"Defend yourself, use Metal Claw!"
At Ethan's command, Sandslash canceled Rapid Spin. Its body turned as metallic flashes covered its claws: it unleashed Metal Claw toward Garchomp, clashing midair against Dragon Claw.
But even with the inertia from Rapid Spin, Sandslash's strength was still slightly inferior to Garchomp's, and its body began being pushed back at high speed.
Boom, boom, boom!
Garchomp chased it relentlessly; Dragon Claw and Metal Claw collided again and again.
For a moment, Sandslash seemed to only be retreating continuously, but even while moving, it kept spinning. Taking advantage of the powerful inertia from Rapid Spin, it alternated its claws using Metal Claw and, surprisingly, managed to block Garchomp's fierce strikes head-on.
"What the hell?! That Sandslash can actually fight a Garchomp on equal footing? This is ridiculously strong!"
The spectators, who originally thought Garchomp would crush Sandslash, were stunned seeing such an evenly matched fight.
"It's using some kind of movement step while spinning, and combining that with Metal Claw to attack. The control this Sandslash has over its movements is incredible!"
Several powerful trainers in the stands commented in admiration.
If Garchomp was a brute beast born with overwhelming strength, then Sandslash looked like an elegant swordsman: although it didn't match Garchomp in raw power, its technique and mobility compensated for that difference masterfully.
Boom!
The two Pokémon clashed again.
But this time, when Garchomp used Dragon Claw to knock back Sandslash's Metal Claw, its body paused for just an instant.
Boom!
Another explosion rang out, and both were knocked apart.
"GGAARRCCHH!"
Forced to retreat, Garchomp let out a furious roar filled with anger and frustration.
In front of it, Sandslash landed while maintaining Rapid Spin. The wind generated created gusts throughout the field, kicking up sand in all directions.
"Garchomp... was forced back!"
The crowd erupted in shocked cries.
"Could it be the effect of Metal Claw?"
"Metal Claw can increase attack, sure, but even ignoring how low the probability is... that boost is way too exaggerated!"
"Yeah. It's already insane how it uses the inertia from Rapid Spin to increase the power of its moves. But now its attack rose this much too! It doesn't make sense."
Some strong trainers began theorizing.
"Why isn't Sandslash using combined moves?"
Meanwhile, those familiar with Sandslash's fighting style began to realize something.
"Hm... that step, that movement... it looks familiar."
"Wait... could it be... Swords Dance?"
"Exactly! The reason its attack increased so much is because it used Swords Dance."
"But Ethan completely changed the traditional rhythm of Swords Dance... and fused it with Rapid Spin!"
In the stands, Kyle Miller—who had come to handle the pokéblock machine incident—was also watching the battle.
When he saw Sandslash's attack increase, the first thing he thought of was Swords Dance. However, since Sandslash's Swords Dance came from his own family's legacy, he didn't react immediately.
Only now, thinking it through, he took a deep breath and was completely stunned.
The way Swords Dance was used was, in a sense, like a swordsmanship technique. What Ethan had just done was equivalent to personally modifying an entire sword style. How could he not be shocked?
Boom boom boom!
At that moment, Garchomp and Sandslash clashed again.
With Swords Dance and Rapid Spin combined, Sandslash's attack had reached its limit. In a direct clash with Garchomp, it no longer fell behind at all!
"Sandslash, use Crush Spin!"
Feeling that Sandslash had already pushed its attack to the maximum, Ethan ordered the combined technique: Crush Spin.
Immediately, Sandslash spun even faster. Its claws shone with an intense white light, and its body, spinning like a whirlwind blade, hurled itself straight at Garchomp.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed.
Garchomp, who had barely been able to match it before, couldn't withstand the power of Sandslash's combined move and was completely overwhelmed.
The spectators were dumbfounded, minds blank. Their perception of Sandslash had been utterly shattered.
A properly trained Sandslash... could fight evenly with a pseudo-legendary! It could even overpower it!
"Swords Dance... combined moves..."
"This Sandslash has clearly found its own path."
Kyle sighed; toward Ethan, a boy of humble origins, he felt only respect.
"Garchomp... was overpowered by a Sandslash."
Even Lucien Foster, Garchomp's trainer, was stunned.
Although his Garchomp had only recently evolved, it had been trained using the exact methods passed down in his family. In terms of strength, it was above the average newly evolved Garchomp.
And yet it lost.
This could only mean that Ethan's training level surpassed even the accumulated generations of his family.
With that realization, Lucien froze for a few seconds. His expression shifted several times before finally settling into determination.
"Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"
Hearing the command, Garchomp understood it was time to go all out.
"GGAARRCCHH!"
It released a ferocious roar; its dragon-type energy erupted, forcing Sandslash back.
Then it dug its feet into the ground. Dragon-type energy wrapped around its entire body, even forming the silhouette of a ghostly dragon surrounding it.
"So we've reached the point of going all out?"
"Sandslash, Furious Spin (Rapid Spin + Fury Swipes)!"
Ethan didn't dare let his guard down. It was time for Sandslash to use its strongest combined move.
Sandslash began spinning like a turbine. A powerful normal-type energy enveloped its entire body, concentrating especially on its claws.
With a roar, Sandslash began using Fury Swipes while spinning, to the point where the normal energy transformed into countless rotating slashing blades around it.
(End of chapter)