If there was still a guide to follow when it came to raising Mamoswine, then with Golurk, Tetsuya could only consider himself to be feeling his way forward.
He had already witnessed the power Golurk had when all seven layers of energy completely covered its body. Perhaps some kind of catalyst was needed. For now, he could only take things one step at a time…
In any case, as long as Golurk continued training, it certainly would not regress. Tetsuya had even gone back through everything about Golurk's origins once again. If there truly was no other way, then he could only go to the place where Golurk was born… the Starlight Clan, in Unova.
Tetsuya found this information and a map about the clan in the tome that once belonged to Golurk's former Trainer, Alder, the auction guy.
As for this "Starlight Clan", Tetsuya had investigated every location in the Unova Region, yet there was no information whatsoever about them. It had probably disappeared long ago.
Based on his analysis of the map, he could only roughly deduce that it had been located in the mountains near Mistralton City in Unova. This was something he could only deal with once he reached Unova.
Houndoom's level seemed to have reached a barrier, mainly because Tetsuya himself had yet to find the proper guide. However, Houndoom's role within the team was indispensable. It underwent physical conditioning and move training every day. Although its combat capacity was progressing slowly, it was at least continuing to improve…
[Blightfire Assault] alone was enough to place Houndoom among the main Pokémon of a Gym Leader. If it managed to seize an opportunity to use Leer and Nasty Plot, or [Blazing Howl], Houndoom's combat power would become even more terrifying, to the point that only Mamoswine could overcome it.
The four-headed Weezing had already dominated several of its signature moves to perfection. Combined with the substantial improvements to its previously lacking speed and stamina through Golurk's Gravity training, Weezing was now on the same level as Golurk. The only difference was that the two specialized in different styles of battle.
The combination of Sludge Bomb and Gyro Ball was best suited for charging into battle. The acidic gas released by Belch could even corrode and poison Steel-type Pokémon, which could be considered Weezing's greatest source of pride.
Among Poison-type Pokémon, aside from Salazzle, this was the only one capable of poisoning Steel-type Pokémon.
As for its most destructive move… that was still [Fume Cataclysm], which was also the move with which the Weezing had earned the most accomplishments in battles. This "move" often required Houndoom's cooperation to maximize both its power and attack range.
Weezing's training direction would continue to focus primarily on physical conditioning and speed under Gravity. These were areas that absolutely had to be improved!
As for intensifying its toxicity, there were currently no suitable conditions. The best method would actually be to go somewhere like the sludge lake in Gringey City. The poisonous gas produced by the foul fermentation of industrial wastewater and debris was the best supplement for intensifying Weezing's toxicity.
Tetsuya was now determined to find a way to acquire that industrial area in Gringey City!
He checked on News from Gringey City almost every so often, essentially waiting for that industrial area to be abandoned. He did not need much. As long as he could secure the territory around one sludge lake, that would be enough.
Of course, in the eyes of others, it was the least valuable place of all, but to Tetsuya, it would be extremely useful. It could be used to raise both Muk and Weezing, making it practically a sacred land.
Drapion and Spinarak's training had certainly not yet reached the required level. Tetsuya also had the clearest method for training these two, since he had personally raised them in his previous life.
Drapion's daily training still consisted of being surrounded and attacked by four Pokémon. Its two pincers, mouth, and tail were all trained simultaneously, allowing Drapion to fully utilize every part of its body.
After such prolonged training, Drapion was no longer as inexperienced as when it had first begun. Cross Poison, Brutal Swing, Poison Tail, Fell Stinger, Pin Missile, and various other moves could all be used simultaneously.
The opponents it faced were all around the same level as itself, so naturally, defeating four opponents alone was impossible.
Even so, as mentioned, Drapion could still use different moves with different parts of its body, which was already enough to demonstrate its strength. Moreover, after evolving, Drapion could learn Ice Fang, Thunder Fang, and Fire Fang.
Drapion had now learned all three!
This was a demonstration of Drapion's potential. It required its sense of Fire-, Ice-, and Electric-type energy to reach a certain level before it could learn them.
After prolonged practice, these biting moves were no longer limited to being used through Drapion's mouth. They could also be used through the hooked claws on its two pincers or tail.
These moves and its training were all progressing steadily, and combined with Drapion's toxicity, its combat power was beginning to soar!
Now that they were in the wilderness, it was even more of a paradise for Drapion. The poison sacs of Poison-type Pokémon like Arbok would be the best food for intensifying its toxicity.
Another major focus of Tetsuya's training was Spinarak. At the very least, it had not yet evolved, so there was still some difference between its potential for improvement and what it would have after evolving into Ariados.
Therefore, in Tetsuya's eyes, unless there were special circumstances, Pokémon still had to evolve.
Spinarak was currently one of his main battling Pokémon, and only by continuously battling and accumulating enough experience could it evolve.
Since he began raising it, Spinarak had already eaten quite a few Ariados and Spinarak transferred over by Mr. Shellby. Among Pokémon that harmed their own kind in this way, only spider Pokémon did such things, especially vicious and brutal female spiders…
Spinarak had now also reached the level where it could learn Cross Poison. It had already achieved the training goal Tetsuya had previously set for it, using Spider Web to ensnare tree trunks and String Shot to pull itself between large trees.
While moving, it also had to use moves to attack targets, training both its agility and the accuracy of its moves.
Tetsuya was now also eager for Spinarak to evolve as soon as possible, because only after evolving into Ariados could it learn the moves Swords Dance and Focus Energy, as well as Venom Drench, the core move for a Poison-type field.
Offensive moves like Bug Bite and Fell Stinger were also very useful…
Of course, the main purpose of entering the mountains this time was still Ditto!
Ditto was indeed very strong now, but the moves it could use flexibly were still limited to those of Tetsuya's own Pokémon that it Transformed into.
But a fake was ultimately still a fake…
Its ability to use this moves could never compare to the real thing, so the higher the level of strength it reached, the smaller Ditto's advantage became.
Fortunately, Tetsuya now had psychic powers and could help Ditto observe the situation on the battlefield, allowing him to give it the most accurate judgments.
Combined with having fused with Quick Powder, Ditto's Speed was always a step ahead, and together with the physical condition it had developed through prolonged training, this was what had allowed Ditto to keep up all this time.
If Tetsuya did not find a way for it to achieve a major improvement, Ditto would eventually be reduced to nothing more than a minor role…
And also…
'Beedrill…'