Curious, Oliver opened the package.
Inside was a small box, along with a postcard. On the card was a single line:
"The future of the League shines brighter because of you.
These are the rewards you deserve. May you live up to expectations and continue advancing boldly on your path through life!
— Xia Nation Pokémon League Headquarters"
"So the Pokémon item reward has arrived."
Oliver opened the box.
Inside lay a white fang, nearly the length of his palm.
Dragon Fang.
That's right—this was the Pokémon item Oliver had chosen for Garchomp.
Throughout the entire Southwest Inter-High Tournament, Garchomp had carried the battles on its own shoulders. Using the item reward to further enhance its strength was only natural.
Dragon Fang: When held, it increases the power of Dragon-type moves.
That was only its surface effect.
Hidden deeper within, it could slightly improve a Pokémon's efficiency in utilizing Dragon-type energy.
For a Pokémon like Garchomp—whose weakness lay in refined energy control—this item would greatly help it circulate energy during the early stages. At present, it was the most suitable item for Garchomp.
Oliver released Garchomp and handed the Dragon Fang to it.
"This is what you earned through hard-fought battles. Take it."
Garchomp excitedly played with the Dragon Fang, examining it from every angle.
Ever since becoming one of the core Pokémon of the team, this was the first gift Oliver had personally given it—and one that directly enhanced its combat strength.
Still riding high from earlier stimulation, Garchomp was overjoyed. It leaned forward affectionately and rubbed its head against Oliver.
After sending Garchomp off to play, Oliver turned his attention to something else—
The Aura Power he had obtained earlier.
He had awakened Aura Power several days ago, but until recently, he hadn't grasped the essentials. He couldn't properly control it.
However, when he guided Gardevoir's Mega Evolution, the emotional bond between them seemed to have triggered Aura Power, causing it to activate on its own. It helped Oliver link the Key Stone and the Mega Stone, and through that process, he finally gained full control of the power.
Aura Power was a form of spiritual energy.
Everything in the world possessed Aura.
Therefore, it made sense that deep emotional bonds could fully awaken Aura Power.
"Aura Power… resides within my heart."
Oliver tried to condense his Aura into the palm of his hand—but the moment it began to take shape, it dissipated again.
His Aura was probably still too weak to maintain that form.
According to what Oliver remembered from the anime, Aura Power had countless applications—telepathy, seeing through objects, sensing the surrounding environment, and more. At advanced levels, one could even form Aura Spheres by hand.
At that point, one could practically be considered a humanoid Pokémon.
For now, however, Oliver's Aura Power was limited to telepathic communication with Pokémon and seeing through objects.
Even so, that was more than enough.
In the past, Oliver could only understand what Pokémon were saying. Now, he could communicate directly through the mind—a massive tactical advantage.
Normally, Trainers had to shout commands during battles, which meant opponents could hear and anticipate their moves. From now on, Oliver wouldn't need to speak aloud at all.
As for seeing through objects…
Oliver's gaze shifted toward the incubation chamber nearby.
He had been extremely curious about the Pokémon Egg given by the system. Now seemed like the perfect chance to try peering through the shell using Aura Power.
He focused his Aura on the egg.
The Aura emanating from it was still faint, yet its glow was already dazzling—clear proof that the little life inside was anything but ordinary.
Next, Oliver gently placed his hand on the eggshell and silently activated Aura Power, letting it seep inward.
But almost immediately, he noticed something strange.
The moment his Aura entered the egg, it vanished without a trace—
like a drop of water sinking into the sea.
It was as if the egg were absorbing the Aura he released.
"That's interesting."
The egg's unusual reaction only heightened Oliver's curiosity.
Refusing to give up, he continued releasing Aura, determined to see just how much the egg could absorb.
Soon, his Aura reserves were nearly depleted.
As a newly awakened ability, his Aura was still quite weak.
Yet the egg showed no reaction at all—
not even a change in the patterns on its shell.
Even so, Oliver faintly sensed that he had formed some kind of connection with the life inside the egg.
It was a strange feeling—
As if, by closing his eyes, he could sense that vibrant life within greeting him.
He sealed the incubation chamber and leaned back weakly against the sofa.
He couldn't wait to see this little one hatch.
(This Pokémon was planned from the very beginning—
and it's probably not the answer most people are guessing.)
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