Speed Boost

After the gravity training ended, Hatake Changlin brought Xinhai and Torchic to a special training area.

The entire area was made of special metal, and the only way to observe what was happening inside was through the large screen on the wall. The words "Laser Special Training Area" were prominently displayed on the door.

Xinhai bent down slightly and patiently explained to Torchic beside him, "Torchic, the laser training area ahead is specially designed to train reaction speed. I won't be going in with you this time."

"Once you enter, laser emitters will closely pursue you and fire lasers at you. However, these beams won't cause any real harm. You need to dodge them as much as possible."

"Once you're hit by a beam, the training counts as a failure. The emitters will sound an alarm and stop firing. This training mainly tests how long you can last without being hit. Understand?"

Torchic nodded vigorously and replied brightly, "Chamo~"

Hatake Changlin skillfully entered a series of commands into the control panel.

Before long, four laser emitters shot out from hidden mechanisms in the special training room shown on the monitor, darting nimbly through the air.

"Xinhai, the equipment's ready. You can go in now."

Xinhai stepped forward and opened the door to the training area. Torchic took a deep breath and walked inside with determined eyes.

The moment it entered, Torchic focused completely on its surroundings and the four emitters, rapidly simulating the evasive maneuvers that were about to begin.

Standing at the door, Xinhai said gently, "Torchic, I'm closing the door. Don't be too nervous. Relax."

Torchic nodded and answered loudly, "Chamo~"

Xinhai gently closed the door and turned to walk toward Hatake Changlin.

"Brother Hatake, it's done."

Hatake Changlin looked at Xinhai and said with a smile, "You know how to operate these machines too. You do it."

Xinhai nodded. "All right. Sorry for the trouble, Brother Hatake."

Hatake Changlin waved a hand and smiled. "It's nothing. No need to be so formal with me!"

Xinhai walked over to the control panel, his eyes fixed on Torchic's every movement on the monitor. Speaking into the microphone, he asked, "Torchic, are you ready?"

Torchic heard Xinhai's voice through the monitor, nodded, and called out loudly, "Chamo~"

Xinhai watched Torchic and reminded it, "It's starting." With that, he flipped the switch.

In an instant, the four emitters moved like agile hunters, rapidly circling Torchic as beams of energy shot out from them and sliced through the air.

At first, the beams were not fired very frequently, and Torchic could easily dodge aside.

However, as time passed, the firing frequency gradually increased, making it harder and harder for Torchic to evade them.

In less than a minute, the rate of fire had already become astonishingly fast.

Torchic dashed left and right across the field, weaving back and forth as it did everything it could to avoid the emitters' relentless pursuit.

Xinhai carefully observed the lasers' firing frequency on the monitor. Once he felt it was about right, he pressed a button on the control panel, stabilizing the emitters' firing rate so it no longer increased.

Under the continuous high-frequency barrage, Torchic held on stubbornly, narrowly dodging beam after beam.

Second by second, its speed not only failed to decrease, but even showed faint signs of increasing.

Although the increase was small, Torchic's condition kept improving, and it dodged with growing ease.

Seeing this, Xinhai wore a relieved smile.

Hatake Changlin could not help nodding in praise. "Speed Boost really deserves to be one of the very best Abilities. Even a Novice-level Pokémon can bring out a considerable effect with it."

As everyone knew, every Pokémon Ability had its own unique effect.

However, most Abilities could not display much of their proper effect before a Pokémon had fully grown. Only Abilities that directly affected a Pokémon's body—such as Sturdy, Hyper Cutter, Speed Boost, and top-tier Abilities like Adaptability—would show a certain effect during a Pokémon's early growth stage.

Xinhai looked at Torchic, thought for a moment, then increased the emitters' firing frequency again.

Once the frequency increased, the emitters flew even faster through the air, and the beams became even harder to dodge.

Torchic immediately looked somewhat disheveled, but it did not retreat in the slightest. Instead, it focused even harder on dodging the incoming beams.

This time, however, its speed did not noticeably increase again.

Five minutes passed. Torchic began to pant, its movements gradually slowing, and its rhythm of dodging the beams becoming somewhat chaotic.

When the clock reached six minutes, Torchic was practically scrambling in every direction. Its rhythm had completely fallen apart, and before long, a laser struck its wing.

Torchic staggered and nearly fell. The emitters sounded an alarm, and no more beams came flying.

Torchic stood where it was, gasping for breath.

"Cha~ Chamo~"

Seeing that the training had ended, Xinhai immediately opened the door.

When Torchic saw the door open, it took a deep breath and looked at Xinhai with both anticipation and unease.

"Chamo~"

Seeing Torchic's expression, Xinhai felt a little sorry for it. He did not keep it in suspense and said directly, "Torchic, you did great in this training. You surpassed the vast majority of Pokémon. You really did very well."

After saying that, Xinhai smiled at Torchic.

Hearing this, Torchic visibly relaxed. It plopped down on the ground, a happy smile appearing on its face.

Hatake Changlin walked over and said with a smile, "Torchic, you performed exceptionally well this time! But there's even more challenging training ahead. Get some proper rest first, and keep working hard later."

Torchic nodded forcefully at Hatake Changlin's words. "Chamo~"

Hatake Changlin turned and went outside, beginning to record the data from Torchic's special training at the control panel, while Xinhai remained in the training room to keep Torchic company.

Xinhai took out Fire type Basic Energy Cubes from his pocket and held them out to Torchic. "Torchic, eat two Pokéblocks to restore some stamina. I'll tell you about the problems in your training just now, and then we'll test it again.

Torchic nodded and happily began eating the Pokéblocks in Xinhai's palm.

Xinhai looked at Torchic and said seriously, "Torchic, when you're dodging the beams, you can use the walls around you to change direction..."

Torchic ate the Pokéblocks while listening attentively, occasionally reflecting on its performance just now.

Before long, it had finished both Pokéblocks.

Once Torchic had rested enough, Xinhai looked at it and asked, "Torchic, are you ready?"

Torchic stood up, shook its wings, and answered energetically, "Chamo~"

Xinhai smiled at Torchic. "All right, then. We'll begin right away."

With that, Xinhai walked outside. After closing the door, he said to Hatake Changlin, "Brother Hatake, it's ready. We can begin."

Hatake Changlin smiled at Xinhai. "You should still be the one to notify Torchic and start the switch."

Xinhai nodded and went to the control panel. Speaking into the microphone, he said, "Torchic, get ready. It's starting."

Torchic answered loudly from the monitor, "Chamo~"

Seeing that, Xinhai flipped the switch again.

In an instant, the four emitters that had been floating in the air shot forward like arrows released from a bow, darting rapidly around the field as beams fired out once more and tightly surrounded Torchic.

With the experience from the first round, Torchic quickly adapted to the rhythm and began dodging the beams nimbly.

This time, Torchic had clearly followed Xinhai's advice. It cleverly used the walls to change direction, moved faster than before, and made smaller evasive motions.

As time passed, the emitters' firing frequency kept increasing, directly surpassing the previous rate.

Yet Torchic still managed to keep up with the rhythm through its Speed Boost Ability.

Xinhai and Hatake Changlin stared intently at the monitor, their eyes filled with surprise and admiration.

The rate of fire increased once again, until Xinhai felt it was about right and pressed the switch to stop the acceleration.

Second by second, Torchic held on longer and longer, and its condition continued to improve.

Finally, when the clock reached seven minutes, Torchic began to pant slightly. Even so, it held on for another two minutes before being struck by a beam.

Torchic had successfully broken through its limits! Standing in the center of the field, somewhat bedraggled but proud, it cried out loudly, "Chamo~"

Xinhai entered the field. Looking at Torchic proudly puffing out its little chest, he said with a smile, "All right, all right, Torchic. You did very well. Hurry and rest for a bit. We still have to go to the next training area later."

Only after hearing that did Torchic obediently sit down and begin to rest.