For the next month, Silas honed both his body and his Pokémon. Nothing was rushed. There were no shortcuts, no skipped days—only constant drilling and repetition until exhaustion became routine. Bruno remained for an extra week to personally oversee their progress, and the Elite Fighting-type Pokémon under his command proved invaluable teachers for Elekid, Machop, and Chimchar.
Bruno didn't neglect Silas himself. Each morning began with physical conditioning: long runs, balance drills, and bodyweight exercises designed to break weak habits and rebuild them correctly. As a master martial artist, Bruno's guidance was precise and unforgiving, forcing Silas to confront his own physical limitations in ways he never had before.
Zane trained alongside him. Machop, inspired by the massacre at the auditorium, threw itself into training with renewed ferocity.
Under Bruno's instruction, both Elekid and Machop learned Cross Chop from his Primeape—a brutal two-handed strike capable of devastating damage and a high critical hit rate. Chimchar learned Vacuum Wave from Bruno's Hitmonchan, an extremely fast Fighting-type technique that compressed air into a projectile released through a punch.
After Bruno departed, Silas and Zane continued the regimen for another 3 weeks. They called it Combat Boot Camp.
Gary joined them briefly but left after the 1st week, already eager to move ahead.
Their schedule was relentless. Mornings were reserved for cardio and bodyweight training, followed by sparring between trainers. The battle at the auditorium had proven something neither of them could ignore—humans were not spectators in real combat. Silas had watched Koga personally cut down enemy Pokémon.
Afternoons were spent battling and refining techniques. Whenever the Pokémon trained independently, Silas didn't remain idle. Madam had given him a knife for self-defense, and he practiced close-range combat by slashing tree trunks until his arms burned.
On the morning after the final day of boot camp, Silas and Zane parted ways. Zane chose to officially begin his journey, starting his Gym challenge.
Silas returned alone to the forest clearing where they had trained for the past month. Calling out Elekid and Chimchar, he activated his scanner.
Chimchar — Level 19
Ability: Flame Aura
Potential: B+
Moves: Rank C Aura Sphere, Rank C Flame Wheel, Rank C Taunt, Rank C Shadow Claw, Rank C Vacuum Wave
Elekid — Level 18
Ability: Static
Potential: B
Moves: Rank C Brick Break, Rank C Thunder Shock, Rank D Light Screen, Rank D Cross Chop
Silas was satisfied. They had earned their progress.
That evening, he lay beneath the open sky with his Pokémon, waiting for night to come so he could watch the stars. They were proud of their progress this past month, the hard work seemingly paid off. Silas and his pokemon were more confident in their capabilities.
He decided to take a load off and relax, they had earned it. He would produce some tasty berries as a treat to allow Chimchar and Elekid to unwind.
"Damn it." Silas said aloud. He heard a sound that he recognized. A sound that meant there would be no relaxing. The buzzing had come suddenly, growing louder by the second. He could also hear several footsteps coming from the same direction. Something was approaching. He recognized one of them
To his left, Silas spotted 2 Mankey and a Primeape carrying an injured Mankey between them. They weren't charging toward him, they were fleeing and he happened to be there.. Chasing them were 7 Beedrill. Silas immediately recognized the largest one, marked by an X-shaped scar, and scanned it.
Beedrill — Level 25
Ability: Swarm
Potential: B
Moves: Rank B Twin Needle, Rank C Poison Jab, Rank C Sludge Wave, Rank D Air Cutter
The remaining Beedrill ranged from levels 16 to 18, all with C potential.Silas inhaled slowly. This wouldn't be easy. He scanned the Primeape as well.
Primeape — Level 21
Ability: Defiant
Potential: B
Moves: Rank D Karate Chop, Rank C Leer, Rank B Rage, Rank D Low Kick, Rank D Thunder Punch, Rank C Protect
The Mankey were levels 13 to 15. One was poisoned.
"Elekid—Thunder Shock. Chimchar—Flame Wheel."
The commands came instantly. Using his scanner, Silas directed his Pokémon toward the weakest targets. Chimchar slammed into a Beedrill and used its body to spring away before a counterattack could form. Elekid's Thunder Shock electrocuted another, leaving it paralyzed midair.
One Beedrill was down. Another was injured and paralyzed. The leader hesitated, reassessing. It stuck its arms out preventing the rest of the swarm from advancing.
Silas tossed Pecha and Oran Berries toward Primeape's feet. Primeape froze for a fraction of a second before snatching them up and feeding the injured Mankey. The poison faded immediately.
Two of the stronger Beedrill lunged for Chimchar with Poison Jab. Primeape roared and countered, slamming a Thunder Punch into one and sending it crashing into another.
"Chimchar—Flame Wheel. Target the one that was hit." Chimchar struck and retreated again, knocking the Beedrill into a tree before it collapsed.
The leader Beedrill darted toward Elekid, Poison Jab flashing. Elekid reacted just in time, Brick Break clashing against the stinger. Elekid was pushed back but avoided serious injury.
Primeape entered a Rage-fueled frenzy, combining Rage and Thunder Punch to knock out the paralyzed Beedrill and heavily injure another. One narrowly avoided the blow and retaliated with Poison Sting, detonating against Primeape's chest.
The leader unleashed Air Cutter, the attack tearing through the clearing. Primeape took the brunt of it. Chimchar and Elekid were hit as well, though less severely. The remaining Beedrill followed with Sludge Wave, purple poison energy surging forward.
Primeape leapt in front of the group and activated Protect. The emerald barrier held.
"Chimchar—Vacuum Wave. Clear the poison." Chimchar blasted punches in every direction, dispersing the lingering mist.
"Elekid—Thunder Shock!" Before the bolt could land, two Beedrill intercepted with Poison Sting. The leader struck next, Poison Jab piercing Elekid's shoulder.
They were coordinated.
Too coordinated.
The remaining Beedrill charged in with Poison Jabs ready, and Silas's heart tightened. He had seen this before—overwhelming numbers, no room to breathe.
Not again.