Chapter 45. The Giant Pokémon
They stepped into the lighthouse again.
This time, with the lighthouse's owner present, the interior blazed with light instead of the earlier darkness.
"Wow!
So many fossils!"
With the lights on, Ash Ketchum noticed a corner he hadn't seen before.
It was filled with all kinds of fossils and oddly shaped stones.
"In the Kanto region's research on Fossil Pokémon, Mr. Bill is a leading figure."
While Natsume introduced everyone, he pulled Bill to the front.
"All right then, let me introduce myself properly."
Bill straightened his clothes and continued.
"I'm Bill, a researcher of Fossil Pokémon."
"Researcher?"
Brock sounded puzzled.
"With your level, shouldn't you be a Pokémon Professor?"
Honora tilted her head, looking at Bill with curiosity.
"Hahaha, I've devoted myself to research and have no time to chase empty titles," Bill said, shaking his head.
"Mr. Bill is very capable," Natsume added.
"He's had many chances to receive the Pokémon Professor title but never went for it."
Bill glanced at him, and the quip he'd been about to make stuck in his throat.
"While I was out at sea searching for ancient Pokémon fossils, I happened to encounter a gigantic Pokémon."
Bill looked over the group and spoke at length.
Before long, everyone had a basic understanding of Bill, and they also understood why such a promising researcher would willingly stay at this desolate lighthouse.
"Really, Mr. Bill, you're saying that mysterious giant Pokémon might appear here tonight!"
A spark of excitement flashed in Ash's eyes.
He felt he was about to broaden his horizons again.
"In that case," Brock said, "the Kanto region really might be able to hook into the Galar region's Dynamax system in the future, if it's developed well."
At the side, Honora's eyes lit up.
As a conglomerate heiress, she was thinking even further ahead.
The profits from the Kanto region adopting a new system would be incalculable.
"Hold on, why is everyone so optimistic?" Misty suddenly spoke up, worried.
"What if that giant Pokémon is a villain?
Wouldn't we be done for?"
Hearing this, Bill smiled.
"Don't worry.
I synthesized a mating-call audio based on that giant Pokémon's cry to attract it here."
"Hey, hey, hey?
If it gets catfished by an online romance, won't it be even angrier?" Misty complained weakly.
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent, and Bill stopped talking.
Misty: "…"
Why are these researchers each more unreliable than the last?
By the way, is it still in time for her to run?
"But…"
A conflicted look crossed Bill's face.
"This is a once-in-ten-thousand chance.
It might never come again."
Beside him, Natsume patted his shoulder.
He knew very well that the discovery of every Dynamaxed Pokémon was immensely important to the Kanto region right now, and it was also a chance for a researcher to earn a separate entry in the annals.
Of course, Bill's greatest motivation was still his dream.
"Get in touch with Professor Oak.
See if you can apply to the League for support and have an Elite Four–class Trainer sent over."
Natsume reminded Bill.
"Right!"
Bill's eyes lit up, and he got up to contact Professor Oak.
Suddenly, Bill stopped in his tracks and turned, eyeing Natsume suspiciously.
"Wait a second—what are you going to do?"
"Borrow your laboratory for a bit," Natsume said familiarly, heading for the second floor of the lighthouse.
"Absolutely not.
Nothing can go wrong tonight!"
Bill blocked Natsume, afraid he'd set even half a foot inside the lab.
"Mm…"
Natsume scratched his head and said:
"My Poké Ball Rotom can be upgraded.
Professor Oak should have told you about some of its properties."
Hearing this, Bill was moved.
If they could briefly seal the giant Pokémon, they might well achieve a major breakthrough on Kanto's Dynamax problem!
"All right, but you'd better know what you're doing."
Bill took out a key and handed it to Natsume.
"I moved the original lab.
There's a hidden door over there—open it and go in."
Natsume rubbed his nose and didn't have the nerve to ask why the lab had to be built so covertly.
Following Bill's directions, Natsume quickly arrived at the rebuilt laboratory.
Taking out a Great Ball, a hint of tension showed on Natsume's face.
It had been nearly a month since their parting at Mt. Moon.
The circuit engraving for Great Ball Rotom had long been crystal clear in his mind.
Even without blueprints, the Great Ball in Natsume's eyes felt as smooth to work on as if he had them laid out.
"Rotom!"
Natsume barked the word.
"Roto!"
A streak of golden electricity darted into the Great Ball in his hand.
Natsume stood by, silently watching the fusion of the Great Ball and Rotom.
Now it all depended on Rotom's proficiency…
Outside a window of the lighthouse, three figures skulked.
"Did you hear that?
A giant Pokémon, meow!" Meowth whispered, barely containing his excitement.
"If we catch it for the Boss Giovanni to study, crack Dynamax one step ahead of the rest, Team Rocket can monopolize it—hahahaha—"
Jessie hadn't even finished laughing before James clapped a hand over her mouth.
Pointing with a grave face, he indicated the hall below, where Bill was contacting Professor Oak.
"We absolutely cannot let them call in an Elite Four–class Trainer, meow!"
Meowth had developed a serious psychological shadow regarding Lance.
"Yeah!"
James got goosebumps.
After a pause, he suggested:
"How about we go cut the phone line!"
"Good, let's do that!"
Inside the lab, perhaps thanks to one successful experience already, Rotom's fusion this time went much more smoothly than the first.
Soon, under Natsume's gaze, a blue-topped, white-bottomed Great Ball Rotom was born.
Unable to wait, Natsume opened the system panel to check Great Ball Rotom's status.
[Rotom (Great Ball Form), Lv. 55]
[Typing: Electric + Psychic.]
[Base Stats: 560 (HP: 180; Attack: 20; Sp. Atk: 40; Defense: 150; Sp. Def: 150; Speed: 20)]
[Moves: Curse Ball, Heal Ball, Extinction Ball, ???, Protect]
[Ability: Poké Ball (exerts a strong suppressive effect on Pokémon).]
Compared to Poké Ball Rotom, Great Ball Rotom had forty more base stat points and one extra move.
Curious, Natsume opened the question-marked move.
[???]:
Absorb one opposing Pokémon to perform energy siphon, then immediately spit it out.
If the absorbed Pokémon has Dynamaxed, reduce the Dynamax turn count by one.
If the absorbed Pokémon has undergone Mega Evolution, Mega Evolution enters a three-turn countdown.
If the absorbed Pokémon has Terastallized, Terastallization enters a three-turn countdown.
PP: 2.
At the same time, Natsume discovered that the Heal Ball move had also changed:
[Heal Ball]:
If Rotom has performed energy siphon, the Pokémon released will receive energy infusion, granting one turn of Mega Evolution / Dynamax / Terastallization.
PP: 5.
After reading these two entries, Natsume nodded in understanding.
Simply put, the new move could shorten the duration of other Pokémon's Mega Evolution, Dynamax, or Terastallization.
Natsume named it the Rob-the-Rich-to-Help-the-Poor Ball.
As for the new function added to Heal Ball, after using the Rob-the-Rich-to-Help-the-Poor Ball, it could briefly grant his own Pokémon the energy of Mega Evolution, Dynamax, or Terastallization.
"Sigh…"
Natsume suddenly felt sentimental.
From the Poké Ball to the current Great Ball, Rotom still didn't have a single high-power move—just this kind of opponent-annoying stuff.
That really didn't match his sunny, cheerful vibe at all!
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