Chapter 8: God-Defying Reward! Pikachu's Thunder Stone!

【Thunder Stone: Pikachu's exclusive item; upon use, it boosts all of Pikachu's stats and doubles its electric power!】

After Ash obtained the Thunder Stone.

The Thunder Stone's attributes were also displayed on the light screen.

Seeing these god-defying attributes!

The audience's hearts were almost entirely filled with exclamation marks!

How can this be so outrageous!

Doubling all stats of a Pokémon is already outrageous enough.

Especially since you even double the electric power of an Electric-type Pokémon!

This isn't just cheating; it's like the cheat code was never turned off!

As for Ash, the one who received the Thunder Stone.

His eyes stared at the Thunder Stone in his hand, almost sparkling with stars.

"Pikachu, come try this Thunder Stone."

Ash waved to Pikachu, who was still perched on Misty's shoulder.

Their understanding needed no words.

Ash squatted halfway down to the ground.

And Pikachu stood before him.

The live stream did not explain how to use the Thunder Stone.

Letting Pikachu touch it first was never a mistake.

Ash pinched the Thunder Stone between his index finger and thumb and placed it into Pikachu's small hand.

However, Pikachu's small hand caught nothing.

The moment the Thunder Stone touched Pikachu's body, it turned into a burst of golden light and merged into Pikachu.

In just an instant.

Countless sparks of electricity surged out from Pikachu's body.

"Pika-pi~"

The sudden surge of power made Pikachu restless.

This Pikachu was not yet the one who challenged countless Leagues and loved resetting to factory settings at every new location.

Regarding the newly acquired power, Pikachu showed immense excitement.

But this sudden excess of electricity caused it to overload.

The big one is coming!

What to do with the excess electricity? Of course, release it!

Ash and the other two were still staring eagerly at Pikachu, completely unaware of the impending danger.

With a sudden cry from Pikachu.

Countless sparks of electricity burst forth from its body.

Blackie ×3!

Such a huge commotion naturally attracted the rest of the people in the square.

After witnessing this scene, the surrounding people quickly moved away from Ash and the other two.

Are you crazy!

……

On the light screen.

After the reward was distributed.

The broadcast continued.

In the scene—

After leaving the Oak Laboratory.

Ash ran at full speed toward the port of Vermilion City.

Chloe followed closely behind, and the two ran at full speed together.

Watching the figures of the other two walk farther and farther away.

Memories seemed to flash constantly through Chloe's mind.

The appearance of this boy named Ash was extremely familiar, yet she could not recall it at all.

After all, who could remember that lump of Blackie at their own doorstep.

The distance between the port of Vermilion City and the Oak Laboratory was not far.

The two soon arrived at the port.

At that very moment.

A black vortex gradually coalesced in the sky, shifting toward the form of a tornado.

Lugia is named the Sea God, but its true dominion lies over ocean currents.

It can control the flow both on the sea’s surface and beneath the water.

In an instant, the entire port was enveloped by the black tornado.

Howling gales roared; nearly everyone who had gathered at the port gazed upon the black vortex with fervent excitement.

A sharp cry pierced the heavens.

Immediately afterward, biting gales tore open the vortex.

A colossal bird, snow-white from head to tail, with black markings atop its head and along both sides of its back, appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Its belly was light blue, its tail feathers deep blue, and its entire body covered in pristine white scales.

Most astonishing were its wings—wings resembling a pair of arms capable of embracing all things in the world.

Lugia—the so-called Sea God, yet truly the God of Ocean Currents!

Lugia’s appearance was no coincidence.

Several days earlier, nearby trainers had already received word that a mysterious Pokémon would appear at the port.

That strange vortex had been swirling for a long time.

Now, having suddenly exploded, it sent waves of excitement across the trainers gathered at the port.

They hastily pulled out Poké Balls and summoned their Pokémon.

Squirtle, Riolu—and the strongest trainer among them deployed a Gengar.

Perhaps they did not recognize Lugia, mistaking it merely for an extremely rare Pokémon.

But Ash recognized it.

He observed the behavior of this group of trainers.

Both Ash and Pikachu perched on his shoulder were utterly stunned.

These people… do they have no fear of death?!

[Shinji: A person’s greatest virtue lies in self-awareness. To challenge the unknown without even knowing your own Pokémon’s strength is nothing short of courting death.]

[Lance: No way—these are really Kanto trainers? Don’t they know the legendary Pokémon Lugia?]

[Koga: The League’s educational mission remains daunting. These trainers ought to be sent to Trainer School for serious study—three years of field training, five years of simulation! No graduation without passing!]

Lance and Koga are both Kanto Elite Four members.

Though Kanto and Johto are two distinct regions, their proximity means the two regions are essentially interconnected.

Even mythic Pokémon like Ho-Oh and Lugia exist in complementary opposition.

Yet the actions of these greenhorn trainers shown on the screen were simply too painful to watch.

A new proposal must be submitted to the League: henceforth, trainers must pass a basic competency exam before embarking on journeys!

Otherwise, they will be mandatorily enrolled in Trainer School!

What utter shame! Using a Riolu to face Lugia!

Absolutely, absolutely—this must never happen again!

(Ash: Good thing I left early—otherwise, I’d never graduate!)

On-screen—

Lugia didn’t even grant those three Pokémon a single glance.

Yet precisely this indifference made the three Pokémon feel deeply insulted.

Ice Beam! Thunder! Night Shade!

All three Pokémon launched simultaneous attacks against Lugia.

With just the slightest effort from me, I’ve already soared far beyond your reach.

Facing such assaults, Lugia merely gently flapped its wings.

A gale-force wind instantly scattered the ice, electricity, and ghostly energies embedded in the attacks.

That biting gale did not merely disperse the Pokémon’s moves.

It hurled both the Pokémon themselves and their trainers away—no one knew where.

Watching those figures fly off into the distance—

Ash faintly sensed a voice whispering near his ear.

“Such an unpleasant feeling!”

Ugh—this is giving me PTSD!

The power Lugia displayed did not deter the remaining trainers.

On the contrary, Lugia’s overwhelming might only spurred more trainers to join the battle.

Only powerful Pokémon were deemed worthy of capture.

The trainers now stepping forward were clearly leagues stronger than the previous batch.

Legendary final-stage Pokémon—including Excadrill, Bisharp, and Honchkrow—appeared one after another.

Among them even stood an Excadrill—a pseudo-legendary!

The trainers were ecstatic; Lugia was theirs for the taking!

However—

These people still had no idea what kind of being they faced.

It is the Sea God—not an ordinary Lugia!

Lugia continued flapping its wings, unleashing a gale even fiercer than before.

Those trainers followed in the footsteps of the previous group.

This time.

Lugia’s displayed power finally made these trainers feel what fear truly was.

A Pokémon like this was absolutely beyond their ability to capture.

Rarely, Lugia had a moment of quiet leisure.

It silently docked at the edge of the harbor.

“Long time no see, Lugia.”

……