"Ding~!"
[It has been detected that the bloodline of the Draconis family within the host is about to awaken an auxiliary ability. The host may choose from several options.]
[Option 1: Power of the Dragon
Enhances the physical strength, speed, and skills of Dragon-type Pokémon when battling.
Strength boost: 500 attribute points
Speed boost: 700 attribute points
Skill mastery: 1000 attribute points]
[Option 2: Mental Augmentation
The floating gemstone within the host's spiritual space may absorb the bloodline's energy to increase mental power. Calculations show this would nearly double the host's original mental strength. Cost: 10,000 attribute points.]
Ash's eyes widened as he read the choices. All were tempting, but in his mind, strengthening mental power was the most reliable.
The Power of the Dragon only boosted one aspect of a Dragon-type Pokémon.
In contrast, Ash had already mastered techniques like the Eight Gates, which—despite their risks—provided far greater raw power than the Draconis boost could offer.
But doubling his mental strength… that was on another level. With it, he could simultaneously sustain his Kaleidoscope Sharingan and his Aura abilities without exhausting himself.
The cost, however, was painful. Ten thousand points out of the fifteen thousand he had saved.
Still, the payoff was clear: tripled mental reserves, sharper reactions, and no more fears of burning out mid-battle.
"System… is there any way to make the mental power option cheaper?" Ash asked, knowing full well the answer.
[Ding~! There are no discounts in the system—only stacked rebates.] The voice was cold, matter-of-fact. [Rebates occur during special draws. For example, when upgrading the Kaleidoscope Sharingan, the attribute cost may be halved, or even further reduced.]
Ash sighed. "Fine. Increase my mental power."
[Ding~! Transforming the Draconis bloodline… deducting 10,000 points.]
The floating gemstone in his spiritual space began to glow, greedily siphoning energy from his veins. A rush of pressure filled his mind, then clarity—as if every thought now flowed faster, sharper.
[Ding~! Transformation complete. Mental strength increased twofold.]
After three minutes, Ash could feel it. His spiritual power had truly tripled. Not only could he wield his Kaleidoscope Sharingan and Aura at the same time, but his reflexes felt razor-sharp, almost precognitive.
"Ash, how did it go? Did you awaken the Power of the Dragon?" Skye Draconis asked, waiting at the mouth of Shenlong Cavern.
Ash shook his head, feigning regret.
"No… it mutated. I was supposed to awaken the Power of the Dragon, but, Grandpa, you know I already have the Sharingan and Aura. Instead, the bloodline transformed, merging with them into pure mental strength."
Skye paused, then gave a slow nod.
"Unexpected… but not bad. Your Sharingan already surpasses the Draconis bloodline's gift. And your Dragonite doesn't rely on that blessing anyway."
Remembering Ash's fierce battle in Grampa Canyon against the ancient Aerodactyl, Skye even found himself relieved. Strengthening Ash's innate powers might serve him better than a traditional Draconis inheritance.
Though some were disappointed Ash hadn't awakened the true Power of the Dragon, no one could deny his rapid growth.
That night, Ash and his companions stayed at the Draconis estate. He had deliberately left Delia at home; she could never face the man who had once abandoned her. Ash would never allow her to return to that pain.
Lying in bed, Ash muttered to himself:
"My current Pokémon are strong, but I'm still missing Psychic and Ghost-types. Damn it… Alakazam and Gengar in Kanto don't suit my fighting style."
He clenched his fist. Champions didn't just have powerful Pokémon—they had styles. Cynthia fought with grace and strategy. Lance dominated with his dragons.
And Ash? His style was brutal, unrelenting force.
His Pokémon were monsters of sheer power, fueled by his own reckless will to win. Every battle, every clash, was a test of dominance—and he wouldn't rest until his team reflected that same overwhelming strength.
In terms of Psychic-types that matched his aggressive, domineering battle style, Ash only truly valued Gardevoir. Unfortunately, Gardevoir wasn't native to Kanto. Unless he relied on his family's influence to find one, it would be nearly impossible.
Even in Sinnoh, Gardevoir was rare. Ash doubted he'd be lucky enough to just encounter one while traveling alone.
"Ash, what's wrong? Why aren't you asleep?"
Cynthia's soft voice broke the silence just as Ash was wondering if he should use his family's resources to search for a Gardevoir egg.
"It's nothing," Ash replied quietly.
"I was just thinking… it'd be easy if I asked my grandfather to help me find a Gardevoir egg. But honestly, I prefer the feeling of conquering things on my own. That's why I'm hesitating—I want to earn it myself."
As Cynthia shifted in his arms, Ash leaned down and kissed her gently, then held her tighter against him.
Feeling the firmness of his embrace, Cynthia smiled faintly. She nestled closer against his chest, pressing her face to him until she found a comfortable position.
"There's no need to overthink it," she murmured playfully.
"Even if your grandfather finds you one, it won't take away from your strength. Besides, a wild Gardevoir in the wild wouldn't stand much of a chance against you now. Subduing one directly might not even give you the real thrill of conquest."
Her fingers traced absent patterns on his chest, teasingly drawing strange shapes as she spoke.
...
TN:
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