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Ash Ascendant: Chapter 12
🕑 Added 2024-11-22 22:38:27 +0000 UTCHi all,
Here’s the next chapter. Ash has a difficult time finishing the match as Hideyoshi goes all out.
Chapter 12
The second round immediately commenced after Blade defeated Monferno. Hideyoshi recalled Monferno and retreated to his side of the field. He grabbed a pokeball from his belt and released Numel onto the field.
The fire-type's slouched posture and half-lidded eyes projected an air of laziness that Ash instantly distrusted. Around its thick neck, an orange pendant pulsed with barely contained energy, each throb sending ripples of heat through the air.
Ash wished he could use his Pokedex to scan the Numel, but Gym Leaders rarely gave the challenger the time to do so.
Movement caught Ash's eye—Hideyoshi's form shimmering as he channelled a technique. The gym trainer dashed forward. Before Ash could process what was happening, Hideyoshi had crossed the arena. A spinning kick slammed into Ash's ribs with devastating force, the impact sending shockwaves through his body. His Hardened Skin technique saved him from taking significant damage, but the effect vanished after absorbing the attack.
The field served as the stage for two distinct battles. Humans and Pokemon fought in parallel, each seeking to overwhelm their opponent before their partner fell. The rule was simple: incapacitate either the trainer or the Pokemon, and the battle would end.
Hideyoshi became a storm of precise violence, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next. Punches targeted nerve clusters while kicks threatened to sweep Ash's legs from under him. The man's speed was incredible— aided by the technique he employed. Where Hideyoshi's previous movements had been impressive, these were on another level entirely.
Ash unleashed a Thunder Wave whenever he saw an opening, but it was like attempting to hit a ghost. Hideyoshi's enhanced speed let him simply step around the attacks as if they were moving in slow motion. Meanwhile, his assault continued unabated. A punch slipped through Ash's guard, catching him in the solar plexus. Another strike found his kidney. Each hit carried enough force to drop a normal person, and they were beginning to accumulate.
Ash found himself giving ground, forced to defend against the relentless barrage. His back foot scraped against debris as he retreated, each step carefully placed to avoid tripping.
Steelium erupted from Ash's skin in response to the danger, flowing like quicksilver to form a gauntlet over his right hand. He met Hideyoshi's next punch with one of his own, the metal-sheathed fist colliding with bare knuckles. The crack of impact echoed through the arena as Hideyoshi's hand bent backwards at an unnatural angle.
A grimace of pain flashed across the gym trainer's face—the first sign of vulnerability he'd shown. But even as Ash pressed his advantage with another armoured strike, Hideyoshi was already adapting. His movements became more measured, maintaining distance while studying the metal-covered hand with newfound respect. The frenzied assault transformed into something more calculated, probing for weaknesses rather than overwhelming with pure speed.
The change in tactics told Ash everything he needed to know—he'd finally found something that could hurt his opponent. Now he just needed to figure out how to land another hit on someone who moved like living lightning. He still had his ace up his sleeve but wanted to use it at the right time for maximum impact.
Meanwhile, Blade and Numel were battling each other. Blade had taken some damage from the last fight, and it showed in the early exchanges. Not to mention that Numel was a fierce opponent, even stronger than the evolved Monferno.
The ground erupted beneath Blade as Numel unleashed a Bulldoze attack. But Blade hadn't survived the wasteland's dangers without learning to read the terrain. His claws flashed, tearing into the ground as the seismic wave struck. The Metal Claw attack anchored him, transforming what should have been a launching blow into controlled momentum.
Numel's eyes glowed. Rocks tore free from the battlefield, suspended in mid-air. Yet even as they hurtled towards him, Blade was already moving. His claws carved furrows through stone as he dove underground, the Ancient Power attack passing harmlessly overhead.
The battlefield became a deadly game of emergence and retreat. Blade burst from the ground behind Numel, claws raking across its flank before disappearing again. Each strike was precisely targeted—joints, pressure points, anywhere that might slow the larger Pokemon's movements.
Spinning with the force rather than fighting it, Blade unleashed a Rapid Spin that scattered rocky debris across the battlefield. Each piece of shrapnel forced Numel to adjust its stance, disrupting its rhythm. The fire-type's sleepy expression sharpened with annoyance.
Ash unleashed a Thunder Wave, but Hideyoshi was already gone. The gym trainer reappeared behind him, leg sweeping Ash's feet from under him. Ash cursed and rolled away from another assault, his breathing heavy.
He quickly got to his feet, but a kick caught Ash's guard, sending him stumbling into Blade's path. The momentary distraction cost them both—Blade had to abort his attack run to avoid colliding with his trainer, leaving him vulnerable. Hideyoshi had planned it perfectly, using Ash's movement to disrupt their strategy.
A torrent of flames erupted from Numel's mouth, turning the air itself incandescent. Ash threw himself sideways, heat searing his exposed skin even as he avoided the main blast. Blade, however, wasn’t so fortunate and took the brunt of the attack.
Through their bond, Ash felt Blade's desperation as his Pokemon struggled upright. Blade’s fur was scorched in patches, his movements growing sluggish from accumulated damage. Before the Pokemon could react, Numel's stomp sent seismic waves rippling through the ground. The Bulldoze attack caught Blade mid-recovery, his exhausted body unable to compensate for the shifting terrain.
Ancient Power rocks followed, raining down with devastating precision. Each impact drove Blade further into the ground until a final, sickening thud silenced the arena.
The referee's whistle blew, and he raised his flag. "Drilbur is unable to battle. The victory goes to Numel. Reset your positions so the challenger can release his second Pokemon.”
Ash retreated to his side of the field, every muscle screaming from Hideyoshi's assault. The situation was not ideal—he lost Blade without dealing any significant damage to Numel, erasing any advantage he gained from winning the first match. Furthermore, the constant defensive fighting had prevented him from coordinating effectively with his Pokemon.
"You can do it, Ash!" Delia called from the stands, which Sidney echoed.
He raised his head and nodded at them. His mother's voice cut through his doubts, forcing his mind to refocus. Hideyoshi might have gained the upper hand, but the battle was far from decided. Ash still had one Pokemon left.
Ash released Blitz onto the field. His magnets spun in excitement as he beheld his opponent on the field. Ash patted Blitz’s magnet, and a secret exchange went unnoticed by their opponents.
Blitz’s advantage was that he could avoid Numel’s ground attacks. The disadvantage was that Numel was immune to Blitz’s electric attacks, and it still had its fire attacks. Only Gyro Ball would work on it, and the damage it dealt was situational.
But Ash had an ace up his sleeve. The Heavy Metal Ring, one of two hold items Steven had given him for his help in the landfill, pulsed with latent power in his mind palace. He'd equipped it to Blitz during their preparation, and now its effects were obvious—Blitz hovered notably lower than usual, the ring's weight doubling the Magnemite's mass while slightly reducing its speed.
It was a calculated trade-off. The lower hover height left less room to manoeuvre around Numel's attacks, requiring constant vigilance. In return, the ring increased a Steel-type technique's damage. It also increased the damage output against larger Pokemon like Numel. The hold item was ideal for this situation, almost too perfect. He wondered if Steven had known his opponent’s Pokemon team composition beforehand.
The two opponents took advantage of the reset to cast their status techniques. Ash reapplied Hardened Skin over his body. Hideyoshi’s body erupted with a red aura. Sweat immediately beaded on Ash's forehead, the temperature climbing rapidly. He knew immediately what the technique was, and it didn’t bode well for him.
Both Pokemon rushed towards the centre of the field, but their trainers remained behind. Ash took a moment longer to rest before rushing towards his opponent.
Green energy rippled over Hideyoshi's form as he activated another technique. The fire-type's muscles swelled visibly, its previously lethargic stance becoming predatory. Ash’s eyes widened at the sight, knowing that it didn’t bode well for Blitz. He knew it would be hard for Blitz to win at this point, so he was determined to take down Hideyoshi.
Blitz spun into a Gyro Ball, its increased mass turning it into a steel meteor. The impact impacted the ground where Numel had been standing, sending shockwaves through the arena floor. Numel's side was hit by some debris, so he did not completely avoid the attack.
Numel began releasing several Ember attacks, peppering the air like machine-gun fire. Blitz's attempts at evasion were sluggish, the Heavy Metal Ring's weight turning graceful dodges into desperate lurches. But he managed to avoid them all and retaliated with another Gyro Ball. Numel shielded itself behind a rock, but the attack shattered it, causing Numel to be struck by hundreds of flying shards.
Numel shook off the damage and engaged Blitz again in another round of attacks.
Ash arrived at Hideyoshi’s side, and they resumed their fight. Instead of engaging him directly, Ash played defence, ducking and weaving the attacks and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A metal spike bloomed in the palm of his hand, and he electrified it with Thunder Wave. After so much practice, it had become easy for him to activate it without alerting his opponent.
Ancient Power rocks screamed toward Ash's position. His dodge brought him directly into Hideyoshi's waiting kick. The blow sent him sprawling across the ground. Ash gritted his teeth but dashed forward to engage his opponent again. Hideyoshi was too relaxed, allowing him to coordinate with his partner while fighting.
Through their mental link, Ash felt Blitz's searing pain as Numel's Incinerate struck true. The attack sent the Magnemite crashing to the ground, its metal body glowing dull red. Scorch marks marred Blitz's previously polished surface as smoke curled from his magnets. Numel charged forward, its hooves sending tremors through the arena floor, ready to finish the battle.
At that moment, Blitz revealed the spike Ash had secretly attached to his magnet during their brief exchange at the start of the round. Electricity crackled along its silvery length as the Magnemite channelled Thunder Shock through the metal. Numel opened its mouth, heat gathering in its throat as it unleashed another Incinerate—and that's when Blitz struck.
The electrified spike shot through the flames like a lightning bolt, straight into Numel's exposed throat. Metal pierced flesh before anyone could react. Electricity surged through the conductor, bypassing Numel's natural ground-type immunity. The Pokemon's massive body convulsed violently as electricity coursed through its throat, its eyes rolling back as spasms wracked its frame.
Hideyoshi's shocked gasp was all Ash needed. He launched his electrified spike at the trainer with deadly precision—only to watch it bounce harmlessly off an invisible barrier with a sharp crack. The man had raised a Protect technique at some point during their fight. The barrier disappeared, but it had done its job of nullifying Ash’s surprise attack.
Blitz pressed his advantage, unleashing attack after attack on the struggling Numel. The fire-type could barely defend itself, its movements jerky and uncoordinated from the electricity still coursing through its nervous system.
Ash only had to hold on until Blitz finished the fight, but that was easier said than done.
Desperation fuelled Hideyoshi's attacks as he tried to finish off Ash. Each punch and kick came faster than the last, but his technique was sloppy now, his previous grace replaced by frantic energy. An idea struck Ash, and he waited for his moment to strike.
Hideyoshi threw a wild punch, leaving himself exposed. Ash met it with his Steelium-covered fist. As their knuckles connected, a spike erupted from the gauntlet like a spring-loaded blade, piercing straight through Hideyoshi's hand. Blood welled around the metal as the man's eyes widened in shock. Before he could pull away, Ash channelled Thunder Wave through the metal. Electricity surged into Hideyoshi's body, his muscles seizing as he crashed to the ground, paralysed.
The gauntlet morphed into a razor-sharp blade as Ash pressed it against Hideyoshi's throat, the metal cold against the trainer's sweat-soaked skin. "Give up, or your trainer dies,” he shouted at Numel.
But the words were unnecessary as Blitz had finished the fight. Numel lay unconscious on the arena floor.
"The winner is Ash Ketchum!" the referee announced, his voice echoing through the arena. The barrier around the battlefield shimmered and fell, signalling the official end of combat.
Ash slumped to the ground, utterly exhausted. His muscles trembled from exertion, and every breath sent spikes of pain through his ribs where Hideyoshi's kicks had connected. Above the ringing in his ears, he heard his mum's voice leading the cheers from the stands, joined by Sidney's enthusiastic whoops and the thunderous applause of the spectators. He'd done it. They were finally getting off this floor.
Blitz flew over to Ash, his metal surface pockmarked with scorch marks and dents from the intense battle. Sparks still occasionally danced between his magnets, and his single eye dimmed periodically from exhaustion.
"Outstanding work," Ash said, patting one of Blitz's magnets.
Despite the damage Blitz took, he could feel his Pokemon's satisfaction through their bond.
A medic rushed onto the stage, her white uniform pristine against the battle-scarred arena. She released a Chansey, who immediately began channelling a powerful healing technique. Soft, pink energy washed over them in soothing waves, knitting flesh and mending metal. Ash watched in fascination as Hideyoshi's hand healed completely, leaving no trace of the puncture wound. As his injuries faded, Ash made a mental note about acquiring a Pokemon that could heal. Potions were useful in a pinch but couldn't match the comprehensive restoration of a proper healing technique.
His mother reached him, wrapping him in a fierce hug that knocked the breath from his body. Sidney clapped him on the back while Steven bent down to examine the bloodied spike the medic had removed from Hideyoshi's hand.
Ash watched tensely as Steven turned the spike over in his hands, studying it with sharp grey eyes that missed nothing. The man's expression remained neutral, but his intense focus betrayed deep interest. After a long moment, he simply handed it back. Ash absorbed it into his body without comment, the metal flowing like quicksilver beneath his skin.
"This is an interesting ability," Steven said, his tone carefully measured. "You found something down in the ruins, didn't you?"
Ash shrugged noncommittally, keeping his face blank despite his unease.
"I'd be interested in studying your ability later," Steven said, pulling out a business card and handing it to him. "If you're ever on the sixth floor, look me up."
Steven and Sidney departed to deal with the Arceus Fragment, though not before Sidney earned another glare from Ash by hugging Delia goodbye, holding the embrace just a moment too long to be purely friendly.
Hideyoshi walked over to him. Despite the loss, the man didn’t look too upset.
"Congratulations," he said, holding out a metallic badge marked with the number 2. Its surface gleamed with subtle technological patterns. "This proves your accomplishment and also serves as your keycard to access the second floor. It can be used to travel between the first and second floors freely"
"Thanks," Ash said, studying the badge before pocketing it.
"Good fight," Hideyoshi added, his expression thoughtful. "But consider training in martial arts and proper body strengthening if you plan to keep climbing. You'll need it for what's ahead."
"What's your cultivation level?" Ash asked.
"Peak of the Nascent Realm," Hideyoshi replied with a slight smile.
Ash frowned, processing this information. Despite being only one stage behind, the gap in their abilities had felt enormous. The man's techniques and fighting style spoke of years of dedicated training. Hideyoshi's suggestion had a lot of merit. Once he reached the second floor, he would look for better training methods.
He analysed the battle critically, identifying key areas for improvement. His divided attention between Hideyoshi and managing his Pokemon had weakened their coordination. Better battlefield communication was essential—his Pokemon had fought largely independently while he defended against Hideyoshi's relentless attacks.
His electrified spike strategy, while ultimately successful, could have been deployed earlier and more strategically. Furthermore, he didn’t fully utilise his techniques effectively. The Double Team technique remained unused—he hadn't mastered it enough to risk it in such a crucial fight. The cost of failure would have been too high.
He tempered his self-criticism. This had been his first battle against another cultivator, and Hideyoshi was no ordinary opponent. The Ascension system deliberately stacked odds against challengers, making his victory even more significant. Facing an opponent at the peak of the Nascent Realm, with more combat experience, would have been daunting even without the system's built-in disadvantages.
As they left the arena, Delia's excited chatter washed over him—plans for their new life, hopes for the future, pride in his accomplishment. Ash smiled, allowing himself to savour the moment. This was just the first step of many, but it felt incredible.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=
The jeep drove into the massive elevator, its trailer stacked with crates of books, appliances, and clothing. Metal walls rose three stories high around them, the space designed to accommodate multiple vehicles. After inserting the keycard and selecting the second floor, Ash returned to the Jeep. The elevator lurched into motion with a mechanical whir.
Bringing along so many possessions might seem excessive, but Ash refused to abandon his book collection. The clothes and appliances would save them precious pokedollars, given the steep costs ahead—residence fees, registration taxes, and the countless hidden expenses of establishing themselves on a new floor.
Yesterday's victory still felt surreal. They'd wasted no time preparing for departure, especially with Steven's team still battling the Arceus Fragments in the southern landfill. It served as a reminder of just how powerful they were if an entire team of experts had trouble finishing them off.
Their goodbyes had been brief but heartfelt. Kurt had pressed a final batch of custom pokeballs into Ash's hands, refusing payment. "Consider it an investment in your future," the old man had said with a knowing smile. Ash planned to return eventually—certain Pokemon still interested him, once things settled down and he grew stronger.
The bureaucracy at the service desk had taken over two hours, requiring them to complete a stack of paperwork. His mother's new identification papers were necessary—the second floor's governance systems were far more structured than the anarchic first floor, with proper record-keeping and residency tracking.
The ascent seemed to take forever, but the elevator finally shuddered to a halt. They drove through the central hub and out into fresh air that smelled of pine and recent rain. Like the first floor, a defensive wall surrounded the tower. Past the gate, a one-way street stretched before them, lined with several buildings and a viewing platform that overlooked the panoramic view below. The tower was located on a flat mountaintop, which allowed them to see in every direction for several kilometres.
At Ash's request, the driver stopped. He and Delia approached the platform, and the difference hit them immediately. The air felt cleaner and rich with energy. Ash's lungs expanded fully for what felt like the first time in his life, each breath energising him more than the last.
Below them stretched an endless sea of green—massive trees whose canopies merged into a living blanket. Fortree City was nestled in the shadow of the mountaintop, its houses woven artfully into the branches and connected by intricate rope bridges and platforms. Despite its size, the city retained a rustic charm.
Ash had researched the floor. It was mainly known for its agriculture. Its vast fields fed two-thirds of the tower's population, yet its residents struggled under unfair trade agreements and wealthy landowners from above who paid subsistence wages. Fortree City fared better than most areas, though 'city' was a generous term for its size rather than its development level.
"It's beautiful, love," Delia said, her eyes bright with wonder as she watched several Pidgey soar between the treetops.
"Much better than the first floor," Ash agreed. "Come on. We need to meet the mayor at the Town Hall."
They returned to the jeep, which carried them down a winding road carved into the mountainside to an entrance near the treetops. A massive rope bridge spanned the gap to the city proper, its thick cables anchored deep into the living wood. After unhitching the trailer, their driver promised to return for it later. Ash stationed Blitz as a guard to protect their possessions while they crossed the bridge.
The city's true scale soon became apparent. Tree trunks wider than houses supported a complex network of bridges, platforms, and buildings. There were multiple levels, and zip lines were strategically placed to connect them. Many of the structures were built into the trunks and were entirely made of wood. The overall effect was of a living, breathing organism rather than a mere settlement.
An information centre provided them with a detailed city map with key locations. Fifteen minutes of careful navigation through the swaying walkways brought them to Town Hall—an impressive structure suspended between several massive trees on a reinforced platform, surrounded by other administrative buildings.
The mayor's office occupied the heart of Town Hall, its walls panelled with rich local wood. Mayor Harrison, a corpulent man whose expensive suit strained at the buttons, barely looked up from his papers as they entered. His desk bore a polished nameplate and a stack of forms that seemed deliberately intimidating.
"Fifty thousand pokedollars," he announced after reviewing their registration, his tone suggesting this was a bargain. "Upfront taxes for the first year. Non-refundable, of course, even if you leave early."
Ash's jaw clenched at the exorbitant figure. But he kept his expression neutral as he handed over the pokedollars. Arguing would only waste time and potentially create problems they didn't need.
"Excellent," the mayor said, stamping their papers with practised efficiency. He pulled a business card from his desk drawer. "Meadowbrook Real Estate will help you find suitable accommodation. Tell them I sent you."
Delia remained silent throughout the exchange, but Ash felt her hand squeeze his arm gently—a reminder to stay calm. They'd expected fees and bureaucracy on the second floor. This was just the first hurdle of many.
As they gathered their papers to leave, the mayor barely acknowledged their thanks, already focused on his next appointment. The message was clear: they were just another transaction, two more names in his ledger of new arrivals.
When they exited Town Hall, a man in an immaculate white double-breasted suit approached them. His shoulder-length lavender hair was styled perfectly without a strand out of place, and his green eyes sparkled with practised charm. Without missing a beat, he presented Delia with a purple rose that seemed to materialise from thin air.
"James, at your service," he said with a theatrical bow. "New residents, I presume? The lost expression gives it away."
Ash nodded curtly, keeping his response noncommittal.
"Wonderful! I couldn't help but overhear your predicament." James lowered his voice conspiratorially, glancing around as if sharing state secrets. "That mayor's a right scoundrel, taking kickbacks from the rental agency. Their prices are highway robbery, especially for new arrivals."
He presented a folder. "I offer more reasonable rates, plus a complete transport service for your belongings."
"Why should we trust you over them?" Ash asked bluntly, eyeing the folder with suspicion.
James opened it with a dramatic snap, revealing two columns of property listings with detailed photographs and floor plans. The homes looked similar in quality—all built into the massive trees with typical Fortree architectural styles—but James's prices were nearly forty percent lower.
"No six-month lock-in either," he added, tapping the contract terms with a manicured finger. "Only the bond and first month's rent. Unsatisfied? Leave anytime. No questions asked."
"There's a lovely property just ten minutes from here," James said, closing the folder. "Care to take a look?"
Ash hesitated but agreed. As they walked, James played tour guide, pointing out several notable buildings and landmarks.
The property turned out to be part of a trunk-apartment complex, built in ascending spirals around one of the larger trees. Though compact, the living space was more than adequate for their needs. After a brief tour, Ash agreed to rent it. James produced paperwork with suspicious speed, as if he'd known the outcome all along. They arranged payment and transport, with Ash insisting on supervising the move personally to ensure nothing went missing.
A few hours later, Ash climbed the wooden stairs that led to his apartment. Suddenly, his neighbour’s door opened, revealing an elderly man.
The man's weathered face creased with concern, his eyes sharp despite his apparent age. "Just moved in, eh? James got another one. He always did have a silver tongue."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"These places are empty for a reason, lad. People have died here—three in the last year alone. All in mysterious circumstances." The old man shrugged. "Besides me, you're the only tenant on this entire spiral."
Ash silently cursed his hasty decision and James's smooth sales pitch, though the month-to-month terms offered some comfort. They could leave if anything felt wrong, and between his Pokemon and his abilities, they weren't defenceless.
“The name’s Birdee,” the old man said. “Nice to meet you, despite the circumstances.”
“I’m Ash. Does James do this sort of thing often?"
"Oh, aye. Nothing truly criminal, mind you. Just..." The old man's expression softened with odd fondness as if remembering an amusing child's antics rather than potential fraud. "Creative business practices, you might say. Been pulling these schemes since he was knee-high to a Caterpie."
"Sounds like a criminal to me," Ash said.
"You should count yourself lucky that you encountered James and not one of the more hardened criminals," Birdee said, lowering his voice. "They call this the Sea of Trees for its endless canopy, but those who live here know it by another name—the Sea of Thieves. The city itself is just as tangled with corruption, though it wears a more respectable face."
"What about the outer areas?" Ash asked, wondering if they'd made a mistake choosing to live in the city.
"Better living conditions here, true enough," Birdee admitted. "But out there, at least the people are honest about who they are.”
Ash pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache forming. "Wonderful. Just another thing to worry about. Thanks for the warning."
"Knowledge is survival here, lad. Keep your wits about you."
As Ash climbed the remaining stairs to his apartment, his mind churned with implications. His guidebook had painted Fortree City in idealistic strokes—a harmonious blend of nature and civilization. But like the very trees it was built upon, its roots ran deeper and darker than surface appearance suggested. He should have known the mayor would never advertise such unsavory details to potential residents. Still, he'd faced worse on the first floor. At least here, the dangers wore civilized masks instead of bearing their fangs openly.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Ketchums settled into their new environment over the next week. Despite Birdee's warnings, they encountered neither thieves nor mysterious deaths in the apartment complex. The old man's words seemed more cautionary than prophetic, though Ash remained vigilant.
They spent their days exploring Fortree City, mapping out the essential locations. The local marketplace sprawled across multiple wooden platforms, connected by swaying rope bridges that Delia was slowly getting used to. There was even a Pokemon Centre and other essential services, although they were expensive to use.
James hadn't shown his face since moving day, but other residents mentioned seeing him around the city, always impeccably dressed. Ash wanted to have a word with the scoundrel, but he appeared to be avoiding him.
The energy-rich environment of the second floor dramatically accelerated Ash's cultivation. To measure the difference, he avoided using any resources, relying solely on natural cultivation. It served the dual purpose of conserving their limited funds until he established a new income source.
His research into the Sea of Trees revealed an ecosystem dominated by Bug, Grass and Flying-type Pokemon. While this gave his Steel-types some advantage, the forest's layout presented its own challenges. The dense canopy created permanent twilight conditions at ground level, perfect for ambush predators.
The average wild Pokemon measured at level twenty-two, though certain areas harboured much stronger threats.
This forced Ash to be patient. Both Blitz and Bastion gained two levels over the past week, but they needed more strength before tackling the deeper forest. His core still held substantial Steel-type energy, but converting it into Pokemon strength took time. Blade lagged behind his teammates due to being Ground-type, though his eventual evolution to Excadrill would resolve this disadvantage.
When Ash reached the ninth stage of the Nascent Realm, the improvement was immediately apparent. He received a substantial boost to his energy reserves. Furthermore, he now had enough liquid metal to cover his entire arm.
He spent an evening studying the Steelium cultivation manual's section on the second realm. The Tempering Realm focused on strengthening and refining the foundation built during the Nascent Realm. The book outlined three key aspects: increasing energy density, improving energy control, and expanding energy pathways throughout the body.
However, the manual was clear about the difficulty of advancement. Breaking through to the Tempering Realm required more than just accumulated energy—it demanded a fundamental transformation of how the body processed and channelled power. Many cultivators spent months or even years stuck at the peak of the Nascent Realm, unable to trigger this transformation.
Ash closed the book and looked out his window at the moonlit canopy. The second floor offered opportunities and challenges in equal measure. He had upgraded their living conditions but now faced stronger opponents, both human and Pokemon. The path ahead was clear, but reaching his goals would be even harder than the first floor.
So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Ash reaches a new realm and starts exploring the forest.
Thanks for reading.
Comments
Leo
This is the best thank you for another chapter
Shae Holleywell
Hope his mother finds out what type she alliance with and what was killing all those people?
