I want to win for you

"Ancient Pokémon?"

The two elders looked puzzled. What ancient Pokémon?

Chen Shi smiled and explained, "I mean Pokémon that went extinct in ancient times."

"Like Aerodactyl and Kabutops."

Naturally, Chen Shi was talking about Big Root Valley.

At this point in the timeline, Steven and Doduo had only just started out, and Ash was still a little kid.

Naturally, no one had discovered Big Root Valley yet.

That was one of his advantages as someone who had transmigrated into this world.

His family wasn't a family of researchers or businesspeople anyway, so they had little interest in Big Root Valley.

But the Stone family was different. If they developed Big Root Valley, calling it a gold mine would be no exaggeration.

Besides, there was no news of fossil revival technology yet. The Stone family would definitely be very interested.

Grandpa Chen thought for a moment, then asked, "Are you sure this information is reliable?"

"You're using it for a trade, after all. If we go through all that trouble only to find out it's false, we'll be a laughingstock."

"Of course it is. Would I lie to you about something like this?" Chen Shi replied.

"But the place is in Kanto, not Hoenn."

"Kanto..." The two elders gave their grandson an odd look.

If they remembered correctly, little Shi had never been to Kanto. How did he know so much about it?

Then they both shook their heads and stopped worrying about such things.

It was perfectly normal for young people to have their own opportunities and secrets. As long as their grandson stayed healthy, that was enough.

Grandpa Chen agreed at once. "I'll help you get in touch with that boy Mu Jin."

"But if it's really as you described, that location is probably worth more than a single Beldum."

"After all, even a Shiny pseudo-Legendary Pokémon isn't actually worth as much as you think."

Chen Shi waved a hand, unconcerned. "Just contact him for me."

"If it's worth more, ask for a Beldum training manual and the ores Beldum needs to grow, too."

"You certainly won't let me get the short end of the stick."

"Oh, right." Chen Shi glanced at Dreepy and asked, "Do we still have any top-grade Recovery Potions at home?"

"Dreepy is on the verge of evolving. I want to use the energy in Type Gems to trigger his evolution."

"It'd be best to have a Recovery Potion ready, so the flood of energy doesn't damage his body."

At that, Dreepy stopped eating and flew over to Chen Shi, crying out in delighted surprise.

"Dree~ Dree dree!!"

"A Recovery Potion?" Grandma Chen thought for a moment, then said to Gardevoir:

"Gardevoir, sorry for the trouble, but please bring Potion Box No. 36 from my laboratory.

"And bring some extra Dragon Gems and Ghost Gems."

"Garde~"

Gardevoir nodded gently and vanished in an instant.

Chen Shi felt a little envious at the sight. Teleport really was convenient.

Before long, Gardevoir reappeared in front of them, holding a Potion Box, with five top-grade Dragon Gems and Ghost Gems floating beside her.

"Thank you, Gardevoir," Chen Shi said softly as he looked at the Potion Box and gems placed before him.

"Garde~"

(You're welcome.)

Dreepy had long since run out of patience. He flopped excitedly onto the Type Gems and immediately began absorbing their energy.

"Dree~"

Dreepy felt as though he had reached paradise, his eyes narrowing in contentment.

This was utterly intoxicating!

Grandpa Chen frowned and said, "Little Shi, hurry and give Dreepy the potion.

"His body can't handle absorbing so much energy from top-grade Type Gems."

Chen Shi understood that too. With no time to scold Dreepy for being impatient, he hurriedly opened the Potion Box and took out a vial of emerald-green potion.

Dreepy didn't hesitate when he saw the potion before him. Knowing it would help him, he reached out a little claw to grab it.

But when he tugged, he found that it wouldn't budge.

Dreepy looked at his Pokémon Trainer in confusion.

"Dree dree?"

After a brief silence, Chen Shi asked, "Dreepy, are you ready?"

"Once you evolve, you won't be able to play without a care anymore. You'll have to undergo grueling training and fight all kinds of difficult battles."

"You'll get hurt, and it'll be painful."

"Knowing that, do you still want to evolve?"

Around them, his grandparents and all the Pokémon turned their eyes toward Dreepy.

They waited for his answer.

Dreepy looked at his Pokémon Trainer, and memories of their year together flashed through his mind.

His Pokémon Trainer had cared for him in every possible way since his birth, playing with him and goofing around with him every day.

His Pokémon Trainer never minded all his mischief. Though he spoke sternly, he forgave him time and again.

When they set out on their journey, the two of them had been beaten by a Caterpie and could only slink back home. Even though his Pokémon Trainer was upset too, he had kept comforting him.

Dreepy remembered how, throughout that year, they had always needed the big lug's protection whenever danger struck, while he could only lie helplessly on his Pokémon Trainer's head.

When they battled other Pokémon Trainers, it was always the big lug who fought. After each victory, his Pokémon Trainer would give the big lug a hug and shower him with praise.

Dreepy could tell how happy his Pokémon Trainer was at those moments.

He envied the big lug's strength, how he could always protect their Pokémon Trainer and bring him one victory after another.

Now I can finally evolve and leave this weak body behind. Of course I'm ready.

Dreepy looked at Chen Shi and nodded firmly. He took the potion with a forceful tug, gulped it down, and absorbed the energy within the Type Gems with all his might.

The Dragon-type and Ghost-type energy instantly surged out of control, pouring wildly into Dreepy's body.

The gems of both types kept shrinking.

A dazzling white light shone from Dreepy's body. His form gradually lengthened, rapidly growing larger.

I want to protect my companions, too.

I want to protect my Pokémon Trainer myself.

I want to stand before the crowd and win for you, too.

When the light of evolution faded, a two-meter-long Shiny Drakloak appeared before Chen Shi.

"Drak~"

Pokémon: Drakloak (Shiny)

Level: 53 (Early Gym tier)

Potential: Legendary

Ability: Infiltrator

Sex: Male

Moves: Bite, Quick Attack, Astonish, Protect, Sucker Punch, Astonish, Infestation, Assurance, Hex, Agility, Shadow Ball, U-turn, Dragon Dance, Phantom Force, Dragon Rush, Dragon Pulse.

"Congratulations, Drakloak!"

Looking at Drakloak's stats, Chen Shi couldn't contain his excitement.

It had been a whole year. After all the resources he had poured into Dreepy over that year, evolution had brought him straight to level 53, a four-level leap from his original level 49.

He had also learned nine new moves. All that hardship had finally paid off, damn it.

"Drak~"

After excitedly inspecting his new body, Drakloak threw himself into Chen Shi's arms.

He rubbed his broad, flat head against him with all his might.

His grandparents exchanged a smile, and the other Pokémon looked away.

Swampert, Florges, Leafeon, and Togepi all came over to offer their congratulations.

Leafeon