Chapter 7:Fire and Grit part 2

Chapter 7: Fire and Grit

The forest pulsed with life. Every rustling leaf, every distant call of a wild Pokémon, every gust of wind that stirred the trees—it all fed into the rhythm of their training. Holly stood in the clearing, her legs aching from the hours spent pushing herself, her arms sore from climbing and lifting. But she welcomed the exhaustion. It meant she was growing.

"Sakumo, again!"

Growlithe's muscles tensed, his sharp eyes locked on the target. He dashed forward, his paws barely touching the ground before he twisted mid-air, flames igniting around his form as he spun into a powerful Flame Wheel.

The impact against the fallen log sent embers scattering, tiny sparks glowing briefly before flickering out. The old wood cracked under the force, the burn pattern more controlled than before.

Holly grinned. "Better. Let's see if you can add more power to it."

Sakumo shook his fur, flames flickering along his back, his breath heavy but eyes blazing with determination.

They had been at this for weeks.

Each morning began with Holly reviewing their training plan while Sakumo ate his specially crafted diet. His food contained high-protein meats, supplemented with endurance-boosting berries, minerals to strengthen his bones, and herbs known to enhance Fire-type abilities. Holly ensured he had the proper hydration too—even Fire-types needed to regulate their body heat to avoid exhaustion.

Once they were fueled, training began.

Agility & Endurance Drills

Holly set up obstacles, weaving ropes between trees to simulate wild terrain.

Sakumo had to dash, jump, roll, and weave through the course, increasing his reaction speed. She made sure to adjust it daily—sometimes adding loose rocks, fallen branches, or shifting the angles so he couldn't memorize the pattern.

Holly didn't just stand on the sidelines—she ran alongside him, climbing and vaulting just as he did. If she was going to survive out here, she had to keep up.

By the third week, Sakumo's speed had nearly doubled. His paws barely touched the ground before he was already moving again, his reflexes razor-sharp.

But they weren't done.

Power Training & Move Mastery

"Time to work on Flare Blitz," Holly called out.

Sakumo's ears perked. This was one of the hardest moves they'd been trying to develop. He had the raw power, but the execution? That was tricky.

Flare Blitz required him to charge full speed while engulfed in flames—but the problem was maintaining balance. Too much power, and he burned out before he even hit the target.

To build his endurance, Holly had him sprint in circles while she used a water bottle to spritz his fur with droplets. The goal was simple—keep his flames burning strong despite the dampness.

The first few tries? He failed. The flames sputtered out too soon. But on the tenth attempt, something changed.

Sakumo dug his claws into the dirt, a glow igniting beneath his fur as heat rippled off his body. With a fierce bark, he launched forward, flames bursting outward, wrapping around him like a raging inferno.

BOOM!

The impact against the old boulder sent cracks splintering through its surface. The fire burned for several long seconds before fading into glowing embers.

Holly grinned, her heartbeat hammering in excitement. He did it.

"You're a beast," she breathed, rubbing his head.

Sakumo huffed proudly, licking her wrist in return.

Survival Tactics

Training wasn't just about power—it was about survival. Holly knew they needed defensive skills just as much as offensive ones.

Dig training involved forcing Sakumo to burrow quickly and accurately. The first few days, his paws ached from the strain, but by the end of the second week, he could disappear underground within seconds.

Crunch was perfected through targeting tree branches, biting through thick wood until his jaw strength became formidable.

Body Slam required momentum and control, so Holly created a slope where he could build speed before launching himself at designated targets.

But her training wasn't ignored either.

Each night, after Sakumo collapsed from exhaustion, Holly worked on her own strength-building exercises.

Climbing trees until her arms burned.

Running sprints through the dark until her lungs screamed.

Practicing dodging maneuvers, forcing herself to react faster.

Her muscles ached daily, but the pain reminded her of her goal.

The Bond of Fire & Grit

After the last training session of the week, Holly sat by the fire, her body heavy with exhaustion. Sakumo lay beside her, his fur warm against her leg, his chest rising and falling in deep breaths.

She reached out, gently scratching his ears, and he let out a soft sigh, pressing into her touch.

"You're incredible, you know that?" she murmured.

Sakumo's tail thumped weakly against the ground, his eyes barely open.

She looked up at the night sky, the stars shining down like tiny flickering embers. They had come so far. And yet…

This was just the beginning.