It took Yang Tao a few minutes to get from Mt. Moon to Cerulean City; the sky here was dark, and even the starlight was obscured by thick clouds.
Yang Tao landed at the entrance of the Cerulean City Gym, looking at the tightly shut Gym doors with a hint of regret, saying, "I'm a step too late. I'll go back and rest first..."
He summoned a wooden door and returned to the Overworld.
Yang Tao released Growlithe and Caterpie, who had almost been blown away in the air.
Caterpie was still a bit shaken. As soon as it was let out of the bucket, it scurried up Yang Tao's leg and trembled in his arms.
Seeing this, Yang Tao chuckled, "Alright, don't be scared. We're home now."
Caterpie cautiously poked its head out to confirm it wasn't in the air, then let out a sigh of relief.
"Woof~" (Boss, is this Cerulean City?)
"No, this is my world, and it's your home from now on."
Yang Tao stroked Growlithe and looked up at Jean flying over from a distance, a heartfelt smile on his face. He reached out and wrapped his arms around the Jean's waist, then held Caterpie in his hand, asking, "What do you think of this little guy?"
Jean showed no fear or dislike. She looked at the dazed Caterpie and chuckled softly, "This little guy is quite cute, and it even has a bit of time power. My dear, should I bestow some Ender power upon it?"
Ender power?
The words 'teleportation' immediately popped into Yang Tao's mind.
An Ender Caterpie with time and teleportation powers, and then learning Thunder Web—just thinking about it was exciting.
With that, and Gigantamax, he could go challenge Rayquaza to a arm wrestle.
"Of course, wife. If possible, give Growlithe the ability to teleport as well."
Jean nodded gently and lightly touched Caterpie's head with her finger. There were no flashy sound or light effects.
However, the circular pattern on Caterpie's second body segment directly turned into an eerie purple, and faint purple particles appeared in the air, merging into the circle.
Seeing this, Yang Tao couldn't help but count the circles on Caterpie's body. There were five fully formed circles. With a slight hint of obsessive-compulsive disorder, he couldn't help but think, 'Time takes one, Ender power takes one. Can the remaining three also be filled with some power?'
Aside from the change in the circles on its body, Caterpie showed no discomfort after receiving the Ender power.
"Maomao, try the power you just gained."
Upon hearing this, Caterpie's body transformed into purple particles and vanished from his hand. He turned his head and saw that it had already appeared on Growlithe's back.
Growlithe immediately looked on with envy.
It looked at Yang Tao, then at Jean, and immediately put on a smiling face, wagging its tail and sidling up to her.
Flattering the mistress wasn't betraying the master.
"This little guy is quite cute too."
Jean clearly preferred Growlithe. She immediately squatted down and petted the little Growlithe. In an instant, the black patterns on Growlithe's body turned purple.
"Woof woof!" (Amazing power!)
Yang Tao smiled at this. As for Slowking, it could already learn Teleport, so Yang Tao didn't let it out.
He waved to Caterpie.
The next moment, Caterpie teleported back onto his hand. Looking at the three empty circles, the first thing that came to Yang Tao's mind was the Moon.
After all, the closest thing to a god, or even a god itself, was her.
However, the Moon's abilities were basically psychic powers. If she could truly bestow some power upon Caterpie, it would mostly be to give Caterpie a 'Psychic' typing.
'What kind of overpowered Psychic-type moves are there?'
As he thought, Yang Tao remembered Team Rocket's Wobbuffet.
Wobbuffet could be said to be Team Rocket's strongest Pokémon. Its invincible Counter and Mirror Coat were used with such ease, whether facing Pikachu's Thunderbolt or Giratina, one Counter taught them a lesson.
'Psychic power doesn't seem impossible. Maybe I should go ask the Moon, but I can't just go empty-handed... always bothering her. At least I should bring a gift.'
The problem was, Yang Tao truly didn't know what a satellite would be interested in.
Give her a world?
Apparently, there weren't many worlds suitable for the Moon to wreak havoc in.
"Wife, I'm going to take Caterpie to the Backrooms to do something with the Moon."
Jean immediately understood Yang Tao's thoughts. She blinked her large eyes and said with a smile, "This little guy will definitely become very powerful in the future..."
Yang Tao laughed, "Who knows? How far it can go depends on its own efforts."
With that, Yang Tao turned and walked towards the wooden door to Backrooms Level 14, Dyed Blood Forest.
He pushed open the wooden door.
The Moon was still hanging in the sky. Just as Yang Tao was about to speak, he frowned and turned to look at the dilapidated field hospital behind him.
On the second floor of the hospital, a figure was peeking out, observing him. Upon seeing his gaze, it quickly retreated back into the window.
In a fleeting glance, Yang Tao clearly saw the person's appearance: an Asian female, at most twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Although her face was dirty, it was clear she was quite pretty.
'Another unlucky soul ran into this place?'
Being able to reach the field hospital alive meant this person was truly lucky. If they had run into the Dyed Blood Forest, they would likely be bones under those bloody maple leaves by now.
The Moon might not bother with ordinary humans, but those Entity maple trees and those Entities resembling human children were not to be trifled with.
However, Yang Tao wasn't in the mood to deal with this Wanderer right now. He looked up at the Moon hanging in the sky.
A mass of bloody dark clouds appeared, completely obscuring the Moon's figure.
Yang Tao: "..."
"Moon, don't be like that, alright? I'm not here for a free meal."
To the Moon, Yang Tao was someone who came in the morning, at noon, and at night. Just when she finally woke up, Yang Tao came again. She had no temper left for him.
If I can't provoke you, I can hide.
Yang Tao flew directly high into the sky, passing through the clouds, and saw the Moon still hanging high in the sky.
Although the Moon was not a true celestial body, its enormous size could still make a Planetary Engine retreat.
Only by observing it up close could one truly experience the pressure the Moon exerted.
"I'm just thinking that I'm always bothering you, and I want to give you some gifts, but I don't know what you like, so I came to ask you..."
The Moon's voice sounded beside Yang Tao, "I have already planted a psychic seed in your pet. As for what it will become, that depends on its efforts."
"As for a gift, just let me rest for half a year..."
Upon hearing this, Yang Tao immediately looked at Caterpie, who was perched on his shoulder. The previously awake Caterpie was now fast asleep.
However, the third circular pattern on its body had already changed from a light gold to a silver-white.
Clearly, the Moon couldn't access his memories, but Caterpie was completely defenseless in front of her.
"Alright then, I'll try my best..."
Half a year's time, just grit your teeth and it'll pass.