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Block is a move that puts the target in a "can't escape" condition. Pokemon trapped by this condition cannot be withdrawn from battle. When the Pokemon using Block is withdrawn, the "can't escape" condition disappears.
Block will always hit its target, unless the opponent is using moves like Stockpile and isn't currently on the battlefield.
This is how the Block move functions in the official games.
Simply put, Block prevents the opponent from withdrawing their Pokemon from battle.
Similar moves include Mean Look, Spider Web, and Jaw Lock. The ability Shadow Tag produces the same effect.
Chris opened with the Block command because he predicted that Elian would try to withdraw his Pokemon.
His prediction proved correct, hitting the mark perfectly.
Though perhaps it wasn't entirely luck.
Before the battle began, Chris had carefully analyzed Elian's personality and fighting style. Despite his arrogant behavior and boastful language, Elian's actual tactical choices and battle approach were remarkably cautious and methodical.
The first Dragonite in his lineup possessed moderate combat power - neither exceptionally strong nor weak - making it ideal for testing opponents and launching probing attacks.
When facing a Pokemon with type advantage against his own, Elian rarely chose to fight head-on. Instead, he would switch Pokemon. In the battle videos Chris had studied, Elian made this tactical withdrawal eight times out of ten encounters.
His arrogant persona was merely a disguise masking his careful, calculated approach to battle.
Within seconds, Elian - a veteran of countless battles - regained his composure, though his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
He suspected that Chris hadn't just predicted his opening move, but had somehow anticipated his choice of starting Pokemon as well.
"What kind of mental fortitude do young trainers possess these days?" Elian wondered silently. "Do they truly fear nothing? To make such bold predictions when challenging an Elite trainer..."
"Without that prediction, Aggron would have been at a severe disadvantage," Elian admitted to himself. If he had chosen to attack immediately instead of attempting to withdraw his Pokemon, Aggron would have been walking into certain defeat.
Unfortunately, there are no second chances in Pokemon battles.
"Dragonite, use Hurricane!" Elian commanded in a measured tone.
Dragonite immediately began flapping its small but powerful wings, generating fierce winds. The gusts surged forward, then curved back, creating a swirling vortex that grew into a massive tornado reaching tens of meters into the sky.
The Hurricane descended, enveloping Dragonite within its protective whirlwind.
However, what caught Chris's attention was the brief flash of silver light that surrounded Dragonite just before the Hurricane concealed it completely.
That was Dragon Dance!
If Chris's memory served him correctly, this was a devastating combination.
"Combining Hurricane with Dragon Dance? That technique could be called Hurricane Dragon Dance," Chris observed, his eyes gleaming with interest.
He had learned something valuable. After returning home, he could teach this combination to his Salamence.
Chris raised his hand and snapped his fingers to issue his command.
"Aggron, use Rock Slide!"
"Aggron!" Aggron roared, spreading its massive arms wide.
The thunderous cry echoed across the battlefield, simultaneously tearing open the sky above. Dark cracks appeared like tears in a curtain, rapidly expanding into circular portals.
Different dimensions were connecting!
Suddenly, rock spikes began raining down from above.
No - these weren't ordinary rock spikes!
The stone projectiles falling from the dark interdimensional passages were coated with a brilliant golden sheen!
This transformation wasn't caused by any special Pokemon held items. Instead, Aggron's Rock-type moves were evolving toward something greater - "Golden Stone" mastery!
Like Zeraora's enhanced Thunder attacks, Golden Stone possessed additional effects that ordinary Rock-type moves lacked.
It made Rock-type attacks more destructive while creating stones that were both harder and heavier than normal.
The reason Aggron had achieved this evolution while Tyranitar - also a Rock-type - had not remained unclear to Chris. He suspected it might be connected to the mysterious syrup they had discovered in the ancient Onix tomb, or perhaps Aggron's status as a Shiny Pokemon.
The obsidian Steelix had also undergone similar evolution, though its transformation affected its Steel typing rather than Rock.
The sky filled with golden spikes cascading downward.
Each Golden Spike carried more weight than ordinary rock projectiles and dealt significantly more damage upon impact.
Most importantly, Rock Slide dealt super-effective damage against Dragonite's Flying type.
When combined with the enhanced golden effect, the potential damage was explosive!
"Whoosh!"
A sharp sound suddenly pierced the battlefield air, like an arrow shot with tremendous force, cutting through the atmosphere as it approached its target.
But no arrow traversed the battlefield - it was Dragonite!
Both of its fists glowed with brilliant light, dazzling and intense! Its speed surpassed that of a diving falcon. Before its body fully arrived, powerful gusts of wind struck Aggron's face like crashing waves.
"Extreme Speed combined with Brick Break," Chris analyzed using his enhanced observation skills - what he had come to call his "analytical eyes."
This was typical Elite-level strategy: "combination techniques."
Elite trainers' Pokemon excelled at multitasking, frequently executing two or three moves simultaneously with perfect coordination between sequential attacks.
Hurricane plus Dragon Dance provided both offensive and defensive benefits while boosting stats during the attack.
Extreme Speed plus Brick Break used the Hurricane's cover to conceal Dragonite's approach, making the already difficult-to-counter Extreme Speed even more unpredictable. The speed boost from Extreme Speed also amplified Brick Break's devastating power.
Speed equals power!
Elian chose Brick Break over Dragon-type moves despite the stat boost because, as a Fighting-type attack, it dealt quadruple damage to Aggron's Rock/Steel typing!
As a renowned Flying-type Elite trainer, learning Fighting-type moves to counter Rock-types was standard strategy.
In response, Chris calmly raised his hand.
"Aggron, use Iron Defense!"
Immediately, Aggron's body erupted in brilliant silver-white light as its defensive capabilities rapidly increased!
But this was only the beginning. The silver light faded, replaced by radiant, multicolored energy.
Iron Defense was Chris's verbal command to Aggron. As the trainer, he activated the power of his Key Stone.
"Mega Evolution! Aggron!"
When the colorful light subsided, a transformed Aggron emerged!
Sharper angles, thicker steel plating, increased mass, and greater height defined its new form.
The golden mountain had become a golden fortress!
Mega Aggron brought enhanced defensive and offensive capabilities to the battle.
In game terms, its Defense stat skyrocketed from 180 to 230 - a value exceeded only by the massive Eternamax Eternatus, surpassing even legendary Pokemon!
Add Iron Defense's boost to this already incredible defense, then factor in the quadruple type resistance, and the result was nearly impenetrable protection.