Chapter 17. A Talk with Flint, S-Class Project Complete
"Ding! Today's battle data has been collected.
You obtained one scratch card."
With a thought, a scratch card printed with a red-and-white Poké Ball appeared in Natsume's hand.
"System, why isn't it a Great Ball?"
"The battle-data collection task awards a scratch card of random quality."
"Fine." Natsume casually tossed the Poké Ball scratch card back into the system space.
It was better to stockpile these lowest-quality scratch cards and scratch them all at once later.
"Rotom, open the map."
"Rotom—"
The Rotom Phone floated in front of him and displayed a detailed map of Pewter City.
After a brief look, Natsume tapped a spot on the map and followed the navigation there.
To prevent getting separated from Ash at times, he had stuck a micro tracker on Ash's clothes.
Before long, following Rotom's navigation, Natsume found Ash and the others.
It was a small generator hut beside a little river on the outskirts.
When Natsume arrived, faint lightning was already flickering inside the hut.
On the river side of the hut stood an enormous water wheel.
It was the dry season, and the river didn't have enough flow to turn the wheel.
Ash stood on the wheel, only two planks high, pedaling it like a bicycle and sending it spinning.
Seeing Ash's tiny figure contrasted against the massive wheel, Natsume's mouth twitched.
Truly a superhuman from Pallet Town.
At the door, Misty held her backpack up like a shield, a little afraid of the lightning flashing out from inside now and then.
"The lightning will get stronger in a moment."
As Natsume walked past, he offered a reminder.
"Huh? Are you telling me to get away fast?"
"No.
You could also choose to stand behind a reliable man—like Ash."
Natsume shrugged.
"What are you even trying to say!"
Misty's face flushed.
Hugging her bag, she jogged backward down the path.
Creak—
Natsume pushed the door open, and the wooden door groaned.
Inside, Pikachu sat squarely on a stool, with a cable from the generator tied to each of the electric cheek sacs on its face.
"Natsume, you're here."
Flint didn't seem the least bit surprised by Natsume's arrival.
He spoke without turning his head.
"I'm curious.
Where did you learn about this method?"
Natsume narrowed his eyes and glanced at the numbers on the generator's display.
They matched Pikachu's average current-tolerance limit.
Clearly, Flint wasn't fooling around.
"Back when I served as a Gym Trainer…
I was also a Pokémon Breeder, and the Pewter City Gym ran Day Care services."
Flint's tone held a trace of melancholy as he began to reminisce.
"I discovered this method by accident.
By running a specific current through the body, the moves Electric-type Pokémon use can be greatly amplified."
"Some exceptionally gifted Electric-type Pokémon can even be strengthened more than threefold!"
Flint emphasized the last part, and Natsume, at his side, was taken aback.
Threefold!
Pikachu's base stats are generally on the low side, but if its moves are tripled, its offensive power would approach that of a Legendary Pokémon.
No wonder even Arceus would need a Plate to block Pika-god's Thunderbolt.
And if you add a Light Ball on top of that… tsk, tsk.
This was Natsume's first time hearing a concrete account like this.
He hurriedly reined in his racing thoughts and continued to ask:
"And then?"
"And then…" Flint suddenly looked dejected.
"I promoted this method to Trainers who left their Electric-type Pokémon at my Day Care…"
"Isn't that a good thing?" Natsume paused.
No.
If it were good, the method would already be common knowledge.
"But the good times didn't last." Flint's voice suddenly choked up.
"After some time, those Electric-type Pokémon that had been strengthened by current all experienced sudden level drops.
Many Trainers abandoned them because of it."
"…I am guilty.
I am unworthy to be a Pewter City Gym Trainer…"
Natsume: "???"
Hearing Flint's words, Natsume was stunned for a second, then realized the truth.
So in the original storyline, every time Pika-god entered a new region and its level reset—it was your fault, huh!
"And you're still using it on Ash's Pikachu?"
Natsume asked the soul-piercing question.
Flint, who had been quietly sobbing, froze.
After a long moment, he wiped his tears and looked at Natsume.
"In these past few days together, I've noticed it too.
The bond between that kid and Pikachu runs deep.
He absolutely isn't the kind of person who would abandon a Pokémon."
At that, Natsume paused and followed Flint's gaze to the window, where Ash was in view.
Right now, Ash was oblivious, focusing solely on pedaling the water wheel.
"Mm."
Natsume said nothing.
From what he knew of Ash, even if Flint told Ash the truth, Ash would only grin and say, "So what? We'll just get stronger again.
Right, Pikachu!"
Ash has never measured his bond with his Pokémon by strength or weakness.
Even so, this isn't great.
I wonder if there's a way to resolve the aftereffects.
"Hang in there, Pikachu!"
From outside came Ash's voice, brimming with passion.
"Pika!"
Inside, Pikachu's face showed a hint of strain.
"Pikachu's about to hit its limit.
Let's step outside first."
Flint suggested.
Natsume nodded in silence.
He was actually a bit annoyed at Flint for making the call on his own.
If he'd been told in advance, he might have mitigated the side effects of this method—and, well, published a paper while he was at it.
The moment they stepped out of the hut, a pillar of lightning shot into the sky, and the system's voice echoed in Natsume's mind one after another:
"Ding! S-Class Project—'Decipher Ash Ketchum's Pikachu' is complete.
Reward issued.
Follow-up project issued."
"S-Class Project—'Create a Side-Effect-Free Electric-type Enhancement Training System' issued!"
A scratch card printed with a Master Ball design appeared in his backpack, and yet another S-Class project popped up.
Natsume raised an eyebrow.
But in the next instant, a numbing shock ran through his body.
"Chu—!"
The lightning behind them surged even higher, blowing the entire roof off the wooden hut.
All around, not a bird or person made a sound.
Only the sky-piercing crackle of electricity remained.
After a long while, the lightning gradually dimmed.
"Huh? Is it over?"
Behind Ash, Misty held her bag like a shield and cautiously poked her head out to survey the surroundings.
What she saw made her jump.
The entire wooden hut was charred black, and the river stones all around were scorched.
At the doorway, two pitch-black figures—Natsume and Flint—puffed out mouthfuls of black smoke in unison.
"Pika!"
A yellow blur burst out of the hut.
"Pikachu!"
Ash faced the hut, his front blasted black by electricity.
Yet as if nothing had happened, he took two quick strides and scooped Pikachu into his arms.
"Ash, let me check."
Beside him, Natsume—his face soot-black—walked up to Ash.
"Okay, Natsume.
You check."
Ash lifted Pikachu toward Natsume.
The Rotom Phone flew over on its own and scanned Pika-god.
After a sweep, Natsume rubbed his chin, his eyes flashing with a "just as expected" look.
Pika-god's Attack and Special Attack, by base stat reference, had doubled from before.
Its base stats had increased.
This meant Pika-god didn't just receive a one-time boost to both offenses.
From now on, at every level-up, Pika-god's Attack and Special Attack gains would outpace those of other Pikachu.
At this point, with a Light Ball that doubles Attack and Special Attack, even Mewtwo would have to raise a barrier to take a Thunderbolt from Pika-god.
"N-Natsume, how's Pikachu?"
Seeing Natsume silent, Ash grew a little flustered.
"It's fine.
Pikachu is in excellent condition."
"You scared me.
I thought something had happened to Pikachu."
Ash exhaled, then immediately snapped back into his high-spirited self.
"Great!
No time to waste—I'm going to challenge the Pewter City Gym right now!"
"Wait!"
Flint called out to Ash.
"It's getting late.
The Pewter City Gym is already closed."
"Yeah, Ash.
We're all covered in soot right now.
It really makes more sense to head back and rest first."
Not far away, Misty walked up with her bag and offered her suggestion.
"Let's go.
We'll head back to the Pokémon Center and regroup."
Natsume made the final call.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts