At sunset.
On the outskirts of Wooden Pole Town, across an almost endless wasteland.
A group of Pokémon wearing giant turtle shells were bent over, their hands diligently digging into the rocky ground, turning the soil to create farmland.
The few townspeople passing by stared in astonishment at this sight - something they'd never seen before.
Clang clang clang~
At that moment, Sonia, wearing an apron, stood by the field with a ladle, tapping it against the bowl in her other hand as she called out:
"Time to eat~"
...
...
At the Magnolia Research Institute.
Clatter clatter clatter~
The dining room echoed with the sounds of Sun Wuming, Caidou, and Lurina frantically shoveling food into their mouths.
On the other side, their Pokémon weren't doing any better.
They were wolfing down the Pokémon food from their bowls.
Who knows if they were even chewing.
As the only normal person present, Sonia looked at her best friend with embarrassment and muttered:
"Feels like Lurina has been assimilated..."
"Another bowl."
Sun Wuming held out his empty bowl to Sonia, not a grain of rice left.
"Yes, yes, yes~"
Sonia smiled gently, taking the bowl and skillfully filling it to the brim before handing it back.
"You've finished plowing all the fields in town, what will you do starting tomorrow? Go to other towns to continue plowing?"
Sonia, who was already full after eating just half a bowl, rested her chin on her crossed hands as she asked the three who were still feasting.
As she spoke, a hint of loneliness flashed across her eyes.
She had gotten used to living here with her grandmother before, spending her days researching Pokémon history alone.
But since Sun Wuming and the others arrived, life had become much livelier.
Every day she cooked for them, washed dishes, and occasionally discussed academic matters about Pokémon with Sun Wuming, who, despite his muscular appearance, had surprisingly unique insights into Pokémon research.
The thought of returning to her former solitary life made Sonia feel inexplicably reluctant.
"Starting tomorrow, Caidou will begin training in Armament Haki."
Sun Wuming said after a moment of contemplation.
"Really, Master!?"
Caidou's eyes lit up.
Though under Sun Wuming's guidance,
Caidou knew that Observation Haki was more important for her.
But as a martial artist,
The love for offense always outweighed defense.
The display of Armament Haki that Sun Wuming had shown at the Suishu Town port months ago had left Caidou yearning for quite some time.
"What about me?"
Lurina couldn't help but interject.
"Continue with the basics."
Sun Wuming said plainly.
"Oh..."
A trace of disappointment appeared in Lurina's beautiful eyes.
But she had no complaints.
She clearly knew that Caidou's strength was far above her own.
So naturally, she could move on to practical training sooner.
Not to mention that Caidou had been under Sun Wuming's guidance much longer than her.
Lurina's Pokémon also showed the same disappointed expression as their trainer.
However, this time they didn't dare to contradict Sun Wuming like before.
Otherwise... heh, could they handle twenty years worth of power?
The training plan was modified.
Caidou officially began training in Armament Haki, while Lurina continued strengthening her fundamentals.
However, the training location was changed to the Suishu Gym that Lurina managed.
Because the training for Lurina's team became their favorite water-type activity - swimming.
But of course, it wasn't ordinary swimming.
It was swimming while wearing that 100-jin turtle shell.
Swimming back and forth between Suishu Town and Armor Island.
...
...
"Ahh~ So thirsty~"
Late at night, Sonia yawned, got up from her bed, and tiptoed out of the room to avoid waking her best friend Lurina who was sleeping with her.
Although the Magnolia Research Institute was a two-story villa of over 300 square meters,
There weren't many guest rooms, as most rooms were used to store historical documents related to the Galar region.
Professor Magnolia had one room, Sonia and Lurina shared one, and Caidou had her own.
As for Sun Wuming, he slept on the couch in the living room.
As Sonia tiptoed into the living room to get water,
She found the couch with a blanket neatly covering the snoring bear disciple.
But there was no sign of the master, Sun Wuming.
"Where is he?"
Sonia blinked in confusion, looking around, finally spotting him through the living room's door window.
In the courtyard, Sun Wuming stood alone under the moonlight.
Standing by the window, Sonia momentarily forgot about her thirst as she quietly watched the figure outside through the glass door.
In the next second, Sun Wuming crossed his arms in front of him.
In a blur, Sonia saw Sun Wuming's body split like a cell dividing.
From one body into two, three... no! Four of him!
That's right, in the blink of an eye, Sun Wuming in the courtyard had become four!
Sonia was dumbfounded.
First, she rubbed her eyes, then pinched her cheek.
Only then did she confirm she wasn't in a dream.
"Is it something like Double Team?"
Sonia speculated in a low voice.
Among Pokémon moves, Double Team was one that almost all Pokémon could use.
It could achieve a similar effect.
Creating afterimages to distract the enemy.
But in less than two seconds, Sonia dismissed this idea.
She saw the three split-off Sun Wumings suddenly charge toward the original in the center.
Straight punch! Flying kick! Elbow strike!
All attacking at once!
The central Sun Wuming's pupils contracted sharply, his limbs becoming like afterimages as he blocked.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Muffled impact sounds echoed in her ears.
Those weren't afterimages, they were solid bodies!
***
T/N: Did you enjoy reading? If you're interested in more, check out my main profile, MrBlackWing, and read plenty!
And on my Patreon, for just $1 you can access all the extra content of my main novels, descriptive images, and the smuts costs only $2!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
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