Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

"Ugh… so numb…"

Ash lay sprawled on the ground, small sparks occasionally flickering across his body.

"Pika…"

Pikachu looked down at Ash, a bit guilty over the accidental shock.

Then it turned its gaze toward Luo Yuan, its cheeks sparking with frustration.

After all, it was Luo Yuan's face-pinching that had triggered the whole reaction.

"Don't be so stingy. Here, have these," Luo Yuan said, offering Pikachu a couple of Pokéblocks.

Pikachu nibbled on one, its face lighting up with joy.

Seizing the opportunity, Luo Yuan petted Pikachu again, giving its fur a few gentle ruffles.

Pikachu sighed, exasperated but unable to protest while enjoying the treat.

Meanwhile, Ash finally recovered from his paralysis, feeling the sharp contrast between his skills and Luo Yuan's.

No wonder Gary had looked so amused when he'd challenged Luo Yuan.

Realizing he needed to recalibrate his goals, Ash turned to Gary.

"Give me a day to rest up. Tomorrow, I'm challenging you!"

Gary smirked. "Bring it on!"

After watching Ash's battle, Gary felt that perhaps Ash wasn't as strong as he'd initially feared.

Maybe those Gym Leaders had gone easy on him?

And so, the rivalry between the two childhood friends flared up once again.

---

After defeating Ash, Luo Yuan didn't linger at Professor Oak's lab.

Having to keep his true identity hidden here made it uncomfortable.

Viridian Gym

Once Luo Yuan left Pallet Town, he used Ditto to disguise himself in the Viridian Forest, then openly returned to the Viridian Gym.

He made his way down to the Team Rocket base hidden beneath the gym, ready to begin his final training before the Indigo League.

"Let's see… Aerodactyl, Ditto, Giant Dragonite, Charizard, Gyarados… plus Slowbro and Dragonair."

This was the lineup Luo Yuan had prepared.

Seven Pokémon in total—six main fighters and one alternate.

"But first…" Luo Yuan released Slowbro.

Then he gestured for Gengar to come over as well.

"Let's give this a try…"

Luo Yuan handed the King's Rock to Slowbro.

Slowbro blinked at the item in its paw, tilting its head, seemingly unsure of what to do.

"Huh… I thought you'd know how to use it yourself."

It seemed Luo Yuan had overestimated Slowbro's intuition. While clever in its own way, Slowbro apparently didn't know how to use the King's Rock.

With a snap of his fingers, Luo Yuan signaled the Shellder on Slowbro's tail to detach.

As the Shellder dropped away, Slowbro regressed to a Slowpoke, looking curiously at Luo Yuan as he placed the King's Rock on its head.

Stare—!

In that moment, Slowpoke felt an intense gaze from the Shellder.

"Slow?"

Before it could react, the Shellder suddenly leapt up, biting down on Slowpoke's head.

"Slow!"

With a flash of white light, Slowpoke transformed into a Slowking.

The Shellder on its head now sported gemstone-like growths, and Slowpoke had gained a collar resembling an umbrella around its neck.

"How do you feel?" Luo Yuan asked.

"Slooow…"

With a sigh of enlightenment, Slowking clasped its hands behind its back, gazing serenely at the massive Dragonite in the distance.

"…You're really something," Luo Yuan muttered, noting that the Pokédex's description was spot on: Slowking was indeed more composed and wise-looking than Slowbro.

But in other words, it was also lazier.

"Great… Just what I needed," Luo Yuan thought. Correcting this new tendency would require more effort than he'd anticipated.

For now, he decided to let Slowking be.

As he watched the Slowking strolling around with an air of authority, Luo Yuan gave Shellder a subtle nod.

Chomp!

Shellder let go.

In an instant, Slowking reverted back to Slowpoke, the "umbrella" collar vanishing as well.

"Looks like the King's Rock doesn't revert after evolution…" Luo Yuan mused, scratching his chin as he examined Slowpoke's now-bare head.

"Slow…"

Slowpoke looked unsettled, feeling like its intelligence was slipping away with each passing second.

Luo Yuan studied the faint trace of dignity that still lingered around Slowpoke.

"Alright, Shellder, try biting Slowpoke's head again."

Flash!

With a brief glow, Slowpoke transformed into Slowking once more, this time without needing the King's Rock.

"It seems the King's Rock has fused with Slowpoke somehow."

After a few more tests, Luo Yuan confirmed that his Slowpoke could freely shift between Slowbro, Slowpoke, and Slowking.

However, the constant transformations left Slowpoke dazed and exhausted, its fluctuating intelligence making it look completely drained.

Giving Slowpoke a few more Pokéblocks and healing it with his Viridian powers, Luo Yuan began to consider heading to the Galar region. There, he could find the Galarian Cudgel and bracelet, items that might allow Slowpoke to evolve into its Galarian form.

Just as he was about to dive further into research, the training room door opened.

Matori entered, holding a folder.

"Good news and bad news. Which one first?" she asked with a smile.

"Are you doing this too now…" Luo Yuan groaned. "Alright, let's start with the good news."

"The good news is that Hunter J has arrived in Hoenn."

"And the bad?"

"She was immediately put under surveillance by the Hoenn League. Thanks to the trouble you caused last time, Hoenn is now on high alert. Hunters like J are being watched closely—it's going to be tough for her to make any moves without drawing attention."

---

...he's late [patreon.com/WiseTL]