…
…
[Aura Power — Activate!]
Ash reached out with his Aura, the invisible energy that connected all life. Through it, he could feel Nidoking's presence—its strength, its vitality, and, more importantly, its emotions.
No hostility. No aggression. No wariness.
Instead, what pulsed through the Aura was a calm, gentle curiosity, even a faint sense of affection.
Next came the soothing warmth of [Viridian Power]. As the power of life flowed quietly from within him, nature itself seemed to respond. The great Nidoking's spirit resonated, its heart filling with unexpected peace.
From the sidelines, Gary, Tierno, and Trevor stared in disbelief.
The giant beast—its horn sharp enough to pierce boulders, its hide tougher than steel—stood silently as a small six-year-old boy walked right up to it.
Ash stopped before the towering Pokémon, craning his neck to look up. His head barely reached Nidoking's chest.
"Hey there, Nidoking!" he said with a bright smile. "You look really strong. Mind if I touch your muscles?"
"Grrr…!"
The terrifyingly large creature blinked—then, surprisingly, its fierce expression softened. Its eyes curved into crescent moons, and it gave a deep, friendly rumble, nodding happily.
Ash grinned. "Thanks, Nidoking!"
He rose on tiptoe and pressed a hand against Nidoking's broad, armor-like chest. The surface felt like polished granite—unyielding, warm, and alive.
And in that moment, his mind whispered a single word.
System.
[Scan the Nidoking in front of me.]
A faint hum echoed in his consciousness.
———
[Pokémon: Nidoking]
Level: 36
Type: Poison + Ground
Nature: Hasty
Ability: Poison Point
HP: 81
Attack: 107
Defense: 77
Sp. Atk: 85
Sp. Def: 75
Speed: 85
Total Power: 510
Potential: Red
Skills (Copyable):
High-Level: Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Earth Power, Megahorn
Mid-Level (Intermediate): Peck, Poison Sting, Focus Energy, Double Kick, Fury Attack, Toxic Spikes, Horn Attack, Toxic, Poison Jab
Low-Level (Basic): Leer, Helping Hand
———
The translucent, glowing status panel unfolded before Ash's eyes—a secret only he could see.
"So, level thirty-six, huh?" he murmured, impressed. "That's already in the Advanced Tier."
For a Pokémon raised by a professional Trainer and evolved to its final form, that level was no surprise—but seeing it confirmed made Ash's heart race nonetheless.
In this world, the Pokémon League and Silph Co. had jointly developed a classification system that quantified a Pokémon's strength based on physical, energetic, and combat parameters. It was universally recognized across all regions:
LV.01–15: Beginner Tier
LV.16–30: Intermediate Tier
LV.31–40: Advanced Tier
LV.41–50: Elite Tier
Above 50: Gym-Class and beyond
Reaching the Advanced Tier already placed a Pokémon among serious contenders—Trainers capable of commanding such strength were considered professionals in their own right.
Ash's gaze sharpened.
"With the [Ascension Trainer System] and the powers of Aura and Viridian combined," he thought, "once I get my first Pokémon after camp, it won't be long before I can raise a partner as strong as this Nidoking!"
He pressed his hand more firmly against the creature's plated hide, feeling the steady pulse of life beneath. His heart surged with resolve and excitement.
Then, his eyes fell on the next section of the system's interface:
Potential: Red.
Unlike levels, potential was far harder to measure. It wasn't about experience—it was about destiny. A Pokémon's natural gift, its maximum growth limit, its genetic spark.
Ash focused his mind, and a small asterisk beside the word began to glow.
———
[Pokémon Potential Classification]
White
Green
Red
Blue
Purple
Gold
Black
———
"So that's how it works…" Ash murmured. "This Nidoking's got Red potential—its limit's around Level 40, maybe just shy of the true Elite tier."
He understood what that meant. Most Trainers could only draw out a fraction of their Pokémon's true potential. For a Red-rank like Nidoking, this was already near its natural limit.
Unless something extraordinary happened—some miracle or powerful energy—this would be as far as it could go.
Ash's eyes gleamed with quiet determination.
"That's where I come in," he thought. "With the Viridian Power… I can unlock that potential."
The thought alone sent a thrill down his spine. The "Source Cleansing," as it was called in ancient texts, could purify, heal, and even enhance the essence of life.
But it wasn't something he could use recklessly—it drained enormous energy, and the process of improving a Pokémon's aptitude was painfully slow.
Even so, one thing was certain:
He would never waste that gift on anyone else's Pokémon.
That power would belong only to his team.
Ash exhaled softly, returning his attention to the glowing panel.
"The system can not only detect levels but also analyze potential," he thought with admiration. "Even damaged, it's incredible."
A grin tugged at his lips. "I can't wait to see what kind of potential my first Pokémon—my future Pikachu—will have."
If legends called it the "Thunder God," then nothing less than Black Potential: Divine would do.
But his excitement didn't stop there. His eyes caught something at the very bottom of the panel—three glowing words that made his pulse quicken.
Skills (Copyable).
A spark of realization flashed through his mind.
"So it's true," he whispered. "I can copy Pokémon moves!"
The corners of his lips curved upward into a confident, eager smile.
This… was only the beginning.
…
…
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T/N:
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