In the Pokémon universe, there are three legendary powers:
Aura
Psychic Power
Viridian Force
Each one of them is rare. Each one of them goes beyond the limitations of normal.
And all three… are considered Great Powers.
Today, Sam got the opportunity to make the first move toward unlocking one of them.
Even without the mission of the system, he would have accepted the gauntlet.
Because this was not an ordinary battle.
It was an unusual opportunity to meet Pikachu, the legendary ally of Ash Ketchum.
A Pokémon that, in the world of animation, was beyond reason and limits.
Now, Sam wished to find out: what was the strength of this so-called "protagonist aura" in real life?
The battle started in a straightforward manner.
They selected an even clearing among the trees, no formal battlefield, no umpire.
Two Trainers.
And the determination to challenge one another.
Ash stood tall over the open area. With a practiced gesture, he flipped his hat back.
"Turtwig, I choose you!"
"Turrrtwig!"
Ash's Pokémon materialized in an instant, standing on short legs.
At Sam's corner, Lucario advanced, exuding silent power.
"Luka~"
Sam nodded slightly.
"You can handle this on your own."
Ash raised his fist.
"Turtwig, Razor Leaf, go!"
A green light burst from Turtwig's body, creating several spinning leaves that shot towards Lucario like blades.
But…
Lucario didn't react.
He just breathed softly.
"Luka."
"Aura"
Without even flinching, Lucario let his Champion-level aura spread out.
The intangible pressure grew like a dome, pushing against everything within range.
Turtwig's eyes went wide with terror. His short legs shook.
The Razor Leaf spirals wavered in mid-air… then fell harmlessly to the ground like dry leaves.
The difference was too big.
"Ugh…" Ash scrubbed the back of his neck.
"Too powerful… Turtwig, that's enough. Come back."
A burst of red light yanked the overpowered Turtwig back into safety.
Ash released a breath.
"Guess I got a little carried away."
Then, with no hesitation, he picked up his ace.
"Pikachu, your turn!"
"Pikachu!"
The yellow mouse sprang to the center, cheeks glowing with a faint spark.
Sam's vision narrowed slightly.
Time to witness. The 'unreasonable protagonist' in action.
He switched on the Eye of Detection, and at once, a flow of data filled his field of vision:
[Pokémon: Pikachu]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Electric]
[Ability: Lightning Rod, Attracts all Electric moves. Immunity + raises Special Attack.]
[Level: Unsure]
[Potential: Unpredictable]
[Skills: Quick Attack, Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Discharge.]
[Condition: Good]
[Comment 1: This Pokémon's fighting potential varies wildly. At times of intense emotion or crisis, it can release power far greater than its natural capability.]
[Comment 2: Born with a special "clean slate" potential. (Knows everything.)]
Sam's eyebrows shot up.
"Level… unsure?"
"Potential… unpredictable?"
He let out a low laugh.
Now this… this is fascinating.
Even the system struggled to quantify Pikachu.
That alone was the best proof that this Pikachu was not ordinary.
"Luka~"
Lucario crossed his eyes, advancing.
Ash gestured with confidence.
"Pikachu, let's show 'em what we've got!"
"Pika!"
Sparks lit from its cheeks, tail held high like a lightning rod.
Sam grinned.
"Guess this will be worth my time."
Sam scrunched his eyes as the system showed Pikachu's anomalous properties.
"Fits perfectly with Pikachu's legendary status."
In the anime, Ash's Pikachu possessed the contradictory habit of defying reason, sometimes knocking down literal titans, sometimes getting knocked about by a newborn starter.
That strange equilibrium of genius and unpredictability earned him the moniker:
Sam didn't experience envy.
For all that, Pikachu's "gift"-this involuntary reboot to rookie status —feels more like a curse.
Perhaps that's why Ash and Pikachu make such a great team.
They develop together… over and over.
As Sam pondered, Ash had already taken the initiative.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pee–ka–CHUUU!"
Electricity burst from Pikachu's cheeks in a blinding, crackling beam of raw electric energy.
The flash made the clearing in the forest go white-hot for an instant as a full-power Thunderbolt shot towards Lucario.
A gym-level attack.
Impressive… but still well short of Champion grade.
Sam didn't even blink.
"Luca," he said in a calm voice, "change your Aura into a Bone Club."
"Redirect the lightning into the ground."
"Luka~!"
Lucario acted on the instant.
The air rippled around his palm as he summoned a radiant blue Bone Club, the power charged with his Aura.
As the thunder broke down,
Lucario matter-of-factly drove the staff into the earth like a lightning rod.
Zzz-CRACK!!
The electric current bifurcated and hissed as the earth safely absorbed it, the ground popping softly with a static discharge.
Ash gritted his teeth.
"Using a grounded weapon to nullify the Thunderbolt?!"
"Okay, Pikachu! Iron Tail! Close the gap!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu charged forward, lightning-fast, tail radiating a white-hot energy.
He launched himself up, spun in mid-air, and delivered his tail with deadly accuracy, straight for Lucario's head.
Lucario didn't flinch.
He raised the Bone Club with one hand, meeting the Iron Tail squarely in mid-swing.
CLANG!
A shockwave reverberated through the clearing as the two met.
Pikachu was hurled backward from the rebound force, tumbling ten meters before crashing to a stop, paws knotted in the earth.
He panted, cheeks crackling… but Lucario?
Lucario had not moved. Not an inch. Not a scratch.
What followed was a whirlwind of attacks.
Quick Attack. Thunderbolt. Iron Tail. Discharge.
Again and again, Pikachu charged at Lucario with everything he had.
But Lucario…
Dodged. Deflected. Neutralized. Withstood.
He never counterattacked. Never struck back.
He didn't have to.
Pikachu's power, even at its peak today, wasn't able to cut through a Champion's defense.
Finally, drained and panting, Pikachu dropped to one knee.
Ash's fists shook, but his eyes were shining with respect.
And Sam?
[Ding! System Task Complete.]
[Reward: Aura Power Unlocked. Achievement Unlocked!]
[Instructions: None. Please take a look at it yourself.]
A warm surge coursed through Sam's body.
Like a second heartbeat.
Something stirred within him, soft but building steadily.
A sense. A field. A resonance with Lucario… and the world.
Aura had been granted.
Sam exhaled slowly.
The air around him shimmered faintly, almost imperceptibly.
He glanced toward Ash, who was already jogging toward Pikachu.
"Thanks for the battle, Sam!"
Ash lifted Pikachu in his arms, both of them still smiling despite the loss.
"Even though we lost, that was incredible!"
"Pika…" Pikachu weakly raised a paw in agreement.
Sam smiled back.
"You both fought well. Well."
He gazed down at his palm, where the ghostly recall of the Aura flashed.
So this is the beginning…
"Come on, Luca," Sam said.
"We've still got a long way to go."
"Luka~."