Red Opportunity: Fire-Type Blessed Land · Magma Pool**
[Pokémon: Gliscor]
[Level: Lv.41 (Early Commander)]
[Type: Ground / Flying]
[Ability: Hyper Cutter]
[Moves: Acrobatics, Brick Break, Poison Tail, Quick Attack, Cross Poison, Night Slash, Stone Edge, High Horsepower, X-Scissor, Superpower, Rock Smash]
[Potential: Totem]
As the system finished updating Gligar's information, a brand-new Pokémon appeared before Ethan.
Its entire body was a pale blue, tall and imposing, with massive pincers that radiated power.
"Congratulations on completing your evolution, Gliscor," Ethan said with a smile.
Feeling the explosive surge of strength within its body, Gliscor was overwhelmed with excitement.
When it looked at Ethan again, its gaze was noticeably gentler than before.
"Gli—sco~"
It was clearly thanking him.
Of course, where there was joy, there was also sorrow.
Gliscor's sudden leap in strength caused Crocalor's smile—just moments ago—to freeze solid.
He had only just thought he'd escaped the fate of being the weakest…
and now Gligar had evolved straight into a Commander-tier Gliscor.
Crocalor genuinely hadn't expected such a dramatic increase.
But Gliscor's growth wasn't accidental.
He had spent years surviving alone in the wild, constantly tempering his body.
With that deep foundation, combined with Totem-grade potential and premium resources, this explosive leap was only natural.
Though Crocalor once again became the weakest in the team—
He didn't resent Gliscor.
Instead, he finally understood something:
Never place your hopes of progress on others.
The only one you can rely on—is yourself.
Silently, Crocalor walked outside the camp and resumed his harsh training.
Three days later.
At the center of Sea Cliff Island, beside a three-hundred-meter vertical cliff.
"Gliscor, how is it?"
"Do you see any cave entrances?"
Riding on Metagross's back, Ethan carefully examined the cliff face while asking.
Flying nearby, Gliscor turned back and called out:
"Gli—sco~"
No.
Ethan frowned.
"That's strange…"
"The system clearly marked the Red Opportunity here."
"How could there be nothing?"
Yes—
This cliff was exactly where the system indicated the Red Opportunity lay.
According to the system, the opportunity was inside Sea Cliff Island,
and the entrance was located right here.
Yet the cliff face before him was completely intact.
"No openings at all…"
"Did the system make a mistake?"
Ethan shook his head.
That was impossible.
Every previous coordinate—Metagross, Gligar, all the other opportunities—had been perfectly accurate.
So the only explanation was—
"The entrance is sealed."
Ethan narrowed his eyes and patted Metagross.
"Metagross, analyze the rock composition."
"Check if any section differs from the surrounding stone."
"Meta!"
Metagross immediately activated its psychic scanning.
Like a supercomputer, it began dissecting the cliff's structure at the molecular level.
Moments later—
Its eyes lit up.
"Meta!"
Ethan's expression brightened.
"You found something?"
"Meta!"
Yes—there was a section with a different composition.
"Mark it."
Metagross's psychic power surged.
A large purple-red X appeared on the cliff wall.
Ethan smiled.
"Gliscor—use Rock Smash on the marked spot."
Without hesitation, Gliscor's massive pincers gathered dense Fighting-type energy.
"GLI—SCO!!"
BOOM!
Gliscor smashed his fist into the cliff.
Thanks to Hyper Cutter, his raw strength far exceeded that of ordinary Pokémon.
The rock face trembled violently.
With a thunderous roar, the marked section shattered—
Revealing a wide, pitch-black cave entrance.
"Gli—sco!"
Gliscor turned back, excitedly calling to Ethan.
"Well done, Gliscor," Ethan praised.
For a Pokémon that had lost companions for so long, being acknowledged like this felt better than any treasure.
Metagross carried Ethan toward the entrance.
Soon, they arrived at a vast cave opening littered with rubble.
Though sunlight shone brightly outside, the cave itself was deep and ominous.
Surprisingly, it was enormous—
four meters tall, over five meters wide.
And clearly artificial, not naturally formed.
"Come out, Crocalor."
With darkness ahead, Ethan summoned Crocalor for illumination.
"You return to your Poké Ball and rest, Gliscor."
Though Gliscor wasn't tired, Ethan didn't know what lay ahead.
For safety, he recalled him.
Shielded by Metagross's psychic barrier, Ethan and Crocalor descended into the cave.
The deeper they went, the hotter it became.
This was Ethan's first time entering such a dangerous environment.
Honestly—
if not for the system confirming a Red Opportunity inside, he would never have come.
The cave was eerily empty.
No Pokémon.
No moss.
Nothing.
Only rising heat.
Crocalor, however, was ecstatic.
He eagerly inhaled the Fire-type energy saturating the air.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"Is there something in here perfectly suited for Crocalor…?"
Just then, Metagross let out a low sound.
"Meta~"
They had reached the deepest section.
Crystals embedded in the cave walls reflected Crocalor's flames, illuminating the space.
Ethan surveyed the area carefully.
"Metagross—can you pinpoint where the heat is coming from?"
After a moment of calculation, Metagross extended a claw and pointed in one direction.
"Meta~"
"Alright. Let's go."
Metagross carried Ethan onward.
Halfway there—
A soft, childish voice suddenly echoed.
"…En-di?"
Ethan's heart jolted.
Metagross instantly landed, psychic power fully deployed in defense.
Even it couldn't detect the source of the voice.
That alone was terrifying.
Then—
From the eastern side of the cave, a small, fluffy Pokémon trotted out.
It looked like a tiny lion cub.
Ethan froze.
Because this was no ordinary Pokémon.
It was Entei.
A Legendary Pokémon born from volcanoes.
Except—
This one was tiny.
Like a newborn.
"…An underage Entei?"
Ethan's mind went blank.
Then the system chimed.
[Ding! Detected Golden Opportunity — Juvenile Entei]
Only then did Ethan understand.
The true Golden Opportunity—
Wasn't Sea Cliff Island.
It was this Entei.
The small Entei waddled over, completely unafraid.
It looked up at Ethan and Metagross, then smiled.
"En-di~"
Metagross finally relaxed.
Juvenile Legendary Pokémon had extremely weak energy signatures.
That was why it hadn't detected it earlier.
Ethan gently climbed down and crouched.
"Hello," he said softly.
"Is this your home?"
The little Entei nodded.
"Are there any other Pokémon living here?"
The cub shook its head.
"…En-di~"
It had never seen another human before.
Ethan's eyes sparkled.
This… was perfect.
He took out several carefully prepared dishes.
The little Entei had never eaten cooked food in its life.
Its eyes lit up.
It devoured everything happily.
At this moment, the fearsome Legendary Pokémon looked exactly like a happy puppy.
Ethan's heart melted.
I must take this little guy with me.
After finishing the food, Entei chirped happily.
"En-di~"
Then gestured for Ethan to follow.
Five minutes later—
They arrived at the deepest chamber.
There, glowing crimson—
Was a boiling magma pool.
The system's voice echoed.
[Ding! Detected Red Opportunity — Fire-Type Blessed Land: Magma Pool]
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