After ten minutes, Jerry called out the names of two students. I wasn’t one of them.

  I gave Zigzagoon a quick smile before returning him to his Poké Ball, then joined the others at the edge of the arena. It was time to watch and learn.

  Jerry moved to the center of the field as the two trainers stepped forward. Both held their Poké Balls tightly, nerves and excitement visible on their faces.

  “This battle is one-on-one,” Jerry announced. “Send out your Pokémon.”

  The first trainer—Colton Smith, short and broad-shouldered with messy strawberry-blonde hair—tossed his ball. A flash of red light formed into a Patrat, standing upright and alert. It scanned the field with sharp, cautious eyes.

  His opponent, a small girl with sharp features and short black hair—Ayumi, if I remembered right—sent out a wide-eyed Bidoof. The beaver Pokémon blinked and tilted its head, looking around in dopey confusion.

  I pulled out my Pokédex, scanning each one:

  Patrat – A vigilant Pokémon known for its constant lookout behavior. Stores food in its cheeks and uses its tail for signaling. Always alert, though it has a known blind spot from behind.

  *

  Bidoof – A beaver-like Pokémon with strong incisors and surprising stamina. Lives in groups near water. Despite its goofy look, it’s quick and resilient, using its teeth for both foraging and defense.

  *

  “Victory is decided when one Pokémon is unable to continue,” Jerry said. “Begin!”

  The trainers wasted no time.

  “Bidoof, Rollout!”

  “Patrat, brace with Bide!”

  Ayumi’s Bidoof curled into a ball and launched forward, gaining speed as it rolled. Patrat remained motionless, its body glowing faintly with white energy. Bide—absorb now, counter later.

  Interesting. Colton was betting on Patrat’s ability to endure Rollout and return double the damage. But that only worked if Patrat could survive long enough.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  The first hit landed. Patrat took the blow head-on and barely flinched. The glow around its body intensified. Bidoof rolled away and came back with more speed. The second impact hit harder—Patrat gritted its teeth but held its ground.

  The tension in the room started to rise. The third hit would be the strongest.

  Would I have made the same call? One high-risk move each. No backup plan. I wasn’t sure.

  Bidoof came in fast. The collision knocked Patrat back a few feet—it stumbled, dropped to one knee—but stood back up, energy now pulsing around its frame. Then, with a sharp cry, it unleashed the stored force from Bide.

  A bright burst of power slammed into Bidoof from behind just as it turned around. The beaver Pokémon let out a surprised squeak before collapsing.

  Jerry raised his hand.

  “Bidoof is unable to battle. Patrat and Colton win.”

  Ayumi quietly returned Bidoof to its ball, whispering something—probably a thank-you. Colton ran forward, scooping Patrat into his arms. The little rodent finally passed out from exhaustion, but its job was done.

  Jerry walked back to center.

  “Alright, quick review.”

  We all turned to him, some already pulling out their Pokédexes to take notes.

  “Let’s talk about what worked—and what didn’t.”

  His tone was calm, but firm. Instructor energy without the yelling.

  “Patrat’s Bide is a risky move. It doesn’t do anything unless it’s hit. If Ayumi had ordered Bidoof to stop Rollout after the first strike or before he even struck the opponent, Patrat would’ve built up less energy or none at all. A simple Growl or Defense Curl could’ve wasted the charge.”

  He paused, letting the thought sink in.

  “On the other hand, Colton played his hand early. By announcing Bide right away, he gave his opponent a chance to react. A more experienced trainer might’ve punished that. Bide drains stamina, and if it doesn’t land—it’s just wasted energy.”

  Jerry crossed his arms.

  “This kind of fight is more than just typing and stats. It’s about observation. Timing. Tempo. If your strategy’s obvious, your opponent can counter. If your Pokémon isn’t ready for the strain, they’ll fold.”

  Then his voice softened just a bit.

  “But you’re new. And you’re here to learn. Mistakes are part of the process. That’s why we start with basics.”

  He looked around, making sure he had our attention.

  “Now, here’s a bonus lesson. Did anyone notice how Patrat immediately stood upright and scanned the field? That behavior? That’s part of its nature. Same with Bidoof—looking around like it wasn’t sure where it was.”

  He grinned slightly.

  “Small details. But experienced trainers read those cues like open books. You’ll learn about natures later. For now, just know: behavior means something.”

  With that, Jerry called the next pair of students forward.

  I leaned back against the rail, arms crossed, thinking.

  I’d known battles weren’t just about shouting commands, but this was different. Strategy wasn’t just about moves—it was about mind games, about predicting, reacting, reading your opponent.

  I looked down at Zigzagoon’s Poké Ball in my hand.

  This wasn’t going to be easy.

  But I was starting to see the shape of the path ahead.

  And I wanted to walk it.