"Is this the Electric-type Pokémon you mentioned?"
At the very top of the grand lighthouse, Ash Ketchum and the others finally saw the Pokémon that Jasmine had spoken about.
Its body resembled a tall, bipedal sheep Pokémon—yellow fur with black stripes, and a red orb embedded on its forehead and tail. It stood roughly 1.4 meters tall. Its appearance was gentle, even adorable… yet something about it felt off to Ash.
This was no ordinary Ampharos.
"Jasmine, are these the friends you mentioned? Welcome."
A middle-aged man approached—slightly overweight, wearing round glasses, and giving off a warm, approachable aura.
"Yes, Dad. This is Kanto's Champion Trainer, Ash Ketchum—the one who helped save the region some time ago."
After the introductions, Jasmine stepped closer to Ash, her expression tense.
"Mr. Ash… can you tell what's wrong with Ampharos?"
Ampharos belonged to her father. She had grown up alongside it, and their bond ran deep. Seeing it in this condition, it was no wonder she had no heart for battling.
"Ampharos…"
As Ash approached, the Pokémon tensed slightly at first—but the moment it sensed his presence, it relaxed.
"Pharos…"
Its voice softened, its expression easing.
"That's strange… I haven't seen Ampharos look this comfortable in a long time," Jasmine's father murmured in surprise.
"That's because Ash possesses immense vitality,"
Sabrina explained calmly, floating slightly above the ground.
"And with his Aura, he can communicate with Pokémon. Any Pokémon that approaches him can feel his goodwill."
She paused briefly before continuing,
"The Dream Forest on Fantasy Island exists because of that vitality. Every tree, every flower, every blade of grass is filled with life. That's why the Pokémon there are exceptionally strong."
"I see…" Jasmine's father adjusted his glasses, clearly intrigued.
"I've heard that some humans possess extraordinary abilities, but I never expected to witness it myself. I assume this young lady is one as well?"
Sabrina gave a slight nod.
Meanwhile, Ash had already begun examining Ampharos closely.
"There's something unusual," he said.
Everyone immediately focused on him.
"Inside Ampharos's body… there are golden cells devouring its normal red cells."
Jasmine's expression changed instantly.
"Golden cells? Are they some kind of infection? But that's impossible—we take care of Ampharos every day!"
Ash shook his head.
"No. These aren't germs."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"This is a form of internal evolution."
The room fell silent.
"These golden cells appear when a Pokémon begins to comprehend a natural law—what you might call a higher-level power. In other words…"
He looked directly at Ampharos.
"It's on the verge of becoming a Legendary-level existence."
"What?!" Jasmine gasped.
Ash continued calmly,
"I've seen this before in Legendary Pokémon like Suicune. Their cells have already transformed—blue instead of red. For normal Pokémon, their cells remain unchanged… until they reach that threshold."
Jasmine could hardly believe it.
"You're saying… Ampharos is evolving into a Legendary Pokémon?"
"Yes."
Ash nodded.
"Based on its cellular activity, it's at least 300 years old. Its strength is already at the peak of Champion level."
He turned to Jasmine's father.
"This Ampharos… was passed down through your family, wasn't it?"
The man's eyes widened in shock.
"You're absolutely right… It was inherited from my great-grandfather."
He looked at Ampharos with a complicated expression.
"To think… it has already grown to this level without us even realizing it…"
"But Ampharos is about to advance to the level of a Legendary Pokémon. Why is its condition getting worse instead of better? Shouldn't it be growing stronger?" Jasmine asked anxiously, unable to understand.
Ash shook his head slightly.
"Do you think advancing to a Legendary Pokémon is easy?"
His tone was calm, but carried weight.
"Any Pokémon that reaches the peak of Champion-level strength has a chance to comprehend natural laws. But that doesn't mean they will succeed."
He glanced at Ampharos before continuing,
"This Ampharos has very little real combat experience. However, for over three hundred years, it has remained here at the lighthouse, continuously using its power."
"To illuminate the sea… to guide ships safely through the darkness."
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly, as if seeing through time itself.
"It's precisely because of those three hundred years of unwavering use of its Electric-type power that it gradually came to understand the essence of lightning."
He paused briefly.
"I have to admit—its talent is exceptional."
Jasmine and her father listened intently, not daring to interrupt.
"If a Pokémon wants to step into the realm of Legendary Pokémon, three conditions—and one final threshold—must be met."
Ash raised a finger.
"First: reaching the absolute peak of Champion-level strength."
A second finger followed.
"Second: mastering its abilities to an extreme degree—true proficiency, not just surface-level usage."
Then, a third.
"Third: possessing both the talent and the fortune to comprehend a natural law."
His gaze deepened.
"And finally… the threshold."
"The moment where its entire body begins to transform under that law."
Ash looked back at Ampharos.
"Those golden cells you're seeing… that's the transformation beginning."
(End of Chapter)
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