A Swinub baby that was only a little over ten days old, although it had great potential, where did Pryce get the confidence to win against those "Elite Four students" who had followed "Elite Four training" for many years in the "Elite Four Challenge".
Pryce handed Tetsuya a piece of Never-Melt Ice, an Everstone, and a handbook.
"This glacier falls is most suitable for training. In two months, I am very much looking forward to seeing what level you can raise Swinub to," Pryce said.
"…Swinub has only just been born. How much can its strength really improve in two months."
Pryce laughed heartily. "Hoho! They are only students. My strength is not something those Elite Four can compare to. And this Swinub, since it was still an Egg, I placed it on this ice bed. The Ice-type energy within the Never-Melt Ice in the bed was almost completely absorbed by it.
With just a slight shake of its body, the temperature will drop sharply, and Blizzard and Hail will arrive as expected. With such an ability, combined with your talent… are you still afraid of dealing with a mere Elite Four 'student'!?"
Pryce was indeed confident, leaving Tetsuya completely speechless.
"Then what are these?" Tetsuya said as he looked at the items in his hands.
"They are all useful things. This piece of ice is Everfrozen Ice that I asked Lorelei's father to mine for me. Compared to ordinary Never-Melt Ice, its quality is absolutely more than a hundred times higher.
After every meal each day, let Swinub lick it a bit, until it has completely licked it away. At that point, it will have fully absorbed the power of this Everfrozen Ice.
After absorbing the power of Everfrozen Ice, the power of Ice-type moves and its perception of Ice-type energy will both improve further!"
Tetsuya nodded as he listened carefully to Pryce's explanation. This was all very important. For the sake of improving strength, for the sake of becoming stronger, he had to study and learn properly!
"Then what about this Everstone?" Tetsuya asked.
Pryce let out a long sigh and said, "…What do you think is the reason my Swinub does not evolve?"
Tetsuya looked at Pryce with a puzzled gaze. "Isn't it because of your Piloswine?"
"Haaah… that is only one part of the reason. The truth is that if the Ice-type energy within Swinub's body is used for Evolution, although its strength and such will increase, there will no longer be excess Ice-type energy to create 'Hail' weather anytime and anywhere. It would be equivalent to losing an Ability. The gains would not outweigh the losses," Pryce said as he shook his head.
Tetsuya also felt a wave of regret. "That would indeed be too much of a pity… Does that not mean Swinub can only remain in this form?"
Giving up strength in pursuit of an "Ability" was extremely painful for someone like Tetsuya, who longed to pursue power.
"Not necessarily."
Pryce's words made Tetsuya seem to see hope.
"When I was young, that Piloswine of mine had evolved and could also create Hail weather anytime and anywhere. That was because I mined a piece of Eternal Ice in the Polar Biome. The power of Eternal Ice is far beyond that of the Everfrozen Ice you are holding.
After licking Eternal Ice, the Ice-type energy within that Piloswine's body reached its peak, with enough excess Ice-type energy to create Hail weather. Unfortunately, that Piloswine abandoned me…
After that, I tried all kinds of methods to obtain another piece of Eternal Ice, but such a thing can only be encountered by chance and not sought. So my Swinub can only remain like this."
Pryce sighed. It seemed that he had never encountered Eternal Ice again after that.
'Eternal Ice!'
Tetsuya heard the most useful information. Didn't he bring back a piece of Eternal Ice from the Matsuba mausoleum?
"However, your Swinub should have no problem evolving into Piloswine," Pryce said.
Tetsuya's eyes lit up. "Oh? Why is that?"
"Because I improved Swinub's raising and training method, allowing it to absorb the cold air of Never-Melt Ice on the ice bed starting from the Egg stage.
The Egg stage is when the absorption of cold air is fastest, and this Swinub never stopped absorbing cold air during that stage.
In addition, after finishing licking this piece of Everfrozen Ice, evolving into Piloswine will be enough for it to maintain Hail weather.
However, evolving into Mamoswine will be impossible! That would require two pieces of Eternal Ice!"
Pryce suggested that it seemed impossible for two pieces of Eternal Ice to ever appear in this world again.
"Two pieces of Eternal Ice…"
Tetsuya muttered to himself. Right now he only had one piece. How was he supposed to find another? Pryce possessed Elite Four authority, and Lorelei came from a family that mined Never-Melt Ice, yet even they were unable to obtain another piece of Eternal Ice. It was even more impossible for him to have such capability.
Could it be that Swinub could only evolve into Piloswine? Or should he leave it to destiny?
He had never believed in destiny. Then where could the other piece of Eternal Ice come from?
'That Piloswine of Pryce's might hold some clues…'
He had always been puzzled by one thing. How could a Piloswine survive for decades at the bottom of a cliff valley without eating or drinking and still remain intact? It must have relied on the power of Eternal Ice, freezing itself while also preventing the loss of vitality.
"I have a question I'd like to ask."
"Go ahead."
"For example, that Piloswine of yours… betrayed you when you were young, but it absorbed Eternal Ice. Wouldn't that mean such a precious thing was wasted?" Tetsuya asked "indirectly".
"…No. Eternal Ice is practically the essence of ice. Even after being absorbed, it exists as a cold current within the body. You only need to use Will-O-Wisp to burn that Piloswine's body, and this cold current will be forced out.
That actually saves the licking process and allows for direct absorption…
Also, you must pay attention in the future. Will-O-Wisp sinister flame is the greatest counter to Ice-type Pokémon. When using Ice-type Pokémon in the future, you must guard against this move."
Tetsuya revealed a faint smile.
Will-O-Wisp?
Haunter could learn it!
It seemed he would need to buy a TM.
"However, I never saw that Piloswine again after that, and the trail of Eternal Ice was lost. My lesson is still worth learning from. You must maintain a certain distance from Pokémon…
The authority that should be given must be given. The book I gave you is the 'Swinub Training Guide'. You must raise and train it strictly according to the methods written inside."
After Pryce finished speaking, Tetsuya looked through the guide. It was indeed just the [Swinub Training Guide]. It seemed Pryce still had no intention of passing on all his knowledge.
According to what Tetsuya knew, Swinub could only be considered Pryce's second main Pokémon. His strongest was a Delibird. It appeared that obtaining Pryce's true knowledge would still require some effort.
"Alright, let's go out first! Not far outside this glacier falls, there is a small wooden cabin. Today, Sheila will prepare blankets and daily necessities for you. For these two months, you will live in that cabin. Swinub must stay inside glacier falls.
The training method will follow the guide, and there are also some wild Pokémon here to serve as sparring partners. You must undergo closed-door special training here for these two months. Sheila will deliver your food every day, so don't worry.
I can't stay here any longer and must return to the League immediately. I will come to pick you up in two months."
After Pryce finished speaking, he and Tetsuya left glacier falls and headed in the direction of Mahogany Gym.
•.
•.
Ch93 "Eternal Ice" is now "Everfrozen Ice".