Swish!
Honedge swung out another horizontal slash, a white arc of sword energy crashing hard into Machop. Before Machop could even locate Honedge's true body, it collapsed to the ground.
Yozora recalled Machop.
Though Machop had lost, Yozora was quite satisfied.
Even if it hadn't managed to master Detect, the seed had been planted—it now possessed the awareness to sense attacks through aura. With further training, learning Detect would only be a matter of time.
As a Trainer, Yozora knew all he could do was guide it. That alone was enough.
Enforcing harsh training? Completely unnecessary.
In Yozora's eyes, Machop wasn't just gifted—it was far more diligent than he was himself.
"He actually went down? That powerful Machop was defeated so easily!" Adventurers all around gasped in shock, marveling at Honedge's strength.
In truth, Machop's level was nowhere close to Honedge's.
If not for the repeated use of Bulk Up before the battle, which had massively boosted its defenses, Machop would never have lasted more than a single strike.
That, in turn, showed just how powerful Bulk Up was. After several uses, Machop's strength and defense had doubled—if not more—within a short span.
Clang!
Perhaps sensing Yozora hadn't lost his fighting spirit despite Machop's defeat, Honedge struck its blade against its sheath, a metallic screech echoing out. It was urging Yozora to send out another Pokémon.
"Heh, what an interesting fellow," Yozora chuckled.
Honedge's final evolution, Aegislash, was a peerless force. And here it was, delivering itself right to his doorstep—already born with Champion-level potential. How could Yozora possibly let such a prize slip away?
"Go, Psyduck! It's your turn!" Yozora sent his next partner into battle.
"What—? A Shiny Psyduck?!" The surrounding adventurers were stunned.
Not only did Yozora own a powerful Machop, he also had a Shiny Psyduck. Was he truly the so-called "child of fortune" the legends spoke of?
"Psyduck, Rain Dance!" Yozora commanded.
In an instant, storm clouds rolled overhead, and a heavy downpour drenched the battlefield.
With a sharp hiss, Honedge struck as well—its blade glowing white as it unleashed Sacred Sword, a massive arc of sword energy slicing toward Psyduck.
Sacred Sword was a Fighting-type move of immense power—aside from Honedge, Doublade, and Aegislash, almost no Pokémon besides certain Legendaries could wield it. Its strength was terrifying.
Yozora didn't order a dodge. His gaze had caught Honedge's blood-red eye, and beneath the aura of battle he felt Psyduck's berserk wave of aura energy.
That's right.
Just like Machop, this Honedge had the No Guard Ability.
Not by coincidence either—Honedge's only Ability was No Guard, just as Slaking was bound to Truant.
"Psyduck, full power! Reflect it back with Psychic!" Yozora shouted.
Psyduck gripped its head with both hands, crimson light flooding its eyes as it unleashed its mental might.
The sweeping Sacred Sword energy suddenly froze midair, halted as though by an invisible wall in front of Psyduck.
There was no true barrier—it was purely Psychic force restraining the attack.
But Psyduck could only stop it, not yet reflect it back.
Had Yozora overestimated Psyduck's strength?
No—he knew Psyduck's power well. What he had underestimated was Honedge's sheer might and the ferocity of Sacred Sword.
Slash!
While Psyduck struggled to hold off the first attack, Honedge struck again, unleashing another Sacred Sword. A second white arc screamed through the air.
Boom!
The explosion shook the ground, thunder echoing like a sky-splitting blast. Clouds of smoke and dust shot skyward.
The adventurers were dumbstruck. They had expected strength from a Honedge wielding the War Soul Cloak in the Land of Spirits, but not such overwhelming might. The force of that sword aura was frighteningly real.
Yet Yozora's eyes widened—not with fear, but surprise.
Within the choking dust, Psyduck's aura had not weakened. On the contrary, it was growing stronger.
"What… Could it be…?" Realization flashed across Yozora's face, and a grin spread across his lips.
As the smoke cleared—
Psyduck was gone.
In its place stood a tall, sleek, humanoid figure: Golduck.
Its skin remained blue, but deeper, more lustrous than most Golduck. Its aura surged, overwhelming even Honedge.
[Golduck]: Senior-tier Peak. Potential: Tier 3 Legendary.
"Golduck!" With his back to Yozora, the newly evolved Pokémon raised a thumb confidently.
"Good. Golduck, it's all yours." Yozora returned the gesture, smiling.
Before he even finished speaking, Honedge swung another Sacred Sword.
But this time, without needing a command, Golduck instantly caught it with Psychic—and reflected it back.
The white sword energy flashed, striking Honedge head-on.
As a Ghost-type, Honedge should have been immune to Fighting-type moves like Sacred Sword.
But this was no ordinary Sacred Sword. Infused with Golduck's Psychic power, it pierced straight through—landing clean and dropping Honedge in one strike.
"So strong! So cool!" Adventurers' eyes widened with awe.
Some of the girls even screamed, their gazes filled with admiration and wild affection for Golduck—as if they wanted to claim him for themselves.
But then, the War Soul Cloak at Honedge's side glimmered faintly.
And astonishingly, Honedge rose again. Its eye was weary, yet still burned with indomitable will.
"So that's the War Soul Cloak's power…" Yozora's eyes gleamed, though he wasn't concerned.
It was useless. No Guard meant Honedge never dodged. With that flaw, the cloak's revival mattered little.
"Finish it, Golduck—Psychic!"
Golduck pressed its hands to its forehead, focusing all its energy into the ruby gem on its brow.
With a thought, Honedge was seized and smashed brutally up and down against the ground.
After several crushing impacts, it was hurled aside, finally losing consciousness.
Yozora winced.
Really now—after reviving with barely a sliver of strength, Honedge had been beaten to a pulp again.
Still, he didn't miss his chance. A natural Champion-tier Pokémon? He wouldn't let it slip away.
Moments later, Yozora captured Honedge.
"Congratulations, Yozora! Another powerhouse added to your team!" A.J. came over to congratulate him.
Yozora smiled lightly. "Do you mean Golduck—or Honedge?"
A.J. blinked, then laughed.
Good grief—he had gained not one, but two aces. A double blessing indeed!
Yozora himself was deeply satisfied. Capturing Honedge was a great victory—but Psyduck's evolution into Golduck, with its massive surge in power, was just as joyous.
With Honedge's capture, Yozora's roster was full again: Beedrill, Golduck, Pidgeotto, Machop, Geodude, and Honedge.
As for Magikarp, it was kept separately in a Research Ball.
There was still one final slot left among the Research Balls, but Yozora had no intention of using it lightly. In his heart, six Pokémon were already enough to handle.
That last space—he wanted to save it for a Pokémon Egg, or perhaps for a newborn hatchling with no fighting ability at all.
In fact, Magikarp had already passed its juvenile stage, and Yozora was preparing to transfer it back at any time.
After all, Magikarp was purely aquatic. Taking care of it during daily travels was already troublesome, and opportunities to use it in battle were rare.
Better to send it back and entrust it to Professor Oak, letting it swim freely in the rivers. Who knew—it might even grow faster that way.
"Hey, A.J., I've got the War Soul Cloak now. It's time I head off," Yozora said as he bid farewell.
"I really envy you. You just got here, and already you've obtained it. And on top of that, you caught such a powerful Pokémon," A.J. replied with a smile, waving as Yozora left.
The Land of War Souls wasn't very large. Before long, Yozora had already made his way out, and beyond the forest ahead lay Saffron City.
"Come out, Honedge," Yozora called, releasing the sword Pokémon.
At Senior-level elite strength, Honedge already possessed strong regenerative abilities. After resting inside its Ultra Ball for a while, it had nearly recovered completely.
The moment it emerged, Honedge circled around Yozora several times, clearly overjoyed.
It was obvious—it had fully acknowledged Yozora as its Trainer.
Truly worthy of being a Pokémon that actively seeks out a Trainer; once chosen, its loyalty ran deep.
Pokémon Data:
Species: Honedge
Type: Steel/Ghost
First Ability: No Guard
Second Ability: Huge Power
Third Ability: None
Level: Senior Elite
Potential: Pseudo-legendary
Moves: Shadow Sneak, Aerial Ace, Night Slash, Sacred Sword, Autotomize, Iron Defense, Metal Sound, Swords Dance
Description: A gifted Honedge. With its blade sheathed, its defense is formidable; when unsheathed, its offensive power becomes overwhelming.
When Honedge evolves into Aegislash, its Ability will change to Stance Change, allowing it to switch freely between two forms.
One is Blade Forme, the other Shield Forme.
In Blade Forme, Aegislash boasts fearsome offensive power. In Shield Forme, its defenses are unmatched.
Although its special attack in Blade Forme is strong, most of Aegislash's arsenal consists of physical moves.
Thus, Yozora had decisively chosen the physical attack path, assigning it the Huge Power Ability.
(End of Chapter)