"Alola."
Bai Chen stood outside the school gate, waiting.
After a few minutes, Lillie appeared — Mallow beside her, bright as always.
"Alola," Bai Chen greeted with a small wave.
"Alola!"
Mallow jogged the last few steps toward him, eyes shining with curiosity.
"So, Mr. Bai, what kind of Pokémon are you planning to catch today?"
"Something that can inflict status conditions — or control the field.
Lillie suggested I look for a Grimer."
"Ah, I see," Mallow nodded.
"If it's Grimer you're after, I've seen a whole group near the berry orchard.
It's not far — you could find one there."
"Berry orchard, huh? Let me check the map."
Bai Chen unfolded a digital map of Alola, tracing his finger across the islands.
Four natural islands — Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni — and one artificial island in the center.
That man-made island belonged to the Aether Foundation.
To Lusamine.
To Lillie's family.
Their school stood here, on Melemele Island, home to the largest city in the region — Hau'oli City.
The orchard Mallow mentioned was right on the outskirts of Hau'oli, barely a couple of kilometers away.
A short walk.
"It's close enough," Bai Chen said, rolling up the map.
"We'll go on foot."
He slung the iron blade across his back.
"That's a big sword," Mallow said, eyes gleaming. "Can I see it?"
"Sure. But be careful — it's a live blade."
She took it gingerly.
The weight dragged her arms down immediately.
"It's so heavy… you actually fight with this thing?"
"All the time."
"Wow…"
Mallow drew the blade halfway.
The cold light off its edge stung her eyes — sharp enough to make her instinctively flinch.
Then a thought struck her.
"Oh! I heard rumors the other day — Team Skull's grunts got beaten up by some mysterious guy with a sword!
They said he even tore apart their noisy motorbikes."
Lillie froze.
She didn't need to guess who that "mysterious guy" was.
"That… wasn't you, was it, Mr. Bai?"
Bai Chen chuckled, waving the question away.
"Who knows? Maybe there's another swordsman wandering Melemele Island.
Anyway, let's get going."
He reclaimed his blade and started ahead.
None of them noticed the pair of eyes watching from the nearby grass — eyes locked on the gleaming iron at his back, filled with hunger and envy.
They walked barely eight hundred meters when the brush ahead began to rustle.
Gray shapes slinked from the shadows.
Dozens of narrow eyes glinted in the sunlight.
Lillie's voice caught.
"Meowth… and Meowth Prime!?"
Bai Chen's gaze hardened.
"Well, look who it is — old acquaintances."
Nearly twenty Meowth surrounded them, tails flicking, claws ready.
He recognized them instantly — the same mob that had attacked Lillie days ago.
"Looks like they've been waiting for us," Lillie murmured.
"According to the Pokédex, Meowth are very proud. They must be holding a grudge for losing last time."
"Then let's teach them a lesson," Mallow snapped, reaching for her Poké Ball.
But Bai Chen raised a hand.
"Hold it. I'm still on duty. Let me handle this."
He smiled faintly.
"Can't waste good experience points, can I?"
Lillie tugged Mallow back a few paces.
"Let Mr. Bai take care of it."
The Meowth tightened the circle.
Their fur bristled — vengeance in their eyes.
Bai Chen unsheathed his blade, steel humming in the air.
But before he could move, a low growl rose from behind him.
From inside his backpack, a small black head emerged — golden eyes glowing.
"You… want to fight?"
Nergigante nodded once.
She leapt free of the pack, landing heavily in front of him.
Ever since losing to Bewear, she'd been different — hungrier, fiercer.
Bai Chen smiled faintly and sheathed his sword.
"Alright then. Your first request… granted.
These enemies are yours."
He lifted the bond stone.
"Let's show them — grow, Nergigante!"
Black wings unfurled with a thunderclap.
Her body expanded, muscle and scale swelling until she loomed like a bull, horns scraping the air.
The sun vanished behind her wings.
Golden eyes burned as she glared at the Meowth Prime.
"What kind of Pokémon is that!?" Mallow gasped, stars practically sparkling in her eyes.
"Incredible…" Lillie whispered.
The Meowth trembled.
That ancient pressure — the unmistakable will of an Elder Dragon — poured over them.
Several simply dropped where they stood, legs shaking.
"Nergigante," Bai Chen commanded,
"use Extinction Smash."
With a roar, Nergigante folded her wings forward like shields and charged.
Her momentum tore straight through the Meowth line.
"Follow up — Extinction Palm!"
She reared up, right arm swelling with power, then slammed it down.
Boom — !
The ground cracked open.
Wind blasted outward, forcing everyone to cover their eyes.
"Meooowth!"
The Meowth Prime snarled an order — Charge!
The horde pounced.
Claws flashed, teeth bit — Scratch!Bite!
But the moment their fangs hit her spines, pain shot through them.
Their attacks broke on her scales.
"A level-15 Nergigante," Bai Chen said calmly,
"isn't something you kittens can handle."
From the hillside, countless stars flashed —
Swift.
The Meowth Prime was attacking from range.
"Then let's end this. Target the leader — Extinction Palm!"
Nergigante spread her wings and surged upward, striking toward the hill.
The claw smashed through rock — but the leader darted aside at the last instant.
He landed, jewel on his forehead glowing blue, and fired a beam.
The light struck Nergigante's wing.
The spines shattered.
"A new move?"
Bai Chen's eyes narrowed as the system scanned the opponent.
[Meowth Prime — Lv 25]
New Move: Power Gem
Ability: Fur Coat — Halves damage from physical attacks.
"So it's basically the same as Bewear's Fluffy trait…"
The battlefield suddenly mirrored that fight — brute force versus defense.
Bai Chen smirked.
"So that's it. You wanted to fight because you remembered that loss, didn't you?"
He lifted the bond stone high.
"Alright then… take this skill, Nergigante."
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