"Piilossww!"
The Piloswine roared. But as soon as they saw Melmetal raise its fist, they could not help shrinking back a little.
Although they were furious about having been beaten, the reality was that they could not defeat the enemy. So, if they had to lower their heads, they had no choice but to do so.
"It seems you accept what I'm saying. Then, as a greeting gift, I'll give you this."
Ethan took some Advanced-level life energy Pokéblocks made by Shuckle from his spatial ring and tossed them in front of the Piloswine.
"Piilossww?"
The Piloswine looked at the Pokéblocks with suspicion.
Then, suddenly, their snouts twitched slightly.
Both Swinub and Piloswine were known precisely for having an extremely sharp sense of smell.
Upon sensing the aroma given off by the life energy Pokéblocks, their eyes immediately lit up. But, out of caution toward Ethan, they did not dare eat them right away.
Just as Ethan was wondering how to explain it to them, a Swinub suddenly rushed out, planted itself in front of one of the Pokéblocks, and swallowed it in a single bite.
Gulp.
The Swinub swallowed the life energy Pokéblock.
And immediately afterward, it narrowed its eyes with an expression of total satisfaction.
It glanced sideways at its companions and, seeing that none of them reacted, turned its gaze back to the other Pokéblocks.
Very soon, Swinub pounced like a hungry wolf and began swallowing all the Pokéblocks one after another.
In an instant, dense life energy began to come out from its abdomen, spreading throughout its entire body.
Boom!
Suddenly, a brilliant white light burst from Swinub's body.
After devouring a large amount of Pokéblocks, that Swinub had directly evolved into Piloswine!
"Piilossww?"
The other Piloswine and Swinub tried to open their eyes as wide as they could, unable to believe what they had just seen.
What were those square things that looked so delicious?
Why, after eating those appetizing things, had their companion evolved?
Could those foods really make them evolve?
"So it evolved just that simply?"
"By increasing its own life energy through the life energy Pokéblocks, and thus completing the leap of life."
Ethan stroked his chin, feeling that he had just discovered a new correct way to make use of life energy Pokéblocks.
Evolution was equivalent to a leap in the level of life.
Although some of his Pokémon had evolved naturally as their strength increased, there were still many others who, for various reasons, were unable to take that final step.
If at that moment they managed to consume a large amount of life energy Pokéblocks, it was very possible that this would help them cross the threshold.
"This looks like... a business opportunity."
Ethan immediately grasped that point.
Right now, Pokéblocks were no longer something especially rare, but life energy Pokéblocks seemed to be something absolutely unique.
If trainers whose Pokémon had gotten stuck right on the verge of evolution discovered the effect of those Pokéblocks, they would surely go crazy!
"When I get back, I can discuss it with Professor Harris and the others. In itself, life energy Pokéblocks were already the first entry point of the life leap experiment."
"When the time comes, they could perfectly be sold as a derivative of the experiment."
"And that way we'd have funding for the research!"
Ethan thought to himself, delighted, while looking at the newly evolved Piloswine and asking:
"Well, do you want more of those tasty things?"
Hearing that, the Piloswine showed an extremely clear desire in its eyes. After hesitating again and again, it slowly advanced until it stood in front of Ethan.
Seeing it, Ethan took out more Pokéblocks and handed them over, causing the Piloswine to start roaring excitedly nonstop.
Some of the other Piloswine and Swinub also showed obvious desire in their eyes, looking at Ethan anxiously.
"Now we can talk seriously."
Ethan smiled and, with Vibrava's help, moved until he was in front of the Piloswine.
"The thing is this: would you be willing to leave this place and come with me?"
After a long conversation, Ethan formally extended the invitation to them.
"Piilossww?"
The leader of the Piloswine stepped forward and began negotiating with Ethan.
"That's right. I can guarantee that you will never lack food."
Ethan smiled again as he made that promise to the leader.
For the Piloswine living in this Secret Kingdom, food was the most important problem.
If Ethan could truly guarantee them enough food, then they did not care too much about leaving that place.
"Of course, my condition is that you cooperate with me in research. And in exchange, I will make it so you can evolve into Mamoswine, so you can obtain true power."
Ethan spoke again, and that was precisely the true reason he had decided to negotiate with the Piloswine.
If he only wanted to capture them, he could perfectly have used force and simply defeated them.
But his main intention was to study the primordial form to which the Piloswine and Swinub returned when evolving through the move Ancient Power. That was why it was very important that they agree to follow him of their own will.
As he spoke, his gaze inevitably fell on one of the Piloswine that had shown especially high talent for the Rock type. That Piloswine had a high probability of learning the move Ancient Power.
"Piilossww...? (Can we really still evolve...?)"
The leader of the Piloswine showed great confusion as it looked at Ethan. Their species had been living in that snowy Secret Kingdom for a very long time. And yet, up to that moment, not even a single one had appeared that had managed to evolve.
Because of that, it was very hard for it to believe Ethan's words. It did not think that their species still had the possibility of evolving.
"Naturally, what I'm saying is true. Just like Lucario, who can also continue evolving. Among Pokémon, there is not only the path of normal evolution."
As he spoke, Ethan took out the Key Stone and had Lucario perform Mega Evolution.
Amid an intense white light, Mega Lucario's figure emerged, looking at the leader of the Piloswine with eyes filled with terrifying pressure.
"Just as Lucario's evolution requires a special method, your evolution, as Piloswine, is also special. You need to master a specific move."
After Lucario completed Mega Evolution, Ethan had it return to its normal form and explained the matter to the leader of the Piloswine.
At that moment, after having seen Lucario evolve and then "de-evolve," the Piloswine leader's pig brain had completely collapsed.
Lucario's special evolution was right before its eyes. In an instant, it completely believed Ethan's words, and expectation began to appear in its gaze.
Evolution was a leap of life, and very few Pokémon could reject something like that.
Using evolution methods to make Pokémon want to become his companions was a technique that had always worked for Ethan, and with the Piloswine, it also proved effective.
(End of chapter)