Ye Huo stared in shock as Lin Yu and Ye Tian walked over chatting and laughing.
He was the young trainer who'd come with Ye Tian — they were from the same clan and knew each other's personalities inside out.
Ye Tian was famous for being soft but stubborn.
Even if Lin Yu had lowered his attitude,
Ye Huo couldn't believe a prodigy who'd just won the national tournament would humble himself like that.
And even if he had…
there was no way Ye Tian would be laughing and joking with him, let alone looking admiring.
"Did you two… make up already?"
Ye Tian scratched his head in embarrassment. "Make up? I was being narrow-minded before. Little sister's right — someone as talented as Lin Yu absolutely deserves to come to Dragon Island and catch a Dratini!"
Ye Huo gaped.
That was not what he'd been saying earlier.
"Ahem, kidding… mostly. The clan elders still have to approve, of course."
While the two were talking, Xiaoye slipped over to Lin Yu and looped her arm through his.
"You were amazing, bro!" she whispered proudly.
Lin Yu tapped her nose playfully. "Next time something like this happens, tell me first. Don't keep it a secret."
"Mmm~ I will next time."
She pouted softly.
She hadn't overthought it back then — she'd only known the Dragon Pool would help Lin Yu.
Suddenly she changed the subject. "Don't be shocked by what's inside Dragon Island later!"
Lin Yu laughed.
"Please. I've commanded Kyogre in battle. You think a little island can scare me?"
Xiaoye just smiled skeptically.
She knew he'd be stunned soon enough.
"What does the Dragon Pool actually do?" Lin Yu asked curiously.
"The elders say there's a huge Dragon Crystal buried deep beneath the island. The groundwater mixed with its energy formed the pool. It's incredibly good for Dragon-type Pokémon… and for us Dragon Masters."
Ye Tian finally jumped in to explain.
"It boosts Dragon-type strength, raises their potential, and there's even a small chance…"
He hesitated and didn't finish.
He'd been about to say a tiny chance to comprehend the Dragonic Origin.
But the odds were absurdly low.
Besides, Lin Yu was still an outsider — some secrets weren't his to share.
Ye Huo stood awkwardly to the side, feeling like a third wheel.
— DRAaaaa!
A long, resonant cry echoed across the island.
The Dratini and Dragonair on the beach all took flight toward the center, as if answering a call.
"The Dragon Pool is opening! Let's go!"
The two young men shouted at the same time.
They summoned their Dragonites, and Xiaoye called out her Dragonair.
Lin Yu was about to release Latias when Xiaoye tugged his sleeve.
"Ride mine, bro."
Her slender, elegant Dragonair twisted through the air before landing reluctantly in front of him.
Lin Yu figured it was better to go with the flow on Dragon Island.
He hopped onto its back.
Its scales were unbelievably smooth, like the finest silk — a wonderful texture to touch.
The three Dragon-types soared toward the island's heart.
Dragon Island…
Only once they entered the forest did Lin Yu realize what that name truly meant.
Dragonite.
Haxorus.
Altaria.
Axew…
All of them were here, roaming the woods freely.
But the most numerous were still the Dratini and Dragonair line.
Every Pokémon was heading for the center.
It was mind-blowing. Pokémon nearly impossible to find in the outside world gathered here in huge flocks.
This secret realm was priceless.
They soon reached the heart of the island.
A massive stone mountain loomed ahead, enormous yet hollow inside — like a giant bowl from above.
Hundreds of Dragon-type Pokémon crowded before its entrance.
"The Dragon Pool is inside that mountain," Xiaoye whispered.
Lin Yu nodded, deeply impressed.
There were powerful Pokémon everywhere — level 50 and 60 Dragonites were a common sight.
Then even Lin Yu, used to extraordinary sights, froze in shock.
— DRAaaaaaaaaa!
A deafening cry split the sky.
The clouds tore open like paper, and a colossal Dragonite descended from the heavens.
It stood nearly 40 meters tall. A single claw was bigger than the ordinary Dragonites below.
"Whoa…"
Lin Yu immediately checked its level.
[Pokémon: Dragonite]
Ability: Multiscale (Maximized)
Gender: Male
Potential: Level 3 Legendary
Level: 99
Moves: Protect, Hyper Beam, Dragon Dance, Wing Attack, Dragon Rush, Ice Beam, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Extreme Speed…
A Dragonite that huge?!
Level 99!
Xiaoye giggled at his stunned face.
"That's the boss of Dragon Island — the strongest Dragonite here."
No kidding.
It was terrifyingly powerful.
Level 99…
It was the second-strongest Pokémon Lin Yu had ever seen.
Yet he could see age weighing on its face — a faint, fading vitality.
It had lived far too long; its life was drawing to a close.
But it was still incomparably powerful.
— DRA!
With one more cry, all the Dragon-types roared in unison.
The giant Dragonite surveyed its kin, then fixed its gaze on the four humans.
It lingered for a moment on Lin Yu, sensing no Dragon Master Power within him,
then soared back into the sky, whipping up a storm wind.
The other Dragons filed inside one after another.
"Alright, let's head in," Ye Tian called.
The group entered in an orderly line.
Inside was a whole new world — a maze of tunnels like an anthill, with only four central passages wider than the rest.
"Little sister, little brother Lin, we'll leave you to it. See you inside."
Ye Tian waved and headed into one passage with Ye Huo.
Xiaoye nodded, then turned to Lin Yu.
"Once you go in, there's a steaming pool inside. Let Charizard and Latias soak in it — it'll help them a lot. You can even soak too, like a hot bath."
"Got it."
She suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and release Latias first."
"Huh?"
Lin Yu did as she said.
"Eerie~"
Latias was still drowsy from being inside her Poké Ball when Xiaoye grabbed one of her wing-hands.
"Latias is coming with me to soak." She glanced at Lin Yu, eyes playful and defensive.
Lin Yu blinked and immediately understood what she was implying.
Latias was completely confused.
She'd only just come out!
But when she saw Lin Yu nod, she didn't resist — and halfway down the passage, she even shifted into a human form.