Chapter 61: The Power of the Guardian Toxin

Hu Yang helped Yaya to her feet, his mind conjuring up Yaya’s current move panel, ready for modification.

At the top were her primary moves.

[Dragon Claw: By imbuing the “Claw” move with dragon-type energy, an upgrade is possible. Can be modified.]

[Dragon Tail: Insufficient strength, cannot be modified.]

[Draco Meteor: Insufficient strength, cannot be modified.]

[Outrage: Insufficient strength, cannot be modified.]

…

Aside from Dragon Claw, all other high-power moves or those requiring significant physical capability were unavailable for modification.

Take Dragon Tail, for instance. Hu Yang glanced at Yaya’s tiny tail. Perhaps, once she evolved into a Haxorus, modification would become possible.

Beyond the dragon-type moves, most other types were currently unsuited to Yaya’s abilities.

Hu Yang pondered as he scrolled down the list.

Fire-type, Water-type, Grass-type, Bug-type, Normal-type…

Hmm?

His hand paused over the Normal-type interface.

[Shadow Clone: Creates rapidly moving clones to confuse opponents and facilitate attacks. Can be modified.]

Yaya’s species possessed great power, yet speed was a weak point.

Pairing her with a move that could boost speed would clearly transform her effectiveness in battle.

For example, the Psychic-type move Teleport could turn Yaya into a truly explosive assassin, striking from behind.

Yet Teleport, due to Yaya’s inadequate energy control, could not be modified.

Under such circumstances, Shadow Clone became the optimal choice.

By creating clones, she could disrupt the opponent’s vision and launch a surprise attack.

But before modifying Yaya’s moves, he needed to add Substitute, Toxic, Water Gun, and Water Sport to Roserade’s repertoire.

During the day, Hu Yang had classes, leaving no time for modifications.

Thus, by the time he finished with Yaya, six days had passed.

In those five days, Roserade had been diligently practicing Grassy Terrain and her new moves.

Through her tireless effort, she managed to extend Grassy Terrain’s duration to about five minutes.

Five minutes felt rather short to Hu Yang, but without actual combat, he couldn’t judge its practical effect.

To test this combination’s power, he dragged Xi Tian Gang over to act as his sparring partner.

By the riverside, Xi Tian Gang watched Yaya practicing Shadow Clone and Dragon Dance, a hint of uncertainty in his voice:

“Are you sure you want me to fight you with my full strength?”

After all, he was a trainer who’d successfully gathered eight badges and participated in the Saffron Tournament. Though he’d been eliminated early, his elite trainer prowess wasn’t something a rookie could simply challenge.

“Let’s give it a try,” Hu Yang raised an eyebrow. “Show me what makes an elite trainer so formidable.”

“This is your idea, right?” Xi Tian Gang replied, delighted. “The loser will treat the winner to a… a meal!”

He had initially considered a week, but remembering Hu Yang’s financial situation, he settled for just one meal.

“No problem, let’s do this!” Hu Yang readily agreed.

They chose their battleground, standing apart at a respectful distance, and sent out their Pokémon.

Hu Yang chose Roserade. Xi Tian Gang sent out a Snorlax.

Attribute-wise, this was a very fair match.

Xi Tian Gang said, “You attack first.”

Hu Yang, not wanting an advantage, replied, “Let’s go together.”

The two exchanged smiles, then simultaneously issued commands.

“Snorlax, use Body Slam!”

“Roserade, Substitute!”

Snorlax’s massive body charged forward, and after closing the distance, leapt high, crashing down like a collapsing mountain.

Roserade moved lightly, her true form vanishing like a mirage, leaving behind a stiff-faced substitute.

Boom!

As Snorlax landed, the earth seemed to tremble.

Hu Yang: “Grassy Terrain!”

A powerful green light burst from Roserade, who had already relocated.

Green points of light surged from underground, transforming into a shimmering field of grass that enveloped the entire battlefield.

The light seeped into Roserade’s body—a healing effect from Grassy Terrain.

“Interesting,” Xi Tian Gang’s eyes gleamed, quickly issuing a new command: “Snorlax, Rollout!”

Rollout, a continuous move, could ignore the opponent’s Protect and Substitute to deliver repeated attacks.

Witnessing this, Hu Yang felt a surge of fighting spirit.

So this was an elite trainer.

Their commands were lightning-fast, leaving no room for other moves.

If the opponent gave no opening, one must create their own.

Snorlax started rolling.

As long as she wasn’t hit repeatedly, Rollout’s power remained low.

Hu Yang abandoned Substitute and Protect, instead ordering, “Roserade, use Paralyzing Bomb!”

“Go!”

Roserade extended her flower bud, instantly forming a green seed bomb and launching it.

Snorlax rolled right over the seed bomb. Amidst the green glow, a faint dust spread.

Due to inertia, Snorlax’s body continued rolling while paralyzed.

Roserade was struck, but remained battle-ready.

Snorlax rolled forward a bit more, then sprawled on the ground, twitching.

Xi Tian Gang: “Snorlax, pull yourself together!”

“Roserade, don’t give it a chance—use Toxic, then Leech Seed!” Hu Yang commanded swiftly.

“Go!”

Roserade sprayed a jet of poison from her flower bud, landing squarely on Snorlax.

A violet light flashed over Snorlax, clearly showing it was poisoned.

This Snorlax possessed considerable resistance to paralysis—after just three seconds on the ground, it stood up again.

No sooner had it risen than a green Leech Seed took root in its mountainous frame.

“Again! Rollout!” Xi Tian Gang barked.

“You have no chance now,” Hu Yang replied. “Roserade, use Ingrain!”

“Go!”

Roserade’s legs fused with the ground like plant roots.

The Leech Seed’s healing, Grassy Terrain’s healing, and Ingrain’s healing instantly restored Roserade’s HP.

In that moment, the Substitute-Toxic combo finally took shape.

Snorlax rolled by like a truck wheel.

But after each pass, Hu Yang calmly ordered a Synthesis to offset the damage from Rollout.

Snorlax, meanwhile, grew ever more agonized as poison and Leech Seed sapped its strength.

Xi Tian Gang stared, dumbfounded.

Mama mia, what kind of strategy was this?!

His mind raced.

Facing this, the best solution was to deny the opponent time to heal—defeat her in a single blow.

Belly Drum plus Giga Impact.

Belly Drum maximized Snorlax’s attack, while Giga Impact was the strongest move it possessed.

Combined, they could instantly KO the opponent.

But, lest he forget, that Roserade still had Substitute and Protect.

Against those moves, no matter how terrifying Giga Impact’s power, it could be completely blocked.

Snorlax’s HP continued to dwindle under poison and Leech Seed.

Roserade, meanwhile, remained perfectly unharmed.

Was there any way to break through?

No, there was simply no solution!

At that moment, Xi Tian Gang felt the most helpless he ever had in his entire professional career.

He stood there, bewildered.