Pokemon: Cerulean Gym

The god or ROB who reincarnated me gave me two gifts. My first gift/ability allows me to copy the abilities of the Pokemon I caught. I noticed it when I was four years old and caught my first Pokemon, a Magikarp. After I touched the Pokeball a holographic screen appeared with [Swift Swim ability acquired.] Then it began to show about Magikarp.

At the top was about the Magikarp I caught but there was only basic information, below it was the real gift. There was basic information about Magikarp followed by its type advantages and disadvantages. All the moves that Magikarp can learn. It's basic stats, which you have to take with a grain of salt in real Pokemon World. It's evolution and the location where you can obtain it.

The location written isn't exact but only a general location. It is important for the rare Pokemon as I don't know the location of every Pokemon. All in all, it was very important but one thing did leave a bad taste in my mouth. All of this data was copied from the Pokemon-related site I used in my previous life. I know I am being ungrateful but that being didn't even change the stripes used in it.

I think this was his/her way of trolling me. The first ability is very powerful if used properly but I am going to commit to Water Pokemon and gym-related Pokemon so I don't know how powerful I will be in future. I know several abilities that can help me like Poison body, Ice body, Fire body, Water absorb, Lightning rod and Regeneration. So, I will be powerful but may not use the full potential of this ability.

I have already got quite a few abilities already from the Pokemon I caught. Some abilities remain as it is but some changes to fit me. I mentally gave a command to the virtual screen to look at my profile.

Amrit Hanada

Pokemon Caught: Magikarp, Goldeen, Krabby, Poliwag, Staryu and a Tentacool

Pokemon Team: Staryu

Abilities Obtained:

1. Swift Swim: Doubles the speed during rain.

2. Water Absorb: Heals 1⁄4 of its maximum HP when hit by a Water-type attack. The physical impact of the attack still causes damage.

3. Damp: It prevents the Pokémon from using the moves Selfdestruct and Explosion. It also prevents damage from the ability 'Aftermath'. (to the ability holder only)

4. Clear body: Pokemon moves that may cause fear or lower stats don't work.

5. Liquid Ooze: Damages attackers using any draining move.

6. Shell Armor: An armour made up of energy that protects from critical damage.

7. Hyper Cutter: Prevents the Attack stat from being lowered.

8. Water Veil: Prevents from getting burned.

9. Illuminate: The body will shine with bright light when using this ability to attract wild Pokemon at night.

10. Natural Cure: The regenerative ability is increased and helps to cure status effects.

11. Analytic: When moving last, it helps to detect the weakness of the enemy and boosts attack.

These were the abilities I obtained from the Pokemon I caught. Except for Analytic, others are common abilities so they were easy to obtain. The first ability I obtained was Swift Swim. After returning to the gym, he tested if it only worked when swimming as the name suggested. After telling Starmie to use Rain Dance, I noticed that I was running faster than usual. It worked when running as well. It also boosts reaction speed to keep up with speed.

I didn't know how it worked but later found out that my body was using water energy in my body to increase my speed. The water energy consumed was absorbed from the surroundings through rain.

Water Absorb worked similarly to Swift Swim but instead of surrounding water energy, it absorbs energy from the attack itself converting it into life energy and recovering water energy in the body.

As for Damp, I didn't dare to try but it must work.

Clear Body has more function than what is written on the screen. It removes harmful substances from my body through sweat, urine and faeces. This ability made my body similar to Tentacool in this regard. The day I obtained this ability I smelled worse than a dead animal. One second I smelled like food I ate another second like medicine then like urine and other smells I didn't know even existed.

In Wuxia terms, it makes my body free from filth and dust. It also prevents the reduction of stats according to the screen but I don't know if it is true. It did prevent the chills I get when I look at Gyarados so it must have worked as written.

I don't want to know if Liquid Ooze works.

Shell Armor is clearly a lifesaver. It does prevent critical hits. It distributes the damage on the weak place on my body to all my body. It is weird as when I hit my neck I feel ticklish all over my body. So, if somehow I get hit fiercely in my neck the damage will be distributed all over my body saving me from a life-threatening attack.

I don't know how or when Hyper Cutter works.

Water Veil is useful in day-to-day life. It creates a thin layer of water energy around me that prevents me from getting burned. I don't have to worry about hot water or tea spilling over me in this life. This happening is very very rare still prevention is better than cure. But, it may not save me from a fire-type attack. Unsure as I don't want to test.

I don't have to explain Illuminate.

Nature Cure provided me with little of the healing capability of Staryu. I healed faster when I got hurt last time. It is similar to a clear body as it also possesses a weakened version of the natural ability of Staryu. It must be useful only for small trauma, obviously as it is more focused on removing status conditions. This ability makes me immune to all poison except that manages to kill me in less than five minutes.

Analytic is an ability I have high hopes for. If it works more like its name than it is written on the screen then it will be very helpful. I will have to test it after returning home.

After reading the abilities again I closed the virtual screen feeling satisfied. I have taken another step forward towards my goal of becoming immortal in the annals of history. At least I am capable of surviving the water gun barrage of nine Staryu in front of me. They can try for infinity but will not be able to kill me considering their power stays the same.

"Staryu, come out." I opened the Pokeball and released my Staryu.

"Say goodbye to your friends because I don't know when we will meet again. It may take months or even a year." I said to my Staryu. It nodded and started to talk with other Staryu by flashing its core with multiple colours.

"I don't know where you live. If you always live here then I suggest you move from here because the human world isn't going to peaceful soon. A criminal organization called Team Rocket that kidnaps and sells Pokemon are becoming more powerful. So, be careful and don't trust other humans easily."

"I may be able to protect you after a year if you want but now I can't protect you guys neither here nor outside." I don't know the exact reason they want to follow me. I don't know how important I am to them. They may have wanted to become strong, see the outside world or escape from the predators. So, I don't know how disappointed they are or they may not be disappointed at all. If they did form this group to escape from predators then I can save them when I can become strong but I can do nothing now.

After all, they weren't the only ones suffering in this world. Other Staryu are still suffering but I can't do anything for them. Making the promise to protect all Staryu will be like making a promise to deer that no deer will be preyed upon from tomorrow on earth. This was impossible. I will protect them when I become strong for my gain and as a consolation for my hypocritical heart which is still saying if you can't protect them all then at least protect this group.

After bidding farewell to the Staryus I returned home on my bike. Unlike in the morning this time I saw Pigeotto looking for prey, the Caterpie hiding in leaves, the hiss of Arbok and rustling of bushes, the running Rattata and startled Pidgey. There were groups of Spearow looking at me from the trees. I saw a trainer injuring Nidoran and catching it.

After reaching the city I could see shopkeepers shooing the Meowths. Rattata and Meowth looking inside the trash can. Machamp working on the construction site and the trainers battling against each other in the park. The winner took the money while the one who lost ran towards the Pokemon Centre. I had seen these previously but I looked at them with a different gaze.

After cycling for some time, I finally reached the gym. Today I was again reminded for the nth time this is a real world. Darwin may not be a person of this world but his law applies here, in every world only the fittest can survive.

Today's experience didn't make me sad but made my determination strong. Hadn't I seen these in my previous life? My cat used to hunt a mouse every day from the fields. I would occasionally see snakes eating frogs in summer. We had chicken and goats at home. The only difference is that I didn't have ambition and the means in my previous life.

But here, I am someone who is going to be immortal in the annals of history how can a reality check in a fantasy world stop my dream?