Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 72

Hi all, 

Here’s the next chapter. There are some time jumps, an evolution, and the birth of a legendary Pokemon.  

Chapter 72

The spring sunshine filtered through the trees as Lucas strolled along the road, with Raphael scampering at his side. The last time he passed through here, the ground was blanketed in snow. The mild temperatures and budding flora made for a more enjoyable journey. 

He was heading to Bill’s cottage, hoping the scientist could help him with a few things. Rather than take a shortcut, Lucas opted to walk the longer route, knowing it would provide good training opportunities for Raphael. He had one more requirement to meet before his evolution.

A pungent odour suddenly assailed his nostrils. Lucas wrinkled his nose as a level Gloom waddled from the underbrush, beady eyes narrowing as it assessed the new arrivals. 

A level twenty-two Gloom.

"Perfect," Lucas murmured. He stepped back, gesturing to his companion. "Show me what you can do, Raphael."

"Squirtle!" The water-type dashed forward, ready to engage his grass-type opponent.

The battle began, and Lucas began issuing commands.

The Gloom struck first, releasing a cloud of paralysing spores into the air. Raphael instantly withdrew into his shell, spinning rapidly to create a defensive vortex. The spores scattered harmlessly around him, painting the grass in glittering purple patterns.

Raphael burst from his shell mid-spin, using the momentum to launch himself skyward. From his elevated position, he unleashed a precisely aimed Water Gun. The pressurised blast struck the Gloom's central flower, forcing it to stumble backwards.

The grass-type recovered quickly, slamming its stubby legs into the earth. Roots erupted from the soil, whipping towards Raphael like living ropes. He twisted in mid-air, his shell taking the brunt of the impact as one root caught his leg. The blow sent him tumbling, but he transformed the chaotic motion into a controlled roll.

Coming up in a crouch, Raphael assessed his opponent—looking for weaknesses in its form and stance. The Gloom's flower glowed with stored solar energy, preparing for a devastating attack. Without waiting for the beam to discharge, Raphael threw up a shimmering barrier.

The Solar Beam splashed against his shield in a dazzling display, shattering it but protecting Raphel from taking any damage. The force pushed Raphael back several feet, leaving furrows in the soft earth. As soon as the assault ended, he countered with a rapid series of Bubble attacks. Each bubble was precisely placed, peppering the Gloom's face and flower with expanding bursts of pressurised water.

Staggered and dripping, the Gloom retaliated with a spray of Acid. Raphael dove forward instead of retreating, tucking into his shell at the last second. Purple droplets spattered harmlessly against his rotating form as he shot through the acid spray like a bullet. He emerged from his shell with snapping jaws, clamping down on one of the Gloom's roots before it could retract into the ground.

The grass-type thrashed wildly, unleashing a storm of Razor Leaves in its panic. Some found their mark, leaving shallow cuts across Raphael's blue skin, but he maintained his grip. Using the Gloom's momentum against it, he pivoted and hurled the larger Pokemon through the air.

As the Gloom crashed down, Raphael was already moving. He channelled water energy into a powerful Water Gun that struck with surgical precision. The blast caught the grass-type before it could regain its footing, sending it flying backwards.

Raphael seized his chance. He charged forward, his shell rotating like a circular saw. As the Gloom got to its feet, the Rapid Spin knocked its legs out from under it. As the grass-type toppled, Raphael exploded from his shell, jaws wide. His teeth sank deep into the Gloom's stem, just below its flower.

The Gloom thrashed, releasing a desperate cloud of spores. Raphael clamped down harder, using his opponent's struggles to increase the damage. With a final surge of strength, he whipped his head to the side, hurling the Gloom into a nearby tree trunk.

It slumped to the ground with a soft thud, its flower wilted and eyes glazed. After a few weak twitches, the Gloom lay still.

“Good job, Raphael,” Lucas called. “Let’s keep going.”

They continued along the road, the morning sun climbing higher overhead. Raphael battled several more times until he met the requirement for the evolution condition. 

Now, Raphael could evolve at any moment. The only thing stopping him was that Lucas hadn’t finished the improved growth potion yet. He wanted to give Raphael the best chance to obtain the ‘Giant’ trait. The only downside to the trait was that it affected a Pokemon’s speed. That wasn’t a concern for a Blastoise, who wasn’t known for their speed.

Lucas knew Raphael harboured concerns about how a larger form might affect his creative pursuits. Nevertheless, Raphael accepted the potion when it was offered to him.

His reset potions caused an uproar in the training and scientific community. Everyone flocked to the auction house in the hopes of acquiring one. The profits more than justified the long hours spent brewing batch after batch. Yesterday's breakthrough with the normal alchemy method meant he could mass-produce the item.

Enigma’s reputation had grown after producing two unique potions with amazing effects. Many were already calling him a genius. Even the Alchemy Guild had released a statement, asking Enigma to join their ranks. Little did they know, he had already joined.  

The week had passed in relative peace otherwise, but there were a couple of notable events. 

Moltres returned to the devastated Cinnabar Island and claimed the territory for its own. No one was willing to approach the island anymore except for some intrepid reporters who wanted a scoop. Lance and the response team had searched for traces of Maxie or Blaine but found nothing. It was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

Giovanni had discovered Cassidy's betrayal. He called her with a menacing message. Nobody knew how he found out, but many suspected he had someone follow her. It wasn’t unexpected; everyone knew it was a matter of time before Giovanni learned the truth. To protect herself, Cassidy had to hire bodyguards to watch over her constantly, aware that Giovanni might attempt to have her killed.

Lucas convinced Cassidy to come clean with Shichiro. Lucas assists her in obtaining a pardon for her past crimes due to her help in taking down Malva. She also provided any information she had about Giovanni.

The information was shared with the International Police, who were still searching for Giovanni in the Western Kanto region. Meanwhile, Sabrina, Bree, and Lucas decided to investigate his location themselves, as they couldn't let go of what he had done.

The road curved ahead, leading to Bill's clifftop cottage. The ocean stretched to the horizon, patches of ice still dotting its surface—remnants of Articuno's battle with Mew. 

Lucas walked up to Bill's cottage and knocked on the door.

The door swung open, revealing Bill's familiar grin. "Lucas! Finally decided to pay me another visit?"

"Been meaning to stop by." Lucas followed Bill into the cottage's warm kitchen, breathing in the scent of fresh coffee.

Bill busied himself with cups and saucers. "So, what's this about?"

"Two things. First, I would like another teleportation device for Sabrina. Name your price."

Bill hesitated. "One hundred thousand."

"Done."

"Provided she maintains the same secrecy."

Lucas nodded, suppressing a smile. It's best not to mention that she had known for a long time, as it might make Bill reconsider his decision.

"And the second matter?"

Lucas released his latest Pokemon from his breeding stock. The Umbreon, with its sleek black fur, padded across the floor, its crimson eyes taking in the new environment. As it walked, bands of glowing light appeared—perfect rings that shimmered softly around its legs, ears, and tail.

Bill's coffee mug froze halfway to his lips. "Where did you get—"

"Evolved it myself."

"Impossible."

"Not anymore." Lucas leaned forward. "Listen, I've cracked Umbreon's evolution code. Every requirement, every trigger. And I want you to write the research paper."

Bill's eyebrows shot up. "Why me?"

"Your name carries weight. The paper would draw attention, and more importantly, customers. People desperate to evolve their Eevees would come running."

“May I ask how you figured out Umbreon’s evolution?”

“I can’t tell you at the moment. But I can tell you when something else happens. As long as you keep it a secret.”

"What’s the method?"

“Each Eevee is unique. There are several criteria from a master list. The challenge is finding out which ones are important for each specific Pokemon.”

Bill's fingers drummed against the table. "Does this apply to the other evolutions?"

"Same principle. Haven't mapped them all yet, but the pattern holds."

"Bloody hell." Bill ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. "This could change everything we know about Eevee evolution. This will lead to a new wave of popularity, pushing their prices even higher.”

"Exactly why I need time before you publicise it. Let me build up stock, and experiment with the other forms."

"You crafty bastard." Bill's lips twitched. "Using my reputation to boost your breeding business."

"Partnership." Lucas extended his hand. "What do you say?"

Bill shook his hand. “I don’t mind writing the research paper but what’s in it for me?”

“Name your price.”

"I'm just kidding," Bill said. "The fact that you’re discovering secrets about my favourite Pokemon is already enough of a reward for me."

Lucas recalled Umbreon. His fingers lingered on the pokeball, pride mixing with ambition. One evolution down, many more to follow. 

Once he had matched sets of all eight evolution types, the real work could begin. He intended to breed eggs that favoured one evolution over another, along with corresponding traits.

The market would pay handsomely for guaranteed evolutions. Trainers desperate for a specific form would beat down his door, their pockets heavy with pokedollars. Bill's research paper would only accelerate the demand.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. “Success!” 

He held up the vial, watching the liquid swirl inside. After too many failed attempts to count and wasted ingredients, he had finally perfected the new formula.

His guidebook lay open beside him, its pages revealing fresh text:

==========

Enhanced Growth Potion

Description: An improved version of the standard growth potion. Increases a Pokemon's size by up to 75%, with effects manifesting within three days. The success rate for gaining the 'Giant' trait has doubled from the old version. Additional benefits include reduced strain during the growth process and more proportional physical development.

==========

Even though it would only be used by him and a few others, the effort put into creating it was worthwhile. It marked a significant improvement over the regular formula. The Pokemon would see substantial growth even without the ‘Giant’ trait. 

The potion wasn’t the only reason to celebrate. His Pyrokinetic Alchemy profession reached level eight, unlocking a new skill.

==========

Skill: Concentrate   Level 1/3  Next: 3 SP  Type: Active Charges: -- 

Description: Allows for the creation of alchemical pills. These pills are extremely concentrated versions of potions. They provide more powerful effects, better stability, and new benefits that potions don’t offer. Requires intense focus and precise ingredient refinement. The player can also infuse some of their aura into the pills to enhance their effects, but this makes them less stable. New pill recipes are now available to be discovered through hidden items.

==========

Once the potion had cooled, Lucas summoned Raphael and fed it to him. 

Three days later, Lucas examined the results with satisfaction. Raphael stood proudly at one foot six inches—a substantial increase from his original size. His shell had thickened proportionally, providing better protection without sacrificing mobility.

The artistic Pokemon immediately seized his paintbrush, eager to test how his new dimensions affected his work. Lucas watched him sketch, noting how the increased reach and strength translated into bolder, more confident strokes.

"It’s probably not worth testing your abilities yet. You’re about to evolve." 

Lucas took Raphael outside. He opened his menu and spent the needed experience points, triggering the evolution.

Raphael's form blazed with brilliant light, his silhouette warping and growing within the cocoon of energy. His shell expanded first, developing sharp ridges along its edges while deepening to a rich indigo. His limbs stretched and thickened with new muscle, claws lengthening into deadly points. 

Two ear-like projections sprouted from his head, crowned with tufts of white fur that caught the breeze. His tail grew longer and more powerful, developing its own plume of fur that curled with elegant grace. 

When the light finally faded, a Wartortle stood where Squirtle had been. Raphael twisted his head around to examine his shell, running clawed fingers across its ridged surface. 

At four and a half feet, Raphael towered over typical newly-evolved Wartortle. The growth potion had increased his height by fifty percent. His enlarged shell cast a broader shadow across the grass, hinting at the massive Blastoise he would become. Even without another dose of growth potion before his final evolution, Raphael's current size guaranteed an exceptional Blastoise. 

“Looking good!”

Raphael grinned. He picked up his paintbrush to see how his new form influenced his artistic skills.

Lucas activated his Insight skill to examine Raphael's new parameters.

=========

Species: Wartortle; Turtle Pokemon

Gender: Male  

Status: Owned

Favourability: Loved 970/4000 (+10% stats)

Favourite Food: Watercress Leaves; Raphael Recipe X

Condition: Perfect

Level: 16

Next: [0%]

Exp Cache: [31000]

Stats obtained from EVs [100/100]

Current Level Potential Met?: Yes

Special Ability: Torrent

=========

Attack: 49 [45]

Special Attack: 79 [72]

Defence: 99 [90]

Special Defence: 103 [94]

Speed: 59 [54]

Luck: 27 [25]

=========

Moves

Tackle: 100%

Bubble: 100%

Water Gun: 100%

Bite: 78%

Withdraw: 89%

Rapid Spin: 75%

Protect: 61%

Water Pulse: 1%

Iron Defense: 1%

=========

Description: Raphael's evolution is a double-edged sword in his mind. While he enjoys the increased power, his hands have changed enough that he will need some time to adjust to using them for his artistic endeavours. He remains as committed to his artistic endeavours as he has always been.

=========

Hidden Stats

Intelligence: 7

Endurance: 9

Energy: 8

Aptitude: 8

Affinities

Water: 58%

Normal: 44%

Dark: 39%

Ice: 20%

=========

Traits

Inherent (Can be passed onto offspring)

Water Elemental (Expert) - Significantly increases the power and effectiveness of water-type moves.

Defence Aptitude (Expert) - Increases defence stat training efficiency.

Defence Boost (Expert) - Significantly increases the defence stat potency.

Special Attack (Expert) - Significantly increases the special attack potency.

Special Defence Boost (Expert) - Significantly increases the special defence stat potency.

Shell Armour - Protects against critical hits.

Tactical Retreat - Slowly recovers condition while withdrawn into the shell.

Shell Immunity - Give up one point of condition to prevent a guaranteed status effect.

Learned/Acquired/Unique

Rubber Shell—Immune to electric-type attacks while withdrawn into its shell.

=========

Evolution Conditions

Blastoise

Level 36

Condition: Perfect

Experience in Cache: 90000

Water-type Affinity: 70%

=========

Evolution Bonuses

Max Experience in Cache = 120000: +15 to All Stats

Water-type affinity = 80%: Hydro Pump learned upon evolving

Steel-Type affinity = 50%: Egg move Flash Cannon is learnt upon evolving.

Water Manipulation Plus learnt = Intelligence + 1

Consume an upgraded growth potion: Maximum Pressure trait learnt.

=========

“Another evolution under my belt,” Lucas murmured. 

The rest of his team kept growing stronger as well, but he had to go out and earn more experience points. It wasn't just about increasing his level and his team's, but also about managing the rising number of breeding Pokemon and eggs the den was producing. His Transfer Experience skill made it simple to reallocate experience points to meet his needs, but he could only do so much before he ran out.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas sat at his desk, reviewing his notes. 

Another ten days passed and Lucas judged it was the right time to check out his personal progress. He yawned, leaning back in his chair. It was amazing how much information he needed to keep track of. 

Tomorrow would be a momentous day, and he wanted to make sure nothing distracted him from it. Over the past few weeks, he had been quietly accumulating experience points. In the last ten days, he saw a significant increase in his gains as he concentrated on grinding battles for experience. He also made strides in other areas.

His Trainer profession had levelled up twice. He earned a new skill at level seven, which was called Commander. It let him issue commands to two Pokemon at the same time. 

=========

Skill: Commander  Level 1/1  Next: --  Type: Active  Charges: --

Description: Enables simultaneous command of two Pokemon in battle. Each Pokemon receives commands with perfect clarity, improving coordination and tactical response time. Perfect for double battles or handling multiple opponents. It also doubles the effective range of communication between the player and his Pokemon.

=========

His Pokemon Breeder Profession had levelled up to eight but he didn’t receive any skills for it. The next skill would be at level ten.

Lucas had been regularly visiting the Tree of Beginning's chamber in the Rota Kingdom for his aura training. His hard work paid off, as he mastered the Aura Infusion and Sculpting skill. This not only boosted his aura reserves significantly but also granted him an exceptional level of control over it.

Without the stress of pokedollars, he decided to invest some money into his Divination skill to get a clearer picture of his professions and skills. This helped him figure out what to focus on moving forward. He discovered that the next skill in his Pokemon Breeder profession had changed because of a clash with another skill. This demonstrated to him that the system was adaptable and responsive to his decisions and actions.

Lucas opened his menu. He had a huge number of experience points saved up. Without thinking twice, he spent all of them. He saw his level rise from forty to forty-eight. When he reached level forty-five, he realised that his skill points had gone from two to three per level. This meant he now had twenty-one skill points to use however he liked.

He weighed his options. What did he need most at the moment? After several minutes of thought, he made his decision.

Lucas invested eleven skill points to increase his alchemy skills, Essence Extraction and Synthesis, by one level each. He believed these upgrades would aid him with the Electrizer project and also prove useful when he began making pills. His alchemy profession was far too valuable to let its skills stagnate.

Next, he used four skill points to increase his Pokemon Friendship skill to level three. This would assist him in befriending and bonding with Pokemon under level sixty. Since his team had become considerably stronger, he would be venturing out to higher-level zones. He would encounter higher-level Pokemon more often and he wanted the option to collect any that caught his fancy.

He used his remaining skill points to boost Pokemon Compatibility by two levels. This improved the breeding compatibility of each Pokemon he was bonded with by ten percent. He couldn't overlook his Breeding Profession.

Lucas left the office and found Sabrina sitting cross-legged on their bed, her brow furrowed in concentration as she clutched a battered toy car. Bree perched nearby, her button eyes fixed on Sabrina's every movement.

He observed Sabrina as she focused on her task, careful not to interrupt her. 

She was practising her memory trace ability. Each object held psychic imprints—echoes of moments past that she could extract through touch. The strongest impressions came from memories charged with raw emotion—a child's first bicycle ride, a lover's betrayal, or a moment of profound loss. But these imprints layered atop one another like translucent sheets, requiring careful concentration to separate and interpret. Time wore away at these echoes, rain and sun and passing seasons gradually eroding the psychic residue until nothing remained. 

The work exhausted her—maintaining contact with an object's memories drained her energy like holding a heavy weight. Her own emotions could blur or taint the readings, requiring a delicate balance of empathy and detachment.

Sabrina set the car down with a sigh, rolling her shoulders to ease the tension. 

"How's the practice going?" Lucas asked.

"Poorly. I'm only getting vague impressions so far. Telekinesis was easy for me; this feels like trying to wade through thick mud.”

"You should count yourself lucky," Bree sniffed. "Such a useful ability, yet I'm denied it despite being part of you."

"Your powers spark enough nightmares," Lucas chuckled. "A split personality manifesting independently with its own psychic abilities? The scientists would have a field day with you."

Bree's stitched mouth curved upward. "I am rather extraordinary."

"Did you have this ability as a child?" Lucas asked Sabrina.

She shook her head. "Uxie believes my powers may have changed during reawakening. As a child, I had three primary abilities—telekinesis, creating barriers, and reading surface thoughts. Who knows what else might have developed if they weren’t sealed away?"

"More? Those three sound frightening enough."

"Says the one with his magical system." 

Lucas sat next to her and began to rub her shoulders. She eased into the touch, letting out a grateful sigh.

"Any word from Brock and Daisy about the move?" Sabrina asked.

"Brock's in, provided his siblings can come. Daisy needs time to decide."

"The citizenship process—"

"Should be easy once the borders open," Lucas finished. "How's your uncle progressing with that?"

Sabrina's lips curved. "The launch of the growth potion has given him some sway with the politicians. It won’t be long now."

"Speaking of which, my first royalty check arrives soon."

"He's still grumbling about the deal you made."

Lucas grinned. "Wait until I negotiate the contract for the reset potion. His nonstop messages are really getting to me. I might need to block his number.

"Oh, that would go down well." 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Morning sunlight spilled through gauzy curtains as Lucas stirred, his heart quickening with anticipation. The Zapdos egg nestled in its basket on his bedside dresser. Today marked the legendary Pokemon's arrival into the world.

Lucas got out of bed and touched the egg. A jolt of electricity surged under his fingers, but it wasn't strong enough to cause any significant pain.

Uncertainty gnawed at him - no one had ever documented a legendary Pokemon hatching from an egg. That's because it was the first of its kind. Would the newborn Zapdos recognise their bond, or lash out at him? Even at level twenty, a legendary's raw power demanded healthy respect.

"You should take it somewhere isolated," Sabrina murmured, propping herself up on one elbow. "If Zapdos makes a scene after it hatches, it might attract too much attention."

Lucas nodded. "I've prepared a Secret Base outside Saffron City. It should conceal any disturbances.”

"I'm coming with you." Sabrina threw back the covers with sudden energy. "This isn't exactly a common occurrence. When will I ever get another chance to witness a legendary Pokemon's birth?"

After a hasty breakfast of toast and coffee, they teleported to the Secret Base. Now that Sabrina had a teleportation device of her own, she could get around on her own. 

Throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, Lucas attempted to focus on his alchemy work, but he found it difficult to concentrate. His eyes kept drifting to the egg, waiting for it to hatch.

Lucas shifted his focus to practising his aura. The electrical properties he received from the egg, and blended with his aura, had been increasing over the last few weeks. Now that he had improved his control, he could separate the electricity from his aura. At the moment, the electricity just disappeared into the air once it was separated, but he had a hint of an idea for how to make use of it.

A sharp crack shattered his concentration, the sound like breaking ice.

"Sabrina!" His voice cracked with urgency. "It's starting!"

She rushed into the room as he summoned his Pokemon team. Max planted himself protectively in front of Lucas, while the others formed a defensive ring. More cracks spiderwebbed across the shell, golden light spilling from the fissures like liquid sunshine.

The egg erupted in blinding radiance, forcing him to shield his eyes. At that moment, he realised he shouldn't have hatched the egg indoors. How big would Zapdos be when he first emerged? But it was too late to change anything now.

When the glare faded, a piercing screech filled the air, vibrating through his bones.

The young Zapdos stood before them, wings spread in challenge despite being only an eighth of an adult's size. Its mass rivalled Max's, yellow feathers crackling with barely contained power. Those ancient eyes locked onto Lucas, holding centuries of instinct and knowledge passed down through bloodlines older than human civilization.

"Hey there, partner." Lucas kept his voice steady, fighting the urge to step back. "I'm Lucas. We're going to be companions from now on."

Zapdos tilted its head, considering. Static danced between its feathers as Lucas held his breath, waiting for the legendary's response. The air grew thick with ozone, making the hairs on his arms stand on end.

“I dare you to try something.” Max pounded his fists against his chest.

“That’s enough Max,” Lucas said. “He’s part of the team.”

“Are you sure about that, Meowth?” The feline Pokmeon poked his head out from behind the sofa.

“Took the words right out of my mouth,” Sabrina said. Salem materialised next to her, keeping her safe.

Lucas considered it. “I’d say there’s a fifty-fifty chance on whether or not he will attack me.”

"I don’t like those odds.”

Since Zapdos was taking his time deciding, Lucas used Insight to examine his parameters.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Species: Zapdos; Electric Pokemon

Gender: Male

Status: Owned

Favourability: Liked 1780/2000 (+5% stats)

Favourite Food: Voltberry

Condition: Perfect

Level: 20

Next: [1%]

Exp Cache: [0]

Stats obtained from EV's [0/100]

Current Level Potential Met?: No

Special Ability: Pressure

=========

Attack:  86 [82]

Special Attack: 131 [125]

Defence: 82 [79]

Special Defence: 85 [81]

Speed: 123 [118]

Luck: 57 [55]

=========

Moves

Peck: 1%

Thunder Wave: 1%

Thunder Shock: 1%

Light Screen: 1%

Agility: 1%

Ancient Power: 1%

Charge: 1%

=========

Description: Zapdos is one of the Legendary Bird Pokemon, alongside Articuno and Moltres. Known as the Electric Pokémon, it can unleash powerful lightning bolts instantly. This Zapdos was hatched from an egg, making it the first legendary Pokémon to be born. Zapdos can be quite short-tempered with others, but he tends to be more gentle with his human companion.

=========

Hidden Stats

Intelligence: 10

Endurance: 10

Energy: 12

Aptitude: 10

=========

Affinities

Thunder: 70%

Flying: 50%

Psychic: 40%

Rock: 40%

=========

Traits

Inherent (Can be passed onto offspring)

Electric Elemental (Master) - Massively increases the power and effectiveness of electric-type moves. 

Special Attack Aptitude (Master) - Increases special attack stat training efficiency.

Special Attack Boost (Master) - Massively increases special attack stat potency.

Speed Aptitude (Expert) - Increases defence stat training efficiency.

Speed Boost (Expert) - Sharply increases speed stat potency.

Perfect Conditioning - The energy and endurance stats massively improve the Pokemon's condition.

Legendary Potential: Born with hidden stats surpassing ten.

Learned/Acquired/Unique

Energy Control: It’s more efficient with its energy consumption, requiring less to execute a move.

Energy Assimilation: It can use elements from the natural world to boost the power of its attacks.

Thunder Child: It’s able to generate small thunderstorms by manipulating the atmosphere. 

Life Battery: It can recover its condition by absorbing lightning from external sources.

=========

Growth Stages

Stage 0: Current

Stage 1(level 40): +20 to all stats, two new traits, a new move, and two random hidden stat increases.

Stage 2(Level 60): +30 to all stats, two new traits, a new move, and two random hidden stat increases.

Stage 3(Level 80): +40 to all stats, one new trait, a new move, and two random hidden stat increases.

Stage 4(Level 100): ??????

=========

Breeding Type: D

Breeding Conditions

Same Species: +25%

Egg Group - Undiscovered: -25%

Egg Group - Other: -50%

Same Level: +10%

Base Compatibility:

Type A: 15%

Type B: 16%

Type C: 12%

Type D: 60%

Type E: 18%

=========

Lucas focused on the description right away. It gave him some reassurance that Zapdos wouldn't attack him.  With his mind eased, he took a deeper look at Zapdos’ parameters. His eyes widened as he noticed something unprecedented—clearly defined growth stages laid out in the Pokemon's status. In all his time examining Pokemon parameters, he'd never encountered anything like it.

Most Pokemon channelled their potential through evolution, gaining bonus stats and traits by meeting specific requirements. Those without evolutionary forms received their potential gains automatically through levelling—a simpler but more rigid path of development. Their traits came pre-determined, only varying through selective breeding.

But Zapdos' parameters revealed a third path. Despite lacking traditional evolution, the legendary Pokemon possessed distinct growth stages, each offering unique benefits up to level one hundred. This explained why he hadn't noticed this pattern before—the other legendaries he'd encountered had already surpassed level hundred, their growth stages long complete.

Lucas closed the menu, shaking his head in amazement. "Your stats are unreal. Has there ever been a Pokémon stronger than you right after hatching from an egg?

Zapdos appeared to have made a decision and waddled across the floor. If he weren't facing a legendary Pokémon, he might have laughed.

He bumped his head into Lucas’ chest. Electricity surged through him, not painful but intense enough to make his breath catch. Zapdos opened its beak and released another piercing cry.

“What’s he saying?” Lucas asked Meowth.

"He’s feeling cooped up." Meowth's whiskers twitched. "He wants to spread his wings, test the sky."

"We'll find somewhere secluded for you to fly," Lucas promised. "But first, you need a proper name."

Zapdos slammed into him again, the impact sending him staggering back several steps. Despite the force, he sensed no malice in the gesture.

"Easy there," Lucas steadied himself. "How about Raijin? It means thunder god."

This time Zapdos' headbutt sent Lucas sprawling onto the floor with an undignified thud.

"He likes it," Meowth snickered. "A lot."

Lucas rubbed his bruised posterior, glaring up at his new partner. "If this is how you show approval, I might start saying things you hate."

Zapdos lowered its head, preparing for another charge.

"No, no—forget I said anything!" 

So, what do you think? I'll cover Lucas's Pokémon progress in the next chapter. It would have been too much info-dumping to add it all in this one.

Thanks for reading.