Clang...
Clang...
Clang...
Yozora and Beedrill had also begun their meditation training, balancing bowls of water with focused minds. The entire morning passed amidst the rhythmic sound of porcelain bowls shattering.
Looking at the dojo floor littered with broken shards and water stains, Master Tyron remained silent—he had long grown accustomed to this sight.
In fact, every week, he would have his disciples purchase a fresh batch of porcelain bowls, knowing they would be consumed in training.
By one in the afternoon, the Taige Gym opened its doors right on schedule to welcome challengers.
Each day, the gym accepted only a single challenger. Normally, Master Tyron would face them himself.
His strength was vast and unfathomable—at the very least, he was of Elite Four caliber, and reaching Champion level was hardly impossible.
Of course, against challengers, Master Tyron never went all out, nor did he use his true ace Pokémon.
He had raised countless Fighting-types of varying levels.
Typically, he would send out a Pokémon of comparable strength to his opponent. Even so, his overwhelming experience ensured victory more often than not.
The Taige Gym had stood for many years.
And yet, those who actually managed to earn the Boxing Badge were incredibly rare.
The fact that Yozora had earned his Boxing Badge was, to be honest, thanks entirely to Charmeleon's Blaze. Without its immense potential and that burning ability, he never would have stood a chance.
Yozora still remembered vividly the Hitmonchan Master Tyron had sent out against Charmeleon that day.
Its physical strength was extraordinary, its punches after Power-Up Punch terrifyingly strong, its speed unmatched once it hit full stride... all far beyond what its level should have allowed.
Coupled with its battle-hardened instincts and vast combat experience...
It wasn't an exaggeration to call it monstrously strong—near perfect, in fact.
From a game-like perspective, it was as though that Hitmonchan were a five-star, maybe even six-star individual, with fully maxed-out training.
And Pokémon of that caliber—Master Tyron had raised not just one, but many, across all levels.
Usually, Master Tyron personally took on the challenger.
Since the gym only allowed one attempt per day, anyone who reached this point had already proven themselves.
But if a disciple he was satisfied with happened to be present, he would sometimes pass the battle to them instead.
Should the challenger defeat the disciple, Master Tyron would still grant guidance afterward.
Yozora, notably, was one of the disciples Tyron favored. As for Ahao and the others, in his eyes, they were far less promising—no matter how much he personally taught them.
Ahao and the others were all locals.
Master Tyron loved his hometown deeply. Every few years, he would take in disciples from the town and nearby villages, never asking for payment, and train them with care.
"Junior Hong Bin, from the Johto Region. I've come today to seek Master Tyron's instruction!"
The man, about thirty years old, had a square-jawed face, tall and broad-shouldered. He wore a white martial arts uniform tied with a black belt, and a red headband across his brow. His presence radiated sturdiness and raw power.
Master Tyron glanced at him and nodded. "Yozora, you'll take this match."
Yozora stepped forward immediately.
Hong Bin frowned. "Master Tyron, I came here sincerely to learn from you. Why send out a mere youth against me?"
Tyron's gaze was indifferent. "To me, you are also a youth. This boy is a disciple I value highly. Defeat him first—then it will not be too late to challenge me."
At that, Hong Bin nodded, though his face was stern. Together, he and Yozora moved to the center of the dojo.
Hong Bin released a Machoke, while Yozora chose Charmeleon.
Machoke—the evolved form of Machop—stood tall with the physique of a grown man, heavily muscled and brimming with fighting spirit.
[Pokémon]: Machoke
[Type]: Fighting
[Rank]: Commander-tier, early stage
[Potential]: Commander-tier
[Notes]: A battle-tested Machoke with extensive experience.
"Charmeleon? Not bad. Young man, you've trained it well..."
Hong Bin gave a nod of approval when he saw Yozora's Pokémon, then smirked. "Still, I didn't expect a disciple of Master Tyron to use a Fire-type instead of a Fighting-type..."
Yozora smiled calmly. "Don't worry. I'll only use Fighting moves."
"Oh, really?"
Hong Bin sneered. "Machoke, Karate Chop!"
With a sweeping motion of his arm, Machoke charged, its hand glowing white as it swung hard toward Charmeleon.
"Too slow," Yozora said with a dismissive smile.
Charmeleon tilted its head aside, easily dodging the strike, then countered with a straight punch to Machoke's face.
It was a simple physical blow, but Machoke cried out in pain, staggering backward, badly shaken.
"Good. Compared to yesterday, Charmeleon's strength and speed have both clearly improved," Master Tyron observed quietly from the side.
In just a single day, the growth was subtle yet real.
Living so closely with Charmeleon, Yozora could hardly notice—but Tyron, with his sharp insight as a bystander and a master, could see it plain as day.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Charmeleon pressed the attack relentlessly, three more punches driving Machoke to the floor.
It hadn't used a single move. Just four strikes—ordinary punches—and Machoke was down.
"What—?! Impossible!" Hong Bin froze, eyes wide in disbelief.
He had come to Taige Gym to test himself against Master Tyron, yet he hadn't even gotten the chance. Instead, he was utterly defeated by one of the man's disciples.
But Yozora was no ordinary disciple.
After all, Master Bruno of the Elite Four had once been a disciple of the Taige Gym. Now he stood as one of Kanto's Four Heavenly Kings.
A disciple was still a disciple—but the gulf between them could be vast.
And Yozora's strength far outstripped that of Ahao and the other locals.
"Incredible, junior! Your Charmeleon is amazing. You didn't even use a move—just pure combat skill!"
"Yeah, little brother, with Charmeleon's strength and agility, you could place high in a Fighting Tournament!"
Ahao and the others rushed over, thrilled and proud to have such a strong junior among them.
But to Hong Bin, their words were staggering.
Junior?
That powerful boy was only the youngest disciple under Master Tyron?
"If even the youngest disciple is this strong... then their senior disciples—or Master Tyron himself... just how great must their strength be?!"
His eyes widened, his heart trembling in awe.
(End of Chapter)