Pokémon StoryWeaver

Chapter 0733: Weak Strat Palossand, Huge Power Runerigus(Two-in-One)

Added 2025-08-04 00:00:06 +0000 UTC

“Today I want to introduce you to this Pokémon… Palossand from Alola!”

On the screen, Palossand looked like an orange-yellow sandcastle, its eyes and mouth resembling the windows of a castle, with a red sand shovel stuck upside-down on its head.

Natsume spoke earnestly: “First, a word of warning: Palossand is a Ghost type, extremely dangerous, with predatory instincts and a habit of draining life from its prey.”

“If you’re ever on a beach in Alola and see an unfamiliar red sand shovel, you absolutely must not try to pull it out. The moment a human or Pokémon pulls the shovel, it awakens the sleeping Palossand, who will then seize control of you!”

Listening to Natsume’s solemn explanation, the fans made no jokes.

“I’m actually from Alola—Natsume-sensei is absolutely right. If you see a red sand shovel on the beach, you’d better stay alert!”

“That thing looks like a goofy sandcastle, but it’s so dangerous…”

“I suggest Natsume-sensei goes clam digging in Alola next time, and investigates Pokémon on the spot!”

Seeing this fan’s comment, Natsume-sensei paused in mild surprise.

Clam digging?

Actually, that could work.

If there’s ever a chance for a vacation in Alola, this new program could be filmed at the same time.

“Back to our strategy tutorial!”

Natsume continued, “Palossand has a signature ability called ‘Water Compaction.’ When it’s hit by a Water-type move, its Defense rises sharply.”

“Palossand is a dual-type Ghost and Ground. Since its Ground type is obvious, a lot of trainers instinctively send out Water-type Pokémon against Palossand, which only makes it more dangerous. So when you encounter Palossand, don’t panic—just make sure you’ve memorized your type charts and send out a Grass-type Pokémon instead.”

A rush of chat messages flew by in the live stream.

“Learned something new!”

“So the true fundamentals for trainers are type charts, huh lol”

“Now I don’t even dare eat my takeout… these are real survival tips!”

Who would have thought the Alola Region—far beyond the Normal region—had such dangerous Pokémon.

Many trainers who had never left their home region felt a new sense of caution, grateful they’d clicked on this episode.

They might call it “useless” survival knowledge… but who can guarantee you’ll never need it?

Fans grew even more curious: what kind of strategy could Natsume-sensei craft with such a weird Pokémon as Palossand?

“What we want to utilize is precisely the ability ‘Water Compaction.’”

Natsume said, “When hit by a Water-type move, Palossand’s Defense increases dramatically. If this Palossand is also holding a Weakness Policy, then both its Special Attack and Attack get a huge boost.”

“If you then follow up with consecutive uses of ‘Water Shuriken ,’ within a single turn, Palossand’s Defense can reach four times its original value, and both attacking stats will also soar.”

“And besides its signature ability, Palossand also gets its signature move, ‘Shore Up’—known as Ground-type’s answer to Recover; if it’s seriously wounded, it can just heal right back to full!”

The chat lit up with excitement.

“What the heck, this is filthy!”

“Onix’s attack stat just hit ten thousand…whoops, wrong Pokémon.”

“So what if Water Shuriken just KOs the Palossand outright?”

“Great question!” Natsume praised. “To avoid that happening, you need a second Pokémon—Smeargle.”

“The only Pokémon who can learn Water Shuriken are Greninja, Accelgor… and Smeargle, who can learn literally anything. Accelgor has its merits too, but to prevent an unlucky crit from taking out Palossand… let’s stick to Smeargle!”

A flurry of “oh my gosh” spam lit up the chat.

With Natsume-sensei’s luck, that really could happen!

On the stream, next to Palossand, stood a vacant-eyed Smeargle clutching its tail.

Natsume explained: “Smeargle’s Water Shuriken activates Palossand’s Weakness Policy and ability, then uses ‘Follow Me’ to provide offensive space for the team.”

“This is how even weak Pokémon can pull off a brilliant combo by leveraging strategy!”

A new round of excitement swept through the chat.

“Good grief, you call that weak?”

“What kind of off-the-wall strat is this?!”

“As we said before, once activated, Palossand’s offenses double and its defense quadruples.”

Natsume continued, “There’s even a move called ‘Psych Up’ that lets a Pokémon copy these stat changes.”

“For a third Pokémon, we want something that can use Psych Up—ideally, something fast. I recommend Espeon. Combine its ‘Auxiliary Power’ and you get explosive force. If you don’t have Espeon, use Golduck.”

Someone in chat chimed in: “If you don’t have Golduck, you can use Psyduck.”

“If you don’t have that… maybe just stop watching now.”

“This strat—does it even belong in the real world?!”

“Since it’s a 6v4 draft format,” Natsume-sensei said, “for the fourth Pokémon, just pick something that can use Tailwind, like Togekiss.”

With the team composed, Natsume clicked the Match button.

“And now, let’s invite our first ‘victim’ guest commentator!”

……

Alola, Eastern Island—Ula'ula Island.

As the largest island in Alola, the guardian deity of Ula'ula is Bulu, the bull-like legendary, and its island kahuna is Nanu.

Malie City, Malie Library.

Here lies Ula'ula's greatest collection of books, with rows of shelves circling the main room and ladders leading to the upper stacks.

It was four in the morning. The world was completely silent.

Inside the library, the ghostly blue glow of Litwick flickered. A purple-haired girl was perched atop a high shelf, reading a book.

A shiny Mimikyu, wearing a bow, rustled nearby, grabbing a book with its claws and handing it to the purple-haired girl.

“Thank you, Mimikins~”

Acerola propped her face up with a hand, lips curving into a smile. “What time is it now?”

Mimikyu handed over a mobile phone.

Acerola picked up the phone and stretched with a yawn. “Only four… Still time to watch a few more videos!”

This night owl girl had a special affinity, naturally attracting and endearing herself to ghost Pokémon.

Her shiny Mimikyu hid a true ghost within its costume—like the ghostly Gastly of the Lost Tower, or the mansion spirits in Eterna Forest.

When ghost-type Pokémon pass away, their spirits join the spirit world… or sometimes linger behind.

Acerola rubbed her eyes, then tapped the glowing screen, scrolling through updates on the trainer forums.

What popped up was a just-started, red-hot live stream already trending.

“A live stream from Lumiose City… There’s an eight-hour time difference from here.”

Acerola mumbled, tapping her finger—and a snarl poured from the phone’s speaker.

“I Choose You! Palossand!!”

Headphones users met their doom; Acerola shivered but found herself intrigued.

As a ghost-type expert, she certainly knew the unique ghost Pokémon of Alola—Palossand.

Acerola always thought Palossand was cute, often helping lost Palossand find their missing sand shovels.

“Water Compaction, pairing with Water Shuriken?”

Acerola’s lips curved, eyes sparkling with stars: “That sounds so clever.”

In years past, Ash’s original “Counter Shield” was already being used in the Master Tournament—yet it continued to amaze Fantina.

Maybe trainers elsewhere had already developed Water Compaction strategies too, but seeing it taught live brings a new kind of significance.

Acerola cupped her cheeks, fully focused on the stream, and murmured softly:

“It’s Natsume-sensei… I hear people mention his name all the time…”

The hero who once saved Opelucid City in Unova, the one who drove off Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon.

With a trainer of this caliber streaming tutorials, it’s no surprise the popularity is off the charts!

On screen.

Trainer cards collided in midair, sparks flaring brightly.

【Natsume-sensei, Are You Serving Dinner Today?】 vs 【Crown Tundra Exploration Special Team】

“Trainers from Crown Tundra’s here?”

“That’s the region where those new forms of Legendary Birds were rumored, right?”

“That guy’s with the research team bigshots—I followed his account!”

Natsume paused in surprise.

Crown Tundra?

Is this that new DLC for Pokémon: Battle?

If the opponent pulls out Regieleki, even Deoxys can’t compete with that Speed!

Cynthia murmured lightly, “The Crown Tundra research team has really achieved a lot lately, winning several awards at the research conference.”

Natsume nodded.

Within Crown Tundra dwell the Galarian forms of the Legendary Birds, plus the dragon and electric versions of the Regi trio, and Calyrex riding its twin steeds.

Not that the backstory matters much—field study, catching legendary Pokémon. Calyrex is worth mentioning, though.

In ancient times, Calyrex was king over all of Galar.

And as for what really happened in ancient Sinnoh—since ‘Arceus’ hasn’t released yet, Natsume-sensei has no way of knowing.

Focusing in: on the other side, the trainer card is a middle-aged man with a thick beard, looking almost like Chairman Rose’s twin.

Crown Tundra exploration captain, Steel-type Champion—Peony.

Why is Peony a champion? Well, Galar’s production of champions was lacking before Leon—so champion titles meant little back then.

Mustard himself dominated thirteen straight Galar leagues; after he retired, Peony finally got a champion medal.

The trainer card shows his younger self, with Peony grinning broadly and his daughter “Peonia” slung over his shoulder.

Natsume thought to himself, “Now that’s a classic doting dad.”

Peonia’s now in her rebellious phase, becoming more of a tanned ‘cool girl’—her old dad just shakes his head wistfully…

On screen, Peony strode onto the field in his orange-red research uniform.

Clang!

Lineups were shown.

Peony: 【Aggron, Perrserker, Bronzong, Copperajah】

Natsume-sensei: 【Palossand, Smeargle, Espeon, Gastrodon】

“Go, Palossand, Smeargle!” Natsume commanded.

Meanwhile.

Outside, wind and snow howled, while Peony sat bored inside the research tent, massaging his beard and muttering:

“Natsume-sensei… That name rings a bell.”

Supposedly a prodigy on par with Leon—a bit of a celebrity in Galar.

But.

Palossand, what’s the point of it?!

“Bronzong, Trick Room!” Peony barked. “Perrserker, Fake Out!”

Perrserker’s fur was as tough as steel—its hidden ability, Steely Spirit, is a rare group buff that boosts the power of allies’ Steel-type moves.

“Perrserker!!”

Perrserker charged straight for Smeargle, claws flashing and finally clapping together just in front of Smeargle’s face.

But Smeargle whipped its paint-splattered tail, shimmering up a green ‘Protect’ barrier that bounced Perrserker back.

Elsewhere.

A question mark appeared on Palossand’s forehead—it looked dazed. “Amnesia” sharply boosted its special defense!

Trick Room shimmered over the entire field.

Bronzong was withdrawn; a towering, roaring Aggron burst onto the field, its iron armor gleaming.

At the same moment, Peony looked doubtfully at Smeargle.

Frankly, you don’t see Smeargle on the field much.

And Peony did not believe Smeargle would be effective under Trick Room!

“Smeargle, Water Shuriken.”

Natsume interjected: “Water Shuriken has higher move priority, so even in Trick Room, a slower Smeargle can still attack first!”

Smeargle whipped its tail—three watery kunai spinning into being, slicing through the air!

Water Shuriken?!

Peony was taken aback.

How could that do damage… Wait—the kunai are aiming at Palossand!

Before he could think further, Peony yelled, “Aggron, Ice Punch on Palossand!”

Boom! Boom!

Aggron plodded forward like a rolling mountain, eyes blazing beneath its iron helmet, fists radiating freezing energy!

The two sides were just paces apart.

Water Shuriken struck Palossand, shattering a thin film of energy—the Weakness Policy activated!

At the same time, Palossand’s Water Compaction kicked in—its body puffing up layer upon layer, the sand glowing like steel, standing like a wall before Aggron!

Aggron swung its Ice Punch with a mighty blow—Super Effective!

But with defense now quadrupled, Palossand didn’t budge, its gaping mouth almost looked like a sneer.

Peony froze.

Water Shuriken just maxed Palossand’s defense in an instant?!

“This is real sand tanking!”

“Ice Punch did nothing but scratch an itch!”

And Peony’s despair was just beginning.

Palossand stood tall—a wall no one could scale.

When Trick Room ended, Espeon rotated in, the red gem on its forehead flashing—“Psych Up” triggered, its fur shining like steel!

With stat boosts building power into “Stored Power,” a brilliant light burst forth, hitting a half-health Aggron and blasting it right off the field!

“You can even do that?!”

“Impossible to defend against!”

The match ended 4–1.

Just as the fans marveled at another new strategy, Natsume rolled out a second combo.

Match two—still Peony as the matched opponent.

Peony stared at his screen. “Azumarill, Runerigus?”

What are these weird teams supposed to be?!

Natsume explained: “Azumarill’s ability is Huge Power, which sharply raises its attack. Runerigus’s ‘Wandering Spirit’ ability allows it to swap abilities on contact.”

“The essence of this strat is having Azumarill use Brutal Swing to pass Huge Power to Runerigus, while also activating its Weakness Policy and letting Runerigus blast out pure mayhem!”

Acerola began to feel lightheaded.

Yet again, two sweepers, both ghost types—she’d never considered a strat like this, though she had thought up various Water Compaction ideas before.

But Runerigus swapping abilities to gain Huge Power? She’d never even heard of it!

“I ought to try this…”

Acerola cupped her chin, lips forming a wavy smile. “This seems super useful!”

Both teams were built more for fun, not the usual Trick Room or Perish Song meta.

Still, the fans were unlocking new knowledge.

“Learned it, learned it!”

“Huh, what, only two strats? That’s it?”

“Honestly, thanks to trainers like Natsume-sensei, new strategies are always being unearthed. No Pokémon is ever truly weak… There are no weak Pokémon! That’s the romance of Pokémon!”

“By the way, what does that ‘Victory Road’ in the title mean?”

“That’s what I was about to say…” Natsume paused.

Actually, taking on Victory Road is quite troublesome… yet there’s no choice.

Because—

If you want to propose to the Sinnoh Champion, you’ve got to have a real title to your name…

That, too, was Natsume’s motivation.

“I’ve decided.”

Natsume-sensei proclaimed, “Next month, I’m entering Touran’s Victory Road. Let’s see how far I can go.”

There was a hush in the live chat.

Everyone had imagined what it’d be like for Natsume-sensei to take on Victory Road.

But hearing him announce it for real, the mood suddenly froze.

Then—