บท 381: Final Preparation

"Since you have trusted me on this, let me help you in increasing your power. Come here and use this TM," said Axel.

The TM was of 'Hidden Power.' Steelix had been with Axel for some time now. However, he had still not let it learn 'Hidden Power' due to the scarcity of the TM itself.

When Axel came from Pallet Town, he had not thought to catch any new Pokémon, so he naturally didn't take any TM for 'Hidden Power.' After catching Steelix, he had told Oak to make a TM for 'Hidden Power,' and it had just been delivered yesterday.

Axel could also make the TM for 'Hidden Power,' but he didn't have the resources right now. So, he could only request Oak for it. Oak was busy with his own work, which was why it had taken so much time.

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Ding!

Congratulations! Steelix has learned Hidden Power. Hidden Power - Water.

---

Axel didn't know what to do with a Steelix that had a Hidden Power typing of water. If Hidden Power was fully mastered in the future, it would have steel, ground, and water typing.

Having a water type did let it have two fewer weaknesses - fire and water - but it also added two weaknesses, grass, and electric.

He told Steelix to learn 'Water Gun' and 'Hydro Pump' from Gyarados. It was a weird instruction from Axel, as he knew it was not a water type Pokémon. So, how could it learn water type moves?

Axel then went on to tell Steelix about the concept of 'Hidden Power.' It was a long explanation, but it got the gist of it. Steelix was surprised by the potential of 'Hidden Power.' If it could properly master it, it would be very powerful. Steelix was delighted that it chose to be a part of Axel's team.

Axel still didn't know what would happen when 'Hidden Power' was fully mastered. He did know that a Pokémon could not master it at pseudo-king rank. It might be able to master it in king rank or champion rank.

How did he know?

Alakazam was the one who had the highest mastery in Hidden Power, as its Hidden Power was 'Psychic.' It was comfortably mastering it till 80%. After 80%, the mastery of Hidden Power refused to rise up.

Its psychic abilities were increasing, but the mastery of Hidden Power was not. So, he came to the conclusion that the 'Hidden Power' would not be mastered in pseudo-king rank.

Axel discovered that when a Pokémon ranks up to higher rank, it could raise the mastery of Hidden Power more comfortably, but there seemed to be a cap in every rank.

###

After 2 days,

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Ding!

Gogoat has learned a new move. Name the move.

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"Let's call it Grass Domain."

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Ding!

The move has been named.

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Gogoat had already leveled up 'Field Control,' 'Bullet Seed,' and 'Seed Bomb' to level 45. 'Field Control' would take less stamina than before.

The seed of 'Bullet Seed' had become much more reliable, so now they could be used at great speed. The speed was still not the normal speed of the attack, but it was faster than before.

Recently, Gogoat had leveled up 'Bullet Seed' to 40, making it able to use it in a creative way. The seed now holds the power to detonate, and it could use 'Seed Bomb' to detonate it after some time. However, since the seed now had the properties to detonate, it could not use the attack at high speed. After leveling up to 45, the disadvantage of the move had been lessened.

After leveling up to 45, 'Seed Bomb' can now be used at a set time from 1 minute to 5 minutes. Before, Gogoat had to actively control the bombing of the seed, which would make Gogoat consume its stamina continuously. Now, it had a timer. The seeds could detonate between 1 minute to 5 minutes.

Except for mastering its ability, it had fulfilled all of its conditions to fight Hypno. Axel was positive that it would be able to do it before the 1-month training period was over. Axel told it to train its new move and level it up as much as it could.

Just as Axel was thinking about it,

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Ding!

Gyarados's Aqua Tail has leveled up to 40. The move is much more coordinated and more powerful than before.

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Axel could see that Gyarados was finally able to halve the water of the lake with its 'Aqua Tail.' It was a tremendous achievement for it. Axel could not count how much time it had used the said move.

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Ding!

Gyarados has fulfilled the rank-up condition. Ding! Gyarados is ranking up.

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Axel threw the 'Mystic Water' that he had collected from the forest of Hakone City. It was a type-enhancing item, and it was of perfect age for Gyarados.

A blue light started to cover Gyarados. The process of rank-up took 5 minutes, and finally,

ROARRRRRR

Gyarados roared in excitement. It had finally ranked up to Elemental Rank.

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Ding!

Congratulations! Gyarados has ranked up to Elemental Rank.

---

Axel had half expected it to rage and thrash, but it didn't do any of those things. It took time to gather its thoughts and finally became normal after 20 minutes.

Gyarados was the species known for destruction, but it was also a Pokémon that was fiercely loyal to its trainer. That was why it didn't act up.

Axel looked at Gyarados's stats after a long time.

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Pokemon's name: Gyarados (Age - 1.5 years)

Pokemon Nickname: N/A

Pokemon rank: Elemental

Ability: Intimidate (75%)

Hidden ability: Moxie (65%)

Potential: Brown

Health: 3000/3000 Attack: F

Agility: F Defense: F

Sp. Atk: F Sp. Def: F

Moves: Splash (U) (Lvl 18 max), Tackle (C) (Lvl 20 max), Hyper Beam (G) (Lvl 39), Hydro Pump (G) (Lvl 39), Outrage (G) (Lvl 34), Dragon Dance (G) (Lvl 39), Rain Dance (G) (Lvl 39), Twister (G) (Lvl 39), Hurricane (G) (Lvl 39), Thunder (G) (Lvl 39), Stone Edge (G) (Lvl 39), Stealth Rock (G) (Lvl 39), Crunch (G) (Lvl 39), Thrash (G) (Lvl 39), Sky Walk (G) (Lvl 38), Aqua Tail (E) (Lvl 40), Water Gun (C) (Lvl 23), Water Manipulation (Lvl 8)

Core: Water (Mastered)

Hidden Power: Rock (9%)

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Most of its moves were at level 39 now. Its ability and hidden ability mastery were showing as they had increased by 10% each. It had recently learned 'Water Manipulation,' so that was why it was only level 8. All in all, it had powered up. Axel could feel that Gyarados had become much more powerful than before. Even though all of its stats had returned to F, he could see that its stats have increased a lot.

Just after a day, Pidgeotto had fulfilled its condition, and now all of its stats were in rank S. It started to evolve further. It took around 4 minutes to complete the evolution.

Instead of a Pidgeotto, there was an avian Pokémon with large wings, sharp talons, and a short, hooked beak. Its glossy plumage was mostly brown with cream-colored underparts and flight feathers. Its head had a decorated crest that is nearly as long as its body. The center feathers of its crest were yellow, while the outer feathers were red. The fan-like feathers of its tail were red or brown. Its beak and legs were pink, and there were three forward-facing toes and one backward-facing toe on each foot. Behind each eye was an angular black marking.

It was Pidgeot.

CRIIIIIIII

The sound of its roar was very loud and menacing. It flew high in the air and started to turn around. It was now testing its new body. After it was satisfied with it, it started to hover around Axel happily, telling him that it had evolved.

It had finally reached uncommon rank.

Axel patted its head for a job well done. He looked into its stats.

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Pokemon's name: Pidgeot (Age - 7 months)

Pokemon Nickname: Flappy

Pokemon rank: Uncommon

Ability: Keen Eyes (70%)

Hidden ability: Big Pecks (40%)

Potential: Brown (Monstrous)

Health: 1500/1500 Attack: F

Agility: F Defense: F

Sp. Atk: F Sp. Def: F

Moves: Sand Attack (C) (Lvl 27), Wing Attack (G) (Lvl 38), Aerial Ace (G) (Lvl 39), Double Team (C) (Lvl 27), Steel Wing (G) (Lvl 39), Parabolic Charge (G) (Lvl 36), Agility (G) (Lvl 34), Roost (C) (Lvl 26), Tailwind (E) (Lvl 43), Work Up (G) (Lvl 32), Whirlwind (G) (Lvl 33), Air Slash (C) (Lvl 26), Feint Attack (C) (Lvl 21), Brave Bird (C) (Lvl 28), Foresight (C) (Lvl 20), Secret Power (U) (Lvl 19)

Hidden Power: Electric (3%)

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These were not the stats of a normal uncommon rank Pokémon. Most of its moves were at level 30. Tailwind had already leveled up to 43, and it also had a good grasp on its ability and hidden ability mastery. It had low health, but that was expected.

Axel never imagined Pidgeot to be a tank with high health and defense. He imagined it to have high speed and high attack, and till now it was doing quite a good job.