Steven's eyes lit up instantly, his tone full of surprise: "Wow, Beldum has evolved into Metang already? Your training speed is too fast, it's unbelievable!"
Before Steven could fully digest the surprise of Beldum's evolution, a small white head suddenly squeezed into the screen.
It was a curiously approaching Larvesta.
The little guy seemed to be seeing a phone for the first time, and gently touched the screen with its head in confusion, as if trying to understand how there was a person on it.
"This—this is, Larvesta??"
Steven's eyes widened suddenly, his expression instantly freezing, his tone filled with disbelief.
Lionel had never seen Steven so flustered before.
"That's right, it's a member of the same family as that Larvesta, one of the two Pokémon that appeared when Mt. Chimney erupted fifteen years ago, according to the Pokémon forum."
Lionel said calmly, but couldn't help feeling a little proud.
Larvesta didn't seem to understand what a phone was, and continued to rub its head against the screen, making soft "humming" sounds.
Lionel was almost pushed off the screen by it, and gently pushed it aside.
Steven slowly recovered from his shock. He took a deep breath and looked at Lionel with a complicated expression, asking with a hint of inquiry and surprise, "Larvesta, I remember, because it's a Fire-type, Gym Leader Moore has never given up searching for it in Mt. Chimney all these years.
He felt that if there was one, there should be two, and there should still be some of these Pokémon in Mt. Chimney.
So many years, I haven't heard any good news from him. How come you only climbed the volcano once and were attracted to Larvesta, and even caught it?
Do you have some special superpower?
Like the Viridian Power in the Kanto region, which can attract Pokémon in a special way?"
Lionel hugged the Larvesta that was snuggling up to him and said seriously, "I don't know either. I guess I'm too charming, and Larvesta really likes me."
Larvesta understood Lionel's words, raised its head, and stared at him with wide, round eyes. Its blue eyes contained an indescribable meaning, and its appearance was extremely amusing.
Steven was amused and exasperated by the interaction between the man and the insect, and stopped asking questions. He simply waved his hand and said, "Wait a moment."
Immediately, the screen moved, and another frame appeared in the video.
It was Steven's father, the chairman of Devon Corporation.
The chairman looked at the Larvesta on the screen, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes. His steady voice came through the receiver: "This is truly an extraordinary discovery.
You just caught this Larvesta, so it wouldn't be appropriate to teleport it here now.
Lionel, could you stay in Lavaridge Town for a few more days and enjoy the local hot springs? Buy whatever you like; the company will reimburse you.
I'll immediately arrange for Skarmory to carry some of the company's researchers over as soon as possible. They can record some basic data about this Pokémon. Please wait for them a moment."
Chairman Stone paused for a moment before continuing, "If I remember correctly, it's a Fire/Bug type Pokémon, right?
I'll have the company modify a suitable Nest Ball for it as soon as possible and teleport it to you.
Once it's more familiar with you, you can teleport it back whenever it's convenient for you, and we'll conduct a more detailed examination."
"No problem, Chairman,"
Lionel nodded in response. "After I arrive in Autumnleaf Town and participate in the Grand Contest there, I'll cross Meteor Falls and return to Rustboro City.
I'll bring it back directly then for more detailed research."
"Okay, okay."
Chairman Stone nodded in satisfaction. "You two chat first, I'll go arrange for people to get there as quickly as possible."
With that, he ended the call, leaving Steven and Lionel to continue their conversation.
"By the way, Mr. Steven, there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor."
Lionel suddenly remembered something and said, "Go ahead." "
I plan to challenge the Gym with my Larvesta after the company's people arrive. Could you help me promote Larvesta beforehand?
I'd like more people to watch its first battle."
Upon hearing this, Steven couldn't help but laugh. "You're just like Wallace, both of you love to show off.
No problem, take some videos of Larvesta and send them to me later, I'll share them for you, and I'll also ask Wallace to share them for you too, is that enough? I'll also give you some publicity so everyone knows you're an excellent trainer from our Devon Company."
"That's enough, that's more than enough, thank you so much!"
Lionel smiled and thanked him repeatedly.
It wasn't that he was deliberately shameless; it was simply that he had already captured four Pokémon, especially since Larvesta was a late bloomer.
Its evolution required a significant amount of high-level Pokémon energy balls, and it was this urgent need that led Lionel to think of this method that could rapidly boost his popularity again.
The researchers from Devon Corporation would probably need two or three days to prepare the equipment and arrive, so Lionel could take a good rest in Lavaridge and let his Pokémon relax as well.
Steven and Wallace were extremely efficient, each releasing a video about Larvesta that very evening.
In the video, the little Larvesta was full of energy in a secluded open space behind the hotel.
Its Proud appearance with five antennae burning with crimson flames, and its domineering posture when using the Flame Wheel move, caused an uproar online as soon as it was released, with comments and shares skyrocketing instantly.
————
However, the mysterious "Ω" symbol on Larvesta's forehead never appeared again.
Lionel specifically asked the volcano about it, and Metang relayed its answer using psychic powers: it said it had consumed too much energy previously and couldn't use it for the time being.
However, seeing the volcano's blue eyes darting around and its subtle shifting to the side while answering,
Lionel couldn't believe it. He decided not to ask any more questions for now, deciding to learn more as they spent more time together.
After Steven and Wallace released their video, Lionel also edited his Mt. Chimney adventure into a short video clip.
The video started shortly after climbing Mt. Chimney, with his first encounter with Larvesta, then showed the silhouette of Larvesta in the lava cave, and finally the breathtaking sight of the churning lava lake at the summit, all accompanied by an exciting and energetic background music, making it a thrilling watch.
Finally, the screen focused on a close-up of the volcano, and a message popped up at the bottom of the screen: "Seven days later, the volcano will face the Lavaridge Gym for the first time. Stay tuned!"
The video instantly went viral, flooding the account's comment section with a torrent of messages:
[Wow, streamer, you're incredibly lucky! So many people have explored Chimney Mountain and never encountered this mysterious Pokémon, and you found it on your first try? This luck is unbelievable!]
[Anyone teaming up for Chimney Mountain? We have to go for it, maybe we can ride on the streamer's good fortune and catch one too!]