"Sandile, Murkrow, use Hidden Power!"
At one of the training grounds in the Pokémon Center, Sieg was conducting technical training for his Pokémon. After all, he had added far too many TMs to his various Pokémon recently.
Murkrow was doing relatively well, with its Prankster ability, it had higher aptitude for learning status-based moves.
Sandile was different. Not only did it need to learn inherited moves, but it also had to master new TMs.
"Sandile, remember when using Focus Energy, you must concentrate completely and gather your focus!"
Up to this point, Sandile's strength had been improving dramatically day by day, making rapid progress.
So far, it had already reached level 16. Besides its excellent potential, this was of course inseparable from Sieg's massive resource investment.
Those large quantities of Pokéblocks and Earth Vein Essence potions weren't invested for nothing, they were exchanged for rapidly advancing strenngth.
Moreover, due to its brutal combat experience from birth, Sandile's battle awareness was extremely sharp, and it could be described as vicious toward enemies.
But toward its master Sieg, Sandile didn't dare overstep in the slightest, and it greatly respected Murkrow as its senior.
Both Pokémon were known for being cunning, deceitful, and bloodthirsty. Combined with their many shared combat experiences, they naturally got along well and became good friends.
After noon arrived, Sieg didn't eat at the Pokémon Center restaurant as usual, but instead headed to one of Mauville City's major attractions.
The Mauville Food Court.
Also known as the Battle Café, it was located in the southeastern district of Mauville City, occupying a considerable area.
Moreover, it was said that because it replicated the characteristics of many restaurants from Lumiose City, it had quite a variety of food options.
For example, Village Sandwiches, Magnemite-yaki, Mauville Mixed Noodles, and so on.
This place had one special feature: if you wanted to eat, before your food arrived, you had to battle for the entertainment of other customers.
Just like Sieg was now sitting in front of a café, watching a battle in the plaza.
"Nuzleaf, don't lose to him, show your spirit!"
"Don't give him a chance to breathe, Makuhita, use continuous Arm Thrust!"
On the field, two trainers wearing League attire were passionately commanding their Pokémon in battle.
Eventually, one side would achieve victory.
According to the wager, the victor's meal would be paid for by the loser. It wasn't expensive, just a few dozen to a hundred Pokédollars.
Even gourmet dishes that used Pokémon body parts as ingredients only cost a few hundred Pokédollars, which wouldn't burden any normal trainer.
Because of this, this place was filled every day with ordinary people and casual trainers looking for excitement.
Sieg used his Pokédex to order a bunch of food with great interest. This place truly lived up to being a tech city, they even had QR code ordering.
Even in the developed Rustboro City, the vast majority of restaurants still used traditional paper menus.
"Ah, looks like that Nuzleaf is going to lose."
Sieg watched as the match entered its final phase, silently judging in his mind.
The power of the moves that Makuhita was executing was surprisingly high. Sieg guessed it was either carrying a Black Belt item that boosted Fighting-type moves, or its ability was the hidden ability Sheer Force.
And Nuzleaf's Dark/Grass typing was already weak to Fighting-type moves, so it had even less chance of winning.
Sure enough, as expected, in less than a minute.
Nuzleaf was finished off with a single Force Palm, Makuhita won the victory and could therefore eat this meal for free.
The meal cost would be transferred to Nuzleaf's trainer.
Sieg checked his own meal order. There was still quite a bit of time before it would arrive, and he felt the urge to battle rising within him.
He simply scanned the QR code on the table with his Pokédex to register for a battle, and in less than three minutes, he was matched with an opponent.
Sieg straightened his trainer outfit and walked leisurely toward the battle plaza in the center.
The moment he saw his opponent, Sieg's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. His opponent was a stunning blonde beauty.
She had the appearance of a classical Eurpean beauty, wearing a purple gown, complemented by the "click-clack" sound of high heels, looking extremely elegant.
Sieg was genuinely amazed by her beauty, especially the aura she emanated. He had only seen this kind of presence from Metako.
However, Sieg quickly recovered and entered battle mode.
"Sandile, prepare for battle."
For this entertainment-style match, Sieg didn't send out any of his main powerhouses, just letting Sandile come out for some practice.
His opponent, quite gracefully, tossed out a Poké Ball, and a ghostly Pokémon wearing kimono-like attire slowly appeared.
Froslass.
Froslass appeared to be wearing a kimono, floating in the air. Its head looked like a water droplet turned sideways, with two ice crystals on top and some holes through which its purple skin could be seen.
What looked like its torso was actually hollow inside.
This Pokémon could only evolve from a female Snorunt using a Dawn Stone, making it a rather unique and relatively rare Pokémon.
Sieg observed the energy fluctuations emanating from the opponent's Pokémon. Its level was slightly higher than Sandile's, though he couldn't determine the exact amount.
"But pressure creates motivation, right? Sandile, this is going to be a tough battle."
Despite being at a level disadvantage, Sandile showed no fear whatsoever, instead letting out an excited roar.
"Krokorok!"
The battle-hungry blood unique to Sandile was gradually boiling within it.
"Sandile, use Focus Energy."
The move Sieg had been focusing on training Sandile in had now reached the point where it could execute it effortlessly.
It instantly concentrated its mind, gathering its focus, its entire aura suddenly coalescing together, preparing for a powered-up strike.
"Froslass, Icy Wind."
The purple-gowned beauty's eyelashes trembled slightly as she commanded toward the center of the field.
Icy Wind came forth innnstantly. The Froslass in the center of the field waved the sleeve of its kimono, and in an instant, a breeze carrying ice crystals swept past.
The freezing cold air instantly swept across half the field. Even though Sandile turned its back and used its scales to resist, its body was still coated with quite a few ice shards.
Its speed was slightly affected.
"Sandile, charge forward and use Bite directly!"
Although the opponent's Ice-type had an advantage over his Ground-type, his Dark-type also had an advantage over the opponent's Ghost-type.
Therefore, on this point, both sides were evenly matched and couldn't gain any particular advantage.
After hearing the command, Sandile quickly crawled across the ground on its short legs, but seemed somewhat slow due to the ice shards on its body.
"Ice Shard."
The purple-gowned woman's cool voice rang out.
Froslass instantly conjured an ice shard the size of a fist in front of it, which shot out in the blink of an eye.
Sandile showed no fear whatsoever. Its short tail behind it pushed forcefully, instantly leaping into mid-air and opening its powerful jaws.
"Crunch! Crash~"
Using Bite, it directly shattered the ice shard.
With the boost from Focus Energy, this strike's power was frighteningly high.