After evolving, Noivern's body underwent extremely obvious changes.
It had truly become a bona fide flying dragon species.
Its lower body consisted of powerful hind legs and a long tail like an iron whip, while its upper body bore a pair of broad wings. At the very front were rather unremarkable dragon claws, and its overall silhouette now closely resembled that of a bipedal dragon.
The difference was that Noivern's wings were more like bat wings, black on the inside and purple on the outside.
At the joints where the bat wings connected to its body, there was also a cyan inner membrane, ensuring that Noivern could fight while flying through the air.
Around its neck was a ring of white fluff that felt very comfortable to the touch and pleasantly warm.
Noivern nudged Silas with its head. "Noi!"
"Hungry?" Silas asked.
"Noi~"
Silas took out some fully ripe Berries and fed them to Noivern.
Eating berry it liked made Noivern especially happy.
Don't be fooled by Noivern's huge size and fierce appearance.
In dark environments, it was practically invincible in battle—so terrifying that even the vicious Hydreigon would fear it.
Yet the food it loved most was actually berries.
Quite the contrast, huh, you rascal Noivern.
After checking, Silas confirmed that Noivern was in excellent condition.
Only then did he turn his attention to the trembling Carbink not far away, which had been cowed by Noivern's imposing presence and was shaking nonstop.
He waved his hand in front of it. "Are you okay?"
"Bink~"
(It's you, human… the kind human from yesterday.)
The Carbink remembered him and hopped over to his side.
"Your tribe was attacked by a Sableye again. Where are the other Carbink?"
At the mention of "Sableye," the previously dejected Noibat's eyes lit up, and it looked over with an expectant gaze.
The Carbink led the way while answering, "Bink Bink~ Bink Bink…"
After frowning and thinking for a moment, Silas guessed, "You were patrolling when you were attacked by the Sableye, and the others hid in advance, right?"
"Bink Bink!"
The Carbink nodded vigorously—it was exactly like that.
"Alright then. Please take me to see the elder Carbink."
Knowing that the rest of the Carbink were safe put Silas at ease.
One human and several Pokémon went deeper into the cave, passing through the Carbink's former campsite and continuing onward.
This was a safe shelter the Carbink had dug out overnight. Sableye wouldn't be able to find this place anytime soon.
Along the way, the Carbink kept glancing at the powerful Noivern from time to time, though no one knew what it was thinking.
After winding through the tunnels for a full five minutes, they finally met the elder Carbink.
The rescued Carbink hurried over, and soon the sound of "Bink Bink" rang out in unison as it recounted what had just happened to the elder.
Upon learning that another Sableye had appeared nearby, the elder Carbink's mood grew extremely heavy—they had no choice but to relocate.
Moving to the location that the human had found for them was not a bad option. The elder Carbink's peripheral vision fell on the Dragon-type Pokémon following behind Silas.
"Bink~"
(Human, I have discussed your proposal with my tribe.)
"So you're willing to move there?" Silas asked.
"Yes. Sableye have already discovered us."
After speaking with the elder Carbink, the human and Pokémon quickly finalized the relocation.
The Carbink would leave together with Silas shortly, departing as soon as possible to avoid further trouble.
With a command from the elder Carbink, the entire Carbink tribe immediately sprang into action, quickly packing up various kinds of minerals.
Silas swept his gaze over one Carbink after another, but didn't see the one whose gemstones had been shattered. He turned to ask the elder Carbink.
The elder's voice was low with grief. "That little one's gemstones were completely destroyed by the Sableye. Its body has developed a severe defect, and the gemstones can no longer regenerate."
"I see," Silas nodded in understanding and walked toward a side tunnel.
The gemless Carbink was hiding inside. The cave floor was scattered with a large pile of multicolored ores.
These had been collected by the other Carbink in the hope of finding a suitable mineral to help restore its body.
"Bink~ Bink!"
A dispirited cry came from deep within the cave. The Carbink had buried itself among rocks of the same color—only then would it not feel inferior because of its bodily defect.
"Why are you hiding in here instead of coming out to greet me?" Silas said, waving for Noivern and the others not to follow as he approached.
"Bink…"
The Carbink answered timidly and burrowed a little deeper inside.
Silas sat down directly beside it. "The elder Carbink already told me about your situation."
"Bink… (q-p)"
"Don't be so sad," Silas said with a smile. He looked straight at the Carbink, his expression serious. "The damage Sableye did to your body—I have a way to fix it. Do you believe me?"
"Bink!"
The Carbink nodded without hesitation. Silas was amazing—he had saved it from Sableye's fangs.
"Then how about coming with me from now on? I'll find a way to heal the wounds on your body."
Silas extended his hand, formally making the invitation.
The Carbink met Silas's earnest gaze, but still shrank back a little, asking in a small, uncertain voice, "Bink~"
(A defective Pokémon like me can't really help you, Silas… I'm just a burden.)
"Every Pokémon has its own strengths. Carbink, have you ever heard the stories Battle Through the Pokémon Realm, or Pirate King?"
"Bink~"
(They sound amazing, but… what are they?)
Each name sounded incredibly impressive, filling the Carbink with a vague sense of awe.
Clearing his throat lightly, Silas began to narrate.
"On the distant Unova Region, there once lived a Charmander whose tail didn't burn with fire…"
As Silas continued, the Carbink listened more and more intently. It fully emerged from the rocks, drawing closer to hear more clearly.
That Pokémon named Smoulder deeply captivated it.
They both had defective bodies—if Smoulder could do it, then why couldn't it?
Just as the Carbink's eyes filled with longing, Silas's voice abruptly stopped.
"To know what happens next, tune in next time."
"Bink… Bink?"
(That's it? That's really it?! Did Smoulder reach the peak of Charicific Valley?!)
The Carbink asked urgently, desperate to know the outcome, its cracked sapphire eyes glaring resentfully at Silas.
"That's all," Silas said with a smile, extending his hand once more. "So now, what's your choice, Carbink?"
"Will you keep hiding in the shadows and waste away… or will you stand up again like Smoulder and shock everyone, slapping them all in the face?"
...
"Elder Carbink, are you all packed up?" Silas asked.
"Yes, we're ready. All the Carbink are here."
"Then let's set off. The ranch is still some distance away."
Noivern was arranged to clear the way at the front. Silas rode on Mudsdale in the middle, and an extra Poké Ball now hung at his waist.
The two Noibat stayed at the rear. With so many Carbink moving together, surely they would attract any Sableye lurking in the shadows, right?
The Noibat secretly thought so, already brimming with anticipation.
Unfortunately, reality disappointed them.
The two Noibat waited eagerly all the way until they reached the ranch, but not a single Sableye followed.
A large group of unfamiliar Pokémon arrived at the ranch, drawing the attention of Kangaskhan, Cyclizar, and the others all at once.
Only after seeing Mudsdale did they relax and run toward Silas.
Surrounded by Pokémon big and small, Silas smiled as he calmed them down, then introduced the Carbink one by one.
"Let's talk later. I'll take you over to the cave area first so you can settle in."
(End of Chapter)