A Bear Cub's Bright Future

A week had passed since Zorua's battle with Raichu. Rather than rushing onward, Sato had ventured deeper into the forest to train his Pokemon.

After Zorua defeated the stronger Raichu, the aura around its body gradually began to change. Sato knew this was a sign that it was about to break through to Elite Level.

Haunter was in much the same situation. The two Pokemon had been acquired at nearly the same time and trained together. Although Haunter had taken a few shortcuts, its strength was Beyond Doubt.

As they went deeper, the massive groups of Bug-type Pokemon gradually dwindled, while other rare or powerful Pokemon slowly began to appear.

Those powerful individuals that lived alone became Sato's targets for challenge. At that moment, Haunter was battling a rare Marowak.

A ground-bound Marowak should have been at a disadvantage against the floating Haunter, but this elderly Marowak before them possessed extremely rich combat experience.

The thick bone club moved through its hands like a nimble embroidery needle. A single Boneerang completely suppressed all of Haunter's Ranged Attacks!

Getting close was even less possible. The slightest brush from that bone club could cost it its ghostly life.

"Marowak!!"

Marowak swung its bone club, its eyes filled with stern seriousness. Facing the bizarre and troublesome Haunter, it put in One Hundred And Twenty Percent effort! "Haunter, Shadow Punch—indiscriminate attack!" In order to quickly adapt to the battle style of Pokemon fighting while Trainers commanded from the rear, Sato would not Enter the Field himself unless it was an especially urgent situation.

"Jiejie!"

Two ghostly claws detached from Haunter's body and abruptly vanished midair. The Next Moment, they had already Appeared In Front Of Marowak's left and right sides, their fists smashing together! "Marowak!"

At that moment, the eyes hidden beneath Marowak's skull were tinged with red light. It directly bent backward, supporting itself with its bone club behind its back, and narrowly Dodged the Shadow Punch!

The move, Foresight!

Bang!

The two fists collided, making the distant Haunter grimace in pain. But it was not over yet. As Marowak straightened its waist and regained its stance, its skull had already been wrapped in a faint layer of silver light!

The Steel-type offensive move, Iron Head, had a certain chance of making its target flinch! "Haunter, turn invisible and retreat!"

"Jiejie!"

Haunter vanished into the air at the Fastest speed. With its excellent speed, Iron Head ultimately brushed past it!

"Marowak!"

Marowak stretched out the hand not holding its bone club and lightly waved it at Haunter, clearly disapproving of Haunter's retreat during battle.

"Don't let it provoke you. Use Shadow Ball for a direct assault!" Sato soothed the somewhat irritable Haunter and gave an order that suited it perfectly.

"Jiejie!" This Time, there were a full nine Shadow Balls, and the power of every one had Increased considerably. They were fired All At Once. No matter how skillfully Marowak wielded its bone club, it was useless! "Marowak!"

The bone club spun, and although the Shadow Balls inflicted considerable injuries on it, the frontal attacks still failed to break through its defense.

"Jie..."

Hypnosis was quietly activated. The bone club spun at high speed, but it did not affect Marowak's vision at all. Haunter abruptly released ripples of red light, and Under the Effect Of the spinning bone club, they actually received a slight boost! "Marowak~"

Marowak struggled to keep its eyes open, but the more it watched its own spinning bone club, the sleepier it became. Eventually, the bone club was flung away by inertia, and Marowak itself Fell To The Ground, Sleeping Soundly.

Sato was somewhat surprised and delighted. That Hypnosis had been Haunter's own idea. He had not expected it to succeed—using the opponent's move to create an advantage for itself instead.

"Jiejiejie!"

Haunter was just like that, easily getting Carried Away. Seeing the Marowak that had been far stronger than it lose to its own hands, it could not have been happier.

"Keep going deeper. You can be happy after you keep up a Winning Streak," Sato said, shooting it a glance. Haunter was so Scared that it immediately restrained itself somewhat and obediently followed behind him.

It seemed that even Celebi, the god of the forest, could not stand Haunter's showing off. At that moment, a final-boss-level opponent Just Like That openly Appeared In Front Of Sato and the others.

"Roar!"

Without a Word, an enraged roar Entered his ears. Sato even felt as if his ears were ringing and going deaf. As he retreated with Haunter, he observed the opponent's information.

"A three-meter-tall Ursaring... the forest's Totem Pokemon?" Sato was secretly shocked.

Information about Totem Pokemon had come from the distant Alola region. Every Totem Pokemon was a born king among its kind, naturally possessing a powerful size and talent that others could not have.

When facing a Totem Pokemon, brute force was the most foolish approach. Because of their size, speed was sometimes likely their only weakness.

"Zorua, Scary Face!"

"Kuso!" Zorua suppressed the fear in its heart and did its best to make an extremely vicious face at Ursaring.

"Roar!"

Ursaring completely flew into a rage. If it had merely been dissatisfied before because humans had trespassed into its territory and wanted to drive them away—

Then now, a tiny black Pokemon actually dared to try and scare it! This was intolerable to Ursaring! "What a pity!" Sato had guessed that Scary Face might not work, but he had not expected it to Arouse such a powerful backlash.

"Let's avoid its edge for now!" As he spoke, Sato suddenly threw a pink item toward Ursaring.

Skitty Tail had an enormous attraction for Pokemon and could guarantee an absolute escape when battling Wild Pokemon.

That item had been air-dropped to him by that middle-aged man last time, along with several very useful things.

When Ursaring reluctantly withdrew its attention from the Skitty Tail, it suddenly remembered that it seemed to have enemies to deal with—especially that little fox! "Roar!"

With a roar to vent its dissatisfaction, Ursaring marched away on its thick, short legs, utterly unconcerned. It still had to patrol its territory.

On the Other Side, Sato Hung On a tree, silently watching the arrogant Totem Ursaring. A trace of contemplation flashed through his eyes.

Ursaring was most prone to rage during its breeding season. This Ursaring had attacked without reason, so that was likely the cause.

The timing was about right, too. Sato's eyes gleamed. He really wanted to know what was special about a Totem's child.

For the lofty cause of ensuring a bear cub's bright future, Sato began his covert operation Without Hesitation. At the Same Time Did Not Forget to release Haunter—it was an ambitious ghost that wanted to become a "Pokemon Killer."

The first lesson would begin with infiltration! On the Other Side, after Totem Ursaring finished patrolling its territory to its satisfaction, it cautiously Drilled Into a Tree Hole.

Little did it know that two pairs of eyes behind it had already set their sights on it.

Looking at the time, I know this update was late, but I really did work hard to get it out. Please recommend and support! Thank You!!