Fear may exist, but sitting beside Garchomp and continuing to learn was non-negotiable.
"Fear is a stumbling block on the road to strength. If you want power or to control your destiny, you must conquer fear."
"The best way to conquer fear is to face it, to adapt to it, to ignore it, and finally to overcome it. In that process, fear itself transforms into another power that drives you to grow faster."
Paul's reasoning was simple, but compelling.
"Yaaah!"
Inspired, Chimchar tapped its feet, nodded decisively, and trotted back to stand beside Garchomp. It stared with wide eyes, willing itself to override fear with determination.
But in the next moment, Garchomp glared. A flicker of killing intent escaped, and Chimchar's courage and resolve vanished. It collapsed to the ground in an instant.
"GAAAR!"
"Study closely. Learn well. On the road to strength, you must face madness or you won't survive!"
Seeing this, Garchomp smiled, relaxed its aura, and gently tapped Chimchar on the head with its wing.
Initially, Chimchar had the weakest innate talent on the team. Yet because it was special and because Garchomp had successfully developed its Bloodline Mode, it had defied its limits, becoming one of the fastest-growing Pokémon on the team.
"Yaaah!"
Chimchar, bewildered, still nodded.
"Gaaaaar!"
Suddenly, Garchomp raised its claw and pointed toward the other Garchomp who was thrashing aggressively nearby, then called out to Chimchar:
'Attack it!'
"Yahh?"
'Is that…right?'
Chimchar hesitated. It was a gentle soul, it couldn't bring itself to attack another Pokémon.
"Gaaaar!"
'So you want me to hit you?'
Garchomp's expression hardened.
"Yaaahh!"
At that moment, determination lit in Chimchar's eyes. It clenched its fists and locked gaze with Garchomp.
YAAAHH!
Blazing fire erupted. Chimchar leapt, rolled, and transformed into a fiery Fire Spin, then charged at the bloodthirsty Garchomp.
The one training in Bloodline Mode sensed the incoming Fire Spin and prepared to deflect it with a Dragon Claw. Garchomp's claws began to swing, but it hesitated when it heard a warning behind it:
"Gaaaar!"
'You dare touch it?͞'
CRASH!
A moment of hesitation, and the Fire Spin struck Garchomp's side, blasting it several meters back.
As it righted itself, the blood-mode Garchomp, enraged, almost launched a finishing blow. But Garchomp's earlier warning and the backing of the trainer held it back. Resentfully, it readied to block Chimchar's next strike.
And so they clashed: attack versus defense. Each collision intensified Garchomp's fury. Many times it nearly lashed out, but each time a terrifying aura glowed nearby, instantly sobering it.
"Gaaaar."
From a distance, the other Garchomp's eyes twinkled with dark amusement. It recalled Paul's teachings from long ago, about legacy and inheritance.
Time flew. Because fighting was prohibited, anger and intent accumulated. Eventually, the blood-mode Garchomp released its stored power, directly at Chimchar.
At first, Chimchar was terrified. But the two Garchomps had vastly different power, and Chimchar, still conscious, tried again and again and gradually adapted.
Together, they advanced swiftly.
—
Two days passed in an instant. The brief encounter and teaching session had come to an end.
"Continue your journey. Next time we meet, surprise me."
With that parting sentence, Paul set off with Chimchar heading in the opposite direction from the other Paul.
"I'll become stronger."
Watching his counterpart fade into the distance, "Paul" suddenly saw the other raise a hand in farewell—perhaps eager for their next meeting. A smile tugged at his lips, and he too continued down his own path.
—
Meanwhile, in the main world at the Tree of Beginning:
A group of Pokémon eyes reddened and sleepless, continued fighting day and night, every hour driven relentlessly. Under Torterra's rigorous conditioning, dormant potential was quickly unleashed.
Among them, Ursaluna and Hisuian Samurott improved the most.
Ursaluna digested the Origin Ore and awakened. Samurott, unexpectedly, had begun training with Multi-Strike Slash and connecting it to its signature Slash, it grew significantly stronger. It also improved its Intrepid Sword ability.
Indeed, if not for a missing Water Crystal from a trade with Mew, Samurott might have broken through and achieved Champion rank, becoming the fourth to do so.
After living comfortably for a while, this ultra-intensive training forced every Pokémon to grow.
Finally, as the third night passed, the Tree of Beginning gradually returned to peace.
"RAAAA!"
The roar of Torterra spread throughout, and all the plants began to turn into energy and disperse, leaving only behind a battered area.
(End of Chapter)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to access the advanced chapters, please visit: patreon.com / PMadz_23