Good thing Jiang Feng had the Ash Ketchum physique—it hurt like hell, but watching that Proficiency gauge skyrocket? His grin bloomed like a Gloom in a fertilizer bath.
One thousand, three thousand, five thousand, six thousand, six-five, seven thousand… wait, why'd it stop?
Move, damn it!
Combusken's raging inferno finally fizzled, netting a juicy 7,000 Proficiency points. No more juice to squeeze, so Jiang Feng flipped his tone faster than a Ditto in a cosplay contest:
"But… hear me out."
"Even if it's a walking disaster with zero redeeming qualities, I'd never ditch it."
With years of web novel wisdom, Jiang Feng knew the drill: Pokémon with flaws like these? Prime protagonist material!
Congenital defect! Stunted growth!
Rebellious punk! Untamed wild card!
Check those boxes, and you've got a hidden gem—guaranteed to have some OP trait. A total diamond in the rough!
Flawed Pokémon? That's the protagonist's bread and butter!
Normal starters? Not in this MC's story!
Combusken was definitely a sleeper hit. Only a fool would swap out their starter!
With that, Jiang Feng struck a righteous pose. "One day as its Trainer, a lifetime as its Trainer—I'm ride-or-die!"
"They say, 'A day as your mentor, a lifetime as your dad!'"
"You're the one, Combusken!"
Naïve Combusken's eyes welled up, nearly squirting two streams of Horsey tears!
It slowly unclamped its beak, gently licking Jiang Feng's bloody arm.
This Trainer? He's a keeper!
"Why, though? That's… not a smart move," Nie Zi said, setting down his notebook, staring puzzled.
Even Mali was shook. As classmates, she knew Jiang Feng and Combusken were the class's resident benchwarmers.
Knowing Combusken's a dud and still sticking with it?
What's the deal?
Just 'cause it's got that Super Blaze Hottie vibe?
Is hotness justice?!
Jiang Feng rested a hand on Combusken's head. "Flaws? Don't care. In my eyes, every defect's a sparkling feature!"
"Even if the world ditches it, I'll be its No. 1 stan!"
Yo, that's the spirit…!
Combusken's eyes gleamed like a Shiny Charizard. Never noticed before, but this Trainer's kinda dope!
From now on, it'd listen up, train hard, and make its Trainer twice as happy!
But, uh, those Swinub hooves? Non-negotiable.
As always: The Blaze Clan kneels to no one—unless you're serving all-you-can-eat!
Jiang Feng smoothed its head feathers, voice deep and resolute: "This bond? Like a dad to his son. You get me, right?"
Dad to son…?
In the name of the father? Adoptive dad vibes?
Combusken: Suddenly wants to whip out a Fangtian Halberd and stab someone…!
Nie Zi blinked, stunned. Raising a Pokémon like a turtleneck son?
Even if it's a delinquent, it's your delinquent?
He gave Jiang Feng a long look, sighing. "Didn't expect you, a kid, to have such high ideals. No wonder you wrote a song with that depth."
"My bad, I was thinking too small."
Jiang Feng: Duh, gotta keep the vibes big! No reverse splits, or I'm leaving a one-star review!
Mali, watching quietly, gave him a new look. A guy who doesn't ditch his Pokémon? Major bonus points!
Nie Zi dropped the advice, glancing at his notebook. "Combusken's claws are sharp. Focus on training its claws and legs—go for physical attack, warrior style."
Physical warrior, huh?
No Fire moves for now? Fine, lean into Fighting-type skills!
"Here's a basic training plan. Use it to tailor a regimen for Combusken's build."
Jiang Feng nodded, scanning the list: obstacle sprints, push-ups, squats, sit-ups, frog jumps, pull-ups—basic stuff to boost core strength and stamina.
Solid training should juice up move Proficiency.
"Slap on these magnetic weight bands for better results," Nie Zi said, handing over two.
High-tech magnetic weight bands, auto-adjusting to fit any Pokémon's wrists, legs, or waist. Super secure, no movement hindrance.
Trainers could tweak the electromagnetic force via a phone app to adjust weight—fancy and convenient.
These bands? Easily a few grand each.
Following Nie Zi's advice, Jiang Feng started Combusken on light weights, planning to ramp up later.
Nie Zi and his Obstagoon demoed the gear. "Your Pokémon's body is its foundation—strength, speed, reaction, energy control, energy storage. That's where training starts."
Jiang Feng coached Combusken to follow along.
Feeling its weakness and its Trainer's loyalty, Combusken got fired up, training like a beast.
With the bands adjusted, it started with a warm-up jog, then hit obstacle sprints, push-ups, squats, sit-ups, frog jumps, pull-ups…
Ten reps per set, six sets with weights—Combusken was wrecked.
All that earlier? Yeeted to the stratosphere. So tired, don't wanna move. Feels like I got scammed!
If only it had a Swinub hoof right now…
Jiang Feng's Aura picked up that desperate craving. He rolled his eyes, tossing it a hoof. "Go play."
The basic drills helped, but they mostly boosted physical stats, not move Proficiency.
After a break, it was time for targeted Scratch training.
"Scratch is a basic move—low power but fast, the foundation of all claw attacks," Nie Zi explained.
"Basic moves are the bedrock. Solidify them, strengthen the body, and your Pokémon will go far. High-power moves will come naturally later."
Jiang Feng nodded like a bobblehead. Gym Leader's got game!
"Moves boil down to power, accuracy, and speed. Focus on those."
"This is the basic sim room. Machines launch rubber balls at the Pokémon in the circle."
The training room was a 10x10x10 cube, walled with clear glass for Trainers to monitor and adjust.
Wall switches controlled the machines' force and frequency.
The Pokémon stood in a circle, blocking frontal rubber balls. The sloped floor recycled scattered balls automatically—no manual pickup needed.
The balls? Specially made, tough enough that Combusken couldn't break them.
Sweet gear!
Training here would skyrocket Scratch Proficiency!
Combusken, fresh off a hoof, stood in the circle at Jiang Feng's urging, smacking its lips and eyeing the room curiously.
Jiang Feng, knowing his limits, started on the lowest setting. One machine fired a rubber ball at Combusken.
The ball shot like a cannon, straight for Combusken's noggin…
Caught off guard, it took a direct hit, squawking as it flopped to the ground, a visible lump sprouting on its forehead.
"Get it together, Clucky! Claw those balls away!"