After sending off today's unexpected challenger Poppy, the Sunlight Gym quickly returned to its usual calm.
Because a new "instructor" Glimmora had arrived at the gym, Eevee also had a small task these past couple of days—
Trying to learn Glimmora' signature move, "Mortal Spin."
By spinning and attacking opponents, it not only clears negative effects like Spikes or Sticky Web from its own field but also sprays venom using the force of the spin, causing the opponent to become poisoned.
An all-in-one attack and defense move with incredible quality.
However, Aiden didn't hold much hope for Eevee learning this move.
Previous instructors had already tried—like Shroomish's Spore or Kingdra's Draco Meteor…
Eevee's Sketch is indeed somewhat illegal, but not entirely so.
For example, it can't produce mushroom spores out of thin air or condense Dragon-type energy, so in the end, it always had to give up.
The only move it managed to learn was Toxic, which currently requires Terasterallization Poison to use.
So this time, Aiden just let Eevee try. If it couldn't learn it, it wasn't a big deal.
After restoring vitality quickly with Full Restore, the Glimmora instructor was demonstrating its signature move on the training field.
With a "whoosh," Glimmora immediately began spinning in place, and the venom exuded from its body sprayed everywhere.
"Rio?"
Riolu instinctively dodged, moving fast enough to leave an afterimage, avoiding all the venom Glimmora sprayed.
So that's how it is; watching the battle here also allows simulating real combat scenarios, maintaining focus at all times?
Riolu nodded; it was indeed a good training method.
But while dodging and weaving, it seemed to have overlooked one thing—
Aiden doesn't have Riolu's absurd reaction speed and couldn't dodge the splashing venom.
However, since he dared to stand here, he naturally had his confidence.
After swallowing the Lum Berry he had prepared earlier, Aiden took another berry from his pocket.
Hmm, still quite sweet.
The magical power of berries can cancel out most status conditions, and in this regard, humans and Pokémon are treated equally.
Therefore, even if affected, Aiden could remain unfazed.
"Bui?"
After Glimmora finished several spins, Eevee looked at its own physique and started trying to imitate it by rolling on the ground.
Gururu~
Although it looked very unsuccessful, it was actually quite damaging in some ways because—
"So cute!"
Nemona, who was jogging in place to exercise, noticed Eevee's actions and instantly got a nosebleed from being overwhelmed by cuteness.
Due to her previous journey with the Gym Leader, Nemona deeply understood how fatal poor physical fitness could be for a trainer.
So while training with Pawmo, she also started exercising herself.
As for why not use a treadmill?
Because even the lowest setting was too much for her to handle...
"Hmm, I don't know if it works on Pokémon, but it seems to have a very good effect on some female trainers!"
Seeing this scene, Aiden smiled faintly and bent down to pat Eevee's head.
"Since your body structure isn't suited for spinning like Glimmora, try using just your tail."
"Bui?"
Eevee followed the trainer's idea and began trying, its fluffy large tail starting to rotate and gradually accelerating.
But aside from making people feel like it was showing off its cuteness, it didn't seem to have any other functions.
"..."
Glimmora also looked confused.
Spinning is an instinct for all Glimmora; they naturally learned this exclusive move upon evolving from Glimmet.
But teaching other Pokémon this move was definitely a first.
Could it be that I am an incompetent teacher, unable to teach such a simple move?
Glimmora began doubting itself.
...
Time quickly approached evening.
After Poppy's challenge, Aiden's thoughts were broadened by this battle.
Though Corrosion Glimmora made Toxic flawless, and its sufficiently elite moveset could drag opponents to death, there seemed to be another highly capable Pokémon besides it, especially one that worked exceptionally well against Steel types and was native to Paldea…
Yes, its name is—
The so-called Salt King, Garganacl!
It is also the representative Pokémon of Tyme, the former Montenevera Gym Leader who recently resigned to become the future math teacher at Naranja Academy!
Upon reflection, many veteran trainers in Paldea are pretty hardcore.
Apart from the poison users among the League higher-ups, Geeta and Rika, there's also Director Clavell who uses Amoongus, Tyme who uses the Salt King, Miriam who uses Toxapex, etc.
Each of them is ridiculously sinister!
I told you Paldeans are all capable people; how could I alone affect an entire region's competitive style...
Before going live, Aiden quickly determined his main Pokémon for tonight.
At 6:30 PM, Aiden's live stream promptly opened.
Today's stream title was "Paldea Pokémon Overhaul Plan — The Gentle Salt King Can Also Dominate Ranked Battles!"
Seeing the barrage of comments, countless students from Naranja Academy flooded in.
[No spies, come share tactics that locals can learn!]
[Salt King? Isn't it Garganacl?]
[Wasn't that the main Pokémon of former Montenevera Gym Leader Teacher Tyme? Her Flame Punch once instantly KO'd my Meowscarada...]
Because of today's title, most of the chat consisted of Paldea locals.
Of course, some viewers were still unclear about the situation.
[What kind of Pokémon is Salt King? Can the streamer explain first!]
"Who else could the Salt King be but our Paldean Garganacl?"
Aiden smiled slightly and briefly explained.
"When it comes to Garganacl, although few people use it, its strength is no joke."
"Though purely Rock-type, it has two abilities that I think are excellent: Purifying Salt and Clear Body."
Clear Body prevents abilities or moves from reducing stats due to opponents.
Metagross, Dragapult, and the three Regis all possess this ability, and just purely judging by its peers, it must be strong.
Purifying Salt is even more significant.
Pokémon with this ability cannot be inflicted with status conditions and receive half damage from Ghost-type moves.
Both are excellent abilities.
"The students of Paldea must know that Garganacl is famous in the wild as a great Pokémon."
"It often lets injured Pokémon lick the salt it sheds, which has a miraculous effect of rapidly healing wounds."
"However, this Pokémon is also very powerful in battles."
"It has a move that only the Garganacl line can learn, called—"
"Salt Cure!"
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