Natsuhiko slowly opened his palm, and his somewhat clumsy spiritual power enveloped the dark red treasure pearl, which gradually began to float.
"Chako-ee!"
'It's true!'
Togetic rubbed its eyes vigorously, not quite daring to believe the scene before it.
Natsuhiko really had superpowers now!
When it first saw him using it in the cave, it felt somewhat unreal. As the space shattered like a dream, when it returned here, it felt even more like it might have been just a dream.
But until it saw Natsuhiko truly using his superpower to make a red gem float, Togetic was stunned.
Not only Togetic, but Beedrill and Honedge were also surprised.
Yujira was the only one who looked at Natsuhiko with an eager, excited gaze, having already confirmed that Natsuhiko successfully awakened his psychic abilities.
Pokémon like Yujira are very smart and highly intelligent; it's said that when evolved into Alakazam, their IQ is as high as 5000, surviving purely on intellect.
This exceptional talent makes wild Yujira rarely approach ordinary humans, and they have high standards for Trainers. Without enough spiritual power, it's hard to earn their recognition.
However, Natsuhiko's Yujira has been cultivated from a Pokémon Egg. Neither when it was an Abra nor now as a Yujira, has it ever harbored any rejection or disdain towards Natsuhiko. The bond between them wiped out many subjective conditions.
Moreover, in Yujira's view, Natsuhiko's original spiritual power was not weak.
But now that he has awakened psychic powers, he perfectly fits the ideal Trainer envisioned by Yujira.
Thus, when Yujira saw Natsuhiko possessing superpowers, it was the most excited.
Because if things develop smoothly and normally, the psychic abilities of a Trainer and their Pokémon can complement and grow with each other.
For Natsuhiko, this was the first time he consciously used superpowers, which was slightly harder than he imagined.
Perhaps because he is still not proficient enough.
He looked at Azelf.
"This 'Will Treasure Pearl'..."
Azelf lazily stretched, and its voice sounded in Natsuhiko's head.
'This is for you.'
"For me?"
'You will likely need it; it's of no use to me. Carry it with you, and it will invisibly strengthen your will and enhance your psychic powers, though the process might be slow. But it's better than nothing,' Azelf explained.
Natsuhiko took the pearl back.
Good stuff!
Even if the growth is slow, from Azelf's perspective, it's an invaluable and rare item.
"By the way, what we just experienced, was it real or fake?" Natsuhiko asked again.
Azelf smiled, its eyes bending, and it twirled gracefully in the air.
'If you believe it's real, then it's real. If you think it's fake, then it's fake.'
Natsuhiko: "..."
Hoo—
Azelf let out a long yawn, eyes squeezing out two drops of tears, and said softly, "I'm so tired, I'm going to sleep now."
Right after speaking, it turned to leave, tail flicking.
But then it paused, winked at Natsuhiko, "Thanks~~"
Let me learn a new word.
After that sentence, it gently trembled, body fading as it slipped into the lake, vanishing into the rippling layers of spatial waves.
"Thanks?"
Natsuhiko was momentarily confused, not knowing what Azelf was thanking him for.
After a while, he came back to his senses.
Sitting back down, he looked at the Pokémon around him and suddenly, without arranging, they all began to laugh together.
Who cares whether it's real or fake, the feeling of experiencing it together was real.
"By the way."
Natsuhiko took out a pair of colorful stones from his pocket, one large and one small.
Super Evolution Stone and Keystone!
As he took out the stones, Beedrill's gaze fell on them too.
And you could vaguely see the Super Evolution Stone and Keystone flashing slightly.
...
...
After resting at the eastern shore of Lake Verity for a night, they continued towards their intended goal.
Azelf's test this time, although it did not yield any tangible material benefits, granted Natsuhiko and the Pokémon much more.
In order to combat powerful Psychic-type Pokémon in the alternate space, Natsuhiko and his Pokémon unintentionally accelerated their integration during battle, deepening emotional bonds. The most significant change occurred in Honedge, which finally shed some loneliness, possibly realizing that Togetic's term "chi Pokémon" was just a joke.
Meanwhile, the Pokémon showed noticeable improvement in their technique mastery.
Previously, after acquiring many new techniques at Meteor Falls and undergoing a ten-day intensive training on the Saint Anus, they improved their mastery. But the true test of actual battle revealed potential weaknesses and deficits, further accelerating their control over techniques.
Real battles always serve as the best means to verify strength and training outcomes, and as the best way to find one's deficiencies.
Aside from that.
What thrilled Natsuhiko the most was Beedrill's Mega Evolution. The strength of Super Great Needle Bee is indisputable; even if its Mega Evolution doesn't reach Gym Leader Level, it isn't far off.
With enhancements from Sword Dance, Deadly Needle Stab, High-speed Movement, along with Togetic, Yujira, and Honedge's assistance and coordination, opposing not-so-strong Gym Leaders isn't impossible.
This signifies an improvement in Natsuhiko's overall capabilities.
He gradually began to approach the mid-to-high-end forces of this world.
Of course, aside from what concerns the Pokémon, Natsuhiko himself also gained substantial benefits.
Awakening psychic powers!
According to Azelf, Natsuhiko's psychic talent among humans seems decent, at least at a medium or slightly above medium level.
Can't compare to prodigies like Nancy or Jade Liya.
Natsuhiko tested it with Yujira, finding his psychic strength currently between Qualified Level and Excellence Level, not too weak but not strong either.
Regardless, having psychic powers means his growth limit has been refreshed again.
In Natsuhiko's view, the greatest help from awakening superpowers is...
Making Energy Blocks!
His knowledge of Energy Blocks has grown through continuous study and mastery; one should never underestimate a person who has passed junior high, high school, and graduate exams known as the "million carp leaping over Dragon Gate" and emerged academically successful.
Not to mention, his ability to memorize and recall is definitely capable of surpassing most from this world.
Yet, in the practice of crafting Energy Blocks, progress is slow, even falling behind his study pace.
This is because crafting Energy Blocks tests not just knowledge, but experience and the ability to practice expertly.
This is what Natsuhiko lacks.
Even with strong learning skills, his time with it was short, mostly spent reading and learning, leaving little energy and time for dozens or even hundreds of trials.
His financial power also doesn't allow such waste.
But now, with the awakening of psychic powers, things have become different.
Psychic power can achieve fine control down to milligrams, touching substances and processes he couldn't reach before, manipulating various instruments with more precision.
Therefore, the first thought that flashed in Natsuhiko's mind was...
Pokemon Cultivation Master beckoning.