Chapter 141: The Realm Above the Ultimate State
Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
In the end, Shandou agreed to everything. It was simple—he desired to win the P1 World Grand Prix more than anyone else.
Of all the Pokémon with high aptitude he had encountered over the years, the Primeape before him was the best. If he missed this chance, he didn't know if he would ever encounter another in his lifetime.
So, even if he could only be an honorary trainer, Shandou endured it.
*Then I'll just have to trust this youth and his Primeape.*
He had seen it during the battle as well. This youth was a novice, but once he entered a combat state, his commands were decisive. His future achievements might even surpass his own.
Thinking of this, Shandou couldn't help but let out a carefree laugh.
A clash between the two professions of trainer and martial artist. Perhaps at this year's P1 World Finals, this youth could truly turn everything upside down.
When that time comes, even if he was just an honorary trainer, it would be an unparalleled honor!
Ash: "..."
Looking at the dark-faced, hulking man who was getting lost in his own hype, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
The highest level of building hype... was building it for yourself. That was something he hadn't expected.
With the negotiations settled, a fired-up Shandou left the Pokémon Center. He planned to go back and reopen the Fighting Soul Gym, getting the grounds and exercise equipment all ready.
His next goal was to focus on raising Primeape, teaching it all of his ancestor's grand secret techniques, and then using the challengers at the Fighting Soul Gym to help it master those teachings.
Brock and Misty also gave Ash some space. After all, Primeape was temporarily leaving the team tomorrow, so the two brothers needed to have a proper farewell on their last night together.
Suddenly, only two figures remained in the Pokémon Center lobby. Ash and Primeape just stared at each other, wide-eyed and silent.
"Third brother, it's all up to you now. Learn all of their secrets."
"Chaaamp!"
The two shared a passionate hug, discussing their grand dreams for the future.
"In half a year, you'll enter that regional-level competition, and then a year after that, you'll go win that solid gold belt from the World Martial Arts Tournament!"
"CHAAAMP!!"
Late at night, after battling in the arena all day, Primeape had long since lost its daytime energy and was fast asleep.
Ash, however, was in high spirits. After another cup of coffee, he was incredibly wired, only gradually calming down after performing a set of military-style boxing on the spot.
Then, he cautiously glanced around. Seeing no one, he quietly pulled an old, worn-covered book from his pocket.
It was the very same "Ultra Instinct" manual that had been passed down in Shandou's family.
Shandou had finally agreed to let Ash borrow it for one night, but it had to be returned by early morning. He didn't believe Ash could comprehend much in such a short time.
Opening the book and seeing the squiggly, tadpole-like text, Ash was instantly overwhelmed. The energy he had just mustered dissipated completely, and he nearly fell asleep on the spot.
"Brother Red, stop slacking. I've got something good here."
Ash quickly called for off-site support. He had never expected to understand some great secret manual on his own. In this regard, Ash had a very accurate assessment of his own abilities.
"Fret not, I am always here."
Red's steady voice echoed in his mind, which gave Ash the idea to just fall asleep and let Red take over his body to study properly.
"You should take a good look too. Don't just go charging in recklessly all the time."
Red did not take control of the body. Instead, he used Ash's eyes to carefully examine the secret manual.
For a qualified trainer, knowledge was an essential quality, one that Ash was sorely lacking in.
Studying diligently was, in the end, a good thing.
Having no choice, Ash could only force himself to start reading from the first line on the first page.
"The way of heaven is to take from that which has a surplus and give to that which has a deficit, hence the void vanquishes the substantial..."
Just from the first line of text, Red couldn't help but gasp. He already knew this secret manual was no cheap imitation—it was the real deal!
His eyes immediately lit up, and he began to read with ravenous hunger.
This book was a great secret manual tailor-made for Fighting-type Pokémon. It wasn't about using observation or perception to react to surrounding crises, but about the body making reflexive, instinctual movements. By bypassing conscious thought and separating the body from the mind, the physical form would transcend instinct and reach a terrifying realm.
This was known as Ultra Instinct.
With it, one could gain an absolute advantage, whether in dodging an attack or going on the offensive.
Compared to this state, the previous insight mode was merely child's play.
"Good grief, this Ancestor Sun was an incredible figure!"
Red's face flushed with excitement, and he couldn't stop praising him.
He was just about to discuss it with Ash when he noticed the latter was half-slumped in his chair, dozing off with his eyes fluttering shut.
"..."
Red immediately took control of Ash's body, reached out, and grabbed the tail of the sleeping Pikachu beside him, then squeezed it hard.
Then, at extreme speed, he switched control of the body back.
He had performed this series of actions without conscious thought, so the speed was incredibly fast, infinitely approaching the realm of Ultra Instinct.
"Pika, CHU!!"
Startled from its sleep, Pikachu instantly used Discharge, giving Ash a round of electrotherapy.
*Zzzzt...*
As the sparks faded, a dazed Ash slowly woke up, his whole body numb. He then watched Pikachu comfortably roll over next to him.
"Do Electric-type Pokémon have nightmares too...?"
Ash scratched his head and turned his gaze back to the secret manual in his hand, his expression turning serious.
"Brother Red, have you comprehended it?"
After a long moment, Red slowly replied, "I can't comprehend it in such a short time..."
Although he was only moderately skilled with the Fighting-type—years ago, Green had him trade-train his Machoke for a while so it could evolve into a Machamp—he was familiar with them.
Red estimated his own mastery over the Fighting-type to be about 1.5 Brunos, but that wasn't enough to fully comprehend this secret manual.
More importantly, this book was no longer just about Fighting-type techniques. It was about a realm that all types could reach, though the difficulty would be much higher.
"I've told you before, in the digital world, I was already a peak existence. There was no more room for growth. The ultimate state of a type was the end."
Red suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with melancholy.
Ash nodded and replied, "Right. I thought you were just saying that at the time. So it was actually true? I never would have guessed."
Red: "..."
He fought back the urge to grab Ash and use Self-Destruct, and continued, "But in this world, everything has changed. The shackles at the top have been broken. The ultimate state of a type is not the end, but a new beginning."
"Above the ultimate state, there is another realm of existence."
Although Ash didn't quite understand, he still clapped his hands instinctively.
"And this 'Ultra Instinct' secret manual reveals a path to breaking through those shackles and reaching the realm beyond the ultimate state."
To be honest, Red was also surprised that this secret manual hadn't been snatched up by the Pokémon League Champions of every region.
After thinking it over, he could only conclude that Elite Four Bruno had kept it to himself, intentionally not reporting it further up.
But what Red didn't know was that he was overthinking it.
Even the top-tier combatants in this world, the Pokémon League Champions, were currently only at the stage of exploring how to reach the ultimate state. Even if someone truly reached that realm, they would only think of it as the final realm, never considering that a new realm existed beyond it.
It was only by traversing two worlds and comprehending the laws of both that Red had gained this higher level of understanding.
Ash also understood the importance of this thing and quickly urged him, "Then hurry up and memorize the whole thing! The sun will be up in two hours. You can do it, Brother Red!"
Red: "?"
A two-centimeter-thick book? Only a ghost could memorize all that!
Hearing this, an idea flashed in Ash's mind. He had another genius on him.
He quickly reached into his pocket and threw his Pokédex down in front of "Ultra Instinct."
*Beep beep.* "Scanning in progress..."
The Pokédex emitted a red light, its CPU beginning to whir at high speed.
Half a minute later, the Pokédex announced the task was complete.
"Scan successful. Ultra_Instinct.pdf has been saved locally."
Seeing this, the corner of Ash's mouth lifted. After all, he had promised not to show it to a second person.
Brother Red isn't a person, and the Pokédex isn't a person either!
Red: "?"
*It's true that I'm not a person right now, but you are a real dog.*
(end of chapter)