"Slakoth is both paralyzed and confused! This puts Peter at a massive disadvantage!"
The commentator's voice echoed across the arena as the crowd erupted into chatter.
"Disadvantage? Come on—this Slakoth doesn't even have room to fight back."
"Yeah… looks like Peter's win streak ends here."
"Uh… wait, did anyone notice? This Slakoth hasn't been loafing around at all?"
"…"
"Heh…" Draak smiled faintly. "Peter, I think you should just concede. Otherwise, it'll only get uglier.
Or are you waiting for me to come in close and hand you a miracle comeback?"
"..."
Peter's gaze remained calm. He didn't respond.
"How boring." Draak waved his hand decisively.
"Then I'll crush your last shred of hope. Honchkrow—Haze, then pull back and go all-out with Air Slash!"
Haze: Shrouds the battlefield in black mist, resetting all stat changes.
With that, the Attack boost Slakoth gained from Taunt vanished instantly.
Air Slash: A Flying-type special attack with base power 75—razor-sharp wind blades capable of tearing the sky, with a chance to make the target flinch.
Honchkrow exhaled dark mist, flooding the field, then beat its wings and climbed higher. A massive Air Slash cleaved downward from the sky!
"BOOM—!"
The ground trembled as sand and dust exploded outward.
Suddenly, Peter's lips curved upward.
"Slakoth—use Yawn!"
At some point, Slakoth had already reached the edge of the field! It let out a huge yawn, and drowsy bubbles popped in midair—Honchkrow's eyelids instantly grew heavy.
Yawn: Makes the target drowsy; it will fall asleep on the next turn.
This was a signature move of the Slakoth line—and under Peter's focused training, Slakoth had already learned to use it reliably.
"What?! When did it—?!"
Draak's expression changed as he hurriedly shouted, "Quick! Keep using Air Slash!"
"CAW—"
Honchkrow gathered sharp wind blades again.
Peter shook his head lightly.
"It's over. Use Substitute."
"Laa!"
Slakoth split into two in place—one Substitute rushed forward and detonated midair under Air Slash.
"Impossible!" Draak shouted.
"Paralyzed and confused—plus Truant! There's no way Slakoth can keep pulling off moves back-to-back!"
"Because…" Peter smiled softly,
"my Slakoth has a heart as hard as diamond. A few status conditions won't stop it."
"Go, Slakoth—use Facade!"
Honchkrow succumbed to Yawn and fell asleep, dropping helplessly from the sky.
Slakoth slammed its fists into the ground and leapt upward.
"BOOM—!!!"
Two massive arms collided midair—left and right fists smashing into Honchkrow's head at the same time!
While paralyzed, Facade's power soared to 140, and with STAB, it effectively reached 210!
"Finish it—Thunder Punch!"
"Laa!"
Slakoth raised its right fist high as lightning gathered—
But suddenly, its gaze clouded. Electricity crackled across its body.
"Oh no! Is this really Slakoth? It's on the verge of achieving a miracle no one believed possible—but at the critical moment, paralysis and confusion triggered together!
Looks like the Goddess of Fate hasn't smiled upon it after all!"
"Great! Honchkrow—wake up!" Draak yelled eagerly.
Peter clenched his fists unconsciously, eyes locked on the two Pokémon falling from the air.
Slakoth's face twisted in madness, paralysis dulling its thoughts as it plummeted.
"Come on, Slakoth!"
"You can do it!"
"Little Slakoth—you're amazing!"
One by one, cheers rose from the stands, reaching its ears.
"Laa…"
The haze in Slakoth's eyes flickered between chaos and clarity—it was wrestling control back with sheer willpower.
It didn't look back.
But it knew.
That boy—the one who had abandoned countless better options to accept it without hesitation.
The one who bore endless doubt and criticism simply for standing beside it.
How could it ever betray that trust?!
"LAA——!!!"
With a furious roar, its eyes snapped completely clear!
Confusion—cleared!
At the same time, the paralyzing electricity surged into its right arm, feeding directly into the Thunder Punch. Its stiff limbs moved freely once more!
"Go, Slakoth… go prove yourself."
Peter sighed softly, smiling.
The super-effective Thunder Punch crashed into Honchkrow's chest as both Pokémon hit the ground.
"BOOM—!!!"
When the dust settled, Slakoth stood tall and steady—
beside it lay Honchkrow, completely unable to battle.
"ROOOOAR——!!!"
Thunderous applause shook the arena, all for a single Trainer… and a single sloth.
…
[Ding! Cross-tier challenge successful—General Talent Points ×25 obtained!
Slakoth has comprehended Thunder Punch; proficiency increased to 'Mastered'!]
Back in the waiting room, system notifications chimed in Peter's ears.
Smiling, he handed a beautifully crafted Intermediate Pokéblock to Slakoth.
"Laa~"
The little sloth squinted happily as it munched away.
After that decisive victory, it had crossed the boundary between Novice and Intermediate, reaching Level 21—now eligible for Intermediate Pokéblocks.
As it swallowed the final bite, Slakoth suddenly froze.
Brilliant white light engulfed its body.
Gasps rippled through the room as Trainers gathered around.
Peter watched with anticipation.
In the games, Slakoth evolves into Vigoroth at Level 18.
His Slakoth had evolved later—but proving itself as a Slakoth first meant everything to a Pokémon that once carried deep inferiority.
Moments later, the light faded.
A brand-new Pokémon stood before Peter.
Snow-white fur replaced the dull gray, covering its entire body.
The tuft atop its head turned a vivid red; brown stripes remained on its back, and a small white tail emerged.
Its arms grew thicker and longer, claws sharp with destructive promise.
Its already injured, degenerated legs shrank further beneath the white fur—its entire body now supported by its arms alone, giving it an imposing, almost monk-like presence.
[Vigoroth ♂ lv24 (Intermediate)]
Ability: Huge Power (Novice Awakening)
(Carries berserk Huge Power genes; physical strength increased by 20%)
Talent: 440 (Species Max: 440)
HP: 80
Attack: 133
Defense: 70
Sp. Atk: 85
Sp. Def: 70
Speed: 2
Friendship: 190
Held Item: None
Moves:
Proficient: Hammer Arm, Aerial Ace
Mastered: Slack Off, Slash, Encore, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Facade, Yawn, Substitute
Learned: Curse, Night Slash, Fire Punch, Focus Energy, Endure, Amnesia, Abyssal Thrust
Description:
A Vigoroth that shattered doubt and cast aside inferiority to achieve a perfect evolution.
By sacrificing its hind legs, it gained overwhelming power in its forelimbs, awakening portions of ancestral techniques recorded in its bloodline.
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T/N:
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