"I'm back."
After finishing a day of educational streaming, Chen Mo returned to the campsite.
Opening the tent—
He saw Absol lying in the corner, wearing a completely lifeless expression.
"What's wrong, Absol?"
Chen Mo walked over and gently patted its head.
Faced with his attempt at appeasement, Absol rolled its eyes, then revealed the Pokémon egg it had been cradling against its belly, wrapped tightly in its soft fur.
"Absol…"
Oh, come on.
You're the one who handed this thing to me—how dare you ask what's wrong?
Yi-ge, carrying the camera behind Chen Mo, captured the entire scene, and the livestream chat instantly burst into laughter.
[Absol: You've got the nerve to ask 'what's wrong'? Chen Mo, your shamelessness amazes me.]
[Back in Evergreen Forest, Absol could act cute around Suicune. Now? New boss, and already stuck raising the next generation.]
[Absol: If you're not the one incubating it, don't accept Quagsire's request, thank you.]
[LOL, that expression change is killing me.]
[Totally fair. If I were Absol, I'd be annoyed too—left at home to hatch an egg while the boss goes out having fun.]
"You guys can't say that," Chen Mo defended himself. "I really didn't have a choice. I explained it earlier—out here in the wild, conditions are limited, and you can't just handle a Pokémon egg casually."
"For example, temperature is crucial, right? I've emphasized that before. Only a stable, appropriate temperature can help the egg hatch properly. Otherwise, it could negatively affect the Pokémon inside."
"And think about it—among our team, who's the most suitable for incubating an egg? Isn't it Absol?"
"Alright, alright, I know everyone's worried about Absol and the egg. Don't worry—our trip to Cangqing Mountain is almost over. Once we're back in the city, Absol won't have to work this hard anymore."
As he spoke, Chen Mo glanced at Absol.
It was strange.
Although Absol often looked like it wanted to be left alone, whenever Chen Mo asked for help, it would always agree in the end.
At first, Chen Mo worried this might lower Absol's affection.
But after a few tries, he realized—
According to his [Detection Eye], Absol's affection never really dropped. Sometimes, it even increased.
Like this time—helping incubate the egg had raised it quite a bit.
"…I don't get it."
Chen Mo scratched his head.
Looking at Absol, he smiled.
"Want something to eat first? Pidgeotto found a bunch of berries today—we can make a simple berry salad."
Absol glanced at him and nodded.
Then, as if remembering something, it raised its head—
But Chen Mo spoke first.
"I know—no bitter berries like Rawst or Tamato, right? Don't worry, I remember."
As a Trainer, Chen Mo prided himself on remembering each Pokémon's food preferences.
"…It went up again."
He noticed that Absol's affection ticked up slightly once more.
Smiling, he shook his head.
"Oh right—I almost forgot. I need to give this to Magikarp first."
Under Absol's gaze, Chen Mo pulled out a spotted stone.
The chat immediately exploded.
[Teacher Mo, are you really giving the Everstone to Magikarp? That means it'll never evolve…]
[I think it's good—he's respecting Magikarp's choice.]
[Wait, what's an Everstone? Did I miss something?]
[You missed this afternoon's stream—he found it in a rocky area.]
[Quick explanation: Everstone prevents Pokémon from evolving.]
[Another magical stone? Like the Thunder Stone before?]
[Time to become a miner and get rich.]
Although everyone thought Chen Mo had simply found the Everstone—
It actually came from his system.
To avoid suspicion, he had Pidgeotto place it somewhere he would "discover" it.
After all, with Yi-ge filming, he couldn't just pull items out of nowhere.
"…Absol."
Watching Chen Mo leave the tent with the Everstone, Absol recalled that strange Magikarp.
After a long moment—
It closed its eyes, hugging the egg.
Not my problem.
…
By the calm lakeside—
Magikarp stared at the Everstone.
Before it could react—
Gyarados beside it growled.
"Roar!"
Its eyes locked onto Chen Mo, full of hostility.
As if saying—
I've trained this fish for so long so it can become a dragon—and now you show up with that?
Pikachu glared back without hesitation.
"Pika!"
It trusted both Chen Mo and Magikarp's decision.
Magikarp glanced at Gyarados.
Their eyes met.
After a long silence—
Gyarados turned and sank into the water, its imposing aura fading.
[Suddenly feel bad for Gyarados…]
[Yeah, it must be hurting.]
[All that training for nothing…]
[Honestly, I get it. Gyarados is cool and powerful…]
[But maybe that's why Magikarp doesn't want to evolve—the loss of control.]
Chen Mo didn't dwell on it.
He simply extended his hand again.
"If this is what you want…"
"Then I'll respect it."
"Take it."
"Glub…"
Magikarp nodded.
Using its improved control over Water-type energy, it lifted the Everstone with a stream of water—
Then swallowed it whole.
"…Huh?"
The chat exploded.
[IT ATE IT!?]
[That thing's huge!]
[Is that how it works!?]
Chen Mo wasn't sure either.
System items never came with instructions.
But seeing this—
He was reminded of Ash's Rowlet, who also swallowed an Everstone.
"Are you okay?"
"Glub."
Magikarp confirmed it was fine.
Relieved, Chen Mo prepared to head back—
But suddenly—
Gyarados returned, swimming rapidly toward shore.
Pikachu tensed.
"Pika…"
But Gyarados ignored them, staring at the lake.
Then—
"Fwoo—!"
A graceful figure burst from the water.
"Milotic!"
The chat went wild.
[WHY IS MILOTIC HERE!?]
[Did Gyarados pick another fight!?]
[Wait—Gyarados is backing off…]
Even Gyarados looked confused.
It had been brooding alone—
When Milotic suddenly charged at it.
And somehow—
It ended up retreating all the way here.
"Roar!"
It glared angrily.
Are you crazy!?
Milotic ignored it.
Instead—
It looked at Chen Mo.
"…Huh?"
Chen Mo instinctively turned—
Toward the forest behind him.
Then—
A strange sound echoed.
Too far for aura detection.
But enough to put him on alert.
Soon—
The sound grew closer.
And then—
A yellow figure burst out of the forest.
A duck-like Pokémon, clutching its head, mouth wide open, flailing its arms—
Crying out in extreme pain.
Chen Mo froze.
The chat instantly identified it.
[Psyduck!]
[Why is Psyduck here!?]
[Is its headache acting up!?]
[But why would that attract Milotic?]
As Psyduck got closer—
Chen Mo noticed something.
Inside its open beak—
There was something black.
Stuck.
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