***
Species: Ditto
Type: Normal
Ability: Imposter (Dream Ability)
Strength Rank: Undefined
Known Move: Transform
Description: Ditto is a unique Pokémon with no defined combat strength of its own, relying entirely on its ability to copy its opponent. Through Transform, Ditto perfectly replicates the target's form, abilities, and moves, making it an unpredictable wild card in battle.
***
Larry's brows shot up. "Imposter?" That was a hidden ability—one that wasn't normally available unless Ditto came from a special breeding line.
For a moment, he was speechless. Dream abilities were rare, even among Pokémon. Most Pokémon only had one or two standard abilities, and only a handful had access to dream abilities. "Why did Ditto end up with a dream ability? Could it be because it was born from a battle against a movie character?"
It was an interesting theory. His curiosity deepened as he focused on the ability's description.
Ditto's unique ability—Imposter—allows it to instantly transform into any creature it has seen with its own eyes. The transformation is flawless, perfectly replicating the target's appearance, voice, Nen abilities, and physical attributes with absolute accuracy. However, this mimicry comes with a critical limitation—Ditto's energy, including stamina and Nen reserves, starts at only half of the original target's. This drawback forces Ditto to act strategically, making every move count before its energy runs out.
This was more than just copying Pokémon moves. Ditto could become any living thing. Even humans. Even Nen users. And most importantly—it could use their abilities.
For a brief moment, Larry's brain processed the sheer implications of this discovery. "If I have Ditto… Then in theory, I can have access to every Nen ability in existence." If he saw someone using a powerful Nen ability, Ditto could instantly copy it and use it at full power—with only the limitation of stamina and aura capacity.
Larry exhaled slowly. "This is insane."
The only restriction was that Ditto would start with half the Nen of the original. But even that wasn't a big issue. Larry had multiple Pokémon with healing and aura restoration abilities. If Ditto ran low, he could just refill its aura mid-battle.
This…This was beyond broken.
"So, let's say I face someone like Chrollo… Ditto transforms into him." That means I suddenly have access to Bandit's Secret, his stolen abilities, and his combat experience."
If he ever encountered someone with a powerful or unique Nen ability… Ditto could instantly steal it for himself. Larry chuckled, shaking his head. "This is ridiculous."
***
After making sure no one was around, Larry released Ditto to test a theory that had been forming in his mind.
A flash of white light, and the purple jelly-like Pokémon morphed into a perfect replica of Satotz, right down to the last detail. Even the eyes—normally a dead giveaway with Ditto's characteristic beady dots—were indistinguishable from the real thing. To push the experiment further, Larry instructed "Satotz" to use up some aura at will. Once a significant portion was expended, he had Ditto transform again.
This time, it became Piyon, another person Larry had encountered alongside Satotz. As soon as the transformation was complete, Larry checked Ditto's reserves. A grin spread across his face. "So that's how it works."
By constantly changing forms, Ditto could refresh its aura pool indefinitely. As long as it wasn't wiped out in one attack, it could keep going. In other words, he now had the ultimate endurance fighter.
After cycling through a few more transformations, Larry made another observation. The stronger the target, the faster Ditto transformed. Weaker individuals took slightly longer, almost as if Ditto was building up momentum. "That could be a risk in battle," Larry noted. If Ditto took too long to transform, a skilled opponent could exploit the gap. In such cases, he'd need teammates to cover for it. But even with that minor limitation, Ditto was already an incredible asset.
Now, there was only one more thing to test. Larry activated his Fusion ability, merging with Ditto. His entire body tingled as a strange sensation washed over him. His muscles shifted, his bones reshaped, and his facial structure altered. A moment later, he looked into the mirror he had pulled from his storage… And immediately regretted his choice. "...Ugh. Why did I pick Hisoka?"
Staring back at him was the clownish, twisted grin of Hisoka. Larry shuddered, quickly dispersing the fusion. "Yeah, let's not do that again."
Despite the unsettling experience, the test was a success. Ditto's transformation ability worked even while fused with him, meaning Larry could disguise himself perfectly if needed.
Still, something about turning into another person didn't sit right with him. It felt unnatural—uncomfortable. He much preferred being himself. "Guess I'll just let Ditto handle transformations when necessary."
That being said, he couldn't deny how practical the ability was. With Ditto, he could be anyone, infiltrate anywhere, and learn any Nen ability. The ultimate weapon of deception. A smirk tugged at his lips. "Hisoka really was a lucky charm for me. Not only did I get Ditto from this whole mess, but I'll also get that Dark Sonata info soon."
The more Larry thought about Ditto, the more he realized how limitless its potential was. With its ability to transform into anyone, it was essentially an army of one. If needed, Ditto could steal an enemy's identity and take their place, copy an ally's abilities to provide support, or use different Nen techniques at will, making it completely unpredictable. Hell, he could even let Ditto transform into people just to mess with their minds. "Imagine their reaction when they realize their enemy is… themselves." A dark chuckle escaped him.
"You thought your enemy was gone? That was me."
"You thought your friend was missing? Also me."
"Your family disappeared? Yeah… still me."
The sheer chaos he could cause with this was insane. Too bad there's only one Ditto. If he had more, he could pull an entire army of lookalikes and rewrite the rules of war. Still, even a single Ditto was enough to shake the entire world. "Fighting Omokage was worth it. This might be the best thing I've gained since coming to this world."
Now that everything was settled, it was time to move on. Larry already knew his next destination. Menchi's call had set everything in motion. Finally, he could visit the legendary Foodie Paradise.
Two Days Later… After traveling by airship, switching flights, and even taking detours, Larry finally arrived. The location was as exotic as its name. Southeast of the ancient Gan'yu Kingdom, near the Eurubian continent. A port city named Laston City.
As soon as he stepped off the transport, the salty sea breeze hit him, carrying the unmistakable scent of the ocean. Seagulls cried overhead, and the distant sounds of merchants calling out their wares filled the docks. The deep blue water stretched out to the horizon, and large ships lined the harbor, each one filled with exotic goods and rare ingredients.
It was a place where food lovers and culinary hunters gathered. And standing there, waving at him with a bright grin—was Menchi. "Larry, over here!"