Chapter 19: The Advancing Female Machamp
Pokémon: Machamp
Type: Fighting
Ability: No Guard
Gender: Female
Level: Gym Leader-tier
Status: Excellent, fully energized (no abnormalities)
Nero paused for a moment as he read through the data.
Due to the way the information was ordered, the first thing he noticed was its level.
This heavily muscled Machamp was at the Gym Leader level—two full tiers above his Combusken, which was still at the Elite level. Owning two or more Gym Leader-tier Pokémon was enough for someone to establish a dojo in Galas City.
After his initial surprise, Nero's eyes moved further down the page…
And instantly, shock turned to horror.
On the open training ground, a man was repeatedly pounding his fists against the female Machamp's chest. Instead of reacting with pain, the Machamp's eyes gleamed with excitement. Her pectoral muscles swelled to absorb the blows, and then, with two hands gripping the man's shoulders and the other two wrapping around his waist—
She was ready.
The next moment, Machamp slammed him to the ground, initiating a rolling struggle between man and Pokémon.
Nero recognized the move immediately: Seismic Toss.
But still—this scene was way too much for his eyes to handle!
If he were a tabloid journalist, tomorrow's headline would definitely be:
Shocking! A Man in Galas City Caught in a Compromising Position with a Female Machamp!
Once Seismic Toss ended, the man was hurled into the air, crashing against a crooked tree. Leaves rained down, covering his motionless body.
"Machamp, your strength has improved again~ My old bones can barely keep up anymore."
From beneath the pile of leaves, the man struggled to his feet, smiling.
"Ma~champ!"
Pleased with the praise, Machamp pounded her robust chest, then immediately stepped forward to give the man a massive hug.
And then—
Nero distinctly heard the sound of bones cracking.
A devilish physique, a welcoming embrace that can keep you warm even in winter, and, if you're lucky, an affectionate over-the-shoulder throw…
"Machamp, I keep telling you, I'm getting old. I can't do the things we used to do when we were young."
The middle-aged man groaned in pain, his expression full of suffering—yet there was no trace of blame in his eyes.
A Pokémon's lifespan was different from a human's.
This Machamp had been with him since it was just a little Machop.
From the days of his prime to now, in his fifties, where even a simple sparring match left him exhausted.
"Let's head back to the dojo. After so long, we've finally got a new apprentice. I'm not sure how strong he is, but he should be arriving tomorrow. I really hope he can carry on the legacy of our martial arts."
Machamp helped the man up before hoisting him onto her shoulders.
Snow continued to fall over Galas City, its gentle flakes landing in the man's palm like fragile feathers. Watching the pristine white snow, he gazed into the distance and sighed:
"Another New Year has come. We've grown another year older. In my grandfather's time, everyone practiced martial arts. Our dojo was at its peak."
"Now, with the rapid advancement of technology, the new training centers have state-of-the-art fitness equipment tailored to every kind of Pokémon. But our dojo still sticks to traditional training methods. I wonder if that boy will stay."
Machamp nodded in agreement. Though they didn't share a common language, their years of companionship meant that a single glance was enough to understand each other's thoughts. Words were unnecessary.
Watching the middle-aged man walk away, Nero exhaled a warm breath into the cold air.
Time moves forward, and technology evolves.
Even without looking far, Nero knew of specialized training dojos for Electric-type Pokémon and massive martial arts facilities built for Fighting-types.
But more importantly, there were Pokémon Clubs.
These clubs not only provided battle arenas for trainers but also offered specialized training rooms equipped with cutting-edge equipment. If you had enough money, you could even hire a personal coach.
Nero had been to one of these specialized training rooms once or twice before.
A gravity chamber.
The effects of training there were exceptional.
As the saying goes: out with the old, in with the new.
New dojos continued to rise in Galas City, while the old ones gradually faded away. Though Nero had never run a dojo himself, he understood the sentiment of that middle-aged man more than a little.
"Combusken, let's go home."
New Year's Day was a peaceful celebration. The sound of firecrackers echoed through the streets and alleys, and the sky was constantly lit up with dazzling fireworks.
At the dinner table, despite having eaten all day, Nero and Combusken had such massive appetites that they swiftly devoured the entire feast laid before them.
"Oh, right! Combusken, here's your New Year's present."
Nero retrieved a long gift box from his room. Combusken, not entirely understanding the concept of presents, opened it under Nero's encouragement.
Inside the box lay…
Another chicken?!
"This is called a Screaming Chicken, also known as the 'Despair Battle Chicken!'"
As Nero introduced it, Combusken curiously squeezed the little rubber toy—
And was instantly met with a shrill, ear-piercing screech.
"Chamoooo?!"
The sudden sharp cry startled Combusken—it never expected its companion's voice to be so piercing.
However, seeing its yellow, oddly shaped companion let out all kinds of wretched screams was just too much. Combusken couldn't help but stifle a laugh.
As the pitiful cries continued, a strange sense of relief washed over Combusken.
After finishing a game and watching some anime with Nero, he glanced outside and saw the neighbor's kids playing in the yard, cheerfully building a snowman. Nostalgia struck him—he suddenly felt like reliving his childhood memories. Without hesitation, he ran outside and started piling up snow himself.
"Chamo! Chamo~~"
Combusken didn't really understand the concept of a snowman, but seeing Nero's creation towering in the yard, it made up its mind—it had to build one even bigger than Nero's… and then swallow it whole!
Unfortunately, reality had other plans.
Combusken was a Fire-type Pokémon. Its body temperature was much higher than that of humans or other Pokémon. The moment it picked up a handful of snow, the heat from its palms quickly melted it away.
Nero chuckled helplessly and, after a bit of thought, built a small snowman in the shape of a chick just for Combusken.
The world around them was blanketed in white, with snowflakes dancing down from the sky. As far as the eye could see, everything had been transformed into a winter wonderland.
In the snowy landscape, two figures—a large snowman and a tiny snow-chick—stood side by side, standing strong in the freezing wind and ice.
The friendship between man and Pokémon was as vast and unbreakable as the world itself!
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