Pokémon: When the World Changed

Boom!

Another violent explosion was heard, and the two Pokémon quickly separated.

The clash between Hammer Arm and Hammer Arm had, surprisingly, ended in a draw!

"That Slaking really has overcome the Ability Truant!"

"But... how on earth did it do it?"

Ethan frowned as he observed Slaking, which, even after that exchange, still had an entirely calm face.

Although Slaking's way of fighting seemed quite normal and did not show any first-rate technique, for Slaking, the simple fact of having found a way to overcome the Ability Truant was already, in itself, the most important technique of all.

After overcoming the Ability Truant, relying only on its terrifying physical qualities, Slaking was already capable of facing Rhyperior evenly, even while Rhyperior was using the force application method of the move Rock Wrecker!

"Rhyperior, use Stone Edge again!"

While continuing to think, Ethan once again ordered Rhyperior to launch the attack.

Immediately, several pointed stones condensed and shot densely toward Slaking.

But the result was once again the same: Slaking responded again with the move Counter, returned the blow, and Rhyperior easily dodged it to attack again.

Throughout that continuous exchange, Slaking's movements were incredibly smooth, and that made Ethan completely confirm its situation.

"If that is so, then the normal methods for facing Slaking will not work."

"Rhyperior, use all your strength! Rock Wrecker force application method!"

Seeing that, Ethan changed tactics again.

Rhyperior's eyes immediately became more serious, although a faint glow of excitement also appeared in them.

The previous opponents had been too weak and had not allowed it to bring out all its power. It could finally fight without reservations!

Once prepared for battle, Rhyperior slightly bent its legs, and the muscles in its legs suddenly swelled.

Immediately afterward, its figure shot forward, while the muscles of its fist also tightened to the maximum and threw a brutal blow.

"Counter!"

Although he did not fully understand what Ethan intended, Denzel still gave the order.

In his understanding, a Pokémon like Rhyperior, just like Rhydon, was the type that excelled in close combat.

In that situation, having Slaking use the move Counter to resist and return the damage was undoubtedly correct.

Whoosh!

A whistle was heard in the air.

Rhyperior's figure appeared in an instant in front of Slaking.

With both arms in the posture of firing the move Rock Wrecker, it concentrated a terrifying amount of Rock-type energy over its fist. But instead of launching the rock, it left it unfired and released all that energy at once together with the punch.

Boom!

Rhyperior's fist and Slaking's body collided head-on.

The Rock Wrecker fist and Counter began to face each other directly!

"What a terrifying collision!"

"Look, Slaking has been pushed back!"

"But Rhyperior is not having an easy time either! The attack returned by Counter is not easy to endure at all!"

As the two Pokémon exchanged blows, the spectators also began commenting nervously.

After another round of confrontations, Rhyperior and Slaking's figures separated again.

"Huff, huff, huff!"

Rhyperior was breathing violently, showing enormous physical consumption.

Although, thanks to the development of the Abilities Rock Head and Solid Rock, Rhyperior's physical constitution had reached a terrifying level, and although it had also managed to completely eliminate the recoil of the move Rock Wrecker through the mastery of those two Abilities, in exchange, Rhyperior's consumption had increased enormously.

Every time it used the Rock Wrecker force application method at full power, it consumed a brutal amount of energy.

"Slaking... how can this be?"

Ethan's gaze moved away from Rhyperior and turned toward the other side.

At that instant, his pupils contracted, and an almost incredulous expression appeared on his face.

After having endured Rhyperior's terrifying offensive, Slaking still had a completely calm expression!

"Not even like this was it injured?"

"That Slaking's physical resistance is too monstrous."

Upon realizing that, Ethan felt that it was hard for him to accept it.

Had that Slaking's body already reached the Elite level?

But even Melmetal, which was Elite level, would not be able to come out completely unharmed after enduring Rhyperior's fierce assault, right?

"Rhyperior is being suppressed!"

"That Slaking really lives up to its fame of having defeated the substitute Pokémon of an Elite-level Trainer!"

The spectators also let out a cry of astonishment, while beginning to worry about Ethan.

Even if that Slaking had not yet reached the Elite level, it was surely already very close.

How was anyone supposed to face an opponent like that?

"Rhyperior, Rock Wrecker!"

Gritting his teeth, Ethan made Rhyperior directly use its great move.

Upon hearing the order, Rhyperior raised both arms.

Then its arms could be seen swelling, while Rock-type energy began to concentrate.

Aiming both hands toward Slaking, the cavities in its arms rumbled, and an enormous rock suddenly shot out.

"Counter!"

A single move well mastered was enough to open a path everywhere. Although Denzel's Slaking did not know too many moves, its development of the move Counter had already reached an extremely high level.

Adding that technique to its terrifying physical qualities, it could almost resist and return any attack from an opponent of the same level!

Facing the move Rock Wrecker fired by Rhyperior, Slaking's body was once again wrapped in a multicolored radiance, and it directly rushed to block the attack with its own body.

In the next instant, Slaking's body collided with the rock, causing the move Rock Wrecker to completely stop against it.

However, just as Slaking was about to return the attack, the move Rock Wrecker suddenly exploded. Terrifying energy expanded violently, and a cloud of dust completely enveloped Slaking.

"It worked! Using the Rock Wrecker force application method, it hid the energy inside the attack itself and then detonated it in an instant!"

"After receiving such a brutal blow, this time Slaking must have been injured, right?"

A spark of joy appeared on Ethan's face, while he kept his gaze fixed on the dust cloud raised by the explosion.

And not only him: all the spectators were also watching at that moment, vaguely feeling that this might be the key to the battle.

If not even such a devastating attack managed to injure Slaking, then that Pokémon's strength had probably already reached a completely different level.

"T-this... how can this be?!"

That was the second time Ethan showed such astonishment.

Because, when the dust dispersed, Slaking's figure appeared once again completely intact!

And, moreover, its expression remained just as calm, without the slightest change.

"Isn't this too absurd?"

"An attack with such power, not even an Elite-level Pokémon would dare to receive it head-on with its body!"

"But this Slaking not only endured it, it also came out completely unharmed! That is too abnormal!"

The other challengers present were left dumbfounded, feeling as if they were dreaming.

Could it be that they had all fallen into an illusion?