"Are you the one here to challenge the Rookidee sparring partner?" The middle-aged man asked, staring at Shiro in silence.
"That's right, let's start the battle." Shiro shrugged his shoulders, and Rookidee, which had been resting on his shoulder with its eyes closed, suddenly sprang up, leaping into the air and staring at the thin middle-aged man.
"Hmm... sleek feathers, wide wings, strong explosive legs, sharp gaze..." The man stared back at Rookidee without fear. He then grinned and added, "A good opponent."
Shiro also stroked Rookidee, his gaze sharp and focused.
The two of them stood motionless as the male receptionist moved to the referee's position.
Around the battlefield, trainers began to gather, drawn by the upcoming match.
Sparring partner assessments occasionally happened, but they weren't usually announced to the public, making it a rare opportunity for other trainers to witness one.
These battles always attracted a crowd, as many trainers admired the strength of the stadium's sparring partners. Most had either applied for sparring or experienced it themselves, understanding how demanding the role was.
The strength required here wasn't just about the Pokémon but also about the trainer's own capabilities.
With two identical Pokémon, similar in form and level, the key to victory now relied on the trainer's ability. After all, the trainer was also a crucial part of the Pokémon's strength.
Even with identical Pokémon, their upbringing would differ depending on the trainer's philosophy. Different training strategies and focuses would shape how the Pokémon developed.
All these factors combined would ultimately determine the outcome of the battle.
"Alright! Now that two of you are ready, I will be the referee. The challenger—Shiro, and the challenged—Grant! Both sides will use Rookidee!" The male receptionist, wearing glasses, stood in the center of the battlefield.
After saying these words, he raised his hands high and walked to the side.
At the same time, both Shiro and the thin, middle-aged man, Grant, inserted their league cards into the two pillar slots.
A faint pink psychic barrier extended from both ends, sealing off the battlefield from the spectators and the referee.
The trainers watching from the sidelines began murmuring among themselves.
"Rookidee, huh? Damn, I remember the Rookidee trainer hasn't changed in two or three years, right?"
"Grant specializes in raising Rookidee. The ones that come out of his hands are guaranteed to have excellent potential and strength. Whenever his Rookidee evolves, they're snapped up immediately."
"He raises Rookidee and then sells them?"
"Wow, first time hearing about this..."
Upon hearing the discussions, the referee adjusted his glasses and then raised his hand, shouting.
"Silence!"
The crowd fell silent immediately. The referee continued.
"Now! Both trainers release your Pokémon. This battle is one-on-one. No switching Pokémon mid-battle. If one side loses their ability to fight or concedes, the battle is over!"
"Rooki-dee!"
Two simultaneous calls echoed.
Shiro's Rookidee, hovering in mid-air, stood ready, while Grant threw a Poké Ball into the air.
"Roo-kee!"
A blue bird soared into the air. Its wings were slightly longer than the usual Rookidee's, and its beak was sharper, gleaming with a metallic sheen.
At the sight of Grant's Rookidee, Shiro's eyes narrowed.
It was his first time raising a Pokémon, so he knew there were areas where he might have fallen short.
But his opponent, with countless battles and experiences, had clearly honed his Rookidee in specific ways. The sharpness of the beak, in particular, seemed capable of piercing through steel.
Compared to Rookidee on the other side, Shiro's looked more like an ordinary one. It was slightly larger due to better feeding and rigorous training, but overall, it still had a round, compact build.
"A Rookidee with strong pectoral muscles ... You must have fed it some rare berries, huh?" Grant's eerie voice drifted from across the battlefield. The moment Shiro subconsciously glanced at him, Grant's Pokémon had already taken off, flapping its slightly longer wings.
A pale-white Tailwind stirred the air around it.
"Air Cutter!" Shiro shouted the moment he noticed his opponent's movements.
Grant seized the initiative during Shiro's brief moment of distraction. However, he quickly regained focus and gave a sharp command.
In just a moment, a sharp-edged Air Cutter was launched at high speed. At the same time, the opponent's Tailwind had just finished forming.
Had Shiro been even a second slower, his opponent would have gained a free Tailwind boost right at the start. That extra speed advantage, coupled with no interference or chip damage, would have left him at an immediate disadvantage.
'Sneaky bastard.'
Shiro's focus sharpened.
His Rookidee's Air Cutter struck Grant's directly, sending a few blue feathers drifting away in the wind.
Seeing this, Shiro wasted no time. "Quick Attack!"
The moment its attack landed, his Rookidee shot forward in a blur, streaking toward its opponent.
"Hmm?" Grant furrowed his brow. Instead of dodging or counterattacking, he ordered, "Agility!"
A faint pink glow of psychic energy enveloped Grant's Rookidee as its speed surged.
The Psychic-type move Agility grants a rapid speed boost, similar to Tailwind.
The Quick Attack struck the opposing Rookidee's forehead, nearly dispersing the faint psychic energy surrounding its body. But despite the blow, it held firm, completing the speed enhancement.
"Peck!" Shiro commanded. His Rookidee, following up on its attack, turned midair and aimed its beak, now glowing a deep white, straight at its opponent.
"Hmph! Dodge." Grant smirked, his expression sinister.
Now, with two speed boosts stacked, Grant's Rookidee barely needed to move to slip past Shiro's attack.
"This is troublesome." Shiro muttered, clenching his fist.
Grant's strategy was obvious—boost his Rookidee's speed as much as possible.
At this level, neither side had access to high-powered moves, meaning Pokémon could afford to take hits while setting up.
And in a battle between Rookidee, speed was everything.
Shiro now understood why Grant had held the sparring partner position for years. With this strategy, any ordinary Rookidee at the Novice level wouldn't even get a chance to land a hit before being taken down.
"You've already lost, kid." Grant's grin widened, the wrinkles on his gaunt face making him look even more unsettling. "Your only chance was in those first few seconds. Now, this battle is over."
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