Pokémon: I just became a Gym Leader, and Cynthia proposed to me.

Chapter 737 Milotic Steals the Technique

The morning mist shrouded the lake, and Milotic floated on the water, hiding most of its body behind the reeds.

Her eyes were fixed on the shore, where a duel was taking place that she couldn't look away from.

Yesterday's changes to Goodra made Milotic very curious as to why Goodra had become so strong.

Back in the Wild Area, Goodra was being dominated by Salamence, but this time, it's Goodra dominating Salamence.

If she can learn the essence of it, she might become the strongest Pokémon in the Wild Area!

The Greatsword Demon stood by the water's edge, its claws resting on the two enormous seashell swords at its waist.

The Azure Flame Blade Demon opposite him drew his twin swords, the blades shimmering with a dark purple light.

Li Shuwen's calm voice rang out: "Water Wave Blade."

As the Greatsword Demon drew his sword, the two shell swords were instantly covered with a layer of clear blue light.

This is the color of water energy condensed to its extreme.

With a slash of the sword, the sword light, like a crescent moon, swept across the water's surface, the resulting ripples coalescing into an incomparably sharp blade that shot out skimming the lake's surface.

The Azure Flame Blade Demon did not dodge; instead, it crossed its two swords, both blades shining brightly.

A ghostly purple flame burned.

"The Sword of Regret"

The Azure Flame Blade Demon swung its twin swords, the dark purple sword light colliding head-on with the Water Wave Blade.

There was no explosion, no loud noise; the two sword lights vanished silently in mid-air, leaving only a faint shockwave spreading outwards.

Milotic's eyes widened as he saw the Greatsword Demon lower its body slightly after unleashing the Water Wave Blade, pressing its claws back onto the hilt of the sword, assuming a poised and ready stance.

That's what Li Shuwen was talking about earlier: the body adjustment after using a skill.

Instead of rigidly waiting for the next command, it prepares for the next attack while simultaneously finishing its previous move. The Azure Flame Blade Demon is the same.

The moment he unleashed the Regret Sword with his twin swords, his body had already turned slightly to the side, and the twin swords were withdrawn to his side, ready to strike again at any moment.

Milotic silently noted this detail in his mind. The Greatsword Demon drew its sword again.

This time, the water ripple blade was faster and more solid than before.

Azure Flame Blade Demon's Regret Sword also increased its speed, and the two sword lights intertwined on the shore, with dense collision sounds like rain hitting banana leaves.

Milotic was so engrossed in watching that it unknowingly extended more of its body.

Just then, Li Shuwen suddenly spoke, his voice louder than before: "Pay attention to the Greatsword Demon's breathing rhythm—before each strike, he takes a deep breath and concentrates his power in his abdomen."

"Then, at the moment of drawing the sword, breath was exhaled from the mouth, and power was released along the blade."

"This is not simply swinging a sword; it's mobilizing the power of your entire body. The essence of a skill is the way this power is used."

Li Shuwen paused, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping towards the direction of the reeds.

"When using skills, don't just think about releasing energy. Feel the path of energy flowing through your body, where it starts, where it passes through, and where it is finally released."

"Every time a skill is used, it is an exploration of the body's interior. The more you use it, the clearer the path becomes; the smoother the energy flow becomes; the greater the power of the skill becomes; and the stronger the body's ability to withstand it becomes."

Milotic was stunned, blinked, and sensed that those words were implied.

Milotic instinctively held his breath, memorizing every word.

Li Shuwen continued his explanation: "Azure Flame Blade Demon, when you use the Regret Sword this time, pay attention to the path of energy flowing from your chest to your twin swords. Greatsword Demon, the energy of the Water Wave Blade flows from your abdomen to your twin claws."

"The two paths are different, but the principle is the same: find that path, and then walk it repeatedly until it becomes a habit, an instinct."

The two Pokémon drew their swords at the same time, feeling a little strange, wondering why Li Shuwen was specifically explaining things they already knew.

At the same time, the sword in his hand never stopped.

This time, Milotic saw it clearly: before the Greatsword Demon drew its sword, its abdomen bulged slightly, and when it drew its sword, it exhaled from its mouth, making the blue light of the water-wave blade even more solid than before.

Before the Azure Flame Blade Demon drew its sword, the flame pattern on its chest suddenly lit up, and then the dark purple sword light seemed to come alive, drawing a strange arc in the air.

Milos's heart raced as she watched; these techniques, the perception and control of energy flow, were things she had never imagined.

It always thought that skills were simply learned, used repeatedly, and then one could become stronger.

But now she realizes that every time she uses a skill, it is an exploration of her body's interior.

The key to becoming stronger is not how many times you use it, but to feel it with your heart each time.

Li Shuwen spoke for a while longer, then let the Greatsword Demon and the Azure Flame Blade Demon spar freely.

His gaze swept over the reeds again, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Milotic sensed that gaze.

Her heart skipped a beat, she held her breath, and remained motionless.

But Li Shuwen neither came over nor exposed her.

He simply turned and walked to the side, sat down and drank tea, as if he hadn't noticed anything.

Milos breathed a sigh of relief, but a strange feeling welled up inside her.

Did this man already know?

She recalled the explanations from earlier; the voices were much louder and the content much more detailed than before.

Those words seemed... to have been said specifically to her.

Milotic stayed in the water for a long time, until the Greatsword Demon and Azure Blade Demon finished their sparring, and until Li Shuwen led them away.

She floated on the water, watching that receding figure, and a feeling she had never experienced before welled up inside her.

Who exactly is this man?

Why are his Pokémon so strong?

Although they had met a few times, Minas felt that he didn't know Li Shuwen very well.

Milas found himself becoming increasingly curious about Li Shuwen.

Milotic flipped over in the water, its tail slapping the surface and splashing water everywhere.

She decided to continue observing.

She wasn't trying to steal his knowledge; she just wanted to see how many more surprises that man could give her.

Li Shuwen was also very curious about how much Milotic could learn and how strong it could become.

Perhaps we could call and ask Mikkuri how he bred Milotic.

Help Milotic gather some experience to dispel its wariness of humans.

Milotic's heart, broken by its trainer, can no longer love.

Li Shuwen only hopes that Milas can dispel the dampness in his heart and embrace a bright future.

Face the beautiful world with a smile.

After dealing with Milotic, Li Shuwen had to deal with another troublesome opponent in the wilderness area.

That Alolan Ninetales.

We must figure out what Alola Nine-Tails' elusive abilities are.

To this end, Li Shuwen specially trained the fairy spirit to sing with a bewitching voice.

The plan was to use this to lure out the Alola Nine-Tails, who loves excitement and pranks.