"The long-haired pig has been frozen for more than twenty years. It's better to send it to the Pokémon Center first. If you want it to fully recover, it will take quite some time."
Now that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, it was time to deal with the Piloswine. Ash Ketchum did not immediately break the ice to free it, because he understood that helping it recover might also be the perfect opportunity for Pryce to reconnect with his Pokémon.
Outside the Pokémon Center
"Ash, thank you for everything this time. I apologize for how I treated you before," Pryce said sincerely. Thanks to Ash, he had reunited with his Piloswine, and the misunderstanding between them had finally been resolved.
"Hmph, I just didn't like you questioning the bond between me and Pikachu. Once your Piloswine recovers, let's battle again. Don't get beaten as easily as you did this morning."
Although Ash's tone sounded dismissive, everyone present could tell he was genuinely happy.
After saying their goodbyes, Ash left Mahogany Town with Sabrina. By the time they met again, Piloswine would surely have made a full recovery.
"It's not like you to get that angry. You actually scared me earlier," Sabrina said as they walked along the forest path.
"I don't really know why either," Ash replied after a moment of thought. "Maybe it's because, in my heart, Pikachu is like my brother. If someone questions that bond, of course it won't sit well with me."
[DING~!]
[Anomalous energy detected two kilometers from the host.]
By evening, Ash and Sabrina were still deep within the forest. Just as they were about to set up camp, the long-silent system suddenly activated, startling Ash.
"Another abnormal energy… could it be another Infinity Gem?" Ash frowned. He had only obtained the Soul Gem a few days ago, so this sudden detection immediately made him think of the same category of power.
"Ash, what's wrong?" Sabrina asked, noticing his expression.
"I can sense a strange energy," Ash said, choosing his words carefully. "It might be connected to how my power grows. You know that psychic abilities like ours can be inherited."
"I don't know who originally passed mine down, but every time my strength increases, I gain fragments of memory. Right now, I've basically reached a limit. If I want to go further, I need to find the twelve Infinity Gems that appear in those memories."
"I already have two. The energy I just sensed… it's very likely another one."
Sabrina nodded after hearing his explanation. "That makes sense. No wonder your strength has been increasing so quickly."
Ash wasn't worried about others learning of the Infinity Gems. Even if someone else obtained one, they wouldn't be able to use it. At most, its power might influence nearby Pokémon, but in the end, only he could truly control it.
After determining the direction, Ash led Sabrina toward the source. Along the way, they noticed something unusual, many Pokémon were moving in the same direction.
"Is it really another Infinity Gem?" Ash muttered, slightly concerned. The last one, the Soul Gem, had caused quite a bit of trouble.
"Wait, you can't go any further."
A young woman suddenly stepped in front of them, blocking their path. She wore mountaineering gear, carried a small backpack, and had short dark-blue hair tied with red cloth strips. Her sharp appearance made her look both capable and alert.
"Who are you? Why are you stopping us?" Ash asked.
"My name is Sylva. I'm the caretaker of this mountain," the woman replied firmly. "The area ahead is restricted. You're not allowed to enter."
"I see," Ash said with a faint smile. "But there's something ahead that belongs to me. I have to take it back."
At this close distance, the system had already completed its analysis.
[DING~!]
[Life Gem detected three hundred meters ahead. The holder gains the ability to absorb and grant life force to themselves and others.]
"Don't talk nonsense. How could anything there belong to you? You must have heard about the crystal and came here to steal it."
Hearing Ash's words, Sylva's expression immediately changed. Without hesitation, she pulled an anesthesia gun from her backpack and aimed it at both Ash Ketchum and Sabrina, clearly ready to fire if they made a wrong move.
"I'm not lying to you. The crystal you're talking about really is mine. If you don't believe me, take a look yourself."
As he finished speaking, Ash raised his hand slightly. Two radiant gems slowly emerged from his body and floated in the air before him, the Soul Gem and another already in his possession. Their glow illuminated the surroundings, making both Sylva and Sabrina focus their gaze on the mysterious objects.
"It really is a mysterious crystal…" Sylva muttered, her eyes widening in shock. "But how could that thing belong to you? That's impossible…"