For the second time, Slowking used the move Trick Room in an actual battle, and the opponent was also a Dragon-type Pokémon. It couldn't be denied that this was a peculiar phenomenon.
A strange space unfolded, encompassing both Slowking and Shelgon.
Although Drake's Shelgon was powerful, it wasn't as strong as Cynthia's Garchomp, so Slowking could exchange ranged attacks with it. This was Slowking's strength and advantage.
"Slowking, use Psychic!" Cain commanded.
Hearing this, several psychic energy spheres, the size of fists, appeared around Slowking's body. Once formed, they flew directly toward Shelgon.
"Shelgon, jump! Use Draco Meteor!" Drake's command surprised Cain a little.
Jump?
With Shelgon's weight? Could it really jump?
But an astonishing scene unfolded before his eyes: Shelgon slightly flexed its limbs and, as if equipped with springs, leaped into the air.
It couldn't be denied that Drake had a unique way of training his Dragon-type Pokémon.
Although Shelgon didn't completely avoid the Psychic attack, it evaded part of it.
As for the hits it took, Shelgon only felt a slight dizziness, but that didn't stop it from using the move Draco Meteor.
The jump not only allowed Shelgon to dodge but also doubled the speed at which it launched the Draco Meteor attack.
Originally, Shelgon needed to shoot energy into the sky to disperse it as meteors, but by jumping into the air, it skipped that step.
Immediately after firing, the Draco Meteor scattered and began to fall.
Shelgon had clearly trained for this move before, as it concentrated and directed the attack straight at Slowking.
"Slowking, teleport and use Psychic again!" Cain quickly ordered.
Slowking's psychic energy surged suddenly as it activated the move Teleport.
However, due to the speed of the Draco Meteor, part of the attack hit Slowking before it could fully teleport.
Although it sustained some notable injuries, Slowking, accustomed to taking damage, was still within its endurance range.
The Psychic move activated once more, and this time, Shelgon, still in mid-air, was hit directly as it lacked a foothold.
Boom!
Shelgon fell to the ground with a heavy thud, indicating just how massive it was, yet it had managed to leap so high.
It slowly stood up and shook its head, feeling slightly dizzy.
Drake, observing Shelgon's condition, had a gleam in his eyes. The intensity of Slowking's psychic moves exceeded his expectations.
Even though this Shelgon had undergone rigorous training, to the point of being stricter than his Salamence, and excelled in damage resistance, it seemed like just two of Slowking's attacks were already causing it trouble.
This Slowking not only had great talent but had also been trained exceptionally well.
Cain's strategy in battle was equally commendable.
Since Cain had ordered Slowking to maintain a prudent distance, both Pokémon exchanged moves several more times, causing significant damage to each other.
"A great display of psychic skill. Since that's the case, let's settle this now. Shelgon, advance and use Outrage!" Drake commanded.
"All right! Slowking, advance as well and use a double Ice Punch!" Cain responded.
If the battle continued, the outcome would be uncertain. However, Cain felt he had a 60% chance of winning, as Slowking had a significant advantage in attack power.
But since Drake wanted a direct clash, Cain wouldn't refuse.
Shelgon's armor seemed to tense as it charged like a small tank.
Slowking, on the other hand, moved faster with the aid of its psychic powers, its hands glowing with Ice-type energy.
Recently, Slowking had been frequently battling Dragon-type Pokémon and had gained a deeper understanding of the Ice Punch move.
It often discussed techniques with Weavile, and this time, the Ice Punch move was stronger than when it had been used against Cynthia's Garchomp.
The two large Pokémon clashed violently on the ship's deck.
Boom!
Shards of ice and purplish-blue energy scattered, creating a gust of wind across the deck.
Both Pokémon were sent flying by the force of the impact.
Although Shelgon, being heavier, was pushed back less, Slowking, aided by its psychic power, didn't crash heavily to the ground. Instead, it moved gracefully, as if walking on water.
Cain was about to order Slowking to continue attacking, but upon observing Shelgon's appearance, his pupils contracted.
If he remembered correctly, Shelgon had just used the move Outrage, right?
Why hadn't it entered a state of rage? Its eyes remained clear, and Cain could see the intense determination within them.
Was this what Drake wanted to show him?
That it was possible to freely control the move Outrage?
That was quite surprising!
The reason Outrage was such a powerful move was due to its explosive capability, making it one of the strongest moves among Dragon-type Pokémon. But why did Dragon-type trainers rarely use it as their first option?
It was because after using Outrage, the Pokémon entered a state of frenzy and couldn't stop until all its accumulated energy was exhausted.
However, Drake's Shelgon had stopped the attack immediately after using it.
Cain frowned again. Something wasn't right.
Given Shelgon's capability, the move Outrage shouldn't have had such a minor impact. At the very least, its explosive power seemed about 30% weaker than it should have been. While it was still strong, it wasn't as powerful as expected.
"All right, let's end it here. Cain, your skill is quite impressive, and Slowking is very well trained. There's no doubt you're a prodigious breeder," Drake said, laughing as he approached Shelgon, patting its back to calm it.
Slowly, Shelgon settled down, folded its legs, and with a soft thud, lay down on the ground to rest and bask in the sunlight.
Slowking looked at Cain, and upon receiving his approval, deactivated the Trick Room move and positioned itself by his side.
Cain retrieved some Pokéblocks from his storage and fed them to Slowking.
Seeing this, Drake's eyes sparkled once again. He knew the Pokéblocks Cain had just given Slowking weren't ordinary, and having an advanced breeder mentor clearly had its advantages.
"Did you see it?" Drake suddenly asked.
Cain was startled but then smiled and nodded. "Yes! Uncle Drake, you're truly incredible!"
Flattery was always welcome.
"Hahahaha...!"
(End of Chapter)