In the backyard, Shi Heng's eyes fell on the strange armor Kubfu was wearing.
It looked… familiar.
He stepped behind Kubfu and inspected it carefully. When he saw the gravity-adjustment device on the back, he nodded.
"As expected. Weighted training gear. Set to double gravity. Your fundamentals are solid."
Then his expression shifted.
"But real combat is the only true test."
"Pangoro, come stretch your limbs."
A red flash burst forth.
A massive Pangoro appeared beside Shi Heng.
Though not his main Pokémon, it still possessed Heavenly King–Early Stage strength.
This Pangoro was far larger than average. A bamboo leaf rested casually between its lips. Its eyes were sharp and fierce.
Notably—
It, too, wore a gravity training suit.
And clearly, it was far more advanced than Kubfu's.
Seeing that its opponent was merely a small Advanced-level Kubfu, Pangoro shifted the bamboo leaf to the other side of its mouth dismissively.
As if to say—
Not worth my effort.
Shi Heng warned, "No brute force. Only techniques."
He then adjusted Pangoro's gravity multiplier—
To 25×.
Even Pangoro took a moment to adapt.
Each step forward was heavy.
Sunlight vanished behind Pangoro's towering frame. Its shadow swallowed Kubfu entirely.
Kubfu did not deactivate his own gravity suit.
The two bears faced each other.
One enormous.
One small.
Pangoro's expression was casual.
Kubfu's expression was solemn.
This was the strongest opponent he had ever faced.
Even Milotic couldn't compare.
First Exchange
Kubfu struck first.
A Aura Sphere blasted toward Pangoro's head.
Kubfu had been born with this move, and combined with his vast Aura reserves, its power rivaled Senior-level techniques.
Pangoro casually lifted one hand—
And swatted it away like a mosquito.
Gravity only slowed its movement speed.
Its body strength, reflexes, and dynamic vision remained untouched.
Kubfu was not surprised.
He dashed forward.
Pangoro's palm slammed downward.
Kubfu twisted at an unusual, yet strangely natural angle—
Avoided the strike—
And punched Pangoro's shin.
Literally jumping to hit its knee.
It did nothing.
Pangoro didn't even feel it.
But being struck at all—
Infuriated it.
A sharp kick shot out.
Faster than before.
Kubfu pivoted at another bizarre angle and avoided it, counter-kicking the supporting leg.
Still ineffective.
Pangoro began attacking continuously.
Hands.
Feet.
Pure technique.
No moves.
Kubfu observed.
Listened.
Breathed.
His rhythm remained steady.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Every dodge flowed into a counter.
Every counter flowed into repositioning.
Once—
He miscalculated while attacking Pangoro's chest midair and was swatted away.
But Pangoro hadn't used force.
Kubfu rolled, stood, and resumed stance.
Shi Heng's Shock
Watching from the side, Shi Heng's pupils contracted slightly.
He had studied nearly every major martial discipline:
Xia's ancient martial arts
Karate
Muay Thai
Judo
Wrestling
As a Fighting-type Heavenly King, he personally sparred with his Pokémon during training. Though they suppressed their strength, technique remained essential.
And yet—
Kubfu's movements did not resemble any of them.
They were unfamiliar.
But perfectly suited to Kubfu's body structure.
As if this fighting style had been custom-built for him.
Other Pokémon could imitate these moves—
But the effect would never match Kubfu's execution.
Because this style was born from Kubfu's physique, balance, reach, and instinct.
It was—
Exclusive.
Shi Heng's mind ran rapid simulations.
If Kubfu and Pangoro were of equal strength—
Pangoro would have already fallen.
This wasn't reckless aggression.
It was refined combat theory.
Where did this style come from?
Did Oliver create it?
The thought surfaced—
Then Shi Heng immediately rejected it.
Oliver was a Pokémon researcher.
To invent a fully integrated, species-specific martial system—
That would require the level of a founding grandmaster.
No.
There was only one possibility.
Kubfu developed it himself.
Based on his body.
His instincts.
His nature.
Shi Heng's breathing grew slightly heavier.
This Kubfu was young.
Very young.
And yet—
He had already carved out a fighting path of his own.
That kind of potential—
Was terrifying.
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