Red Opportunity: Thunderforged Bath!!**
Northwestern Donghuang Alliance.
Qin Family Village, the hometown of Qin Yingying.
The entire village barely housed a hundred people. Everyone was either a relative or a neighbor.
Ethan had only just arrived at the village entrance with Qin Yingying when several women chatting nearby immediately recognized her.
"Ying'er, you're back!"
"Half a year gone and you've gotten all stylish now!"
"But hey—who's this young man?"
"Good-looking kid… don't tell me he's your sweetheart?"
Ethan could only catch bits and pieces of the local dialect.
But Qin Yingying understood every word.
Her cheeks flushed instantly as she hurriedly explained that Ethan was just her classmate, someone she had invited home as a guest.
The moment the women heard he wasn't her boyfriend, their eyes lit up.
Qin Family Village was small—but there was no shortage of young women.
Girls around Qin Yingying's age numbered at least seven or eight, all still unmarried.
A handsome young man like Ethan?
Prime material.
Seeing the increasingly predatory looks, Qin Yingying panicked, afraid they'd scare Ethan off.
After a few rushed exchanges, she quickly dragged Ethan deeper into the village.
Though located in the northwest and once considered impoverished, Qin Family Village had changed drastically in recent years.
With Donghuang's rapid development, paved roads now ran through the village, and nearly every household had rebuilt modern homes.
If there was anything lacking—
It was greenery.
But it was winter, after all.
A little desolation was only natural.
Under Qin Yingying's guidance, Ethan—along with Meloetta and a miniaturized Metagross—arrived at her home.
Though Ethan didn't speak the local language, he greeted her parents warmly and presented the gifts he had prepared.
Upon learning that Ethan was Qin Yingying's classmate, the hospitable Qin couple immediately welcomed him inside.
To Ethan, the northwest had always been something he'd only seen online.
But seeing it in person, he realized how different it was from his preconceived notions.
Not just Ethan—even Meloetta was brimming with curiosity.
The two wandered around the village while Qin Yingying cheerfully introduced its customs and stories.
And one thing Ethan had to admit—
Qin Yingying's mother was an incredible cook.
Even with Ethan's refined palate, the northwest cuisine felt like an entirely new world.
But this trip wasn't just about sightseeing.
Ethan had two goals:
First—experience local life.
Second—explore Falling Thunder Valley.
After all, the system had detected a Golden Opportunity there.
The last time that happened…
It had been Entei on Sea Cliff Island.
That alone was enough to make Ethan curious.
Falling Thunder Valley
Early the next morning, Qin Yingying led Ethan toward their destination.
Falling Thunder Valley was a strange place.
A barren ravine, devoid of vegetation year-round.
Every few days, lightning would strike—sometimes during storms, sometimes under clear skies.
No one knew why.
But because of this, it had become a paradise for Electric-type Pokémon.
Electric-types were rare in the wild.
They required constant exposure to lightning to survive.
Before the second industrial revolution, their numbers had been especially low.
But Falling Thunder Valley was different.
Electric Pokémon had thrived here since ancient times.
Before the era of Trainers, even the weakest Electric-types were deadly to humans.
A single discharge from a small Pokémon could kill an adult.
As a result, the valley had long been forbidden territory.
For generations, Qin Family Village had been tasked with guarding it.
Outsiders weren't allowed in.
But Qin Yingying was different.
To her, the valley wasn't forbidden ground—
It was her playground.
As they neared the valley riding Metagross, a blue bolt of lightning suddenly streaked forward.
"Luxray—roar!"
A powerful growl echoed.
Ahead stood a muscular, 1.8-meter-tall Luxray.
"A commander-tier Luxray?"
"That's rare in the wild," Ethan remarked.
But Qin Yingying beamed.
"Lei! It's me!"
"I'm back!"
The Luxray froze.
"…Lux?"
It finally noticed Qin Yingying sitting atop Metagross.
The hostility vanished instantly.
Though its eyes still flicked warily toward Metagross, confusion clearly replaced aggression.
"Metagross, please let me down," Qin Yingying said gently.
"He's my friend."
Metagross complied.
With a flash of psychic light, Qin Yingying landed safely.
Meloetta helped Ethan descend as well.
"Lei, I missed you so much!"
Qin Yingying hugged the Luxray without hesitation.
The towering Electric-type responded affectionately, rubbing its fluffy head against her.
But soon, Luxray's gaze shifted to Ethan and Metagross.
"…Lux?"
"Oh right!" Qin Yingying laughed.
"Lei, this is my friend Ethan."
"And this is his partner, Metagross."
"Ethan, this is Lei—my childhood companion."
"Nice to meet you, Lei," Ethan said warmly.
Luxray growled softly in acknowledgment, still cautious but polite.
Lei turned proudly toward Qin Yingying and roared.
"…Luxraaa!"
"You're part of the Falling Thunder Guard now?"
Qin Yingying laughed.
"Wow—looks like you finally grew responsible!"
The Falling Thunder Guard was a self-organized defense group formed by the Pokémon of the valley, protecting its weaker residents from intruders.
Lei hesitated when Qin Yingying asked to enter the valley.
Ethan and Meloetta weren't a problem.
But Metagross…
Too big.
Too powerful.
Even knowing Metagross meant no harm, its presence could cause chaos.
Before Ethan said anything—
Metagross shrank itself down to palm-size and settled lightly on Ethan's shoulder.
The oppressive aura vanished.
Lei blinked.
"…Lux?"
Seeing no issue now, Luxray nodded.
Lei excitedly offered Qin Yingying a ride.
Ethan declined politely and released Entei instead.
Entei had grown rapidly recently—
Eating ten times more than before and growing nearly half a meter taller in just two weeks.
Now standing nearly two meters tall, it radiated overwhelming majesty.
Lei bristled slightly.
Not hostility—
Jealousy.
Entei was simply… too handsome.
With Ethan riding Entei and Qin Yingying atop Luxray, they raced toward the valley.
Luxray ran at full speed.
Entei followed effortlessly.
No matter how fast Luxray pushed himself, Entei kept pace with casual strides.
At the valley entrance, Luxray was panting.
Entei wasn't even breathing hard.
Embarrassed, Lei accepted an Energy Block Ethan offered.
After eating it, his stamina rapidly recovered.
Inside Falling Thunder Valley
The valley was vast—
Barren, lifeless at first glance.
Yet Electric Pokémon thrived everywhere:
Geodude variants, Manectric packs, and more.
Then—
Ethan spotted it.
A gold-furred Shinx, standing quietly among the rocks.
[Ding! Detected: Purple Opportunity – Shiny Shinx]
Before Ethan could react—
Thunder roared.
A golden bolt of lightning struck a pool at the valley's center.
The water erupted with crackling electricity.
The system chimed again.
[Ding! Detected: Red Opportunity – Thunderforged Bath]
Ethan's eyes lit up.
This trip—
Was already worth it.
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