Chapter Twenty-Nine: Perhaps I Should Just Possess a Body...?

Today, Ash and his two companions arrived at a beach.

Vermilion City is a port city surrounded by the sea. Although they were still some distance away, this area could, strictly speaking, be considered the outskirts of Vermilion City. As dusk began to fall, the group decided to seek lodging for the night at the isolated lighthouse standing beside the coastal cliff.

"Look, a Pokémon!"

On the beach, a crab waving large pincers crawled toward the three of them. It was small, roughly the size of two palms, scuttling sideways across the sand while brandishing its claws quite arrogantly.

"Beep. Krabby, the River Crab Pokémon. Its red shell indicates it is cooked and delicious."

"Fun fact: This is the season when crab roe is at its most succulent."

The Pokédex announced automatically.

"What are you talking about? It’s clearly a Krabby, a Water-type Pokémon! Never mind that, I’m going to catch it!" Misty, as a Water-type trainer, immediately retorted and prepared to raise her Poké Ball, but Ash stepped in front of her.

"Wait, Misty. This crab is red; it goes against your 'Blue Will.' You’d better leave it to me!" he reasoned.

Misty: "?"

She was rendered speechless.

After a quick series of moves by Ash, and before Pikachu even had a chance to act, he caught the Krabby with his bare hands. Setting aside Red’s semi-retired Pikachu, Ash could now officially call himself a trainer who owned more than six Pokémon. He was finally a normal person.

"Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll have a great meal at the lighthouse tonight to celebrate. I’m one step closer to becoming a Pokémon Master!" A joyous Ash pushed the other two toward the lighthouse.

...

The lighthouse’s massive metal gate was engraved with a large, primitive mural. Various abstract patterns of Pokémon were embedded in square grids, clearly showing the wear of many years.

"Pika."

Pikachu pointed to a pattern of an electric mouse. The drawing was extremely abstract, fat, and round, which secretly boosted its confidence. It wasn't that fat. At most, just a little chubby.

Creak...!

At that moment, the lighthouse door suddenly opened. To the surprise of Ash and his friends, who had expected the interior to be a simple, dilapidated house, they found red carpets, elegant, antique-style walls, and decor that resembled the castle of a feudal prince.

At the end of the grand hall stood a raised platform. Standing upon it was a massive figure. The front revealed a pitch-black belly and several hooked claws. The back, however, was an oval-shaped amber shell, looking much like a giant reptile and appearing quite dangerous.

"Kabuto...!"

Brock’s eyes immediately narrowed into slits. As the Pewter City Gym Leader, he had some understanding of fossil Pokémon like Kabuto.

"Is this a Kabuto? It’s so huge!?"

Seeing this, Ash felt no fear; instead, he grew excited. He hadn't expected a Kabuto to be a head taller than he was. After all, for a man, size is what matters most! He had a Dome Fossil in his bag, after all; who knew when it might hatch?

"Could mine grow to be this big too...?"

He was full of anticipation.

...

Suddenly, the giant Kabuto on the platform twitched. From within the pitch-black body came a human voice, sounding like a young man.

"Um, I’m not a Kabuto. Young man, come up here and touch my pectoral muscles."

Ash, not suspecting a thing, boldly went up and gave a tug. As if he had triggered a mechanism, the Kabuto erupted with a "poof" of white smoke, and the shell split into two halves and fell away. Finally, a human figure emerged from within.

"Sorry about that. Once you climb into this thing, it’s hard to get out. I thought I’d be stuck in there for the night..." A man appeared, rubbing his head.

He looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, with fair skin, fluffy, slightly curly hair, a straightforward tone, and handsome features. However, his hairline looked somewhat precarious.

"Haha, hello everyone. My name is Bill, and I’m a Pokémon researcher."

The three of them quickly greeted him in return.

"Oh, you’re from Pallet Town? Then you must know Professor Oak. I’m practically his half-student..." At the mention of this, Bill’s face showed a hint of nostalgia, as if remembering the good old days when he and the Professor discussed academics together.

"That was also the season when crab roe was at its most succulent. I remember when we set up a hot pot in Pallet Town..." He licked his lips, his gaze drifting.

Ash and his friends: "?"

The logic didn't quite add up, did it?!

"By the way, Mr. Bill, why are you wearing a Kabuto suit?" Ash quickly interrupted to change the subject. Seeing the man drooling, he was worried that this weirdo might be able to smell the Krabby he had just caught through the Poké Ball.

At these words, Bill’s expression suddenly turned stern, as if he had become a different person. He gently stroked the Kabuto suit behind him, his expression deeply moved.

"I am experiencing the inner thoughts of Pokémon, feeling their true world."

"Have you ever thought that Pokémon are actually no different from us humans? Humans have all sorts of thoughts, so why not Pokémon? It’s even possible that humans are just a type of Pokémon, and there is no difference between the two."

"If you want to pursue inspiration and feel the thrill, you must see it through to the end."

The three of them: "?"

Seeing their confused expressions, Bill suddenly posed a question: "What is the difference between humans and Pokémon?"

Ash looked at Pikachu and answered subconsciously: "Humans know how to consciously control their weight, I suppose."

Pikachu: "?"

"Ahem, think about it. Pokémon can use various skills, while humans aren't as flashy. We’ve abandoned those diverse skills, but in reality, we have retained one unique skill: the skill of 'coordinating with Pokémon to execute moves.' Thinking about it this way, don't you think there are some similarities?"

The three of them nodded.

"That actually makes some sense." After all, some Pokémon can only use a single move.

"That is why I am here, practicing the art of feeling the inner heart of Pokémon, attempting to understand their true world." Bill suddenly spread his arms, as if singing the praises of science, which made the three frown.

Can you really understand a Pokémon's thoughts just by wearing their clothes? That is certainly... a unique interpretation. Is this what a Pokémon researcher is like? That’s quite... great.

...

"Ash, help me ask a question..."

Suddenly, Red’s voice echoed in his mind, his tone carrying a rare sense of urgency. This piqued Ash’s interest, and he couldn't help but ask back: "Brother Red, haven't you already ascended?"

Red: "..."

Back to the topic. It turned out Red remembered that in the previous video game world, he had also met a man named Bill who was eager to understand the thoughts of Pokémon. However, that Bill was clearly more fanatical than the one before them. He had even fused himself completely with a Pokémon, pouring his own soul into a Clefairy, and was unable to separate. It was only thanks to Red, who happened to be passing by, that the fusion was undone.

But that wasn't the point. The point was that the man in front of them possessed the dark technology to move a human soul into a Pokémon! This was exactly what Red needed most urgently right now.

"Brother Red’s business is my business!" Ash patted his chest and agreed immediately.

"Then... thank you." Although Red felt embarrassed, he lowered his head slightly, his face flushing as he expressed his gratitude. When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. He couldn't even remember the last time he had said "thank you" to anyone.

"Hey, don't be so formal with me, Krabby," Ash replied nonchalantly.

Red: "..."

*Maybe I should just try to possess him instead...?*

...

In reality, Ash was multitasking. He looked up and asked: "Excuse me for interrupting, Mr. Bill, but I have a friend who wants to ask you a question."

The other three looked left and right, wondering where this "void friend" had come from.

"Do you happen to know the technology for transferring a human soul into a Pokémon?"

Upon hearing this, Bill’s body jolted, his pupils constricted, and he became incredibly serious once more. For the first time, he looked at Ash with genuine scrutiny.

A plain, unremarkable country boy.

Strange. Transferring a human soul into a Pokémon to reach the highest realm of spiritual union... This was an idea Bill had conceived when he was very young, but he had never told anyone about it. Not even his dining companion, Professor Oak! How did this boy know?

"This friend you speak of... it couldn't be you, could it...?" he asked tentatively.

Ash waved his hands quickly: "Not me, not me. It’s just... a really, really rare friend. How should I put it..."

"Should we say he's half-dead?"

The three of them: "?"

Red: "?"