The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the dense forest as Ilios emerged from Kahuna Hala’s house. His Pokémon were treated, but the sting of defeat from the battle with the Totem Gumshoos still lingered. Baron, his loyal Litten, rubbed against his leg, sensing his partner’s frustration.
“We’re not losing next time, Baron. We’ll come back stronger,” Ilios vowed, his voice filled with determination.
Baron let out a small growl of agreement, his eyes gleaming with the same determination as his trainer. Yungoos and Wimpod rested quietly in their Pokéballs, ready to give their all when called upon. With a deep breath, Ilios set off toward the forest near Iki Town, determined to train and grow stronger before facing the Totem Pokémon again.
---
Ilios ventured deeper into the thick underbrush, the air growing cooler as the canopy of trees above blocked out the remaining sunlight. The forest was alive with the sounds of wild Pokémon, perfect for the intense training he needed.
The rustling of leaves ahead caught Ilios’s attention. A wild Grubbin skittered into view, its mandibles clicking as it scuttled along the forest floor.
“Baron, let’s start with you. Use Ember!” Ilios commanded.
Baron leaped into action, unleashing a burst of fiery embers toward the Grubbin. The flames hit their mark, singeing the wild Pokémon’s shell. Grubbin retaliated with a sharp Mud-Slap, sending dirt and mud flying toward Baron.
“Dodge it!” Ilios shouted.
Baron narrowly avoided the attack, landing on his feet with agility. The fire in his eyes burned brighter as he charged forward.
“Finish it with Fire Fang!” Ilios ordered.
Baron’s fangs glowed a fierce red as he lunged at the Grubbin, biting down with intense heat. The Grubbin screeched before collapsing, unable to continue the fight.
Ilios patted Baron’s head as the small Pokémon caught its breath. “Great work, buddy. We’re just getting started.”
---
Deeper into the forest, the training continued. As Ilios and Baron ventured further, they were ambushed by a group of Zubat swooping down from the treetops, their high-pitched cries echoing through the forest.
“Yungoos, let’s go! Help Baron out!” Ilios called, tossing Yungoos’s Pokéball into the air.
Yungoos emerged in a flash of light, baring its sharp teeth at the attacking Zubat.
“Baron, take the lead with Ember! Yungoos, follow up with Leer!”
Baron unleashed a wave of fiery embers, scattering the Zubat as Yungoos lowered its head and glared at the nearest one, intimidating the wild Pokémon into slowing its attack.
One of the Zubat retaliated with a Supersonic aimed at Baron, but Ilios was quick to react.
“Baron, dodge it! Yungoos, hit them with Tackle!”
As Baron leaped to the side, Yungoos charged forward with all its might, slamming into the Zubat with full force. The Zubat shrieked, flapping wildly before plummeting to the ground, defeated.
“Baron, finish this with Fire Fang!” Ilios shouted.
Baron’s teeth flared up with fiery energy as he launched himself at the remaining Zubat, biting down with a force that left the wild Pokémon defeated in seconds.
The forest fell silent as the Zubat retreated into the night. Ilios grinned as he knelt beside his two partners, giving them a quick spray of Potion to heal their minor injuries.
“You’re both doing great. We’re getting closer,” he said, smiling. “But we still have one more to train.”
---
As they trekked further, Ilios found a small pond nestled in a clearing. He crouched down, watching as ripples spread across the water’s surface.
“Wimpod, it’s your turn.” He released Wimpod from its Pokéball, and the small, skittish Pokémon appeared at his side.
A rustle in the nearby bushes signaled the arrival of another opponent: a wild Yungoos. It bared its teeth, ready to pounce.
“Wimpod, start with Sand Attack!” Ilios commanded.
Wimpod kicked up a cloud of dirt, sending it into the wild Yungoos’s face, blinding it temporarily. The wild Yungoos stumbled, trying to shake off the sand, but Ilios knew better than to let his guard down.
“Follow up with Struggle Bug!”
Wimpod let out a loud screech, releasing a swarm of energy-infused bugs that slammed into the wild Yungoos. The attack left it reeling, but it wasn’t down yet.
The wild Yungoos retaliated with a quick Bite, catching Wimpod off guard and sending it tumbling backward.
“Hang in there, Wimpod! Use Withdraw!” Ilios shouted.
Wimpod quickly retracted into its hard shell, bracing itself against the incoming attack. The wild Yungoos’s follow-up attack barely scratched the surface of Wimpod’s sturdy shell.
“Now, hit it with Struggle Bug one more time!”
Wimpod uncurled and let out another powerful blast of energy bugs. The wild Yungoos let out a final cry before collapsing, defeated.
Ilios smiled, proud of Wimpod’s progress. “You’re getting stronger, Wimpod. All of you are. We’re almost ready.”
---
The next morning, after a long night of battles, Ilios and his team set off once more for Verdant Cavern. This time, they were prepared. With Baron, Yungoos, and Wimpod by his side, Ilios knew they had grown stronger.
As they reached the entrance to the cave, a familiar growl echoed from within. The towering Totem Gumshoos emerged, its eyes locking onto Ilios. But this time, there was no hesitation in Ilios’s heart.
“Gumshoos, I’m ready! Let’s have our rematch!” Ilios called out, his voice filled with determination.
The Totem Gumshoos let out a deep roar, accepting the challenge. The battle was about to begin.
