Pokemon Paldea [317-318] (Patreon)

Chapter 317: Trial of the Dragonite, Guardian of the Dragon Holy Land!

Off to the side, the Dragonite tilted its head, listening closely to the two people's conversation.

When it caught the keyword "hidden trial," Dragonite's eyes lit up, as if suddenly enlightened, recalling something.

It seemed that about a week ago, a red-haired man—who in its memory had still been a child but somehow had become an adult in the blink of an eye—came to the Dragon Holy Land with the Dragon Elder. He instructed Dragonite that if anyone found the Holy Land, it should grant that person a hidden trial, and that Dragonite could decide the content of the trial itself.

Before Lucas and Zinnia could continue talking, the Dragonite that had been sitting in the flower fields stood up, its gaze falling on them.

There was still some time before sunset, but it decided to begin the trial for the two in front of it first.

As Dragonite stood, the advantage of its body—larger even than ordinary Dragonite—became immediately apparent.

By comparison, Zinnia's Salamence stood on all fours while Dragonite stood on two feet. With its height at only about a meter and a half at the shoulder in that posture, Salamence could only see Dragonite's legs. That alone further irritated the already short-tempered Salamence.

Zinnia didn't dare let Salamence act up. She softly soothed the dragon beneath her, then glanced at Lucas beside her, pressing her lips together.

Whether it was fighting this Dragonite or battling Lucas under Dragonite's witness, she actually felt unsure.

But Zinnia knew she had to struggle—she had to win. Only then, when summoning the Dragon God, would she have sufficient strength to gain its recognition.

Dragonite's next move, however, stunned Zinnia, who had been constantly self-hypnotizing herself that she could do it, and even left Lucas and his Dragonite wearing surprised expressions.

Dragonite strode to one edge of the flower field and let out a loud roar.

"Drago~"

The roar echoed through the ring-shaped valley enclosed by mountains. The fluttering Butterfree and Skiploom weren't frightened; instead they flew over and perched on Dragonite.

A few Gible, Charmander, Swablu, and some timid Goomy also gathered at Dragonite's call, chirping as if begging for something.

Seeing this, Lucas and his Dragonite exchanged a look, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.

Could it be…

Zinnia didn't really understand what Dragonite was doing. Keeping her non-hostile smile, she asked, "Excuse me, what exactly is our hidden trial?"

Dragonite gave Zinnia a strange look and sighed slightly, as if lamenting that this little girl's mind wasn't as quick as Lucas's and Dragonite's.

"Bwo bwo-bwo bwo!"

Wearing a "you leave me no choice" expression, Dragonite patted the big belly it had naturally grown from long naps and "earnestly" explained to Zinnia.

Zinnia's forced smile faltered: "…"

Still couldn't understand.

Though she was a Lorekeeper, it was more about a duty passed down through generations. She had no special ability and couldn't understand Pokémon speech other than her own partners'.

Zinnia was in trouble!

"Your hidden trial… is to have us make Pokémon food for you all to eat, right?"

Seeing Zinnia's awkward expression, Lucas sighed softly, stepped forward, and asked.

"Bwo!"

Dragonite happily patted its belly. It was nearly afternoon!

Seeing Dragonite confirm Lucas's guess, Zinnia felt not relief but complete despair, unable to maintain her smile anymore; her handsome features dimmed with hopelessness.

This was worse than not understanding at all!

Zinnia ranted inwardly. What sort of Dragon Tamer clan used Dragonite to test culinary skills instead of combat, giving in to gluttony?

Regardless of her collapse, Dragonite, surrounded by many Pokémon, cheerfully laid out a few requests for Lucas and Zinnia.

With both of them working hard to translate, and Lucas's Serperior assisting via vine gestures, they finally understood Dragonite's requirements.

Since it's afternoon tea, it and the Pokémon want desserts.

This shattered Zinnia's idea of making do with her carried Pokémon rations and Pokéblocks.

You must use ingredients found within the Dragon Holy Land. No outside items!

Dragonite confiscated Lucas's space pack and Zinnia's bracelet. Lucas didn't mind; Zinnia's last hope was cut off.

Near the Dragon Shrine there's a small room suitable for cooking. Since Lance and Liza of Charicific Valley often train here, appropriate living tools have been prepared.

Entry into the Dragon Shrine is forbidden.

Whoever's afternoon tea desserts are more favored by the Pokémon wins the hidden trial and receives the one-and-only Extreme Speed manual entrusted to Dragonite by Lance.

Lucas thought these demands were quite simple. From observation, the Holy Land already had a complete ecosystem: clear lakes, abundant flora, and many Pokémon.

For him, using these to make delicious desserts was no challenge. In fact, he had already identified a lot of ingredients during the discussion.

Zinnia, however, usually fed on store-bought instant rations and pre-made Pokémon food and Pokéblocks. She focused solely on training, squeezing time in a borderline unhealthy way, and naturally had zero cooking skills.

"Bwo~!"

With Dragonite's roar, Lucas vs. Zinnia—the cook-off—officially began.

Lucas had no intention of helping Zinnia. He went straight to the Butterfree circling Dragonite, hoping to borrow some nectar they collected regularly.

Zinnia was now his competitor. He wasn't about to be so kind as to help her—this was critical to compensating for his Dragonite's agility shortcomings.

The Butterfree gladly agreed to Lucas's request, gesturing for him to follow as they danced toward their hive.

"Bwo?"

Dragonite, serving as a slide for the dragon tots and good-natured to a fault, tilted its head at Zinnia, asking why she wasn't foraging for ingredients.

"…"

Zinnia said nothing, recalled Salamence, and directly followed Lucas.

She chose a slightly underhanded but, for a kitchen novice, the most correct decision—follow Lucas to gather ingredients.

To fulfill her mission—her obsession—to save the world, a little underhandedness was nothing, right?

She kept telling herself maybe Lucas wasn't good at cooking either, and with the same ingredients she might have an edge.

After Lucas got excellent honey from the Butterfree, he noticed Zinnia trailing behind had also received nectar from them.

Since Zinnia, too, was a participant in the hidden trial, the Butterfree were equally eager to see what desserts she'd make.

And so, whenever Lucas gathered an ingredient, Zinnia would follow and get the same. By the time Lucas returned with a bounty and headed to the small kitchen near the Shrine under Dragonite's lead, Zinnia had almost identical ingredients.

She even asked for more, hoping to surpass him in quantity.

This series of moves made Lucas shake his head slightly. She was too greedy and too desperate to excel at everything—this had already become an obsession.

He didn't bother with her and skillfully began making delicious desserts.

Zinnia, with the help of her partner—her Whismur named Aster—clumsily mimicked Lucas's techniques and ended up a step behind with a mishmash dessert with terrible seasoning.

When both desserts—completely different in looks and aroma—were placed before Dragonite and the others, they hesitated only a moment before happily devouring Lucas's fragrant treats, made with Dragonite's assistance.

At that moment, Zinnia knew she had lost.

But she hadn't given up.

The weighty mission in her heart, the thought that it had to be her—these drove her decision.

All this compelled Zinnia to sprint toward a small shrine by the lake near the kitchen right as the Pokémon, though reluctant, were about to eat her specially-made dessert out of consideration for her feelings.

The small shrine was mainly red in tone, with two stone pillars—exactly the Dragon Shrine Dragonite had forbidden them to enter.

Zinnia had thought long about it. Dragonite couldn't easily carry items, yet it said the Extreme Speed manual was in its care.

Aside from the small kitchen, which she'd already searched while making desserts, the only place Dragonite could safely stash the manual was this specifically forbidden Dragon Shrine!

The shrine was very close to the kitchen. Amid the Pokémon's shocked cries, Zinnia reached the entrance, pushed the doors open without hesitation, and searched rapidly, breathing hard.

Even her Whismur, cherishing the first dessert its trainer had made and leaving only Lucas's untouched to the side, hadn't expected Zinnia to suddenly do this.

Zinnia's gaze swept past a golden chalice with a blazing flame and fell on a small side table where a book with a blank cover lay quietly.

She grabbed the Extreme Speed manual without hesitation, dashed out, and shouted to Whismur, "Aster, come!"

As she spoke, Zinnia tossed out a Poké Ball and released Salamence.

This series of events left the wild Pokémon baffled and shocked. The huge Dragonite, as if its reverse scale had been touched, erupted with a terrifying aura and rose to its feet.

Lucas, who had been leisurely enjoying tea-time desserts with his Dragonite and Serperior, sighed. So it came to this after all?

"Her obsession runs too deep…"

He couldn't quite recall Zinnia's storyline—only vaguely of Rayquaza, a meteor, and a Key Stone—but he remembered her actions were somewhat fanatical.

Just for your obsession, you would trouble the people and Pokémon around you?

Lucas couldn't understand. How could that be reasonable?

"Dragonite, don't let it stay enraged too long. It may lose its reason."

"Serperior, stop Zinnia and Salamence!"

Lucas gave crisp orders to his two Pokémon.

In the anime, Dragonite flew into an Outrage after Team Rocket opened the shrine and toppled the mysterious Praying Flame. When gentle, it was very tame; when berserk, utterly ferocious.

At Lucas's command, his Dragonite moved to suppress the giant Dragonite. The opponent's size and strength were immense; it was a bit of a struggle.

"Serpe~."

Serperior glanced with disdain at Zinnia astride Salamence, ready to take off once Whismur returned. It hated thieves who snatched things.

Under sunlight, Serperior's energy surged to unprecedented levels. The earth of the Holy Land trembled. In the next instant, countless tree-trunk-thick roots burst from the ground—massive yet swift.

In a heartbeat, crazed vegetation, like wooden dragons, filled the sky above Salamence and Zinnia.

Those vines were each thicker than Salamence's body, shocking Zinnia and Salamence.

So not only Lucas's Dragonite, even his Serperior was this strong?

But—

"You're underestimating us! Salamence, whip up Hurricane!"

There was no turning back. Zinnia's eyes hardened. She ordered a wide-area attack without hesitation.

In her view, Grass moves were four-times resisted by Salamence's typing. Even with a power gap, that typing advantage should bridge it.

"ROAR!!!"

Whismur finally reached Zinnia. She recalled it at once, and Salamence let out a furious bellow, bathed in azure light. Using its blood-red wings as a pivot, high-speed air currents surged outward, shrieking so loud they rattled eardrums.

Terrified wild Pokémon scattered in panic as chaos erupted.

Serperior admitted it was angered. This girl would do anything for her obsession.

Under Serperior's control, countless rampant vines lunged at Salamence. Even where Hurricane struck, the vines only gained shallow white scratches, while Salamence looked increasingly bedraggled fleeing the pursuit.

Zinnia clung tightly to Salamence's back to avoid being shaken off, gritting her teeth. She hadn't expected Serperior's Frenzy Plant to be so terrifying. Even Salamence's full-power Hurricane couldn't sever a single root.

With equal strength and a typing advantage, Salamence could have cut them. It did have the power to sever a few.

But Serperior wasn't fighting alone. For safety, Lucas had also sent an invisible Victini to constantly buff Serperior.

With Victini's support, Salamence was no match. Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Fire Blast, Dragon Claw—none could cut the crazed vegetation.

In the end, the sky-full of wooden dragons ensnared Zinnia and Salamence as they tried to flee with the stolen manual.

On the other side, Dragonite used a few tricks to physically calm the big Dragonite.

Bound tight by vines, Zinnia and Salamence were slammed to the ground "by accident," letting out a dull groan.

Lucas walked over to the trussed-up pair, sighed, and said, "Why go this far? For a manual, you even hurt the Pokémon who, considering your feelings, tried to eat that over-salted dessert you made."

"A place like paradise, the Dragon Holy Land, became like this because of you."

He took the Extreme Speed manual from Zinnia's hand, gave her a flat look, then headed to the now-calm Dragonite, who was staring at the pitted ground and storm-torn flowers with sorrow.

Given the commotion, Lance and Claire's people who watched over Dragon's Den and the Holy Land would arrive soon.

Lucas didn't care how the Dragon Tamers would handle Zinnia. Everything she did that day danced on his bottom line. Could obsession really sway a person that much?

He came to the dejected Dragonite and the frightened wild Pokémon. "Want to see a magic trick?"

Dragonite and the others looked confused. With the Holy Land in this state, who had the mood for magic?

Lucas smiled, released Comfey, and took out a Z-Ring, setting an emerald crystal into it.

Victini appeared at Lucas and Comfey's side, golden aura rising, pouring boosts and energy into both of them.

"Comfey, Grassy Terrain Z!"

In an instant, green spread like a carpet, and a hundred flowers bloomed!

Chapter 318: Back to the Ranch, Milk Subscription Business and Nacli Evolution!

Dragonite felt that if miracles existed, they were happening now.

With Victini's help, Comfey's Grassy Terrain Z rippled outward in emerald waves. The energy stream smoothed the battered earth and made ordinary flowers grow and bloom anew.

In just a few breaths, the Holy Land returned to its former beauty, even lovelier with the infusion of rich life force.

Bound on the ground, Zinnia stared wide-eyed, full of questions.

What had Lucas done? What was that glowing thing on his wrist? How could the Pokémon called Comfey use a move that affected plant growth?

Making a whole field bloom in an instant—was that something an ordinary Pokémon could do?

No one cared about her thoughts. Dragonite's eyes welled with tears, like a child who had retrieved its unique treasure—crying tears of joy.

The young dragons and wild Pokémon it watched over jumped and cheered in their tender voices, celebrating the resurrection of the Holy Land after Salamence's raging winds.

Soon, excited Pokémon surrounded Lucas, Comfey, Dragonite, Serperior, and even the now-visible Victini—thanking their heroes in their own ways for restoring the beauty of the Holy Land.

And the culprits, Zinnia and Salamence, lay alone on the grass-and-dirt-scented ground, ignored.

After soothing the excited Pokémon and seeing them happily return to their newly beautified homes, Lucas recalled his team, leaving only Dragonite, took the Extreme Speed manual Dragonite had asked him to keep, and walked with Dragonite to Zinnia.

He crouched, looking at the dirt-smudged, slightly bedraggled Zinnia. Before Lance and Claire arrived, he asked, curious, "For this manual, you chose to risk theft even with me present—and with Lance and Claire likely nearby."

"I don't understand. Is it so attractive to you? Attractive enough that you'd risk making enemies of the Dragon Tamers as a member of the Meteoroid People?"

Zinnia was silent for a long while. When she tried to speak, a few blades of grass slipped into her mouth and she almost choked.

After clearing her mouth, she finally dropped the smile from her face and said coldly, "No reason you'd accept. You will never understand the weight of my responsibility, or my resolve to do whatever it takes."

"I lost this time. You can hand me over to the Dragon Tamers. I'll take responsibility for my actions."

"No need for you to say it. That was my plan."

Lucas showed no extra emotion at her response and pondered for a while.

"Responsibility, huh…"

"You focus on your so-called duty, but where does that leave your fellow Meteoroid People? Even if the Dragon Tamers won't cross regions to punish them, their reputation will suffer."

"Your Whismur chose first to taste the dessert it made with you, but you crushed its goodwill for your obsession. If you can't even consider your partner watching over you, what right do you have to talk about saving the world?"

Leaving those words, Lucas looked up to see Dragonite and Dragonair flying rapidly toward the Holy Land with people on their backs—Lance and Claire. The Dragon's Den trial was over.

"Hey, how did you know—"

Ignoring the disbelieving, slightly flustered question behind him, Lucas and Dragonite met Lance and Claire and briefly explained what happened.

Dragonite's trial, the dessert-making, Zinnia's sudden theft, and her subdual.

Lance and Claire fell silent for a while, surprised that Zinnia would do this. Finally, Lance said, "…Then Claire and I will take her. We'll contact the Meteoroid People in Hoenn."

Claire nodded slightly and smiled at Dragonite, "We'd originally planned a combat trial, but since Dragonite wanted desserts and liked yours, you passed the hidden trial. The Extreme Speed manual is yours."

"There's still time left in the Dragon's Den trial. You can return to the caverns and capture a Pokémon you like—this doesn't conflict with the hidden trial reward."

Claire remembered Lucas said he'd reached the Holy Land without capturing anything along the way and gave a friendly reminder.

"No need. Let's just go back together."

Lucas shook his head. He already had plenty of Pokémon to raise. On this trip alone he'd captured four Miltank and two Shuckle. He wasn't looking to add more.

Getting the Extreme Speed manual was his whole goal this time.

Since Lucas insisted, Claire didn't press. After all, this trainer was on the same level as her cousin—no place for her to interfere.

Lance sent out a Charizard, and Claire released a second Dragonair. The former carried the trussed-up Salamence; the latter carried Zinnia, and they flew to the Dragon Tamer estate.

Lucas and Dragonite, after bidding a reluctant farewell to the big Dragonite, followed Lance and Claire back through the skies.

Out of consideration for the Meteoroid People's face, they didn't parade Zinnia around tied up. They found a secluded spot to hold Zinnia and Salamence, then would consult the Dragon Elder on contacting Hoenn.

Lucas, meanwhile, turned back halfway to the rendezvous. After a short wait, Diantha, Cynthia, and Iris returned.

Diantha had caught an adorable Horsea in the Den, with the Swift Swim ability—planning to pair it with Goomy for a Rain double team.

Under Cynthia's watch, Iris caught something that surprised Lucas—making him sigh at fate's mysteries.

It was the same Lapras calf he had fed berries to in the Den.

Odd that a wannabe Dragon master caught two non-Dragon Pokémon in a row, but she was happy, insisting Lapras was a dragon, and Excadrill too.

When Lapras met Lucas, it showed close affection that made Iris a bit jealous. She complained she and Cynthia expended great effort to gain the wary herd's trust before finally coaxing the calf away—so why was it glued to Lucas at first sight?

Lucas could hardly admit he'd "buffed" Iris and Cynthia by warning the Lapras herd not to immediately trust any humans, could he?

He smoothly changed the subject.

When Lance and Claire returned with the Dragon Elder and declared the Dragon Festival over, visiting trainers had gained many promising dragon Pokémon, and the Dragon Tamers had won new friendships. Both sides were satisfied.

After the four rode back to the hotel, handed Iris over to Drayden exactly as promised, and saw Cynthia off to Sinnoh, Diantha to Kalos, and Drayden and Iris to Unova—

Lucas didn't ask how they'd handle Zinnia. He booked a flight the next morning from Johto to Paldea and turned in.

…

The next day, Lucas boarded the plane and, after nearly a day and a night, arrived in Levincia of Paldea.

On July 4th, he rode Dragonite back to Los Platos and landed at the ranch.

After the usual warm welcome from his Pokémon, Lucas led the four new Miltank to the pasture, introducing the environment one by one—especially stressing that if it looked like rain, they should return to the shelter, and that at night they could sleep in the Pokémon hut by the shelter.

"If there's danger or you sense wild Pokémon invading the farm, find Luxray. He's the head of ranch security and very strong."

The four well-behaved Miltank sat in a row, staring curiously at Luxray. Luxray gave a friendly growl, which backfired, making them scoot back, a little intimidated.

Understandable. Even among their kind, Lucas's Luxray had a rare, imposing presence. Even when restraining himself, a strong aura leaked out, making the Miltank a bit afraid.

Luxray was used to this. Give it a few days—the Miltank would definitely see him as the most reliable boss.

"Those Corvisquire and Corviknight circling overhead also guard the ranch. Don't be nervous when you see them."

He pointed to the sky and reminded them.

The four newcomers all had Thick Fat. The ranch's original Miltank, with Sap Sipper, plopped down and started mowing fresh shoots at a speed that startled the new four.

The freshest growth is always the most tender, tastiest, and most nutritious—gourmets of pasture: Miltank.

Two Skiddo led by Sawsbuck came to watch and shook their heads, used to Miltank's bottomless appetite.

Exchanging looks, the four new Miltank began exploring their new home as Miltank do—curling into balls and rolling with Rollout across the pasture, stopping to sniff and taste the grass at each spot.

Even the Mudsdale cooling in a mud pit eyed the herd rolling around with curiosity.

"I remember Whitney said frequent rolling and massage keep Miltank healthy and produce tastier MooMoo Milk."

Watching them, Lucas decided to start practicing Whitney's Miltank massage techniques tonight—and maybe generalize it to other Pokémon later.

Then—

He steeled himself. "Luxray, please keep an eye on Miltank. Make sure it rolls at least five laps of the pasture per day. At this rate, it'll get sick from obesity."

"Meow-ow~"

Luxray nodded slightly, golden eyes narrowing at the Miltank whose chewing slowed at Lucas's words.

It knew exactly which one he meant. The other four had formed a habit under Whitney's care—rolling when in a good mood. Only his ranch's Miltank ate and slept on repeat.

Lucas was right—time to be strict.

Sparks crackled in Luxray's mane.

Not long after leaving the pasture, Lucas seemed to hear Miltank's "screams."

He ignored it. Luxray always knew its limits—probably just a mild zap to the rump for a tingly reminder.

On the way to the Salt House, Lucas pondered ranch development with the four new Miltank.

A Miltank yields roughly 20 liters per day. His Sap Sipper Miltank from Hanzawa's ranch produced about a quarter more, with richer nutrition.

At 105 liters per day, the ranch couldn't consume that much. MooMoo Milk was nutrient-dense; long-term intake easily led to Miltank-like chubbiness and often needed dilution.
Even turning some into yogurt, cheese, butter, ice cream, condensed milk, etc., wouldn't use it all.

How to handle the surplus became a pressing issue.

"I don't think anyone near Los Platos runs Miltank ranches. Most milk is shipped from other cities, which means delays… Maybe I can brand it as 'fresh' MooMoo Milk and start a subscription delivery service."

He rubbed his chin, nearing the Salt House, and decided.

"Yeah… I'll ask Oranguru for advice—on logistics, for example."

Muttering, he slipped on shoe covers and lifted the Salt House curtain.

The rock salt underneath had likely been collected by Oranguru yesterday; there wasn't much stock. The three Nacli were stacked together, curiously watching the two other red-and-blue guests—Shuckle.

Shuckle usually liked tree hollows or holes under/within rocks—good for fermenting berries into juice. The sunny Salt House wasn't ideal.

They'd only stay there temporarily. Once Lucas found a suitable big rock, he'd move them to the orchard—shade from the canopy, all the berries they could pick to ferment, and company from Applin and Tropius near the apple trees.

Those two little ones, after over a month of growth, could live without Serperior now. But two alone was still dull. The Shuckle siblings would be perfect playmates.

In one corner, the feed trough had been licked clean. Lucas smiled, surprised. "You finished it all?"

He had rushed to fill their trough with Mt. Silver soil he'd gotten from a Larvitar. After a short while, it was all gone.

"Salt-salt!" "Salt-salt!" "Salt-salt!"

The three Nacli hopped around Lucas, telling him how delicious the soil was.

The two Shuckle slowly crawled over, craning their necks to tell him they'd eaten some too and found it tasty.

While he accepted their thanks, Lucas was a bit surprised Shuckle could eat soil—but it made sense.

They were Rock-type as well, same family as Nacli. He'd thought their shells explained the Rock typing and that their bodies were just Bug-type, so he assumed berries were their whole diet.

Turns out Pokémon biology was deeper than he thought.

As they bounced and rubbed against each other, crystalline white rock salt fell through the youngest's diamond-shaped gaps, landing on the collector plate.

Then, a blinding light flooded the Salt House. Lucas instinctively shut his eyes; the Shuckle siblings retreated into their shells from the glare.

As the light faded and he reopened his eyes, Lucas was stunned.

The small, cute Nacli had vanished, replaced by three Pokémon like blocky bricks.

Their name was Naclstack!

"They evolved…"

Eyes wide, Lucas wondered if the Mt. Silver soil was that potent—that a single meal pushed them over the edge.

But thinking it through, he judged it wasn't just that.

Even the best soil needed time to accumulate effects.

Accumulate—yes. The energy and nutrients they'd built up previously happened to erupt today, triggered by their joy, finishing the first stage of evolution.

As Naclstack, their height was about Shuckle's, but they were broader and longer.

The Salt House wasn't cramped, but they took up a lot more space.

Thankfully, he had built the Salt House to accommodate their final form, Garganacl—entrance and room were more than sufficient.

Evolution is like human growth; their once-childish calls now sounded deeper. They moved their new limbs with some clumsiness, shuffled to Lucas, and cried with joy.

"Stack stack~"

"Congratulations!"

Busy but careful to be fair, Lucas patted each head in turn.

Seeing the once smaller Nacli now bigger than itself, the red Shuckle brother shrank timidly. The blue Shuckle sister, less indulgent, stuck out a sticky tendril to drag him forward to offer congratulations.

"Shuckle~" (Congrats)

The little brother added, cautiously, "Shu…ckle~" (Co…ngrats)

"Stack~" (Thank you)

In high spirits, the Naclstack lined up and, in sync, aimed at an open patch of floor and expelled their internal product!

In an instant—

Crystalline, snow-white rock salt poured out, piling into a small salt mountain in moments—quite a sight.

Post-evolution, their salt output was almost two to three times that of Nacli—meaning two to three times the revenue!

Overwhelmed by the sudden windfall, Lucas couldn't help but grin.

Good news just kept coming!

He was already imagining when they became Garganacl—curing with Salt Cure, even higher yields, and… the rumored Purifying Salt that could heal grievous wounds!