Skarmory demonstrated the moves it currently knew. Since its movepool was quite limited, the demonstration ended quickly.
"Besides the basic Leer and Peck, it only knows Sand Attack and Fury Attack..." Steven noted thoughtfully in his small notebook.
From what he'd observed, Skarmory's strength was roughly equivalent to that Loudred from earlier.
"Skarmory will need to start with physical conditioning training first. These exercises will be quite demanding, Skarmory."
The foundation of a Pokémon's formidable strength was a robust physique. Only with proper conditioning could it withstand opponents' attacks and unleash its full power.
Most Steel-type Pokémon possessed excellent defensive capabilities, making this training particularly essential.
The steel plating covering its body would make resistance training somewhat easier to endure, but it also required continuously escalating the training intensity.
Resistance training for Steel-type Pokémon typically lasted much longer than for other types.
"Skaar!" Skarmory nodded firmly. It wasn't afraid of rigorous training—after all, it genuinely desired to become stronger.
"The general training regimen involves using your body to strike solid surfaces, enhancing your Defense while tempering your steel. You'll also need to endure special attacks to improve your Special Defense, along with stamina exercises to build your endurance."
"You'll rest when your feathers start falling off. How does that sound, Skarmory? Can you handle that?" Steven asked, seeking his Pokémon's input.
If Skarmory found the training too intense, Steven would reduce the difficulty and gradually increase it as his partner adapted.
"Skaar!" Skarmory nodded, showing no hesitation.
"Alright. If you find the difficulty too high at any point, I'll adjust your training intensity accordingly."
Skarmory's natural habitat typically consisted of thorny bushes, which helped hone their steel bodies. When wear and tear reached its limit, Skarmory's steel feathers would molt, and new, harder ones would grow in their place.
Shed Skarmory feathers could be crafted into various sharp implements, such as kitchen knives and swords.
It was said that kitchen knives made from Skarmory feathers had earned praise from many professional chefs.
"But here..." Steven surveyed the training ground, which was far too flat. He couldn't even find a moderately sized rock.
He certainly couldn't have Skarmory strike the walls. The fine for damaging public property would be negligible for Steven—pocket change, really. But being escorted away by Officer Jenny for a lecture would be rather unpleasant.
"How about this, Skarmory—you can start by practicing collisions with Metang." Steven turned to his other Pokémon and said, "Metang, don't counterattack like you normally would during training. Just hold your position and let Skarmory strike you."
"Meta." Metang bobbed in acknowledgment.
"Um... excuse me?"
Just as Steven finished outlining the training plan, a tentative voice called out from behind him.
"Hmm? Can I help you?" Steven turned to face the speaker and asked curiously.
The person's face was slightly flushed, likely from nervousness. He wore simple casual clothes, with a miniaturized Poké Ball clipped to his belt.
"I'd like to challenge you to a battle." The shy boy occasionally glanced at Metang and Skarmory behind Steven as he spoke.
"Ah..." Steven considered for a moment, then politely declined the request. "Sorry, but I have some things I need to take care of right now."
"Oh, no problem! I completely understand." The boy quickly waved his hand to show he wasn't bothered, then moved on to find other Trainers around the field to challenge.
Although Steven did want to battle other Trainers, he needed to record Skarmory's current endurance levels to properly formulate a training regimen.
Besides, from appearances, that boy had likely only recently obtained his first Pokémon—otherwise, he wouldn't have been so nervous when issuing a challenge.
Skarmory's current combat capabilities were too undeveloped, and using Metang would be excessive.
He couldn't simply crush a novice Trainer's confidence in one blow, could he?
However, Metang was undeniably eye-catching. After all, it was one of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Hoenn Region.
Additionally, two Steel-type Pokémon colliding with each other would naturally attract considerable attention.
Steven had grown accustomed to the stares. Metang was still rather oblivious, so naturally it didn't notice. Skarmory felt somewhat uncomfortable but remained focused on training.
"Next time, I should train somewhere more secluded in the wild," Steven decided.
Suddenly, Steven—who had been recording Skarmory's performance data—was drawn to a commotion nearby. He looked up and saw the boy who'd challenged him earlier now battling someone else.
A Pokémon battle was enough to make most Trainers pause and observe. Not only could they learn from others' techniques, but they could also identify and address their own weaknesses.
"Taillow and Wingull?" Steven recognized both Pokémon immediately.
Taillow was the common early-route bird of the Hoenn Region, and Wingull was ubiquitous near coastal areas. Neither Pokémon was difficult to identify.
Although there was no type advantage, water made feathers heavy, which significantly affected the flying speed of bird Pokémon.
Of course, for Skarmory with its metallic feathers, such a disadvantage would be irrelevant.
The outcome was predictable: the strength gap between both sides wasn't substantial, but the water weighing down Taillow's feathers made its movements sluggish and labored. Wingull ultimately claimed victory.
The type matchup system in the Pokémon world didn't absolutely determine battle outcomes. Even without a type advantage, favorable results could still be achieved through skill and strategy.
Steven's attention soon returned to Skarmory. The battle he'd observed from afar hadn't taught him anything particularly useful.
On one hand, both Pokémon were relatively weak, and both Trainers lacked experience. On the other hand, the compatibility dynamics differed from his own situation.
Skarmory, which hadn't undergone extensive training, quickly showed signs of exhaustion. Steven immediately instructed it to stop and rest.
"It's getting late. We'll continue training tomorrow." Steven gently stroked Skarmory's armored body, which now bore numerous scratches, and spoke softly.
"Overtraining can have counterproductive effects."
"Skaar..." The panting Skarmory nodded. It understood the importance of knowing its limits.
"You worked hard too, Metang." Steven smiled at his partner.
"Meta!" Metang didn't think much of the exercise—Skarmory's Tackle had felt no different from a gentle tap.
That evening, as Steven prepared for bed, he received a call from his father, Joseph.
The conversation mainly consisted of Joseph asking about his day.
He seemed pleased to hear about Steven's productive exploration of Rusturf Tunnel, and the rest of the call consisted of fatherly advice and encouragement.
Steven listened attentively and responded until Joseph ended the call.
"Phew, that's done..." Steven lay sprawled on the bed, gazing at the dimly lit ceiling with a slight smile.
"Time to get ready to welcome a new day..."