Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

When the commentator declared Luo Yuan at a disadvantage, the spectators grew tense, their gazes fixated on the battlefield.

The Indigo Plateau Conference was held in the Kanto region, so naturally, most of the audience were Kanto residents. Their investment in Luo Yuan's victory was only to be expected.

On the field, however, Luo Yuan couldn't suppress a chuckle when he heard the claim.

"Disadvantage?"

He glanced at the field where his shiny Ditto, transformed into a Beartic, had just disengaged from a clash with Jun's Beartic.

Bang!

The two Pokémon separated after another intense collision.

"Huff… Huff…"

Jun's Beartic was visibly exhausted, its heavy breathing betraying the toll of prolonged, high-intensity combat.

In contrast, the shiny Ditto-Beartic stood calmly in place. Apart from a few superficial wounds inflicted by Beartic's attacks, it showed no signs of fatigue or strain.

"That's impossible!"

Jun stared at the scene in disbelief.

His Beartic had fought tirelessly for over ten minutes. A Pokémon known for its stamina was already struggling to keep up. Yet Ditto, infamous for its weak endurance, appeared unfazed.

It defied logic.

The confusion wasn't limited to Jun.

On the sidelines, Lorelei, Lance, and other experienced trainers also found the situation baffling.

Lorelei, in particular, couldn't fathom it. As an Ice-type expert, she knew exactly how challenging it would be for a Ditto-Beartic to overpower a seasoned Beartic trained by someone like Jun.

First, Ditto's natural stamina was inferior.

Second, Jun had years of experience training his Beartic, while Luo Yuan had only encountered one today.

And yet, Luo Yuan was steadily turning the tide of the battle.

It was nothing short of extraordinary.

But no amount of speculation from the sidelines could alter the battlefield dynamics.

During the brief lull after their separation, Jun quickly reviewed the events of the match.

One conclusion stood out: Luo Yuan's Ditto exhibited an unusual resilience, making prolonged close combat an unfavorable strategy.

Realizing this, Jun decided to shift tactics.

If direct clashes weren't working…

He began formulating a new strategy and prepared to issue his next command.

Before he could act, however, Luo Yuan's shiny Ditto-Beartic made the first move.

Opening its mouth, it unleashed a powerful blast of icy air.

Snow swirled, and the battlefield was instantly engulfed in a winter storm.

"Blizzard!"

The temperature plummeted as the howling blizzard blanketed the arena.

While the cold didn't affect Beartic, as an Ice-type, Jun wasn't so lucky.

It was midsummer in Kanto, and most trainers and spectators were dressed for the season. The sudden chill had Jun reflexively pulling his thin shirt tighter.

But that brief distraction cost him.

"Ditto, Tackle!"

Taking advantage of the opening, Ditto-Beartic charged at Beartic in large, deliberate strides, looking ready to collide head-on.

The sudden cold had slowed Jun's reactions. This delay left his Beartic without specific instructions, forcing it to act on instinct.

And Beartic's instincts told it that the best defense was a strong offense.

With a mighty roar, Beartic summoned a massive icicle midair and hurled it at Ditto-Beartic.

The decision wasn't a bad one.

From Beartic's perspective, Ditto-Beartic had to risk being struck by the Icicle Crash to continue its charge. Whether Ditto braced for impact or dodged, Beartic believed it would gain enough time to counterattack.

Unfortunately, Beartic overlooked one crucial detail.

Its opponent wasn't a real Beartic.

As the icicle hurtled toward it, Ditto received Luo Yuan's telepathic command. Its body suddenly froze mid-charge.

Just as the icicle was about to strike, Ditto's massive frame compressed, shrinking rapidly into a small, light-blue puddle of goo.

It returned to its original form, easily evading the attack.

The commentator, Kyosuke, practically leaped out of his seat.

"What a brilliant tactic! Ditto reverted to its original form, using its small size to avoid Beartic's Icicle Crash!"

But then another question arose.

"Wait… how is Ditto planning to continue its assault in this state?"

After all, everyone knew an untransformed Ditto had no offensive capabilities.

Kyosuke didn't have to wait long for an answer.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, the field erupted into action.

Ditto's gelatinous form surged forward, its light-blue body rippling as it moved.

Within seconds, it transformed again.

Standing on the field now was a sleek, black Charizard.

Without hesitation, the newly-formed Charizard opened its mouth and unleashed a blazing Fire Blast.

Whoosh!

The fire expanded into a blazing kanji-shaped symbol, its intense heat cutting through the lingering blizzard. The stark contrast between the fiery inferno and the icy storm created a visually stunning spectacle.

"What am I seeing? Ditto transformed into a Charizard!"

Kyosuke's reaction mirrored the shock of the audience.

No one had ever seen a Ditto used like this in the Indigo Plateau Conference.

Could Ditto transform into a Pokémon that wasn't present on the battlefield?

Across Kanto, trainers watching the match were struck by a sudden desire to catch a Ditto.

In theory, if Ditto could memorize enough Pokémon forms, it could avoid unfavorable type matchups and exploit the opponent's weaknesses.

The strategic possibilities were endless, especially for trainers aspiring to compete in the Indigo Plateau Conference.

However, theory and practice were worlds apart.

Training a Ditto to transform like Luo Yuan's was no easy task. Under normal circumstances, Ditto could only mimic what it saw.

Luo Yuan's Ditto, however, had several unique advantages.

First, it possessed the Imposter ability, which made transformations faster and more seamless. Additionally, it had an exceptional memory, allowing it to recall forms it had previously taken.

Second, Luo Yuan used telepathic synchronization to share mental images of Charizard with Ditto, guiding its transformation.

These factors made Luo Yuan's strategy nearly impossible to replicate for most trainers.

---

T/N: SHINYYYYY Char char

"Gar~de! Voir voir."

- Gardevoir

(End of Bonus Chapter—If you like my work, consider supporting me at [patreon.com/WiseTL]!)