Silas had read about continuous psychic links before, but they were considered an advanced technique among psychics. Maintaining a stable connection between multiple minds required tremendous control.
Normally, a single Advanced Psychic could accomplish it alone, while Intermediate Psychics had to combine their strength.
Until today, Silas had never possessed enough psychic power.
Now, things were different.
Espeon padded happily around the training room, her twin tails swaying back and forth as she looked around with childlike curiosity.
The moment she discovered she could communicate freely through telepathy, an endless stream of questions flooded Silas' mind.
"Boss, why is the sky blue?"
"Can everyone hear thoughts if they're psychic?"
"Why do humans wear clothes?"
"Can pokemon become professors?"
"Why do humans build cities instead of living in forests?"
The questions came so quickly that Silas almost laughed.
He answered every single one patiently.
The rest of the pokemon quietly watched with amused expressions as Espeon's excitement refused to fade. After spending her entire life communicating through body language and emotions, suddenly being able to express every thought in perfect detail was exhilarating.
Some of her questions were surprisingly profound.
One in particular caused Silas to pause.
"Boss… if pokemon are usually stronger than humans, and some pokemon are even smarter than humans, why do humans rule the world?"
Silas considered the question carefully.
"There isn't a single answer."
He leaned against the training room wall while Espeon sat attentively before him.
"Humans are individually weaker than pokemon. Everyone knows that but humans possess something unusual. We cooperate and pass knowledge from one generation to the next. They invent, build, improve, then build again."
Silas gestured toward the ceiling.
"A single person may accomplish very little but millions working together can change the world."
Espeon quietly lowered her head, thinking deeply.
Several minutes later she looked back up.
"So… humans aren't stronger. They're simply better at working together."
Silas smiled.
"I think that's a fair conclusion."
Espeon nodded happily.
"I'm glad I joined your family then. You all work together."
The simple statement warmed Silas's heart.
Family. That was exactly how she viewed them.
He had never intentionally tried to create such an atmosphere. It had simply happened naturally.
Silas stood and extended his psychic senses toward each of his pokemon one after another.
Using his newly strengthened psychic power, he carefully left a small psychic imprint upon every member of the team.
Electabuzz immediately understood what he intended.
Without needing instructions, he added his own psychic power, stabilizing each imprint before moving on to the next.
The process took nearly half an hour.
When it finally finished, Silas smiled.
"We're connected."
Curious voices immediately echoed throughout his mind.
"Can everyone hear me?"
"I can hear you!"
"Me too!"
"This is amazing!"
Silas immediately regretted allowing everyone to speak at once.
It felt exactly like being trapped inside a crowded group call.
Voices overlapped and thoughts collided.
Excitement echoed repeatedly until his head began aching.
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"One at a time."
The room became silent almost instantly.
Silas chuckled.
"We'll need to practice."
The pokemon laughed together through the psychic connection.
After a few more minutes, everyone gradually adjusted to the new system. Instead of speaking over one another, they naturally waited their turn.
Monferno suddenly raised his hand.
"Boss… do you think you could get me some books?"
Silas blinked.
"Books?"
Monferno nodded enthusiastically.
"I feel like there's still so much I don't understand."
"I want to learn."
Almost immediately several more voices echoed inside the psychic network.
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
"I'd like books!"
Silas laughed.
"I didn't expect all of you to become scholars overnight."
Still, the request made perfect sense.
Hermes had already confirmed that everyone's intelligence had increased after absorbing the psychic energy released during Espeon's evolution.
Their curiosity had grown alongside it. Silas found himself imagining future battles.
Rather than issuing every command personally, what if his pokemon understood battlefield tactics themselves?
What if they anticipated one another's movements without waiting for orders?
The thought alone excited him.
League battles restricted trainers to six pokemon. Life and death battles had no such limitation.
Many veteran trainers released every capable pokemon they possessed during desperate situations.
Unfortunately, no trainer, not even a psychic, could effectively command that many individuals simultaneously.
Six was already the practical limit for ordinary trainers.
Even Silas doubted he could manage more than ten at once.
Independent tactical thinking would change everything.
"Hermes. I have a request."
The familiar voice sounded in his head.
"I'm listening."
"I want a comprehensive combat manual."
"Battle formations, tactics, training methodology. Everything you deem useful."
There was a brief pause.
"It can be done. Estimated completion time: three days."
Silas smiled.
"Perfect. I'll leave it to you."
Better yet, Hermes hadn't requested a temporary shutdown.
That meant the system could continue functioning normally while compiling the information.
"Alright."
Silas clapped his hands together.
"Enough serious discussion. Let's celebrate."
Instantly the psychic network exploded.
"Food!"
"Food!"
"Yes!"
"I'm starving!"
Silas laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.
The synchronized enthusiasm sounded ridiculous when transmitted directly into his mind.
"You really are a bunch of gluttons."
Not a single pokemon denied it.
Since they would be eating in the dining hall, Silas returned everyone except Frogadier to their pokeballs. The ninja pokemon quietly slipped into his shadow.
The walk to the dining hall was uneventful.
Several Rocket members stared openly as Silas began purchasing enormous quantities of premium food.
By the time he finished, he had spent nearly 800 Trial Points. Several nearby officers looked horrified but Silas ignored them.
The expensive meals weren't merely delicious. They contained concentrated typeless energy that pokemon could absorb directly.
Below Level 40, eating these meals regularly almost guaranteed steady growth. Humans benefited as well. Aura users could convert a portion of the energy into aura, making the meals valuable for both trainer and pokemon.
Silas had long wanted to reproduce the recipe himself.
Unfortunately, the preparation method remained one of Team Rocket's most closely guarded secrets.
Even Hermes couldn't decipher it.
The only conclusion Hermes had reached was that the meals contained astonishing quantities of refined typeless energy.
Silas stored everything inside a specialized food storage bag before returning to the suite.
The moment every pokemon had been released, the feast began.
They had massive steaks, tender lamb chops, fresh vegetables and large bowls of fragrant berry fruit punch.
Everyone ate until conversation became impossible. Even Tropius happily joined the celebration thanks to the suite's unusually high ceilings.
The atmosphere reminded Silas of a family gathering. Nobody spoke about training. Nobody discussed the upcoming challenge.
Instead they laughed. They played games together and told funny stories. Before long, nearly everyone lay across the floor rubbing full stomachs.
Silas smiled contentedly.
Training mattered. Battles mattered too but moments like these mattered just as much. A happy team fought harder and performed better due to the mutual trust.
He quietly decided that from now on, scheduled relaxation would become part of their routine.
The following two days passed peacefully.
Silas continued purchasing nutritious meals, although nowhere near the absurd quantity from the celebration feast.
Neither he nor his pokemon left the suite.
Jessie and James, however, trained relentlessly.
Silas eventually had to order both of them to stop.
"The challenge starts tomorrow. You'll perform better rested than exhausted."
Reluctantly, they obeyed.
Silas gave his pokemon complete freedom during those two days.
The only requirement was 2 hours of daily meditation. Everyone who knew Calm Mind practiced tirelessly.
Mastering the move involved two separate aspects. The duration of each boost and the maximum number of boosts the body could safely maintain.
Espeon already maintained four consecutive boosts. Electabuzz could comfortably sustain two. Everyone else remained limited to one. Still, progress came steadily.
Late during the second afternoon, Electabuzz suddenly tugged on Silas's sleeve.
"Boss, I know today was supposed to be a rest day but you need to see something."
Curious, Silas followed him into the suite's private training room.
It was considerably smaller than the specialized facility he had rented previously, but more than adequate for demonstrations.
Monferno and Frogadier quietly followed.
The remaining pokemon either slept or continued relaxing.
Electabuzz faced one of the practice targets.
He fired a Charge Beam.
A concentrated bolt of electricity shot toward the center target.
At the very last moment, the beam abruptly changed direction.
Instead of striking the original target, it curved sharply and pierced the one standing several meters to the right.
Silas stared.
Not only had the attack changed direction, it hadn't exploded.
The beam remained tightly compressed until impact, drilling cleanly through the reinforced target.
Electabuzz grinned proudly.
"I used psychic power to redirect Charge Beam. It hits harder. It's also much harder to dodge."
Silas nodded appreciatively.
That single improvement dramatically increased Charge Beam's lethality.
Monferno stepped forward next.
"Watch this."
Blue flames erupted around his body. At the same time, golden aura burst outward before wrapping around the flames.
Instead of clashing, the two energies merged beautifully. The swirling cloak of blue fire danced around Monferno's body without harming him.
"I finally understand. During Espeon's evolution, I realized how to control both powers together. I've been practicing ever since."
Silas didn't say anything. Instead, he walked over and hugged Monferno tightly.
"I'm proud of you. You've come so far. It feels like yesterday you were still a tiny Chimchar hatching from an egg."
Monferno smiled sheepishly.
Silas looked toward Frogadier.
"Don't feel discouraged. We were supposed to be relaxing."
"These two simply don't know how to listen."
Frogadier chuckled.
"Who said I had nothing to show?"
He looked toward Monferno.
"Hit me with Mach Punch."
Monferno shrugged before rushing forward.
His fist struck but there was no impact.
Nothing.
It passed directly through Frogadier's body as though he were made of mist.
Silas blinked.
Frogadier smiled proudly.
"I can finally use my ability. I can freely change my typing as long as I know a move of that type."
Silver wings materialized behind him. Soon after, Frogadier lifted gracefully into the air.
"I can even become Flying type."
After a short demonstration, the wings dissolved.
"I can't maintain transformations for long. They drain my stamina. So I'll save them for decisive moments."
Silas stood speechless.
An evolution and a psychic awakening , this was a remarkable breakthrough for him.
Hermes had been right.
The increase in intelligence hadn't simply made everyone smarter. It had improved their understanding of their own powers.
Silas smiled.
The future seemed brighter than ever.
Tomorrow, the first Trial Challenge would begin.
For tonight though, they simply returned to the common room, laughed together, and enjoyed the last peaceful evening before the competition truly started.
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Thanks for the continued support on my first fanfic!!
Moving forward, every 50 Power Stones, I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also be releasing bonus chapters for milestones. The next ones are 100k views and chapter 100.
Finally, I will be releasing 3 extra chapters once we reach 10 reviews. 5 star reviews are appreciated but not required, I want honest feedback so I can improve.
Once again, thanks for all the support and feedback!