Catching the faint fragrance at the tip of his nose, Lucas rolled over comfortably and used "Rollout" on the bed.
Lucas rolled to the edge of the bed and, without the slightest hesitation, continued rolling down onto the floor.
Duang~
"Ah, my head!"
Lucas's scream opened up a new, beautiful day at the Breeding House.
Cynthia walked into the room from the balcony and saw Lucas just climbing up from the floor, his hand still clutching the back of his head.
"?"
Cynthia looked at Lucas, who was climbing up from the floor, her face full of confusion. "How did you sleep your way onto the floor?"
"Who removed my carpet?"
Lucas's voice and Cynthia's voice rang out at the same time.
Lucas looked at Cynthia standing at the balcony door, holding his head and tilting it. "Eh? Cynthia, why are you in my room?"
Cynthia: ?
Gothitelle also floated in from the balcony at this moment, meeting Lucas's clear eyes with an expressionless face.
It exchanged a glance with Cynthia.
Cynthia: Did he fall stupid?
Gothitelle: Pretty much.
Lucas rubbed the large bump on the back of his head and took a look at the surrounding environment.
I remember now! This isn't my room!
I was wondering why my comfortable carpet had disappeared, and why my comfortable Ninetales baby had run off on its own. So, this isn't my room.
Then whose room is this?
Our Cabbage Sister is also here.
Right! I was sleeping in Cabbage Sister's room yesterday! No wonder!
Thinking about how he was sleeping with the fragrant and soft Cabbage Sister yesterday, Lucas couldn't help but show a silly smile.
"Heh—heh—heh—"
No wonder this room smells so good—
So it's Cabbage Sister's room—
Lucas took a deep breath, feeling refreshed.
After Cynthia returned to the Breeding House yesterday, she fulfilled what she had promised Lucas. The two, who had been dating for a long time, finally slept in the same bed.
Of course, it was just sleeping together; nothing else happened.
Cynthia felt it wasn't time yet, while Lucas felt it needed a sense of ritual.
Of course, it wasn't the case that they had trouble sleeping the first time they lay in the same bed. On the contrary, when the two lay on the bed, their hearts were incredibly calm. After Lucas boldly took Cynthia into his arms, within half an hour, both of them had closed their eyes and fallen into a deep sleep.
The gracidea flower played a huge role in this.
Overall, both of them slept exceptionally well last night. Everything about their relationship was so natural—meeting by chance, then developing feelings for each other through long-term companionship (not Lucas, he had feelings early on), and then reaching the point where both understood each other's hearts, waiting for that battle.
Then to last night's embrace and sleep, everything happened as naturally as a boat going with the current.
Lucas walked out to the balcony and stretched comfortably.
Cynthia, Gothitelle, Lilligant, and Garchomp were sitting on the balcony drinking tea and chatting. Gengar was doing yoga with Lucario, while Ninetales was lying in the corner of the balcony sunbathing, though the corner seemed a little crowded for it.
"Good morning, everyone."
Lucas said softly.
"Good morning."
"Gen gengar"
"kao!"
"Lilli~"
"Gothitelle."
"Lucario."
"Gengar, don't bend anymore; you can't touch your toes."
Gengar: Mind your own business!
Gothitelle: What would you like to drink?
"honey water, please."
Gothitelle nodded, purple light flashing in its eyes. Soon, a glass of honey water floated from the kitchen to the balcony and stopped in front of Lucas.
Lucas: ?
"psychic power can be used like this?"
Lucas said in surprise.
Gothitelle had a calm expression, as if it were doing something very ordinary.
Lucas took a sip of honey water and looked at Cynthia curiously. "What are you all talking about? Can I listen?"
Lucas took two steps toward them, then stepped back.
Lucas raised his hands and retreated to Ninetales's side. "Not listening, not listening, don't be impulsive."
Seeing Lucas retreat outside the safe zone, Garchomp finally put away its scythe.
Another day of being disliked.
Lucas took another sip of honey water, resting his hands on the balcony railing, looking at the backyard of the Breeding House and the distance, a vast expanse of green.
"Speaking of which, summer is almost here."
"I remember you said you came to the Sinnoh region in the summer, right?"
Cynthia stood up, came to Lucas's side, and asked while looking at the backyard with him.
Lucas nodded.
"Time flies—a year has passed just like that."
Lucas sighed suddenly.
Days passed silently amidst the noise of the Breeding House. The Breeding House, which originally had only a few people, has now developed to be so lively.
Cynthia looked at Lucas beside her. He had grown into a Champion in less than a year.
Cynthia didn't speak again; the two just watched the backyard quietly.
After watching the scenery for a while, Lucas finished the honey water in the cup and stood up straight. "Let's go eat breakfast. There are still battles to fight today."
Lucas and Cynthia went downstairs, and Leon and the others were already eating breakfast.
"When did Leon come back last night? I thought you guys weren't coming back and intended to spend a beautiful night under the beautiful starry sky."
Lucas teased Leon and Sonia, who were eating breakfast at the counter.
"Because there are still battles to watch today, we rushed back last night."
Leon stuffed a fried dough stick into his mouth and spoke while chewing.
He quite likes eating fried dough sticks; freshly fried ones are crispy, crunchy, and fragrant. Paired with a mouthful of soy milk, it's simply human happiness.
No wonder other Champions run over whenever they have free time, with such rich meals three times a day. If it weren't for the Galar region being so far from the Sinnoh region, he would want to come over often too.
"Kid Lucas, we plan to go back tomorrow."
Mustard said to Lucas, who had just sat down.
"Tomorrow? So soon?"
Lucas took the tofu pudding handed over by Gothitelle and, before he could eat it, was stunned when he heard what Mustard said.
"Because my match is already over, Leon can't leave the League for too long, the dojo can't be left unattended for a long time, and Little Honey is also a bit homesick."
Mustard said.
"Everything here is beautiful, but it's not the place where I've lived for decades after all."
Honey, sitting next to Mustard, said.
"The Martial Arts Tournament should be over in these two days, right?"
Leon asked.
Lucas nodded, looked down to eat a mouthful of tofu pudding—sweet and delicious—and then said: "After all, there aren't many participants this time, and everyone can only use one Pokémon. The time will be tighter, and the progress will be faster. Today should be the quarter-finals, and it will end tomorrow."
"That's good. We'll just make it in time for the finals, and we'll go back after watching."
Mustard pinched his eyebrows and then smiled, "Not to mention, this Martial Arts Tournament you organized really has substance. Although the number of participants is small, and the venue isn't that flashy, in terms of the quality of participants, I estimate that no fighting tournament in the world can have as much substance as your Martial Arts Tournament."
"After all, almost all the famous fighters in the world have arrived."
Sonia added from the side.
"It's just a pity that Dynamax isn't allowed."
Leon also added.
Hearing Leon's words, Lucian's eyes twitched. He glanced at Gothitelle and then lowered his head to continue enjoying his breakfast.
With Gothitelle there, he doesn't need to worry.
After breakfast, the group arrived at the venue. Within a quarter of an hour, the stands were already filled with all kinds of snacks, desserts, and drinks.
Lucas stood at the railing, holding his phone and looking at the schedule sent to him by the official.
"Let me see, who is my opponent this morning—saw it. Eh? I'm fighting Elite Marshal?"
Lucas looked at the schedule on the screen, him VS Marshal, and raised his eyebrows.
Lucian also looked down at his phone. "It's the first battle, the opening battle of the day."
"As for Marshal—I remember his ace seems to be a Conkeldurr."
Cynthia, holding Lika in her arms, said.
Lucian pushed his glasses. "The ace is Conkeldurr, and the ability is Sheer Force."
Lucas looked at Lucian. "How do you know?"
Lucian gestured to the phone in his hand. "The information is registered on the League, don't you have it?"
"—I am the owner of the Breeding House."
Lucian: !
"Oh, sorry, I always forget you are not a staff member of our League."
"I am an unofficial member, the kind of unofficial member who does all the dirty and tiring work."
"You seem very reluctant?"
The voice of being pitted came. Sonia, sitting next to Leon, shuddered and then sat closer to Leon.
Lucas showed the standard Breeding House smile. "Not at all. Alright, Dash and I will go prepare first. Goodbye."
"Uncle, good luck." "Uncle, goodbye."
Shauna and Tomoyo said at the same time.
The people remaining in the stands of the Breeding House waited for the match to begin.
"It's a new day, a new beginning, and our competition will reach a new peak!"
The muscular referee showed off his muscles as usual. Standing on the flying device, he held a hot pink microphone. "Today's Martial Arts Tournament will be kicked off by the battle between two very powerful opponents. Are you ready?"
The atmosphere at the scene was as enthusiastic as ever.
"Next, let us invite the contestant for today's opening battle, one of the Elite Four from the Unova region. Like Elite Four Bruno, he is also a powerful Fighting-type Elite, contestant Marshal!"
Cheers were endless.
"Next is his opponent, the plain and unremarkable Breeding House owner. We still have fresh memories of his battle with Mustard yesterday. Let us invite contestant Lucas!"
Lucas walked out of the contestant tunnel amidst the cheers and came to the field.
No wonder so many people like to walk out of the contestant tunnel slowly. It turns out that walking out amidst the cheers of the audience is such a wonderful thing.
"Lucas, let's have a full-strength battle."
After Marshal finished speaking, he threw out his Poké Ball. After the Poké Ball landed, two huge pillars smashed onto the field, and a pair of giant hands immediately grabbed them tightly.
In front of Lucas, Dash, with four arms, protected him firmly behind.
The battle was on the verge of breaking out.
"Dash, Dynamic Punch."
Forget what Pokémon it is, just punch it first.
"Counter with quick hands."
Conkeldurr dodged Dash's Dynamic Punch and then swung the pillars in its hands, smashing them fiercely toward Dash.
Dash took a few steps back and stood straight, its four fists clenched tightly.
Although canceling the additional effect can make the move more powerful, for Dash, its arms were only slightly numb.
"Stone Edge!"
The pillars in Conkeldurr's hands smashed fiercely into the ground, and then huge stones emerged from the underground, surging toward Dash.
"Smash them, Dynamic Punch."
Dash clenched its four fists, actively meeting the Stone Edge, its fists waving continuously, smashing all the stones.
"Hammer Arm!"
The white light on Conkeldurr's arms spread to the stone pillars in its hands, and then it rotated and smashed toward Dash.
"Close Combat!"
Fists and stone pillars collided continuously, and the roaring sound resounded through the entire venue.
During the battle with Dash, the vibration transmitted back from the palms made Conkeldurr almost unable to hold onto the stone pillars.
Conkeldurr: Such great strength!
Dash blocked Conkeldurr's stone pillars, then punched Conkeldurr, forcing it back.
"Seize the opportunity, Dynamic Punch."
Dash took advantage of the victory to pursue.
"Conkeldurr, use the stone pillars to defend."
Conkeldurr slammed the two stone pillars side by side into the ground, stood behind the stone pillars, and supported the stone pillars with its hands, forming a shield made of stone pillars.
Dash's fist slammed into the stone pillars, and the powerful force made Conkeldurr unable to help but take a step back.
Conkeldurr gritted its teeth, desperately holding up the stone pillars.
Where did this monster come from! How is its strength so great!
Conkeldurr looked at the cracks slowly appearing on the stone pillars, its heart aching terribly.
Lucas looked at Conkeldurr, who was playing with the two pillars, and gritted his teeth.
Playing with two broken sticks, do you really think you are Optimus Prime?!
Take a punch from my Dash!
"Dash, use Dynamic Punch to smash it!"
"Just now, open the distance from it."
Dash gathered strength and punched the stone pillar. The stone pillar flew backward following Dash's force. Conkeldurr borrowed the power of the stone pillar and flew backward together, opening the distance between itself and Dash.
"Dynamic Punch, throw it out!"
Conkeldurr let out a muffled roar, the white light on its arms flared, and then it threw the stone pillar in its hand toward Dash with force, while quickly closing the distance between itself and Dash.
"Avoid it!"
Dash had just grabbed the stone pillar flying toward it, and the next second, Conkeldurr appeared in front of it, punching it hard in the stomach.
Dash's body kept retreating, plowing two deep trenches on the ground. It stabilized its body and looked at Conkeldurr opposite.
Holding two broken sticks is annoying me to death.
Dash gritted its teeth, ready to throw the pillars in its hands.
"Return the pillars to it."
The muscles on Dash's arms swelled instantly, veins bulging, and then it exerted force suddenly, and the two stone pillars flew back toward Conkeldurr.
The sound of breaking through the air came, and Marshal's pupils shrank.
"Quick, avoid!"
Conkeldurr leaned back, and taking advantage of this time, Dash had already arrived beside it.
"Hammer Arm!"
As soon as the white light appeared on Conkeldurr's arms, its arms were locked by Dash with its large and powerful palms.
"That's it, Crush Grip!"
Marshal: ?!!
What is this?!
Dash hugged Conkeldurr tightly, and its four arms kept applying force. Conkeldurr let out a painful sound.
So you're the only one with two broken sticks, right?! So you like using sticks, right! See if I don't crush you!
Lucas looked at the way Dash used Crush Grip, and the corners of his mouth twitched.
I remember that Crush Grip move is to grab the opponent in the palm with your palm, and then clench your palm to squeeze the opponent, right?
How did it become—a girl's bear hug kill in Dash's hands?
Dash is also a girl, so there is no difference.
Conkeldurr struggled desperately, but couldn't break free.
The size difference is there, and Conkeldurr itself relies on stone pillars to attack, and its own strength is not very great, so it can only let Dash squeeze it continuously.
Seeing that Conkeldurr was about to lose consciousness, Dash loosened its arms, threw it out, then followed up, picked up the two stone pillars stuck in the ground, and crossed them into a cross.
"Cross Chop!"
Boom!
The stone pillars, which were already full of cracks, were completely shattered into slag after being smashed by Dash onto their original owner.
And its owner, Conkeldurr, was lying on the ground, sleeping soundly.
Dash: Let you use weapons! See if I don't beat you to death!
Lucas: This wave, this wave is called Lin Daiyu beating Lu Zhishen!
The muscular referee came over to check Conkeldurr's condition and then announced that Lucas had won the battle.
The cheers at the scene almost blew the roof of the venue off.
Lucas clapped his hands.
Warm-up battle, perfectly completed.
"Ma Machamp"
Thanks for the advice.
"Thanks for the advice, a narrow victory."
Marshal: —
Narrow victory?!!
***************************
Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you're enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌