Lian planned to enhance his proficiency with Heat Wave, Inferno, and Air Slash. These moves were highly practical, especially Air Slash. Once its proficiency was maxed out, the released air blades would be virtually invisible, leaving only subtle air disturbances, making them extremely difficult to detect.
Moreover, Air Slash is Lian's signature Special Attack move, possessing astonishing power. If combined with Flamethrower, this combo would far surpass his previous attack combinations.
By sequentially using two specialized Special Attack moves, both within his primary typing, it's easy to envision this move combination becoming Lian's most potent burst of consecutive attacks.
Spending 1800 Combat Points, Lian elevated all three moves to their maximum proficiency levels. He didn't particularly care about any potential special effects; undoubtedly, Heat Wave and Inferno would just increase the chances of causing burns. However, Air Slash could prove useful, as it already has a notable chance to induce flinching, which should significantly improve with the upgrade.
As he faced stronger opponents, Lian noticed that their immunity to status conditions also increased. In recent battles against high-level Pokemon, he observed a noticeable decrease in the additional paralysis effect from his Dragon Breath move.
It wasn't that Dragon Breath had weakened; rather, its opponents now possessed some resistance to Paralysis, clearly indicating they had undergone specific training for it.
In other words, with Air Slash upgraded to its maximum level, the Flinch effect would be similarly effective against untrained Pokemon, potentially causing them to flinch every time or even enter a dazed state. However, if the opponent has received relevant training, the impact would significantly diminish.
Nevertheless, Air Slash remains a highly useful move since most Pokemon likely haven't undergone such specialized training.
With these upgrades complete, Lian decided to visit the Dream World. Collaborating with little Zapdos during battles proved efficient; having a teammate is undoubtedly stronger than fighting solo.
Entering the Dream World, Lian swiftly reached an area near the river where he and Zapdos agreed to meet daily.
As soon as he approached, Lian spotted Zapdos, and after reuniting, they began searching for Pokemon together.
***
Time flew swiftly.
In the blink of an eye, it had been a month since Kalia arrived in Rockcliff City. As October approached, the weather began to cool down, signaling the arrival of autumn unnoticed.
A gentle breeze carried a hint of chill.
Kalia, dressed in her white martial arts attire, watched with a smile as Torchic battled Hitmonchan. Her eyes narrowed happily, forming crescent moon shapes.
Hitmonchan rapidly threw punches, relying on its physical strength to attack Torchic. However, Torchic skillfully dodged left and right, continuously leaping and spinning with agility while not forgetting to counterattack Hitmonchan.
With its Acceleration Ability, Torchic naturally excelled in speed. Combined with its small stature and nimble movements, it appeared evenly matched against Hitmonchan.
During combat, Torchic's eyes no longer showed fear or timidity from before; instead, they radiated determination and a fierce fighting spirit—a stark contrast to the Torchic of just one month earlier.
Lian was quite surprised; Torchic's transformation resulted from gradual progress day by day. He had to admit that the dojo's training regimen was truly effective. Through practicing Fighting techniques, not only did it enhance Pokemon's strength but also their courage and mental fortitude.
Even Lian himself felt significant changes after just one month of training, both physically and mentally.
Unfortunately, further improvement wasn't possible through this method alone. To truly develop a brave heart, actual combat experiences were necessary beyond mere training.
In reality, Lian already possessed a strong foundation, primarily due to his inherent power. Consequently, fear rarely affected him during past battles. However, if faced with an overwhelmingly formidable opponent, he might lack the will to confront them.
The ability to face an unbeatable adversary head-on requires true bravery.
The battle between Torchic and Hitmonchan lasted for over ten minutes, showcasing Hitmonchan's prowess as well. Its precise control of strength was exceptional, maintaining an equal level with Torchic in both offense and defense.
With a leap, Torchic returned to Kalia's side, appearing slightly exhausted but with bright and spirited eyes.
The most significant gain this month was Torchic shedding its timid nature, embracing courage, and laying the foundation for combat techniques. This would greatly benefit its future evolution, allowing it to grasp some Fighting-type moves ahead of time.
"Thank you, great master," Kalia politely expressed her gratitude. Today marked the final day of combat training, concluding on a highly satisfactory note.
"Haha, your Torchic was already quite impressive. Its progress has truly exceeded my expectations." The martial artist chuckled heartily; although just a transaction, both parties were delighted with the outcome.
"Oh right, here's a Move Disk for you - it contains the Fighting-type move 'Bulk Up.' Occasionally having your Pokemon practice this can enhance their muscular strength." The martial artist retrieved a disc and handed it to Kalia.
This gesture followed the dojo's tradition: at the end of each training session, they gifted a Bulk Up Move Disk. Although Torchic couldn't learn it yet, once evolved into Combusken, it would be able to master the move.
"Thank you." Kalia accepted the Move Disk gratefully and bid farewell to the martial artist before leaving the dojo.
As she stepped away from the gym, Kalia glanced back briefly. There was no need for her to return anytime soon; instead, she could visit the Pokémon Center to check if any tasks were available. It was time to start earning money.
There was no rush to challenge the Fighting-type gym immediately. Obtaining five badges within just a few months was too swift. Apart from Charizard, none of her other Pokémon had significantly improved their strength, which wasn't ideal.
After returning to her hotel, Kalia headed straight to the Pokémon Center, eager to explore potential missions. With her Charizard capable of transportation, she could undertake various tasks such as delivering messages or providing rides.
Upon arriving at the Pokémon Center, Kalia sought out the resident doctor. Although primarily responsible for treating Pokémon, these doctors also managed some League-assigned tasks.
Rockcliff City itself is known for its strong sense of justice, attracting many passionate and righteous Trainers. Consequently, the local Pokémon Center receives numerous daily requests that require multiple Trainers to fulfill.
"Big Sister, I'd like to inquire about any available missions," Kalia politely asked as she entered the Pokémon Center's main hall.
At that moment, the center was relatively quiet. The nurse, engrossed in reading a book, heard Kalia's question and responded by standing up, "Let me pull them up for you. You can browse through the tasks yourself and choose what suits you."
After some operations, a series of detailed missions appeared on the large screen in the hall. However, to Kalia's disappointment, they were all beginner-level tasks with low rewards and minimal difficulty.
This wasn't what Kalia sought; she needed high-reward missions. Tasks offering such minimal compensation would be entirely pointless for her.
"Big Sister, do you have any challenging missions with higher rewards? I have a Charizard capable of flying to distant cities, and I've already earned five badges, including one from the Fighting-type gym, which I'm ready to challenge at any time," Kalia explained.
"Oh, I see. Let me check." The nurse at Rockcliff City's Pokémon Center was very friendly and promptly displayed a new set of diverse missions.