**Chapter 128: Rage Pill**
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
The light of evolution faded. The Paras, now several times larger, had successfully evolved into the Parasect the group had seen before.
"Screech!"
The Parasect brandished its large pincers, its power clearly having increased significantly.
Regardless of its actual strength, at least it no longer looked like a strong gust of wind could knock it out.
"That's great, you've finally evolved!"
Qingmei was overjoyed, dancing with joy as she bent down to hug it. The Parasect happily hugged her back.
As the heir to the Parasect Pharmacy, her pharmacological knowledge and skills were already up to standard. All she lacked was a mature Parasect.
"So it really did become a tool?"
The other three cautiously observed the Parasect. As expected, its pupils had lost all color, leaving only hollow white.
But the aura it gave off was similar to its previous Paras form—lively and full of vitality. To say it had been drained dry by the mushroom was a bit of a stretch.
Or perhaps, was it the mushroom that had become lively?
Soon, the group returned to their camp. Qingmei brought her Parasect before her grandmother and said with a grin, as if fishing for praise:
"Grandmother, I did it!"
The old woman didn't answer directly, simply smiling at Ash and his friends before turning to her granddaughter.
"Hehe, it seems you've made some very good friends."
Truth be told, if it hadn't managed to evolve in another few months, she had been planning to give Qingmei her secret weapon.
Her own Paras had been ridiculously weak back in the day, but she hadn't met a kind-hearted, reckless youth like Ash. She had relied entirely on her own strength.
And an Exp. Share that wasn't particularly useful.
Qingmei stuck out her tongue playfully.
Then, she took a deep breath and gestured for everyone to keep their distance. Her expression suddenly sharpened as she commanded:
"Parasect, use Spore!"
"Screech!!"
Parasect raised its two large claws, and from the mouthparts beneath its mushroom cap, it spat out a powdery cloud of gas, somewhere between a dusky yellow and blue.
Spore was a traditional technique of the Parasect line, used in battle to put enemies to sleep.
But in the context of production and daily life, it was a high-quality ingredient for making medicine.
Combined with their pharmacy's secret techniques, they could produce the special medicines renowned throughout the Kanto Region!
"Grandmother, I did it!"
Qingmei collected the Spore powder. This was a quality-grade material.
"Mm, then I can rest assured and leave the shop to you."
The old woman nodded lightly, a satisfied smile on her face.
Having performed a great service, Ash and his party were treated to a delicious dinner and a number of top-grade medicines, all for free.
The next morning, Ash's group bid farewell to Qingmei and her family.
"Ash, this is the newest secret medicine developed by my family. Take it as a souvenir."
Just before they left, Qingmei suddenly tossed Ash a small vial. Shaking it slightly, he could tell there were about twenty or so pills inside.
"This is…?" Ash asked curiously.
"Heehee, this pill isn't very useful, it's quite unremarkable. It just increases a Pokémon's attack and defense, sharpens their mental focus, allows for ten strikes a second, every single one a critical hit. Its reaction time and evasion rate will also increase, and it might even enter a berserk form I call 'Red Eye.'"
Qingmei explained nonchalantly.
"I've named this pill—"
"A stimulant?" Ash interjected.
Isn't that just a stimulant? How insidious!
"Hehe, this isn't a stimulant. The materials I use are all-natural, taken from Pokémon—things like Rage Powder, Worry Seed, and Pollen Puffs. Don't worry, even if you pop one during a battle, the Pokémon League won't be able to detect it."
Stimulants were chemical products. Getting caught using them would result in a ban from competing.
But this pill was completely natural, a legal item just like an X Attack or an X Speed.
Although, they had yet to formally report the medicine to the Pokémon League.
Qingmei explained in detail, like a member of some dark cult, "I've named it the Rage Pill!"
It had many advantages, but there was a single drawback: the user would become abnormally angry.
How angry? In short, very angry!
Ash: "…"
He was just about to refuse. No matter what, he disdained using stimulants in a battle and strongly condemned the practice.
But Qingmei shoved it into his backpack and left without another word, not giving him a chance to refuse.
"Remember not to take too many at once. I don't know what'll happen if you do."
That was Qingmei's final reminder before she left.
"Forget it, I'll just hold onto it."
He looked just like a child receiving New Year's money, feigning reluctance while secretly wanting to accept.
Ash sighed. He would just let it sit there. It's not like he had to use it.
A battle should be fought with honor and integrity!
At that moment, a ray of sunlight shone on his face, warm and bright.
…
On the outskirts of a small town.
This was somewhere between Routes 7 and 8, about a day's walk from Celadon City.
As dusk approached, the three of them planned to enter the town to rest.
Ash also wanted to take this opportunity to properly communicate with his Charmeleon. After all, the Celadon Gym was a Grass-type Gym, and he planned to use Charmeleon as his final ace.
"*Fwish! Fwish!*"
The sound of rapid punches echoed, each one sounding incredibly powerful.
The three quickly looked toward the source of the sound and saw a brownish-gray, humanoid Pokémon practicing its punches on the spot. It hopped lightly on the balls of its feet, its entire body maintaining an extremely profound state that looked incredibly agile.
Every punch it threw was vigorous and forceful.
The Pokédex reported automatically. "Hitmonchan, the Punching Pokémon. Its fists are as fast as lightning. It is familiar with every style of punching, yet it can display a style completely without form, making it impossible for enemies to predict. A wily Pokémon."
"A Fighting-type Pokémon, and it's wild?"
Ash looked left and right but didn't see any Trainer.
Hitmonchan merely glanced at the group before quickly ignoring them, continuing to practice its boxing.
"What a sight. A wild Pokémon that actively trains itself!?" Ash said in surprise.
Ash, in contrast, glanced at his Pikachu.
Pikachu: "?"
"Alright, I've decided to catch you!"
Without hesitation, Ash threw out his Primeape!
Only Fighting can beat Fighting!
"Agh-roooar!!"
The moment Primeape appeared, it ignored Ash's command and lunged at Hitmonchan with a Black Tiger Heart-Rending Punch.
"Hii-chan!"
Hitmonchan's eyes flashed. Faced with Primeape's assault, it simply tilted its head to the side, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth.
"Such strong battle sense."
"It's similar to a move called Detect…" Brock said, his eyes deep with thought as he brought up a new term. "Detect is when you dodge an attack with minimal effort and use the opening to strike back. It's common among martial artists and swordsmen."
As someone with a Rock-Solid Will, he had heard of the technique.
Having missed its punch, Primeape left itself open. Hitmonchan was still hopping in place. The next instant, its right fist shot out with the force of its entire body, sending Primeape flying several meters back with a single punch.
"So strong…"
Ash was shocked. When he focused on Hitmonchan again, it was still practicing its punches, hopping on the spot.
But this time, as he watched its movements, Ash felt a daze overcome his eyes. It was as if he saw Hitmonchan simultaneously making predictive motions toward ten different spots, with dozens of afterimages of its punches and dodges floating behind it.
But when he blinked again, Hitmonchan was still just hopping in place, with no extra movements.
The visual effect was roughly equivalent to what Garou saw when predicting King's moves.
"Agh-roooar!!"
Primeape couldn't be bothered with all that. It pushed off with its powerful thighs and lunged forward with a Mantis God Punch!
In the world of martial arts, nothing can stand against absolute speed, no matter the technique!
Primeape's explosive attack was effective. This time, it actually managed to leave a scratch on Hitmonchan's face as it dodged.
(end of chapter)