Grumpig, even among his current team, could be considered one of the top three in strength!
And yet, it was instantly defeated by a single Dragon Rush from Altaria...
Valor was at a loss for words and stayed silent for a long time.
However, this result was within Terrance's expectations. The gap between Swablu and Altaria after evolution was like a chasm, and then Altaria continued to crazily grow at an astonishing rate. If it couldn't easily defeat even a student from the Graduation Class, Terrance's own value would also drop significantly. His confidence in applying for the position of Gym Leader came from his Pokémon that showed rapid growth.
Immediately after evolving, Altaria defeated the unconventional Gym Leader Karate King Kiyo, who had previously been crushed by Sabrina. Altaria also inherited the legacy of its mother, the Altaria that ruled Mt. Chimney. Shortly after, it clashed with Metagross, the ace of Hoenn Champion Steven, broadening its horizons, and successfully erased its first move, Hydro Pump, in a Rainy Day environment.
Afterward, it fought the Legendary Pokémon Regirock and entered the Battle Tower, achieving a 35-win streak with Altaria as the main force, gaining substantial battle experience. In these battles, it fully strengthened its stats through multiple uses of Dragon Dance, reaping unimaginable gains, which was beneficial for Altaria's growth by giving it an early experience of immense power.
Altaria, alongside Mismagius, also faced Champion League contestant and Frontier Club's official member, Hogan's ace, Swampert. Although the match ended in a draw due to Hogan's carelessness, by then Altaria had already reached a level where it can enter Champion League.
Then, in a battle against Kaveh, a prodigy from Castelia Club of Unova region, Altaria consecutively defeated Kaveh's Hydreigon and Haxorus, both raised meticulously by his club. This garnered the attention of both clubs, who saw Altaria's potential and considered it a future dark horse of the Champion League.
With an exceptional bloodline and the backing of a Top Breeder and genetics master, Altaria's strength now fully lives up to its origins. Of course, Terrance's meticulous care was also indispensable.
Even among the Champion League' Pokémon, Altaria is considered promising. So, against the main force of Crown Academy's students whose average strength barely reached the top three of regional tournaments, Altaria's overwhelming strength was to be expected.
"This Altaria…"
"Could a student really have raised such a Pokémon?"
The person in charge of the Tower of Despair was staring blankly at the battle that ended so quickly, and still hadn't reacted.
The level displayed by Terrance and Altaria had already surpassed that of all Graduation Class students.
With this level of strength… if they entered a regional League Conference, they'd definitely be a top contender for the championship.
The person in charge of the Tower of Despair didn't dare to make a judgment so early, as he hadn't seen Terrance's other Pokémon yet. But if they were all anywhere near Altaria's level, or even slightly inferior to it, it would be truly terrifying for someone so young.
In response to the inquiry from the person in charge of the Tower of Despair, Terrance replied, "I plan to continue the challenge, but tomorrow—Altaria needs a bit of rest."
"Alright, understood. Come tomorrow early morning at 8."
Terrance nodded. He didn't dare to treat Gallade as merely a "2nd floor" opponent. Luckily, he had the chance to watch Gallade in battle beforehand—if they had jumped straight into the fight, Terrance might have felt a bit uncertain.
Gallade's mastery of Teleport and Slash was so good that if you weren't prepared beforehand or on guard against it, it's bound to catch you off guard the first time.
Although Terrance didn't think Altaria would lose to Gallade, he also didn't want to win in a messy way. So, he planned to give Altaria some advice.
Valor kept pestering Terrance, asking how he'd become so powerful. Terrance didn't quite know how to answer, but he believed that only a solid foundation combined with travel experiences could truly allow a Pokémon and Trainer to grow.
Terrance's self-study at the Old Green House and further learning at Crown Academy laid his foundation. Then, during his year-plus of travel, this foundation fully developed, allowing him to far outstrip his peers, with his skills rivaling those of the Elite Four and Champions in their youth.
Whether it is solely studying or purely traveling, neither could be as effective as the harmonious blend of both.
In the past, the average achievement of Crown Academy graduates was only the top three spots in regional tournaments. But after traveling for a while, without any surprise, these graduates quickly revealed their solid foundations, gaining recognition in various fields despite their young age. With the academy reforms in the past two years, some students have even advanced to the Champion League in the same year they graduated.
The next day.
Terrance entered the Tower of Despair again and approached the person in charge, ready to battle Gallade.
This time, the person in charge agreed readily, far more delighted than he had been during the battle with Valor. Terrance suspected he was also eager to see the full extent of Altaria's power.
Throughout the battle, the person in charge of the Tower of Despair was in a constant state of shock. He felt as if he was watching a live Champion League's match.
This was far beyond the usual battles between students and even teachers.
The person in charge, Takamatsu, was no stranger to overseeing the Tower of Despair; he'd been responsible for it for several years. But this battle, reaching far above the typical 2nd floor standard, left him utterly speechless.
The Guardian Pokémon of the 2nd floor, the Gallade he'd originally only shown a slight interest in, demonstrated a level of strength in this battle that it had never shown before in previous challenges.
That proud figure moved across the battlefield like a flash of green light, each appearance accompanied by an incredibly dazzling sword light.
Takamatsu knew that Gallade was using the blade on its elbow to perform Slash. But this seemingly simple move, when executed by Gallade, felt unrestrained. Its speed was not only astonishing, but each strike of it hit a vital part with flawless control and fluidity. How many times had it practiced to reach this level?
Only a few know that before comprehending Slash, Gallade put in tireless effort day after day, from morning till night, sometimes even for several days in a row, swinging its arm blades. The relentless efforts made the blade on its elbow feel more like a part of its body than ever before.
No part of its body felt as in tune with itself as the blades.
And then there was Teleport, which completely reshaped his worldview. Even Terrance didn't know that Gallade had such a trick up its sleeve. With consecutive Teleports, right as the blade was about to strike, Gallade would flash away. It did this three times in a row, each time using Slash to attack Altaria's vital parts. Seeing that, Terrance's heart pounded with fear.
What surprised Takamatsu even more was that, in his eyes, this Gallade could easily become a Guardian Pokémon of the 10th floor or higher. Yet, Terrance and Altaria, faced with such a frenzied, relentless, and wave-like attack, were able to intercept them in an orderly manner.
Altaria swung its Dragon Claw, and the claw wave formed by the bluish-purple flames intertwined with the sword light produced by the green flash. Each intense explosion made him excited, leaving his heart deeply shocked.
He didn't even know when such a Gallade and a student had appeared in the academy.
In the end, Altaria won, thanks to its stamina, though it came close to defeat several times.
Takamatsu counted a total of 16 Teleports and 24 Slash in just a few minutes. The pace of the battle was like a raging storm, too fast for the eye to follow.
After the battle, Gallade, drained, was taken for treatment, and Altaria, having expended enormous stamina, needed rest as well. later, Terrance left Takamatsu with a single, cryptic sentence:
"Its growth is the result of its own hard work."
During the battle, faced with Gallade's surging emotions, Terrance was surprised, so he abandoned his plan to use defensive techniques like "Cotton Guard" or stalling tactics. Instead, he chose to meet Gallade head-on with Dragon Claw and Dragon Rush in a fast-paced battle.
After the battle, Terrance was lost in thought for a long time. He realized he had underestimated Gallade's determination to prove itself. Gallade's fervent heart during the battle made Terrance reluctant to take any credit. Gallade's achievements were evident in the battle itself; they were entirely the result of its own hard work, something no one could take away.
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