Pokémon: When the World Changed

"Your Garchomp follows a fast-attack assassin route, right?"

"What a coincidence, my Haxorus also goes down exactly the same route. Then, come at me with everything. Let me see Garchomp's true power!"

Leader Nico, with his hands on his waist, smiled while provoking him.

"As you wish. Garchomp, Slash!"

Ethan nodded and ordered Garchomp to launch itself into the attack at full speed.

"Haxorus, we will use Slash too!"

With the same move, the figures of both Pokémon began to move rapidly across the field.

Boom, boom, boom!

In the next instant, the clash between the air blades and the axe-tusks resounded throughout the entire stadium.

The speed of both Pokémon was incredible. Their bodies constantly vanished and reappeared on the field, as if they were two swordsmen locked in a fierce duel, while the sound of metal clashing did not stop being heard.

Boom!

In another direct exchange, the attacks of both Pokémon collided head-on again.

And this time, Garchomp was sent flying directly!

"In the end, it still lost. But it was a truly splendid battle."

Ethan's gaze turned toward Haxorus, and a smile appeared on his face.

In that battle, Garchomp had only lost in the aspect of physical toughness.

As for combat technique and other factors, Garchomp had not been inferior at all. In fact, thanks to the terrifying speed granted by its species, it had also caused Haxorus a great many problems.

"The physique. That will be the central axis of these two's training from now on."

In his heart, Ethan summarized the experience obtained from that battle, and that was precisely the most valuable thing of the entire battle.

"It was undoubtedly a magnificent battle. Your two Pokémon have already found their own path. It will not take them long to achieve a new breakthrough."

Leader Nico also nodded with approval. With his experience, naturally, he had perceived the level of strength both Pokémon were at.

Once they managed to take that next step, their combat power would skyrocket, and then both his Druddigon and his Haxorus would have much more difficulty facing them.

"What terrifying talent. Worthy of being pseudo-legendaries of Dragon Valley's royal family. And, in addition, this Ethan's level of raising Pokémon is also incredible."

"According to the recorded information, these two are not even part of his main lineup. If he sent out those other Pokémon, even if I sent out my aces, perhaps I still would not be able to handle him."

Looking at Ethan, who maintained that confident smile on his face, Leader Nico suddenly felt a certain helplessness.

He could tell that Ethan seemed to be using him as a whetstone to test his two Pokémon.

"Thank you very much for your guidance, Leader Nico. I will visit you again later."

On the other side, Ethan came out of his thoughts after a moment of reflection.

After bowing respectfully toward Leader Nico, he left the Ice Dragon Gym.

During the following time, he planned to continue the special training of both Pokémon.

And, naturally, that mountain of extreme cold was the best possible place for it.

In that sense, Leader Nico's Druddigon and Haxorus had already perfectly demonstrated that point.

During the battle, both Pokémon had flawlessly displayed the physique they had forged by training on the mountain of extreme cold.

"Before that... come out, Lucario."

The Poké Ball opened and Lucario's figure appeared.

"Lucario, use Heal Pulse."

A faint life energy began to flow around Lucario's body.

Afterward, it transformed into small points of green light that merged into the bodies of both Pokémon.

Right now, Lucario's control over life energy had already reached a truly high level.

That had also greatly raised the power of its healing moves.

"Life energy really is something fascinating."

Ethan smiled slightly and also began exchanging impressions with Lucario.

During that conversation, Lucario expressed to him that the development of the first phase of the Life Orb was already almost completed.

After returning, they could directly begin the research of the second phase!

"Kommo-o, Garchomp, how do you feel after recovering?"

Upon hearing Ethan's words, both Pokémon nodded excitedly, impatient to continue training.

"Let's go. We will continue with the exploration of the snowy mountain."

With a series of low roars, Ethan led his two Pokémon toward the depths of the mountain of extreme cold.

...

Thus, time flew by.

During that period, while specially training the two Pokémon, Ethan also continued researching the Totem aura.

"Absorbing the Sparkling Stone really can strengthen the Totem aura!"

"But what is the principle behind that? Is there some way to replace the effect of the Sparkling Stone by other means?"

In the course of his research, Ethan also ran into a great many difficulties.

He noted down each one of those problems and, in addition, carried out various deductions based on the information he already knew.

Very soon, in his hands, a preliminary draft of a research project on the Totem aura took shape.

On the other hand, the training of Kommo-o and Garchomp was also progressing very smoothly.

With Lucario, that true super nurse, taking care of them throughout the entire process, both Pokémon could train without any concern, and the results were twice as effective with half the effort.

After reaching the set objectives, Ethan did not immediately challenge the Ice Dragon Gym again. Instead, he took both Pokémon to travel through the Federal League, intending to continue polishing their combat techniques by facing them against Trainers from other Gyms.

During that process, and obeying the instructions of the Federal League, the Leaders of the other Gyms all fought with their full strength.

But by then, Kommo-o and Garchomp were already Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon.

In addition, both had found their own path, and after completely integrating their combat styles, they began to display a terrifying suppressive ability.

And right before the Federal League's League began, Ethan returned with Kommo-o and Garchomp to the mountain of extreme cold, challenging the Ice Dragon Gym again.

The two Pokémon that came out to face him were, once again, Leader Nico's Druddigon and Haxorus.

In the first battle, Kommo-o once again measured itself against Druddigon.

Thanks to Ethan's countless resources and the reinforcement of life energy pokéblocks, Kommo-o's current physique was already tremendously strong. Added to the bodily enhancement inherent to its Dragon and Fighting types, it now had absolutely nothing to fear against Druddigon.

The final result was a tie between both Pokémon, something that once again left all the spectators impressed.

After the previous battle, Druddigon had still been able to completely suppress Kommo-o. But now, after barely a little over a month, Kommo-o was already capable of directly withstanding it head-on.

That was enough to prove to what extent Kommo-o had grown during that time.

And in the second battle, it was once again Garchomp against Haxorus.

The previous time, Garchomp had also been completely suppressed by Haxorus, and could only compete with it in speed.

But this time, Garchomp had undergone an astonishing transformation: the cutting power of its air blades had become even more terrifying!