The gem was cold the moment it entered his mouth.
Stone?
No taste.
Exactly like stone.
Ethan hesitated—then bit down.
Crunch.
"…I can actually chew this?"
His eyes widened.
It didn't feel like stone at all.
More like a piece of ice—
Cold, crisp, but not freezing.
After a few bites, he swallowed.
Power Surge
Then—
It hit.
A surge of energy erupted from his core, spreading through every part of his body.
Warm.
Explosive.
Overwhelming.
He could feel it.
His strength was rising.
Rapidly.
Ethan's Updated StatusName: EthanLevel: 70 (Peak Heavenly King)Attributes: Normal / PsychicAbility: Natural CureMoves: Confusion, Heal Pulse, Calm Mind, Psychic AssaultPotential: Divine Tier 7A Whole New Feeling
Nothing else changed much.
Just one extra move.
A massive level jump.
But the sensation?
Indescribable.
Like—
A blind man seeing for the first timeA cripple suddenly able to walk
One word:
Addictive.
Reality Check
Of course—
Even at Peak Heavenly King—
He still wasn't comparable to Pokémon in actual combat.
Too few moves.
Too little versatility.
Even an elite Pokémon had more combat options than him.
Still—
It was a beginning.
Rewards and Growth
Around him—
His Pokémon finished their feast.
Each one grew stronger.
But at higher levels—
Even top-grade gems had diminishing returns.
A New Problem
The next morning—
Ethan and Aurora set out.
He had something urgent to solve.
The rescued Pokémon.
Especially—
Mewtwo
"They need a place to live…"
Safe.
Hidden.
Protected.
Because Divine Eagle wouldn't give up.
Not forever.
The Dilemma
They searched for a long time.
But every place had flaws:
Too exposed → risk of recaptureToo populated → danger to civilians
Ethan sighed.
"This is a headache…"
Aurora tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Why not find them a leader?"
"Pokémon follow strength."
"If there's a strong leader, they'll stabilize."
Ethan paused.
"…That makes sense."
But—
"There's a problem."
"They vary too much in strength."
"And the leader would need to be at least Totem-tier… preferably stronger."
"And strong enough to repel Divine Eagle."
The Idea
Aurora blinked.
"You already know five Divine-tier Pokémon…"
"Don't you know more?"
Ethan froze.
Then—
His eyes lit up.
"…I do."
A place surfaced in his mind.
Three Clouds Island.
Return to Three Clouds Island
They arrived quickly.
This place—
Where everything changed before.
Where he gained two Divine-tier allies.
And soon—
He found it.
Landorus
Surrounded by children.
Laughing.
Playing.
If not for its aura—
No one would believe it was Divine-tier.
Reunion
"Long time no see," Ethan greeted.
Landorus turned—
Eyes lighting up.
"Oh? Those two causing trouble again?"
"Bring them out—I'll beat them straight!"
Ethan: "…No no, they're behaving fine."
Aurora burst out laughing.
"This one's amazing."
Straightforward.
Brutally honest.
The Request
Ethan got serious.
He explained everything:
The experimentsThe rescued PokémonThe risks
And what might come next.
Landorus listened.
Then waved it off.
"Easy."
"But why didn't you call me?"
"If I went—"
"I'd have wiped out that Divine Eagle Alliance."
Ethan: "…"
That escalated quickly.
A Necessary Restraint
He shook his head.
"It's not that simple."
"If you destroy them outright—"
"It could trigger global conflict."
"And innocent Pokémon might suffer."
Landorus snorted but didn't argue further.
Ethan continued:
"So… can they stay here?"
The question hung in the air.
Because this decision—
Would determine everything moving forward.
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