The Training Field in the center of the Gym was covered with a thick layer of soft mats, and various auxiliary equipment hung all around.
Ariel weighed the Quick Attack Disc in his hand; the palm of his hand felt icy cold.
Greninja took it, its eyes calm, revealing a thirst to learn a new technique.
It pressed the Disc against its forehead; a faint light flickered as knowledge flowed in.
"Mr. Ariel, please give me some pointers!"
A young apprentice couldn't restrain himself and was the first to shout out.
He pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his face full of a desire for knowledge.
Ariel looked around; the eyes of these apprentices held curiosity, excitement, and more than anything, an undisguised respect.
He pulled back his thoughts and looked at Greninja.
It had already finished digesting the information for the Quick Attack move. Water vapor surged around its body, seemingly announcing silently that it was ready.
"Alright."
Ariel nodded, his voice steady.
"But remember, this isn't a battle; it's training. We stop once the point is made. The goal is to hone skills, not to determine a winner."
The apprentice quickly ran forward and released his Pokémon, a Raticate.
The Raticate was quite large with glossy fur, and its two large front teeth reflected the light.
It looked well-trained; as soon as it appeared, it struck an attacking pose, its eyes wary.
"Please guide me!"
The apprentice bowed respectfully.
Ariel signaled for Greninja to step forward.
Greninja's form was lithe as it stood opposite the Raticate.
"Greninja, Quick Attack." Ariel ordered.
Before his voice had even faded, Greninja had already moved.
The Water Shuriken in its right hand condensed instantly, transforming into an azure blade. The blade was as thin as a cicada's wing yet emitted a piercing chill.
It lowered its body and charged forward sideways, the blade sweeping from bottom to top in a tricky arc.
Raticate was experienced; seeing its opponent attack, it instinctively leaped up, trying to evade.
However, Greninja's speed far exceeded its expectations.
The edge of the Quick Attack seemed to predict Raticate's jump trajectory. The moment Raticate was about to land, the blade had already sliced across, precisely grazing the fur on Raticate's belly.
Raticate let out a cry of surprise, lost its balance, and fell heavily onto the soft mat. It wasn't injured, just subjected to an Astonish.
The apprentices broke into an uproar.
This Quick Attack, performed for the first time, actually had such sharpness and precision?
"Quick Attack isn't just about power; it's about grasping timing and angles."
Ariel's voice rang out at the right moment. He walked to the edge of the field, his gaze locked onto every one of Greninja's movements.
"Greninja, your comprehension of Quick Attack is very strong. Now, integrate your speed advantage."
Greninja nodded, the Water Shuriken condensing again as the blade flowed in its hand.
"Raticate, Quick Attack!"
The apprentice snapped back to his senses and commanded Raticate to counterattack.
Raticate let out a roar as its entire body lit up with white light, turning into an afterimage as it charged toward Greninja.
Its speed was astonishingly fast, closing the distance almost instantly.
"Greninja, Quick Attack to evade, then Smokescreen."
Ariel gave the command calmly.
Greninja's body blurred, likewise turning into a streak of white light, evading Raticate's collision in the nick of time.
Its Quick Attack appeared even more agile; it wasn't a straight-line sprint but carried a subtle curve, circling to Raticate's flank.
The next second, it suddenly spat out a thick cloud of smoke, completely enveloping Raticate.
The smoke carried a moist scent and spread rapidly, obscuring Raticate's vision.
Raticate paced uneasily within the smoke, letting out an anxious Growl.
"Very good."
Ariel praised softly.
"Use the Smokescreen to create chaos and create opportunities for yourself. Listen carefully to Raticate's movements in the smoke; its every breath and every footstep is a flaw."
The apprentices stared intently at the smoke in the field, holding their breath.
They couldn't see clearly, but Ariel's words allowed them to outline the battle in their minds.
Inside the smoke, Greninja's figure was faintly visible.
It wasn't in a hurry to attack but instead moved quickly around Raticate, every movement nearly silent.
Raticate tried to clear the smoke with its claws, but the smoke was too thick, causing it to lose its direction even more.
"Water Shuriken!"
Ariel's voice came again.
From within the smoke, several Water Shurikens broke through the air, whistling as they shot toward Raticate from different directions.
These shurikens weren't lethal attacks but precisely struck Raticate's limbs, disrupting its center of gravity.
"Raticate, quick, dodge!"
The apprentice shouted anxiously.
Raticate struggled to cope within the smoke, hit several times by Water Shurikens. Although they didn't cause substantial damage, its rhythm was completely disrupted as it retreated repeatedly.
Finally, Greninja leaped out of the smoke, the Water Shuriken transforming once again into a Quick Attack blade, lightly sweeping past Raticate's front.
"Raticate is unable to battle."
Ariel announced.
The apprentice recalled Raticate, his face full of frustration, but even more so a kind of sudden realization.
He bowed in thanks: "Mr. Ariel, I understand. Thank you for your guidance!"
"You're welcome."
Ariel smiled.
"Next."
The next apprentice was the one who had previously suggested Ariel show off a few moves.
He threw out a Poké Ball, and a robust Tauros appeared on the field.
Tauros's muscles were bulging all over, its three tails whipping powerfully, and its eyes held a stubborn determination.
"Mr. Ariel, please teach me!"
The apprentice's voice carried a hint of solemnity.
He knew that against this Greninja, ordinary tactics would likely be ineffective.
Ariel looked at Tauros; this Pokémon's strength and defense were not to be underestimated.
He said to Greninja:
"Tauros has great strength; meeting it head-on is not a wise move. Integrate all your techniques, use softness to overcome hardness, and look for an opening."
Greninja let out a low hiss, its body slightly crouched, Water Shurikens spinning in both hands, ready to strike.
"Tauros, Take Down!"
The apprentice ordered.
Tauros roared, its four hooves trampling the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
It was like a runaway horse, charging straight at Greninja with unstoppable momentum.
"Quick Attack to evade, then Quick Attack!"
Ariel's voice was concise and powerful.
Greninja's figure vanished the instant Tauros was about to collide, like a phantom.
Tauros's Take Down hit nothing but air, and its massive inertia caused it to charge several meters before barely coming to a stop.
Meanwhile, Greninja had already appeared at Tauros's flank, the Water Shuriken in its hand transformed into a Quick Attack blade, sweeping from bottom to top toward Tauros's belly.
Tauros's reaction could not be called slow; it suddenly whipped its head around, trying to block with its hard horns.
However, Greninja's Quick Attack was already more than just a simple slash.
The moment the blade touched the horn, it turned its wrist, and the blade slid past the horn toward Tauros's side.
"Hiss!"
Tauros let out a low Growl of pain. Although it didn't cause a deep wound, the sharpness of the Quick Attack made it feel a burning sensation.