[Quest Complete!]
[Rewards: Release Orb x2, Overwhelming Presence x1, Fighting Spirit x1, Victory Fragment x1, Free Travel Ticket x1!]
[Overwhelming Presence: You and your Pokémon will emit an intimidating aura in battle, causing opponents to panic or hesitate, leading to judgment errors.]
[Fighting Spirit (from Hilda): Imbues your Pokémon with your fighting spirit, temporarily boosting their strength and endurance, granting partial immunity to status conditions (though effects still apply).]
[Victory Fragment: A shard of Victini's power, said to invoke victory, greatly increasing a Pokémon or person's strength and stamina.]
[Free Travel Ticket: A long-term valid ferry ticket to Liberty Garden Island, departing from Castelia City.]
"Ah, I lost… That move just now – what was it?!"
Hilda stared blankly at her fallen Darmanitan, pulling her hat down before quickly showing a resigned smile.
"Hmph, I'll win someday! Thank you for the match!" she said, then took out a potion to heal her Darmanitan.
"Excuse me!" Cheren suddenly spoke, confusion in his tone as he asked Hikaru, "Your Pokémon is Steel-type, correct?"
"Why did Fire Spin and Flame Charge seem completely ineffective against it?! Even with high growth, no Pokémon can completely ignore attacks it's weak to!"
Ah, that question.
Hikaru nodded.
"You noticed, huh. That's because my Aegislash is… a bit special. It has been blessed by a… far stronger Pokémon, granting it the ability to ignore attacks it's weak against. In other words…"
"My Aegislash has no weaknesses."
"Aegislash… that's its name… A Pokémon with no weaknesses, blessed by a powerful Pokémon…" Cheren muttered, as if constructing a mental model of how to defeat such an opponent with an abnormal ability.
Hikaru smiled.
"No need to overthink it. Only this Aegislash has such a power. Other Aegislash are still afraid of fire, and you won't encounter one like this in Unova."
"Besides, its so-called lack of weaknesses just means super-effective moves don't do extra damage. My Aegislash is Steel/Ghost type, so Water and Electric moves still deal normal damage – those are its real weaknesses right now."
Then Hikaru nodded to Hilda. "I also gained something valuable from you. That power just now… was Fighting Spirit."
"Eh?" Hilda blinked.
Hikaru explained, "You projected your fighting spirit onto your Pokémon, making it suddenly much stronger. You're not an ordinary person. I saw it with my psychic powers."
Hilda laughed softly. "I just didn't want to lose! I simply battled with that mindset!"
"That's normal. The joy of victory inspires the heart, while defeat brings dejection. But it's often during defeat that your spirit is truly tested. The world is vast. Different people, different Pokémon, different worldviews – experience them yourself."
"The smallest unit of strength is one's will."
Hilda's eyes lit up, her earlier dejection wiped away.
"You're right! The world is vast! As long as I can carry out my will… that's enough!"
"An opponent who cannot be defeated… carrying out one's will…" Hilbert lifted his hat brim slightly, and Hikaru suddenly looked at him. "Do you want to battle as well?"
Since he had obtained Hilda's power, why not take this chance to gain Hilbert's, the canonical hero's, power too?
But Hilbert simply smiled.
"The reason I like Pokémon battles is because I want to taste the joy of victory… Developing strategies to win, training Pokémon, predicting the opponent's moves… In short, when you win after considering every factor, it feels amazing."
"Conversely, if I rushed into battle and lost, I'd feel very dejected."
"Hmm, after watching Hilda's match, I've realized something. You're not an opponent I can defeat just with momentum."
These words made Hikaru pause slightly.
So this Hilbert's personality is like Pokédex Master's – calm and cautious, the opposite of Black from the manga!
In the manga, Black was a reckless hothead, the type to stand on the roadside shouting "I'm going to win the Pokémon League!", even disturbing passersby.
"Ah, but when battling, you shouldn't think too much, Hilbert. Strategies naturally emerge during the fight!" Hilda interjected cheerfully.
"Haha, you're still so straightforward, Hilda. It's true – many times, overplanning isn't possible anyway."
Hilbert thought for a moment. "I'd like to battle you… one-on-one."
[Celebration Quest: A Challenge From a Hero]
[Reward: Release Orb x2, Overwhelming Power x1, Determination x1, Life Droplet x1, High-Tech Modification x1]
[Description: A potential hero issues a challenge. Who is truly worthy – the real person or the ideal? Your words are engraved in both heroes' hearts, perhaps solidifying their resolve to turn ideals into reality.]
Excellent, Hilbert's quest triggered too. The Connection Tree had its eyes on him all along.
Hikaru thought silently as Hilbert sent out his Pokémon. As expected… Braviary!
Battle begin!
There was no elaborate preamble. Once they had equipped new items, Hilbert focused all his spirit on the battle, his gaze sharpening.
"Wing Attack!"
He started with close combat, likely wary of Steel Beam. But Aegislash, having been fully healed by potions, raised its massive dark gold shield, blocking the Wing Attack with King's Shield and lowering Braviary's Attack!
However, Hilbert simply lifted his hat brim and smiled faintly.
True champions always smile in battle.
"Keep using Wing Attack!"
"Giveuhhh?"
Aegislash swung its shield, glowing with Rock-type energy!
Head Smash!
If this landed, Braviary would be instantly knocked out. But Braviary didn't dodge or retreat – it tanked the hit head-on!
"Use Bulk Up and Superpower to endure it!"
Hilbert's command confused Hilda, Cheren, and Bianca, but only Aegislash felt something strange.
Zzzzt! Like being struck by lightning, Aegislash felt a sharp pain and sudden drain of energy. But this wasn't damage from Braviary's moves – it was from… an item!
Stuck to its blade was something that looked like a thorn yet also resembled a Revive crystal.
"Eh… That's…" Hikaru squinted. It looked familiar!
"Sticky Barb! It's quite rare. Seems even you've never encountered it." Hilbert smiled. "When held, it damages the holder each turn, but if the holder is hit with a contact move, it can stick to the attacker instead. Originally found on Ferrothorn, it's especially troublesome for Steel-types!"
"I realized just now – your Aegislash can only be damaged effectively by Water and Electric moves, and my Braviary can't learn any. So I had to rely on items."
"Now that the Sticky Barb is attached to your Pokémon, its HP will gradually drop. All I need is… Air Slash!"
Braviary flapped its wings, launching countless air blades. Aegislash raised its shield to block, but the sting of the Sticky Barb kept draining its HP!
This had nothing to do with defending or not – it was a fixed damage based on max HP!
Ugh… damn Grass-Steel strategy… Hikaru cursed internally. Braviary's plan was clearly to flinch Aegislash with repeated Air Slashes while its HP drained away. This was Hilbert's tactical approach.
Impressive… However, Hikaru had given Aegislash a new item…
At that moment, Hikaru saw a strange energy rise from Hilbert!
Was this… the "Hero's Determination"?
That power also flowed into Braviary, greatly enhancing its energy!
Aegislash's eyes flashed with psychic light, sending countless psychic blades like threads across the battlefield, weaving a cage around Braviary!
Hilda gasped. "Moves can be used like this?! That's—"
Cheren adjusted his glasses. "Psycho Cut… used as a trap?!"
Bianca's eyes sparkled. "So cool!"
They watched as Braviary was trapped mid-air, realizing moves need not follow standard patterns. Mastery allowed for creative, specialized tactics!
"Brave Bird! Break through!" Hilbert commanded. Braviary folded its wings, gathering power for one of Flying's strongest moves to smash through the psychic cage!
[Braviary is surrounded by a powerful light!]
But just as it charged up, a shadow shot up from the ground into the sky!
Brutal Shadow Sneak!
The shadowy sword became a spear, piercing Braviary. Aegislash then prepared an even stronger move, flying straight into the sky!
Brave Bird finished charging. The divine giant bird shone brilliantly, illuminating the earth as it dove at Aegislash with unstoppable force!
The psychic cage shattered, the soaring giant bird regal and fierce!
Now!
Hikaru gave his silent command.
As expected, Brave Bird predicted Aegislash's King's Shield, and soared high to avoid it. Then, during the shield's cooldown, it dived again!
Brave Bird, second strike!
But Aegislash was ready!
Power Trick!
Using psychic power to swap its Attack and Defense!
Even in Blade Forme, it retained massive defense!
The mighty Brave Bird slammed into Aegislash, but failed to deal effective damage. Instantly, Aegislash smashed its rock-solid shield down!
Head Smash!
This time the hit landed squarely. Aegislash immediately changed forms again!
A shield-form attack with such power? That was because Power Trick had swapped its stats!
Finally, Aegislash unleashed—
Reversal!
It had entered its special "Sacred Sword Saint" state!
Sacred Sword Saint – critical hit chance +2!
"Why…?!" Hilbert was shocked as Braviary was struck, crashing to the ground defeated.
Hikaru said calmly, "Ah, this time I equipped Aegislash with… a Life Orb."
"HP reduction for higher damage. It also combos with Reversal for devastating counterattacks. Though… I didn't expect Sticky Barb."
"Haha… I lost. The joy of victory… slipped away."
Hilbert sighed.
"But I carried out my will. My strategy proves my will. This defeat… will make me stronger next time."
"Hikaru-san, what do you think about battling?"
Unbeknownst to him, Hikaru was the one wanting to complain.
Unova's rookie Trainers are a bit too monstrous.
Or rather, as expected of future heroes – starting with a level 54 Braviary is absurd.
Facing Hilbert's question, Hikaru pondered briefly.
"Defeat should always be reflected upon. But victory doesn't mean the battle was flawless either. We're still rookies in battling. I didn't start my journey to fight. In short, I'm not exactly a battle-specialized Trainer."
Hikaru's humility made Hilbert smile wryly. "If someone like you isn't battle-specialized, then…"
"The tallest mountain, the longest river… I know such people, atop snowy peaks. So… where is the most battle-proficient Trainer? And why do we seek strength? Trainers need more than power alone. True strength lies in an indomitable spirit – that's what I believe."
"A champion I know once said, battling is to let you and your Pokémon shine on the grandest stage. In any case, your futures are bound to be brilliant."
"And… never forget, the time spent living alongside Pokémon. Memories are the greatest treasure. That's my answer."
Hilbert mulled over these words, while Cheren showed a thoughtful expression.
Indeed, endlessly pursuing strength, combining theory and practice to become a stronger Trainer, had been Cheren's unwavering goal since before he even became a Trainer.
Yet everything in the Black and White story changed him. Meeting Alder made him realize strength wasn't the only endpoint.
"Helping each other in critical moments – that's what's most important. That's why humans and Pokémon live together. Rather than defeating others, it's better to climb higher peaks…"
Hikaru's murmured words snapped Cheren from his thoughts. He looked up to see the item craftsman smiling warmly at him.
I see…
Cheren felt a flicker of enlightenment.
At that moment, Hikaru received his Connection Tree reward.
[Quest Complete!]
[Rewards: Release Orb x2, Overwhelming Power x1, Determination x1, Life Droplet x1, High-Tech Modification x1!]
[Overwhelming Power: You and your Pokémon emit an overwhelming force, greatly increasing critical hit damage.]
[Determination (from Hilbert): Imbues your Pokémon with your determination, temporarily boosting their energy and willpower, making them resistant to status conditions and immune to confusion.]
[Life Droplet: A mysterious droplet that stabilizes a Pokémon's condition, restores HP, enhances growth, and negates one attack from the opponent.]
[High-Tech Modification: Knowledge of technological modifications gained from Hilbert's mechanical insights.]
[Craftable Item: High-Tech Photon Cannon!]
(End of Chapter)
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