"Ash, we should get moving right after breakfast. Judging by the clouds, there's a good chance it'll rain soon," Brock said while looking up at the darkening sky.
"Yeah, no kidding. I'm already sick of being outside in this heat," Ash replied with a nod. "It was fine yesterday, but today's scorching. Seasons in this world really don't hold back."
"From here to Saffron City, it'll take about half an hour," Cynthia chimed in with concern in her voice. "But are you sure you're okay to travel in your current condition?"
Ash smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I know my limits. Besides, I've got three backup plans if anything goes wrong—I'll be fine."
After finishing their meal, Brock packed away the dishes and gear. The group set off once more toward Saffron City. True to Brock's estimation, they arrived within thirty minutes.
But as they entered the city limits, Cynthia frowned and looked around uneasily. "Ash, this place feels... off. There's no one here."
They stood on an eerily empty street. For a place as famous and central as Saffron City, the silence was unnatural.
Ash narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, I feel it too. I wouldn't be surprised if this was Sabrina's doing. She might've turned everyone into dolls."
He could sense a powerful psychic aura nearby. It wasn't stronger than his own, but it was definitely top-tier by human standards—likely Elite-class at the very least.
"This place isn't normal," he said, scanning the streets. "Sabrina's psychic energy is definitely at Elite-level. Stay close and don't stray too far from me."
Although Ash's own mental strength was stable, his eyesight was now reaching its limit. He could likely only use his powers a few more times before going blind entirely. Only the Full Restore Capsule could help reverse the damage.
There was one risky idea Ash had never dared to test—but if it worked, it would change everything. He was considering using the ultimate Sharingan ability: Izanagi.
Both Izanagi and Izanami were forbidden ocular jutsu—each one causing the immediate blindness of the eye used. But with the Full Restore Capsule's complete regenerative power, it might be possible to counteract that side effect.
The problem? The Sharingan was a golden-tier system item, while the Full Restore Capsule was black-tier. That tier difference made Ash uncertain—he wasn't sure if the capsule could fully recover what the eye lost.
He had two Sharingan uses available. If the Full Restore Capsule worked, he could theoretically use each eye three more times—six total Izanagi/Izanami uses. But that final recovery attempt? Ash wouldn't gamble with that. He only had three capsules, and if he went blind at the end, there'd be no do-over.
Izanagi could rewrite unfavorable reality into illusion, and favorable illusion into reality—essentially allowing the user to deny death or alter outcomes for a short time depending on the user's power.
Izanami, meanwhile, trapped the enemy in a looped illusion, forcing them to relive the same sequence repeatedly until they accepted their fate or broke psychologically.
"This psychic pressure is unstable… Seems like I'll need to step in directly," Ash murmured as he walked. There was no more hiding—he needed that Gym Badge. Saffron Gym was one of the eight Gyms tied to the League, and he wasn't about to miss it.
They soon arrived in front of the Saffron Gym.
"Whoa… this place is massive," Brock muttered in awe.
Even Ash was slightly surprised. The building towered over them like a museum. It was grander than any Gym he'd seen so far.
"Alright. Let's head in," Ash said as he pushed open the heavy doors.
Inside was a long, straight corridor lined with golden pillars. Chandelier-style lights hung from each one, casting shimmering reflections along the pristine floor.
"This is all pure gold…" Ash muttered. "The Mugino family really doesn't hold back. Using gold for Gym decor? That's over the top."
"In terms of wealth, your family's not doing too bad either," Cynthia teased. "Between Professor Oak's backing and the Dragon Clan's influence, you could live easy for the rest of your life."
"Smart mouth, huh?" Ash chuckled—and, without thinking, gave Cynthia a light slap on the butt.
Cynthia froze, her face instantly going crimson.
Thankfully, Brock was too preoccupied gawking at the golden pillars to notice. Still, Ash figured it might be time to find him a traveling companion—someone like Nurse Joy—so he could focus on his own "Joe" instead of third-wheeling constantly.
"Alright," Ash said once Cynthia's cheeks returned to normal. "Sabrina probably knows we're here already. Time to meet this psychic master face-to-face."
"Ash, there's a room over here. The people inside… they seem to be doing something weird," Brock said suddenly.
He pointed toward a green door along the right side of the corridor. Taking a closer look through the small observation window, Brock noticed several individuals in white lab coats, each holding a silver spoon and staring intently at it.
Some of the others in the room were playing a strange game—trying to guess the pattern on cards held by the person across from them.
The whole scene felt bizarre.
Ash and Cynthia stepped forward and peered in as well.
"Looks like they're practicing psychic abilities," Ash muttered, narrowing his eyes. "But most of them don't even have proper psychic potential. Maybe one or two have some weak mental fluctuations, but the rest... just normal people. No matter how hard they stare, it's not going to awaken anything."
He sighed and crossed his arms. "This only confirms it—Sabrina definitely has serious emotional issues."
Suddenly—
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
A sharp voice came from behind them. A man in a white lab coat and wearing a surgical mask had approached silently, startling both Brock and Cynthia.
Ash didn't flinch. He turned around calmly.
"I'm a Trainer from Pallet Town. I'm here to challenge the Gym," he said plainly.
"Oh? So you're here to challenge Miss Sabrina," the masked man said after a pause. He gave Ash a once-over, then added with a trace of sarcasm, "You don't look like a psychic. I suggest you prepare yourself. It won't end well."
He turned back toward the corridor, apparently dismissing them.
...
TN:
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