Feebas's assault didn't end there.
The instant Marill was blasted backward by the first Water Gun, Feebas surged forward in pursuit. As it closed the distance, it opened its mouth once more—another razor-sharp stream of water shot out like a sniper round.
(Novice 1/100)
(Skilled 1/500)
(Proficient 1/1000)
(Mastered 1/5000)
(Grandmaster 1/10000)
Move proficiency was divided into five levels.
A Mastered Water Gun was already a display of near-perfection—fluid, precise, and terrifyingly efficient.
Just as Pikachu could treat Thunder Shock like a basic attack, Feebas could now wield Water Gun as its own standard strike. It couldn't unleash a continuous barrage like a machine gun, but instantaneous casting—snap shots fired in rapid rhythm—was something it could execute flawlessly.
"Bang!"
"Marill!!"
Marill had barely regained its footing after skidding across the surface when another Water Gun struck it dead center. Its round, aqua-blue body slid backward again, ripples spreading violently around it.
Feebas didn't slow down. It sprinted through the shallows, weaving forward—
"Shu—!"
"Shu—!"
"Shu—!"
"Shu—!"
"Shu—!"
"Shu—!"
Though it possessed only a single offensive move, under Feebas's immaculate rhythm control, Marill found itself completely suppressed, unable to counterattack at all.
Around them, wild Water-type Pokémon watching from the sea were stunned. Their mouths hung open in disbelief.
When Feebas had first been introduced by Ash Ketchum after being captured, it had been ugly, timid, insecure, and weak. Who could have imagined that in just one or two weeks, it would not only grow more radiant in appearance and confident in temperament—but become this powerful?
"Splash… splash…! Unbelievable! That Feebas is so strong—it's completely dominating Marill!"
"Gulu… Marill isn't weak either. To suppress it like this… could Feebas already be around LV.15?"
"Jigu… I don't think so. Its aura isn't that intense. Its level might actually be slightly lower than Marill's. It's dominating purely because its Water Gun has been trained to an outrageous degree!"
The wild Pokémon were shaken—not only by Feebas's strength, but by what that strength implied.
Their gazes toward Ash grew increasingly fervent.
If even a so-called "trash" Pokémon like Feebas could become this formidable after just a week or two under Ash's training… then if Ash chose and captured them, how powerful might they become?
Yet what they failed to notice was Feebas's innate potential.
Talent could not be judged by appearance alone. If Ash had seen fit to capture Feebas, it was never ordinary to begin with.
"Shu—! Bang!"
"Marill!!"
Though both were Water-types and Marill had high resistance to Water Gun, sheer volume overwhelmed resistance. After being struck by the seventh precise shot, Marill finally collapsed, floating limp upon the surface—unable to battle any longer.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Defeated LV.7 Marill. Gained 85 EXP.]
[Ding! Feebas has met the requirements to level up. Leveling… Current Level: LV.6]
The experience from defeating Marill pushed Feebas up a full level. Even better, the remaining EXP nearly filled the bar again. With just a few more battles, another level-up was practically guaranteed.
"Lumina, bring Marill over. I'll heal it."
"Valor, you're up next—enter the field and accept the challenge."
Standing on the shore, Ash directed calmly while observing the battlefield.
"Gulu—!"
"Splash splash—!"
Feebas carefully nudged the unconscious Marill toward the shoreline. Meanwhile, Magikarp slid forward into the battle zone, ready for its turn.
Ash closed his eyes slightly and activated the power of the Viridian Blessing.
"Healing Grace."
A soft hum filled the air.
A gentle green glow enveloped Marill's body.
"Marill~"
Warmth flooded through it. The familiar, comforting energy seeped into its wounds. Slowly, Marill stirred and opened its eyes.
"Marill…!"
Seeing Ash so close, Marill's eyes brimmed with tears.
"Alright, alright. Don't cry." Ash withdrew his hand with a reassuring smile. "If you enter a battle, someone has to lose. And losing to Feebas isn't shameful. My Feebas is very strong."
"Marill~ Ash-sama… please let me become your Pokémon. I promise I'll train even harder than Feebas…"
Marill looked up at him pleadingly.
Ash shook his head gently.
"I'm sorry, Marill. I already have quite a few Pokémon with me. I don't plan on capturing any new ones in the near future."
"And more than half of my current team are Water-types. For now, I don't intend to add another Water-type either."
"Marill~ Please, Ash-sama. Let me follow you. After you capture me, you only need to assign training tasks—I can train on my own. I won't take up much of your time or energy."
Tears shimmered in Marill's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Marill. I can't do that."
Ash's expression was steady.
"If I capture a Pokémon, then I'll devote myself wholeheartedly to training it. I won't capture one and neglect it due to lack of time. Both of those things—I refuse to do."
"Marill~ Then I can wait! I'll wait until you have more time and energy—until you're ready to train more Pokémon. Then please capture me."
Ash sighed softly.
"Marill, your talent is excellent. Out there, many Trainers would gladly capture you."
"Marill~ No! I don't want to be captured by anyone else. I only want to follow you."
Marill's voice trembled.
"Marill~ Do you know? Once, I fought a Goldeen over a patch of tender water grass. In the end, Goldeen's mother rammed her horn into my abdomen. I was gravely injured… poison seeped into my body. I drifted near the estuary, floating on the surface. I thought I was going to die."
Ash listened quietly.
"Then… I heard your telepathic voice. You said you were offering free medical treatment under the Stone Bridge outside Pallet Town. I gathered what little strength I had and swam there…"
"My blood loss was so severe that I fainted before I arrived. But you saved me."
Marill looked up at him, eyes shining.
"You were so gentle… so kind. You were like a beam of light. Like everything beautiful in this world."
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T/N:
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