Without danger or incident.
The Geometric Snowflake Leader was defeated under the combined assault of Natsuhiko's several Pokémon.
With experience battling Gym Leader Level Pokémon in Groudon's Alternate Space, even Pokémon with difficult attributes were handled smoothly. So, this Geometric Snowflake, which was tightly restrained by Doublade, couldn't stir much trouble.
After successfully defeating the Geometric Snowflake Leader and a large group of Geometric Snowflakes, Natsuhiko and the others finally set foot in this Ice Cave for the first time.
Smooth ground, hanging ice cones, jagged ice crystals.
The light entering through the entrance was refracted by a multitude of ice crystals, illuminating the Ice Cave.
After a brief rest.
Natsuhiko led the Pokémon further into the Ice Cave.
It was as if they were completely immersed in a world made of ice crystals. Everywhere they went, whether rock or otherwise, was covered by a layer of crystalline transparent ice.
The temperature inside wasn't as low as imagined.
As everyone knows, the coldest time is actually when the ice and snow begin to melt. After entering the Ice Cave, isolated from the snowstorms of Celestial Crown Mountain, the temperature had actually warmed up a bit.
However, there were quite a few Ice-type Pokémon living in this Ice Cave, and they carried obvious hostility towards Natsuhiko and his companions, the intruding life forms.
They stumbled along, defeating many Ice-type Pokémon, before they could continue on.
During this time.
If they encountered some Ice-type Pokémon that weren't very strong, Natsuhiko would also let Chimchar try to battle.
With the advantage of being a Fire-type Pokémon, Chimchar's performance was decent.
However, being new to the team, its rapport with Natsuhiko wasn't very high. In battles, it often struggled to keep up with the pace due to its slow reactions.
But Natsuhiko didn't criticize it.
This was meant to be a gradual process of adaptation. Besides, Chimchar was already doing its best to learn, and its progress was quite noticeable.
Through such practical combat, Natsuhiko gained a more comprehensive understanding of Chimchar's strength and abilities, making his goals for its further training increasingly clear.
Crack—
While walking.
A sudden sound of ice breaking.
"Yongji," Yongji murmured, holding up its Spoon.
Then they saw a rock-sized "ice block" slip out from a corner and halt in front of Natsuhiko and the others.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out not to be an ice block at all, but a Pokémon.
"Bergmite?"
At first glance, it looked like a chunk of angular ice crystal, with short limbs and a pair of round yellow eyes.
Bergmite, a pure Ice-type Pokémon, lived in extreme cold regions year-round.
"Berg!" The nearly one-meter-tall Bergmite looked at Natsuhiko and the others and let out a soft call.
Although its presence wasn't imposing, its hostility was evident.
"Go ahead, Chimchar,"
Chimchar was given another chance to fight.
"Chimchar!!"
Of course, Chimchar didn't refuse.
After witnessing the strength of Beedrill and the others, Chimchar, although silent, felt an urge deep within.
It was eager to become strong, like Beedrill and the others, to fight alongside them.
Rather than always hiding behind them, enjoying a "comfortable" life.
This gave it a feeling reminiscent of when it used to hide behind Blazing Beast.
Thud—
Landing on the ground, the flames on its back blazed fiercely, showcasing its current high fighting spirit.
"Berg!"
Bergmite saw Chimchar and didn't hesitate. It let out a cry before slowly starting to spin, its speed increasing, as the ice-blue Ice Energy enveloped its body, forming into a ball shape.
Ice-type Technique.
Ice Ball.
A sustained, uninterruptible move, starting with a mere 30 power but increasing as the duration lengthens, with faster spins thickening the ice energy and boosting its power exponentially.
Its power grows from 30 to 60, then to 120, and ideally, it could reach 480 power points in the end.
Moreover, if "Roundify" was used before "Ice Ball," the initial power would be 60, with the final power potentially terrifyingly reaching 960 points.
It's definitely a technique best dealt with early; once its power accumulates, its destructive force will multiply exponentially.
Fortunately.
Chimchar had a countermeasure.
"Clap Attack," Natsuhiko calmly instructed.
"Chimchar!"
Without hesitation, Chimchar agilely approached Bergmite in a few swift steps.
Clap Attack is a fast-releasing technique, not needing any charge-up, so it can often be executed before the opponent acts.
Moreover, once executed, Clap Attack inevitably puts the opponent into a Wither state. It is a 100% control move, contrasting with Togetic's luck-based controls.
However, Clap Attack also has a drawback: it can only be used at the very start. Once this window passes, its effectiveness diminishes significantly.
Smack!
Rushing up in front of the charging Bergmite, Chimchar clapped its hands in front of it, generating a massive shockwave that forcibly halted Bergmite's spin.
Ice Ball Technique failed, and the high-speed spin left Bergmite unable to control its body momentarily.
An opportunity.
Chimchar clenched its small fist, with strands of flame emerging from its palm.
"Flame Fist," Natsuhiko's voice came simultaneously.
Seeing Chimchar readying its fist to release Flame Fist even before he issued the command, Natsuhiko smiled.
The synchronization between Trainer and Pokémon is a process, one of becoming familiar with each other's habits.
And indeed.
Chimchar adapted well, already starting to match Natsuhiko's rhythm.
Bang!
The fiery fist swung forth, slamming onto Bergmite.
The hot flame clashed with the cold body, hissing as it connected. Bergmite's self-formed Ice Armor cracked and melted somewhat, as it was sent flying by Chimchar's punch.
Crash—
It slammed into the ice wall.
One punch, ending the battle.
"Yongji!"
However, as Bergmite was knocked away, Yujira, its Psychic abilities deployed, issued a stern warning.
"Avalugg—" A deep sound accompanied by "crackly" footsteps echoed from within the Ice Cave nearby.
"Chimchar, return," Natsuhiko called out, recalling Chimchar, and raised his eyes to the approaching massive shadow.
A large ice crystal, turtle-like, with a triangular head, amber eyes, and smooth, flat back. Its limbs were like ice pillars, each step sounding like ice blocks colliding.
Avalugg!
The evolved form of Bergmite.
However, what truly caught Natsuhiko's attention wasn't this Avalugg, but rather the rather haughty figure standing on its back.
With a shape akin to a human, a red gown touching the ground, white arms, and purple hands, a purple face, pink lips, saucer-shaped eyes, and long blond hair, it looked like a Nordic princess from an opera.
Jynx!
An Ice-type and Psychic Type Pokémon.
But this Jynx was different from the others.
Because atop its head sat a crown made of ice crystals.
When Natsuhiko spotted the center of the crown, his pupils shrank slightly.
A small pink fragment was embedded within.
That is...
A small fragment of a stone slab!
Question:
How does the purely female Jynx, without a male counterpart, reproduce to become the strongest? (Hint: Never mind, no hint...)
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