🎄 Christmas Special Discount 🎄From December 23 to December 25, there will be a public 50% discount on the following tiers:Intermediate Trainers, Advanced Trainers, Elite Trainers, Elite Four Trainers, Champion Trainers, and Legendary Trainers.
🎆 New Year Discount 🎆There will also be a 50% discount, but it won't be public. On December 31, the discount code will be published inside the chapters, so stay tuned 👀✨
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Cain advanced with his Pokémon toward the depths of the vast prairie.
The place where they had been before was just a corner of the entire plain.
After a battle like the previous one, Tyranitar and the others were completely covered in wounds.
They were no longer in condition to take part in any more intense battles.
That's why, as they advanced without provoking anyone, very few wild Pokémon approached them to fight.
The prairie stretched endlessly, and the only one leaving a trace in her path was Florges, who made flowers bloom with every step she took on the grass.
After walking for quite a distance, they reached a rather uncommon feature for a prairie: a lake.
In the middle of that sea of green grass, a patch of blue stood out in the distance. It wasn't exactly the color of the water, but the reflection of the sky on the surface.
The grass simply wasn't tall enough.
Otherwise, it would've evoked that kind of scene where "the breeze waves the grass under which Pokémon graze."
Upon seeing the lake, Cain decided to set up camp there.
They would spend the night and continue the next day.
He called all his Pokémon.
Under the precise control of his psychic power, the camp was quickly set up.
Tyranitar and the others continued obediently fulfilling Cain's punishment: there would be no dinner until they completed their push-ups.
Vigoroth, who was leaving his original group for the first time, seemed a little uneasy seeing Cain's Pokémon.
Also, the prairie was a completely new environment for him.
But at least he had something to do.
Teaching Cain's Pokémon had become his favorite task. It made him feel less out of place and, at the same time, helped him integrate with the others.
Of all the Pokémon Cain had captured, Vigoroth was one of the most self-aware and certainly one of the most intelligent.
You could see him next to Tyranitar and the others, correcting their posture and showing them how to do proper push-ups, while doing them himself as well.
In no time at all, he was fully integrated with them.
In fact, his speed at doing the exercises was acknowledged by everyone.
He was even faster and more technical than Blaziken, a Fighting-type Pokémon!
A Vigoroth who had already pushed his potential to the max... if he didn't evolve, there really wasn't much room left for improvement.
But far away from everyone, in the center of the lake, a pair of eyes suddenly emerged, watching the training Pokémon closely.
A strange and undefined light shone in its gaze.
Because its body was naturally blue, it went unnoticed in the water.
Neither Cain nor Slowking detected it with their psychic abilities.
It was a Pokémon skilled at concealing its presence.
Soon, Cain began to prepare dinner.
At times like that, he joked that it was a good thing he still had hair—otherwise, he'd look way too much like that Professor who could read minds.
The delicious aroma of roasted food reappeared, something they hadn't smelled in days.
Upon smelling it, Tyranitar and the others immediately picked up the pace with their push-ups.
But as always, Vigoroth was the fastest.
Blaziken followed close behind.
Luckily, they finished just before Cain completed the cooking.
With trembling arms, each one received their portion.
And ate with absolute happiness.
While they were dining, the eyes in the lake reappeared.
This time, Cain did sense something.
Although when he looked toward the lake, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just a few slight ripples on the surface.
He didn't give it much thought. After all, it was natural for wild Pokémon to be in a place like that.
...
The next morning.
With the light of dawn, Cain woke his Pokémon.
After completing their morning training, they would continue their journey.
For the third time...
Those eyes appeared again.
But this time, Cain caught them.
That feeling of being watched secretly was something Cain could sense very easily.
Since he already had his psychic powers extended in advance, he quickly located the source of that sensation.
A pair of eyes peeking just above the lake's surface.
Cain and those eyes stared at each other.
A slight look of surprise crossed his face.
"So it was you..."
Realizing it had been discovered, the Pokémon in the lake no longer tried to hide. It spun and leapt out of the water.
It landed in a perfect pose.
Both feet and one hand on the ground, the other hand extended behind.
Like a hawk about to take flight!
Its body and legs were dark blue, its chest yellow, with large white bubbles on its limbs, and four-pointed stars on its thighs resembling shuriken.
Three fingers on its hands, two on its feet, with membranes between them. The lower part of its face and its pointy ears were light yellow, with white spots above its eyes, which had white sclerae, red irises, and white pupils.
And most striking of all: a pink tongue wrapped around its neck like a scarf.
Greninja!
It was from recognizing this Pokémon that Cain showed surprise.
This kind of Pokémon had already piqued his interest back when he still lived on Earth.
Mainly because of Ash's Greninja, that special bond-based evolution, and its sleek design that captured the attention of thousands of fans.
He couldn't deny it: Cain had been one of them in his previous life.
When he was first reincarnated, Greninja was one of the Pokémon he desired most.
But as he grew and came to understand the hardships of life, he let go of that desire.
In this life, he no longer obsessed over chasing Greninja.
What did interest him was that kind of bond-based evolution between trainer and Pokémon.
Especially after observing certain changes in Steven's Aerodactyl, his interest in that phenomenon grew even more.
Even though this Greninja had been watching them from the shadows for so long, it probably had a purpose.
And it wasn't surprising that neither Cain nor Slowking had detected it, considering it was a Water and Dark-type Pokémon.
Pokémon: Greninja (Blue)
Gender: Male
Level: 65
Types: Water + Dark
Ability: Torrent
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Mind Reader, Mud Sport, Water Sport, Power-Up Punch
Basic Moves: Water Shuriken, Night Slash, Haze, Role Play, Mat Block, Pound, Growl, Bubble, Quick Attack, Lick, Water Pulse, Smokescreen, Shadow Sneak, Spikes, Feint Attack, Substitute, Extrasensory, Double Team
Learned Moves: Hydro Cannon, Low Kick, Ice Punch, Icy Wind, Bounce, Snore
TM Moves: None
As the Water-type starter from Kalos, Greninja's growth potential was unquestionable.
Seeing one at Elite level was rare.
Any Pokémon that reaches that level in the wild deserves respect.
Although having reached such a high level also means its room for shaping is more limited.
For many trainers, that's not a problem—and may even save resources.
But for Cain, a Pokémon that's already "formed" might seem useful at first... but in real battles against others of the same level, the differences become obvious.
Greninja slowly stood upright and extended a finger, signaling Blaziken to come closer.
It was a battle invitation!
A challenge—ninja style!
(End of Chapter)