Multiscale—a powerful shield, yet all too rare.
Only Dragonite and Lugia possessed it as their Hidden Ability.
But Lugia was a Tier 1 Legendary, and not just that—its Multiscale was also a Hidden Ability. That was simply absurd. Yozora dismissed the thought outright. That left Dragonite as the only realistic target.
If Multiscale was like a shield, then Sturdy was like an extra life.
[Sturdy]: Even when struck by a lethal blow, the Pokémon clings to life with 1 HP remaining.
Of course, this world had no such thing as a perfect revival item. Even Sturdy itself was already excellent enough.
But—
Yozora didn't assign Sturdy to Beedrill. After all, Sturdy's effect could be replicated by a certain item. Why waste an Ability slot?
That item was the Focus Sash. Its effect mirrored Sturdy almost perfectly, and Beedrill only needed to hold it, without giving up an Ability slot.
Of course, the Focus Sash existed only as a game mechanic. In this world, there was no such item—but there was something that worked exactly the same way.
It was called the Battle Soul Cloak.
A relic from ancient wars, left behind by fallen soldiers. Said to be imbued with the warriors' lingering spirits, it granted an effect of immense power.
[Pokémon]: Beedrill[Type]: Bug + Poison[First Ability]: Sniper (Critical hits increase damage from ×1.5 to ×2.5)[Second Ability]: Huge Power (Physical attack power doubles)[Third Ability]: Tinted Lens (Moves that are "Not Very Effective" deal doubled damage; moves that are ×¼ effective deal ×2 damage instead)[Fourth Ability]: None
[Level]: Peak Elite Level Trainer-tier[Potential]: Pseudo-legendary[Moves]: Twinneedle, Fury Attack, Focus Energy, Poison Sting, Agility, Substitute, Double Team
[Overview]: A gifted Beedrill with terrifying strength. Even when facing opponents with a type advantage, it can still exert its full might.
[Bond Achieved]: Extra Ability slot unlocked.
For Beedrill's third Ability, Yozora assigned Tinted Lens.
This meant Beedrill could ignore type disadvantages. No matter the opponent, its attacks would always land at least 1.5× damage.
A base of ×1.0, plus Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) bringing it to ×1.5!
As for the fourth Ability, Yozora reserved it for Multiscale.
At this point, what he needed most was the combination of Multiscale and the Battle Soul Cloak.
With both in hand, Beedrill's power would be overwhelming. Even against an Elite Four member, he would have no fear.
Yozora paid little attention to Bai's corpse. He left immediately.
By all rights, Bai had been strong and well-connected to the underground. Surely, he must have carried wealth with him.
But Yozora didn't touch it. He wasn't about to leave fingerprints or any other damning evidence. The last thing he wanted was to be caught between the Pokémon League and Team Rocket.
That night, Yozora arrived at the village where Maiden Rock stood.
After visiting Maiden Rock, he sought out the village elder to inquire about the Battle Soul Cloak.
"The Battle Soul Cloak is usually found in a Battle Soul Site," the old man explained. "In ancient times, such places were scattered across the world. But with the rise of modern technology and towering cities, these sites have grown scarce."
"In Kanto, to my knowledge, there is still a fairly intact one. It lies in the forest on the outskirts of Saffron City."
"Elder, does that mean if I go there, I can simply dig one up?" Yozora asked, barely able to contain his excitement.
The old man chuckled. "Digging it out? That's unlikely. Pokémon are far more sensitive than we are."
"The Battle Soul Sites are thick with yin energy—ideal habitats for Ghost-type Pokémon. If you're lucky, you may stumble upon a Ghost-type wearing a Battle Soul Cloak."
Yozora froze.
So, with enough luck, he could actually encounter a wild Ghost-type already carrying the cloak?!
Indeed, in this world, luck mattered everywhere.
Even an ordinary civilian, with the right stroke of fortune, could stumble into opportunities and rise above the rest.
After resting for the night in the village, Yozora set out at dawn toward the forest outside Saffron City.
Initially, after his battle at the Vermilion Gym, Yozora had planned to avoid Saffron entirely, skipping the Saffron Gym challenge.
After all, Saffron's Gym Leader—Sabrina—was a high-ranking Rocket executive, on par with Lt. Surge.
Yozora wanted no part in dealings with Team Rocket's inner circle.
Besides, unlike the games, Kanto wasn't limited to just eight Gyms. In reality, there were over twenty. As long as he collected eight badges, it would suffice. Skipping Saffron's badge hardly mattered.
But plans never keep pace with change. Since Saffron housed a Battle Soul Site, he had no choice but to go.
And beyond that, Saffron was one of Kanto's grandest cities. It boasted the largest and most luxurious Department Store in the entire region.
A place where rare items and Poké Balls of all kinds were sold.
Yozora naturally wanted to at least take a look. To broaden his horizons.
But only to look. As for the Saffron Gym… best to avoid stirring that hornet's nest.
One week later, Yozora finally arrived at the forest outside Saffron. According to his map, the Battle Soul Site was just ahead.
Meanwhile, in Vermilion City.
Lt. Surge rushed to the police station after receiving Officer Jenny's call.
"What's going on, Officer Jenny? My star pupil, Bai… is dead?" Surge's face twisted in disbelief.
Just recently, the boy had been full of life.
"Yes," Jenny replied with regret. "We found both him and his Electabuzz dead in the wilderness. Lt. Surge, my condolences."
"Even Electabuzz…? Was it murder?" Surge demanded.
Jenny shook her head. "No signs of foul play. His belongings—all of them valuable—remain untouched."
Surge frowned deeply.
For a fleeting moment, he'd absurdly suspected that Yozora was behind it.
But no—that was impossible. That boy, talented though he was, was still leagues behind Bai. I was overthinking it…
Jenny held up the lab report and glanced at Surge. "According to expert analysis, both Bai and his Electabuzz were killed… by a Beedrill."
(End of Chapter)