Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

Xia Yan immediately lost interest in watching the game.

It's estimated that they won't even reveal 70% of their strength, let alone their so-called trump cards.

As for...

Do they have any trump cards up their sleeve?

Oh.

Xia Yan had known them for a while.

Hiding their secrets from each other and betraying each other have long been part of their "bond."

Since Du dared to rally everyone to "provoke" Xia Yan on the first day, he must have gained a lot of benefits in the seventh cave of the Dragon's Cave, or even greatly improved his strength.

After all, Xia Yan had already gained a huge advantage in the fifth cave, not to mention the most difficult seventh cave in Dragon's Cave.

Put yourself in their shoes.

Xia Yan himself had many trump cards up his sleeve, ready to let them "enjoy" them.

They must also be hiding their trump card to give Xia Yan a "surprise".

Between close friends.

It's just that simple, unpretentious, and boring.

So in the afternoon, Xia Yan entered Baiyin Mountain alone.

There's something wrong with Infernape that needs to be addressed.

The Baiyin Mountains are very large.

Although it was occupied by the League and sealed off under the guise of "protecting" trainers without sufficient strength from entering without permission to avoid danger.

But the league still knows its limits.

What they blocked was all the mountains and foothills beyond the highest Silver Mountain.

It is also the largest area of ​​Baiyin Mountain.

However, the Mt. Shirogane mountain range, the area from the Kanto Alliance to the Alliance headquarters, is still open to some people.

In Xia Yan's identity.

That's enough to move around in this area.

Infernape performed very well in the battle against Lt. Surge.

It is already on the verge of crossing from the Quasi-Heavenly King level to the Heavenly King level, but its condition is slightly problematic.

Xia Yan wanted to see if he could conduct a surprise training session so that Infernape could also reach the Champion level.

This gives him more tactical options.

The trump card can be kept hidden for longer, used to lure and ferry a few people across.

...

...

"Infernape, use Stomp and Stone Slash!"

Xia Yan's voice came from the dense forest.

Standing in front of him, the Infernape, with its hunched back, flames burning on its head and flames rising from its nostrils, had a serious expression.

His eyes, seemingly burning with flames, were unusually focused.

"Ku-ge!"

They seized the opportunity when Arbok was moving.

He stomped out with one foot.

Boom—!!

The ground beneath his feet suddenly exploded.

Accompanied by surging ground-type energy, sharp rock pillars rose from the ground, piercing towards Arbok in a very dense formation.

can be seen.

On these rapidly rising rock pillars, the energy of the rock system and the energy of the ground system intertwine and entwine, condensing into a deeper, yellowish, and darker color.

"just--!!"

The wild Arbok, witnessing this scene and sensing the threat emanating from Infernape's attack, was terrified, realizing it had provoked someone it shouldn't have.

It was thought that having emerged from the inner region of Baiyin Mountain, it could become a dominant force in the outer areas.

Little did they know, they hadn't been out for long, and hadn't even had a chance to properly hunt, when they encountered Xia Yan and the Infernape.

It frantically writhed its soft body, folding it into a difficult arc, cleverly wedging itself in the crevice of the rock pillar created by the "sharp stone attack" with an "S"-shaped curve.

He let out a long breath.

However, its dodging did not seem to have much of an impact on Xia Yan and the Infernape.

Just like this attack... it was given a chance to dodge.

In the open Silver Mountain Range region, the wild Pokémon are not particularly powerful.

Having finally encountered an Arbok, which is very likely a near-Elite Four level Pokémon that burrowed out from a sealed-off area, we can't just defeat it so easily.

It needs to be made to play a sufficient "role".

Nowadays.

It was the third day of Xia Yan's special training with Infernape.

During these three days.

Although Infernape continues to improve every day, it still cannot reach the threshold of the Champion level, nor can it enter the Champion level.

In this regard.

Xia Yan, on the other hand, felt alright.

But beneath Infernape's seemingly calm surface, Xia Yan could clearly sense a hint of anxiety and urgency in it.

no way.

Infernape is a Pokémon from the same era as Latios.

It even reached the level of a near-Elite Four member earlier than Latios.

But now.

Latios has caught up with Togekiss and the others again, but its Infernape is still lagging behind.

the most important is.

In the battle with Lt. Surge.

Although Infernape doesn't speak, it fights with extreme focus and seriousness.

However, the contemptuous look in Eternal Surge's eyes when he saw it still made Infernape feel quite uncomfortable.

It felt that it was dragging Xia Yan's entire team down.

Although neither Xia Yan nor the other Pokémon said that, they continued to play and joke around with Infernape as before.

But the more this happens, the greater the pressure on Infernape becomes.

It really doesn't want to hold others back.

But the more anxious it is, the less likely it is to get what it wants.

Xia Yan gave up watching the competition with the other two because he saw a glimpse of Infernape's potential, and chose to bring Infernape out for extra training instead.

Trainers' understanding of each Pokémon's condition should not be limited to their physical condition, but should also take into account their mental state.

Over the course of those three days, he did his best to help Infernape adjust its condition and mindset.

otherwise.

Infernape probably won't even be able to execute the combination move from before.

But with little success.

Xia Yan was also a bit troubled by this.

Logically speaking...

By the time Infernape was washing its green leaves, it already possessed the three major stone tablets: the Fireball Stone Tablet, the Fist Stone Tablet, and the Earth Stone Tablet. It should have already reached the Elite Four level.

But now, more than two months after he returned from Xicui, his Infernape is still just a little bit short.

He wasn't in a hurry, but the fiery monkey was.

If it weren't for the Masters Tournament, Xia Yan thinks Infernape might not have been in such a hurry.

But it was precisely because of the Masters Tournament that Infernape faced pressure.

It also makes it eager to test its skills against the Pokémon of top trainers.

"Infernape, we can't rush things, otherwise..."

“Suppressing a Pokémon’s desires is not something a top trainer should do.”

Suddenly.

Just as Xia Yan was about to use "Aura Power" again to appease Infernape.

A slightly serious voice, with a hint of lecturing, suddenly rang out.

"Who?!"

Xia Yan suddenly turned his head.

At the same time, I was somewhat surprised.

Someone approached, and he didn't even notice?

Infernape also turned around abruptly, standing protectively in front of Xia Yan.

Then I saw it.