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Chapter 123: Slash
🕑 Added 2025-08-07 14:46:04 +0000 UTCChapter 123: Slash
"Dragon Claw, Slash, Shadow Claw... I can choose any of them?" Basalt's eyebrows shot up.
After a week in Group B, he had learned a bit about Mr. Leo. In addition to being a veteran Professional-Rank trainer, he was also a master of claw-based moves. His own Persian was an expert in various claw attacks.
"You can add Fury Swipes and X-Scissor to that list," Mr. Leo said with a smile.
"But your Drilbur probably can't sense Dragon-type energy, right?" he added as a gentle warning. "And its compatibility with Ghost and Bug-type energy isn't great either. Learning those would be very difficult."
Basalt was a little disappointed. "So it's just between Slash and Fury Swipes?"
He knew Mr. Leo was right. In his final year of high school, with time being so precious, it was pointless to try to learn a move that was a bad fit. It would be a waste of effort.
He was torn. Drilbur already knew Rapid Spin and Fury Swipes, so it had a basic understanding of Normal-type energy. Learning another Normal-type move would be easier.
Slash, the Normal-type move that uses sharp claws to cut the opponent, with a chance to lower the opponent's Defense.
Fury Swipes, the Normal-type move that uses claws or scythes to slash the opponent, with a high critical-hit ratio.
In terms of power, the two were roughly equal. In terms of secondary effects, both were very useful. It was a tough choice.
"I'll learn... Slash," he finally decided. He felt that Slash's defense-lowering effect, combined with Metal Claw's attack-boosting effect, would be a perfect match. As for the critical-hit ratio, in the real world, that often required a level of calm and focus that his Drilbur lacked. It was the same reason it was stuck on Hone Claws. So, to be safe, he chose Slash.
"Slash? A good choice. In that case, let's begin," Mr. Leo said with a smile, throwing a Poké Ball.
"Meowth~"
The lazy-looking Persian appeared once again. Basalt sent out his Drilbur and told it to watch closely.
"Persian, Slash!"
"Meowth~" Persian let out a cry, its right claw raised, Normal-type energy gathering and making its claws glow with a white light.
"Gathering the energy on the claws is just a basic scratch attack," Mr. Leo began to explain. "What makes Slash special is its ability to lower the opponent's defense. And the reason for that is the precise application and control of the energy."
"Persian, concentrate the energy," he said softly.
"Meowth~"
At his command, the energy that had been covering Persian's entire forearm began to rapidly shrink. It condensed at the very tips of its claws, making them look as if they had been extended, as if it were wearing iron hooks.
Basalt and Drilbur exchanged a look of surprise. That level of energy control was on a completely different level from what they were used to.
"It is because the energy is so condensed that Slash is so much more powerful than a normal scratch," Mr. Leo continued. "When you attack an opponent, it leaves a deep wound. That wound becomes a weak point, and their defense in that area is naturally lower. That is the principle behind Slash..."
He walked them through the process, explaining the principle of concentrating the energy at the tips of the claws to create a single point of overwhelming force. After explaining the theory, he began to go over the practical steps and techniques.
It took a full two hours for Basalt and Drilbur to grasp the basics of the move. To truly master it would take at least a few weeks. It was a mid-to-high-tier move, after all, and not even Drilbur's native type.
After teaching them everything he could, Mr. Leo left. The rest was up to them.
After lunch, Basalt went to check on Bronzor. It was still floating in its corner, meditating. Not wanting to disturb it, he quietly left.
The next day, Basalt walked into the A-group classroom. It was right across from the B-group's, and the facilities and teaching style were almost identical. But unlike the gentlemanly Mr. Leo, the burly Mr. Shane had a booming voice that sounded like he was shouting through a megaphone, even though there were only a few people in the room.
Basalt noticed that only he, Yao, and Skye were present. Waylon was gone.
After class, Mr. Shane explained. "Waylon is a Ghost-type specialist. None of the instructors here are particularly skilled in that area. So, with my and the director's approval, he will be training on his own with his family from now on. He will, however, be returning before the end of the camp to compete for the position of team captain." He shot a meaningful smile at Basalt.
In terms of pure strength, Waylon and Yao were evenly matched. But in terms of potential, Waylon was clearly superior. And with so much time left before the provincial tournament, it was almost a certainty that his Gastly would evolve. An evolved Gengar, with its terrifying stealth, incredible speed, and diverse moveset, would be a force to be reckoned with.
So... Waylon is going to go off and train, and then come back for a rematch? Basalt's mouth twitched, but he wasn't too concerned. He was part of an organization now. As strong as Waylon's family might be, could they really compete with the Weather Bureau?
Anyone who loses to me now will never be able to catch up. I'm the one who's going to win the provincial tournament, he thought, his fists clenched. For Larvitar, he was prepared to give it his all.
