Gao Leng nodded again, showing his satisfaction with the treatment and suggestions offered by the other party.
Scyther, upon seeing the nod, assumed that his last gesture had indeed signified his agreement. This human seemed to understand him quite well.
And the Pokemon next to him, named Combusken, was undeniably strong—worthy of being taught.
Tetsuya was equally pleased. He had set out today simply to complete some daily tasks and earn training fees, but he hadn't expected to meet such a reasonable and experienced veteran.
Guidance on combat experience was, in itself, a minor matter.
The real value was that he suspected this Scyther could perform Sword Dance and Hone Claws, possibly even Focus Energy.
His main objective was to have Combusken learn Sword Dance and Hone Claws while mastering all three skills.
Just imagine—a Combusken with the hidden ability Speed Boost, combined with Focus Energy, Hone Claws, and Sword Dance. That would be an insanely powerful combination.
Tetsuya couldn't help but feel tempted to adjust his plans, shifting Combusken's battle style into that of a true assassin.
A true assassin should strike head-on. Who needs to retreat?
And all it would cost him were a few energy cubes—not cheap, but the benefits far outweighed the costs.
Scyther and Combusken quickly finished their lunch.
"Scythe~!"
Scyther immediately flew to an open space nearby, signaling for Combusken to follow.
After a confirming nod from Tetsuya, Combusken stepped into position.
Guiding in battle? Scyther was an expert at this. He had once taught all the younger ones in his tribe.
A hint of nostalgia and loneliness flickered in Scyther's eyes as he signaled Combusken to control its strength and begin sparring.
"Ha-ha-ha~!" "Cha!" "Ha-ha-ha~!" "Cha-mo!"
Watching the two Pokemon train hard, Tetsuya could only marvel at his own luck.
Not all wild Pokemon were this cooperative—especially proud and battle-hardened species like Scyther.
Many Pokemon couldn't accept teaching someone who had defeated them. More often than not, they'd storm off in frustration or even retaliate rather than pass on their skills.
At that moment, both Pidgeot and Boldore issued simultaneous warnings—an enemy was approaching.
Tetsuya narrowed his eyes and gestured for Scyther and Combusken to continue training, reassuring them with a wave of his hand.
Combusken, trusting his trainer completely, obeyed without hesitation. Scyther hesitated slightly, but after glancing at Pidgeot, he realized his concerns were unnecessary.
He had lived in this area long enough to know what kind of Pokemon were around. This Pidgeot was practically untouchable in the region.
As Tetsuya commanded, Pidgeot shot forward and used Whirlwind to flush out the intruders hiding among the trees and tall grass.
Four Mankey tumbled into view.
Now fully exposed, the once-hesitant Mankey began to breathe rapidly.
"Air Slash!"
Tetsuya wasted no time.
That rapid breathing was a warning sign. Mankey, when frightened, had a tendency to enter a rage-fueled frenzy. Once angered, they became relentless, reckless fighters—a real headache to deal with.
Pidgeot swiftly gathered energy and flapped its wings twice in succession, launching four razor-sharp air blades toward the Mankey.
Tetsuya nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that Pidgeot's recent training was paying off—the charge time for Air Slash had significantly decreased.
While it was unlikely to achieve instant activation, every fraction of a second shaved off could turn the tide in battle.
The Mankey didn't even have time to react before they were struck.
The sheer force sent their small bodies flying, with two of them crashing hard against a nearby tree, shrieking in pain.
Before Tetsuya could issue another command, Pidgeot was already moving, dashing forward in a blur of speed.
"Steel Wing."
Pidgeot's wings gleamed with a metallic sheen as it slashed through the Mankey one by one, sending them tumbling back to the ground.
"Huh?"
Tetsuya raised an eyebrow.
One Mankey was still standing, albeit unsteadily, using its arms for support as it struggled to rise.
"Whirlwind."
A gentle gust swept through the clearing, and the exhausted, battered Mankey collapsed into the bushes alongside its companions.
Tetsuya turned away. The Mankey would flee when they regained consciousness—wild Pokemon were smart enough to recognize overwhelming strength and retreat.
Boldore rumbled in frustration, eager to battle.
Tetsuya patted its rocky crest. "Be patient. Once you evolve, you'll be able to join battles more often."
He could sense Boldore's restlessness.
Since its training began, it had only fought a handful of times, mostly in a supporting role. It was no surprise that it was eager for action.
Shifting his focus back to Scyther and Combusken, he considered something else.
High potential didn't just mean greater energy reserves—it also indicated a Pokemon's aptitude for learning new skills.
Of course, this wasn't an absolute rule. A Pokemon with King-level potential might, on occasion, grasp a technique faster than one with Champion-level potential.
"Cha!"
As he was lost in thought, Combusken suddenly spun on its feet. Tetsuya could feel its energy surging.
Wait… was that Sword Dance?!
He blinked in shock. The boost was subtle but unmistakable.
Although he had high expectations for Combusken, he hadn't expected it to learn Sword Dance this quickly. The move was notoriously difficult, ranked four out of five stars in difficulty by researchers.
And yet, it had already grasped the basics.
Scyther also blinked in surprise. This Combusken was quick to understand. He had only mentioned the move in passing while explaining battle strategies—how had it learned it so soon?
Tetsuya shook the two small fossils in his hand, a strange look on his face.
The four Aipom that had just fled were now back, ambushed by Rockruff's stone attack.
The reason Pidgeot hadn't issued a warning was simple—after handling them so easily before, they no longer registered as a threat. They were too weak.
If they had actually launched an attack, Pidgeot was confident he could react in time. Besides, he trusted Rockruff's instincts. The little Pokémon had proven to be quick on the uptake.
After Rockruff's attack, the Aipom looked like they were about to throw a tantrum, but Pidgeot's sharp glare froze them in place. The sudden anger in their eyes faded, replaced with submission.
Classic bullies—brave when facing the weak, but spineless against the strong.
Aipom were known for their explosive tempers, but only when they thought they had the upper hand. Infernape might have had a more reckless, violent response, but these Aipom knew better than to challenge something beyond their capabilities.
One of them, seemingly the leader, hesitated before stepping forward. Under the nervous urging of the other three, it slowly raised something from behind its back and held it out.
Pidgeot gave the item a bored glance. Just a dull rock. It wasn't interested in such things.
But Tetsuya's eyes narrowed. Those weren't just rocks—they were ancient fossils, small but unmistakable.
The Aipom chattered among themselves, their message clear: they wanted Pidgeot to be their leader.
Because Pidgeot was the strongest being they had ever seen, they believed that with him at their head, they could rule the forest. They offered their most prized possessions in hopes of gaining his favor.
Tetsuya showed no reaction, but Pidgeot understood what was expected of him.
Spreading his wings, Pidgeot gestured for them to place the fossils on the ground.
The Aipom's faces lit up with joy, thinking Pidgeot had accepted their offering. Having such a powerful boss meant they wouldn't have to live in fear anymore.
Then Pidgeot flapped his wings.
The Aipom scrambled in confusion, thinking he was about to give them their first command. But instead, a powerful gust lifted them off the ground and sent them flying deep into the forest.
Tetsuya blinked, momentarily stunned.
Where did he even learn that?
Pidgeot ruffled his feathers, satisfied, and turned to face his trainer expectantly.
"Well?" his expression seemed to say. "Aren't you going to reward me?"
Tetsuya sighed and rubbed his temples before giving in, massaging the large bird's head. "You've gotten way too full of yourself, you know that?"
Pidgeot trilled happily.
Personality in Pokémon wasn't as mechanically significant as in games—there were no arbitrary stat boosts or debuffs based on temperament—but it did matter in battle. Brave Pokémon adapted to combat faster. Hot-blooded Pokémon were prone to recklessness.
Trainers played a crucial role in shaping these traits. And in Pidgeot's case… well, Tetsuya had been its sole caretaker since it hatched.
When he was younger, he didn't have many human friends. He'd spent most of his time talking to Pidgeot, and the bird had absorbed more of his personality than he'd realized.
Somewhere along the line, that had turned Pidgeot into a cocky, talkative showoff.
And now Combusken was starting to pick up on it, too.
Thank Arceus, Rockruff wasn't.
A sharp cry snapped him back to reality. Combusken had made a misstep during training.
Scyther let out an irritated huff. "What's wrong with you? Focus."
Combusken quickly apologized, shaking off his momentary distraction and returning to practice. But he still felt weird. He could've sworn he heard Tetsuya call him just now.
Tetsuya pocketed the small fossils. He had no idea what they were, but they were free, so why not hold onto them? Maybe they'd turn out to be valuable.
After leaving food as a reward for Scyther, he glanced at the time. It was about time to wrap things up.
He still had a mission to complete.
Money doesn't make itself, after all.
Scyther watched as Tetsuya and his Pokémon walked away, his gaze lingering for a moment before he picked up his food. He hoped they would return as promised.
The old warrior's figure looked particularly lonely as he stood there in the clearing.
—
The doors of the Pokémon Center slid open with a soft whoosh, and Tetsuya stepped inside just as the sun was setting.
His luck had been decent today. After training Combusken, he quickly found his target, defeated it, gathered materials, and turned in his mission. A small but solid profit.
After getting his Pokémon checked in for healing, a thought crossed his mind.
Why not visit Cape Cottage at the White Cape Cliff today?
He had been here for several days now, but he had yet to see it. And everyone kept saying the sunset view there was spectacular.
After collecting his Pokémon, he hopped on his electric bike and sped off toward the cliffs.
Couples on tandem bicycles were everywhere. A Furfrou was showing off its well-groomed coat at the roadside, basking in admiration.
When he reached the top of the cliff, his eyes were drawn to a cordoned-off area. A Clawitzer stood on guard, its massive pincer raised like a silent warning.
"Must be some big-shot kids from a wealthy family," Tetsuya muttered.
Beside Clawitzer, a small figure with bright orange hair sat quietly, barely visible against the backdrop of the setting sun.