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The Magnemite, Magneton, and Skarmory, hearing their leader's call, immediately stopped, somewhat guilty.
They all looked at Steelix with slightly awkward expressions, their eyes filled with a hint of ingratiation.
Seeing this, Lionel smiled and took out the remaining Energy Cubes and food, distributing them to all the Pokémon present, including Steelix and Tyrantrum.
"Come on, everyone, have a taste. Consider it my way of apologizing."
The sweet aroma of the energy cubes and food filled the air, attracting all the Pokémon, who eagerly began to eat.
The previous tension and unpleasantness seemed to melt away at that moment.
When the dust settled completely, the wind of Steel Canyon, carrying fine pebbles, swept across the exposed rock walls, carrying a sense of peace and tranquility.
Lionel watched the group of Pokémon happily munching on the energy cubes and food and decided to stay in Steel Canyon for a few more days.
Steelix's strength was undeniable; it could serve as a sparring partner for his Pokémon.
Moreover, the geological environment of Steel Canyon was unique, filled with metal ores; perhaps there would be some unexpected gains.
Once this idea took root, it was like a seed that could no longer be suppressed.
Metang relayed Lionel's message to Steelix. The Steelix paused, its massive head tilting slightly, seemingly pondering Lionel's intentions as an "outsider."
But glancing at its underlings still eyeing Lionel's food, it wagged its tail at him, tacitly agreeing.
Having received Steelix's "approval," Lionel immediately set up camp in Steel Canyon.
Lionel chose a large, sheltered rock hollow as his temporary campsite.
After clearing a flat area, he laid out a sleeping mat and arranged his sleeping bag and other belongings from his backpack.
In less than half an hour, a makeshift shelter was complete.
In the days that followed, Steel Canyon became Lionel's temporary training base.
Steelix naturally became the perfect sparring partner for Lionel's Pokémon.
Especially the Tyrantrum, since encountering this enormous opponent, it seemed to have found a "natural ally."
Every day at dawn, it would excitedly run to the cave where the Steelix dwelled, letting out a low growl at the entrance, a roar full of challenge.
At first, the Steelix acted somewhat aloof, responding only three or four times out of ten.
But gradually, it seemed to become enamored with this evenly matched contest.
After all, having spent so much time in the canyon, it had few worthy opponents.
Later, whenever the Tyrantrum issued a challenge, the Steelix would unhesitatingly crawl out of its cave and engage the Tyrantrum in combat on the canyon's open ground.
Initially, the Tyrantrum insisted on using its "iron head" to clash head-on with the Steelix, as if trying to see whose head was harder.
As a result, after each collision, the Steelix would grimace in pain, its head taking a long time to recover.
After several attempts, it finally "learned its lesson" and began trying to use other skills in battle.
Not only that, the two Pokémon even exchanged their different understandings of the "Sandstorm" move.
The Tyrantrum's strategy was to hide in the sandstorm, take the opportunity to use "Dragon Dance" to boost its status, and then launch an attack.
The Steelix, on the other hand, was better at turning the sandstorm into a flowing barrier to defend against the opponent's attacks.
Whenever the Tyrantrum attacked the Steelix with a Rock move, it would create a fine, flowing cloud of sand.
Like a river of sand, it absorbed most of the attack's power.
The Steelix was also very generous, patiently teaching the Tyrantrum. Through these back-and-forth battles, the Tyrantrum gradually learned the technique of using sandstorms for defense.
The two would even work together to create a wider sandstorm, practicing their precise control of the Sandstorm move amidst the swirling sand.
Steelix also taught Tyrantrum how to use the Quicksand Abyss skill.
Manipulating the power of sand and rocks to alter the terrain, trapping enemies in the Quicksand Abyss.
Metang's minions—the Magneton and Magnemite—also became Metang's "teachers."
Many Magneton and the stronger Magnemite were proficient in the Magnet Rise skill.
Seeing Metang constantly practicing this skill, they proactively approached to impart their experience.
"Zzzzz—"
A lead Magneton flew to Metang's side, a faint yellow current emanating from its body.
It slowly demonstrated to Metang how to more efficiently manipulate electromagnetic energy, allowing its body to levitate lightly in the air.
Even more remarkably, these Magneton could also work together to create "Electric Fields."
As pale blue currents intertwined on the ground, a faint electric shock filled the air.
Metang clearly felt its sensitivity to electromagnetic energy had become much more acute.
Practicing its Magnet Rise skill became twice as effective.
To help Metang master the skill more quickly, the smaller Magneton monsters with "magnetic" properties would take turns interfering with it using varying intensities of magnetic force.
Sometimes they would suddenly approach, causing abrupt changes in the magnetic field that disrupted Metang's levitation trajectory;
Other times, they would collectively release opposing magnetic forces, forcing Metang to adjust its internal energy to counteract them.
At first, Metang was flustered and nearly fell several times due to the disrupted magnetic fields.
But it quickly calmed down and struggled to maintain its balance amidst the various interferences.
Over time, Metang quickly adapted to this pressure training; its Magnet Rise skill proficiency rapidly improved, and even its control over its telekinesis became incredibly refined. Milotic focused its attention on teaching Larvesta.
Just as it had taught the Tyrunt in the desert, it patiently guided Larvesta on the techniques of using skills.
Especially the trick of "multitasking"!
This ability to use two skills simultaneously is crucial for Larvesta's future development of combo skills.
Larvesta, having lived alone before, had never learned this method of skill usage.
At first, it was extremely anxious:
either it would focus on one skill while forgetting the other;
or the energies of the two skills would interfere with each other, resulting in completely ineffective skills.
Milotic didn't rush it, but instead, while drawing a gentle stream of water with its tail, it spewed fine mist of ice from its mouth.
It slowly demonstrated to Larvesta how to use the two skills without conflict, each fulfilling its purpose.
Larvesta lay on the ground, tilting its head, watching Milotic's demonstration again and again, watching with utmost concentration.
Under Milotic's careful guidance, the Larvesta gradually got the hang of it.
It learned to divide its internal energy into two streams, channeling them into different skills.
Although it wasn't yet proficient, it could occasionally successfully unleash two skills simultaneously.
Whenever this happened, it would be incredibly excited, the flames spewing from its antennae exceptionally bright.
During this time, Lionel also rode a Skarmory from the canyon to Fallarbor Town to replenish supplies and Pokémon food.