"Vibrava, are you ready?"
With the help of the staff, Ethan was fully equipped.
At that moment, he looked at the Vibrava fluttering beside him and smiled.
After so much effort, it was time to verify the results of Vibrava's training. Under such intense pressure, he had no idea how it would react.
"Viiibbrraa!"
Vibrava nodded with great seriousness.
Then, with Ethan's approval, it flapped its wings and positioned itself right behind him. Its four legs held tightly onto his back, and with a gentle flap, it made Ethan's body feel lighter.
"Let's go."
Ethan patted the fully reinforced protective suit and walked directly into the evaluation field.
At the same time, as Ethan started his test, his information appeared on the control staff's panel.
"Hm? The rookie king of this generation?"
After checking Ethan's data, the supervisor couldn't help but be surprised.
After consulting with his superiors, he pressed a button on the control console.
The test had four difficulty levels... and what the supervisor had just activated was the highest one.
"Vibrava, use ultrasonic detection."
As soon as Ethan entered the field, he gave the order.
Vibrava, clinging to his back, nodded immediately. Invisible ultrasonic waves spread outward, detecting any possible danger that might appear.
Whoosh.
Just then, a nearly inaudible air-breaking sound emerged.
It was extremely faint, but for a Vibrava skilled in sonic movements, it sounded loud.
Its auditory sensitivity allowed it to instantly recognize the direction of the sudden attack.
The Levitate ability activated at that moment. Ethan felt his body lighten, and with the help of a breeze, he shifted sideways several meters.
And that small distance was enough to avoid a high-speed sphere that flew past him.
This technique relied precisely on Vibrava's ability: first, lightening the trainer's weight as if he were a feather...
And then, using the airflow created by the incoming sphere itself to evade effortlessly.
This style of evasion was one of the reasons Ethan wanted to train Vibrava as a defensive core. The combination of Levitate, flight capability, and evasive techniques was crucial to him.
Just with these two applications of the Levitate ability, Ethan could dodge attacks using the enemy's own force—and that was without Vibrava even using Tailwind! If it did, it could execute much faster active evasions.
As expected, Vibrava dodged the attack and looked very pleased. But soon its expression changed; its ultrasonic waves had sensed something else.
After confirming the general shape of the approaching enemy, Vibrava relaxed a little, spread its wings, and lifted Ethan into the air.
Fwoooosh
Just as they completed the movement, an Ursaring appeared, charging wildly. Luckily, Vibrava reacted quickly and avoided the tackle with its flight ability.
This was the second reason Ethan valued Vibrava so much: its powerful ultrasonic detection allowed it to anticipate danger and gain precious time to react, just as it had done now.
Furthermore, the ability to fly was an excellent trait for a defensive core. Alex Baxter's defensive core was also flight-based.
Outside the field, the trainers who had taken an interest in Ethan because Laura Frost was watching him couldn't help but quietly praise Vibrava's performance.
"Oh no, that's poisonous gas! Has that kid not noticed?"
Suddenly, a trainer exclaimed after seeing the poisonous gas warning on the screen. Everyone knew what he was about to face.
But inside the field, Ethan didn't seem to notice anything. He took no measures and walked straight into the area.
"He's done for. Ethan already lost."
One trainer said with a mocking tone.
After all, this was someone the Ice Goddess was watching. Jealousy burned fiercely.
"No... wait."
"Can't you see his score hasn't dropped?"
Another trainer shouted in surprise, and everyone looked at the score display.
Ethan still had 100 points, which meant he hadn't taken any damage.
"Could the system be malfunctioning?"
Another commented, but immediately shook his head. This was a high-level exam; they wouldn't make such a basic mistake.
"It's because of the airflow."
"That Vibrava is constantly maintaining an air current around the trainer's body."
A more observant spectator explained the reason.
Both poisonous gas and powder were extremely light. A simple breeze dispersed them easily, much more so if Ethan was surrounded by a barrier of swirling air.
And this technique of creating a wind layer around the trainer was the third reason Vibrava could serve as a defensive core.
Without realizing it, Ethan had passed completely through the poisonous gas zone that terrified most trainers, entering directly into a desert-like terrain.
All that could be seen was sand everywhere. Vibrava flew overhead, wrapping the air filled with particles within its controlled currents.
Fwoooosh—
Once again, a sandstorm descended.
Facing the violent storm, Vibrava showed determination.
Flapping its wings strongly, it accumulated Flying-type energy and released it as a powerful wind, pushing the storm to both sides.
Vibrava had activated Tailwind to counter the storm, which this time was far fiercer than the previous ones.
But thanks to its exceptional sensitivity and control over airflow, a windless zone formed around Ethan, moving with him. Not even the wildest storm could harm him.
When the storm passed, everyone looked again at the screen.
Ethan's score... was still at maximum.
(End of chapter)