"What ability was that?"
"Did it just perfectly block the damage from the sandstorm?!"
Seeing Shellder's Overcoat ability, everyone present, except Alex Baxter, was astonished.
"Looks like it's one of Shellder's special abilities."
"According to the recently published abilities, isn't this its signature ability?"
Daniel Harper observed the halo of energy surrounding Shellder's body, the manifestation of the Overcoat ability, and smiled while looking at Ethan Black.
"Yes, that's right. This is Shellder's Overcoat ability."
Ethan Black replied with a smile, with no intention of hiding it. Just three days earlier, he had sent an article about that ability, and he would surely receive a reply soon.
"Overcoat, huh?"
"Looks like you've found a good defensive core."
"Barrier plus Overcoat!"
Daniel Harper's eyes showed a look of approval, and suddenly he looked at Ethan Black and said: "Come on, Ethan, try to withstand all of Breloom's attacks."
As soon as he finished speaking, Breloom charged straight into the oncoming sandstorm, gathering Fighting-type energy in its fists.
Shellder was already prepared. It quickly formed multiple barriers, stacking them in front of him.
Crack!
With a single punch, Breloom shattered all the barriers.
It didn't even need to use moves; just by covering its fist in Fighting-type energy and swinging it, it could instantly break through Shellder's defense. Seeing this made Ethan Black swallow hard—the power of Breloom was overwhelming.
"But we only need to hold Breloom back for a while!"
"Cacturne, use Ingrain!"
Using the precious time Shellder and Sandslash had bought, Cacturne activated Ingrain and generated a massive number of roots bursting from the ground. Just as Breloom paused for a moment, the roots shot out to ensnare him.
"What's that?"
"Is that Ingrain?"
"Yes, he's managed to develop a control technique based on the Ingrain move. Very well done."
Crack!
Crack!
Just as Daniel Harper finished speaking, a series of cracking sounds rang out. All the roots strained violently and then snapped apart in an instant.
"All right, we'll stop here."
Seeing Breloom break the roots, Daniel Harper smiled and looked at Ethan Black with a satisfied expression.
Although Ethan Black's three Pokémon weren't the strongest of the group, his trio formation was without a doubt the most balanced.
"Your teams are quite well put together. But today was just a small test. Although you all passed, your teams still have obvious weaknesses."
"So during these holidays, I expect you to keep refining your formations. When the new semester starts, that will be the time for the real university team test!"
"And that test will be simple: field survival! So be ready."
After the evaluation, Daniel Harper pointed out the weaknesses in each team, gave his recommendations, and with that, officially concluded the university team test.
...
"Phew, class is finally over!"
Watching Daniel Harper and the others walk away, Alex Baxter breathed a sigh of relief and stretched.
"Yeah, we've got to put in work during the holidays too."
"I heard the annual university evaluation has already begun. Five new companions will be added, so don't fall behind!"
Marcus Foster waved to the others and, together with Lucas Silver, flew toward the entrance of the Secret Kingdom.
"Those two..."
"Ethan, Jasper, what are you planning to do now?"
Watching Marcus Foster and Lucas Silver head off, Alex Baxter sighed.
"Maybe I'll head home. I've been away for more than half a year."
Ethan Black thought for a moment. He already missed his parents.
At that moment, Jasper Reid spoke up: "Ethan, Alex, I have something to tell you."
"What is it, Jasper?"
"Go ahead, if there's anything we can do to help, you can count on us," Alex Baxter said, patting him on the shoulder. Ethan Black also nodded.
A moment later...
"What!?"
"You're saying your family's mine had an entrance to a Secret Kingdom!?"
Hearing that, Alex Baxter shouted in shock. Ethan Black and Jasper Reid jumped to cover his mouth, glancing nervously around.
"Do you want to get us killed, Alex!?"
Jasper Reid let out a sigh of relief after confirming no one had overheard.
"All right, Jasper Reid, tell us the details."
Ethan Black licked his lips, eager to know more.
"Well... the entrance is inside an abandoned mine shaft in my family's quarry."
"I went in there to train my three Pokémon and... accidentally discovered the entrance to the Secret Kingdom."
Jasper Reid took a deep breath and began recounting the discovery.
"A real Secret Kingdom? Under normal circumstances, if one appeared, the Pokémon Hunter Guild would detect it right away..."
Ethan Black frowned. He also recalled the Secret Kingdom that had appeared near his home, where hunters arrived just in time to prevent a catastrophe.
Alex Baxter, noticing his doubt, smiled: "Even though the League has ways of detecting these places, the one Jasper found must be a micro Secret Kingdom, and since it's inside a mine, it probably hasn't been tracked by the hunters yet."
Jasper Reid nodded and, after hesitating a bit, added: "This micro Secret Kingdom will be discovered sooner or later... so I want to explore it before they find it."
Ethan Black and Alex Baxter looked at each other in silence.
The truth was, unexplored Secret Kingdoms often held great treasures...
But also unpredictable dangers.
In other words, they were both an opportunity and a risk!
"Ethan... are we going or not?"
Alex Baxter licked his dry lips, staring intently at Ethan Black.
"Let's go!"
Ethan Black took a deep breath, and his gaze turned resolute.
"Perfect, then it's settled!"
(End of Chapter)