The battle had barely begun before it ended in an instant.
The bearded uncle let out a heavy sigh. He truly had grown old. To think that even against a rookie trainer fresh out on his journey, he could be taken down in a single move.
At that thought, he couldn't help but worry about Geodude's future.
He himself was already past his prime, having long since stepped off the stage of battle and abandoned his dream of being a trainer. In recent years, his obsession had shifted almost entirely to fossils.
But Geodude was still young, with immense potential waiting to be tapped.
"Uncle, are you alright?" Yozora stepped forward and asked with genuine concern.
"I'm fine."
The man gave a hearty laugh, then pointed ahead. "Another two or three miles and we'll reach the summit. Come on, boy, let's head there together."
Yozora nodded, and the two of them continued side by side.
Along the way, both of them kept digging, but while Yozora kept striking it rich, the bearded uncle's hands remained empty.
Watching Yozora pull up rare finds again and again, the corner of the uncle's mouth twitched. "Yozora, little brother, you're really something else. We've been walking for, what, half an hour? And you've hit pay dirt five times already!"
"At this rate, you're going to strip Mt. Moon bare of its ore…"
His last words were clearly a joke, and their journey together had brought them much closer.
Even the way he addressed Yozora had changed—from "boy" to "little brother."
"I just got lucky, that's all…" Yozora said humbly, not daring to say more.
"Hahaha…"
The uncle chuckled. "No need to be modest. I've traveled far and wide, seen all manner of strange people and things. If you ask me, little brother, you must have some kind of special ability to sense ore!"
Yozora froze for a moment, then felt a sense of respect rise within him.
Who would have thought that a random uncle he met along the road would have such sharp insight?
"Well then, little brother, I want to ask… aside from Moon Stones, have you ever dug up anything else? Say… a fossil?" the uncle suddenly asked.
"A fossil? Actually, yes. I did find one once—a Helix Fossil."
With that, he took it out before the uncle's stunned eyes.
"My heavens, you actually dug up a fossil?!"
He carefully took the Helix Fossil from Yozora's hands, examining it over and over, his expression one of utter shock.
No mistake—this was indeed a Helix Fossil!
"Little brother, would you be willing to part with this?" the uncle asked excitedly.
For years, he had been obsessed with fossils, dreaming of owning one himself.
He had wandered every mountain where fossils were rumored to appear, including Mt. Moon, yet for years he had found nothing.
And now, here he was, holding a fossil in his very hands. How could he not be thrilled?
Yozora didn't answer right away, waiting quietly instead.
Part with it?
Of course, as long as the value matched.
He had already taken a liking to this uncle—enough that he wouldn't mind taking a small loss in the trade.
But giving it away for free? That was impossible. Yozora wasn't that generous.
"The market price of a Helix Fossil is over a million, and I don't have that kind of cash…"
The uncle frowned, troubled. Then suddenly his eyes lit up. "Little brother, how about this—I'll trade you my Geodude for it!"
Yozora blinked. "Geodude? You mean… the shiny Geodude?"
The uncle grinned at his shock. "Of course. Do you think I'd trade just an ordinary Geodude for a fossil?"
Yozora frowned, puzzled. "But a golden Geodude is worth at least ten million. Uncle, if you truly love fossils so much, why not sell it for money? You could buy ten fossils at once. Wouldn't that be even better?"
The uncle looked stunned, then shook his head firmly.
"Little brother, I've already told you. That Geodude is the descendant of my old partner. To me, it's like family. How could I sell it?" He smiled bitterly.
"Then why take such a loss trading it to me?" Yozora asked, confused.
The uncle shook his head again. "It's not the same. I'm old now, slowly fading from the stage. But Geodude is still young. As a Shiny Pokémon, it has potential, even if just a little. Rather than letting it wither away at my side, wouldn't it be better to entrust it to a vibrant young trainer like you?"
"And besides, by trading it for a fossil I love, both of us gain something precious. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
Yozora understood. Without hesitation, he agreed to the trade!
The uncle's long-held burden was lifted, and at last, he obtained the fossil he had yearned for.
And Yozora? He now had a rare Shiny Pokémon!
"Uncle, no matter how you look at it, I got the better end of this deal. Thank you!" Yozora said sincerely.
But since Yozora already had six Pokémon with him, the newly received Geodude's Poké Ball was automatically transported to Professor Oak's lab.
The uncle waved off his thanks with a smile. "Think nothing of it. If possible, I hope you'll raise it well—maybe even into an Elite Four–level Pokémon one day."
Clearly, he too had once checked Geodude's potential.
But potential only meant possibility, not certainty.
It was difficult—almost impossible—to reach the peak.
At best, it was a lifetime's work… and even then, perhaps unattainable.
If it were left to him, he had no confidence that he could raise Geodude that far.
So when he spoke, his words were deliberately cautious: If possible…
In other words, he only hoped Yozora would do his best. If he couldn't achieve it, that was fine too.
"Yeah."
Yozora nodded solemnly, making a silent vow in his heart. Not just Elite Four. If I can, I'll raise it to Champion level—or beyond!
…
Their trade complete, Yozora and the uncle continued to the summit. With cheerful conversation, they arrived at the plaza atop Mt. Moon.
The Mt. Moon Plaza was vast and lively, bustling with activity.
Countless trainers sparred and chatted with one another.
At the very center stood a battle stage.
Two trainers commanded their Pokémon atop it, while crowds of spectators surrounded them, cheering and shouting.
"Yozora, little brother, this is where we part ways. Until we meet again."
Seeing how Yozora's eyes were fixed intently on the battle stage, the uncle smiled knowingly.
…
…
(End of Chapter)