When Snorlax came out, it was a bit bewildered.
Originally sleeping comfortably in the Poké Ball, suddenly Natsuhiko told it that it was time to make an appearance.
Alright then.
Making an appearance is making an appearance. It had promised Natsuhiko to provide help at certain times, though its lazy heart protested constantly.
But there's no choice; after eating free meals for so long, Snorlax felt a bit guilty inside.
Besides, it hasn't stretched its muscles for a while.
Who knew.
Not only did it land in an ice-cold battlefield, which was okay as its thick fat was unaffected by temperature, but...
The main issue was.
That flying adversary was not only beautiful but also strong!
Snorlax didn't think it would be a match at all.
Just the oppressive presence of the adversary made Snorlax's tiny heart race.
Yet, judging by Natsuhiko's intentions, he indeed wanted Snorlax to oppose Articuno.
Could it pretend to sleep now and still get away with it?
"Snorlax?" Hilona glanced at the colossal figure blocking her view, its thick, strong body akin to a fortress wall.
At such a close distance, she could sense the strength of this Snorlax.
Despite its silly appearance, hefty body, and soft fur, it was undoubtedly at the Elite Candidate Level!
Was Natsuhiko really the owner of an Elite Candidate Level Pokémon?!
Hilona hadn't expected this.
Furthermore, judging by its expression, fur color tones, and physical sturdiness, she could tell that Snorlax was well-fed, unlike those relying on wild foraging, which is why it wasn't eating mere thorns, bushes, or roots.
Recalling Natsuhiko's spontaneous comment about her, Hilona realized she did possess a bit of....."silliness."
"Snorlax, Instant Amnesia."
Natsuhiko didn't have time to engage with Hilona's inner turmoil, nor to consider she might agree with that name-calling. His sole focus was trying to give Snorlax more opportunities to develop resistance before Articuno's attack arrived.
Instant Amnesia: Clear the mind and forget something instantly, thereby dramatically boosting Special Defense.
"Ka-mo——"
Snorlax, seated on the ground, bellowed, and its body surged with an impending hint of psychic power, deciding to selectively forget about how many chicken legs it ate last night.
The immediate effect was a significant increase in Special Defense ability.
Snorlax is that type of Pokémon with an excellent Species Value for stamina, and in Physical Defense and Special Defense, Special Defense has the upper hand. Instant Amnesia expands this advantage even more.
Add on the trait "Thick Fat" reducing the power of Ice-type Techniques by half...
Ka-ka-ka——
The winding Frozen Beam reached its position, undeniably hitting Snorlax's massive body.
"Ka-mo!!"
Snorlax cried out in pain, the remaining hazy drowsiness instantly cleared.
It rarely felt the cold penetrating its body.
Its belly gathered patches of icy, snow-like crystals, making the formerly thick, round, abdominal muscles somewhat stiff.
However, the belly harboring the most fat played its role effectively.
The damage was high; Snorlax was in pain, yet Articuno's attack couldn't instantaneously defeat Snorlax due to multiple buffs and debuffs.
Snorlax even had the energy to perform some other actions.
Witnessing this, Natsuhiko's expression relaxed somewhat.
As long as it doesn't get taken down instantly, Snorlax is invincible!
"Snorlax, Rest!"
"Ka-mo——"
Snorlax turned its head, looked at Natsuhiko pitifully, and patted its belly. The ice crystals covering it were gradually smacked away, its appearance and expression...
Anyone ignorant would think Snorlax was expressing how painful it was. Hilona interpreted it that way.
However, Natsuhiko knew that Snorlax was seeking credit.
Negotiating for a better deal!
A black line appeared on his forehead, yet he still said, "I understand, two rounds to be fully satisfied, hurry up."
Snorlax beamed, thinking about the joy of having two hearty meals, and it suddenly forgot about the cold and pain.
Thinking of food made Snorlax immediately sleepy.
It let out a long yawn.
Within less than a second, Snorlax was sitting there snoring loudly.
This wasn't actual sleep but the technique "Rest."
Rest: Recover personal state through sleep, after a period, awaken completely refreshed of stamina and abnormal conditions.
There's a saying that goes.
You can never defeat a Snorlax that's sleeping.
The current situation illustrates that.
Articuno saw that Snorlax not only blocked its attack but actually sat there sleeping. For a moment, it was too furious to make a sound.
Its wing-flapping speed increased again.
It continued to launch technique attacks at Snorlax.
However, the power of Ice-type techniques against Snorlax was limited, combined with the Special Attack's range, it couldn't instantaneously defeat the sleeping Snorlax.
So in the sleep state, Snorlax could swiftly recover its health.
At last, the situation reached a stalemate.
Natsuhiko silently sighed with relief.
He quickly urged Hilona, "Quickly check if Eevee has completed its evolution; it's time to go!"
Even though Articuno hasn't arrived yet, it's a matter of seconds; once Articuno reaches them, Snorlax in a Resting state won't stop it.