Pokémon: When the World Changed

"Elite level?"

"With strength like this, even resisting an Elite-level Pokémon head-on would not be a problem, right?"

"But the last time Denzel fought against the Psychic-type Elite-level Trainer, he also had to put in a huge effort to defeat that Exeggutor that the Psychic-type Elite-level Trainer had only been raising for a short time."

"And now, after such a short time, he can already face an Elite-level Pokémon evenly?"

Some Trainers who knew Denzel began to feel that they no longer recognized him.

The strength that this Slaking was showing was truly far too terrifying.

"Elite-level defense, added to Counter..."

Ethan frowned. He always felt that this was not so simple.

To block attacks so easily, even Elite-level defense would not guarantee being able to do it.

Unless that Elite-level Pokémon mastered a move like Barrier, capable of directly blocking attacks.

Barrier...

Thinking of that, Ethan could not help directing his gaze toward Slowking, who was at one side in its usual distracted state.

Barrier was precisely one of the moves that Slowking excelled at the most, but it was clear that Slaking could not master something like that.

Then, aside from the move Barrier, was there any other method to resist attacks in that way?

Ethan continued thinking, and looked at Slowking, which had suddenly opened its eyes and was observing with a somewhat absent expression.

"Calm face... distracted... I've got it... could it be that move... Amnesia?"

"The reason Slaking can withstand all those attacks with such a calm face is because, through the move Amnesia, it has temporarily forgotten the pain."

"Wait... perhaps it is also temporarily forgetting the effect of the Ability Truant thanks to the move Amnesia."

"Yes, it has to be that. The move Amnesia developed to an extreme level!"

"I see, I see... In other words, Slaking is not actually ignoring the damage, but temporarily forgetting it. As soon as the effect of the move Amnesia disappears, all the accumulated damage will fall all at once onto Slaking."

After tying together all the clues, Ethan's eyes shone. If that was the case, then everything fit perfectly.

"Give up. You cannot defeat my Slaking."

At that moment, Denzel's voice sounded, with an expression of absolute certainty on his face.

"Oh, really?"

"If I am not mistaken, your Slaking is not ignoring Rhyperior's damage, but suppressing it, right?"

"And not only the damage. Also the Ability Truant, is that not true?"

Looking at Denzel, Ethan shook his head and smiled.

And the instant his words ended, Denzel's face changed slightly.

"What are you saying?"

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

Denzel pretended to be calm as he answered.

"You don't understand?"

"Do you really want me to say the name of that move?"

"The truth is that at first I had not thought of it either, but it just so happens that I have a Slowking."

"If we talk about this, it is precisely one of the moves that the Slowpoke evolutionary line excels at the most."

Looking at Denzel, who was still trying to appear composed, Ethan pointed to Slowking, who was at one side.

This time, Denzel could no longer maintain his composure.

As soon as Ethan mentioned the Slowpoke family, he knew that he had truly discovered it.

What he had not expected was that Ethan could see through his Slaking's first-rate technique just from that clue.

That observational ability was frightening!

"Although you have discovered that, it still does not mean that victory or defeat has been decided."

Although inside he found it hard to accept, Denzel still had absolute confidence in his Slaking.

"Oh, really?"

Ethan crossed his arms, completely calm.

Now the situation was simple: as long as he chose to prolong the battle and waited for the effect of the move Amnesia to disappear, Slaking would never be able to withstand all that accumulated damage.

"Hmph! If that is so, then let us decide it at once."

"Slaking, use Giga Impact!"

It seemed that Denzel had also guessed Ethan's intention, so he gritted his teeth and decided to take the initiative.

Slaking was seen slightly bending its legs, condensing a violent fluctuation of energy over its body, and becoming wrapped in a luminous layer of energy before launching itself directly against Rhyperior.

"Then, we will also go."

"Rhyperior, use Giga Impact too!"

In the same way, Rhyperior's figure also crouched slightly, and the muscles in its legs swelled instantly.

Next, Rhyperior also used the move Giga Impact, charging directly against Slaking with the horn on its head.

Boom!

A rumble so loud that it made the entire stadium tremble resounded everywhere.

In the next moment, terrifying waves of energy spread across the entire field, and an enormous cloud of dust completely enveloped the arena.

"Giga Impact against Giga Impact! It seems this will be the final move of both."

Looking at the dust raised in the center of the stadium, the spectators showed very tense expressions. The collision between two ultimate moves of that level was too terrifying.

"But... what was that move Leader Ethan was talking about?"

"From the looks of it, that is one of the reasons why Slaking is so strong."

Unable to see what was happening on the field, some spectators began commenting on the words Ethan had said before.

And at the same time, their eyes shone intensely.

From Denzel's reaction, and from the fact that in the end he had chosen to stake everything on a single blow, it was clear that Leader Ethan had guessed correctly.

But what move was it exactly?

If they could understand the principle behind that technique, could they not also raise such a powerful Slaking?

And furthermore, could that move be applied to other Pokémon?

From what Leader Ethan had said, the Slowpoke family also seemed to master it quite well.

That meant this ability was not exclusive to Slaking; other Pokémon might also have the opportunity to learn it.

"Either way, only one thing can be said: Master Ethan truly lives up to his title."

"As expected of a Pokémon Professor! He was even able to discover this!"

The spectators who had understood it reacted immediately, looking at Ethan with admiration. It was truly impressive.

"Pokémon Professor..."

At that moment, even the challengers present fell silent.

Although Ethan looked very young, the fact that he also carried the title of Pokémon Professor made no one dare look at him anymore as if he were merely a member of the young generation.

In fact, from the perspective that the most capable deserve respect, Ethan could perfectly be considered a superior to them.

"This is a completely meaningless challenge."

Some challengers had already begun shaking their heads, giving up on going onto the field.

At first, upon seeing that provocative article that had circulated, they had indeed become angry, and because of that, they had decided to come without hesitation to accept the challenge.

But now, after seeing Ethan's strength, they suddenly felt that perhaps he was not as arrogant as they had imagined.

After all, strength was everything. Strength like this, added to the identity of Pokémon Professor, suddenly made them feel that Ethan's words were not contempt, but simply the truth.