Chapter 46: Charmander!

"Welcome to the team! I'm sure you'll both be happy with today's decision," Ash said with a warm smile to Scyther and Bulbasaur near a cabin not far from Pokémon School.

Earlier that morning, Ash had encountered the fully recovered Scyther. After an intense spar, Scyther—despite his high level—was quickly overwhelmed under the pressure of Ash's champion-level strength. Witnessing the match, Bulbasaur, intrigued by the power on display, became interested as well.

Deep down, Bulbasaur had always yearned for battle. But out here, with so few trainers around—and most unworthy of recognition—he had little chance to grow. In the original series, Ash only managed to catch him through his usual mix of persistence and heart. But here? A fair duel was held. And in the end, Bulbasaur lost—and joined Ash, becoming a future mainstay of his powerful roster.

Ash's Poké Balls were specially crafted by Professor Oak, unrestricted by the typical six-Pokémon limit. Any additional partners were stored inside his space ring, still within their Poké Balls.

After bidding farewell to Giselle, Ash and Brock continued toward their next destination: Dryleaf City. Before parting, Brock uncharacteristically whispered something to Giselle—probably a heartfelt confession. Whether she reciprocated, no one knew.

"Hey, Ash. Professor Masaki just sent a message. He said Shirona—the Champion of Sinnoh—is heading to Kanto. Sounds like she's coming to find you. Probably has something to do with us cutting ties with Sinnoh back at the Pokémon School," Brock said as they walked, reading the update on his phone.

"Let her come," Ash replied, taking a deep breath. He exhaled slowly, eyes sharp but calm. After years of growth, he didn't need to prove anything to anyone anymore. With his recent lottery win, the sky even seemed a little bluer.

"Pika~Pikachu!" Pikachu, sitting proudly on Ash's shoulder, chirped with joy. He had reached the Champion level in his base form—an achievement that filled both him and Ash with pride.

Brock looked impressed. "Your team really has gotten stronger."

"Of course," Ash said with a smirk, pulling out a thick training manual from his ring. "With the cheat guides I developed, if someone commits to proper training, I can promise that within six months to a year, even an average Pokémon could hit Champion level. At the very least, Elite Four strength. Pseudo-Elite Four is easily achievable."

Brock's eyes widened. "That many!?"

"These are just the basics," Ash replied. "Don't underestimate them. Every move and training regimen in here was tailored to specific types. But just because two Pokémon share a type doesn't mean they can use the same techniques. You have to understand their body structure—the flow of their internal energy."

Ash chuckled. "I'm just lucky I awakened my Sharingan-like ability. Otherwise, just analyzing Suicune's structure alone would've been a nightmare."

"Pika~Pika!" Pikachu suddenly pointed forward, interrupting their conversation.

Ash turned to look.

"That's a Charmander," Brock identified immediately, his encyclopedic Pokémon knowledge kicking in.

The tiny orange Pokémon stood atop a rock, flame on its tail flickering weakly. It looked hungry and exhausted.

"This one's not in good shape. Its tail flame is dim—he probably hasn't eaten in days," Ash muttered, kneeling down to open his backpack. He quickly set out some high-grade Pokémon food.

"Eat up. Regain your strength," Ash urged gently.

"Char~!" Sensing Ash's warmth and sincerity, the Charmander began eating ravenously. This little guy wasn't yet the proud Charizard he would one day become. Right now, he was still just a tired, naive child.

"Charmander, why are you out here all alone?" Ash asked softly, watching the little fire-type eat.

Wild Pokémon usually didn't linger in mountainous areas like this unless abandoned. And from the start, Ash suspected this one had once belonged to a trainer—Charmander hadn't reacted fearfully to humans, and he'd recognized Pokémon food immediately.

"Char~!" Charmander gave a lively cry. With a full stomach, the flame on his tail burned noticeably brighter.

"What's the situation?" Brock asked, observing Ash interact with the little fire dragon. He had seen Ash's unique talent in action many times and wasn't surprised by how quickly he built rapport.

Moreover, Ash's potential to awaken the Aura is said to be only half—his odds are slim. In Kanto, every generation of the Dragon Clan's elites is expected to awaken the Aura, and then, within half a year, enter the Dragon Cavern. There, they test whether their aura—the wave energy flowing within them—can resonate with the dormant bloodline deep inside… the legendary Power of the Dragon.

The Power of the Dragon is a legacy within the Dragon Clan. Those who awaken it can channel that strength directly into their dragon-type Pokémon. Under its influence, dragon Pokémon experience a massive boost in power—an explosive surge born from bloodline resonance and spiritual synchronization.

"The situation isn't looking good," Ash muttered, his brow furrowing. "This Charmander… it looks like it was abandoned by its trainer. It's been waiting here for three days, but no one has come back for it."

Brock nodded grimly. Ash's tone was cold. He had always despised trainers who treated their Pokémon as disposable. To Ash, a trainer's bond with their Pokémon was sacred—and betrayal of that bond was inexcusable.

...

TN:

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