"Bagon, from now on, we're family. Let's take care of each other."
Aoki extended his hand, his excitement barely contained.
Bagon—another Pokémon with Champion potential.
With Frogadier already possessing Champion-level qualifications, Aoki now had two Pokémon with the potential to reach the pinnacle of power. Pokémon with Champion potential were rare, and trainers who could cultivate even a few to that level were considered among the strongest.
Bagon hesitated for only a moment before reaching out and touching Aoki's hand, a rare, content expression appearing on its face.
This trainer was different—strong, reliable, and most importantly, he provided food. Good food. Bagon's days of struggling for meals were over.
"Alright, let's go. You must be hungry. Let's continue eating."
Bagon's eyes immediately brightened at the mention of food, and it hopped up excitedly.
"Toot!"
Aoki took out the Celadon and Rainbow Pokéblocks he had prepared earlier and distributed them among his Pokémon.
As they continued their meal, Bagon, still adapting to the luxury of proper nutrition, devoured the food quickly, as if afraid it would disappear. It was evident that this little dragon had rarely, if ever, eaten its fill.
After finishing his own meal, Aoki casually picked up a few berries and resumed crafting Pokéblocks.
This time, he focused on producing a balanced set—Comprehensive Pokéblocks, Stamina Pokéblocks, Speed Pokéblocks, and a few customized ones based on his Pokémon's needs.
Although Comprehensive Pokéblocks provided well-rounded benefits, they lacked the efficiency of specialized ones. For example, Speed Pokéblocks enhanced agility more effectively than a general mix. Aoki planned to alternate their use, ensuring optimal growth for his team.
Bagon, now full and satisfied, ran over to Aoki, wrapping itself around his leg.
"Toot."
Aoki chuckled, reaching down to lightly pat Bagon's head. It seemed genuinely happy.
After a well-deserved rest, Aoki stretched. It was time to continue exploring.
The cave still held mysteries, and now that he had Bagon, he wondered if he might stumble upon another rare Pokémon.
At present, his team consisted of Boss Lairon, Combusken, Frogadier, Treecko, and Bagon.
Relicanth was more of a temporary ally, meaning Aoki still needed one more Pokémon to complete his six-member core team.
His ideal choice? Beldum.
Steel- and Psychic-types were a rarity, and Metagross was one of the strongest non-Legendary Pokémon in existence. If he could find one, it would perfectly complement his team, covering both the Psychic and Steel typings he currently lacked.
With his Pokémon following closely, Aoki made his way to the end of the cave, where a vast basin stretched before him.
The area was expansive, featuring rocky wastelands, patches of forest, and a massive lake at the far end.
This entire region had likely been carved out over time by Rock-type Pokémon tunneling underground, eventually forming the basin.
Numerous Pokémon called this place home.
In the lake, Magikarp and Poliwag splashed playfully, while along the grassy patches, Hoppip, Oddish, Bellsprout, and Weepinbell basked in the sunlight.
Unfortunately, none of these Pokémon were what Aoki needed at the moment.
"Let's head down and take a closer look."
Aoki leaped down without hesitation.
Nearby Pokémon turned toward him, their eyes filled with caution, but none attacked.
"I'm just passing through," Aoki said calmly, spreading his arms in a gesture of peace. "I'm searching for strong companions."
As he spoke, he released a faint aura of Viridian Power, the unique gift he possessed that allowed him to connect with Pokémon on a deeper level.
The reaction was immediate.
The wary Pokémon suddenly became friendly, eagerly approaching him, some even throwing themselves into his arms.
Aoki laughed. "Hey, wait, that tickles!"
Taking a moment to enjoy the company of the wild Pokémon, Aoki reminded himself that training and battling weren't everything. Sometimes, it was good to just relax.
After about half an hour, he gently stroked an Oddish that had nestled close to him.
"Oddish, do you know if there are any strong Pokémon around here?"
"Odd… odd!"
Oddish nodded and pointed toward a rocky cave in the distance.
Aoki instantly understood.
A powerful Pokémon lived there—one that even the wild Pokémon avoided.
"Thanks, Oddish."
As a token of gratitude, Aoki pulled out some food from his bag and handed it to the Pokémon.
The food had come from bronze treasure chests—standard Pokémon rations in this world.
Compared to Pokéblocks, these weren't particularly nutritious, so Aoki never fed them to his own team. However, for these wild Pokémon, they were a rare treat.
The Pokémon eagerly gathered around, happily nibbling on the food and chattering excitedly.
Bagon, still drawn to the scent of food, leaned forward, eyeing the snacks.
But before it could grab anything, Aoki caught it.
"You just ate. Now come with me—we have a strong Pokémon to challenge."
Bagon stared at him, but ultimately, it didn't resist.
With Bagon at his side, Aoki stepped into the cave.
And then—he stopped in his tracks.
What he saw stunned him.
The cave was home to a Boss Lairon tribe.
A rare sight.
Wait—no, it was extremely rare.
Boss Lairon tribes weren't common in the wild, yet he had already tamed one. It was almost disappointing… until he checked their potential.
• Boss Lairon
• Strength: Quasi-Elite
• Qualification: Elite-level
• Aron
• Strength: Intermediate
• Qualification: Elite-level
• Lairon
• Strength: Superior
• Qualification: Quasi-Elite
Scanning the group, Aoki counted seven Arons, two Lairons, and one Boss Lairon.
Four Pokémon possessed Elite-level potential, and the rest weren't far behind at Quasi-Elite level.
For most trainers, this kind of opportunity was nearly impossible to come by. Raising an Aron to Elite required a constant supply of high-quality minerals and ores, something that most trainers simply couldn't afford.
But Aoki wasn't most trainers.
He had resources.
With the right investment, even the Quasi-Elite Pokémon here could break into the Elite ranks.
And more importantly—Aoki had Team Sky to develop.
A strong Pokémon squad wasn't just for himself. His growing organization needed power as well.
Aoki's eyes gleamed.
He wouldn't let this opportunity slip away.
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