"Right!"
The ranch owner's eyes lit up as if he had suddenly remembered something."Young man, I've still got a Flaaffy at home. That fellow doesn't obey me at all, but maybe it'll suit your taste."
Although the rancher wasn't a Pokémon Trainer himself, he still knew that trainers usually favored strong Pokémon.
He had raised more than a hundred Mareep, letting them roam freely on his pastures. After several years, they were all still Mareep—except for that one, which had evolved into a Flaaffy.
That alone spoke volumes. Perhaps that fellow really did possess a unique talent.
"Come on, young man, I'll take you there right now!" The rancher's enthusiasm left Yozora feeling a bit embarrassed to impose, but before he could decline, the rancher's hearty insistence cut him off.
The group—including the two rookie trainers—followed the rancher back toward Azalea Town.
"That fellow doesn't listen to anyone. And compared to Mareep, a Flaaffy's wool is much sparser, so it has no value for grazing."
On the road, the rancher laughed as he explained, "Young man, if you take a liking to it and bring it away, that would be the best outcome—for both you and me."
"Mm." Yozora nodded slightly.
Before long, they arrived at the rancher's homestead—a fine courtyard.
Even before reaching the gate, Yozora could see a pink woolly sheep sprawled lazily on the ground, fast asleep.
It was indeed Flaaffy.
While Mareep walked on four legs, Flaaffy stood upright on two, its shape already faintly resembling an Ampharos.
Its skin was pink, and though it wasn't nearly as tall as an Ampharos, it still stood about a meter in height.
"Hey, Flaaffy! Someone's come to see you!" The rancher called as they stepped into the courtyard. But Flaaffy didn't stir in the slightest, leaving the rancher looking rather embarrassed.
This wasn't a pet—it was practically a little ancestor lording over the place!
At that moment, Yozora activated his system and pulled up the Flaaffy's status panel—
[Pokémon]: Flaaffy
[Type]: Electric
[Ability]: Static
[Level]: Senior-tier, high rank
[Potential]: Elite Four-tier
[Description]: A gifted Flaaffy with a warlike temperament, unable to adapt to the peaceful life of the ranch.
…
"Elite Four potential?" Yozora's eyes gleamed. That was already excellent, well worth cultivating.
As for Pokémon of even higher potential… that was purely a matter of luck.
While Yozora was assessing the Flaaffy, the rancher called again, but still got no response. Helpless, he turned to Yozora.
"Don't worry, Uncle. Leave it to me."
Yozora made no attempt to hide his interest in Flaaffy, which made the rancher smile in relief.
If Yozora could really take this troublesome "ancestor" away, it would be a huge weight off his mind.
"Come battle me, Flaaffy!" Yozora raised his voice directly at it. He reasoned that since this Flaaffy had such a combative nature, it should be eager to fight.
But…
A gust of wind blew past, and Flaaffy didn't so much as twitch. Still lying on its back, it proudly exposed its soft belly to the sky—showcasing its unrestrained, carefree character.
"…Looks like it really is asleep." Yozora scratched his cheek in mild embarrassment. Instead of shouting again, he simply sent out a Pokémon.
Whoosh! With a flash of white light, the massive and elegant Crystal Onix appeared in a dazzling entrance.
"Huh? That's…"
The rancher and the two rookies froze, eyes wide in shock.
"Crystal… A Crystal Onix, made entirely of crystal?!"
The two rookies immediately looked at Yozora with eyes full of worship, struck speechless by awe.
They had already been stunned when they learned he owned a Dragonair.
But to think he also commanded the exceedingly rare Crystal Onix… It was beyond belief.
And he was only sixteen!
…
Sure enough, Yozora's hunch was correct.
The moment Crystal Onix appeared, Flaaffy snapped to alertness, leaping to its feet.
"Good eyes." Yozora nodded faintly. Unlike most gentle-natured Flaaffy, this one's gaze brimmed with battle lust.
"Come fight me, Flaaffy. If you lose, I'll be capturing you." Yozora smiled.
No sooner had he spoken than Flaaffy responded with a jolt of Thunder Shock.
A bolt of electricity struck Crystal Onix—only to rebound harmlessly off its crystalline body.
Ineffective!
"That's all you've got?" Yozora picked at his ear, feigning nonchalance to provoke the Pokémon.
Sure enough, the straightforward Flaaffy grew enraged. Its sparks flared hotter, and another, stronger Thunder Shock blasted against Crystal Onix.
But again, the attack barely left a mark. Crystal Onix's expression didn't even flicker with pain.
"Flaa—!" Flaaffy's anger boiled over. It charged headlong at Crystal Onix, leaping high, both arms glowing with white light.
Like twin blades, they slashed down fiercely against the crystalline surface.
Clang! Clang! Clang!Each strike rang out with the sound of clashing metal.
"Brick Break? And executed in a combo… The move proficiency isn't bad," Yozora muttered with approving nods.
Fighting-type moves were super effective against Ice, dealing double damage.
Under the onslaught of consecutive strikes, Crystal Onix finally let out a pained roar, its body staggering downward.
But before Flaaffy could relax, the towering serpent rose again, its momentum undiminished.
Flaaffy, on the other hand, was already panting hard. Its strength had been heavily drained from the furious barrage.
"Stamina's lacking," Yozora immediately noted. Of course, that was only natural.
This Flaaffy was indeed warlike, but whether at the rancher's home or out in the pastures, it had never had a proper rival.
It had climbed levels purely on talent—eating, sleeping, and fighting no one.
Naturally, its endurance couldn't compare to seasoned Pokémon of the same tier.
"This ends here. Crystal Onix, use Bind!" Yozora commanded.
With a whip of its tail, Crystal Onix seized Flaaffy and coiled tight, constricting it mercilessly.
"Flaa—!" Pressure closed in from all sides, forcing pained cries from the sheep Pokémon.
Though it was combative by nature, it had almost no real combat experience—and was unaccustomed to pain.
It screamed wildly, while the rancher looked on in distress. Several times, he nearly stepped in to beg for mercy, but in the end, he held back.
He trusted Yozora would handle this properly.
…
After about three seconds, Yozora's eyes brightened in delight.
For rather than fainting under the crushing pain, Flaaffy's ferocity exploded outward instead.
Another surge of lightning erupted from its body, roaring like thunder itself.
…
…
(End of Chapter)