"That's normal. Although your strength is impressive, there's still a certain gap between you and me. But don't be discouraged. I believe you'll become as strong as I am someday."
Red waved his hand casually, not treating the battle that had just taken place as anything serious. To him, it was more of a training exercise—though not training for Ash himself, but rather a session to help Ash strengthen his Charmeleon.
Indeed, the encounter was less of a competitive showdown and more of a practical exercise. While Ash thought he was testing his mettle, in truth, Red was helping him train his Pokémon—particularly Tiffany's old Charmeleon, which Ash had temporarily taken care of.
However, what surprised Red was the unexpected reward he received after the battle.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating the original protagonist Ash, the Son of Luck. You have unlocked a new achievement task and obtained the Power of Aura.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating the Fire-type Pokémon Charmeleon and earning 130 points.
"Tsk tsk… I didn't expect Ash to bring me such a pleasant surprise. The Power of Aura, and it came just at the right time," Red muttered to himself with a grin, eyes fixed on the virtual display screen floating before him.
He couldn't help but recall a request he had previously made to the Pokémon Alliance—a request for a particular Pokémon. Originally, Red had planned to unlock the Power of Aura by either purchasing it through points or by randomly triggering an achievement quest after obtaining that Pokémon.
But to his surprise, the opportunity came not through his original plan, but by battling Ash.
"System, open my panel," Red commanded.
Opening...
> [Host: Red]
[Age: 12]
[Special Abilities:]
• Evergreen Power Lv2 (180/200)
• Psychic Power Lv1 (80/100)
• Aura Power Lv1 (0/100)
[Points: 11,360]
[Pokémon:]
• Charizard (Gym Advanced)
• Pidgeot (Gym Advanced)
• Shiny Beedrill (Gym Intermediate Peak)
• Pikachu (Elite Peak)
• Squirtle (Elite Advanced)
• Haunter (Elite Peak)
[Missions:]
• Main Mission 1: Defeat Gyms and Collect Badges (5/8)
• Main Mission 2: Challenge the Indigo League Conference
[Trainer Assessment: Gym Advanced]
[System Backpack:]
• Keystone Bracelet
• 2 Deluxe Balls
• 20 Poké Balls (various types)
• Charizard Evolution Stone
• Beedrill Evolution Stone
• Pidgeot Evolution Stone
• Fire Coal
• 5 Evolution Stones
• Energy Cubes (Fire, Flying, Normal, Rock, Ground, Poison, Water, Bug, Psychic, Grass)
• 1 Tennis Ball
• Mystic Water Drop
• Gengar Mega Evolution Stone
• …and more
"Beautiful…" Red murmured, eyes scanning the stats with satisfaction. "Now I have three special abilities from the world of Pokémon. In addition to the Evergreen healing ability, I also have Psychic power and now the newly gained Aura power. With these, I can fully understand the language of Pokémon and even use Aura-based detection and divination."
He smiled wider, his expression filled with ambition and determination. Although his Evergreen power had nearly reached level 3 and was already quite effective, the other two abilities were still in their infancy. Nonetheless, Red was confident. He believed it was only a matter of time before his Psychic and Aura powers reached their full potential.
Beside him, Ash clenched his fists with resolve. "Yes, I'll become stronger, together with Charmeleon and the others. One day, I'll come back and challenge you again, Red."
"I look forward to it," Red said with a nod. "But for now, let's take care of Charmeleon. While the battle didn't cause serious damage, it's still better to treat the burns quickly."
Red reached into his system backpack and pulled out a spray bottle of healing medicine. "Here, use this. I don't need it much anymore, thanks to my Evergreen powers. I mostly use this stuff for wild Pokémon or emergencies."
"Thanks," Ash said gratefully as he took the medicine. He crouched down next to Charmeleon and gently applied the spray to the areas affected by the battle. As the cool mist settled on the wounds, Charmeleon began to stir, showing signs of consciousness. Within minutes, the burns were almost completely healed, and Charmeleon slowly stood up, stretching as if testing its recovered body.
While Red and Ash were tending to Charmeleon, Brock and Misty were busy preparing dinner. They had seen the battle from a distance but chose not to interrupt, focusing instead on cooking. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the aroma of their cooking filled the air.
"Hey! Dinner's ready!" Brock called out, waving them over.
Red's eyes lit up. It had been over a decade since he had arrived in this world, and this was the first time he was about to taste a full meal prepared by Brock himself.
And what a meal it was.
Brock truly lived up to his reputation. While the food wasn't quite at the level of a gourmet restaurant, it was far more delicious than any meal Red had eaten at a regular restaurant. The flavors were rich, comforting, and perfectly balanced. Red ended up eating two full bowls before he was satisfied.
Ash and Misty were no different. Having eaten Brock's cooking countless times, they dove in enthusiastically, finishing off two large bowls each before laying back on the picnic cloth, sighing in bliss.
Their Pokémon were no less fortunate. While the trainers enjoyed Brock's cooking, Red took out special energy cubes and Miltank's premium milk from the system backpack for his own Pokémon. As Charizard and the others munched happily, the scent of their food wafted through the air, attracting curious glances.
Ash, Misty, Brock, and their Pokémon stared at the glowing energy cubes and pristine bottles of milk in awe. Compared to what they had in their own food boxes, Red's Pokémon food looked like a gourmet banquet.
Seeing their longing expressions, Red chuckled. "Here, no need to be shy."
He reached into his backpack and handed out energy cubes and milk specially matched for each of Ash's Pokémon.
Pikachu was the first to dig in—and the moment it tasted the energy cube, its eyes sparkled. It chewed slowly, then faster, then looked up at Red with the kind of joy usually reserved for a thunderstorm of ketchup.
"It's… so delicious…" Ash whispered, seeing the blissful expressions on all his Pokémon's faces.
Brock, ever the Breeder enthusiast, couldn't look away. His passion for Pokémon food was legendary, and the sight of such high-quality ingredients and nutrition made his heart race. He stepped forward, wanting to try one for himself, only to be blocked by Pikachu—who wasn't quite ready to share just yet.
"Wait, Brock," Red laughed, shaking his head. "Don't risk getting zapped. Here, I've got some for you too."
He handed Brock a few sample energy cubes.
The moment Brock bit into one, his eyes widened in shock. "This… this is incredible! The flavor profile, the energy density… and you say this is made for Pokémon?!"
"Yep. Though it's nutritious for humans too," Red replied.
Brock grabbed Red's hand, his eyes burning with excitement. "Red! Teach me. Please, make me your apprentice. I'll pay any amount of tuition. Just show me how to make these!"
Red scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, it's not exactly a skill you can learn the traditional way. But I'll see what I can do."
As the evening wore on, everyone sat around the fire, chatting, laughing, and enjoying the camaraderie of trainers and Pokémon. For Red, this wasn't just another day—it was a significant moment. He had earned a new power, strengthened his bonds, and perhaps most importantly, experienced the simple joys of friendship and food.
Ash sat beside Charmeleon, quietly petting its head. He didn't say much, but the determined look in his eyes said it all. He had a goal now—one inspired by Red.
And Red? He looked up at the night sky, the stars twinkling above.
He wasn't just a visitor to this world anymore.
He was a force to be reckoned with..