Returning to Cloudmount Dragon Valley, Red Opportunity · Dragon-Nurturing Spirit Pool**
Looking at the newly hatched Larvitar in his arms, Ethan turned toward Celebi.
"Thank you, Celebi, for helping Larvitar hatch safely," he said sincerely.
"I honestly didn't expect her to hatch this quickly…"
He let out a small sigh and smiled apologetically.
"It looks like I won't be able to properly tour the Space-Time Paradise after all.
For this little one's growth, it's time for us to leave."
Larvitar had only just been born.
Newborn Pokémon consumed energy at an astonishing rate, especially pseudo-legendaries like Larvitar.
Although Celebi's blessing had filled her body with abundant life energy, that reserve would be burned through very quickly.
Once that happened, she would need constant, high-quality nutrition.
Otherwise, growth defects were inevitable.
And Larvitar had already been at a disadvantage—
she'd been born prematurely, never fully nurtured inside her mother.
Ethan had spent enormous resources to compensate for that.
There was no way he would risk "losing the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds" just to keep sightseeing.
Celebi naturally understood.
Seeing how seriously Ethan treated every Pokémon under his care, her admiration for him only deepened.
Humans who genuinely respected Pokémon like this were exceedingly rare.
With Celebi's help, Ethan's group smoothly exited the Space-Time Paradise.
Yanhuang was returned to his Poké Ball.
Metagross carried Ethan, Ye Kui, and Qin Yingying toward the nearest county at extreme speed.
Because Ye Kui had officially been listed as missing, she still needed to cooperate with an investigation.
Qin Yingying stayed behind to accompany her.
Ethan, meanwhile, rode Metagross back to Donghuang Academy, arriving in just three hours.
Larvitar's First Meal
The moment they arrived—
Larvitar started crying.
Hungry crying.
Fortunately, Ethan had prepared for this long ago.
He immediately contacted the academy's chefs and had pre-ordered newborn Pokémon meals delivered.
Despite being labeled "infant food," the dishes looked absurdly luxurious.
Larvitar was both carnivorous and mineral-eating.
Each meal contained rare meats, ore powders, and trace-element supplements.
Larvitar ate until she was completely satisfied.
Ethan, however, silently watched several thousand credits evaporate from his account.
He didn't care.
Money could be earned again.
His mother could earn it.
He could earn it himself through endorsements if needed.
As a certified Five-Star Professional Trainer, he also received massive annual subsidies—
Pokémon food and lodging were fully reimbursed by the League.
In Ethan's view, only one thing truly mattered:
Giving his Pokémon the best possible growth environment.
Larvitar's daily routine was wonderfully simple.
Wake up → eat → sleep.
Nothing else.
Pure bliss.
Peaceful Days and Rapid Growth
With the mid-year Elite Four challenge still far off, Ethan's life became exceptionally relaxed.
Sleeping until he woke naturally.
Overseeing training.
Playing with Little Lei, Larvitar, and Meloetta.
And when he had nothing else to do—
He studied psychic abilities under Hatterene.
Although Hatterene had been raised by Ethan,
his talent in psychic training was… honestly average.
Many things she demonstrated once
would take Ethan half a day to barely grasp.
Yet Hatterene never showed impatience.
On the contrary, she seemed to look forward to their daily meditation sessions.
Their bond quietly deepened.
Two Instructors, One Brutal Training Camp
The rest of the team was improving just as rapidly.
With Yanhuang joining the team, a new instructor had arrived.
Metagross taught through analysis, optimization, and battlefield logic.
Yanhuang taught through experience and combat instincts.
Five hundred years of battle experience wasn't something data alone could replace.
Yanhuang's training method was brutally simple:
Everyone challenged him.
During the fight, Yanhuang corrected timing and positioning.
Metagross then analyzed angles, choices, and efficiency afterward.
Under this dual-instructor system—
Ethan lived comfortably.
The Pokémon… suffered.
Every day, Swampert, Entei, and Skeledirge were beaten half to death
and dragged themselves to Hatterene for healing.
Yet none of them complained.
Because the improvement was obvious.
Swampert, who once bragged about "one-versus-ten,"
could now actually do it against same-level opponents.
Two Months Later – Team Status
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Every Pokémon had grown stronger:
Larvitar — 1.21 (Early Exceptional)Little Lei (Raging Thunder Drum) — 1.45 (Mid Commander)Noibat — 1.46 (Mid Commander)Meloetta — 1.47 (Late Commander)Luxray — 1.49 (Late Commander)Lucario — 1.56 (Mid Overlord)Entei — 1.61 (Early King)Garchomp — 1.64 (Mid King)Gliscor — 1.66 (Mid King)Skeledirge — 1.68 (Late King)Swampert — 1.69 (Late King)Hydreigon — 1.72 (Early Champion)Hatterene — 1.76 (Mid Champion)Tyrantrum — 1.82 (Early Totem)Yanhuang (Ancient Arcanine) — 1.91 (God-Tier I)Metagross — 1.91 (God-Tier I)
Ethan himself had also improved.
Under Hatterene's tireless guidance,
his psychic strength reached 1.62,
and he successfully learned Meditation.
Everything was moving upward.
The Problem: A Very Grumpy Hydreigon
If there had to be a problem—
It was Hydreigon.
Recently, her temper had become explosive.
She even kicked Tyrantrum out of their shared living space.
Tyrantrum was completely baffled.
Ethan, however, understood immediately.
Hydreigon was pregnant.
Yes—
Hydreigon was carrying Tyrantrum's child.
During pregnancy, female Pokémon often became extremely irritable.
They instinctively eliminated any perceived threats to themselves or their offspring.
So even Tyrantrum wasn't spared.
When Ethan explained this to him, Tyrantrum froze.
"I'm… a dad?"
Excitement followed.
Then he tried to go back inside.
Hydreigon beat him straight back out.
Tyrantrum stood there in silence, soul visibly leaving his body.
Ethan patted him sympathetically.
This wasn't fear of his mate—
it was fear of harming his unborn child.
A Place for Rest
Hydreigon couldn't stay in the courtyard.
Staying inside a Poké Ball long-term wasn't ideal either.
After some thought, Ethan called his father, Victor Stone.
Upon hearing that Hydreigon was pregnant, Victor was stunned.
Dragon-types were notoriously difficult to breed.
And she'd been with Ethan less than a year?!
After a moment of silence, Victor laughed.
"There is a place," he said mysteriously.
"Perfect for her."
Cloudmount Dragon Valley.
One of the world's three great Dragon lairs—
and Hydreigon's birthplace.
The choice was obvious.
Returning to the Dragon Valley
Ethan traveled light this time.
Only:
HydreigonGarchompTyrantrumMetagross (transport)NoibatLittle Lei
Hatterene and Yanhuang stayed behind to manage training and recovery.
Under Metagross's god-tier speed, they reached Cloudmount Dragon Valley in minutes.
The moment Metagross's aura appeared—
The valley's ruler, Dragonite, nearly panicked.
But when he recognized the silver Metagross
and the young man riding on its back—
Dragonite froze.
"…What?"
Less than a year ago, that Metagross had been Champion-tier.
Now it was a god.
Ethan smiled.
"Long time no see, Dragon Lord."
After brief greetings, Ethan explained the situation.
Hydreigon—pregnant.
Dragonite's mind short-circuited.
His daughter had left as a Deino.
Returned as a Hydreigon.
And pregnant.
He was still working on his second child.
Now he was about to be a grandfather.
Life was unfair.
Red Opportunity Appears
Dragonite led Ethan deep into the valley.
Through winding paths and misty cliffs—
They arrived at a pool shrouded in drifting clouds.
The moment Ethan saw it, the system chimed:
[Ding! Detected Red Opportunity — Dragon-Nurturing Spirit Pool]
[Please acquire immediately]
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