August 22nd, 7:30 AM.
Time to wake up early and greet the sun!
Nova rubbed his sleepy eyes, yawned, and walked into the bathroom. He planned to take a shower, wash up, eat breakfast, and then start another day of training.
As he walked past the large bathtub toward the shower, he noticed a big blue head resting its chin on the edge of the tub. It was watching him with a calm, familiar, and wise look.
"Morning, Seele. Why are you sitting in the bathtub?"
Nova walked past Seele, but after a few steps, something felt strange.
Very strange!
He spun around, stared at the big head in the tub, and let out a loud scream.
"What is going on!"
Swampert blinked slowly, looking at Nova as if he were being silly.
Of course, Nova already understood what had happened. Swampert knew it too, and even Rotom, floating beside Nova's head, understood it as well.
So the question Nova had shouted was really about something else.
"How did you evolve so suddenly? You didn't even tell me you were about to evolve!"
Swampert lowered its head halfway into the water and answered with a low gurgling sound.
Rotom, floating nearby, quickly translated.
"Sister Seele says she finally understood everything last night! Rotom!"
Nova asked, "So you just evolved right there? Then why were you hiding in the bathroom?"
Swampert gurgled again.
Rotom continued translating. "Sister Seele says that when a Pokémon evolves, its whole body glows brightly. She didn't want to wake you up, so she hid in here, Rotom! Then she found the bathtub very comfortable, filled it with warm water, and has been resting here ever since, Rotom!"
Nova felt touched, but also a little upset.
He was touched because Seele still cared about him as her Trainer. She had hidden herself just so he could keep sleeping while she evolved.
But that was also exactly why he was upset.
Sleep could happen anytime. But a partner's evolution was something a Trainer might witness only once or twice in a lifetime. It was an important moment for the bond between Trainer and Pokémon. Why would she let him miss it just to avoid disturbing his rest?
There was another problem too. Seele's evolution had gone well this time, but what if something had gone wrong while Nova was asleep and unaware? It could have been very dangerous for her.
Nova crouched down, lifted Swampert's large head out of the water, held its face gently in his hands, and said seriously, "Don't ever do that again! Your safety matters far more than my sleep!"
Rotom translated, "Sister Seele says there won't be a next time. She has already reached her final evolution, Rotom!"
Nova let out a tired laugh and tapped Swampert's head lightly with his knuckles.
"Aren't you clever."
Still, no matter how it happened, Marshtomp had finally evolved into Swampert, and that was something worth celebrating.
Normally, Marshtomp evolves into Swampert around level 36. But Nova's Seele had already reached level 38 without evolving. Nova could only guess this was due to her unique nature.
In fact, Seele had the trait "Philosopher," which was, in some ways, similar to Aresdra Cortana's Psyduck and its trait "Big Idiot."
That Psyduck was too foolish to evolve until it finally remembered it even had the ability to.
Marshtomp Seele, on the other hand, was too thoughtful. She would not reach her final form until she had finished working through her own thoughts.
This meant that yesterday's intense training had made a real difference. Caught in the fast-moving whirlpool, the Philosopher's mind and body had grown stronger at a rapid pace.
After Nova finished washing up, he could not wait to use his scanning skill. Swampert's information immediately appeared in his mind.
"Species: Swampert Level: 40 Ability: Torrent Hidden Ability: Damp
Traits: Philosopher (Swampert has seen through everything! It naturally knows how to use the move Detect, a move the Mudkip family cannot normally learn. After successfully using Detect, it can immediately counterattack. The counterattack move is chosen based on type effectiveness against the opponent and prioritizes higher power. The counterattack is guaranteed to land.)
Knowledge is Power! (Deep thinking has strengthened not only Swampert's mind but also its body. The power of its physical moves is noticeably increased.)
Swamp Beast (The Ground-type energy within Swampert has grown stronger. Ground-type moves deal greatly increased damage, and the secondary effects of mud-based moves are guaranteed to activate.)
Hydrological Detector (Swampert is highly sensitive to changes in water and moisture in the surrounding area. It can sense danger through small shifts in humidity, water flow, and air currents.)
Hard Vortex (Swampert has mastered the secret of the whirlpool. When it uses a Water-type physical move against an opponent, a small whirlpool forms around them first, slowing their movement and making it much harder to dodge Swampert's attacks.)
Moves: Ancient Power (Inherited), Mud Shot (Inherited), Wide Guard (Inherited), Mirror Coat (Inherited), Sludge Bomb (Inherited), Detect (Unique), Protect, Rock Throw, Water Gun...
Breeding Direction:
Further strengthen Swampert's physical attack power and Water-type energy. Once complete, the trait Hard Vortex will upgrade to Hard Vortex: Water Blade. Specific Breeding Method... Further strengthen Swampert's mastery of Ground-type moves and its Ground-type energy. Once complete, the trait Swamp Beast will upgrade to Sludge Lord. Specific Breeding Method..."
If Swampert evolving on her own had already surprised Nova, then discovering she had already mastered the target trait "Hard Vortex" set by the breeding system, in just a single day, was even more astonishing.
Truly, she deserved the title of Philosopher. Her learning speed was on a completely different level compared to the more hot-headed members of the team.
Back at the Pokémon hotel, Nidoking, who was still sleeping soundly, suddenly let out a violent sneeze.
Nidoking opened its eyes, sensing that someone must be talking about it behind its back. But with no proof to go on, it simply shifted position and went back to sleep.