Boost

The next day Booth and Emmet continue to fight wild pokemon and hordes. As they move further into Redwater, the pokemon become stronger than before. The hordes don't get much bigger, but their teamwork improves by a lot. In addition to the powerful hordes, gifted pokemon start to appear.

Around noon, Booth and Emmet stop to eat lunch. Booth asks some questions while they eat. The thing he is most curious about are the gifted pokemon and the power ups.

The gifted pokemon have strength that puts them above most other pokemon. Booth fought a Chieftain with Ben, which was also a gifted pokemon. The gifted pokemon here are a little different.

The gifted pokemon Booth fought today are called Fighters. These pokemon can use power in different ways than normal, but not as well as a Chieftain or other gifted pokemon can.

As Emmet explains to Booth, gifted pokemon are hard to find except in special areas like Redwater Valley. Gifted pokemon are abnormal, because they take an alternate path to increase their abilities in combat.

Normally, a pokemon gains experience to 'level up' and increase their power. The power they gain is then automatically distributed to a pokemon's base stats without the need to control it.

Because gifted pokemon can control their power directly, they are able to act with much more creativity than a normal pokemon.

Booth takes a bite from his meal as he organizes his thoughts. 'Gifted pokemon have a lot of similarities to tiered trainers. Both are unrestricted with how they use power. Wild pokemon don't seem to be as good with power as tiered trainers, still, there is a lot I can learn from them.'

Booth swallows his food and asks Emmet for a lesson in power ups next.

"Hey Emmet, I have gained a couple power ups, but I still haven't learned how to use them. Do you think you could give me a lesson?" Booth gets straight to the point.

"Ah, alright. I can give you some tips, but there's not much to it." Emmet says in between bites.

"Anything you can tell me is fine. I don't even know the basics of power ups."

Emmet puts down his food and gives Booth a rundown.

"Like the name implies, a power up is a boost in strength for your pokemon. The pokemon, however, can't use power ups. They are exclusive to tiered trainers.

At our level, power ups are good for short bursts of power. Some power ups like the Solid power last a bit longer, but aren't as strong. For example, a Solid power up on a move like Incinerate could make the fire a bit more stable and long lasting. The best part of this is that power ups don't require any additional power from the pokemon."

"That's amazing. Increasing the power of moves usually requires sacrifice in other parts of the move. So you're saying I could compensate for my moves' weaknesses with power ups." Booth says with excitement.

"It's a little different. Keep in mind that adding a power up to strengthen a move might also have a mess with the moves effects instead. I don't have much more experience than you do in this aspect, so you'll just have to test it to figure it out."

"Ok, I'll keep it in mind."

With the initial explanation out of the way Emmet teaches Booth how to use the power ups.

"The easiest way to use a power up is with a link, but it's not always necessary. All you have to do is find the power up you want, and combine it with your pokemon.

Tiered trainers can use power ups thanks to their mental strength. The longer you use them, the harder they become to control. If you use them too long then you will exhaust your mental strength and it will be hard to even use a link."

Booth thinks about Emmet's words and asks. "I'm guessing that gaining more power ups makes their effects stronger and last longer right?"

"Yes, but that's not all you'll need. You also need to increase your mental acuity. A link can reduce the strain from using power ups, but it doesn't improve your actual mental ability."

"Thanks for the advice, Emmet. I think I'll give it a go." Booth finds his Pansear to practice.

Booth activates his integrator and finds a good target. Booth has used his moves over and over, and he has a general idea of what his attacks should do. He focuses less on his Pansear's senses and more on himself. It's a little weird for him, as it's different from what he normally does.

'I understood the power up was stored in the trainer, but it turns out that I was missing something. A power up isn't just something a trainer learns. It's a mental resource. So far I've been trying to use it like I use a pokemon's power, but it doesn't work the same.'

Booth gathers power from inside Pansear and prepares an Incinerate. The power is drawn towards Pansear's palms. His palms warm up and the air around them starts to wave with the heat.

'Unlike a pokemon's power, this power is mine.'

A bright red fire flares up out of Pansear's hands and forms into its favorite ball shape. Booth's Solid power up is fused with the fireball, which causes the weight of the fireball to become greater. Booth shoots the fireball at the target.

The fireball flies at a remarkable pace. It strikes a rock and causes some of the fire to break apart. Most of the fireball stays together and maintains a bright color.

"Woah!" Booth can clearly see the differences in the attack.

"Looks like you figured it out, Booth." Emmet says, "Not to rush you, but do you know where you want to hunt next?"

The battles in Redwater Valley so far haven't been easy, but Booth is sure he can handle more difficult opponents.

"Let's move deeper into the valley." Booth states confidently.

"Alright, let's see what you can do! We'll have to move a couple miles up to get there, but I'm sure that you will enjoy what the valley has to offer." Emmet is happy to hear Booth is up to the challenge.

Booth finishes his lunch and follows Emmet through the valley. As they hike, the area becomes a bit more steep and the trees grow further apart. Dozens of pokemon pass by up ahead. None of the pokemon seem to look at Booth and Emmet sneaking around them.

The pokemon here have a certain fierceness that is comparable to a pokemon chieftain. Living in Redwater has made the pokemon much more relaxed in possible danger. It's not that the pokemon haven't noticed Booth and Emmet, they just don't feel like getting involved with a fight.

'This is intense. I didn't think Emmet would go this far into the valley. The pokemon here have a beast-like look that makes me feel wary of them. I don't think any of them will go down easily.

Emmet said the rewards will be better the further we go into the valley. And having witnessed the strength of power up first hand, I admit I'm excited for the remaining ones.'

"Let's take a break. Getting here wasn't easy and I don't want to be worn out in case something happens." Emmet keeps his gear on, and sits down against a tree.

Booth and Emmet have been hiking for about half an hour, and have been hunting in the morning before that. Both of them are covered in sweat, and their legs are tired from hiking. Booth stays alert to his surroundings, but he sits down as well.

"What do you think?" Emmet takes a few deep breaths to relax.

"The difficulty seems higher than I expected. I can't make too many assumptions based on appearance, but it looks tough. Like you said though, the reward is sure to be worth it.

I guess it's like how the honey is sweet, but the… Beedrill stings."

"Hahaha, that's right. It's better for tiered trainers to take risks." Emmet cheers in agreement with Booth.

Booth takes a drink of water to quench his thirst as he thinks, 'My understanding of tiered trainers has grown exponentially on this trip. I get that this is a more dangerous route for tiered trainers, but I couldn't be more pleased with the opportunity.

There's plenty more battle to come. Hopefully I'll be able to improve my abilities with Snakebite too.'

Booth rests for around ten minutes before getting back to hunting. He searches for a wild pokemon in an area close by.

It doesn't take very long for Booth to find something. A wild Croconaw wanders around the area looking for its own prey. When it spots Booth and Emmet, it stands up tall and observes them. Finding the prey to his liking, the Croconaw attacks.

"I'll take this one Emmet." Booth says.

Booth is ready for the opponent. He calls out his Pansear and activates his Integrator. Booth is eager to test out his power ups as he focuses on the Croconaw.

The integrator light turns yellow and the battle begins.