level.
"Slowking's aura has weakened!"
"As expected, the reason it was so strong was due to some special explosive enhancement technique, just like Alakazam's Psychic Compression."
Upon noticing the weakening, the audience quickly reached that conclusion.
For some reason, everyone felt a sigh of relief. After all, using the move Calm Mind while fighting was simply too absurd.
In the end, that Alakazam which had reached the Quasi-Elite level ended up falling to the "enhanced" Slowking.
Although many had already anticipated it, when the referee officially announced the result, the stadium once again erupted into commotion.
"Not even Adrian can win?"
The other members of the so-called "Top Eight" fell silent.
From Christian Brad, then Jorge Holt and Damian Frost, all the way to the strongest, Adrian Vane.
Ethan, that student barely 20 years old, was about to sweep away all his seniors.
"It's clear that Slowking can no longer unleash that power. Besides, it seems seriously injured. Adrian still has chances."
After reflecting, Damian analyzed that Adrian still had three Pokémon available and still had hope for victory.
"Which one will he send now?"
All eyes turned toward Adrian.
So far he had used Gastrodon, Gengar, Gallade, Golem, and Alakazam. With combat capability remaining were Gastrodon, Gallade, and a Pokémon he had not yet revealed.
On Ethan's side, Cacturne, Tyranitar, Charizard, and Slowking had appeared. Except for Cacturne, the others still retained some fighting capability, and he also had two Pokémon yet to reveal!
In that situation, Ethan's advantage was enormous.
...
On the field, Adrian planned his next strategy.
After thinking it through, he sent out Gastrodon.
Ethan did not hesitate and responded with Charizard.
Normally, a Fire-type Pokémon like Charizard would be at a disadvantage against Gastrodon.
But when Charizard appeared, everyone knew the one at a disadvantage was Gastrodon.
Facing a Charizard capable of launching the move Solar Beam instantly, Gastrodon's Water/Ground typing suffered a quadruple weakness.
"Gastrodon, use Muddy Water!"
Looking at Charizard in the air, Adrian gave the order.
Instantly, enormous quantities of murky water burst forth and spread across the field.
The entire desert quickly transformed into a thick, muddy swamp.
"The desert terrain has been altered!"
"I see! Gastrodon was meant to counter Vibrava!"
Ethan understood immediately.
To execute his Ryū: Odoshi technique, Vibrava needed to control sand.
But now all the sand was mixed with mud; under those conditions it could not form its sand dragon.
"If Charizard and Slowking hadn't broken their plans earlier, I'd be in danger now..."
Ethan's face turned serious. Although he had the advantage, Adrian's planning was still dangerous.
"Charizard, Sunny Day Fire."
While Gastrodon was launching the move Muddy Water, Charizard activated the move Sunny Day, surrounding itself with solar flames.
"Solar Beam!"
Solar energy condensed and fired as a beam of light. But just as it descended, the mud began to stir.
Under Gastrodon's control, the sludge rose up forming an enormous wall, like a dam.
Boom!
The Solar Beam struck with a thunderous crash, splashing mud everywhere.
However, strangely enough, that mud wall had solidified, becoming hard as steel. The Solar Beam failed to pierce through it.
And immediately afterward, with a viscous sound, the wall returned to flowing mud.
That contrast left everyone stunned.
"What just happened?"
"Is it some use of Rock-type energy?"
The audience did not understand.
Ethan narrowed his eyes, observing the scattered mud.
It was the move Muddy Water... how could it have such hardness?
"Hardened mud... hardened mud... Wait... could it be the move Harden?"
Suddenly he understood.
The move Harden normally tightens the user's body to increase its Defense.
But... what if it could be applied to external objects?
"Of course... why not?"
"Just like Vibrava's Levitate ability..."
Status moves could be used in unexpected ways.
Ethan felt as if he had discovered a new continent.
But training the move Harden to apply it to mud... that was on another level.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The battle continued.
Charizard used the move Solar Beam a second time.
Once again, the mud rose up and, under the effect of the move Harden, transformed into a steel-like dam that blocked the attack.
That Solar Beam had defeated Golem in a single hit! And now it could not break through the muddy wall.
That proved Gastrodon's mastery of the move Harden.
"Charizard, calm down. If it's mud, it's easy. Use Heat Wave across the entire field!"
Charizard activated its thermal control, its body turning bright red.
With a powerful flap of its wings, it released a scorching wave of heat that covered the entire terrain.
Crack... crack...
The muddy swamp began to dry and crack like drought-stricken earth.
"What a terrifying temperature..."
Adrian frowned as he watched the mud evaporate. But as long as he had ruined Vibrava's sand control, his objective was accomplished.
"Come back, Gastrodon. You did very well."
"Now... my final ace!"
A new Poké Ball opened.
With a flash of white light, Garchomp appeared.
"Gaarrcchhmp!"
Its dominant aura spread without restraint.
"What a powerful presence!"
"It must be the second strongest Pokémon on Adrian's team!"
The audience became excited again.
The battle continued to be spectacular: Solar Beam against a muddy swamp, desert turned into marshland and then into dry land.
And now, with Garchomp on the field, the battle would enter another climax.
"Return, Charizard."
When he saw Gastrodon retreat, Ethan had already prepared his Poké Ball. As soon as Garchomp appeared, he withdrew Charizard.
"So Charizard was for Gastrodon..."
"What irony, a Fire-type countering a Water-type..."
After laughing a little, the audience looked forward to the next choice.
"Garchomp, huh?"
"Then I'll leave it to you, Sandslash."
Ethan smiled and sent out his initial Pokémon: Sandslash.
"Sha!"
Sandslash stared firmly at Garchomp.
"Sandslash against Garchomp?"
Outside the field, Lucien was surprised. He remembered when Ethan did the same thing in the National Pokémon Club Tournament.
The audience also became serious.
Although Sandslash had only battled once in this tournament, in that battle it blocked a Garchomp head-on at its peak state.
Perhaps it was the strongest Sandslash they had ever seen.
(End of chapter)