Levels.
That was the foundation, the most crucial of all.
Like inner strength in martial arts.
If one's inner strength was profound, techniques became secondary—victory came from sheer power alone.
Without levels, without inner strength, it didn't matter how clever your tactics were or how dazzling your strategies looked. You could unleash every move in the book, but in the end—no damage!
The stronger the Trainer, the more they relied on overwhelming levels to crush opponents.
After all, the ability to raise Pokémon to higher levels was itself a reflection of the Trainer's strength.
Growth, at its core, was growth in level. It was the bedrock—the measure of physical attributes, raw power, attack, defense, speed, and reflexes.
Were tactics important?Of course. But brute force could shatter ten thousand stratagems.
Take the canon battle: when Cynthia accepted Paul's full 6v6 challenge. She only sent out her Garchomp. Paul schemed and prepared countless strategies.
And yet, it didn't matter—Garchomp mercilessly swept his entire team.
That was the perfect example of raw strength crushing tactics.
You could fight fancy all day, but if you dealt no damage, while I landed just one strike that instantly knocked out your Pokémon… what then?
Tactics…
They only mattered when levels were comparable, when power was even. Only then did strategy, typing, and synergy come into play.
Level came first.
Second was the bond and coordination between Trainer and Pokémon.
Only then came tactics, type advantages, and abilities—mere details.
Yes, abilities were only details…
Except for Yozora.
Because of the system, his Pokémon had far too many abilities. For him, they weren't details—they were game-changing trump cards!
"Jolteon, use Thunderbolt!" Donglei shouted. Jolteon unleashed a fierce blast of lightning that struck Graveler hard.
In an instant, Graveler's face twisted in pain as it let out a rare roar.
Moments later, Graveler collapsed to the ground.
The level gap was simply too vast!
A miracle overturned.
Normally, Graveler's Ground typing should grant it complete immunity to Electric attacks.
But Jolteon's level was so high, its electric power so overwhelming, that Graveler couldn't resist—it actually took massive damage.
At this point, though Graveler was still conscious, its stamina was almost gone. Yozora recalled it without hesitation.
"Go, Gengar! Use Night Shade!" Yozora sent out his next Pokémon, who instantly launched its attack.
A terrifying ghostly shadow enveloped Jolteon, making its eyes widen in terror, every hair on its body standing on end.
Night Shade was a Ghost-type special attack, a strike at the spirit itself.
Under the assault, Jolteon nearly collapsed from fear, sweat dripping down its trembling body as it panted like a cornered animal.
Against Graveler, Jolteon's level dominance had been overwhelming.
But against Gengar, Jolteon was far too weak. Just one Night Shade had it shaking uncontrollably, nearly unable to move.
Its stamina drained rapidly, leaving only a sliver.
"What a terrifying Gengar…" Even Donglei flinched. The ghostly shadow had left his own heart pounding.
He could hardly believe it.
Yozora was so young, only a rookie just starting out—yet he had managed to raise such a powerful Gengar. It was almost inconceivable.
Jolteon was left trembling, exhausted and paralyzed, hardly able to stand.
"Shuuh…" Gengar swooped down. Confident in its strength, it didn't even bother to hypnotize—simply pressing Jolteon down and draining its life energy directly.
Jolteon shook violently, too terrified to resist.
Moments later, its vision spun, and it toppled with a thud.
"Jolteon is unable to battle!"
"The match is over! Gym Trainer Donglei has no remaining Pokémon. The victor—Challenger Yozora!" the referee declared.
At once, the hall filled with applause.
Led by Donglei himself, the Gym's apprentices clapped in admiration for Yozora.
Donglei smiled. "Yozora, your strength is outstanding—already far beyond the average Senior Trainer. I believe you'll achieve great results at this year's Indigo Plateau Conference."
As he spoke, Donglei produced a lightning-shaped golden badge and handed it over—the emblem of the Eastlin Gym.
"Thank you." Yozora bowed in gratitude. At last, he had obtained his eighth badge.
After eight long months, Yozora's Kanto journey had come to an end. In just two more months, the annual Indigo Plateau Conference would officially begin.
Being a grand regional tournament, the event was celebrated with utmost importance. The schedule was long, lasting at least a month, sometimes a month and a half.
Two months remained for preparation.
Yozora planned to return home first before deciding his next steps.
That very afternoon, riding atop Pidgeot, he flew back to Pallet Town.
Breathing in the familiar air, gazing at the familiar scenery, a warmth rose in his chest.
This was where he had grown up—his hometown.
Professor Oak's Laboratory.
"Professor Oak, I'm back!"
At this time of day, Professor Oak wasn't in the lab. Instead, he was in the hills behind the institute, feeding and observing Pokémon.
Observation was daily homework for every researcher and scholar.
Even Professor Oak was no exception.
Now, he and his assistants were massaging a herd of Tauros, helping them loosen up their muscles.
Each Tauros was coated in a fine sheen of sweat—clearly just returned from a run.
Hearing Yozora's voice, Professor Oak turned, pleasantly surprised. "Ah, Yozora! You're finally back? You're the last of the four to return!"
Yozora only smiled, not bothered.
His pace had been slower, yes, but what mattered was collecting the eight badges.
"These… are Ash's Tauros?" Yozora counted roughly thirty of them.
"Yes, every one of them belongs to Ash."
Professor Oak nodded as he pulled off his gloves and handed them to an assistant. "Your Pokémon are over there, Yozora. Come, I'll take you to them."
"Thanks." Yozora smiled warmly. He had been eager to see Golduck, Aegislash, and the others again.
"Wrii~" Suddenly, a Dratini poked its head out from Yozora's collar. Its eyes were still drowsy from sleep, but curiosity shone as it scanned its surroundings.
"Dratini? Hahaha! Yozora, you never cease to amaze me. To think you actually caught a wild Dratini…"
Professor Oak praised as he led the way, asking Yozora questions about his journey like a concerned elder.
Yozora felt touched by the care.
Soon, the two reached a riverbank.
"Splash!" At that moment, a massive golden Magikarp leapt from the water—at least three meters long—soaring high into the sky.
…
…
(End of Chapter)