Teddiursa was a native Pokémon of the Johto region—small in size, with a light brown body and a white crescent mark on its forehead. It looked adorably silly and innocent.
Though it would eventually evolve into the hulking Ursaring, at the Teddiursa stage it was still very weak.
This time, Yozora didn't use the Power of Aura, but he could faintly sense the presence of his opponent's Teddiursa. Not bad—it had already surpassed the Rookie stage and reached the level of a Senior Pokémon.
"Since it's Senior level… then—" Yozora smirked, sending out the Crystal Onix.
"Roooaaaarrr…"
The Crystal Onix's massive body let out a beastly roar, a sound filled with pressure and overwhelming force.
"No way, an Onix? No—wait! A Crystal Onix?!"
In an instant, every spectator's eyes widened in disbelief. They couldn't imagine such a creature actually existed in this world.
"Look at that! Its entire body is made of pure crystal—it's beautiful! Incredible! Thank you, nature, thank you heavens, thank you Creator, for letting me witness such a legendary, rare species…!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk… The Champion is truly on another level. He casually sends out a Pokémon that's rare beyond imagination!"
"Exactly! Against a Crystal Onix, that little Teddiursa over there isn't even worth mentioning…"
The crowd boiled over with excitement, pointing and whispering.
Countless people looked up at Yozora with admiration, while their gazes toward Aki were filled with mockery.
They scolded him for not knowing his limits—how could a nobody dare challenge the Champion?
The words around him made Aki grind his teeth. He wasn't weak—he had barely managed to reach the level of a Senior Trainer.
Judging by its aura, that Crystal Onix looked majestic and dazzling, but its actual level wasn't that high. Its pressure didn't feel that overwhelming.
"Hmph, what's the big deal? A Crystal Onix is just a slightly rarer version of an Onix."
Aki sneered. "Go, Teddiursa! Use Fury Swipes!"
"Crystal Onix, use Harden," Yozora commanded at the same time.
Bam, bam, bam!
Teddiursa leapt up, slashing three times with its sharp claws against Crystal Onix's body.
But…
The three consecutive blows didn't even leave the faintest mark.
The crystal surface where it had been struck still gleamed with flawless brilliance—untouched, unbroken.
"Damn it… what incredible defense!" Aki's face twisted.
Crystal Onix and ordinary Onix might differ in typing and abilities, but their physical stats were the same.
Both excelled at physical offense and defense.
Its defense was already formidable, and with Harden boosting it further, there was no way Teddiursa of the same level could break through.
"Now's the chance—Crystal Onix, use Bind!"
At Yozora's order, Crystal Onix let out a guttural roar, sweeping its long tail around and seizing Teddiursa, squeezing tightly.
In an instant, Teddiursa's face went pale.
The next second, it collapsed unconscious, completely unable to fight.
Crystal Onix specialized in physical offense, and with its Huge Power ability, its physical strength was terrifying. One move was enough to take Teddiursa down instantly!
"Ah! Teddiursa! Return!"
Aki cried out, quickly recalling it. Gritting his teeth, he sent out his next Pokémon. "Onix's greatest weakness is water! Now it's your turn—go, Lombre!"
Lombre, the evolved form of Lotad from the Hoenn region, stood upright like a little green humanoid, with a broad lily pad atop its head like a hat.
It possessed both Water and Grass types.
But Aki's Lombre wasn't particularly strong either—merely Senior level.
"Lombre, finish it with Water Gun!" Aki shouted confidently.
"Pshhh—"
Obeying the command, Lombre blasted a stream of water straight at Crystal Onix.
Yet even after taking the hit, Crystal Onix showed no pain at all.
"Hisss…"
This time, not only Aki but also the spectators gasped in shock.
An Onix… unfazed by water?
Could it be that Crystal Onix had mutated into a unique species entirely separate from ordinary Onix?
Had its typing—its very weaknesses—been completely altered?
"What the hell?! An Onix that isn't weak to water?!"
Aki's face darkened, but he quickly changed tactics. "Lombre, use Razor Leaf instead!"
Lombre stopped its Water Gun and launched sharp spinning leaves.
But just as it attacked, Yozora gave his order: "Crystal Onix, use Icy Wind!"
"Whoooosh—"
Crystal Onix opened its massive jaws and exhaled a freezing gust. The icy wind shattered the incoming Razor Leaf attack and simultaneously slowed Lombre down.
Icy Wind was a special attack.
Crystal Onix wasn't known for Special Attack power, so its Icy Wind wasn't especially strong—but it was enough to suppress Lombre's movements.
"Wham!"
Having lived for decades, Crystal Onix was cunning and intelligent.
Seeing Lombre stagger under the icy wind, it whipped its tail around in a crushing strike, smacking Lombre off its feet and knocking it out instantly.
That tail strike wasn't even a proper move—just a normal physical attack.
But with Huge Power boosting it, its physical strength far surpassed even Icy Wind's damage. One blow was all it took!
"Icy Wind? Are you kidding me?! Since when could an Onix use Ice-type moves?!"
"This is insane! That Crystal Onix definitely isn't a normal Onix! Maybe it's not Rock-type at all—it could be Ice-type instead!"
"Yeah, exactly! Otherwise, how could it ignore Water Gun like it was nothing?"
The spectators were in an uproar, and Aki's expression shifted into a grin.
If it was truly Ice-type, that would be perfect. His Combusken, a Fire-type Pokémon, specialized in countering Ice-types.
"You're my last hope—Combusken, I choose you!"
His final Pokémon leapt into the arena, and Aki commanded instantly: "Use Flamethrower!"
"Fwooosh—"
The fiery stream roared toward Crystal Onix.
But Yozora only smiled faintly. He didn't even give a counter-order. He simply allowed the Flamethrower to engulf Crystal Onix.
And then…
The flames were absorbed the moment they touched Crystal Onix's crystalline body!
The fire grew smaller… and smaller… until it vanished completely.
Crystal Onix remained unharmed.
…
…
(End of Chapter)