Ash was absolutely thrilled.
After challenging every disciple at Muramasa's Dojo including Muramasa himself he hadn't just significantly boosted the bond levels of his Heracross and Bayleef; he had also earned 3,000 exchange points.
This meant he could finally redeem a new special ability!
Psychic Powers, the Power of Overcoming, Viridian Power, Dragon Power...
Among them, the category of Psychic Powers was divided into several branches, such as Telekinesis, Future Sight, Teleport, and more.
Back in Saffron City in the Kanto Region, Ash had encountered a psychic girl named Sabrina, the Saffron Gym Leader. Her various psychic abilities were terrifyingly powerful.
Viridian Power had even more branches: Healing Power, Nurturing Power, Evolution Power, Hatching Power, and a whole series of abilities closely tied to the well-being of Pokémon.
Of course, Ash could also choose to further strengthen the Aura he already possessed, saving himself the effort of training it manually.
But money was meant to be spent, and he only needed to leave a small amount to buy system-grade feed for Snorlax.
After some thought, Ash realized that his Aura had made significant strides after his recent Bond Phenomenon with Charizard. For now, it was enough. It would be more worthwhile to redeem a new ability to diversify his tactical options.
After careful consideration, Ash made his decision.
He used his hard-earned points to redeem a specific Psychic Power.
Telekinesis!
In simple terms, Aura strengthened Ash's close-quarters combat and his sensory capabilities, allowing him to hold his own in a scrap with Charizard. Telekinesis, however, gave him a myriad of invisible hands, providing a comprehensive boost to both his combat and utility capabilities.
"Pikachu, don't be scared!" Ash said with a light chuckle after redeeming the ability.
He exerted his will, and Pikachu began to slowly float off the ground.
"Pika?"
Hearing Ash's voice, Pikachu's initial panic instantly turned into delight as it bobbed in the air.
Seeing Ash manifest yet another ability, Brock and Misty didn't even look surprised anymore.
"Ash, you're practically becoming a humanoid Pokémon!" Brock could only shake his head with a wry smile. Since arriving in Johto, the changes in Ash had become more and more dramatic.
Misty, however, was only worried. "Ash, stop showing off! Put Pikachu down this instant!"
Ash laughed. "Don't worry, Misty. After awakening Telekinesis, my mental strength is much stronger than before. I won't just faint at the drop of a hat anymore!"
That had been an unexpected bonus.
"Well, you'd better not go passing out again!" Misty huffed. Ash had nearly collapsed twice, and it had scared her half to death.
"Pika!"
Suspended in the air, Pikachu seemed to have spotted something. It pointed toward the distance and cried out.
"Come back, Pikachu!" Ash pulled Pikachu back toward him, and the three of them hurried toward the direction the mouse was pointing. After a short run, they reached the base of a rocky cliff.
The cliff face was riddled with caves that likely formed a vast, interconnected network.
"Quilava, give up! I'm going to catch you!" A frustrated, angry voice echoed as they drew closer.
A boy, a few years older than Ash, was accompanied by a Sandslash. They were cornering a Quilava that had been forced out of a cave.
Sandslash was a Ground type, giving it a natural advantage over the Fire-type Quilava. Having lost the geographical advantage of the cave, the Fire-type Pokémon was clearly in a dangerous position.
This Quilava was the evolved form of Cyndaquil, the Fire-type starter of the Johto Region.
Compared to the timid and gentle nature of Cyndaquil, an evolved Quilava was significantly braver. As for its final form, Typhlosion, its name alone spoke volumes about its temperament.
Pokémon evolution was truly mysterious; even a creature's personality could undergo a radical shift upon evolving.
Faced with a Sandslash that held the elemental advantage, this Quilava was proving to be exceptionally courageous.
"Sandslash, use Slash!" the trainer ordered.
Sandslash had very long claws, making it perfectly suited for such a move.
The momentum of the Slash was fierce. Quilava darted out of the way, and the strike slammed into a nearby tree. The trunk, as thick as a man's waist, was sliced clean through with terrifying precision!
"That Slash move... that Sandslash is impressive!" Brock commented from the sidelines, genuinely impressed.
Just then, the trainer noticed Ash and the others watching. "Hey, you lot! I've been tracking this Quilava for a week, and I finally cornered it. Get lost, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
"Talk about rude!" Misty said, her temper flaring.
"He won't be able to catch that Quilava," Ash stated flatly. "He's simply not its match."
As if to prove Ash's judgment, the Quilava seemed to grow bored of the game. It curled into a ball, easily putting distance between itself and the Sandslash. Then, the flames on its head and back erupted with intense heat.
A burst of Flamethrower completely engulfed the Sandslash.
"Curse you!" The trainer saw that even with a type advantage, his Sandslash had been defeated. He recalled it and immediately threw two more Poké Balls.
Two more Pokémon appeared: a massive Golem and a Water-type Tentacruel.
Both Pokémon held a crushing type advantage over the Fire-type Quilava.
He had mentioned tracking this Quilava for a week; clearly, he had prepared a team specifically designed to counter it.
"Two against one? How despicable!" Misty was indignant. The trainer's behavior was indeed crossing a line.
While there were no strictly written laws regarding capture battles, trainers generally followed a one-on-one etiquette. If one Pokémon fell and the wild Pokémon was still willing to fight, the trainer would send out the next in a "round-robin" fashion.
A capture battle was ultimately a process of mutual recognition. A Pokémon had to respect you as a trainer before it would willingly be caught. With tactics like these, even if he managed to force the Quilava into a ball, it would never obey him.
"Since he's going two-on-one, I think we're allowed to step in!" Ash gave a confident smirk, a Poké Ball already gripped in his hand. "A Pokémon this good is fair game for everyone, right?"
Finders keepers!
"Pikachu, let's go! Iron Tail!"
"Pika!"
Responding with a cry, Pikachu leaped from Ash's shoulder. Its tail took on a cold, metallic sheen as it slammed down toward the Golem!
"Golem, dodge it!"
BOOM!
Pikachu's Iron Tail was becoming more powerful by the day. The strike missed the Golem but hit the ground, carving a massive crater into the earth!
"Who's there?! Who's the coward interfering?!" the boy roared in fury.
"As a trainer, if I see a Pokémon I like, of course I'm going to catch it," Ash said nonchalantly, completely ignoring the boy's rage. "If I were the one catching this Quilava today, would you just stand there and watch like a good little boy?"
If the person hadn't been so arrogant, Ash might have waited for him to fail before stepping in. But a guy like this would have targeted them even if he failed on his own. It was better to just take the initiative.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt on Tentacruel!"
Heracross: 145/251
Bayleef: 165/200
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