"Ethan, you're here already."
Seeing Ethan's arrival, the worried expression on Professor Harris's face finally relaxed.
"Cac!"
Cacturne also noticed Ethan and enthusiastically walked over.
"Hello, after not seeing you for so long, it seems you've gotten stronger."
Ethan patted Cacturne on the body and said with a smile.
"Cac!"
Cacturne squinted its eyes and proudly began to show off its strengthened body.
During this time, Cacturne had followed Ethan's advice and focused on training its physical condition. Now, the results were starting to show.
"Professors, how is the experiment with Cacturne going?"
Ethan smiled and looked at Professor Harris and Professor Vega, who were approaching.
"We haven't obtained great results. During this time, we've mainly been researching the abilities Sand Veil and Water Absorb."
"We haven't made any major breakthroughs. Next, we plan to breed a certain number of Cacturne with the Sand Veil ability and then stimulate them with Water-type energy to see if we can obtain Cacturne with the Water Absorb ability."
Professor Vega sighed lightly. Research on abilities was only just beginning across the entire academic field; it seemed there was still a very long road ahead.
"Ethan, you want to take Cacturne back, right?"
"At this stage, our research on your Cacturne is basically complete. Take it back for now. If any further need arises later, I'll contact you again."
Professor Harris had guessed Ethan's intentions and smiled slightly.
The subsequent research would require a large number of Cacturne with the Sand Veil ability, so there was no longer any need for Ethan's Cacturne to continue participating.
"That's great! During the next period, I'm going to put Cacturne through special training. Really, thank you very much to both professors for taking care of and guiding Cacturne all this time."
Ethan thanked both professors and bowed. Cacturne imitated him and also bowed; during this period, it had gained enormous benefits.
"Let's go, our work here is almost finished. We can take this chance to catch up."
Professor Harris nodded with satisfaction and, after exchanging a few words with Professor Vega, led Ethan out of the laboratory.
Boom, boom, boom!
Just as they were approaching Professor Harris's residence, a strong vibration was suddenly heard.
Then, Ethan saw two Rhydon walking in from the distance. One of them was the female he already knew, but the other...
"Rhhhydodnn!!!"
Upon seeing Ethan, the other Rhydon became extremely happy and ran toward him.
"So it was you. After not seeing you for so long, I didn't expect you to have already evolved into Rhydon."
Ethan smiled and stroked Rhydon's head. That Rhydon was precisely the small Rhyhorn he had met in the past.
After that, he examined it from head to toe. Perhaps because it had received special physical training since it was young, its body looked a bit darker than other Rhydon, giving off a sense of solidity and strength.
Unusually, the protective female Rhydon did not stop Rhydon from approaching Ethan.
Moreover, he didn't know if it was his imagination, but it seemed that the female Rhydon had even smiled at him!
Just thinking about it was a bit frightening.
"Ethan, it seems Rhydon has already recognized you. How about trying to capture it?" Beside him, Professor Harris also smiled, with a crafty glint in his eyes.
"So it recognized me that easily already?"
Ethan was momentarily stunned and suddenly seemed to realize something. He looked at Rhydon and then at Professor Harris.
Feeling Ethan's gaze, Professor Harris became a bit uncomfortable and said, "Ethan, I've also read your notebook on Pokémon evolutionary forms. That Rhyperior..."
"So it was all because of Rhyperior."
Ethan thought to himself, "just as I imagined." In fact, he had already planned to hand that information over to Professor Harris when he returned.
After all, Professor Harris was like a mentor to him. Without his guidance, Ethan's path as a Trainer would not have been so smooth.
However, now that Professor Harris had spoken first, Ethan felt a little awkward; it felt strange to hand over the method of Rhyperior's evolution in this way.
"I understand. I'll take good care of Rhydon and help it evolve into Rhyperior."
Ethan took a deep breath and gave his assurance. In this way, it also aligned with his own plans: first help Rhydon evolve into Rhyperior, and then make the evolution method public; that way, everything would be logical and natural.
"Rhhhydodnn!"
After hearing Ethan's promise, the female Rhydon nodded toward him and then turned around to leave. Evidently, she had already recognized Ethan and could entrust her offspring to him.
"Then, from now on, nice to meet you, Rhydon." Ethan smiled slightly, took out a Poké Ball, and gently touched it to Rhydon's forehead.
Immediately, Rhydon turned into a beam of white light and entered the Poké Ball, being successfully captured.
"Rhyperior... now even I am eager to see it." Professor Harris said with anticipation, which made Ethan feel a slight sense of guilt. Fortunately, Professor Harris wouldn't have to wait too long.
"By the way, Professor Harris. I also have a small gift for you."
After releasing Rhydon again, Ethan took out another Poké Ball and smiled at Professor Harris.
"A gift?"
Professor Harris's eyes lit up; Ethan's gifts had never disappointed him.
"Come out, Vibrava!"
The Poké Ball opened, and Vibrava's figure appeared in the air.
"Vibrava, show it. Use Earthquake!"
With Ethan's command, Vibrava descended to the ground.
Immediately, a powerful Ground-type energy erupted from its body, spreading with a roar into the depths of the earth.
In an instant, a strange force spread throughout the area, causing continuous resonance in the ground, transforming into a genuine earthquake and making the entire land begin to tremble.
"It's the move Earthquake!"
Feeling the constant shaking of the ground, Professor Harris exclaimed in amazement.
"Yes. Vibrava learned it by accident during an earthquake."
Ethan smiled slightly. As far as he knew, even the Pokémon Researchers' Guild did not yet have a method for learning the move Earthquake; the fact that Vibrava had mastered it had enormous research value.
The move Earthquake, like natural disasters, was also a natural catastrophe. Its research value should be no less than that of weather-related moves.
(End of chapter)