Chapter 39: S-Suicune?!

Ding~

Name: Dewgong

Level: Peak Champion Tier

Characteristics: Plump body

Type: Water/Ice

Potential: 100% (59% developed)

Ash glanced at the data displayed on his Pokédex and nodded thoughtfully.

"Looks like most of Mizuharu's Pokémon are fully evolved and in the late stages of development. Definitely stronger than Garan."

He smiled slightly, pulling out a Poké Ball.

"This one's up to you. Without your power, this battle might've been dangerous."

A flash of light burst forth.

The graceful form of Suicune appeared before everyone's eyes. Its proud bearing and elegant presence exuded the overwhelming majesty of a Water-type Legendary Pokémon.

"S-Suicune?! You've been acknowledged by Suicune?!" Mizuharu was visibly shaken.

It was one thing to befriend a Legendary Pokémon. Such rare friendships were known to exist. But to be chosen—to command one? That was on an entirely different level. Across the whole world, those who had tamed Legendary Pokémon could be counted on one hand.

"What a beautiful Pokémon…"

"There's no record of this in the database!"

"How does this guy have such a stunning Pokémon?!"

The three Cerulean sisters stared, captivated by Suicune's elegant appearance and flowing mane that shimmered like strands of silk. They looked like they wanted to run up and pet it.

"That's Suicune," Brock explained, stepping in like a guide, "a Legendary Pokémon—the embodiment of the North Wind and one of the Three Legendary Beasts of the Johto Region. According to the League's classification, Suicune ranks as a Tier-3 Legendary. But under Ash's training, this Suicune has already reached Tier-2 strength!"

Mizuharu overheard everything. Her expression stiffened as she digested Brock's words.

Moving from Tier-3 to Tier-2 was no easy feat—it represented a major breakthrough, one that most Trainers spent a lifetime chasing. But Ash had only just started his journey… And yet his Suicune had already surpassed that bottleneck. What kind of monstrous talent was this?

"To think you were recognized by a Legendary… It seems the future Champion lineup has a spot waiting for you," Mizuharu said enviously, her gaze fixed on Suicune.

As a Water-type specialist, she had always dreamed of meeting Suicune. But she hadn't caught even a glimpse of it in years—only grainy images in the Pokédex database. And now, standing in front of her, was a living, breathing Suicune… belonging to Ash.

"Grandma Mizuharu, you'd better be careful," Ash said with a playful grin. "Suicune's power… is far beyond your imagination."

Mizuharu regained her composure, a sharp glint in her eyes.

"Then let this old lady witness the majesty of a true Legendary! Dewgong, use Ice Beam!"

A brilliant white light condensed at the tip of Dewgong's horn before it launched a sharp Ice Beam straight at Suicune.

But Suicune didn't move.

He simply stood there, eyes calm, as if waiting for Ash's instructions.

"Magic Mirror."

Ash spoke the command with quiet confidence, his earlier tension melting away now that Suicune was on the field.

A shimmering aquamarine shield materialized around Suicune, forming a perfect spherical barrier that absorbed the Ice Beam completely. Not even a scratch was left.

If this had been a peak-tier Champion Pokémon, perhaps it might have broken through. But Mizuharu's Dewgong lacked the unique techniques Ash had developed—there was no way it could penetrate Suicune's defenses.

"That… that's a divine defense technique only Legendary Pokémon can use… Magic Mirror?" Mizuharu muttered, frowning. "Even Dewgong's Ice Beam couldn't break through!"

Ash closed his eyes.

"It's over. Suicune—Ocean Vortex!"

With a majestic cry, Suicune howled to the skies.

In an instant, the battlefield was engulfed in swirling water energy. A massive vortex of pure water formed, coalescing into a gigantic orb that surrounded the entire arena like a pocket-sized sea. And the astonishing part—it didn't disperse. It remained suspended, spinning like a miniature ocean.

"W-What?! It created an ocean?! Is this… the true power of a Legendary Pokémon?!"

Mizuharu could hardly believe her eyes.

But what followed was even more terrifying.

"Tide of a Thousand Sharks!" Ash commanded.

In response, countless spectral water sharks began to form within the oceanic orb—hundreds, then thousands—each one sharp, swift, and relentless. Under Suicune's precise control, they surged forth like a living storm, crashing one after another into Dewgong.

"Dewgong!!!" Mizuharu cried out in horror as her Pokémon was overwhelmed by the unrelenting assault of water-shark after water-shark.

After enduring the relentless barrage for over a minute, Dewgong finally collapsed, its eyes spinning in defeat. Despite being a high-tier Pokémon, it hadn't even managed a single effective counterattack against Suicune's onslaught.

"Dewgong was taken out without landing a single hit!" The Cerulean Sisters were left speechless. None of them had ever seen such a one-sided match.

What made it even more astonishing was what happened next—after Dewgong lost consciousness, Suicune finally released the massive water sphere it had summoned. The swirling orb collapsed, falling onto the battlefield in a gentle cascade, transforming into a rain-like mist that drenched the arena.

"You've won, Ash." Mizuharu's voice was calm, but her eyes held both awe and resignation. "Dewgong and my Cloyster are my main battlers. The rest of my team are still in the early Ace-tier or Elite-tier. Against your Suicune, they wouldn't stand a chance."

She withdrew Dewgong into its Poké Ball and sighed. "Despite the title of Water-type Gym Leader, not all of us have a full team of peak King-level Pokémon. Generally, having three Pokémon at that level is enough to earn the King-tier ranking."

Most Gym Leaders and even Champion-level trainers only had two or three Pokémon at that tier. The rest of their roster was usually composed of promising talents—Pokémon with the potential to be trained up to Elite or even Champion level. Alternatively, they tried their luck in the wild, hoping to encounter a high-level Pokémon—though the chances of meeting a Champion-tier wild Pokémon like Ash's Tyranitar were incredibly slim.

That's why finding Pokémon with strong innate potential was the preferred route for most top-level trainers.

"You flatter me," Ash replied modestly. "It was thanks to Suicune that I won this time."

He paused, glancing down at the battlefield, now slick with water. "Honestly, when I came to challenge the Cerulean Gym, I figured that without Suicune, my chances of winning would've only been around 30 to 50 percent."

He chuckled softly. "Even though I've developed a few unique moves, a lot of my team is weak to Water or Ice-types. You had the type advantage."

…

TN:

Support me on P-com/LordMerlin!

⚡ Limited-time 30% discount!

Get 10 advance chaps for $3.50, 20 for $7, and more — ending soon!