Honed Through Adversity (Quarter Hour Revision)

The air around them pressed down on the two Pokémon as though it had substance.

Every tiny movement made them feel their strength draining away at a rapid pace.

"Gumei."

What surprised Tetsuya was that—

The first to recover was not Gabite, whose physical fitness was superior, but Dreepy.

"The pressure the seniors place on their juniors adjusts accordingly.

Still, being able to adapt so quickly means it's a very outstanding child."

Latias explained from the side, her gaze upon Dreepy exceptionally gentle.

Tetsuya nodded. "Yes, Dreepy works very hard."

Although the little guy spent all day eating and sleeping, seeming as though it did not care about becoming stronger at all.

Only he, as its Trainer, knew that Dreepy was almost constantly digesting the excess Infinity Energy within its body—it helped it grow up a little faster, though the effect was minuscule.

Its inability to battle was not an issue unique to it.

It was simply how its entire species had always grown up.

"Waka."

Gabite looked at Dreepy, which had pulled a third of a body length ahead of it, its eyes filled with defiance.

Unfortunately, it had truly exerted every ounce of strength it had just to inch forward a little.

Meanwhile, Dreepy had advanced much farther in that same time.

"It seems the seniors think it has great potential."

Latias said with a smile, somewhat easing one of Tetsuya's concerns. "Ordinary Dragon Type Pokémon would not receive this kind of 'favor.'"

Put in more straightforward terms—

The reason the lingering wills left behind by those departed Latias and Latios could "torment" you like this was because they thought highly of you.

As for juniors with nothing special about them, or those they did not care about at all, passing through was just passing through. How much