"This is evolution…" Hilder's eyes burned with excitement as he clenched his fists. "It's incredible! I need to know—how does Farfetch'd evolve?!"
Summer met his eager gaze and raised three fingers. "To evolve into Sirfetch'd, it needs to land three critical hits in a battle. Only then will it understand the true essence of combat and achieve evolution."
Hilder's breath caught. "Three… three critical hits? That's it?!"
"That's it," Summer confirmed. "It needs to hone its skill in battle and strike true."
Understanding dawned in Hilder's eyes, and a fiery determination took hold. "Alright! No time to waste—we're battling right now, Farfetch'd!"
"Quaaack!" Farfetch'd twirled its massive leek like a sword, its stance steady and focused. It wanted this fight.
Black folded his arms, watching in disbelief. "Pokémon can evolve this way?" Until now, he had only ever seen Pokémon change seemingly at random.
"Yeah, I feel the same," muttered Fowler, his keen eyes fixed on Summer. "You truly are knowledgeable, Lord Summer. I'm very curious… where did you learn all of this?"
"Fowler," Sordward's sharp tone cut in, his gaze flicking toward his butler in warning. He had caught on to Fowler's attempt to probe for more information. Though he was just as curious, he knew pressuring Summer too much might push him away. A person this powerful and knowledgeable was not someone they could afford to offend.
Fowler dipped his head slightly. "Yes, I understand."
Summer smirked slightly. "No need to be so suspicious. I learned it from a Pokédex."
"A… Pokédex?" Sordward's eyes widened.
"That's right," Summer replied smoothly. "A comprehensive encyclopedia of Pokémon knowledge. I've memorized everything inside."
"A complete record of all Pokémon knowledge…!" Sordward's mind raced. If such a thing truly existed, its value was beyond measure. If they could obtain this Pokédex—
No. Summer had already said he memorized it. Which meant…
He himself was the Pokédex.
Sordward exhaled slowly, reaffirming his goal. If I can bring him to House Cavendish… no matter what.
"Forget the Pokédex for now," Hilder interrupted, eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Sordward! Let your Honedge fight my Farfetch'd!"
Sordward scoffed, flipping his cape dramatically. "Hmph! You want to use my Pokémon as a stepping stone for your own evolution? You underestimate me, boy."
"Like hell we need a snob like you!" Black snapped. "Hilder, if you want a battle, I'll be your opponent. If you train with him, you'll just pick up his arrogance!"
Sordward's eyes narrowed. "Don't forget, you still owe me a debt, Black. Very well, I accept. But don't regret it when you see the vast gap between our strength!"
Farfetch'd's sharp gaze flicked toward Honedge.
"Quaaack…!" (This guy… even shows off more than Corviknight…!)
Corviknight, perched nearby, let out a quiet caw of amusement.
Rillaboom simply shook its head. Even in ancient times, humans still held grudges and prejudices.
"Alright, alright," Summer interjected. "At least confirm this—Sordward, you agree to fight, right?"
"Of course." Sordward smirked, raising a hand. "Honedge! Let's make this a flawless victory."
Honedge floated forward, its blue eye blinking rapidly. It was… nervous. Normally, it fought with Sordward wielding it. Fighting alone was… unfamiliar.
"Farfetch'd, focus!" Hilder shouted. "Hit their weak point—just like we trained!"
Farfetch'd's grip on its leek tightened as it lunged forward, swinging down hard. The powerful Brick Break attack cut through the air—but passed right through Honedge's body like a ghost.
"Quack?!" Farfetch'd's eyes widened in disbelief.
It had hit nothing but air.
Honedge blinked in confusion. It hadn't even tried to dodge…?
Wait… does that mean…?
Honedge hesitated only for a moment before striking back. Its blade glowed blue as it slashed at Farfetch'd with precise footwork.
Farfetch'd raised its leek to block, but Honedge twisted midair and bypassed its guard—striking a clean hit on its side.
"Quaaack!" Farfetch'd staggered, barely managing to keep its balance.
Hilder gritted his teeth. "Farfetch'd! Are you okay?!"
Honedge, sensing its first taste of victory, spun dramatically through the air, letting out a confident metallic shing!
Sordward smirked. "This is the difference in our strength. Do you see now?"
Summer, meanwhile, watched the battle with mild amusement.
So this is what Pokémon battles were like 3,000 years ago…
No commands. No calls for moves. Just Pokémon relying on instinct and experience.
But it was also why Farfetch'd was struggling.
They don't understand Pokémon typings yet…
Honedge was a Ghost-type. Fighting moves wouldn't work on it.
It was a fundamental rule, but one that no one here had realized yet.
Summer sighed and decided to intervene. "Hilder," he called, "think. Have you ever fought an enemy that felt like a ghost before? How did you win back then?"
Hilder's eyes widened. A ghost…?
His mind raced through his past experiences.
A foggy night… their attacks missing… but then…
"Farfetch'd, use Night Slash!"
Farfetch'd hesitated, gripping its leek tightly. Then, it shook its head firmly.
This was its battle. It wouldn't let anyone else dictate its path.
Raising its leek high, it swung with all its strength, bringing it crashing down onto Honedge. But, just like before, its attack passed straight through the ghostly blade.
Honedge seized the opening. Its blade glowed with brilliant azure light, slashing down in a blur—striking Farfetch'd with precise, calculated force.
"Quaaack!" Farfetch'd staggered back, its breath ragged, sweat beading on its forehead. Was it going to relive that moment all over again?
It remembered the battle where it first met Hilder—how it had fought desperately against Hitmontop, yet failed to break through its relentless spinning defense. It had been losing.
Until Hilder appeared, shouting out its opponent's weak spot. That was how it had won.
That was why it had chosen to follow him, why it had trained alongside him, determined to grow stronger.
Farfetch'd had always believed that it could win on its own—that one day, it would prove its strength and stand as Hilder's protector.
Yet, right now…
"You fool," Summer's voice cut through the tension, his tone sharp. "Refusing to listen to your partner? Throwing away everything you've worked for just because of your own stubborn pride?"
Farfetch'd flinched.
"You refuse to show the results of your training? You'd rather let it all be for nothing because of your arrogance?"
The Pokémon turned its head, meeting Hilder's earnest gaze. No matter how tough the training was, how dangerous the battles became, **Hilder had always been there—**standing beside it.
And it had rejected him.
He's right. If I can't even trust my own partner… how can I call myself a warrior?!
Determination flared in Farfetch'd's eyes. It lowered its stance, gripping its leek tightly as its gaze honed in on its enemy's weak point.
That eye—
That was the weak spot!
With ferocious resolve, Farfetch'd lunged forward, its leek coated in a black aura—
—And stabbed directly into Honedge's eye.
CLANG!
Honedge let out a sharp, metallic shriek, its form spinning wildly through the air before finally stabilizing, trembling from the pain.
"Enough! Honedge, take this seriously! You know what to do—cut down that oversized leek!" Sordward roared.
Honedge's eye flashed with cold fury.
The blade shimmered with an eerie shadowy glow, and with a single, calculated stroke—
Farfetch'd's leek was cleaved in two.
A deadly silence filled the air.
"Quaaack…!"
Farfetch'd trembled as it stared at the broken pieces of its most treasured weapon—the companion it had trained with, fought with…
Its pride as a warrior lay shattered at its feet.
There was an old belief among its species—"A Farfetch'd that loses its leek cannot survive." Without a weapon, it would be defenseless. Prey for any predator.
Even for the strongest among them… if they could not find another, they would fall into despair and waste away.
"Farfetch'd, you have two leeks!" Hilder's voice cut through the silence. "You're not the type to give up over something like this! The you I know never accepts defeat!"
"Hah! Empty words!" Sordward scoffed. "You think mere shouting will turn the tide of battle? What utter nonsense!"
"You're wrong," Summer countered calmly. "Pokémon are not lifeless weapons. They are living, breathing warriors with hearts—just like us."
Sordward narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about…?"
"Watch."
Farfetch'd lifted its head once more, a fierce grin spreading across its beak.
Its two severed leeks pulsed with black light, as if responding to its fighting spirit.
The broken leek stalk in its right wing elongated, transforming into a massive, spear-like lance.
The leafy tip in its left wing unfurled, hardening into a broad, sturdy shield.
A brilliant golden light engulfed it, its entire body radiating with power.
Its brown feathers turned a pristine white, its stance firm and unwavering.
It slammed its shield against the ground, its spear gleaming under the sunlight.
No longer a simple warrior—it had become a knight.
A knight known as… Sirfetch'd.
The battlefield fell into stunned silence.
Honedge, stunned by its opponent's sudden transformation, faltered in midair.
Then—thud!
The ghostly sword collapsed onto the ground, knocked out cold.
Sordward's expression twisted in disbelief. "I… I lost?!"
His hand clenched into a fist, his breath shallow.
Had he been wrong this entire time?
Was Summer right?
Pokémon… are not weapons?
"Sirfetch'd! You did it!" Hilder sprinted forward, practically tackling his partner in excitement. "No—I should say Sirfetch'd! Your leek… it became a sword and shield! That's amazing!"
Sirfetch'd, now radiating calm confidence, stood tall and proud, puffing out its chest as it soaked in the moment of triumph.
This victory belonged not just to itself—but to both of them.
Black rubbed his nose with a grin. He had never been prouder of his son and his Pokémon. And better yet—seeing Sordward's sour expression made it all the more satisfying.
Fowler, meanwhile, remained silent, his gaze carefully watching Sordward.
Perhaps… this loss will teach him something valuable.
Summer stepped up beside the young noble, watching him intently. "Sordward," he asked, "what do you feel right now?"
Sordward clenched his teeth. "Frustration. Confusion."
"That's normal," Summer replied. "No one likes losing. But you're still doubting my words, aren't you?"
Sordward didn't respond.
Summer grinned. "Then I'll make you a deal."
"What deal?" Sordward's gaze snapped to him.
"I'll train you," Summer said simply. "You and Honedge. Until it evolves."
Sordward's breath hitched.
Summer smirked. "Of course… I'm pretty strict. Can you handle it?"
Sordward inhaled sharply.
Then, his expression hardened with resolve.
"By the name of House Cavendish, I swear—I will not back down until Honedge evolves."
Fowler's eyes widened.
He had never expected such a turn of events.
At first, he had worried that losing might weaken Sordward's resolve… but instead—
It had strengthened it.
Summer truly was… an extraordinary mentor.
Though, as Fowler would soon regretfully realize—
He hadn't been joking about his training methods being "strict."
Because in the coming days…
For the first time in his life—
Sordward cried.
(End of Chapter)