**Chapter 14: Dedicated Training**

The eastern grassland of Ecruteak City.

Today, Kane noticed significantly fewer people than the previous day. Perhaps some couldn't handle even a day of special training. Such unmotivated individuals don't even deserve a right to complain about society.

Yesterday's training focused on Ditto's endurance by changing and maintaining its form while cutting grass. Today, Kane began searching for a special training partner while looking around he spotted two teenagers with.

A Mankey and a Tyrogue.

"Perfect," Kane thought, targeting two teenagers with Fighting-type Pokémon. These two Pokémon were completely harmless in Kane's eyes, but for now, he had no other options, so he had to go with them.

Kane approached them, shouting, "Hey, you two!" 

No, he thought to himself. I still haven't fully adjusted to my new life. I'll have to watch my words from now on.

Luckily, the teenagers didn't catch his words and only looked around confused.

Kane corrected himself, "Your Pokémon are Fighting types. What they need most is strength, and I've got a sandbag for them to practice on."

However, the teenagers didn't understand what Kane meant. For them, "training" was just sparring with other Pokémon and showing off to their peers.

Kane shook his head, disappointed. These kids were clueless.

He decided not to explain further and simply commanded Ditto, "Transform into a sandbag. When they hit you, focus on using your body's softness to absorb the impact. If you can't, it's going to hurt."

Ditto, still cautious after yesterday's training, transformed without hesitation into a one-meter-tall sandbag.

Kane tested it out as he threw the first punch to test the transformation, and his fist sank deep into the sandbag and seeing the sandbag twist in pain Kain shook his head disappointed. Ditto had failed to absorb the blow properly.

"You don't seem to understand pain yet, do you?" Kane sneered, before unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks on the sandbag. With each hit, Ditto gradually learned to soften its body and minimize the impact.

Pokémon only reach their potential when pushed to their limits.

Ditto's pain forced it to find ways to improve.

Although Kane was only seven, with limited strength, he had trained for about half an hour, and Ditto was now able to handle his attacks with ease.

But there was no point in continuing.

Kane turned his attention to the Mankey and Tyrogue nearby.

"Did you see that? Now it's your turn. Fight!" Kane shouted at them, frustrated. Despite watching him train for half an hour, the Fighting-types remained passive, hiding behind their trainers.

"Useless," Kane muttered.

These Pokémon were probably bred in a controlled environment, never having faced the wild's harsh realities of survival. They didn't know what real battle, or the difference of life or death, Kane would much rather buy Pokémon from the black market, even at a higher price, than deal with this.

After taking a quick drink of water, Kane continued his own training, knowing it would still benefit his physical fitness.

As Kane was in the middle of punching, a Machop suddenly appeared, delivering a powerful karate chop to the sandbag, knocking Ditto to the ground.

Strength, speed, and precision—this Machop wasn't like the others.

Kane assessed that this Machop's strike was at least five times stronger than his own.

"That sandbag isn't normal, is it?" 

A young boy, around twelve years old, stepped forward. His long black hair covered half his face, and he wore a long-sleeved black shirt, despite the hot weather. His sneer sent a cold shiver through the air.

At such a young age, his gaze was unusually sharp.

Kane immediately sensed that this boy was no ordinary kid.

Instead of responding to the boy, Kane turned to the knocked-over sandbag.

"Get up."

Although the Machop's attack had been a real combat strike, Ditto paused for only a moment before reforming itself.

"Continue," Kane instructed the boy.

"Heh, this is interesting," the boy replied with a cold smile before nodding at Machop.

Machop's strikes were far more intense than Kane's. The chops, kicks, and punches assaulted Ditto from various angles. 

Kane closely observed Ditto's responses. The blows were too powerful for Ditto to fully neutralize, resulting in significant damage.

The sandbag shrank with each hit, but Ditto maintained its form. However, Kane could tell it was running out of stamina.

Not bad, Kane thought, nodding in approval of Ditto's resilience.

After an hour, the sandbag had reverted to Ditto's normal size.

"That's enough."

Upon hearing Kane's command, Ditto transformed back into its original form, covered in bruises.

But the boy wasn't satisfied. Machop, not even tired after an hour of attacks, prepared to strike Ditto again with a karate chop.

"Foolish insect" Kane growled, stepping forward and swiftly kicking Machop's calf. The sudden attack threw Machop off balance, causing it to stumble.

As Kane turned to leave, the boy blocked his path.

"You hurt my Machop and want to walk away just like that? Don't you think that's a bit rude?"

Kane narrowed his eyes, "Get out of my way. This isn't your place to act tough."

The boy's breathing became heavy as he wondered how Kane could still be so defiant, despite the situation being seemingly in his favor.

Taking advantage of the boy's hesitation, Kane whispered, "Dagger."

Ditto, understanding immediately, transformed into a sharp blade, which Kane quickly grasped.

Within seconds, Kane grabbed the boy by the neck with his left hand and held the dagger close to his abdomen with his right hand.

Though the boy appeared two or three years older, Kane's combat skills were more than enough to handle him.

Kane's eyes blazed with fury, bloodshot and intense, "Don't fuck with or you'll be kissing death."

The boy shivered as a chill ran down his spine. His legs trembled as he muttered, "I-I won't... I swear."

The boy had only intended to teach Kane a lesson, but he never expected that a child younger than him would dare use a weapon. With no one else around, the situation was more dangerous than he had anticipated.

Machop, seeing its trainer in danger, hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Kane released the boy, who was now pale and trembling. He easily pushed him aside, like a wilted plant.

Kane sneered, got on his bike, and rode back into the city.

In his past life, Kane had lived through 60 years of experience, navigating both the criminal underworld and legitimate circles. The moment he saw this gloomy boy, his instincts told him that something wasn't right. The boy's demeanor was unlike that of other kids his age.

However of course this was Kains intuition living in the Pokémon world one had to be cautious to survive .