Sharpedo rested quietly at the corner of the pool, drifting in slumber. Sieg took out a specially crafted aromatic pearl, gently crushing it so that the flowing essence within dripped into the water.
This pearl was a rare, one-use item.
Once crushed, it released clear water infused with a specific fragrance, improving the living environment of water-type Pokémon.
A single one cost several thousand Pokédollars, but fortunately Sieg could easily afford it.
Sitting back at his desk, Sieg felt a fiery heat surging through his palms. That familiar sensation had finally returned.
He began brewing his second potion. This one was based on the standard aptitude elixir, but with the addition of ground-type materials.
This required some careful ingredient substitution.
"Tick, tick…"
The final ingredient was a petal shed from the neck of a Meganium.
He crushed it and squeezed out its juice.
Before long, a potion of earthy yellow with a faint greenish tint appeared on the table.
Placing it into the analyzer, Sieg watched as streams of data rolled across the display. A smile curved upon his lips.
"Success."
The substitute material had finally been confirmed. Now he only needed to amplify it proportionally.
Riding the heat of his momentum, Sieg continued brewing, but this time the dosage was dozens of times greater than before.
One bottle, two bottles, three bottles.
As the three earthy potions were completed, the supply of Geofluid Essence in the corner diminished rapidly until only half a bottle remained.
Glancing at the clock, Sieg realized dawn was drawing near. His eyes ached as he rubbed them, then he rose with a stretch, ready to finally rest.
But Murkrow suddenly cried out.
"Caw, caw!!"
Sieg blinked in mild confusion, turning toward the bird perched on the window ledge. "What is it, Murkrow?"
At first, he thought it was hungry for Pokéblocks again. But when he followed Murkrow's gaze, his expression shifted.
"Is… is it hatching time already?"
Sieg's heart stirred. He turned toward the incubators, where seven Pokémon eggs had less than ten minutes left.
"Is the incubation fluid really this effective?"
By his calculations, hatching should still have been half a day away. Yet now the eggs were progressing at a startling speed.
This wasn't his first time witnessing a hatching, so he wasn't too nervous, but even so he focused intently on the seven eggs.
Time that had flown swiftly while brewing potions now seemed to crawl. Each second was marked by faint breaths of life.
Finally, seven minutes later, one egg began to glow faintly white as cracks spread across its shell.
It soon rocked more violently.
Sieg opened the cover of the incubator, exposing the egg to the air. A faint earthy-yellow aura drifted out.
"Crack…"
The energy inside found its outlet, seeping through the fissures.
The shell fractured further, shaking even harder.
"Crack, crack, crack!"
At last, the shell gave way. A tiny, earth-toned head pushed free, eyes pitch black like polished obsidian.
The newborn Sandile burst out with a final shove. Barely the size of a palm, it blinked at this strange new world with curious eyes.
Its short but sturdy tail wagged clumsily, the little one clearly still struggling to control its body.
Smiling faintly, Sieg stroked its damp head before drawing out a Pokéball to capture it.
"Ok, let's see what you got."
Shrinking the ball, he pressed it against the back of his Pokédex.
"Beep, beep, beep-"
"Sandile, the Desert Crocodile Pokémon. It lives buried in desert sands warmed by the sun, which keeps its body temperature stable."
"Level: 1. Gender: Male. Type: Ground, Dark. Ability: Moxie. Growth stage: Infant, insufficient data for measurement."
"Known moves: Leer, Rage.
Egg moves: Focus Energy, Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Mean Look."
Sieg's eyes lit up at the report. "The very first one already has so much potential. Seems my luck is good today."
One after another, the remaining six eggs hatched, each revealing a Sandile.
After checking them, Sieg noted that most had the Intimidate ability, with two more possessing Moxie, and one carrying the rare hidden ability Anger Point.
Of them all, the very first Sandile had the most egg moves, four in total.
Yet the hidden ability Sandile's egg moves were also excellent. Though it had only two, both were powerful and rare, Counter and Double-Edge.
Sieg compared them carefully, concluding that the first and the hidden ability Sandile were the most outstanding.
Though freshly hatched, their bodies were already larger than the others, and their scales tougher.
Recalling his "Battle Royale" plan, Sieg gazed at the seven playful hatchlings. His eyes gleamed with cold light.
In the moonlight, his black pupils reflected a chilling glow.
For the next few days, Sieg did not leave his room. Even meals were delivered to his door.
He also ordered vast quantities of sand online, spreading it across the room to create a miniature desert.
After all, newborn Sandile spent most of their time sleeping. Providing them with their ideal environment was crucial, and nothing suited them more than sun-baked sand.
Sieg swiftly exchanged League coins for Sandile care manuals, while scouring the net for every detail on raising them.
"Sir, your delivery!"
Opening the door, Sieg signed for the package. Inside were seven bone rods.
These were custom-made teething sticks, perfect for training sharp-teethed Pokémon.
A fully grown Krookodile was said to have jaws strong enough to crunch through a car. Its fangs and bite were its primary weapons, so Sieg intended to strengthen them from the start.
These rods were crafted from the shattered skulls of Marowak, fused with rare materials, able to withstand attacks from elite-level Pokémon.
In other words, they were suitable for any Pokémon under level 40.
Each cost tens of thousands of Pokédollars, but to Sieg it was worth every bit. Creating the best environment for his Pokémon's growth was a trainer's duty.
Besides, from among these seven Sandile, he would select one to become his main partner.
How could he be stingy now?
Watching the hatchlings tumble and play in the sand, Sieg whispered, "Enjoy these last few carefree days while you can."