Chapter 228: The Birth of Cranidos
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander
"This fossil is now ready in the nutrient pod. Next, add the special materials into this opening."
Xiao Fu poured a large amount of materials into an opening on the side of the device with a "glug, glug, glug," and also added a few small, earth-brown stones. This was fossil gravel, which contained traces of a prehistoric Pokémon's aura.
The remaining genetic information was insufficient to support the revival and hatching of a complete fossil Pokémon, but it could serve as a highly effective nutrient.
He even tossed in a precious, damaged fossilized thigh bone from an ancient fierce beast, the husky.
"Then press this button, and the hatching and revival process will officially begin."
Xiao Fu pointed to one of the buttons. The procedure was indeed foolproof; even a novice could complete it by following the instruction manual.
Blaine slapped his chest and said heartily, "Xiao Fu, put our lab's best materials in there. All of this young man's expenses today are on my tab."
Xiao Fu nodded.
"I've already done so."
After all, the costs for materials, electricity, and equipment maintenance didn't just come from thin air. This young man wasn't familiar with their Cinnabar Lab, so there was no reason for him to get a free ride.
Blaine had not yet informed everyone that the Cinnabar Volcano was about to erupt, otherwise, Ash and his friends would have indeed qualified for a freebie.
"As expected of the Kanto Region's strongest Gym Leader! So confident and generous!"
Ash immediately showered him with a round of flattery, although the "strongest Gym Leader" title was just for fun and not to be taken seriously.
"Ahahaha!"
The flattery made Blaine throw his head back and laugh for a few moments. Then, composing himself, he stroked his beard and prepared to press the button.
"By the way, Ash, don't you have that black technology that Hikawa Toyohisa gave you? Don't forget to use it," Brock suddenly reminded him.
"Oh, I actually forgot!"
Ash's body jolted. He slapped his forehead, only now recalling that day in the Grand Canyon when, after trading fossils, Hikawa Toyohisa had also given him two vials of a potion, a piece of folk black technology said to boost prehistoric bloodline concentration to 10%.
He quickly reached into his backpack and fumbled around.
"Hikawa?"
At the mention of the name, a cold glint flashed in Blaine's eyes. The surname Hikawa wasn't common in the Kanto Region. As far as he knew, it only belonged to that generational family obsessed with fossils and prehistoric civilization. That was no small family.
In fact, the director of his Cinnabar Lab was a Hikawa.
If that family had developed some kind of black technology for bloodline enhancement, it was entirely possible.
Soon, Ash pulled out two small vials from his backpack. They were similar in color and shape. Since the opening for adding materials hadn't been closed yet, he went over without a second thought, popped off the two stoppers with a "pop," and poured the contents inside with a "glug, glug, glug."
"Huh?"
Just after he finished pouring, Ash paused for a moment.
Why did one vial pour out liquid, while the other contained little pills?
Wait a minute…
Did Hikawa Toyohisa give him one vial?
Or two?
"It was one vial, right?"
"Why do I remember it being two?"
Behind him, Brock and Misty also scratched their heads in confusion. It was a real headache, but not dwelling on it, the three of them quickly gave up thinking about it.
"It's fine. It's all medicine, a great supplement. Adding a little extra can't be a bad thing."
As Blaine pressed the start switch, the restoration machine officially began to operate. After a violent shudder, it emitted a sound like a steam train's smokestack starting up, as if it were about to explode.
*Chugga-chugga-chugga*
Even the originally dark green color of the nutrient solution seemed to have been contaminated by something. It began to shift from green to red, and within seconds, the entire vat of nutrient solution had turned into a pool of blood. The earthy-yellow Skull Fossil floated within it, looking rather bizarre.
Blaine looked at Xiao Fu and asked doubtfully:
"Is this red liquid a normal phenomenon?"
"How would I know?"
Xiao Fu retorted.
He was just a top-tier graduate in CNC machining working a temporary job. All his actions were based on the instruction manual; he didn't know anything else.
The researcher who actually understood fossils was on a business trip and happened to be away.
"But it should be normal…"
Xiao Fu quickly pulled out the instruction manual, found the relevant section, and read aloud:
"Oh, oh, it says here, everyone, don't panic. As long as there's no explosion, it's a minor issue. If it really does explode, then there's even less to worry about. After pressing the button, you just need to wait for 3 hours, and the fossil Pokémon will be born…"
Hearing this, everyone temporarily set their minds at ease.
Although the liquid was bright red, apart from the initial chugging, the machine showed no signs of exploding.
"Let's go, let's go. It'll be another 3 hours. I'll treat you all to some tea."
Blaine laughed heartily and led the group toward the main hall.
"We all drink cappuccino."
"Tell us more about that ancient fierce beast called a husky."
"Do you think this prehistoric husky is strong?"
"I think it's at least 1.5 Lances to start."
The group left the Fossil Restoration Room laughing, happily drinking coffee while they waited for the fossil to hatch.
Two hours later, the group was still drinking coffee.
*Clang* *Clang*
"Hey, do you guys hear something?" Ash suddenly asked.
He felt like a strange sound was coming from a nearby room from time to time.
It was the kind of sound Brock would probably make if Ash stuffed a cloth in his mouth and then punched him in the chest.
"Your ears must be ringing, right?"
"It's nothing. It's probably that group of geologists next door playing with a vibrator."
"Geology isn't a science."
Just as Ash relaxed, he heard the sound from next door again.
*Crack…*
This time it was the sound of shattering glass, and it was quite loud. Judging by the sound, it must have come from the Fossil Restoration Room.
This time, the group didn't dare to continue leisurely sipping their coffee. They quickly stood up and headed for the room at the very end of the corridor. Pushing open the room door, they were startled to find that the scene inside was completely different from two hours ago.
A large hole had been smashed through the middle of the nutrient container on top, and the ground was covered in glass shards.
And now, a small dinosaur-like beast had appeared in the room out of thin air, standing less than half a meter tall, with a rather petite appearance.
Its two hind limbs stood on the ground, while its two small claws were held up in front of its chest. It had blue-gray skin, and its back and tail were covered with a dark blue hard shell.
The most peculiar feature was the little dinosaur's head. It was quite large and round, with several white spikes growing around its brow. The very top of its head even looked as if it had been smashed by something, with a protruding dark blue, sapphire-like dome.
Compared to its body, its head seemed somewhat out of proportion, making it look top-heavy.
*Clang!*
At this moment, the little blue-gray beast was ramming its head against the lower part of the restoration device. After each collision, it would take a few steps back and shake its head, as if it had dazed itself.
But then, it would push off the ground again and charge forward, ramming the same spot with great force.
*Clang!*
After several consecutive hits, a dent had already appeared on the metal device. The little beast's head was also spinning, but its gaze soon hardened. It snorted a puff of air from its nostrils, undeterred, and continued to charge at the device, which was now sparking with electricity.
*Pokedex Beep*. "Cranidos, a fossil Pokémon characteristic of the Sinnoh Region. Its head is very hard, and it likes to headbutt people."
The Pokedex prompted.
(end of chapter)