บท 31: ### Chapter 31: Seizure
"I choose **Embargo**," Kane announced with unwavering certainty, his voice steady as his eyes locked onto Chiyama. his decision had been made.
Chiyama, standing across from him, raised an eyebrow in mild surprise at Kane's choice. He hadn't expected this particular selection, but being the seasoned trainer and teacher that he was, he respected Kane's decision without question. After a moment's pause, Chiyama gave a subtle nod of approval. "Interesting choice," he remarked, a slight smile forming on his lips.
On the other hand, Thunderstorm, ever the practical and straightforward thinker, had chosen the Bug-type move **Pursuit**. This skill would effectively expand his Machop's striking range, making it a versatile asset in battle. It wasn't the flashiest move, but it was a solid and reliable one. Thunderstorm wasn't one to go for grandiose displays of power; he preferred practical efficiency, and **Pursuit** suited him perfectly. Chiyama acknowledged this choice as well with another approving nod. Both of his students had made well-considered decisions.
"Now that you've both chosen your TMs," Chiyama began, turning to face both of them fully, his tone becoming more serious, "I'll give you one full week to master these new skills. During that time, Komatsu and I will be heading to the Veilstone Gym in Sinnoh. We'll be discussing some important matters regarding ghost-type Pokémon there. In the meantime, you two will stay behind and assist Ryuzu in managing the Gym. You'll be responsible for handling any challengers that come through the doors. Of course, your special training must continue as planned. Don't neglect it. I'll be testing you both when I return."
Kane and Thunderstorm exchanged glances. The moment Chiyama said he would be leaving, their eyes gleamed with anticipation. This was the moment they had been waiting for. Chiyama, the steadfast and ever-watchful Gym Leader, was finally stepping out for a while. The opportunity they had both been hoping for was right in front of them. Their hearts raced, but they kept their expressions calm, not wanting to give anything away.
As evening approached, Kane knew it was time to start working on mastering his new move. He made his way to the lecture hall where the TM machine (Technical Machine) was set up, ready to begin his training. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows along the walls, and the atmosphere was quiet, save for the soft hum of the machine. Kane inserted the **Embargo** TM into the device, watching as the screen flickered to life with a soft glow.
On the screen, a Houndoom appeared, its dark, sleek fur rippling as it moved gracefully through the simulation. Houndoom was a dark-type Pokémon, and **Embargo** was a move that fit it perfectly. It could use the skill with ease and expertise, and now it was serving as the instructor for Kane's ghost-type Pokémon, who were watching the demonstration intently.
The animation on the screen showed Houndoom unleashing a menacing black aura that spread out like a suffocating fog, enveloping everything around it. The aura cut off the abilities of any Pokémon holding items or receiving support from their trainer. It was as if the very air around Houndoom became oppressive, preventing its opponents from gaining any external advantages.
Kane could feel the weight of the move just by watching. The dark aura, combined with Houndoom's growls, created an atmosphere of raw power and dominance. As the demonstration continued, Houndoom's growls echoed through the room, almost like thunder reverberating from a storm, and the air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the skill. The dark energy it exuded was palpable, and the Pokémon in the room was entranced by the display. Only it, being spectral in nature itself, could fully comprehend the strange, otherworldly language Houndoom was speaking in. Kane couldn't understand it, but his Pokémon seemed to understand every word.
Kane couldn't help but marvel at the complexity of Pokémon communication. Their language was intricate and often indecipherable to humans, save for a rare few who possessed extraordinary abilities that allowed them to communicate with Pokémon on a deeper level. For most people, such abilities were far out of reach. Kane thought about how the psychic girl Sabrina, in Saffron City, was known for her telepathic communication with Pokémon. Her psychic powers were so advanced that she could even surpass many psychic-type Pokémon in terms of her abilities. She was able to communicate effortlessly with them, using her mind as a bridge between human and Pokémon.
There were also historical accounts, particularly from Sinnoh, of people who had formed deep bonds with Pokémon through telepathy. One such tale was that of the Aura guardians, who were able to communicate directly with Lucario Pokémon, their hearts connected in a way that transcended normal communication. It was a rare and special bond, one that few could ever hope to achieve.
But Kane had never had such abilities, not in his past life, and certainly not in this one. He didn't expect to develop them either. Instead, he focused on what was within his control—the practical, tangible skills that could be honed through discipline and hard work. Dreaming about supernatural abilities was pointless, in his eyes. The only thing that mattered was mastering his Pokémon's abilities to their fullest potential through relentless training. Anything else was a mere fantasy, a distraction from the real work that needed to be done.
He also thought about some of the stranger Pokémon out there. For example, there was Meowth from Team Rocket—a Pokémon that was virtually useless in battle but possessed a sharp intellect. Meowth had learned to speak human language, a rare feat among Pokémon, and was also an inventive genius. Despite its lack of combat prowess, Meowth had created numerous machines and devices, some of which were capable of standing up to legendary Pokémon in battle.
Kane chuckled softly to himself, recalling how, in his previous life, he had teamed up with a Team Rocket's Meowth and managed to capture an Articuno in the snowy peaks of Mt. Silver. Selling that Articuno had been a turning point in his life, earning him a fortune and helping him raise his strength to new heights. It was the start of his rise to power. Meowth had been instrumental in that success, and Kane couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. He wondered if their paths would cross again in this life. Perhaps they would work together once more.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he thought about the possibilities.
On the screen, the Houndoom finished its demonstration with one final, powerful roar. The screen flickered again, and the TM ended, leaving the room in relative silence.
Kane turned to his Pokémon, who were still focused on the screen, their attention unwavering. "Practice now while it's still fresh in your minds," he instructed them. He knew that if they didn't start practicing immediately, they might forget key details, and that would render the whole lesson useless.
The Pokémon nodded and immediately began to mimic Houndoom's movements, trying to replicate the **Embargo** skill. But it wasn't easy. They attempted the move again and again, but none of their efforts bore fruit. Learning a skill from a TM was much harder than naturally evolving into a new move or gaining a move through genetic inheritance. Skills learned from a TM required intense focus and practice, as they were essentially being forced onto the Pokémon. Unlike natural skills, these moves didn't come from the Pokémon's own instincts or biology. Mastering them was a process that could only be achieved through rigorous and repetitive training.
By contrast, natural skills and genetic moves were part of a Pokémon's innate abilities. These were gifts from nature, part of their very essence. Even if a Pokémon didn't actively practice these moves, they would still be able to use them. However, to truly master them and unlock their full potential, training was still required. But the effort needed was far less than that required for TM-learned moves.
Kane stayed with his Pokémon for hours, watching their progress and offering guidance. By the time they left the lecture hall, it was well past ten o'clock. The night was dark, and the air outside was crisp and cool. Kane made his way back to the dorm room, his mind already on tomorrow's tasks.
As he walked towards his room, Thunderstorm passed by him, his expression serious. "Chiyama's leaving tomorrow," he said in a low voice as he walked past.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself," Kane replied without missing a beat. "Let's be patient."
Thunderstorm smirked, clearly unconvinced by Kane's cautious approach. "You're too cautious this is a perfect opportunity."
Kane didn't respond. He knew that rushing into things was the fastest way to ruin them. The closer they got to their goal, the more they had to keep their cool and be patient. Overconfidence and haste had ruined many before, and Kane had no intention of becoming a statistic another victim of overconfidence.
Later that night, Kane continued his usual routine of practicing his dagger-throwing. He had been doing this every night for two weeks, and his precision had steadily improved. He could now hit targets up to eight meters away with ease. Everything was progressing as planned, and Kane felt a sense of satisfaction. Things were moving in the right direction, and the future looked promising.
Early the next morning, the quiet halls of the Ecruteak Gym echoed with the soft footsteps of Chiyama, who moved with a sense of purpose. His face, usually calm and composed, now carried the slightest hint of determination as he prepared for his departure. Komatsu was waiting near the entrance, ready to join him. Before leaving, Chiyama handed over five of the Ecruteak gym badges to Ryuzu, his trusted assistant.
Kane and Thunderstorm, standing nearby, watched as Chiyama and Komatsu made their final preparations. Although they had been training diligently up until this point, their minds were already plotting ahead. Both of them harbored the same thought: with Chiyama gone, they would have the perfect opportunity to explore the Chiyama's Study. However, they couldn't afford to act rashly. ryuzu was still in the picture, and although Kane and Thunderstorm were confident that they could subdue him, if necessary, it was a move that had to be carefully considered.
It wasn't just a matter of strength. If Chiyama's Study truly held something worth investigating, then their efforts would be justified. But what if it didn't? What if their exploration led to nothing significant? In that case, not only would they have wasted valuable time, but their actions could expose them. The consequences of such a failure were clear—if they were caught, they'd become enemies of the Gym, and that would make their already difficult journey even harder.
As the thought weighed heavily on them, Chiyama and Komatsu finally stepped out, leaving the Gym behind.
The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the courtyard where both Kane and Thunderstorm stood. They were in the middle of their morning training, practicing with their Pokémon. Kane was intensely focused on perfecting the Seizure skill with his pokemon, while Thunderstorm was working on honing the Pursuit skill with his Machop. Both of them were determined to make the most of this week in every possible way.
Ryuzu, standing near the door of the Gym, couldn't hide his eagerness. He kept glancing outside the door, watching Chiyama's figure become smaller and smaller in the distance until finally, the Gym Leader was completely out of sight. The moment he could no longer see Chiyama, Ryuzu's expression changed. A wide grin spread across his face as he threw his arms into the air and shouted, "Hooray!" His excitement was palpable, like a wild, unrestrained energy had taken hold of him. He sprinted across the courtyard, his orange jacket flapping in the breeze as he leaped towards the training grounds. He was like a wild horse finally released from its stable, eager to run free.
But neither Kane nor Thunderstorm paid him any attention. Their focus was entirely on their training. Kane, his eyes narrowed in concentration, continued directing his Pokémon as they attempted to perfect the Seizure skill. The Pokémon struggled, but under Kane's relentless guidance, they showed gradual improvement.
Meanwhile Thunderstorm, equally absorbed in his training, waved off Ryuzu with a dismissive tone. "Not interested," he said simply. He continued directing Duskull, who was now practicing a faster execution of Pursuit.
Ryuzu, realizing he wasn't getting anywhere with his proposition, let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Well, I can't blame you," he said with mock sympathy. "Master is way too harsh! He leaves you both with a ton of homework while he's off enjoying his trip. It's brutal. I'm really feeling for you guys—my deepest sympathies." He placed a hand dramatically over his heart, feigning sorrow.
Kane, sensing an opportunity to gauge Ryuzu's intentions, asked casually, "What if you went out of the gym anyway?" His tone was deliberately nonchalant, but inside his mind was racing. He was carefully planning his next steps and wanted to see how far Ryuzu was willing to bend the rules.
Ryuzu, always one to speak freely, didn't miss a beat. "Well, isn't that what you two are here for?" he said with a playful grin. "You guys have only been at the gym for half a month, but I can already see that you're both geniuses. Your talent is on a completely different level. Honestly, I'm no longer a match for either of you." His admission came easily, as though he had resigned himself to the fact that Kane and Thunderstorm had already surpassed him.
With a quick motion, Ryuzu reached into his pocket and pulled out three more gym badges, shoving them into Kane's hand with a conspiratorial smile. "Here., I trust you two to handle things while I take a little break."
Kane narrowed his eyes slightly as he accepted the badges, testing Ryuzu further. "Aren't you afraid that Chiyama will find out and punish you leaving?" His voice was calm, but he was watching Ryuzu closely, studying his reaction.
Ryuzu, however, seemed completely unfazed. His face lit up with a mischievous grin, and he let out a low, almost sinister chuckle. The once-innocent-looking Ryuzu suddenly seemed far more cunning than he appeared. "You're underestimating me," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "I've got everything under control. You see, I made sure to find out exactly why Master is taking Komatsu with him on this trip. You won't believe it, but it's not just about ghost-type Pokémon."
Ryuzu leaned in closer, as if sharing a juicy secret. "I heard that the Gym Leader at the Hearthome City Gym has a daughter. Her name's Fantina, and she's a powerhouse when it comes to ghost-type Pokémon. She's no less talented than Komatsu, and I've got a sneaky suspicion that Master is trying to play matchmaker for Komatsu, maybe finding his son a future bride" Ryuzu let out a loud laugh, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
Kane raised an eyebrow at the unexpected gossip. He hadn't anticipated Ryuzu to be so well-informed—or so willing to share such information. But if what Ryuzu said was true, it meant that Chiyama was likely going to be away for an entire week, just as he had said. That was more than enough time to accomplish what Kane had in mind.
Relieved by this new information, Kane allowed himself to relax just a little. A week away was plenty of time to make some progress. "A whole week," he thought to himself. "This has to be productive."
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง