Chapter 265: Shocking! My Daughter Is Actually the Chosen One!

The video continued playing.

Viridian City Grand Festival main venue.

Dawn stood at the center of the stage, with Piplup at her feet, the Ribbon on its chest sparkling beneath the spotlights.

She had just won this year’s Grand Festival with a nearly flawless performance.

The entire audience was now enthusiastically chanting her name.

In the front row of the stands, Asher lifted Hina a little higher so she could see the stage more clearly.

Hina clapped until both her little palms turned red.

"Mom is amazing!"

After the awards ceremony ended, Dawn came rushing out of the competitors’ tunnel with the trophy in her arms.

She immediately wrapped both arms around Asher’s waist and buried her face against his chest, rubbing against him excitedly.

"Hubby, did you see?! I won, I won, I won! Important things have to be said three times!"

"Saw it, saw it, saw it."

Asher patted the back of her head, amusement clear in his voice.

"Important things deserve three replies."

"Hehe~"

Dawn looked up at him, her eyes sparkling.

"Then what about the reward you promised?"

Asher lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

"That’s the first one."

Dawn’s cheeks instantly turned bright red.

Then she stood on tiptoe and kissed the corner of Asher’s lips in return.

"That’s the second one—the rest can be redeemed when we get home!"

Just then, Ash and Brock walked over from behind them.

The red duck-foot print on Brock’s face hadn’t completely faded yet, but his expression had already shifted from fanatical worship to some kind of solemn determination.

"Master Asher, Dawn, and Niece Hina."

Brock’s voice was deep and serious.

"I have an extremely important matter to attend to, so I must temporarily bid you farewell."

Dawn tilted her head.

"What’s so urgent?"

Brock closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Then his eyes suddenly snapped open, burning with determination.

"I just received word that Nurse Joy here in Viridian City is celebrating her birthday today!"

"On such a rare and precious occasion, I believe it is absolutely necessary for me to personally visit the Pokémon Center and perform a rendition of ’Happy Birthday’ for Nurse Joy!"

The air around them seemed to freeze.

Asher was the first to break the silence.

"Why hasn’t Croagunk come out yet?"

"I left Croagunk at the Gym."

Brock answered without the slightest hint of shame.

Asher fell silent for another moment.

Then he gave Brock a thumbs-up.

"Respect."

After Brock left, Ash suggested taking a walk through Viridian Forest.

He had been training there recently and claimed to know every path like the back of his hand.

And so, Asher, Dawn, and Hina followed him down a forest trail that Ash confidently declared was "absolutely impossible to get lost on."

About ten minutes later—

Ash stood at a fork in the road.

Three nearly identical paths stretched out in front of him.

He fell into deep thought.

"Uncle Ash."

Hina stood behind Quaxwell, her voice very soft.

"Are we... lost?"

"Uh..."

Ash scratched the back of his head.

"Looks like it."

Pikachu sat on his shoulder and covered its face with one paw.

"Pika..."

Dawn planted both hands on her hips.

"Ash, didn’t you just say you knew every path around here?"

"I do know them! It’s just... I feel like the paths changed a little somehow..."

"Hey, Pikachu, don’t shock me—numb, numb, numb..."

"Um... Dad."

Just then, Hina gently tugged on the corner of Asher’s clothes.

"This forest..."

"It feels like there are so many voices."

"Voices?"

Dawn looked around.

"Where? Mommy doesn’t hear anything."

"Mm... not the kind you hear with your ears."

Hina frowned and thought for a long moment before finally choosing a word she wasn’t entirely sure about.

"My heart can feel them."

"There are lots and lots of Pokémon talking at the same time."

Asher looked at his daughter’s tightly furrowed brows, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

"Hina, Viridian Forest is different from other forests."

"The forest itself is almost like one enormous Pokémon."

"It has its own heartbeat, its own breathing, even its own consciousness."

"It’s just that most people can’t sense it."

Hina blinked.

"Can Dad sense it?"

"Barely."

Asher crouched beside the roots of a massive tree.

"But not as clearly as you can."

"The Power of Viridian can only be felt in its purest form by someone truly compatible with it."

"The Power of Viridian?"

"Mm."

Asher nodded.

"The Power of Viridian is a special ability bestowed by Viridian Forest."

"It can heal Pokémon and allow its wielder to understand the voices of their hearts."

"Only someone acknowledged by Viridian Forest can possess it."

"Hubby, are you saying Hina—"

Dawn’s voice abruptly stopped.

Because Hina was already crouching beside a fallen, withered tree.

Both of her hands rested gently against its trunk.

Her eyes were closed, and her expression was completely focused.

The next second—

The dry cracks covering the dead tree suddenly began to glow.

Light spread outward along the veins of its roots.

Everywhere it passed—

Withered grass turned green.

Dried moss became lush and full again.

Countless tiny wildflowers burst into bloom around Hina’s feet.

By the time Hina opened her eyes again—

The area in front of her was packed with Pokémon.

Every single one of them held the exact same posture.

They were looking up at her.

Their eyes were filled with an indescribable sense of reverence.

"W-What are they doing?"

Hina instinctively took a step backward.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Viola]: Dawn’s expression in the background could absolutely become an animated reaction meme! How about calling it "Shocking! My Daughter Is Actually the Chosen One!".jpg?

[Alexa]: Hahaha, only you, Viola. Shouldn’t your first reaction be to check whether Hina is okay? Instead, you’re already thinking about turning Dawn into a meme.

[Valerie]: Once the Power of Viridian awakens, she can communicate with Pokémon directly. For a breeder, that’s practically a divine ability. She can hear what Pokémon are thinking and immediately know where they feel uncomfortable or what they need.

[Jasmine]: Exactly. Communication is one of the hardest parts of caring for Pokémon. If Hina can directly understand their needs, she’d be dozens of times more efficient than an ordinary breeder.

[Nurse Joy]: The Power of Viridian would be tremendously valuable for both Pokémon medicine and breeding. If Hina wanted to, she could probably qualify for a Pokémon Doctor license without even taking the usual examination.

[Lorelei]: I know awakening the Power of Viridian ultimately depends on the individual, but the more I look at Asher here, the more this feels suspiciously rigged behind the scenes.

[Steven]: Completely normal. Brother Asher just happened to bring Hina to Kanto, then happened to bring her into Viridian Forest, and then they happened to wander around for a while longer. And suddenly Hina awakened the Power of Viridian. What a coincidence, huh?

[Raihan]: Amazing.

[Volkner]: Steven just connected every dot for us.

[Iono]: Mr. Asher, where are you planning to casually pass through next? I’ll go camp there ahead of time.

[Lisia]: That’s actually a great idea! If we follow Mr. Asher’s route, maybe we’ll pick up a Legendary Pokémon feather or something!

[Asher]: What the heck? Do you people think I’m a wishing fountain?

[Tiana]: Exactly, exactly! Hina already had the potential to awaken the Power of Viridian. Dad just helped create the right conditions for her, that’s all. (￣ω￣)

[Raihan]: I genuinely can’t tell whether Tiana is defending Asher or exposing him.

[Leon]: Probably both.