Nemona's First Battle

Arven, whom Luo Mu had called out, jolted and looked around, unable to figure out how he had been spotted. Yet Luo Mu's gaze was fixed squarely on the place where he had temporarily hidden.

After hesitating for a moment, Arven still shuffled over toward Luo Mu and Nemona, his face full of conflict.

Seeing him like this, Luo Mu knew he was still hung up on what had happened before. He immediately grumbled inwardly, What an awkward kid.

Nemona, on the other hand, stood in stark contrast to Arven. She observed him for a moment, immediately remembered who he was, and energetically waved at him as he approached. "Isn't this Arven from Class G?"

"You are..." Having been called by name, Arven raised his head and stared at Nemona for a long while before asking uncertainly, "Nemona from Class A?"

Nemona put her hands on her hips. "Didn't we take several classes together before? You already can't recognize me?"

Arven retorted, "No. It'd be strange if I could recognize you at a glance after you changed so much!"

Arven remembered that, before the break, Nemona had been nothing more than a cute girl from the neighboring class with Pigtails. Compared to the energetic girl before him now—whose skin was still as fair as ever, but who seemed to radiate a sparkling aura from head to toe—the difference was like night and day.

How should he put it? It felt as though she had suddenly gone from being a childish kid to becoming somewhat more mature.

Nemona pouted and muttered softly, "Teacher recognized me at first glance, though."

"Did you say something just now?" Arven perked up his ears, as if he had not heard Nemona's mosquito-quiet muttering.

At that moment, a pair of hands landed on their shoulders, one on each side. Luo Mu looked toward the empty battle field beside the School Field and said, "Weren't you going to battle? There's an open spot over there."

Luo Mu stood on the left side of the field and called to Nemona on the other side, "The rules are a one-on-one battle, ending when one side has had enough. No problem?"

Nemona nodded firmly. "No problem!"

Arven, standing in the middle, seemed somewhat listless.

It was not only because Luo Mu was treating him exactly as before, as though nothing had happened, making Arven—who had been agonizing over it for so long—look like an idiot by comparison. It was also because of his current assignment.

Arven complained, "It's just a spar. Does it really matter whether there's a referee?"

"Ceremony is important too." Luo Mu called out to Arven, then looked at Nemona again. "Is it alright if you battle my Growlithe?"

Hearing Luo Mu call for it, Growlithe, which had been lying bored on the ground, sprang up at once and ran onto the field in a few strides.

"This is... Growlithe?" Nemona blinked. This Growlithe felt very different from the one in her memory, but that did not stop her from eagerly sending out Pawmi to face Growlithe.

Luo Mu spread his hands. "You go first."

Nemona nodded, her heartbeat gradually quickening. Strangely, she was not nervous at all. There was only a surging passion welling up in her chest.

Her expression sharpened as Nemona waved her hand. "Thunder Shock!"

Pawmi squeezed its eyes shut and tensed its entire body. The Electric Sac on its cheeks first flickered with several faint sparks, then, after a few breaths, released a thin stream of golden electricity.

Whether it was the three-to-four-second windup or its tightly shut eyes, everything showed that Nemona and Pawmi were still complete rookies.

Without changing expression, Luo Mu spoke two simple words. "Dodge it."

Growlithe moved its paws and slightly shifted its body aside, easily evading the poorly aimed Thunder Shock.

If not for electricity's naturally incredible speed, this Thunder Shock would have been no different from slow motion to Growlithe.

Though her first attack missed, Nemona was not discouraged. She immediately commanded Pawmi to use Quick Attack, charging toward Growlithe wrapped in white light.

"Take it, then use Howl," Luo Mu said.

As a Rock Type Pokémon, Growlithe had more than enough durability to withstand Pawmi's blow.

Pawmi slammed headfirst into Growlithe's mane, which contained igneous rock, knocking Growlithe back half a meter.

Growlithe ignored Pawmi's attack. Its eyes, hidden beneath its fur, flashed sharply as it raised its head and let out a Howl at the sky.

The next instant, a faint red glow of boosted power enveloped Growlithe. As Pawmi charged in again, Growlithe gathered its strength and slammed forward headfirst!

"Paw!"

Pawmi felt a dull pain shoot through the point of impact, then Growlithe sent it flying with a direct headbutt. Its body was hurled backward beyond its control.

Pawmi crashed onto the ground. Its originally sleek orange fur was now covered in dust, leaving it looking rather bedraggled.

"Pawmi!" Nemona covered her mouth and cried out worriedly. Pawmi struggled to get back up and gave Nemona several defiant cries, seemingly telling her not to worry and that it still had the strength to fight.

Nemona seemed naturally suited for battle. After nodding firmly, her face filled with determination as she shouted, "We have to prove our strength to Teacher! Use Mach Punch on Growlithe!"

Nemona recalled how, when her father had given Pawmi to her, he had specifically emphasized Pawmi's special qualities.

Its Ability was "Iron Fist," which could boost the power of punching moves. At the same time, Pawmi had learned "Mach Punch" after hatching from its Pokémon Egg. Combined together, it could absolutely be called Nemona and Pawmi's strongest offensive method.

Pawmi worked hard to stand on its hind legs. Its adorably blank eyes became sharp, and its paw pads clenched into fists as white light immediately filled its fists.

Pawmi dashed several times to reach Growlithe, its fists carrying gusts of forceful wind as it rapidly unleashed punches at Growlithe!

Growlithe endured Pawmi's rapid punches. Even with its outstanding physical toughness, it now felt the pain brought by the super effective attack.

Luo Mu's eyes brightened slightly. Throughout his battle with Nemona, he had been responding to whatever came his way. His purpose had also been to see just how much fighting ability Nemona and Pawmi could display.

The conclusion was very satisfying. Though their commands and battle awareness were still immature, Luo Mu could already see the talent they possessed.

Now that he had reached his conclusion, there was no need to hold back any longer.

Of Growlithe's current moves, it had two that could counter Pawmi.

The Egg Move "Double-Edge" and the naturally learned move "Flame Wheel."

Considering that Growlithe had been born only three days ago, Double-Edge would not only place a heavy burden on its body, but could also easily leave Pawmi seriously injured. Luo Mu quickly made his decision and said, "Growlithe, counter with Flame Wheel!"

While enduring Pawmi's attacks, Growlithe swiftly curled its body into the shape of a wheel as flames spread over its entire body.

Scalded by the flames, Pawmi involuntarily stopped attacking. At that moment, Growlithe's Flame Wheel had finished charging, and the rapidly spinning wheel of fire smashed directly into Pawmi, sending it flying!