Chapter 86: The Use of Superpowers

"Congratulations, Cheng Cheng, congratulations on passing the trial," King Hippowdon applauded, expressing his joy.

"Thank you."

Cheng Cheng now understood the situation. This had not merely been a training exercise for his psychic powers, but a true test of himself. Yet, there was still something he couldn't quite grasp—why did it have to be done this way?

"I know you're still puzzled. You must understand, possessing psychic abilities is a simple thing, but truly mastering them is an entirely different matter.

The essence of psychic power is deception. Sometimes, you can even deceive yourself, falling under the sway of your own abilities. When that happens, you become nothing more than a puppet of your powers. You must always remember: you wield your psychic abilities; they do not control you.

So, congratulations, Cheng Cheng, for successfully guarding your heart. I believe you will continue to stay true to yourself in the days ahead."

"Thank you, King Hippowdon."

Cheng Cheng felt moved; he hadn't expected King Hippowdon to help him resolve such a hidden danger.

"Well, your trial is over. Now, let's see how Slowpoke fares."

Everyone turned their gaze to Slowpoke.

"Go for it, Slowpoke! I believe you can succeed," Cheng Cheng said, removing the necklace from his own neck and placing it around Slowpoke's. He knew he no longer needed it.

Slowpoke crawled toward the stone spheres, focused, and used psychic power to lift the first one.

"Come on, Slowpoke!"

After raising the first stone, Slowpoke tried for the second, but no matter how long it tried, it couldn't lift the remaining stones.

"Slowpoke," Cheng Cheng said, coming over and crouching beside it. "It's alright, Slowpoke, we still have time. Let's keep trying together."

"No, your time is up. Slowpoke's trial has ended."

"What? What do you mean? Why? Please, give Slowpoke another chance. I know it can do it!"

"It took too long, and it still couldn't lift all the stones. That means it isn't qualified to proceed to the next trial."

King Hippowdon turned to leave.

"Slowpoke..." Cheng Cheng looked at his companion. "I'm sorry, Slowpoke. If I'd spent more time helping you before, maybe you could have passed. I'm sorry." He hugged Slowpoke tightly, overcome with sadness.

Slowpoke let out a deep roar, broke free from Cheng Cheng's embrace, and turned to face the four stone spheres.

With a powerful spray of water, Slowpoke sent all four stones hurtling into the air. It continued to unleash Water Gun, the flow wrapping around the stones and sending them soaring skyward. The stones floated in the air under the pressure of the water for a full half-hour before Slowpoke finally set them down.

"Slowpoke, you were amazing!" Cheng Cheng cried, astonished by Slowpoke's display of strength. Slowpoke was delighted too, nudging Cheng Cheng with its head.

King Hippowdon had witnessed the entire spectacle. "I didn't expect you to lift the stones in such a way, but the requirement was to use psychic power. So, you have still failed the trial."

Upon hearing this, Slowpoke drooped its head, looking dejected. Cheng Cheng, seeing this, felt terrible as well.

"It's alright, Slowpoke. You'll definitely become strong."

"However, since you managed to lift all four stones, the trial will continue," King Hippowdon said, changing his tone and allowing Slowpoke to proceed.

Cheng Cheng was bewildered. Hadn't he just said Slowpoke failed? Why continue?

No matter the reason, at least Slowpoke could continue. They were both overjoyed.

"Alright, take the day to rest, both of you. Tomorrow, we'll begin the second trial."

Cheng Cheng and Slowpoke, both exhausted, welcomed the break. Cheng Cheng played with his Pokémon around the island while Slowpoke dangled its tail in the lake to fish. Cheng Cheng quickly pulled it away—if a Shellder bit down by accident, Slowpoke would evolve into Slowbro, and what would be the point of the trial then?

Lying under a great tree, Cheng Cheng gazed up at the leaves and suddenly thought to test his psychic powers. He focused his mind, plucked a dozen leaves from the tree, and arranged them into intricate patterns.

He sent the leaves swirling through the air, then unleashed his power to crush them all at once. It seemed he now had fine control over small objects—a promising sign.

Yet the fragments did not drift to the ground, but hovered in the air. King Hippowdon was standing nearby, controlling the fragments with his own power. The pieces gathered together, re-forming into whole leaves, as if they had never been broken.

Cheng Cheng stared in astonishment at the leaves King Hippowdon had restored. If this technique could be mastered, perhaps even a person cut into pieces could be reassembled.

He pondered the possibilities.

"Don't overthink it—it's impossible," King Hippowdon said. "I've only joined the fragments with psychic power; the leaves have no life. To truly resurrect something, psychic power alone isn't enough. That would require the power of time."

The power of time? Dialga was the god of time, wasn't it? Combined with Dialga's power, couldn't resurrection be achieved? And there was Ho-Oh, too, with the ability to revive. Cheng Cheng found himself increasingly fascinated by such abilities.

King Hippowdon looked at Cheng Cheng, somewhat helpless. The power of resurrection was not so easily mastered, and...

"King Hippowdon, can you teach me how to fuse things together like that?"

King Hippowdon refused, telling Cheng Cheng to discover it on his own. It was just one application of psychic power—he would understand in time.

Cheng Cheng tried again, crushing a leaf and attempting to reassemble it. He could manipulate the fragments into the shape of a leaf, but couldn't truly fuse them together.

He shifted his attention to other objects. First, he made a small stone float, then sent it skimming rapidly across the lake's surface dozens of times.

Next, he tried his power on his Pokémon. Wind Chime was the lightest and easiest to lift, though it didn't cooperate at first and his attempt failed. Apparently, he still couldn't fully control another being.

He then tried on Xatu, which was slightly heavier, and managed to lift it with ease. He also succeeded with Mr. Mime and Gardevoir.

But when he tried to lift Slowpoke, his power had no effect—not because he was too weak, but because Slowpoke instinctively repelled his psychic influence. Ultimately, it took the combined efforts of the other Pokémon to subdue Slowpoke, and only then, though exhausted, did Cheng Cheng manage to lift it.

The next morning, Cheng Cheng brought Slowpoke to the battleground for the second trial. This time, Slowpoke would face a Slowbro in battle.

Because this concerned the throne, all the Slowbro and Slowpoke on the island had gathered to watch.

"I'll serve as judge. Slowpoke, you and Slowbro will fight on your own. Cheng Cheng, you can't interfere."

"No problem," Cheng Cheng agreed readily. Without his guidance, Slowpoke always seemed to surprise him with its performance.

"Let the battle begin!"

Slowpoke stepped onto the field, and a Slowbro came forward to face it. Cheng Cheng quickly compared their stats. The opponent had a higher level, but its potential wasn't as good as Slowpoke's. Still, being an evolved form, Slowbro was stronger.

"Come on, Slowpoke! You can do it!" Cheng Cheng cheered.

Both entered the arena. At King Hippowdon's signal, the battle began.

The opposing Slowbro started with Water Gun, and Slowpoke responded in kind. The jets collided, revealing their similar strength.

Then Slowbro stopped, charged forward, and launched a Mega Punch. Slowpoke used Protect, blocking the attack.

Slowpoke fired another Water Gun, blasting Slowbro back. It kept up the assault, but Slowbro used Psychic to reverse the Water Gun's trajectory, causing it to miss.

Slowbro then unleashed its Psychic power, lifting Slowpoke and slamming it hard into the ground. Slowpoke took considerable damage.

Slowpoke responded with an even stronger Water Gun.

Again, Slowbro used Psychic, this time sending the Water Gun back, hitting Slowpoke and causing more harm.

"Hang in there, Slowpoke!" Cheng Cheng called. He wanted Slowpoke to use Psychic, but it kept relying on Water Gun.

As expected, Slowpoke then used Water Pulse—a far stronger attack. Slowbro broke through the move with Mega Punch, but still took some damage.

Slowpoke tried Water Gun again, but managed to hit itself instead.

"Slowpoke, use Psychic!"