Three Dragalge.
Even if they look a bit ugly, as Dragon-type Pokémon, their value is undeniable.
Natsuhiko didn't plan to keep them all.
After all, he doesn't specialize in Dragalge at the Dragon Dojo, keeping just one Dragalge is enough.
And the traits of these three Dragalge are respectively "Poison Sting," "Poison Hand," and "Adaptability."
Speaking of which, the traits "Poison Sting" and "Poison Hand" can't be said to be the same; they can only be described as strikingly similar.
Both make contactors have a certain probability of becoming poisoned.
If you really count, maybe the difference lies in the poisonous body part: one is a sting, the other a hand.
But hey, for Dragalge, can you really separate sting from hand?
So Natsuhiko decisively chose to keep the Dragalge with the "Adaptability" trait, and after isolating the rest, he plans to sell them for "milk money."
As for the Skrelp.
Natsuhiko didn't plan to sell them.
He plans to recruit a few apprentices for his Dojo, and these Skrelp can become the Pokémon of the apprentices, evolving into Dragon types, which is prestigious.
Some might say, hiring a few staff doesn't cost that much, isn't it a waste to use a Skrelp to train apprentices?
The perspective is narrow.
Apprentices can be used for a lifetime, and the stronger they become, the greater the help to the Dojo.
Most importantly, the Alliance occasionally holds various competitions. When these apprentices enter competitions and win rewards, the Dojo can receive part of the Alliance's subsidy support.
Nicer put: talent cultivation subsidy.
Moreover.
Natsuhiko remembers that in the thick stack of regulations that Ice-type Elite Four Kikuno gave him last time, there was a strict requirement on the number of Dojo apprentices.
After all, for the Alliance, the main role of a Dojo is the periodic assessment of Trainers' quality and providing fresh blood for the Alliance.
Some older Dojos have trained a large number of apprentices.
Although some of them might ultimately achieve nothing, some have demonstrated exceptional ability and potential, eventually working at the Alliance Headquarters, taking up various positions.
It's not noticeable with one or two people, but when there are many, the influence of this Dojo in the entire Alliance increases.
Training apprentices is a long-term investment.
Low input, long time spent, but once harvested, it yields great results.
After collecting this pool of Dragalge and Skrelp, Natsuhiko took a short break with a few Pokémon.
Because this isn't the end of the underground cave.
Beyond this murky lake, there's a trickle, winding deeper inside.
Natsuhiko has a hunch.
Further inside should be the end of this underground tunnel and its final secret.
After resting for a while, they continued their journey.
At the same time.
Natsuhiko discovered.
The water region where the Dragalge lived acts like a filter for the downstream water.
The water flowing out from the pool where the Dragalge lived became exceptionally clear.
The light from Chinchou cast upon the water surface clearly revealed the channel bottom two to three meters deep, and even the rock formations at the bottom could be seen clearly.
This time, they didn't have to travel too far.
The horizon expanded again and became brighter.
Presented before them was a pool several times larger than the area where the Dragalge lived.
Some luminous plants seemed to be growing in the pool.
The specks of azure blue light gathered together, directly illuminating the entire pool along with the entire cave.
Walking into here, Natsuhiko and all his Pokémon had their faces bathed in a blue halo.
As the water flow swirled, the luminous objects in the pool swayed with the stream.
The shimmering waves were like a vast starry sky.
The difference being, stars are above, while this scene is beneath their feet.
In the halo.
They could see the silhouettes of some Pokémon swimming leisurely inside, appearing very comfortable and content.
Natsuhiko's Pokémon, seeing this scene, gaped, marveling at the magic of nature, praising its magnificence.
Whoosh—
Perhaps sensing their arrival, a head popped out of the water.
An off-white body, bright red eyes, and those glistening scales, resembling a silky fabric under the arc light.
It's Milotic!
Alongside Milotic, peeking its head out.
Was a Pokémon with a grayish, uneven color that at first glance looked very unattractive.
Feebas!
They reside in the deepest part of this underground tunnel's current.
Basking in this pure, splendid, slightly fantastical pool.
It's no surprise that such a place could produce a Milotic.
There are actually two methods for Feebas' evolution into Milotic.
One is for Feebas to use the "Beautiful Scale" Natsuhiko had found before, theoretically allowing it to evolve into Milotic.
The other option.
Is to increase Feebas's beauty.
Once beauty reaches a certain threshold, Feebas will evolve into Milotic.
"Beauty" in the game, has a specific numerical value.
But here in the Pokémon Realm, the concept of "beauty" seems more elusive, even more so than the "affinity" concept Natsuhiko worked on with Sakuragi before.
At least "affinity" had some Techniques like "Gratitude" as examples.
But for "beauty," there's no machine or method to test it.
Perhaps when the "Gorgeous Competition" becomes more prevalent, the "beauty" concept will be brought up.
But currently, it's absent.
Two ways to evolve.
One relies on external objects, the other on oneself.
Although both result in evolving into Milotic, the differing processes yield slightly varied results.
In Natsuhiko's view, a Pokémon's "beauty" manifests in two forms: external beauty and inner beauty.
For a Pokémon like Feebas, achieving external beauty might be a bit unrealistic; inner beauty might be key to their evolution.
And living in such a beautiful place must have some effect on Feebas' hearts and their aesthetic sense.
Thus the emergence of a Milotic makes sense.
Thinking about this.
Natsuhiko originally intended only to check if he could write a paper on Milotic's evolution, suddenly realized.
Not only could he write about Milotic's evolution.
The concept of "beauty" could also be introduced.
The Alliance is currently vigorously promoting the "Gorgeous Competition," even roping in Mikkel, the "Water Artist," as a figurehead.
If he introduced the concept of "beauty" at this time, given the Alliance's usual style, they should strongly support it, perhaps even fully sponsor it, right?
Since it's the Gorgeous Competition, "beauty" certainly could become a reference standard.
As for.
How to measure this value.
The Alliance could worry about that themselves; he could just be the proposer of the concept.
"Seems like I can milk the Alliance a bit more...." Natsuhiko slowly rubbed his chin.
"Ooh~~"
Milotic's ethereal, melodic voice sounded again, bringing Natsuhiko back from his musings.
When Natsuhiko's gaze met Milotic's, it didn't display emotions such as fear, anger, or mockery that are common to Wild Pokémon when seeing human Trainers; its eyes remained very calm.
Whoosh—
Milotic's tail moved gently.
It rippled the tiny points of light in the water, exposing the scenery under the pool to Natsuhiko's eyes.
The water was very clear.
So when Natsuhiko saw the pool's bottom scene, he was quite taken aback.
"Big Water Fish?! No, Sea Emperor's Fang? Kyogre?!"
Wait a minute.
Things seem a bit different here.
Carved? Statue?
————
Another 12k words today, tomorrow there seems to be a double monthly vote~~ asking for tomorrow's votes~~