While Ditto can copy a Pokémon's abilities, its stamina remains its own. Because of this limitation, few Trainers in the game ever used one as a primary powerhouse.
"Beyond skills, you need 'Rapid Transformation.' A master Ditto can shift in less than 0.1 seconds. If you can do it in under 3 seconds, I'll consider you competent."
Knowing the slacker Ditto would need a push, Feng Che used the ultimate bribe.
"If you can master a 3-second cycle, I'll give you three bottles of my special Berry juice every day."
The Arbok instantly melted into a Machoke, holding up three fingers.
This thing has more passion for eating than any Pokémon I've ever seen, Feng Che thought, amazed by the sudden burst of speed.
The Ditto then began a seamless cycle: Arbok, Golbat, Weezing, Gyarados. It was a flawless transition.
[Ditto: Hahaha! You're smart, human, but you're still eating my dust!][Ditto: I learned rapid shifting years ago just so I could steal food from different pens at the ranch without getting caught.][Ditto: The only places I couldn't crack were the Starter pens—those brats are always counted, and an extra one shows up immediately. I would've been caught in a heartbeat.]
"Alright, enough games. Shift through your forms and hit the replacement target with your strongest moves. I need to see how we can chain these together for combos."
Feng Che focused on perfecting the Arbok form because that was what was on his official record. If he suddenly showed up with a Charizard, Instructor Viper would realize it was a Ditto instantly. In Team Rocket, that meant being hunted for "withholding information" and having his partner dragged back to a lab for vivisection.
The Ditto shifted into Machoke and used Submission, shattering a new target dummy against the wall. Then it became a Golbat, slamming into a third dummy with such velocity that the metal crumpled.
The talent is there, but the execution isn't quite at the level of a specialist yet, Feng Che noted. Still, for the rookie stages, this is more than enough.
When Feng Che finally stepped out of the training room a day later, he found a group of people waiting for him at the dorm entrance.
"Hold it right there, kid! Do you have any idea who I am?" a scarred, burly man shouted.
"My name is Mizuhara Seita!" the man barked. "I was the first person in this batch to find the base. I was also the first to tame my Pokémon. If you want to make it as a Rocket, you need to show some respect."
"Newbies get 20 credits as a bonus. If you 'gift' me those 20 credits, I'll teach you how to handle your Pokémon. You can survive under the protection of my title as the No. 1 Rookie."
Feng Che stared at him. It was a classic case of an imposter meeting the real deal.
"Well? Have you thought it over?" Seita asked impatiently. Usually, when he blustered like this, other recruits bowed and scraped. But this kid's cold gaze felt like it was stripping him bare.
"I haven't," Feng Che said. He reached out, brushed Seita's hand aside, and continued walking toward his room. Combat was strictly prohibited within the residential barracks.
"How dare you disrespect Lord Seita!" a scrawny lackey shouted from behind him.
Feng Che paused. He glanced back at the small man. "If he wants respect, he needs to show the strength to match the claim. You lot believe he's No. 1? Try having a bit more common sense."
His meaningful tone caused several recruits who were about to join Seita's clique to hesitate and pull back.
"Kid! I challenge you to a death match!" Seita roared, his face flushing red. In Team Rocket, if a dispute couldn't be settled, a lethal duel was a sanctioned option.
"Refused," Feng Che said, continuing his walk.
"Hahaha! What a coward! I thought you were something special, but you're just a loudmouth with no spine!" Seita jeered.
Feng Che had no interest in causing trouble, but it seemed some people were determined to ensure he didn't leave in peace.
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