Aside from all that, Marshadow thought that moves like Low Kick and Low Sweep were common enough. With a little practice, they could be mastered.

The secret lay in speed and accuracy. For those two guys who had Mind Reader and Odor Sleuth, that was no problem at all.

And some moves were simply impossible for small Pokémon to learn, like Hammer Arm.

Riolu had said it too. It had seen Landorus use Hammer Arm before. That was the kind of move only medium-to-large Pokémon could actually swing.

Besides that, there was also the rarer ultimate technique: Arm Thrust!

In the Alola region, there was an island kahuna who was extremely skilled at using this move. And it was said that in both the Hoenn and Kanto regions, there were powerful Trainers who specialized in a martial arts supreme art known as the “Ultimate Secret Art of Steel,” using it to unleash Arm Thrust with astonishing power—so powerful it could even blast apart a sea of flames.

Watching those guys spar, Marshadow realized that Riolu actually knew Quick Guard too. This kind of martial technique, capable of defending against priority moves, was quite rare.

And that beautiful Lilligant knew a move Marshadow had never seen before… called Upper Hand?!

Marshadow felt that this round of training really was a huge win for it too!

Legal or illegal, who cares. Martial arts—so long as you’re willing to learn, you can always learn it. Compared to other typings, Fighting-type techniques are the easiest to pick up!

Punches, kicks, palms, sweeps, throws—aren’t they all basically these things?

As for Charcadet, Marshadow did have it train along as well, but since it wasn’t a Fighting-type Pokémon, Marshadow decided to teach it other skills instead.

However, before that, due to the grueling training and the battles along the way, Charcadet refined a certain kind of power. Psychic power began to manifest on its body, and it burst out together with its hammer swings!

[Charcadet learned Psyshock!]

It materializes an odd psychic wave to attack the target, dealing physical damage. The damage calculation uses the target’s Defense instead of the target’s Special Defense!

Learning a move it normally only gets after evolving—before evolution—proved that all that hard training had paid off!

“Ma-sha!”

Then I’ll teach you all something good!

That move is Drain Punch!

How do you keep sustaining yourself in battle without collapsing, using a fist style that steals the enemy’s stamina? In fact, even some Pokémon that don’t normally fight with their fists can still master it!

“Oh, Drain Punch! That’s genuinely good stuff!”

Hikaru, of course, remembered this move. Roxie’s Garbodor had used it before. Its power wasn’t especially high—only 75, a middle-of-the-road value—but it excelled at stable recovery. It was the kind of move Fighting-type Pokémon really couldn’t afford not to learn.

With the 1.5× STAB bonus, Drain Punch’s effective power became quite respectable, reaching 112.

And its availability was broad as well. You could learn it by leveling up, via TM, by breeding, as a tutor move, or even through gifts.

Urshifu, Lilligant, Iron Valiant, Lucario, even Deoxys and the Toilet King could learn it.

You strike the target fiercely with a single fist. A bright aura wraps around the fist during the attack, and on impact it drains the target’s life force! Your HP is restored by “50% of the damage dealt.” If holding a Big Root, this increases to 65%.

“However, I have my own way to strengthen this fist technique.”

Hikaru’s confident tone made Marshadow confused again.

How is it that whatever fist style I teach, you can strengthen it?

“Human inheritance is amazing, right?” Hikaru spread his hands.

“The strengthening method I’m talking about is to use Strong Style and Agile Style, and then fight in the Hisui era style. That way, you can reliably make Drain Punch’s effect… change!”

In standard battles, Drain Punch’s effect is to restore “half of the damage dealt.”

But in the Hisui era—in Pokémon Legends: Arceus—Drain Punch’s recovery amount is half of the user’s own HP!

That kind of strengthening was completely different!

Your sustain would become much more stable. Even in disadvantaged situations, the total amount recovered would increase.

Using Strong Style, the power increases to 90, and it restores 34 HP.

Using Agile Style, the power decreases to 60, the recovery effect stays the same, but Agile Style itself lets you strike twice.

This is truly “Two punches, then heal up!”

“These two different Drain Punch effects do have some differences. Normal Drain Punch can use Bulk Up to strengthen your physical Attack, enabling situations where one punch restores a massive amount of HP. Meanwhile, Hisui-era Drain Punch is better at producing stable recovery when you’re weak and unbuffed.”

“So, how about it. This secret manual is really useful to you, right? As long as you can flexibly switch between the two effects, you won’t have to fear any kind of enemy. Drain Punch alone will be enough!”

“When you’re weak, use the ancient fist. When you’ve grown strong, use the modern fist.”

“Ma-sha!” Marshadow’s eyes burned like torches, its expression delighted as it nodded seriously.

Good, good. Another fist style comprehended!

Mm. You human are truly impressive. We met by chance, but I’ve been in your care.

“There’s one more question.” Hikaru looked at Marshadow, who had put its hands behind its back and was about to continue training, and suddenly called out to it.

“You know so many martial arts, so are you really the Marshadow of Mount Tensei?”

Marshadow turned its head slightly, staring at Hikaru with a mysterious expression for a while.

“Ma-sha.”

Mount Tensei or not, why are you thinking about that?

Anyway, it’s all serving Ho-Oh.

Besides, you’re not the Hero of the Rainbow, so asking is meaningless.

But… in the future, there might be a place where you’ll be needed. That’s just my guess.

“You really are the Marshadow of Mount Tensei, the guide in the shadows. But from your tone, it sounds like you used to be in the Alola region. When did you go work for Ho-Oh?”

“Er, you don’t have to answer.” Hikaru folded his arms. “I’m just curious. And Alola should have other Marshadow too, right?”

“Ma-sha.” Marshadow suddenly smiled.

Do you know Oblivia?

In the sea of Oblivia, a Rainbow Dais lies sunken, and that region isn’t very far from Alola.

Ho-Oh’s rainbow light shines over the Rainbow lands—not only Alola, but also Oblivia.

That dais is submerged in seawater. Perhaps one day it will see daylight again. Maybe… you’ll be the one to repair it.

“Oh! That dais, yeah, I know it!”

“Ma-sha? (Huh? You know that too?)”

Marshadow had wanted to put on a show, but Hikaru immediately said he knew it too, nearly making Marshadow trip on the spot!

No, buddy!

I run back and forth between two Rainbow lands, I also have to roam Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh looking for the Hero of the Rainbow, and I still don’t know as much as you do?

You really are an island king!

“Ma-sha!”

No, then let me ask you. Are you the island king of Alola, or the island king of Oblivia?

Hikaru said, “That dais isn’t broken. What’s broken is just the surrounding grounds, so it sank. As long as you place the correct holy grail on the dais, it will rise from the sea. So the key point is the Rainbow Holy Grail, not the dais itself. That should be how it works.”

“I know. That dais is something the Oblivia people prepared as a back-up plan to summon Ho-Oh. It might see daylight again soon.”

Marshadow was speechless.

Martial artist, you bastard!

Fine. You be the shadow guide, and I’ll go compete in human martial arts tournaments!

“What are you talking about? I’m not nearly as fast as you are. And beating up the Hero of the Rainbow—how could I do something like that? Besides, where are there even Heroes of the Rainbow anymore? There’s only that one. The rest won’t come take the job!”

They say anyone with a Rainbow Feather can serve as the Hero of the Rainbow.

But in truth, take the Johto protagonist Ethan, for example—he should already have met Ho-Oh and even fought it, yet you, Marshadow, never went and threw hands with him. In the end, you only end up sparring with Ash. It’s still low-tier matches, isn’t it!

“Ma-sha!”

What kind of nonsense is that! Marshadow pouted.

People who are truly strong don’t need any guidance at all. Only those youths who are still lost need my guidance.

——————

Near North Province (Area Two), on a certain high mountain.

Here, you could practically feel the chill drifting over from Glaseado Mountain.

That Steel Terastallized Dragonite relied on its changed typing and cut straight across North Province (Area Two) and North Province (Area One), charging all the way to Glaseado Mountain, dragging Aerodactyl along to beat up Ice-type Pokémon all around the mountain.

What “4× weak to Ice”? That doesn’t exist. Are you as strong as my Steel Tera? Eat an Iron Head!

Ice? Isn’t that the type I resist?

Who told you I’m a Flying Dragon? I’m Steel!

Fairy-type? What’s that? Answer me. Look at me when you speak!

“Roooar!”

Didn’t you see the looks on those Ice-type Pokémon’s faces!

They were all saying, “Dragonite-sensei, why aren’t you afraid of Ice Beam?”

Of course, Aerodactyl was in a much rougher state. After all, it was 2× weak to Ice, and it couldn’t Terastallize.

Steel Terastallized Dragonite took pleasure in sparring with Ice Pokémon, while also teaching Aerodactyl the诀窍—no, the key points—of Dragon Rush.

And Aerodactyl, usually so restless, was almost driven numb by this Steel Terastallized Dragonite!

“Roooar!”

Don’t be afraid, Aerodactyl! Even though you’re Rock-type and weak to Steel, don’t be afraid!

Charge into my Iron Head!

Only by facing splattering blood can a true warrior become a dragon that stands on its own!

“Huuh…”

After crashing into Ice Pokémon around Glaseado Mountain, Aerodactyl still had to spar with Chubby-sensei the Steel Tera. At that moment, Chubby-sensei’s silhouette felt like some kind of invincible jeep.

Chubby-sensei shook the big axe head on its skull.

What’s with that face?

What’s with that look in your eyes?

What’s with that Double-Edge?

No spirit. Again!

“Roo-roo-roar!”

It’s not Double-Edge. It’s Dragon Rush. Condense dragon power. Imagine yourself as a dragon.

Just like a few days ago—when Dragon-type energy was abundant, you could use it, but when your energy is insufficient, you still have to be able to use it!

Only then can you raise your PP limit!

Do you want Dragon Rush’s usage count to reach the limit?

Sixteen times a day—then train with me! Isn’t that the reason your Trainer sent you to find me?

And I even taught you Roost. Doesn’t that mean you can crash around like crazy every day now?

“Roooar!”

Dragonite pointed at the exhausted Aerodactyl.

I’ll tell you another secret. Dragon Rush has a certain chance of releasing terrifying dragon killing intent, making the target flinch before it can act.

Also, when attacking a Pokémon that’s in a minimized state, its power doubles! And in that situation, Dragon Rush will definitely hit.

Because this is Dragon Rush, and it belongs to the “crushing-type moves” category!

Train. These are the诀窍 and the key points!

“Roar!”

Aerodactyl flapped its wings. After a few days of trading blows with Chubby-sensei, it genuinely couldn’t win.

At first it was brimming with confidence, but now it seemed Steel Tera was just too overpowered!

I nearly got my hard head smashed into a soft head! If I keep crashing, it’ll become a shattered head.

A new Ability: Shattered Head. When taking damage from physical moves, Defense drops sharply, and you also lose your head, reducing Speed to zero—because you got killed by the impact.

“Roar?”

In this situation, Aerodactyl’s head seemed to get hit so hard it gained a bit of intelligence, and it started pondering the meaning of dragon life.

I’ve learned so many crashing moves, but honestly, as long as I go back to my Trainer, I’ll have delicious food. I don’t even need to actively hunt. And Paldea’s ingredients are scattered everywhere. Just pick some up and you’ll find piles of Slowpoke and Cyclizar getting so scared they drop their tails.

Intimidation, yeah. That’s what I’m best at.

So what’s the meaning of me learning Dragon Rush and crashing into people everywhere?

“Roooar.” Chubby-sensei answered Aerodactyl’s question.

So you have one more Dragon-type crashing skill.

Yeah, it’s that simple.

Hey, don’t think so much. What if someday you run into a nasty enemy your rock head and iron head can’t crash through—wouldn’t you need to use your dragon head then?

Aerodactyl, think less.

You’re an ancient hunter, a rock-headed guy. Why think so much? Just crash people happily!

“Guh-roar?”

Aerodactyl thought about it for a moment.

Then gave up thinking!

“Roar!”

Chubby-sensei is right!

I’ve already been lucky enough to get a second life. Reviving in this colorful age and crashing into things everywhere—why think so much? Just be happy!

When you see injustice, you smash your head into it, then hand the problem to someone else, or solve the guy who caused the problem.

“Hmph-hmph~” Dragonite crossed its arms, signaling that this dragon was teachable.

Then Dragonite looked toward Glaseado Mountain.

An Altaria flew over.

Mm, that “dragon” from the top of Glaseado Mountain.

It has a Trainer.

Looks like because we’ve been grinding levels all over Glaseado Mountain, it’s itching to fight and came over here!

“Roooar!”

Dragonite pointed at the Altaria charging in aggressively from the horizon, and spoke to Aerodactyl:

Go, Aerodactyl! Go put on a show! Go, Dragon Rush!

————

On Glaseado Mountain, at Glaseado Gym.

An ice-cold handsome man with most of his face buried in a scarf, with ice-blue hair, was speaking with a young beauty with green hair.

“These past few days around Glaseado Mountain, I keep seeing a Dragonite and a strange stone dragon. The wild Pokémon have been constantly tempering themselves. So have I.”

But the green-haired beauty shook her head, smiling mysteriously.

“No. That stone dragon might not be wild. There’s a Pokémon called Aerodactyl. In other words, it’s a Pokémon revived from an ancient fossil. Paldea doesn’t have that technology.”

“As things stand, there’s only one person around here who owns an Aerodactyl. Your Altaria seems to have run into him.”

“It ran into our newly appointed Elite Four member. That immortal stone dragon is precisely that Elite Four member’s Pokémon.”

Rika stood outside Glaseado Gym, looking at the distant scenery beyond the mountain, and couldn’t help shivering.

“Ahh, the moment you stop moving, you feel cold. Glaseado Mountain is seriously freezing.”

“Looks like that guy will be coming over here soon too. I should send him a message, right? His pace is really fast. I was training the whole way and barely stopped, and that’s how I managed to reach Glaseado Mountain before him.”

At the same time, Rika rubbed her brow, looking troubled.

“Your request is making this difficult for me, Grusha. Are you really planning to ask him to test you?”

“I know you’ve always been strict about the path you chose, but this time is completely different.”

“The Top Champion told me to test you all, so I trained up a new team. But if you face that guy, you might lose terribly. Your new goal in life could get shattered because of it.”

“And he might not even accept. It puts me in a tough position.”

“You’ve only been a Gym Leader for a short time. The League fully recognizes your strength, but… why, the moment you heard there was a new Elite Four member, did you immediately request that they come test you?”

Grusha’s expression remained calm.

“The road I’ve chosen now is being a Pokémon Trainer. Other than that, I have nothing left.”

“I want to know how strong the new Elite Four member is.”

“Someone I’ve never heard of, someone the Top Champion recruited outside of standard procedure… even if I have to face a bitter, cold defeat, I don’t care.”

“The scariest part is always when you first start getting used to something. So I want to know even more what my result will be if I keep going down the path of being a Gym Leader.”

“If, after I went all the way to the end on the path of snowboarding, I still can’t fully unleash what talent I have left… then what do I have left?”

After thinking for a moment, Rika suddenly let out a small laugh.

“Confirming your talent, huh.”

“I see, I see… mm. Then, after training in a special location, if I get to fight a rival again, I’ll take the opportunity to battle him one more time here as well.”

(End of Chapter)

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