Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit Chapter 338 - 0339: Natsume-sensei’s Aura of Ripple

January 4th, Monday.

The final festivities at Caran Palace were winding down.

Lucario traced the mural of an Aura warrior wielding a staff.

"Lucario." Ash's voice echoed through the hall.

Turning, Lucario t the boy's gaze.

"No need for sorrow at parting, Ash."

Lucario's voice carried quiet strength. "Wherever we are, our shared Aura connects us. Call it fate..."

The proud warrior straightened, crimson eyes locking onto Ash.

"...or the bonds we forged."

anwhile...

Natsu and Steven were engaged in a heated mining ga within the castle.

"Mr. Steven, where'd you learn that hook technique?!"

Natsu gaped at Steven's flawless mining rhythm.

"Nothing special." Steven smiled serenely. "Just practice."

A question mark materialized above Natsu's head.

His eyes then caught a peculiar player icon—a tiny Ditto with only 24 hours of playti.

The choice of avatar made sense—most gars avoided real photos.

(Natsu himself used a grinning Gengar.)

But whether this "player" was human at all remained... questionable.

Especially since owth had only installed the wifi yesterday.

"These days, you can't tell if your teammate's human or Pokémon," Natsu muttered.

A thought struck him.

My Togepi's probably logged in too...

As sunset painted the towers gold...

Natsu examined his fingerless gloves in his chamber.

The enhanced version's red-and-black design was undeniably cool.

His smirk faded at sudden chatter outside.

Stepping onto the balcony, he found a crowd gathered below.

At the center, Blastoise and Lucario were engaged in a one-ard push-up contest.

Lucario had initiated the challenge after descending from the castle.

Hours later, Blastoise's form remained impeccable.

When Lucario's arms began trembling, Blastoise smirked—

—and switched to single-finger push-ups, one arm behind its shell.

Lucario's jaw dropped. "Y-you... how?!"

Natsu facepald from above.

Of all challenges, why pick push-ups against Blastoise?

This was the sa blastoise that used them as daily training!

...

With the crisis resolved...

Team Rocket departed first to continue their training card project.

Natsu finally reviewed his mission rewards.

"I was supposed to evaluate Ash..."

He massaged his temples.

"Now I'm paying for Blastoise's recovery items instead?!"

Basic Full Restores wouldn't cut it anymore.

Maybe traditional herbal dicine...

As for his actual reward—

[Mission Complete: Special Talent • Ripple Aura of Ripple]

The System had explained:

Such talents couldn't be purchased directly.

The Tree of Beginning's aura-rich environnt had triggered this unlock.

Natsu recalled the fundantals:

All living things possessed aura—

—not unlike "the Force" or "qi" in other worlds.

"So much for simple materialism," he muttered. "Might as well say everything's made of light."

Ripple Aura enhanced one's perception of this energy.

Mastery allowed telepathy, barriers, even aura transference.

Beginner applications included night vision or...

...theoretically lifting skirts with air currents?

"Got it!" Natsu snapped his fingers. "It's just chi manipulation!"

He imagined countering Lt. Surge's punches with qi bursts—

"—Wait, this sounds like cheap martial arts tricks!"

[?]

Still, the benefits were clear:

Sharper battle commands.

Easier gaming reflexes.

Most critically—

Blastoise now synergized better with him than even Gengar.

If it ga Evolves too...

Natsu groaned.

Goodbye, security deposit.

Staring at the twilight sky, he sighed.

"What was my plan again?"

A mory surfaced.

"Oh right." He covered his face.

"I went to that daycare looking for a slacker Pokémon..."

...

Fireworks blossod across the night sky.

The festival's grand finale illuminated Caran Palace.

Queen Ilene and Lucario stood on the castle balcony, watching Ash's retreating figure.

"That boy has an exceptional ntor," the queen Ilene murmured.

Lucario gave a slow nod.

mories of that terrifying Blastoise surfaced as it gazed at the stars.

"With him guiding Ash... he'll beco a true Aura warrior soon enough."

Steven's luxury SUV offered absurdly comfortable seating.

Driving Natsu and Ash to the airport, Steven leaned his elbow against the car window and smiled, "Natsu-sensei, I look forward to our next trip."

Suddenly, Natsu recalled the image:

Light-blue hair gleaming, Steven kissing his Key Stone as he faced the Three Regis.

This is what peak performance looks like.

Touched, Natsu nodded vigorously. "Absolutely!"

As the taillights faded...

"Damn it—forgot to give him the ga Stone!"

Steven's fingers tightened on the wheel before relaxing.

"I'll have it delivered," he decided aloud. "Right to his doorstep."

At the departure gate...

Togepi happily kicked its feet while clutching Natsu's phone.

The chat screen showed a Ditto-iconed user spamming ■■ symbols.

"Togepi~!" Togepi replied with its own ■■ barrage.

Natsu blinked.

You're actually communicating like this?

Then it hit him—infants had their own "language."

Though w was millennia old, it was essentially...

A giant newborn.

"Surprisingly logical," Natsu conceded.

The airport chi sounded.

Togepi was already in a multiplayer ga with w.

Shaking his head, Natsu stood. "Ti to go, Ash."

"Huh? Oh, right!" Ash jumped up, still processing everything.

Suddenly anxious, he asked: "Natsu-sensei... did I really pass?"

"Pikachu and I caused so much trouble..."

Natsu rested a hand on Ash's head.

"Without question."

His smile held quiet pride.

"Now we'll see what title Professor Oak gives you."

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