"You could say that."
Adam nodded, "So how can a Pokémon appear more elegant?"
Baimu pondered for a moment, then tentatively replied, "Hmm... advanced aesthetics?"
To capture the attention of others, you certainly need some aesthetics; if you can't impress the audience and judges, how would they give high scores?
"Hahaha, an interesting explanation, and not wrong either. Aesthetics is indeed important."
Adam chuckled and continued, "In my view, elegance is quite a broad term. If you want to precisely manifest it, it can be divided into five types—
"Beauty, coolness, strength, intelligence, and cuteness."
Hmm? Isn't this the grouping for the Gorgeous Competition in the game?
Baimu was left stunned.
Adam simply thought he was engrossed in listening and continued, "These five expressions run through the Gorgeous Competition and complement each other. No matter which one you develop to its peak, it can help you become a top Coordinator Trainer."
"... I see."
He showed a look of understanding.
There were no detailed concept groupings in the animation, so identifying these five qualities purely came from the experience of a middle-aged gentleman.
Although the content wasn't profound, it could even be considered basic, its importance is undeniable.
"Today, what I'm going to teach you should be very familiar to you, and it's the art of showcasing a Pokémon's 'intelligence'—Attack in Place of Defense."
Adam said softly, "Do you remember that Water Flow Ring that merged with Blizzard and struck your Milotic?"
"Yes, yes." Baimu nodded frantically.
"Hehe, it seems it left a deep impression on you. So why don't we review it again?"
He smiled, looking at one person and their two Pokémon, spreading his hands invitingly, "Feel free to launch an attack."
"Mawile?" "Blissey?"
Mawile and Blissey exchanged a glance, then simultaneously turned to look at their Trainer.
Baimu looked at the latter and decisively said:
"Blissey! Use Strong Mental Will!"
Spiritual Power is intangible. He was very curious how the Water Flow Ring could counter it like it did with Blizzard, reflecting it back almost as if merging.
Adam seemed so confident; he most likely wouldn't be disappointed.
"Blissey!"
Blissey took a step forward, raised its small hands high, and its eyes gleamed with blue light.
Soon, a layer of blue membrane also enveloped its body, and invisible power extended towards the Seaking in the pond like tentacles.
"Water Flow Ring."
Bang!
Seaking flicked its tail fin, and the surrounding tide surged like towering walls. But in the next second, the powerful Spiritual Power struck the water wall heavily, instantly shattering it.
However, Blissey didn't feel delighted but instead stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Blissey!?"
Because the broken water didn't dissipate but continued rolling in waves, forcibly severing the Spiritual Power it had released.
This formed an atypical Water Flow Ring, which rolled vertically, giving birth to a unique entity!
Adam turned to Baimu and said softly:
"Spiritual Power indeed is a quite troublesome attack method, but even with an invisible and intangible guise, it cannot change its classification as a kind of energy.
"And water, with form and substance, can encompass all things."
The words fell.
The vertically rolling Water Flow Ring suddenly expanded, and Blissey could feel its own Spiritual Power being slammed back like a wall within the rolling water.
Along with cold water splashes.
Splash!
"Blissey..."
Blissey wiped its wet little face in dismay. Although with its exaggerated Special Defense, this kind of attack was no different from an itch, it was quite insulting.
Of course, gentle Blissey rarely genuinely gets angry with other Pokémon; it just felt it was too careless.
If given another chance, it definitely wouldn't be so easily defeated!
"Did you see it? That's water's Attack in Place of Defense."
Adam's voice swirled around Baimu's ears.
He silently pondered the sudden changes that occurred when the Water Flow Ring was used just now.
Though Blissey, like the Galarian Corsola, follows a continuous damage path, its use of Strong Mental Will wasn't weak; otherwise, he wouldn't frequently use it for output.
Seaking's ability to break this move proved that Adam's strategy of using attack as a form of defense was real and not just an illusion or hollow strength.
"Water Flow Ring is just one form of Attack in Place of Defense; don't focus too much on it. The emphasis lies on guiding and countering moves, and capturing key moments."
Adam paused for a moment and said, "Launch another attack."
"Okay!"
Baimu calmed the restless Blissey and looked at the long-awaiting Mawile, "Mawile... use Big Character Burst Flame!"
"Chido!"
Excitedly, Mawile swung the giant jaw at the back of its head, causing it to suddenly open wide and spit out a burst of flame upwards, then it slammed the fireball hard like a racket!
Bam!
The fireball exploded, transforming into flames in the shape of a big character, flying out with a roar!
This was a move it had inexplicably used while reviewing Flame Spin Dance not long ago, giving Mawile, who hadn't been able to comprehend a new skill for a long time, a surprise.
It must be said that although it's a physically attacking Pokémon, the power of this special attack move looks quite substantial as well.
It's as if in the animation world, high-power moves have extra damage correction.
Seeing the formidable Big Character Burst Flame, Adam could only smile ruefully, "Seaking, Unicorne Drill."
"Mahwoo!"
Seaking's eyes gleamed fiercely, and the horn on its forehead spun rapidly like a drill, emitting an extremely sharp screech!
Buzz——!!
And at the moment the Big Character Burst Flame hit its body, it seemed to be pulled by a mysterious force, swirling around Seaking's horn, forming a Flame Vortex.
"Rebound it back."
"Mahwoo!"
Seaking followed the trainer's instructions, suddenly speeding up the rotation of its horn and transforming the burning flames into a thick pillar, rebounding it back aggressively!
Baimu squinted slightly, "Spinning Flame Fang!"
"Chido!"
Mawile responded excitedly, pivoting quickly on one foot.
During the spin, flames emerged again from the giant jaw behind its head, threading together and spreading out, soon completely wrapping it into a flame projectile, colliding with the roaring flame pillar.
Boom!!
The flame pillar exploded, some of it scattered, but most of it integrated back into the spinning flame projectile, suddenly swelling into a gigantic fireball!
"Chido!"
Accompanied by a high-pitched screech, the transformed giant fireball Mawile leaped high, like a crimson cannonball, charging at Seaking!
"Oh?"
Adam's expression shifted from helplessness to delight.
He had intended to tell Baimu not to worry too much, even during teaching one should fully unleash the Pokémon's strength. Mawile was clearly adept at physical attacks, using special attacks was meaningless.
But seeing it now, this duo clearly had other plans!
Adam quickly shouted, "Seaking! Ultrasonic!"
"Mahwoo——"
Seaking opened its mouth with a cry, a visible white sound wave transformed into a shockwave targeting the Mawile already in front of it, but only dispersed the outermost layer of flame.
Moreover, it was as if the fuse had been lit, the giant fireball exploded suddenly!
Boom!!
The deafening explosion and soaring flames engulfed the pool where Seaking was located, the rolling blast waves swept across the faces of the two people and one Pokémon outside the field like aftermath.
Moments later.
Mawile appeared at the edge of the pool, while Seaking had already moved from its original position to a far corner by the water's edge, revealing only a horn and a pair of eyes, its body underwater seemed to have some scorch marks from the flames.
"This is truly incredible."
Adam marveled at the scene.
Baimu bowed his head to apologize, "I'm sorry, Teacher Adam, I overstepped."
Just now Mawile's response to Seaking's rebounding flame pillar clearly showed a shadow of Attack in Place of Defense.
After all, it's a tactic he's always used in battles, Seaking and Adam just inspired him, plus Mawile's little private intention.
Ultimately leading to this Attack in Place of Defense based on Flame Fang.
So far, it seems Mawile executed it quite successfully.
But right now, during Adam's teaching time, without permission, experimenting with moves seems very impolite.
Even if the other party never said counterattacks were not allowed.
"It's okay, I'm not upset about it."
Adam shook his head, "On the contrary, I'm pleased to teach a student who understands immediately and dares to practice like you. It's my fortune as a teacher."
But after feeling gratified, he couldn't help but recall the fact that Baimu already possesses a trump card Pokémon.
Such good talent.
What a pity it is!!