Chapter 336: The Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique
"If you just had a flying mount, you wouldn't have been pushed to this state, nearly losing your life." Basalt shook his head, feeling the young woman was a bit dense. If you run into a Houndoom pack in the wild, you just fly away. They wouldn't be able to do anything to you.
"Actually, I did have a Charizard." Ember felt deeply wronged. She whispered, "Unfortunately, during the fight with the guarding Houndoom, it was taken out by the Houndoom using Destiny Bond... Houndoom are highly intelligent and cunning. The guarding Houndoom knew it couldn't protect the pup, so it took down Ember's flying mount while letting out a long howl to call back its packmates. It must be said that this was the best response it could make. If Basalt hadn't shown up, Ember would have been finished.
"You have a Starter Pokémon?" Basalt was slightly surprised. "Then why bother catching a Houndour? Wouldn't an Incineroar be better?" Rich girls are truly different; Starter Pokémon are everywhere for them, it's unbelievable. Basalt figured with Ember's means, foreign Starter Pokémon shouldn't be a problem either.
"Incineroar?" Ember lightly poked her fingers together. She explained softly, "While that Pokémon's base stats are superior to Houndoom, it hasn't been in the domestic spotlight for very long, so there's a certain unfamiliarity. Unlike Houndour, Alliance trainers have been researching them for years, so there are established experiences and methods for all development paths that we can draw upon."
"You have a point. I was being narrow-minded," Basalt nodded. "While foreign Pokémon species may have superior base stats, it takes a significant amount of time for them to develop into high-end combat power. The key is that domestic trainers have limited understanding of them, especially the finer details, certainly less than trainers abroad. After all, how can you easily surpass hundreds or thousands of years of research in just a few decades? Therefore, when you ask who is best at Arcanine, it's definitely the Alliance. Who is best at Braviary, it's definitely the U.S. League. Who is best at Greninja, it's definitely the Japan League. Who is best at Medicham, it's definitely the India League. These things are indisputable! Following a path pioneered by previous generations, while restrictive, offers a smooth journey in the early stages because the road is already formed. Confusion only sets in when you reach the end of the road. But most people never get a chance to reach the end of a well-trodden path, so that worry is completely unnecessary."
"Senior, let's exchange contact info! When you have free time, you must come to Coastal City to find me. I will definitely treat you well!" Ember's mouth was very sweet, constantly calling him "Senior," which Basalt found very pleasant to hear. "Also, if Senior has any Fire-type Pokémon struggling with training, you can also come to me. I have some experience on the path of Fire-types, even if my overall strength is not as high as yours." Ember puffed out what she didn't have, her face full of self-satisfaction.
Her main purpose for entering the Ashkule volcanic region this time was actually to cultivate the "Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique," because it requires magma energy for support. Catching the Houndour was just a bonus, something she saw and couldn't resist.
"Fire-type Pokémon?" Basalt raised an eyebrow, scratching his cheek. "I don't have one yet; I'm just about to go catch one! But what is this Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique you mentioned? It needs magma energy to train?"
After happily exchanging contact information, Ember pondered for a moment and answered truthfully, "Senior, you should know that Electric-type moves are often ineffective against Electric-type Pokémon, and Leech Seed doesn't work on Grass-type Pokémon. The Will-O-Wisp move is often ineffective against Fire-type Pokémon as well. But the Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique I possess uses magma energy to increase the flame's temperature. Once mastered, it can affect Fire-type Pokémon, causing them to become burned." The pride on Ember's face grew more intense; she was bursting with self-confidence. Her Rong family held a pivotal position in the Alliance's Fire-type field.
"That powerful?" Basalt was slightly dumbfounded, but quickly realized something and asked curiously, "Wait a minute! If your Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique is so amazing, why didn't you use it when you ran into the Houndoom pack?"
Ember gave a wry smile. "Senior, while my Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique is effective against Fire-type Pokémon, it still doesn't work on Pokémon with the 'Flash Fire' ability. About half of the Houndoom have the Flash Fire ability. I wouldn't dare add fuel to the fire."
"Right! I almost forgot about that." Basalt scratched his head.
"Senior, weren't you going to catch a Fire-type Pokémon? Would you like me to come with you? I have some experience in assessing a Pokémon's Fire-type aptitude." Ember puffed out what she didn't have again, her eyes curving into crescents. She had already decided to help Basalt capture a Fire-type Pokémon with excellent aptitude, and then teach him the "Will-O-Wisp Secret Technique." This would be an initial way to repay Basalt's life-saving grace. Although the Rong family's secret techniques couldn't be taught outside the family lightly, Basalt had saved her life. Ember felt that even if her family elders found out, they probably wouldn't blame her.
"Assessing a Pokémon's Fire-type aptitude?" Basalt's eyes widened. Although he generally preferred traveling alone, this ability of Ember's was exactly what he lacked. This offer was truly impossible to refuse!
"Then it's settled!" Basalt shook hands with Ember, sealing their temporary alliance.
Ember retreated, her face slightly flushed, because all her Pokémon were injured and needed urgent treatment. Basalt stepped forward to help, and Ember's Pokémon were very cooperative, except for Delphox.
Swoosh~ Delphox shook the burning branch, looking at Basalt with a scrutinizing gaze. It sensed its trainer's psychic fluctuations carried a very bad feeling, almost like a straight decline in intelligence. Furthermore, its trainer had always been mischievous and witty; when had she become so gentle? She was like a different person; even Delphox almost didn't recognize her. Basalt scratched his head, completely bewildered.
But just then, something unexpected happened.
"Dong~"
"Del-phox~"
Suddenly, Bronzong and Delphox cried out in unison, turning their gaze toward a nearby tree.
"A Pokémon is approaching. Its aura is very powerful and fierce!" Bronzong's warning sounded. Excadrill and Cradily immediately braced themselves. Basalt frowned slightly. Following Bronzong's gaze, he saw a flame slowly materialize on a branch of the tree.
It was a primate Pokémon. An unextinguishable flame burned on its head. Its body was mostly reddish-brown, with white fur on its head, chest, lower legs, and feet. Its shoulders, chest, back of its hands, and knees had golden, swirling scale-like armor. Its eyes were sharp, with blue irises set in yellow sclera. Its limbs were long and slender, and its fingers and toes, five on each, were blue. Flames wrapped around its hands and feet, and it had a long tail behind it.
"An Infernape!" Basalt recognized the Pokémon. It was the Fire/Fighting dual-type Pokémon known as the "Great Elder Brother"—Infernape!
"This Infernape is very powerful, Senior. We need to be careful." Ember sized up the Infernape, her expression solemn, and quickly gave a quiet warning.
"How powerful?" Basalt's heart skipped a beat. He thought, "It should be a strong presence within the Pro-level!" "As long as it's not Gym Leader-level, we're fine!" Basalt let out a sigh of relief. That had scared him. In the last half year in the desert, Basalt's strength had advanced rapidly. Coupled with the boost from the Quicksand Domain, he wasn't afraid of ordinary Pro-level Pokémon. Besides, there was only one Infernape, and between him and Ember, they had over ten Pokémon. Why would they be afraid of a group fight? Basalt gave Ember a look that said, "Don't worry, I've got this."
The Infernape stood on the branch, its right arm resting on the tree trunk, its gaze calmly taking in Basalt and Ember, and then sweeping over their many Pokémon one by one. But finally, it shook its head, a look of disappointment on its face. However, seeing the Houndoom and Houndour lying defeated and unconscious on the ground, the Infernape regained hope, letting out a strange cry: "Ha-cha! Ha-cha!"
Basalt looked at Bronzong. The Super Bell telepathically conveyed: "This Infernape is asking us if we caused the sandstorm just now, and if we defeated these Houndoom and Houndour?"
"Yes!" Basalt met the Infernape's gaze, unflinching.
Hearing this, the Infernape's eyes lit up.
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