Bea was a far cry from her usual composed self. With a giant lobster in one hand and chopsticks twirling noodles in the other, she was shoveling food into her mouth at a pace that would shame a Snorlax. Opposite her, Kubfu was locked in a similar frenzy, gnawing a grilled Barraskewda twice his size.
Across the restaurant, Leon's smile twitched as he approached the cashier.
"Champion Leon, your total today is 183,500 Poké Dollars. Will that be cash or card?" the clerk asked sweetly.
Leon's jaw dropped. "Wha—?!"
His heart nearly leapt out of his chest. He almost shouted, "Is this daylight robbery?!"
But then he turned to look back.
The table where Allen and the others had eaten resembled a battlefield. Plates stacked higher than five meters teetered in a mountain of porcelain and crumbs.
Leon sighed, defeated. Trembling, he handed over his card like a condemned man signing his last will.
*There goes my vacation fund. Guess I'll need to film more endorsements.*
Bea, patting her full stomach, glanced at the modest half-meter pile of plates on her side of the table. She then looked at Allen's ridiculous plate tower and nodded with pride.
*He's definitely worthy of being my master. I've got a long way to go.*
"Master, when will my training begin?" she asked while wiping a smear of cream from her lip.
Allen stood up slowly. "First, I want to see what you can do. Come with me."
"Yes, Master!"
Bea jumped to her feet. Kubfu scrambled after her, his tiny legs moving in quick steps.
Leon followed as well, curiosity now bubbling stronger than ever.
…
The sun cast a warm golden hue over Hulbury's coastline as Allen and Bea faced each other on the beach. A breeze rustled the waves behind them.
Allen raised his right hand, hooking his pinky. "Alright. Hit me with everything you've got."
Bea bowed deeply. "Forgive me, Master."
She dropped into a fighting stance, mimicking the pose of a seasoned martial artist, then exploded forward with a shout. "Hyaah!"
Her foot lashed out in a flying kick.
Allen casually raised his arm and caught her ankle mid-air. With a smooth turn, he threw the teenage Gym Leader over his shoulder and into the sand.
*Soft feet. No calluses. Clearly too pampered.*
He brushed sand from his hand. "Weak forehand. Unstable footing. Delayed reaction. You've got no edge at all. And you still want to be my disciple?"
Bea scrambled to her knees, bowing with her head low. "Please teach me, Master!"
Leon cleared his throat. "Uh, Allen, just checking... Are you training *her* or her Pokémon?"
Bea's flying kick had been surprisingly powerful—probably on par with a low-level Machoke—but Leon was still puzzled.
Trainers usually trained *Pokémon*. What was with this hand-to-hand combat?
Allen paused, almost smacked himself in the head, then smoothly recovered.
"Before I train her Pokémon, I need to know if *she* is worth teaching. A weak trainer can't guide even the strongest Pokémon."
Bea's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Master, you're incredible!"
Leon blinked. *Did I just get insulted?*
"Leon, what are you doing here?"
A new voice rang out across the sand.
Everyone turned to see a tall woman approaching. Her long, wavy blue-black hair flowed like the tide behind her. Her sun-kissed skin and graceful figure gave her an effortless, model-like presence.
It was Nessa, Water-type Gym Leader of Hulbury.
She glanced between the trio, raising an eyebrow. "Bea? What's going on here? And who's... him?"
"Long story," Leon muttered. "Just... watch."
"Go, Machamp!"
Bea threw out her Poké Ball. With a burst of light, her strongest Pokémon appeared with a ground-shaking roar.
Allen gave a small nod. "Good. Now hit me with your strongest move."
Machamp hesitated, looking to its trainer. This was... unusual.
"Do what the master says!" Bea shouted.
Nodding, Machamp let out a deep growl and focused power into its right fist. Red energy crackled around its knuckles. The sand shifted beneath it as it lunged forward.
Dynamic Punch.
Allen's eyes narrowed. He stepped to the side, caught the fist by the wrist, twisted, and slammed the behemoth into the sand.
Nessa gasped. "What?!"
Before Machamp could recover, Allen flipped backward and launched a double-kick that sent the four-armed Pokémon sailing into the sea.
Thirty seconds passed.
Machamp swam back, soaked and sputtering.
Allen stood with arms crossed. "You're too predictable. Doesn't matter if you're a human or a Pokémon—charging straight in with brute force won't get you anywhere."
Bea bowed again. "Thank you for your wisdom, Master!"
Allen nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. I'll teach you something special."
He paused dramatically.
"Something by the name of Haki."
The beach went silent.
Leon tilted his head. "Haki?"
Nessa raised a brow. "What is that, some kind of new move?"
Bea's eyes were already wide, reverent.
Even Kubfu was standing still, nodding solemnly, as if he understood every word.
Allen stroked his chin. "Let me explain."
"Haki is a latent power found in both Pokémon and humans. It's like instinct, or aura. A presence, a pressure, something deeper than strength. But most never realize it's there, let alone how to control it."
Leon and Nessa tensed without realizing it. Something about the way he spoke carried weight.
"Motion. Presence. Intimidation. These are all real forces, but they're hard to control consciously."
Leon's fingers twitched. *I don't get it... But it feels... serious.*
Bea, meanwhile, was nodding like a bobblehead.
"And most people," Allen continued, "never awaken that power in their whole lives. Not because they can't. Because they don't know how."
"But words aren't my thing. I'll show you instead."
He raised a hand and motioned for Leon to step forward.
Leon blinked. "Me?"
"Yes. You."
***
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