Chapter 7: Shauna?
Though he had expected as much, it was still exciting to see his ability in action. The mere act of being near a place of significance was enough to trigger the slow but steady creation of a new Pokémon. Kinda similar with Pokemon Go but at least he doesn't need beat and capture them. With a satisfied sigh, he turned away from the window and stretched. His gaze flickered to the ID card in his pocket—the very thing that had cost Vance his life. "Efficiency under pressure," Larry murmured with a smirk. "If only everyone worked like that."
Ever since he killed Vance and Hozan and secured his identification certificate, Larry had set off on his journey across the world. He knew from his Nen ability's description that not every place he visited would result in the breeding of Pokémon. However, participating in key events from the original storyline could increase the chances significantly.
With that in mind, Larry decided to save major locations like Sky Arena and Yorknew City for later. Even if he didn't set them as immediate targets, the six continents were filled with famous places worth exploring. From the ominous Karym Ruins, to the lively Pleasure City, the world of Hunter x Hunter was far larger and richer than the glimpses shown in the original series.
Upon arriving in this world, Larry quickly realized that the locations described in the story were just the tip of the iceberg. Countless undiscovered wonders existed beyond the pages of the anime and manga. The reason he ended up at the Karym Ruins first was simple—it happened to be the closest major landmark to the town where he first arrived. It was a convenient starting point to test his luck. And to his surprise, the ruins had already borne fruit. A new Pokémon was in the process of being bred within him.
'Was I just lucky, or is the probability of breeding higher than I thought?' Larry mused, stroking his chin while gazing at the ruins in the distance.
Curiosity gnawed at him. Even if he couldn't venture too deep into the Inner Zone, exploring the outskirts of the ruins sounded appealing. It would allow him to familiarize himself with the environment while waiting for his Pokémon's progress bar to fill.
Despite his anticipation, Larry hadn't been idle. Over the past few days, he had been carefully analyzing his Nen ability. After running through various scenarios in his mind, an idea began to take shape—an idea that could revolutionize his strength.
Initially, he had been puzzled by the lack of detailed information about Gardevoir in the Pokédex. It felt incomplete. But then he realized there might be a way to not only fill in those gaps but also enhance his Pokémon's abilities significantly. The answer lay in the fundamental Nen principles Restrictions and Oaths – The Key to Power Nen abilities, by their very nature, could be amplified through self-imposed limitations. The stricter the rules, the greater the power gained.
Kurapika, driven by his vendetta against the Phantom Troupe, had established an extreme restriction—his Nen could only be used against them. In return, he gained immense power in a short amount of time, surpassing seasoned Nen users. The trade-off was simple yet terrifying. The benefits were immense, but breaking an oath could result in losing one's Nen abilities—or worse, one's life.
After careful consideration, Larry decided to take the same path as those who sought power through sacrifice. His greatest advantage in this world was, without a doubt, his "Pokémon Master" ability. But his second strongest asset—the one thing no one else had—was the vast, encyclopedic knowledge of Pokémon he carried from his previous life.
It was time to turn that knowledge into tangible strength. The oath was simple yet demanding: for every Pokémon he obtained, he would have exactly one minute to recite its characteristics, attributes, abilities, and potential skill sets from memory. If he could correctly recall at least 50% of the information, the Pokémon's strength would increase—potentially advancing by an entire rank.
However, if he failed to meet the threshold, the Pokémon's strength would decline accordingly. This self-imposed rule was more than a mere challenge; it was a way to push his abilities beyond their limits, forcing him to leverage every bit of knowledge he had.
If it worked, he could propel his Pokémon to new heights, turning them into formidable forces in this world of Nen. And if it didn't? At worst, he'd remain at his current power level. But if it succeeded... Larry's lips curled into a confident grin. Gardevoir could leap from B-rank to A-rank in an instant.
The potential gains were too great to ignore, and the risk was one he was more than willing to take. With his heart pounding in his chest, he closed his eyes and solidified the restriction in his mind. Balance between gain and loss—restriction and oath, established.
Holding his breath, Larry immediately put the restriction to the test. Standing before Gardevoir, he spoke rapidly, voice unwavering. "Name: Gardevoir. Type: Psychic, Fairy. Abilities: Trace, Synchronize... Base stats..." His words poured out like rapid-fire, spilling every detail stored in his mind. Every stat, every potential move Gardevoir could learn, every hidden ability—he left nothing out.
Time ticked away. When the minute was up, Larry fell silent, his chest rising and falling from the sheer effort. And then... it happened. Gardevoir's aura pulsed violently, and a powerful surge of Nen erupted from her form. Bright pink aura flooded the room, rapidly expanding and swallowing the surroundings in a dazzling glow. Tables, chairs, and objects in the room lifted into the air, suspended by her overwhelming psychic force.
What was once a calm and elegant figure now radiated the regal presence of a true queen—majestic, imposing, and unmistakably powerful.
***
Species: Gardevoir
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Ability: Trace
Strength Rank: A
Known Moves: Telekinesis, Psychic, Hypnosis, Dazzling Gleam...
Description: Gardevoir has the ability to sense the emotions and intentions of those around it. With its strong psychic powers, it can create small black holes to protect its Trainer from harm. Fiercely loyal, Gardevoir's bond with its Trainer is reinforced by Nen, driving it to protect them at all costs.
***
Larry's eyes widened in astonishment, and an uncontrollable burst of laughter escaped his lips. "Hahahahaha! It worked!" he shouted, unable to contain his excitement.
Gardevoir had ascended to an entirely new level, her power now leagues above what it once was. And this was just the beginning. If he could do this with Gardevoir, then what about future Pokémon? If B-rank could become A-rank, then an A-rank Pokémon could reach S-rank... The possibilities were endless.
As Larry reveled in his success, Gardevoir stood beside him, radiating newfound confidence. "Shauna?" she asked softly, tilting her head.
Larry patted her shoulder with a wide grin. "You're incredible, Gardevoir. With this power, we can take on anything."
More importantly, Gardevoir's abilities had improved beyond just raw strength. Now, she could teleport not just herself, but multiple people over long distances and even perform consecutive teleportations without straining her Nen reserves. This meant an even greater safety net for Larry during his travels. Looking out the window once more at the Karym Ruins, Larry's grin widened.