Now Pryce's Piloswine had already fallen into a frenzied state. Tetsuya could not help but feel a lingering fear. Fortunately, Piloswine had a target to attack. Otherwise, he would have been killed here today by this mad boar.
Being able to use Will-O-Wisp against this Piloswine had only been possible because it was in an extremely weakened and unconscious state. If it had retained even a trace of awareness, he would not have succeeded.
He had originally thought that forcing out the Eternal Ice cold aura within Piloswine would be enough to deal with it. Now it seemed that this cold aura merely served as a bonus to Piloswine's body. Even if it were forced out, it would not have much impact on its condition. Pryce had not made this clear, and he had nearly lost his life here.
Pryce's Piloswine shattered a layer of ice within the cavern, and another hidden cave appeared.
At this moment, Tetsuya was mounted on Rapidash transformed from Ditto, facing the cave entrance and observing Piloswine's movements from a distance.
If he was not mistaken, that mysterious Pokémon must be inside the hidden cave. His current position could be said to be an excellent location.
Advancing would allow him to wait and watch, reaping the benefits. Retreating would allow him to urge Rapidash forward and run directly out of the cave.
The hidden cave had already been destroyed by Piloswine.
Sharp rocks wrapped around Pryce's Piloswine. Stone blades, accompanied by a muffled roar from Piloswine, all shot toward the interior of the cave.
Stone Edge.
Why would Piloswine use a Rock-type move? If this Piloswine retained even a trace of rationality, then inside must certainly be an Ice-type Pokémon.
After using Stone Edge, Piloswine let out another muffled roar. Instantly, its entire body was shrouded in a spiraling energy shield of interwoven gold and purple light. It spread its four limbs and charged into the cave!
'Giga Impact… it can use it. As expected of Pryce's Piloswine.'
As Tetsuya was still sighing in admiration, Piloswine was struck by a crystalline beam and sent flying, rolling three or four meters across the ground.
It seemed that the mysterious Pokémon had already awakened.
The move just used had been Ice Beam. It could now be confirmed that it was an Ice-type Pokémon.
Tetsuya could not help but glance toward the cave. It was pitch-black. The only thing visible was a yellow cross.
Piloswine did not give up. Stone Edge once again shot into the cave.
This time, Blizzard blew out from within the cave to block Piloswine's Stone Edge. Piloswine was unwilling to concede and also used Blizzard.
Howling wind, snow, and ice shards swept in from two directions. For a moment, it was impossible to determine the victor.
Even after losing the power of Eternal Ice, Piloswine could still use such a powerful Blizzard…
It was truly admirable.
Meanwhile, the Pokémon inside the cave had still not stepped out, indicating that it was indeed in an injured state and inconvenient in movement.
Was this not a gift bestowed upon him by Arceus? When Piloswine and it were both severely injured, he would be the ultimate winner!
Tetsuya quietly observed the changes within the cave. At present, he did not have the ability to participate in such a high-level battle.
He wondered how long it would take for his own Piloswine to reach such a level…
Piloswine's Blizzard had already been suppressed by the mysterious Pokémon's Blizzard. Suddenly, it engulfed Piloswine, and Piloswine was once again thrown to the ground.
'Such strength...'
Tetsuya could not help but click his tongue.
Piloswine glanced at the herb prepared for treating Burn. Suddenly, it let out a heart-wrenching roar, and its entire body began to tremble.
'What… was this?
Curse.
Tetsuya finally recognized Piloswine's action.
Curse was originally a Ghost-type move. When a Ghost-type Pokémon used Curse, it would sacrifice half of its own vitality to inflict a Curse status on the opponent. The opponent inflicted with Curse would continuously lose vitality.
The first time he discovered that, in this "real" world, a Pokémon other than a Ghost-type could use the move Curse was from Slowbro. When a non-Ghost-type Pokémon used Curse, it inflicted the Curse state upon itself. After entering the Curse state, its Attack and Defense would increase, but its Speed would decrease.
After a violent convulsion, Piloswine's body doubled in size.
Now Piloswine's Attack and Defense had both been greatly enhanced.
Giga Impact.
As if ready to die, Piloswine once again charged into the cave!
Only the sound of rocks collapsing could be heard from within the cave. The battle inside must have been extremely fierce. Piloswine's resentment was certainly aimed at putting that mysterious Pokémon to death.
Tetsuya could not help but urge Rapidash transformed from Ditto to take two steps forward, but he could still only see a yellow cross.
Suddenly, the entire cavern began to tremble. The ground also started to shake, and there was no sign of stopping.
The rocks of the cave had already begun to collapse and nearly hits Tetsuya. Fortunately, Ditto reacted quickly and saved Tetsuya's life.
Tetsuya gritted his teeth. "Damn it! With its physical attacks greatly increased, Piloswine is continuously using Earthquake. It seems it intends to die together with its opponent."
The cavern was already on the verge of collapse, and the shaking of the ground became even more violent.
To still think about reaping the benefits now would be a dead end, unless he intended to be buried together with Pryce's Piloswine.
Although he felt full of unwillingness, everything seemed insignificant compared to his own life…
Escaping was the priority!
Tetsuya spat on the ground, clenched his teeth, and recalled his own Piloswine.
"Ditto, sprint toward the cave entrance with full force. Haunter, use psychic power to prevent falling rocks from the cave ceiling."
Tetsuya lay flat on Rapidash transformed from Ditto, holding tightly onto its neck with both hands. His head was protected by Haunter's psychic power as they turned into a streak of fire and sprinted toward the cave entrance.
Thanks to Haunter's psychic protection, he was not injured by the falling rocks.
After rushing out of the cave entrance, Tetsuya let out a long breath.
"Teh… hahah!." He had finally saved his life.
Afterward, loud crashing sounds were heard one after another. The entire cave collapsed and was buried. It seemed that Piloswine's chances of survival were slim.
As for that "mysterious" Pokémon, it looked vaguely familiar to him, but he could not be certain.
Once he had the ability, he would definitely return to investigate thoroughly. In its current state, if he wanted to enter again, without a Pokémon like Steelix there would probably be no hope…
---◓---
Such a massive disturbance had caused a large number of Delibird to be frightened away.
There were still twenty or thirty bold ones remaining, continuing to enjoy the cold aura here.
Worried about having no sparring partners after going back up, he might as well let these Delibird test the strength of his newly evolved Piloswine.
"Come out, Piloswine."
Tetsuya threw Piloswine's Poké Ball.
An energetic Piloswine stomped its feet. Inside the cave he had not clearly seen its appearance. Now that he looked at it, it had indeed absorbed the Eternal Ice aura. Whether in fur color, body size, or physical coordination, it was in perfect condition, and its mental state was excellent!
"Let these Delibird serve as the rite for your evolution. First control the weather, then Icicle Crash!"
Piloswine shook its body, and instantly Hail and Blizzard covered the entire valley.
The excitement in Tetsuya's heart overflowed. With just one piece of Eternal Ice, it already possessed such powerful Ice-type energy. If it were to also consume the Eternal Ice he had taken from Matsuba's mausoleum, the future capabilities of this Piloswine would be immense!