Crash! Crash! Crash!
Several glass bottles shattered one after another.
Lin Feng immediately stopped the timer.
After that, he had Indeedee repeat the same test several more times.
Aside from the first attempt, which had been slightly slower, all the following runs averaged around 0.5 seconds.
Once he had collected enough data, Lin Feng picked up a pudding and handed it to Indeedee.
"Alright, here. Have one."
"Indeedee..."
Being asked to eat in front of so many people made Indeedee a little shy.
Still, it knew Lin Feng was conducting an experiment, so it overcame its embarrassment and obediently ate the pudding.
"Let's do it a few more times, Indeedee."
Lin Feng reset the bottles.
The experiment was repeated several times, and he carefully recorded each result.
Everyone watching was completely confused.
However, the moment Lin Feng announced the numbers, the crowd snapped out of their daze.
In the previous four tests, excluding the very first one, Indeedee's times had been:
0.51 seconds, 0.49 seconds, and 0.52 seconds.
The results were remarkably consistent.
This time, however, the recorded times were:
0.44 seconds, 0.46 seconds, and 0.47 seconds.
Every attempt was slightly faster than before.
Lin Feng nodded.
"This little pudding's effect is fairly straightforward. It slightly increases the speed at which Psychic-type and Ice-type Pokémon can execute their moves."
This time, he wasn't being vague.
He was directly demonstrating the effect of the dish for everyone to see.
Yet the crowd still looked puzzled.
They had already watched Indeedee use Psychic several times.
To their naked eyes, there was practically no visible difference between the attacks.
Lin Feng sighed and explained further.
"To put it simply, it gives your Pokémon a slight advantage in future battles..."
He felt a little helpless.
Most of the trainers gathered here today were beginners.
At their level, a Pokémon could improve move execution speed simply through regular training.
But for Pokémon that had already undergone years of rigorous training and were approaching their limits, even a small increase in execution speed could represent progress that might otherwise take years to achieve.
And that wasn't the most important part.
The improvement wasn't replacing future growth.
It was raising the upper limit itself.
A young Pokémon that gained this effect could still continue improving through training afterward.
Its potential ceiling had effectively become higher.
"Sounds valuable..."
"Even though I don't really understand why..."
"Yeah... I don't think most of us get it..."
Listening to the discussions around him, Lin Feng couldn't help laughing.
Personally, he thought this grand prize for the Sky Challenge was excellent.
Yet it clearly wasn't creating the reaction he had expected.
Fortunately, at that moment, Rika Yukimura suddenly asked,
"It works on Ice-type Pokémon too?"
"Of course."
Lin Feng nodded.
"And under normal circumstances, the effect is permanent."
"Permanent?"
For the first time, Rika didn't immediately dismiss the claim.
Still, there was unmistakable skepticism in her voice.
It was understandable if ordinary trainers didn't grasp the significance.
But she was one of the Elite Four.
A trainer obsessed with battling.
No one understood better than she did how valuable an increase in move execution speed could be during combat.
And now he was saying a single pudding could accomplish that?
"That's right."
Lin Feng held out three servings.
"These are the rewards for clearing the final stage of the Sky Challenge."
Without hesitation, Rika released her Pokémon.
A Froslass appeared.
The moment the Ice- and Ghost-type Pokémon materialized, the surrounding temperature noticeably dropped.
Rika picked up a pudding and handed it over.
"Go ahead. Try it."
"Froslass...?"
Froslass was completely bewildered.
There were more than twenty people watching.
Its trainer had summoned it just to eat pudding?
Then Rika calmly added,
"The reward from the previous challenge can directly improve your move execution speed."
"(´・ω・`)?"
Froslass stared at the pudding in disbelief.
It certainly looked delicious.
The smooth, springy texture fit its aesthetic perfectly, and the aroma was incredibly tempting.
But what had its trainer just said?
This thing could increase move execution speed?
Seriously?
If a tiny pudding could do that, then what about the countless years it had spent traveling with its trainer?
The harsh training sessions?
The battles against powerful opponents?
The special exercises designed to push its limits?
Did all that hard work mean nothing?
"Froslass?"
It looked at Rika again, seeking confirmation.
The answer it received was still the same.
"Mm."
"..."
Although Froslass suspected its trainer had been tricked, it trusted her completely.
After all, its trainer would never harm it.
So it took a bite.
The natural sweetness of spring Moomoo Milk blended perfectly with the refreshing flavors of several berries.
The pudding melted smoothly in its mouth before sliding into its stomach.
Delicious.
Extremely delicious.
Yet...
It didn't feel any unusual energy fluctuations.
"Froslass?"
The Pokémon looked at its trainer in confusion.
"No effect?" Rika asked.
"Froslass..."
It honestly didn't feel anything.
"Try using a move."
Lin Feng spoke calmly from the side.
The effect was called Peace of Mind.
It improved focus and concentration.
Naturally, it wouldn't create any obvious surge of energy.
"Froslass?"
Froslass looked toward its trainer.
"Use Icicle Spear. Aim at the sky."
The sky above was a brilliant blue.
Froslass took a deep breath and lightly waved its fan-like right hand.
In an instant, dense Ice-type energy condensed into sharp icy spears that shot upward.
A moment later, they exploded high above, scattering countless sparkling ice crystals.
"Froslass?"
Froslass froze.
Rika froze too.
Both of them knew that had been a casual attack.
The motion of raising its arm hadn't changed.
The amount of energy used hadn't changed.
Yet somehow...
The attack had launched just a little faster.
The increase wasn't dramatic.
It was subtle.
But trainer and Pokémon had been partners for more than ten years.
Neither could mistake the difference.
That move had definitely been executed faster than before.
"Again!"
Rika immediately gave another command.
The same motion.
The same burst of ice crystals.
Under the sunlight, countless shattered fragments glittered like a rainbow across the sky.
As the dazzling display rained down around them, both Rika and Froslass stood there in stunned silence.
Their eyes were wide with disbelief.
------------------------------
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