Looking at the Togepi that was stubbornly refusing to acknowledge him, Gary didn't mind and said, "You can check for yourself whether you've mastered a lot of new moves."
"Toge!"
Togepi was still venting its anger, but when it heard Gary's words, it immediately turned its attention inward to feel its own body.
It hadn't noticed anything before, but the moment it checked, it was shocked. Why had it suddenly mastered so many new moves? It had only ever learned three moves, and even those had been learned by sneakily copying others, taking a long time to master.
"Don't be so surprised. These moves were, of course, taught to you by me. As long as you follow me properly, I can make you the strongest Togepi in the world," Gary said.
"Toge?"
Togepi looked at him with suspicion, clearly not believing a word.
Because when Gary had taught it those moves, Togepi had been unconscious. Even though its intimacy had increased, Togepi still didn't believe Gary's words.
"If you don't believe me, I can teach you a few more moves right now," Gary said.
"..."
Togepi fell into deep thought, its eyes full of cunning. It was definitely plotting some terrible idea.
"Toge!"
After thinking for a while, Togepi suddenly put on an adorable expression and hugged Gary's leg, expressing its willingness to accept Gary's teachings.
Togepi had thought it through. Although it had been beaten up by this pretty boy, it really had mastered many new moves. It would be better to just play the fool for now, and once it had learned enough, it could kick Gary aside.
If Gary knew what Togepi was thinking, he would definitely curse it for being a scumbag.
Wasn't this just like those modern little gold-diggers who take the bride price first, then get the marriage certificate, and after a year or two divorce you without refunding a single cent?
But even if Gary knew, he wouldn't care much.
If it wanted to learn moves from him, it had to pay a price. With every move it learned, it would grow more emotionally dependent on Gary. The more it learned, the deeper the dependence, until in the end it wouldn't be able to leave Gary at all.
"Good. Come on, put this on first." Gary took out a Soothe Bell.
"Toge?"
Togepi looked at the Soothe Bell in Gary's hand. It looked like an ordinary bell, and the sound it made was quite pleasant.
Ding~! Ding~!
Togepi took the Soothe Bell, shook it a couple of times, and then tucked it into its carrying space.
Gary placed his hand on Togepi's head and taught it the newly redeemed Shadow Ball and Dazzling Gleam.
Togepi was able to master both moves.
"Toge!"
After personally experiencing the newly mastered moves, Togepi was stunned and looked at Gary in disbelief.
"Hehe!"
Gary showed a kind smile.
Seeing this, Togepi immediately lowered its head.
Gary smiled, thinking Togepi was being shy.
But with its head lowered, Togepi's expression was actually very sinister. No one knew what it was thinking.
At the moment, its intimacy had reached 155—still 65 points away from 220. With seven advanced Rare Candies, the intimacy requirement could be met.
"Next, I'll raise your strength. Only after you evolve will you be able to master more moves."
After saying that, Gary used seven advanced Rare Candies.
Togepi LV60 → LV67!
"Toge!"
Togepi couldn't believe it.
It felt a massive amount of energy gushing out from the cells in its body. It tried to suppress it, but it couldn't hold it back at all. Its level was too high. Now that its intimacy had reached the threshold, the evolutionary power in its body swept through Togepi like a tsunami.
In an instant—
Togepi's entire body shone with an incandescent light. This light was even more dazzling than the light released during an ordinary Pokémon's evolution.
Togepi's figure grew rapidly within the light. Its height instantly doubled, a pair of small wings sprouted from its back, and its neck visibly lengthened.
When the light of evolution faded, a Togetic appeared.
[LV67 Togetic / Quasi-Legendary]
"Toge!"
After evolving, Togetic suddenly panicked—especially when it saw its bigger hands and feet and the newly grown wings on its back.
"What are you panicking about?" Gary asked.
"Toge!"
Togetic looked at Gary with a resentful expression, as if it were about to cry.
Gary was confused too.
He couldn't tell whether Togetic had been moved to tears... or whether it simply hadn't wanted to evolve.
"What on earth is wrong? Isn't evolving a good thing?" Gary asked.
Gary didn't care whether Togepi had wanted to evolve or not. Either way, the rice was already cooked. Pokémon weren't Digimon—they couldn't devolve.
"Toge."
Togetic was silent for a moment, then looked around and flew toward the window at the center of the Pokémon Center.
Seeing this, Gary followed.
He saw Togetic looking at itself in front of the window, examining its new appearance.
When Togetic saw its new look, its previously unhappy little face immediately broke into a smile.
Seeing Togetic suddenly laughing, Gary walked over and asked, "Togetic, what's wrong with you? Crying one moment and laughing the next?"
"Toge!"
Togetic indicated it was fine, then flew over to Gary on its own initiative, grabbed his hand, placed it on its head, and signaled him to continue teaching it new moves.
Gary didn't bother teaching Defog and Drain Punch to Togetic yet. Those could wait until after Togetic evolved into Togekiss, when it would be able to learn more moves.
However, Gary wasn't in a hurry. He hadn't challenged the Sunyshore Gym yet. Maybe the system's mission reward would randomly give him a top-quality Shiny Stone. Once Togetic evolved, it would become a Togekiss with Legendary potential.
"That's all I can teach you for now. Get familiar with these moves first, and I'll teach you the rest after you evolve. Also, you can fly now—you need to get used to the feeling of flying," Gary said.
"Toge."
Togetic nodded and continued practicing the feeling of flight.
Having gained the Flying type, Togetic quickly picked up the basics of flying. Although it wasn't very skilled yet, it could already fly freely. With a bit more time, it would fully master flight.
Gary also used three more advanced Rare Candies to raise Togetic to level 70. It was already at 67 anyway, so he might as well.
Togetic was worth investing in. After all, it was born with an EX Ability and Quasi-Legendary potential.
"Toge!"
Togetic had now completely submitted to Gary. The maxed-out intimacy had made Togetic abandon its original plan, and it was now ready to shape Gary into a naturally evil Trainer instead.
Gary knew nothing of Togetic's plan. In his mind, Togetic simply liked playing pranks.
The next morning.
Gary mounted Cyclizar and headed west.