[Pokémon: Swampert ♂]
[Level: 43]
[Talent: Perfect]
[Ability: Torrent?]
[Held Item: Swampertite]
[Moves: Growl, Tackle, Rock Throw, Bite, Mirror Coat, Counter, Yawn, Hydro Pump...]
[Special Talent: After absorbing a trace of blood from a Paradox Pokémon, Swampert's appearance has changed, and its Ability is currently undergoing a transformation. Has initially mastered the ultimate technique: Frozen Inferno.]
[Evaluation: A calm and hardworking Swampert. Intense training has granted it strength far beyond others of its species. Combined with a trace of Paradox bloodline, Swampert's past now holds limitless possibilities.]
Looking at Swampert's status screen, only two words came to Red's mind:
Perfect.
The results were almost exactly what he had hoped for.
Swampert had genuinely absorbed the power of Walking Wake, leaving Red pleasantly surprised.
Even better, its Ability was in the process of changing.
In Red's eyes, that was unquestionably good news.
After all, Swampert's current Ability was Torrent.
It wasn't useless, exactly.
But Red possessed a Swampertite.
How could he possibly allow Swampert to be pushed into a situation where Torrent even activated?
As far as he was concerned, the Ability was practically a blank slot.
As long as it didn't become some negative Ability, he could accept any change.
The only slight disappointment was that, despite absorbing Walking Wake's power, Swampert's aptitude remained at Perfect rather than advancing beyond conventional limits like Pupitar had.
Then again, Walking Wake was, at best, comparable to a Mythical Pokémon.
It simply couldn't compare to the combination of Groudon's power and another Dark-type Legendary source.
Still, there was one thing Red couldn't understand.
The final line of the evaluation.
"Combined with a trace of Paradox bloodline, Swampert's past now holds limitless possibilities."
"What does that even mean?"
"Its past has limitless possibilities?"
"How can the past have possibilities?"
Red was thoroughly confused.
The only explanation he could come up with was that this was some unique property of ancient Paradox Pokémon.
Half an hour later, Ash had fully recovered.
Together with his restored Pokémon, he stood before Red once more.
Looking at him, Red smiled.
"So?"
"Now do you understand the importance of knowledge?"
"I told you not to neglect your studies."
Ash scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry, Master."
"I really haven't been studying enough."
Red didn't press him further.
Instead, he calmly said:
"Starting today, you're going to memorize every Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex."
"Base stats. Abilities. Basic information."
"One Pokémon per day."
"At that rate, you'll finish in about three years."
"THREE YEARS?!"
"Master, you're making me memorize things for three years?!"
Ash felt like he was about to faint.
But this time Red showed absolutely no mercy.
"You're memorizing all of it."
"No negotiations."
"Trust me."
"Three years from now, you'll thank your current self."
After a moment of hesitation, Ash gritted his teeth.
"Alright!"
"I'll do it!"
Red patted his shoulder approvingly.
"Good."
Then he secretly slipped Ash what looked like an identification card.
"I've noticed something."
"Charizard may be your ace, but your command over it isn't very refined."
"How about spending some time training at the Charicific Valley?"
"I called in some favors to secure a spot for you."
"You want to surpass Gary, don't you?"
"This is your chance."
Ash immediately grabbed the card.
"Thank you, Master!"
Red nodded with satisfaction.
What he didn't tell Ash was that Charicific Valley wasn't far from Celebi Forest.
Recently, Red could clearly sense Ninetales' condition gradually declining.
His Viridian Power could only sustain it for so long.
So his plan was simple:
Speed up Ash's Johto journey.
Skip unnecessary detours.
Trigger the Celebi Forest storyline as quickly as possible.
Of course, Charicific Valley was a genuine opportunity.
Red wasn't lying to Ash about that.
"Master!"
"Can I leave right now?!"
Looking at Ash, who seemed ready to depart immediately, Red sighed helplessly.
"At least watch Gary's next match first."
"Gary's match?"
"Why would I watch that?"
"Training is way more important!"
Although Ash was completely focused on training, Red eventually managed to stop him.
If you go trigger the plot by yourself, what am I supposed to do?
Under Red's persuasion, Ash finally agreed to wait until the Eight Gym Leader competition concluded before heading to Johto.
While Red and Ash discussed the details of Charicific Valley, Gary stood some distance away.
Looking thoroughly embarrassed.
Too embarrassed to approach.
Shinji looked at him curiously.
"Senior Brother."
"Why are you afraid to go over there?"
Gary immediately remembered the things he'd shouted after winning on stage.
Instantly, he felt dizzy.
How had he gotten so carried away?
Actually telling Master that Master had been wrong?
His heart was filled with regret.
Am I about to be expelled from the sect?
Just as Gary was spiraling into panic, he failed to notice that Red had quietly appeared behind him.
"Hey."
The single word nearly scared Gary into collapsing.
When he saw who it was, he immediately cried out:
"Master!"
"I was wrong!"
"I shouldn't have spoken so arrogantly!"
"Please punish me!"
"I'll never say anything like that again!"
Looking at him, Red couldn't help laughing.
"Relax."
"I'm not nearly as petty as you think."
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the Poké Ball that Ash and Gary had fought over since childhood.
Then he placed it in front of Gary.
"This Poké Ball belongs to you now."
The moment Gary saw it, all his worries vanished.
His back no longer hurt.
His legs no longer hurt.
His entire body felt fantastic.
Picking it up excitedly, he immediately shouted:
"Ash!"
"Look at this Poké Ball! Doesn't it seem familiar—"
But Ash had already anticipated what was coming and disappeared like a rocket.
Then Gary suddenly realized there was something else inside the Poké Ball.
Red shrugged.
"Open it."
"That's the gift I promised the winner."
"It's a very valuable gift, though."
"So I'm only lending it to you."
"And under absolutely no circumstances can your grandfather find out."
Gary took a deep breath and opened the Poké Ball.
Inside lay a single stone.
A Blastoisite.
Gary stared at it for a long time.
Then he looked up at Red.
"Master..."
"What exactly is this?"
"A glass marble?"
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