Attack of Team Magma

"Absol, Future Sight is a psychic-type move, and you're a dark-type Pokémon. It might not be as smooth for you to use abilities from the psychic type. Do you think learning the Calm Mind move would help you use this ability?"

Although Absol wasn't a psychic-type Pokémon, it was a unique creature with a natural ability to foresee disasters. This natural ability gave it an advantage when using psychic-type moves compared to other non-psychic-type Pokémon.

So, learning the Calm Mind move, which was a psychic-type move focused on alteration, shouldn't be too difficult for Absol.

Upon hearing Yuga words, Absol nodded in agreement. However, how to learn the Calm Mind move was still a question.

While Yuga Chimecho was a psychic-type Pokémon, it only instinctively meditated as a psychic-type Pokémon would, and it couldn't meditate as a move.

Calm Mind, whether the innate instinct or the learned move, could enhance a Pokémon mental power. The difference was that only psychic-type Pokémon had the innate ability to meditate, while the Calm Mind move could be learned by many non-psychic-type Pokémon.

The greatest benefit of the Calm Mind move was that it could not only temporarily boost combat abilities during battles but also gradually enhance mental power through regular practice over time.

"Absol, let me think of a way when I get back. I'll make sure both you and Chimecho learn this move."

Yuga speculated that Absol difficulty in using this move smoothly might be due to its lack of the strong innate psychic power possessed by psychic-type Pokémon.

So, even for many psychic-type Pokémon of its class, learning the ability to foresee the future was challenging. Despite Absol having a natural inclination, using the move was bound to be quite difficult.

Yuga believed that learning the Calm Mind move might need to start from other trainers. If their own Pokémon didn't possess the move and they themselves couldn't teach it, seeking guidance elsewhere was the only option.

"Alright, Absol, you..."

Before Yuga could finish speaking, Absol, who had been training, suddenly pounced violently, pushing Yuga aside. At the same time, the spot where Yuga had been standing was blown into a big pit with a loud "bang."

Yuga stared at the pit before him and the scattered dirt, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Tch, to think the surprise attack failed."

At that moment, a voice echoed from afar, and three figures emerged along with a Skorupi. Yuga had a vivid memory of two of them.

One of them was the opponent Yuga faced in the finals of a previous Pokémon battle competition. The other was also a participant – the trainer of that high-level Camerupt.

The person who had just attacked Yuga and spoken was the leader of these three individuals, the only one Yuga didn't recognize.

Though Yuga didn't know him, the attire he wore was unmistakable to Yuga.

With dark red clothing and a horned hood, this attire could only belong to one of the two infamous villainous teams in the Hoenn region – Team Magma.

"What's your intention? Why did you attack me out of nowhere?"

As Yuga words trailed off, Absol suddenly stepped in front of him, growling menacingly at the three individuals. This aggressive stance was full of hostility.

Yuga didn't reveal their identity. The less Yuga knew now, the safer it was. After all, there were three of them and only one of Yuga. A smart person wouldn't rush into danger.

"Why attack you? You took something from us. Shouldn't I take it back?"

The leader face remained shadowed beneath his hood. Yuga couldn't see his expression clearly, but from his voice, he seemed middle-aged.

However, claiming that Yuga took something from them seemed to be a misunderstanding. Yuga couldn't recall having taken anything, but the person voice was oddly familiar.

"I took something from you? There must be some kind of misunderstanding."

Although Yuga suspected there might be a misunderstanding, they remained cautious and slowly got up from the ground.

"Misunderstanding?" The leader sneered.

"Evidence is right in front of you. What misunderstanding are you talking about?"

The person pointed at Absol standing in front of Yuga.

Yuga squinted, realizing what they meant by "something" and understanding why Suo had given Yuga an odd look when Yuga sent out Absol during the competition.

Simultaneously, Yuga remembered why the leader voice sounded familiar.

This leader was one of the three people who chased after Absol in the Rusturf Tunnel. He was the trainer of Skorupi.

Back then, the tunnel was too dimly lit for Yuga to see the details of their clothes or their faces. Thus, Yuga couldn't identify their clothing color or realize they were part of Team Magma.

It seemed that Yuga whereabouts had been leaked to the leader by Suo, who was the Team Magma informant looking for Absol.

"Remember now? If you do, then hand over Absol to us."

The leader tone carried a hint of threat.

Yuga didn't answer the leader but silently recalled the Pokémon that had gathered around Yuga. Only Absol, Floette, and Chimecho remained outside.

Seeing Yuga actions, the leader knew Yuga wasn't planning to comply. Suo and the trainer of Camerupt released their Banette and Camerupt, ready for battle.

"Hmph, if you won't accept our offering, then we'll impose a punishment. Skorupi, use Pin Missile!"

Without a second thought, the leader ordered his Skorupi to launch an attack on Yuga.

"Floette, Fairy Wind!"

Facing the attack, Yuga immediately retaliated.

Light purple projectiles clashed with pink gusts in the air, causing explosions.

"Absol, Psycho Cut!"

Not letting their guard down due to deflecting the scorpion attack, Yuga commanded Absol to attack the remaining Camerupt and Banette, seizing the initiative.

Absol quickly understood Yuga intent. Two white psychic blades were sent toward Camerupt and Banette.

"Camerupt, Protect."

Ideals were beautiful, but reality was often disappointing. Yuga hadn't expected Camerupt to actually use Protect against such a powerful technique. It swiftly reacted to the sudden attack.

The Psycho Cuts from Absol aimed at Camerupt and Banette were both blocked by the light shield in front of Camerupt.

"Banette, Shadow Sneak!"

After successfully protecting against the attacks, Camerupt trainer immediately counterattacked using his Banette.