Chapter 340: Infernape's Gift
Pupitar
Type: Rock / Ground
Ability: Shed Skin (Has a chance to cure its own status condition by shedding its outer skin.)
New Moves: Iron Defense, Protect, Payback, Earthquake, Outrage.
"Outrage?"
Basalt's eyes widened at the data. Outrage was a move on par with Dragon Dance, a high-impact ultimate move that involved violently attacking the opponent multiple times, but left the user confused afterward. In the games, Outrage had a base power of 120, making it a powerful ultimate attack.
Considering Pupitar's natural propensity for destructive outbursts to relieve stress, Basalt understood. Outrage certainly fit its volatile temperament.
Besides Outrage, Protect and Iron Defense were pleasant surprises. These were high-level status moves, and Pupitar auto-learning them saved Basalt a lot of effort and money on hiring tutors.
As for Earthquake and Payback, those were standard for its typing. Payback, a Dark-type move, deals doubled damage if the user attacks after the opponent, making it excellent for defensive counter-attacks.
The Rock-type moves were what they were. Larvitar's talent for the Rock type was so strong that it had already mastered most of the available moves prematurely.
But what Basalt was most excited about wasn't these moves, but Pupitar's sand-control ability. After evolving, Pupitar's life force had undergone a leap, increasing its physical capacity. Its sand control should have also seen a qualitative improvement.
"If we were to fight again right now, Infernape wouldn't be able to handle Pupitar's Quicksand Domain so easily." Basalt's eyebrow twitched, a slight smile on his face.
But thinking about Infernape's breakthrough and that terrifying Blast Burn attack, Basalt quickly sobered up. I'd rather not find out.
"Dro-lisk~"
After about five or six minutes, Excadrill was the first to regain consciousness. Nurtured by both the Smooth Rock Crystal and the Groudon scale, its constitution and recovery were phenomenal, even if not quite up to Cradily's standard. If not for the Fire-type moves dealing double damage, a full-health Excadrill would never have been taken out by a newly promoted Gym Leader-level Pokémon like Infernape.
Basalt helped Excadrill to the corner and sprayed its injuries with medicine. Just then, Infernape slowly woke up.
"Ha-cha~"
Although its body was sore and weak, the worst pain Infernape felt was in its jaw and face. It could understand the pain in its body; it had been attacked while unconscious. But why did its face hurt?
Infernape massaged its right cheek, a look of indignation on its face. Basalt's eye twitched. "Oh, God. If Infernape finds out its face was stepped on by a pre-evolution Pupitar while it was unconscious, it's going to kill him."
Basalt didn't dare look Infernape in the eye. He smiled awkwardly and rushed to spray medicine on its injuries. As the medicine took effect, Infernape's expression softened, but it kept rubbing its chin.
Soon, Bronzong and Marshtomp also woke up. Basalt treated them in the same manner. The defeated Houndoom and Houndour, who hadn't had the benefit of a Revive, were still unconscious.
After his Pokémon recovered some stamina, Basalt had Pupitar come over to meet them.
"Pu-pi!" o(^｀)o
With its evolution complete and its confidence soaring, Pupitar appeared, its face arrogant. It had learned the "stare down" pose without any training. Then, it was immediately put in its place by Excadrill and Cradily—root binding and head-knocking.
"Pu-pi!" o((⊙﹏⊙))o
Pupitar burst into tears inwardly. Big Bro and Big Sis are definitely jealous of my talent!
Marshtomp watched the conflict with cold eyes.
Seeing the other Pokémon arguing and fighting, only Bronzong remained silent, watching the entire scene without blinking, lost in thought.
"Ha-cha~"
Its stamina mostly recovered, Infernape finally stood up. It walked over to Basalt, bowed in thanks, and then began to gesture wildly, trying to express something, though Basalt looked utterly confused.
"Infernape says, thank you for helping it break its limit. To show its gratitude, it's going to give you all the Magma Crystals it has collected!" Bronzong, though somewhat absent-minded, performed its duty as translator.
"Magma Crystals?" Basalt's eyebrow shot up, his face full of excitement.
Magma Crystals were the solidified essence of magma, a crystalized form of Fire-type energy. They were highly concentrated and perfect for Fire-type Pokémon to absorb and refine, increasing the temperature of their flames. The heat of a Fire-type Pokémon's attack was crucial. The hotter the flame, the easier it was to inflict a "burn" status condition. A burn status meant the opponent would continuously lose health, and their physical attack power would be drastically reduced.
"How can I accept this?" Basalt said humbly.
"Ha-cha~" Infernape waved its hand. After breaking through to the Gym Leader-level, the Magma Crystals were no longer very useful to it. Giving them to Basalt was a simple gesture, and it didn't fully express its gratitude anyway. The crystals were hard-won spoils of war.
In the depths of the rock cave, Infernape retrieved five crystals that glowed with a fiery luster. They were far more brilliant than a normal Fire Stone.
"Five?" Basalt was overjoyed and quickly accepted them. He had assumed he would only get three at most. After all, Magma Crystals took a long time to form and were often seized by other magma-dwelling Pokémon. They were quite rare.
"Ha-cha~" Infernape thumped its chest, its teeth bared. These were all its trophies.
"Here, have one. Share the wealth." Basalt took one Magma Crystal and placed it in Ember's hand. Getting on a rich girl's good side was a necessary step.
Ember's eyes curved into crescents. "Thank you, Senior!" As a talent from the Rong family, Ember wasn't lacking for resources. But the Magma Crystals Infernape produced were of exceptional quality, forming only in deep magma. Even she found them valuable. Moreover, it was a gift from Basalt. She wouldn't refuse it.
"Senior is so good to me! I can't be stingy either. After he catches a Fire-type Pokémon, besides teaching him the 'Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique,' I must go to my grandfather and get him some good items, telling him about Basalt's life-saving grace!" Ember thought, head bowed.
"Del-phox~" Delphox glanced at its trainer with a look of helplessness. My trainer's intelligence seems to be declining again!
Besides the Magma Crystals, Infernape also had an electronic transmitter. With a switch press, it sent a signal. Its trainer would receive the coordinates and come to pick it up. That was their arrangement.
With all that done, Infernape found a spot to rest. Too much had happened today. It needed to rest and absorb the energy from its breakthrough. Its trainer would be happy when he received the signal.
The rock cave was spacious. Basalt and Ember also prepared to rest.
As Basalt was about to lie down, Bronzong approached him.
"What? You want to meditate continuously for half a month to boost your psychic power level?"
Basalt was stunned. Why does this situation feel so familiar?
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