Final Evolution

"..."

Bruno looked at his fist in a daze.

The ice gloves that were originally attached to it had already exploded into a sky full of ice powder, melting away under the warm and balmy sunlight and disappearing into thin air.

On top of the fist that was not protected by the gloves, it was covered with fine blood marks, still oozing outward with crimson beads of blood.

Looking down, the white karate uniform on his body had almost turned into a set of rags, barely hanging above his body.

Underneath the strips of rags, occasional narrow scars were visible.

These were the wounds that Aisha's sword had left on Bruno's body after breaking through his defense.

On the contrary, Aisha, who was standing over there, was in a much better condition than Bruno...

There were no visible wounds on the teenager's body, and the coat he was wearing was also not torn in any way.

Just from the looks of it, this sparring match was a complete victory for him.

However, Bruno, who was a master level martial artist, could see something deeper.

At this point in the battle, under Aisha's terrifying attack that was like a raging snowstorm, his breath was already unstable.

However, as the party launching the attack, need to face the physical exertion and the rhythm of maintaining the problem is undoubtedly more serious than as a defending party, even after the weapon breaks, the rhythm of the attack is forcibly interrupted such a thing, his breath to this day is also still very stable, not the slightest sign of disorder.

This showed that Aisha had not only refined his sword technique to a state of perfection.

The strength of his physical body had also been refined to a level that was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"Hiss..."

Even Bruno could not help but suck in a breath of cool air.

He knew exactly how he possessed such physical strength comparable to that of a Fighting type Pokémon.

That was a monster's physique that was only possessed after decades of grueling, dangerous, and even life-threatening training.

However, Aisha was only a child who had just turned eighteen.

It was such a newly-adult teenager that actually surpassed Bruno in terms of physical strength.

How could this not make Bruno feel shocked?

This was the Dayan Physical Cultivation's workout style...

It was terrifying.

"I lose."

Bruno was also willing to lose.

After trying to calm down his heart that had raised shocking waves, he still decisively chose to admit defeat.

Martial artists, live a candid life.

Bruno was not a shameless person.

Losing was losing.

"Worthy of being a Dayan sword cultivator."

Shaking his head and looking at the wounds erupting from his body, Bruno revealed a bitter smile.

This was the first time he had lost so ugly.

Completely, being completely suppressed from the top of skill and power, without even a single chance to fight back.

"You really are strong, Ai-kun!"

Bruno smiled and arched his hand towards Aisha.

There was no irritation in his heart from the defeat, only respect for the strong.

Aisha had defeated Bruno in his best area, so this teenager was the one who deserved Bruno's respect.

"Elite Bruno is serious."

Aisha smiled and similarly arched his hand towards Bruno, saying, "According to that situation just now, our duel should be a draw."

"Joking aside."

Bruno waved his hand, denying Aisha's claim.

It was true that the duel between the two of them did not result in a true victory or defeat because of the destruction of their weapons.

However, people with discerning eyes could tell at a glance that if the battle between the two continued, the one destined to lose was Bruno.

The weapon breakage has also left enough face for this fighting attribute king.

"There's no doubt about Ai-kun's strength, I'm really impressed!"

"Elite Bruno is overrated."

The two were again blowing each other up commercially.

Bruno was also looking at Aisha more and more favorably.

Although it was said that Lance was whispering about Aisha's goodness in their ears day in and day out, but whether it was good or not, they still had to see it for themselves to know.

Without a doubt, this trial made Bruno very satisfied with Aisha as a person.

Not only was his strength superb, but his character was also excellent, and he liked to punish the evil...

"Hm?"

As if he suddenly remembered something, Bruno glanced at Aisha, then at Lorelei next to him, and said, "Lorelei, didn't Lance ask you to dispatch those people from Hunter J?"

"Huh?"

Having been forcefully pulled out from within the state of a demented woman by Bruno's call, Lorelei's mood was slightly annoyed.

The voluptuous Ice Witch waved her white jade hand and said, "I'm too lazy to go, so I directly threw the burden back on Lance, these two days are the time for people to take a vacation, that workaholic is not willing to take a rest on his own, and he's not willing to let people take a break, hmmm ~ think it's beautiful, let him do it on his own!"

"Oh..."

Bruno thought about it, and it felt true.

Lance liked doing tasks anyway, so it didn't matter if there were tasks that were given directly to him.

Agatha would also give tasks to Lance sometimes when she didn't feel like doing tasks and work, or when she needed to go out to visit her family and find old friends for tea.

It was beautifully described as a sign of trust in the junior's abilities.

When the elders said so, Lance naturally had no choice but to decline.

Over time, Bruno and Lorelei also learned this operation.

Well, the tacit understanding of the Kanto Elite Four was formed...

"Hm~"

Lorelei didn't care much about work.

At this moment, her sight was almost completely locked onto Aisha's body.

Lorelei's love for Ice-type Pokémon was undeniably genuine, to the point of fanaticism.

This was precisely why she considered Seafoam Islands her second home.

Lorelei also knew that on top of the Seafoam Islands, there was a Second-level Legendary Pokémon with the Ice attribute.

It was an Articuno.

She had once had the honor of witnessing that Articuno.

Beautiful, it was undeniably beautiful, like a god of ice.

Once upon a time, Lorelei thought that no Pokémon could surpass that Articuno in terms of beauty.

Today, that thought was shattered.

Broken by Aisha.

"It's really beautiful..."

Gazing at the slender figure of the teenager, Lorelei's eyes were gentle to the extreme for a moment, as if she was viewing a fragile work of art.

Although, Aisha was not a Pokémon.

However, the way the youngster fought with his sword just now had a magnificent style that surpassed that of any Ice-type Pokémon.

The fragility, beauty, and severity of an Ice Attribute Pokémon was displayed to the fullest in his body.

"Why are you not a Pokémon?"

Lorelei inquired so to herself.

Afterward, as if she was also amused by her own words, she laughed and shook her head.

"If you were a Pokémon, I would have been able to find a way to take you in as something that belongs to me alone."

With a look of regret, Lorelei said, "Too bad..."

Of course, she didn't regret it too much.

Pokémon had the benefits of Pokémon, and humans also had the advantages of humans.

Aisha's body was obviously still harboring something even more magical.

Lorelei was intrigued.

At first, she was just curious about this teenager's strength.

Now, what she wanted to explore was much more.

"Hmm~"

Lorelei's gaze, landed on top of the mountain of Seafoam Islands.

There, inhabited by the Ice-type Second-level Legendary Pokémon she knew.

In the past, that Articuno was her favorite thing.

Now, Articuno had to give up its "favorite" position.

"I've already found something more beautiful, from now on, I won't bother you any more~" After saying that, Lorelei's eyes left the mountaintop without a trace.

Well, women sure are fickle.

"Aye~"

With her usual ambiguous emphasis, Lorelei walked towards Aisha and Bruno.

"Huh?"

Bruno's eyes suddenly sharpened.

He glanced at Lorelei, then, with eyes filled with complex implications, he glanced at Aisha and sighed helplessly.

"Hey."

This tone of Lorelei's voice was not unfamiliar to him at all.

Whenever this Ice Witch was interested in someone or something, she would reveal this look.

Apparently, Instructor Ai had been missed by Lorelei because of his overly high-gloss performance.

"..."

However, Bruno didn't say much.

Lorelei's nature was offline and eccentric, but, in the end, she was still a good citizen who obeyed the law.

Interested as she was, Lorelei wouldn't go too far, and Bruno wasn't worried that something would happen to Aisha.

"What's wrong, Elite Lorelei?"

Over here, Aisha then looked at Lorelei with a puzzled expression.

He didn't remember that his relationship with Lorelei was close enough to be called by a nickname.

"It's too much of a surprise to be called that even now."

Lorelei complained in a pretense of dissatisfaction and said, "I'll call you Ai-chan, and you'll call me Sister Lorelei or something!"

"Uh... Okay, Sis Lorelei."

"Tsk." After hearing Aisha intentionally change "Sister Lorelei" to " Sis Lorelei" to reduce the sense of intimacy, Lorelei also smacked her lips without any trace.

However, she was in no hurry.

There was still a long time to come.

Moreover, she wasn't craving Aisha's body, so it didn't matter about the "intimacy" stuff.

"Ai-chan, the ice sword that sister made for you, how does it feel?"

"It feels very good in my hand."

Instructor Ai responded to Lorelei's question honestly.

Mainly because he hadn't used any swords himself.

Other than Chien-Pao, Lorelei's Ice Sword was the only sword he used for combat.

"Hmm~"

Hearing Aisha's answer, Lorelei was very satisfied.

"This time, I was mainly in a hurry and the quality was not good, that's why it broke so quickly." Lorelei patted her chest, not caring in the slightest even as her chest shook with a wave, and said, "We promise you that we will definitely make a real ice sword for you that is comparable to a divine weapon, okay?"

"Huh?"

"It's a deal!"

When Instructor Ai still didn't understand the situation, Lorelei was the one who proposed and made a pact that would unilaterally benefit Instructor Ai.

"Uh..."

"The ice sword made by my sister, you'll be satisfied~"

Lorelei very enthusiastically wrapped her arms around Aisha's shoulders.

Her idea was simple.

Lorelei had spent her entire life pursuing the ice-attribute deity that possessed the ultimate beauty.

In order to please Articuno, she had gone to great lengths to make the originally barren Seafoam Islands a paradise for Ice type Pokémon.

It was entirely due to her that Seafoam Islands was what it is today.

However, even so, that proud Second-level Legendary Pokémon still didn't give Lorelei a single glance.

It was impossible to say that she wasn't discouraged.

Lorelei was more or less resentful towards the unsympathetic Articuno.

Now, Aisha appeared.

Although he was a human, he had a beauty not inferior to Articuno.

His personality was also clearly good, and it was far less difficult to brush up on his favor than that unapproachable Articuno.

In this way, Lorelei naturally immediately shifted all of her original enthusiasm for Articuno to this teenager.

"Hmph~"

Lorelei glanced, rather resentfully, at the mountaintop where Articuno was perched.

Articuno?

Unfamiliar!

Her goal nowadays was to help Aisha forge the strongest ice sword.

Then, to watch this teenager fight with his own sword and admire his outstanding style...

"Ai-kun, it's better if you promise Lorelei."

At this time, Bruno also read Lorelei's thoughts, and spoke up at the right time to give her a helping hand, saying, "She's a person who won't stop until she gets what she wants, so if you don't say yes, maybe, she'll annoy you for years."

"Well..."

Aisha also helplessly raised his hand and surrendered towards Lorelei.

He was really not good at dealing with such inexplicably passionate types.

Especially since Lorelei really had no ill will towards him.

She really was sincere in forging a sword for him...

"This is... so weird."

Tilting his head to look at Lorelei, who was smiling broadly with her arm around his shoulder, Instructor only revealed a helpless smile after slightly dodging the collision of a mass of something soft.

...

"Lu!"

"Guu!"

Within the cave surrounded by a morose and cold air, two figures collided together.

After a dull sound erupted from the collision of a large and a small fist, the petite one's silhouette instantly flew out with a bullet and landed within the river at the back.

"Lu."

Marill emerged from within the cold and biting river water, the cold river water laced with broken ice caused it to shiver.

A vague sensation of pain came from above its fist, however, it was more of a numbness.

"Guu!"

A figure flashed in front of Marill.

It was Bruno's Poliwrath.

It threw a punch at Marill's head with a smacking force, completely running to lay down a deadly swing of that punch.

"Lu!"

Marill, in turn, raised its hand in a hurry to parry.

Then, it was unsurprisingly sent flying dozens of meters by Poliwrath's punch again.

"This child is improving quickly."

"Hmm."

On top of the reef in the distance, Bruno and Aisha had a discussion about Marill's progress.

"Minute, in the beginning, Marill was only able to take a beating under Poliwrath's attacks, but now it has the ability to fight, and that's not even a day." Bruno looked at Instructor Ai beside him and said, "Ai-kun, your Marillu is truly a natural martial arts material."

"It has always been smart."

Aisha also smiled modestly.

After the duo's sparring session, Instructor Ai also logically asked Bruno about wanting Marill to follow him to learn martial arts.

Bruno didn't think much about it.

In his opinion, it was normal for Aisha to not know boxing when he was dedicated to practicing swordsmanship.

Therefore, Bruno directly agreed to Ai's request for Instructor and sent out his Poliwrath to feed Marillo his moves.

Poliwrath was one of his main Pokémon.

It practiced the Upaniṣad of Stiffness that Bruno specialized in on top of its Water and Fighting attributes, making it very suitable as Marill's opponent and coach.

Aisha was also happy to do so.

And so Marill's special training, began.

"Lu!"

After diving under the water, Marill narrowly dodged Poliwrath's attack before swinging out with just the right amount of force and smashing it on top of its belly that was covered with mosquito-like patterns.

"Guu!"

Poliwrath's body swayed for a moment, and then, without mercy, its fist blasted above the water.

The force of the punch punched a hole in the river below, and the water erupted, exposing Marill, who was hiding there.

"Lu..."

Before Marill could react, Poliwrath's quick punch struck it.

The little water bear flew backwards in a flash and landed back on the ground.

"Lu!"

Marill braced itself and stood up.

Poliwrath, however, had already caught up.

Unsolvable...

It was a complete crush in terms of strength.

Bruno's Poliwrath didn't have too many fancy techniques, what it had mastered was only the most rigid and fierce power, and the technique to control this power.

It was very simple.

It was such simple power that Marill couldn't run, couldn't hide, and couldn't fight.

Pure strength crushing.

This kind of feeling was also familiar to Marill.

Because, in previous battles, it was the enemy that it crushed in this way.

Only, this time, the one who was crushed by its strength to the point of being unable to do anything about it had become Marill itself...

"Lu!"

Marill clenched its teeth unwillingly.

Poliwrath's fist forced its way in front of it once again, and it fought to raise its arm, finally blocking the large frog's fist.

"Croak?"

Poliwrath was a bit surprised.

It looked to Marill's feet, and was instantly surprised.

Marill's feet had penetrated deep into the ground, stamping out two deep marks... This was the result of it using an offloading technique at a critical moment, using the cushioning of the ground to resist most of the impact, which prevented it from being punched out again by Poliwrath.

"Guu!"

Poliwrath's eyes contained a smile, and while feeling quite pleased, it added more force on top of its fist.

Marill's potential needed to be pushed out.

"Lu..."

Marill's feet dug deeper into the ground once more, its body trembling, but its back was as straight as ever, not bending in half.

It struggled to carry Poliwrath's fist, the force of which seemed to weigh ten thousand pounds, as heavy as a mountain, leaving it breathless.

Even so, Marill never admitted defeat...

Because, it knew that there was another person watching from afar, and that person definitely didn't want it to admit defeat either.

"Lu..."

Marill raised its head and gave a hard smile towards the Mosquito Warrior.

It wanted to return the favor, that person's expectation.

So...

The light of evolution finally enveloped Marill's body once more.

"Lu!"

In order to return that person's expectation, so, it wanted to become stronger!