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In the world of Pokémon, there exist three legendary powers:
Aura
Psychic Force
Viridian Force
Each is rare. Each transcends the boundaries of ordinary training.
And all three… are revered as the Three Great Powers.
Today, Sam had a chance to take the first step toward unlocking one of them.
Even without the system's mission, he would have accepted Ash's challenge.
Because this wasn't just any battle.
It was a rare chance to face Pikachu, the famed partner of Ash Ketchum.
A Pokémon who, in the animated world, defied logic and limits alike.
Now, Sam wanted to see: what kind of power did this so-called "protagonist aura" truly have in reality?
The match began simply.
They chose a flat clearing surrounded by trees, no official battlefield, no referee.
Just two Trainers.
And the will to test each other.
Ash stood confidently across the open space. With a familiar motion, he flipped his hat backwards.
"Turtwig, I choose you!"
"Turrrtwig!"
Ash's Pokémon appeared in a flash, standing ready on stubby legs.
On Sam's side, Lucario stepped forward, radiating quiet strength.
"Luka~"
Sam nodded lightly.
"You can take this one on your own."
Ash pumped his fist.
"Turtwig, Razor Leaf—go!"
Green light surged from Turtwig's body, forming several spinning leaves that shot toward Lucario like blades.
But…
Lucario didn't flinch.
He simply exhaled softly.
"Luka."
"Aura"
Without moving a muscle, Lucario let his Champion-tier aura unfurl.
The invisible force expanded like a dome, pressing against everything nearby.
Turtwig's eyes widened in panic. His stubby legs trembled.
The Razor Leaf spirals wavered mid-air… then dropped harmlessly to the ground like dry autumn leaves.
The gap was too great.
"Ugh…" Ash rubbed the back of his neck.
"Too strong… Turtwig, that's enough. Return."
A flash of red light pulled the overwhelmed Turtwig back to safety.
Ash let out a breath.
"Guess I got carried away."
Then, without pause, he grabbed his ace.
"Pikachu, it's your turn!"
"Pikachu!"
The yellow mouse leapt to the center, cheeks sparking lightly.
Sam's eyes sharpened slightly.
Time to see… the 'unreasonable protagonist' in action.
He activated the Eye of Detection, and instantly, a stream of data filled his vision:
[Pokémon: Pikachu]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Electric]
[Ability:Lightning Rod —Draws in all Electric moves. Immunity + boosts Special Attack.]
[Level:Uncertain]
[Potential:Erratic]
[Skills: Quick Attack, Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Discharge…]
[Condition: Good]
[Remark 1: This Pokémon's combat power fluctuates wildly. In moments of extreme emotion or danger, it may exhibit power far beyond its natural limits.]
[Remark 2: Born with a unique "clean slate" potential. (Understands everything.)]
Sam's eyebrows raised.
"Level… uncertain?"
"Potential… erratic?"
He gave a low chuckle.
Now this… this is interesting.
Even the system had trouble quantifying Pikachu.
That in itself was the greatest confirmation—this Pikachu was not normal.
"Luka~"
Lucario narrowed his eyes, stepping forward.
Ash pointed confidently.
"Pikachu, let's show them what we've got!"
"Pika!"
Sparks danced from its cheeks, tail standing upright like a lightning rod.
Sam smiled.
"Looks like this will be worth my time."
Sam narrowed his eyes as the system displayed Pikachu's unusual properties.
"Fits perfectly with Pikachu's legendary status..."
In the anime, Ash's Pikachu had a habit of defying logic—sometimes toppling literal titans, other times getting clobbered by a newborn starter.
That odd balance of brilliance and inconsistency earned him the nickname:
Sam didn't feel envy.
After all, Pikachu's "talent"—this subconscious reset to rookie level—seemed almost like a curse.
Maybe that's why Ash and Pikachu are such a perfect pair.
They grow together… again and again.
As Sam mused, Ash had already launched into action.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pee–ka–CHUUU!"
Lightning surged from Pikachu's cheeks in a blinding, crackling bolt of raw electric power.
The flash turned the forest clearing white-hot for a moment as a full-force Thunderbolt hurtled toward Lucario.
A gym-level blast.
Impressive… but still far below Champion class.
Sam didn't flinch.
"Luca," he said calmly, "transform your Aura into a Bone Club."
"Redirect the lightning into the ground."
"Luka~!"
Lucario responded immediately.
The air shimmered around his palm as he conjured a glowing blue Bone Club, the energy infused with his Aura.
As the thunder crashed down—
—Lucario calmly thrust the staff into the ground like a lightning rod.
Zzz-CRACK!!
The electric current split and hissed as it was absorbed harmlessly into the earth, the ground crackling faintly with static discharge.
Ash's jaw clenched.
"Using a grounded weapon to nullify the Thunderbolt?!"
"Alright—Pikachu, Iron Tail! Let's close the distance!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu darted forward, fast as a flash, tail glowing white-hot with energy.
He leapt, spun midair, and brought his tail down with precision aimed at Lucario's skull.
Lucario didn't blink.
He lifted the Bone Club with one arm, intercepting the Iron Tail cleanly mid-swing—
CLANG!
A shockwave pulsed through the clearing as the two moves collided.
Pikachu was launched backward from the rebound force, tumbling ten meters before skidding to a halt, paws digging into the dirt.
He panted, cheeks sparking… but Lucario?
Lucario hadn't moved. Not a step. Not a scratch.
What followed was a flurry of attacks.
Quick Attack. Thunderbolt. Iron Tail. Discharge.
Again and again, Pikachu launched himself at Lucario with everything he had.
But Lucario…
Dodged. Deflected. Neutralized. Endured.
He never retaliated. Never counterattacked.
He didn't need to.
Pikachu's strength, even at its highest point today, simply couldn't pierce a Champion's guard.
At last, exhausted and gasping, Pikachu collapsed to one knee.
Ash's fists trembled—but his eyes were glowing with admiration.
And Sam?
[Ding! System Task Completed.]
[Reward: Aura Power Unlocked.]
[Instructions: None. Comprehend it yourself.]
A warm pulse surged through Sam's body.
Like a second heartbeat.
Something awakened inside him—soft, but growing steadily.
A sense. A field. A resonance with Lucario… and the world.
Aura had been granted.
Sam exhaled slowly.
The air around him shimmered faintly, almost imperceptibly.
He glanced toward Ash, who was already jogging toward Pikachu.
"Thanks for the battle, Brother Sam!"
Ash lifted Pikachu in his arms, both of them still smiling despite the loss.
"Even though we lost, that was incredible!"
"Pika…" Pikachu weakly raised a paw in agreement.
Sam smiled back.
"You both fought well. Really well."
He looked down at his palm, where the phantom memory of the Aura flickered.
So this is the start…
"Come on, Luca," Sam said.
"We've still got a long journey ahead."
"Luka~."