Chapter 221: Breakthroughs Everywhere

"Blaziken, Shave: Fire Shadow Assault!"

Having successfully mastered Shave, Blaziken could now seamlessly integrate it into its move set. Its natural talent lay in speed, a trait that distinguished it from Persian.

While Persian's agility was silent, fluid, and well-suited for assassinations, Blaziken's speed was tied to its Ability, Speed Boost. It excelled in direct, high-speed charges and could unleash moves faster than most other Pokémon.

With Speed Boost activated, Blaziken sometimes managed to execute two moves before its opponent could even react.

Like now—Graveler had just finished using an attack, but before it could recover, Blaziken had already closed the distance.

Charging forward with Flame Charge, followed by a blazing Fire Punch, the sheer impact sent Graveler staggering backward.

Choosing a type-disadvantaged opponent for Blaziken was intentional—to ensure Graveler lasted longer, giving Blaziken more time to test its strength.

Dashing around Graveler in fiery streaks, Blaziken left charred burn marks all over its body. Though resistant to Fire-type moves, Graveler couldn't withstand Blaziken's relentless, lightning-fast assault.

After a prolonged struggle, Graveler finally collapsed. With this victory, Blaziken's level rose to 41, reaching the Mid Elite tier.

The past events had left a deep mark on Ron's Pokémon, like a nail driven into their hearts—a constant reminder to grow stronger.

Even though Blaziken was reluctant to stop, it understood that for now, its immediate growth had reached a limit. The next step would be to accumulate more strength.

Fortunately, the Six Powers provided an alternative path for growth. Without them, the slow pace of improvement might have driven Machamp and the others to frustration.

With Blaziken's battle concluded, the next contender was Gardevoir.

Ron wasn't the only one who had gained something from their hardships—Gardevoir had as well.

Overexerting its psychic abilities and suffering a near-fatal injury from Alakazam, Gardevoir, even after recovery, should have needed time to fully regain its abilities. There was even a risk of permanent damage.

Thanks to Ron's Fighting Aura, however, not only did Gardevoir heal without any lasting injuries, but it also sensed a notable increase in its psychic power. It was likely to reach a higher level of strength soon.

Expanding its telepathic field, Gardevoir then used Teleport to transport the group away.

Meanwhile, Ron continued refining his own psychic abilities. From an initial trace of power, he had now condensed it into a steady stream—an undeniable improvement.

With Gardevoir acting as a living radar, no nearby Pokémon could escape its detection.

The days that followed saw Ron either honing his psychic power or guiding Gardevoir in battles, while Machamp and Persian focused on training in the Six Powers.

Both Machamp and Persian had successfully mastered Iron Body and were now exploring its advanced applications under Ron's guidance.

Though neither of them particularly enjoyed the passive defense nature of Iron Body, its strategic value couldn't be ignored—it could turn the tide of battle at the right moment.

It also required Ron to have sharp judgment, deciding when to take a hit head-on. Otherwise, they could end up like some overconfident One Piece characters who lost due to overreliance on Iron Body.

Unnoticed by all, Gardevoir had reached level 45 and even learned the move Captivate.

The focus of battles shifted from one Pokémon to another—Gardevoir to Nidoking, then to Bellossom, and finally to Persian.

During this time, Nidoking advanced to level 49, just a step away from the High Elite tier, while Bellossom broke through to level 55.

Unlike before, their combat style had become noticeably sharper and deadlier. It was reminiscent of Ron's past rampage against wild Pokémon—his team, too, needed an outlet for their emotions.

Ron didn't interfere. With Fighting Aura ensuring their safety, suppressing their pent-up energy would only be detrimental.

Strangely, Ron thought of the phrase "darkness strengthens by a third," which fit his current situation perfectly.

This ordeal had also shifted Ron's outlook.

Previously, his sole focus was becoming as strong as possible, perhaps even rivaling the gods of this world. That goal hadn't changed, but now, he wanted to do more.

Shaking off his scattered thoughts, Ron prepared to command Persian against the latest wild Pokémon that Gardevoir had located—a High Elite Ariados.

Dealing with an Ariados in its own territory was tricky. The spider Pokémon had already laid numerous webs to ensnare its prey, posing a severe restriction on a speed-based fighter like Persian. Worse, both Ariados and Persian were level 58.

But Ron's Persian wasn't an ordinary speed-based Pokémon. These webs wouldn't hold it back so easily.

Ariados had already grown wary of the intruders, readying itself for an attack. If not for sensing the threat of Machamp and Persian, it might have already struck.

After all, Ariados had an extensive diet.

"Persian, Flying Finger Pistol to clear a path! Finger Pistol: Blink Slash!"

Like Machamp, Persian had reached a high level of proficiency in Flying Finger Pistol. With a swift double-paw strike, multiple Flying Finger Pistols shot forward, sending shockwaves that shredded Ariados's webs, opening up more space for Persian to maneuver.

Seeing Persian attack first, Ariados wasted no time. It launched Toxic Spikes in combination with its webs to lock down Persian's movement.

Using Shave: Blink, Persian disappeared from its original position, leaving only an afterimage. In the next instant, Ariados's webs tore apart as though struck by a raging Tyranitar. A sense of danger crept over Ariados.

No time to think—Ariados spat a fresh glob of venom directly at Persian, only for it to be obliterated mid-air by another round of Flying Finger Pistols.

Darting through the gaps between the dissipating venom, Persian closed in on Ariados.

Before Ariados could react, Persian unleashed Finger Pistol: Blink Slash, landing multiple rapid cuts on its opponent.

The searing pain didn't render Ariados helpless. Instead, it retaliated, continuously spitting venom to force Persian to back off while retreating along its web.

Blood dripped from its wounds, fueling its desperation.

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