(A/N: Bonus Chapter! A huge thanks to everyone for the reviews—they really help this story stand! So thanks!)
John put down the Gameboy and leaned back on the bed, his curiosity piqued as he examined the book in his hands.
The opening Chapter was titled Slaking's Breeder Experience. It detailed the evolution process of the Pokemon from Slakoth to Vigoroth and finally to Slaking. Each stage included extensive breeding content. A significant portion of the book focused on Slaking, occupying nearly four-fifths of the material, with the remaining fifth discussing Swellow and a bit about Kangaskhan.
It was clear to John that Norman had a deep fascination with Slaking. In fact, he doubted anyone in the world knew more about Slaking than Norman did. Intrigued, John grabbed a pen and started jotting down key points as he read. He wanted to uncover the secrets behind Norman's terrifyingly strong Slaking.
The first section focused on the Slakoth stage.
"Don't train Slakoth in any moves, and don't let it battle at all. Allow it to grow slowly and naturally. Note: The Slakoth stage greatly affects the Slaking stage. The stronger the Lazy Ability in the Slakoth period, the weaker it becomes in the Slaking stage."
"Really?" John muttered, raising an eyebrow. It was a surprising conclusion, and he couldn't help but wonder how many Slaking Norman had bred to arrive at such a specific observation.
In the real world, there wasn't an Exp. Share like in the games, and Slakoth was notoriously lazy. Training one was an arduous task, and most trainers gave up due to its Lazy Ability. However, if a trainer managed to evolve Slakoth into Vigoroth, the process became much easier.
"Basically, you just need to pamper it and feed it good food every day," John chuckled. "Sounds like my kind of Pokemon."
The next section was about the Vigoroth stage, which Norman described as the most crucial phase of the evolution line. During this stage, the Lazy Ability transformed into the "Energy" Ability, turning Vigoroth into a hyperactive bundle of endless energy.
"This is the best time for training," the text read. "Teach it as many moves as possible because once it evolves into Slaking, learning new moves will become significantly harder. Below is a list of recommended moves..."
John nodded in agreement. Slaking wasn't exactly built for training sessions. If a trainer didn't teach it essential moves during its Vigoroth phase, the resulting Slaking would be far less effective in battle.
As he read on, John's eyes lit up. Among the recommended moves, he found a detailed explanation of a training technique that explained Norman's signature power. The secret was a move inspired by Strength, a technique designed to maximize muscle strength and unleash devastating attacks in an instant.
Norman had developed a way to combine Strength's power-generating technique with other contact moves, amplifying their strength considerably.
"Strength plus contact moves?" John mused, tapping his pen on the book. It reminded him of another technique he'd learned from a trainer named Tengshu: a combination of Force Palm and contact moves. Force Palm was also a strength-focused technique, but if Norman had managed to integrate Strength's methods into his Pokemon's arsenal, it explained why Slaking could destroy walls with a single punch.
The book even provided calculations for the power output. By combining Strength's technique with moves like Focus Punch, the resulting force exceeded the destructive power of Self-Destruct and rivaled some legendary-exclusive moves.
Of course, such power came with a cost. Each use drained significant stamina—several times more than using the moves individually. For example, a single use of Strength consumed 1 point of stamina, while Focus Punch consumed 2 points. Combining them, however, could cost anywhere from 6 to 12 points, depending on the trainer's skill and the Pokemon's proficiency.
"That's... manageable," John muttered. He reasoned that in the early stages of training, the technique could serve as a last-resort move, and as the Pokemon's proficiency improved, it could be used more frequently.
He continued reading, learning about other advanced techniques Norman had devised. The book described the potential to combine Strength, Force Palm, and contact moves into a single devastating attack. However, Norman admitted that even he hadn't mastered this theoretical combination yet.
John chuckled. "Guess that's something for me to figure out."
The book also included tips on handling Slaking's unique behavior. Their so-called laziness wasn't pure indolence but rather a way of conserving energy. Trainers were advised not to overuse them in battles and to give them ample rest between fights.
John jotted down every detail, though he knew some of it wouldn't be immediately useful. After all, he'd have to wait for his Slakoth to evolve into Vigoroth before diving into the more advanced training techniques.
The final sections of the book covered Norman's insights on Kangaskhan and Swellow. For Kangaskhan, there was a detailed explanation of how to train the move Endure, which allowed it to withstand even the most powerful attacks. Swellow's section, on the other hand, focused on Endeavor, a move that reduced the opponent's HP to match Swellow's own.
John guessed that Norman's Swellow used a combination of Endure and Endeavor to wear down opponents, leaving them vulnerable for a finishing blow. It was a risky strategy, but in the right hands, it could turn the tide of a battle.
As John closed the book, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Norman's Breeder experience was more than just a guide—it was a treasure trove of strategies and techniques that could revolutionize his approach to training. He glanced at his Gameboy, already itching to put some of these ideas into practice.
"Time to see if I can raise a Slaking as terrifying as Norman's," he said with a grin, already planning his next move.