[Ding! Lopunny's Speed Boost ability has fully awakened. It has adapted to a new talent ceiling and can continue increasing its talent points…]
"Whoosh—!"
At the critical moment, Lopunny bent backward into a perfect bridge, narrowly evading Arcanine's Extreme Speed. In the next instant, it spun in place, effortlessly catching up to the overextended Arcanine. A copied Extreme Speed slammed heavily into its abdomen.
"ROAR…"
With a final cry, Arcanine completely lost its ability to battle.
[Ding! Chain Quest 'Partner Trainer' — Marley challenge cleared. Speed Talent Points ×50 obtained!]
[Ding! You have gained Arcanine's recognition. Master Points ×6 obtained!]
The system notifications rang out one after another, but Peter barely noticed them. His eyes were fixed on Lopunny in the field, a satisfied smile slowly forming.
…
[Lopunny ♀ lv35 (Advanced)]
Ability: Speed Boost (Speed increases every turn in battle — fully awakened)
Talent: 520 (Reached species limit: 480)
HP: 60
Attack: 120
Defense: 70
Sp. Atk: 40
Sp. Def: 70
Speed: 160
After allocating another 20 talent points to Lopunny, its Speed reached an absurd level. Its long legs looked even more powerful and defined, its height surpassing 1.5 meters.
Defeating Arcanine across such a large level gap also pushed Lopunny up another level, firmly securing her position as the team's lead.
"…I was completely outplayed tactically," Marley admitted, shaking her head as she recalled Arcanine.
Peter simply smiled.
From the very beginning, he had dragged out time using Jump, stacking Speed Boost while dodging Arcanine's heavy pressure. Then he widened the distance, baited out ranged attacks, countered them with Mirror Coat, and finally sealed the Fire-type move pool entirely with Rain Dance.
Marley had been read like an open book.
Fire-type moves dealt reduced damage.
Ranged attacks were reflected.
Close combat meant fists versus paws.
Even Arcanine's pride—Extreme Speed—was completely suppressed by Copycat plus Speed Boost.
This battle had been a decisive loss.
Or rather—Peter's control over move-slot suppression was simply too effective, forcing Arcanine to fight shackled at every turn.
Once Lopunny's Speed Boost stacked high enough, the entire rhythm of the battle belonged to her.
After treatment from Nurse Joy, Marley said her goodbyes. She would continue accompanying the Shaymin as they crossed Mount Coronet.
-----
After seeing Marley off, Peter made a detour to Flower World Florist, placing an order worth 1 million Poké Dollars in Berries—completely solving his Pokémon's food needs for the coming months.
With the Honorary Citizen discount, not using it would've been a waste.
By the time he finished everything, it was already 3 p.m.
As he walked, Peter opened his SNS.
Ever since he'd leveraged Kota's channels for promotion, his global visibility had skyrocketed.
Naturally, that level of exposure also brought criticism.
Cheese strategies.
Dirty tricks.
Unorthodox methods.
In the end, it all came down to one thing—his strength hadn't yet fully justified the hype.
"…Hope the Rotom project speeds up," Peter sighed.
"Editing videos myself every day is way too much work…"
With that, he stepped into the Pokémon Center.
He edited and uploaded the battle video against Marley, then handed out Pokéblocks to his team.
Looking at the five Pokémon before him, Peter smiled.
Once upon a time, becoming a Trainer had been a luxury dream.
Now, he had five partners who trusted him completely.
"Slakoth, come with me for a bit~"
"Laa?"
The little sloth instantly shoveled down the rest of its food. With a powerful pull of its arms, it leapt up and clung to Peter's arm.
Through deliberate training, it had become far more adept at moving with its arms—
though compared to four-limbed Pokémon, it was still painfully clumsy.
Peter took Slakoth outside.
His expression turned serious as he put on a gas mask.
Then—
a potted green plant appeared on the lawn.
In an instant, a stench like ancient, fermented manure spread through the air.
If it had to be described—
it was like something that had been pickled in a cesspit for years.
Not overwhelmingly strong—but even a trace was enough to make someone's face turn green.
[Powerleaf Spinach]
A fully matured special spinach plant of exceptional quality. Its massive size is enough to feed an average Pokémon for half a month.
…
This Powerleaf Spinach was no longer something that could be kept indoors. After just three days of growth, it had reached over three meters tall, thick enough that two people could barely hug it.
"…According to the system's recommendation," Peter muttered,
"Ten servings a day—just enough for three days. By then, the second plant will be ready…"
He looked at Slakoth, whose face had already gone pale.
"Come on, Slakoth. Eat it—and you'll become stronger."
"Laa…"
Slakoth nodded with great difficulty and shuffled toward the spinach. The overwhelming "aroma" made it feel like vomiting on the spot.
It opened its mouth…
closed it…
again and again.
In the end, it simply couldn't bring itself to take a bite.
Its small body looked… lonely.
"…"
Peter watched quietly.
His relaxed hand clenched—then loosened.
Before them lay a painful choice.
Once they committed to training the Huge Power ability, it meant ten servings of Powerleaf Spinach every single day, nonstop, until full awakening.
But right now—
forget ten servings.
Even one bite felt unbearable.
Slakoth's past had already been hard enough.
After finally finding a Trainer of its own, did it really have to endure this kind of "torture"?
Peter pressed his lips together, then smiled softly.
"Hey… Slakoth. Maybe we should just forget it?" He stepped forward.
"Even without that ability—we can still become strong."
The small body trembled.
Slakoth turned around.
At some point, Peter had already removed his gas mask.
"It's okay. This smell is really too awful. If eating it is—"
"LAA!!!"
Slakoth suddenly cried out, shaking its head violently.
Tiny droplets scattered through the air.
"Laa-laa… laa-laa-laa!"
(I know. But I want to truly live up to your expectations! I don't want to hold anyone back ever again! I… will grow strong enough that everyone looks up to me!)
It grabbed tightly onto Peter's pant leg.
In its half-closed eyes burned a light called conviction.
"…"
Peter was silent for a moment.
Then he crouched down, gently holding Slakoth's head.
"Then… give it your all. I'll be with you the whole way."
With that, he calmly snapped off a spinach leaf and stuffed it into his own mouth, speaking around it:
"See? It's… not that bad…"
"Laa!"
Slakoth nodded hard and took a bite too.
-----
Half an hour later.
"Ugh—"
"BLEEEGH—!!!"
Gagging echoed endlessly through the room.
"Mr. Peter! Are you alright?!" Nurse Joy knocked anxiously on the door.
"I—I'm fine…" came a weak, ghostlike reply.
"…Are you sure? You really should open the door so I can check."
A moment later, the door opened.
Peter stood there—face deathly pale, completely drained.
Nurse Joy froze. "You look—"
"BLEGH—!!"
Before she could finish, Peter vomited straight onto her nurse's dress.
"I—I'm sorry…"
"…Uh… it's okay. You should really get some rest…" she said stiffly.
BANG.
The door slammed shut.
Moments later, muffled retching could be heard from outside as well.
…
Some paths to strength…
really don't smell very good.
--------------
T/N:
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