"Welcome back, Professor Scarlett."
Saul extended his hand to Scarlett as she emerged from the spatial passage.
Scarlett stepped forward and gave Saul a firm handshake. "Sorry for all the trouble this time."
She turned back to thank John. "Thank you... thank you so much, John."
"You’re welcome. I did live in your villa for free before," John waved his hand dismissively.
Soon after John had subdued Bronzong and Metagross, Scarlett managed to capture all the remaining controlled Electric-type Pokemon. After waiting a while, Saul sent word that the equipment was ready and the spatial channel was connected. Now John and Saul had returned to Riverstone University.
Before leaving that dimension, John had specifically asked Gardevoir to place a spatial marker there. This was Zapdos’s "nest," and it might return once it discovered John had left. Therefore, John planned to check back after some time.
The only disappointment was that despite Zapdos making its nest there, John’s treasure detector had only found a single Pokemon item! He wasn’t sure if Zapdos was genuinely poor or if this wasn’t its real nest.
"You’re our professor at Riverstone University, how could helping you be any trouble?" Saul said with a smile. Behind him stood the researchers from Scarlett’s laboratory.
"Welcome home, Professor!"
"We’ve prepared a feast for you!"
Seeing their "boss" again after a year, all the researchers had tears in their eyes.
Scarlett nodded slightly toward them. "Let’s hold the reception banquet tomorrow night. Right now, I just want to sleep well, and I need to clean myself up tomorrow morning." She gestured to her disheveled appearance.
Scarlett left first, followed by the laboratory research members one by one.
John and Saul had started their mission in the Mayan Forest that morning, but entered the spatial rift at noon. It had been 9 AM in their timezone then, and now twelve hours had passed, it was nearly 10 PM. John and Saul left together, with John planning to stay at the villa on Trial Island tonight.
"By the way, Teacher, what do you know about white lightning?"
The two were walking along Riverstone University’s main avenue when John suddenly asked.
"White lightning? What kind? Do you have a picture?"
John looked around, and after ensuring no one was nearby, he pulled out a Premier Ball and released it.
Zeraora suddenly materialized before them.
Seeing the white Zeraora standing there, Saul fell silent for a moment. His mouth twitched slightly as he glanced at John, then his expression gradually returned to calm as he let out a light breath.
In just those few seconds, Saul’s emotions had ridden a complete roller coaster. First surprise at seeing a Zeraora, then shock at discovering it was a Shiny Pokemon. But then, looking at John and remembering his Mega Shiny Gardevoir, Totem Salamence, specially-evolved Greninja, and other remarkable Pokemon... the appearance of a Shiny Zeraora suddenly didn’t seem so incomprehensible.
Wait, no! This was a legendary Pokemon! Not an ordinary Pokemon! They weren’t even in the same league. A Shiny legendary Pokemon wasn’t just rare, it was supposedly impossible! Such things had never appeared since ancient times... though with John, the future was anything but certain.
If John had already captured one Shiny legendary, it wouldn’t be surprising if he captured more in the future.
"You... did you come here just to show off?" Saul noticed John had been carefully observing his expression and immediately understood what was happening.
"Heh heh heh..." John smirked. It was impossible to deny he’d wanted to show off a little. Rare opportunities to make his composed teacher lose his cool were too good to pass up.
"Zeraora, show him the lightning."
Zeraora extended her sharp claws and snapped her fingers, causing white electrical current to dance at her fingertips.
Seeing this, Saul immediately narrowed his eyes. "This is... Plasma Lightning?!"
"What’s Plasma Lightning?" John asked eagerly.
He was no longer the rookie trainer who’d just entered the Pokemon world. After two years of dedicated study, John had learned considerably.
When the color of a Pokemon’s elemental power changed, it often meant that element had undergone "evolution."
Take Charizard, for example. Ordinary Charizards produced orange-red flames, the standard color for most Fire-type Pokemon. But after Mega Evolution, the flame color changed. Charizard X’s tail flame and breath attacks turned blue, while Charizard Y’s became crimson.
Research showed that Charizard X’s blue flames burned hotter than normal orange flames. If regular fire moves had a 30% chance of causing burn status, blue flames increased that probability to over 50%. Meanwhile, Charizard Y’s crimson flames reached temperatures 30% higher than normal, making them significantly more powerful.
Pokemon scholars had therefore categorized different colored variations of flames, water, lightning, and other elements.
John currently knew of four lightning types: the most common yellow lightning; red lightning called "Thunder Crash," which had maximum destructive power; purple lightning called "Venom Thunder," which usually carried negative effects and increased paralysis probability; and apparently the fastest known lightning type.
"Plasma Lightning" was completely new to him.
"I only read about it in an old book," Saul explained thoughtfully. "Plasma Lightning is supposedly unique to Zeraora. Compared to ordinary lightning, it has superior penetrating power, it can even pierce reinforced steel plates. This penetration also grants increased speed."
"Think of it as an upgraded version of Thunder with armor-piercing effects."
John nodded thoughtfully. It seemed Zeraora’s incredible speed wasn’t just due to its naturally high Speed stats, but also this Plasma Lightning enhancement.
"However, that was just what the book claimed. The author didn’t record how they reached these conclusions, so you’ll need to test it yourself to discover this lightning’s true capabilities," Saul reminded him, then continued with a question of his own.
"Speaking of which, I have something to ask you."
"About your special Greninja, when will you release that research report you promised?"
John thought for a moment before replying, "When I become an Elite Four of Draconia!"