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Under Manager Melody’s guidance, Jacob toured the entire Fire Secret Realm. He focused particularly on the two incubation rooms, as both he and his brother had selection privileges there.

Jacob had already captured five Dragon-type Pokémon and needed just one more to complete his Dragon Master qualification. The Pokémon Association had been working to secure him a Duraldon. During this visit to the Fire Secret Realm, Jacob also hoped to select one or two powerful Fire-type Pokémon for his brother.

As they explored, Jacob noticed that the ordinary areas contained no King-level Pokémon, with only one Quasi-King-level specimen present. This thwarted his plan to purchase a King-level Pokémon outright.

Eventually, Jacob discovered a Magby with King-level qualifications and a Houndour with Champion-level qualifications in the collection room.

After some consideration, Jacob decided to let his brother use his selection quota for the Houndour, since his brother’s selection privilege was limited to Frosthollow Province, while Jacob’s own selection rights extended nationwide.

As for the Psyduck, he would reluctantly pass on it for now. The selection opportunity was hard-earned, and Jacob wanted to maximize its value by selecting a Pokémon with Quasi-Champion qualifications.

[Pokémon Egg]

Houndour

Gender: Male

Type: Fire/Dark

Qualification: Champion

Ability: Flash Fire

Moves: ???

Examining this Champion Houndour, Jacob thought it was an excellent choice. Houndour’s final evolution form, Houndoom, only required Elite-level training to evolve, meaning it could quickly become Asher’s main combatant.

Additionally, the Flash Fire ability could prove advantageous in battles between Fire-type trainers.

Most importantly, Houndoom could undergo Mega Evolution. Mega Houndoom was extremely powerful, with its ability changing from Flash Fire to Solar Power.

Solar Power was undoubtedly one of the best special attack abilities. Its only drawback was that it activated only in harsh sunlight and caused continuous HP loss.

But since Asher specialized in Fire-types, training a Ninetales or Torkoal with the Drought ability would be relatively straightforward.

Mega Houndoom with Solar Power could learn numerous special attack moves: Flamethrower, Dark Pulse, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb, and Shadow Ball provided excellent coverage. Perhaps most importantly, it could also learn Nasty Plot, a top-tier setup move.

The value of Nasty Plot was comparable to Swordance!

Nasty Plot dramatically increased special attack, just as Swordance boosted physical attack.

The only regret was that this egg required a selection quota and couldn’t be purchased outright. If money could secure it, that would be ideal.

If Jacob didn’t already have Charmeleon with its potential Solar Power ability and the system’s Dragon Master mission, he would definitely choose this Houndoom himself.

“Manager Melody, I’d like to ask a favor—could you help me reserve this Houndour egg?” Jacob requested.

“Oh?” Melody appeared surprised. She knew Jacob had the opportunity to select a Pokémon egg from any Secret Realm nationwide. “Are you certain you want to use your selection quota here?” she asked.

Most trainers with such privileges chose powerful Dragon-type Pokémon from either the Drakehold or Capital Dragon-type Secret Realms. Few utilized their selection in the Fire-type Secret Realm as Jacob intended.

“Doesn’t my brother still have a selection opportunity?” Jacob inquired.

Melody certainly knew that Asher retained a selection privilege, but she hadn’t expected that Jacob, as his younger brother, would make decisions on Asher’s behalf. “Asher does have a selection right,” she confirmed, “but he needs to appear in person, or perhaps you could call him.”

“Of course.” Jacob didn’t push the issue with Manager Melody, but made a light-hearted comment: “But we should reserve this egg until my brother arrives. We wouldn’t want someone else claiming it first.”

As he spoke, Jacob gave Melody a meaningful look.

Melody felt slightly embarrassed, recognizing that Jacob was referencing their previous encounter at the Fire Secret Realm. Had she known then that Jacob would achieve such prominence and that the Jacob family had such a powerful supporter as Ryan backing them, she would never have allowed the Zhao family to claim the egg, even if it meant offending them.

However, the Jacob family had actually benefited from that misfortune—instead of receiving the Fennekin, they’d acquired a Charmander.

“Don’t worry, I’ll ensure this egg remains secure,” Melody promised.

Jacob nodded, then called his brother Asher to come claim the egg.

…

When Charmeleon arrived at the Fire Secret Realm, it felt completely in its element. The abundant fire energy made Charmeleon fall in love with the place immediately. The Pokémon here were talented and amiable, enhancing Charmeleon’s affection for the environment.

Most significantly, Charmeleon observed numerous other Charmander, Charmeleon, and even Charizards, which made it eager to integrate with the Charizard group during rest periods. However, reality delivered a harsh lesson.

Jacob’s Charmeleon, with its golden skin, appeared noticeably different among the Charizards—like an anomaly. The regular Charizards rejected it and drove it away, nearly attacking it on several occasions.

Jacob naturally noticed this situation but lacked a better solution. In nature, Pokémon groups commonly displayed hostility toward differently colored specimens.

Most shiny Pokémon weren’t accepted by their groups and faced direct expulsion. Only a tiny minority managed to remain within their natural communities.

“Charmeleon, they’re just not accepting you temporarily,” Jacob consoled, stroking Charmeleon’s golden head. “No matter what, you’re the most magnificent in my eyes.”

“Char…” Charmeleon responded listlessly.

The tribe’s rejection significantly impacted Charmeleon, making the already somewhat vicious Pokémon even more withdrawn. It channeled all its energy into training, frantically absorbing fire energy with great intensity.

While Charmeleon’s rapidly increasing strength was positive, Jacob worried about its tendency to grow increasingly bitter. He feared that if this continued, Charmeleon’s personality might be permanently affected.

As its trainer, Jacob knew he must provide timely psychological support to his Fire Pokémon.

…

A week later, after consuming all the fire energy blocks and benefiting from the dual effects of the Secret Realm, Charmeleon’s body had nearly reached optimal fire energy levels. Jacob planned to take Charmeleon to the Flying Secret Realm for its final evolutionary preparation.

Before departing, however, he needed to return to the Capital to collect Noibat. Jacob also planned to give all his Pokémon a day off for relaxation.

When Jacob rushed back to the Capital, it was already Saturday afternoon. Without informing Teacher Nina of his return, he quietly approached the forbidden area.

In the forbidden area, Teacher Nina was training both her own Pokémon and Jacob’s, including Sceptile, Noibat, Axew, and Dreepy.

The massive size of Sceptile made it particularly conspicuous, visible even from a distance. However, it was Noibat and Nina’s Noivern who first detected Jacob’s arrival.

Having mastered the use of ultrasonic waves, Noibat could now determine locations by interpreting sound reflections, functioning like a mobile radar monitoring the surrounding environment.

Sensing Jacob’s presence, Noibat flapped its wings and flew into his arms. Axew and Dreepy also spotted Jacob at this moment and rushed toward him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep