"Teacher, how are we going to train next?"
Hu Yan'er's voice carried an edge of impatience.
There were only two days of training time left, not a single day could be wasted.
"How to train?"
"Simple."
"You go run laps first. Pikachu will be handled by Beedrill."
After instructing Hu Yan'er, Guo Yi turned his head toward Su Qingxue.
"And you—run with Hu Yan'er.
"Then release Nidoqueen and let her warm up with you two.
"As for Kakuna, leave it with me."
Since they were training, there was no way his official disciple Su Qingxue would be left out.
"Alright! Xiao Xue, let's get running!"
Hu Yan'er, full of fighting spirit, called out to Su Qingxue.
However, Su Qingxue didn't start right away.
Instead, she looked at Guo Yi with a puzzled expression, as if to say: Why does a trainer like me need training too?
Seeing this, Guo Yi said with some exasperation, "Have you really not noticed that your [Power of Viridian] hasn't stirred in the slightest?"
[Power of Viridian]!
Su Qingxue suddenly realized.
Right—she was a gifted ability user.
Without another word, she followed Hu Yan'er and began running laps around the battlefield.
"Pikachu, let's begin your training."
Seeing the two girls get into motion, Guo Yi also began Pikachu's drills.
Since time was tight, this time he would have to personally take the lead.
"Pika pika!"
Bring it on.
Seeing Pikachu's brimming confidence, Guo Yi smiled and asked, "Pikachu, you know [Double Team], right?"
Pikachu nodded.
She didn't use [Double Team] often, but she had indeed mastered the move.
"Good. Your task now is to use [Quick Attack] around the field, and combine it with [Double Team] to dodge whenever you encounter an obstacle."
"Pika!"
Obstacle?
Pikachu glanced at the wide-open battlefield, where were the obstacles supposed to be?
"Don't worry, just run. As for the obstacles—you'll find out soon enough."
Guo Yi patted Pikachu on the head.
"Alright—go!"
Though she still didn't understand where the obstacles were, Pikachu followed Guo Yi's instructions, starting to run with [Quick Attack] and [Double Team].
In an instant, five Pikachus were darting across the field.
"Four clones. The move control is… passable."
Guo Yi spoke slowly.
For Pikachu to be able to create four images under the burden of weighted gear—
that was decent.
But if they wanted to beat Raichu, this level of speed was still far from enough.
"Beedrill—it's up to you."
Once Pikachu's running had reached a rhythm, Guo Yi turned to Beedrill.
"Sbaa!"
Beedrill gave a slight nod.
And the next second, its form blurred into an afterimage and vanished.
When it reappeared, it was right in front of one of the Pikachu.
Not far away, Bai Cai's pupils contracted at Beedrill's speed, and she blurted out without thinking,
"So fast!"
This kind of speed, even her Garchomp couldn't match it.
And it only made her more certain of her guess.
Interesting… looks like when Guo Yi starts teaching, I'll have to find a chance to attend.
Who knows, there might be unexpected gains.
The running Pikachu suddenly found a figure right in her path.
Looking closely, It was Beedrill.
She immediately tried to change direction to avoid it.
But at her current speed, there was no time to dodge.
She could only charge straight toward Beedrill.
Facing the oncoming Pikachu, Beedrill neither stepped aside nor flinched.
It slowly raised its twin lances.
Whoosh!
One strike.
"Pika!"
With a pained cry, Pikachu's body was sent flying backward.
As her true form hit the ground, the remaining clones vanished into nothing.
"Pika pika…"
Pikachu rubbed her head, wincing from the blow.
Right now, she felt nothing but searing pain.
However, looking closely, anyone could see that although Pikachu looked like she had suffered a serious blow, the spot she was rubbing was just a tiny red mark.
She hadn't actually taken much damage at all.
This was Beedrill's current mastery—
Making something heavy seem light.
Making something light feel heavy.
All at a single thought of his.
As for why Pikachu felt so much pain, that was because of Beedrill's use of toxins.
Don't forget, in addition to its Bug typing, Poison was also one of Beedrill's attributes.
Though he rarely used it, that didn't mean he didn't understand poison.
At this moment, Guo Yi had shifted into the role of a strict drill instructor.
When it came to training, he allowed not a shred of carelessness.
"Pikachu—no matter what your strength is, always give nine parts, leave one part behind.
"This isn't just to avoid accidents. It's so that if the opponent lays a trap, you can still react."
"Like just now— when you realized what was happening, you didn't have time to dodge at all."
"Pika pika!"
Enduring the pain, Pikachu stood up again and took her stance.
Mm.
Seeing that posture, Guo Yi nodded in satisfaction.
Having a weakness wasn't scary.
After all—gold is never pure, and no one is without flaws.
Whether trainer or Pokémon, weaknesses exist.
The key was knowing how to correct them and play to one's strengths.
"Pikachu—Beedrill's attacks won't truly hurt you. However the pain… I think you've already experienced that."
"So next time—if you don't dodge in time, I don't have to tell you what the result will be."
Guo Yi's smile turned slightly wicked, his tone almost sinister.
Thinking back to that pain, Pikachu shivered.
It was the kind of pain that gradually faded.
Sharpest at the start, then slowly easing.
But having felt it once, she didn't want a second time.
"All right—Pikachu, continue training."
At Guo Yi's command, Pikachu began running again.
This time, she got smart.
Leaving three parts of her strength unused, so no matter when Beedrill appeared in front of her, she'd have time to react.
But of course, that little trick didn't escape Guo Yi's eyes.
"Pikachu—if the number of your [Double Team] clones drops below four,
Beedrill will attack indiscriminately."
His light tone reached Pikachu's ears.
Her forward motion froze for a moment.
And then, from the other side, she suddenly heard a scraping sound.
Turning her head, she saw Beedrill flying low alongside her, the noise coming from its twin lances.
"Sbaa!"
Want to try it?
Beedrill tilted its head and extended a lance.
"Pika pika!!"
No, no!
With a cry of alarm, Pikachu immediately sped up.
Soon, the training ground was once again filled with her flickering images.
And those four [Double Team] clones weren't just something Guo Yi said casually—
They were the current limit of Pikachu's abilities, as measured by his [Data Eye].
Training.
Only training that pushed you beyond your limits had real value.
Otherwise, it was just play.
Of course, High-intensity training like this also dealt significant damage to the body.
Normally, super-intensive special training required an entire treatment team.
If a Pokémon didn't receive proper recovery afterward, they could accumulate hidden injuries.
And the more of those built up, the more they would limit future growth and potential.
That was why, many Pseudo–Elite Four and Elite Four trainers, after reaching a certain level, would begin raising a second or even third team.
Hidden injuries could ruin a Pokémon's future.
But with Guo Yi, there was no need for such trouble.
After all, he had a team medic here who needed practice with the [Power of Viridian].
As time passed, Pikachu's training began to hit its stride.
Her natural aptitude was already solid, and her understanding was sharp—
Her progress was rapid.
By now, Su Qingxue and Hu Yan'er had already jogged two laps around the training ground.
They were on their third.
Huff… huff…
Su Qingxue, unused to long bouts of exercise, was already panting heavily.
Hu Yan'er, though wearing weighted gear, was in much better shape—
After all, she had never stopped running back in the countryside.
Still, the weights were no small challenge.
"What kind of monster did Teacher bring?"
"Wearing weights and still in better condition than me?"
Su Qingxue grumbled in her head.
Originally...
She'd wanted to stop after the second lap.
But seeing Hu Yan'er show no sign of slowing down, she gritted her teeth and kept up.
After all, if she lost to someone running with weights, it'd be too humiliating.
By the end of the third lap, though...
She really couldn't keep going.
Thankfully, Guo Yi's voice came right on time.
"All right, you can stop running."
"Haa…"
Su Qingxue slowed to a halt, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Finally over."
Any longer and she would've had to give up.
But Hu Yan'er, beside her, looked almost disappointed.
"Why's it over already?
"I feel like I could do two more laps."
At that, Su Qingxue stared at her in horror.
"You're a demon! Two more laps? Half a lap more and I'd be done for."
As expected, Teacher's training plans have never been wrong.
Now, Su Qingxue was fully convinced.
In just one day, he could see someone's strengths and weaknesses with total clarity.
What a monstrous teacher.
But then again, if you had a Beedrill that could go toe-to-toe with a legendary bird, "monster" was the only word for it.
"I wonder when my own Beedrill will have such terrifying strength…"
Thinking of the battle between Beedrill and Zapdos, her gaze drifted to the Kakuna at her teacher's feet.
Kakuna, when will you evolve?
According to Teacher, that day was coming soon.
"Pika!"
Meanwhile.
After the grueling high-intensity training, Pikachu finally ran out of strength.
She collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Can't run anymore.
No matter what, I'm not running anymore!
Even with Beedrill standing right beside her, she had no energy left to move.
All she wanted now was to lie there and sleep.
"Beedrill, bring Pikachu over."
Seeing her sprawled out, Guo Yi called to Beedrill.
"Sbaa."
Beedrill turned its head, nodded slightly, then hooked Pikachu with its lances and carried her over.
"Qingxue—use the [Power of Viridian] to heal Pikachu."
Guo Yi turned to where Su Qingxue was sitting on the ground.
"What?!"
"Seriously, Teacher? I'm already this exhausted and you still want me to use the [Power of Viridian]?"
She complained, "You know it too, why make me do it?"
Mm.
Guo Yi's brow rose.
You dare defy your teacher?
"Okay, okay, my bad. I'll do it."
Seeing his displeasure, she quickly surrendered.
Struggling to her feet, she came to Pikachu's side and slowly extended her hands.
The next moment.
A soft green glow bloomed in her palms.
Pikachu's condition visibly began to improve.
"A special ability!"
Bai Cai's expression showed surprise again.
Honestly, the amount of juicy revelations today was overwhelming.
And from Su Qingxue's words, it seemed Guo Yi also had this ability.
"The [Power of Viridian]…?"
"This doesn't seem anything like the psychic powers in Kyoto."
"And it looks like it's specifically connected to healing Pokémon."
Carrying her questions, Bai Cai walked over.
"Teacher Guo, what exactly is this [Power of Viridian]?"
Seeing the curiosity in her eyes, Guo Yi smiled and explained:
"It's said to be a power granted by the Viridian Forest. With it, the user can heal a Pokémon's injuries."
He didn't hide it.
After all, anyone watching could guess what it did.
And even if outsiders knew, what could they do about it?
No point in being secretive.
Hearing this, Bai Cai began searching her memory for "Viridian Forest."
"Viridian Forest?
"Why have I never heard of it?"
"Maybe I should ask Grandma—she might know something about the power or the forest."
Even after thinking for a while, she came up with nothing.
So she decided to rely on her grandmother, Lan, a famous professor in Dragon Country, renowned for her vast knowledge.
It was her grandmother, after all, who had inspired her to pursue archaeology.
"Pika!"
By now, Pikachu had reopened her eyes, looking much better.
Guo Yi handed her some Pokéblocks to restore her stamina.
"Teacher, you're too cruel to your students! You've drained me dry."
Su Qingxue flopped back down, utterly spent.
The run alone had taken half her life, healing Pikachu had taken the rest.
Guo Yi only shook his head, then made a show of rummaging in his backpack.
A few soda bottles came out.
"Here. Drink this. You'll feel better in no time."
He handed the drinks to both Su Qingxue and Hu Yan'er.
Su Qingxue eyed hers suspiciously.
"Really, Teacher? A bottle of soda is going to restore my stamina?"
Even the best tonics on the market couldn't do that, and this was just soda.
Glug glug glug!
But while she was doubting, Hu Yan'er had already downed more than half of hers.
Of course...
She didn't believe it either.
She was just… thirsty.