Chapter 796 790: Totem Raticate

"Raattiicattt!"

"Raatt!"

Just as Ethan was immersed in his research on the Sparkling Stone, a series of roars suddenly sounded from the forest.

Immediately afterward, Ethan discovered with surprise that he had been surrounded.

And the ones surrounding him were none other than a group of Alolan Rattata and Raticate.

But what he had not expected was that the one leading the group was, in fact, a Totem Pokémon!

A Totem Raticate!

"Raattiicattt!"

Totem Raticate's gaze passed through Ethan and went toward the shattered statue of Tapu Koko behind him.

"RAAATTIICAATTTT!"

In the next instant, a roar was heard, and Totem Raticate looked at Ethan with fury.

"So it really came for the statue of Tapu Koko. Or, rather, for the Sparkling Stone I have in my hand."

Seeing Totem Raticate's reaction, Ethan immediately had an answer in his heart.

"Although I know this Sparkling Stone is important to you, I can only tell you I'm sorry. I'm keeping this Sparkling Stone!"

As soon as Ethan's words fell, Sandslash, Lucario, Kommo-o, and Garchomp advanced and placed themselves in front of him.

"It seems all of you want to come out and fight. But they're just a handful of rats; there's no need for all of you to rush in at once."

"Garchomp, I'll leave this battle to you."

Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, reflected a little, and gave the order.

Garchomp had just entered the team. Although Ethan had already prepared a training plan for it, he evidently still did not know Garchomp well enough. So this battle was perfect for observing it properly.

"Gaarrcchhmp!"

Upon hearing that it would finally be the one to face that whole group of rats, Garchomp immediately became excited.

After all, this could be considered its first battle since joining the team, so it had to show off no matter what!

"Raattiicattt!"

When they saw Garchomp slowly step forward, the Rattata began to grow restless, intimidated by the presence emanating from it.

But, right at that moment, Totem Raticate also moved.

It could be seen activating the Totem aura that enveloped it; its fluffy fur stood completely on end, the two pairs of whiskers on its cheeks floated nonstop, and the four whiskers beneath its jaw danced like lightning. In that instant, it truly gave off the air of an authentic Totem Pokémon.

Under its Totem aura, the Rattata that had seemed hesitant before immediately pulled themselves together; the fear disappeared from their eyes and was replaced by wild ferocity.

In the next moment, dozens and even hundreds of Rattata reddened their gazes and fixed their eyes on Garchomp. Under that mysterious aura, Totem Raticate itself looked even fiercer, exposing its enormous incisors and showing an expression full of hostility.

That was precisely the most basic use of the Totem aura: the ability to lead its entire species through that pressure.

Although Totem Sandslash's Totem aura was incomplete, it could also achieve something similar.

Bang!

"Get ready, Garchomp!"

Seeing the scene, Ethan gave the order without delay.

At once, Garchomp's figure shot forward, and an air blade formed on its wings.

Whoosh!

With a single flash, Garchomp charged toward a nearby group of Rattata.

Its two arms began moving nonstop, and the air blades swept in wide arcs, leaving a white flash in the air.

In a simple instant of light, several Rattata were sent flying by the slash of the air blades!

"Raattiicattt!"

Seeing its companions swept away right in front of it, Totem Raticate let out a furious screech.

In the next instant, obeying Totem Raticate's order, a large number of Rattata launched themselves into the attack without the slightest fear of death.

But, just as had happened to their previous companions, those Rattata were unable to withstand even a simple slash from Garchomp.

Next, Garchomp added the attack of the move Dragon Rage, sweeping through another large area and sending more enemies flying.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a sound cutting through the air was suddenly heard.

A corpulent Raticate suddenly emerged from beneath the ground and launched a surprise attack against Garchomp.

But Garchomp seemed to have predicted it from the beginning. It took a small step back and launched an air blade in one fluid movement.

Slash!

The sound of flesh being cut was heard, and Raticate's bulky body was immediately sent flying.

"So they were hiding underground. No wonder I didn't see a single Raticate before."

From underground, Raticate after Raticate emerged without ceasing, all of them unafraid of death.

"Slash!"

Ethan's voice sounded at the same time.

Immediately afterward, Normal-type energy condensed over the air blades in Garchomp's hands, and it launched the move Slash.

With a single strike, blood splashed everywhere.

At that moment, Garchomp was pushing the air blades in its hands to the absolute extreme, as if it were a true master swordsman!

Seeing the members of its group fall again and again, Totem Raticate could no longer keep enduring it.

With a low growl, the Totem aura enveloped it, and all its physical capabilities increased at great speed.

Next, its plump hind legs struck the ground, and its entire body shot out as if it were an enormous ball of flesh.

In midair, it adjusted its posture, and using its enormous mass, it fell heavily toward Garchomp.

"Dragon Rush!"

Facing Totem Raticate as it plunged down from the sky, Garchomp decided to meet it head-on.

Boom!

Both Pokémon collided in the air.

Amid a deafening rumble, Totem Raticate was rammed back into the sky.

Garchomp, for its part, fell quickly to the ground, and when it planted both hind legs, it made the entire earth tremble.

"Totem Raticate's strength really can rival Garchomp's!"

"Although it is still being suppressed, the base strength of both species is not even comparable. It seems this is precisely the increase that the Totem aura provides to the body, completely comparable to the extreme reinforcement of a boosting move."

Looking at Totem Raticate, which fell to the ground in a rather sorry state, Ethan stroked his chin while thinking.

In addition, although Totem Raticate looked embarrassed, in reality, it seemed not to have suffered any major damage.

Having withstood Garchomp's move Dragon Rush intact only proved that the Totem aura also gave an enormous increase to defense.

Raticate was originally a relatively weak Pokémon; the innate capability of its species was modest, and that prevented them from becoming especially powerful Pokémon.

But even a Pokémon like that, after being assimilated by the Totem aura, not only multiplied its size several times, but also experienced enormous changes in strength and defense, to the point of being able to rival, at moments, a pseudo-legendary like Garchomp.

"I'm looking forward more and more to seeing Sandslash obtain the complete Totem aura."

Clear anticipation appeared in Ethan's eyes. If even a Pokémon like Raticate became so strong after obtaining a Totem aura, then, if that power fell upon Totem Sandslash, the result would undoubtedly be much more terrifying.

In that state, Totem Sandslash's strength at the same level would definitely not be inferior to that of a pseudo-legendary like Tyranitar.

While Ethan continued reflecting, the battle between both Pokémon continued on the field.

Relying on its terrifying speed and the sharp slashes of its air blades, Garchomp continued firmly suppressing Totem Raticate.

Under those circumstances, Totem Raticate had no choice but to call its subordinates to assault Garchomp together, trying in that way to relieve its own pressure.

But that was nothing more than a way to buy time. Under Garchomp's attacks, Rattata and Raticate fell one after another, until finally only Totem Raticate itself remained, already turned into a general without an army, and was finished off by a single attack from the move Dragon Rush.