Acupressure!
By striking the various pressure points throughout its body, it could raise one of its stats.
After learning this move, Skorupi would be able to enhance one of its own stats during breaks in battle. Although Acupressure raised a random stat, through experimentation, it was possible to determine which pressure points increased which specific stats.
Of course, Tetsuya was thoroughly familiar with Skorupi's pressure points. Just now, stabbing the pressure points on its forelegs had increased Skorupi's strength, boosting its physical Attack as well.
Aside from Special Attack, which was of little use to Skorupi, every other stat could be highly beneficial. During future training, Tetsuya would have Skorupi practice striking these pressure points to enhance the specific stats it needed.
In truth, Acupressure was not Skorupi's most overpowered move, because there was rarely enough opportunity during a battle to repeatedly use Acupressure. Being able to raise even a single stat in one battle was already quite good.
However, through an accidental experiment in his previous life, Tetsuya had discovered that Acupressure became an absurdly powerful move on a "certain" Pokémon…
Of course, that would require Drapion to pass down Acupressure as an Egg Move. In any case, once he had firmly established himself, Tetsuya intended to continue that experiment.
With its Attack enhanced, Skorupi charged at Nidorino once more. As expected of a Gym Leader's Pokémon, despite taking such a heavy blow, Nidorino merely shook its body before standing back up.
"Let's settle this head-on. Nidorino, use Poison Jab repeatedly!" Asea commanded.
By then, Skorupi had already rushed in front of Nidorino. Its pincers clashed against Nidorino's horn again and again. However, Skorupi was not using any move and could only rely on its body to withstand the attacks. Before long, it was at a disadvantage.
However, the more Skorupi fought, the more excited it became. Soon, its pincers became shrouded in purple energy. Thanks to Skorupi's [Badly Poisonous] variant, which granted it extraordinary sensitivity to Poison-type energy, it had learned Poison Jab on its own. As it continued battling Nidorino, it gradually turned the tide.
However, what made Skorupi, or Drapion in the future, so troublesome was that it also had its tail to launch surprise attacks. Its Poison Tail would occasionally dart out to sting Nidorino. Gradually, Skorupi began gaining the upper hand, while Nidorino started showing signs of faltering.
This left Asea thoroughly puzzled. Her Nidorino had always excelled in raw power and had never displayed such a condition before. Yet after fighting for only a short while, it had already begun to weaken.
What she did not realize was that Nidorino had already been affected by Skorupi's poison!
Had it not been for Asea's meticulous training, Nidorino would have long since collapsed from Skorupi's toxins. The fact that it was merely beginning to falter already placed it among the finest conventionally trained Poison-type Pokémon.
"This…"
The Sensational Sisters were completely dumbfounded. Asea had actually lost the first battle!
Nidorino had clearly gone all out, yet what they could not understand was how it had gone from holding a clear advantage at the start to losing so inexplicably.
Having trained Poison-type Pokémon for many years, Asea had finally begun to notice something. She could not help but examine this Skorupi a few more times. Its vivid crimson body alone should have told her that this Skorupi was far from ordinary.
"…Your name is Tetsuya, isn't it?" Only now did Asea ask the question.
Tetsuya nodded.
Although this Nidorino was not Asea's main battler, she was still a Gym Leader and, more importantly, again, the student of an Elite Four, whose main Pokémon are all part Poison-types. At around thirty years of age, if this was the extent of her ability, it would already be difficult for her to make any further advances.
"Come out, Arbok!"
Asea's second Pokémon was Arbok. The moment it appeared, Tetsuya could not help but be startled. It was also a shiny Arbok, remarkably similar to the one Koga had once owned. Could it be that in his previous life, the two of them had become connected because of a shiny Arbok?
The thought flashed through Tetsuya's mind for only an instant. What mattered now was seeing just how strong this Arbok really was.
"Glare!"
This time, Asea did not give Tetsuya the first move. She struck first. The strange pattern on Arbok's belly was used to intimidate its opponent and inflict paralysis.
The terrifying thing about Asea's Arbok was precisely the bizarre pattern on its underside. It was exceptionally eerie, making Glare almost impossible to fail. It had become the move Asea trusted most with Arbok.
More than that, the pattern continuously exerted its effect throughout the battle. Anyone influenced by its strange energy would suffer a significant reduction in combat effectiveness.
As Arbok used Glare, even Tetsuya felt a chill run down his spine. Looking back at Skorupi, however, it was completely at ease. It merely glanced at Arbok a couple of times before casually licking the pincers it had just used.
"…"
Asea's expression immediately darkened. The move she had always taken pride in, was actually being treated with such contempt by this Skorupi!???
However, as befitted a Gym Leader, she quickly regained her composure.
Tetsuya smiled with satisfaction. Skorupi had been fearless since the day it was born. To it, every source of fear was nothing more than an amusing toy!
…Although that sometimes led it into trouble, every Pokémon had its own Nature, and perhaps that was not a bad thing at all.
"Poison Sting!"
Tetsuya gave the command. Since Asea already knew how potent his Pokémon's poison was, he deliberately chose to use another Poison-type move. He wanted to see whether Arbok dared to take it head-on.
"Arbok, use Acid to disperse them!" Asea still lacked the confidence to have Arbok receive the attack directly.
Rows of purple poison needles shot toward Arbok, but Arbok's level was still far higher than Skorupi's. A spray of Acid scattered the Poison Sting attack before continuing forward and instantly engulfing Skorupi.
Skorupi shook its body. To it, that corrosive liquid felt no different from taking a shower~
Asea also understood that it was no longer possible for Arbok to surpass Skorupi in terms of toxicity. She could not afford to be overconfident anymore. This Arbok had tremendous potential, but it had not been trained for very long. Although it had yet to join the ranks of her main battlers, it was far stronger than the previous Nidorino.
"Arbok, Earthquake!"
'She had actually taught Arbok Earthquake…'
Tetsuya could not help but be astonished. Just how much time and effort did that require?
Arbok slammed its tail against the ground, and the earth immediately resonated with a violent tremor.
Skorupi instinctively leaped into the air. Its long-term physical training had also given it impressive jumping capacity, making it impossible for Earthquake to deal its full power to it.
Without needing any further commands from Asea, Arbok immediately followed up. Its tail lashed through the air, sending Skorupi flying away like a golf ball.
Tetsuya shook his head. He had to admit that Arbok's raw power was impressive.