"Catherine is fine. She hasn't appeared in public. She's investigating the clues behind her family's destruction," Tetsuya said. He had only recently been in contact with Catherine, so he was well aware of her current situation.
Pryce also understood Tetsuya's situation very well. The Shadow Team had undoubtedly already learned of the destruction of their largest island. That had struck at the very core of the Shadow Team. Not even Raven had escaped from the island. After all, Raven had an Aerodactyl, and if even he had failed to escape, then no one else could have possibly made it out. Therefore, the Shadow Team had no reason to believe that anyone had survived.
The only thing Tetsuya had brought back from Shadow Island was Raven's Aerodactyl. There was no way he would allow that Aerodactyl to end up on the Black Market. Giving it to Professor Witherwood was the safest option. First, Professor Witherwood could easily keep Aerodactyl under control. Second, academic research was kept under strict confidentiality.
Even professional investigators from other Leagues could not gain access to research like Professor Witherwood's, much less the Shadow Team. Besides, the Shadow Team had no interest in Witherwood.
Although the Shadow Team currently believed Tetsuya to be dead, the more active he became, the greater the chance of exposing himself. At the very least, Yamamoto and Kurusaki Sō both recognized him. If they discovered that he was still alive, they would stop at nothing to capture him, because the reason behind Shadow Island's destruction had to be found through him.
At present, Pryce was almost desperate to eliminate the Shadow Team, yet he still did not want to bring the Kanto League's influence into Johto. He only needed one final push to make his decision.
---◓---
Naturally, Tetsuya was not going to stay in the small cabin this time. After five years, it had long since fallen into disrepair. In any case, using Ditto to Transform into Rapidash each day made returning to Mahogany Gym quick and easy.
At Mahogany Gym, Sheila had also prepared a room for him, complete with every necessary amenity.
The next day, Tetsuya began using the TMs. The first one was Stone Edge. The instructional video lasted for two hours, after which Golurk already had a clear understanding of the move. Tetsuya immediately sent it to Mahogany Gym's training grounds.
Spearhead-like stones revolved around Golurk's body. Simply maintaining that state created an excellent defense, while the stones themselves were also powerful when launched.
However, since Golurk was not a Rock-type Pokémon, its control over Stone Edge naturally could not compare to that of a Pokémon of that type. Nevertheless, Tetsuya intended this move entirely as a way to create better offensive opportunities for Golurk.
Next came Beedrill learning U-turn. Since Beedrill had already trained its Speed to the limit and U-turn was a Bug-type move, it learned the move very quickly. The attack itself was merely a feint, with the true purpose being to retreat and switch in one of its teammates.
The U-turn move relied heavily on Beedrill's Speed. After learning it, Beedrill also headed to the training grounds for reinforcement training.
Houndoom also learned Dark Pulse almost immediately. After all, it was a "STAB" move. Its power was also quite respectable. It could be used against Pokémon using Double Team, and it could also defend against sudden attacks from fast Pokémon that specialized in close combat. That was precisely the advantage of long-range moves.
As for the Four-headed Weezing, the two heads that could use Icy Wind naturally could not learn Fire Blast. However, the two heads that could use Flamethrower had an outstanding affinity for sensing Fire-type energy.
Weezing learned the move as well and then headed to the training grounds to begin reinforcement training.
On the third day, Tetsuya took his Pokémon to the glacier falls. Early in the morning, they all ran there together. Although it was not especially far, the distance was still five kilometers, making it perfect as their morning warm-up.
Upon arriving at the place, Ditto immediately Transformed into Gyarados and began using Waterfall against the rushing cascade.
Beedrill followed closely behind, thrusting out its twin stingers and driving them into the rushing water as it flew upward against the force of the waterfall.
This was the training regimen Tetsuya had already established here last year. At that time, Golurk had not yet been able to engage in overly strenuous activity. However, the current Golurk was full of energy!
After being restrained for three months, Golurk seemed to have "endless" power to unleash.
"Golurk, try charging up from the bottom of the waterfall," Tetsuya said. Golurk was now the only Pokémon on his team capable of matching Mamoswine's power. After lying dormant for three months, the energy within its body had actually shown slight signs of contracting.
Even so, Golurk still barely maintained six layers of its energy shield. As for the final layer, the only way to completely remove its seal was through gradual training.
Because Golurk was also a Ground-type Pokémon, it was naturally somewhat vulnerable to water. However, with the protection of its six layers of energy, it could withstand the torrent for a short while.
Only a short while, however.
The impact of the falls was even stronger than Hydro Pump. Otherwise, Ditto and Beedrill would not have struggled so much.
Upon receiving Tetsuya's command, Golurk charged beneath the waterfall without the slightest hesitation. Then its rocket propulsion activated, and it shot upward directly against the torrent!
The waterfall instantly split into two streams. Wrapped in faintly visible energy, it seemed as though the waterfall itself was opening a path for Golurk.
The glacier falls stretched so far that the end could not be seen. The total height of the waterfall was nearly one thousand meters, rivaling the longest waterfalls on Earth.
As the thousand-meter torrent crashed downward, Golurk pressed upward against the overwhelming force of the rushing water. At first, its momentum was tremendous, and it quickly overtook both Beedrill and Ditto. However, by the time it reached six to seven hundred meters, the energy surrounding its body could no longer protect it. The rushing water began battering Golurk's body, and a pained expression(?) appeared on its rectangular eyes.
Tetsuya silently watched Golurk. He was not entirely confident himself whether Golurk could overcome this challenge quickly…
This training method came from Pryce's way of raising Cloyster and Dewgong. Since other Pokémon had been able to accomplish it, this was not an impossible obstacle. At present, both Ditto and Beedrill felt that was beyond them, so Tetsuya needed Golurk to set an example.
"…C-Come on, Golurk!" Tetsuya shouted. 'Ugh…' It felt like it had been a very long time since he had experienced a moment like this…
Golurk erupted with power¹[1]!
The rocket flames beneath it suddenly doubled in length as it surged upward in a single explosive burst. Enduring the intense pain, it completed the final climb of more than three hundred meters.
Golurk stood proudly at the very top of the waterfall, gazing down at the thousand-meter cascade below. A powerful sense of accomplishment welled up within it. It felt as though its power had truly returned.
At that moment, Golurk, appeared incomparably majestic…
•.
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¹. Might Guy: "✨YOUTH!!!!!!!✨"
[1] YOUTH!!!!!!!