Chapter 337: Chapter 337
“Teacher Lu…” Ash was stunned for a moment, sniffling.
In the description for the Insulated Gloves (Enhanced), there was a faint line of text that most would overlook:
“Capable of transmitting Aura.”
By letting Squirtle channel the Aura through itself, it could also transmit it.
“That sounds painful…” Lu Ye shook his head but still turned back and said, “Squirtle, lend me your Aura!”
“Squirtle!” Squirtle blinked, then frantically shook its head.
“It’s okay.” Lu Ye smiled warmly.
Maybe the result wouldn’t change…
He looked at the fingerless gloves, his eyes resolute.
Squirtle looked at Lu Ye’s back.
Aura carried with it Lu Ye’s conviction.
Just like Aaron and Ash, they had each made their choice.
One scene after another flashed through its mind.
With Squirtle’s normally cautious nature, it wouldn’t have gotten involved in such dangerous events.
Squirtle lifted its head, eyes firm.
The Everstone hanging from its chest shattered completely.
Then, it tossed away its sunglasses.
Lucario’s eyes widened.
With this guy on the field, maybe… just maybe…
“But, it’s still not enough!” Lucario shook its head hard, trying to push Squirtle away.
Squirtle reached out and blocked him, standing its ground: “Squirtle?”
Then watch me get even stronger!
A dazzling white light suddenly burst from Squirtle’s body.
A powerful gust of energy radiated outward.
Lucario’s eyes widened. “That’s… evolution light!”
But this kind of terrifying evolution… just how long had it been building up for?!
The entire Tree of Beginning bathed in radiant light, and the Aura grew even more intense.
“Teacher Lu…” Ash swallowed hard.
Lu Ye’s eyes gleamed.
Maybe… if a Trainer truly believes, their Pokémon will respond…
Whether it was Aaron and Lucario reconciling after a thousand years…
Or Ash stepping in front of Pikachu, shielding him from a raging Pokémon…
Lu Ye looked down at Squirtle, bathed in white light.
A soft smile appeared on his face.
Maybe this—this is the beauty of humans and Pokémon.
Meeting, bonding, trusting.
Suddenly, Lucario shoved Ash aside, dragging Lu Ye down with him.
There was no need for Ash to risk his life anymore—
He saw Squirtle’s form expanding in the light.
After evolving into Wartortle, the glow still didn’t stop!
This guy had been saving up enough strength to pull off that?!
With the power of Aura… and the massive energy surge from evolution…
This time, they might really be able to overcome the crisis together!
“This—this is… a double evolution?!” Ash exclaimed in shock.
Sure, he’d heard that Yellow had used the Power of Viridian to evolve a Caterpie twice in a row.
And Gold had helped Togepi break through twice to face a god…
But now, seeing Teacher Lu’s Squirtle explode with a terrifying Aura and evolve back-to-back…
Ash couldn’t even put his shock into words.
Maybe… Ash clenched his fists.
With Teacher Lu here, they really could save Lucario!
Lu Ye gave a slight nod and sighed.
“This is just how my turtle rolls.”
While its Aura still didn’t match Lucario’s…
The sheer power released in that instant of evolution made up for any disadvantage.
After all… evolution’s basically a full HP and MP reset!
And this was back-to-back!
“Squirtle, you’re almost too steady!!”
Lu Ye felt both amazed and relieved.
Looking at Lucario’s back, he smiled faintly.
Now that his turtle had evolved—
Lucario wouldn’t need to sacrifice himself.
He finally understood why Professor Oak had arranged for Lu Ye to come along.
Compared to Lu Ye, his level of Aura was basically child’s play.
“Teacher Lu,” Ash whispered, “this whole event… you and Professor Oak didn’t plan it together, did you?”
Thinking about that “you passed the test” comment, Ash grew more suspicious.
Maybe… that whole crisis—
Was Professor Oak’s way of testing whether he truly had the resolve to be a Pokédex Holder!
Ash sighed in relief, chuckled.
At least, he hadn’t let Teacher Lu down!
Lu Ye opened his mouth.
And then realization struck. His face paled.
Oh crap. After this evolution, how many Max Potions would he need to heal Squirtle up!?
There’s no way Mystic Water is gonna cut it this time, right??
No matter what—he had to spoil Squirtle properly once they got back!
The entire Tree of Beginning was bathed in a soft Aura glow.
“Luca!!” Lucario brought his palms together. A massive sphere of energy surged toward Mew.
Blastoise chuckled and raised a glowing sphere about a third the size of a Spirit Bomb, giving Lucario a cocky nod.
Lucario’s face twitched, trying to keep channeling Aura.
But no matter what it did, Blastoise’s Aura Bomb was always just a bit bigger.
Lucario stared at Blastoise in despair.
This guy… does he have no limit?!
“Mew~!!” Mew frantically waved its little hands.
It’s enough already! These are way too big!!
But the two Aura bombs combined into a massive orb and surged toward the Tree of Beginning’s trunk.
In an instant, the tree came back to life, emerald Aura reviving everything it touched.
Even though it was winter, the sheer surge of Aura made dead trees bloom with summer flowers at their tips…
Lu Ye’s face twitched.
That blast… did it just completely overfill the Tree of Beginning!?
You’re incredible, Blastoise!
“After evolving into Blastoise…”
Lu Ye recalled the massive sphere earlier and muttered:
“Did its Aura Bomb… evolve straight from Aura Sphere into Spirit Bomb?”
Leaves rustled in the soft light.
Outside the tree’s core—
The Three Regis, each battered and bruised, glanced at one another.
And then quietly retreated.
Steven’s normally sharp and composed expression showed a rare trace of fatigue.
“This time… it’s Teacher Lu who saved us.”
He let out a breath, the evolution light still vivid in his mind.
Among Teacher Lu’s team, the one with Aura talent… must’ve been that Squirtle, right?
If it’s completed evolution…
Thinking of his collection of Mega Stones, Steven nodded to himself:
“I’ll have to prepare a grand gift for Teacher Lu!”
Lucario stood in silence at the spot where Aaron had spent his final moments.
“Blas!” Blastoise swung its twin cannons, picked up its sunglasses from the ground, dusted them off, and put them back on.
This aura—this vibe—it was on a completely different level from its Squirtle days!
Lu Ye hadn’t quite adjusted to it yet, but he patted Blastoise’s shell with a big grin.
“You really pulled through, Blastoise!”
“Blas!” Blastoise chuckled and looked back at its shell, nodding thoughtfully.
Its shell had grown a full size bigger…
Sure, the area to take damage increased, but so did its defense.
All in all… time to keep grinding Iron Defense!
Ash walked over to Lucario and rested a hand on its shoulder.
Then he took off the gloves and placed them back where they belonged.
“Lucario,” Ash reached out and smiled, “would you like to travel with me?”
Lucario’s pupils shrank.
A rational voice in its head told it:
Ash is great… but he’s not Aaron.
Yet a gentle will rested a hand on its shoulder and nodded with a smile.
For some reason, Lucario smiled faintly too.
“Hmph!” Lucario swatted Ash’s hand. “I’ll stay in Orudoran Castle… to protect Her Highness Eileen.”
Lucario looked at Ash and sniffled.
“Of course, if you ever need help—or if it’s the League Conference—then maybe…”
“Awesome!!” Ash leapt forward and hugged Lucario.
“Hey! Don’t think I couldn’t beat you if I wanted to!”
Lu Ye crossed his arms, smiling at the sight.
Maybe years from now, Ash would still get his own Lucario.
But for now… these encounters between humans and Pokémon bred something precious.
And that alone—was enough.
Thinking of his wife’s favorite line, Lu Ye looked up at the sky:
“…Kinda wanna go back and see Cynthia again.”
“Mew~~!” Healthy once more, Mew floated to Lu Ye and rubbed affectionately against his neck.
“Brii~!” Sylveon shot out a ribbon, yanked Mew back with a grumble.
But Mew still wore a bright grin: “Mew~~ꉂꉂ(ᵔᗜᵔ*)”
“If you ever feel lonely, you can always come find me,” Lu Ye smiled and reached toward the adorable pink kitten.
“I may not be good at much… but I’m a pro at playing!”
Mew tilted its head, then giggled and stretched out its long tail.
And gently high-fived Teacher Lu.
At the same time, a gentle system chime rang out:
Ding! Quest [Mew and the Hero of Aura: Lucario] Complete!
Reward: Special Talent – Aura Power!
《Mew and the Hero of Aura》 Arc – End.