Carl felt as if he had stumbled into one of those novel-like scenarios where a daily check-in system rewards you for merely showing up. But rather than some mysterious, potentially risky system, he much preferred the World Tree as his golden ticket.
The World Tree had grown into a sapling, which meant that starting tomorrow, every drop of blood could bring better rewards. Yet, what thrilled him most was the starter pack that came with this upgrade.
He focused on the three glowing orbs floating before him, sensing the changes in his body. "My mental and physical strength have increased significantly, and my psychic powers and aura abilities have been enhanced too."
As the World Tree entered its sapling stage, the changes from this starter pack were evident. Previously, he could barely make objects float with his mind. Now, he felt as though he could lift himself into the air. Even better, he had gained the ability of telepathy, allowing direct communication with Pokémon.
This ability had numerous uses: enhancing harmony with Pokémon, increasing their bond, surprising opponents in battle, and even aiding in research. Compared to this, the boost to his aura abilities seemed rather ordinary.
Previously, he could only vaguely sense a Pokémon's emotions and could only barely communicate with those he had long-term relationships with. Now the range of his perception had expanded, but with telepathy, this enhancement seemed redundant. The new radar-like function could also be achieved with his psychic powers, and to better effect.
No wonder everyone says psychic abilities surpass aura. Carl couldn't help but reflect.
He hoped for some new quirks in the next upgrade. Carl mused, "It wouldn't be bad to have the resilience of a certain famous trainer."
Rubbing his hands together, he turned his attention to the three glowing orbs. He casually tapped the first one on the left, and two identical Pokémon eggs rolled into his palm.
"Double yolk again," he whistled. "Let's hope for some powerhouse this time."
Considering that the last time the World Tree was at the seed stage, it had given him a tough little bear, he expected even greater things now. Although these legendary creatures required slow nurturing and couldn't match the wild, mythical ones, their potential alone was worth the effort.
After playing with the eggs for a moment, he placed them beside the World Tree sapling—there was no safer nursery in the world.
"Next!"
The second orb burst open, and three crystals landed in his hand, information flooding into his mind.
[Quality Fruit (Champion Level): A super-diluted version of the world's essence that temporarily raises a Pokémon's potential to champion level (effective training can shorten duration).]
"Wow!" Carl's eyes lit up.
He knew that potential wasn't everything. Like the infamous leader Giovanni, who had trained a Beedrill, typically considered a common Pokémon, to champion level. But high-potential Pokémon grew faster, required fewer resources, and found breakthroughs easier.
For instance, a master trainer could develop a high-potential Weedle in ten days, while a normal one might take three months. This kind of treasure that could enhance potential was rarer than catching a ready-made champion Pokémon.
Many trainers found it challenging to obtain high-potential Pokémon early on, requiring them to constantly improve to have a chance. During this process, some old partners might be left behind due to slower growth. Those with deep bonds often found the choice difficult.
Deciding whether to continue nurturing an old partner or invest fewer resources in a new one could be deeply conflicting. The appearance of the Quality Fruit perfectly solved this dilemma.
If Giovanni knew about this, he'd pay anything for one for his Beedrill. Carl chuckled. In the presence of the World Tree, even the likes of the Rocket Boss seemed insignificant.
"What could the last one be?" He carefully stored the three Quality Fruits and opened the last orb. Twenty-five seeds appeared in his palm.
These were Mint Seeds, capable of adjusting a Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses without altering their original nature. Each seed could only be used once.
There were two methods of use: directly feeding it to a Pokémon or planting it anywhere. The growth speed depended on the environment, and once mature, it emitted a special fragrance that produced effects through long-term exposure.
"Mints!" Carl was overjoyed. He knew how personality affected a Pokémon's individual value growth, a fact proven by several professors, with twenty-five personality types identified.
Experienced trainers placed great emphasis on how personality influenced Pokémon, especially in later stages. Such rare items, which existed only in games in his previous life, were unheard of in the real world. With them, he could cultivate Pokémon's strengths without changing their personality.
Carl realized he was the sole possessor of this resource, and the higher-ups would definitely want them. Monopoly meant immense value, and he decided to use it wisely rather than consume it all at once.
"Time to plant!" His eyes brightened with an idea. Considering that the growth effect depended on the environment, planting them beside the World Tree was the obvious choice. Without hesitation, he grabbed a hoe from his space bag and got to work.
Meanwhile, in the villa at the foot of the hill, Selena lay in bed, her cheeks flushed, her legs restlessly rubbing against the sheets, and her hands clutching the blanket. Suddenly, she sat up with a start, exclaiming, "Carl, don't!"
Her Fennekin looked puzzled, unsure what was troubling its trainer.
Gasping for breath, Selena took in the familiar yet strange room, realizing she had been dreaming. She sighed, feeling relief wash over her. For a moment, she thought she was in trouble. Luckily, the dream didn't end in disaster, preserving her innocence.
Oh heavens, why would I dream like that? As she calmed down, she felt utterly ashamed. They say dreams reflect your thoughts—did this mean something was wrong with her mind?
How embarrassing! She pulled the blanket over her head, curling up, her face burning. It was her first time having such a vivid dream, even if it ended halfway, it was mortifying. More awkwardly, the other person in the dream was Carl, who had taken her in.
"Fennekin!" Hearing her call, the little fox perked its ears, grabbed the Pokédex, and snuggled under the covers.
Half a minute later, Selena threw off the blanket. "Oh no! It's already eight!" She leapt out of bed, ruffling her hair in frustration. She had promised to make breakfast for Emboar last night, and now she'd overslept. Staying in bed at someone else's house, would that seem unladylike?
Selena rushed into the bathroom, complaining to Fennekin, "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
Fennekin blinked innocently, "You were sleeping so soundly, smiling even. How could I wake you?"
Half an hour later, Carl returned from the hill. He wandered around the villa, noticing there was still no breakfast in the dining room, and headed straight to the front yard.
In the magnetic training field to the left of the yard, a Blaziken with white feathers was diligently practicing Thunder Punch. Its head sported a V-shaped crest, and its legs were wrapped in bandages, each punch crackling with golden electricity.
"Still as dedicated as ever," Carl thought approvingly. This Blaziken was his starter Pokémon and his strongest ally. Thunder Punch compensated for its dual Fighting and Fire-type weaknesses, countering Flying and Water-type opponents.
In the nearby artificial swamp, an Infernape wearing weighted armor was undergoing physical training. The flames on its head blazed, and its golden scales shimmered in the sunlight. Despite the armor, its agile form was evident.
"Even my Infernape is hard at work," Carl mused with satisfaction. He had encountered this Infernape half a year ago on the hill, back when it was just a Chimchar. Capturing it was a stroke of luck.
In front of the man-made waterfall on the other side of the yard, a gray bear cub with a blue headband was diligently practicing Aikido. It stood on its hind legs, every move exuding seriousness.
On the rocky ground by the pond, a bear cub with a black string was repeatedly punching a metal post, focused on mastering the deadly moves of Rapid Strike Fist. Not far away, another bear cub was leisurely practicing Aikido on the grass. The two distinct training methods hinted at their future evolutionary paths.
These two bear cubs had hatched from the World Tree's seed, capable of evolving into powerful martial bears. Their martial arts were part of a complete system inherited from the World Tree. Once mastered, they could evolve into multi-strike or single-strike forms.
Carl watched his four main Pokémon, all deeply invested in their training. However, as his gaze shifted to the large tree beside the waterfall, his expression darkened.
Emboar was lounging against the tree trunk, watching a series on a tablet while munching on watermelon, letting out contented hums now and then. Worse still, his Braviary, supposed to be practicing diving, was perched on a branch, watching the screen intently.
Meanwhile, his Rhyhorn, accompanied by several Farfetch'd and Pancham, was circling around Selena, who wore a pink dress. The once focused training field had been completely disrupted by these mischief-makers.