Pokémon

Mike was still completely baffled when the system notified him, "Special Destiny Energy +1."

The red energy sank into Mike's brow. His consciousness space blazed red.

When the red light faded, an extra Poké Ball had appeared in the system space.

A Poké Ball?

On instinct, Mike took the Poké Ball out of the space.

Skye did not notice how the Poké Ball had appeared in Mike's hand. She picked up the red-and-white ball and turned it over curiously.

"What is this?"

Mike considered how to answer.

"Ah!"

Skye jumped in fright and dropped the Poké Ball. "Th-there's something inside the ball. It's alive!"

As if to prove Skye's words, the Poké Ball rolled forward a short distance before spinning back to her feet.

"It likes me!" Skye blinked, her face full of delight.

"How did you know?"

"I just know." Skye glared at Mike, clearly meaning: You dare doubt me?

Mike immediately backed down, replying with his eyes: I was just discussing it. Don't take it so seriously.

Skye said earnestly, "I can feel a connection between us. What should I do now?"

You're the one connected to it, not me... Mike grumbled inwardly, but said, "How about calling it out for a chat?"

Skye rolled her eyes at Mike, crouched down, and cradled the Poké Ball in her palms. "Sorry. I dropped you by accident just now. I didn't mean to throw you."

The Poké Ball wobbled, as though saying, "I'll forgive you this time."

Skye cried excitedly, "It can understand me!"

She stroked the Poké Ball with gentle movements, as if soothing a newborn baby.

Skye tilted her head, listening to the mental communication coming from the Poké Ball. She murmured, "Oh, you want to come out? Then come on out."

The Poké Ball shook twice, split open along its middle, and released a somewhat dazzling light.

A small bipedal dinosaur appeared before them. It stood a little over half a meter tall, with orange skin and a cream-colored belly and underside of its tail. Its tail swayed, and the flame burning at its tip swayed with it.

Charmander!

Mike recognized the adorable creature at first glance.

Fresh out of the Poké Ball, Charmander seemed a little dazed. It tilted its head. "Char? Char?"

Four tiny baby teeth showed in its open mouth.

Ohhh!

Mike felt as if he had taken a ten-thousand-ton adorable hit. He clutched his chest and struggled to breathe.

Not to mention Skye. Her eyes shone as if lasers were about to shoot out of them. She restrained her excitement, afraid of frightening Charmander.

"Char, Char."

Charmander made an unintelligible little murmur, its gaze falling on Skye.

"Charmander!"

Charmander pounced toward Skye, hugged her calf, and rubbed its dumpling-like little face against her over and over.

Rub, rub, rub... Charmander looked utterly at ease.

"Good little baby!"

Skye held Charmander under its arms and carefully lifted it up. One girl and one dragon rubbed their cheeks together.

Mike was bleeding from sheer cuteness.

"Isn't it hot?"

Mike watched Charmander's tail swish around, occasionally brushing against Skye.

"It's not hot! That really is strange. Try it..."

Skye had Mike place his hand over the flame.

It really was not hot.

It was around fifty or sixty degrees, about as warm as a hand warmer. It seemed Charmander could control the temperature of its own flames.

He had worried for nothing.

Watching Skye and Charmander being so intimate, Mike felt that his hopes of falling asleep with Skye in his arms tonight had gone up in smoke. He could only comfort himself: he was injured anyway, so he could look but not eat. Fine.

Wasn't it said that the lightly wounded did not leave the front line?

Forget it, forget it. Boys needed to know how to protect themselves when they were out and about. Ahem, that was all there was to it!

"Ahem..."

Mike spoke up to remind the completely absorbed Skye.

Skye watched Mike warily and hugged Charmander tighter. "Mine!"

"I was going to say..."

"No matter what you say, mine!"

"Char! Charmander!"

"See? Babi agrees too."

"Uh..."

She had already named it?

When had that happened?

A few minutes later, after some persuasive talking, Mike finally got Skye to calm down.

On the sofa, Skye and Charmander sat upright and properly.

Meanwhile, Mike transformed into an instructor.

"Charmander, or Babi, comes from another world. It's a Fire-type Pokémon. Don't let its adorable appearance fool you—it's actually a magical beast with considerable combat ability, and as it evolves, it becomes even stronger."

"Another world?" Skye raised her hand with a question.

"Yeah. I told you before that demons and angels can be considered creatures from other worlds, beings stronger than humans. Pokémon live in the Pokémon world. Got it?"

"Got it. Parallel worlds, parallel universes." Skye was a top student and an elite hacker.

Mike gave her a thumbs-up. "Exactly! What I'm about to say next is important, so take careful notes."

"First, Charmander is one of the gentlest dragon-type species. The flame at the tip of its tail reflects its emotions and health. So you can't be careless when caring for Charmander. You must always pay attention to the flame on its tail, and you absolutely cannot let it go out."

"Second, Charmander is an omnivorous Pokémon. When feeding it, make sure to balance meat and vegetables."

"Lastly, Charmander's combat strength is closely related to its mood and health. Be patient when training it. Praise it when it does well, and encourage it when it does poorly."

"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Skye nodded repeatedly and hugged Charmander. "So you're this amazing!"

"Char! Char!" Charmander proudly raised its head, the flame on its tail dancing happily.

Mike picked up the Poké Ball. "This is called a Poké Ball. Pokémon usually live inside it."

Skye wrinkled her little nose. "I don't want to lock Babi inside such a tiny ball."

Mike said, "Some Pokémon may dislike entering Poké Balls, but for most Pokémon, a Poké Ball is a recovery chamber where they can quickly regain their strength and heal injuries. You can't crudely treat a Poké Ball like a cage for imprisoning Pokémon."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Skye stroked Charmander's head. "Babi can go in if he wants to, and stay out if he doesn't. Babi, what do you think?"

"Char!"

Charmander became even happier. If the flame on its tail had not been so cool, the supermarket would have turned into a giant barbecue scene.

Mike tried his best to recall everything he knew about Pokémon, but this was a different world after all. What if Charmander got sick? What if he wanted a mate?

They could only take things one step at a time.

In the end, it was only after Charmander let out a spark-filled yawn that Skye urged Mike upstairs.

It was already past two in the morning.

Mike's bed was huge. He had a dream: to sleep under one blanket with beautiful women. One dragon and two phoenixes was currently his highest record. It seemed he still had a long way to go before catching up to Wei Xiaobao.

Skye hugged Charmander and occupied most of the bed. Poor Mike could only curl up at the side. If he had not been injured, he would probably have been sent to sleep on the floor.

Lying in bed, Mike sensed his injuries healing at a rate that had once again exceeded his expectations. Could it be related to the Special Destiny Energy?

"So when I'm not by Skye's side, Charmander takes my place protecting her? Is that what's special about Special Destiny Energy? That's why Charmander was closer to Skye from the very beginning..."