Returning outside the city, Kebi released all six of his Pokémon and solemnly announced:
"I don't want to lie to you all. The Electricity Cup's Champion reward is very valuable, and we must get it. So, the next three days of training will be very tough. Are you afraid?"
Piplup puffed out his chest and shouted with full vigor.
"Piplup!"
Chimchar was even more direct, his fists burning with flames.
Seeing his two companions so excited, Seedot felt he also needed to do something, so he aimed at the sky and fired a Seed Machine Gun.
Treecko was still young; he didn't understand anything. Seeing Seedot use Seed Machine Gun, he also followed suit.
It was just that Seedot aimed at the sky, while Treecko fired directly forward.
Fortunately, Kebi was quick-eyed and quick-handed, rolling to the left on the spot.
Slowly standing up, he patted off the dirt.
"Very good! I can see that you all really want the honor of being Champion. So, let's begin our training for today now."
The training content was simple: Piplup, Chimchar, Seedot, and Treecko, all four together, would conduct simulated combat against Fearow.
As an apprentice learning Drill Peck and Breeze Riding under Fearow, Piplup knew best how strong Fearow was.
Piplup’s Drill Peck would only make a small dent in a rock.
Fearow could directly drill a hole straight through a rock.
Fearow's Drill Peck was not only powerful, but its control was also superb.
Otherwise, the rock wouldn't be punctured, but shattered.
If the four of them fought Fearow, it would be one wing flap per youngster.
Fearow's eyes were filled with excitement, and he impatiently flapped his wings, ready to have a good time with his little brothers.
"Caw! Caw!"
The newborn Treecko was not afraid of Fearow, and he eagerly wagged his soft yet tough green tail.
It seemed he intended to use this tail to give Fearow's face a good kiss.
Seedot stood still, looking as if he was scared silly, but in reality, he had already begun to ponder how to teach Fearow a lesson with Seed Machine Gun.
He had practiced Seed Machine Gun for so long, and finally, he had a chance for real combat.
How could he miss it?
Kebi took a clock from his bag, wound it up, and placed it on the ground.
"The clock is set for one hour. The rule is that the four of you only need to work together to last one hour, and as long as any one of you hasn't lost the ability to battle, you win. Understood?"
"Piplup, I appoint you as the commander of the four-person team. Do you have confidence in leading everyone to victory!"
As an outstanding Piplup from the proud Piplup Family, Kebi's words directly ignited the pride in Piplup's heart.
"Piplup!"
Even though he knew he couldn't win, he was going to try to crack a rock with an egg today!
When Kebi returned outside the city, he had already communicated the training content with Fearow in advance.
Fearow had to control the force of his attacks and the time it took to defeat Piplup and the others, to create the illusion that they were just a little bit short of winning.
Fearow’s eyes held a hint of playfulness, and he flapped his wings, taking to the sky first.
Kebi pressed the clock, and as the gears turned, the hands began to tick.
"Match start!"
Piplup immediately had Chimchar and the others disperse to the four corners of the field, while he aimed at the sky and spewed out a series of bubbles, attempting to obscure Fearow's vision.
After all, their goal was to stall for time; as long as they held out for an hour, they would win.
Fearow flapped his wings, and a spinning white Whirlwind Knife broke through the bubbles, flying directly towards Piplup, who not only didn't run but actively met it.
Piplup twisted his body and flapped his wings, easily dodging the Whirlwind Knife, whose flight path was overly clear.
Ever since being hit multiple times by Shiftry's Whirlwind Knife, Fearow had a deep understanding of the Whirlwind Knife. He mastered it after two attempts and quickly enhanced the power of the Whirlwind Knife.
Fearow smiled and likewise dived towards Piplup.
Piplup's strategy was clear: as the first big brother to join the team, he had to buy enough time for his three younger siblings.
Who knew, a series of emerald seeds rapidly flew towards Fearow.
Fearow merely twisted his body, using Aerial Ace to easily avoid them.
Kebi had long discovered that Fearow's mind was very sharp.
With just a little guidance, Fearow could learn the corresponding skills.
For example, for Aerial Ace, Kebi tried to guide Fearow to learn it based on the Aerial Ace learning methods provided by netizens.
As a result, Fearow himself drew inferences from one instance, and while Kebi was bonding with Treecko, he learned it through practice.
After more than ten days of recuperation, a layer of flesh finally appeared on Fearow's bony frame, and his feathers became fluffy and shiny.
The entire bird looked a size larger.
It is said that top Breeders can use herbs and acupressure to give Pokémon that did not receive proper nutrition during their growth period a chance for secondary development.
Kebi also hoped to find such a Breeding Master to help Fearow be reborn from the ashes.
Or he could learn herbal medicine and acupressure massage himself.
Kebi remembered that near Mauville City, there seemed to be a top Coordinator Trainer named Ayako, who had once studied under an acupressure master.
Perhaps he could ask Ayako where Dr. Masuda opened his Pokémon clinic.
Under Kebi's care, Fearow recovered some of his vitality.
【Fearow】
【lv70 lv41】
【Attribute: Keen Eye】
【Aptitude: Blue (56/100)】
But Kebi knew that with the breeding techniques he currently possessed, it would be difficult to restore Fearow to purple aptitude. Seeking higher-level breeding knowledge was one way to progress.
Another way was to train diligently like Tie Xuan and Magnezone, accumulating potential and waiting for an opportunity for ultimate sublimation.
This path was arduous and required a fortuitous encounter.
Kebi told Fearow about both paths, and Fearow clearly chose the second one.
This was where Fearow was smart.
The first path seemed feasible but was actually a castle in the air, with few points of leverage.
The second path was step by step; though slow, he could see progress.
Today, it seemed Fearow was training Piplup and the other three, but in fact, Fearow was also participating in the training.
After all, being an instructor was not that easy.
Otherwise, why was Tyranitar eating sand nearby, developing his Sandstorm Attribute, instead of being the instructor?
It's just because Tyranitar couldn't control the force of his attacks.
What if he hit too hard and seriously injured the four little brothers?
Ding-a-ling-ling~
The clock rang, and Piplup and the others were already lying on the ground, "strewn across the battlefield."
They were receiving food from Kebi.
Fearow had good judgment; he only caused them minor physical discomfort and exhaustion.
Kebi fed them nutrient solution and sprayed Potion one by one. The four little ones recovered their strength in less than half an hour.
They clamored for another battle.
Fearow swallowed the special dessert in his mouth, his reward as the victor.
He flapped his wings and flew into the sky, continuing to train with the four little ones.
They trained like this for three days. Even the most sluggish Treecko realized that the four of them combined were no match for Fearow.
The goal of holding out for an hour was simply impossible.
They couldn't help but feel a little dejected.
Kebi sat beside them, patting each of their heads.
"You must remember, on your journey of training, your greatest enemy is yourselves! You must defeat the self that says, 'I give up,' 'I can't do it,' 'Let's just leave it at that.'"
"Also, you are already very strong. Tomorrow's Electricity Cup will prove my words."