After resting at the dojo for the night and having the breakfast prepared by himself and Gothitelle, Lucas stood up to take his leave. He planned to explore other parts of the Galar region; after all, he had promised Latias, and if they stayed at the dojo the whole time, she would get a bit grumpy.
Mustard looked up with difficulty from the breakfast in front of him and swallowed his food. "Little Leon, stop eating. Come with me to see Little Lucus off."
Leon finished the food on his plate in two bites and stood up. "Alright."
Lucas followed Leon and Mustard to the entrance. Mustard patted Lucas on the shoulder. "Little Lucus, take care."
As Mustard looked at this descendant of an old friend, a thousand thoughts flooded his mind.
"You too, Senior Mustard. If the Breeding House really manages to grow tea leaves, I'll pick out some good ones to send to you."
Mustard beamed with joy upon hearing this.
"Right, this is a meeting gift for you. I wanted to give it to you yesterday but forgot later on."
After saying that, Mustard took a stone out of his pocket and placed it in his palm to hand to Lucas.
Lucas looked at the stone in Mustard's hand, feeling somewhat surprised.
"Does it look familiar? I obtained this stone by chance. Judging by its energy, it should be a Psychic Z-Crystal. It just so happens that you're skilled at using Z-Moves, and you have a Gothitelle."
Mustard looked at Lucas with a kind expression.
Leon: ?!!
Wait a minute! Is this my master? How can he speak so gently?!
"Take it. As they say in your region, it's a meeting gift from an elder to a child."
Lucas reached out and took the Psychic Z-Crystal from Mustard's hand. "Thank you."
With a flash of red light, Gothitelle appeared beside Lucas and politely bowed to Mustard to express her gratitude.
Then she looked at Lucas. Lucas handed the Psychic Z-Crystal to Gothitelle, who took it and felt the power contained within.
She could protect Lucas again!
Gothitelle was ecstatic in her heart.
"I'll set it into a ribbon for you later, how does that sound?"
Hearing Lucas's question, Gothitelle nodded with a smile.
"Want to try out your new power? Charizard and I can keep you company."
Leon was rubbing his hands eagerly on the side.
Lucas declined without hesitation: "Forget it. If we try again, I'll really have to stay behind to wash dishes and work to pay off my debts."
Leon didn't understand what Lucas meant at first. He was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily once he realized. "It won't come to that, it won't come to that. Master still has the money to repair the field."
Lines of frustration appeared on Mustard's forehead.
He stroked his eyebrows. "How is Little Lucus's Breeding House business doing?"
Lucas gave Mustard a brief introduction. Mustard's eyes lit up. "Oh? The Breeding House gives away Pokémon to Trainers for free?"
"Not exactly. If a Trainer communicates with a Pokémon in the backyard and the Pokémon is willing to leave with them, then I'll let them take the Pokémon away."
Lucas explained: "However, I charge a small referral fee based on the Trainer's financial situation."
"So that's how it is. That's perfect then, wait for me a moment."
After saying that, Mustard ran back into the dojo, leaving only Lucas and Leon standing at the entrance.
"Sigh, it's a pity I can't battle you right now, Lucas."
Leon spoke with regret.
"I remember you saying you wanted to find a rival, right?"
Lucas recalled Leon saying he wanted to find a rival during dinner last night.
Leon won't take me as his rival, will he?
"Then why don't you travel to other regions?"
Hearing Lucas's question, Leon looked at the sea across from the dojo. In the distance, the water and sky merged, Wingull were foraging, and clouds were reflected on the sea. The scenery was extremely beautiful.
"You know the reason for Dynamaxing, right?"
"Eternatus?"
Leon withdrew his gaze and looked at Lucas in confusion.
"You know about Eternatus too?"
Lucas nodded. "Yes, Cynthia mentioned it to me. The legendary Pokémon that resides in the Galar region."
Upon hearing Cynthia's name, Leon suddenly understood.
Are Lucas and Cynthia that close?
"Because of that, Dynamax outbreaks happen from time to time in Galar. I need to stay here so I can handle them promptly. Besides, I've signed a contract with Chairman Rose and cannot leave the Galar region."
Hearing Leon's explanation, Lucas remembered from the anime that the Dynamax phenomenon in Galar was caused by particles emitted by Eternatus.
As for the name Rose, how did Lucas feel like he remembered him not being a good person?
He knew it was Rose who discovered Leon's battling talent and helped him become the Galar Champion, but he hadn't learned about the events that followed.
"Don't worry, I believe it won't be long before your rival appears."
Leon looked at Lucas in confusion. "Who?"
Lucas thought for a moment and held up his index finger. "A young boy? He should be considered... a very powerful boy, I suppose?"
In terms of physical strength, that is.
Leon grew interested in the person Lucas mentioned. "Where is he?"
"In the Sinnoh region."
Leon: ——
"After he finishes the Lily of the Valley Conference, he'll head to other regions. I believe he'll come to Galar before long."
"Is he a Champion?"
"I guess so?"
Lucas thought for a bit before speaking.
The first Champion of Alola is still a Champion.
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Leon straightened his cap, his cape fluttering incessantly in the wind. He trusted Lucas's judgment; a Trainer Lucas thought highly of shouldn't be too bad, right?!
"I'm back."
Mustard walked out of the dojo, cradling a pokémon egg.
"I'll have to trouble Young Lucas to help me find a trustworthy Trainer for it."
Mustard placed the pokémon egg into Lucas's arms, and Lucas scrambled to catch it.
"This is?"
"That's a Kubfu egg. I originally planned to wait for a qualified Trainer to come and take it, but nobody has shown up. Since spring is coming, I expect many Trainers will visit your Breeding House to buy eggs or adopt Pokémon. I'll leave it to you to find a trustworthy Trainer for it; you can decide the price."
Kubfu?! The Kubfu that evolves into Urshifu?
Seeing the serious expression on Mustard's face, Lucas nodded quickly. "Alright, I will find a trustworthy Trainer for it."
Mustard nodded in satisfaction. "Do you know the way out? Do you want Little Leon to see you out?"
Lucas: —— Him?! Seeing me out?!
"Mustard, if Leon sees him out, both of them will definitely get lost. I'll have to go out and find them then."
Raihan walked out at this moment and said.
Leon: ——
"Am I really that bad with directions?"
Mustard, Lucas, and Raihan all nodded at the same time.
"...."
"I'll lead you out."
Raihan looked at Lucas and said.
"Then I'll trouble you."
After saying that, Lucas prepared to mount Latias, who had revealed her form.
"Wait, wait a moment."
Sonia ran out of the dojo and stopped Lucas. Everyone turned their gaze toward Sonia, and Lucas asked, "What is it, Sonia?"
Sonia pulled a wristband out of her pocket and handed it to Lucas.
"Lucas, didn't you say you quite like Dynamaxing? Since I study Dynamaxing, I'll give this to you."
After Sonia finished, she glanced at Leon, who raised an eyebrow.
Nicely done.
Sonia chuckled.
Lucas took the Dynamax Band and examined it closely. Gengar and Gothitelle floated over, looking at the Dynamax Band in Lucas's hand.
"Gen gengar?"
Is this the thing that can make us bigger?
Lucas nodded.
At this time, Lilligant and the others also ran out of their Poké Balls, surrounding Lucas and looking at his newly acquired Dynamax Band.
"Lucas, have you decided who to Dynamax?"
Hearing Sonia's question, Lucas looked up at the Pokémon beside him.
Lilligant took a graceful step back, away from Lucas. When she noticed Lucas looking at her, she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Lilli."
No way!
Lucas looked at Ninetales.
*Cough, cough.*
Feeling a heavy thud from a tail behind him, Lucas immediately turned his gaze away and looked at Gothitelle.
Just as he made eye contact with Gothitelle, the next second, Lucas's head turned uncontrollably toward Latias.
Gothitelle watched Lucas as he consulted with Latias, stealthily withdrawing her psychic power.
"Don't look at me, I don't want to get big! It's ugly!"
Latias's voice echoed in Lucas's mind, full of protest.
Lucas looked at Gengar. Gengar was full of anticipation, sticking out his tongue and giving Lucas a lick.
"Gen gengar~"
Going to get stronger again~
Expertly chewing the Cheri Berry Gothitelle stuffed into his mouth, Lucas looked at Machamp.
"Machamp."
Machamp showed off his strong muscles to Lucas.
It seems Machamp doesn't have an enhancement system yet? Although Dynamaxing can only be used in the Galar region, it still counts as an enhancement system, right?
"I choose you——"
"Gen gengar~"
Thank you~
"Machamp."
"Ma Machamp!"
"Gen gengar?! ∑(°A° ;"
Gengar was petrified on the spot.
Machamp gave a thumbs up, "Ma Machamp!"
Lucas put the Dynamax Band on his wrist and tugged at the corners of Gengar's mouth. "Alright, give us a smile. Let Machamp have it this time, and I'll find something else for you next time."
Gengar heartlessly licked Lucas's face with his tongue and then retracted it.
"Gen gengar—"
I guess that's the only way.
"Um... actually... the Dynamax Band allows Gengar to Dynamax too."
Sonia stood nearby and weakly raised her hand.
"What I mean is, unlike Z-Moves and Mega Evolution, the Dynamax Band can be used to Dynamax different Pokémon depending on the situation; it's not limited to just one."
"Huh? Is that so?"
Lucas was greatly surprised.
Gengar floated around happily in the air.
Sonia nodded.
"Want to try Dynamaxing?"
Leon suggested.
Lucas nodded, recalled Machamp into his Poké Ball, and then walked onto the battle field.
"Don't worry, Dynamaxing is possible on this island, even Gigantamaxing."
Leon said: "Try to feel the power coming from the Dynamax Band."
Lucas pressed the Dynamax Band on his right wrist. Subsequently, the energy around the field began to gather into the Dynamax Band and was transmitted into the Poké Ball. The Poké Ball in Lucas's hand suddenly grew large, and once it reached its maximum size, he threw it with both hands.
"Go, Machamp!"
Machamp appeared on the field, his size becoming enormous.
Looking at Machamp, who was now as big as Ultraman, Lucas nodded.
"He looks very reliable."
Lucas said.
"Gen gengar—"
Indeed.
"Gothitelle."
I can feel he's gotten quite a bit stronger.
"Lilli."
As expected of Machamp.
"nine."
Even bigger than me.
"Wow! Superman!"
Latias said.
On the other side, outside the field, the corners of Mustard's and the others' mouths kept twitching.
"Sonia, did you give them Max Soup yesterday?"
Raihan asked in a low voice.
Sonia shook her head. "No, I shouldn't have... right?"
"Then why does he look as big as a Gigantamax? Look at that size!"
Raihan said through gritted teeth.
"No, this is Dynamaxing."
Leon said: "Machamp has a Gigantamax form, and there's a difference between Gigantamax Machamp and Dynamax Machamp. The Machamp before us should be Dynamaxed. As for why he's so big... perhaps it's a unique trait of Lucas's Pokémon?"
Leon glanced at the unusually tall Ninetales and said.
At that, Raihan had nothing more to say.
"Speaking of which... can I use Mega Evolution or a Z-Move while Dynamaxed?"
Lucas fell into silence.
"What is he trying to do——"
Sonia tugged at Leon's cape. Leon looked at Lucas and saw him revealing the Z-Ring on his left wrist, adjusting it with his right hand. Gothitelle, in sync with him, floated into the air in front of Lucas, facing him.
Lucas and Gothitelle clapped their hands together. Gothitelle began to dance around Lucas, while Lucas crossed his arms.
"Lucas!"
Mustard shouted, "That's the last field!!!"
Gothitelle's dance stopped instantly, and Machamp also returned to his original size. Lucas silently lowered his arms and looked toward the edge of the field.
Mustard breathed a sigh of relief.
There were only four battle fields on the island.
One was destroyed yesterday during Leon and Raihan's sparring, one was destroyed by himself and Leon during their sparring, and one was destroyed during his battle with Lucas. This field was the last one; if it were ruined too, the dojo probably wouldn't be able to open for business this entire week.
Gengar floated to Lucas's side, cradling the Kubfu egg. "Gen gengar—"
So big! So cool!
"Right?"
Lucas grinned.
"Lilli~"
The dance was very beautiful.
Gothitelle's face turned red.
Lilligant covered her mouth and giggled.
She always says we spoil Lucas, but when she uses a Z-Move, she can't bear to let Lucas dance, so she dances around him herself.
Hah! Gothitelle!
"I almost couldn't help myself."
Lucas walked over to the group, scratched his head, and laughed.
"It's fine, it's fine, isn't it still in one piece?"
Mustard said, seeing that the Z-Move had been halted.
Mustard had witnessed the power of Lilligant's Z-Move yesterday, as well as the terrifying psychic power contained within Gothitelle's body. If he hadn't interrupted Gothitelle's Z-Move in time just now, this field would definitely have been destroyed.
Sitting on Latias's back, Lucas looked at Mustard, Leon, and the others, waving his hand. "Leon, Raihan, Sonia, if you ever have time to visit the Sinnoh region, remember to call me and come to the Breeding House for some tea. I believe you'll really like the environment there."
"Alright, I actually need to go to Sinnoh for a summit next month."
Sonia said excitedly.
"You're welcome anytime."
"We'll head over when we have time."
Leon laughed.
After saying their goodbyes, Latias carried Lucas away from the Isle of Armor. Over the next two or three days, Lucas expected to take a brief tour of the Galar region with Latias and the others.
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