Chapter 10

This was only part of the training program. Torchic had yet to realize that the real challenge was still ahead.

Up next was an even harsher series of exercises—weighted kicks, weighted squats, fire energy gathering, and more.

After completing his reaction training, Chinchou thought he had finally earned a break. But the moment he heard his trainer's next set of instructions, his eyes filled with despair.

"This is hell... and my trainer is the devil."

The sun dipped below the horizon.

After an exhausting day of training, Torchic and Pidgeot sat at the dining table, devouring their hard-earned meal.

Torchic ate like a wild beast, as if trying to drown out the pain of training with the taste of food. Across the table, Tetsuya ate his own meal with calm elegance.

Between bites, he calculated the rate of supply consumption. Based on current intake, the pre-purchased ingredients would last a little over two months. However, given Torchic's rapid growth and evolving appetite, he would likely need to restock in about seven weeks.

Thinking of this, Tetsuya couldn't help but be amazed at Torchic's talent and progress—it had completely outpaced his initial analysis.

Of course, it wasn't entirely surprising. Without any direct data on Pokémon with championship potential, he had been forced to estimate using lower-tier Pokémon as a reference. Naturally, that had led to some miscalculations.

For instance, according to his and Zero's projections, Torchic's goal for today was to complete a medium-difficulty wooden stake obstacle course in twelve minutes, with two launchers creating interference.

Torchic struggled at first, but as training continued, its reactions became sharper, its footwork more precise. Not only did it finish the obstacle course faster than expected, but it also completed the challenge in just ten minutes—even with the added interference of a third launcher.

Progress across other training areas had improved by 10 to 20 percent as well. Tetsuya couldn't help but marvel at the little Pokémon's determination.

What impressed him the most was that Torchic never once cried out in pain. That alone shattered Tetsuya's plans to lecture and push his Pokémon harder. Instead, he simply felt proud.

After all, a Pokémon willing to endure such brutal training must have an overwhelming desire to grow stronger.

And there was nothing wrong with that.

After cleaning up the dinner table, Tetsuya headed upstairs to begin his own studies. Torchic and Pidgeot returned to their Poké Balls for some much-needed rest, preparing for the grueling day ahead.

Two months later.

In the backyard of a suburban villa near Viridian City, the wooden stake obstacle course neared its final stretch.

"Combusken!"

The newly evolved Pokémon twisted its left foot, shifting its body just in time to dodge three elastic balls shooting toward it.

Before it could even take a breath, two more balls hurtled toward it from the front and back. Without hesitation, Combusken bent its upper body, evading both attacks with fluid motion.

Using its hands for support, it executed a forward roll, narrowly avoiding the wooden stake in its path.

But the challenge wasn't over yet.

Just as Combusken sprang back to its feet, Tetsuya's voice rang out.

"Flamethrower, ten o'clock! Follow up with Aerial Ace and Brick Break to smash the rock ahead!"

Instantly, Combusken unleashed a concentrated stream of fire at the incoming projectile. The special rock, launched high into the sky by Tetsuya, crumbled into ash under the searing 1800-degree flames.

The moment the fire dissipated, Combusken cut off its energy output and transitioned into Aerial Ace. Dropping low to the ground, it sped toward the incoming rock. With its right hand glowing a bright white, it brought down a powerful Brick Break.

Crack!

The rock shattered into pieces.

But before Combusken could relax, five elastic balls launched from different angles, targeting its limbs and torso.

Its reaction time was near-instantaneous. Leaping into the air, Combusken batted away two balls with a Flame Punch, then twisted mid-air to avoid another.

With only fractions of a second to spare, it tightened its core and delivered two consecutive kicks, deflecting the remaining balls with precise force.

"Quick Attack!"

Tetsuya's commands came with pinpoint timing.

The moment Combusken landed, it bent its legs and shot forward in a blur of white energy, maneuvering past the last wooden stake with expert control.

"Done!" Tetsuya called out, stopping the timer.

Combusken steadied its breathing and calmly walked over to its trainer.

"Excellent. You've completed the high-difficulty course with ten launchers in just three minutes. This phase of training is complete."

"Combusken!" The Pokémon nodded with quiet determination, already preparing for the next round.

Tetsuya didn't hesitate. He strapped the weighted vest onto Combusken and adjusted the settings. Without needing further instruction, Combusken moved to the training zone and began its kicking drills.

Driven by raw strength and precision, its legs moved in a relentless rhythm—six kicks per second, each one fueled by explosive power from its core.

Tetsuya watched with satisfaction.

Two months of relentless training had transformed Torchic into a formidable Combusken. Its abilities had skyrocketed, and its once-fiery temperament had evolved into something more disciplined and controlled.

Smiling to himself, Tetsuya gave a silent command.

"Zero, analyze and open Combusken's status panel."

A blue interface, invisible to anyone but Tetsuya, appeared before him.

[Combusken]

Category: Young Pokémon

Type: Fire/Fighting

Height: 1.3m (Average: 0.9m)

Weight: 26kg (Average: 19.5kg)

Ability: Blaze (Boosts Fire-type moves when HP is low)

Hidden Ability: Speed Boost (Increases Speed every turn in battle)

Skills: Scratch, Peck, Growl, Double-Edge (Inherited), Burn Up (Inherited), Agility (Inherited), Ember, Quick Attack, Double Kick, Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Detect, Fire Punch, Brick Break, Low Sweep, Overheat, Heat Wave, Feather Dance, Aerial Ace.

Level: 26 (Normal)

Potential: Champion

Training Focus: Leg muscle development (1.56x efficiency compared to others of its species). Exceptional explosive power and striking force.

Recommended Diet: A mix of spicy Tamato Berries and dark chocolate to enhance fire energy potency (Current ratio: 1:1).

Reaction Speed: 2.12x higher than others of its species. Specialized training suggested (Plan and diet details available...).

Tetsuya studied the panel, unable to suppress a grin.

Even though he checked Combusken's progress daily, seeing it laid out like this always sent a thrill through him.

A level 26 Combusken boasting a skill set rivaling a newly evolved level 38 Pidgeot was nothing short of incredible.

And the best part? This was only the beginning.

Combusken's talent had only just begun to shine.

The development of Combusken's leg muscles had increased from 1.44 times to 1.56 times that of its peers.

Its reaction speed had also been precisely measured—2.12 times faster than others of its kind. While its fire energy strength was comparable to some elite-level Pokémon, it was slightly lacking in quantity.

Tetsuya could say with confidence that although his Combusken was only level 26, it could hold its own against some elite Pokémon in their early 30s.

After all, normal elite-level Pokémon didn't have such a diverse skill set. In terms of versatility, Combusken had the advantage.

That being said, Tetsuya understood that Zero's assessments were just a reference.

In real battles, raw stats weren't everything. Strategy, skill mastery, and a trainer's commands played equally crucial roles. Otherwise, Pokémon battles wouldn't be so captivating, and trainers wouldn't hold such an important place in this world.

The level displayed on Zero's panel was merely a quantitative measure. Tetsuya believed that when Pidgeot had reached its previous level of strength, Zero's panel had likely marked it in the early 30s.

This realization helped him understand how Zero classified levels. In the Pokémon world, the League measured Pokémon strength primarily by their internal energy reserves. Zero followed the same principle, quantifying levels based solely on energy amount, disregarding physical fitness and energy quality.

A Pokémon's potential determined its maximum energy threshold, making high-potential Pokémon far superior to lower-potential ones at the same level—not just in energy and endurance but also in skill mastery.

Zero's analytical capabilities were invaluable, allowing Tetsuya to monitor his Pokémon's progress with precision. Most trainers didn't have such a clear understanding of how effective their training was.

Even more importantly, Zero's ability to evaluate Pokémon potential and assess Pokémon Eggs was a game-changer.

But right now, those weren't the concerns occupying Tetsuya's mind.

Instead, he found himself caught between frustration and excitement.

The reason? Combusken was progressing too fast.

In just two months, it had skyrocketed from level 6 to level 26 and was on the verge of breaking into the elite tier. It was already competing with higher-level Pokémon.

At the same time, Pidgeot had reached level 43 and learned several new moves.

The cost of this rapid growth was enormous. Tetsuya only had 200,000 Alliance Coins in cash left. If it weren't for Pidgeot's slower progression rate, his savings would have dried up even faster.

This was something he hadn't fully prepared for.

Initially, Tetsuya had estimated that it would take at least five months for Combusken to reach its current level. But its exceptional potential, combined with its relentless work ethic, had accelerated the process beyond his expectations.

He had spared no expense in its training, and the result was a timeline cut in half.

Which meant Tetsuya's original plan had to be adjusted once again.

Life never goes as planned, does it? At least this time, it was for a good reason.

Many trainers would dream of having a Pokémon that grew this quickly, but without a high-potential Pokémon to invest in, such a dream remained out of reach.

A good problem to have, Tetsuya thought as he typed away on his computer.

If other trainers knew what he was thinking, they'd probably want to strangle him.

Evening.

At the Pokémon Center restaurant, Tetsuya sat down for dinner with Combusken and Pidgeot.

Around them, other trainers and their Pokémon were doing the same.

Of course, only the smaller Pokémon were inside. If someone brought in an Onix, Nurse Joy would have plenty to say about it.

Tetsuya had come here to prepare for his real journey.

With Combusken's rapid growth and his dwindling savings, he had decided to leave Viridian City earlier than planned.

Despite its proximity to the Viridian Forest, Viridian City was too remote compared to Saffron and Celadon City.

Most long-term residents in Viridian came for relaxation and retirement, so high-level and high-reward missions were rare.

While some bounty hunters and trainers took on occasional missions in the area, most high-paying bounties were posted in bigger cities like Saffron and Celadon. Those missions were snatched up quickly, leaving little opportunity for them to trickle down to Viridian.

Tetsuya knew he was capable of handling most B-rank missions now, so it was time to move on.

Plus, he could put Zero's abilities to good use and make some extra money along the way.

With that settled, he finalized his plans.

First, he cleaned up his villa and visited the shop and trading center to sell off excess supplies.

Some of it came from rewards he had earned during occasional trips into Viridian Forest, while other materials had become obsolete due to Combusken's rapid progress. Altogether, he recovered 150,000 Alliance Coins.

Then, with help from the Pokémon Center, he sold his suburban villa for 900,000. The transaction would be finalized tomorrow.

From an investment standpoint, he had made a solid profit.

His space backpack, now securely stored in a designated room at the Pokémon Center, held nearly 50 cubic meters of training equipment—almost half the storage space was filled.

Fortunately, once Combusken evolved into Blaziken, most of this equipment could be set aside temporarily.

The backpack also contained various wilderness survival gear, clothing, Pokémon food, and miscellaneous supplies.

Among them was the solar-powered electric car he had purchased for 500,000 Alliance Coins. Manufactured by Devon Corp, it was a basic model but packed with enough high-tech features to handle most outdoor conditions.

His inventory was fully stocked.

After finishing dinner, Tetsuya recalled his two Pokémon into their Poké Balls and walked toward the Pokémon Center's service counter.

In this world, every city operated somewhat independently. A person's residency was generally tied to the Pokémon Center of their birthplace or current home.

Cities were governed jointly by the local Gym Leader and an elected mayor, with the Pokémon League overseeing but not directly controlling them. The League could only intervene in extreme circumstances after issuing emergency notices.

For non-registered trainers—those without an official Pokémon Pokédex—traveling required registration at their local Pokémon Center.

Officially registered trainers with Pokédexes were exempt from this rule.

Approaching the counter, Tetsuya greeted Nurse Joy with a polite smile.

"Hello, Nurse Joy. I need to apply for a travel permit. Thank you."