Sharpedo drifted to the edge of the pool and fell into a deep sleep.
Silas crushed a specially made aroma bead and let its liquid essence dissolve into the water.
These beads were single-use breeder products - once broken, they infused the pool with nutrients and fragrance that improved the growth environment for Water-type Pokémon.
Each cost several hundred Pokédollars.
But Silas had never been stingy when it came to raising his partners.
....
Returning to the worktable, the warmth in his hands grew stronger.
The familiar crafting rhythm had finally returned.
He began preparing the second formulation ,a modified talent tonic enhanced with Ground-type materials.
Only minor substitutions were required.
Drip… drip…
The final ingredient:
A fallen petal from a Meganium flower collar.
It was crushed and juiced.
Soon, a yellow-brown potion tinged with green rested on the table.
Silas placed it in the analyzer.
A smile formed.
"Success."
The replacement material worked.
Now he only needed to scale production.
Riding the momentum, he increased the batch size dozens of times.
One bottle.
Two.
Three.
With the third completed, his stash of Earth Vein Stalactite Essence dropped sharply, only half a bottle remained.
He glanced at the clock.
Dawn approached.
Rubbing his eyes, he stood to rest
But Murkrow interrupted him.
....
Silas looked toward the windowsill.
"What is it?"
He assumed Murkrow wanted Pokéblocks again…
until he followed its gaze.
"…They're hatching?"
The incubators showed less than ten minutes remaining.
"That nutrient solution is better than I thought."
He had expected half a day more.
Though experienced with egg hatching, he still focused intently.
Seconds stretched.
Breathing slowed.
Seven minutes passed.
One egg glowed.
Cracks spread across the shell.
Silas opened the incubator lid, exposing it to air as earthy energy leaked outward.
Crack
The fractures widened.
Shaking intensified.
Then- A small sand-colored head pushed through.
Dark eyes, like tiny sunglasses.
With one final break, a palm-sized hatchling tumbled free.
A newborn Sandile.
Its tail wiggled clumsily as it explored the world.
Silas smiled faintly, gently patting its damp head before capturing it in a Poké Ball.
"Let's see your potential."
He checked the data:
_____________________________
Sandile - Desert Croc Pokémon
Level: 1
Gender: Male
Type: Ground/Dark
Ability: Moxie
Moves:
Leer
Rage
Egg Moves:
Focus Energy
Thunder Fang
Fire Fang
Mean Look
_________________________________
Silas's eyes brightened.
"Excellent start…"
One after another, the remaining six eggs hatched.
Most abilities were Intimidate
Two had Moxie
One possessed the Hidden Ability Anger Point
The first hatchling had the most inherited moves.
The hidden-ability one had fewer, but powerful:
Counter
Double-Edge
After comparison, two stood out
The first hatchling and the Anger Point individual.
Even newly born, they were larger and sturdier than the rest.
Silas remembered his earlier selection plan.
Watching the seven play, his gaze turned cold beneath the moonlight.
"…Enjoy these peaceful days."
....
For the next several days, he didn't leave the room.
Meals were delivered.
He ordered large quantities of sand online to construct a heated sandbox -ideal for Sandile rest cycles.
He also obtained breeding manuals and researched extensively.
Soon, another delivery arrived.
Inside:
Seven reinforced chew bones.
Designed for sharp-toothed Pokémon training.
Made from processed Marowak skull material, capable of enduring wear from Pokémon under level 40.
Each cost tens of thousands of Pokédollars.
Silas didn't hesitate.
Their final evolution - Krookodile -possessed jaws capable of crushing metal.
Early conditioning mattered.
Watching the hatchlings tumble in the sand, he murmured:
"Make the most of these last carefree days."
<><><><><><>
(End of chapter)