Dhelmise Training Guide and Dreepy (Part 2)

"Kyah—!"

With a cry, the little one slammed into the inner wall of the incubator with a thud. The incubator's outer glass was exceptionally sturdy to ensure the safety of the Pokémon Egg inside, and the impact nearly knocked the little one unconscious.

Only then did Blake, Haunter, and Dhelmise finally get a clear look at it. The little guy was not particularly small, measuring roughly thirty centimeters long. It had a broad, flat head, slightly protruding eyes, and a pointed mouth. Its head was triangular, somewhat resembling a boomerang. Its body was long and narrow, with two tiny arms about a quarter of the way down its body. Around a third of the way from its tail were three dark green spikes. Beneath its triangular head protruded two pairs of small red horns that looked a little like fins. Its overall coloring was dark green and grass green.

"Is this... Dreepy?"

Watching the little creature search everywhere for an exit, Blake spoke in surprise. Dreepy was Dragapult's base form and Galar Region's pseudo-legendary Pokémon. It was modeled after a Diplocaulus and the B-2 Spirit bomber, a Ghost- and Dragon-type Pokémon jokingly called Gengar's superior replacement. Unfortunately, despite being Galar Region's pseudo-legendary, it had no exclusive Gigantamax form, nor did it have a Mega Evolution. In comparison, Gengar had all the prestige.

Blake, however, felt that the two focused on completely different things. One was a high-speed mixed attacker, while the other was a trickster built around all kinds of negative status effects. There was nothing much to compare between them. As for popularity, the little purple chubby one was overwhelmingly ahead.

In any case, none of that mattered to Blake. He had no intention of becoming some Champion. Being Galar's Champion was exhausting, and it was great that Leon was eager to take the job. Blake just wanted to live his own quiet life, battle others now and then, and satisfy his urge to be a Trainer.

"Come out, little guy."

Blake opened the incubator and carefully touched Dreepy. It felt cool but not slimy beneath his fingers, and he could not bear to let go.

"Kyah? Kyah!"

Because newborn Pokémon had not fully developed their minds, they would regard the first thing they saw as their mother—usually a living creature. At first, Dreepy had been entirely focused on the Spell Tag stuck to the incubator. Only when Blake reached out and touched it did the little one react. Looking at Blake and sensing the pleasant aura emanating from him, Dreepy immediately rubbed against his hand, while Blake took the opportunity to scoop it out of the incubator.

"Whoosh!"

The moment Dreepy left the incubator, it flashed straight toward the Spell Tag. Hugging it tightly, it refused to let go.

"Geh?! Σ(⊙▽⊙a!"

"Rumble?! Σ(⊙▽⊙a!"

"Huh?! Σ(⊙▽⊙a!"

Haunter, Dhelmise, and Blake all wore the same bewildered expression. (Dhelmise: Let me say this again. I don't have a face.) Who would have thought that a newborn little guy could already be so crafty?

"But does this thing really attract it that much? Haunter, help me ask the little guy whether it feels unwell anywhere. It was just born, so there are a lot of things it doesn't understand."

Dreepy did not seem uncomfortable, but Blake still had Haunter ask just in case. If something was wrong, it would be too late by then.

"Geh! ∠(°ゝ°)!"

Haunter gave a military salute, then floated over to Dreepy and began gesturing wildly.

"Geh, geh geh." "Kyah—kyah kyah!"

After a string of sounds that would have seemed like nonsense to anyone else, Haunter floated back. Blake could understand the Ghost-type Pokémon that had spent a long time with him and shared a bond with him, but this little Pokémon had only just been born. Although it was also a Ghost type and regarded him as family, they still needed time to get used to each other.

"Geh. This Spell Tag contains a special energy. It's very similar to the energy in Dreepy's body, and it won't harm it!"

Haunter said seriously.

"Similar to Dreepy's? So, Ghost- and Dragon-type energy? Such powerful energy, and specifically those two types... Could it be?"

Blake shook his head despite himself. He did not think he was some chosen one. Things involving legendary Pokémon were better left to Ash or the protagonists of the special manga. This was probably just a Pokémon item made long ago using a powerful Dragapult. Yes, that had to be it.

Blake convinced himself inwardly. This was not a game. Legendary Pokémon were not data that could be caught with a single Master Ball; they were true gods with the power to destroy the world. This was no joke!

Therefore, he had no desire whatsoever to get involved in anything related to legendary Pokémon. Of course, a certain water dog that was basically just a stray by the roadside was another matter.

"Kyah—(￣o￣). z Z"

Whether it was naturally sleepy or had absorbed too much energy from the Spell Tag and suffered indigestion, Dreepy actually fell asleep while hugging the Spell Tag.

"It's asleep. Keep it down."

Looking at Dreepy sleeping on the bookshelf, Blake softly spoke to the other two.

"Geh. (￣ε￣＠)"

Haunter's heart melted at the sight of Dreepy. It reached out a hand, wanting to touch it but not daring to. Dhelmise, meanwhile, chose to leave directly. It felt that leaving was best, since its voice was too loud and it might make too much noise by accident.

"Let it rest for now. Let's head out first."

Blake carefully cradled Dreepy in his palm, slowly pulled the Spell Tag away, tucked the diamond stained with its aura into its embrace, then gently placed it on a pillow before leaving with Haunter.

"We should put this away. It isn't suitable to leave it out in the open."

Blake looked at the Spell Tag in his hand, then finally placed it back in its previous box before heading toward the kitchen.

"Haunter, help me get some Ghost Gems and Spell Tags from the storeroom. Oh, and Spirit Incense too. I'll make dinner."

Blake patted Gastly on the head as he spoke.

"Geh! ￣﹃￣"

Gastly nodded while drooling and flew toward the storeroom as quickly as it could. Dhelmise followed along as well.

"Honestly, the moment food comes up, they're full of energy. But then again, so am I."

As a foodie from his previous life, Blake deeply loved food as well. However, Galar Region's traditional cuisine was truly lacking. Hulbury, as a coastal city, at least had some decent food. Everywhere else was practically a culinary wasteland—curry, curry, and more curry. Oh, and all sorts of dry bread slathered in butter. On top of that, Blake's mother could not cook at all, which had nearly driven him to despair as a child.

Once Blake became capable of cooking, he forcibly recalled his grandfather's recipes from his previous life. Then he forced himself, someone who had once survived solely on cheap delivery meals and instant noodles, to pick up a wok spatula. He had never put it down again, because after his unreliable mother took one bite of his scrambled eggs with scallions, she directly handed over her entire set of professional-looking kitchen tools.

If there was anything fortunate, it was that his father and mother were quite skilled at making Pokémon food, so he did not need to worry about that.

While Blake busied himself with dinner, Haunter and Dhelmise returned carrying a pile of ingredients.

"I'll use these to make food for you later."

Blake took the materials Haunter had brought back and spoke to Dhelmise.

"Rumble? [・ヘ・?]"