As Ash and Shiro continued their conversation, Professor Oak, Skye Draconis, and a few others arrived at the ward. When they heard that Dragonite had agreed to the distribution of her eggs, they were visibly pleased—especially Skye.
The eggs of an ancient Dragonite—especially one from a prehistoric lineage—were invaluable. Even if the hatched Dratini only reached Champion level, its physical prowess and inherited self-created techniques would make it virtually unstoppable among its peers.
Masaki Oak was equally delighted. His pool of Champion-level Pokémon was limited, and his own Dragonite had been plagued by long-standing issues. The timing couldn't have been better.
Previously, Masaki had received one of the rare experimental candies—Rare Candy—developed through Professor Oak's research. After using it, his Dragonite had indeed broken through the Champion threshold once again. However, the boost didn't last, and within a few days, it regressed back to pseudo-Champion level.
"Ash, aside from the Dragonite egg situation," Masaki said after breakfast, "I was hoping you could help examine my Dragonite. If there's any way to treat him, I'd be grateful."
Saying that, Masaki released his Dragonite.
"Wuuu~?" The large Pokémon looked around nervously under the gazes of everyone present, its unease showing clearly as it glanced toward its Trainer.
"It's okay, old friend," Masaki reassured gently. "This is my nephew. He was the one who developed that Rare Candy. Let him take a look. Maybe he can help you recover for real this time."
Dragonite's strength had sharply declined after sustaining a critical injury during a mission to intercept and suppress Team Rocket. Though he was rescued in time, the damage had knocked him from Champion to pseudo-Champion level. The temporary boost from the Rare Candy had raised his hopes—only to crush them when he relapsed.
Ash activated his Sharingan, silently examining the flow of energy within Dragonite's body. After several moments, he frowned deeply.
"Uncle… several of Dragonite's meridians have ruptured," Ash said seriously. "To be honest, the fact that he's still alive is a miracle. What exactly happened?"
Ash would never suspect Masaki of mistreating his Pokémon, especially not to the point of internal damage like this.
Masaki sighed and nodded. "It happened during a mission to stop Team Rocket. Dragonite shielded me from a fatal blow. We managed to save him, but… he's never been the same since. As you know, the Rare Candy let him break through briefly, but the result didn't last."
Everyone present fell silent. They all understood how Dragonite must feel—falling from the pinnacle of strength was a devastating blow to any proud Pokémon.
Ash knew that while a Full Restore Capsule could heal external injuries, damage to the meridians was far more delicate. The nervous and energy pathways inside a Pokémon's body were a mystery even to most medical experts. If he didn't possess the Sharingan or hadn't studied the internal energy flow of Pokémon, he wouldn't have even been able to detect the damage—let alone treat it.
"Can it be cured, Ash?" Masaki asked with hope in his voice. "Is there still a chance for him to return to form?"
Dragonite looked at Ash with large, watery eyes filled with complicated emotions—hope, fear, desperation. The look was enough to steel Ash's resolve.
"It won't be easy," Ash admitted, lighting a cigarette and taking a long breath, "but yes—it can be cured. And I'm confident the success rate is 100%."
"Wuuu~!" Dragonite burst into tears. After so long living in a broken state, the news overwhelmed him. If not for Masaki's comfort and the companionship of his fellow Pokémon, he might've lost the will to live long ago.
Even though pseudo-Champion status was still formidable, Dragonite knew it wasn't enough—especially for someone in Masaki's position. Worse, the ruptured meridians often prevented him from using his techniques effectively, making his condition all the more disheartening.
"You can heal something like this? Ash, just how far have your medicinal skills progressed?" Skye Draconis asked, shocked by what he had just heard.
Even Professor Oak was stunned. "Repairing ruptured meridians is no ordinary feat," he said. "Even our best pharmacists have never guaranteed a full recovery."
Even Nurse Joy, standing nearby, was rendered speechless. For Ash to be completely confident in curing a condition that even top-tier medical professionals couldn't handle—it was nothing short of miraculous.
But Ash's expression remained serious.
"There is a way," he confirmed. "But…" He didn't finish the sentence immediately, and everyone sensed the hesitation in his voice.
"Ash, is there a catch?" Professor Oak asked gently. "You look troubled."
Ash nodded. "Even with a solution, the price might be high."
"I'll explain later. I need to grab something from my room first," Ash said, brushing off Professor Oak's question as he turned and walked away.
Ash's treatment plan was actually very simple. With just one Essence-Cleansing Pill and a Rare Candy, he could fully restore Dragonite to peak Champion level. But the real secret lay in the power of his ring space—a mysterious pocket dimension far beyond anything this world's third-rate technology could replicate.
Even if Ash were to share its secrets, the materials needed to recreate it simply didn't exist in this world. So, he kept it hidden.
Back in his room, Ash retrieved a jade bottle containing one of his remaining Essence-Cleansing Pill and a Rare Candy. He placed them in a polished jade box he had prepared in advance.
These boxes were crafted from rare and valuable jade—used not only to preserve the quality of the pills, but also to reflect the importance of the gift. Since these medicines were often used to build goodwill or repay favors, Ash had prepared several jade boxes in advance for such situations.
When he returned to the dining hall, Ash calmly took out two of the jade boxes—each containing one of the miracle medicines—and placed them on the table. As soon as the boxes were opened, a rich medicinal aroma filled the room. In an instant, everyone present could feel the rare and extraordinary nature of what was inside.
"Ash, what are these?" Professor Oak asked, frowning slightly. While he recognized the Rare Candy, which he had seen before, the other pill was entirely unfamiliar to him, and he was clearly puzzled.
"This is an Essence-Cleansing Pill" Ash explained. "I refined it myself. To be honest, the materials needed for this pill are incredibly rare—much harder to find than what's needed for a Rare Candy. I started developing it back when I trained in the deep mountains, and even now, I've only managed to produce five. One of them has already been used by Dragonite, so I only have four left."
"This pill can completely heal injuries and restore a Pokémon's energy and mental state, just like a Essence-Cleansing Pill. But its effects go even further—it can also repair internal damage and old battle scars that even evolution couldn't fix."
"In fact," Ash added, glancing at Masaki Oak, "it can even enhance a Pokémon's physical attributes. But in your Dragonite's case, the meridian damage is so severe that most of the pill's restorative power will be redirected toward repairing those internal pathways. So, while he may not gain much raw strength, he should fully recover."
Hearing this, the room fell silent in shock. While Brock and Cynthia had previously seen Ash's healing methods in action, even they hadn't realized just how powerful this particular pill was.
Everyone stared at the jade boxes, stunned by the magnitude of what Ash had casually brought out.
Even in a world filled with Legendary Pokémon and cutting-edge science, a medicine that could heal damaged meridians and restore a Champion-level Pokémon was nothing short of miraculous.
...
TN:
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