"Are you the oo challehe Rookidee sparring partner?" The middle-aged man asked, staring at Shiro in silence.

  "That's right, let's start the battle." Shired his shoulders, and Rookidee, which had beeing on his shoulder with its eyes closed, suddenly sprang up, leaping into the air and staring at the thin middle-aged man.

  "Hmm... sleek feathers, wide wings, strong explosive legs, sharp gaze..." The man stared back at Rookidee without fear. He then grinned and added, "A good oppo."

  Shiro also stroked Rookidee, his gaze sharp and focused.

  The two of them stood motionless as the male receptionist moved to the referee's position.

  Around the battlefield, trainers began to gather, drawn by the uping match.

  Sparring partner assessments occasionally happened, but they weren't usually annouo the public, making it a rare opportunity for other traio witness one.

  These battles always attracted a crowd, as many trainers admired the strength of the stadium's sparring partners. Most had either applied for sparring or experie themselves, uanding how demanding the role was.

  The strength required here wasn’t just about the Pokémon but also about the trainer's oabilities.

  With two identical Pokémon, simir in form and level, the key to victory now relied orainer's ability. After all, the trainer was also a crucial part of the Pokémon's strength.

  Even with identical Pokémon, their upbringing would differ depending orainer's philosophy. Different training strategies and focuses would shape how the Pokémon developed.

  All these factors bined would ultimately determihe oute of the battle.

  "Alright! Now that two of you are ready, I will be the referee. The challenger—Shiro, and the challenged—Grant! Both sides will use Rookidee!" The male receptionist, wearing gsses, stood in the ter of the battlefield.

  After saying these words, he raised his hands high and walked to the side.

  At the same time, both Shiro and the thin, middle-aged man, Grant, ied their league cards into the two pilr slots.

  A faint pink psychic barrier extended from both ends, sealing off the battlefield from the spectators and the referee.

  The trainers watg from the sidelines began murmuring among themselves.

  "Rookidee, huh? Damn, I remember the Rookidee trainer hasn't ged in two or three years, right?"

  "Grant specializes in raising Rookidee. The ohat e out of his hands are guarao have excellent potential and strength. Whenever his Rookidee evolves, they're snapped up immediately."

  "He raises Rookidee and then sells them?"

  "Wow, first time hearing about this..."

  Upon hearing the discussions, the referee adjusted his gsses and then raised his hand, shouting.

  "Silence!"

  The crowd fell silent immediately. The referee tinued.

  "Now! Both trainers release your Pokémon. This battle is one-on-one. No switg Pokémon mid-battle. If one side loses their ability to fight or cedes, the battle is over!"

  "Rooki-dee!"

  Two simultaneous calls echoed.

  Shiro's Rookidee, h in mid-air, stood ready, while Grant threoké Ball into the air.

  "Roo-kee!"

  A blue bird soared into the air. Its wings were slightly lohan the usual Rookidee’s, and its beak was sharper, gleaming with a metallic sheen.

  At the sight of Grant's Rookidee, Shiro's eyes narrowed.

  It was his first time raising a Pokémon, so he khere were areas where he might have fallen short.

  But his oppo, with tless battles and experiences, had clearly honed his Rookidee in specific ways. The sharpness of the beak, in particur, seemed capable of pierg through steel.

  pared to Rookidee oher side, Shiro’s looked more like an ordinary o was slightly rger due to better feeding and rigorous training, but overall, it still had a round, pact build.

  "A Rookidee with strooral muscles ... You must have fed it some rare berries, huh?" Grant’s eerie voice drifted from across the battlefield. The moment Shiro subsciously g him, Grant’s Pokémon had already taken off, fpping its slightly longer wings.

  A pale-white Tailwind stirred the air around it.

  "Air Cutter!" Shiro shouted the momeiced his oppo’s movements.

  Grant seized the initiative during Shiro's brief moment of distra. However, he quickly regained focus and gave a sharp and.

  In just a moment, a sharp-edged Air Cutter was u high speed. At the same time, the oppo's Tailwind had just finished f.

  Had Shiro been even a sed slower, his oppo would have gained a free Tailwind boht at the start. That extra speed advantage, coupled with no interference or chip damage, would have left him at an immediate disadvantage.

  ‘Sneaky bastard.’

  Shiro’s focus sharpened.

  His Rookidee’s Air Cutter struck Grant’s directly, sending a few blue feathers drifting away in the wind.

  Seeing this, Shiro wasted no time. "Quick Attack!"

  The moment its attaded, his Rookidee shot forward in a blur, streaking toward its oppo.

  "Hmm?" Grant furrowed his brow. Instead of dodging or terattag, he ordered, "Agility!"

  A faint pink glow of psychiergy enveloped Grant’s Rookidee as its speed surged.

  The Psychic-type move Agility grants a rapid speed boost, simir to Tailwind.

  The Quick Attack struck the opposing Rookidee’s forehead, nearly dispersing the faint psychiergy surrounding its body. But despite the blow, it held firm, pleting the speed enha.

  "Peck!" Shiro anded. His Rookidee, following up on its attack, turned midair and aimed its beak, now glowing a deep white, straight at its oppo.

  "Hmph! Dodge." Grant smirked, his expression sinister.

  Now, with two speed boosts stacked, Grant’s Rookidee barely o move to slip past Shiro’s attack.

  "This is troublesome." Shiro muttered, g his fist.

  Grant’s strategy was obvious—boost his Rookidee’s speed as much as possible.

  At this level, her side had access to high-powered moves, meaning Pokémon could afford to take hits while setting up.

  And in a battle between Rookidee, speed was everything.

  Shiro now uood why Grant had held the sparring partner position for years. With this strategy, any ordinary Rookidee at the Novice level wouldn’t eve a ce to nd a hit before being taken down.

  "You’ve already lost, kid." Grant’s grin widehe wrinkles on his gaunt face making him look even more uling. "Your only ce was in those first few seds. Now, this battle is over."

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