Cross-level Strength

After cashing in all his Game Coins, Sato left the Silph Game Corner, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the nearest Pokemon Center.

Through the rearview mirror, Sato spotted several ill-intentioned people following him all the way out. He had no interest in tangling with them, though. He was busy.

After handing Carvanha's Poké Ball to Nurse Joy, Sato sat in the waiting area with his eyes closed, reviewing the results of tonight's reconnaissance. Although a minor problem had arisen along the way, obtaining so many TMs had been beyond even his expectations.

Sato had spent a long time in Spirit Fruit Town, much of it devoted to training his Pokémon's moves until they were barely proficient. Now, every Pokémon had at least three moves to learn. That was no small workload.

However, a major event in Goldenrod City was about to unfold. Sato could only put his training plans on hold for the time being and focus on preparations.

Over the next several days, Sato's life became regular again. He started each morning with Morning Training, mainly Basic Training, then paired his Pokémon off for 1V1 matches. The newly joined Carvanha had caught the interest of both Larvitar and Spinarak.

To that end, Sato specifically found an area that was half grassland and half pool, making it easier for Carvanha to fight.

Sato had long had plans for Carvanha's inability to move on land, a weakness that severely affected its battles. Otherwise, even with Elite Four Level Talent, its limitations would be too great for him to train it.

Although he had no time to train Carvanha specifically right now, he could use this battle to get a good look at its abilities.

"Chirp chirp!"

Spinarak waved its forelegs at Sato, indicating that it was ready. Full of fighting spirit, it looked at Carvanha.

"Carvanha, are you ready?"

"...Carshark!" Carvanha had only just joined them and was still somewhat unused to Sato's questions, but Sato's blood last night had thoroughly conquered it.

As a ferocious carnivore, Blood Feeding had produced an effect on it that far exceeded the boost it gave Zorua.

"Then, the battle begins!"

"Chirp!"

Taking the lead, Spinarak instantly spat out a Large Amount Of spider silk. Using the grassland and the trees on both sides as anchor points, it quickly created perfect terrain for itself!

"Shark!"

Water gathered Around Its Body, then Carvanha shot forward at high speed, charging straight at Spinarak!

Aqua Jet!

Spinarak moved Extremely Fast along the spider silk. It slipped through the web to the other side, and the exceptionally tough web Directly By blocked Carvanha, bending into a considerable arc from the impact!

As Spinarak drew close, Yellow-Green light Emerged around its forelegs. Sato recognized it as a new move learned through a TM—X-Scissor! You're underestimating it. Sato secretly shook his head. Under his command, Spinarak had almost never been Defeated. Creating terrain at the start of battle was a good move, but trying to defeat its opponent with an X-Scissor it was not even familiar with? Impossible.

After all, the Carvanha before it also possessed Elite Four Level Talent! "Shark!"

Rather than retreating, Carvanha advanced. The water around its body Did Not disappear; instead, it flowed even more fiercely. Then it opened its Large Bloody Mouth and unleashed Bite at the same time! String Shot was not afraid of blunt impacts, but it feared sharp blades! Carvanha was notorious for its teeth, just as its name suggested. Once its huge jaws opened, there was No Need At All to bite down—the String Shot it Came into Contact With was easily severed! And it was not over!

The resistance acting on Carvanha Disappeared. The not-yet-broken web suddenly snapped back, and Spinarak, still on the web, Was Directly By flung into the air without any ability to resist!

"Shark!"

Carvanha pressed the advantage, and its method of movement made Sato's eyes light up as well. It used Aqua Jet in reverse while borrowing the water's rotational force to turn around at high speed!

"Chirp!"

Spinarak was sent flying, but because it had clung tightly to the web, it Did Not suffer much damage. It swayed for a while before regaining its senses, only to find that Carvanha had already closed in again!

"Chirp chirp!"

Somewhat panicked, Spinarak used the move it was most familiar with Without Hesitation—Poison Sting!

Unfortunately, the Ready to Go Carvanha dodged the Poison Sting with a direct zigzag maneuver and slammed viciously into Spinarak!

"Stop here!"

Sato indicated for Haunter to catch Spinarak before it fell into the water, then looked at Carvanha with delight mixed with some doubt.

"Carvanha, use Aqua Jet continuously!"

"Carshark?"

The Match Ends had already come, and Carvanha was somewhat confused. Still, it obediently returned to the water and began firing off Aqua Jets wildly.

Sato stared closely at Carvanha. His entire pupils turned black, showing that he had already used Dark Power to enhance his senses.

Once, twice, three times. After five consecutive Aqua Jets, the corners of Sato's mouth had curled up significantly.

After calling a halt to the Carvanha that was having some trouble controlling itself, Sato stepped forward and gently stroked its skin. It was smooth, without the slightest rough texture.

That was it—the Speed Boost Ability! Even Sato, who rarely showed emotion, could not help laughing aloud. A Carvanha with the Speed Boost Ability... would one appear among a thousand?

Sato did not care whether that probability existed. He only knew that this ugly fish before him, Only Relying On the Speed Boost Ability, possessed the strength to challenge opponents above its level! Sato examined Carvanha closely again. On the surface, it was no different from other Carvanha, yet it possessed astonishing talent and a hidden ability.

Spinarak was the same. Even with unremarkable parental genes, it had managed to stand out and gain the hidden ability Sniper.

Perhaps some powerful hidden abilities inherently provided a certain boost to talent.

Afterward, Zoroark and Haunter, those two old rivals, also had a battle. The match was completely one-sided, and Haunter could only barely hold on by relying on the elusive movements of a Ghost-type.

This forced Sato to consider whether Haunter should evolve. After all, its evolution could be fully controlled by human intervention.

Moreover, evolving at the right level—not suppressing it, not doing it too early—was best. This was a bodily instinct Pokémon had accumulated through generation after generation over countless years.

However, Haunter's body would undergo enormous changes after evolving, and it would definitely need time to adapt. With only a few days left, Sato temporarily put the matter aside.

After two matches, along with battle explanations and guidance, the entire morning had passed. In the afternoon, they conducted targeted training for each Pokémon's weaknesses.

The afternoon training was even more grueling for both the Pokémon and Sato, but everyone had long grown used to it.

Although the newly arrived Carvanha obeyed Sato, its battle just now showed that it was absolutely a vicious one. It Did Not resist Becoming Stronger at all, which was very good.

That night, Sato changed his outfit and entered the Silph Game Corner again to continue scouting the situation. This time, however, he brought Zoroark with him.

Zoroark transformed into a human through its Illusion ability!

Thank you all for your support!