When Alex found the cave of Garchomp and Salamence, he saw Drakloak with its head tilted back, Dragon-type energy condensing at the corner of its mouth, while Salamence was giving it some advice.
A moment later, Drakloak let out a roar, and a meteorite, enveloped in Dragon-type energy, was shot into the sky from its mouth.
Alex watched expectantly; he naturally recognized this as Meteor Beam, one of the Dragon-type's ultimate moves.
However, the next second, the meteorite did not scatter as Alex imagined, but instead fell straight down, creating a sizable crater. This was exactly like Ash's Gible in the anime!
"Pfft~" Alex couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
Drakloak quickly turned its head to look, and its Dragon-type face visibly reddened at a speed discernible to the naked eye.
"Kia!!!"
Drakloak instantly felt like it wanted to bash its head in and die, sensing its Dragon-type life was utterly bleak. Why, why? Why did Alex have to come neither too early nor too late, but precisely when it was most socially embarrassing for it? How was it going to face Alex after this?
A hint of a smile flashed in Salamence's eyes. It was quite satisfied with Drakloak as a student; after all, Meteor Beam was a powerful Dragon-type move, and there was no way to learn it that quickly. Drakloak being able to shoot the meteorite into the sky was already surprising enough for Salamence. It had taken it a long time to achieve that step back then.
Alex walked forward and said with a smile, "You have to work hard, Drakloak."
Drakloak turned its head away, not daring to look at him. It was clear that it was still dwelling on the embarrassing incident just now.
Alex comforted it, "You've only just started training with Salamence, and you've already learned a new move; that's already amazing!"
"Qi~ Kia?"
Drakloak gave him a look that said, 'I'm uneducated, don't lie to me.'
"Alright." Alex handed the backpack prepared by his Grandma to Drakloak. "These are all your food. When you finish them, come home and get more from me. Learn well from Salamence and Garchomp. I look forward to the moment of your final transformation."
Drakloak took the backpack and nodded seriously.
Alex then said to Salamence, "Dragon Sister, I'll have to trouble you. If you need anything, just let me know."
Salamence waved its paw, agreeing. Anyway, it was usually boring, so teaching this gifted little Dragon-type was not bad.
"Then I'll be going now."
After bidding farewell to Drakloak and Salamence, Alex left the back mountain, intending to go home and supervise Togepi's training.
...
But as soon as he arrived home, he found a large Arcanine lying in the living room, though its aura seemed very weak. Grandpa John and Grandma Mary were observing the Arcanine, and beside them was a beautiful woman with a pale face, dressed in a Senior Investigation Officer uniform. At this moment, she was looking at the Arcanine with a worried expression.
Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, all three turned to look. Grandpa and Grandma, seeing it was their grandson, didn't pay any more attention and continued to examine the Arcanine.
Officer June, seeing Alex, forced a smile onto her pale face and greeted him. "Alex! Have you returned from your journey already? You've grown quite a bit."
Alex also recognized this rare genius of the Officer family, who was already a Senior Investigation Officer at such a young age. "Officer June. What happened to Arcanine? Is it alright?"
Alex stepped forward and asked, while data about the Arcanine appeared in his eyes.
**Pokémon: Arcanine**
Level: 67 (Late Quasi-Champion)
Aptitude: Champion
Gender: Male
Ability: Justified
Moves: Spark, Bite, Howl, Flame Wheel, Flamethrower, Leer, Protect, Take Down, Extreme Speed, Fire Spin, Flame Charge, Sunny Day, Fire Blast, Substitute.....
Alex sighed inwardly, 'As expected of a genius from the Officer family, truly formidable.'
Grandpa John then spoke, "The Arcanine's injury should have been treated. The reason it hasn't recovered is because a powerful Fire-type energy is wreaking havoc inside its body, causing its own energy to riot, which is why it's so weak now. If this external powerful energy cannot be calmed, the Arcanine might not last much longer."
Upon hearing this, Officer June's pale face immediately turned grim. "What?" Alex also looked at his Grandpa in disbelief.
Arcanine? Its own energy rioting due to Fire-type energy? You're not joking with me, are you, old man? This is an Arcanine! A pure Fire-type Pokémon, even if it doesn't have Flash Fire as an ability, it shouldn't be affected by Fire-type energy to this extent, right?
Grandpa John glared at his grandson, then turned to Officer June and asked, "It must have been injured by a Champion-level Fire-type Pokémon, right?"
Officer June nodded with a grim expression, "It was injured by a Champion-level Camerupt."
What else could Alex say but sigh at how formidable Champion-level Pokémon were. To be able to do this to a Pokémon of the same type.
Grandpa John understood, and without asking how it was injured or where the Champion-level Camerupt came from, he simply said to Officer June: "This Arcanine doesn't need a Revive Potion; it needs an Energy Inducement Potion and a Calming Potion. The Energy Inducement Potion is five million alliance currency, and the Calming Potion is three million. Do you want them?"
"Of course!" Officer June readily agreed. She had no shortage of money; what she lacked were the potions. In fact, the price of top-tier potions outside would only be higher, possibly even double. The reason for this situation was that there were not many people in the entire world who could produce top-tier potions. What people lacked was not money, but the potions and the people who could make them. That's why Breeders held such a high status.
Grandpa John heard the answer and said to Gardevoir, "Please help me bring over potion boxes number 53 and 74."
"Gardevoir~"
Gardevoir disappeared with a Teleport and soon returned with two boxes.
"Take the Arcanine and come outside with me," Grandpa John said, taking the two boxes.
Officer June immediately recalled the Arcanine into its Poké Ball and followed Grandpa out.
Alex, seeing this, also eagerly followed.
Once they reached the open space outside, Grandpa John motioned for Officer June to release the Arcanine. He then opened box number 53, took out the Energy Inducement Potion inside, and held it to the Arcanine's mouth.
"After drinking this, immediately guide the chaotic energy within your body out through your mouth, understand?"
The Arcanine struggled to lift its head and looked at Officer June. Only after the latter agreed did it drink the potion in one gulp.
After feeding it, Grandpa John immediately pulled Officer June and Alex, who was watching, away from the Arcanine.
They saw the Arcanine twisting its body in pain, and crimson, violent flames faintly emerging from its body.
Officer June, seeing the Arcanine in such pain, anxiously asked, "Mr. Smith, is this alright?"
Grandpa John shook his head and explained, "It's fine, don't worry."
Officer June had no choice but to watch the Arcanine worriedly, hoping it would pull through.
Meanwhile, in the open space in the distance, the Arcanine was already howling in pain, and powerful Fire-type energy was emanating from its body. The surrounding temperature was also continuously rising.
Finally, with a roar from the Arcanine, all the violent flames spewed out from its mouth.
"Holy crap!"
Alex was so shocked that he blurted out a curse. Because an extreme heat wave rushed towards him, even from such a distance, his skin felt painfully hot.
Looking at the massive pillar of fire soaring into the sky, Alex exclaimed how abnormal it was. Now he finally understood why Grandpa said there was a huge gap between Champion and Champion-level. Just a residual energy could unleash such power.
Truly formidable.