Hmm?
Seeing wtwo appear online after so long, Johan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Also, how did wtwo know he was in Kanto?
[Grain in the Field]: Yes, I'm currently in... Vermilion City.
[Who Am I]: Vermilion City, huh?
[Who Am I]: Actually, when you ca to Viridian City last ti, I had a faint sense of it, but I was in a state of slumber then.
Slumbering, huh?
Johan lightly rubbed his chin.
Now that he thought about it, wtwo hadn't been "born" all that long ago.
Strictly speaking, from an age perspective, wtwo was still a baby.
Babies sleeping more was perfectly normal.
Even w, which had existed for billions of years, was essentially still a baby.
[Who Am I]: I'd like to et you.
Johan's expression imdiately stiffened.
That statent carried a subtle weight, enough to send a chill down his spine.
Although he trusted that wtwo wouldn't harm him given their current relationship, Johan couldn't help but feel nervous.
The impression of wtwo from gas and stories was too deeply ingrained.
Almost every Pokédex entry described wtwo as a "savage Pokémon" with "no compassion" and "a heart of pure violence."
Of course, those were just external interpretations, not reflective of wtwo's actual personality.
In Johan's view, their connection was more like that between a doctor and a patient.
Sooner or later, eting in person would be inevitable.
Still, he believed that under his guidance, wtwo would now be much easier to communicate with than its counterpart from the original stories.
It's just eting wtwo. What's there to be afraid of?
"Oowu~"
The Vulpix in Johan's arms suddenly brushed its fluffy tail against his forehead.
You're sweating a lot.
Johan forced a smile through gritted teeth.
"It's just a little hot."
The Vulpix tilted its head, its icy-blue eyes gleaming as it gently exhaled.
Whoosh—
A chill breeze, laced with snowflakes, caressed Johan's face.
Caught off guard, Johan shivered violently.
"Thanks... I guess."
The sweat on his forehead instantly turned to frost. Lips pale and teeth chattering, Johan still mustered a forced grin.
"Oowu~"
The little Vulpix shyly burrowed its head into Johan's arms, its six tails flicking playfully.
So dog-like, Johan thought wryly.
[Grain in the Field]: I'm open to it.
But wtwo's next ssage caught Johan off guard and even made his eyes light up.
[Who Am I]: But not yet.
[Who Am I]: According to the researchers here, my psychic powers are currently in a rapid growth phase, which has left them unstable. I need a quiet environnt to recalibrate myself.
[Who Am I]: If I were to et you now... I might unintentionally harm you.
What's this?
This was the very "superego" Johan had been guiding wtwo to develop!
The superego is the moral component of the psyche, shaped by societal norms, ethics, and values. It serves three main functions:
Suppressing base impulses of the id.Monitoring and guiding the ego.Striving toward higher ideals.
Wanting to et Johan was a primal desire—a reflection of wtwo's id.
Yet wtwo consciously suppressed this urge, exercising self-restraint.
It was like a child craving candy but refraining because of reasons like dental health or lack of money.
Reading wtwo's ssage, Johan felt a deep sense of pride and satisfaction.
wtwo's growing up!
Still, he hadn't expected wtwo's psychic powers to be advancing so rapidly.
Could this be a byproduct of its evolving intellect and wisdom?
[Grain in the Field]: I'm proud of you.
[Who Am I]: ?
[Grain in the Field]: I know you're still grappling with the aning of your existence. But consider this: "Existence precedes essence."(See Note 1)
[Who Am I]: Existence precedes essence?
[Grain in the Field]: Let simplify it. What do I an to you?
"Where are we headed, Johan?" asked Bisques from the driver's seat.
"Where?"
Johan glanced at the Vulpix and Gengar.
Click—
One of his Poké Balls opened on its own, and Tinkatuff plopped down beside him.
"Chu!"
It pointed its hamr toward the distance.
"The sea!"
Johan chuckled.
"Alright, let's head to the beach."
"Got it!"
Bisques kept an eye on Gengar and steered toward the coast.
wtwo seed to ponder Johan's earlier question for a long ti before replying:
[Who Am I]: A ntor. A guide. A guardian of the heart.
Johan blinked, a little taken aback by the praise.
He hadn't expected wtwo to hold him in such high regard.
[Grain in the Field]: So before we t, I ant nothing to you, correct?
[Who Am I]: I think... I understand now.
[Grain in the Field]: Life's beauty lies in its infinite possibilities. Every lifeform interacts with others, creating sothing new and aningful.
Borrowing Cynthia's famous philosophy, Johan drove his point ho.
[Who Am I]: Life interacting with life...
[Grain in the Field]: That's where true aning cos from.
Turning to his Pokémon, Johan couldn't help but smile.
"Ka-kah!"
"Oowu~!"
"Chu!"
"Driii~~"
All of them returned his smile.
After all, wasn't his existence enriched because of his encounters with them?
[Who Am I]: I get it now.
Johan exhaled deeply, feeling relieved.
This was the first ti a conversation with wtwo hadn't ended with it abruptly logging off.
wtwo's growth was undeniable.
At Viridian City's Rocket Base.
"wtwo... fell asleep. It looks so peaceful."
In the lab, a group of researchers exchanged whispers, treading cautiously.
"This is the first ti wtwo didn't cause an explosion or blackout after using the network."
"According to the data, its psychic powers increase significantly every ti it connects. This slumber might be its self-protective chanism."
"We need to study why its abilities surge so much after these sessions."
Suddenly, one researcher gasped.
"Wait! Look at the screen!"
On a nearby monitor, an intense white light flickered.
"Is that... Porygon?"
Another researcher, frantically typing on his keyboard, froze.
The computer was no longer under his control.
On-screen, Porygon's blocky form was enveloped in a radiant glow.
"Is it evolving?"
When the light subsided, a new Pokémon erged.
Its rounded edges gave it a softer appearance compared to Porygon's sharp angles.
"Porygon2?"
Lines of text began flooding the screen:
"Gastly... Dream No. 2... Charizard No. 2... I want to et... Supre Destroyer... What is aning... aning is aning... Existence precedes essence..."
The researchers: "???"
"Is... Porygon2 having a ntal breakdown?" one of them whispered.
Another sighed.
"Maybe life has worn down its edges."
Suddenly, the server burst into flas.
The researchers: "..."
Oddly, none of them were angry.
Instead, they felt... pity.
It's always Porygon that suffers.
At the Vermilion City beach, Johan and his team arrived just as the sky turned to twilight.
As they stepped out of the car, a fisherman called out to him.
"Young man! Interested in a Magikarp? They're top-quality!"
Johan glanced at the fish tank, filled with Magikarp flopping aimlessly.
The fisherman's eyes lit up when he noticed Dratini by Johan's side.
"Oh! A Dratini! How about trading it for one of my Magikarp?"
Johan: "..."
Trading a Dratini for a Magikarp?
Do I look like an idiot?
As Johan walked away, the fisherman chased after him.
"Wait! These Magikarp are elite! Once they evolve into Gyarados, they'll help you punch Gym Leaders and kick the Elite Four!"
Johan: "..."
He quickened his pace.
The fisherman shouted after him, "Co back! I've got a special treasure to show you!"
Note 1: The phrase "Existence precedes essence" cos from Jean-Paul Sartre, a key figure in existentialist philosophy. Sartre argues that humans define their own aning, as existence is primary, and purpose or essence follows. For storytelling purposes, this idea has been simplified here.
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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