Plan B was to switch to observing a different kind of Pokémon.
Earlier, Jason had tried to do it all in one go—finish the whole thing in a single push. If he could complete Flutter Mane's Dex entry outright, he'd be set not just in Area Zero but even on the surface.
But since high-end power was out of reach for now, he'd flip the script and start from the very bottom of the food chain.
Ideally, the target would meet three criteria: weak, common, and non-aggressive.
In danger-riddled Area Zero, that sounded like a pipe dream—but Jason happened to know the perfect candidate.
Glimmet.
These flower-like ore Pokémon dotted the cave walls throughout Area Zero. They simply hung there quietly, absorbing nutrients from the rock, utterly indifferent to everything around them.
Even the hot-tempered Paradox species seemed to take them for ordinary minerals or plants, not worth a second glance.
Most importantly, they didn't roll all over the place like Iron Treads, nor drift around like Flutter Mane.
They stayed put—perfect observation subjects.
Unless Jason attacked first, they'd only respond if they sensed danger.
Decision made, Jason didn't hesitate. He dragged his pliant body along, inching toward a cavern he remembered where Glimmet were especially dense.
For his body as it was now, moving cost a ridiculous amount of stamina. He could only inch forward like a worm, contracting and stretching to make progress at an infuriatingly slow pace.
After more than half an hour, he finally arrived.
It was a dim cave. Faint blue-glowing crystals studded the surrounding rock walls.
Between those crystals hung a dozen bluish-purple buds—Glimmet.
Jason carefully hid in the shadow of a massive boulder. His body reshaped at once, mimicking a plain, unremarkable rock whose texture and color blended seamlessly with the environment.
He fixed his focus on the nearest Glimmet.
[Observing Ore Pokémon: Glimmet]
[Dex completion: 1%…]
That Glimmet seemed to sense something. Its closed petals quivered, and a faint glow rose from the core of its body.
It turned its head to peer in Jason's direction.
Jason's heart tightened. He instantly stilled every stray thought, turning himself completely into a lifeless stone.
To be safe, he decided not to reveal himself. Glimmet as a species weren't aggressive, but who knew if there was a bad apple among them.
Glimmet were nowhere near as wary as Flutter Mane. It stared at the rock Jason had become for a moment; sensing no malice or threat, it lost interest and returned to the wall, continuing to draw in nutrients.
Jason exhaled in relief.
This might work!
He resumed observing.
[Glimmet Dex completion: 5%…]
[Glimmet Dex completion: 12%…]
[Glimmet Dex completion: 23%…]
Time ticked by, and the progress bar climbed steadily.
This went far more smoothly than watching Flutter Mane—much faster, too.
He figured it came down to strength: the stronger the Pokémon, the more complex its abilities, and the harder it was to complete the entry.
Glimmet were docile and practically motionless—born models.
Jason concentrated, etching every detail of this Glimmet into his mind, which the system converted into data.
He didn't know how long had passed. Just as his mind began to tire, a crisp chime sounded in his head.
[Ore Pokémon Glimmet Dex entry complete.]
[Species: Glimmet
Type: Rock + Poison
Base Stats:
HP: 48
Attack: 35
Defense: 42
Sp. Atk: 105
Sp. Def: 60
Speed: 60]
[Transform unlocked: Glimmet]
[Reward: 1 base stat point]
Got it!
Jason froze for a beat, then a wave of elation surged through him.
He'd not only unlocked his first transformation entry—there was a bonus, too!
"A reward of 1 base stat point?"
He pulled up his status panel at once.
Name: Jason
Species: Ditto
Ability: Limber
Type: Normal
Base Stats:
HP: 48
Attack: 48
Defense: 48
Sp. Atk: 48
Sp. Def: 48
Speed: 48
Allocatable base stat points: 1
Held Item: None
Transform Dex: 1 (Glimmet)
A new line had appeared: "Allocatable base stat points."
His heart pounded uncontrollably.
This single point was huge.
Ditto's eternal six 48s put it among the worst base-stat Pokémon out there.
Now, by completing Dex entries, he could raise his base attributes!
This wasn't just Transform anymore—this was true "Ditto-to-God."
It was only one point, sure—but there are 1,025 known Pokémon. If he could collect them all, then added to his existing base stats, he could reach a total of 1,313.
Even Eternatus in its Eternamax state tops out at 1,125.
As for where to put the new point, he didn't hesitate: HP.
When he transformed, the other five stats would change to the target Pokémon's numbers, but HP would remain his own. Investing in HP was the best value.
Quelling his excitement, Jason turned his attention back to transforming.
He looked at the nearby Glimmet, and an urge welled up.
With a thought, he initiated the change.
A strange sensation washed over him. His puddle-like body drew inward and condensed. The pale-purple gel rapidly reorganized, and a hard, solid feel grew from within.
It was like growing bones—no, a framework of mineral crystals.
His outline set quickly; his "skin" shifted from soft and slick to cold and rigid.
In just a few seconds, the white light faded.
The purple goo was gone. Hanging there instead was a bluish-purple mineral flower identical to the one beside it, upside down on the wall.
Transformation successful.
Jason savored the new body—a sensation he'd never had before. No longer a sagging blob, he now had a fixed form and a tough outer shell.
"Eh?"
The Glimmet next to him was stunned.
It stopped absorbing nutrients, its whole bud going stiff.
It had just watched an ordinary-looking rock flash—and turn into a Glimmet?
What was that?
This cave-born Glimmet had spent its entire life here; it had never seen a creature like Ditto. In its simple worldview, a rock was a rock and a Glimmet was a Glimmet. A rock turning into a Glimmet was beyond comprehension.
It stared at Jason in shock—and even shuffled sideways, cautiously putting a bit more space between them.