Marshadow was a humanoid Pokémon, seemingly formed from smoke-gray shadows. The area around its face resembled a helmet, with two curved horns atop it, and a smaller horn between its ears.

Its eyes were orange-red with yellow pupils, and above each eye was a yellow oval marking.

Each wrist had a small bump. Around its neck was a smoking collar, and each foot was wreathed in shadow.

It emerged from the shadows, its body pitch-black, yet its eyes burned as brightly as torches.

Legend said it was formed from the heroic spirits of Alolan warriors.

Hikaru hadn’t expected that training in North Province (Area Two) would actually cause Marshadow to appear before him, and it didn’t make sense.

Was it because of the mysterious ornament?

But Marshadow didn’t have a “visa” for Paldea. Aside from antiques that had been trafficked here, how could it possibly be here?

“It has the ability to slip into any shadow. Because it never reveals itself in front of people, its existence was once considered a fantasy. Raifort-san, when was the last time you went to Alola?”

Hikaru looked at the slightly dazed Raifort-san. She thought for a moment.

“It was one month ago. I went to Wangu Zhai! Are you saying Marshadow slipped into my shadow back then?”

Hikaru glanced at the mysterious ornament set to one side, then at Raifort-san’s headpiece, and immediately understood everything.

“When you went to Wangu Zhai a month ago, Marshadow probably saw your headpiece, and that’s why it slipped into your shadow.”

Raifort-san was confused. “But according to the legends you described, Marshadow only slips into the shadows of martial arts masters. I don’t know the first thing about martial arts.”

Hikaru replied, “Besides martial arts, Marshadow also steals other things. It can slip into a target’s shadow, mimic their movements and strength, and understand the feelings of the one it’s inhabiting. During the imitation process, it can become even stronger than the original.”

“In other words, without realizing it, you let it learn your feelings and thoughts, so you got imitated. As for what it copied, that would obviously be your tomb-raiding techniques.”

“Its signature move is Spectral Thief.”

“And as far as Marshadow is concerned, it wasn’t planning to reveal itself in the first place.”

Hikaru looked at the shadowy warrior before him.

The little shadow man nodded slightly.

It had only been forced into the open because of that leopard’s attack.

Otherwise—

“Otherwise, you were going to slip into my Pokémon’s shadows and steal their martial arts, right?”

Marshadow was startled.

“Ma-shadow!”

You can read a Pokémon’s thoughts?

That’s a cheating ability!

Marshadow gathered its focus and stared hard at Hikaru.

And Hikaru stared back.

“Could it be that the intense qi I sensed near the shrine… was actually you, Marshadow?”

Not because it was drawn here by the Rainbow Wing, but because it returned to its origin—appearing here out of longing for martial arts.

“This is a good opportunity. Let’s fight it and test things out!”

Hikaru looked toward Riolu and Iron Valiant, yet Marshadow’s behavior was a little strange.

It didn’t just stare at the blue-furred pup and the machine girl—it also turned its gaze farther away, toward Aegislash and Lilligant!

Raifort-san said, “Hey, this thing looks greedy. That expression is basically saying it wants to steal-learn not only the Piercing Scroll, but also that martial art that can cut through the waterfall, isn’t it?”

Hikaru said, “That’s exactly the kind of Pokémon Marshadow is. Although it also bears a special mission… the one in front of us doesn’t really look like the one burdened with that mission. But I’m not the chosen one, so it’s normal that I can’t tell.”

Raifort-san shook her head. “You’re talking about things I can’t understand again. If it’s not something you can say directly, don’t tease my curiosity.”

“There’s nothing I can’t say. Marshadow also has the mission of guiding the Rainbow Hero. Do you know Ho-Oh’s legend?” Hikaru looked at Raifort-san. “It’s the legendary Pokémon of Johto. Supposedly, those acknowledged by Ho-Oh can obtain the Rainbow Wing—those people are the Rainbow Hero.”

“Anyone who earns Ho-Oh’s recognition can receive eternal happiness.”

Raifort-san’s eyes brightened. “Hmph. Ho-Oh is such a famous mythical Pokémon that I know a bit about it. But I didn’t know about the ‘eternal happiness’ part.”

“It’s said Ho-Oh’s flames can revive the dead. That legend…”

Hikaru said, “It’s true. That power is called Sacred Fire. Ho-Oh used it to revive three unknown Pokémon—Raikou, Suicune, and Entei!”

“At the same time, a Rainbow Hero who holds the Rainbow Wing also has a chance to be revived by Ho-Oh.”

As he spoke, Hikaru waved at Chien-Pao.

After getting wrecked, Chien-Pao originally wanted to rush in with an Ice Spinner, but it keenly sensed a powerful mental pressure from the little black figure, so it lowered its head with a rumbling growl, ran over to Hikaru’s side, and racked its brain for how to crush this little black guy.

“You did great finding the warrior that lives in shadows. But for the combat part, you really shouldn’t participate.”

Hikaru rubbed Chien-Pao’s forehead.

This was not a battle a four-times-weak-to-Fighting Pokémon like you could take part in.

Even if your saber fangs were indeed a sword that governed slaughter, your Ice/Dark typing was destined to keep you from gaining any advantage in a contest between true Fighting masters!

Not getting flattened into a cat-pancake was already lucky. Save that extreme Attack power for other situations.

Or rather—

“If you learn Sheer Cold, you might have a chance, you know!”

Chien-Pao’s level still wasn’t high enough to learn Sheer Cold, while Chi-Yu, by contrast, already knew Overheat—a move it could only learn at Level 75.

From earlier conversations with the little snail, it could be inferred that the final Treasure of Ruin, Ting-Lu, also knew Fissure.

In other words, only Chien-Pao and Wo-Chien still hadn’t learned their ultimate “big move.” Of course, Wo-Chien’s big move, Leaf Storm, wasn’t particularly useful for it—130 power with shaky accuracy, and with a Special Attack of only 95. It could skip it.

It was better off calmly throwing out Leech Seed.

But Chien-Pao couldn’t skip its own!

“Once you learn Sheer Cold, you’ll become the ancient Paldean god of freezing!”

“Pao~” Chien-Pao scratched its head, blinked, and stared at Marshadow as its imagination ran wild, entering full fantasy mode.

Fantasy again—fantasizing that a four-times-weak-to-Fighting Pokémon could rely on a 30% accuracy Sheer Cold to one-shot the opponent and become the winner!

“Viii-tini~”

Suddenly, a voice from not far away drew the attention of Chien-Pao, Hikaru, and Raifort-san.

Victini, who hadn’t been training and was instead happily nibbling little cookies, saw Marshadow’s battle-ready posture. Its ears twitched, and it suddenly wore a strange smile.

On a whim, it rummaged through the exploration team’s small bag at its side and pulled out the small custom V-Wheel that Hikaru had made for it.

Then, with a pat of its little hand, the V-Wheel began to spin!

“Oh, a V-wave amplification…” Hikaru’s eyes lit up.

Even though V-wave was weak in this world and basically unnecessary unless you were fighting a true boss, a V-Wheel capable of releasing V-wave also had a divination function.

Well, “divination” was more like a gacha. In any case, it could foresee changes in V-wave attributes for the next eleven days, including today.

Pokémon that matched the day’s V-wave attribute would gain an advantage in battle!

Victini spun the wheel!

The V-Wheel gacha begins!

So which attribute would have the advantage today?

Mm.

“Ta-daa!”

It was the Fighting type!

——————

Marshadow felt utter disdain for that leopard wrapped in calamity miasma.

It was, after all, a subordinate of the gods. If it couldn’t even subdue a single evil-tainted leopard, it would be unworthy of its status!

Still, the fact that the leopard had forced it out of the shadows was troublesome.

It had originally planned to learn those special martial arts and strengthen itself—yes! Those were many unique martial arts. Marshadow could feel it! They were the “legendary martial arts” humans spoke of!

To learn ultimate secrets, it often slipped into the shadows of experts, mimicking their movements and strength.

Collecting all martial arts and becoming the strongest Fighting-type Pokémon was also one of its goals—more than that, it was its nature and instinct!

But it hadn’t expected its plan to be interrupted.

Of course, Marshadow was also very interested in the special human in front of it.

That tomb-raiding woman—Marshadow had only been copying her techniques.

But this young man was the truly terrifying expert.

His martial skill and tool-crafting ability were both impressive, and he even had methods to suppress calamity aura. In the past, the shadow of someone like this was exactly the “ideal place” for Marshadow to dwell!

As long as it could learn his methods and continue acting and imitating, one day it would become stronger than the human who served as the original!

Even if it was a fake—

There was no rule that says a fake must lose to the real thing!

At the same time, Marshadow also sensed the aura of Entei.

But wasn’t that strange?

It hadn’t heard of Entei acting alone, so why did this human carry Entei’s aura?

Could it be…? But it didn’t sense the Rainbow Wing, so it shouldn’t be…

Though suspicious, Marshadow confirmed one thing.

This human and his Pokémon were all extremely strange—and that was exactly what made them worth fighting!

“Ma-shadow!”

I’m coming, human master!

Do you still have enough legendary martial arts in reserve?!

————

Boom!

The god-shadow in the darkness raised its fist. A powerful golden aura burst from its body, and even its posture changed!

Raifort-san said, “That’s… a form change?!”

Hikaru said, “That’s right. It’s Zenith Mode!”

“Legend says that when Marshadow, the god’s shadow, is enraged or attacked and uses its signature move, its fighting spirit begins to burn!”

“In this state, its head crest, the bulges on its wrists, and its collar burn like green and yellow flames. Its eyes also glow, but their color doesn’t change.”

“Be careful! Marshadow is an extremely rare dual type—Fighting and Ghost. Normal Fighting-type moves are ineffective!”

“Come on. It looks like it wants to take on four at once. Let’s test the power of the ancient scrolls!”

Aegislash and Lilligant also came over. They immediately realized that this god-shadow before them was the perfect opponent for practicing “the sword art that severs invisible enemies”!

Although it was called a sword art, it wasn’t limited to slashing moves. As long as an attack had the “cleaving” nature, it could trigger the martial art.

The martial art itself was essentially a technique like Foresight that any Pokémon could learn—turning an otherwise ineffective type matchup into an effective one!

Aegislash’s great blade lit up.

Even if the move would normally be ineffective, if it didn’t attack with Fighting-type moves, then practicing the sword art would be meaningless!

So it still used Sacred Sword!

The massive blade slammed forward!

Marshadow dodged Aegislash’s charge. With its blistering Speed of 125, it was confident it could evade any attack, but at the instant it dodged, Lilligant’s twin leaves whirled up.

Aerial Ace!

A follow-up strike timed with Sacred Sword’s attack. Aerial Ace also had a never-miss effect—using agile movements to toy with and slice!

Marshadow’s eyes flashed. Then cold light ignited around its fist!

Ice Punch!

The flying wind and the freezing fist crossed, ice bursting apart. Marshadow flipped to avoid Lilligant’s pursuit, but then it saw Riolu place both paws before his chest.

A wind blade wrapped in a gale suddenly surged up!

Ability: Prankster, priority for status moves +1!

Copycat — Aerial Ace!

A priority Aerial Ace carved a Flying-type cutting shockwave through the air. Marshadow’s torch-like eyes flared!

And then, that same Flying shockwave abruptly appeared right in front of Riolu!

The blue-furred pup was blasted back. He stared at the landed Marshadow in disbelief.

“Awooo?”

What was that? Even with the advantage of priority, how did the opponent move first after him?

And it used the same move, too. But Aerial Ace itself doesn’t have priority.

“That is Marshadow’s combat essence.”

Riolu heard Hikaru’s voice and turned to his Trainer, seeking an answer.

Hikaru told the blue-furred pup the reason for it all:

“Acting. And Copycat.”

“Using Role Play lets it match its Ability to the opponent’s.”

“And as for Copycat, I think you have the most say in that.”

Riolu stared at Marshadow in disbelief.

How could Role Play and Copycat exist on the same Pokémon?

In the team, Lilligant knew Role Play.

And he knew Copycat.

When those two moves appeared on the same Pokémon—

Prankster plus infinite first-move advantage?

Even Riolu felt how nasty and troublesome that was!

And in that instant, Iron Valiant’s pink light blades slashed in at extreme speed!

Marshadow’s eyes flashed again.

It dove straight into Iron Valiant’s shadow. At the same time, a violent energy shock exploded outward from Iron Valiant’s shadow!

Spectral Thief!

A Ghost-type physical attack with 90 power!

Marshadow stole Iron Valiant’s Swords Dance and Agility!

This move first steals all of the target’s raised Attack, Defense, Sp. Atk, Sp. Def, and Speed stat changes, then strikes the target to deal damage!

[Calculating. New move has been recorded!]

A burst of dazzling pink brilliance erupted from Iron Valiant!

Fairy-type: Dazzling Gleam!

Fairy radiance!

“Ma-shadow!” Marshadow took the hit, but it didn’t show pain. It casually wiped at the corner of its mouth, and then the aura pouring off its body swelled even more, as if forming a translucent giant!

Copycat — Dazzling Gleam!

Even though Iron Valiant was a Fairy-type Pokémon, it was also two-times weak to Fairy itself. It was forced back by the fierce beam, and with the accompanying flash, Marshadow slipped into the shadows once more!

[Marshadow disappeared!]

Phantom Force!

A Pokémon using Phantom Force dives into another dimension on the first turn to charge, and it can ignore protection effects when it attacks.

Raifort-san said, “It vanished. Now we have no way of knowing where it’ll attack from, so we’ve lost the initiative.”

Hikaru said, “No. This is the best training opportunity! Let’s force it out!”

“Listen carefully. For the so-called sword art that severs invisible enemies… one crucial point is this.”

“When the Trainer uses the mind’s eye to capture the enemy, that awareness is transmitted to the Pokémon.”

“And then, the Pokémon can break through the invisible enemy.”

(End of Chapter)

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In other words, the essence of the sword art that severs invisible enemies was not merely a Pokémon’s slash.

It was also the Trainer themselves using Foresight.

Of course, explained like this, the “teaching essence” still sounded far too abstract.

But there was something especially interesting about it.

In Pokémon Adventures, Blue’s will and Scyther became one, and only then did that slash come out. At the time, even their movements were identical.

So, was there some move that truly let a Pokémon and a human share their intent?

There was.

That was a Z-Move!

It transmitted the Trainer’s emotions to the Pokémon, overlapped will and Pokémon, and through releasing all of each other’s power, it erupted into an ultimate secret art that surpassed all moves.

“That means the essence of the sword art that severs invisible enemies is actually the same as using a Z-Move!”

“Marshadow is hiding in the shadows, which means we slash the shadows!”

“Aegislash, Lilligant.”

“Use Brick Break on the shadows!”

Fighting-type moves should be ineffective against Ghost.

But Hikaru planned to try anyway.

After all, he was at least a temporary “Island Kahuna,” wasn’t he?

He would treat it as getting familiar with Z-Power in advance.

Two Brick Breaks slammed into the ground.

And the shadow actually began cracking apart, inch by inch.

Marshadow burst out in shock, forced from the shadows, as the ground where the shadow lay collapsed with a thunderous crash!

What was going on?

Was it that special martial art?

It broke through type matchups and produced an effect like Foresight, actually letting them attack him while he dwelled within the shadows!

Marshadow raised his head.

Iron Valiant’s light blade was already swinging down!

Now!

Use the legendary martial art!

Iron Valiant gathered Fighting energy into a single point, forming a massive light blade that could cleave through anything.

Legendary martial art, Single Strike Style — Piercing Bullet Breakthrough!

Ignore weaknesses and resistances!

With a booming impact, the bamboo forest was pierced through.

A violent shockwave, spiraling with brilliant sparks, crashed and broke through in a straight line.

Huge boulders shattered with crackling explosions, and a piercing force ignored every obstruction in its path!

Marshadow’s entire body tensed.

Danger, danger, danger!

If he got hit by that, he would be knocked out on the spot.

So he had to bring out a legendary secret art of his own!

Right here!

“Ma! Shar! Dow!”

Golden flames burned around Marshadow’s fists.

He, too, possessed an ultimate secret art!

Heart, soul, and strength, all at once!

Seeing the energy erupting from Marshadow, Raifort-san broke into a cold sweat even as she stared in disbelief.

“What is that?!”

Hikaru said, “That’s Alola’s Z-Move! It’s also one of the ultimate martial arts Marshadow learned in legend: Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike!”

As an enhanced version of Spectral Thief, Marshadow empowered by Z-Power would unleash a full-force series of punches and kicks that struck the opponent, and the attack would definitely hit!

Its power reached 195!

If the target used Protect or similar blocking moves, the attack would still succeed, but the damage would drop to one-fourth of its original value.

Put another way…

It was a move that couldn’t truly be blocked.

Of course, in the games, even though Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike’s description mentioned “a series of attacks,” it was not treated as a multi-hit move and only dealt damage once.

But in real battles, judging by the M20 movie, the “seven stars” Marshadow threw with true qi really were continuous strikes!

Seven azure qi-stars collided with Piercing Bullet Breakthrough.

After a barrage of repeated qi-blasts, only two qi-stars pushed through the piercing gale created by the breakthrough.

Iron Valiant’s eyes flashed, preparing to defend, but at that moment, Riolu’s martial art finally showed its value.

The blue-furred pup leapt straight in front of Iron Valiant, and his paws began to move!

Legendary martial art, Rapid Strike Style — Whirlpool Peerless!

It could sublimate a move and strike all enemies in front of him!

Whirlpool Peerless — Meteor Mash!

A fierce silver brilliance exploded, smashing the two qi-stars.

The punch’s power did not diminish at all, and the Steel-type’s blind-spot-free strike slammed directly toward Marshadow.

And as the battle continued, the light from Riolu’s Mind’s Eye grew larger and larger.

In the state of his psychic link with Hikaru, it wasn’t just Aegislash and Lilligant who were gradually comprehending a way of fighting that “broke through type matchups.”

Even Riolu himself changed!

[Riolu learned the move “Foresight”!]

It caused the target to enter a foresighted state.

A Pokémon in a foresighted state could not benefit from increased evasiveness, and could be hit by Normal- and Fighting-type moves.

Foresight would always hit!

Riolu charged at the shadow warrior.

And as Marshadow caught his breath, he also raised his guard and took a stance!

The two of them grappled and traded blows, both using Close Combat!

Two little fighters exchanged punch after punch as the battle heated to a boil.

Marshadow realized that the blue-furred pup was clearly far weaker than him, yet in move duels he never fell behind.

It was as if every punch and kick Marshadow threw was being seen through!

Hmph…

So it was Mind’s Eye!

The layered use of Foresight and Mind’s Eye made Marshadow’s moves completely transparent.

And Riolu was even switching between Close Combat and Bullet Punch.

But Marshadow also had Role Play and Copycat!

Switching between Close Combat and Bullet Punch wouldn’t stump him either!

“Ka-donk!”

Suddenly, a streak of fire charged straight in!

Charcadet swung its weapon and joined this Fighting brawl!

The apprentice little knight wanted to fight alongside his teacher against the mighty god-shadow!

This was the moment to earn merit!

And when Marshadow saw the little knight wreathed in flame, he welcomed the newcomer just the same!

Marshadow used Taunt on Charcadet.

Then he threw a powerful Shadow Punch!

Boom!

Silver Meteor Mash and black Shadow Punch collided.

Charcadet used Flare Blitz, slamming into Marshadow with a roaring crash!

Aura and aura clashed and tore at each other.

As the fight continued, Marshadow gradually learned the combat styles of several Pokémon!

The golden flames around Marshadow grew larger and larger!

Ultimate martial art, Hundredfold Peerless!

And then, a straight punch thrust!

Boom!

A punch that looked ordinary carried terrifying power.

It shattered Meteor Mash’s light on the spot, and even cracked Charcadet’s armor!

Iron Valiant cleaved open the surging aura with her light blades, while her pixel eyes began rapid analysis and computation.

“Dore?!”

“Ke?”

Aegislash and Lilligant also felt that the blow just now was not a simple gathering of energy.

It was a far stronger, explosive burst attack!

“Hundredfold Peerless…”

Hikaru rubbed his chin and murmured to himself.

Marshadow’s card ability belonged to the GX series.

Like Larvesta’s Great Hot Wave, it was power that had crossed distant time and space.

And the effect of this martial art was: it dealt damage equal to the number of basic Energy attached to this Pokémon multiplied by 50, and could only be used once per battle.

If “basic Energy” was converted into real battles, it probably meant changes in battle stats.

At the same time, Marshadow’s special “Ability” in the cards was called “Shadow Hunt,” letting this Pokémon use the moves held by all Basic Pokémon in your discard pile—consistent with Marshadow’s setting of “stealing martial arts.”

Under these conditions, the straight punch thrust it used had power even higher than Close Combat!

At this moment, Marshadow charged again!

Straight punch assault!

Smack!

At the instant his fist shot out, a swift shadow suddenly covered him!

Trailblaze!

While attacking the opponent, it also increased the user’s Speed!

Lilligant struck Marshadow, and Marshadow immediately tried his old trick, preparing to use Spectral Thief.

But at this moment, Lilligant had already grasped part of the essence of the “sword art that severs invisible enemies”!

Lilligant’s white, leek-like long leg snapped up!

It was a Fighting-type finisher only a few Pokémon could use, and a supreme technique only “kicking-style” Pokémon could unleash!

Back then, she had used this move to defeat the Unova Elite Four Grimsley’s Bisharp in a single hit!

Axe Kick, with a base power of 120!

With the 1.5× same-type bonus, and the 1.5× boost from Hustle…

Its power reached 270!

It slammed the lifted heel down, chopping into the opponent!

It had a 30% chance to confuse!

If it missed, the user would take damage!

Marshadow hurriedly raised his arms.

With a bang, he blocked the strike.

A Fighting-type move that should have had no effect now became able to hit a Ghost.

The type effectiveness became neutral!

Marshadow was kicked flying far away.

He staggered, barely regaining his stance.

His torch-like eyes reassessed the Pokémon before him!

What terrifying leg strength!

Marshadow still felt lingering fear, but Spectral Thief had already taken effect!

He stole Lilligant’s Speed, and also increased the power of “Hundredfold Peerless”!

Hikaru said, “A card-based martial art… an ultimate secret art that grows stronger the longer it fights…”

“Gather energy into one point, compress the aura, then burst it out in a single discharge?”

“Burst… charge?”

As Hikaru watched, he murmured to himself.

As a martial artist, his professional instinct activated, and he gradually realized something!

A flash of insight cut through his mind.

“That’s it. That’s how it is. So that’s how those moves are used!”

Hikaru finally understood certain methods for learning moves, and his mind suddenly cleared.

Raifort-san stared at the changes in Hikaru’s expression, worried, already calculating whether she should run away immediately.

Even though this battle was absolutely worth watching, she wasn’t a martial artist.

She definitely wasn’t the type to indulge in bloodthirsty thoughts like “seeing a battle of the strong, even dying here would be worth the ticket!”

“Don’t worry. I just figured some things out!”

“Then, I’m going in!”

Raifort-san was stunned. “Going in? Who’s going in? Hey, you’re not seriously going to enter the fight, are you?! Don’t be ridiculous!”

The Trainer was warming up?!

She watched in disbelief as Hikaru not only didn’t retreat, but actually walked toward Marshadow.

And at this moment, Hikaru used psychic power to connect his mind to his Pokémon!

“Watch my movements. Mimic Marshadow’s fighting style, and from Hundredfold Peerless, comprehend a technique that’s both legal and illegal!”

“Compress true qi, condense it like a bomb, then blast it out in one strike. Its accuracy is 100%!”

Trainer, preparing to fight!

But just as Hikaru was about to join—

A bear’s roar suddenly sounded from beyond the bamboo grove!

The storm within the bamboo weakened, leaves rustling, as powerful Fighting energy slowly emerged alongside the sound of breathing.

Then a flame-wreathed fist shot in with a whoosh from deep within the bamboo!

“Ma-shadow!”

Marshadow sensed the sudden intruder.

But he thought: charging straight in like that was far too disrespectful.

With speed like that, who could it possibly hit?

In a duel between Fighting masters, you must never barge in without knowing your place, or you will be seriously injured!

Marshadow decided to teach this lesson.

After trading a punch with Riolu, he shifted aside, neatly dodging the ambush from the shadows.

Hmph. Too green. That kind of ordinary attack couldn’t possibly—

Whoosh!

Marshadow’s body suddenly ignited!

A burn?!

The shadowy little fighter retreated at once, staring at the attacker in disbelief!

“Ma-shadow, ma-shadow ma-shadow!”

No, no, no!

Your attack motion was so slow just now, there’s no way it could have hit me.

So how did that Fire Punch burn me?!

All the Pokémon turned to look at the sudden attacker.

It was a small gray bear, looking as though it wore a white headband, its expression stern, and it was even holding a half-eaten bamboo shoot.

Flames burned on the bear’s fist.

It was just an ordinary Fire Punch, and no matter how you looked at it, it should have been impossible to hit a god-shadow like Marshadow.

Yet it happened anyway.

“Ku!”

The gray-white little bear’s spirit surged as it stared at Marshadow and issued a challenge!

Ghost power always appeared alongside the world’s miasma.

And purging miasma was my mission!

But you, as a Ghost, don’t carry miasma.

Instead, you’re filled with divine mystery!

To witness a clash of strong fighters like this, even dying here would be worth the ticket!

“Ku!”

So let me take part too.

A ruleless brawl, hit however you like.

I can’t hold back my sure-hit fist any longer!

The little bear took a huge bite of the bamboo shoot in its hands.

Chewing hard!

Raifort-san said, “Another new Pokémon joined the battle. What is going on? Is that one yours too?”

Hikaru was equally surprised.

“No, it’s not mine… I see. So the source of true qi I sensed earlier really was it, not Marshadow.”

“This is… Kubfu. Uh… I guess it can be considered a kind of legendary Pokémon?”

“Kubfu is a Pokémon that appeared long ago. It trains body and mind, accumulates hardship day after day, and seriously studies moves. It’s an earnest Pokémon by nature.”

“If it loses in battle, it becomes even more devoted to training and pushes itself harder.”

“Its gaze is resolute. It has white markings on its body, and white fur trailing behind its head, making it look like it’s wearing a white headband.”

“But don’t underestimate that thing.”

“If it tightens the long white fur on its head, its fighting spirit surges, and power rises from its dantian!”

“There’s an organ in its lower abdomen that produces Fighting energy. It uses a unique breathing method and concentrated focus to enhance its abilities and face battle!”

“But it’s talking about a sure-hit fist… what is going on with this thing?!”

Kubfu, the pre-evolution form of the famous Urshifu.

In Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea bamboo forest, there really was one that had trained for many years.

But its Ability was supposed to be Inner Focus, and it wasn’t supposed to have a Hidden Ability at all.

Yet Hikaru recalled an absurd, cut setting.

In the earliest version of Scarlet and Violet, when Kubfu’s data was first entered, it actually had an additional Hidden Ability.

That Hidden Ability was—

No Guard!

Kubfu tightened its fur.

Then it began to breathe deeply.

Breathing method: Total Concentration!

Fighting spirit, awaken!

It used Focus Energy, inhaling deeply.

Its mental power concentrated, entering a state where it could easily land critical hits!

No Guard…

Kubfu stared straight ahead, as if it smelled something incredible.

The aura of every Pokémon present.

Ghost aura, Steel aura, Grass aura, fighter aura, Fairy aura.

The spreading miasma, the surging fire, and perhaps… even the aura of a god!

It sniffed out the opponent’s scent, detected the opponent’s position, and identified the opponent’s true form!

“Was that move Odor Sleuth?”

Hikaru read Kubfu’s behavior and was genuinely surprised.

Because this move was also one of the moves that, in Generation 9, was cruelly deleted.

It caused many Pokémon to lose their means of countering Ghost types.

Of course, as a “bear,” Kubfu’s sense of smell was extremely sharp.

It wasn’t surprising that it could learn Odor Sleuth.

The games didn’t dare let it have that move—probably because they feared its strength would become too explosive after it evolved.

At this moment, Kubfu had completed its aura collection.

It stared hard at Hikaru, their eyes meeting.

“Ku! Ku!”

A punch that likewise gathered full-body strength and qi!

Before I use my move, will you let me witness your ultimate martial art?

That was what Kubfu was saying!

“I see. Since it’s rare that we meet, I’ll let you see it.”

Hikaru nodded to Kubfu, then looked at Riolu and Iron Valiant.

“The use of aura, true qi, and energy suits your fighting styles better. It doesn’t match the other partners as well.”

“So the new move I’ve comprehended will be taught to you first!”

“These two moves are executed the same way. Even their power and added effects are identical.”

“And in theory, no Pokémon should be able to learn either of them. You’re the first!”

“Consider it a newly forged secret art!”

With Hikaru’s movements, and the fierce true qi burst of a martial artist, Riolu and Iron Valiant immediately grasped the key.

All that remained was simple imitation and then…

Throw it!

“The name of the move is—”

Violent true qi and violent Fairy power erupted at the same time!

Riolu gathered aura and true qi around his body.

“Awooo! (Fighting Rush)!”

Fighting type.

Base power 100.

It dealt massive damage to the target.

Fighting Rush had a 30% chance to paralyze the target!

A glow appeared in Iron Valiant’s pixel eyes.

[Magic Rush!]

Fairy type.

Base power 100.

It dealt massive damage to the target.

Magic Rush had a 30% chance to confuse the target!

At the same time, Kubfu’s heart shook!

It witnessed the creation of these two new moves, and in that moment it also gathered all its power!

Human master!

Please bear witness!

I also have a devastating punch.

It condenses the willpower I’ve trained for years!

It deals massive damage to the target.

It has a 100% chance to confuse the target!

Kubfu raised its fist high.

A tremendous strike gathered from full-body strength, wrapped in rolling pressure waves, and then smashed down!

No Guard.

Dynamic Punch!

(End of Chapter)

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