"Weakness," Paul muttered, just loud enough to be heard.
Oak's attention fixed on him. "I've trained hundreds of successful trainers, young man. Champions, Elite Four members, Gym Leaders. The strongest among them were those who understood that brutality breeds rebellion, while kindness breeds loyalty. Power without partnership is hollow. Remember that."
Paul's expression didn't change, but he said nothing more.
Oak's demeanor softened as he continued.
"The world beyond this laboratory is dangerous. Team Rocket, Team Galactic, wild Pokémon, and natural hazards—all of these pose legitimate threats. Your starter will be your first line of defense, your closest companion, and potentially your best friend for years to come."
He gestured toward me. "My grandson Samael will assist with the distribution. He's recently become a trainer himself and understands the weight of this moment."
Ten sets of eyes focused on me. Some curious. Some indifferent.
I stepped forward with Gible at my side, and I saw several trainers react to the crimson dragon.
Hunter J's visor immediately focused on Gible, scanning rapidly.
Lawrence pulled out his tablet and took notes.
Paul assessed Gible with clinical interest.
And Ash's eyes went wide with wonder. "Whoa... is that a Gible? I've never seen one that color before!"
"Prism variant," I said. "Dragon and Steel type."
"That's so cool!" Ash leaned forward in his seat. "Does it—"
"We'll discuss it later," Oak interrupted gently. "First, let's reveal your potential partners."
He moved to the cloth covering the ten habitats and pulled it away with a flourish.
The reactions were varied.
Ten different Pokémon were displayed in specialized enclosures, each suited to their natural habitat and needs.
I watched the trainers' faces as they took in their options, calculating which ones they'd try to claim.
But I had an advantage none of them possessed.
I activated my Prism Eye, letting the system overlay appear in my vision. One by one, I scanned the ten starters, checking their base potential, looking for that telltale silver glow that indicated genetic plasticity.
Porygon floated in a specialized electronic habitat, its geometric digital form shifting through various configurations.
Standard IVs across the board. Nothing exceptional.
Lawrence was already taking notes on his tablet, clearly fascinated by the rare synthetic Pokémon.
Dratini coiled gracefully in a water feature, blue scales shimmering under the lights. Decent specimen. High Special Attack IV (28), but average elsewhere.
Elekid sparked with electricity, punching the air enthusiastically. Fast—Speed IV of 27—but fragile defense.
Murkrow perched on the highest point of its habitat, sharp eyes scanning the room with obvious intelligence. Balanced IVs. No standout stats, but solid all around.
Chimchar sat in the corner of its enclosure, small and nervous, its tail flickering uncertainly with flames. Low defensive IVs. Weak to physical attacks. The little Fire-type looked terrified of something, and I wondered what Oak had told it about its new trainer.
Skorupi lurked in the shadows of its habitat, purple exoskeleton gleaming dully. High Defense (29) but slow.
Nincada burrowed in the dirt substrate of its enclosure, only its antennae visible above the surface. Adequate stats. Nothing remarkable, but potential for an interesting evolution path given Ninjask and Shedinja.
Togepi rested in a specialized incubation chamber, still in its egg, though the shell showed significant cracking, just about to hatch. IVs would randomize upon hatching, but current readings showed average potential.
Cheryl gasped when she saw it, clearly drawn to the soon-to-hatch baby.
Chikorita stood calmly in a planted habitat, the leaf on its head swaying gently. Solid all-around IVs. Good starter material, well-balanced. When Lyra looked at it, Chikorita approached the glass, and I saw immediate recognition between them.
And then... Riolu.
The moment my Prism Eye focused on the injured Fighting-type in its reinforced cage, everything changed.
Silver light.
Faint but unmistakable, shimmering around Riolu's form like a second aura visible only to me.
My lungs seized.
The system display appeared:
[RIOLU - Level 5]
[Type: Fighting]
[HP: 19/22]
[Status: Injured (Recovering)]
IVs:
- HP: 24
- ATK: 31
- DEF: 22
- SP.ATK: 21
- SP.DEF: 23
- SPEED: 31
[GENETIC PLASTICITY: DETECTED]
[Silver glow indicates Prism Transformation candidate]
'Two perfect IVs. Attack and Speed. The exact stats a Fighting-type needs to be devastating in combat. Everything else is above twenty, well above average. And genetic plasticity.'
I looked at the other nine starters again, then back at Riolu.
'This isn't just the best starter in the room. This might be one of the best natural specimens I've ever seen. And everyone's passing it over because of some bandages and trust issues.'
Riolu's ears twitched, as if sensing my attention. Those dark eyes lifted slightly, meeting mine for just a moment before looking away again.
'That Pokémon has been through hell. Team Rocket's "harsh training methods," according to Grandfather. Abuse. Punishment-based conditioning. No wonder it doesn't trust humans.'
'But the potential is there. Raw, incredible potential. If someone can earn its trust...'
Gible shifted beside me, sensing my excitement.
'You found something interesting.'
'Very interesting. That Riolu everyone's ignoring? It's special. Really special.'
'The injured one? It smells like fear and pain.'
'It also has the same silver glow you had. The same potential for transformation.'
Gible's attention focused on Riolu immediately. 'Another like me? A Prism candidate?'
'If someone can help it heal, not just physically but emotionally. Then yes.'
'The loud human in the front. The one who was captured yesterday. He could do it.'
'I think you're right.'