Sakaki: Why Do I Feel Like That Brat Jing He Wants to Shut Me Out?!

"Come back, Tyranitar."

After taking a Precipice Blades and Marowak's final Stomping Tantrum, Tyranitar was already in poor condition.

On the other side.

After recalling Marowak, Sakaki wasted no time throwing out his third Poké Ball.

"Mr. Sakaki's third Pokémon is—Rhydon!"

A Pokémon clad in heavy pale-gray armor, walking upright on two legs, with a sharp drill horn on its head, appeared on the field!

Rhydon, the Ground-type and Rock-type Drill Pokémon, was Rhyhorn's evolution. If it evolved once more while holding a Protector, it would become the heavily armored tank, Rhyperior!

"Huh? Why is it another Pokémon that hasn't evolved to its Final Form?"

"Sakaki Gym Leader really likes Pokémon that haven't fully evolved."

"But doesn't he have a fully evolved Rhyperior? I remember it appeared during his battle with Champion Wataru."

"Could it be holding an Eviolite again?"

Without a doubt.

For some Pokémon that had not evolved to their Final Form, aside from certain exclusive items, the Eviolite was one of the most suitable held items.

Whether it was the earlier Porygon2 or the current Rhydon, both held Eviolites, items that greatly boosted a Pokémon's Physical Defense and Special Defense.

However, when Jing He saw that Sakaki Boss had sent out Rhydon rather than Rhyperior, his expression grew noticeably more serious.

Just like Pryce's Swinub or Red and Ash's Pikachu, not every Pokémon needed to evolve to its Final Form to display greater strength.

That depended on the trainer's method of cultivation and the Pokémon's own characteristics.

Even in the stat-focused Pokémon Battle games, not every Pokémon needed to evolve to its Final Form. Many unevolved Pokémon were actually stronger.

Electro Ball Pikachu was one example. So were the Porygon2 Sakaki had sent out earlier, as well as Duskull, Chansey, and others.

And Sakaki's Rhydon.

Had even