In the Inheritance Space, the cold System prompt gradually faded.
Caesar let out a long sigh, his entire dragon body collapsing in place, feeling as if his body had been hollowed out.
He opened the post-battle settlement panel and carefully checked the rewards from this time.
[Experience Gained: 600 points.]
That was 200 points more than fighting Ivysaur. Not bad; any growth was a good thing. It seemed that the further he went in this tower, the more experience it gave.
[✣ Passive Effect Triggered: Slight increase in body size (+0.1).]
[✲ Loot Obtained: HP Limit +20.]
Body size increased by 0.1? Does this coefficient mean a 10% increase?
Caesar stretched his limbs and felt that his body was indeed a bit heavier, and his strength was more substantial. Correspondingly, his HP limit had also increased by 20 points, now becoming 97.
To be honest, Caesar had always been curious about how health points were calculated in this world.
Could it be that body size and life level are directly linked? The larger the size, the thicker the health bar?
It wasn't impossible.
Cecilia, that Silver Dragon hatchling, had a Rank that increased as slowly as a snail's crawl, yet her HP was already at 640 points—ridiculously thick. Although she was just bloated, that number was indeed terrifying. Then there was the Bronze Dragon Viola he met before, with thousands of HP, like a total health tank.
Caesar began to look forward to what he would look like after stacking up his health.
Back when he played pokémon, he never touched those glass cannons with an HP base stat lower than 90. The sense of security was too low. Even when playing LOL, he was a loyal supporter of "Heartsteel"; regardless of anything else, he'd stack health first.
That's a real man's sense of security.
Looking further down, his gaze fell on the most important reward.
[✲ Loot Obtained: Move Tutor Blueprint (Weather Ball).]
Caesar's spirits lifted.
[Weather Ball]: Special Attack [Normal], Power 50. Releases an energy sphere whose type and power change according to the current battlefield weather. In Sunny Day, it becomes [Fire] type; in rain, it becomes [Water] type; in Sandstorm, it becomes [Rock]; in snow, it becomes [Ice] type; in Strong Winds, it becomes [Flying]; in Fog, it becomes [Normal]... Power doubles to 100.
[System Introduction: On this ancient blueprint are engraved primitive magical runes that guide the "power of weather" in the environment.]
[Synthesis Path: energy storage crystal ×1 (Quality: Silver), Dried Weather Forecast Grass ×3 (Quality: Dark Iron), arcane leather tanned from magical beasts (Quality: Silver) ×1.]
Caesar's heart jolted as he read.
A Venusaur from a sun team dropped a Weather Ball blueprint?
This feels right! This setup feels so right!
This is exactly how a sun team attacker should be.
Although the Move Weather Ball is tailor-made for weather teams, in reality, only those Grass-type pokémon in sun teams would carry it.
A standard sun team Venusaur should carry Weather Ball to form an excellent "Fire + Grass" coverage, punching through Steel-types and kicking its peers.
Moreover, the [Weather Ball] given by the System seemed even more special.
It actually benefits from the "Strong Winds" weather bonus.
Weather in the pokémon world, besides the common Sunny Day, rain, Sandstorm, and hail, also includes "Strong Winds" formed by Delta Stream, as well as "Fog" that can reduce accuracy.
Even in the official game "Legends: Arceus," there was "Clear" weather that could increase the speed of Grass-types.
The rules of this world were clearly more complex and diverse.
Caesar's brain began to work rapidly—
This Move was practically tailor-made for him.
With it, under Sunny Day weather, he could perform Fire-type attacks, and combined with the [Fire] z-crystal he already had, he could even recreate the previous Z-Move [Inferno Overdrive]!
And in Sandstorm weather, this Move could turn into [Rock] type, greatly enriching his offensive methods.
The versatility was too strong!
Caesar carefully looked at the synthesis Materials. "Weather Forecast Grass"—he had an impression of this thing; it was a very common magical plant sensitive to elemental changes in the environment, and there were quite a few in the Dragon Spine Mountain Range.
As for the energy storage crystals and arcane leather... it seemed that a trip to a city of the human Alliance was now inevitable.
Besides these rewards, winning against Venusaur this time led Caesar to another major discovery.
That was the skill sublimation mechanism!
From [Dragon Breath] to [Dragon Pulse], the System had clearly given the possibility of advancement. In the pokémon world, many skills have a hierarchy: [Ember] to [Flamethrower], [Water Gun] to [Hydro Pump], [Powder Snow] to [Blizzard]... If the trigger condition for this mechanism was "extremely high skill proficiency" plus "corresponding external environmental stimulus," then... was it possible for his Heavy Stomp to sublimate into [Earthquake]?
Could his Quicksand Abyss become the true weather skill [Sandstorm]?
The answer was very intriguing.
Caesar suddenly remembered something. Back when he was a Gible, the first ground-type skill he learned wasn't Quicksand Abyss, but Sand Attack.
The System had made [Sand Attack] a prerequisite skill for [Quicksand Abyss]!
This path had been laid out from the very beginning!
As for the prompt "Detected extremely active dragon-type factors in the vicinity" when he comprehended [Dragon Pulse]... Caesar didn't even need to think to know who was behind it.
Who else could it be but that Silver Dragon, Cecilia?
It must be that fellow holding him outside to keep warm; the pure Dragon Clan Bloodline factors on her body unintentionally became a catalyst.
Thinking of this, Caesar actually felt that the stupid dragon wasn't completely useless.
After finishing the inventory of his gains, Caesar felt full of energy again.
Next round!
[Match Successful... Opponent: NO.004 Charmander.]
The moment he saw his opponent, Caesar grinned.
Fire-type, countered by ground; isn't this just a free win?
However, after the battle began, he realized he had thought too simply.
This Charmander was very cunning.
It started directly with a [Smokescreen], and thick black smoke instantly spread out, attempting to disable Caesar's vision.
"Want to be a nightmare? Naive!"
Caesar's Dragons Kiss curled back, and his sonar System instantly activated; every Move of his opponent in the Smokescreen was clearly presented in his mind.
Without hesitation, he stomped down directly with a Heavy Stomp!
The ground shook, and the massive force was transmitted over. However, a faint light flashed on that Charmander, and it stubbornly endured this fatal blow, its health bar locked at one point.
The health-locking item—[aura cloak]!
"I knew it..." Caesar was already used to seeing such things.
But before he could finish it off, the Charmander threw out a cluster of eerie blue flames... the latter drifted over silently in the Smokescreen, aimed straight at his body.
[Will-O-Wisp]!
This little thing actually wanted to inflict a burn status on him!
If Caesar really got burned and his attack power was halved, this tower climb would basically end right here.
Fortunately, from the beginning, he had used Quicksand Abyss in coordination with Heavy Stomp to kick up a sky full of dust. The [Sand Veil] ability activated, making his figure elusive, and the Will-O-Wisp flew past his scales, missing its mark.
Caesar seized the opportunity and added another Heavy Stomp, finally sending this treacherous Charmander away.
He glanced at his remaining mana and felt his throat go a bit dry.
The consumption of Dragon Pulse was too high; those two shots just now were already his limit. Now he had to use it sparingly.
[Match Successful... Opponent: NO.005 Charmeleon.]
"Again?"
Caesar pulled himself together. This time he had learned his lesson; he started by using Quicksand Abyss to control the field, then followed up with Heavy Stomp!
Sure enough, the light of an [aura cloak] also flashed on this Charmeleon, successfully locking its health.
But the next scene gave Caesar a sudden bad premonition—
After stubbornly taking his [Heavy Stomp], the Charmeleon didn't fall. Instead, it struck a strange pose, and its entire body ignited with a surging aura.
That wasn't the aura of a pokémon Move at all; that surge of aura was something Caesar had only seen on certain warrior classes in sword-and-magic world settings!
[Counter]!
Charmeleon condensed that violent battle Qi in its right fist and threw a punch in Caesar's direction!
In that instant, Caesar felt as if he saw a Caped Baldy.
"What the heck, One Punch Man?!"
The terrifying wind from the punch roared past his dragon face; Caesar could even feel the scales on his face stinging from the scrape.
If he had been hit by that, he'd be half-dead if not completely finished!
"This guy..."
Caesar broke out in a cold sweat, nearly capsizing in a gutter.
Not daring to hold back anymore, the Little Earth Dragon took advantage of the opening when the opponent's punch missed and their old strength was spent while new strength hadn't yet formed. He closed in, a faint light flashing on his claws.
With a [Shadow Claw], he cleanly and efficiently took down this martial arts-using Charmeleon—
The battle ended, and Caesar panted heavily, his heart still fluttering with fear.
Not a single opponent in this Inheritance Space could be underestimated.
"Again!"
[Match Successful... Opponent: NO.006 Charizard.]
When he saw the next opponent's name and silhouette, Caesar's mood brightened.
It was a powerful creature standing on two legs, possessing extreme Western dragon characteristics.
Its entire body was covered in orange scales, while from its belly to its lower jaw was cream-colored. Its thick lower limbs stepped firmly on the ground, and the pair of massive dragon wings on its back were folded, full of a sense of power.
A long neck, two menacing horn-like protrusions on the back of its head, and that raging fire at the end of its thick tail... "Zard!"
One of Caesar's favorite pokémon.
In his past life, he dreamed of owning a Charizard mount—
Powerful and cool.
Being cool is a lifelong pursuit.
Looking at the Charizard across from him with sharp eyes full of Battle Intent, Caesar felt the blood in his own body boiling along with it!
His sense of fatigue was swept away.
He took a deep breath, assumed a fighting stance, and his gaze became more focused than ever before.
I must go all out! This is the minimum respect for Zard!
Caesar had already decided.
"Come on..."
"After this fight, I'm going to Sleep!"