"Yooji... (๑ŏ﹏ŏ๑)"

The freshly awakened Larvitar hung its head low, displaying excellent repentance posture.

Behind it, the courtyard lay in complete devastation.

Conkeldurr shouted work chants while the Renovation Team Leader (Kalos variant) twirled his small mustache, supervising with serious dedication.

Lu Ye crossed his arms, noticing the pseudo-legendary baby sneak a quick upward glance before rapidly lowering its head again.

"Togepriii! (ﾉ´▽｀)ﾉ♪" Togepi walked to Larvitar's side, took its small hand, and flashed a heart-meltingly happy smile.

Teacher Lu's anger had already mostly subsided. Watching the timid pseudo-legendary infant, he chuckled helplessly.

Right now, checking Larvitar's physical condition was more important.

It had just swallowed an entire "Tyranitarite," using the abundant energy to simultaneously master the "Earthquake" move.

As one of the ultimate techniques from the "Essence of Earth" manual, the difficulty of comprehending "Earthquake" was unimaginable.

Never did he imagine it would learn Tyranitar's signature move in advance through this 'pay-to-win training method.'

Rubbing his temples, Lu Ye greeted the renovation team leader.

"How long will it take to restore everything to its original state?"

"Please trust our technical capabilities—it won't take more than three days at most!"

"Roar!!" Conkeldurr, with its bright red alcoholic nose, lifted two massive concrete pillars, flexing its muscular arms.

A red beam automatically emerged from the Commemorative Poké Ball.

Sirfetch'd stared at Conkeldurr's concrete pillars, then glanced at the leek blade in its hand, its expression deeply moved.

"Quack... (´థ౪థ)σ"

Not long enough... I'm at a disadvantage here, duck!

Lu Ye kept a straight face and returned Sirfetch'd to its Commemorative Poké Ball.

Ducklett didn't know who it learned from... but it caught this 'auto-ball-exit' habit too!

After confirming the specific repair details, Lu Ye scanned the working Conkeldurr.

A Conkeldurr with the 【Life Orb + Mach Punch】combo was also a classic singles ranking team.

"The back house is fortunately fine."

Lu Ye looked back at the building connected to the central courtyard and murmured, "A silver lining in this misfortune..."

Just that the coffee shop's opening would have to be postponed again.

Lu Ye sighed softly, his peripheral vision catching Rotom Pokédex taking photos around the renovation team leader.

Click!

The flash went off.

The renovation team leader faced the camera boldly, flicking a small curl of hair from his forehead as he smiled:

"To be honest with you, Teacher Lu, I used to be a coordinator!"

Lu Ye paused, curious: "And then?"

"Then I discovered the renovation industry pays better."

Lu Ye: "..."

Little Rotom flew back to Lu Ye's side, saving the photo, and whispered: "Beep beep... unlocked new Pokédex data, Rotom!"

Lu Ye: "..."

It might even unlock forms from other regions.

Shaking his head, Lu Ye led Larvitar back to the rear house, had Haunter use "Disable" to lock the little one's "Earthquake" move, then had Rotom scan Larvitar's physical condition.

"Yooji..." Larvitar held its hands over its red scales, tilting its blunt-angled forehead to look at the floating Rotom Pokédex.

The Pokédex emitted blue light scanning Larvitar as Little Rotom said:

"Beep beep... no abnormal conditions detected, Rotom!"

Lu Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

For caution's sake, Lu Ye still video-called Professor Oak.

"What?" Professor Oak pressed his entire face against the screen. "Larvitar swallowed the Evolution Stone!?"

"Yooji..." Larvitar scratched its head sheepishly.

Lu Ye asked quietly: "Will it cause any other effects?"

Professor Oak stepped back half a step, clearing his throat with a fist: "Larvitar survives by eating soil. After eating an entire mountain, it cocoons itself for growth."

As Lu Ye's expression showed physical pain, Professor Oak continued:

"That's why trainers who raise Larvitar are rare—they use other minerals to substitute for that 'mountain.'"

"Though Mega Stones are rare, they can serve as Larvitar's food." Professor Oak said quietly: "But this is really too extravagant... there have been very few such cases before."

Lu Ye spotted the key point: "So there have been precedents of using Mega Stones as food?"

Professor Oak nodded: "Spiritomb eats Carbink and ores. There have been cases of Spiritomb eating Mega Stones."

With Professor Oak's endorsement, Lu Ye felt relieved.

Glancing at Larvitar smacking its lips, it seemed to still be savoring the previous deliciousness.

Professor Oak looked at Larvitar through the screen and joked with a smile:

"Looking at it this way, if you want to complete Mega Evolution, you'll need to prepare quite a few Mega Stones!"

Lu Ye: "..."

"Huh? Did I say something wrong?" Professor Oak noticed something off about Lu Ye's expression.

"Nothing." Lu Ye sighed lightly: "Have a pleasant weekend, goodbye."

Hanging up, Lu Ye and Larvitar locked eyes.

"Other trainers' Larvitar eat soil..."

Lu Ye felt complex emotions: "My baby eats Mega Stones?!"

But since Larvitar had already mastered "Earthquake," its evolution could be scheduled.

Looking at the green, dopey little dinosaur, Teacher Lu really felt somewhat reluctant.

But Larvitar was different from the other little ones.

Lu Ye had experienced Larvitar's desire to grow stronger during the Lily of the Valley Conference elimination rounds—

Symbolizing powerful strength, weather tactics with sandstorm dominance.

The future desert monarch.

"Wonder who it takes after..."

Lu Ye rubbed his chin: "Definitely not Ducklett, anyway."

The incident concluded with Larvitar eating an evolution stone in one bite and mastering "Earthquake."

Since he promised Professor Sycamore to provide Tyranitar's Mega data, finding another "Tyranitarite" shouldn't be a big problem either.

The courtyard's repair was just a matter of time.

Teacher Lu glared at Larvitar:

"Punishment: no potato chips for three days!"

Larvitar: "Yooji... (。•́︿•̀。)"

Teacher Lu: "...Two days, that's the minimum!"

**

Night deepened, Miare City's neon lights intertwined as Prism Tower stood beneath the night sky's dome.

The iron tower remained.

But soon, uninvited outsiders would challenge this Prism Tower.

In the pitch-black night, the exhausted Teacher Lu fell asleep early.

The purple little chubby figure quietly canceled its invisibility, covering its mouth with a laugh: "Gengarrr~"

Through the moonlit window, gazing at the distant Prism Tower, Haunter grinned with bared teeth.

Badge collection happens today!

"Gengarrr~" Haunter stopped floating, plopping down onto the carpet.

Imitating Teacher Lu's manner, Haunter stared at the Poké Ball before it, deep in thought.

Type matchups... what type works against Electric... Emmm...

"Gengarrr!" A lightbulb lit up above Haunter's head as it suddenly understood and smacked its palm.

It's Ground-type!

Seeing this would probably bring tears to Teacher Lu's eyes.

Ash hasn't even memorized the type chart completely yet, but Haunter mastered it first.

Challenging the Champion's Road probably delayed its college entrance exams.

"Eeefuu~"

Sylveon lazily yawned, opening its azure round eyes in the darkness, licking its small paws.

Tonight... must show Miare City's wild Pokémon.

Who's really the boss here!

Each with their own thoughts.

Haunter pocketed the Dark Ball containing Larvitar and floated toward Prism Tower under the dome.

Sylveon strolled through Miare City's streets like a Heavenly King's dimensional superiority.

"Kamex..." Blastoise opened its eyes in the water tank, Aura enveloping the entire coffee shop, maintaining constant vigilance.

Tonight was another sleepless night.

"Quack! (´థ౪థ)σ"

Sirfetch'd was forcibly dragged by the energetic Arcanine to simulate battles in the courtyard.

I just want a good night's sleep, why is it so difficult, duck!

......

Prism Tower, Miare Gym.

Prism Tower soared into the clouds, containing universal facilities like accommodation, training, and battle facilities.

Late at night, white curtains fluttered by the window as a yellow-haired little girl lying in bed rubbed her eyes drowsily.

Releasing the tightly hugged Dedenne pillow, Bonnie sat up halfway on the bed, yawning sleepily.

Light leaked in from outside. Bonnie puffed her cheeks, saying:

"So late and still inventing... Brother, really!"

Hugging her Dedenne pillow, Bonnie jumped down from bed, slipped on her slippers, and headed toward the invention room.

"Strange... seems like the noise is coming from the challenge room side."

Bonnie looked around, tied her yellow hair into a ponytail with one hand, shook her head lightly, her small face showing a focused expression.

Pressing against the wall corner, Bonnie moved toward the challenge room slowly like a detective.

Suddenly.

Bonnie got startled by the figure before her, exclaiming softly: "Hoya!"

The other person also jumped in fright, quickly saying: "It's me!"

Bonnie opened one eye halfway, her small face showing surprise: "Brother?"

The yellow-haired boy wearing thick glasses put a finger to his lips, "Shh."

"So late, and there are still challengers at the gym—"

Clemont looked toward the lit challenge room, whispering: "I suspect it's a thief."

"Why not just go take a look?" Bonnie tilted her head.

As she spoke, the wall broadcast sounded with the electronic voice of acting gym leader, Clembot.

"Pokédex data registration complete... accepting challenge from Trainer, Lu Ye!"

"Clembot" was a robot invented by Clemont that accepted trainer challenges during his invention research periods.

Hearing its announcement, the siblings froze simultaneously.

The yellow-haired little girl's face showed delighted surprise as she shook Clemont's arm:

"Brother, Teacher Lu, the challenger is Teacher Lu!"

Clemont adjusted his thick round-frame glasses, surprised: "How would you know about him?"

"Hmph, I can browse online news too, I'm not a three-year-old."

Bonnie raised her head proudly, then her eyes sparkled: "Besides, Teacher Lu's Pokémon are really super cute www!"

"Sylveon, Togepi~ I really want to raise a Pokémon of my own~"

"Da-me! You're still too young to travel with Pokémon." Clemont refused.

"Really..." Bonnie puffed her cheeks, looking down as she shuffled her slippers.

"Gengarrr?"

A strange cry floated from the challenge room.

Clemont tensed up, extending an arm to block Bonnie behind him, saying nervously:

"I-I'll go check first, Bonnie, don't run around."

"I'm going first~"

Ignoring Clemont's attempts to stop her, Bonnie happily ran toward the challenge room.

"Bonnie, slow down!" Clemont hurried after.

**

Miare Gym, challenge room.

The robot-shaped acting gym leader "Clembot" was explaining challenge rules to challenger 'Lu Ye.'

"Both sides engage in 3V3 singles. When one side's entire team loses fighting capability, the other wins."

"Gengarrr!" Haunter stood on the field, narrowing its red eyes, baring teeth and nodding.

I completely understand!

"Clembot" emitted mechanical sounds: "In that case, battle begin."

Poof!

A white beam flew from the Poké Ball in the mechanical arm—clearly a Magnemite.

"Gengarrr~" Haunter imitated Lu Ye's manner, pursed lips as it threw the Dark Ball, a white beam flying out with a 'poof.'

"Yooji~"

Larvitar roared like a hungry beast, Rock-type energy gathering massive boulders above Magnemite's head that came crashing down.

Rock Slide!

Rumble!

Magnemite was buried under the rock slide, its single eye dizzy, barely conscious.

"Yooji~"

Larvitar advanced with claws bared, gently poking Magnemite with its small claw, the latter wisely falling unconscious.

In less than a minute, "Clembot" entered a three-second shutdown mode.

"Exceeds comprehension parameters... recommend surrender, repeat, recommend surrender!"

Standing outside the field, Bonnie looked strangely at Clemont:

"Brother, did you program this in advance too?"

"No... how can it surrender so easily." Clemont said sweating: "From what I see, Rotom probably hacked into 'Clembot.'"

The floating Rotom Pokédex widened its eyes: "Beep beep... don't falsely accuse people, Rotom!"

"Speaking of which." Clemont ignored Rotom, looking pale at Haunter by the field: "So that's Teacher Lu's Haunter..."

Bonnie held her small cheeks, eyes sparkling: "Haunter is so cute!"

Clemont: "C-cute?!"

"Right~" Bonnie giggled, scratching her head: "I want to raise a Ghost-type too."

Clemont turned pale: "No, absolutely not!"

During their conversation, "Clembot" sent out its second Pokémon, Heliolisk.

Heliolisk had a frill-like collar around its neck that could expand to charge, release Flash, and intimidate enemies.

"Yooji! (▼へ▼メ)"

However, seeing the fierce Larvitar, Heliolisk wisely retreated half a step.

Only then did the siblings realize Teacher Lu wasn't present at the venue.

"Huh? Is Teacher Lu hiding somewhere?" Bonnie looked around.

"No... this should be that urban legend circulating among gym leaders—"

Clemont pursed his lips, saying dryly: "Teacher Lu's Pokémon will personally come to challenge gyms!"

"Yooji~"

Larvitar roared with raised head, facing Heliolisk, about to unleash an Earthquake punch.

Clemont sharp-eyed noticed this classic Electric-countering move and quickly called out:

"Clembot, we surrender!"

No one can capture Miare Gym before the gym leader surrenders!

"Yooji?" Larvitar stopped its attack, tilting its head slightly.

Haunter looked serious, cosplaying Ash's manner, twisting a non-existent hat brim.

"Gengarrr!"

I got the Miare Gym's Voltage Badge, gengarrr!

**

Morning light shone through windows as Miare City welcomed a brand new day.

Lu Ye had a good sleep, stretching refreshedly as a long-absent prompt sounded in his ears.

[Ding! Miare Gym challenge successful!]

[Detecting Kalos region, new mission issuing...]

Teacher Lu froze momentarily.

I must be dreaming.

Lying back down, pulling the covers over his head, pausing briefly, Lu Ye threw the covers off.

"Crap, I've become the substitute!"