Robin wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
The Sand Veil ability made Dugtrio feel right at home, but the opponent was using Substitute as bait, keeping his main body constantly moving through her blind spots.
What was even more terrifying—
“Leftovers combined with Leech Seed…” She watched Whimsicott’s fluff rapidly restore itself and suddenly remembered a video she had seen recently.
“So it was you!”
Shane chuckled softly.
“Our turn.”
“Dugtrio, keep up the ambush!
Vibrava, Bulldoze!”
“Whimsicott, Protect, Tailwind.”
Using the same tactic, the Substitute stood in front of the main body and used Protect to block Dugtrio and Vibrava’s attacks, shattering in the process.
However, Tailwind was successfully activated.
Now, Whimsicott’s speed surpassed Dugtrio’s!
“Now!
Leech Seed, Substitute.”
Just like Dugtrio, Vibrava was struck by Leech Seed, draining her stamina.
At the same time, Whimsicott created some distance and executed another Substitute.
Robin swallowed hard.
*So fast.*
His execution speed far exceeded hers.
His proficiency with Substitute—no, his proficiency with all moves was incredibly high.
*He’s strong!*
Robin had challenged three Gym Leaders before.
Even though Dugtrio and Vibrava weren’t her strongest Pokémon, the fact that her opponent could hold his own against her with just one Pokémon proved that his fighting spirit and mastery over his partner were exceptionally high.
She needed to focus!
“Dugtrio, use Thief!
Vibrava, Heat Wave!”
The move Thief could steal the opponent’s held item.
But Shane wasn’t about to let Robin succeed so easily.
Following right behind Dugtrio was Vibrava’s Heat Wave.
If it hit, Whimsicott would very likely be knocked out.
Just when Robin thought Shane would use Protect again, Whimsicott did something completely different.
The Substitute spread its arms and lunged at Dugtrio.
Thief connected successfully, yet the Substitute didn’t vanish.
“Whimsicott, Energy Ball.”
Robin’s pupils shrank.
“Oh no!
Fall back!”
It was too late.
The Substitute dragged Dugtrio right into the path of the Heat Wave, and simultaneously, Whimsicott’s Energy Ball detonated at point-blank range.
Amidst the fading glow of the shattered Substitute, Dugtrio crashed to the ground.
Dugtrio was unable to battle.
Robin recalled Dugtrio to her Poké Ball.
“Shane, I heard you’re one of the Demonic Twins of Magic City University.
You really do live up to the hype.”
“Thanks for the compliment, but I’m not exactly a fan of that title.”
It sounds exactly like some talented side characters the protagonist would run into during the early stages of their journey.*
*Besides, having ‘demonic’ in the name just sounds awful.*
*Why not call us the Legendary Trainer and Legendary Breeder Reserves?
That sounds way better!*
“I’m curious, why don’t you challenge the Gyms?
With your battle awareness and your Whimsicott, you could probably sweep the Magic City Gym three-to-zero.”
That was exactly what the other half of the Demonic Twins had done.
He had swept the Gym three-to-zero with his Charizard—three separate times—and even brought people along to crash the place, leaving Nova fuming with rage a few nights ago.
“I’m just a Breeder.
Facing three Pokémon with only one is a bit too much pressure.
Maybe sometime in the future.”
Five minutes passed, and the sandstorm finally subsided.
A dust-covered Whimsicott stared down Vibrava.
But the battle had to continue!
“Then I’ll keep going!
Vibrava, Aerial Ace!”
“Whimsicott, Substitute.”
Aerial Ace was a move that practically guaranteed a hit.
Seeing Whimsicott delay its Substitute, Robin let out a sigh.
*It seemed this round was lost.*
At the exact moment Vibrava was about to strike, Whimsicott split into two.
Vibrava slipped right through the gap between them, missing her target completely.
“Heat Wave!”
Vibrava immediately changed direction and unleashed Heat Wave.
Whimsicott’s main body and Substitute used Protect simultaneously.
Blocked again!
With Leftovers and Leech Seed taking their toll, Vibrava’s stamina was in critical condition.
“Finishing blow!
Helping Hand, Moonblast.”
The Substitute used Helping Hand on the main body.
Riding the Tailwind’s currents, Whimsicott landed gracefully as lunar energy gathered around him.
Bang!
Moonlight scattered across the field, and Vibrava was left unable to battle.
Robin smiled bitterly as she took out her Poké Ball and recalled Vibrava.
She never expected that, as a coach, she would actually lose a two-on-one battle.
Whimsicott bounced over and dove into Shane’s arms, raising his paws as if asking for praise.
As long as they won, the money wasn’t spent in vain.
Today, Whimsicott had saved Shane another thirty thousand Alliance Coins!
The young man pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped his partner clean, then took out a few high-grade Sitrus Berry Pokéblocks for Whimsicott.
Robin walked over carrying three bottles of Moomoo Milk.
“I’m actually quite curious.
Your Whimsicott seems to have incredibly high resistance.”
The Earthquake from earlier should have easily wiped out Whimsicott’s Substitute, but it didn’t.
Instead, the Substitute managed to retaliate with Giga Drain.
Even though Whimsicott had a type advantage, his resistance shouldn’t have been that strong.
The young man looked up, meeting Robin’s eyes with a smile.
“I am a Breeder, after all.
If I couldn’t even manage a small feat like that, wouldn’t I be failing to live up to my title?”
Robin felt her heart pounding.
Under the cool fluorescent lights, the young man’s usually aloof face melted into such a gentle smile.
*To be so confident in his own abilities…*
*Shane really is as charming as the rumors say.*
After making sure Whimsicott was unhurt, Shane picked him up and pulled two bottles of Sitrus Berry Lattes from his backpack, handing them to Robin.
“Breeders have many methods.
Making food that can enhance a Pokémon’s abilities is one of them.
You can let your Pokémon try this.”
Slightly confused, Robin sent out Dugtrio and Vibrava and gave them the two lattes to drink.
A miracle occurred.
The wounds on their bodies began to heal at an astonishing rate.
In the blink of an eye, their stamina was fully restored.
“This is practically on par with high-grade Pokéblocks.”
“Of course.
After all, these two cups cost seven thousand two hundred Alliance Coins.
Will you be paying with MacroPay?”
Robin was speechless.
*He didn’t mention earlier that these lattes cost money!*
*The Moomoo Milk was provided by the club, it’s not like I got paid for it either!*
Still, Robin scanned his code and transferred the seven thousand two hundred Alliance Coins, adding Shane on MacroPay in the process.
She looked at Shane’s MacroPay ID: *Shane’s Cafe Doesn’t Do Overtime*.
*He actually has his own cafe?*
*This coffee already has the effects of a high-grade Pokéblock, and it’s much cheaper too.
I can definitely buy this regularly from now on.*
“Why doesn’t your Whimsicott drink the latte?”
“Whimsicott doesn’t like bitter flavors.
I’ll wait until I can brew a custom coffee specifically for him.”
Shane shouldered his backpack and headed to the adjacent equipment room.
Once they were done resting, they could continue their training.
He had paid for a full hour, and he wasn’t about to let that money go to waste.
Soon enough, Shane’s purchased time was up.
Holding Whimsicott, he bid Robin farewell.
“If you ever get the chance, come by the cafe and try my coffee.
It’s high quality and affordable.”
Robin watched Shane leave, then glanced at the pinned post on his MacroPay moments.
It was a picture of Shane holding Whimsicott under warm lighting.
*Aloof on the outside, but gentle on the inside.
I really like that.*
It was decided—she was going to become Shane’s fan too!
Robin opened the W Network, tracked down the content creator named *Seeing the Green Mountains Beyond Suffering*, and passed the verification to join the fan group created by the uploader.
[Welcome newcomer Blue Sky White Clouds to Shane’s Fan Club]