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With the 75 experience points gained from defeating Noivern, Kael's level had risen to 26.
No new moves were learned, but every aspect of his physical strength and abilities had improved.
And that ant he was one step closer to his goal: evolving into Ampharos at level 30.
In the Pokémon world, Mareep's evolutionary line was considered extrely weak in its early stages near the bottom of the food chain.
Both Mareep and Flaaffy were often raised in bulk for agriculture, the forr being a cheap livestock Pokémon and the latter a higher-value variant.
But if a Flaaffy ever managed to seize the opportunity through skill, training, or sheer luck to evolve into Ampharos, its strength and status would skyrocket in an instant.
So Ampharos even awakened access to Dragon-type moves.
Among non-Legendary Electric-types, Ampharos was one of the few capable of standing at the top tier of power.
Such a leap in strength was rare in the Pokémon world, almost on par with the legendary transformation of a Magikarp into a Gyarados.
So why, then, weren't more trainers trying to raise Ampharos?
Because reality was far harsher than the gas Kael rembered from his previous life. Read full story at NoveIＦire
In gas, all it took to raise a Pokémon was constant battles for experience, maybe breeding for IVs, planning EV spreads, and passing down moves. Given enough ti, anyone could raise a powerhouse.
But in reality, battles mostly improved combat experience and move proficiency, not raw stats or potential. Raising a Pokémon to its peak required vast resources and years of patient effort.
And for timid Pokémon like Flaaffy, just getting them interested in battling was a challenge in itself.
Even with a dedicated trainer investing ti and money from the Mareep stage, many Flaaffy would still be held back by their natural limitations, stuck in their middle form for life.
Only in rare, almost miraculous circumstances could their dormant ancestral genes awaken, allowing evolution.
As a result, there were only a few kinds of people who regularly possessed Ampharos:
1. Massive Mareep Ranchers – Owners of huge herds could, after years of care, produce exceptional individuals from sheer numbers.
2. Lighthouse Families – Old families entrusted with lighthouse duties for the Pokémon League, who had bred Ampharos lines for centuries, producing eggs with extraordinarily high potential.
3. Elite Electric-type Trainers – Masters with unique training thods refined over decades, who could, with enough ti and deep bonds, guide a Flaaffy into evolving.
4. The Lucky Few – Trainers with no special resources or thods, just unbelievable luck.
In Kael's previous life as a gar, this last group had a nickna: Shiny Luck Bastards.
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Ti passed quickly.
The blue healing fluid around Kael faded to clear, all of its nutrients converted into restorative energy.
Click.
The capsule's glass canopy opened from top to bottom, releasing a cloud of mist as warm air t the cooler surroundings. Kael stepped out slowly, stretching with a satisfied sigh. His body felt light, pain and stiffness lting away.
Looking around, he realized he was still inside his Poké Ball, and couldn't help but marvel at the convenience of the technology.
After loosening his muscles from the long soak, he started toward a large, fluffy bedding in the corner ready to rest.
Then a flicker of purple caught his eye.
"What's this...?"
Turning, he spotted a purple crystal on the floor, with two familiar red Berries lying beside it.
Warmth flickered in his chest. Allen and Trevor had left these for him. They knew how to treat their allies well.
His opinion of Dark Star deepened the organization's internal culture seed strangely different from other underground groups. Perhaps that explained its rapid growth.
Kael stepped forward and picked up the crystal, examining it closely.
Beneath its hard, translucent shell, liquid shimred with a star-like purple glow, flowing gently. In color and structure, it reminded him of the Thunder Stone pendant he wore around his neck.
He held it near his snout, inhaling deeply. The aura wasn't sharp and aggressive like electricity instead, it radiated a sense of nobility and elegance.
His brows furrowed. The feeling was oddly familiar.
Then it clicked.
"This... It's exactly like my Dragon-type Hidden Power."
He hadn't used that move in a long ti, not since developing far more complex combo attacks. But the sensation was unmistakable.
"A Dragon-type crystal, huh?"
A smile spread across his face. It might not be the Electric-type treasure he needed most right now, but it was still valuable.
After all, while Ampharos was purely Electric-type, its na carried the "dragon" connotation, and it could naturally learn certain Dragon-type moves. And in Kael's past-life ga knowledge, Ampharos's ga Evolution granted it an Electric/Dragon typing.
Feeling Dragon-type energy early and boosting his affinity with it would be invaluable preparation for the future.
Kael's Hidden Power was already Dragon-type, so his talent in that area was likely above average.
After studying the crystal for a while longer, he set it down and looked at the red Berries beside it.
Soft crimson skin, dusted with fine fuzz. The ends split like petals, revealing plump, pink flesh inside almost like a pogranate from his previous life. A faint, pleasant aroma wafted from them.
"No note? No instructions?" he muttered, a little annoyed.
"But... if it's in my Poké Ball, it should be safe enough."
"Alright... here goes nothing."
He shut his eyes and took a big bite.
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