"Look over there. That swarm of wild Magnemite is using the lightning's electrical energy to charge themselves."
Mr. Lee looked ahead, addressing Owen and Magnemite.
"Theoretically, Magnemite that survive year-round in a place like this possess physical fitness and combat capabilities several times stronger than those raised in power plants.
By using a unique connection method, they utilize lightning to charge from a very young age. From a trainer's perspective, these are all high-potential specimens perfect for capture."
"My Magnemite isn't half bad either," Owen said, reaching out to pat Magnemite on the head.
"Mag-neee!" Magnemite replied with intense resolve. Seeing this swarm instinctively reminded it of its peers back at the power plant...
If these Magnemite could do it, so could it. Its eye flickered as it watched the lightning, itching to try.
"Exactly. Passing the trial of lightning is the only way to prove you are stronger than them," Mr. Lee said. "But unlike those Magnemite, you must challenge the lightning alone. You will bear the full weight of a strike by yourself."
He looked at Magnemite, then back at the path. "Let's keep moving. This spot isn't ideal. For maximum efficiency, we need to progress step-by-step... we'll start in an area with lower lightning intensity."
"Understood." Owen and Magnemite chose to follow Mr. Lee's advice, continuing forward under his guidance. Encountering the swarm was merely a prelude.
"Vee~" Eevee followed along reluctantly, its paws treading carefully.
"Three days."
"The equipment I've prepared can support Magnemite for three days of intensive training. Including the costs of this trip, the value of this training is no less than that of a Thunder Stone."
"You must make the most of this opportunity."
Mr. Lee opened his backpack, revealing the items he had prepared for Magnemite's challenge. A specialized wire, a clip, and a solid black stone. There was also a canister filled with an unidentified liquid.
"What are these?" Owen asked.
"Items to enhance Magnemite's internal magnetism."
Mr. Lee explained: "You know how Magnemite is classified, right? It's a Magnet Pokémon. Its internal magnetism is closely linked to the power it can release. T
he stronger its magnetic force, the more electricity it can store and discharge. Conversely, discharging massive amounts of power actually strengthens its magnetism over time."
"Your Magnemite has the Magnet Pull ability, so its natural magnetism is already strong. That's a great start. By training its Electric and Steel-type moves through magnetic enhancement, we can achieve twice the results with half the effort."
By now, Mr. Lee had led Owen to a small outpost. He took the clip and signaled to Magnemite.
"Two hundred meters ahead is a high-frequency strike zone. The intensity there is the lowest in the area; it will be your first target."
"This black stone is a special lodestone. Through this wire and clip, your body will gain a much stronger magnetic field for a short time. It will be painful.
I'll apply a thin layer of Metal Coat liquid to your body—it will help mitigate the pain while allowing the lightning to better temper your physical shell."
"Mag-neee..."
Magnemite looked at Owen. Only after Owen nodded did it obediently fly onto the wooden table. Mr. Lee used the wire and clip to connect its body to the lodestone.
Rumble!!RUMBLE!!!!
The sky, which had been relatively normal just moments ago, was suddenly choked with dark clouds. Thunder rolled, and a flash of white light was followed by a lattice of falling bolts.
Eevee hid nervously in the back, watching Magnemite fly toward the sky. It wore a pained expression—that has to hurt so much.
CrackBoom A piercing thunderclap echoed as a bolt of blinding golden light fell, striking Magnemite with surgical precision.
"MAG-NEEE-EEE-EEEE——"
Hit by the bolt, Magnemite was nearly slammed out of the air. However, due to its high natural resistance to electricity, it managed to quickly stabilize its frame. All of its screws and magnets began to spin frantically upon impact. During the rotation, Magnemite's internal magnetism reached its absolute peak.
"Mag-neee!"
Enduring the lightning as a single Pokémon was a massive strain. Even though this was the "weakest" intensity, Magnemite felt an immense pressure. The pain was indescribable—it felt like being blasted by Eevee's Shadow Ball, then pinned to the ground and lashed by Iron Tail.
Under the guidance of its mental energy, the lightning entered its core. Magnemite's body endured a violent current that no commercial charging device could ever replicate.
"Thunderbolt!"
Following Mr. Lee's instructions, Owen called out. Saturated with power, Magnemite began to release its own Thunderbolt, firing back toward the sky in a counterattack.
BOOM!!!!
The sky answered with another bolt, instantly swallowing Magnemite's Thunderbolt and striking its body once more. Magnemite continued this cycle: absorbing lightning to its absolute limit, enduring the load until it was on the verge of fainting, and then discharging it with everything it had.
As time passed, the lightning in this area seemed to converge from all directions, focusing entirely on Magnemite and slowly tempering its body.
Owen recalled Mr. Lee's words: Though lightning is powerful, a Pokémon cannot simply convert all of it into its own power for no reason. Even those with Lightning Rod or Motor Drive abilities will inevitably take damage if they absorb energy too far beyond their limits.
What Magnemite was doing was using the raw, natural lightning to upgrade its physical constitution, thereby increasing its capacity to hold power.
"Lightning varies," Mr. Lee's voice rang in Owen's ear. "It's not just the differences you learn in physics textbooks. Natural lightning influenced by Secret Realm energy is very different from Earth's standard lightning.
You won't necessarily learn the specifics even in university. Remember, from now on, do not try to understand these natural elements—be it lightning, frost, or fire—using only common sense."
Owen was stunned, lost in thought.
Just as Fire-type moves could manifest as flames of anger, life, or spirit, or even the soul-burning Will-O-Wisp... lightning also changed based on different energies.
He immediately thought of Kyurem's Bolt Strike—a move where lightning power is enhanced by massive flames. Clearly, it was different from the lightning in Owen's memory.
The lightning in the Electric Wilderness was entirely influenced by the Secret Realm, making it perfect for Electric-type Pokémon to absorb.
A sensation of extreme exhilaration began to spread through Magnemite's body. At that moment, it understood the meaning of "pleasure through pain." Seeing the expression on Magnemite's face, Eevee began to suspect its teammate had some "masochistic" potential.
Magnemite is finding its rhythm in the storm, turning agony into growth.
The single relevant follow-up question: Since Magnemite is currently experiencing a "pleasure through pain" breakthrough, will Owen encourage it to push for even higher altitudes where the lightning is stronger, or will he focus on refining its control over the massive energy it has already absorbed?
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