NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37: Focused Training
Ethan stood just outside Vermilion City's outskirts at the crack of dawn, the sky painted with streaks of gold and violet. The air was crisp, and the soft crash of waves from the distant coastline provided a calming rhythm as the day began.
This location—a wide, open field bordered by sparse trees—was the perfect spot for an intense training session. Ethan had chosen this day specifically to focus on the Pokémon who needed development the most: Scyther, Spearow, Sylveon, and Magikarp.
Dratini and Cleffa had been left out of today's rigorous plans, as they were still too young to endure the harsher training routines. Instead, they were curled up near the base of a shady tree, watching the preparations with curious eyes.
Ethan stood tall, adjusting his gloves, a determined gleam in his eyes as his team assembled before him. Scyther stood in the center, blades gleaming under the sunlight, its wings fluttering impatiently.
Spearow perched nearby, hopping on its talons, its gaze sharp and focused, a far cry from the playful Pokémon it had been before maturing. Sylveon stretched lazily, its ribbons swaying with grace but its sapphire eyes hinting at readiness. Magikarp flopped in a small pool of water Ethan had prepared earlier, as restless as ever.
"Alright, team," Ethan began, his voice carrying authority. "We're not here to waste time. We've got to prepare for the challenges ahead. Strength, speed, and endurance—that's today's focus."
The Pokémon gave their respective cries of approval, except for Magikarp, who splashed water with a determined blorp. Ethan smirked. "Even you're fired up, huh? Good. Let's begin."
Ethan started with Spearow, who had shown tremendous potential in its recent gym battle. Despite its small size, it had managed to take down Surge's Voltorb and tie with Magnemite. However, Ethan knew Spearow still had room to improve—particularly in speed and precision.
"Spearow, you're first," Ethan called. "Let's test your flight agility."
Spearow flapped its wings, taking off into the air with a sharp cry. Ethan grabbed a small, remote-controlled drone from his bag—a tool specifically designed for flight-based Pokémon training. As he activated it, the drone whirred to life, zigzagging rapidly across the open field.
"Your job is to chase it down," Ethan instructed. "Don't let it outmaneuver you."
Spearow shot forward, its wings slicing through the air as it pursued the drone. Ethan steadily increased the drone's speed, testing Spearow's reflexes.
The bird Pokémon darted left and right, performing sharp turns midair to keep up, its talons barely grazing the drone on its first pass.
"Faster!" Ethan called, watching closely.
Spearow adjusted, flapping harder, its flight pattern growing smoother as its focus sharpened. On its third attempt, Spearow managed to strike the drone, knocking it down with a solid Peck.
"Good job!" Ethan praised as Spearow landed, panting slightly but standing tall with pride.
Ethan crouched to Spearow's level. "We'll keep increasing your agility bit by bit. Speed like that will give you an edge in battle."
Spearow cawed triumphantly, clearly enjoying the challenge.
Next, Ethan turned his attention to Scyther, his most formidable Pokémon. The recent gym battle had proven its raw power, but Ethan wanted to hone its blade techniques further, ensuring every swing was sharp and purposeful.
"Alright, Scyther, you're up," Ethan said, motioning to a set of sturdy wooden training dummies he'd brought along. They were lined up in a row, each one reinforced to withstand a fair amount of damage.
"Focus on precision first," Ethan instructed. "Target weak points. No wasted movements."
Scyther nodded, stepping forward and taking a battle stance. Its wings buzzed as it lunged toward the first dummy, its blades flashing.
The wooden target split cleanly in two with a single slice. Scyther didn't stop—its movements were fluid as it transitioned to the next dummy, slicing with calculated strikes that left clean cuts.
"Faster!" Ethan called. "Keep your form tight!"
Scyther's speed increased as it worked through the targets, its blade work becoming sharper and more controlled with each strike.
Splinters flew through the air as the last dummy collapsed. Scyther stood among the debris, its breathing steady, blades gleaming.
Ethan nodded approvingly. "You're improving. Raw strength is one thing, but precision will set you apart."
Scyther's wings fluttered in satisfaction, and Ethan made a mental note to push its limits even further in their next session.
While Sylveon often exuded an air of elegance, Ethan knew its strength came not just from its Fairy-type attacks but also from its ability to move gracefully and strike accurately. Today's focus would be on improving its range-based attacks—particularly its Swift and Moonblast.
"Sylveon, it's your turn," Ethan said. "We're focusing on accuracy and timing. I'll move the targets, and you'll hit them with Swift. Ready?"
Sylveon chirped confidently, stepping forward as Ethan set up several lightweight targets. They were suspended from thin ropes, allowing them to swing unpredictably in the breeze.
Ethan activated the setup, and the targets began swaying. "Go!"
Sylveon's ribbons glowed faintly as golden star-shaped projectiles shot forth, each one aimed with remarkable precision.
The first few stars hit their marks effortlessly, shattering the targets. Ethan increased the difficulty, letting the remaining targets swing faster and in different directions.
"Focus, Sylveon!" Ethan called, his sharp eyes watching for even the slightest slip.
Sylveon narrowed its gaze, adjusting its aim mid-attack. The remaining targets shattered one by one as Swift connected perfectly.
"Great work," Ethan praised, crouching beside Sylveon and giving it a pat. "Your timing's spot on. Let's keep pushing you in battles to test this further."
Sylveon purred contentedly, its ribbons swaying with pride.
Finally, it was Magikarp's turn. The Golden fish Pokémon flopped around in its pool, determined as ever but lacking the ability to do much beyond splashing.
Ethan knew Magikarp's strength would take time to unlock, but he wasn't going to let it fall behind.
"Alright, Magikarp, let's work on your endurance," Ethan said. He grabbed a weighted harness from his bag—light enough to be manageable but heavy enough to provide resistance.
Ethan carefully strapped the harness onto Magikarp. "Your job is to keep swimming. Build up your strength little by little. You can do this."
Magikarp let out a determined blorp before splashing energetically. Despite its clumsy movements, it swam back and forth across the pool, its tail flicking harder with every lap. Ethan watched closely, encouraging it when its pace slowed.
"Keep going!" Ethan called. "You're stronger than you think."
Magikarp pushed itself, the water splashing as it swam faster and harder. It wasn't much to look at yet, but Ethan saw the potential in its persistence. "One day, you're going to surprise everyone," he said quietly, a faint smile on his lips.
By midday, the training session had come to a close. Spearow perched proudly on a tree branch, preening its feathers after a job well done.
Scyther rested near the shade, sharpening its blades with a focused expression. Sylveon lay stretched out on the grass, ribbons twitching lazily as it soaked in the afternoon sun. Magikarp floated tiredly in its pool, its splashes having slowed to gentle ripples.
Ethan surveyed his team with satisfaction, wiping sweat from his brow. "You all did great today. Hard work pays off, and we're getting stronger as a team."
Cleffa and Dratini, who had watched the session from the sidelines, toddled over to join the others. Dratini wrapped itself loosely around Ethan's arm, while Cleffa hopped into his lap with a cheerful cry.
Ethan leaned back against the tree, letting the calm of the afternoon settle around them. "Rest up, everyone. We'll keep pushing forward tomorrow."
Sylveon purred softly, Spearow cawed in agreement, and Scyther gave a sharp nod. Even Magikarp managed a weak splash of determination.