As Charizard charged toward Typhlosion at incredible speed, Typhlosion only saw a streak of red flash before its eyes.
The next second—
A tremendous force wrapped around its body.
It couldn't break free at all.
Then it suddenly felt weightless.
Its body was carried high into the sky.
Before it could react—
Boom!
It was slammed back down.
The collision with Fire Island's volcanic terrain created a deafening explosion.
Typhlosion's vision spun.
Stars filled its eyes.
It immediately lost its ability to battle.
"Ding-dong! Charizard defeated Typhlosion and gained 1,500 experience points!"
Seeing that Typhlosion had lost all fighting capability, Aiden took out a Luxury Ball and successfully captured the leader of the Typhlosion tribe.
Once the leader was captured, the remaining Typhlosion, Quilava, and Cyndaquil naturally lacked the strength to resist Aiden.
However, Aiden did not forcibly capture them.
Instead, after releasing Typhlosion again, he allowed it to personally experience the environment inside the System Space and make its own decision.
After all, up until now, not a single Pokémon who had seen his world had rejected the opportunity to live within that paradise.
As expected—
After gradually recovering its strength, Typhlosion became fascinated by the unique Fire-type energy permeating the space.
More importantly—
Countless ownerless volcanoes stretched across the landscape, waiting for the arrival of the Typhlosion tribe.
Thus, after returning to Fire Island, Typhlosion immediately called upon its companions and encouraged them to settle within Aiden's world.
A place where their tribe could continue to grow stronger.
With the leader's endorsement, the tribe of roughly one hundred Cyndaquil and Quilava officially became one of Aiden's new tribal Pokémon groups.
After throwing a large number of standard Poké Balls, Aiden successfully captured them all.
Another major tribe had joined him.
A sense of accomplishment naturally surfaced in his heart.
Typhlosion was one of the few ordinary Pokémon capable of learning Eruption.
Normally, such devastating techniques were reserved for legendary Fire-type Pokémon.
That alone demonstrated the incredible potential of the species.
Combined with the Fire Plate inside his System Space, Aiden had no doubt this Typhlosion would one day become an exceptionally powerful Pokémon.
Back when he played Pokémon games in his previous life, he had always enjoyed completing the Pokédex.
But in this real Pokémon world—
What he pursued wasn't a complete Pokédex.
He only wanted Pokémon he genuinely loved.
And their tribes.
After all, this trip to Fire Island hadn't revealed any unique Alolan Pokémon like Ice Island had.
After searching the entire island, Aiden finally ended his large-scale recruitment efforts.
Most of Fire Island's inhabitants were ordinary Fire-type Pokémon from Kanto and Johto.
Still—
Aiden had always possessed a special fondness for Fire-types.
Among all his Pokémon, excluding Dragon-type legendaries, Fire-types were by far the most numerous.
Not to mention—
He possessed one of Arceus' Fire Plates.
Since he had already come all the way to Fire Island, there was no reason not to recruit a few more Fire-type Pokémon.
Eventually, his gaze settled on a tribe of Ninetales.
Ninetales was an exceptionally elegant and powerful Fire-type Pokémon.
It could also learn a variety of Psychic-type techniques.
Since Aiden possessed both the Fire Plate and the Psychic Plate—
And he himself wielded psychic powers comparable to those of legendary Pokémon—
He naturally held a favorable impression of the species.
On Ice Island, he and Lorelei had each captured an Alolan Vulpix.
Now that he had arrived at Fire Island, recruiting some Vulpix and Ninetales to accompany those little ones seemed like an excellent idea.
After identifying his target, Aiden released Typhlosion and Charizard, sending them forward as negotiators.
Their task was simple:
Convince the Ninetales tribe to follow him.
If negotiations failed—
He would simply capture the tribe leader.
Once they saw the System Space, everything would resolve itself.
At the same time, Aiden used the system to scan the Ninetales leader.
"Ding-dong! Current Ninetales Stats:"
Pokémon: Ninetales
Divine Position: None
Level: 59
Ability: Drought
Type: Fire
Potential: Gold
Bond Evolution: Locked
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Flamethrower, Grudge, Fire Blast, Fire Spin, Disable, Nasty Plot, Extrasensory, Will-O-Wisp, Inferno Abyss, Burn Up, Safeguard...
Friendship: 0
Background: Leader of a Ninetales tribe living on Fire Island. Possesses considerable strength and notable Psychic-type talent. Constantly seeks greater power in order to protect its tribe.
Likes: Protecting its tribe, becoming stronger.
After reading the status panel, Aiden couldn't help clicking his tongue in amazement.
Whether it was Typhlosion earlier or Ninetales now—
Both possessed Hidden Abilities.
And both possessed Gold-tier potential.
Was this because they lived on Fire Island under the influence of the Fire God?
Otherwise, how could so many Pokémon possess Hidden Abilities and unusually high talent?
With Typhlosion's persuasion and Charizard's overwhelming intimidation acting together as both carrot and stick, Ninetales finally turned its gaze toward Aiden.
A faint Psychic aura emerged from its body.
After probing him for a while—
It released a long, elegant cry.
Ninetales had made its choice.
It would follow Aiden.
Because within him, it saw the possibility of the tribe's prosperity.
And an opportunity for itself to become even stronger.
"Powerful Psychic abilities, huh?"
"Not bad."
"I like Pokémon like that."
Aiden smiled.
In the original anime, Ash and Brock once encountered a special Ninetales that had lived for hundreds of years while waiting for its Trainer.
That alone demonstrated the extraordinary Psychic capabilities possessed by the species.
Naturally, such Pokémon suited Aiden's tastes perfectly.
Taking out a Luxury Ball, he held it before Ninetales.
The quasi-Elite Four leader stepped forward voluntarily and touched the Poké Ball.
Click.
Just like that, it became one of Aiden's Pokémon.
Its entire tribe followed shortly afterward, becoming new residents within the System Space.
With the Fire God, the Charizard tribe, the Typhlosion tribe, and the Ninetales tribe successfully recruited—
Aiden's objectives on Fire Island had been fully completed.
Now all that remained was waiting for Moltres to finish selecting its successor.
After that—
It would finally be time to leave Fire Island and continue the journey toward the last of the Three Legendary Bird Islands.
Thunder Island.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/SorenSwiftTL (replace @ with a)