Chapter 9: Vulpix's Growth Direction, Drafting Mewtwo!

【Enhanceable】

【Ability】: Blaze 1 (When HP is less than 1? 2, Fire-type move power increases to 1.6×)

【Enhancement Task】: Defeat Serena, (requires the host to be present and witness it personally)

Serena……seems like a little girl you only meet at summer camp,

However, being present + personally witnessing?

In other words, even if you're present, if you close your eyes it doesn't count?

So what if I blink?

【A single blink by the host not exceeding 5 seconds is not considered closing the eyes】

That's alright then,

Speaking of the enhancement itself, raising Blaze's trigger threshold and the power increase after triggering, it can be considered a major boost,

The major boost Ash refers to is certainly not just an increase from 1.5 to 1.6 (0.1), which translates to a 10% power increase,

but refers to the trigger condition,

Originally Blaze from 1 to 1.5, isn't that fierce?

A full 50% damage increase—how could it not be fierce?

But when applied to the game and reality, Blaze just isn't fierce,

The root cause is still that the 30% threshold range is too narrow, making the trigger condition too hard to meet,

In actual combat, often involves type matchups, leading to the embarrassing situation where you clearly have 40% HP left yet get get KO'd in one hit,

In reality, Pokémon don't just stand still foolishly, making Blaze somewhat more usable than in the game,

But it merely improves the ability to move, dodge, and secure kills after Blaze triggers, thus bringing strong sweeping capability,

and does not change the fundamental problem that Blaze is hard to trigger,

A Blaze that doesn't trigger is essentially a blank slate,

Blaze naturally isn't strong,

But after the enhancement, Blaze's trigger condition changed from HP below 30% to HP below 50%, bringing an environmental change that can almost be called a qualitative shift,

Especially since it can be further enhanced later,

Roughly speaking, you can trigger it just by casually fighting—the scene is simply too beautiful.

While Ash was pondering, Serena showed a worried expression,

"What's wrong?"

"Ash, I'm thinking, if this kid doesn't evolve, it'll definitely be advantageous for the competition performance, but what about battles?"

Upon hearing that, Vulpix also showed a curious, eager-to-learn expression,

In reality, similar to the Grand Festival and Triple Crown Satellite, the appearance of the competing Pokémon itself is also important,

Beautifly and Roselia, frequent stage performers, are the best proof,

Compared to those two, Vulpix's charm from a cute perspective is not inferior,

But if it evolves, it's hard to say, especially the final evolution…… but if it doesn't evolve, its base stats aren't enough.

"This…… I actually had it prepared already."

While speaking, Ash pulled out a blue water-drop necklace and a purple gemstone necklace from his pocket,

He gave the Mystic Waterdrop that boosts Water-type move power to Croagunk,

Ash then handed the purple gemstone necklace, the Evolution Stone, to Vulpix,

"Is this the Mystic Waterdrop and the Evolution Stone?"

Professor Bulatano was somewhat surprised to recognize the two items.

The famous name of the Mystic Waterdrop is still known to many, but the Evolution Stone is not,

Sure enough, Serena, Yurie, and even Clemont, who is a Gym Leader, showed bewildered expressions,

Ash had no intention of keeping them in suspense; he launched straight into an explanation,

"Evolution Stone: can raise both defenses of a Pokémon that has an evolution form by 50%."

"50%!"

"Or double resistance!"

"Ash……"

Serena stared intently at the Evolution Stone necklace around Vulpix's neck, thinking this was the first gift Ash gave her,

Well, giving a gift to Vulpix isn't just giving a gift to her?

Still a necklace—this is indeed a love token, right?

Upon thinking this, Serena's pretty face flushed completely red; she wished to immediately find a big bed, cover her heart, clamp her legs, and roll around to express her shyness,

At this moment,

The science guy Clemont, however, seriously began analyzing the feasibility of doing this,

"50%, the boost ratio is high, but if the target is Vulpix……"

Vulpix's defenses are respectively Defense 40, Special Defense 60; multiplied by 1.5 gives 60 and 90; Special Defense is okay, but Defense is not outstanding,

Plus insufficient offense…… it'd be better to evolve once more."

"Not necessarily!"

Ash held the opposite attitude, instantly drawing everyone's inquisitive gazes,

"Don't forget that the battle intensity of the Grand Festival and Exhibition matches isn't comparable to the 6v6 Trainer League; raising the level might still secure a spot."

"Even if relying on level doesn't widen the gap, Serena can still use other Pokémon."

Upon hearing that, everyone suddenly realized,

Indeed,

Strength is one aspect, environment is another aspect,

The Fire Fox kept listening, hearing that even without forcibly overcoming its cleanliness obsession to fight and grow stronger, as long as it looks beautiful, it can help Serena suddenly see something eye-opening,

Looking gratefully at Ash,

Actually,

But she didn't know that Ash was thinking of using trait enhancement, which just happens to make up for the Fire Fox's insufficient output,

Simply perfect!

Some small details Ash couldn't remember, but Serena's Fire Fox still remembered its extremely severe cleanliness obsession; this definitely needs to be resolved,

With the future growth directions of the Ninja Frog and Fire Fox, the carried-item problem is resolved,

Ash couldn't help but think of Mewtwo,

Even the imminent divine war on this land,

Eager to see what type Ash would become after Mewtwo's trait enhancement, he immediately asked,

"Doctor, are there an exchange machine and a transfer machine here?"

"Of course there are; I understand the transfer machine, but why are you looking for an exchange machine?"

Witnessing Ash recall the Poliwag and exchange the ordinary red-and-white ball for a more fitting Dive Ball, the doctor finally looked enlightened,

This is the Coordinator's skill,

Choosing a Poké Ball whose color matches the Pokémon's own hue makes the debut segment flow more smoothly and naturally, leaving a better impression on the judges,

Beside her, Serena rested her chin on her hand, wearing a thoughtful expression,

After the exchange,

Ash dialed Professor Oak's phone,

Merely telling Professor Oak that he had arrived at the destination was secondary; more importantly, Ash's Pokémon were all stored in the backyard of Oak Laboratory,

To withdraw Mewtwo over, he needed to contact Professor Oak,

"Doctor, can you call Mewtwo over?"

Mewtwo, as a proper legendary Pokémon, even though it is a man-made legendary Pokémon, its dignity stands there,

It is naturally impossible to be casually captured by anyone with a ball,

If Ash does not personally explain things to Mewtwo, even though Professor Oak is his benefactor, Mewtwo will definitely not give Oak face,

At the moment Mewtwo personally appeared on the screen at the other end of the phone,

Although they had been prepared, Professor Bulatano, Serena, Clemont, and Yurie still all widened their eyes in nervousness,

This is a mysterious legendary Pokémon!

Especially the professor and Clemont, as internal personnel of the Alliance, have certain channels for obtaining information,

They know Mewtwo's origins in great detail,

Involving the two major evil organizations, Team Rocket and Team Plasma, which are entrenched in Kanto, Johto, and Unova, they cannot help but attach importance to dealing with Mewtwo,

But when they learned from Ash that they wanted to transmit Mewtwo over,

Witnessing Professor Oak use a Master Ball to recall Mewtwo and place it in the transfer machine,

Although the action was plain and unadorned, it was enough to move the hearts of everyone present,

This is an existence that no one present has truly seen before!

Their hearts pounded as if boiling, throbbing rapidly with excitement, so excited!

Ding!

Accompanied by the falling red transfer beam,

With a crisp sound, the purple-white Master Ball loaded with Mewtwo was transferred over,

Ash casually picked it up,

In an instant, everyone's gaze gathered on Ash's hand,

Feeling the gazes cast upon him, knowing everyone expected to see something, Ash did not keep them in suspense,

"Come out, Mewtwo!"

Red light burst forth,

Its form combined feline and sci-fi alien traits, its skin silvery white, with a long tail; the tail and abdomen were purple, and the creature appeared before everyone,

Mewtwo and Mew