The golden particles merged into Ralts's body, and she visibly seemed to grow stronger.
"So this is your function?" Shinichi Miki speculated.
An experience pool of sorts?
He had thought his cheat was broken, but it turned out it was just saving up for something big.
He casually tossed a Safari Ball, capturing the fainted Oddish.
Walking forward, he picked up Ralts—who seemed a bit bewildered on the ground—and carefully observed her.
Through touch, he could clearly sense Ralts's physical and mental condition.
This was a unique talent the Miki family had toward Psychic-type Pokémon.
Ralts's condition was better than ever before. Previously, she felt like a withered blade of grass, easily broken by the wind, but now that blade of grass had grown sturdier.
Even some psychic energy had begun to gather around her.
Without a doubt, this was a positive change.
"Ralts?"
Ralts didn't understand what was happening. She only knew that after defeating the Oddish, she seemed to have become stronger.
"It seems we've finally weathered the storm, Ralts," Shinichi said with a smile.
"Ralts!"
Although Ralts didn't know the reason, Shinichi's happiness was her happiness.
Picking up the Safari Ball from the ground, Shinichi held her and continued deeper into the Safari Zone.
Neither of them noticed a Pokémon shadowing them closely.
It was the dirty Abra.
"If she can't protect you in a moment of danger, will you still not abandon her?"
He pondered this, but even with his considerable intellect, he couldn't comprehend concepts like "emotions," "bonds," or "family" out of thin air.
His eyes, narrowed to slits, gazed toward the tall hills before he teleported away, vanishing from the spot.
Meanwhile, Shinichi and Ralts encountered a new opponent: a Caterpie suspended from a tree branch by a String Shot.
Ralts jumped down from Shinichi's embrace, raising her little fist to punch the Caterpie.
Sensing the approaching danger, the snoozing Caterpie suddenly retracted its silk string, dropping to the ground.
Ralts's punch landed perfectly on empty air. She staggered, nearly falling over.
The next moment, the Caterpie's antennae glowed white as it leaped high, charging toward Ralts.
"Ralts, jump backward!" Shinichi urgently called out from behind.
Trusting Shinichi implicitly, Ralts jumped backward, her movements somewhat stiff and slow.
But the Caterpie wasn't fast either.
She barely managed to dodge the Caterpie's Tackle.
However, Ralts landed hard, sitting down on the ground with a thud.
"Ralts, are you okay?" Shinichi asked worriedly.
But knowing that Ralts needed this kind of tempering sooner or later, he stopped himself from rushing forward.
"Ralts." Ralts glanced back at him, pushed herself up from the ground, and stood.
The Caterpie launched another attack, using String Shot to try and restrict Ralts's movement.
"Ralts, try Fire Punch!" Shinichi suddenly shouted.
Huh?
Ralts paused, her raised fist hesitating.
But she trusted him unconditionally. Recalling the contents of the Technical Machine, flames suddenly ignited around her fist.
The soft silk strings withered and blackened before they could even get close, powerless against the fire.
They fell uselessly onto the grass.
Ralts took a few steps forward and punched the stunned Caterpie.
With a thwack, the Caterpie was unsurprisingly knocked to the ground, fainted.
"Ralts, you're amazing!" Shinichi praised lavishly.
The progress bar appeared in his vision, dropping sharply from 99% to 96%.
Golden particles merged into Ralts's body.
Shinichi stepped forward and picked her up, clearly feeling that the once-withered blade of grass was now significantly less fragile.
"You're so wonderful, Ralts!" he praised while ruffling her hair and using his clothes to wipe the dust off her.
Ralts seemed to relish the moment, closing her eyes and leaning against his not-so-broad chest.
Then Shinichi remembered the fainted Caterpie.
He tossed a Safari Ball, capturing the Caterpie.
Ten balls remained out of twelve.
"Let's keep going, Ralts!"
"Ralts, Ralts."
Oddish, Caterpie, Metapod...
One wild Pokémon after another was defeated by Ralts.
The number of Safari Balls dwindled from twelve to just four.
And the progress bar dropped from 96% to 88%.
This also disproved the theory that one percentage point equaled one "level."
This world didn't classify Pokémon by levels either; it all depended on how the trainer raised them.
Shinichi wiped the dust off Ralts, sensing her condition.
The withered little blade of grass gradually lost its lifeless feel, showing signs of vitality.
Shinichi took out a spray-bottle-like Potion and treated her minor injuries.
Ralts tugged at his clothes, feeling she had become much stronger.
She could now use Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Fire Punch.
She felt ready to challenge the Gym's Geodude.
"Ralts, Ralts!"
She chattered while mimicking a Geodude's shape.
"Are you saying you want to challenge the Gym?" Shinichi guessed.
Ralts nodded.
"Alright, I know you've become very strong, but we still need more training. In a Gym battle, you have to fight three Pokémon in a row, you know," Shinichi said with a laugh.
Three?
Ralts lowered her head in thought.
If they were like the Oddish, she could beat three.
But if they were stronger...
Okay, she really did need more training.
Ralts would strive to get stronger!
The two walked deeper into the Safari Zone. Feeling tired, Shinichi headed toward the base of a nearby hill.
He planned to rest in the open area there.
The unobstructed view meant they wouldn't be suddenly ambushed by bold Pokémon.
Unnoticed by him, the Abra in the shadows had been plotting. As Shinichi reached the base of the hill, the Abra suddenly wiggled its finger.
Metronome!
A thick, white beam of light surged forth, striking the top of the hill.
Hyper Beam!
After releasing the attack, the Abra visibly slumped, weakened.
In the mindset formed during his wandering years, he believed injury was normal. Thus, he used this method in an attempt to resolve his own doubts.
Hearing the tremendous noise, Shinichi looked up to see falling rocks tumbling down.
Instinctively, he hugged Ralts tightly, turned, and ran.
There were many rocks; he couldn't run very fast and was hit by several sizable ones.
Thump! One rock, as if by design, struck his head, dazing him instantly.
Seeing her trainer injured—and fueled by Ralts's desperate will—the psychic energy that had always been indifferent to her now rushed in fervently.
"Ralts!!!"
A light of evolution enveloped Ralts.
Another rock was about to fall, but a small fist shattered it.
The fist of a Kirlia!
She had successfully evolved!
Her white dress traced a white crescent in the air.
Kirlia looked into the distance but only saw a flash of white light.
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: 失渝光
Raw:宝可梦:我的冠军老婆沙奈朵