"Other than being a bit lacking in raw power, everything else was nearly perfect. Nicely done."
Paul nodded with approval, offering praise.
"Eeno~!"
Victorious, Froslass floated back to Paul's side, a joyful smile blooming on her face brought by the victory and Paul's rare words of commendation.
"Return, Absol. You did well."
After returning Absol to its Poké Ball and offering a few words of comfort, Calem said calmly, "I lost."
"It was just an uneven casual battle—no need to dwell on winning or losing. What matters is what you take away from it."
It had been a long time since Paul had a battle that was both useful to him and at least somewhat entertaining. He was in a decent mood.
"No wonder you beat Tobias and took the championship. Your strength is the real deal—seriously impressive."
Wally, gripping his pendant tightly, looked at Paul with burning determination in his eyes.
"My Pokémon and I have learned a lot. We'll keep pushing ourselves, get stronger—and one day, we'll beat you head-on!"
"I've also gained valuable insight. I'll continue training and honing my skills. Next time, I swear I'll defeat you."
Calem gently ran a hand over the bracelet on his wrist, his tone was serious and resolute.
From this battle—whether it was Calem, who had faced Froslass directly or Wally, who had watched from the sidelines—both had come to deeply understand just how crucial accuracy was.
Once a Pokémon reaches the level of an Honor-Class or Elite Four-tier fighter, unless they're consistently dealing explosive damage, wearing down an opponent becomes exceptionally difficult.
To win, raw power alone isn't enough—landing your attacks is what truly matters.
Only when a move connects can it deal damage, disrupt the opponent's rhythm, and shift the battle in your favor.
They both realized they needed to seriously consider how to raise their Pokémon's accuracy—at the very least, so they wouldn't feel so helpless the next time they faced a Pokémon like Froslass.
"I look forward to facing both of you in a real match someday. See you."
With that, Paul handed his phone to Froslass and turned toward the depths of the forest.
As his figure disappeared into the trees, Wally and Calem exchanged glances—neither of their flames had dimmed.
Calem spoke first: "That match didn't feel complete. I'll get stronger, and the next time we meet, I'll fight you properly—for a real outcome."
"My Pokémon and I are always fired up. We will grow stronger—and next time, we're going to beat you." Wally responded without backing down.
"See you next time!"
"Until we meet again!"
The two smiled at each other, then turned and walked off in different directions, leaving behind only the constant rush of the waterfall—its waters roaring tirelessly.
…
In a blink of an eye, the battle that day has become a thing of the past.
On a hillside blanketed with fresh green grass and vibrant wildflowers, Paul lay quietly gazing into the distance.
Around him, a group of his Pokémon—each with their own distinct form—rested on the ground, basking in this rare and peaceful afternoon.
Froslass leaned lightly against Paul, soaking up the sun with a contented smile on her face.
Under the warm sunlight, Metagross lay motionless, deep in a midday nap.
Nearby, Drapion and Hisuian Samurott were sparring with their pincers and bladed feet, debating the best way to land a critical hit in battle.
A little farther off, Aggron and Garchomp were jumping around wildly—part-dancing, part-goofing off—like they were in a disco.
The sight was both ridiculous and strangely heartwarming.
Even Paul couldn't help but let a smile tug at the corner of his lips.
In truth, while Garchomp might normally dance just for fun, it was highly unusual for Aggron to behave like this.
The reason Aggron had let itself be dragged into dancing with Garchomp was simple: Garchomp had convinced it to try and see if it had any hidden potential to learn Dragon Dance.
If it could master Dragon Dance, then its progress in activating its "Bloodline Awakening Mode" would increase.
What? Aggron can't learn Dragon Dance?
Why not?
Even Whiscash and Onix can learn it, and Aggron already has access to a bunch of Dragon-type moves, then surely it should be able to learn Dragon Dance too, right?
And really, it didn't need to learn Dragon Dance outright—as long as it could perform the Dragon Dance ritual and channel the energy through Outrage to awaken its ancestral power, that was good enough.
Mastering the move itself was optional.
Aggron wasn't asking for much!
Moved by this thought, Paul glanced down at Froslass and asked:
"Can you sing?"
"Eeno...?"
Froslass blinked in response, understanding what Paul meant.
Descended from the mythical snow-girl—the snow women of old—the Froslass species was known to possess a touch of vocal talent.
At the very least, singing a ballad of ice and snow was no problem at all.
Don't be fooled by how she screamed and wailed in battle—before joining Paul's team, she had been considered one of the finest singers in her entire clan.
"Let's try coordinating with those two."
Paul sat up and signaled Froslass with a glance, directing her attention toward the two Pokémon dancing in rhythm.
"Eeno~"
"Woo~Ee~Woo~..."
Realizing this was her chance to shine, Froslass didn't shy away. She conjured a shimmering platform of Ice Beam, settled atop it gracefully and began to sing.
She sang not just for the sake of performance—but in harmony with her two teammates.
The song she chose carried neither cold nor chill.
On the contrary, her voice rose with warmth and vigor—like sunlight piercing through a fading blizzard, like a spark of light discovered in the depths of darkness, like the moment hope glimpsed when one dares to look up.
It was a song of promise and renewal.
"Woo woo woo ee~ woo woo ee~no..."
From across the training grounds, the sound of her melody reached Garchomp and Aggron. Their movements paused—then, with newfound excitement, they resumed dancing with even greater energy and focus than before.
Without anyone realizing it, Metagross now awakened, summoned a shimmering field using Cosmic Power, casting a radiant glow across the area that felt surreal, passionate, and almost dreamlike.
Drapion and Hisuian Samurott stopped what they were doing to watch and join in. One used moves freely to embellish the melody with bursts of color and sound, while the other danced with its dual blades, as if performing an elegant sword dance.
In that moment, harmony filled the air—charged with unity, energy, and rhythm.
Froslass' song echoed across the hillside, resonating long after the final note.
As the song reached its emotional crescendo and came to an end, the entire field held its breath. Everyone—human and Pokémon alike—was filled with exhilaration and awe.
"ROAAAR!!"
Suddenly, a furious roar tore through the atmosphere, shattering the harmony in an instant.
All heads turned—just in time to see Garchomp sent flying across the field.
The one who had launched the attack? Aggron—who was dancing beside him.
"AGGGRRRR...!"
Aggron's eyes now glowed a menacing red. A blood-red, feral aura radiated from its body, spreading with terrifying intensity.
The killing intent poured out uncontrollably—its body trembling, voice snarling in rage.
It was as if Aggron had entered a wild state—something not unlike a frenzied Outrage, but… somehow different.
A closer look revealed something eerily familiar—reminiscent of the first time Garchomp had entered its Bloodline Awakening Mode.
However, unlike Garchomp who could just barely restrain the frenzy surging through its veins—Aggron showed no such signs of control. The fact that it managed to launch a sudden explosive strike that sent Garchomp flying was proof enough—Aggron had clearly lost control over its own body.
(End of Chapter)
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