In the kitchen, the air carried the scent of simmering broth and freshly chopped berries.
Blue's lessons were practical and structured around real data, which fit Austin's academic habits perfectly.
Beside Austin stood his Shiny Metagross. Its dark red eyes flickered in a steady rhythm.
If Zenith had an internal prompt, it would read, [Beep. Recording in progress.]
Austin might forget small details over time, but Zenith would not. Every word Blue spoke was stored with precision.
Blue did not slow down or simplify anything because of the additional Pokémon. He taught exactly as he always did. Plus, doing that to a Metagross would have been an insult.
"A Breeder does more than prepare food," Blue said calmly. "You need to understand a Pokémon's physical structure. Joint stress. Muscle fatigue. Coat maintenance. Skin condition. Even mental health."
"Meta!"
Blue smiled faintly. He tapped a Poké Ball at his belt and released it.
"Now we move to practical combat. Come out."
A towering Rhyperior materialized, well over two and a half meters tall. Its orange-red armor-like keratin plating covered its massive body as it planted its feet firmly on the ground.
"You do not have a Pokédex, do you?" Blue asked. "Tell me what you know about this Rhyperior."
Austin gave a slight nod.
"Ground and Rock type. Common abilities are Lightning Rod and Solid Rock. A small percentage have Reckless. Do you want the ability details?"
Blue shrugged. "Go ahead."
"A Pokémon with Lightning Rod draws in Electric-type moves and raises its Special Attack when hit. It also protects its allies from those moves."
"Solid Rock reduces the damage taken from super effective attacks."
"Reckless increases the power of recoil moves such as Volt Tackle, Flare Blitz, and Brave Bird."
Blue nodded. "Correct."
"Meta!"
Recording at full speed.
Blue rested a hand against Rhyperior's hardened plating.
"So what ability do you think mine has?"
"Solid Rock," Austin answered instantly.
Blue raised an eyebrow. "That certain?"
Austin nodded. "Solid Rock."
"How did you decide that?"
Austin spoke without hesitation.
"The armor plating looks denser than usual, and I do not see signs of impact wear that would suggest repeated recoil damage. That makes Reckless unlikely."
If confidence had ranks, that explanation would sit at the highest tier.
In truth, the answer came from his Identification ability.
This Rhyperior was a Diamond-class Pokémon. Its move pool was extensive. Rock Blast, Stomp, Headlong Rush, Horn Drill, Earthquake, High Horsepower. The Horn Drill carried a terrifying one-hit knockout potential.
Austin did not need a Pokédex. He had something better.
Blue's approval became more obvious. From a single evaluation, Austin showed solid fundamentals and sharp observation.
"Continue," Blue said.
He gave no further direction.
Austin paused briefly before continuing.
"Rhyperior's defensive typing is flawed. It has a quadruple weakness to Water and Grass."
Rhyperior lowered its head slightly.
"Many people assume Rock types are defensive walls. In practice, most are more offensive than defensive."
"Rhyperior has excellent Attack and Defense and strong HP. Its Special Defense is weaker, so an Assault Vest can help balance it."
"The biggest issue is speed. Trick Room can solve that."
Blue's expression remained neutral. "Go on."
"Trick Room teams require three parts. A setter, attackers, and support."
"For support, Butterfree with Compound Eyes and a Focus Sash can reliably put opponents to sleep. Amoonguss is another strong option. Indeedee with Follow Me also works well."
At the mention of Indeedee, Blue thought of the Galar region variant.
Indeedee's hidden ability, Psychic Surge, created Psychic Terrain upon entry, blocking priority moves that target allies.
A strong support piece.
"It also pairs well with Expanding Force," Austin added.
Blue considered that in silence.
"Common Trick Room setters include Dusclops, Bronzong, and Porygon-Z. Their role is simple. Establish Trick Room."
He continued without pause.
"Attackers under Trick Room can include Torkoal in harsh sunlight, Magic Bounce Hatterene, and Solid Rock Rhyperior."
When Austin finished, Blue studied him carefully.
"Your understanding of Pokémon exceeds what I expected."
Austin gave a modest smile. "I just study theory."
In real battles, theory did not always dominate. Trick Room required setup and protection. A powerful attacker could disrupt it outright.
Blue's Rhyperior did not rely on field effects. It endured, then crushed whatever stood in front of it.
"Gross!"
"Rhy. Rhyperior."
The Rhyperior beside Blue nodded with surprising enthusiasm.
As one of Blue's Pokémon, its ability to absorb information was sharp, even if it was built more for impact than tactics.
"You do not need to learn that," Blue said lightly. "Trick Room has its uses, but Rhyperior is a straightforward attacker."
He glanced at Austin Black with interest.
"Specializing in theory. That is interesting in its own way."
With one hand in his pocket, Blue gave a small, almost resigned smile. "I am starting to feel there is not much left for me to teach you."
Austin responded immediately. "It is all theory. I still lack practical depth."
That was not modesty for the sake of it. These days, Blue had pushed his breeding knowledge forward at an astonishing rate. Every session felt like a leap.
Blue's expression softened. "I keep my promises. You can handle Rhyperior's maintenance."
"Thank you."
Blue gestured toward the massive Pokémon. "Show me your standard procedure."
Austin stepped forward calmly.
The first stage of maintenance resembled a structured diagnostic process. Observation came first. He circled Rhyperior slowly, studying posture, breathing rhythm, and the distribution of weight across its feet. Then he moved closer and gently lifted one of its thick arms.
Despite its size and power, Rhyperior cooperated fully.
"Muscle condition is stable," Austin said as he assessed tension along the limb. "Joints show mild stiffness. It would benefit from focused joint care. Skin is dry, which is normal for the species. Psychological state appears healthy."
From Blue's perspective, the ease with which Austin lifted that arm was unusual. Rhyperior was not light. Someone like Dai Yui might manage it without strain. Austin doing it so smoothly was notable.
Austin moved toward a case near the wall. The essential oils he used for filming maintenance tutorials were neatly arranged there.
He lined up a series of aromatic samples beneath Rhyperior's nose.
"Which scent do you prefer?"
Rhyperior leaned forward, sniffing each one carefully.
"Perior."
Austin smiled. "Citrus-Pinap blend. That suits you. The brightness complements your coloring."
"Gross. Meta."
Zenith shifted slightly behind him, its eyes flashing with interest.
"I know," Austin said without turning. "You are next. I will not forget you."
Blue's gaze shifted toward the window.
A cluster of figures had gathered outside, clearly trying to look casual while pressing closer to the glass.
Blue frowned slightly and pointed. "Hold on. What are they doing?"
. . .
[Rhyperior]
. . .
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