Chapter 106: The shocked Valor and Slowking

Ten days flew by quickly. For an intermediate secret realm the size of several cities, that amount of time was nowhere near enough to explore everything.

Most people who entered the secret realm spent their days hunting for treasures, marking potential sites for future explorations.

Ashborn, with the help of his Dowsing Machine, was leagues ahead in his discoveries, unearthing treasures that others could only dream of.

Among the spoils Ashborn had gathered were a rare Fire Spar—the treasure of this secret realm—along with various other valuable items like a Toxic Orb, rough diamonds, Mega Evolution Stones, and a multitude of evolution stones.

He even managed to capture a cyan-potenial Slowpoke and a pseudo-Elite Steelix, making this expedition a massive success.

As Ashborn stepped out of the secret realm, he spotted his father, Valor, waiting for him at the entrance.

Upon seeing his son, Valor immediately rushed over.

He inspected Ashborn from head to toe, relieved to find that he was in good shape.

With a firm pat on his son's shoulder, Valor said, "Your mother has dinner ready. She's just waiting for you to come home."

He didn't bother asking what Ashborn had found in the secret realm.

It was only an intermediate-level one, after all. Unless Ashborn had discovered the realm's ultimate treasure, anything else would be easily acquired by the Zovic family.

For Valor, Ashborn's safety and the experience he gained were far more important than the treasures he had gathered.

The following day, a second wave of explorers entered the secret realm—mostly aristocratic families from the surrounding region of Denver state.

These families had their chance to explore, and only after they exited would the secret realm be opened to the public.

Although this system favored aristocratic families, it was just the way the world worked—fairness was never guaranteed.

Once it opened to everyone, a Rift Guide—a condensed version of the secret realm's map and treasure locations—would be available for purchase.

The Trainer Association compiled these guides using information provided by the aristocratic families who first entered, attempting to level the playing field for common Trainers.

As they rode home, Ashborn filled his father in on the treasures he had uncovered. 

When Valor heard that Ashborn had captured a Slowpoke with cyan-level potential, he raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

A few moments later, when Ashborn mentioned acquiring a Toxic Orb, rough diamonds, and a pseudo-Elite Steelix, Valor's surprise began to grow.

But when Ashborn finally revealed that he had also obtained a Mega Evolution Stone and the Fire Spar, Valor's face froze.

By the time they reached home, he was still in a daze, unable to comprehend how much his son had accomplished in such a short span of time.

Ashborn, however, didn't pay much attention to his father's stunned expression.

As soon as they arrived, he opened the door and was greeted by the delicious aroma of a home-cooked meal.

"Son, you're back!" his mother, Karen, exclaimed in delight. Just like Valor, she checked him over to make sure he was unharmed. 

Karen hadn't seen her son in ten days and had missed him dearly.

After all, no matter how old or independent Ashborn became, he would always be her little boy.

"Where's your father?" she asked, noticing that Ashborn had entered the house alone.

"Did you come home by yourself? He said he was going to pick you up."

There was a slight note of irritation in her voice, as she suspected Valor might have used the excuse of picking up Ashborn to sneak off and fish.

"He's in the back," Ashborn replied.

At that moment, Valor finally entered, still looking dazed and out of sorts. 

"What's wrong with your dad?" Karen asked, perplexed by the bewildered expression on his face. "He was fine when he left."

Ashborn chuckled. "He's just a bit... overwhelmed."

Karen wasn't entirely sure what Ashborn meant by that, but she rolled her eyes at Valor, who was still standing at the door, seemingly lost in thought.

"Come inside and wash up. Dinner's ready," she called out.

"Okay," Ashborn replied cheerfully.

After ten days in the secret realm, surviving on pre-packed meals, he was more than ready for some real food.

His mother's cooking, after all, was second to none—better even than five-star hotel fare.

Being a senior breeder, Karen had honed her culinary skills to perfection, and Ashborn had been missing her cooking desperately.

---

Three days later, in the backyard forest, Ashborn stood with Slowpoke and Shellder—two Pokémon destined to evolve together.

This was their first meeting, and Slowpoke's eyes lit up as soon as it saw Shellder.

In an uncharacteristic burst of speed, Slowpoke raced towards Shellder, tail held out expectantly, as if offering it to be bitten.

Shellder, on the other hand, was puzzled by Slowpoke's behavior, but something about that pink tail looked incredibly appetizing.

Without thinking, it opened its mouth and moved in to bite.

Ashborn quickly intervened, blocking Shellder just in time.

"That was close," he muttered, pulling Shellder back. He couldn't let them evolve like this—at least, not yet.

"Metagross, keep an eye on them. Don't let Shellder bite Slowpoke's tail," Ashborn ordered.

Metagross complied immediately, using Confusion to lift Shellder into the air, preventing it from reaching Slowpoke.

Slowpoke, meanwhile, stared longingly at Shellder as it floated in the air.

Just three meters separated them, but to Slowpoke, it felt like the distance between life and death.

Ashborn sighed at the sight of Slowpoke's pouty expression.

"You'll get your Shellder soon enough," he assured the Pokémon.

Slowpoke, with its droopy eyes and dopey demeanor, was easily the most endearing member of Ashborn's team.

When it looked at him with those tearful eyes, Ashborn couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

Setting up a camera, Ashborn prepared for the key moment—Slowpoke's evolution into Slowking.

Since Slowking was a rare and newly discovered evolutionary form, recording the evolution would earn Ashborn rewards from the Trainer Association.

Standing in front of the camera, Ashborn placed a King's Rock on Slowpoke's head and then instructed Shellder,

"Bite the King's Rock."

Metagross released Shellder, which immediately clamped down on the King's Rock with a strong bite.

A dazzling white light enveloped Slowpoke's body as its form began to change.

When the light faded, Slowpoke had evolved into Slowking.

Its new appearance was striking—a regal figure with its hands clasped behind its back and a spiral crown on its head, exuding an air of wisdom and royalty.

But the moment Slowking opened its mouth, that regal aura vanished.

"Sloowwking!" it called out in a voice that sounded utterly silly and not at all fitting for a king.

Ashborn couldn't help but laugh. Despite Slowking's dignified appearance, its voice was as goofy as ever.

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Adios