Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

"S-So… cold…"

Zhang Qun trembled, his joints aching under the invasive chill that seeped through every pore of his body.

The freezing gusts, carried by Articuno's Ice Wind, spared no one. Even though Torterra and Empoleon had taken up front-line positions to block the brunt of the AOE attack, the plummeting temperature was still felt instantly by everyone present.

Empoleon, being a penguin Pokémon, was somewhat accustomed to frigid climates. But Torterra… wasn't so lucky.

Frost began crystallizing on the tree growing from its shell.

Even Wang Tao hesitated—wondering if he should recall Torterra into its Poké Ball. After all, with its Grass/Ground typing, it took quadruple damage from Ice-type attacks.

If not for recent special defense training, Torterra wouldn't have survived that Ice Wind AOE!

BOOM!

A flickering flame appeared in Li Xiaoyu's hands. She tried to use it to warm the two shivering kids nearby—and maybe ease the cold Torterra felt.

But almost instantly, she noticed her mana draining rapidly.

She froze, understanding immediately—this was just like when she tried to counter Articuno with Sandstorm earlier.

She was clashing with Articuno's field effect.

And with her current level, there was no winning such a contest.

In just a few seconds, the mana she'd gathered—once full—was drained to zero.

Her knees buckled.

The cold sank even deeper.

"I feel like… my whole body's frozen solid. Even moving hurts…"

Xiao Zhang gritted his teeth, trying to keep his blood flowing through sheer willpower.

His muscles stiffened in the relentless storm.

As a martial artist known for his speed and strength, a sense of foreboding began to rise within him.

"This can't go on!"

Ding Yue bit her lip. Her long sword, now broken and with only a third of the blade remaining, trembled in her hand as she raised it toward Articuno.

"Waiting to die? Not my style!"

"Sorry, Talonflame! You're our only hope now—use Flare Blitz!"

Originally, they'd planned to recall their Pokémon, regroup, and reform a defensive line.

But Articuno wasn't giving them the chance.

It had grown more cautious after the previous ambush. Its Ice Wind now served two purposes—it seemed to allow recovery, but in reality, it was a slow death sentence.

The battlefield was becoming a boiling pot—and they were the frogs.

If this temperature kept dropping, even without status effects, the Trainers and their Pokémon would be frozen solid.

"I… I'll help!"

"Moon… Umbreon… u-use… Helping Hand…"

Li Xiaoyu's teeth chattered uncontrollably. With her magic depleted, even Zhou Xiaofei was in better shape.

"Me too! Infernape—it's time to show them what our training accomplished!"

"Let's show them just how fine-tuned we've become!"

Liu Yunlan's voice rang out—confident and clear, cutting through the howling wind.

"What the hell do you mean, fine-tuned!?"

"W-Why are you still acting like an edgy teenager at a time like this!?"

Li Xiaoyu barked through chattering teeth.

"Just watch!"

Liu Yunlan pointed to the rapidly ascending Talonflame.

Above its head, a pair of glowing white gloves had begun to materialize.

"Infernape, you know exactly what to do!"

Infernape, who had been shielding the weaker Pokémon with bursts of flame, paused at Liu Yunlan's command.

It leapt high into the air, snapping its fingers with a loud, crisp snap.

PAK!

Even in the roaring cold, the sound was crystal clear.

Su Bai raised an eyebrow.

"What the hell is that supposed to do? Snap your fingers and suddenly the weather improves?"

But then—

"Wait… what the—!?"

Su Bai gasped as the screen zoomed in—thanks to Rotom's timely camera work—on Talonflame.

The bird was already engulfed in flames—a side effect of Flare Blitz, a move known for its reckless, high-damage flame charge.

But what left Su Bai utterly stunned wasn't the familiar fire—

It was the rings of spinning flame forming around it, like miniature turbines, orbiting the Talonflame's body without dispersing.

"That's… Flame Wheel?!"

"No—wait. That's Fire Spin! How is it being used like that!?"

Su Bai was floored.

"This looks like… a freakin' martial soul fusion skill! What the hell!?"

Fire Spin was a control move—it traps opponents in swirling fire, dealing chip damage and limiting their mobility.

It wasn't supposed to work like a buff.

But Infernape had wrapped the Fire Spin around Talonflame instead.

Not as an attack.

As armor.

The whirling fire never left Talonflame's body.

It spun, heated, and supercharged it—turning the already blazing Flare Blitz into a flaming missile on steroids.

"HAHAHAHA! You see this?! That's finesse! I ask you—is this not FINE!"

Despite his lips turning purple from the cold, Liu Yunlan stood with hands on his hips, laughing proudly.

Under normal circumstances, he'd be roasted for being so smug.

But not today.

Even Wang Tao stood stunned.

"Dude… what the hell kind of brain do you have to even think of something like this!?"

"Your Infernape's flame control is next level!"

"It's fine! Damn fine!"

Wang Tao clapped his frozen hands with awe.

No one could deny it:

Liu Yunlan's maneuver was genius.

Not only did it not hurt Talonflame, it functioned as a makeshift fire buff—giving the Fire/Flying-type enhanced power and speed, wrapped in spinning, surging flames.

At Talonflame's velocity, the fire shield acted like a flaming turbine booster.

Who could say this wasn't finesse!?

All eyes locked on the sky as Talonflame climbed.

It reached the optimal altitude.

Then paused.

A subtle adjustment in trajectory—

And with a final burst of power, flames roaring hotter than ever, it dove toward Articuno—who was still flapping its wings, staring up at the approaching threat.