Another two days passed quickly.
Pidgey had successfully learned both Peck and Scratch, while Bellsprout had achieved complete control over its own energy.
Now, in the open space behind the house, both Pokémon were demonstrating their training results to Icarus.
"Alright, Pidgey first. Let me see the power of your new moves."
Icarus pointed toward a tree stump ahead.
He had chopped it down himself. A few days ago, one of the trees near the backyard couldn't withstand Bellsprout's constant training and had withered. Rather than waste it, he cut it into a sturdy training target.
Fortunately, the house was close to the waste station. Plants there had a relatively high mortality rate, so no one paid much attention. Otherwise, repeatedly damaging public greenery would definitely result in a fine.
"Pidgey!"
Pidgey leapt confidently from Icarus's shoulder, clearly eager to show off.
"Go!"
White Flying-type energy gathered around its beak as it shot forward.
Bang!
A crisp impact echoed as a clean hole was drilled into the stump.
Icarus stepped closer to inspect it.
"Four to five centimeters deep… not bad."
As Uncle Sam had mentioned before, the power might be slightly weaker than a Spearow's natural peck at the same stage. After all, Spearow's beak was inherently sharper, and this move had been learned rather than innate.
But Icarus had been mentally prepared for that gap.
At least now Pidgey had close-range counterattack capability.
"Well done, Pidgey! That's impressive. Now try Scratch!"
He would never say the move was weaker. Encouragement mattered more.
"Pidgey~!"
Flushed with pride, Pidgey gathered energy into its claws.
Shua! Shua!
Two streaks of white light sliced through the air. Wood chips flew from the stump.
After landing, Pidgey fluttered back to Icarus's shoulder, chirping proudly.
Icarus stepped forward again.
"Three to four centimeters…"
That exceeded his expectations.
"I thought it would barely reach two."
A thought flashed through his mind—if developed properly, perhaps this could evolve into a tearing claw technique like those used by fully evolved Flying-types.
He quickly dismissed the fantasy of splitting boulders. For now, breaking sturdy wood was more than enough.
"Good. Pidgey has fully mastered its new moves. Bellsprout, your turn."
Though Icarus already knew the result—he had trained alongside it for days—Bellsprout deserved its moment.
"Sprout!"
Bellsprout nodded confidently and mobilized its energy.
Thick, sturdy vines extended rapidly from its body, sharp wooden thorns forming along their length.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The vines lashed through the air with explosive force.
Crack! Crack!
A wooden stake buried twenty-five meters away was struck and sent flying.
Even Pidgey froze in shock.
When Pidgey had attacked earlier, the stake hadn't budged at all. Now, under Bellsprout's Thorn Whip, it had been blasted out entirely.
"Good. Now demonstrate Stun Spore."
Rustle…
Yellow powder drifted outward, but only within a tightly controlled radius directly ahead of Bellsprout.
Standing nearby, neither Icarus nor Pidgey felt any effect.
Pidgey, curious, flew twenty meters out.
"Pid—!"
Its body stiffened slightly.
Icarus sighed.
"You little guy, why'd you test it yourself?"
Once the powder dispersed, he quickly fed Pidgey an antidote.
Freed from paralysis, Pidgey immediately flew back to Bellsprout, chirping in admiration.
"Sprout~ Sprout."
Bellsprout responded calmly, as if this were simply basic training.
Icarus almost laughed.
He knew very well who had been secretly practicing extra every day to avoid losing face.
Now, Bellsprout had truly mastered its Normal-tier strength.
Thorn Whip range: extended to 25 meters, with faster speed.
Powder moves: precise directional control, effective range increased from 18 to 20 meters.
"It's time to register the updated data at the Pokémon Center."
He called both Pokémon over and headed out.
---
Walking down the street, Icarus recalled that he had promised to visit Luna several days ago—yet had completely forgotten.
He shrugged.
Whether she missed him or not no longer mattered much.
With Uncle Sam's backing—an Elite trainer—his standing in town had fundamentally changed. Over the past few days of conversation, his perspective had broadened significantly.
Luna's family was merely an ordinary small household.
Originally, he had considered leveraging her family's resources to accelerate his trainer path.
But now he understood something clearly:
Any cultivation knowledge a minor family possessed, Uncle Sam likely knew as well. And if even Uncle Sam didn't know it, those small families certainly wouldn't either.
In comparison, an Elite trainer with flexible conditions was a far stronger supporter.
Yes, Luna was beautiful.
But strength determined everything.
He had also noticed that every few days, new young maids appeared at Uncle Sam's villa.
In this world—where humanity's safety depended on trainers—strength meant security, influence, and opportunity.
If one could not become strong, attaching oneself to strength was the alternative.
In the early stage, he had once considered choosing between "a single tree" and "a forest."
Now the answer was obvious.
Why give up a forest for one tree?
His judgment had not declined that far.
With Pidgey perched on his shoulder and Bellsprout walking beside him, Icarus continued toward the Pokémon Center.
(End of Chapter)
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