Piloswine's Icy Wind roared forward, its purpose only to restrain Dewgong. After all, this move would not cause Dewgong any substantial damage. It merely had a good secondary effect, slowing Dewgong's movements.
As long as its actions became sluggish, flaws would naturally be exposed, and his opportunity would come.
Dewgong had just crashed into the icicles, and the powerful recoil was leaving it dizzy and disoriented.
"Aqua Tail!"
Sheila had worked as a referee for many years. Her battle experience from earlier years had long been neglected, causing her current battle capabilities to fall completely behind Dewgong's level.
However, Dewgong's strength was there for all to see. Tetsuya did not dare to be careless. Moreover, Dewgong had lived in water for a long time and relied on its powerful tail.
Sure enough, Dewgong swung its tail, and spiral water currents shot out with the impact. Such force was enough to pierce through steel plates.
Icy Wind appeared utterly fragile under the piercing of Aqua Tail. The cold airflow was torn open by the water current, which surged straight toward Piloswine.
There was no way to evade!
Dewgong's Aqua Tail could freely change direction along with the swing of its tail. With Piloswine's speed, it was impossible to dodge such an attack. Furthermore, this Dewgong's tail power was exceptionally fierce!
"Freeze-Dry."
Tetsuya chose the simplest and most direct response. Freeze-Dry had a special effect on Water-type energy. Perhaps it would produce an unexpected result.
Piloswine also sensed the formidable destructive power of Dewgong's Aqua Tail. Upon hearing Tetsuya's command, it did not hesitate in the slightest. Two streams of cold air burst from Piloswine's nostrils.
A scene that even surprised Tetsuya occurred!
'Eternal Ice… really, "Sigh." Indeed, a rare treasure.'
The frigid air of Freeze-Dry directly froze the water current of Aqua Tail, and the freezing speed was astonishingly fast!
Following the flow of Aqua Tail, it rapidly spread toward Dewgong.
Sheila could hardly believe what was happening. 'S-Such Ice energy… aside from Pryce's Delibird, the former Piloswine, and now this Swinub, it was already difficult to find a fourth.'
"Dewgong, Blizzard!"
Now Sheila no longer dared to use Water-type moves against Tetsuya's Piloswine. Any Water-type move in front of this Piloswine's Freeze-Dry was simply asking for trouble[1].
And Dewgong's Blizzard was merely to suppress Piloswine with sheer force. In terms of "cold" alone, it was no match for Piloswine.
Freeze-Dry was about to engulf Dewgong. Seizing the moment, Dewgong immediately ceased using Aqua Tail.
A long howl sounded.
Blizzard roared out, pressing straight against Freeze-Dry!
Helpless against the difference in level, although the "cold" of Freeze-Dry was stronger, Piloswine's stamina and strength were insufficient to unleash a more powerful offensive…
Blizzard suppressed Freeze-Dry.
"Use your full power. Freeze-Dry!"
Tetsuya did not have Piloswine choose to evade. Sometimes facing the opponent head-on was important. It could also better develop Piloswine's potential. Most crucially, it would allow Piloswine to witness the gap in levels. Without effort and dedication, even possessing the "feature" of Eternal Ice would not allow it to be fully unleashed.
Tetsuya's resolute command made Piloswine grit its teeth and use all its might, struggling to endure Dewgong's Blizzard.
A brief stalemate actually appeared!
Sheila nodded and could not help but sigh. 'Impressive… truly impressive… How could this be a Pokémon that was just born a little over a month ago…? Pryce and this young man are both monsters!'
"Dewgong, use your tail to boost Blizzard!"
Sheila shouted it out. This was also the final "secret ace" in the training guide Pryce had given her for Dewgong.
Dewgong's tail was the source of its strength. It kept striking within Blizzard, and the power of Blizzard suddenly doubled. In that instant, it swallowed up Freeze-Dry.
The combined force of Blizzard and Freeze-Dry instantly blew Piloswine rolling seven or eight meters away.
With such power, Piloswine should not have had the ability to stand up again!
Blizzard gradually subsided, and the dust settled…
"T-This Piloswine…!?"
Sheila cried out in shock, and Tetsuya also widened his eyes!
Piloswine shook its body and stood up, seemingly having suffered only minor bruises from the fall.
Sheila ignored Dewgong and went straight toward Piloswine, examining its body and clicking her tongue repeatedly.
Tetsuya's thoughts were racing as well. 'What… what was going on!? Blizzard had clearly hit Piloswine, but why was there not the slightest sign of injury?'
"This… no. It shouldn't be…" Sheila shook her head.
Tetsuya was also very curious. "What is going on?"
"I… I once heard Pryce say that a Pokémon that has absorbed Eternal Ice would be immune to 'ordinary' Ice-type moves.
Unless it is a Pokémon that has also absorbed Eternal Ice, it would not be able to harm it with Ice-type moves. Up until now, I have only seen Pryce's Delibird and his original Piloswine.
…Could it be that your Piloswine has also absorbed Eternal Ice?" Sheila said while shaking her head.
Tetsuya said, "I have only heard of Eternal Ice. I have never even seen it, let alone absorbed it!"
At this point, Tetsuya could only deny it outright. Pryce and Sheila could not possibly extract the aura of Eternal Ice from within his Piloswine's body.
"Mmm, that's true. A legendary item like Eternal Ice that can only be encountered by chance and not sought. How could you possibly come across it!?
Then it must be that Pryce's guide has improved again. Now with this kind of training method combined with Everfrozen Ice, it can become immune to ordinary Ice-type moves…!?"
Sheila scratched the back of her head as she spoke, but after thinking about it, this seemed to be the only explanation.
"Oh my! I must quickly tell Pryce this good news. Shehe~ He will certainly be very happy when he hears it!"
The more Sheila thought about it, the more excited she became. She hurriedly recalled Dewgong and headed toward Mahogany Gym.
'So Eternal Ice actually had such an effect… Truly amazing.' In that case, once Piloswine absorbed the piece of Eternal Ice in his possession, aside from Pryce's Delibird, would it not be able to walk sideways among Ice-type Pokémon?
And with Freeze-Dry, it would not fear Water-type Pokémon at all. In one hit, that eliminated two types of opponents…
Tetsuya could hardly suppress the excitement in his heart!
Now what he needed to worry about was whether Pryce would grow suspicious. He somewhat regretted not destroying the rope he had used in the canyon. However, with just a single nylon rope, it would be impossible to prove that he had done anything.
Moreover, that Piloswine could be said to be doomed.
That cave was also in a collapsed state. It could be said that there was no evidence left.
After thinking it over from every angle, Tetsuya finally felt at ease.
[1] Courting zdeathzz!