Catching Farfetch'd

A Farfetch'd actually had psychic talent? What was going on? As far as Chu Xin remembered, only Team Rocket's strange Meowth could act like a human, and even that was a skill developed through years of training. Yet this strange Farfetch'd could understand human writing through psychic talent alone.

At that moment, Farfetch'd, engrossed in the world of the novel, also noticed Chu Xin's attention.

H-had he finally noticed my talent?

Farfetch'd looked at Chu Xin with a solemn expression. With his help, perhaps he could seize this chance to change his life. My ambitions as a duck aren't that simple. One day, I'll shatter the heavens!

Of course, Chu Xin had no idea that the Farfetch'd before him was giving himself such a dramatic inner monologue. Still, Farfetch'd certainly looked composed, unlike an ordinary duck. Yet no matter what Chu Xin tried, he couldn't sense any psychic talent in him. Was it because he had no psychic talent himself?

"Aier, does this Farfetch'd really have psychic talent? Why can't I sense it?"

"Psychic talent is very rare. Only Psychics can sense it in one another; ordinary people can't. I happen to have a Psychic-type Monster among my Monsters, so I can sense it. Although the psychic power in Farfetch'd is very well hidden, it's definitely real."

After hearing Aier's explanation, Chu Xin nodded. So he couldn't sense it because he didn't have psychic powers himself.

Thinking back, psychic talent was a rare ability in both the manga and the anime. Sabrina of the Saffron Gym could even use her psychic powers to strengthen Pokémon. No matter how he looked at it, that seemed far better than his own ability to listen to Pokémon.

"Well, whatever. Even if I can't sense psychic power, a battle will reveal everything. Xiao Wu."

Chu Xin waved, beckoning Xiao Wu over from where he was resting. But Xiao Wu was lying on a lounge chair with a Pokéblock in his mouth, blissfully enjoying his downtime. He had absolutely no intention of fighting.

"Wu, wu." (No. Let me rest for a while.)

Seriously!

Ever since winning the championship, Xiao Wu seemed to have lost his sense of purpose and had grown increasingly lazy. Fortunately, Chen Huan had made new progress with Dynamax Energy, and the Imprison on Outrage had weakened considerably. Even while resting, Xiao Wu's body kept growing stronger under the conditioning of Dynamax Energy, so Chu Xin turned a blind eye to his laziness.

"Let me do it instead."

Aier stepped forward, took out Squirtle's Poké Ball, and released him.

"Squirtle, Squirtle!"

"Farfetch'd, can you beat this Squirtle?"

Farfetch'd tightened his grip on his leek. So this is my test? To change my fate, no matter who my opponent is, I'll cleave them apart with this leek.

Farfetch'd gripped his leek tightly and assumed a fighting stance.

"Squirtle, Water Gun!"

Squirtle opened his mouth and fired a jet of water at Farfetch'd, but Farfetch'd quickly dodged the Water Gun and began closing in on him.

He's fast. Looks like this Farfetch'd has trained quite a bit. No wonder he managed to escape from the chef.

Farfetch'd quickly reached Squirtle and swung his leek at him.

But Squirtle withdrew into his shell, leaving Farfetch'd's attack largely ineffective.

"Now, use Rapid Spin and knock Farfetch'd back!"

Tucked inside his shell, Squirtle began spinning rapidly and sent the nearby Farfetch'd flying.

"This Farfetch'd doesn't look like he has psychic powers at all. His strength seems pretty average, too."

Chu Xin watched Farfetch'd's battle from the sidelines. No matter what aspect he considered, he couldn't find anything special about him.

Farfetch'd also heard Chu Xin's assessment in the midst of battle, and his spirits sank.

Chu Xin had saved him from the brink of death. Even a small kindness deserved to be repaid many times over, let alone when his benefactor could also help him change his fate and set him on the path to greater strength.

After being knocked away, Farfetch'd struggled to his feet, leaning on his leek. His eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he stared at Squirtle.

How could I fall in a place like this!

Farfetch'd tucked his leek at his waist and watched Squirtle's every move. His battle instincts told him that Squirtle was much stronger than he was. His only chance of victory was to finish the fight in a single blow.

"Interesting. Squirtle, Rocket Headbutt!"

Squirtle crouched on the ground, aimed his smooth head at Farfetch'd, and shot forward like a cannonball.

Squirtle's smooth forehead drew closer and closer, but Farfetch'd only grew calmer.

Not yet!

Just as Squirtle's forehead came within a fist's breadth of him, a fine thread appeared in Farfetch'd's vision.

Now!

The mysterious thread guided Farfetch'd's leek as he swung it with astonishing speed, cutting toward the neck Squirtle had exposed while executing his move.

Cut!

A critical hit! It was super effective!

The leek struck Squirtle, knocking him unconscious in a single blow. He collapsed on the ground, unable to battle.

"W-what just happened?"

Chu Xin stared in shock at the unexpected turn of events. He had thought Farfetch'd was about to lose, but he had never imagined the battle would end like this.

"Was that Detect? No, Detect is a Fighting-type move, isn't it? Then what move was that?"

Chu Xin now understood Farfetch'd's psychic talent: it allowed his moves to strike vital spots more easily.

That talent is ridiculous! It's like equipping an armor-piercing bow and ignoring the opponent's armor!

If any other Pokémon had this talent, wouldn't it practically be a legendary Pokémon? Why did it appear in a Farfetch'd?

Farfetch'd leaned on his leek, panting heavily as he looked at Chu Xin with unwavering eyes.

I did it!

Chu Xin looked at Farfetch'd with some surprise. Whatever else might be said, he had seen an unyielding quality in this Farfetch'd. With that kind of spirit, he could grow strong as long as he trained properly.

Chu Xin took out a Poké Ball and placed it in front of Farfetch'd.

"You're very talented, but without proper training, that talent is useless. Become my Pokémon. I'll make you stronger!"

Farfetch'd's eyes filled with excitement, but even at a moment like this, he suppressed his joy and tried hard to look calm.

In the end, Farfetch'd allowed himself to be caught in the Poké Ball without any resistance, and Chu Xin gained his second Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Aier looked helplessly at Squirtle lying on the ground. It seemed his training would have to be stepped up.