Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game

The dragon, Liekongzuo, hovered and floated among the thick clouds, its enormous body slowly descending, its dark golden dragon eyes exuding an imposing aura.

"Human, what brings you here today?"

Lie Kongzuo was genuinely curious. The previous times he had to help, he had done so through notification from the inheritor, tide Jia Na. Why had he come over on his own initiative this time?

Xia Chen looked directly into Lie Kongzuo's majestic dragon eyes and said earnestly, "I want to become stronger!"

Liekongzuo did not answer immediately, but continued to lean closer, the huge dragon head almost touching Xia Chen's tiny body, the airflow generated by their breaths echoing wildly like a storm.

Without any extra movements, the legendary elf's oppressive aura suddenly surged. Anyone with a weak mind would probably have collapsed to the ground by now.

Xia Chen, however, remained calm and composed as he faced Lie Kong, showing no sign of backing down.

Liekong sat with its dragon eyes fixed on the dragon, the dark golden light seemingly capable of intimidating all things. It calmly asked, "Why should I help you? Even if you helped me deal with those two guys that time, shouldn't I have settled the score for the times I've helped you?"

To be fair, Rayquaza has been more than fair to Xia Chen, once during the Dark Night in the Galar region and again during the Ultra Beast invasion in Alola.

Without Rayquaza's overwhelming power, a regional catastrophe might not have occurred, but the casualties among innocent civilians and Pokémon would have been even greater.

With these two emergency rescues, Lie Kong has already repaid Xia Chen what he owed her.

Xia Chen shook his head with a wry smile, and then said, "I know you have already helped me a lot, and I shouldn't be greedy and ask for more, but I still came... I can't even give you an answer."

If he really had to find a reason, Xia Chen could give at least three legitimate and reasonable ones—in the name of friendship, in the name of saving the world, and in the name of the inheritor of the contract.

However, he did not want to use these identities to answer Liekongzuo's question. Precisely because he regarded Liekongzuo as a friend, he was unwilling to stand on the moral high ground to hold Liekongzuo hostage.

Of course, the most important reason is that Xia Chen has a backup plan.

If all else fails, I'll go to Galar to find Eterna!

Xia Chen has already prepared a Plan B for herself.

Therefore, when faced with Liekongzuo's questioning, he was able to calmly give a dismissive answer.

The two stared at each other for about half a minute before Lie Kong finally calmed down and asked with interest, "Why do you think I can help you become stronger?"

They actually passed the "test"?

Xia Chen himself was somewhat surprised. Could it be that his sincere attitude of giving up moved Lie Kongzuo?

Legend has it that the thoughts of elves are truly unfathomable...

Xia Chen composed himself and replied softly, "Do you still remember the Milotic you helped me train two years ago, Lord Dragon God? In my opinion, Milotic's transformation that time was not just about mastering the ability to fly."

Milotic, coiled behind him, let out a timely cry, clearly remembering how significantly its improvement had been during the days it sat beside Rayquaza.

One statistic reveals the truth: in just one month, the progress bar for the systematic dragon growth of Milas increased by a full five percent.

Prior to this, it would have taken Minas almost half a year to achieve a 5% growth rate under normal circumstances.

It was on that occasion that Milotic, whose growth rate broke through 30%, unlocked the powerful exclusive move, Leap of Faith.

In the past two years, Milnas' growth rate has increased from 30 to 49, and it has been stuck at the critical 50 mark for four months.

Perhaps this special training will stimulate this long-stagnant growth rate?

As Milotic pondered, Rayquaza beside it gave its final answer.

"Sure, but only Dragon-type Pokémon are allowed. I can't help you with anything else."

Xia Chen smiled and said, "That's enough. Thank you for your generous help."

He has quite a few Dragon-type Pokémon, including Milotic, which has already awakened its Water/Dragon form, Dragapult, Goodra, and Guldur.

Of course, given Leedon's temperament, it's unlikely it would accept Rayquaza's special training, even if its strength is indeed slightly inferior to Rayquaza's.

After entrusting the three elves to Guleton and agreeing to pick them up in three months, Xia Chen left the Sky Pillar and headed to Galar.

His next friend... no, the next mythical creature friend he's going to visit lives over there.

Chapter 537 Zankyo's Neighbor

May 6, Galle, Hualang Town.

This is the southernmost town in the Galar region, bordering the Crown Snowfield to the south and the Whispering Forest to the west.

As the connecting point between two legendary and mysterious regions inhabited by elves, Hualang Town is a peaceful and tranquil town.

There are no dojos or large corporations. The only thing worth mentioning is a vast expanse of fertile soil with high-quality pasture and top-quality woolen sheep raised there.

Oh, and another point that can't be ignored is that this is the hometown of the current Galar Champion, Mr. Dante, who is also known as one of the greatest champions of all time.

The weather in Hualang Town was already warm in early May; you could feel the heat even when wearing long sleeves.

The gentle monsoon winds blowing through the pastures feel like a mother's tender hand, making it hard to imagine that just a few dozen kilometers further south lies the famously cold Galerland, the Crown Snowfield.

That area has one of the highest mortality rates among traveling trainers in the world. The harsh weather, powerful Pokémon, and the many legendary creatures that are rumored to inhabit it all contribute to this infamous death zone.

Even so, countless trainers still flock to it every year. Of course, only a small number perish in it, while the majority simply stroll around the perimeter and then leave in a hurry, using this experience as a topic of conversation.

As for venturing deep into the Crown Snowfield and emerging unscathed?

Of course there are, but those who can do it are all top-tier trainers with illustrious reputations, such as Ayaka, the gym leader of the Transcendental Gym, Kibana, the gym leader of the Punch Gate Gym, and of course, Leon.

It is said that the powerful Ice-Treading Puppet in Dan Emperor's team was subdued here.

Compared to the Crown Snowfield, the legend of the Slumbering Forest is much simpler. It is said that the Sword Hero and the Shield Hero, who saved Galar from the darkness, reside here.

To be precise, it's not exactly a legend, because just over a year ago, countless people witnessed that the rumors were true.

The hero of Galar arrived riding on auspicious clouds, and with a world-shattering sword strike, he cleaved down the gigantic Eternatus.

The story then unfolds as the hero retires once more, leaving behind countless legends that attract numerous trainers to flock to him.

I don't dare to dream of capturing Zacian; just being able to witness the splendor of a legendary Pokémon would be enough to make the trip worthwhile.

The bustling crowds over the past year have almost turned the Misty Forest into a noisy forest.

However, no one got what they wanted.

The unique mist that permeated the Misty Forest caused all the trainers who entered to wander out again in a daze, even with a compass or the power of Psychic-type Pokémon.

Since a famous gym-level Psychic-specialized trainer also returned empty-handed, the number of people coming to the Forest of Slumber has begun to decrease sharply.

Today, this place has returned to its original hazy and tranquil state.

…………

After the unpredictable spring weather, April and May are traditionally the peak season for the production of wool braids and hair.

On the pastures of Hualang Town, flocks of round, woolly sheep huddle together, resembling a continuous expanse of soft, white clouds.

Passing through the white clouds that bleated incessantly, Xia Chen could already see the Misty Forest not far away.

That's right, his goal for this trip to Galar wasn't Eternatus, but that big dog who loves to chew on swords.

Although Eternatus is very strong, Milotic, Dragapult, and Balto have all been entrusted to Rayquaza, and Rayquaza doesn't have any Poison-type Pokémon, so Eternatus can't be of much help.

Zacian is different. Sylveon and Gardevoir are both Fairy-types, so it's the most suitable to have Zacian lead them.

Although it doesn't look as impressive as Xerneas or Rayquaza, it's still the sword hero who defeated Eternatus, something Sylveon and Gardevoir could learn from for a long time.

After passing the warning sign that read "[Dark Forest Ahead, Do Not Enter]", Xia Chen's Gu Leton transformed from flight mode to motorcycle mode and sped into the fog-shrouded forest.

The Misty Forest seems completely isolated from the outside world. Although the trees are not particularly dense or tall, sunlight cannot penetrate them. The thick fog, carrying some fairy-like energy, reduces visibility to no more than five meters.

The fog that has captivated countless trainers could not hold back Guleton. Its speed did not decrease at all, and it darted straight through the obstacles in the forest, as agile as a cheetah that had lived here since it was a cub.

The actual area of ​​the Misty Forest is not very large. In less than ten minutes, Xia Chen could see the two conspicuous statues of Cangxiang and Zangranmat in the rapidly changing scenery around him.

Having learned from his previous search, Xia Chen knew that this was the dwelling place of the two legendary spirits.

Practice makes perfect. The first time he came, he was too embarrassed to shout directly, but this time he stood between the two statues and shouted.

"Sister Cang, Brother Zang, wake up! If you don't come out soon, the world will be destroyed!"

The loud voice echoed through the quiet, empty forest, so Leighton retreated a distance with an ashamed expression that said, "I don't know this guy," as if afraid that others would know that the two of them were very familiar.

It's fortunate that it doesn't have the habit of picking its toes when it's embarrassed, otherwise there would be another huge pit here that could be turned into an artificial lake.

Xia Chen himself didn't feel ashamed at all. What was wrong with calling them brother and sister? With the lifespan of legendary elves, he was actually taking advantage of it by calling them that.

Moreover, this reason is not an exaggeration. The existence of dark matter is practically an apocalypse coming soon.

As for why Xia Chen didn't tell Lie Kongzuo about the existence of dark matter, but instead used this information to lure out Cang Xiang, it wasn't because of double standards, but because he felt that his relationship with Cang Xiang wasn't that deep.

Moreover, judging from the previous Darkworld event, Zacian and Zaranmat are two legendary Pokémon with a strong sense of responsibility, and only this reason could move them.

…………

It was unclear whether the siblings, Cangxiang and Ranmat, hadn't heard him or simply didn't want to come out; the only response to Xia Chen's calls was the gentle breeze blowing through the woods.

Xia Chen wasn't discouraged. If there was no response the first time, he'd try twice; if two times didn't work, he'd try three times; and if three times still didn't work...

He decisively chose to set up camp there and stay there.

"From today onwards, we are neighbors. Please take good care of us."

Xia Chen smiled and greeted the air, then took out the high-tech tent that Theonila had given him.

Since he acquired this tent specifically for the Ultimate Survey Team's field research, his old Vladari tent, which had been with him for two and a half years, has officially retired.

The new tent completely surpasses the old tent in many aspects, including size, cold protection, and functionality. Its comfort level is comparable to that of a luxury hotel, and it even has a small kitchen.

After setting up the tent and releasing the Pokémon, Xia Chen assigned them tasks such as collecting fungi and berries in the vicinity, while he took out ingredients from his storage ball to prepare a meal.

Leighton stared in disbelief, and asked blankly, "You really want to live here?"

Xia Chen replied matter-of-factly, "What else can we do? We're training here anyway."

So Leighton thought for a moment, but ultimately remained silent.

I don’t know if it’s because this is the habitat of Zacian, but the fungi and fruits that the Xianbu and the others bring back are sweeter than those from outside.

Coupled with the tranquil environment and the hazy, beautiful scenery, Xia Chen and his elves actually settled down here.

Every day, he meditates, trains, and rests. When he gets bored, he repeats the same shouts from the day before to bother Cangxiang. When he runs out of supplies, he goes to Hualang Town outside to buy them. He has no intention of leaving.

If Xia Chen initially felt a bit resentful towards Cangxiang, after staying for a few days, he genuinely fell in love with this leisurely lifestyle.

His growth rate in recent years has been too fast, and he has experienced too much. He has encountered no less than ten legendary elves and destroyed four or five dark organizations.

Even when he occasionally returns to Yuanling Island, he still has to deal with the affairs of the dojo and the company. He hasn't had a truly peaceful rest for a long, long time.

In this undisturbed, mist-shrouded paradise, he found inner peace, as did the elves.