August led Blue to the battle arena at Cedon University.

  Even though it was already nighttime, the pce was still bustling with students engaged in battles.

  One particur match caught August’s attention.

  “Nidorino, use [Sucker Punch]!” At the trainer’s command, Nidorino pushed off with all four legs and lunged forward for a preemptive strike.

  “Now, Gengar!” The opposing trainer had Gengar stand its ground, taking the hit without dodging. Then, with a grin, it formed a [Shadow Ball] in its hands and hurled it back at Nidorino.

  Back and forth, the two Pokémon traded attacks in an energetic battle.

  Blue gnced at the fight but quickly lost interest. She turned to August, raising an eyebrow.

  “You’re actually interested in battles at this level?”

  The fight on the field was pure rookie-tier brawling.

  Even she could fight better than that.

  It was hard to imagine August—who normally went out of his way to bully rookie trainers—would find such a low-level battle entertaining.

  August simply chuckled. “I’m just feeling nostalgic.”

  Seeing Gengar and Nidorino reminded him of that opening CG he had watched countless times before.

  “Let’s go.”

  August led Blue to the battle arena’s administrator.

  He had already looked into the university’s regutions and knew that certain fields were always reserved for faculty, meaning he didn’t have to compete with students for space.

  As expected, when he showed his faculty ID, the administrator was visibly surprised.

  “There are still open fields, right?”

  Quickly recovering from his shock, the administrator nodded.

  “Yes! Field #2 is currently unoccupied.”

  Then, with a curious expression, he asked, “I don’t think I’ve seen you before—are you a new professor here?”

  August smiled and nodded.

  “You must be really talented to become a professor at such a young age.”

  To be recruited as a lecturer at Cedon University at his age? That was practically unheard of.

  The administrator led them to Field #2, offering to find a referee, but August declined.

  Instead, he and Blue took their positions on opposite ends of the battlefield.

  “I’ve only got two Pokémon with me aside from Gardevoir, so how about a standard 2v2 singles battle?” August suggested.

  “No compints from me!” Blue was eager to begin.

  She might not say it outright, but deep down, she was very grateful to August.

  He was helping her find her parents.

  He had given her a job.

  If she could beat him and prove she was strong enough to stand alongside him, wouldn’t that make his decision to recruit her seem even more brilliant?

  “The match begins!”

  The moment August’s voice fell, both trainers threw their Poké Balls.

  The Poké Balls burst open, and in fshes of white light, two Pokémon nded on the field—both immediately charging at each other.

  As expected, August sent out Dratini.

  Blue smirked. “I knew you’d pick Dratini! Too bad my Jigglypuff completely ignores Dragon-type attacks~”

  “Jigglypuff, use [Sweet Kiss]!”

  Jigglypuff blinked its round, sparkling eyes, pressed its hands together near its face, and then blew a kiss toward the approaching Dratini.

  A floating, pink heart—charged with Fairy-type energy—floated toward its opponent.

  If Dratini got hit, it would definitely fall into confusion.

  August was well aware of that.

  The moment Blue called her move, he immediately countered.

  “[Agility]!”

  Dratini’s body suddenly shimmered, its speed surging to a new level.

  With a swift twist of its serpentine form, it effortlessly dodged the incoming [Sweet Kiss].

  “Out of all Fairy-type moves, you chose [Sweet Kiss]… Is it because Jigglypuff doesn’t know any others?” August mused aloud.

  He didn’t give Blue a chance to respond.

  “[Water Jet]!”

  “Draaa—!”

  Dratini let out a melodious cry as its body became engulfed in a powerful surge of water.

  Beneath it, a pressurized stream burst forth, rocketing it forward at high speed.

  [Agility] + [Aqua Jet]!

  The two moves combined into an incredible burst of speed.

  In an instant, Dratini vanished from its original position—closing in on Jigglypuff in a blue blur.

  Blue barely had time to react.

  “Jigglypuff!”

  She didn’t even need to give a command—Jigglypuff understood her intentions immediately.

  They had been together for years and could read each other perfectly.

  Jigglypuff took a deep breath—

  And infted its body several times its normal size!

  Thud!

  Dratini, still cloaked in water, smmed into Jigglypuff’s balloon-like body, leaving a deep indentation on its surface.

  But—

  Jigglypuff didn’t just take the hit.

  As Dratini made contact, it suddenly exhaled, releasing a strong gust of air.

  The rapid deftion not only softened the blow but also pushed Jigglypuff backward, putting some distance between them.

  August raised an eyebrow. “Clever.”

  By taking advantage of Jigglypuff’s balloon-like body, Blue had effectively cushioned the impact of Dratini’s [Aqua Jet].

  She definitely understood her Pokémon’s strengths well.

  “But that won’t be enough.”

  “Dratini, use [Thunder Wave].”

  Dratini let out another sweet cry, tiny electric sparks crackling around its horn.

  A web of paralyzing energy began spreading toward Jigglypuff.

  If it hit, Jigglypuff would be at a severe disadvantage.

  Blue knew this.

  As much as she wanted to maintain Jigglypuff’s aerial advantage, she had no choice but to drop down and avoid the Thunder Wave’s range.

  Jigglypuff used the st of its stored air to propel itself downward.

  As it gently nded, its body finally returned to its normal size.

  “It nded… Dratini, don’t let it take off again!”

  Dratini’s eyes gleamed with determination.

  With a flick of its tail against the ground, it unched itself forward once more.

  This time, Blue knew she couldn’t rely on the same trick as before.

  The previous hit had already dealt noticeable damage.

  She needed another approach.

  A smirk spread across her lips.

  “Jigglypuff, [Mimic]!”

  Jigglypuff raised both hands in front of itself—tiny sparks flickered around them.

  A familiar electric wave surged outward—

  It had copied [Thunder Wave]!

  “Interesting tactic,” August admitted.

  But even without his command, Dratini—still boosted by [Agility]—swiftly weaved around the incoming [Thunder Wave].

  It twisted through the air, evading the attack with graceful precision.

  “…We’re not done yet!” Blue decred.

  The moment Dratini dodged, Jigglypuff lifted its head—

  And opened its mouth.

  A soft, melodious voice echoed across the battlefield.

  “Poyo~ poro lolo~ bopori bopoli~”

  Sing.

  Mimicked [Thunder Wave] had been a setup—forcing Dratini into a perfect position for [Sing] to nd.

  A seamless control chain.