NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Frogadier’s Champion Talent!
Chapter 60: Frogadier's Champion Talent!
Noticing the clothes she was wearing, Yuki quickly pieced together what had happened. Her cheeks flushed a deep red. Hikaru began to explain, but Yuki shook her head lightly, signaling that it didn't bother her.
Hikaru turned his attention back to Frogadier and Vulpix, who were absorbing the essence of Articuno's feathers.
What Hikaru hadn't expected was for Frogadier to break through its bottleneck first, reaching level 30 and advancing to Gym Leader level.
Moreover...
It gained an additional (secondary) Ice-type attribute alongside its Water type.
Paired with its "Protean" ability, this was nothing short of extraordinary. Against Grass-type opponents, Frogadier could now use Ice-type moves, switch its attribute to Ice, and neutralize the type disadvantage completely.
It was a remarkable improvement.
The essence of Articuno's feathers didn't just enhance Frogadier's level but also upgraded its potential, elevating it to Champion-level Talent.
This wasn't entirely unexpected. In the Pokémon world, certain Legendary Pokémon possessed the ability to empower others.
For example, Ho-Oh had blessed Suicune, Entei, and Raikou, transforming them into Legendary Beasts.
For ordinary Pokémon, even the feathers shed by a Legendary Pokémon could be a priceless treasure.
The absorption process took three days, during which Frogadier wasn't the only one who benefited.
Vulpix experienced tremendous growth as well, reaching level 24. More importantly, its potential also advanced to Champion-level Talent, likely due to the Ice affinity it shared with Articuno.
---
Back in Shuimu City, Articuno's emergence had blanketed the city in snow.
Thankfully, the snowstorm hadn't harmed anyone, but it lasted for three full days.
When Yuki's mother, the Ice Gym Leader, returned, she met with Articuno and learned of the events within the secret realm. She immediately requested the snowstorm to cease and organized a search-and-rescue mission for anyone still inside the realm.
Before the search teams could enter the secret realm, Hikaru and Yuki emerged from the portal.
Upon seeing them safe, Yuki's mother breathed a sigh of relief, her initial worry dissolving into a simple, "As long as you're safe."
The root cause of Articuno's rage was quickly identified. Hikaru had shared the details of the intruders he encountered, including their Pokémon and emblems.
It didn't take long for the identities of the culprits to be uncovered. Their Mightyena and identification badges confirmed their affiliation with Team Aqua, a notorious organization with goals to expand the sea.
Hikaru sighed.
First Team Magma, now Team Aqua. These two factions were usually at odds, yet he had somehow crossed paths with both in just a few months.
The incident prompted the Pokémon League to launch a nationwide crackdown on criminal organizations, sparking sweeping reforms and significantly reducing crime rates across the region.
As for Articuno, it vanished without a trace after the snowstorm ceased.
---
In the days that followed, Hikaru focused on training. Both Charmeleon and Kirlia, perhaps motivated by Frogadier's progress, broke through to Gym Leader level, reaching level 30. Their strength increased significantly.
Riolu, still young and growing, reached level 13 after its experiences in the secret realm. The journey had proven immensely fruitful for the team.
The secret realm's high energy density had accelerated their growth. Typically, energy density increased with the difficulty of the realm, which was why Pokémon in higher-tier realms were naturally stronger.
This adventure also seemed to subtly change Hikaru's relationship with Yuki. Though he couldn't quite articulate it, there was an undeniable shift in their dynamic.
---
That week, Hikaru received a new weekly trait.
[Water Recovery]: In water-surrounded environments, speed increases by 10–30% depending on the energy density.
Though it was a green-level trait, its effect was undeniably useful, especially considering their next destination—Aquapolis.
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[Pokémon: Frogadier]
Ability: Protean, Torrent
Gender: Male
Potential: Champion
Level: 30
Moves: Bubble, Water Pulse, Double Team, Aerial Ace, Dark Pulse, Grass Knot, Slash, Water Shuriken, Extreme Thunderbird, Swords Dance...
Equipped Traits: Shiny Skin (Fixed), Life Drain, Water's Aura, Rasengan, Water Recovery.
Frogadier's naturally high Speed stat, combined with the new trait, made it a formidable force.
---
Aquapolis was a city that emerged over a century ago from what was once an SS-tier secret realm. Stories claimed that Latios and Latias had once appeared there, serving as guardians of the city and maintaining its delicate balance.
After the secret realm merged with reality, it was developed into a sprawling aquatic metropolis, now a thriving hub of tourism and commerce.
In preparation for the Provincial Tournament, Hikaru doubled down on his team's training.
In the simulation room, Frogadier practiced its most powerful move, Extreme Thunderbird.
Since advancing to Champion-level Talent, Frogadier had incorporated Ice energy into the move, allowing it to deliver freezing and paralyzing effects upon impact.
When tested against a virtual Snorlax with a simulated HP bar, the results were staggering. Despite Snorlax's exceptional endurance stat (160 base HP), the move nearly one-shot it, leaving just a sliver of health.
Satisfied with the outcome, Hikaru turned his attention to Riolu, testing its Kaioken trait.
Upon activation, Riolu's body radiated a red aura, exuding an aura of immense power. It was visually stunning, but the strength boost was just as impressive.
During a sparring match against a level-20 Mankey, Riolu completely overpowered its opponent. However, the aftermath revealed a significant drawback—Riolu needed an hour to recover, even with pre-prepared restorative items.
On February 24th, the first day of the new semester, Hikaru headed to school to request an extended leave for the Provincial Tournament.
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