The ferry sailed steadily across the calm evening sea, heading toward Trovita Island. The sky was painted in rich hues of orange, pink, and deep purple as the sun slowly set on the horizon.
Ash stood alone on the upper deck for a while, letting the cool sea breeze wash over him. After the chaotic events in Trovitopolis and successfully delivering justice to the abandoned Giant Bulbasaur, he finally had a rare moment of peace.
But his mind was not idle.
He had been waiting for this moment ever since he defeated Lorelei. The System had granted him an unclaimed reward a significant boost to both his Aura and Psychic abilities. Now was the perfect time to claim it.
Ash quietly returned to his private cabin and locked the door behind him. He didn't want any distractions.
He first erected an powerful psychic barrier to withheld his power's evolution.
Satisfied with the preparation, Ash sat down cross-legged in the center of the bed. He closed his eyes and took a deep, steady breath.
"System," he said calmly, "begin the power boost."
[Ding!]
Initiating Advanced Aura & Psychic Power Awakening…
Primary Affinity Aura Crystal activated as catalyst…
The moment the process began, Ash's body jolted.
A powerful shiver ran through every cell in his body. The temperature in the small cabin dropped sharply as a cold, ancient energy surged upward from the depths of his core. Unlike his previous gentle awakenings, this one was far more intense and violent.
Ash's breathing quickened. A brilliant azure light mixed with golden sparks erupted from his body, illuminating the entire room. The air around him began to swirl violently, causing the bedsheets and curtains to flap wildly.
He instinctively channeled his psychic power outward, creating a thick, translucent psychic barrier around himself to contain the overflowing energy and prevent it from damaging the ship or alerting the others.
Inside the barrier, the real storm raged.
Ash gritted his teeth as waves of raw power crashed through his meridians. His Intermediate Aura ignited like a blazing blue flame, burning hotter and brighter than ever before. At the same time, his Advanced Psychic energy expanded rapidly, flooding his mind with heightened clarity and strength.
Memories flashed through his mind the moment he first awakened his powers, the battles in Kanto, the intense fight against Lorelei, and every time his abilities had saved his friends and Pokémon.
Pain and euphoria mixed together. Ash's body trembled as the energy continued to rise. Veins bulged on his forehead and arms. Sweat rolled down his face.
For several long, intense minutes, he remained motionless, fully focused on guiding the chaotic energy and merging it with his Viridian Mind power.
Then
BOOM.
A silent but powerful explosion of energy erupted from within him.
The psychic barrier shattered into thousands of glowing azure and golden particles that slowly faded into the air. Ash's eyes snapped open, shining with a brilliant blue-gold light for several seconds before gradually returning to normal.
He let out a long, deep exhale.
The process was complete.
Ash slowly stood up and clenched his fists. He could feel the difference immediately. His senses were sharper. The flow of Aura and Psychic energy felt smoother, stronger, and more obedient to his will. The connection between his Viridian power and his Aura had deepened significantly.
He opened his status window:
[Aura: Advanced Aura (Level +1/year)]
[Psychic: Master Psychic (Level +1/year)]
A small, satisfied smile appeared on Ash's face.
"Master Psychic stage… Not bad."
He could already tell how much stronger he had become. His psychic range had expanded. His control over telekinesis and mind reading felt more precise. His Aura flames burned with greater intensity, and his Viridian connection with Pokémon felt deeper and more natural.
Just as he was testing his new power by gently levitating a glass of water with his mind, a soft knock came from the door.
"Ash? Are you okay in there?" Misty's voice called out, sounding slightly worried. "We felt some strange energy fluctuation a while ago…"
Ash smiled and walked over to open the door.
Misty, Sabrina, Daisy, and Giselle were standing outside, all looking at him with curious and slightly concerned expressions.
"I'm fine," Ash said calmly, stepping aside to let them in. "Just finished claiming a reward from the System. My Aura and Psychic powers just got a significant boost."
Sabrina's eyes glowed faintly as she observed him. "I can feel it… Your presence is much stronger now."
Giselle stepped closer, her eyes shining with admiration. "You look even more impressive than before But what's about this system thing!!!."
Daisy smiled warmly. "Does this mean you're getting stronger again?"
Ash nodded, a confident glint in his eyes. "Yes. The next stage. I can feel the difference already and giselle i will tell you about the system."
Misty crossed her arms, trying to hide her worry with her usual tsundere attitude. "Just don't push yourself too hard, idiot. We still have the Gym battle on Trovita Island coming up."
Ash chuckled softly and placed a hand on Misty's head, ruffling her hair gently.
"Don't worry. I'm ready."
As the girls surrounded him, asking questions about his new power, Ash looked out the window toward the distant outline of Trovita Island.
With his Aura now at the Advanced stage and his Psychic power reaching the Master stage, he felt more prepared than ever for the challenges ahead.
The Orange Islands journey continued, and Ash was growing stronger with every step.