The next day, Shane sold coffee as usual until evening.
As twilight dyed the neon lights of Magic City, he locked the glass doors of the Song of the Forest cafe, the key clicking softly in the keyhole.
Whimsicott skillfully slid from his shoulder into his backpack, revealing only a tuft of fluffy cotton and a pair of sparkling orange eyes.
*”El?”* he chirped, asking if they were going to train.
“We’re going to the club to test out a new move,” Shane said, reaching back to pat the backpack.
He felt a surge of warmth in his chest as he recalled the moment last night in the biome when the Substitute and the main body executed different moves simultaneously.
Once they completely mastered this move, they could proceed to the next stage of breeding.
…
The signboard of the Tauros Club flashed with a flashy blue light in the night.
This was the best Pokémon training club in Magic City.
Naturally, it was also the most expensive.
Shane pushed the door open and walked in.
There was no low hum of training equipment or the lingering echoes of explosive moves; the soundproofing was excellent.
“Hello, how can I help you?” The receptionist smiled professionally, her gaze sweeping over the backpack on his shoulder.
“I’d like to hire two coaches to train my Pokémon, or alternatively, one coach who specializes in Double Battles.”
He needed an opponent who could apply pressure on two fronts simultaneously.
Only then could Whimsicott’s Substitute attack be used effectively.
The receptionist’s fingertips swiped rapidly across a glowing screen.
“Currently, we have two coaches proficient in Double Battles available.
Mr.
Pang Yu, whose main Pokémon are Azumarill and Mimikyu, primarily caters to novice trainers for 18,888 Alliance Coins per hour.
The other is Ms.
Robin, whose main Pokémon are Dugtrio and Vibrava.
She provides special training specifically for trainers challenging Gyms, at 38,888 Alliance Coins per hour.
Of course, we also have other Single Battle trainers available to choose from…”
Shane’s eyebrow twitched imperceptibly.
Nearly forty thousand for a single hour?
The trainer profession really was a money pit.
His previous Single Battle training sessions had never been this expensive.
“I’ll go with Ms.
Robin,” Shane said, handing over his membership card.
Thirty-eight thousand, but with the membership discount, he actually paid thirty thousand.
“Understood, Mr.
Shane.
We will provide Sitrus Berries, Moomoo Milk, and other items to restore stamina during the training.
Have a pleasant session.” The receptionist swiped his card smoothly and immediately connected to the intercom.
Before long, a young woman with a neat high ponytail, wearing a faded training uniform, walked briskly over.
“Mr.
Shane?
I’m your coach, just call me Robin. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Please follow me.”
Robin was also a trainer currently traveling the country to challenge Gyms.
However, by the time she reached the Magic City Gym, her pockets were completely empty, leaving her with no choice but to work part-time at the Tauros Training Club.
Fortunately, thanks to her experience of earning three Gym Badges, the interview went quite smoothly.
This was actually her first time receiving a client.
Robin pushed open a heavy soundproof door, revealing a standard Double Battle arena inside, with an adjoining training room fully equipped with gear.
“Could you let your Pokémon out so I can take a look?”
Shane simply turned sideways.
With a soft zip of the backpack, Whimsicott leaped out like a light white cloud with a soft poof, landing steadily on the polished arena floor.
He shook his fluff, his round orange eyes curiously taking in the new environment.
The fluffy cotton around his body gleamed with a healthy luster under the overhead lights, looking as vibrant and full of energy as a dew-kissed berry in the morning.
*”El-fun!”*
‘This place is different from the last one we went to.
It’s much bigger.
It must have cost a lot of money.
I have to train hard and earn that money back!
A female coach today?
Whatever, I’ll crush her all the same!’
A flash of amazement crossed Robin’s eyes.
“He’s raised wonderfully…
Where’s the other one?”
Her gaze swept toward Shane’s waist, where only Whimsicott’s Poké Ball hung.
Shane patted Whimsicott’s head.
“It’s just him.”
Robin blinked in confusion.
‘Wasn’t I hired as a Double Battle coach?
One Pokémon for a Double Battle?
Does this client have too much money to burn, or…’
She forcefully suppressed her astonishment, her professionalism allowing her to maintain a calm demeanor.
“Of course, no problem.”
The fee had already been paid anyway, so the client’s request was her command.
Besides, anyone who could raise a Whimsicott to this level couldn’t possibly be a complete fool.
“My Whimsicott recently mastered a new move,” Shane explained.
“I wanted to find a Double Battle environment to test it out in practice.”
“Understood.” Robin nodded, asking no further questions as she walked straight to the trainer’s box and took her position.
“We can start whenever you’re ready.”
She swiftly threw two Poké Balls. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
With a flash of red light, three dark brown Diglett heads broke through the ground, their tiny eyes glinting sharply—Dugtrio.
Immediately after, a completely emerald-green Vibrava hovered into the air, its compound eyes calmly locking onto the seemingly harmless ball of cotton in the center of the arena.
“My only requirement for this battle is that there are no restrictions on the Pokémon’s moves,” Shane said.
“Alright, I understand.”
Shane took a deep breath and crouched down, bringing his eyes level with Whimsicott’s.
“Ready?
The real Double Battle test is here.”
Whimsicott’s ears instantly perked up, his orange eyes burning with fighting spirit as his fluffy tail rose like a flag.
*”El-fun!”* he cried out, ready to bring it on.
“Substitute!”
The moment the white light burst, Whimsicott split into two, becoming two identical versions of himself.
Robin’s breath hitched.
The Substitute wasn’t a crude dinosaur doll, but an exact replica of Whimsicott.
Was he here to train the Substitute move?
“Vibrava, Sandstorm!
Dugtrio, Sucker Punch!”
Dugtrio’s speed was higher than Whimsicott’s, and it instantly ambushed him.
The Substitute shot forward like an arrow from a bow to meet the brown shadow bursting from the ground, a light shield deploying at the very last second before impact.
Protect!
“Whimsicott, Leech Seed!”
The main Whimsicott tossed several seeds that pierced through the flying grit and accurately embedded themselves into Dugtrio.
At the same time, Vibrava’s Sandstorm took effect, engulfing the arena.
Within the swirling sands, Dugtrio’s movement trajectory became erratic.
It was the Sand Veil ability, which increased evasion during a sandstorm.
Robin was shocked once again; she truly hadn’t expected Whimsicott to launch two separate actions.
‘Is that a Substitute attack?
That’s an incredibly difficult technique to train, mostly mastered only by top-tier trainers.’
She had encountered thousands of trainers, but this was the first time she had ever seen a Pokémon use a Substitute attack.
Catching a glimpse of Vibrava’s wing membranes trembling, Robin immediately shouted, “Vibrava, Screech!
Dugtrio, Earthquake!”
“Encore, Giga Drain!” Shane commanded, his glasses reflecting the astonished face across the arena.
Just as sonic ripples began to form on Vibrava’s wings, it was forced by Whimsicott’s Encore to whip up another sky-obscuring Sandstorm instead.
Seismic waves carrying crushed stones swept across the entire field.
Vibrava escaped the disaster by flying, while the Substitute’s Giga Drain sapped away a portion of Dugtrio’s stamina.
Whimsicott’s main body and Substitute both took damage from the Earthquake, but with Leech Seed and Leftovers taking effect, the main body recovered most of its health.
The Substitute managed to stabilize itself using Giga Drain, but it was beginning to totter.
“Whimsicott, keep going!”
*”El-fun!”* Whimsicott shook the sand from the tips of his ears and glared at the opponents across the field.