Greninja Awakens Protean

Beside Sea God Lake.

Chi Hong took off his hat and summoned Greninja.

"At last, the day's here. Come on, Greninja. Let's go find that plate."

Mu En appeared behind Chi Hong like a ghost.

"Child, must you be so impatient? Xiaotao's evil fire hasn't been fully dealt with yet, has it?"

Chi Hong turned around.

"Mu En, you know the Splash Plate can make my Greninja stronger. Its water power will help suppress the fire."

"Besides, I'm going to be in the starting lineup for this Soul Master tournament. How can I do that without getting stronger?"

Mu En chuckled.

"You want to be in the starting lineup? Then think carefully. Not one of your Soul Beasts has reached ten thousand years. The strong teams in the tournament almost all have Soul Kings. If an opponent accidentally kills one of yours, don't go looking for somewhere to cry. Soul Masters don't hold back against Soul Beasts."

Chi Hong nodded. Mu En had a point.

"Exactly. That's why I need the plate even more. See you..."

With that, he plunged into Sea God Lake, Greninja close behind.

The lake was far deeper than Chi Hong had imagined.

Sea God Lake was no ordinary pond. The deeper he dived, the greater the pressure grew and the darker it became, until his vision blurred.

But Chi Hong didn't panic. He could sense the plate's location deep on the lakebed.

He glanced at Greninja and pointed in one direction.

Greninja understood. With a gentle sweep of its hands, it parted the surrounding water into a passage around Chi Hong.

The current carried him forward several times faster than he could swim.

Chi Hong sped down.

A hazy shape gradually emerged from the lakebed.

A stone platform stood alone at the very center.

On it, the plate gave off a soft blue glow.

Delighted, Chi Hong paddled closer and scooped up the plate with one hand.

[You obtained the Splash Plate.]

The instant he removed it, the surrounding currents turned violent. The entire lake began to shake.

At the surface, wave after wave surged upward and rushed fiercely toward the shore.

A gleam flashed in Mu En's eyes. A protective barrier settled over the lake, blocking the waves.

But the water showed no sign of stopping. It gathered strength bit by bit and struck the barrier again and again.

Boom!

Greninja brought Chi Hong out of the water and leaped onto the shore. Watching the raging lake, Chi Hong praised, "Mu En, your powers are incredible! I'll leave this to you, then. I'm going back to study the plate."

"Stop." Mu En looked helpless. "You're holding the plate that controls water. Come help."

Realization dawned on Chi Hong.

"You're right. I thought you wanted to show off for the younger generation."

Chi Hong drew the Splash Plate into his body, then channeled its water power into Greninja.

Greninja's eyes widened. It felt its water nature rising to new heights and the power throughout its body breaking free.

"Kou—ga!"

Greninja cried out. A powerful vortex of water erupted around it, spiraling higher and higher until it shot into the sky.

"Ultimate Water. Another ultimate attribute. Where are his limits?"

Mu En spoke in astonishment. Even with all his experience, he was shaken.

The twelve-year-old student before him possessed three ultimate attributes. If he found more plates in the future, he might gain even more. It was almost unbelievable.

"But growing stronger with ultimate attributes is difficult. As things stand, these two Soul Beasts will need more time to reach ten thousand years."

Feeling Greninja's transformation, Chi Hong's spirits soared. "Greninja, Water Pulse!"

He summoned the Splash Plate and gave it to Greninja to hold, strengthening its control over water as much as possible.

Blue light flashed in Greninja's eyes. It formed signs with both hands, and each completed gesture raised a wave on the lake's surface while calming the currents below.

When its final gesture fell, Sea God Lake returned to normal.

[Under the influence of the Splash Plate, Greninja's potential was awakened. It gained the Hidden Ability Protean.]

Protean: Before using a move, Greninja's type changes to match that move's type. (Moves of its own type gain a 1.5× power bonus.)

Chi Hong's eyes lit up, but he didn't stop to examine it. He said goodbye to Mu En and hurried back to the dormitory.

In the dormitory.

Chi Hong summoned all three of his Pokémon and the Ice Empress.

The moment Charizard appeared, it sensed the powerful threat Greninja posed. It jolted, the flame on its tail burning brighter as it watched Greninja warily.

Greninja met its stare without backing down. Moisture in the air quietly gathered around it.

The two looked ready to fight at any moment.

Riolu was eager to join in, but it wasn't strong enough yet and had no ultimate attribute granted by a plate.

The Ice Empress released her imperial aura, making the Pokémon "calm down."

"If you want to fight, take it outside. Chi Hong, why did you summon me?"

Chi Hong brushed ice crystals from his hair.

"I want you to teach Greninja how to use ice."

The Ice Empress glanced at Greninja, which was trying not to shiver, and frowned.

"It's a Water type, and ice is a weakness for it. Isn't learning to use ice putting the cart before the horse? Did your brain freeze?"

Chi Hong smiled.

"Of course not. Greninja has a hidden talent that lets it change its own type."

With that, he had Greninja put on the move-learning wristband, then gave it three TMs.

They were Icy Wind, Ice Beam, and Blizzard.

He had just gotten them all from Professor Oak.

"A talent for changing its type."

Surprise crossed the Ice Empress's face. A Soul Beast could have an ability like that?

She had never heard of such a thing.

As soon as Greninja put on the wristband, it began training.

As the supreme master of ice, the Ice Empress could clearly sense the little one's type shifting toward Ice.

Its body was adapting to the change as well.

The Ice Empress fell silent for a moment, then finally accepted what she was seeing.

Without another word, she began guiding Greninja's training.

Meanwhile, Chi Hong examined another Pokémon Ball Professor Oak had sent him.

[Legendary Pokémon Ball · Kyogre]

Requirement: Control the Splash Plate

Uses: 1

Age level: 999999 (this world's limit)

Type: Water

Ability: Drizzle. The instant Kyogre descends, rain clouds blanket the sky and a downpour falls like a waterfall. The entire battlefield becomes a world of water, and the power and accuracy of Water-type moves rise to their peak in the rain.

Hidden Ability: Primordial Sea (Primal Reversion form). Deep-blue light of primal power radiates from Kyogre's entire body, and the downpour becomes an endless torrent. Fire-type moves are completely suppressed, no power can change the weather, and the ocean's will reigns above all laws.

Moves: Origin Pulse, Hydro Pump, Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Thunder, Ancient Power, Water Pulse, Body Slam, Take Down, Aqua Tail, Headbutt, Scary Face, Protect, Calm Mind, Substitute, Endure, Earthquake, Waterfall, Scald, Razor Shell, Roar, Brick Break, Double Team, Shock Wave, Rock Tomb...

Duration: Kyogre will fight an opponent who threatens you one-on-one until it defeats the opponent or dies.