"Eh, this rhythm... seems a bit strange."
Ethan blinked as he watched more and more students gathering outside the field.
Although he could not understand what the students below were saying, a certain hostility could be perceived from their expressions.
Eh... why did this scene feel so familiar to him?
Going around provoking trouble?
Suddenly, Ethan thought of that expression and froze for a moment.
Back then, at Duskwell City Pokémon University, it seemed that he had also ended up sweeping through the entire university in the same way.
Moreover, on that occasion he had also obtained a Key Stone, so it could be said that the harvest had been quite abundant.
Wait... now is not the time to think about rewards.
After all, this is abroad; it would be better not to go too far. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to deal with the consequences.
After making a decision in his mind, Ethan decided to limit himself.
"And this is the strongest Pokémon university in the Federal League?"
"They can't even defeat a student from another university."
At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted those words, which immediately provoked the fury of the Harvard Pokémon University students present.
But when they began searching for who had spoken, they could not find the person responsible, so everyone directed their gaze toward Ethan, who was on the field.
Although the person who spoke seemed to be stirring up trouble, what he said was also true. If they could not defeat this provocateur on the field now, what would happen to the university's reputation?
"I'll go."
At the same time, someone stepped onto the stage.
"It's Hamis, the captain of the university's third team!"
When they saw who had come up, the Harvard Pokémon University students began shouting excitedly.
Although Hamis was a member of the university's third team, as its captain he possessed strength that was not inferior to the substitutes of the second university team.
"The battle is already over."
Ethan looked at his opponent and smiled slightly.
"Huh?"
"Are you looking down on me?"
"The real victory is only decided after fighting!"
Hamis showed an angry expression when he heard Ethan's words.
Then he replied in clumsy Chinese, apparently because he had understood what Ethan said. However, he clearly misunderstood it: he took Ethan's words, which were actually an attempt to avoid the battle, as if they were a provocation.
Immediately afterward, the Poké Ball in Hamis's hand emitted a white light, and a robust Krookodile appeared on the field.
Krookodile's skin was dark red, with a long and powerful jaw. There were black stripes on its body, and the dark rings around its eyes gave it a fierce appearance.
"Krookodile, huh."
Seeing the vigorous Krookodile in front of him, Ethan felt curious.
Krookodile is a Ground/Dark-type Pokémon. Its most notable feature is its eyes, which function like a telescope capable of magnifying distant objects; even within a sandstorm it can detect small prey from 50 kilometers away.
Additionally, Krookodile can move through the desert as if it were swimming in sand, and it often cooperates with Flygon, hiding its body within the sandstorms created by Flygon while patiently waiting for prey to arrive.
Because of this, Krookodile fits very well in sandstorm weather, which made Ethan pay special attention to this Pokémon. He even began considering the possibility of integrating it into his own sandstorm team.
"Then, let's try." Ethan thought for a moment and said, "One more battle... and then I'll leave."
"Krookodile, go!"
Hearing that Ethan accepted the battle, Hamis quickly gave the order.
He had also noticed that the Pokémon on the field was very strong. Since the honor of the university was at stake, he could not afford any carelessness.
"Rhyperior, endure!"
Ethan reflected for a moment and did not let Rhyperior fight directly.
He planned for Rhyperior to endure and probe a little to see the strength of Krookodile.
Boom!
In the next instant, Krookodile rushed in front of Rhyperior.
With a loud crash, Dark-type energy gathered in Krookodile's fist as it delivered a powerful blow toward Rhyperior.
It was the first time a Pokémon that came onto the stage had managed to strike Rhyperior! The students immediately began cheering.
But as the loud impacts continued, the expressions of the students changed—from excitement to doubt, and finally to astonishment.
Although Krookodile's attacks were very strong, the Pokémon receiving the blows remained completely unmoving, allowing Krookodile to attack without reacting!
"E-eh? Isn't this defense a bit too absurd?" a student said with a stunned expression.
Could it be that this Pokémon specialized in defense rather than attack?
"Krookodile, use Crunch!"
Hamis's expression also changed.
As Krookodile's trainer, he knew better than anyone how strong his Pokémon's offensive power was.
And yet it had not been able to move that Pokémon even a little!
However, Krookodile's strongest feature was not its claws but its jaw, which was capable of crushing even a car's body.
Crack!
Crack!
Under Krookodile's attack, the hard rock covering Rhyperior's body finally began to give way.
With a snap, cracks began to appear in the rock around Rhyperior's wrist.
"It did it! The rock on that Pokémon's body broke!"
The students cheered.
In their opinion, if a Rock-type Pokémon had its rock broken, it meant it was already seriously injured.
"The strength of Krookodile's jaw is really impressive. This level is several times greater than the strength of other parts of its body."
Ethan stroked his chin thoughtfully. Although he expected it, he did not imagine it would be this strong.
He immediately recorded that information mentally. The next time he encountered a Krookodile, he could roughly estimate the strength of its jaw from its overall strength, which would be very useful in battle.
"Rhyperior, that's enough. Use Rock Wrecker Hammer!"
After obtaining firsthand data about Krookodile's jaw, Ethan gave the order.
Then the muscles of Rhyperior's arm swelled, and with overwhelming strength it directly lifted Krookodile.
As Rock-type energy gathered, Rhyperior used a Rock-type move, concentrating the power in its arm. With a sudden burst of force, it smashed Krookodile into the ground!
BOOM!
A deafening explosion resounded.
Krookodile's figure was slammed directly into the ground by Rhyperior.
Crack!
Crack!
Suddenly a series of breaking sounds could be heard.
The entire ground fractured under that blow.
Countless cracks, like spiderwebs, spread in all directions, making the spectators' eyelids twitch.
"Is this the true power of that Pokémon?"
"It's too terrifying!"
"You should never fight it in close combat! Not even a Fighting-type Pokémon could withstand one of its blows!"
The students below the stage were completely stunned.
That Pokémon was simply too brutal!
(End of chapter)