Zhang Heng stared intently at the mysterious text floating in mid-air, as if trying to see through the characters to the secrets hidden behind them.
He focused all his attention on reading the rules of this stage word by word, not missing a single detail, secretly praying that he could find even the slightest flaw in them.
Time passed minute by minute, and finally, Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed on a particular sentence in the middle.
Zhang Heng muttered to himself, "It will change according to your strength? Hmm... if I send out a Level 46 Walking Wake, conventionally speaking, the opponent should send out Blastoise to counter it. But what if I send out a Level 12 Mudkip?"
He was as focused and sharp as Sherlock Holmes analyzing a case. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, like Watson discovering a crucial clue amidst a dense fog. That's right! Zhang Heng excitedly realized he had found a loophole in the rules.
At this moment, Zhang Heng began to analyze further: "Since this strange space has so many restrictions, such as only allowing Water-type, Fighting-type, and Evil-type skills, etc. Obviously, all of this is specifically set according to Kubfu's relatively shallow skill pool. It is clear that the purpose of this trial is simply to test Kubfu."
However, fate seemed to favor Zhang Heng exceptionally. Coincidentally, his Mudkip not only received the divine beast blessings from Urshifu and Kubfu, but also gained two unique skills that should not have belonged to Mudkip's own skill pool.
As a result, Mudkip possessed a unique and enormous advantage in this space, which was shrouded in numerous restrictions.
Zhang Heng instinctively turned his head to look at the small, pink Mudkip on his shoulder. He thought to himself, this trial is like a test designed with the answer key already provided! Zhang Heng had full confidence in passing this test smoothly.
He slowly extended his hand and affectionately stroked the Mudkip perched on his shoulder. A gentle expression appeared on his handsome face as he softly whispered to Mudkip, "Little guy, this is our first time fighting side by side, please take care of me."
Upon hearing his master's words, Mudkip's face immediately broke into a brilliant smile, its two round eyes instantly curving into adorable crescent shapes.
It extended its delicate little paw and gently patted its chest a few times, while simultaneously emitting a clear and pleasant Growl—"Glar-glar~" It seemed to be responding to Zhang Heng, indicating that everything was fine and all difficulties could be confidently left to it.
Then, Mudkip nimbly leaped from Zhang Heng's broad, warm shoulder, like a pink lightning bolt, and plunged straight into the clear water below, splashing a shower of crystal-clear water.
Zhang Heng stood firm, his gaze fixed on the powerful Blastoise in the center of the trial ground, and shouted, "I choose to send my Mudkip as the challenger for this trial!"
Blastoise stood quietly within the Water Tower, its massive body emitting powerful energy fluctuations, as if merged with the entire tower.
However, surprisingly, this Blastoise, seemingly composed purely of energy, exhibited abilities similar to thought and perception. At this moment, it was wide-eyed, staring in astonishment at the small, pink figure not far away.
In the other pool, Mudkip was happily splashing. It was still small, even shorter than the depth of the pool water. It struggled to flap its tiny tail fin while waving its two short forelimbs, trying to keep itself afloat on the water's surface.
After observing Mudkip, Blastoise slowly raised its head and looked at Zhang Heng, who was standing nearby. A hint of speechlessness appeared in its eyes.
Immediately, a fierce blue light burst from around this Blastoise. Its form began to change again, its body gradually shrinking, but as it shrank, its tail began to enlarge. Finally, a Pokémon appeared with a lighter indigo blue body, an oval head with a pair of fluffy, wing-like ears.
Its eyes were brown, tiny fangs could be seen in its mouth, and there were small, dark blue oval spots on its cheeks. Its forelimbs had three sharp claws, and its tail was fluffy.
"This is Wartortle!" This was the first time Zhang Heng had seen a Water-type starter Pokémon other than the Mudkip family. Although it wasn't a real creature, Zhang Heng was still very curious.
Zhang Heng couldn't help but murmur, "So that's what it means by 'it will change according to your strength.' Mudkip is currently Level 12, and it suppressed its own level to roughly Level 16 based on Mudkip's situation, and its appearance also changed from Blastoise to its pre-evolutionary form—Wartortle."
Not only that, but the approximately 60 centimeters of water on the field began to slowly recede. Then it vanished without a trace, and Mudkip, which had been floating on the surface, slowly descended until its four limbs were firmly on the ground.
"Hmph, good heavens, it not only changes form according to strength, but also changes the field."
The rule text that had appeared in the air dissipated into water molecules. Then it reformed into four new characters, which read: "Trial Start."
"Strike first! Mudkip, Mach Punch."
Before he could even see Mudkip gather Fighting-type energy, Mudkip's body suddenly vanished, appearing in front of Wartortle, its delicate little paw swinging forward.
Just as Mudkip's Mach Punch, imbued with Fighting-type energy, was about to strike Wartortle's head.
Wartortle's head suddenly retracted into its shell, causing Mudkip's attack to miss entirely.
"This is...Withdraw!"
Withdraw, a Water-type status move, can raise a Pokémon's Defense by one stage.
In fact, this move is less of a status move and more of an innate ability for turtle Pokémon. Using this move doesn't even have a wind-up, making it faster than the priority move—Mach Punch.
After Wartortle dodged the attack, its four limbs, along with its large, fluffy tail, also retracted into its shell. Then the entire shell began to Rapid Spin, attacking in Mudkip's direction.
Rapid Spin, a Normal physical attack move, 50 power. It attacks the opponent by spinning. It can escape from Bind, Wrap, Leech Seed, and other moves. It can also increase its own speed.
"Mudkip, Protect."
Mudkip began to gather surrounding Normal energy. However, no energy fluctuations appeared, and the protective barrier couldn't even form before it was hit by Wartortle's Rapid Spin.
"Glar~" With a cry of surprise, Mudkip was sent flying by the Rapid Spin and landed in front of Zhang Heng.