Chapter 179: The Way of the Sword

After finishing the morning training session, Ron led Machamp and the others back to the Bamboo Grove Gym.

The once-dilapidated dojo had gained a new lease on life with Ron and his Pokémon, now filled with liveliness and the warmth of daily life.

The aroma of food drifted through the air, yet Frostmoon and Farfetch'd seemed completely unfazed, continuing to swing their wooden sword and leek without hesitation.

Bellossom, on the other hand, showed a brief moment of slackness. The Leaf Blade in her hands wavered slightly—though only for an instant—it was enough to catch the attention of Frostmoon and Farfetch'd.

Without saying a word, they remained immersed in their simple yet relentless sword practice, unwavering in their focus.

It was only when Ron finished preparing breakfast that Frostmoon finally concluded the training session.

"Remember, when practicing swordsmanship, you must remain focused. Do not let external distractions shake you."

As he sheathed his sword, Frostmoon imparted this piece of advice to Bellossom.

Bellossom nodded at him and etched those words into her heart.

For the next half-month, Ron continued overseeing the daily meals and the rigorous training of Machamp and the others. Meanwhile, Bellossom trained under Frostmoon and Farfetch'd, only practicing Finger Pistol and enhancing her abilities with Ron in the evenings before dinner.

In the blink of an eye, fifteen days had passed. Now, only two months remained before the start of the Indigo League.

During this time, with Ron's guidance, Machamp had begun grasping the technique of Iron Body, improving at an astonishing pace.

Persian, under Machamp's tutelage, had also mastered Flying Finger Pistol. However, as a Pokémon specializing in speed, Persian could never execute techniques like Morning Peacock with the same power as Machamp.

Though Bellossom trained less than the others, her natural physical talents allowed her to master Finger Pistol with ease.

Nidoking, due to his bulky frame, progressed rather slowly with Moonwalk.

Meanwhile, Kirlia, thanks to her improving strength, successfully mastered Shave, accelerating her growth rate.

In terms of overall strength, Ron's borderline obsessive training regimen ensured that all of his Pokémon had advanced by one level. Persian and Kirlia, in particular, broke through to High Elite level and Low Elite level, respectively.

Kirlia's greatest transformation, however, was her evolution into Gardevoir. She had gone from a graceful maiden to an elegant and mature lady.

While Ron felt proud of her, he also sensed a looming crisis—what if someone tried to steal away the Pokémon he had raised with such care?

After completing the morning training, Ron brought his Pokémon back to the dojo for lunch, only to find Frostmoon and Farfetch'd still guiding Bellossom through the same basic sword swings.

From the moment Bellossom started her training, Frostmoon and Farfetch'd had been drilling these few motions relentlessly, never deviating.

Ron never asked Bellossom whether they were teaching her additional sword techniques when he wasn't around.

Farfetch'd had already proven his abilities. Ron believed in the philosophy of "trusting the people you use and not doubting them." Once he made a decision, he wouldn't second-guess it.

"Kid, aren't you even curious whether I'm actually teaching your Bellossom swordsmanship?" Frostmoon asked suddenly as he put down his chopsticks.

"You should know that for the sake of learning from me, Bellossom has likely sacrificed a significant amount of her own training time," he continued. "Not to mention, you're aiming for the Indigo League. Isn't she one of your main Pokémon? Shouldn't you be worried about this?"

Ron met Frostmoon's gaze and replied firmly, "I've seen Farfetch'd's swordsmanship firsthand. Naturally, I trust your skills. When it comes to swordsmanship, I'm an outsider. I won't interfere or pass judgment on something I don't understand."

Frostmoon smirked. "What a shame. If you were to study swordsmanship under me, you might have become my successor."

Before Ron could respond, Frostmoon continued:

"Swordsmanship is built upon three essential pillars: Technique, Body, and Mind.

"Technique and Body can both be refined through relentless practice. Strength and skill depend on one's dedication, and while that's enough to be called a swordsman, it won't take you to the peak.

"Only by mastering the third and most crucial pillar—the Mind—can one hope to ascend to the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

"First, let's talk about Technique. I believe that the best sword style is the one you develop yourself. You can incorporate other styles, but ultimately, your swordsmanship must be uniquely yours.

"Next is Body. Having technique alone isn't enough. You need strength, speed, and a well-conditioned physique to match.

"As for the Mind, it all depends on whether Bellossom can grasp the essence of the Sword Heart. That will determine whether she can walk the true path of swordsmanship.

"The Sword Heart is an indescribable state. Once you attain it, you'll feel as if you can sense the breath of all things—nothing will be beyond your ability to cut."

Listening to Frostmoon's words, Rohan found himself nodding in agreement—until the last part.

Wait… wasn't this exactly like the Cutting Iron state from One Piece?

Hadn't Zoro achieved victory against Daz Bonez (aka Mr. 1) by perceiving the breath of all things?

Ron never expected to hear about such a familiar concept in the Pokémon world.

"That's all I have to say," Frostmoon concluded. "If you ever change your mind, come find me. If Bellossom masters it first, you can always learn from her."

With that, Frostmoon patted his pants, got up, and strolled off for a nap.

Looking around, Ron noticed that Machamp and the others had also gone back to their rooms for an afternoon rest, leaving only Farfetch'd still practicing in the courtyard.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Ron decided to go do the dishes instead. The last thing he wanted was to interrupt Farfetch'd and end up on the receiving end of a well-placed Iaido slash.

After their conversation, Ron observed that Bellossom continued practicing the same simple swings in the morning sessions. However, in the afternoons, Frostmoon and Farfetch'd began gradually teaching her real sword techniques, guiding her step by step.

Once Bellossom found the right approach, her swordsmanship improved at an astonishing rate. However, Ron could tell that something was missing—her blade lacked sharpness.

It was likely the missing element Frostmoon had mentioned—the Sword Heart. The Cutting Iron state.

Ron had no way to help her attain it. All he could do was silently root for her.

In the coming days, Ron decided to leave for a while, giving Bellossom the space she needed. At the same time, he wanted to help Torchic fully develop its potential, allowing it to grow stronger.

After spending half a month with Frostmoon and Farfetch'd, Ron had come to trust them. He no longer worried about Bellossom's training.

After making his preparations, Ron and his Pokémon descended the mountain, heading toward their next challenge.

-----

Want to read ahead of schedule? 

Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / madbot635