Two Fighters at the Door

"Hey, kid. I'm Kento. I'm training in the wild to become a top-notch fighter. Want to spar?"

After ending his special training, Bai Shi continued toward Castelia City.

While crossing Pinwheel Forest, he ran into a burly man in a karate uniform.

The moment the man spotted Bai Shi, his eyes lit up, and he challenged him to a Pokémon battle.

Bai Shi agreed without giving it much thought.

The match would be two-on-two.

"Throh, go!"

Kento sent out a lean, dark-blue humanoid Pokémon.

"A Fighting-type Throh? Ariados, I'm counting on you!"

After a moment's thought, Bai Shi sent out Shiny Ariados.

Oh, this should be good! Keldeo thought, watching from hiding as Bai Shi prepared to battle someone else.

With its speed, it could run across Pinwheel Forest and back in a single day.

Even if Bai Shi traveled at a breakneck pace, Keldeo could find him easily.

"Throh, use Bulk Up!"

At Kento's command, Throh bent its arms and tensed every muscle, raising its attack and defense.

"Ariados, use Pin Missile!"

Bai Shi seized the chance to attack.

Ariados opened its mouth and fired a dense volley of white, needlelike beams.

"Throh, kick them all away! Use Double Kick!"

The burly man raised his right leg as if preparing a knee strike and shouted to Throh.

Throh kicked with one leg after the other, knocking down every incoming beam.

"Go, Throh! Use Close Combat!"

Kento ordered an immediate counterattack.

Throh sprang forward like an arrow, charging straight at Ariados.

"Ariados, use Psychic!"

A smile tugged at Bai Shi's lips as he gave his next command.

An invisible force seized Throh, stopping it in its tracks.

Throh tried to break free by brute force, but could not budge.

As the psychic force squeezed tighter, Throh cried out in pain.