The training drill was simple in concept, but demanding in execution. When Xiu released a silk thread, the corresponding stone would drop. Scyther's task was to instantly pinpoint the falling target's trajectory, close the distance with explosive speed, and cleanly sever the thread before the stone hit the ground.
It was a comprehensive exercise Xiu had devised, targeting multiple skills simultaneously: reaction time, spatial awareness, acceleration, mid-air maneuverability, and precision under pressure.
Xiu understood that monotonous drills quickly led to boredom and decreased enthusiasm, especially for intelligent creatures like Pokémon. They weren't machines. 'Even kids get bored with repetitive tasks', he mused. So, he constantly rotated training methods – speed drills one day, defensive maneuvers the next, attack precision after that, interspersed with basic conditioning. He kept things varied, challenging, aiming to stimulate Scyther's keen mind as much as its powerful body.
Of course, this variety primarily applied to Scyther. Abra's training remained focused and consistent – slow, steady refinement of its Telekinesis, pushing the boundaries of its control and endurance without risking mental strain. And Happiny… well, Happiny's 'training' still mostly consisted of supervised play, eating, and sleeping. It was simply too young for anything more structured.
"Alright, Scyther, center position," Xiu instructed, holding the cluster of silk threads.
Scyther moved fluidly to the designated spot within the web of hanging stones, settling into a relaxed but ready stance.
Xiu carefully selected one thread from the bunch and let it go.
The instant the tension released, Scyther reacted. Even before the stone visibly began to fall, Scyther exploded forward, a green blur streaking towards the target, leaving only a faint impression in the soft earth where it had stood. By the time the stone had dropped only a few inches, Scyther was already there. A near-invisible flash of its scythe, and the thread was severed cleanly. Scyther shot past without pausing, its momentum carrying it forward. The stone thumped harmlessly onto the ground.
Before Scyther had even fully arrested its forward motion, Xiu released a second thread from a different direction. Scyther reacted again, changing direction instantly, leaping towards the new target.
Thwump… thwump… thwump…
The sounds of falling stones hitting the earth became a steady rhythm, punctuated by the near-silent whisper of Scyther's movements and the shink of its scythes slicing through thread.
After several intense minutes, the ground within the ten-meter training area was littered with stones and severed threads. Scyther stood panting in the center, its earlier relaxation completely gone, replaced by visible exhaustion. A faint reddish flush was visible beneath its green carapace, indicating significant exertion. The constant high-speed bursts, the rapid changes in direction, the precision required – this drill was far more draining than the endurance runs.
"Okay, stop!" Xiu called out, securing the remaining threads. He walked into the training area and began gathering the stones and threads.
Scyther, hearing the command, immediately lowered its scythes, stumbled slightly, then dragged itself over to the shade of a nearby tree and collapsed onto the ground, closing its eyes, seemingly oblivious to its surroundings.
"Walk it off first," Xiu advised, seeing its abrupt halt. "Cool down properly before you sit." But Scyther was too exhausted to respond, already drifting into a state of near-collapse. Xiu sighed silently, understanding the depth of its fatigue. He let it rest, quietly cleaning up the training ground himself.
— — —
At the end of another grueling training day, Xiu didn't head straight back to his apartment as usual. Instead, feeling a prickle of unease he'd been sensing for the past couple of days, he took a deliberately circuitous route through the quiet suburban streets, eventually turning onto a remote, poorly maintained access road leading towards a derelict industrial area on the very edge of town. He stopped before the rusted, chain-link fence surrounding a large, abandoned factory complex, its windows boarded up, graffiti covering its crumbling brick walls.
He stood there for a moment, seemingly looking at the factory, then turned his head slightly, addressing the empty air beside a crumbling wall. "Alright, come on out," he said calmly, his voice carrying clearly in the quiet twilight. "How many days have you been following me now?"
Silence. Only the sighing wind answered.
"Tch," Xiu clicked his tongue, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. "Don't bother getting into this line of work if you haven't got the guts for a direct approach."
As the words faded, a figure detached itself from the shadows by the factory corner. Simultaneously, another figure emerged from behind a stack of discarded pallets on the opposite side of the road. They moved deliberately, positioning themselves to block both potential escape routes along the access road, effectively trapping Xiu between them and the factory fence.
One was tall and lanky, perhaps in his late twenties or early thirties. Ordinary features, forgettable face, except for a prominent, neatly trimmed mustache that somehow made him look shifty rather than distinguished.
The other was shorter, stockier, completely bald, with a face full of rough muscle and scar tissue. A greasy, unpleasant smile stretched across his lips, but his eyes held a cold, predatory glint that belied the faux joviality.
They advanced slowly towards Xiu, flanking him slightly.
"Didn't expect you to have the balls, kid," the bald man sneered, raising a hand to rub his shiny scalp. The greasy smile widened, looking particularly vulgar in the fading light. "Knowing you were being tailed, and still walking right into a dead end like this."
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Xiu replied, his stance relaxed, his tone surprisingly level, betraying no fear.
His unexpected confidence seemed to momentarily throw the mustached man off balance. "We've… we've checked you out," he stammered slightly, recovering. "Know where you live, know your routine. Wasted a good few days of our time tracking your boring little life. You really think you can bluff your way out of this?"
"Oh, you've checked me out, have you?" Xiu asked, a genuine smile touching his lips now, an almost pitying look in his eyes. "Are you sure you know who you're dealing with? Let me give you some friendly advice: there are some people in this world you really can't afford to mess with."
The casual arrogance, the sheer nonchalance in Xiu's tone, clearly unnerved the mustached man. He hesitated, his advance faltering.
But the bald man cut in sharply, anger flashing in his eyes at his partner's hesitation. "Background? What background could a kid who rents a place with barely a bed! Eats the cheapest crap from roadside stalls, stuff even a Rattata would turn its nose up at! You pinch pennies over every damn purchase! What kind of 'background' does a bum like that have?"
The bald man's rant seemed to remind the mustached man of their purpose, shaking off his uncertainty. But Xiu's next words made him freeze again.
"Okay," Xiu said, spreading his hands in a gesture of helpless honesty. "So I'm poor. Dirt poor, apparently. What exactly do you want with me? Clearly, I don't have any money."
The mustached man blinked, looking genuinely confused, turning towards his bald partner as if asking, Yeah, boss, why ARE we here if he's broke?
The bald man glared murderously at his accomplice's idiocy.
"Idiot!" he snarled. Ignoring the mustache, he reached for his belt, unclipping a Poké Ball. He tossed it into the air. "Doesn't matter! Hand over that rare Pokémon you smuggled out of the park, kid, and maybe we'll let you walk away slightly less broken!"
A large, menacing Beedrill materialized buzzing aggressively between them, its sharp stingers glinting.
Seeing the Pokémon appear, the mustached man finally remembered their objective. Cursing under his breath, he fumbled for his own Poké Ball, releasing a small, insectoid Pokémon with a large, parasitic mushroom growing on its back. Paras.
"Don't know how a scrub like you got his hands on something valuable," the bald man continued, gesturing towards Xiu (clearly referring to Scyther), "but today's your lucky day! Because it's about to become mine!" He pointed sharply at Xiu. "Beedrill, Twineedle!"
The giant wasp Pokémon shot forward, closing the distance rapidly. Light gathered at the tips of its two large stingers. As the light intensified, it fractured, launching a barrage of glowing, needle-like projectiles straight at Xiu.
Xiu didn't flinch. He took a couple of quick steps back, already unclipping a Poké Ball from his own belt. "Scyther, let's go!"
Red light flashed just as the missile needles reached him. Scyther materialized instantly in front of Xiu.
Clang! Clang! Clink!
The sound of metal striking metal echoed sharply. Scyther stood firm, its scythes moving in a blur, effortlessly deflecting or slicing through the incoming energy needles. Sparks flew as the projectiles disintegrated harmlessly around them, neutralizing the initial assault.