After Alex and the receptionist's little chat, he made his way to the second floor, where he was directed to his usual spot and began his battles.
Raticate didn't need Alex's input for fighting with his hit-and-run strategy. He only needed to use Quick Attack to hit without getting hit back, Protect to buy time to escape when he fumbled, or Swords Dance when he could buy enough time to execute it safely.
His opponents also limited themselves to countering when being hit or chasing when they made a mistake with their positioning. They needed to be mindful of punishing Raticate if he used Swords Dance within their range. This required careful placement and spatial awareness to ensure Raticate couldn't afford to use Swords Dance. If Raticate managed to pull it off, they usually conceded—he was already hard enough to hit, but once empowered, he could finish the match quickly.
Growlithe, on the other hand, was still new to battles, and his strategy was too complex to be left to his own instincts. His usual rotation was to set up Sunny Day, debilitate opponents with Will-o-Wisp, Scary Face, Charm, or Snarl, heal with Morning Sun, outspeed with Flame Charge or Agility once the setup was complete, and finally chase down and finish the opponent.
The steps were also interchangeable depending on the opponent's first move. If they were strong enough to two-hit KO Growlithe, then he started with debilitation until it became a three-hit KO, then healed. If they opened with status moves, he would use Sunny Day and Will-o-Wisp. If they were too weak, he would simply finish them with Overheat, Outrage, Close Combat, or Double-Edge.
Recognizing which strategy to use was something only a trainer could determine.
Their first opponent for the day was Hitmonlee.
"High Jump Kick!"
Hitmonlee started the fight with a massive leap, bridging the gap in an instant. He would have landed the first hit if not for the need to cover the distance.
"Charm, then roll with the hit! Charm again!"
Growlithe's Charm released with a pink glow just before he was kicked and sent flying. He had managed to jump back slightly before impact, further reducing the damage and creating the same amount of distance between them.
"High Jump Kick again!"
While still airborne, Growlithe started another Charm, releasing it just in time before the next High Jump Kick sent him flying out of the battleground. However, the fight continued.
"High Jump Kick one last time!"
"Morning Sun!"
Growlithe relaxed mid-air, healing himself before landing—only to be kicked again.
"Damn it! Again!"
"Will-o-Wisp!"
Growlithe gathered fire in his mouth mid-air and managed to breathe it onto Hitmonlee just as he was sent flying once more.
"It survived? Again!" their opponent shouted, chasing after the two Pokémon.
"Morning Sun, twice!" Alex called out as he ran after them as well.
Growlithe relaxed again, healing himself before being kicked yet again.
"Damn it! I concede. This is impossible," the opponent muttered, watching as Hitmonlee returned.
Growlithe, now back to full health after using Morning Sun twice more, trotted back to the battlegrounds as if nothing had happened.
Hitmonlee, on the other hand, walked back slumped over, clearly demoralized. He had landed four full-powered hits—and it hadn't even mattered.
Alex, meanwhile, thought of the perfect item for Growlithe. Leftovers. It would ensure he regained health every time he used Charm or Snarl, making his sustain even better.
The rest of the fights went back to normal until lunchtime, when both Pokémon were exhausted and needed an hour to rest before continuing their battles. In the meantime, they enjoyed some snacks to keep up their energy.
This was the first time they would be battling for an entire day—contrary to their usual schedule, where they spent half the day in class.
While his Pokémon rested in their Pokéballs after their meals, Alex went down to the first floor to get some sparring practice in.
As he arrived, a burly man in a gi approached him.
"You're Alex, right? The new hit-and-run specialist who's interested in sparring?" he asked.
"Yes."
"First of all, you need to wear these. It's to make sure you don't damage your clothes," the man said, handing Alex a gi for the matches.
"Go get changed over there," he continued, pointing to a nearby changing room.
"Then, just pick a battleground to stand on so others can challenge you, or you can roam around and pick your own opponents. If you get injured, there are potions for sale at the healing station over there," he added, gesturing toward a small station stocked with healing supplies.
"Basic rules for sparring—no biting, no strikes to the groin, spine, or back of the head. No eye-gouging, small joint manipulation, or targeting the throat. Keep it controlled, don't go breaking bones, and if someone taps out, you let go immediately. Have fun," the man said before walking back to a nearby desk.
He must be in charge of coordination on the first floor.
Alex went to the changing room and changed into his new attire. The size was just right for his 4'10" (1.47 m) frame. Though he had recovered from his malnutrition, some of his potential had been lost, possibly stunting his growth. He could only hope that Pokémon meat, with its mystical properties, might help him regain what was lost.
The average height for adult males in this world is approximately 5'8" (173 cm), while bodybuilders tend to average around 6'4" (193 cm) due to their enhanced physiques. Experienced Pokémon trainers who travel extensively often develop strong, athletic builds, with many reaching around 6 feet (183 cm).
Alex hopes to grow to at least 6 feet by the time his growth stops, allowing him to blend in with the general population. While he would be considered short among bodybuilders, his height would be perfectly average compared to most people.
He also planned to avoid focusing on specific muscle groups, opting instead to spend most of his time sparring. This way, he could maintain a balanced physique without looking overly bulky for his height.
After changing, Alex made his way over to an unoccupied battleground and placed his backpack off to the side along with his Pokéballs. He didn't have to wait long before a man came over, giving him a once-over before shrugging and stepping into the battleground.
No words were spoken as the man suddenly charged at Alex, his stance low and aggressive. Alex barely had time to react before a punch came flying toward his face. He quickly brought his hands up in defense, redirecting the man's fist to the right while shuffling to the left, finally settling into a proper stance. Staying light on his feet, he began hopping slightly, circling his opponent carefully.
The man nodded in appreciation before taking a stance of his own—a standard karate posture. His feet were shoulder-width apart, left foot forward with toes pointing straight ahead, right foot back and angled to the side. His left hand was open in front, while his right fist was tucked at his waist, ready to strike.
They squared off in silence before the man suddenly pushed forward with a powerful front kick, testing the waters. Alex parried it to the right with his forearm and immediately tried to close the distance, but his opponent backed up just as quickly.
Not letting him escape, Alex pressed forward in a low posture, arms raised to protect his chest with only his eyes peeking over his fists. As he got in close, the man swung a left hook in an attempt to force him back. Alex weaved left, smoothly shifting his feet to reposition himself to the man's right. With an explosive movement, he threw a haymaker with his right arm.
The man, unable to guard in time, took the hit square on the jaw. Staggering from the impact, he abandoned his stance and lunged forward, aiming for a takedown.
Alex tried to backpedal, but the man was too fast. Unable to escape, he reacted on instinct—bringing his hands low, he formed a tight circle with his arms, trapping his opponent's lowered head. As they crashed to the ground with a powerful slam, Alex quickly wrapped his legs around the man's torso, locking in a guillotine choke.
He squeezed, tightening his grip around the man's neck while arching his back, pressing down with his arms in a ruthless attempt to end the fight. The man struggled briefly before tapping out against Alex's right shoulder.
Alex immediately released him and stood up, brushing himself off.
"Nice fight," he said simply, walking back to his position on the battleground.
"Nice, my ass—that was brutal," the man groaned, rubbing his jaw. "I never knew you could counter a takedown like that. Where'd you learn it?"
"I don't know. It just made sense," Alex lied.
The truth was, he had seen martial arts videos before, but MMA and submission holds weren't exactly popular. Most people favored judo-style takedowns followed by ground-and-pound tactics.
This world wasn't big on human combat sports. There were no boxing tournaments, no MMA pay-per-view events, and no form of competitive physical fighting. Here, only Pokémon battles mattered. Fighting techniques were treated more as a form of recreation or artistic expression rather than a serious discipline for combat.
Traditional martial arts like karate, judo, and taekwondo still existed, but nothing as refined or efficient as MMA—nothing designed specifically to dismantle an opponent in the most effective way possible, no matter the circumstances.
At the very least, as long as he wasn't facing someone with overwhelming physical strength, he had a good chance of being the best fighter around.
Alex glanced around, rolling his shoulders. This was only the beginning.
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