Dark types are incredibly versatile, capable of many things. Axel didn't know where to begin. He realized that Absol was a pure attacker, not concerned with defense. It was fast and hit hard.
Shedinja's 'Shadow Domain' was also a part of the darkness, but the darkness of Dark types was different. However, Axel got inspiration from it. He thought of a cool new move that could drastically empower Absol.
###
Lastly, there was Mamoswine. Axel instructed it to train regularly with two exceptions: to focus on 'Sand Armor' and 'Ancient Power.' 'Sand Armor' was too weak against Muk, and he didn't want it to be too vulnerable.
First, he told Mamoswine to level up to 39 to become slightly stronger. Then, he would think of something to make it even more powerful. The other moves of Mamoswine were progressing well.
All of these Pokémon, especially those in the pseudo-king rank, were instructed to focus on their abilities and hidden abilities. When a Pokémon reached the King rank, its ability was enhanced, and Axel wanted their abilities and hidden abilities to be at 100%.
After creating training plans for all of his Pokémon, Axel decided to take a rest and observe their progress. He corrected some of them and kept a close eye on Tauros and Absol. He desired some rest, but it seemed unlikely to happen anytime soon.
###
"Why are you lying down?" a voice asked.
"Oh, just taking a rest. Are you done with your work?" Axel replied.
"My gym duties start in four hours. Get up. We need to train you too," said Koga.
"Really? I think I'm doing fine."
"No, you're not. I can see that you train your body, but you need to push yourself further. If you want to become a Pokémon master, you should learn how to fight."
"Is that a requirement?" Axel asked.
"Let's just say it is. Now stand up and pick up your sword. I know you use a sword to train."
"Alright."
After four hours...
"This is the most intense training I've ever had," Axel said, bending on his knees and catching his breath.
Koga stood there with his two daggers, not catching his breath.
"You need to train more. We'll continue this for the rest of the week," said Koga as he left.
"Damn! This is going to be a long week," Axel muttered.
Koga was right. Axel had been procrastinating on his own training. He started training harder than before, with Koga drilling him. It was surprising to see Koga having more stamina than Axel.
###
A week had passed, and some of his Pokémon had completed their tasks while others hadn't. Axel wasn't angry about it; some of their training plans were impossible to accomplish in just one week. However, due to the new training plans, they had started to grow stronger.
"Axel, the plane is ready. You will reach Yokohama City, where you will meet your team, and from there, you will go to the unknown island. Are you ready?" asked Koga.
"Just give me five minutes. I'm making a phone call," Axel shouted.
Axel was talking to his family. There was no cell service on the unknown island, so he was saying goodbye for two weeks.
"Oh, hey, I forgot to ask. How is Scizor?" Axel asked his uncle.
"I thought you'd never ask. Scizor is as good as new now. It is still struggling to move properly, but the doctor says it's just adapting. It should be able to start training properly after a month," Noah replied.
That was good news. Axel had asked the League to take care of Scizor, and it took some time to heal properly. Axel felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.
"Tell it that I'll battle against it next time I come there. Anyways, I have to go now," Axel said.
"Alright, take care. Remember to be careful. That island is unknown, and I want you to follow your seniors' instructions," Noah advised.
After saying his goodbyes, Axel hung up the phone and informed Noah that he was ready to go. The plane was huge, and he was the only passenger. Sometimes, he felt weird being so popular and rich.
He was informed that the plane would take five hours to reach its destination. He was served a hearty meal and slept through the entire journey.
The plane landed in Yokohama City, a medium-sized city with a peaceful aura. Axel was guided by military officers to a building and told to wait until his leader arrived.
The wait was tiring and boring. His REM sleep had been disturbed by the plane and the pilot, and he was starting to get irritated. After half an hour, a man with big biceps, standing at six feet tall, wearing a tight green t-shirt that accentuated his muscles and box pants, approached him, extending his hand.
"It's finally good to meet you, Zone Commander Axel Blaze. You can call me Andrew, and I am the leader of your team. I am also a general of the Explorers Association," the man said with a strong handshake. He had a trademark smile on his face and seemed like a good guy.
"Let's go. The team is waiting for us. We will leave for the expedition tomorrow," Andrew said.
Axel began to follow him. His new adventure was waiting for him.