A specialty of the Alola region from the seventh generation of Pokémon!
The "Z-Crystal."
In the lore, they only exist in special mineral veins within the Alola region.
There are many types of Z-Crystals, corresponding to the 18 types as well as certain specific Pokémon; their usage is similar to the "Plates" (which were officially removed in subsequent generations).
Caesar's DNA stirred; he could almost recall the Z-Move System officially introduced back in the games to balance the overpowered Mega Evolutions of previous generations.
In the previous Mega Evolution system, many Pokémon became extremely overpowered and frustrating to play against, such as stat monsters like Mega Salamence and Mega Rayquaza; the balance between different Mega Pokémon was nonexistent.
In Caesar's own experience, playing Mega Evolutions in PVE was a blast, but the balance in PVP battles was absolutely terrible.
(*There was even a victim who ended up with a Speed stat of -10; I'll censor their name here.)
Therefore, the seventh generation birthed Z-Moves to balance the Mega system—as long as the Trainer, the Z-Crystal, and the Pokémon resonated, the Pokémon could unleash a corresponding Z-Move.
A series of Ultra Beasts were the strongest users of these Z-Moves, used to counter popular Mega Pokémon.
Although the power of Z-Moves was limited and could only be used once per battle, they greatly enriched tactical choices, giving many niche Pokémon a chance to shine on the field.
At least in Caesar's memory, the seventh generation was definitely the happiest era.
Not to mention the "Alola~" comments flooding the screen when Ash Ketchum first held the championship trophy in the Sun & Moon anime.
He didn't expect to see something similar in this world... Caesar narrowed his eyes.
To be honest.
The harvest from this hunt far exceeded his expectations—
His Level soared from LV.15 to LV.19, he activated the Ability [Rough Skin], learned [Bulldoze], obtained a large amount of attribute factors, and now a magical item that only existed in his memories had dropped.
Caesar carefully cupped that [Elemental Crystal] with his claws, feeling the explosive energy contained within, his heart racing with excitement.
This world definitely has inextricable links with Pokémon!
"Hey, Earth Dragon, what is that in your hand?"
Cecilia had approached at some point, her silver round head poking out curiously, her nose sniffing the air, immediately attracted by that pure Fire element energy.
"Such pure energy... could this be..."
Caesar glanced at her and intentionally tossed the [Elemental Crystal] in his claws.
"What, you recognize this?"
"Hmph! Ignorant Earth Dragon!"
Cecilia immediately puffed out her chest, putting on the arrogant posture of a Dragon Clan scholar, trying to reclaim some of the dignity she lost when she was scared witless during the battle earlier.
She cleared her throat and explained using the knowledge from her Legacy memories: "This is called an [Elemental Crystal], the most primitive condensed form of the eighteen basic elements in the world of Azeria! They are only occasionally produced in places where elemental energy is most active, such as deep within the Dragon Crystal Veins of our Dragons Nest Mountain Range, or in the Earth-Core Forge of the Lava Giants! Each piece is a top-tier alchemy and magic material, worth a fortune..."
(Automatically skipping NPC plot—)
Caesar understood now.
So this thing is called an "Elemental Crystal" here.
No wonder that stupid lizard's world-destroying breath earlier was so fierce; whether it was the release speed or the power, it was on a completely different level from its previous attacks.
Turns out it had unleashed the power stored inside this thing to fire off a Z-Move.
A question popped into his mind: how did this brainless Lava Giant Lizard King get its hands on such a rare item?
"Let me see!"
Cecilia craned her neck, wanting to get a closer look.
"No."
With a "snap," Caesar closed his claws, putting the [Elemental Crystal] away and casually stuffing it into the crude "waist bag" he had made from the Iron-armored Centipede's shell.
"What are you looking at? This is my loot."
He said bluntly, then began to butcher the Lizard King's corpse.
This thing was enough to feed him for several months.
Cecilia was speechless, only able to watch resentfully as the Little Earth Dragon dragged huge chunks of meat back to the nest, a look of immense satisfaction written all over that Earth Dragon face.
She knew that every success of this scummy Earth Dragon was accumulating strength for his future advancement.
While she, on the other hand, could only watch it all happen as a prisoner.
Is this kind of future... what I want?
...
In the month following the kill of the Lava Giant Lizard King, life in the cave returned to its former "tranquility."
Caesar's daily life was extremely disciplined.
Eat, Sleep, lick the Silver Dragon.
The Lizard King's flesh contained massive energy.
By relying on devouring this flesh and "licking" Cecilia as a daily routine, Caesar's Level stumbled its way up to LV.20.
[Gible (Caesar)]
[Level: LV.20]
[HP: 58/58]
[Attack: 57]
[Defense: 51]
[Special Attack: 44]
[Special Defense: 45]
[Speed: 48]
Caesar looked at the panel, contentedly finishing the last piece of the Lizard King's leg meat, which had been roasted until it was fragrant and charred.
Then he let out a satisfied burp—
Very good, roar! The speed is finally picking up!
However, the Special Defense seems a bit low; it must be because the EVs aren't enough.
To be honest, Caesar didn't know how many EVs he had accumulated by now.
But a Dragon must have dreams; what if I can max them all out?
The Gible slowly waddled to the other end of the cave.
Cecilia was lying on a smoothed stone slab, drawing circles with the tip of her tail out of boredom.
Seeing Caesar come over, she immediately perked up, her silver pupils even carrying a hint of anticipation.
Caesar walked to her side, skillfully parting a newly grown, tender dragon scale and sticking out his tongue.
[Ding! High-purity "Dragon-type" factor detected, absorbing...]
[Experience +4!]
Caesar's movements froze.
Only 4 points?
He frowned and licked again.
[Ding! High-purity "Dragon-type" factor detected, absorbing... Experience +3!]
Caesar stopped his movements.
He looked at the experience bar on the System panel, which had barely moved, and a strange sense of disdain welled up within him.
The experience points had dropped from the initial 50 per lick to 5, and now there were only 3 left.
How am I supposed to play like this?
Caesar glanced at the Silver Dragon beneath him, who was still slightly trembling.
[Silver Dragon (Cecilia)]
[Level: LV.13]
[Type: Dragon/Steel]
...Her Level is still too low.
The "Dragon-type" factor she provided was no different from plain water to him now.
Caesar's movements became perfunctory, licking half-heartedly while his mind had completely drifted elsewhere.
The neglected Cecilia quickly noticed this change.
A sense of humiliation from being looked down upon surged in her heart.
"Hey!"
She suddenly raised her head, glaring fiercely at Caesar.
"You're licking so perfunctorily again... Are you unable to perform anymore!?"
Caesar almost lost it.
What kind of scandalous words are those?
Seeing Caesar remain silent, Cecilia thought she had hit the mark and felt even more aggrieved.
As a noble Silver Dragon, she had set aside her dignity and endured humiliation, being licked every day by this Earth Dragon like a meal ticket.
And the result?
Now even the quality of the "meal" has dropped! And she's being looked down upon!
"..."
Caesar looked at her puffed-up appearance and felt a headache coming on.
After all that, the problem lies with me?
I even have to be responsible for leveling you up? I'm playing both father and mother here!
He sighed, walked to his "kitchen," rummaged through his stockpiled supplies for more Curse Mushrooms, threw them into the pot, added some newly acquired materials, and stewed a pot of the Ultimate Invincible Supreme PLUS version of Poison Milk Mushroom Soup.
A thick purple-black mist rose, and that familiar, corrupting fragrance filled the air once more.
Cecilia's nose twitched, her angry expression instantly collapsed, and she gulped uncontrollably.
"Hmph!"
She turned her head away, but her tail was wagging quite honestly.
Caesar irritably pushed a large pot of soup in front of her.
"Drink! Drink up and level up quickly for me!"
Only then did Cecilia happily bury her head and start drinking greedily.
Looking at her like that, Caesar shook his head.
[Ding! Juvenile Silver Dragon (Cecilia)'s intimacy toward you has slightly increased.]
Caesar looked at the empty pot, his eyelid twitching.
Whatever, anyway, there are plenty of mushrooms.
Just then, the entire cave suddenly shook violently!
Rumble—!
A dull, heavy thud came from deep underground, followed by the mixed roars of countless monsters.
Waves of chaotic and discordant energy fluctuations came from all directions.
Caesar's expression remained calm.
He knew that after the death of the Lava Giant Lizard King, the energy balance in this area had been broken, and the resulting power vacuum was attracting all the surrounding predators.
A territorial war was about to unfold in this underground world.
And he, the "killer" of the former Overlord, would undoubtedly become the primary target for all newcomers.
"...!"
A strong sense of crisis made Caesar instantly alert.
He could feel that the "Dragon" element within him had accumulated to a critical point.
A throb originating from the depths of his Bloodline was quietly Awakening.
According to Pokémon settings, Gible evolves into Gabite at LV.24.
But Caesar had a faint premonition that his first evolution was not far off... quite likely, it would be before LV.24!
Evolution is the most vulnerable moment for a Pokémon, requiring a safe and undisturbed environment.
Caesar didn't want to accidentally press the B button halfway through evolution, so he subconsciously glanced at the "Silly Dragon" beside him, who was still vigorously licking the pot and reminiscing about the mushroom soup.
This girl... although this Silver Dragon had been "tamed," in such a life-or-death moment, Caesar didn't dare to completely leave his back to her.
Who knows if this big dummy would cause some trouble while he was evolving... Caesar wasn't that naive.
"Unreliable."
Just as this thought arose, low growls and restless footsteps echoed from outside the cave.
Caesar walked to the entrance and looked out.
The massive energy dissipated when the Lava Giant Lizard King died was like a lighthouse in the dark, attracting countless monsters in this underground world.
Over the past month, there were always blind fools trying to break into this nest occupied by the new Overlord.
The Gible narrowed his eyes... It seems he must complete his evolution before these guys completely lose their patience and launch a general offensive!
"Can't wait any longer."
Caesar made up his mind.
He turned back into the cave and began his "Pokémon Center" renovation plan.
The Little Earth Dragon first dragged over the Lava Giant Lizard King's shell, which was harder than rock, used the high temperature of Dragon Breath to partially melt it, and then firmly embedded it into the rock walls of the nest, reinforcing the entire cave.
Then, he tirelessly released Quicksand Abyss at the cave entrance and several key passages leading deep into the nest.
Disguised quicksand traps were laid out one by one.
He also dug out the alchemy potions he had previously looted from the Fungus People, hanging those colorful bottles from the ceiling of the passages and connecting them with vines to tripwires, creating the most primitive of tactical traps.
After finishing all this, he walked up to Cecilia, who was still struggling for her dinner.
"Hey, stop licking the pot and get to work."
Cecilia raised her soup-stained face and looked at him dissatisfied.
Caesar pointed toward the cave entrance and commanded in an unquestionable tone: "Go guard the entrance. If any blind thing approaches, use your Paralysis Breath to blow them away."
"If you let even one in," he paused, a dangerous light flashing in his golden vertical pupils, "you'll be drinking plain water every day from now on."
Cecilia shuddered all over.
"I... I am a noble Silver Dragon! You're actually making me be your doorkeeper?!"
She instinctively wanted to resist, but as soon as she thought of the miserable future without mushroom soup, that arrogant Dragon Clan pride deflated in an instant.
Better to seize the future.
"Hmph!"
The little thing let out a heavy huff and reluctantly dragged her body to the cave entrance, lying down like a guardian deity.
Caesar watched her back with satisfaction, then turned and walked toward the deepest part of the nest.
He needed an absolutely quiet place to guide the power that was about to explode within him.
Coiled in his nest lined with soft moss, the Gible closed his eyes... and began to focus on guiding that surging "Dragon" Bloodline within him.
An unprecedented power was accumulating, waiting for the moment to break out of its cocoon.
And what he didn't know was that this Awakening Dragon Might, far purer than that of the Lava Giant Lizard King, was like an invisible ripple, instantly spreading to the shallow regions of the entire Dragon's Nest Mountain Range.
In the dark underground cave, pairs of crimson, greedy eyes all looked toward Caesar's nest in unison.
There were smaller raptor-like dragon beasts, Earth-walking Sub-dragons climbing on the rock walls, and even several distant relatives who also belonged to the Earth Dragon Race but had muddled Bloodlines.
Their instincts screamed frantically.
There, a throne was vacant!
There, a challenger was at his weakest moment!
Devour him! Replace him! Become the new Overlord of this region!
A hunt targeting the new king was about to begin.