Chapter 496: Zeraora All Grown Up—Kirin Reaches Apotheosis

Zeraora's information had changed dramatically over the summer. At this point, he had learned nearly every move available to him.

[Name: Zeraora]

[Gender: Male]

[Nature: Relaxed]

[Type: Electric]

[Ability: Volt Absorb: Thunderclap — Zeraora takes no damage from Electric-type attacks and instead absorbs their energy to recover his strength. He can also channel lightning through his body to continuously increase his Speed. The more lightning he draws upon, the faster he becomes, with no fixed upper limit.]

[Base Stats Total: 600]

[Level: Gym (Early Stage)]

[Potential: Tier III Legendary]

[Known Moves: Lightning Release: Kirin (Apotheosis), Thunder Punch (Perfect), Plasma Fists (Perfect), Thunder Shock (Perfect), Fake Out (Perfect), Quick Attack (Perfect), Hone Claws (Master), Fury Swipes (Master), Slash (Master)]

[Special Skill: Eight Gates (Modified Version)]

[Available Gates: Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, Gate of Death]

[Move Description: Omitted...]

[Description: Zeraora, the Thunderclap Pokémon. A Legendary Pokémon born from lightning, possessing extraordinary control over electricity and seemingly limitless potential.]

After completing the quest from his battle against Caleb, Aaron had received a reward that could instantly raise the proficiency of any one move to Apotheosis.

In the end, he had chosen Zeraora's Lightning Release: Kirin.

Most of Aaron's older Pokémon already possessed at least one technique they had pushed to the absolute limit. It only seemed right for Zeraora to have one of his own, especially now that he had finally caught up with the main team in level.

Unfortunately, Aaron still had no intention of using him openly in ordinary Pokémon battles.

Revealing Zeraora now would cause far too much trouble. A Legendary Pokémon in the hands of a young Trainer would immediately draw attention from foreign powers, organizations, and anyone else greedy enough to think they could take him.

Aaron had no interest in inviting that kind of headache.

Until he rescued the person he still needed to save and gained enough strength to stand against the true powerhouses of this world, keeping Zeraora out of the public eye was the smarter choice.

For now, he would keep playing things safe.

...

Aaron opened the updated information for Lightning Release: Kirin.

[Name: Lightning Release: Kirin]

[Category: Physical/Special]

[Current Power: 360 — Apotheosis proficiency doubles the move's base power.]

[Proficiency: Apotheosis]

[Priority: +1 — Activates almost instantly.]

[Effect: The user condenses an enormous amount of Electric-type energy into a massive Kirin of lightning and sends it crashing into the target at tremendous speed. The attack has a 50% chance to paralyze the target.]

[Special Effect: After activation, the user enters Kirin Possession for five minutes. During this state, the power of Electric-type moves increases by 50%, Attack and Special Attack rise by two stages, and Electric-type physical attacks can strike Ground-type Pokémon for normal damage.]

Aaron stared at the panel for several seconds.

A power rating of 360 was already ridiculous, but Kirin Possession made the technique even more absurd. It did not simply hit hard—it strengthened Zeraora for the next five minutes and even let his physical Electric attacks bypass one of the type's greatest disadvantages.

Ground-types were not going to enjoy meeting him.

For all the jokes about Sasuke always coming up just short, his jutsu were no joke.

...

At the airport, Aaron stood surrounded by luggage while Victor, his mother, and Lily saw him off.

Today was the day he would leave for Crown City and officially begin university. His family had gotten up early, eaten breakfast together, and accompanied him all the way to the terminal.

His mother was already fighting back tears.

"Come home whenever you get a break, okay? Crown City might have everything you could ever want, but your family's still here."

Victor glanced at her. His own eyes were slightly red, though he was doing a much better job hiding it.

"He hasn't even left yet and you're already telling him to come back."

He pressed an orange into Aaron's hand, then grew more serious.

"Aaron, you've accomplished a lot already, but don't let it go to your head. Pokémon League University is going to be full of talented Trainers. Whenever something happens, think before you act. Ask yourself whether it needs to be done and whether you're actually the one who should be doing it."

Aaron listened quietly.

"Don't go looking for trouble just because you want to prove something," Victor continued. "There'll always be someone stronger, smarter, or more experienced than you. Keep your head on straight, remember where you came from, and don't do anything you'd be ashamed to tell your family about."

His expression softened slightly.

"And if you do, I'll come all the way to Crown City and kick your ass myself."

Aaron smiled and accepted the orange. "Don't worry, Dad. I understand."

Lily was already crying hard enough that her eyes had gone red and swollen.

"Aaron... you have to come home and see us. And Arcanine and Zoroark too."

She wrapped both arms around him.

"And don't get some girlfriend at university and spend all your time dating until you forget you have a little sister."

Aaron's mouth twitched as he patted her head.

"Relax. I could even come home for dinner tonight."

Lily immediately pulled back and stared at him through her tears.

"You're already brushing me off!"

"What?"

"How are you supposed to come home for dinner tonight?" Her crying somehow became even louder. "You haven't even left and you're already lying to me! You've changed!"

Aaron stared at her helplessly.

He had actually been telling the truth.

With Flying Raijin, getting home for dinner would be trivial. Explaining that to his family, however, would probably create far more questions than he felt like answering at the airport.

So he decided to leave it alone.

Eventually, after another round of reluctant goodbyes, Aaron picked up his things and boarded the flight to Crown City.

A new chapter of his life was about to begin.

Victor, Lily, and Aaron's mother remained behind, watching until he disappeared from sight.

After a long silence, his mother spoke quietly.

"Victor... don't you think Aaron looks more and more like your father?"

Victor's expression changed immediately.

"Why are you bringing him up?"

There was unmistakable anger in his voice.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's dead. I don't have a father, and Aaron doesn't have a grandfather."

He turned and walked away before she could answer.

Aaron's mother watched him go and sighed.

For a moment, another departing figure overlapped with the image of Aaron walking toward his plane—a memory she had kept buried for many years.

She looked back toward the gate, although Aaron was already gone.

Aaron... I just hope you don't follow the same path your grandfather did.

She had never cared whether her son became rich, famous, or powerful.

She only wanted him to come home safe.

With another quiet sigh, she took Lily with her and followed Victor out of the airport.

...