"Looks like I really owe the Hoenn League a big thank you this time. They've taken the fall for me, but I'm afraid my identity as Garus has already been blacklisted."
After carefully scanning the newspaper in his hand, Ron couldn't help but mutter to himself.
Though the report had been embellished, as someone directly involved, Ron could clearly see the truth behind the words.
The League believed that there was a dangerous criminal aboard the ship—someone who had attempted sabotage, attacked, and even killed multiple sailors, including the deputy captain.
Their operation at the docks had been an attempt to capture or eliminate this culprit.
Coincidentally, the League's movements led Team Aqua to mistakenly believe that the League had discovered and imprisoned their officers, Tyro and Bord, intending to hand them over.
As a result, Team Aqua took action, prompting the League to dispatch Wallace.
In the ensuing chaos, Team Aqua wrongly assumed that the Blue Orb had fallen into the League's hands, while the League locked onto the sudden disappearance of Garus—Ron's disguised identity—when he left the ship.
Ron, for his part, had protected the ship and even obtained valuable spoils, including the Blue Orb. However, he once again found himself on the wanted list.
Now, whether he disguised himself as Garus or concealed himself under a black cloak, Ron could no longer move freely within the Hoenn League's jurisdiction.
Fortunately, Ron had enough resources at his disposal for the time being, so this wasn't an immediate concern.
The only real regret was that Wallace was indeed in Sootopolis City, but with the recent Team Aqua assault, he was likely too preoccupied to meet, let alone battle.
Placing the newspaper aside, Ron decided to lay low in Sootopolis City for a while, waiting for the storm to completely subside before making his next move.
At the Pokémon Center, Ron found himself slipping back into an old routine—spending his days cycling between his room, the cafeteria, and the training hall.
For now, just refining Machamp's Armament Haki alone demanded most of Ron's focus.
Inside the training hall, Persian stood still, concentrating on every fiber of its being, feeling the scorching energy coursing through its body.
"Now, Persian! Control that power—Paper Art: Martial Form!"
Ron's voice rang out like a final push, and in an instant, waves of heat radiated from Persian's body without restraint.
"Roar!"
A deep growl echoed as Persian's entire form began to change.
First, its front paws—the fingers extended, palms enlarged, morphing into something eerily close to human hands.
An invisible force surged through Persian, reshaping its physique, adjusting its muscles—sometimes reinforcing, sometimes streamlining.
Its hind legs stretched rapidly, and with a sudden backward bend, Persian stood upright. Its legs elongated, muscles taut with power.
In mere moments, Persian had completed its transformation.
Perhaps due to its feline nature, Persian's Paper Art: Martial Form bore a striking resemblance to how Lucci had used the same technique.
With the combined abilities of Paper Art and Life Return, Persian felt an unprecedented surge of strength, even though its level hadn't increased.
"Congratulations, Persian! You've finally mastered it."
Ron had barely lifted his hand to pat Persian's shoulder when the turbulent air currents triggered Persian's instinctive reflex, making it dodge his touch in an instant.
"Looks like you'll need some time to adjust to your new power. Also, Persian, you must quickly adapt to fighting in this new stance and refine your combat style."
"And your speed in activating Paper Art: Martial Form should be seamless—transforming effortlessly mid-battle will give you an edge."
Seeing Persian's current state, Ron offered his advice.
"Alright, let's start training now. Get familiar with your new form."
With Ron's instructions, Persian sprang into action, testing its new shape, executing attacks, and gradually memorizing every detail of its transformed body.
As Persian dove into its training, the other Pokémon also spread out.
Bellossom stood still, eyes closed, concentrating on Leaf Blade, as if sensing something deep within.
Nearby, Nidoking gathered Electric, Ice, and Fire-type energy into its palms, while Gardevoir hovered in a meditative state, her psychic energy pulsing.
A fiery figure dashed across the field—Blaziken, no longer solely pursuing speed but instead focusing on agility and flexibility.
A shadowy, spherical form drifted—Gengar, submerged within a compressed Netherworld, absorbing Nether Crystals while honing control over its spectral domain.
Lucario, eyes shut, used Aura to evade incoming attacks from Frogadier.
In the corner of the training room, neither Persian's earlier progress nor the various training techniques of the other Trainers, including Bellossom, managed to catch Machamp's attention.
Right now, Machamp stood motionless, brow furrowed.
From the very beginning of the training session, it had sensed a strange power flowing within its body. Yet, whenever it tried to focus on it, the energy would disappear in the blink of an eye.
Determined to uncover the source of this power, Machamp became fully absorbed in the process.
Gradually, as it began to recognize a pattern in the energy's movements, Machamp could tell that it was getting closer—closer to grasping this elusive force.
Unaware of Machamp's unusual state, Ron continued his attempts at Moonwalk, repeatedly leaping into the air and forcefully stepping against it, hoping to stay airborne. But each time, he failed.
Failure, however, did not discourage Ron. On the contrary, it only fueled his fighting spirit.
He jumped again, but before he could attempt Moonwalk, a deep, resounding impact echoed through the room. The very walls seemed to tremble for a brief moment.
"What was that?"
Tracing the source of the disturbance, Ron's gaze landed on Machamp, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
Persian and the others instinctively turned toward Machamp as well.
Activating Telepathy, Ron silently awaited an explanation.
Machamp didn't say a word. Instead, it simply raised all four of its hands.
Though faint, Ron instantly recognized what was coating Machamp's fists—the first stage of Armament Haki: Hardening!
"Machamp, did you… actually succeed!?"
Even with the proof right before his eyes, Ron couldn't believe it. He asked cautiously, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and disbelief.
Machamp responded with a firm nod before turning around and slamming its fist into the wall.
The entire room shook violently, and at the point of impact, countless cracks spread across the surface like a spiderweb.
"That's amazing, Machamp!"
Ignoring the inevitable repair costs for the wall, Ron excitedly lunged into Machamp's arms.
From mastering the Six Powers to now awakening Armament Haki, this was the first time Machamp had successfully wielded such power. And to Ron, this proved that his ideas—his theories—were truly possible.
But who could understand the sheer effort Machamp had endured as the first to embark on this path?
Returning Ron's embrace, Machamp suddenly realized something.
Two grown men hugging like this… felt a little awkward.
---
TL/N:
FINALLY!!!
HAKI IS HERE!!!!
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