When Ash saw that Lu Chen had instantly guessed he had found a Pokémon Egg,
he stopped trying to be mysterious and hurriedly took off his backpack.
He unzipped it and carefully lifted out a Pokémon Egg.
The shell was pale cyan, covered in fine, dark patterns, and gleamed with a soft luster in the sunlight.
The shell felt warm to the touch, and a faint pulse of life could be felt inside.
"I found it beside a little river! It was sitting in a patch of grass by the river. When I walked over, it was right there, like it was waiting just for me!"
Ash's eyes shone.
"And I feel like I have a special connection with this egg!"
Lu Chen glanced at the egg and nodded. "That's normal."
"Normal?" Ash tilted his head.
"Once you have Aura, you'll naturally find a Pokémon Egg that's the best match for you."
Lu Chen had long since grown used to this sort of thing.
"For Aura Guardians, the Pokémon Egg you find is usually your true starter Pokémon."
"You can even gauge your potential by the talent of the Pokémon in the egg you find."
Ash pricked up his ears. Misty and Brock leaned closer too.
"For example, if you find a Riolu egg, that means you have the best talent."
"Next come Squirtle and Togepi."
"Below those are eggs of Pokémon like Crawdaunt and Mienshao."
Ash looked down at the egg in his arms and blinked.
"Oh-"
He fell silent for two seconds.
Then he broke into an almost excessively brilliant smile.
"So that's how it works! But that's okay. Whatever Pokémon hatches from it, I'll raise it well!"
As Ash said this, his eyes sparkled, and there was not the slightest hint of calculation or comparison in his voice.
Ash simply felt happy to have found this egg, happy to have a Pokémon by his side.
Looking at Ash's utterly guileless face, so wholly devoted to Pokémon, Lu Chen felt something stir softly within him.
At that moment, Lu Chen could not help marveling to himself,
Perhaps only an era like this could produce someone like Ash, someone with such wholehearted sincerity toward Pokémon.
In the ultra-ancient era, Pokémon had been tools of war, expendable resources, bargaining chips for measuring strength.
But Ash was different.
He did not care about strength or talent. He simply liked Pokémon.
Lu Chen knew that even without his status as the anime's protagonist, Ash's love for Pokémon alone would make his future limitless.
"Wait!"
Professor Oak suddenly darted over from the side, his eyes wide behind his glasses.
"What do you mean, Ash has become an Aura Guardian?!"
Professor Oak looked at Lu Chen, then at Ash, his expression shifting from confusion to shock.
"Did I miss something?!"
Ash proudly puffed out his chest and recounted everything about awakening his Aura at Lu Chen's farm that day.
Ash told the story animatedly, embellishing it like a storyteller, especially the parts about the goddess statue glowing and being able to see his surroundings with his eyes closed.
After hearing him out, Professor Oak stood with his mouth hanging open for a long time.
He glanced at Lu Chen again.
That story Lu Chen had told that day-the guardian, the warrior, the queen, Aura...
Professor Oak had felt something was off at the time. Now he finally understood.
That had not been a story at all.
It had been Lu Chen's own experience.
Professor Oak opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he merely sighed heavily, patted Ash on the shoulder, and said earnestly,
"Learn all you can from Lu Chen."
Ash nodded firmly.
Delia walked over and bowed slightly to Lu Chen.
"Mr. Lu Chen, thank you for helping Ash awaken his Aura. This boy has been rash since he was little. With this power, he'll be better able to protect himself in the future."
Lu Chen waved a hand. "No need to thank me. We're neighbors."
Lu Chen paused, then added,
"Besides, Aerodactyl and the others really like your cooking. Just consider it a gift in return."
Delia smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Meanwhile, Misty and Brock stood at the edge of the crowd, their gazes settling on the same spot.
Gengar was floating in a corner of the yard, holding a jar of candy and tossing pieces into its mouth one after another.
It ate with great delight, its cheeks bulging and its tail swishing back and forth, the strange black markings on its body flickering in and out of view in the sunlight.
Misty and Brock exchanged a glance.
They both remembered the three gigantic beasts that had been visible for hundreds of miles around that night.
Especially that largest Gengar, with those markings and that distinctive eerie grin.
They were exactly the same as those of the plump purple fellow eating candy before them.
Misty swallowed and lowered her voice. "Brock, do you think Mr. Lu Chen's Gengar..."
Brock fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "I think our guess might be right."
When the two looked at Lu Chen again, there was a little more indescribable awe in their eyes.
At that moment, Professor Oak had drawn Ash aside and was eagerly asking him about the details of Aura.
He seemed ready to make Ash his research subject and write a paper on the spot.
"Does Aura improve your ability to sense Pokémon? Can you tell what Pikachu is thinking right now?"
"Sure! Pikachu's thinking, 'I'm hungry. I want some of Aunt Delia's cookies.'"
"Pikachu!" Delia smiled and beckoned to Pikachu.
"Come here. Auntie will get you some cookies."
Pikachu ran over happily.
Professor Oak wanted to keep asking questions, but the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
He took it out and glanced at the caller ID, his brow furrowing slightly, then stepped aside to answer.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end was urgent, speaking so quickly that it was almost impossible to make out.
Within a few short seconds, Professor Oak's expression went from relaxed to grave, then from grave to pale.
Professor Oak's fingers tightened around his phone.
"What did you say? Say that again?"
Seeing Professor Oak's expression, everyone present froze slightly, and the lively, peaceful atmosphere was instantly shattered.
The person on the other end repeated what had happened.
Professor Oak's lips began to tremble.
"Gary had an accident while challenging the Viridian Gym Leader, suffered severe injuries, and is now unconscious in the hospital?!"
"What?!"
Three updates. Not bad, right?
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