After obtaining the Tyranitar's acknowledgment, Aoki immediately opened the system panel. As expected, the Diamond Treasure Chest had been acquired.
"Ding-dong! Congratulations, host! You have obtained Boss Lairon's Mega Evolution Stone and the item Leftovers!"
Aoki blinked in surprise. Boss Lairon's Mega Evolution Stone?!
He checked again to make sure he wasn't mistaken. Sure enough, the system panel displayed Laironite, the very Mega Stone he had been searching for.
His heart pounded. After obtaining so many Mega Stones, none had belonged to Boss Lairon—until now. The long-awaited reward had finally arrived. Aoki could hardly contain his excitement.
Thinking back, he silently thanked the Whirlpool (Yu Vortex) that led him here. Not only did it bring him closer to Kamizlei, but it also helped him obtain Boss Lairon's Mega Evolution Stone and capture a battle-hardened, Elite-tier Gyarados. This adventure had turned out to be incredibly rewarding.
Oh, and there was also Leftovers.
This held significant value. It was the perfect held item for Happiny, who would eventually evolve into Blissey—a Pokémon famed for its massive HP. With Leftovers, Blissey could passively regain health every turn, making her even harder to take down.
Blissey's Special Attack wasn't weak either. If trained properly, she could function as both a healer and an attacker. Coupled with her absurd bulk, she had rightfully earned the nickname "Pink Devil" in competitive battles.
With Leftovers, Blissey would become even more of a defensive powerhouse.
Aoki decided that, moving forward, he would prioritize Blissey's training. A well-raised Blissey could break the spirits of even the most formidable opponents.
"Happiny, I've got a special gift for you."
Aoki pulled out Leftovers, which resembled the glowing core of an apple.
Happiny tilted her head at the seemingly ordinary apple core but accepted it eagerly. The moment she consumed it, a surge of vitality spread through her body, making her feel refreshed and content. She let out a delighted "Pii-pii~!", hugging Aoki's arm in gratitude.
Aoki gently patted her head but suddenly thought of something.
Would he be able to swap out Leftovers later if he needed to?
For example, once Happiny evolved into Chansey, he might obtain an Eviolite, which would double Chansey's Defense and Special Defense. If that happened, Eviolite might be the superior choice.
He quickly checked the system panel and sighed in relief—items could be swapped freely.
For now, however, Leftovers was perfect. Once Blissey was fully trained, she would be nearly unbreakable.
As for Jirachi, Aoki wasn't in a rush to assign it an item. The Mythical Pokémon wouldn't be making an appearance anytime soon. Perhaps, by then, Aoki would find an even better held item—maybe even a second Leftovers.
For now, he'd let the future decide.
Kamizlei, who had been watching curiously, was confused as to why Aoki had given Happiny a half-eaten apple core. However, seeing how happy Happiny was, she refrained from asking too many questions.
"Alright, Boss Lairon," Aoki said, turning toward his most loyal partner. "I've got something for you that you're going to love."
He took out the Laironite and attached it to the custom necklace he had prepared months ago.
Aoki had been planning for this moment for a long time. Ever since he learned about Mega Evolution, he had searched tirelessly for Boss Lairon's Mega Stone. Now, at long last, his patience had paid off.
The thought of Mega Aggron's towering, armored form sent shivers of anticipation down his spine. With its ability Filter, it would reduce the damage from super-effective moves, making it even harder to take down.
If Kamizlei weren't here, Aoki would have tested Mega Evolution immediately.
However, he wasn't ready to expose Mega Evolution just yet. If the world knew he had access to it, the major Pokémon clans would hunt him down for his secrets. Right now, he had no advantage against them.
Kamizlei simply assumed the necklace was a fashion accessory. After all, it wasn't uncommon for trainers to give their Pokémon decorative accessories.
"Alright, Kamizlei, let's explore the forest. Who knows? We might find a strong Pokémon."
Aoki was eager to scout the area for more potential partners. Pokémon like Beldum, Ralts, Gible, and Larvitar were all possibilities.
Kamizlei, excited by the prospect, nodded. "Sounds good. Let's go!"
Previously, she had captured a Magnemite with impressive battle skills and high potential. She hoped to find another strong Pokémon.
The Next Day
Despite scouring the entire forest, Aoki and Kamizlei failed to find any truly exceptional Pokémon.
However, they did gather a large supply of rare Berries. Some of these Berries were highly prized by Pokémon breeders, as they could enhance Pokémon growth rates.
The major Pokémon clans hoarded these Berries to raise their high-potential Pokémon, which gave their family members a significant edge.
Aoki collected several of the rarest Berries.
Not only would these serve as food for his Pokémon, but they had also contributed to Gyarados reaching Elite level.
Since Gyarados would be traveling with him from now on, he made sure to harvest as many Berries as possible.
However, Aoki didn't take all of them. He left enough for the wild Pokémon to survive. Stripping the land bare would have been cruel.
Departure
After making the necessary preparations, Aoki and Kamizlei headed to the coast, ready to leave the island.
"Gyarados, let's go! Help us get off this island!"
"Gyaoo!!"
The massive sea dragon roared proudly, exuding confidence and strength.
Aoki climbed onto Gyarados' back before reaching out his hand.
"Kamizlei, hold on tight!"
Kamizlei took his hand and leaped onto Gyarados, but miscalculated her footing.
"Ah—!"
She lost balance and stumbled to the side.
Seeing this, Aoki reacted instantly, pulling her into his arms before she could fall into the sea.
Kamizlei's face flushed crimson as she felt the warmth of Aoki's embrace. Her heart raced uncontrollably, pounding against her chest.
For a brief moment, she forgot everything—the world around her blurred, and all she could focus on was the feeling of being in his arms.
She didn't resist. Instead, a tiny thought surfaced in her mind.
"I wish I could stay like this… with him… forever."
Aoki, unaware of her thoughts, couldn't help but steal another glance at her rosy, flustered face.
As Gyarados surged forward, slicing through the waves, their journey continued—both across the sea and into the unknown future ahead.
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