On the spacious battlefield, Servine gred furiously at Corviknight, as if itg to tear a k of flesh off it.

  Meanwhile, Corviknight looked utterly fused.

  Wait—why are you mad?

  Corviknight genuinely didn’t get it.

  From its perspective, all it did was ask a simple question. Then suddenly, this little grass snake just lost its temper.

  What’s going on here?

  Are you pig a fight with me?

  At that thought, Corviknight's eyes sharpened instantly.

  Normally, it didn’t care much about trivial things, but provocation? Now, that was uable.

  Guess there was no choice but to go all out now.

  In a fsh, Corviknight had already pnned out its victory lines, post-battle poses, and the perfect expression to strike after winning.

  As for battle tactics?

  Yeah… that was a bit too plicated for Corviknight’s brain.

  Back when it was still a Rookidee, it had to think about keeping its distance, kiting oppos, and all that.

  But after evolving into Corviknight, its defense skyrocketed, and with it came overwhelming fidence—along with a noticeable drop in strategic thinking.

  Now, its battle pn boiled down to ohing: Iron Defense + Brave Bird.

  Any remaining brainpower was dedicated to memorizing dramatic catchphrases aerday’s anime episodes.

  There just wasn’t enough space left in its memory to remember past oppos—whether they were o defeated or the rare few that had defeated it.

  Corviknight had its own philosophy:

  Why bother remembering the ones you already beat? No point in that.

  And as for the ohat had beaten it?

  Why relive painful memories?

  Shouldn’t happiness be the priority in life?

  On that, Corviknight felt it had a pretty solid uanding.

  "Servine!"

  Go ahead and ugh while you ! I'm gon you so bad you won’t even be able to cry!

  Servine huffed, trying its best to look intimidating.

  Unfortunately, despite its furious expression, it still looked adorable.

  Not threatening at all.

  "Caw, caw!"

  e at me, all of you. I’m on a schedule.

  "Caw, caw, caw!"

  Bring as many as you want, it's not gonna ge the fact that you’re all first-rate weaklings.

  "Caw!"

  And after I’m done, make sure to run back to your Trainer and whine about how mean I was.

  Before the battle had even started, Corviknight had already turs trash-talking up to max volume.

  This was exactly what Mei had asked of it.

  After the Gym Battle, Mei suddenly realized something—fet power levels for a sed, her Pokémon were g ial resilience.

  This was a on problem for rookie Trainers. They focused entirely on making their Pokémon stronger but overlooked other important factors—willpower, move mastery, and battle awareness.

  These were all crucial for a truly strong Pokémon.

  Of course, Mei’s request was just a suggestion.

  At the end of the day, Corviknight still listeo Natsume.

  And Natsume had told it:

  "Take it slow. Don’t pressure them too much at the start."

  "You’ll break the poor kids."

  Corviknight nodded in uanding.

  So basically, hold off on the insults for nht?

  Got it.

  I pletely uand.

  "Servine!"

  You damhered freak! Just wait—I'm gonna pluck you bald!

  Fuming, Servine unleashed its moves in rapid succession—Bullet Seed, Magical Leaf, and Vine Whip—all firing at Corviknight oer another.

  It tried to remind itself to stay calm, but wheions ran high, logic wasly the first thing that kicked in.

  "Caw, caw, caw!!"

  Pathetic! Weak! Your attacks are as soft as your vines!

  You need me to teach you how to scream like a real warrior?!

  With a single powerful fp, Corviknight lifted off, keeping its distance while spamming Iron Defense.

  By the time it had stacked five yers of Iron Defes physical defense had maxed out.

  Even when Servine’s attacks did nd, they barely left a scratch.

  Now, it was time to turables!

  With a mighty beat of its wings, Corviknight revealed its full, imposing form—

  Then plummeted from the sky, diving toward Servine like a shadow blotting out the sun.

  Uhe sheer pressure of Corviknight's dest, Servine froze on the spot.

  It wasn’t from any move effect—this ure, primal fear.

  A rea hardwired into its genes when fag something massively rger than itself.

  BOOM!

  Corviknight crashed into the ground, kig up a cloud of dust and debris.

  Mei and Natsume’s vision was instantly obscured.

  "Servine!"

  Mei called out in , uo see through the thick smoke.

  "Slow."

  Standing at the sidelines in a referee uniform, Slowking nontly raised a hand and waved.

  A psychic pulse swept across the field, blowing all the dust away in an instant.

  Normally, referees weren’t supposed to interfere, but hey—this ressure training, not an official match.

  When the dust settled, the battlefield became clear once more.

  Standing tall, Corviknight folded its wings, while Servi on the ground, still visibly shaken.

  If that attack had nded, it would’ve been game over.

  Was this damn bird trying to kill me?!

  "Caw."

  Hmph. That’s all you’ve got?

  "Caw, caw, caw."

  Seems like you fot ohing—you are the challenger here.

  "Servine!"

  You bastard!

  Servine furiously scrambled to its feet, but its anger was nothing more than powerless frustration.

  Truthfully, right before Corviknight had nded, Servine had just mao break free from its fear a.

  In a desperate move, it threw itself into a roll to the side, barely dodging the full impact of the attack.

  Even so, the sheer force of Corviknight’s wi it tumbling across the field.

  In those final moments, Servine had unched a Leech Seed, Giga Drain, and a Leaf Bde—probably the best Leaf Bde it had ever performed in its life.

  A—

  It didn’t evehrough Corviknight’s defenses.

  Meanwhile, Corviknight had swatted it aside without even thinking.

  That was the reality of their strength difference.

  Now, Mei and Natsume could see it clearly.

  "Caw."

  Alright—who’s ?

  pletely ign Servine, Corviknight turs gaze toward Dewott and Stee the edge of the battlefield.

  As for Tepig?

  Yeah, Corviknight didn’t even aowledge it. That thing was still rec from the m’s training.

  "Dewott!"

  I’ll take you on!

  Dewott stepped fripping its scalchops tightly, eyes full of determination.

  "Caw, caw!"

  The me show you just hoart we are!

  Meanwhile, hidden in the bushes at the edge of the battlefield—

  A disguised Ralts watched the fight with shining eyes, occasionally jotting down notes in a tiny notebook.

  "Lalu, lu."

  So that’s how it works! I pletely uand!

  Gcell