Join my p@treon for more chapters
[email protected]/Tempest_29
When Mustard heard that Chris's Kubfu was hesitant about choosing a style, Mustard released his two Urshifu for Kubfu to observe.
Chris thoughtfully placed two hanging scrolls in front of the Rapid Strike Style and Single Strike Style Urshifu. Whichever one Mustard preferred, he could choose to read it on the spot and then evolve accordingly.
However, Kubfu looked up at his seniors, crossed his arms, and sat down in front of the two hanging scrolls without making a decision.
"Little guy, are you dissatisfied with both the Rapid Strike Style and the Single Strike Style?" Mustard asked gently.
"Hmm..." Kubfu shook his head silently.
Chris felt a bit troubled because his Kubfu was quite particular about things.
The Single Strike Style Urshifu had been defeated by his master, Blaziken, and the Rapid Strike Style Urshifu had been beaten by one of his training targets, Zeraora. These defeats made both evolutionary forms seem somewhat unappealing to the young Fighting-type.
Seeing both Kubfu and Chris struggling with this decision, Mustard smiled knowingly.
"In that case, why not go ahead and create your own style?" he suggested.
"You can create your own style?" Chris and Kubfu looked at Mustard simultaneously, their eyes widening in surprise.
Chris only knew that Urshifu had the Single Strike Style and Rapid Strike Style forms. He had never heard of any other styles existing.
"Of course you can," Mustard said with an encouraging smile. "Whether it's the Rapid Strike Style or Single Strike Style, these are simply styles created by former Kubfu based on their own martial arts experiences and understanding."
"The Scroll of Darkness and the Scroll of Waters are the experiences they left behind for future generations," he continued.
"Kubfu can complete their corresponding evolutions based on the martial arts experience left by their predecessors recorded in these scrolls."
"Since your Kubfu doesn't seem interested in either the Single Strike Style or Rapid Strike Style, he might as well create his own style. Although it will certainly be difficult, both he and you are still very young. I look forward to seeing what legacy your little one will be able to leave on this island in the future."
"When that time comes, the Tower of Two Fists could even be renamed the Tower of Three Fists," Mustard added with a chuckle.
Mustard's words made Chris and Kubfu feel suddenly enlightened, as if a new path had opened before them.
For Chris, this reality was not an animation, and it certainly wasn't a game with fixed parameters.
Since in the games, Ash's Rockruff could evolve into the unprecedented Dusk Form Lycanroc, then why couldn't his Kubfu develop a new style different from both the Single Strike Style and Rapid Strike Style?
Kubfu 's eyes shone with determination and excitement.
Creating his own style sounded absolutely amazing when he thought about it.
"I can't give you much specific advice on how to create a new style, unfortunately," Mustard admitted honestly. "You'll have to rely on Kubfu's own understanding and effort."
Mustard shrugged apologetically.
After all, his own Urshifu were perfectly suited to the Single Strike Style and Rapid Strike Style respectively.
He had only remembered this possibility after growing older and reflecting on his martial arts journey.
He had once wanted to create a new style himself, but because of his advanced age, he had never been able to implement that dream.
"However, the Scroll of Darkness and the Scroll of Waters do contain the martial arts experiences of our predecessors," Mustard suggested to Kubfu thoughtfully. "You can read through both of them. Perhaps you'll gain some valuable insights from studying them."
Chris couldn't help but ask with some concern, "Teacher, won't Kubfu evolve directly into one of those forms after reading the scrolls?"
Mustard waved his hands repeatedly and explained patiently, "No, that won't happen. The Scroll of Darkness and the Scroll of Waters aren't evolution items in the traditional sense. They're simply records of martial arts experience and techniques."
"What truly allows a Kubfu to evolve into an Urshifu is reaching a certain level in its own martial arts achievements," he continued. "When its martial arts understanding reaches that threshold, it will naturally evolve. The result of that evolution is actually a summary and sublimation of its own martial arts journey and style."
Chris nodded thoughtfully, understanding now. No wonder the item descriptions didn't classify them as evolution stones or similar props.
While Chris was processing this information, Kubfu had already taken action.
The determined Kubfu opened both the Scroll of Darkness and the Scroll of Waters. He looked at the Scroll of Darkness first, then examined the Scroll of Waters carefully, and finally studied both scrolls together, comparing their techniques and philosophies.
Soon, Kubfu began practicing various moves as if no one else was present, completely absorbed in his training.
Seeing that Kubfu did not immediately evolve after studying the hanging scrolls, Chris felt relieved. It seemed that his Kubfu might truly be able to create an entirely new style after all.
"Your Kubfu has been trained exceptionally well," Mustard praised after observing Kubfu practice his moves for a while. "He has a very solid foundation, masters an impressively wide range of moves, and possesses quite remarkable talent."
Chris nodded in agreement, feeling proud.
Kubfu's Fighting-type talent was probably the strongest among all of his Pokémon team.
After all, it was a Legendary Pokémon from the Fighting type, so its natural talents were extraordinarily high.
He had been personally trained by Blaziken since he was young, and he frequently spent time training alongside Pokémon like Greninja and Slaking.
Moves like Force Palm, Low Sweep, Brick Break, Rock Smash, and other fundamental or advanced power-generating techniques came naturally to him. Combined with continuous Bulk Up training and Chris's considerable investment of resources in the young fighter's development, Kubfu had grown remarkably strong.
Even in the Kubfu stage, it could defeat other Kubfu that were over level twenty simply by relying on superior physical conditioning and refined technique alone.
Chris honestly couldn't imagine how he could train it to be any stronger than it already was. What he had been eagerly looking forward to was seeing how much its combat effectiveness would increase when it received the transformative power that came with evolving into an Urshifu.
He had estimated that it would likely become a solid mid-tier member of his first team lineup.
But now it seemed that if Kubfu could successfully create his own unique style, he might be able to surpass all of Chris's other Pokémon and directly claim the top spot as his Trump Card.
Chris found himself genuinely looking forward to seeing what form Kubfu would take after evolution.
"...Kubfu!"
Suddenly, a brilliant light illuminated the entire training gym.
It burst forth from Kubfu's body—he was evolving right now!
"Wait, weren't you going to create your own style? How did you evolve so quickly?" Chris exclaimed in shock.
Mustard also looked surprised. "So what happened? Did it decide to embrace one of the existing styles after all? Or did it actually manage to create an entirely new style already?"
Both trainers stared intently at the evolving Kubfu, hardly daring to blink.
The bright light gradually began to dissipate.
An Urshifu now stood before the two of them.
It still displayed the same color scheme of black, white, and gray fur, but something about its appearance seemed distinctly different from the Urshifu of both the Single Strike Style and the Rapid Strike Style.
The Single Strike Style Urshifu's fur typically stood on end, especially during battle, giving observers a sense of overwhelming momentum and explosive combat power ready to be unleashed.
The Rapid Strike Style Urshifu had slightly thicker and drooping fur that hung down somewhat, with the longer hair making them look like weathered fishermen wearing rain cloaks who dominated the cold rivers with their flowing techniques.
Now the Urshifu standing before Chris and Mustard had fur that was neither particularly long nor short, neither standing completely upright nor drooping down. Its face looked younger and more vibrant than either existing style, giving observers the impression of something bright, surging forward with power, and brimming with endless vitality and potential.
If the Single Strike Style Urshifu looked like a vigorous middle-aged warrior at the peak of his power, and the Rapid Strike Style Urshifu resembled a mysterious elderly master with hidden depths, then Chris's Urshifu looked like an energetic young martial artist with unlimited vitality and room for growth.
"I believe he has successfully created his own new martial arts style," Mustard observed thoughtfully. "But I'm curious to know exactly what style it represents."
Chris hurriedly checked the status screen of his newly evolved Urshifu. He couldn't wait to see what kind of martial arts master his dedicated Kubfu had become.