Pokemon: Trait Master

"Staryu, use Water Gun!" 

"Froakie, use Water Gun too!" 

"SPLASH!" 

On the battlefield, two powerful streams of water clashed mid-air, 

sending huge splashes across the pool. 

Both Pokémon stopped attacking at the same time, 

water droplets raining down from the sky. 

Then, they both moved again—simultaneously! 

"Staryu, use Rapid Spin!" 

"Froakie, use Bubble!" 

Staryu spun at high speed, 

charging straight toward Froakie like a whirling blade! 

Froakie clapped its hands against the foam around its neck, 

then flung the bubbles toward its incoming opponent! 

Misty smirked. 

Ash, even you can make mistakes! 

Staryu's Rapid Spin was incredibly fast. 

The bubbles should have been knocked away instantly! 

This exchange was hers to win! 

But Misty's smile froze within a second. 

Because when Staryu's spinning body collided with the bubbles, 

they didn't bounce away. 

Instead, Froakie's bubbles stuck to Staryu's spinning body! 

Not only did Staryu slow down significantly, 

but when it crashed into Froakie, 

it felt as soft as cotton! 

The reason? 

Staryu's entire outer layer was covered in Froakie's bubbles! 

For Froakie, these bubbles— 

when ignoring their energy-based effects— 

were essentially as light and soft as cotton. 

Using this opportunity, 

Froakie bounced high into the air! 

"Now! Use Bounce!" 

In mid-air, Froakie focused, 

then kicked off with powerful force! 

A Flying-type energy enveloped its foot. 

Staryu, still restrained by the sticky bubbles, 

couldn't dodge! 

"BOOM!!" 

The Bounce attack landed squarely— 

sending Staryu plummeting to the bottom of the pool! 

Misty's mouth hung wide open in shock. 

"W-Why… Why didn't Rapid Spin repel your bubbles?!" 

Ash chuckled. 

"Because Froakie's bubbles aren't like other Pokémon's bubbles." 

"The foam around its neck is actually the source of Froakie's Bubble attack. 

These bubbles not only contain stronger Water-type energy, 

but they're also naturally sticky. 

Something as simple as Rapid Spin isn't enough to shake them off." 

"Gie-no!" 

Froakie crouched on the floating platform, 

raising a thumbs-up at Ash— 

confirming that his explanation was correct. 

— 

"Misty, you've been traveling with us for days now, 

and yet you still don't fully understand Froakie's abilities? 

That's careless of you." 

"A good Trainer needs to know their own Pokémon and their opponent's strengths." 

"If you don't understand a Pokémon's capabilities, 

then no matter how good your battle strategy is, 

you won't be able to fully utilize it." 

Misty's expression gradually calmed down, 

then she nodded seriously. 

In Gym battles, the Gym Leader was supposed to teach the challenger. 

But right now, Ash had flipped the script— 

teaching her instead. 

And honestly, Ash wasn't wrong. 

Even though she was a Gym Leader, 

when it came to actual battle experience, 

she was far behind Ash— 

who had only been on his journey for a short time. 

But rather than saying she was too weak, 

it was more accurate to say… 

Ash, as a Rookie Trainer, was just way too overpowered! 

That's why this role reversal happened. 

— 

While Ash lectured Misty, 

Staryu finally emerged from the water again. 

After traveling with Ash and training hard, 

Misty had successfully raised Staryu to the Advanced Intermediate-tier level— 

the same level as Froakie. 

One Bounce attack wasn't enough to knock it out. 

"Staryu, use Swift!" 

Regaining her focus, Misty commanded her Pokémon again! 

"Froakie, use Acrobatics!" 

"Gie-no!" 

As countless golden stars filled the air, 

Froakie's gaze sharpened. 

Then— 

It kicked off the ground— 

stepping onto one of the Swift stars! 

But just for a moment— 

Before the star could explode, 

Froakie jumped away instantly! 

Just like that, Froakie used the attacks as stepping stones— 

moving unpredictably through the air! 

Its body twisted and flipped in an intricate, 

high-speed acrobatic display! 

Misty couldn't even keep up with Froakie's movements— 

and before she realized it, 

it had already closed in on Staryu! 

Then— 

Its leg shot up high— 

before slamming down in a devastating strike! 

"BANG!!" 

Staryu, which had been floating on the water, 

was kicked straight back down into the depths! 

Within five seconds, 

Staryu resurfaced again. 

But this time, 

it was completely knocked out. 

Off to the side, Violet and Lily were dumbfounded. 

"W-What kind of Pokémon is that?! How can it move like… like…?" 

"Like a ninja." 

Violet and Lily couldn't find the right words to describe Froakie's movements. 

But Serena knew exactly what was going on— 

because she understood Ash's training style for Froakie. 

So she answered immediately. 

That's right—a ninja. 

Silent, unpredictable, 

able to use anything around it as a tool for battle. 

This was Ash's training philosophy for Froakie. 

And Froakie had taken to it remarkably well. 

The battle style it had just displayed 

was merely the tip of the iceberg 

of what Ash had taught it. 

Anyone who traveled with Ash long enough would eventually ask themselves the same question— 

"How the hell does Ash know so much?!" 

From cooking, to survival skills, to Pokémon training… 

It was as if nothing could stump him. 

Serena had lost count of how many times she had wondered— 

"Is Ash really just a ten-year-old like me?" 

"Why does his ten-year-old self feel… so much more capable than mine?!" 

Back on the battlefield— 

As Froakie stood victorious, 

its entire body suddenly glowed brightly! 

Misty, still reeling from Staryu's defeat, 

was caught off guard— 

Before she knew it, 

Froakie was bathed in dazzling light. 

"Wait… is it… evolving?!" 

As Misty voiced her confusion, 

Froakie's body began to change. 

Its small frame stretched and grew taller. 

Its limbs elongated, 

its torso expanded, 

its form completely transformed! 

Moments later— 

The glow faded, 

revealing Froakie's evolution— 

Frogadier! 

It now had a taller, sleeker figure, 

its long arms hanging at its sides. 

And around its neck, 

the signature foam remained, 

now appearing like a white scarf.