A tiny, dark red horn covered in wet slime tentatively poked out from the crack. It struggled to pry at the edge of the eggshell, seemingly trying to widen the opening.
The movement looked rather clumsy. After struggling for quite a while, the crack had grown a little larger, but only slightly.
"Eevee!" (It looks like it's having a hard time! Let's help it!) Eevee watched anxiously and instinctively wanted to use Confusion to strip away the troublesome shell fragments.
"Wait, Eevee." Xinhai gently held down its restless little paw, his voice soft yet firm. "Unless it truly encounters a difficulty it cannot overcome, it's best to let it complete this process itself."
"This is its first 'battle' after coming into this world, the most primitive and important test of its vitality and willpower. Pokémon that break out of their shells through their own efforts often possess a more resilient spirit."
Eevee nodded at that. Though it was still anxious, it no longer tried to help, merely staring intently with its large brown eyes while its little paws unconsciously gripped the tabletop.
The little one inside the Pokémon Egg rested for a while. Once it had regained some strength, it began moving again.
This time, it did not continue futilely widening the little hole. Instead, it pulled its extended horn back inside.
Then, a spot near the top of the side of the shell suddenly bulged outward, and then—
Crack!
Another piece of shell was broken from within! The little one had changed its strategy, attempting to break through from another angle.
Eevee's eyes lit up at the sight, and it could not help praising it softly. "Eevee!" (This little one is so smart!)
Charmander also let out a "Roar!" and the flame on its tail leaped a little higher