🎄 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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"Sand Whirl!"
Facing Arcanine's Flamethrower, Sandslash used Rapid Spin and Sand Attack. Taking advantage of the updraft generated by Rapid Spin, it turned into a gigantic sand tornado.
Boom!
The Flamethrower struck the tornado fiercely, tilting it and making it explode in the air, breaking apart into countless grains of sand that fell like rain.
The force with which the flames destroyed the tornado showed just how powerful Patrick Mills' Arcanine was.
"A combination of Rapid Spin and Sand Attack?"
"This Sandslash has surpassed the limits of its own species through move combinations."
Patrick Mills watched the Sandslash that had managed to block the flames with its sand tornado, and his expression grew serious. Although "species values" weren't an official concept, the difference in power among certain Pokémon was easy to notice.
For example, no matter how much a Rattata trained, it could never reach the level of an Arcanine.
That's why trainers rarely used Pokémon like Rattata. On the other hand, Pokémon such as Golduck, Rhydon, Electabuzz, or Magmar clearly had higher species values; if they grew well, they could develop great power, which was why many trainers chose them.
Sandslash, however, wasn't considered a high-value Pokémon species. That's why one was rarely seen in the hands of trainers.
But this particular Sandslash had exceptional talent and had been trained with such dedication that it couldn't be judged by common standards.
Even so...
No matter how strong its combined moves were, if this was all it could do...
Patrick Mills shook his head and suddenly opened his eyes wide, his gaze becoming as sharp as a blade.
At the same time, Arcanine on the field moved. With a speed like that of a wind god, it vanished from its spot in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, it appeared next to Sandslash, crossing half the field in a single leap, its body wrapped in flames, ramming into it.
Seeing the explosion of speed, Sandslash's eyes sharpened. Just before Arcanine's claws struck, it curled into a ball, using Defense Curl to boost its defense.
Boom!
There was a fiery explosion, and Sandslash, curled up, was sent flying from the impact.
Spinning in the air, Sandslash used the momentum to unleash Sand Attack again, stabilizing itself midair.
"Use Sand Spin Whirl!"
Ethan Black, seeing Arcanine's sudden acceleration, wasn't surprised; his expression remained calm, as if he had already foreseen it.
A strong wind began to blow across the field. Suspended in the air, Sandslash released layer after layer of sand carried by the wind.
"Flamethrower!"
Seeing the sandstorm forming, Patrick Mills understood the strategy and ordered Arcanine to break it.
Boom!
A powerful jet of fire exploded across the ground, shooting toward Sandslash.
The sand particles carbonized in the air, and the fire surged into the spinning tornado, rising with the air currents. In an instant, the sandstorm turned into a fiery tornado.
Boom!
The violent explosion filled the air with blazing sparks.
"Crush Claw!"
Just as Arcanine thought it had achieved its goal, the ground beside it cracked open. Sandslash burst out, its claws glowing white, and struck Arcanine fiercely, sending it flying.
Tap, tap, tap...
Arcanine took several heavy steps on the ground to regain balance, never taking its eyes off Sandslash.
The two Pokémon traded blows and, for now, were evenly matched.
"In those conditions... it could still use Dig?"
Patrick Mills frowned, but he quickly ordered Arcanine to move again.
Aside from its powerful flames, Arcanine had lightning-fast speed, and that would be the key to defeating Sandslash.
"Sandslash, show what you've practiced all this time! Use Swift!"
As Arcanine dashed across the field, Sandslash began spinning rapidly. Normal-type energy gathered around it, turning into glowing streaks that shot out like projectiles, hurled by centrifugal force.
The move Swift was an unfailing precision attack, much like Magical Leaf, able to track its target.
Arcanine sprinted at full speed, but Swift chased it like a comet's tail, impossible to dodge.
"Sandslash, use Sand Spin Whirl!"
Seeing the chase, Ethan Black ordered immediately.
"No! Arcanine, use Flame Wheel!"
Realizing Ethan Black's intent, Patrick Mills reacted quickly. Arcanine, cloaked in flames, spun and charged at the stars.
Boom!
The clash of energies shook the battlefield.
Through the smoke, Arcanine burst out, still engulfed in fire, and lunged toward Sandslash.
"Sand Whirl!"
Seeing it charge forward, Ethan Black quickly ordered Sandslash to change tactics, turning the accumulated sand into stone projectiles that shot outward.
The sand- and rock-charged wind collided with Arcanine, forcing it to halt its advance.
"Sandslash, use Rollout!"
Sandslash nodded, curled into a ball, and its body was coated in Rock-type energy as it hurled itself at Arcanine.
Trapped by the pressure of the Sand Whirl combination, Arcanine took the full force of Rollout, being sent flying.
After landing the strike, Sandslash didn't stop. It continued accumulating Rock-type energy, its body glowing with a stony light, its reddish figure standing out on the field.
"Arcanine, use Flame Wheel! Stop it!"
Patrick Mills knew he couldn't allow Sandslash to keep building power with Rollout. Immediately, Arcanine once again cloaked itself in searing flames.
(End of chapter)