🎄 Christmas Special Discount 🎄
From December 23 to December 25, there will be a public 50% discount on the following tiers:
Intermediate Trainers, Advanced Trainers, Elite Trainers, Elite Four Trainers, Champion Trainers, and Legendary Trainers.
🎆 New Year Discount 🎆
There will also be a 50% discount, but it won't be public. On December 31, the discount code will be published inside the chapters, so stay tuned 👀✨
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"Cloyster, use Hydro Pump!"
Owen Pierce, clearly eager to show off, gave the order the moment his Cloyster entered the field.
If he could defeat that Sandslash that looked so weak, he would become the new number one!
"Finish it—Crush Spin (Rapid Spin + Crush Claw)!"
At Ethan Black's words, Sandslash's eyes narrowed. In truth, the look Owen Pierce had given him earlier had already enraged him, so now he wasn't planning on holding back in the slightest.
Planting his hind legs lightly on the ground, he raised his claws and began spinning rapidly. Using Rapid Spin, and with the reflection of his crimson spines, he transformed into a scarlet tornado that charged head-on into Hydro Pump.
Crash!
In the very next instant, the red tornado collided with the torrent of water.
The scene showed the crimson whirlwind crushing Hydro Pump, shattering it with unstoppable force. In the blink of an eye, Sandslash appeared behind Cloyster, so fast that everyone lost track of his movement.
Immediately after, Sandslash lowered his claws, still glowing with a white light, rubbed them together, and began walking back toward Ethan Black.
As he passed Cloyster, he didn't pause for even an instant. He stopped in front of his trainer, turned around, and calmly looked at Owen Pierce, who was left utterly bewildered.
"W-what... just happened?"
"What speed!"
"Hey... why isn't Cloyster moving?"
When Sandslash returned to his original position, the students finally reacted. One after another, they stared at Cloyster, as if it were sealed or paralyzed.
Boom!
At that moment, a faint gust of wind passed, and Cloyster's body swayed before crashing heavily to the ground.
"O-one hit?"
Seeing Cloyster fall, everyone's pupils contracted. Their faces showed nothing but disbelief.
Who could explain to them what had just happened on the field?
Was that really Rapid Spin?
Its power was terrifying!
After all, Cloyster was famous for its incredible defense. Why had it fallen now from a single blow by Sandslash?
If it had been another Pokémon, it wouldn't have been so shocking... but this was Cloyster! That was far too much.
Everyone swallowed hard, exchanging stunned looks.
"Crush Spin... a combination move and multitasking?"
The stronger students mulled over the name of the combined move Ethan Black had mentioned, trying to figure out how it worked.
Crush Spin, as was clear, combined Rapid Spin with Crush Claw.
By harnessing the instant burst of speed and centrifugal force from Rapid Spin, the power of Crush Claw was pushed to its maximum in a single moment.
And adding in Crush Claw's special effect of "breaking defenses"... it could probably tear through steel itself!
"A combined move!"
"This Sandslash... its potential must have been pushed to the absolute limit..."
Professor Langford, along with the other teachers, exchanged glances, their eyes glinting with amazement.
They knew exactly who Ethan Black was: a member of the university team and first place in the rankings.
At first, they hadn't understood how Ethan Black's Pokémon—who didn't seem to have outstanding potential—could hold the top spot.
Now they understood: Ethan Black's greatest strength wasn't just his battle skill, but his astonishing ability as a breeder and his creativity in developing new moves.
Whether it was the combined move Crush Spin or the unusual way his Cacturne used Ingrain, everything demonstrated his unique talent for strategic innovation.
Thanks to that, even if his Pokémon weren't pseudo-legendaries, they could still face such opponents without disadvantage.
"I thought his strongest Pokémon was Cacturne," Lucas Silver said in surprise. "With that root field, Cacturne could resist anything we had."
"But now... it seems his Sandslash is still his deadliest card, even stronger than before."
He had believed that as Ethan Black faced stronger opponents, his Sandslash—with its more limited potential—would be relegated to a support or weather-control role.
But what he had just seen proved the opposite: Sandslash was still the sharpest blade of his team, capable of cutting down anyone in a single strike.
On the battlefield...
Ethan Black watched impassively as his Sandslash had severely wounded Cloyster with a single attack.
"Do you want to keep fighting?"
"You can try sending them all at once... if you dare."
His smile carried a trace of arrogance, but it didn't feel out of place—after all, Sandslash's actions spoke for themselves.
With just one move, Ethan Black had secured himself an undisputed spot among the strongest. Even if he wasn't number one, it was clear he belonged in the top ten of the new recruits.
Owen Pierce, however, was in shock. He couldn't accept the result—much less believe it. His trembling hand tried to grab another Poké Ball... but it slipped and hit the ground with a hollow thud.
Could he keep fighting?
Even he didn't believe it.
Even if Ethan Black offered him another chance, he no longer had the courage to send out another Pokémon.
The referee shook his head and declared: "The winner is Ethan Black!"
Ethan Black let out a faint sigh of relief.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, he had decided to "show off" a little... and judging by the respectful looks from his peers, it seemed to have worked.
"That Sandslash... it's really strong!"
"It's not weaker than our star Pokémon."
Patrick Mills, second place in the rankings, was observing Ethan Black's Sandslash for the first time, his expression tense.
He was already destined to face him. He had prepared a "secret weapon" against Cacturne... but after seeing Sandslash's strength, things had gotten more complicated.
In a battle, he would have to release his Pokémon first. Ethan Black could then decide whether to keep the one already on the field or switch.
If, at the moment he brought out his anti-Cacturne, Ethan Black withdrew Cacturne and sent out Sandslash instead... everything would backfire.
The other members of the university team were thinking the same thing.
Now they were looking at Ethan Black with greater seriousness.
With two ace Pokémon and a wider range of tactics, Ethan Black was an opponent who allowed no carelessness.
(End of Chapter)