Hatterene was unexpectedly straightforward. After Victor explained the purpose of his visit, she immediately agreed to teach him everything she knew about to Incineroar.
Victor was surprised. Was she really this easy to talk to?
Noticing his surprise, Hatterene smiled and explained that there weren't many members of the Hatterene species in this secret realm. Regarding Victor's previous rescue of her younger counterpart, Hatenna, she said that even if he hadn't sought her out, she would have found an opportunity to repay him.
Victor observed Hatterene as she trained Incineroar.
Her method was surprisingly simple: illusion.
Given the vast difference in strength between them, even Incineroar, with its fiery and combative nature, couldn't fully resist the illusions crafted by Hatterene.
According to her, she used illusions to show Incineroar various ways of expressing emotions. This helped establish a framework of emotional understanding for the Pokémon. Once Incineroar grasped the concept of different emotions, Hatterene would further guide it on how to generate and manipulate emotional energy. Ultimately, this would allow Incineroar to master the use of such energy.
To be honest, Victor doubted whether he could have devised such a meticulous training plan himself. It was clear that Hatterene was indeed an expert in manipulating emotions.
He watched Incineroar as it underwent the illusionary training. The Pokémon's rugged face alternated between happiness, sorrow, and anger, almost as if it were experiencing genuine emotional turmoil.
Victor couldn't help but worry. Could such intense illusions lead Incineroar to develop schizophrenia?
With this concern, Victor questioned Hatterene.
Her response reassured him: experiences in the illusions would quickly fade once the Pokémon left that environment. Only the knowledge and skills Hatterene intentionally taught would remain.
"How convenient," Victor thought.
In that instant, countless potential applications of this illusionary technique flashed through Victor's mind.
With an expectant look in his eyes, Victor shared his idea with Hatterene.
But her response left him disappointed.
Hatterene explained that her ability to teach through illusions stemmed from her innate talent with emotions. The battle illusions and training simulations Victor mentioned were far beyond her capabilities.
---
After entrusting Incineroar to Hatterene for training, Victor followed tradition and gifted a Poké block to Hatterene and her descendants as a token of appreciation.
He bid farewell to the excitable Hatenna and Hattrem, who swarmed around him with their gifts, chattering noisily as they tried to see him off.
Victor made his way to a serene lake with a cascading waterfall, accompanied by Feebas.
"Feee~"
[It feels so much better in the lake~]
"True. The tank is far too small. Once you evolve, you'll be able to leave the water and even move on land for a while."
He scooped a handful of the lake's pristine water in his palm, observing its clarity with admiration. "This water is the purest I've ever seen."
"Feee~"
[It's thanks to my siblings. So, Victor, when are we starting training?]
"Right now. Let's get to it!"
---
A Week Later
Over the course of the week, Victor focused on basic physical training for Feebas in the lake.
To his surprise, the delicate Pokémon, which had grown up sheltered, endured the rigorous training far better than he had expected.
Even while dragging a load heavier than its own weight, Feebas never once complained or asked for a break.
Every time it pushed past its limits, Victor felt his own motivation soar.
"If even something as delicate as a Feebas can show this much perseverance, what excuse do I have to rest?" he thought.
---
Three months had passed since Victor awakened his aura abilities. By now, his aura had reached an intermediate level, and it continued to grow steadily each day.
According to notes in Sir Boster's journal, once the aura could be extended outward to cover one's body, the next step was training under a waterfall to temper mental fortitude, physical endurance, and aura control simultaneously.
Time flew by as Victor and Feebas immersed themselves in their waterfall training. The pair trained continuously for a week, strengthening their bond and honing their abilities.
---
At the Appointed Time
Victor returned to retrieve Carbink and Incineroar after their respective training sessions.
In the week spent with Gardevoir, Carbink had learned mental meditation techniques, refining its control over its psychic abilities.
It could now use its powers to lift itself off the ground and fly with ease, giving it extraordinary mobility. Additionally, Carbink had accidentally mastered the psychic attack move Psychic.
Meanwhile, Incineroar, having undergone intense emotional training with Hatterene, had gained precise control over the generation of emotional energy. This was achieved through Hatterene's meticulous breakdown of techniques.
Victor was thrilled with the progress of his team. The future was looking bright.
According to Incineroar, when it attempted to manipulate emotional energy to enhance its flames, it seemed to sense that emotional energy could serve not only as fuel for the flames but also as something that could be integrated directly into them.
Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts, Incineroar was unable to achieve this integration.
Victor carefully noted down Incineroar's observations, intending to devise a follow-up training plan. Just as he was about to focus, a sudden gust of wind swept through.
The strong wind kicked up sand, blinding Victor momentarily. He rubbed his eyes, trying to remove the irritating grains.
"Rooooar!" "Biiiink!" "Feeee!"
His three Pokémon called out in alarm, each reacting with varying emotions. As Victor's vision cleared, he saw two jet-like figures in the sky, one red and one blue, approaching rapidly.
---
Pokémon: Latios
Type: Dragon/Psychic
Gender: ♂
Ability: Levitate
Level: Second-Class Legendary
---
Pokémon: Latias
Type: Dragon/Psychic
Gender: ♀
Ability: Levitate
Level: Second-Class Legendary
---
Latios had a streamlined, jet-like body. The rear half of its body was blue, with wings resembling jet wings and fin-like legs. A red triangular pattern adorned its chest, while the upper body was white. Its head featured triangular ears, and its face bore a white pentagonal mark.
Latias, slightly smaller, had a similar shape but differed in color and minor details. The key difference was its predominantly red body instead of blue.
---
[Victor, thank you for your efforts,] Latios spoke in a calm, male voice.
[The water within my heart has been purified, and Latias and I have already exacted divine punishment on the invaders.]
[We tried to read the memories of those individuals,] Latios continued, [but their minds are cloaked in nightmares, similar in nature to ourselves. Their memories are inaccessible.]
---