“So, the core objective of the Water Tower's second trial is to stimulate the trial-taker's battle instinct.”
Zhang Heng successfully reached this conclusion after commanding his Mudkip to use Tackle and observing and analyzing the entire battle process.
Once he fully understood the key to this trial, Zhang Heng's previous doubts and hesitations about the restricted use of skills instantly vanished.
He knew that to successfully pass the Water Tower's second trial, he had to break conventional thinking and bravely let Mudkip challenge its limits and achieve self-breakthrough.
It is well-known that the Mudkip species is skilled in physical attacks. Notably, among all nine generations of initial Water-type starter Pokémon, Mudkip boasts the highest physical attack base stat—a remarkable 70 points.
Such an excellent physical attack base stat undoubtedly indicates its innate potential to become an outstanding Water-type physical attacker.
However, the current Mudkip has not developed along this path. Although this Mudkip has been fortunate enough to receive a Divine Beast's blessing since hatching from its Shell Smash and has undergone the purification of pure Hydro energy, it has never received any systematic professional training.
The trial currently unfolding is like a whetstone for Mudkip to hone its physical attack skills. This trial not only tests Mudkip's perseverance but also allows it to gain experience in actual combat, thereby achieving self-breakthrough and growth.
Wartortle is the evolved form of Squirtle, but its physical attack base stat is only 63 points. Mudkip is actually not at a disadvantage when fighting it head-on. Wartortle is not good at physical attacks, but its physical defense is extremely good.
Wartortle slowly stood up from the sunken pit. It looked disheveled, but the actual damage caused to it was minimal. Perhaps it was the impact of hitting the ground that made it feel a bit uncomfortable.
Wartortle's large, fluffy tail suddenly slammed hard onto the solid ground. Accompanied by a dull thud, its entire body instantly soared into the air!
At the same time, the Hydro energy that had been calmly flowing within the tower seemed to be pulled by some powerful force and slowly began to gather towards Wartortle's fluffy tail.
In the blink of an eye, the Hydro energy, so dense it was almost tangible, had completely condensed onto Wartortle's tail. This Hydro energy, like nimble blue spiritual snakes, continuously coiled, twisted, and intertwined, emitting a heart-palpitating glow and fluctuation.
Immediately after, Wartortle's gaze sharpened, and it let out a low growl. Its massive tail, enveloped in dense Hydro energy, swung like a raging storm, striking directly at the nearby Mudkip with unparalleled power!
Wartortle used Aqua Tail, a Water-type physical attack skill with 90 power.
Earlier, Wartortle had used Rapid Spin twice, increasing its speed by two stages. This attack was unavoidable for Mudkip, so Zhang Heng could only command Mudkip to meet it head-on.
“Mudkip, Mach Punch.”
Mudkip's figure moved like lightning, instantly transforming into a pink phantom and appearing before Wartortle in a flash.
Its tender pink claws were now gleaming with a dazzling light, as if a powerful Fighting-type energy was flowing within them.
Facing Wartortle's fierce and powerful Aqua Tail attack, Mudkip showed no fear, directly raising its claws to meet the challenge.
However, just as the two were about to collide, there was no intense, evenly matched scene as imagined.
There was a crisp “snap,” like a whip lashing leather, followed by a dull thud— “Thump!”
The poor Mudkip's small body, like a kite with a broken string, flew straight backward. It arced through the air before falling heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
“Mudkip, don't give up! Consecutive Mach Punch.”
Since this trial was aimed at stimulating battle instincts, Zhang Heng was determined not to use tactics to defeat the opponent. At least, before Mudkip successfully stimulated its battle instincts, he would never rely on tactics to bridge any potential power gap between them.
Even if he lost this crucial trial and thus missed out on the precious water scroll, he didn't care.
Because for Zhang Heng, allowing his Pokémon to achieve true growth was far more important than winning any victory.
Through long-term, careful nourishment with Hydro, a psychic communication bridge had long been established between Mudkip and Zhang Heng. They had already achieved a meeting of minds. At this moment, Zhang Heng's deep-seated conviction was transmitted without hindrance into Mudkip's small mind.
And so, from the thick, still-dissipating smoke, a lightning-fast pink silhouette suddenly shot out!
Upon closer inspection, this pink figure was hurtling forward with lightning speed, using its small yet resilient body to fiercely impact Wartortle. Before it even hit Wartortle, Wartortle had already retracted its head, tail, and limbs into its shell.
Mudkip was seen leaping onto the turtle shell, its claws now enveloped in a rich and dazzling reddish-brown light. It clenched its claws, striking the shell on Wartortle's back again and again with powerful force, each punch carrying the might of thunder, as if to shatter the shell.
Zhang Heng, watching Mudkip's momentum continuously rise, couldn't help but marvel, “Is this the stimulation of battle instinct?”
Especially when he noticed Mudkip's claws, shimmering with a reddish-brown light, he couldn't help but exclaim, “Mudkip can actually use Mach Punch with both paws simultaneously?” His words revealed his shock and disbelief at Mudkip's strength.
Wartortle was now struggling to parry Mudkip's furious Mach Punch combination. Its body trembled slightly, clearly close to collapsing under the relentless assault.
However, at this critical moment, Wartortle suddenly erupted with a powerful force. It began desperately controlling its hard shell, making it spin wildly.
As the shell spun faster and faster, the centrifugal force generated also grew. Finally, under the influence of this powerful force, Mudkip, who had been clinging tightly to Wartortle's back, could no longer maintain its balance and was violently flung away.
However, Wartortle did not stop there. It was able to precisely control its rapidly spinning shell to make a sharp turn in the air, then change direction, and pounce back towards Mudkip with lightning speed.