Riolu's Path of Training

There was only one rule for anyone who wanted to study at the Isle of Armor dojo-

Pass Mustard's entrance trial.

Of course, it was only an entrance trial. He wouldn't use his terrifying Champion team.

Otherwise, there might only be a handful of people in the entire world who could pass.

Even so, the trial's pass rate was still below 1%, and countless talented youngsters had failed it.

Now, Riolu stood in the dojo's training arena, loosening the iron weights around its wrists as it waited for Mustard to send out his Pokémon.

Even Boss and my Trainer hadn't discovered my biggest secret, yet he saw through it at a glance...

The wrist weights came off and immediately dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

Next came the weights around its ankles and thighs.

The repeated thuds of falling weights echoed throughout the arena.

"Hiss-"

The dojo apprentices around them all sucked in a sharp breath, looking at Riolu with newfound respect.

Even Mustard, whose martial arts mastery had reached extraordinary heights, was briefly taken aback.

Judging by its size, this little one should only be about a year old, right?

So hard on itself from such a young age...

This Riolu might actually be able to master the essence of the Isle of Armor dojo!

The more Mustard looked at it, the more pleased he became. He immediately took a Poké Ball from his pocket.

"Your opponent will be this little one!"

As soon as he threw the Poké Ball, a figure shot out and hurtled straight toward Riolu.

"That move again-Fake Out, charged up inside the ball..."

"That's Mustard for you. He doesn't go easy on any challenger!"

"That Mienfoo's signature move has scared who knows how many newcomers. Looks like this one won't be any different."

The surrounding apprentices instantly grew excited.

Fake Out used techniques from sumo and karate. It struck so fast that reacting to it was almost impossible.

And yet...

A white light flashed over Riolu's body as well. The instant the Poké Ball burst open, it instinctively retreated.

With just those two steps of distance, it managed to dodge the surprise attack!

"Rio..."

A few drops of cold sweat trickled down Riolu's forehead.

Speedy opponents were the ones it struggled with most.

This Mienfoo put it under considerable pressure.

But compared with Boss's Pokémon, it was still nowhere close!

"Oh? You actually dodged it?"

Mustard raised an eyebrow, immediately recognizing that his opponent was unusual.

Riolu's evasive movement had clearly been the move Detect-or, in martial arts terms, the "mind's eye" technique.

But Mienfoo's surprise Fake Out should have been impossible to react to.

Could it be... Prankster?

He knew a fair bit about Fighting-type Pokémon, and Riolu did indeed have that hidden ability.

"Mienfoo, Pound!"

Mustard narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately gave his next command.

Mienfoo surged forward again, bringing its right hand straight down in a chopping strike.

Riolu repeated its earlier trick. White light welled up around its body again as it prepared to dodge sideways.

At that moment, however, a smile appeared at the corner of Mustard's mouth.

Mienfoo's chopping hand suddenly went slack, while its other hand thrust forward, giving its opponent no chance to react!

"It's Feint! Mustard's special Protect-breaking technique!"

"Riolu can't possibly react this time, right? Looks like this is the end..."

"When you battle Mustard, you can't trust a single word of his commands!"

The apprentices had all experienced this move themselves, and Mustard's highly deceptive commands had clearly left them with lasting scars.

And that was indeed what happened.

As the palm strike-called Pound, but actually Force Palm-landed, Riolu had no time left to adjust its movements.

However, Mienfoo's Force Palm failed to send Riolu flying.

Its body didn't budge. After taking the move head-on, its gaze instantly sharpened.

At the same time, Riolu's right hand, already clenched into a fist, shot forward explosively.

An afterimage flashed past. Riolu's counterattack struck Mienfoo in an instant, sending it flying backward and crashing down outside the arena.

"Huh?"

The watching apprentices stared blankly. It took them quite a while to process what had happened.

"Holy shit, Riolu one-shot Mustard's Mienfoo???"

"Master Riolu, what do you do for a living?"

"That's way too strong!"

Even Mustard's eye twitched.

This Riolu hadn't even evolved yet, and it was already this frighteningly powerful?

Moreover, his martial artist's instincts told him that this Riolu's fighting style was extreme to an absurd degree!

With that punch, it had absolutely been prepared to lose consciousness from the incoming attack. That was why it had instinctively concentrated all its strength into a single point and unleashed it all at once.

Absurd as it was, it certainly worked.

What on earth had this little one experienced to make such an extreme decision?

Still, with that kind of resolve, it really would suit my style!

At that thought, Mustard quickly broke into a kindly smile.

He could tell that this Riolu already had a Trainer.

Although he didn't know why its Trainer hadn't shown up, that didn't affect Riolu's trial result.

"You've passed the trial! If you want to grow stronger, you're welcome to come back to the Isle of Armor dojo and train anytime!"

"Rio!"

Riolu politely cupped its fist in salute.

This elder was clearly a martial arts master. With guidance from his Pokémon, it should be able to improve more quickly.

So that's it!

It suddenly felt as though it was beginning to understand its Trainer's intentions.

This was what my Trainer had planned from the start, wasn't it?

Since he wasn't a professional martial artist, he found better sparring partners for me.

Good thing I stumbled into the dojo. Otherwise, I would have let my Trainer down.

Then I'll have to work even harder!

[Riolu passed Mustard's entrance trial!]

[Riolu stayed at the Isle of Armor dojo to train!]

[Under Mienshao's guidance, Riolu learned Fake Out!]

"???"

Qingyu was utterly dumbfounded when he received another set of system messages.

I'm pretty sure neither Riolu nor Lucario has Fake Out in its move pool...

And how did Riolu pass the Isle of Armor dojo's trial without even needing its Trainer?!

Doesn't that make me dead weight?

Despite his shock, Qingyu quickly collected himself.

When he opened the travel raising interface again, Riolu's animated chibi sprite was already inside the Isle of Armor dojo.

An Urshifu and a Mienshao stood on either side of it, quietly watching its training movements and offering pointers from time to time.

Qingyu tapped Riolu's interface.

[Riolu: Training at the Isle of Armor dojo]

[Training goal: Unseen Fist (current progress: 0%)]

[Travel time remaining: 15 minutes, 25 seconds]

"Hiss-"

When he noticed Riolu's training goal, Qingyu couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.

So you're the one with the protagonist's script!

This was the Isle of Armor dojo's ultimate technique: Unseen Fist!

In fact, Urshifu's Unseen Fist wasn't really an ability either. It was a martial arts technique mastered through years of practicing Mustard's teachings.

In other words...

Other Pokémon really could learn it too?!

Qingyu even began to imagine it-

Once Riolu evolves, I'll get a Mega Stone. Adaptability plus Unseen Fist-how ridiculous would that be?!

More time. I've got to add more time!

Qingyu decisively went all in with his remaining growth points, letting Riolu stay at the Isle of Armor dojo and study for a few more hours.

It's Monday, so let me boldly ask for a monthly vote~