"Right, right—put that over here. That one goes there. Move it a little closer… good, good, just like that. Perfect…"
Kael reclined lazily on a beach chair, sunglasses covering his eyes, one hand holding a glass of orange juice while the other casually directed the construction crew working on the private beach.
On this stretch of private shoreline provided by the Ocean Grand Hotel, a small crane slowly hoisted two massive sandbags—each over three meters long—into position. Nearby, two other lifting rigs were assembling thick steel bars, as wide as an adult's forearm, into parallel bars and pull-up structures.
"Thanks for the hard work, everyone."
Kael rose from his chair, grabbed a stack of cash from the table, and walked over.
"Boss, it's nothing at all," the foreman said with a fawning grin, hard hat slightly tilted. This was clearly a big client—they had to treat him right.
Kael handed him the cash and smiled. "It's hot out. Get the guys something cold to drink."
The foreman was sharp enough to read the room. That was a polite dismissal. He immediately waved his arm. "Alright, boys! Job's done. The boss is treating us—let's move out!"
The crew arrived quickly and left just as quickly, leaving behind a newly assembled array of oversized training equipment on the sand. Kael had rented it all from a Pokémon gym specifically for Rhydon's initial correction training—to adjust some of the rough habits formed during its time as a wild Pokémon.
"Come out, everyone!"
Three Poké Balls arced through the air.
Lulu, Weavile, and the towering giant Rhydon—over four meters tall—appeared on the beach.
Lulu and Weavile landed silently.
Rhydon dropped down with a heavy boom, sending yellow sand spraying in all directions. Two massive footprints, each more than sixty centimeters deep, were stamped into the shore.
"Roar!"
After spending an entire day inside the Heavy Ball, Rhydon couldn't help but throw its head back and roar at the ocean. But when it noticed Kael watching with a smile, it awkwardly scratched the back of its head.
Kael picked up a basket from the beach table and walked over.
"Here—these are for you two."
He placed five steaming plates of steak on the sand.
Two for Weavile.
Three for Rhydon.
After dividing them up, he turned to Lulu and winked, pulling out a plate of fruit salad. Lulu never ate meat—fruit salad was her favorite.
"Rrr…"
Rhydon stared at the three fragrant steaks, swallowing loudly. Its thick claws grabbed one plate, opened its mouth, and tossed the entire steak inside.
Weavile, by contrast, was refined. It flicked out its claws, sliced the steak neatly into long strips, and calmly speared and savored each bite.
Wild Pokémon often carry parasites and bacteria, so a qualified Trainer's first task after capturing one isn't training—it's giving it a proper wash.
A large bucket of disinfectant mixed from potassium permanganate and mugwort extract stood ready. Kael wore a white mask, holding a spray nozzle in one hand and a stiff brush in the other.
Rhydon was simply too tall, so Kael had even rented a lift platform to reach its upper body.
Standing on the platform, he patted Rhydon's head.
"Sit still. No moving without permission."
"Roo…"
Rhydon obediently nodded.
A full bucket of disinfectant was poured over its head. The moment the water touched it, Rhydon snorted uncomfortably—but it didn't resist. It remained seated on the sand.
If it had been an ordinary Rhydon, it probably would have bolted the second the water hit.
Bathing Pokémon was never easy. Water- and Grass-types enjoyed it. Fire-, Ground-, Rock-, and Electric-types? A nightmare—like trying to bathe a cat back on Earth.
After the disinfectant soak came the steel brush.
Rhydon's hide was composed of thick keratin plates—hard as natural armor. The brush scraped across each section methodically. Layers of accumulated grime, dead skin, and even small black parasites washed away with the runoff.
A four-meter-tall Pokémon that had lived its entire life in the wild… one could hardly imagine how much dirt had built up.
It took five full barrels of disinfectant to scrub Rhydon clean—three complete passes inside and out. Special attention was given to the underarms, neck folds, and inner thigh creases—prime breeding grounds for filth.
And it wasn't over yet.
Kael applied specialized skincare oil formulated for Ground-type Pokémon across Rhydon's entire body. Then he took sandpaper and carefully polished every surface.
He sanded away lingering keratin flakes and uneven protrusions caused by irregular living conditions.
"Roo… roo… mmm…"
Rhydon closed its eyes, rumbling in contentment.
Kael wiped sweat from his forehead and laughed helplessly. This brat really knew how to enjoy himself. Giving full-body spa treatment to a four-meter behemoth had nearly flattened him.
Two full hours later, once everything was complete, Kael collapsed onto the sand, too exhausted to move. Even with his exceptional physique, he was breathing heavily.
But the results were astonishing.
Under the sunlight, Rhydon's black armor gleamed with a smooth, oily luster—like flawless obsidian polished to perfection.
Why were trained Pokémon often stronger than wild ones, even at equal levels?
Structured training was one reason. But consistent investment in every aspect was the key.
Wild Pokémon didn't eat regularly. They had no energy cubes. No one carefully maintained their bodies.
Rhydon felt the change most deeply.
It had never felt this light, this refreshed—almost reborn in flame.
Looking at the exhausted figure lying on the sand not far away, a faint warmth gradually surfaced in its golden, gemstone-like eyes.