Golden Opportunity · Lava Heart Crystal
Rainbow Opportunity · Juvenile Entei**
This magma pool was anything but ordinary.
According to the system, the energy within it was primordial power left behind by the Creator of the Land, Groudon.
For Fire-type Pokémon, this pool was nothing short of a sacred land—
a place that could cleanse the body, temper the core, and dramatically increase affinity with Fire-type energy.
Yes, it looked terrifying.
The rolling magma radiated heat so intense that even approaching it made one feel as if they might melt on the spot.
But for Fire-type Pokémon—
This place was heaven.
"En-di~"
After leading Ethan to the magma pool, the small Entei didn't hesitate at all.
With a cheerful hop, it jumped straight in.
Gurgle—gurgle—
The magma boiled violently as it touched Entei's body.
Yet instead of being harmed, the little Entei began swimming in the lava as if it were warm water.
"En-di~!"
It even waved at Ethan, inviting him to join in.
Ethan broke out in a cold sweat.
Yeah… no thanks. If I went in there, I wouldn't even leave ashes behind.
Still, he didn't want to reject Entei's goodwill.
"I can't go in," Ethan said helplessly,
"but would it be okay if my partner did?"
The little Entei tilted its head, then nodded happily.
Friends' friends were friends too—that was how it saw things.
Ethan slowly turned his gaze toward Crocalor, who had been staring at the magma pool with burning intensity the entire time.
"Crocalor," Ethan asked softly,
"do you want to try?"
Crocalor snapped out of his trance.
After taking several deep breaths, he looked at Ethan and nodded—slowly, firmly.
He could feel it.
This magma pool held unimaginable benefits for him.
But he could also feel the danger.
If he jumped in… there was no guarantee he would come back out.
Still—
Wasn't this the very reason he trained so desperately every day?
Wasn't strength earned by pushing past fear?
If he could endure twelve hours of brutal training daily,
why should he fear this trial?
"Croca—!!"
Crocalor roared toward the cavern ceiling.
Then—
He leapt.
Straight off Metagross's back.
And plunged into the magma pool.
The surface looked shallow.
It wasn't.
Crocalor vanished completely beneath the molten lava.
Ethan's heart clenched.
"Metagross—can you still sense him?"
Metagross closed its eyes, psychic power spreading deep into the magma pool.
A moment later, it let out a calm sound.
"Meta~"
Crocalor was still there.
Alive.
Ethan finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
Still, his eyes never left the pool.
Hang in there, Crocalor.
I believe in you.
Deep within the magma pool—
Crocalor's consciousness began to blur.
Not from pain.
But because every ounce of his energy was surging toward the fire egg atop his head.
The egg grew larger and larger—
Until it was nearly the same size as Crocalor's body.
Then—
Flash—!
A blinding light erupted from the depths of the magma.
Crocalor had broken through.
Evolution had begun.
The disturbance rippled through the pool.
The little Entei, sensing something unusual, paddled toward the center to investigate.
But before it could reach the source—
"SKREE—!"
A piercing cry echoed through the cavern.
A round, crimson firebird, no bigger than a basketball, burst out of the magma and shot into the air.
At the same instant—
A colossal red-and-white ancient crocodilian Pokémon erupted from the pool, magma cascading off its armored body.
Ethan's face instantly broke into a wide grin.
He knew.
Crocalor had made it.
Not only that—
He had evolved into Skeledirge.
[Pokémon: Skeledirge]
[Level: Lv.48 (Late Commander)]
[Type: Fire / Ghost]
[Ability: Blaze]
[Moves: Torch Song, Fire Fang, Shadow Ball, Eruption, Snarl, Heat Crash, Sunny Day, Overheat, Curse]
[Potential: Totem]
Ethan sucked in a sharp breath.
Before entering the magma pool, Crocalor's level had been 1.34.
Now—
1.48.
A massive leap.
Even his potential had risen to Totem-tier.
"So this is the power of a Red Opportunity…" Ethan murmured, staring at the boiling pool in awe.
Now he understood.
Why this entire underground cavern was sealed.
Why no other Pokémon lived here.
This place had been reserved—
likely by Entei's parents—
solely to nurture this child.
"Skeledirge," Ethan said warmly,
"congratulations."
This towering Pokémon—nearly Ethan's height, with a body stretching seven or eight meters long—lowered its head slightly.
"Skree—dir~"
It was thanking him.
Skeledirge's long-held wish had finally come true.
He was no longer the weakest.
Among Ethan's eight Pokémon, he now ranked fourth.
An incredible achievement.
The small firebird fluttered back down and perched on Skeledirge's snout.
"Chirp~"
It curiously examined Ethan.
Skeledirge let out a low sound, explaining Ethan's identity.
When the firebird understood that Ethan was its father's Trainer—
It happily chirped in greeting.
This little bird was the fire egg Skeledirge had once carried.
Now awakened—
It was a conscious Fire-type energy entity.
And the stronger it grew,
the stronger Skeledirge's Fire-type attacks would become.
A rare, terrifying synergy.
After letting Skeledirge stabilize, Ethan recalled him to rest.
Then—
The system chimed.
[Ding! Host has successfully benefited from Red Opportunity: Fire-Type Blessed Land · Magma Pool]
[Opportunity Multiplier Activating…]
[×37 Multiplier]
[Congratulations! Obtained Golden Opportunity: Lava Heart Crystal]
As the notification ended—
The magma pool began to recede, like a draining tide.
Within a minute—
It was gone.
Completely.
The little Entei froze.
Then panicked.
This magma pool had been its home since birth.
Now—it was gone.
Tears welled up in its eyes.
At the same time, a blazing red crystal appeared in Ethan's hand.
It looked like a glass marble.
Like a miniature sun.
Fire surged endlessly within it.
The Lava Heart Crystal.
Ethan glanced at the sobbing Entei and felt a pang of guilt.
"Metagross," he said gently,
"bring Entei over here."
The little Entei was lifted beside him, still crying.
Ethan crouched down.
"Hey… don't cry."
"Look at this."
He held out the Lava Heart Crystal.
The moment Entei sensed it—
A Fire-type energy far purer than the magma pool washed over it.
Its crying slowed.
"Do you like it?" Ethan asked softly.
Entei nodded vigorously.
Then Ethan smiled.
"Then… how about this."
"Become my partner."
"And we'll share it."
He extended his hand.
The little Entei hesitated.
Then—
Placed its paw on Ethan's palm.
"En-di~~"
[Ding! Congratulations, host has obtained Golden Opportunity: Juvenile Entei]
[Opportunity Multiplier Activating…]
[×888 Multiplier]
[Congratulations! Obtained Rainbow Opportunity: Juvenile Entei]
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