"These are your two Pokémon eggs. Would you like to hatch them here in Inferno Plains? Customers purchasing eggs from us receive an 88% discount on hatching services. Hatching in the Flame Secret Realm can slightly enhance Fire-type potential," Jiang Qinglan said, her face no longer swollen after applying a Potion. She smiled sweetly at the Xia brothers. "Hatching both eggs in Inferno Plains with standard nutrient solution costs 1 million. With energy nutrient solution, it's 2 million per egg. If you hatch both together, we offer an additional 10% off the 88% discount, making it 79% of the original price."
Xia Yu's face darkened. The Flame Secret Realm was shameless—why not just rob them outright? They even had the gall to hatch the eggs for you.
Hatching one egg for 2 million meant 4 million for two. At a 79% discount, that was still 3.16 million. Add the Darmanitan egg, discounted 40% to about 760,000, and the total neared 4 million.
Shady, downright shady! Yet, any trainer aiming for the Fire-type Gym Leader ranking battles, hoping to claim a Gym Leader position, would grit their teeth and pay. If you didn't, other Fire-type trainers would, putting you at a disadvantage from the start.
Xia Luo was prepared. His three years as a Gym Leader had left him with decent savings. "Hatch them here. I'll pay for everything." Wincing, he swiped his card for over 4 million.
"By the way, you can download the Xishu Flame app on your phone. We'll provide an account so you can monitor your eggs' hatching progress in real time. When we detect the eggs are about to hatch, we'll call you in advance so you can witness it," Jiang Qinglan added.
Despite the steep price, the service was impressive—something the Grass/Bug Secret Realm could learn from. Xia Yu silently resolved to convince his father to pitch the idea to the Pokémon Association, urging the Grass/Bug Secret Realm to outdo the Flame Secret Realm's profiteering.
'You've taken my money—I'll make you pay it back!'
After settling the bill, Jiang Qinglan earned a sizable commission, her smile growing even brighter. She escorted the brothers out of the Flame Secret Realm, exchanged contact info, and promised to notify them the moment the eggs hatched.
…
Leaving the secret realm, the Xia brothers prepared to ride Flying-type Pokémon back to Xingguang City.
The trip there had been smooth, but the return journey promised trouble.
"Xia Yu, ride my Charizard. I'll take the rented Corviknight," Xia Luo said, assigning his Gym Leader-tier Charizard to Xia Yu for some self-defense capability while he took the less reliable rental. Sensing potential danger, he added, "Stay close to me and be careful."
"Got it." Xia Luo's grave expression tipped Xia Yu off that something was amiss, and he nodded seriously.
"Let's go."
Corviknight and Charizard spread their wings, soaring into the sky toward Xingguang City. As they took off, two figures mounted a Braviary and a Staraptor, tailing them.
…
Riding Charizard, Xia Yu gazed down at forests, mountains, and rivers. A flock of Pidgey soared below, and the wind whistled past his ears. The serene moment—a dream for any Pokémon fan—was short-lived, shattered by Xia Luo's voice.
"Xia Yu, hold tight. We're turning," Xia Luo said, his tone serious. "We're being followed. We're far from Tiandu City now—they're likely about to make a move."
"Alright." Xia Yu gripped Charizard tightly, securing the ropes.
"Charizard, Corviknight, ready? Accelerate!"
At Xia Luo's command, Charizard and Corviknight flapped their wings, whipping up gusts of wind and surging forward.
Simultaneously, the distant Braviary and Staraptor dropped their stealth, accelerating to pursue the brothers.
Braviary and Staraptor were both sky dominators.
Braviary, a large avian Pokémon, sported a white crest of three feathers with reddish-brown bases. Three white feathers adorned each cheek, and a tuft of white fluff sat at its nape. Its upper body and wings were reddish-brown, while its chest, belly, legs, and wing undersides were navy blue. Its reddish-brown tail had yellow and blue bands at the tip. With a yellow beak and feet, a curved protrusion on its upper beak, sturdy legs, and massive claws with three forward toes and one rear, Braviary was formidable.
Fearless even in the face of death, Braviary was a proud, valiant Pokémon. It fought recklessly for its allies, never yielding no matter how severe its injuries, taking pride in its resilience. The more scars it bore on its front, the braver it was deemed, earning respect from its flock. Scars on its back, however, brought scorn. A warrior of the skies, Braviary had once united to resist humans threatening its habitat in ancient times. In ancient Alola, it was revered as the "sky warrior," its heroic form inspiring heraldic designs. Immensely strong, it could carry cars through the air, its massive size and power making it a true aerial overlord.
Staraptor was equally formidable, with a massive frame and sharp, resolute eyes. Its talons and beak were razor-sharp, and its fan-shaped tail feathers spread wide. A black, M-shaped marking adorned its chest, and its white underbelly formed an inverted triangle. Its most striking feature was its crest-like head feathers—black at the back, red at the front. Female Staraptors had smaller forehead markings.
Fierce by nature, Staraptor obsessed over its crest's shape. Capable of surviving independently, it often left its flock to live alone. With powerful leg muscles and robust wings, it could effortlessly carry small Pokémon or even grown men through the air, its flight prowess a significant threat.
Both Braviary and Staraptor were ferocious raptor Pokémon, serving as both transport and potent physical attackers among Flying-types.
"Braviary, Brave Bird! Charge!" the man on Braviary commanded.
[*Brave Bird*]: Tucking its wings, the user dives at the target, dealing heavy damage but also hurting itself.
Braviary folded its wings, cloaked in Flying-type energy, and glowed brilliantly as it shot toward Charizard and Corviknight!
"Staraptor, Tailwind!" the man on Staraptor ordered simultaneously, prompting Staraptor to flap its wings, conjuring a visible gust that boosted their speed.
[*Tailwind*]: Whips up a turbulent wind, boosting the speed of all allies.
With Brave Bird and Tailwind, Braviary rocketed forward like a missile, hurtling straight at Charizard and Corviknight with overwhelming momentum.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Xia Luo commanded calmly. Charizard dove downward, executing a slick drift-turn, then unleashed a massive, letter-shaped blaze from its mouth.
The fiery glyph roared toward the speeding Braviary, exploding on impact. Yet Braviary, undeterred, powered through the flames, enduring the scorching heat as it closed in on Charizard.
[*Flamethrower*]: Unleashes a letter-shaped flame to incinerate foes, sometimes causing burns.
"Charizard, Corviknight, descend!" Seeing Braviary unstoppable, Xia Luo ordered them to dive toward the forest below.
Following the command, Charizard and Corviknight veered sharply, tucking their wings and plunging toward the ground, swiftly landing in the jungle below.
…