Sitting cross-legged on the rocky surface, Ron's psychic energy pulsed rhythmically, radiating outward with increasing intensity.
As a Psychic-type Pokémon, Gardevoir could keenly sense that Ron was at a critical juncture.
If he broke through, he would officially become a novice psychic. But if he failed, achieving this breakthrough in the future would become incredibly difficult—perhaps even impossible.
"Just a little more! Just a little more!"
The voice echoed in Ron's mind repeatedly. He could feel that he was on the verge of breaking through, yet an invisible barrier kept holding him back.
Psychic abilities, though not as rare as some other extraordinary powers, had been the subject of research by many. Scientists had attempted to unravel the mysteries of psychic energy, hoping to make it accessible to more people.
Although this goal was never fully realized, some aspects of psychic power were uncovered.
Studies revealed that psychic abilities were essentially a manifestation of one's mental and spiritual fortitude.
Only those with both exceptional mental strength and unwavering willpower had the potential to awaken such powers.
However, human potential was limited. No matter how much a person trained or refined their psychic abilities, they could never match the sheer psychic force of a true Psychic-type Pokémon.
As a result, human psychics focused more on refining the quality of their powers, rather than sheer quantity. By mastering control, they could manipulate ambient psychic energy to amplify their abilities—allowing them to rival even Psychic-type Pokémon in battle.
Because of this distinction, psychics were categorized into three ranks based on the refinement of their powers:
Novice Psychic – Capable of telepathy.
Intermediate Psychic – Capable of teleportation.
Advanced Psychic – Capable of manifesting psychic energy in tangible forms.
Before reaching the advanced level, a psychic could still use their abilities in combat, but their attacks lacked power due to the limitations of both quantity and refinement. Manifesting psychic energy in physical form remained an unattainable feat at this stage.
The origins of psychic training techniques had long been lost to time. However, the fact that these methods had survived for generations was proof of their reliability.
At this moment, Ron had no choice but to keep circulating his psychic energy, trying to break through the last remaining barrier.
"Break already!"
With a sudden roar, his psychic energy surged again.
His eyes snapped open, glowing with an intense blue radiance.
A faint cracking sound echoed in his mind—something had shattered.
In the next moment, his once-turbulent psychic energy began to settle, flowing smoothly under his control.
Closing his eyes, Ron focused on stabilizing his newfound power.
"Everyone... I did it. I broke through."
As he reopened his eyes, his voice resonated directly within the minds of his Pokémon companions—Machamp and the others.
Even before his breakthrough, Ron had studied the fundamentals of telepathy.
Now that he had achieved this level, it came as naturally as breathing.
Upon hearing Ron's voice in their minds, Machamp and the others turned to look at him, their expressions filled with joy.
"Alright, everyone! Let's gather some ingredients. We're celebrating this milestone with a grand feast!"
Just like a child with a brand-new toy, Ron eagerly used telepathy to communicate with Machamp and the others.
However, for Machamp and its companions—who had long been accustomed to Gardevoir's psychic link—this was nothing novel. Still, for the sake of the delicious feast awaiting them, they humored Ron's enthusiasm.
Carrying their captured prey, Persian strode back at a leisurely pace. Yet, a sudden sensation of being watched made its fur bristle.
Feigning indifference, Persian sharpened its senses, carefully listening to every sound in the surroundings.
Then, without warning, Persian vanished from its spot—Shave—Instant Step executed with lightning speed as it charged toward the source of the intrusive gaze. Yet, it found nothing.
Perplexed, Persian returned to its prey. Dismissing the feeling as a mere illusion, it continued on its way.
Some time later, a dark silhouette materialized precisely at the spot where Persian had been searching.
The scent of food filled the air as wisps of smoke curled skyward, carrying an irresistible aroma in all directions.
As one delicious dish after another was set out, Machamp and the others grew eager, their anticipation evident.
"Alright, dig in!"
At Ron's command, the scene instantly devolved into a feeding frenzy—like a pack of starving wolves obeying their alpha's call to attack.
It was akin to sharing a meal with multiple Luffys—if you didn't fight for your portion, all that would be left for you was the cold northern wind.
By the time the feast ended, the only thing remaining was utter chaos.
Just as Ron was about to use telepathy to instruct Machamp and the others to clean up, he noticed Gardevoir's expression change.
"Everyone, stay on guard!"
At Ron's urgent command, Machamp reacted first, activating Life Return to rapidly digest the food in its stomach, ensuring it could move at full capacity.
Persian and the others followed suit, swiftly securing all directions.
"Three o'clock direction, two hundred meters out—Psychic-type Pokémon detected," Gardevoir reported.
Hearing this, Ron swiftly recalled Persian and the others into their Poké Balls. Then, without hesitation, he had Gardevoir use Teleport, bringing himself and Machamp closer to the target.
Almost the instant they arrived, a Girafarig attempted to escape using Ally Switch—but it was too late.
Gardevoir's Psychic was unleashed, disrupting the opponent's attempt mid-cast. As a fellow Psychic-type at High Elite level, Gardevoir had little trouble overriding Girafarig's move.
In the next instant, Machamp executed Finger Pistol: Morning Peacock, a flurry of fiery punches erupting into a blazing inferno that engulfed the Girafarig.
Had Machamp not held back, a mere High Elite-level Girafarig would have perished in the searing flames.
"Looks like it was just a wild Pokémon passing through."
After scanning the surroundings and finding no other threats, Ron reached a conclusion and prepared to release Girafarig back into the wild.
At that moment, Persian suddenly emerged from its Poké Ball, revealing to Ron the lingering sense of being watched that it had experienced earlier.
If not for Girafarig's unexpected appearance, Persian might have dismissed it as its imagination. But now, it seemed likely that the one observing it had been this very Girafarig—using Ally Switch to escape when discovered.
Of course, the possibility remained that another Psychic-type Pokémon was involved, or perhaps Persian had simply been mistaken.
"Being watched, huh? That is rather strange…"
Ron pondered Persian's account with a puzzled expression.
A High Elite-level Girafarig had already taken a considerable risk just by observing Persian, but what was even stranger was that it hadn't immediately fled—it had actually been approaching them.
Had it not been for Gardevoir maintaining a passive psychic scan even while eating, they might not have noticed the Girafarig sneaking closer.
Unable to draw a clear conclusion, Ron decided to ask directly. Ensuring that Girafarig was securely restrained, he activated his Fighting Aura to heal its injuries, then signaled Machamp to wake it up.
Gardevoir stood ready, exerting a powerful Psychic Pressure—if Girafarig made even the slightest wrong move, she would strike without hesitation.
Machamp and the others were equally vigilant. Against an opponent with the unpredictable tricks of a Psychic-type, extreme caution was necessary.
As Girafarig opened its eyes, it was met with the intimidating sight of Machamp and the others, poised for battle. Instinctively, it tried to flee—
But a single sentence froze it in place…
-----
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / madbot635