Setting aside the minor details for now—
The defining trait of Mega Evolution is a comprehensive boost to a Pokémon's strength, sustained for a considerable duration.
A Z-Move, on the other hand, is about condensing and detonating power in an instant, unleashing everything at once through a reinforced technique.
Ash's Will Empowerment, through adjusting the energy allocation ratio, mirrored this exact distinction.
The difference between Normal Mode and Special Mode was, in essence, the difference between Mega Evolution and Z-Moves.
If Ash evenly distributed—or even reduced—the portion of power used for combat amplification, while increasing the energy spent on maintaining the enhancement's duration, then this mode became:
Pseudo–Mega Evolution
Enhancement Magnitude: < LV.8
Duration: ~28 minutes
On the other hand, if Ash drastically increased the energy used to amplify a Pokémon's combat power, while sharply reducing—or even completely eliminating—the energy reserved for sustaining the effect…
Then the duration of the enhancement would shrink to mere seconds, or even a single instant.
This kind of Special Mode was clearly—
Pseudo–Z-Move
Enhancement Magnitude: Approaches 100% amplification
Duration: Approaches zero
In short, both Normal Mode and Special Mode were extremely practical.
And through this realization, Ash finally understood something clearly—
Will Empowerment was far more terrifyingly powerful than he had originally imagined.
Under Normal Mode (5:5), with Ash's current Viridian Blessing at LV.17, he could boost a Pokémon by 8 levels for 8 minutes.
Frogadier's current level was LV.20.
With Normal Mode Will Empowerment, it could be temporarily raised to LV.28 for eight full minutes.
For Ash, this already counted as having a minimum level of self-defense.
If this had been yesterday afternoon—when Team Rocket was chasing him—Ash was confident that he would not have been forced into such a miserable escape.
If Team Rocket had only brought one Pokémon, Ash might have even pulled off a desperate counterkill.
…
Furthermore, at Ash's current level of psychic cultivation—
If he activated Will Empowerment · Pseudo–Z-Move, pouring all of his Viridian Blessing into Frogadier at once:
LV.20 + LV.17 = LV.37
Although the duration would be no more than an instant, the sudden eruption of power—approaching the Advanced Tier—would still be more than enough to make any enemy choke on it.
…
Pokémon Level Tiers
LV.01–15 → Beginner Tier
LV.16–30 → Intermediate Tier
LV.31–40 → Advanced Tier
LV.41–50 → Elite Tier
Above LV.50 → Gym-Class
…
After finishing the experiment on Frogadier, Ash adjusted his breathing and waited for the Viridian Blessing within his body to recover.
Once it stabilized, he moved on to the next test—
Pichu.
The results were similar.
With Ash's current Viridian Blessing at LV.17, he could likewise raise Pichu's combat strength by 8 levels for about 8 minutes.
The only difference was that Pichu's body did not undergo the same visible transformation as Frogadier.
Pichu remained a small, adorable little Pokémon—
But the red, blush-like electric sacs on its cheeks brimmed with terrifying electrical energy, perfectly embodying the phrase:
"Small body, massive power."
"Haah…"
Ash let out a long breath.
"It looks like, aside from meditating to cultivate Aura Power, I'll also need to work even harder on raising my Viridian Blessing."
"With Will Empowerment, I can temporarily gain powerful combat strength as well."
…
"Let's skip skill training for this morning," Ash decided.
"I'll take Pichu and Frogadier to fight some wild Pokémon and level up instead."
"And while we're at it, I'll spread the news about the free treatment clinic to Viridian Forest as well."
After concluding the Will Empowerment experiments, this was the plan Ash settled on.
"Pichu, Frogadier—wait here for a moment."
Using Aura Perception, Ash sensed a large gathering of Water-type Pokémon beneath the stone bridge outside town. After giving the two Pokémon a quick heads-up, he sprinted off at full speed.
Now that he understood just how powerful Will Empowerment was, Ash was burning with enthusiasm for improving his Viridian Blessing.
He refused to miss any opportunity to increase its level.
…
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting—come on out."
Arriving at the stone bridge, Ash used telepathic projection to call out to the Water-type Pokémon gathered in the river.
"Splash—!"
"Plash—!"
The moment his voice rang out, Water-type Pokémon surfaced one after another.
Magikarp.
Goldeen.
Poliwag.
Krabby.
Tentacool.
Shellder.
Seel…
In nature, weaker Pokémon were more prone to illness and injury.
Simply put—the weaker you were, the harder survival became.
This morning, when Ash sent out his message, nearly thirty injured Pokémon had gathered in under ten minutes.
Now, with the first group of healed Pokémon spreading the word—and Gyarados, which controlled the nearby estuary waters, aggressively promoting the clinic—
The number of injured Pokémon gathered beneath the stone bridge had surged to over fifty.
Seeing so many wounded and sick wild Pokémon, Ash felt joy—but also deep sympathy.
Without wasting any time, he immediately began treating them.
"Don't push—line up properly and come one at a time,"
Ash said while healing them.
"I'll make sure every single Pokémon gets treated."
Looking at these frail wild Pokémon, Ash felt genuine heartache.
The world of wild Pokémon was nothing like human society—there were no hospitals, no Pokémon Centers.
Even among wild Pokémon capable of moves like Heal Pulse or Aromatherapy, very few would actively heal others.
As a result, countless wild Pokémon died from what should have been minor injuries or illnesses—simply because they were never treated in time.
Ash knew he couldn't change everything.
The Pokémon world was vast.
Wild Pokémon were countless.
All he could do was offer what little help he could—whenever he happened to encounter injured or sick Pokémon.
Human society had its rules.
Nature had its own.
Humans and Pokémon should coexist harmoniously—but neither should excessively interfere with the natural operation of the other's world.
Nature was cruel for a reason.
It was precisely because of birth, aging, sickness, and death that humans and Pokémon learned to cherish life—
and that the world itself was not crushed under its own weight.
It took over half an hour for Ash to finish treating the more than fifty injured Water-type Pokémon gathered in the river.
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T/N:
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