"What on earth is this?!"
At this time, Hiroshi, who was receiving Ganyu in the Research Institute, looked at the text message on the group chat interface, and his face was filled with shock. Ganyu, being an expert at observing words and emotions, noticed the change immediately.
She had been called to the Pokémon Home by Ningguang a few days ago and adopted a Girafarig. Although the species name sounds exotic, its image is that of a long-necked herbivore with a small, second head on its tail. It has horns on its head and its body is mainly yellow with brown markings.
At that time, Hiroshi was not in the store; it was Meloetta who entertained her. Hiroshi didn't know how Meloetta described it, but Ganyu had insisted on choosing Girafarig, despite it having no further evolution at the time. Even if its base stats didn't reach the 500-point threshold, its Normal and Psychic typing gave it a very versatile skill set for combat.
"Manager Hiroshi, the Pikachu wearing a hat in the group chat message... it seems to be a surprise to you?"
Hiroshi nodded and spread his hands to Ganyu, who was staring at him with her beautiful, worried eyes. "Sure enough, there is a pull of fate. A protagonist-level hero meets their original Pokémon. This joke of fate is a bit scary!"
Ganyu tilted her head. She seemed to understand, but she didn't quite grasp the gravity of it.
At this time, the group chat interface was like a pot of boiling water because of Lumine's egg-hatching video.
Jean: Huh???
Eula: Lumine, Traveler... why can your Pokémon egg hatch into a Pokémon and a hat?
Amber: I'm stunned! Lumine, is this really the Pokémon egg that Manager Hiroshi sold to you? It's unbelievable...
Tartaglia: ...Wait! My head is a little messy. Why would things like hats be born with Pokémon?
Hiroshi: Well, Lumine, good job. I saw you were the right one. Only you deserve to have hatched this. This egg has produced an existence that can be called the Pika-God!
Venti: Pika-God...? Hiss!
Zhongli: In terms of common rationality, if it is the birth of a rare beast, then it being accompanied by strange treasures is very reasonable!
"Pika-God..." This title seemed to have a kind of magic power. Except for Venti and Zhongli, everyone else suddenly didn't dare to say anything.
Hiroshi clicked his tongue. He didn't expect the Traveler would get the Partner Cap Pikachu. Simply put, this is the version of Pikachu used by Ash Ketchum (Satoshi). It has the personality of a pseudo-mythical beast. Although it cannot evolve, it is a creature that can theoretically go toe-to-toe with literal gods.
"I need to verify this with my own eyes," Hiroshi muttered.
Hiroshi: Lumine, where are you?
Lumine: (Sharing coordinates: Wangshu Inn)
Hiroshi said apologetically to Ganyu: "I'll deal with this quickly. Miss Ganyu, you can come to the institute to see your Girafarig at any time, or you can privately chat with me about its foster care status."
After saying that, he waved. Hiroshi disappeared in a flash of teleportation.
Wangshu Inn.
Paimon floated in the air, holding her chin like a wise philosopher, staring at the Pikachu who was drinking Moomoo Milk on the bed.
"Pika-God?"
Lumine held her Pokédex with trembling fingers. Hiroshi appeared suddenly, and without saying a word, he scanned the Hat Pikachu with a System-level detection tool.
Pikachu (Partner Cap Form)
Type: Electric
Ability: Static
Level: 1 (Cub)
Skills: Z-Move: 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Volt Tackle.
Passive: Pika-God Awakening (Performance scales with the bond with the Trainer).
Item: The Partner Cap. This hat is the proof of an important journey across various worlds.
"Fuck!" Hiroshi couldn't help but curse in front of Lumine and Paimon.
What was going on? He remembered that a standard Pikachu's base stat total was only 320. But this Pikachu wearing a hat actually had a base stat total of 580! That is an ultra-high value comparable to a Pseudo-Legendary in its final form, yet this was the initial form!
"The potential is also outrageous. What do those question marks mean? Can it challenge the heavens?"
And then there was the hat. Hiroshi clicked on the item information:
Trainer's Hat (Exclusive): While held, Special Attack increases by 8%, Skill Power increases by 15%, and Electric-type moves are more likely to paralyze the target.
"Ridiculous! Absolutely outrageous!" Hiroshi thought. The Pika-God was standing right in front of him.
He stayed at Wangshu Inn for a while, trying to study the template of this "Pika-God," but he eventually gave up. "This little guy is very powerful," Hiroshi said, returning Pikachu to Lumine, who was looking at him eagerly. "I can't say exactly where its growth limit is. Just believe in it, nurture it, and you will never be disappointed."
Hiroshi smiled slightly. Even with the Store Manager System, he wasn't jealous. Seeing the character he once controlled get such a partner made him feel like a proud father.
Back at the Research Institute.
As soon as Hiroshi landed, a thought occurred to him: Is it possible for me to draw a Pika-God in my own ten-pulls?
The clear, beautiful voices of girls could be heard in the distance. Hu Tao and Xiangling were visiting again.
"Manager Hiroshi! We are bringing our Pokémon for special training!"
The two women ran over panting. Their Pokémon—Gible, Larvesta, and Scyther—were curiously observing the campus.
"What? You want the Lurantis to beat up your Gible? What kind of perverted request is this?" Hiroshi asked, surprised.
Hu Tao said matter-of-factly: "Sharky's (Gible) journey has been too smooth. He needs to suffer the consequences of society to grow."
Hiroshi nodded. "This method is possible—squeezing the potential until the 'small universe' inside explodes. But few Trainers can bear to see their Pokémon being beaten in training."
Hu Tao slapped Gible's head unceremoniously. "It's because he doesn't live up to my expectations! He's been stuck at the edge of evolution for days, but I haven't heard a single 'ding' yet!"
Hiroshi's mouth twitched. Is evolution like a microwave to her? He checked Gible's data. It was indeed stuck at Level 24, the threshold for evolution into Gabite.
"Lurantis, come here... wait, no. Lurantis, keep training Eevee. Goodra, come here!"
He had almost forgotten the Hisuian Goodra he brought back. Hearing Hiroshi's mental call, the Goodra ran over like an oversized, slimy puppy. It had none of the dignity one would expect from a Dragon-type.
"Eh?" Hu Tao was stunned. "The life coach was replaced?"
Xiangling was excited: "Is this the Goodra that appeared in the video? I didn't expect you'd bring it back so soon!"
Hu Tao scanned the Goodra with her Pokédex.
Hisuian Goodra
Type: Steel / Dragon
Level: 75 (Heavenly King Rank)
Ability: Shell Armor / Gooey (Hidden)
Skills: Iron Head, Iron Tail, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Mega Kick.
Hu Tao looked confused, then her eyes nearly popped out.
"From the Overlord level to the Heavenly King level in one fell swoop?! Does my baby Gible really deserve this level of treatment?"
She was so excited she wanted to hug Hiroshi. A Level 75 Dragon/Steel mentor was practically cheating!