Bisharp showed no signs of panic even with Lucario's bone staff leveled at her.
She rose slowly, her breathing a little heavy, but her aura remained fierce. Cold, sharp eyes locked on Lucario—and suddenly, she flung a ball of brown energy forward, then spun rapidly with the blades on her forearms raised.
Auron Vale's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Bisharp to be this cunning—using Focus Blast to draw Lucario's attention, then seizing the moment to power up with Swords Dance.
He turned quickly to see how Lucario would respond. Lucario barely flicked his bone staff, deflecting the incoming Focus Blast aside. The blast hurtled into the nearby mountainside, punching a hole straight through solid rock.
Lucario, however, made no move to interrupt the power-up. He simply watched calmly as Bisharp completed her enhancement.
The instant the boost ended, Bisharp's forearm blades glowed with a dark energy that wrapped around her entire body. With her blades forming the spearhead, she lunged forward in a brutal charge.
Lucario braced himself, choosing to take the attack head-on.
Bisharp's Guillotine Thrust struck true, sending Lucario flying back. But at the same time, a sphere of energy bloomed from Lucario's chest, blasting directly into Bisharp. Both Pokémon were thrown backward, crashing hard.
"Huh? No stat boost?" Auron frowned. Lucario's ability, Inner Focus, should trigger whenever he's hit by a Dark-type move, increasing his Attack by one stage. But just now, he hadn't seen the flash of light that signaled a status rise.
He gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head. The fight was so intense he'd completely forgotten to check their battle data.
Pokémon Data
Lucario
Gender: Male
Type: Fighting / Steel
Ability: Inner Focus (This Pokémon's Speed increases when it flinches.)
Potential: Red Rank
Base Moves: Aura Sphere, Life Dew, Detect, Feint, Rock Smash, Reversal, Focus Energy, Taunt, Metal Claw, Copycat, Work Up, Counter, Calm Mind, Swords Dance, Power-Up Punch, Bone Rush, Heal Pulse, Meteor Mash, Extreme Speed, Close Combat, Dragon Pulse, Earthquake, Low Kick, Blaze Kick, Shadow Ball…
Egg Moves: High Jump Kick, Cross Chop, Bullet Punch, Circle Throw, Mind Reader
Bisharp
Gender: Female
Type: Dark / Steel
Ability: Defiant (When this Pokémon's stats are lowered by an opponent, its Attack sharply rises. Does not trigger when self-lowering stats via moves.)
Potential: Red Rank
Base Moves: Metal Claw, Explosion, Fury Cutter, Scary Face, Pursuit, Metal Sound, Slash, Night Slash, Iron Head, Swords Dance, Guillotine, Low Kick, Substitute, Endure, Dark Pulse, X-Scissor, Focus Blast, Guillotine Thrust, Revenge
Egg Moves: Psycho Cut, Headbutt, Mean Look, Sucker Punch, Pursuit
"Damn… two Red-rank potentials. Dad's Pokémon are really that strong?" Auron whistled softly to himself. Both were exactly the kind of Pokémon he loved. He couldn't help but grin. Should I… find them both a partner one day?
The thought made him chuckle out loud.
Back on the battlefield, Lucario still held his bone staff at the ready. Across from him, Bisharp had barely clung to life using Endure. Her body trembled, her reserves clearly spent—there was no way she could keep fighting.
"Tsk, tsk. See? I told you doing research was a waste of your talent. Look at the way your Lucario's dismantled my Bisharp."
A middle-aged man strolled casually into the pool, not minding the water soaking his pants. He pulled a few Oran Berries and a bottle of Moomoo Milk from his pocket, feeding them to Bisharp to help her recover some strength.
From the forest behind came Ashen Vale's voice.
"It was the officials themselves who said it. As long as I produced useful research and earned a doctorate, they wouldn't interfere. If they regret it now, that's their problem."
The man snorted. "Who would've thought you'd actually succeed? I heard the guy who made that bet with you resigned after you were promoted."
"Hahaha, yeah. Honestly, if he hadn't resigned, the higher-ups would've torn into him anyway. Last I heard, he's doing alright in some other province."
"Not that you care."
"Exactly. I don't."
By the time their conversation ended, Lucario had returned to Ashen's side, standing tall at the pool's edge—but his gaze was fixed firmly on the brush where Auron was hiding.
"Dad!" Auron called across.
"Oh? Auron!" Ashen lifted a hand, smiling. "Heard the noise and came running, huh? Come out and let me see you properly."
Dax Jonas turned his head and instantly spotted the boy in the undergrowth. He broke into a grin. "Auron! Over here!"
Ashen beckoned with a hand. Auron glanced at the pool, then chose to walk around it—no way was he soaking his pants just to cross straight through.
"This is your Uncle Dax. Been a while, hasn't it?" Ashen clapped his son on the shoulder as he introduced the man who had just stepped ashore.
"Hello—long time no see, Auron. Do you still remember me?" Dax Jonas greeted warmly.
"Uncle Dax! Yes, of course. Long time no see."
Auron recognized him immediately. But ever since Dax had taken up the position of Elite Four Champion a few years ago, he hadn't visited as often. Whether it was work or other reasons, Auron wasn't sure—but he hadn't seen the man in years.
After their greetings, Ashen and Dax slipped back into casual conversation, while Auron quietly listened from the side.
Then Lucario stepped right up to Auron.
"Long time no see, Auron."
Auron froze, eyes widening. "Y-you can talk?!"
His voice carried loud enough to startle the two adults mid-discussion. Dax's brows rose, while Ashen just burst out laughing.
"That's not talking—it's aura communication."
Dax was even more surprised. "So Auron's already awakened his aura?"
"I've awakened aura?" Auron blurted, more shocked than either of them.
Ashen chuckled, patting his son's shoulder. "Not yet. But you're close. Otherwise, you wouldn't be sensing Lucario's voice at all."
Auron didn't know what to do, so he tried calling out silently in his mind. Lucario, can you hear me?
"I can't hear you," came a calm, gentle voice inside his head.
Auron yelped again. "But—you just said you couldn't hear me!"
Ashen rubbed his temple, exasperated. "He can't hear you. He's just reading your face and guessing."
Auron turned to Lucario. "Is that true?"
Lucario smiled faintly. "Yes."
The boy's heart pounded with excitement. He never imagined he'd one day become an Aura User.
Dax leaned closer to Ashen, whispering, "Why's he awakening so early? Did you guide him?"
"No. I only noticed it today. Seems his talent's stronger than we thought."
"Tch. Jealous. Your family's unbelievable—Aura Users don't show up for generations, and now you've had three straight. Bet the officials will rope your boy into their special development program."
Ashen's eyes softened as he watched his son chatting animatedly with Lucario. "Let him decide for himself. I don't want to interfere. He's always been strong-willed."
"True enough."
Suddenly, music blared:
🎵 'Across the endless horizon lies my love—
Flowers bloom at the foot of green hills—
What rhythm sways the hardest?
What song brings the widest smile?' 🎵
Everyone jumped.
Ashen scowled. "Could you please change that ringtone? Every time, it gives me a heart attack."
Dax stuck to his guns. "Why would I? It's great."
He picked up the call. "Yeah? …What? You're kidding me—I just got here. Haven't even rested yet. …Fine, fine, I'm on my way."
Hanging up, he shot Ashen a weary look. "Trouble."
(End of Chapter)