December Double Drop!
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Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow at the secretary's warning.Did he really look like the type who'd use a Master Ball on just any legendary Pokémon?
Granted, he was planning to capture Deoxys with it.
But his skills and purpose set him apart from the usual trainer crowd.
Of course, Luo Yuan didn't explain himself. What others thought didn't matter as long as he knew his own intentions.
After completing the payment, the secretary withdrew the Master Ball's cost from his account.
He pocketed the Master Ball, casting one last glance at the remaining ball in the glass case.
With no reason to linger, he and Sabrina left Silph Co.
Back at the Saffron Gym...
"So, what's the Master Ball for?" Sabrina asked.
Luo Yuan hadn't mentioned the Master Ball plan before their visit.
"Oh, the Master Ball? You remember that unknown Pokémon that was spotted near the Sevii Islands, right? Boss Giovanni has asked me to investigate, and I think this Master Ball will come in handy."
With Sabrina, there was no need for secrecy.
At his response, her brow furrowed. Sabrina knew Luo Yuan was more than strong enough to handle a typical capture with an Ultra Ball, so a Master Ball seemed excessive.
"Are you saying that mystery Pokémon... might be a legendary?"
Luo Yuan couldn't exactly tell her that he already knew it was Deoxys, a Pokémon from space. So, he replied in a speculative tone:
"Our high-speed cameras can only capture a faint blur of its movements. It's likely."
He wasn't lying—Giovanni had shown him a video, and Deoxys' speed was blindingly fast, even slowed down 100 times. The footage hinted at a Speed Forme Deoxys.
Sabrina nodded thoughtfully.
Even if the cameras weren't top of the line, they were capable of capturing an Arcanine using Extreme Speed.
For them to record only an afterimage meant this wasn't any ordinary Pokémon.
However, another question arose.
"If it is a legendary... do you think you can handle it?"
She looked at him with concern.
The Silph Co. secretary had warned that no one had ever used a Master Ball to capture a legendary Pokémon.
As a Gym Leader, Sabrina was aware of certain restricted League files.
Over the years, plenty of trainers had tried using Master Balls to capture legendaries—and met grim fates. Even with Giovanni's plans to control Mewtwo, the Master Ball was far from his first choice.
"It's not a worry. I'll just scout the islands first, see the situation, and move only if the chance is right."
In this, Luo Yuan was cautious.
The idea of capturing Deoxys was tempting, but he valued his life. Without certainty, he wouldn't act rashly.
Sabrina thought for a moment, then met his eyes with quiet resolve. "If you're going to the Sevii Islands, I want to come with you."
Her strength might not match his, but with her Mega Evolved Alakazam, she could still be of help.
Appreciating her offer, Luo Yuan smiled and nodded. "If I go, I'll be sure to bring you along."
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With the Master Ball now in hand, Luo Yuan wasn't in a rush to leave Saffron City.
Aside from wanting to spend some time with Sabrina, he planned to stay and polish up his team's skills.
In the private training area of the Saffron Gym.
Luo Yuan stood on the edge of the battle arena, watching Gyarados and Dragonair's sparring match, occasionally offering his feedback.
"Dragonair, focus on the subtle changes in your opponent's movements just before they attack. Try to predict what's coming based on that."
"Also, tighten up your form when using Dragon Pulse—make your movements as compact and precise as possible."
"And you, Gyarados—pay attention too."
"Most importantly, don't lose your head in battle. Learn to harness your rage as a weapon, rather than letting it rule your actions."
Throughout the match, Luo Yuan continued correcting mistakes and refining their technique.
Over the days, he worked on ironing out these minor yet important habits in his Pokémon's battle approach.
While the raw power of their moves didn't see a huge boost, refining their battle style greatly enhanced their effectiveness in real situations.
As Gyarados and Dragonair's match progressed smoothly, Luo Yuan turned to Charmeleon, who was practicing moves on a steel dummy.
Unlike Gyarados and Dragonair, Luo Yuan's training approach for Charmeleon was different.
This wasn't because Charmeleon was any less valued.
It was because Charizard's aerial abilities would completely change Charmeleon's fighting style upon evolution.
Being able to fly created a vastly different battle dynamic.
So training its grounded tactics too rigorously would become useless once it evolved.
Since Charizard would need to be trained all over again upon evolution, Luo Yuan focused only on helping Charmeleon evolve quickly.
Charmeleon's sole task was to advance as fast as possible.
Its training involved using every bit of its fire energy to attack a steel target until exhausted.
During this process, Luo Yuan continuously supplied Charmeleon with Fire Stones to replenish its energy.
Consume, then replenish, and repeat.
It was a simple yet effective cycle.
A ball of fire shot from Charmeleon's mouth, expanding mid-air before slamming into the target, distorting it with an explosion.
Panting slightly, Charmeleon prepared for another attack.
"Keep at it, Charmeleon!" Luo Yuan encouraged.
Charmeleon's eyes burned with determination. After a short rest to recover with the Fire Stone, it repeated the cycle.
Luo Yuan wasn't worried about wearing Charmeleon out.
Firstly, its strong affinity with fire granted it remarkable endurance.
Secondly, he'd tailored a scientific training regimen to avoid pushing it too far.
Based on Team Rocket's research, this method was the fastest way to strengthen and evolve Charmeleon without compromising its potential.
Though it was quite costly, the method had no real downsides.
"Ah, the modest, mundane life of the wealthy," Luo Yuan murmured, watching Charmeleon's training with satisfaction.
After observing for a while and ensuring there were no issues, he sat down in a nearby chair and closed his eyes to concentrate.
"System, let's spin the wheel."
It was time to claim his prize for defeating Sabrina.
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