POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

"So, even though they knew it was me who gave you the sweets, they still took them and then beat you again?"

"Yes… they're very skilled. You can't see any injuries from the outside, but…"

Jill trailed off, embarrassed to admit how much it hurt.

"Tell me about their situation," Rax pressed.

"There are three of them. They have Ekans, Glameow, and Stunky, all at an excellent level.

"Among them, Glameow is especially effective against my Zubat. I wouldn't lose to the other two in a one-on-one, but they always gang up…"

So, we can't beat them, Rax thought to himself.

"Is there any connection behind this?" Rax asked.

Jill hesitated briefly before answering. "Yes, they're close with Yeguang and Zamli, two veterans among the intelligence agents."

"Let me guess, those two are also participating in this trial?"

"Yes. I've collected their information—it's on the USB drive. Both of them have two senior-level Pokémon and are strong contenders in the trial."

"Not surprising. I'm guessing the trouble you faced today was because of me."

Rax realized that the competition among the intelligence agents had already started, and he was inadvertently dragging Jill into it.

Jill, however, didn't reply to this, instead muttering, "It's my fault for being too weak…"

Hearing this, Rax looked at Jill with newfound respect.

He asked seriously, "Are you sure you want to team up with me?"

Jill hesitated before admitting, "To be honest, Brother Rax, after I went back, I checked your background."

"Oh? What did you find?"

"I didn't learn much, but I saw that you were recommended to join the trial. That's why I decided to follow you."

Rax chuckled, "Fair enough. That's very fitting for an intelligence officer."

Jill scratched his head, a little embarrassed, but relaxed as Rax laughed, signaling his approval.

"Let's see your partner," Rax suggested.

"Ah, okay."

A red light flashed, and Jill's Zubat appeared, landing on his shoulder.

Rax leaned in to examine it carefully… but there was nothing particularly remarkable.

"No problem," Rax said. "You have two choices. I can help you teach those three a lesson and get the sweets back, or I can lend you points to train so you can settle things yourself later. Meanwhile, I'll deal with Yeguang and Zamli."

"I'll choose the latter," Jill replied firmly.

"Alright, we don't have much time. Let's start training tonight. I'll book a training room."

"Thank you, Brother Rax!"

Jill's confidence in Rax grew as he saw how decisive and action-oriented he was.

---

Encounter

Ten minutes later, as the two were heading to the training room, they crossed paths with the three troublemakers.

When the trio noticed Rax with Jill, their cocky expressions disappeared, and they quickly became cautious.

Seeing their reaction, Rax's suspicions were confirmed—this wasn't over yet.

---

Training

Inside the training room, Marowak sparred with Zubat.

Though Jill's Zubat was unremarkable, it had learned Hypnosis, which added versatility to its tactics.

Rax, having studied Zubat after Captain Yusaku's introduction, had a plan.

"How many points do you have left?" Rax asked Jill.

"About 500," Jill whispered, embarrassed by his meager savings.

"The Steel Wing TM costs 1,000 points. I'll lend you the remaining 500 to help Zubat."

Rax was relieved he had caught a few Pokémon on the way, as it allowed him to fulfill his promise without issue.

He explained his idea: using Steel Wing to channel electricity into the ground, neutralizing Glameow's type advantage. Steel Wing could also serve as a defensive move, reducing damage from Poison-type attacks.

Jill was stunned by Rax's strategic thinking, but what impressed him even more was Marowak's strength.

Though it was technically a junior-level Pokémon, Marowak's timing and intensity in battle were leagues ahead of Zubat.

---

Late Night

The two trained until late, only stopping when Zubat was too exhausted to continue.

Back in the lounge, Rax opened the USB drive Jill had provided and reviewed the information.

Jill had done an excellent job collecting intelligence, compiling everything Rax needed as a newcomer:

Leadership teams, block leaders, factions, and key events at Base 1.

The list of contestants, judges, rewards, and even hints about the competition format.

The data painted a clear picture, giving Rax an edge he hadn't had before.

---

Day Two

The next morning, Rax arrived early at the training room to focus on Jumpluff.

Training Jumpluff to master Poison-based defensive tactics and Substitute in less than three days was an enormous challenge—practically impossible.

Still, Rax pressed forward.

The Skill Learning Machine was simple to use: attach the sensor to the Pokémon, start the machine, and the Pokémon would learn the skill in minutes.

However, mastery required time, practice, and precision.

Starting with Toxic, Rax activated the Skill Learning Machine for Jumpluff.

After a brief moment, Jumpluff's yellow corolla turned a vivid purple, and it fired a rotating glob of toxic liquid at a target.

The liquid splattered, corroding the surface with white smoke.

Toxic learned successfully!

Stimulated by the Skill Learning Machine, Jumpluff repeated the move twice more before the machine powered down.

Rax was amazed by the technology but didn't dwell on the details.

"Try it on your own!"

"Jumpluff!"

Jumpluff concentrated, recalling the sensation from earlier.

Ten seconds later, a smaller glob of poison launched from its corolla, landing with a satisfying splatter.

"Excellent! First try was a success. Keep it up!"

"Jumpluff!"