The sudden collapse of the Great-Mane Crocodile startled Li Qiufeng, who had been watching from the side. Li Qiufeng quickly crouched down and shook the Great-Mane Crocodile, "Great-Mane Crocodile, how are you? Are you okay!"
After quickly sending the Great-Mane Crocodile to the Pokémon Center and confirming its well-being through recovery checks, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xia Huanao asked Li Qiufeng, "What exactly happened?"
Li Qiufeng was also unclear, "I don't know. I just spent the morning training and tried a method with Great-Mane Crocodile to quickly accumulate momentum and strength. That punch just now was the result, but I didn't expect..."
Xia Huanao took out his Pokédex from his bag and directly searched for Great-Mane Crocodile's move list. This action annoyed the system greatly.
"Host, you don't need me anymore, do you?"
Xia Huanao shook his head, "No, I think I should gradually break away from my dependence on you. I'll treat you like a镇海神针 (zhen hai shen zhen - a mythical pillar that calms the sea), only calling upon you when I can't solve a problem."
The system listened with the tone of an old father looking at his son, "Oh my, your growth rate is very fast. I am deeply pleased. Then you go ahead, you will solve this problem."
Xia Huanao spent a long time searching through the Pokédex and finally managed to come up with a conclusion: "Well, based on my guess, this is likely the prototype of a Close Combat."
Everyone was confused, "Close Combat?"
Xia Huanao pressed the Pokédex a few more times, "Close Combat is a close-contact move that uses all of one's strength to charge at the opponent, but renders oneself immobile for a certain period. According to the Pokémon League's research, Great-Mane Crocodile cannot learn this move during its growth process."
"Then just now?"
"The power of Close Combat is comparable to that of Hyper Beam. Do you think your punch had the effect of Hyper Beam?"
Li Qiufeng looked at Tan Yue, who shook his head, "No, Onix's feedback was that it wasn't as strong as Hyper Beam, just very fast, and it hurt a little."
"Then Coach Xia, can I continue practicing this technique?"
"You'll have to wait for us to study it first. Before that, it's best not to mess around. I will reach a conclusion soon."
After saying this, Xia Huanao turned and left, leaving the team members present unsure of what to do.
Xia Huanao returned to his room and directly made a video call to Lu Kunwu. Lu Kunwu seemed to be free and answered the video call quickly.
"Brother Kunwu, is everything alright on your end?"
Lu Kunwu sat in his research lab, "No, is something wrong?"
Xia Huanao nodded, "Yes, I want to ask, are there any problems if one were to artificially teach a TM move?"
Lu Kunwu didn't understand Xia Huanao's wording and asked, "Say that again, I didn't quite understand."
Xia Huanao had to explain again, "What I mean is, under normal circumstances, if a Pokémon can only learn a move through a TM, what are the serious consequences if it is artificially taught?"
Lu Kunwu thought about it. This was a question he hadn't researched, "Wait for me to check some information. Our institute might have researched this issue."
Lu Kunwu spent a long time checking the data and finally reached a conclusion: "There shouldn't be any problem. After all, the essence of a move is the application of energy."
After receiving this answer from Lu Kunwu, Xia Huanao fell into his own contemplation.
Xia Huanao's thinking was always very efficient, and he reached a conclusion in a short time.
The reason why moves are divided into level-up moves, TM moves, egg moves, and tutor moves, in Xia Huanao's understanding, should be as follows:
Level-up moves are a Pokémon's instincts, just like Froakie's Bubble. This should be Froakie's instinct. The so-called level restriction should be the lowest threshold for Froakie to master this instinct.
TM moves are skills learned after using a TM that do not belong to the Pokémon or that it cannot yet master. The TM influences the Pokémon's energy distribution.
Egg moves are skills engraved in the DNA, learned from birth, and there's nothing much to explain. Tutor moves are an evolved version of TM moves.
With this conclusion, Xia Huanao quickly understood why the Great-Mane Crocodile fainted. As Li Qiufeng's main Pokémon, the Great-Mane Crocodile must have its four moves slots filled. If Close Combat were to be truly mastered, one of its existing moves would have to be replaced.
The Great-Mane Crocodile accidentally used Close Combat today, but it didn't have the internal energy to use Close Combat. So, it used the energy for maintaining its vital signs to use the move. This attempt completely depleted the Great-Mane Crocodile's energy, which is why it fainted.
The next day's training began as usual. Xia Huanao called Li Qiufeng aside, "There is a very important issue now that I hope you can think through clearly."
"Coach Xia, please speak."
Xia Huanao crouched down, "What are the four moves your Great-Mane Crocodile currently knows?"
"Crunch, Sucker Punch, Thrash, and Ice Fang."
After writing these moves on the ground with a twig, Xia Huanao wrote Close Combat next to them, "Li Qiufeng, you go ahead."
Li Qiufeng squatted next to Xia Huanao, "Coach Xia?"
"Li Qiufeng, I ask you, do you absolutely have to learn Close Combat?"
Li Qiufeng did not answer. Every move is very important to a trainer and their Pokémon. It affects their battle style and requires careful consideration.
"Coach Xia, what is your opinion?"
Xia Huanao's twig continued to scratch on the ground, "Depending on your choice, I have about three training plans for you."
"Three?"
Li Qiufeng did not expect a simple yes or no question to lead to three options.
Xia Huanao first wrote a "one" on the ground, "The first choice is to give up this move. This is very simple. As long as you don't continue practicing, there will be no problem. However, I can see that you will not choose this."
Li Qiufeng nodded. Close Combat is a very powerful move, and there is no reason to give it up casually.
Xia Huanao's twig continued to write on the ground, "In that case, if you want this move, there are two options. First, directly buy a TM to teach Great-Mane Crocodile this move. The trade-off will be up to you."
Li Qiufeng nodded, "Then what is the other option?"
Xia Huanao's twig paused, "The other option is more difficult, and in a sense, you will be treated as a test subject. Are you sure you still want to hear it?"
Li Qiufeng nodded, "I want to hear it. Coach Xia, please tell me."
Xia Huanao put down the twig in his hand, "This last option is that you need to train Great-Mane Crocodile to control its fists. According to what you said yesterday, Great-Mane Crocodile quickly accumulates power and momentum and then releases it, but it drains all its stamina. What you need to do is train Great-Mane Crocodile to release a limited amount of power, so that it doesn't drain all its energy."
Li Qiufeng was confused, "Would that still be considered Close Combat?"
Xia Huanao shook his head, "No. This option is to transform Close Combat into a similar but different technique. However, you cannot use this technique frequently because it consumes a considerable amount of internal energy. Therefore, it can only be used as a trump card."
"Are there any other ways?"
"Yes, try your best to improve Great-Mane Crocodile's physical fitness, increase its internal energy reserves, or speed up its energy recovery rate. This might increase the number of times this technique can be used."
As they spoke, they stood up. Xia Huanao used his foot to erase all the writing on the ground, "How do you choose?"
Li Qiufeng took the Great-Mane Crocodile out of its Poké Ball, discussed with it for a while, and then came to Xia Huanao, "Assistant Coach Xia, we have decided. We choose the third option."
Xia Huanao looked at Li Qiufeng, "Do you know how dangerous this is? Are you sure?"
Li Qiufeng nodded heavily, "I am sure."
Xia Huanao turned around, "Let's go. I'll find Teacher Tong to arrange a dedicated training room."
The two went to Tong Ruo, who was watching the training, "Sister Ruo, I need to talk to you about something."
After explaining his idea to Tong Ruo, Tong Ruo looked at Li Qiufeng, "Since you have decided, I cannot stop you. You two can use training room number three directly. I will handle the paperwork."
Xia Huanao took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Tong Ruo, "Sister Ruo, this list is for the upcoming tactical training with Wei Chiting. Please take care of it. We'll be going now."
After taking a few steps, Xia Huanao turned back and whispered something to Tong Ruo.
After speaking, Xia Huanao and Li Qiufeng left the back mountain. The others watched their retreating figures and asked, "Teacher Tong, where are Coach Xia and Captain going?"
Tong Ruo immediately killed their curiosity, "Don't ask. They have their own matters to attend to. You all continue training."
The crowd responded with "Oh," and Tong Ruo took out a Poké Ball, "To prevent your training progress from being affected by Li Qiufeng's absence, your Assistant Coach has borrowed this."
Saying that, Tong Ruo released a Pokémon from the Poké Ball, "From now on, she will temporarily fill in for Li Qiufeng."
Seeing the Rhydon standing on the ground, the team members standing at the foot of the mountain were all distressed. After all, Rhydon could charge down the mountain from top to bottom when it got excited, and its sheer presence was not something Great-Mane Crocodile could compare to.
"No, Sister Ruo!"
...
Meanwhile, Xia Huanao and Li Qiufeng walked through the campus and arrived at the Grand Training Room area of the Six Spirits. Standing outside training room number three, Xia Huanao asked Li Qiufeng, "Li Qiufeng, have you been here before?"
Li Qiufeng shook his head, "No. The team training room was converted from a battle arena. This is my first time in a training room used by teachers."