The feeling brought by Aura was peculiar—like opening a fuzzy version of night vision.
Although Johan had his eyes closed, he could "see" Gengar, Lucario, and the others in his "field of vision." He could even sense their exact positions and distances.
Once he opened his eyes, however, that sensation faded gradually until it disappeared altogether.
Through this experience and his prior understanding of Aura, Johan had a clearer grasp of its mechanics.
Aura existed in all things, yet ordinary people and Pokémon couldn't perceive it.
The so-called "Aura Power" was the ability to enhance one's perception of this force and, ultimately, to harness it.
"It feels like ki... like something out of Dragon Ball," Johan muttered.
Aura Guardians used this power as the foundation of their training. Techniques like telepathy and the Aura Sphere were results of advanced mastery.
But such abilities required deep training and proficiency.
The basic effects of awakened Aura Power included enhanced physicality, reaction speed, and sensory acuity, as well as improved sight and hearing.
At higher levels, abilities like night vision, Aura perception, and even full sensory awareness emerged.
Beyond that, advanced techniques such as telepathy, holographic projections, Aura materialization, and Aura transference came into play.
At its peak, Aura might even connect to the essence of life itself.
"Feels like ki training," Johan whispered with a strange expression.
This confirmed his suspicion—Pokémon's world was a high-powered fantasy realm.
Think about it: Viridian Forest's power was akin to a priest's blessings; psychic abilities mirrored a mage's spells; Aura resembled a warrior's ki techniques.
Add in martial artists who trained their bodies to inhuman extremes, and you had a world full of combat practitioners.
Not to mention rare anomalies like "super prodigies."
"So... am I Aura Level Three?" Johan quipped before chuckling at his own joke.
"Honestly, if you mastered Aura Power, you could open a school and become a charismatic cult leader."
He paused.
"Wait, I could've done that with just my Pokédex…"
The difference, of course, was that the Pokédex worked only on Pokémon, whereas Aura extended to all things.
His amusement aside, the advantages of Aura were clear.
Sharper instincts and heightened awareness would greatly enhance his battle capabilities.
If he trained further, his precision in directing Pokémon during battles would improve significantly.
Most importantly, he finally had an answer to cheating opponents: cheat back.
"If I train hard enough, I might even get x-ray vision…"
Cough.
Aura seemed great.
Clearing his throat, Johan silently acknowledged his newfound motivation to hone this ability.
"It'd be nice to have a Pokémon skilled in Aura as a partner."
But Pokémon partnerships couldn't be forced, and he already had enough to handle with Gengar and the rest.
"Actually," Johan mused aloud, "Aura can enhance Mega Evolution, too."
Mega Evolution required deep bonds between a Pokémon and its trainer. Aura's physical enhancements could also sustain Mega Evolution for longer durations.
That explained why Gurkinn from the Kalos region encouraged his granddaughter to train alongside her Lucario.
Speaking of which…
Johan recalled that Gengar only needed a Key Stone to complete its Mega Evolution setup.
{How do you feel?} Lucario's voice resonated in Johan's mind.
"Mew~!"
Mew fluttered around Johan, joyfully twirling. Its crescent-shaped smile radiated pure happiness.
Gengar and the others crowded around Johan, curiously inspecting him.
"Driii?" (You didn't... die, right?)
"Ka-kaah?" (Did you awaken your Aura Power?)
"Hmm…" Dratini tilted its head. (He seems a bit stronger, at least.)
Meanwhile, Tinkatuff folded its arms over its chest, mimicking Lucario's Aura Sphere stance.
"Chu?" (Can you shoot 'pew pew pew' now?)
Johan's lips twitched.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys.
"I feel... pretty good," Johan admitted.
Lucario nodded solemnly.
{It appears I underestimated your potential.}
Johan patted Lucario on the shoulder, grinning reassuringly.
"Don't worry about it."
His awakening was due to a combination of factors: Lucario's guidance and Mew's intervention.
With such powerful help, his latent talent—however weak—was finally unearthed.
"Poor talent doesn't matter as long as…"
{I misjudged you. Your Aura talent may surpass even Sir Aaron's.}
They both spoke at the same time, then paused, blinking at each other in surprise.
Great talent? Poor talent?
Lucario explained further:
{You mastered Aura perception immediately upon awakening. It took me grueling training under Sir Aaron to achieve the same.}
Lucario's thoughts drifted to its own struggles, navigating a forest of swinging bottles under Aaron's guidance.
Johan was momentarily speechless.
So... not Aura Level Three, but innate full spirit power?
He chuckled at the irony.
Does this mean I'll someday wrestle Pokémon barehanded like a martial artist?
The lush environment of the Tree of Beginning, teeming with carefree Pokémon, stretched around them.
Mew, now playful again, picked up a toy whistle and blew into it gleefully.
Next, it produced a jack-in-the-box.
Boing!
The spring-loaded toy startled even Mew itself, eliciting delighted laughter.
Watching Mew showcase its treasures, Johan's heart softened.
He gently patted its head and said warmly, "Mew, separation is just a prelude to reunion."
It was time to leave.
Who knew how much longer Steven and the others could hold out?
Mew's energy deflated like a wilted flower, its expression brimming with reluctance.
It didn't want to be alone again.
Smiling, Johan reassured it:
"If you ever get bored, come find us. I'm sure you can manage short trips even if you can't stray far from the Tree."
"Mew?"
Mew's ears perked up.
That's true!
Its mood flipped instantly, its smile wide with excitement.
"When you visit Hoenn, I'll treat you to coffee," Johan added with a wink.
Though Mew didn't know what coffee was, it nodded eagerly.
"Alright then. Take care of us."
"Mew~!"
With a flash of bright light, Mew enveloped them all in its Aura.
When Johan opened his eyes again, they were back at the Tree's entrance.
Mew's Teleport really is OP.
"Mew~..."
Even as it waved them off, Mew's reluctant whimper tugged at Johan's heart.
Acting on impulse, he suggested, "I'll be in Cameran Palace for another day or two. If you visit, I'll get you some new toys."
Mew's treasures were old and outdated. It deserved better.
In fact, Johan had another idea:
Maybe I should download some shows for it. Watching TV alone isn't so bad.
He mentally bookmarked "Bubble Piplup Adventures"—an endless series akin to Doraemon.
If Mew finished that, he could always give it more.
"Good toys?" Mew asked, its eyes shining.
Simple-minded as ever, it waved happily as Johan and his team left.
At the Tree's core, the lights on Regirock, Regice, and Registeel dimmed as they returned to normal.
After exchanging wary glances with their opponents, they retreated sheepishly.
These Pokémon had proven too formidable in combination.
"Is it over?" Cynthia tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear, her flushed face glowing after the intense battle.
"Yes," Steven confirmed, though his expression betrayed lingering regret.
Such amazing rocks…
Gothitelle, meanwhile, rolled her eyes.
These two are having way too much fun.
As Johan emerged from the Tree with his team, Cynthia's Lucario blinked in surprise.
"Lucca?"
"What is it?" Cynthia asked.
Lucario pointed at Johan.
"Did he… awaken his Aura?"
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Powerstones?
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