"Ancient Pokémon?"
Grandpa and Grandma looked puzzled.
What ancient Pokémon?
Chen Shi chuckled and explained:
"All those extinct ancient Pokémon—like Aerodactyl, Kabutops, that kind."
What he meant, of course, was Dumbass Valley — the undiscovered fossil paradise only he, as a transmigrator, knew existed.
In this timeline, Steven, Lance, and other rising stars had only just debuted.
Ash was still a little brat.
No one had found Dumbass Valley yet.
A natural advantage of being reborn.
His family wasn't a research or business aristocracy — they wouldn't care about an ancient ecosystem site.
But the Zifuqi family?
If they developed that valley, its value would be equivalent to a goldmine, if not more.
And with fossil revival technology not yet public, the Zifuqi family would absolutely be interested.
Grandpa thought carefully.
"Shi'er, can you confirm this information is real? We're using it for a trade. If it turns out false, that would cause serious trouble."
"How could it be fake?" Chen Shi replied.
"Would I lie to you about something like this?"
"But the location is in Kanto, not Hoenn."
Kanto…
Both elders exchanged an odd look.
If they remembered correctly… Shi'er had never been to Kanto.
How did he know something so specific?
But after a moment they shook their heads.
Everyone had their own opportunities and secrets.
As long as their grandson was safe, nothing else mattered.
"I'll contact young Mu Jin about it," Grandpa agreed.
"But if the site is as valuable as you say, a single Beldum may not be enough."
"Even shiny pseudo-legendaries aren't worth as much as you think."
Chen Shi waved casually.
"Just talk to him. If it's worth more, then trade for a Beldum training manual, or all the rare ores needed to raise one.
Anyway, you won't let me suffer a loss."
Then he glanced at Dreepy.
"Do we still have any top-grade Stabilizing Elixir at home?
Dreepy is at the brink of evolving. I want to stimulate evolution using attribute stones.
Better prepare an elixir so the energy surge doesn't damage his body."
At those words, Dreepy forgot all about food.
It zipped to Chen Shi's face, trembling with excitement.
"Duo~ duoduo!!"
Evolution.
He was finally evolving!
Grandma nodded thoughtfully.
"A Stabilizing Elixir? Gardevoir, go to my lab and bring the Box No. 36.
Take some Dragon Stones and Ghost Stones as well."
"Shaa—nai~"
Gardevoir nodded, then vanished via Teleport.
Chen Shi couldn't help feeling envious.
Instant movement was way too convenient.
Moments later, Gardevoir reappeared, carrying a medicine case and floating five pieces of top-tier Dragon and Ghost attribute stones beside her.
"Thank you, Gardevoir."
"Shaa-nai~"
(No need to thank me.)
Dreepy couldn't wait. It threw itself onto the attribute stones and began absorbing their energy greedily.
"Duo~…"
Its eyes fluttered.
This… this was heaven.
Grandpa's brows tightened.
"Shi'er, quickly—give him the Stabilizing Elixir. Absorbing that much top-tier elemental energy at once could overload his body."
Chen Shi understood immediately.
He opened the case and took out a bottle of emerald-green elixir.
Dreepy reached out to grab it—
but found it unmoving.
Confused, it looked up at its Trainer.
"Duo…?"
Chen Shi stayed silent for a long moment.
Then he asked softly:
"Dreepy… are you ready?"
"Once you evolve, you won't get to play carefree anymore.
You'll have to train hard.
You'll go through battles—painful ones.
You'll get hurt… a lot."
"Even so… do you still want to evolve?"
The farm fell completely silent.
Grandpa, Grandma, all the Pokémon — everyone watched Dreepy.
Waiting.
Dreepy stared into its Trainer's eyes.
And memories surged.
—The Trainer who cared for it from the moment it hatched.
—The one who always played with it, never angry no matter what trouble it caused.
—The one who comforted it after that humiliating Wurmple defeat.
—The one who shielded it during danger, carrying it when it was too weak.
—The one who hugged it after every victory, praising it even when it contributed nothing.
During battles…
it was always Swampert stepping forward.
Always the big oaf protecting the team and earning victories.
And every time, Chen Shi looked so happy.
Dreepy wanted that.
It wanted to be strong.
It wanted to win battles for its Trainer.
It wanted to protect him.
Finally…
It was time.
Dreepy took a deep breath — and nodded firmly.
Then it grabbed the elixir and drank it in one go.
It threw itself onto the attribute stones, absorbing at full force.
Dragon and Ghost energy surged violently, flooding its tiny body.
The attribute stones shrank rapidly.
A brilliant white light burst from Dreepy's form.
Its body stretched.
Grew.
Shifted.
I want to protect my companions.
I want to protect my Trainer with my own strength.
And someday… in front of a roaring crowd, I want to win a victory for you.
When the evolution light finally faded—
A nearly two-meter-tall Shiny Drakloak floated before Chen Shi.
"Chiyaaah—!"
Pokémon Status Panel
Pokémon:Drakloak (Shiny)
Level: 53 (Gym-tier, Early Stage)
Potential:Legendary
Ability:Infiltrator
Gender: Male
Moves:Bite, Quick Attack, Astonish, Protect, Sucker Punch, Confuse Ray, Bind, Pursuit, Hex, Agility, Shadow Ball, U-turn, Dragon Dance, Phantom Force, Dragon Rush, Dragon Pulse
"Congratulations, Drakloak!"
Seeing the newly evolved stats, Chen Shi trembled with excitement.
A whole year of pouring insane resources into this little dragon—
And it had paid off.
A four-level jump upon evolution, nine new moves…
Finally.
Finally.
It was all worth it.
"Chiyaaah—!"
Drakloak excitedly examined its new body, then threw itself at Chen Shi, rubbing its wide, flat head against him.
Grandpa and Grandma smiled to each other; all the Pokémon returned to celebrating.
Swampert, Florges, Leafeon, and Togepi all gathered around to offer their blessings.