NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Uninvited Guest
Rapid, panicked breaths echoed through the forest. Primeape, a Pokémon known for its fiery temper, was unnervingly calm.
On closer inspection, fear flickered unmistakably in Primeape's eyes.
The battle had lasted only a few seconds, but Primeape had already been struck countless times by Machoke.
It wasn't just the beating—Primeape could handle pain. What truly terrified it was that it hadn't even seen Machoke's movements.
Each time Machoke struck and returned to its original position, it was as if nothing had happened. The eeriness of such an opponent reminded Primeape of ghostly beings, and dread gripped its heart.
Machoke, looking at the trembling Primeape with a hint of impatience, had already lost interest in the fight.
An opponent incapable of even retaliating couldn't stoke Machoke's battle spirit. Still, the match had started, and it had to be finished.
With that thought, Machoke used Soru again, vanishing from its spot to end the dull battle swiftly.
The wind howled as Primeape lashed out blindly with Fury Swipes, only for Machoke to intercept effortlessly from the front and end the fight with precision.
After the victory, Machoke calmly returned to Ron's side.
The skirmish was so trivial that Ron didn't even need to use his Fighting Aura to heal Machoke.
Although Ron had expected this outcome, seeing Machoke dispatch an equal-level Pokémon with such ease left him marveling at its strength.
"Perhaps it's time to find an elite-level Pokémon to truly test Machoke's abilities," Ron mused, making a mental note for the future. For now, the focus shifted to Meowth.
Machoke's training could plateau for a while. It just needed additional practice to fully harness its newfound power from evolution.
Meowth, however, required a dual approach: mastering the simplified version of Soru as a foundation for learning the full technique and engaging in battles to level up.
The wild Pokémon they had encountered so far were already a challenge for Meowth, requiring Gloom's assistance to secure victory.
Pushing deeper into the forest would overexert Meowth and Gloom, potentially endangering Ron's life as well.
Weighing the risks, Ron decided to remain in the current area, focusing on improving Meowth and Gloom's combat prowess while keeping an eye out for challengers to give Machoke some fun.
Having realized the growing gap between itself and Machoke, Meowth threw itself into intense training.
Previously, its efforts had been diligent but methodical. Now, Meowth pushed beyond its limits, continuing until it was utterly exhausted.
Gloom, on the other hand, maintained its calm demeanor, sticking to its training routine and adding extra practice only as needed.
Its steady, unhurried approach embodied the phrase: "Neither elated by success nor distressed by failure." Ron couldn't help but admire Gloom's mindset.
While this mentality might not yield rapid results in the short term, Ron believed it promised greater potential in the long run.
Settling into this rhythm, Ron spent eight consecutive days in the area.
During that time, he rarely paired Meowth and Gloom for battles. Instead, he focused on pushing their current capabilities to their limits.
Thanks to Ron's guidance and rigorous training, Meowth—already strong in level and physicality—had managed to grasp the simplified version of Soru, inching closer to Machoke's mastery.
Ron estimated that if Meowth kept up the momentum, it could fully master Soru upon evolving at level 28, just as Machoke had.
This breakthrough proved that even four-legged Pokémon like Meowth could learn Soru, implying that the rest of the Rokushiki techniques might also be within reach.
Meanwhile, Gloom quietly gained experience and leveled up to 21, thanks to the shared battles.
More notably, its physical agility improved—a remarkable feat for a typically slow Pokémon. While it couldn't yet match Meowth or Machoke, Gloom was far superior to others of its kind.
Machoke, as expected, faced no challenges. Its daily routine of training and occasional wild Pokémon battles alongside Meowth and Gloom was never enough to push its limits. Only an elite-level Pokémon could give it a real fight.
Over the eight days, Ron also encountered two challengers. Both were swiftly defeated by Machoke, whose Soru left them unable to last beyond two minutes.
With just over a month remaining in the three-month trial, Ron resolved to accelerate Meowth and Gloom's progress. Once they were ready, he would venture deeper into the forest, facing stronger, elite-level Pokémon and aiming to elevate Machoke to elite status.
With such a strategy, Ron was confident of clinching the top spot in the trial.
Unbeknownst to him, a trial participant was sprinting through the forest, away from something terrifying.
The ground trembled as trees crashed to the ground behind him, as if some monstrous predator were on his heels.
Desperate, Takumi flung a Poké Ball behind him, releasing a level 20 Mankey into the forest. Without sparing it a glance, he abandoned the non-essential Pokémon, hoping to buy some time.
A few seconds later, Mankey's terrified screech was cut off abruptly, as if crushed by an immense force.
Shivering, Takumi dared not stop, fearing he might meet the same fate.
Unbeknownst to him, his flight was leading him directly toward Ron's camp.
Just as Meowth finished its rest and was about to resume training, the group heard the commotion of an uninvited guest approaching.
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