"Gabite is unable to battle!" Professor Oak announced, his gaze fixed eagerly on the golden Pidgeot, his eyes constantly revealing a strong desire to research it.
"What's with that creepy look from this old man? Seriously asking for a beating!" Pidgeot muttered speechlessly. If not for Red's reputation, it would have already grabbed Professor Oak into the sky and shown him what 'happiness' really meant.
"Don't be so nervous. Professor Oak just wants to observe your body," Red comforted, gently stroking Pidgeot's feathers.
(Observe my body? Why does that sound even weirder…)
Pidgeot shuddered, already imagining Professor Oak as some kind of Pokémon maniac.
"For the last round, I'm counting on you, Graveler!" Giselle shouted, determination shining in her eyes.
"So boring~"
Pidgeot yawned lazily, but after receiving a warning glance from Red, it quickly flew into the air to prepare for battle. It had no desire to be put through another 'special training session' by its many companions.
"Graveler, Pidgeot's stamina has already been mostly worn down by Gabite. Go all out!" Giselle ordered, signaling Graveler not to feel pressured.
"Gulu!"
Graveler swallowed hard. It recognized Red as Charmeleon's trainer. It hadn't expected to run into him again. The confidence it had only just regained wavered once more under the immense pressure.
And this time, its opponent was Pidgeot—clearly stronger than Charmeleon before. Besides, what did she mean by worn down? It barely looked injured at all.
"Belief is also a method of victory. Graveler's mindset has already been affected—right now it's even worse than Cubone's," Red said displeased, glancing at Giselle. He hadn't expected that after traveling so long, she still hadn't learned how to properly nurture her Pokémon's mentality.
"I'm sorry…" Giselle pressed her lips together, looking at Red timidly.
Sensing Delia's death glare, Red shivered and swallowed the words he had been about to scold her with.
"That child, being so harsh to a girl," Delia sighed helplessly.
"You make the first move," Red signaled Pidgeot not to get excited, allowing Graveler time to adjust its mindset.
(My trainer really is kind… even to an opponent's Pokémon…)
Pidgeot slowly hovered in midair, giving Graveler the chance to leap up and grab it.
"Graveler, use Smack Down!"
Graveler picked up a rock and hurled it into the air. Pidgeot sighed and chose to dodge, letting Graveler believe the attack had posed a threat.
(It worked! It dodged!)
Graveler revealed a simple, honest smile, thinking its attack had truly pressured Pidgeot.
(Are Rock-type Pokémon all this naturally dense?)
Pidgeot looked at Graveler speechlessly. If not for Red's kindness, it would have finished this instantly with a Quick Attack followed by Steel Wing.
"Thank you…" Giselle understood this was to help Graveler adjust its mindset. She looked at Red gratefully, her eyes filled with admiration.
"Don't flatter yourself. Pidgeot, use Gust."
Pidgeot let out a commanding cry and beat its wings, whipping up a fierce gale.
(Holding back is more exhausting than special training…)
"Graveler, use Gyro Ball to block it!"
Graveler curled into a ball and spun rapidly, resisting the raging winds. Given Pidgeot's massive size, even a simple flap of its wings carried storm-like force.
"Wing Attack."
"Graveler, use Rollout!"
Pidgeot swiftly descended, spreading its wide wings and repeatedly striking Graveler, who had transformed into a spinning sphere.
Though Graveler could reduce damage from Flying-type moves, the vast difference in strength made Pidgeot's attacks equally terrifying.
"Tornado."
Pidgeot kicked Graveler away with its claws, then rapidly circled around it, effortlessly generating a powerful tornado that forcibly trapped the heavy-bodied Graveler at its center.
"What are you afraid of?" Pidgeot said irritably. It had lowered itself to act as a sparring partner, not to watch Graveler cower foolishly.
"I… I don't know…" Graveler replied nervously. Back then, Red and Charmeleon's overwhelming strength had shattered its confidence. Unlike Gabite, it didn't possess pseudo-legendary talent. And Giselle only knew how to battle with books in hand, never understanding the changes within her Pokémon's heart.
"Power of Viridian," Red murmured softly. A faint emerald aura emanated from his body, flowing toward the mentally collapsing Graveler.
(What a warm presence…)
Graveler closed its eyes, indulging in the soothing comfort brought by the Power of Viridian.
Healed, Graveler was no longer tense. It began reflecting on the mistakes it had made in battle.
"If you win, keep working hard. If you lose, train even harder, then come back for a rematch. How is your head wired? You can't even understand such a simple truth?" Pidgeot said bluntly, choosing the most direct way to tell Graveler to relax its mindset. Why collapse over a temporary setback?
Back when it was just a Pidgey, it had been traumatized by a Charmander in Outrage. Yet later it trained desperately, grew stronger, and overcame its past.
Graveler's eyes lit up as if enlightened. It turned and called out to Giselle, signaling that it had fully recovered and was ready for orders at any time.
"That's it, Graveler! Use Double-Edge!" Giselle's tears streamed down her face. She never imagined that Graveler's long-standing psychological shadow would be healed by Red and Pidgeot. She deeply regretted her former ignorance, having failed even to show basic empathy.
"Steel Wing. Full power," Red ordered, signaling Pidgeot no longer needed to hold back.
Pidgeot's wings gleamed with silver light. Graveler charged forward with all its might. The two immediately clashed in a fierce confrontation.
"Not bad—some improvement!" Pidgeot praised, increasing its force and pushing Graveler back several steps. It flapped its wings wildly, applying relentless pressure, astonishingly suppressing the weight-based Graveler through sheer strength.
(Damn it! I have to become even stronger—only then can I defeat this guy!)
Graveler gritted its teeth, resisting Pidgeot's assault, its eyes blazing with determination.
"Graveler…" Giselle murmured, praying for its victory.
"I won't lose!" Graveler roared, recalling moments of training with Giselle. Its body began to glow with the light of evolution.
"You're evolving?" Red said in mild surprise, not expecting Graveler's belief to trigger evolution.
As the white light faded, Golem emerged, well-developed and powerful. It gripped Pidgeot's wings tightly with both hands. Sharp stone blades floated around it and shot toward Pidgeot at close range.
"You brat, now you've made me mad!" Pidgeot snapped irritably. With a Steel Wing strike, it knocked Golem back before rapidly ascending into the sky.
"Pidgeot, use Brave Bird to finish it." Golem's stamina was on the verge of collapse; only sheer will was forcing it to stand.
"Golem, let's use one final Double-Edge!"
Blue energy flared around Pidgeot's body. With explosive speed, it collided fiercely with Golem. After a brief struggle, Pidgeot exerted a sudden burst of strength, sending Golem flying over ten meters away.
"Golem is unable to battle. Therefore, the winner is Red!" Professor Oak declared, bringing the match to an end.
"Thank you, Golem. All this time, I never understood how you felt. I'm sorry…"
Instead of recalling it into a Poké Ball, Giselle walked over and pressed her face against Golem's body, regretting her former ignorance.
Golem shook its head vigorously, signaling her not to dwell on it. It gently brushed away the tears at the corner of Giselle's eyes with its finger.