To just accept that fact and let some battles go... Was that truly the way to grow stronger? To acknowledge that he couldn't win until he trained harder? No, that didn't seem right for the Fire-type trainer. Whether or not that was Cress's way of dealing with battles he had little chance of winning, Chili could not imagine bowing down before giving each and every opportunity a go.

"...Maybe that's what you want to do," said Chili, slow and deliberate. He took a deep breath - as deep as his battered form would allow. "But that's now how I'd imagine myself getting stronger." And he felt it was only right for him to do what he thought would work best. That's what training yourself independently was about. Right?