Chapter 26: The Cat’s First Steps with the Sword!

Still behind the martial arts hall, at the battle arena nestled by the mountain stream, Master Ma volunteered to serve as referee, intrigued upon hearing that Su Yi would fight against Caibean.

The two stood at opposite ends of the field. Su Yi was brimming with energy, eager to begin, while Caibean’s expression was blank, immovable as a mountain.

Their mental states were difficult to reconcile with their appearances: one, a young man stepping into society; the other, an athletic maiden in her prime. It seemed their attitudes should be reversed.

“Caibean…” Master Ma sighed inwardly, observing the scene.

On the day Caibean arrived at Armor Island, she immediately challenged Master Ma. As a fellow martial artist, he respected her—a karate prodigy who had repeatedly challenged the Champion—and accepted her challenge for a 6-vs-6 match, both using their main teams.

The result was, of course, Caibean’s crushing defeat.

Master Ma understood her issue: she wrapped her heart in armor, leaving no opening for others. In doing so, she buried her true emotions so deeply that even her Pokémon partners sometimes struggled to reach her.

Her obsession with victory seemed to serve victory alone, a compulsion born of some unseen pressure that left her spirit shackled.

To break these bindings, she needed a trainer who could unleash their emotions fully in battle.

Thus, Master Ma thought of Su Yi: a pure adventurer, passionate in battle, unconstrained in his commands, bound to his Pokémon by enviable ties, and a man destined to shine in time.

The remedy was the clash of youthful souls, not harsh defeat. So Master Ma mentioned Su Yi to Caibean, and unexpectedly, this battle was arranged.

“Let’s see what happens,” Master Ma murmured to himself.

…

“The Fighting-type gym leader is at a slight disadvantage,” Su Yi whispered.

First, Luchao was a Normal-type, and Tyranitar carried Dark-type traits, which were weak against Fighting. Next, Scrapper Bird had Flying-type, but lacked powerful Flying moves. Finally, Volcanic Bug was virtually useless in battle.

As for Chansey? Su Yi’s Chansey had the Healer ability and a gentle heart—not the infamous pink demon!

“Su Yi can contend with the Champion’s main team, but as he says, the Champion held back, and he still lost, even using his strongest against the Champion’s mid-tier.”

“Besides, Su Yi hasn’t been a trainer long. I’ll send out these three, then,” Caibean calculated, selecting her 3-vs-3 lineup.

“Go, Machop!”

“Ka-ka!” A humanoid Pokémon less than a meter tall leapt out.

“Machop, huh? Clearly Caibean isn’t using her main team. That’s a bit frustrating, but honestly, my current lineup couldn’t face her main team head-on,” Su Yi sighed inwardly, his desire to venture into Ant Mound Badlands and recruit new monsters growing stronger.

“Aibo! You’re up!” Su Yi had no choice but to send out the cat Pokémon.

“Meow!” Luchao dashed onto the field, ready for battle.

Su Yi’s training had taught him that he was at a disadvantage against the Pokémon roughly his own height before him, so he needed to be careful.

“No need for me to explain the rules—let the match begin!” Master Ma declared.

Caibean was first to command: “Brick Break!”

A classic Fighting-type move—Machop, agile and swift, charged forward, its right hand glowing as it chopped down toward Luchao.

“Dodge!”

“Pursue!”

Su Yi’s command was swiftly followed by Caibean’s.

One was a trained athlete, the other a woodland hunter; both Pokémon darted and twisted with nimble movements.

Seeing that relentless pursuit alone couldn’t break the stalemate, Caibean furrowed her brow and ordered, “Brick Break!”

“Ka!” Machop’s chopping hand sliced down like a blade.

“An opening! Aibo, dodge! Then, Cat Strike!” Su Yi shouted.

“Meow!” The cat Pokémon dodged the Brick Break nimbly, then swiftly drew its bone blade to slash.

“Now! The other hand!” Caibean barked.

“Ka-o!” Machop missed with one hand, then used Brick Break with the other, meeting the glowing short blade head-on.

Thud! The cat’s attack was solidly blocked.

“Oh no!” Su Yi immediately realized Caibean’s plan.

As expected!

“Low Kick!” Caibean commanded, her face impassive.

Machop, while holding off the short blade, swept its lower limb toward Luchao’s feet. Luchao had no time to react.

Bang!

“Meow!” The cat cried out in pain, falling.

“Are you alright, Aibo?” Su Yi called anxiously.

“It hurts, meow! So this is Pokémon and their moves, meow?” Luchao staggered up, his right foot aching as soon as it touched the ground.

“Aibo’s strength is still too immature. Though Machop hasn’t evolved, it’s undergone rigorous training; overall strength-wise, Aibo can’t compare,” Su Yi reflected.

“Should I switch?” he considered.

“Su Yi! I can still fight, meow!” The cat bared its teeth, but still smiled.

“There’ll be tougher challenges ahead, right, meow? I don’t want to drag you down, meow!” Luchao gripped its bone blade, determined.

“That Pokémon…” Caibean, seeing the cat’s resilience, revised her initial impression that Luchao was merely a pet.

The cat stood with blade in hand, eyes focused.

Caibean coldly ordered, “Brick Break!”

Machop charged again, as fast as ever.

Su Yi’s expression shifted; he watched Machop’s movements closely but issued no immediate command. The cat trusted Su Yi, standing firm before the fierce Brick Break.

“Ka-o!” Machop aimed a powerful chop at Luchao.

“Side-step and slash!”

Luchao leapt aside gracefully and slashed with its blade, dodging the attack and countering at once.

Su Yi clenched his fist in excitement—it was finally happening!

“Ka!” The attack was Normal-type, so it didn’t deal much damage to Fighting-type Machop.

“Machop, double Brick Break!” Caibean quickened the pace.

The small Machop pressed forward, both hands glowing with the move’s energy.

“Meow!” The cat tried hard to dodge, but the pain in its foot made it falter.

“Aibo!” Su Yi’s nerves were taut.

In that instant, the cat’s eyes flashed; Machop’s attack trajectory became crystal clear. Driven by a mysterious force, the cat twisted its body and dodged precisely.

“Oh? That’s Move Detect,” Master Ma’s eyes brightened. It was a move that could completely block the opponent's attacks.

Detect had another old translation—‘Counter Sight’!

Su Yi was amazed, but remembering the battle, he snapped back to command mode.

“Now! Attack with your blade—Counter Slash!” he shouted.

“Meow!” The cat instantly slashed at Machop.

Dodging and countering in one fluid motion, catching Machop and Caibean off guard.

Slash!

A white mark appeared across Machop’s chest; it cried out in pain and staggered back.

Caibean’s brows knitted, about to issue another command—

But Su Yi, elated, shouted, “Ride this momentum! Swing your blade for a spinning attack!”

“Meow!” The cat, now in the zone, shouted, stepped forward, and charged into Machop’s guard, its bone blade tracing a circular arc.

Zzzzt!

“Ka!” Machop took a heavy blow, collapsing to the ground in pain.