Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

Just now, she secretly scanned the other party with her Pokédex and the result was an unknown Pokémon. Although she already had a guess, it would be better to ask directly to confirm.

"Don't let this child's current naive appearance fool you. After going through trials and tribulations, it will grow into a powerful force that will astound everyone, just like it."

It was intentional teasing.

"What?"

Raising an eyebrow, upon hearing the old man's slander, the bear apprentice paused his chewing and glared sharply at him.

With its toes touching the ground, it used the momentum to leap into the air, and in an instant, the little beast threw over a hundred punches.

Unfortunately, despite his earnest efforts, Mastedt easily deflected his punches with a single hand, like an adult teasing a child.

"Don't be angry, little one. Finish your meal first."

Watching the interaction between the two, Nan Yin couldn't help but sigh, marveling at the old man's robust health.

She knew this seemingly silly little bear quite well.

Xiong's apprentice, the predecessor of Martial Arts Master Xiong.

Under the Dynamax system, with the ability of Unseen Punch, it can ignore defenses and easily see the opponent's weak points. Whether it is a focused attack or a long, drawn-out strike, it is a powerful offensive weapon.

However, even though Mastedt's words contained a metaphorical entrustment, she remained silent. With too many children by her side, the young girl was already overwhelmed and unable to divide her heart in two to treat all the little beasts that had expectations of her.

She didn't want to see favoritism, so even knowing the strength of martial artists, she wouldn't say anything openly.

Nan Yin dipped the spoon into the bowl, scooped out some soup, and took a small sip. She couldn't help but praise in her heart that Mi Ye's cooking skills were truly excellent.

They're only slightly weaker than me.

It was a small sense of pride.

The time spent enjoying delicious food is always short. You only need to close your eyes briefly to savor the moment before most of the rice is gone.

"Nanyin, Ke'erni, I've finished tidying up your rooms. If you feel tired, you can go back to rest anytime."

Miye placed two keys into the girl's hands and carefully instructed her on the things she needed to pay attention to.

"Thank you for your concern, Sister Miye. However, it's still early, and Korne and I would like to look around the neighborhood a bit more."

"Of course it's possible. The Isle of Armor has an environment completely different from that of Galar, and there are some rare Pokémon there. If you're willing, you can meet them."

Upon hearing the girl's address to her, the woman's eyebrows involuntarily lifted.

Everyone loves youth, and each person is different.

"Yes, Mifly is right. Of course, if it's convenient for you, please pick some Dynamax mushrooms for me when you go out."

"I suppose the method of making Max Soup is one of the reasons why you came to Armor Island, Nan Yin. I have seen your battle results, and that Snorlax kid has the potential to Gigantamax."

This statement almost explicitly puts concern and selflessness into the open.

"grateful."

Without uttering any superfluous words, Nan Yin simply bowed slightly and then sincerely offered her praise.

The instructions from Dante and Rose naturally earned her some attention from the old man, but such goodwill could not be obtained simply through a few words.

"Not at all, it's only right to mentor outstanding juniors. This applies to Xiao Dandan, and it applies to you and Ke Erni as well."

"Little guy."

Hearing the old man's call, the gray and white bear stopped holding its breath and looked over.

“You have accumulated enough experience over this period of time, and you are just one step away from reaching that level. I can no longer guide you for the time being, but Nan Yin and Ke Er Ni can still give you some help, some help that I cannot give.”

Compared to the two, he is indeed lacking something.

It lacks youthful vitality, unyielding fighting spirit, and most importantly, the fierce determination to overcome obstacles and forge ahead.

"The Twin Fist Tower also has a few good training tools. If you're interested, you can go there and borrow them."

Without revealing the whole truth, Ma Shide simply walked out the door with his hands behind his back, looking cheerful.

The Twin Towers embody his life's accumulation, whether it's the steel that seizes the moment and strikes the vitals, or the soft that alternates between defense and continues relentlessly, all of these reside there.

As soon as the old man left, the bear apprentice leaped onto the table, brandishing his fists with high spirits, and pointed to the Poké Ball at the girl's waist, as if to say something.

It admires the martial arts master Xiong Shi as a senior, and naturally regards Nan Yin, who defeated him head-on, as its target and choice.

However, the girl shook her head lightly but firmly.

"I'm sorry, apprentice Xiong, a person's energy is limited, and I don't want to neglect one thing for another."

The clear voice struck the little beast's heart like a boulder. Its chewing stopped completely, its little paws froze in mid-air, and its dark eyes, which had been shining with longing, clearly reflected astonishment and hurt—it understood the rejection behind the 'favoritism'.

It had assumed that the trainer who could defeat its legendary master would appreciate its potential and gladly accept it...

"Beep..." A low sob, filled with grievance and confusion, escaped from her throat.

It leaped off the table without even glancing at Honey Leaf or anyone else. Its small figure, carrying a stubborn air, rushed out of the restaurant and disappeared into the bamboo path leading to the back of the martial arts school.

A moment of silence fell over the dining table. Miye looked worriedly towards the door, while Ma Shide, who was about to leave, stroked his beard, a hint of understanding and helplessness flashing in his eyes. Ke Erni also looked at Nan Yin with some surprise. She understood her friend's considerations, but she also sensed the sudden burst of disappointment from the little bear.

The silver-haired girl lowered her eyes and silently finished the last sip of soup in her bowl. She wasn't heartless; she saw the hurt in her eyes too.

However, the burdens on her shoulders were already heavy enough, and every sentiment required a wholehearted response. She couldn't make promises lightly just because the other person had great potential; that would be unfair to her existing partners, and even more unfair to this proud little bear.

"Forced fruit is never sweet. Let it go; some paths you have to stumble and fall on to understand your way." Ma Shide broke free from his stagnation, his words carrying a worldly-wise wisdom.

People who chase the same sun will eventually meet.

......

In the days that followed, a tireless figure in gray and white appeared at the training ground on the back mountain of the Armor Island Martial Arts School.

"Boo-ah!!!"

"Drink! Ha!!"

The childish yet fierce roar, accompanied by the dull thuds of blows, echoed from dawn till dusk.

The bear apprentice, like a tireless machine, frantically swung his fists at the specially made giant wooden stake.

Sweat soaked its gray fur, steaming into mist under the sun. Its eyes had lost their former gentleness, replaced by an almost obsessive sharpness and an indomitable flame. Every punch was delivered with full force, every kick whistled through the air, as if it wanted to smash all the grievances, resentment, and desire to prove itself from that day into the hard wood.

With a deafening crash, a massive wooden stake, requiring two people to encircle it, finally succumbed to the relentless blows and snapped in two. The bear apprentice, panting heavily, its small chest heaving, stared at the broken stake, its eyes filled not with joy, but with a deeper, more unwavering determination. Not enough, this was far from enough! The image of the silver-haired girl, the images of her powerful companions, were etched into its mind like a brand. It had to become stronger! Strong enough that she couldn't ignore it! Strong enough to unleash a fist that could shake the heavens and earth, like the martial arts master, Master Bear!

Just as it was catching its breath and preparing to look for its next target, another voice, equally powerful but clearer and more focused, came from the other end of the training field.

"Lucario, time it right! Aura Sphere!"

"Luca!"

Korn and her companions were also undergoing rigorous combat training. Lucario moved with the agility of the wind, his shimmering spheres striking the distant target with precision and speed. Every movement and every burst of power carried a rhythmic sense of combining strength and skill.

Korne stared intently at the canine beast's movements, her eyes bright and focused, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, clearly indicating that she was completely absorbed in the task.

The bear's gaze was drawn to her. It recognized the blonde girl; she was a friend of the powerful trainer.

Seemingly noticing their gaze, Korrina and Lucario stopped what they were doing and looked over.

"It's you, little one." Korne wiped her sweat and gave a bright, refreshing smile. "You've been training hard; those moves you just made were really impressive!"

"Huh?" Xiong's apprentice was taken aback, not expecting the other party to take the initiative to talk, and even with praise.

It subconsciously puffed out its little chest, but then remembered something, turned its face away, let out a soft 'humph' from its nose, with a hint of awkward pride and 'it's none of your business', and got back into position, swinging its fist at a huge rock next to it.

Looking at its stubborn expression, as if to say, "I'm angry, but I'm going to become stronger," Ke'erni couldn't help but chuckle. She thought of the years when she chased after her grandfather's back, yearning for recognition, and she also thought of her current feelings as she chased after Nan Yin's back.

She was all too familiar with that pure and burning desire to become stronger.

Without saying anything more, she simply nodded to Lucario: "Let's continue, Lucario! Show us even more power!"

"Lucario!" Lucario responded immediately, his Aura surging, and the intensity of his training suddenly increased.

Thus, on the same training ground, two figures fought their own battles, yet it seemed as if they were engaged in a silent contest.

The bear apprentice's punches and kicks were wide and powerful, carrying a primal wildness and explosive force, each strike aiming for ultimate destruction. It imitated the earth-shattering stance of the martial arts master bear from its memory, attempting to gather power. And whenever it lost its balance due to excessive force and fell, covered in dust, it would immediately get up, its eyes even more ferocious as it continued.

Korrina and Lucario, on the other hand, focus more on technique, rhythm, and precise control of aura. Their movements are fluid and graceful, with smooth and natural transitions between offense and defense, showcasing the full potential of fighting techniques.

Lucario would occasionally glance at the little bear who was training hard alone and never giving up, a hint of approval flashing in his blue eyes.

Over the course of a few days, such "chance encounters" became the norm.

The bear apprentice noticed that the blonde girl and her companions didn't seem to reject its presence, and even... occasionally cast encouraging glances at it?

Once, it sprained its ankle due to overtraining and was wincing in pain. Lucario relieved its pain with warm aura energy. Although it awkwardly turned its head away without saying thank you, the warmth remained in its heart.

During a training break, the bear apprentice collapsed onto the grass, panting heavily. Korni came over and handed it a water bottle.

"Have some water, little one. You'll ruin your health if you keep training like this." Her voice was very gentle.

The apprentice hesitated for a moment, looked at the kettle, then at Korni's sincere eyes, and finally took it, gulping down a few mouthfuls.

The cool water quenched its thirst and seemed to extinguish some of the overly anxious flames within it.

"You... really want to become stronger?" Korni sat down beside it, gazing at the distant waterfall.

“Yes!” The bear apprentice nodded vigorously, his eyes becoming unwavering once again.

"Why?" the girl asked softly. "Is it to prove something to someone?"

The bear apprentice fell silent. It recalled Nan Yin's calm, rejecting gaze, and the mountain-like figure of its martial arts master, Master Xiong. It wanted to prove itself worthy of being chosen, to prove itself capable of becoming a legend like its master.

But deep down, there seems to be something else... It longs for that bond of fighting side by side and understanding each other, something as dazzling as that silver-haired girl and her companions.

“Me?” Korne began to speak to herself without waiting for its reply, her gaze distant, “There is someone I really want to catch up with. She is very strong, extremely strong, so strong that sometimes I feel… as if I will never be able to catch up with her.”

She smiled, a hint of helplessness in her eyes, but more so with anticipation and determination. "But that's precisely why I can't stop. I want to be strong enough to stand proudly beside her, strong enough... to become a friend and rival worthy of her."

“Beep…” Xiong’s apprentice stared blankly at Korni.

The light shining in the blonde girl's eyes, that pure, unadulterated desire to get closer and stand shoulder to shoulder, gave it a sudden jolt.

Its pursuit of the power of Nanyin music is nothing less than a yearning to get closer to that brilliance and become a part of that light.

At that moment, it suddenly realized that its encounter with Korni was not accidental. They were both chasing the same figure, attracted by that power, and both harbored a burning desire to become stronger.

"Bah!" The bear apprentice suddenly stood up, stretched out its tiny paws, pointed at Korrina, then at Lucario, its eyes burning with fighting spirit and an unprecedented sense of belonging.

Korrina was taken aback at first, but then she understood what it meant, and a bright smile bloomed on her face. She stood up and patted Lucario on the shoulder: "Lucario, it seems we've found a like-minded 'fighting buddy'! Little guy, how about a try? Let's communicate with our fists?"

"Lucario!" Lucario assumed a battle stance, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Bah!" the bear apprentice roared excitedly and charged forward without hesitation.

There were no referees, no rules, only a pure clash of strength and a battle of wills. The bear apprentice's powerful straight punch met Lucario's skillful parries and precise counterattacks. Korini watched intently from the sidelines, occasionally offering pointers on adjusting the bear apprentice's angle of attack and breathing rhythm, while also reminding Lucario to be aware of the characteristics of his opponent's power.

Sweat splattered, and shouts echoed across the training field. This "battle" was no longer a solitary outburst, but an exchange filled with understanding, recognition, and mutual encouragement.

Each collision, each dodge, deepened the bear apprentice's understanding of "power." It no longer blindly pursued a fatal blow, but began to observe its opponent's movements and try to adjust its own rhythm.

The setting sun cast long shadows of two (no, three). When the exhausted bear apprentice and Lucario finally stopped and sat down on the grass, leaning against each other, a tacit understanding that needed no words had quietly been established in their exchange of blows.

The bear apprentice looked at Korrina and Lucario beside him, who were equally tired but had bright eyes, and then glanced in the direction of the dojo.

The grievances and resentment it felt seemed to have been replaced by something warmer and more solid. It still longed for Nan Yin's power, but was no longer fixated on being subdued by her.

It found another path, a companion who could understand it and accompany it in its pursuit of that powerful goal.

It stretched out its paw and gently touched Korne's hand.

Korni looked down and saw that the stubbornness and hostility in the little bear's eyes had faded, and they had become clear and bright again, but with an unprecedented firmness and trust.

She smiled and reached out to grasp the furry little paw.

"Have you decided?" she asked softly.

“Yes!” The bear apprentice nodded vigorously, its eyes filled with utmost seriousness. It pointed to Korni, then to itself, and finally to the distance—the direction they both pursued.

"Okay!" Korne's smile was as bright as the sun. "Then let's work hard together! Let's become stronger together! Strong enough to make everyone look at us with new eyes! Strong enough... to catch up with that figure!"

Yes, they have all made their choices.

Chapter 255 The Benchmark of Genius

The blade fell, cleaving the bright red mushroom in half lengthwise and slicing it into thin strips. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window screens into the kitchen, making the fingers moving deftly on the cutting board appear to dance.

"The secret to Max Soup lies entirely in the preparation of these 'Max Mushrooms' and the control of the heat." Standing to the side, Honey Leaf's voice was gentle as she explained the origin of the soup in detail.

She was grinding several kinds of dried herbs and tree fruits in her hands, and a unique fragrance mixed with spiciness and sweetness wafted out.

"Therefore, it is necessary to be extra careful when processing it. It is necessary to retain its active energy while removing its dryness. Otherwise, the soup will not only be less effective, but it will also make the Pokémon feel uncomfortable."