Chapter 118: Unable to Control Water, But Can Harness Fire

After stepping out of the reception hall, Amu checked the nearby signs. After spending some time orienting himself, he identified the "Tower of Truth" and began walking toward it.

There was hardly anyone on the road... It was clear that the "Tower of Truth" was not a commonly used venue for challenges.

However, when Amu reached the entrance of the tower, he found a girl with purple hair cut in a princess style and wearing an eyepatch standing there. Judging by her attire—she was wearing a casual long dress—she did not look like a gym trainer.

"Hello, excuse me, is this the Tower of Truth?"

Given her somewhat youthful appearance, Amu naturally assumed she was a novice trainer here for a challenge.

"You must be Amu? Come in," Azi said, her face expressionless.

It was a stark contrast to how she acted when facing Sabrina!

As for why she wasn't dressed like other gym trainers?

Don't be ridiculous! Would a prestigious ten-star gym trainer need to wear a uniform like a student or a common staff member?

Azi opened the door and walked inside without saying another word. Seeing this, Amu could only assume she wanted him to follow.

Watching her silently climb the stairs that spiraled up the tower, Amu followed, feeling the atmosphere grow somewhat awkward. To ease the tension, Amu mused aloud, "I’m a fairly decent pharmacist; I know some rather special formulas..."

Azi didn't even change her pace—whenever she wasn't in front of Sabrina, she always, consciously or unconsciously, mimicked her.

"How long have you had that stye? Would you mind letting me take a look?" Amu asked kindly.

*Thump.*

Azi stumbled on the step.

Suddenly, she whipped her head around, face still expressionless, though her exposed left eye glared at Amu with a faint purple shimmer. "Shut up!"

*Are all you Psychic-type trainers this rude?* Amu politely kept that question to himself.

After reaching the high second floor, Azi led Amu to the "Chamber of Truth"—a circular room that seemed to occupy the entire cross-section of the tower. There was only this one room on the second floor.

There were no windows, nor any other facilities; it was a vast, empty room. In the center... stood a "door."

"This is the Chamber of Truth, and it is where you will face your trial... Once you can walk out from the Door of Truth, you will have passed the test and can obtain... well, the badge you are looking for." Azi didn't know which badge Amu was aiming for.

In any case, the trial was fixed; it was the same whether it was for the first badge or the eighth.

"Um... may I ask if you are... a trainer at the gym?" Amu asked, feeling skeptical.

Azi's expression darkened at the question. She puffed out her chest and said, "Of course! I am a ten-star trainer of the Saffron Gym, Azi!"

Her attempt to look imposing only made it less convincing; Amu felt even more certain she hadn't even reached the age for a Pokémon journey.

"Did Nana ask you to come here?" Amu asked curiously.

"Na... Na... Na...?" Azi froze on the spot upon hearing the name.

"Are you alright?" Amu asked, feeling baffled.

"How utterly shameless! This is simply... too indecent..." Azi’s face turned bright red as she pointed an accusing finger at him, her eyes darting around wildly.

"Huh?" Amu suddenly felt he might have underestimated the neurotic nature of Psychic-type trainers.

"You, what exactly—" Just as Azi was about to demand an explanation for the nickname "Nana," a sudden ripple of psychic energy interrupted her.

The "Abra," who had looked like it was still half-asleep, suddenly appeared in the Chamber of Truth. "Alright, little Azi, leave the rest to me."

"Yes... Lord Alakazam."

Before leaving, Azi gave Amu one last resentful and indignant glare.

"Lord Alakazam?" Amu looked at the Abra in front of him with surprise.

Unbelievable...

It was from the same series as his own Clefable and Gengar!

If naming his Clefable "Pippy" and Gengar "Haunter" was to lower people's guard, then... was naming an Abra "Alakazam" meant to gain an upper hand through intimidation?

*Hiss—*

Amu felt an inexplicable chill.

For some reason, he had the feeling that this Abra had just opened its eyes to look at him.

Of course, Amu guessed that this Abra was no ordinary one, but the same one from earlier—the one that was so slick at stealing things! As for telepathy or the like, it was perfectly normal for an Abra, the representative of Psychic types, to master such things.

"Um... what should I do? I don't have any psychic powers," Amu asked the Abra directly.

Azi, who had just walked out, heard Amu's words and cast one more resentful glance at him before slamming the door shut.

Seeing the Abra, Amu knew there must be some kind of "backdoor." It seemed that even if Nana was rude, she was still, at the very least, a good person!

After all, it would be impossible to succeed if he were simply told to use psychic powers to earn the badge.

"Cross the Door of Truth, and you will pass the trial... you will also be able to master the [Undying Flame]," the Abra said as if it were a matter of course.

Amu paused. By the sound of it... he really did have to complete the trial? And the secret to mastering the [Undying Flame] lay within this test?

Walking to the center of the hall, Amu looked into the "doorway" and discovered that it wasn't a door inside the frame, but a mirror.

Amu hesitated, reached out, and tapped on it... Yep, definitely a mirror.

"Cross it?" Amu looked up at the door frame, seemingly calculating whether he could clear it with a great leap.

Abra: ...

"Focus your mind first. See your inner image within the door, then walk into it... that is, make your inner image walk out! This is a form of psychic training!" The Abra seemed to realize that if it didn't speak up, this guy would really start preparing for a "great leap."

"Um... I still don't possess psychic powers," Amu tried to explain again.

"Do you know what the easiest attribute for humans to master is?" the Abra suddenly asked.

"Water, Fire, or Grass?"

The Abra shook its head.

"Normal?"

The Abra shook its head again.

"It wouldn't be Psychic, would it?" Amu asked, staring skeptically at the Abra in front of him.

"To be precise, it is [Psychic] and [Fighting]," the Abra emphasized.

Amu clearly didn't understand what the Abra meant—not to mention the Fighting type, Psychic was one of the four rarest types.

"Normal-type is just a name humans came up with. In reality, it is equivalent to pure energy itself. While it is true that Normal-type moves are the most common, that doesn't mean they are easy to master. Most Pokémon, even after learning Normal-type moves, find them easy to learn but hard to master. As for Water, Fire, and Grass..."

"Are you saying you can use Water, Fire, and Grass?" the Abra countered.

Amu opened his mouth, wanting to say that while he couldn't use Water, he could certainly use Fire!