After leaving the Mirage Island and spending a full 21 days in the outside world, the time flow on the island finally returned to its slow rate.
Stepping back onto Mirage Island, Ace resumed his special training with Zinnia while also starting to consider how to approach that peculiar fruit.
"First, I have to be fast. I must grab the fruit during the moment of its shift between corporeal and ethereal states to pick it."
"There's also the fruit's strange ability. That momentary dizziness is absolutely fatal."
"If I don't pick it, what if I simply cut the fruit off?"
"Hmm, the speed of an attack is definitely faster than movement speed. I can try that next time."
With this shift in thinking, Ace had a new idea.
If, during the state transition, he had a Pokémon waiting near the branch, and it could slice the fruit off during the shift between its ethereal and corporeal states, would the fruit remain intact?
The moment the thought occurred to him, Ace decided to assign this challenging task to Victreebel.
After all, among Ace's Pokémon, when it came to attack speed, if Victreebel said it was second, no other Pokémon would dare claim to be first.
"Take a half-hour break."
Ace withdrew Lapras and spoke plainly, giving Zinnia some time to rest as he watched her collapse onto the beach, drenched in sweat.
Zinnia immediately lay down on the sand, stretching her limbs to relax her body and quickly recover her stamina.
"Ace-sama, may I ask you a question?"
After resting for ten minutes, Zinnia felt a bit better. She turned her head and asked Ace.
"What is it?"
Ace put down what he was doing and looked at Zinnia.
"It's about that Chansey."
Zinnia pointed at Ace's Chansey, looking confused. "That Chansey is terrifyingly strong, but why hasn't it evolved into a Blissey yet, even at this level?"
Following the direction of Zinnia's finger, Ace looked at the Chansey, who was currently instructing his other Pokémon. He shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Zinnia was stunned, finding Ace's reply hard to believe.
Ace sighed lightly.
His Chansey was already Level 87. Its level increase was extremely slow, so Ace had begun training its ability to control its power.
Under normal circumstances, Chansey's friendship with Ace had long exceeded the required 220, but the Pokémon still showed no sign of evolving. This puzzled Ace as well.
Ace had once asked the System about this, and the System simply told him that Chansey's physical condition was excellent, with no adverse reactions.
As for evolution?
According to the System, the time hadn't come yet.
To this, Ace wanted to give the System a thumbs-down.
The friendship is maxed out, and you tell me the time hasn't come? When exactly will the time come?
Zinnia flipped over and sat up. She stroked the head of the Whismur beside her and then asked Ace, "Ace-sama, does your Chansey have a name?"
Ace froze, looking at Zinnia in confusion.
"Giving your Pokémon a name is actually a form of bond," Zinnia explained to Ace. "For example, I gave this Whismur the name Aster. That name holds extraordinary significance for me and represents the deepest connection between us."
Ace fell into contemplation.
He really hadn't thought about naming his Pokémon.
However, Ace knew that the people around him did have the habit of naming their Pokémon.
For instance, Ash often named his Pokémon by taking two syllables from the Pokémon's original name.
His Pikachu was just Pika, and his Venusaur was Venus.
Blue often started names with the character Xiao (Little), like her Blastoise was called Xiao Gui (Little Turtle), and her Nidoqueen was called Xiao Nido (Little Nido).
But there were also those who didn't name their Pokémon, such as Ace and Gary.
So, Ace hadn't paid much attention to Pokémon names. However, now that Zinnia brought it up, Ace reviewed his memories and realized that many protagonists and supporting characters in the storyline did have the habit of naming their partners.
Does naming a Pokémon really work?
Ace was skeptical of this point.
But adopting the mindset that there was nothing to lose by trying, Ace stood up and clapped his hands.
Hearing the clap, Ace's Pokémon quickly rushed over and gathered around him.
Ace cleared his throat and said, "Um, I'd like to give everyone a name. Do you have any suggestions?"
Names?
Ace's Pokémon were initially bewildered, but they quickly understood. Immediately, the eyes of every Pokémon shone brightly, and they looked at Ace with immense excitement.
"Is... is it that big a deal?"
Ace was slightly startled by the reaction of his Pokémon, taking a step back before recovering.
But then, Ace got a headache.
Naming things is the absolute worst! I can't just call them John, Jane, or Richy Rich.
And besides Rayquaza, he had thirteen Pokémon.
Naming thirteen Pokémon all at once?
He'd rather be killed!
However, Ace quickly thought of a solution.
He smiled and patted Chansey's head. "If you want a name, it's possible, but you must at least reach the level of strength that Chansey has to be worthy of me giving you a name."
Hearing Ace's words, all the Pokémon immediately looked at Chansey, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Chansey paused, smiled, and then gave the other Pokémon a fierce glare.
The demeanor of the Big Sister was fully evident!
Instantly, all the other Pokémon looked elsewhere.
Hmm, it's not that they're cowardly; they're just being smart!
Ace nodded in satisfaction. This solution immediately boosted the motivation of his Pokémon while saving him the trouble of coming up with so many names.
Killing two birds with one stone. Perfect!
"Then, this time, I'll only give Chansey a name."
Ace said with a grin. "What should I name her? Chansey... how about 'Dandan' (Egg-Egg)?"
The Pokémon: ...
"Um, Ace-sama, 'Dandan' is the name of another Pokémon, isn't it?"
Zinnia twitched her lips and raised her hand, rejecting Ace's first choice.
Ace rolled his eyes and said helplessly, "Then what? Should I call her 'Long'ao Dan' (Dragon-Arrogance Egg)?"
Chansey's eyes lit up, and she nodded frantically.
Ace: ...
Zinnia: ...Long'ao? Chansey has nothing to do with the Dragon type, does it?
What do you know?
Ace glanced at Zinnia, thinking to himself that Chansey's personality was clearly that of an 'Ao Tian' (Overlord) template. Chansey could definitely handle the name Long'ao!
"Then, I'll call you Long'ao Dan from now on."
Ace didn't wait for any objections and simply decided on Chansey's new name.
And as Ace finalized his decision, Chansey nodded vigorously. In that instant, the light of evolution burst forth from Chansey's body!
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