Psychic

"Doctor, Doctor! How's my grandson? Is he all right?"

In the hospital corridor, Garp grabbed a doctor in a white coat.

"Now, now, Vice Admiral Garp, don't worry. Your grandson is fine."

"Ahaha! I knew my grandson couldn't possibly have anything wrong with him!"

Garp relaxed at the doctor's words and stuffed a handful of doughnuts into his mouth to calm his nerves.

"But, Doctor, how did Luo Sa pass out?"

Garp swallowed his doughnuts, still looking puzzled. Luo Sa had collapsed without warning in the middle of the field, and it had really given him a scare.

"Well... I just examined him, and everything seems normal."

"So I suspect his ability to recover from injuries at incredible speed is something like Life Return, using his consciousness to stimulate his body and speed up its recovery!"

"And he probably passed out because he overexerted himself mentally."

"Don't disturb him. Let him get a good night's sleep. Once he's recovered his strength, he'll wake up on his own!"

The doctor patiently explained everything to Vice Admiral Garp.

"Vice Admiral Garp! Vice Admiral Garp! Luo Sa's awake! You should hurry and go see him."

Just then, Hina, who had been keeping watch beside Luo Sa, came running over with a delighted expression.

Garp brightened and immediately used Soru, vanishing from the spot.

"Luo Sa, are you all right?"

Garp stood beside Luo Sa's bed, his face full of concern.

"I'm fine. My head just hurts a little," Luo Sa said with a smile.

The ability Luo Sa had used this time came from Winged Gull's Hidden Ability, Water Absorb!

When it rained, a Pokémon with Water Absorb recovered 1/16 of its maximum HP at the end of each turn.

In rainy weather, as long as he wasn't taken out in a few hits, he had an overwhelming advantage in a battle of attrition!

However, this move really was a little too powerful. So Luo Sa, who knew better than to reveal all his cards, had immediately chosen to pass out, faking aftereffects similar to those of Life Return.

As for the move's actual aftereffects, there really were some: his stomach had been completely emptied, and now he was ravenous!

"Grandpa, do we have anything to eat? I'm starving!"

Luo Sa looked at Garp weakly, putting on a pitiful expression.

"Food? We've got plenty!"

Garp immediately gave the order, and his subordinates brought in a lavish spread.

Before long, cart after cart of food rolled into the hospital room. The room seemed like a bottomless pit, swallowing everything that came through the door.

"Vice Admiral Garp, this is already the eighteenth cart of food. Is it really okay for Luo Sa to eat this much?"

Hina asked Garp cautiously, her face full of worry. Luo Sa's eating habits had truly frightened her.

"Don't worry. This is another aftereffect of my ability. I need to replenish my nutrients right now!"

Luo Sa spoke with his mouth full, then tipped another plate of food into it.

Only after a long while did Luo Sa finally pat his belly in satisfaction and let out a burp.

"You seem to be in good spirits, Luo Sa!" Sengoku said with a laugh as he opened the door and entered.

"Ah! I'm doing great. Thank you for your concern, Marshal Sengoku!" Luo Sa replied with a cheerful smile.

But the next moment, his gaze sharpened. He had spotted Akainu standing behind Sengoku.

"What are you doing here, Akainu?" Garp asked, watching him warily.

"Hmph, Garp. I'm not about to attack a child!" Akainu snorted and walked over to Luo Sa's bed.

"This is your proof, Marine Luo Sa." Akainu took a Badge from his pocket, bearing the emblem of the Libra Seagull.

Luo Sa narrowed his eyes and reached out to take it.

But Akainu pulled it back, evading Luo Sa's hand.

"Luo Sa, I won't interfere in your affairs with Sakartam. But... if you dare do anything that goes against justice, I'll be the first to step in and eliminate you!" Akainu stared straight at Luo Sa, his face dark.

"Then what, exactly, is this justice you're talking about?" Luo Sa narrowed his eyes, still making no move to take the Badge Akainu held out to him.

"The Marines are justice!"

Luo Sa nodded slightly, took the Badge from Akainu's hand, and smiled. "From today on, the Marines are my family. I know how to treat my family."

"Remember what you said!" Akainu snorted and turned to leave.

Over the boundless sea, a Winged Gull skimmed swiftly across the water, one wing slicing into the waves and drawing out a white trail of foam.

At the far edge of the horizon, an island appeared faintly. Countless seagulls wheeled through the sky above it.

As it neared the island, Winged Gull circled once, a glint flashing in its eyes as it took in the surroundings.

After confirming that everything was clear, Winged Gull shot upward and vanished into the clouds.

A moment later, Gastly plummeted rapidly from the sky.

"Confusion!"

An invisible force radiated from Gastly. The seagulls nearby were instantly caught in its grip, hanging motionless in midair.

"Down!"

At Gastly's quiet command, the seagulls dropped into the sea like dumplings falling into a pot. It took a long while before they clambered out of the water, still shaken.

Hehehehe!

Amid a sinister laugh, Gastly's figure slowly sank into the rocks.

"Phew. After a week of training, I've made some progress with my Confusion. This is so much fun!" Luo Sa appeared inside the cave, rubbed his dizzy head, and grinned foolishly.

I should explain that the skill description for Confusion was: "Sends a weak telekinetic attack at the opponent. It may leave the opponent confused."

Strictly speaking, the Confusion he was using now wasn't a Pokémon move at all. It was a form of mental power control made tangible!

That was much like the Confusion in the anime. Sabrina could use the same ability!

He also clearly remembered an episode in which Gastly and Haunter used this kind of Confusion to make a ship fly into the sky!

At the same time, he'd discovered that this Confusion was present whether he was in Winged Gull form or Ditto form. Its source was mental power!

Every time he used a move, his mental power was what drove the energy inside his body.

But only when reinforced by Psychic type energy could that mental power become tangible—in other words, become true Confusion!

So far, though, he hadn't found a way to increase his mental power. He could only strengthen his Confusion by raising his Psychic type energy!

"Help! Somebody, help me!"

Just as Luo Sa was absorbed in studying Confusion, a voice seemed to drift into his ears.

"Who?!"

Luo Sa jolted and looked around.

"Looks like my mental energy's running low, and I'm starting to imagine things!"

He shook his head, let out a breath, and decided to call it a day.

After all, tomorrow was the day he entered the Elite Camp!

Another day, another update! Here comes the first chapter. Please add it to your favorites and leave a recommendation—anything helps!