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******
Lian found a comfortable patch of grass, perfectly sunlit, and leisurely lay down while watching Kalia prepare to command Treecko against a Ledyba.
Ledybas are naturally timid, with some even possessing the Rattled Ability. Without companions nearby, they tend to curl up and tremble fearfully.
Lian felt slightly regretful for not considering battles with Ledybas earlier; targeting solitary ones could have been quite effortless victories.
"Treecko, use Pound on that Ledyba," Kalia commanded.
Treecko's tail serves as its most potent weapon, making the Pound move exceptionally powerful. However, since Treeckos aren't specialized in attack moves, occasional usage is enough to improve proficiency.
The Ledyba was small, resting on a tree, completely oblivious to the impending danger. No apparent companions were around either.
Upon hearing the command, Treecko sprinted towards the Ledyba, leaped, spun mid-air, and swung its sturdy green tail forcefully at the unsuspecting bug.
With a loud smack, Treecko successfully hit the Ledyba, sending it crashing to the ground. Despite the impact, it was clear that the Ledyba hadn't lost its ability to fight yet; upon landing, it curled up tightly, remaining motionless.
Simultaneously, a transparent wall gradually formed around Treecko, enveloping it - clearly indicating the Reflect move.
Lian felt somewhat disappointed, as a Ledyba capable of learning Reflect must have been at least level 10 or higher. Such a timid bug-type Pokemon ended up being easily exploited by Treecko.
"Treecko, use Quick Attack." Kalia, unfazed by the appearance of the transparent wall, continued commanding Treecko to attack.
Despite the Reflect reducing Quick Attack's potency, this was precisely her intention, allowing for multiple uses and practice purposes.
After all, this was just a warm-up session. Once breakfast was finished, she planned to conduct further practical training with both Pokemon.
As Lian watched Treecko relentlessly assault Ledyba, he nearly dozed off from boredom. Eventually, Ledyba began counterattacking, but unfortunately, as a dual-bug and flying-type Pokemon, it had minimal access to bug or flying-type moves before evolving into a Ledian.
Its only viable option was Swift, a normal-type move, which could still pack some punch. However, perhaps due to fear, Ledyba haphazardly used various moves without any strategy, resembling random button mashing.
In the end, after employing Quick Attack several times combined with a few Pound attacks, Treecko successfully defeated Ledyba.
After the battle concluded, Kalia retrieved a Potion spray from her backpack and treated both Treecko's Swift-inflicted wounds and Ledyba.
"Next, it's your turn, Charmander." Kalia turned to look at Lian resting near the tree roots.
Lian shook his head, indicating refusal. He knew Kalia would likely choose a Pokemon resistant or immune to Fire-type attacks. If their opponent was stronger, today's battle rating could be jeopardized.
He had already decided; to maximize daily ratings, he needed to pick easier opponents for effortless victories, even if they were of lower levels.
Kalia's planned battles seemed exhausting. Although Treecko didn't sustain significant injuries, it had used its moves over five times in just one fight.
Observing the lethargic Charmander, Kalia wondered for the first time if she might have made a mistake—training this Charmander felt arduous.
Taking a deep breath, Kalia approached Charmander, squatted down, and said, "My goal for you today is to learn Smokescreen. Without battling, you won't grasp this move."
"If you don't learn Smokescreen by today, I'll have no choice but to cancel your evening meal."
Kalia thought that with this ultimatum, using food as leverage, Charmander should finally comply, expecting it to work effectively.
Lian glanced at Kalia, thinking to himself, Cancel my dinner? No way!
He recalled activating the Smokescreen move last night, which meant he should have already mastered it. Now was the perfect time to give it a try.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Lian felt something uncontrollably surging from his throat, building up rapidly. With a burst, he opened his mouth.
A dense cloud of smoke erupted forth, and before Kalia could react, being closest, she found herself engulfed by the Smokescreen.
Cough cough!
Caught off guard by the sudden Smokescreen, Kalia's face turned pitch-black, with only her bewildered eyes shining brightly amidst the darkness.
Smokescreen! Kalia was stunned. When did Charmander learn Smokescreen? She clearly remembered that yesterday, it couldn't use this move, yet today it had unexpectedly mastered it.
Kalia wiped away the black soot from her face, unsure what to say. While mastering Smokescreen was commendable for Charmander, it also disrupted her planned training session.
The practical combat exercises needed revision now, but first, they both required a thorough cleaning to remove the soot covering their heads.
Observing Kalia's coal-covered face, Lian couldn't help but chuckle uncharacteristically. Although unintentional, he simply couldn't resist laughing.
Suddenly, a hand reached out and smudged Lian's face, revealing Kalia's palm covered in black soot.
Lian froze, momentarily speechless.
***
After some time...
Lian and Kalia cleaned themselves of the soot before returning to Kana Forest. However, Lian appeared quite uncomfortable.
Fire-type Pokémon dread water, and Lian was no exception. Feeling uneasy after washing off, he sought out a spot with ample sunlight to dry his skin by evaporating any residual moisture.
Following this ordeal, it was finally breakfast time.
Kalia retrieved energy cubes and various Pokemon food from her backpack. They couldn't rely solely on hotel meals, as even she would find it unsustainable if they ate out too often.
These Pokemon foods were the primary sustenance for most Pokemon and essential items for many Trainers.
The Pokemon food Kalia purchased came in various flavors, including ones favored by Charmander. She took out a piece resembling beef jerky.
Eagerly waiting, Lian wasted no time, taking a bite immediately. Finding the taste pleasant, he finished the entire piece and surprisingly felt satiated.
Not bad, not bad at all.
Lian patted his stomach; although it didn't bulge this time, he was no longer hungry, marking a satisfying end to their breakfast.
After Treecko finished eating, Kalia also completed her breakfast and stood up with a clap of her hands.
Since Charmander had mastered Smokescreen, it was time to shift focus to practical combat training. However, considering Charmander's proficiency with Ember and now Smokescreen, there didn't seem to be any other moves immediately available for improvement.
Mastering Dragon Breath or Dragon Rage would take considerable time, and at this early stage, Charmander did not possess many strong moves, with Dragon Breath being its most notable ability.
"Charmander, I'll select some opponents for you next. It might be challenging, but I believe you're eager to grow stronger quickly," Kalia said.
So far, Kalia hadn't directed Charmander in battle yet. She felt that engaging in a wilderness combat session would help build trust and cohesion between them.
Lian didn't refuse; today, they were bound to have a battle anyway, as he couldn't afford to waste the daily battle rating opportunity.
As time passed, more Trainers entered Kana Forest, clearly drawn by the ongoing Pokemon competition. The tournament, which started yesterday, had yet to determine the ultimate winner, likely extending for several more days.
Kalia observed the Trainers gathering at the western edge of Kana Forest but paid them no heed. Her level was already far superior to these novice Trainers.
Changing direction, she ventured deeper into Kana Forest, seeking a suitable opponent for her Charmander's first battle.
As this would be their debut match, the adversary couldn't be too weak; ideally, it should challenge Charmander to unleash its full potential. However, finding such an opponent was challenging due to most Pokemon in the forest being vulnerable to Fire-types.
After considerable time, Kalia finally identified her target. Undeniably, luck was on her side as she discovered a river with a group of Lotads and some Lombres nearby.
A Lotad would make an excellent opponent for Charmander, being both Grass- and Water-type, typically residing in water. The effectiveness of Fire-type moves against it would be neutralized, ensuring that Charmander's Ember wouldn't instantly defeat it. This gave Kalia room to strategize.
Her only concern was Lotad's Water-type moves, but with her guidance, Charmander defeating a Lotad shouldn't pose much difficulty.
Although they had identified their target, Lotads thrive near riversides, and their evolved form, Lombre, also frequents these areas. Therefore, finding a solitary Lotad was crucial.
Locating a lone Lotad wasn't difficult. Unlike the mischievous Lombre, Lotads are quiet creatures. During sunlight, they typically gather for photosynthesis, while at other times, they remain submerged with only their green lotus leaves visible above water.
Lotads perfectly fit Lian's definition of easy targets, so he fully supported Kalia's decision without any reservations.
Had she suggested battling against Lombre, he would have instantly declined. Lombre starts evolving at level 14, capable of taking him down with a single Water Gun attack—there'd be no contest.
Not only do Lotads have low base stats, making them soft targets, but they are also slow-moving. The primary threat to Lian from them is their Water Gun move.
Once they found a solitary Lotad, the battle commenced. Under Kalia's guidance, Lian initiated the attack with an Ember right away.
Sensing the incoming assault, the Lotad retaliated promptly. Despite their usually calm demeanor, any Pokemon faced with a hostile enemy will defend itself.
"Charmander, dodge the Water Gun!"
Before Lotad could execute its move, it submerged underwater, but Kalia swiftly issued her next command.
Lian was surprised; Kalia seemed to anticipate Lotad's strategy accurately. Though initially skeptical, he quickly realized her prediction was spot-on.
As Lotad resurfaced, its mouth swelled, and a stream of water shot towards Lian.
Thanks to Kalia's warning, Lian reacted promptly, evading Lotad's Water Gun effortlessly.
"Great! Charmander, while Lotad is still above water, continue using Ember," Kalia encouraged, issuing further instructions.
Since Lotad relies on water, Ember would only be effective when it emerges from the surface. Otherwise, hiding underwater negates any damage from fire attacks.
Lian was astonished by Kalia's precise timing, as her command coincided perfectly with his opportunity to unleash another Ember. He seized the moment, opening his mouth to release a burst of flames at Lotad.
The Ember struck Lotad, but unfortunately, due to the surrounding water, its impact was diminished compared to usual conditions. This limitation couldn't be avoided, as environmental factors significantly influence Pokemon battles.
The Fire-type move near a river diminished its effectiveness due to the abundant Water-type energy surrounding them.
Kalia's command was quite skillful, with the only mistake being Lian's lack of precision, allowing Lotad to evade the attack. Nonetheless, it wasn't significant.
After a brief battle, Lotad emerged victorious.
Lian sustained minimal damage, and he estimated his combat rating for this fight would be around D-level. Although he won without any injuries, considering Lotad's limited stamina, achieving a D-level rating was still commendable.
"Charmander, you performed well, but your accuracy with Ember needs improvement."
Upon concluding the battle, Kalia first praised Lian before taking out a pen from her backpack. She found a nearby rock and drew a circle with a dot inside.
Then, Kalia instructed Lian to use Ember, targeting the dot at the center of the circle, aiming to enhance his precision.
In battles, agile Pokemon can easily dodge their opponent's moves, especially Special attacks like Ember. With quick reactions, evading such attacks becomes feasible.
Improving the accuracy of Ember is crucial for Charmander. This practice not only enhances Ember specifically but also significantly benefits other similar long-range moves.
***
Time flew by, and three days quickly passed.
During these three days, Lian trained with Kalia, primarily focusing on improving Ember's accuracy. However, he couldn't resist slacking off; typically, after two minutes of training, he would take an hour-long break.
Kalia felt helpless, having never encountered such a lazy Charmander who either slept or ate incessantly, sometimes even sneaking to rummage through her backpack.
While Kalia was at wit's end, Lian remained quite content. These three days were incredibly relaxing for him, filled with eating, drinking, and plenty of sleep. Although there were occasional battles, they mainly served to maintain his daily combat rating streak.
Lian didn't spend the accumulated Combat Points from these three days on enhancing his special attack immediately. Instead, he aimed to save them until leveling up, confirming if Combat Points indeed affected base stats, then planned to boost his special attack significantly all at once for a transformative effect.
Currently, Lian had amassed around 500 Combat Points as a result of his efforts over these three days. While it seemed substantial, he knew that using them all to enhance his special attack might not yield significant improvement.
Lian suspected that after today's training session, he should be able to level up. By tonight, he would likely see the increase in special attack following the upgrade.
In the dense foliage,
Kalia directed Treecko diligently. Compared to Lian, over these two days, Treecko had engaged in numerous battles, too many to count on both hands, resulting in rapid progress in strength.
However, it still hadn't learned Mega Drain yet. But Kalia felt they were close, possibly just a couple more days away.
"Take a break now, Treecko."
After defeating another wild Bug-type Pokemon, Kalia decided to rest and first tended to Treecko's injuries.
Suddenly, movement in the grass caught Kalia's attention. Looking up, she noticed a buzzcut boy emerging from the bushes.
The buzzcut boy, feeling awkward upon seeing Kalia, apologized sheepishly, "Sorry, I saw the Treecko battling from afar and thought it was wild."
"It's alright," Kalia replied calmly. "Just remember, my Pokemon and I are resting now, so please don't disturb us."
The buzzcut boy smiled apologetically, realizing his mistake. He had assumed the Treecko was unowned, but now understood how naive that assumption was - finding a wild Treecko was highly unlikely.
However, considering this Trainer had a Treecko as their starter Pokémon, how come he hadn't seen them before in any local competitions? Were they perhaps eliminated in the first round?
Hmm?
As the buzzcut boy pondered, his gaze suddenly fell upon the soundly sleeping Charmander nearby, its vibrant red body catching his attention.
Is that her Pokémon too?
Envy surged within him; being a civilian Trainer, it took considerable effort for his parents to purchase a set of Poké Balls and a wild Sandshrew for him.
These items alone drained half of his family's savings, given the high cost of each Poké Ball, which were also prone to damage during capture attempts.
Determined to become a professional Trainer, he embarked on a journey to challenge gyms and just arrived at Cianwood City, registering for this competition.
Fortunately, he secured the top spot and received a rare Passho Berry from the Mayor of Cianwood City, enhancing a Pokémon's resistance to Water-type moves when consumed.
Feeling quite proud of himself, he now realized that all his hard-earned achievements seemed insignificant in this moment.
Both Charmander and Treecko are highly sought-after Pokémon for novice Trainers due to their gentle nature, adorable appearance, and great potential.
The buzzcut boy recalled when he first obtained Sandshrew; despite its timid nature, it had quite a bad temper and frequently scratched his arms with its claws.
It took some time for them to bond before Sandshrew finally obeyed him. However, due to its inherent timidity, it struggled significantly during battles.
Countless times, his peers mocked him and advised him to switch Pokémon, but he refused to give up. Through relentless effort, he eventually instilled courage in Sandshrew, enabling it to engage effectively in combat.
Only he knew the hardships endured throughout this journey.
Yet, the Trainer standing before him casually possessed two rare and remarkably docile Pokémon.
With a smile, the buzzcut boy introduced himself, "Hello, I'm Hirasawa Ichiro."
Kalia courteously responded, "I'm Kalia."
Ichiro suddenly asked, "Um, would you like to have a Pokémon battle with me?"
Kalia hesitated, initially inclined to decline Ichiro's spontaneous challenge. However, she vaguely remembered him as the winner of a small-scale Pokémon competition, indicating that he must possess some skill.
Although Kalia didn't closely follow small-scale beginner competitions, during her stay at the hotel, she had overheard discussions about them and thus knew some details.
"Sure." Kalia nodded slightly. Despite continuously battling wild Pokemon, engaging with other Trainers better showcased the synergy between Trainer and Pokemon.
Hirasawa Ichiro seemed to be a formidable opponent.
"That's great." Ichiro's face lit up with joy. He aimed to demonstrate his prowess, confident that even against a Trainer like Kalia, he could secure victory.
"What are the rules?"
"I only have two Pokemon, so let's make it 2v2, elimination style," Ichiro proposed. In elimination battles, once a Pokemon loses its ability to fight, it cannot be switched out; the next Pokemon can only enter when incapacitated or unless the Trainer voluntarily concedes.
Many Trainers disfavor elimination-style battles due to concerns about their Pokemon sustaining severe injuries. Typically, they prefer rotation-style combat, where after each round of engagement, Trainers may choose to switch their Pokemon.
The rotation system prevents malicious harm to opponents' Pokemon while adding more enjoyment to battles.
Kalia had no objections to the elimination format; she was confident in defeating Hirasawa Ichiro and eager to see the results of her recent training.
Seeing Kalia's agreement, Hirasawa Ichiro suggested, "Let's head to the battle arena at Cianwood City's Pokemon Center."
The reason for not battling here is due to the forest environment favoring Grass-type Pokemon. If his Sandshrew faced Treecko without the option to switch, it would inevitably be worn down by Treecko's agility, leading to its defeat.
Kalia understood Hirasawa Ichiro's strategy, but against overwhelming power, any tricks or schemes become futile.
"Charmander, wake up." Kalia gently tickled Lian's chubby belly before vigorously shaking him awake.
Lian reluctantly opened his eyes, clearly displeased. He was enjoying a deep sleep, and this interruption felt truly annoying.
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