🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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After the battle, at the Pokémon Center.
Although Shellder hadn't suffered any injuries—aside from heavy mental exhaustion—Ethan Black still took it to the Pokémon Center for a checkup. After all, he didn't have to pay the expenses.
"This time it was thanks to you," said Rachel Blake with a smile in the lounge area.
"It was nothing, just a small favor." Ethan Black smiled calmly; it had only been a few battles, which also served to test Shellder's training results.
"Even if you put it that way, I still have to thank you." Rachel Blake covered her mouth with a light laugh. "By the way, I suppose your visit to the club isn't just tourism, right?"
"Ah, well... actually, there is something I want to ask." Ethan Black nodded. After having done the club a favor, it now felt much more natural to make a request.
He then explained the true reason for his visit: he wanted to learn the Water Sport manipulation technique that Azumarill used.
"You want to learn the Water Sport manipulation technique?" asked Rachel Blake, a gleam flashing in her eyes.
Although Shellder couldn't actually learn the move Water Sport, with the aid of its psychic power it could achieve a similar effect.
"That's right. You can set any conditions you like." Ethan Black nodded seriously, showing his determination.
"I knew it. Here's the training method for the technique." Rachel Blake raised a notebook she already had prepared. "Since Shellder can't directly learn the move, you'll have to combine the technique with its psychic powers. The rest will be up to you."
"Really?" Ethan Black's eyes lit up with joy, but when he reached to grab the notebook, his hand closed on air.
"I haven't said my conditions yet." Rachel Blake looked at him with a playful smile.
Ethan Black: "..."
"Alright, I won't tease you." Rachel Blake laughed mischievously. "I'll give you this manual, but on one condition: you'll have to do something for me."
"What is it?" asked Ethan Black, with a faint bad premonition.
"I'll leave it pending. When I think of it, I'll let you know. But don't worry, it won't be anything that puts you in a tight spot."
Ethan Black sighed inwardly. He knew he'd end up owing something... He didn't like those kinds of debts, but he thought quickly: the important thing was to seize the opportunity now, and deal with the rest later.
"Alright, I accept your condition. But don't think I'll just do anything without question." After saying that, he took the notebook from her hands.
...
After spending half a day at the Pokémon Nightstar Club, Ethan Black mounted Absol and left Ironvale City, heading back toward the Intermediate Campus of the Pokémon University of Ironvale City.
He had already been away for almost half a month, and in just a few days the Ranking Competition would begin. He couldn't miss the chance to earn university resources.
"Hey!"
"Crazy bastard!"
"Did anyone get the license plate?"
On the road to the university, Absol sprinted swiftly, overtaking cars along the way, drawing surprised exclamations.
Suddenly, in full gallop, Absol braked sharply. Its paws dug into the ground, and the scythe on its head moved, as if it had sensed something.
"What is it, Absol?" asked Ethan Black, puzzled. Then he suddenly reacted. "You sensed something?"
Absol nodded quickly, fixing its gaze in a specific direction.
"You really noticed something?" Ethan Black's eyes shone.
The Pokédex described that Absol's horn had the ability to foresee danger.
"Let's check it out, but carefully." He looked at his partner, who clearly showed a desire to investigate, and decided to follow.
Absol, being just in nature, never backed down from danger. Ethan Black understood that, and thought maybe they could find an opportunity, and at the same time strengthen their bond. Of course, if the danger was too much, he wouldn't hesitate to run.
Hearing his permission, Absol let out a cheerful cry and rushed in the direction it had sensed.
Soon they entered a dense forest. Absol didn't stop until it reached a large tree, around which it began circling attentively.
"Is there something strange about this tree?" Ethan Black looked around, thinking it might be an Ekans or some other threat.
Absol nodded firmly and raised its claw toward the trunk.
But just as it was about to touch it, something unexpected happened: the claw passed through the tree, as if it had sunk into another unknown space.
"A Secret Kingdom portal!" Ethan Black exclaimed in shock.
At first he thought Absol had sensed a danger, but in fact it had discovered the entrance to a Secret Kingdom.
The power of Absol's horn, which detected danger, was also capable of revealing such portals. After all, a Secret Kingdom could certainly be considered a potential threat.
"Abbssss!" The Pokémon looked at him, then at the portal, then back at him, asking with its gaze if they should enter.
"Enter or not enter?" Ethan Black hesitated.
A Secret Kingdom was a place of great opportunities, but also of unpredictable dangers.
As a small, unexplored portal, it was bound to be full of hidden resources. The temptation was enormous. But at the same time, the risks were impossible to measure; it could be as dangerous as that Secret Kingdom full of Arbok and Ekans.
"Taking risks is the only way to win. How can I let a treasure like this go unexplored?" he took a deep breath. "Besides, I have Absol to detect exits and Meltan to open portals. Even if something goes wrong, I can still escape alive."
Determined, Ethan Black steeled himself. If he let this opportunity pass, he would regret it too much.
(End of chapter)