Finding a secluded spot, Ron leaned against a large tree, with Bellossom and Gardevoir sitting on either side. Machamp and the others scattered leisurely nearby, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.
Ron took out a red stone and handed it to Larvitar. The crisp crunching sounds that followed carried a certain magical charm.
Ron suddenly thought that if Larvitar became a mukbang streamer, with its adorable appearance and enchanting chewing sounds, it could probably attract quite an audience—and earn its own food money.
After finishing a rock as large as Ron's head, Larvitar was still unsatisfied, gazing at Ron with pleading eyes.
Ron pulled out another prepared red stone and handed it over, preventing tears from welling up in Larvitar's watery eyes.
Satisfied, Larvitar lay on the ground with half-closed eyes, savoring the meal.
Watching Larvitar's joy, Gastly's eyes sparkled with curiosity and longing. It stealthily floated closer, seemingly searching for a good place to take a bite.
Ron glanced at it and decided not to interfere—after all, red stones were not something just anyone could enjoy.
He then took out two Pokémon Eggs and began carefully wiping them.
When it came to taking care of Pokémon Eggs, Ron was quite experienced.
Nidoking, Blaziken, Larvitar, and Gastly had all hatched under his care—or so he thought. Well, maybe not entirely.
Regardless, Ron's experience in this area was solid. These two Pokémon Eggs were ones he had asked Shadow to help him obtain.
One was the egg of Riolu, a rare Pokémon capable of mastering Aura powers. The other belonged to Froakie, one of the Kalos region's starter Pokémon.
Among the two, Ron was most excited about Froakie's egg. If the final evolution, Greninja, possessed the Battle Bond ability, it could undergo Bond Phenomenon just like Ash's Greninja.
However, for Greninja to gain the Battle Bond ability, two conditions had to be met: first, Froakie's ability had to be Torrent, and second, there needed to be a stroke of luck during its final evolution at level 36.
In Kanto, Ron had no way of knowing the odds of this ability manifesting—but it couldn't be high. Otherwise, Ash's protagonist halo would seem too weak.
Ron wasn't banking on luck alone. His only hope was to use his Fighting Aura to unlock Froakie's potential, causing a mutation during evolution.
After carefully wiping the Pokémon Eggs, Ron began using his Fighting Aura to nurture them.
A gentle breeze carried a few green leaves through the air. The peaceful environment made Ron drowsy.
As if influenced by Ron's serene aura, Larvitar and Gastly gradually quieted down, their soft snores filling the air.
On a tree branch, Persian rested comfortably, using its front paws as a pillow.
Nidoking and Blaziken leaned back to back, dozing not far from Ron.
Nestled against Ron, Bellossom's lips curved into a sweet smile, as if dreaming of something wonderful.
Even in sleep, Ron's Fighting Aura continued circulating, steadily nurturing the two Pokémon Eggs.
Gardevoir pretended to be asleep, but in reality, it was using Calm Mind to strengthen its psychic powers while subtly spreading them outward.
On the treetop, Machamp balanced itself while practicing Tempest Kick.
To ensure safety, two Pokémon always stood guard wherever they rested—Gardevoir being a permanent fixture due to its exceptional psychic abilities. Convincing Gardevoir to rest was nearly impossible.
Thankfully, Calm Mind allowed Gardevoir to stay alert without becoming fatigued.
After a leisurely afternoon, Ron returned to his most pressing task—making money.
Attribute Plates alone cost a fortune, not to mention his investments in the breeding house, a bottomless pit of expenses. Although Lars Flavian had promised it would turn a profit in two years, Ron wasn't so optimistic—he needed to save up more.
As for resources and League coins, those were easy—Pokémon Hunters were like locusts, endless and fat with plunder. They provided Ron with a steady stream of supplies.
After several ambush attempts by Pokémon Hunters, Ron had learned to always have Gardevoir use Hypnosis before eliminating them—ensuring no useful information slipped through his fingers.
With its formidable psychic talent, Gardevoir's Hypnosis had become increasingly powerful, often inducing deep sleep and coaxing out secrets.
However, Hypnosis wasn't infallible. When certain critical questions arose, the victims would struggle, giving fragmented answers.
Ron didn't expect to uncover any grand conspiracies—he simply needed to know if anyone was after him.
Occasionally, he stumbled upon pleasant surprises—like finding out which bank a Pokémon Hunter had deposited their League coins in.
During the process of hunting Pokémon hunters, Ron never neglected his own training.
With the help of the Terraberry, Ron could distinctly feel his body undergoing new changes every day.
Machamp and the others experienced the same benefits—thanks to the Terraberry, their endurance grew stronger with each passing day.
"Machamp, Iron Body: Starfall!"
Ron's command rang out. Using Moonwalk to ascend into the air, Machamp suddenly accelerated with Shave, shooting forward like an arrow toward the Pokémon hunter and his Pokémon.
Blood surged through its veins, every muscle in Machamp's body tensed. At this moment, Machamp's body hardness far surpassed that of ordinary steel.
With no time to process why Machamp was launching an attack from the sky, the Pokémon hunter hurriedly commanded his Rhydon to stand in front of him, attempting to block the assault with Earth Power.
Pillars of earth-yellow stone rose, forming a barrier along Machamp's trajectory—but they were easily shattered. Even Stone Edge proved ineffective.
Only Protect managed to momentarily slow Machamp's charge.
Unfortunately, against the combined force of Cross Chop and Iron Body, along with the impact from above, Rhydon's Protect buckled and shattered under the pressure.
After smashing Rhydon into the ground, Machamp swiftly used Finger Pistol to render the High Elite Rhydon unable to battle.
Watching Machamp emerge from the dust-filled crater, the Pokémon hunter instinctively swallowed hard.
Before he could release any other Pokémon, Gardevoir suddenly appeared before him, casting Hypnosis at lightning speed. The frightened Pokémon hunter's Scyther froze on the spot.
Following the usual interrogation routine, Ron hadn't expected to stumble upon such shocking news this time.
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