"Your Ninetales has indeed mutated. Although her core attributes haven't changed, her psychic abilities have undergone a significant transformation."
"She can't attack souls… but she can perceive them."
"And the reason you can't move too far away from her is because both of you were exposed to that light at the same time."
"That light altered your genes, granting you a unique and extraordinary connection."
"Your genes and Ninetales' genes underwent the same transformation. In a sense, your soul and her soul are now intertwined… almost as one."
"However, Ninetales already possesses her own soul within her body, so while you can be considered part of her soul, you can only exist externally… not within her body."
"As for why your physical body hasn't decayed over the past thousand years, it's because your soul still exists."
Through the vision of his Sharingan, Ash Ketchum could clearly see the connection between Dario and Ninetales. Their spiritual energies were tightly linked.
"How could this be… then doesn't that mean I can never return to my body?"
Dario's voice trembled. For over a thousand years, the only reason she had endured was the hope that one day, she could return to her original body.
"Don't panic," Ash said calmly. "Whether as yourself or as part of Ninetales, you're still existing. Isn't that enough?"
"Even if you returned to your body, you wouldn't understand anything about the current era."
Hearing this, Dario slowly calmed down.
He was right. More than a thousand years had passed. Even if she regained her body, the world she once knew no longer existed.
"Of course… if you truly want to return to your body, I can make that happen."
Ash's words immediately reignited hope in her eyes.
With the power of the Soul Gem in his possession, restoring her wasn't impossible.
"I…"
Dario hesitated, then turned to look at Ninetales beside her.
"I still want to stay with Ninetales."
Her expression gradually firmed.
Ash nodded slightly.
"Since you've made your decision, I'll help you merge into Ninetales. If things don't work out, you can still return to your body later."
"Thank you…"
Dario gently stroked Ninetales' golden fur.
"Ninetales… would you be willing to share your body with me?"
"Mi~woo~"
Ninetales nodded happily, her eyes filled with trust. The sight moved Dario, who instinctively leaned forward as if to embrace her.
Even Sabrina, standing to the side, was quietly touched by the moment.
"Rinnegan."
Ash activated his Rinnegan. The Soul Gem in his hand began to glow as he carefully converted Dario's soul into spiritual energy, guiding it into Ninetales' body.
"Mi… woo…"
As Dario's consciousness entered her, Ninetales slowly lay down, as if overcome by drowsiness. Her eyes gently closed as she fell into a deep sleep.
This was the natural process of soul integration.
"Ash, will Ninetales be alright?" Sabrina asked, a trace of concern in her voice.
The nature of the soul was something even powerful psychics couldn't fully comprehend.
"Relax. This is just a transitional phase while their souls merge," Ash replied. "They should wake up in a few hours."
With that, he stored both Ninetales and Dario's body into his separate space for safety.
Then, holding Sabrina and Pikachu, Ash stepped through space-time and returned to the altar.
"We're just leaving like this?" Sabrina asked, glancing around. "What if someone else finds this place?"
"It doesn't matter," Ash said casually. "There's nothing valuable here anymore."
"Even if someone discovers it, they'll just see an ordinary ancient altar."
"I've already taken the only thing of real importance… the Soul Gem."
"Alright…"
Sabrina nodded. She had no attachment to this place anyway.
The altar was filled with corpses and carried a heavy, eerie atmosphere that made even her uneasy.
"System, didn't you say that the Infinity Gems can't be used by anyone other than me? Then how do you explain what happened with the Soul Gem?"
As they traveled, Ash Ketchum silently questioned the system in his mind.
[Ding~!]
[Infinity Gems cannot be used by anyone other than the host. This statement is correct.]
[However, as previously stated, Infinity Gems are manifestations of evolutionary gene power.]
[The energy they emit can alter the genes of any living organism.]
[That said, once separated from their original source, the radiation released by the gems gradually weakens, and any resulting genetic evolution becomes incomplete.]
[The Soul Gem grants the host full control over soul power. However, those merely exposed to its radiation gain only incomplete abilities.]
[In Dario's case, her soul separated from her body but cannot return, due to this incomplete evolution.]
"I see… that's a relief."
After hearing the system's explanation, Ash felt much more at ease.
If others could freely wield the true power of the Infinity Gems, things would have become far more troublesome. Fortunately, what Dario experienced was only a byproduct, not the gem's true capability.
With that settled, Ash, Sabrina, and Pikachu continued their journey toward the next Gym.
As for the altar, it would inevitably fall into the hands of the Jhoto League to investigate. There was nothing of real value left there anyway.
Ash still had two Gym Badges left before he could challenge the Jhoto League. At the same time, he needed to keep an eye on Team Rocket.
If Team Rocket truly had ties with the Rowan Family, things might actually become easier for him to handle.