Ash Ketchum looked at Misty's blank expression.
His face revealed a mix of helplessness and an "I knew it" expression.
He lowered his voice:
"Take my advice, buddy."
"Our ideals must be ambitious; we need to understand the information regarding our final opponents."
"Their ace trump cards start as unique, one-in-ten-thousand extreme individuals!"
"Physique, potential, maximum energy capacity—they stand in the clouds from birth!"
"On top of that, taking the basics of Trainer and Pokémon to the absolute limit... that is a Champion!"
"And you ask me who Leon is?"
Ash stood up, patted the mud spots off his pant legs, swept his gaze over those "ordinary" Goldeen in her bucket, and gently shook his head. His final soft words pierced Misty's ears like a needle:
"Then there's nothing else I can say. Watch more world news, okay?"
[Truly a frog in the well (whispered).]
Aside from Ash, who could directly view Pokémon specific stats using the System.
Others raising extreme individual Pokémon mostly relied on industrial chains.
For example, the sprite research zone at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Or the Day Cares opened specifically by various advanced Breeders.
Unable to check specific stats directly like Ash, they had to rely on quantity to ensure quality.
As long as the quantity is high enough, combined with selective breeding, advanced individuals can eventually be cultivated.
High-ranking Trainers basically all have a first team, second team, and third team.
The later the Pokémon are raised, the better their aptitude.
"You...!" Misty's face flushed red, half from embarrassment and annoyance, half from the dizziness caused by the massive influx of information.
Although Ash's last words were quiet, she still heard them.
Frog in the well?
She, a Gym Trainer (Reserve) of Cerulean City who had dealt with Water-type Pokémon since childhood, was actually called a frog in the well by a rookie?
She wanted to retort.
She wanted to scold him for talking nonsense and bragging.
But uncontrollably flashing through her mind was Pikachu's abnormally fast Quick Attack, Pidgey's precisely controlled Gust, and that Magikarp which looked like nothing more than a specially colored, high-jumping fish... as well as that glorious, holy golden figure branded deep in her soul amidst the storm.
Could it be... that the top-tier battles of this world really are, as he said, in another dimension?
Was her proud "cultivating bonds" really just the basic of basics in front of monsters of that level?
Yet the fact was indeed so.
Champions say it nicely, that their success is due to bonds with Pokémon.
But this statement can only be listened to forward, not spoken backward.
If understood in reverse.
Does that mean the bonds of all losers are inferior to those of Champions?
That is obviously impossible!
Among the losers, there must be people who love Pokémon incomparably!
Love cannot be measured!
You cannot say someone doesn't love enough just because they failed!
"...Misty, believe in me." Ash adjusted the hat on his head. "Believe in the me who travels with you."
"Believe, believe in the me who believes in you."
He took a Pokédex out of his pocket.
This thing could provide powerful proof for his topic.
The Pokédex is something only regional Professors are qualified to issue.
After Ash opened the Pokédex, it began to play a recording, showing Professor Oak's voice and Ash's avatar—[This is a Pokédex given to Ash Ketchum, hoping he becomes a Pokémon Trainer. Be warned, if the Pokédex is lost or stolen, it will not be reissued. Please take care to preserve it. Left by Professor Oak of Pallet Town.]
This thing could be said to be a letter of introduction directly endorsed by a big shot, and it also conformed to League regulations.
Anyone mixing in the orthodox circles of the League had to give Professor Oak some face.
As for Team Rocket in the underworld... they were enemies anyway, so what face was there to give?
"Pika?" Pikachu nuzzled Ash's leg, then looked at the stunned Misty and tilted its head.
Ash paid no further attention to Misty, who was plunged into a massive cognitive shock. He turned and threw a special, blue-glowing Pokéblock to the golden Magikarp that had finally collapsed from exhaustion in the puddle.
This was something he had conveniently taken from Professor Oak's Laboratory when he left Pallet Town.
The quantity wasn't large; he hadn't even given any to Pikachu or Pidgey.
After all, those two had ample food, so having Pokéblocks or not didn't make a big difference.
But Magikarp's condition was really too poor. If it underwent high-intensity training, its food couldn't be lacking in the slightest.
Thinking carefully, before evolving into Gyarados, expenses in this area wouldn't be small.
"Good work," Ash's voice returned to its usual gentleness.
"A carp leaping over the Dragon Gate."
"As the saying goes, gold scales are no things of the pool; once they meet the wind and clouds, they transform into dragons!"
"When that time comes, you will transform into a golden dragon!"
"You will be crowned King!"
Ash was feeding Magikarp chicken soup.
Emm... it seems a golden Magikarp turns into a red Gyarados after evolution?
If it were just for ornamental value.
If it weren't a 6-IV extreme individual.
Then Ash would absolutely keep it as an ornamental fish.
However, it was not only a Shiny King, but also a 6-IV extreme individual...
Emm, System Bro?
How about you refresh a reward to let Magikarp stay golden after evolving?
Strength is a temporary matter, but handsomeness is a lifelong matter!
Ash bent down, his fingers brushing over Magikarp's cold, slippery golden scales, as if he could feel the faint pulsation of that full 31-point potential surging beneath the scales.
Magikarp was indeed working very hard.
Most sprites in the Pokémon world are very simple.
Magikarp felt Ash's expectations for it, so it would strive to repay him.
As for why, Magikarp wasn't sure either.
"Your path is not in this small puddle." Ash's voice was light, yet it seemed to carry the weight of thunder.
"Your future is the vast sky and the open sea!"
"You are going to vie for supremacy with that Sea God!"
"You are going to take charge of that deep sea throne!"
Anyway, saying pretty words doesn't cost money.
Of course, the more trendy, the more chuunibyou, the better it sounds, the cooler it is to say!
Ash: Acting cool feels too good, I'm practically high!
The golden Magikarp seemed to understand; its tail slapped heavily in the muddy water, splashing turbid spray. In those dull fish eyes, a faint but stubborn light actually ignited.
It actually hadn't understood.
But it felt Ash's bursting will.
To break through this sky!
Graaah!
The wind in the woods passed through, carrying the dampness of vegetation after rain.
Misty sat there hugging her knees, the Goldeen in the bucket blowing bubbles.
She watched the golden figure struggling to leap up from the muddy water again, then looked at Ash's side profile, calm but seemingly harboring a storm. For the first time, she truly felt that the Pokémon world she was familiar with was cracking open a gap towards an unknown height amidst the few words of this "rookie" before her eyes.
And the light outside that gap stung her eyes until they felt a bit sour.
Breaking away from the fairytale world woven by the League.
Witnessing the reality behind the fairytale world.
Seeing the pillars behind this fairytale world.
The existence of Utopia, and the story behind Utopia?
"Really..."
"I'm actually being lectured by this kind of person."
"I actually feel he's dazzling."
"I actually look forward to his future."
"I really am lame..."
"Is that why he doesn't acknowledge me?"
Misty took out a Poké Ball.
As a direct descendant of a Gym Leader, she naturally carried a trump card on her when she came out... after all, this world wasn't exactly peaceful.
But this wasn't raised by her, so it wasn't very obedient.
Unless there was danger, don't even think about commanding it.
Especially since Misty herself was afraid of it.
But isn't this very normal?
Misty is actually only 10 years old.
_____
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