Chapter 110: Makeshift Solution
Xiu immediately replayed the failed Agility turn in his mind. 'Was the command flawed? Too hasty? Did I misjudge Scyther's current control level?'
"Alright, come here," he called Scyther over gently after helping it up. "Let's eat something first, take a break." He offered it another Oran Berry, then called Abra over. "Abra, ask Scyther… when it uses Agility, what does it feel? How does it initiate the burst of speed?"
Through Abra's psychic translation, Xiu quickly pieced together the problem. Unlike Focus Energy, which involved a steady build-up and maintenance of internal power, Agility seemed to function differently for Scyther. It described an instantaneous surge, an explosive release of energy propelling it forward. But crucially, Scyther admitted it had almost no control over the intensity or duration of that initial burst.
It just… happened, resulting in an uncontrollable straight-line momentum.
'So it can't control the energy release yet,' Xiu realized. That explains the inability to turn.
With this new understanding, Xiu immediately began formulating a revised training approach. After Scyther rested briefly, he explained the new plan. "Okay, Scyther," he instructed, "this time, don't worry about turning. Just focus on the initial burst. Activate Agility, charge forward. Do it several times. Get used to that feeling, that initial surge of power. Then," he continued, "as you start to tire, as the power of the burst naturally weakens… that's when you try to control it. Feel the lessening force, try to consciously manipulate it, direct it slightly. Even a small change in direction is progress."
It was a crude method, born of necessity. If Scyther could consciously control the energy level from the start, like with Focus Energy, Xiu would have had it practice sustained, low-level activation to build control. But Agility's explosive nature made that impossible. This 'fatigue-based control' approach felt like the only viable option – let the initial uncontrollable power burn off, then practice manipulating the weaker, residual energy.
'A desperate measure,' Xiu admitted to himself, but maybe the only way forward right now.
As predicted, the first few attempts went smoothly. Scyther activated Agility, shot forward in a straight line, stopped, recovered, and repeated. But as fatigue set in, as Xiu pushed it to continue the drill, the problems began. Its bursts became weaker, less controlled. It stumbled on takeoff, veered slightly off course, struggled to stop cleanly. Again and again, it pushed itself, activating the weakened Agility, only to lose balance, trip, or tumble onto the grass. And again and again, it picked itself up, shook off the dirt, and lined up for the next attempt, driven by a stubborn refusal to fail.
Xiu watched the repeated falls, the sheer gritty determination, with a mixture of concern and admiration. The training continued, Scyther pushing its limits, Xiu observing, offering quiet encouragement, ready to intervene if necessary.
— — —
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the backyard, Professor Oak emerged from the institute for his usual evening stroll. He spotted Xiu squatting by the riverbank, intently shaping something out of the damp clay. Curious, Oak walked over. "What are you up to now, Xiu?"
"Uh! Professor," Xiu looked up, startled from his concentration. He gestured towards the collection of small, fist-sized spheres drying beside him. "Just making some… props. For tomorrow's training session."
Professor Oak chuckled, glancing towards the patch of grass where Scyther had been practicing earlier – now visibly torn up, almost devoid of grass in places from repeated impacts. "Still training?" he remarked dryly. "From the sounds of it – the constant thuds and crashes I heard from my lab all afternoon – I thought your Scyther might have already trained itself into sleep."
"Haha~" Xiu managed an awkward laugh. "No way, Professor. We're just… working through some control issues with Agility. Using… unconventional methods."
"I don't care how you train it," Professor Oak stated firmly, his earlier teasing tone gone, replaced by genuine concern. "But you send that Scyther up to the lab's recovery room tonight. Full diagnostic, nutrient soak."
"What?" Xiu asked, surprised by the command.
"Treat him!" Oak snapped, suddenly looking stern again. "Pushing a Pokémon that hard, repeated impacts like that… do you think it won't cause internal strain? Micro-fractures? If you keep this up without proper recovery protocols, that Scyther will suffer permanent damage! Then how will I conduct my research?!" He looked genuinely angry now, as if he wanted to kick Xiu into the river himself.
Professor Oak had, indeed, misunderstood Xiu's methods. He assumed Xiu knew better, deliberately pushing Scyther too hard. The reality was, Xiu didn't know better; he was experimenting, trying to find a way forward through trial and error, lacking the formal knowledge Oak possessed.
But hearing Oak's sharp rebuke, Xiu didn't react defensively. Instead, he smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Professor," he replied calmly. "I take Scyther's health more seriously than anything. I assure you, it's not being harmed."
Xiu wasn't lying. While Scyther had looked exhausted and taken several tumbles, especially early on, the falls after the first few had been controlled slides, not hard impacts. The grass was torn up mostly from the sheer force of its repeated takeoffs. Scyther was a genius, truly. It had adapted incredibly quickly, learning to manage the uncontrolled bursts, and minimize the impact of landings. His earlier assessment was correct; its potential was remarkable.
But, Xiu knew, continuing the Agility drill like this every day is too taxing, physically and mentally. It risked injury and burnout. He needed a buffer, a different approach for tomorrow. Which was why he was here, making…
He gestured towards the drying spheres beside him. "These props," he explained, "are for tomorrow's session."
"Props?" Oak asked, intrigued again, his anger subsiding slightly.
"Mud balls," Xiu confirmed, picking one up. He'd spent the last hour digging clay from the riverbank, mixing it with water, shaping it into dense, fist-sized projectiles. "Might have widened the riverbank slightly in the process," he admitted sheepishly.
He explained his idea. "Snowballs would be ideal – easy to make, weight is right, hardness adjustable. Perfect training projectiles. But," he sighed, "it's summer. No snow." He'd even briefly considered asking Professor Oak to borrow an Ice-type Pokémon, but dismissed the idea as impractical.
"So, mud balls are the next best thing." He weighed one in his hand. It had dried somewhat overnight, but still felt damp, heavy. He picked it up, and the outer layer crumbled slightly, muddy water seeping out along the cracks. Need to let them dry more thoroughly.
"Come on," Xiu instructed Scyther the next morning, leading it back to the now-familiar open training space. He pointed towards the large pile of dried mud balls he'd prepared. "Today's drill: projectile deflection. I throw these," he picked one up, "you cut them down. Before they hit you."
Scyther tilted its head, seeming to understand. It took a ready stance.
Xiu hurled the first mud ball, aiming directly at Scyther's center mass.
Like a green flash, Scyther reacted. Its undamaged scythe whipped out, slicing the mud ball cleanly in two mid-air. Easy.
But just as Scyther reset its stance, another mud ball came flying from a different angle. Then another. Then two simultaneously. Xiu began throwing them rapidly, varying the speed, trajectory, and number, forcing Scyther to react constantly, defensively.
'Professor Oak was right,' Xiu thought, continuing the barrage. Just chopping air is useless. Scyther needs to react to real threats, judge angles, timing, and under pressure. This drill wasn't just about cutting; it was about reaction speed, precision targeting, and spatial awareness. And unlike sparring with Forretress, there was a tangible consequence for failure – getting hit by a hard lump of dried mud.
Scyther initially handled the barrage well, its scythes a blur, deflecting or slicing most of the projectiles. But as Xiu increased the pace, throwing faster, using feints, aiming for awkward angles, Scyther started to struggle— a mud ball got past its guard, smacking harmlessly but startlingly against its carapace. It recovered quickly, but the pressure was mounting.
Then, Xiu added a new constraint. "Alright, Scyther! Same drill," he called out, preparing another throw, "but this time – no Agility allowed! Pure reaction speed and blade work only! And no dodging! You must intercept the projectile! Don't let any of them hit you!"