The news that Lucas was about to battle Oranguru spread through the Pokémon Butler Academy in an instant. Although there was no proof, Lucas suspected that the Psychic-type Pokémon had used their mental powers to communicate it.
Other than Otto and Marusill, there didn't seem to be any other humans at the academy. Soon, a large crowd of Pokémon gathered at the field Otto had prepared.
Among them were Pokémon Lucas had seen on his tour, like Tsareena, Lurantis, and Aromatisse, as well as graduates like Sirfetch'd and Gardevoir.
Even the Meowstic who had just left blended in with the crowd, sharing a brief, surprised look with Lucas.
Both current students and graduates now surrounded Oranguru, showing concern and excitement. They seemed genuinely happy that Oranguru had been chosen by Lucas for a battle.
The reaction from the butler Pokémon surprised Lucas a bit—especially the graduates, who were technically competitors. Yet they all sincerely wished Oranguru luck.
Otto, hands behind his back, caught Lucas's gaze and explained, "Oranguru has always looked after everyone here. That's why they're all genuinely happy for it."
"Since you've accepted Oranguru's challenge, I won't say more. Please go all out—Oranguru has always been waiting for someone who can fulfill two conditions."
Otto looked Lucas in the eye seriously. He didn't know Lucas very well—only that he ran a somewhat magical farm, and that he had high-level backing from the Paldea region.
Otto wondered if he could truly look forward to Lucas's performance.
The Butler Academy didn't have a formal battle arena or many rules; the fight started right on the open field.
"Guru~"
Oranguru stood calmly on the left, gently waving its fan. A faint glow flickered in its black pupils—a sign that most Psychic Pokémon were fully focused and their mental power was surging.
Meowstic looked anxiously toward Lucas. It could sense the terrifying psychic waves brewing within Oranguru, a power it could never hope to match. Ordinary Pokémon would be utterly powerless against such force.
Normally, most trainers facing Oranguru would pick Dark or Bug types.
The academy students, knowing Oranguru's strength, looked eagerly at Lucas, wondering which Pokémon he would choose.
Not far away, Luxio was walking along the wall, carrying berries and some odd trinkets it had just found.
Luxio originally wanted to thank Oranguru, but the crowd on the field caught its attention.
It could also smell Oranguru among the crowd, so it quickly hopped up to the top of the wall, where it could see the center of the field—and Oranguru.
Before Luxio could relax, it saw Lucas releasing a brawny Swampert from a Poké Ball.
Oranguru was going to battle a human?
Luxio frowned. It had complicated feelings about humans now—not quite dislike, but it wasn't eager to interact.
It decided to watch from a distance.
Meanwhile, Oranguru and Swampert squared off.
The moment Oranguru saw Swampert, it narrowed its eyes. It couldn't read Swampert at all, but could tell from its physique and muscles that its combat ability would be formidable.
"Guru guru Guru guru"
With no referee, the battle began freely. Oranguru's fan glowed with psychic energy as it swung it heavily at Swampert.
A tsunami-like wave of psychic power surged toward Swampert.
"Sirfetch'd~."
Sirfetch'd, clutching its leek sword and shield, felt a well-hidden trace of fear in its determined eyes.
Sirfetch'd had always excelled at the academy, completing its courses and perfecting its knightly skills—capable of defeating many badge-holding trainers. Yet in sparring against Oranguru, it always felt powerless against that overwhelming psychic force.
Against Oranguru's psychic power, it had no resistance at all.
Sirfetch'd thought Swampert, as another melee Pokémon, would struggle to close in on Oranguru.
But Lucas's expression didn't change at all. He calmly said, "Break through it. High Horsepower."
"Laji!"
Swampert responded, eyes fixed on the incoming psychic wave. Red light flared over its body, its muscles bulging.
With a powerful stomp, the ground cracked. In the next instant, Swampert smashed through the psychic force as if it were paper.
To the shock of Sirfetch'd, the other Pokémon, Otto, and Marusill, Swampert's right fist stopped just in front of Oranguru's shrinking pupils. The force of the halted punch sent a gust of wind sweeping outward, forcing the spectators to brace themselves.
"Swampert~." ("You lost.")
Swampert's calm voice sounded. After locking eyes with the stunned Oranguru, it withdrew its fist, turned, and walked coolly back to Lucas, returning to its Poké Ball.
"Guru…?" ("I lost…?")
Oranguru was dazed. Swampert's punch not only shattered its proud psychic force, but also woke it from its self-satisfied mindset.
Oranguru realized that deep down, it had been proud of its power to defeat Gym Leaders—even though it thought itself rational.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have considered going easy on Lucas if he showed enough strength, or planned to help train his Pokémon afterward.
But now, learning that its future master was so powerful, Oranguru felt genuinely honored.
It realized it was more suited to be a behind-the-scenes support than a fighter.