After dinner and a short rest, the crack of A.J.'s whip rang out once more as he returned to training with his Pokémon.
A.J. was indeed hardworking—and strict.
As a Trainer, those were impeccable qualities.
Compared to him, Yozora, Charmander, and Psyduck were lying back with their hands behind their heads, lounging lazily against Kangaskhan's warm belly like a trio of salted fish.
Yozora didn't train his Pokémon every day. Instead, he set aside one or two sessions per week. Sometimes once, sometimes twice, never on a fixed schedule.
By nature, Yozora was carefree, never rigid, always following his heart—doing things however he pleased.
Each training session focused not only on basic physical conditioning, but more importantly on honing moves: increasing their power, sharpening their release speed, or even developing new techniques and combination attacks.
For Yozora, one or two focused sessions a week were already quite sufficient.
If they trained every day, neither he nor his Pokémon would be able to endure the strain, especially since wild battles were a frequent necessity in the field.
Too much or too heavy a training load would only exhaust them, leaving them unable to perform in real combat.
In Yozora's view, actual battles mattered far more than training.
After all, a battle was training in itself—especially a high-quality one. Such fights forged growth inside and out: from stamina, to reflexes, to move development.
Every Trainer had their own strengths and their own methods of raising Pokémon.
Some could endure physical hardship but struggled with mental effort.
Yozora was different.
He was willing and able to think deeply. Once he grasped an insight, the resulting leap forward was something no amount of repetitive drills could match.
As he watched A.J. training, Yozora noticed something unusual.
All of A.J.'s Pokémon—including Sandshrew—were wearing a peculiar mechanical device strapped to their bodies, something like a posture-correcting brace.
Yozora recalled reading about it in the original series. The contraption was called a Restraint Device, an invention of A.J.'s own making, designed with incredible binding effects.
When worn, the device would tighten a Pokémon's limbs, forcing them to curl into a ball. To keep moving and training, they had to exert far greater effort than normal.
It was similar to weighted training, but far more effective, because the device honed total-body coordination rather than targeting just one area.
Clearly, A.J. wasn't just hardworking. He was also inventive, always thinking and refining.
The results spoke for themselves. With the Restraint Device, his Pokémon's training efficiency was leagues beyond ordinary regimens.
Diligent, thoughtful, naturally gifted as a Trainer, and already a skilled Breeder—it was no exaggeration to call A.J. a rare talent.
"A.J., do you have any spares of that Restraint Device? Lend me a few to try out," Yozora asked, curiosity piqued.
A.J. laughed generously. "I've got plenty. If you want them, I'll give you the lot."
He opened a storage chest and handed over a stack of the devices.
The Restraint Device could freely adjust its size, so fit wasn't an issue. But their binding force came in tiers.
There were Standard Restraint Devices, meant for ordinary Pokémon, with lighter pressure.
And there were Advanced Restraint Devices, designed for Senior-level Pokémon, with much greater force.
When Yozora tested an advanced one, simply pulling it to full tension took considerable effort.
Wearing it during training… the effect would be tremendous.
"Alright, everyone, let's give these a try."
He summoned his Pokémon and personally fitted them with the devices.
On A.J.'s side, only Sandshrew wore an Advanced model, while the rest had Standards.
But Yozora equipped his entire team—even the weakest Nidoran♂—with Advanced Restraint Devices.
Other than some initial discomfort, his Pokémon quickly adapted, soon drenched in sweat. That, more than anything, proved the devices' effectiveness.
"Incredible," A.J. muttered enviously.
He had only his Sandshrew worth showcasing, while Yozora's whole lineup was outstanding—every one of them at Senior level!
Except for Nidoran♂…
Compared to Yozora's other Pokémon, Nidoran♂ was still too weak. Its strength couldn't bear the Advanced Device's force.
The moment it was strapped in, it curled tightly into a prickly purple ball and stayed that way. Even after half an hour, it hadn't managed to budge.
"Haha, Nidoran♂, don't push yourself too hard. I'll open it for you."
The devices had external switches. Yozora moved to release his Pokémon.
But before he could, the curled-up ball of spikes suddenly trembled violently.
It didn't want help.
Earlier, Yozora had considered fitting it with a Standard Device to match its level. But Nidoran♂ had chosen the Advanced one on its own.
"Good. That's the spirit!" Yozora grinned. "I'll give you another half hour. I'm waiting to see you break free by yourself."
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty.
Thirty.
But in the end, Nidoran♂ still hadn't managed to open the device.
"For a normal Pokémon, the Advanced Device is just too much. Better release it now," A.J. suggested, walking over as he finished his own session.
"Mm."
Yozora nodded, stepping closer to unlock the device.
It had already been an hour—too long to let the little one overexert itself. Any further might cause harm.
And then—
Just as Yozora reached out, a sudden flash of dazzling white light burst from Nidoran♂'s body.
Inside that glow, its frame swelled larger and larger.
"What—?" Yozora froze.
A.J. broke into a smile. "Congratulations, Yozora. Your Nidoran♂ is evolving!"
Three seconds later, the light dispersed.
Everyone stared intently. The tiny Nidoran♂ was gone. In its place stood a fierce, muscular Nidorino.
Like before, its body was purple, bristling with venomous spines, but now much larger, much more imposing.
With its newfound strength, Nidorino effortlessly shattered the Advanced Device's bindings.
Pokémon: NidorinoType: PoisonAbility: Poison Point ×3Rank: Senior Level – Initial StagePotential: Pseudo-legendary classNotes: A gifted Nidorino, with potent venom and overwhelming charge power.
Senior Level!
Without a doubt—
Through evolution, Nidorino had grown stronger, its rank rising a full stage!
(End of Chapter)