Ash decided to free his mind from unnecessary thoughts and finish checking the final function of the system: the Shop.
He opened the shop menu and examined its contents.
{ Shop: }
Skills
Abilities
Boosters
Special (Locked until the Host reaches the Rising Rank)
Ash looked carefully at the list and tapped on "Skills."
{ Skills: }
(Note: The shop is updated weekly. Only three skills will be available each time. Once the shop updates or a skill is bought, it will no longer appear again.)
[Skill: Elemental Boost]
Description: Cloaks the user in their elemental energy, doubling their power.
⚠ High energy consumption.
🔒 Usable only by elemental-type users. Effect varies depending on element.
Rarity: ★★☆☆☆
Cost: 3,000 System Points
Ash and Pikachu both stared in awe. This single skill could change the course of any battle. But when Ash looked at the price, he sighed in defeat.
Pikachu glanced at it curiously and asked,"Pika...chu?" ("What does rarity mean...?")
Ash was also confused and asked the system. The answer came quickly:
[Rarity System Explanation]
Skills and abilities are ranked by usefulness and power.
★☆☆☆☆ = Common
★★★★★ = Legendary
Of course, the higher the rarity, the higher the cost. ]
Both Ash and Pikachu nodded in understanding and continued browsing.
[Skill: Hypnotic Aura]
Description: Releases an aura that increases the effect of Psychic and Dark-type powers by 30%.
Rarity: ★☆☆☆☆
Cost: 500 System Points
"This would've been so useful for Gengar..." Ash muttered as he looked at the skill with interest. It was affordable, especially if he ran out of daily missions. But he currently had no Psychic or Dark-type Pokémon.
"Pika… Pikachu…" ("Why don't we swing by the place where Gengar used to hang out and see if he's still there…") Pikachu suggested.
"Hmm… I doubt it. This is a different timeline, after all. But it won't hurt to check when we reach Dead Leaf City."
Ash wasn't sure Gengar would be in the same place they first met, especially since it had been four years in another timeline. Still, if Gengar was anywhere nearby, Ash was confident he could find him using aura sensing.
He focused back on the screen and looked at the last available skill. His eyes widened in shock.
[Skill: Instant Healing]
Description: Heals all wounds for the user and up to 10 targets. Usable 10 times per day.
🔓 Usable by both humans and Pokémon.
Rarity: ★★★★☆
Cost: 150,000 System Points
Ash and Pikachu's jaws dropped.
This ability was insanely powerful—even stronger than Mewtwo's healing, which only worked on himself and could only be used twice a day.
"This skill is insane… If a 4-star skill is this powerful, I can't even imagine what a 5-star one would look like…" Ash muttered.
But his expression turned helpless when he saw the price. He couldn't even afford a 2-star skill—let alone this one.
Ash decided not to buy anything for now. He would save up his points and wait for the next update to see what else would be available.
Then, Ash tapped on the next section: "Abilities."
[Abilities]
Note: Abilities act as passive or semi-passive enhancements. Their power scales with rarity.
[Ability: Hunter's Instinct]
Gain +5% more System Points from every Pokémon battle.
Rarity: ★☆☆☆☆
Cost: 150 System Points
Upgradeable
"Hm. 5% isn't much, but with upgrades, it could become amazing."
Ash was definitely interested. While 5% might seem small to some, it made a huge difference with big numbers.If he earned 10,000 points, this ability would grant him 500 extra.
He moved on to the second ability and raised his brows.
[Ability: Status Resistance (Ⅰ)]
Increases resistance to abnormal effects like Poison, Sleep, Curse, etc. by 5%.
Rarity: ★☆☆☆☆
Cost: 100 System Points
📌 Can be equipped to ONE Pokémon only.
Upgradeable
It was another useful ability. Ash thought, If I had this during my battle with Cynthia, things would've been easier.
But sadly, the ability could only be equipped to one Pokémon.
If Ash bought it, Pikachu would be the most logical choice—but Lucario or Sceptile would've also been great picks… if only they were with him right now.
He then looked at the last ability.
[Ability: Fortune (Ⅰ)]
Increases earned money by 5%.
Rarity: ★☆☆☆☆
Cost: 150 System Points
Upgradeable
Ash didn't really know what to say. As an ability, it was certainly useful. Money was crucial for training Pokémon to their limits.But explaining where all that money came from might be… awkward.
So, Ash decided to just let things play out and moved to the next section: Held Items.
{Held Items: }
[Item: Pure Water Core]
Boosts Water-type Pokémon power by 20%.
Rarity: ★★☆☆☆
Cost: 2,000 System Points
Limit: 5 purchases
"This is another amazing item…"
Ash was stunned. A 20% boost could completely change the course of a battle.He could already picture what would happen if his Greninja wore it.
If Misty were here, she'd probably drool over this.
Then Ash's eyes landed on the next item—and his mouth dropped open.Pikachu wore an expression like the world was ending.
[Item: Rock Plate]
One of the 18 Plates of Arceus. Grants total immunity to Rock-type attacks and boosts Rock-type power by 400%.
Rarity: ★★★★★
Cost: 100,000,000 System Points
Limit: 1
"This is... INSANE! System, are you out of your mind?! Where did you even get this?!"
Ash almost panicked. This booster was beyond broken. Even the fact that it was here was terrifying.
If Arceus found out one of his Plates was missing, he'd go berserk—just like during the Damos Incident, which Ash had witnessed in the future.
Maybe sensing his panic, the system replied calmly:
[ Don't worry, Host. All system items were provided by the Original Arceus. You may use them freely without concern. ]
Ash and Pikachu relaxed a bit.
"So… no risk of Arceus losing his Plate?"
[ That's right. The system did not take any Plate from this world's Arceus. All items were provided directly by the original Arceus. You can trust the system and use anything safely. ]
"Even so…"
Ash still looked a little doubtful, but he decided not to think too hard about it.After all, he didn't even have the points to dream of buying it.
Feeling calmer, Ash scrolled to the next booster and showed genuine interest.
[Item: Moltres Feather]
Contains Conceptual Fire Energy.
+25% Fire resistance
+25% Fire-type damage
Rarity: ★★★☆☆
Cost: 12,000 System Points
Limit: 2
"This would be perfect for Charizard and Infernape…" Ash murmured.
Both the resistance and attack boost were amazing, but… he sighed again. Not enough points.
"Well! Looks like the last section is locked until I rank up. Let's keep moving, Pikachu!"
Ash stretched and stood up after checking everything he needed in the system.
"Pika!" ("Let's go!") Pikachu jumped onto Ash's head, hyped for the journey.
"Ha ha!" Ash laughed joyfully as the duo set off.
Together, they confidently marched toward Virindan City, ready to continue their long adventure.