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Chapter 196: The Four Secret Techniques
🕑 Added 2025-09-12 14:20:47 +0000 UTCChapter 196: The Four Secret Techniques
Beep. The scan was successful, and Bronzong's data appeared on the Pokédex.
Bronzong
Type: Steel / Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Moves: Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Gyro Ball, Flash, Double Team, Calm Mind, Psybeam, Gravity, Bulldoze, Imprison, Rock Tomb, Charge Beam, Grass Knot, Reflect, Iron Defense, Metal Sound, Psychic, Flash Cannon, Solar Beam, Substitute, Sucker Punch, Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Psyshock, Heavy Slam, Safeguard, Sunny Day, Protect.
"Six new moves? A true battle prodigy," Basalt marveled at the updated move list.
Zen Headbutt: A Psychic-type move. The user focuses its willpower into its forehead and attacks. May cause flinching.
Psyshock: A Psychic-type move. The user materializes an odd psychic wave to attack the target. This attack deals physical damage.
Heavy Slam: A Steel-type move. The user slams into the target with its heavy body. The heavier the user is compared to the target, the greater the move's power.
Safeguard: A Normal-type move. The user creates a protective field that prevents status conditions.
Sunny Day: A Fire-type move. The user intensifies the sun for five turns, powering up Fire-type moves and weakening Water-type moves.
Protect: A Normal-type move. Enables the user to evade all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession.
Zen Headbutt and Psyshock were powerful, native-type Psychic moves, one physical and one special. Heavy Slam was even more terrifying; as a native-type Steel move, its power was directly proportional to Bronzong's weight. With its current mass, the effect would be explosive. If it used Gravity on itself first to increase its weight even further... Basalt figured it could probably just sit on and crush most opponents. A violent, if not particularly elegant, way to win.
"That would be a sight to see," he thought with a grin.
Safeguard was an invaluable status-prevention move. Sunny Day was a weather move, a natural talent for a Pokémon once revered as a bringer of harvests.
"You're straying from the path," Basalt muttered, his eye twitching. After absorbing two Smooth Rocks, it still hadn't learned Sandstorm, but the moment it evolved, it learned Sunny Day. It was like his Pokémon was deliberately trying to be difficult. "Looks like Sandstorm training is next on the agenda. This is a Sandstorm team, after all. You have to at least pretend to do your job."
But what surprised Basalt the most was the last move: Protect. It was a god-tier defensive move, on par with Excadrill's Wide Guard, and exactly what Bronzong needed most.
"Wow, Basalt, your Bronzong has so many moves," Summer said, a hint of a pout on her face as she looked at her own Pokédex. It wasn't just bigger and stronger; it knew at least seven or eight more moves than her own Bronzong. Even though they were from the same clan and had evolved at the same time, she and Barry both felt like their Bronzong were a completely different, and inferior, species.
"It's alright, I guess," Basalt said with a laugh, not knowing how to console them. My Bronzong is a battle prodigy. Of course your ordinary ones can't compare.
"Brooonzong~" Just then, the Great Elder's voice echoed in their minds once more.
"You are all the best and brightest of the human trainers, and our Bronzong are no less exceptional. I hope you will treat each other well in the future."
"Of course, Great Elder," the three of them replied, patting their chests in a solemn promise.
"Very good," the elder nodded. "For thousands of years, our clan has passed down four secret techniques. They are Calm Mind, Skill Swap, Speed Swap, and Heal Block. You may each choose one to learn."
Summer and Barry's faces lit up. They knew the value of a high-tier status move manual.
Basalt, however, just glanced at his Bronzong, a silent question in his eyes. Only one? That's not enough for you.
"Don't worry," Bronzor's voice came through, a hint of smugness in its tone. "My status is different. We can have... all of them."
Ordinary members of the clan were only allowed to learn one of the secret techniques after evolving, and they had to master it before moving on to the next. But Basalt's Bronzong was the clan's prodigy. The Great Elder had already taught it the Calm Mind technique when it was just a Bronzor. It was confident that the elder would not refuse its request for the others.
"Solid," Basalt said with a thumbs-up.
"I choose Calm Mind," Barry said, raising his hand first. As a trainer from a rustic, battle-hardened family, the move that boosted psychic power and Special Attack was the perfect fit for him.
"I choose Heal Block," Summer said next, a choice that surprised Basalt slightly.
"And you, Basalt?" the Great Elder asked.
"What should we choose?" Bronzong asked, equally curious.
"With your current condition, what else could we choose?" Basalt said, rolling his eyes. "I choose Speed Swap."
Bronzong's immense weight made it as slow as a slug. Speed Swap, which allowed it to exchange its speed stat with an opponent, was the perfect way to turn that weakness into a weapon.
"An excellent choice," the Great Elder nodded. Its eyes glowed, and a wave of psychic energy washed over the three trainers and their Pokémon. In an instant, the knowledge of their chosen techniques was imprinted directly into their minds.
"The secret is now yours. The rest is up to you," the elder's voice grew weary, but its eyes were filled with hope as it looked at the new generation, especially at Basalt's massive Bronzong.
"We will do our best, Great Elder," they all replied.
"Then you may spend the next few days here on Mount Veridian, mastering your new skills. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask."
The trial in the Hidden Land was for ten days. They were already on day five. "We have five days left," Summer said, full of energy. "Let's work hard and master these techniques!"
But Basalt and Bronzong were not so easily satisfied. After Summer and Barry had left, they exchanged a look.
"What are you thinking about?" Bronzong asked.
"I'm thinking about someone," Basalt replied.
A glint appeared in Bronzong's eye. "Funny. I'm thinking about an insect."
"I'm thinking about revenge," Basalt said, looking at Bronzong.
"Funny," it replied, a cold smile in its voice. "So am I."
They both burst out laughing. "It seems we're on the same page."
