NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Trial Begins
Heavy, labored breathing echoed through the air. Machop leaned weakly against the mountainside, sweat dripping off its body like a stream.
In contrast, Ron stood with a satisfied expression, the fire in his eyes undiminished.
Ever since the idea of mastering the Six Powers came to him, Ron had been entertaining the thought of teaching them to his Pokémon.
While the concept might not apply universally to all Pokémon types, Ron believed it was well-suited for Fighting-types like Machop. After all, in the One Piece world, mastering the Six Powers was the domain of individuals with exceptional strength. Transplanting that idea to the Pokémon world, who better to embody that strength than Fighting-type Pokémon?
Though Machop's current strength was far from sufficient to fully grasp the Six Powers, that didn't stop Ron from laying a solid foundation. He knew that as Machop leveled up and grew stronger, it would eventually be able to master not only the Six Powers but also their derived techniques and even advanced moves like Life Return.
Machop's ability to inherit four moves by breeding also hinted at its innate potential.
And so, Machop found itself thrust into an intense regimen. What was supposed to be a trial turned into relentless training under a Trainer who had recently been struck by lightning, only to then devise rigorous exercises without a single mention of battling wild Pokémon for experience.
If not for some special bond or sense of goodwill, Machop might have long since given up.
"You're doing great, Machop. Take a break and eat something to replenish your energy. Afterward, just two more sets, and we're done for today," Ron said with a bright smile, handing over the meager amount of food he had.
Machop froze. Two sets? The training that left me, a Fighting-type, utterly drained? That's what you call one set?!
As Ron passed the food into Machop's hands, a warm flow of energy emanated from his touch, surging into Machop's body. It restored Machop's depleted stamina at an astonishing speed.
Ron, as the source of this phenomenon, could clearly sense every detail, down to Machop's physical condition. Despite its exhaustion, Machop's body showed no signs of lasting damage, which reassured Ron about the intensity of the training.
At the same time, he realized that the seemingly unimpressive "golden finger" ability he had might have a far greater use than he initially thought.
Machop, for its part, felt like it was soaking in a hot spring, its energy returning rapidly. Within thirty seconds, it was back to full strength. Ron, meanwhile, silently decided to increase the training load to ten sets while using the process to explore the unknown power within himself.
Stepping out of the cave, Ron inhaled the fresh post-rain air.
Using a puddle as a makeshift mirror, he got a good look at himself: black hair and striking violet eyes that bordered on otherworldly. While Ron wasn't one to dwell on appearances, even he had to admit he looked rather handsome. If he had a flair for acting, he might even make it as a top celebrity.
But such thoughts held no appeal. Now that he was in the Pokémon world, Ron's ambitions were far grander—he wanted to challenge this world's very pinnacle.
Ron wondered how far he could go without the protagonist aura of someone like Ash. Could he stand toe-to-toe with the Legendary Pokémon of this world?
"Let's do our best, Machop. This will be our first battle together. Let's start strong."
At his words, Machop nodded and instinctively moved ahead of Ron—a vital survival habit for Trainers in the wild.
Unlike Ash's often idyllic encounters, real wild Pokémon didn't always play fair. Some would go straight for the Trainer, targeting the weakest link.
Though Ron was no stranger to extreme sports in his previous life and felt comfortable navigating forests, this was the first time he'd experienced one where death could lurk behind every tree.
Yet the thrill only sharpened his focus.
Not long after the rain stopped, a Rattata emerged from the underbrush. About the size of a medium house cat, it carried enough strength to kill an unarmed human with ease, a stark reminder of the inherent power of Pokémon in this world.
"Machop, use Focus Energy," Ron commanded.
For speed-oriented Pokémon like Rattata, reckless attacks would only expose vulnerabilities. The key was to bide time and deliver a decisive blow.
This was no hasty decision—Ron had simulated countless battles like this in his mind, and now his execution was smooth, devoid of a rookie Trainer's hesitation.
As Machop clenched its fists, an invisible force began to radiate from it, focusing its power for a critical strike.
Rattata, guided by its wild instincts, sensed the rising danger and opted to strike first. With a flash of white light, it executed Quick Attack, zigzagging toward Ron in a blinding burst of speed.
"To the left! Use Leer!" Ron's voice rang out, just as Machop finished gathering its focus.
Machop turned sharply, its eyes glowing menacingly as it unleashed Leer, its intimidating gaze enveloping Rattata. The move lowered the opponent's defense while briefly unsettling it.
"Now, Karate Chop!"
Ron's calm command went unnoticed by him, but his violet eyes glimmered faintly with an eerie brilliance, their magnetic allure deepening.
Caught mid-attack, Rattata's proximity became its undoing. Before it could react, Machop's powerful Karate Chop landed a critical hit, sending it flying.
"Follow up with Close Combat!" Ron called, not wasting a moment.
Before Rattata could hit the ground, Machop charged forward, fists already primed. As the Rattata flailed in mid-air, Machop's relentless barrage of punches landed with the force of a storm.
The sheer power of Close Combat—a move with a base power of 120—instantly knocked out the Level 9 Rattata.
The victory brought enough experience for Machop to level up to 11, breaking through its plateau.
Normally, Trainers couldn't pinpoint their Pokémon's exact level without some external indicator, relying instead on newly learned moves as clues. But Ron realized he could see Machop's level rise as clearly as if it were displayed in his mind.
Reflecting on the battle, Ron also noticed how clearly he'd perceived Rattata's movements, almost as if they were slowed down. Between the energy that healed Machop and this newfound clarity, it dawned on Ron that his abilities were far from ordinary—and neither, it seemed, were his striking violet eyes.
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