Chapter 107

Obtaining an unknown stone seemed to be of some value.

Just as Lumine was about to take out her Pokédex and take a picture to send to the group chat to ask Takumi—

"Rustle—" not far away.

A patch of grass suddenly started shaking.

Paimon, who was still cheering about their newfound fortune, suddenly turned pale.

"...Uh, what's this?"

"Champion Pokémon?!"

Hearing this, Lumine also began to panic. Although she had left Mondstadt and come to Liyue to pay homage to the Statue of the Seven of the Geo Archon, thus activating her Geo powers, Lumine was still capable enough to fight elite monsters and compete with elemental lords. With enough effort, she could always wear down an elemental lord with unlimited medicine from Yaowang Sect and the Shennong Sword Technique.

But if it was a Champion Pokémon... Lumine felt she would be beaten badly. A single punch could instantly drain her health bar. In short, it was a hopeless gap with no room for maneuver.

"Paimon—prepare!"

Lumine immediately switched her elemental power to Anemo, intending to use its acceleration to make a quick escape.

Paimon, being sensible, grabbed the ribbon on Lumine's back. Pikachu, with his hat on, lay atop Lumine's head, gripping a lock of Lumine's blonde hair tightly with his small paws.

"Well~?"

At that moment, a grass-type Pokémon emerged from the rustling grass. There was no sense of pressure or intimidation—no scenes of a giant body crushing the surrounding trees. Lumine, who was about to run, relaxed when she heard the young Pokémon's soft cry.

Paimon also let go of Lumine's ribbon, floated in the air, and patted her chest with her small hand.

"Hey, it's not a Champion Pokémon!"

"It's just a small one."

"It's on par with our Champion pikachu~"

Paimon, who was good at switching moods, immediately returned to a relaxed state. She floated happily toward the grass-type Pokémon, which surprisingly wasn't afraid at all. On the contrary, the Pokémon, which looked like a hedgehog-like mammal, was full of curiosity and stared at Paimon.

"Well~!"

The young Pokémon's cry seemed like a greeting, filled with cheerfulness.

Lumine had already taken out her Pokédex and scanned the unexpected grass-type Pokémon.

**Beep~**

**Chespin, Grass Type, Spiny Nut Pokémon**

- Level: 8

- Ability: Overgrow

- Hidden Ability: Bulletproof

- Moves: Vine Whip, Rollout, Defense Curl, Growth...

**Description:** The head and back are covered with a hard carapace, making it unharmed even if hit by a truck.

"Oh!!"

Lumine's eyes lit up. Although this Pokémon was only level 8, Lumine counted six known moves. She often watched the group chat and had memorized a lot of knowledge.

She knew that the more moves a wild Pokémon knew, the higher its potential might be!

Besides...

Chespin looked somewhat familiar.

Lumine continued reading the Pokédex's information, and when she saw the text introduction, her eyes went wide.

**Grass Type Starter from the Kalos Region!**

Hold on! A starter Pokémon?

Lumine quickly checked the group chat's recent messages about starter Pokémon prices. She found the discussion from two days ago.

The winning bidder was a dignitary from the Jade Chamber in Liyue Harbor, who spent eight million Mora!

"Grass type?!"

"Grass type!!"

"Think, Lumine, think—where did your wit go?"

Lumine's palms were sweating, her thoughts were racing, and her eyes suddenly sparkled with joy and cunning.

She put down her trainer's backpack, dug out a box of high-end energy cubes she bought for Pikachu, and offered them to Chespin.

These resources cost her almost all the Mora she had left, but Lumine couldn't care less now.

"Little one, do you want to try this?"

Lumine knelt down, speaking in the softest and sweetest voice she could manage. She opened the box of energy cubes and poured a few into her hand.

"Well~?"

Chespin, who was curious, sniffed the cubes.

"Well!!"

After eating one, Chespin looked at Lumine more favorably.

After a while, Lumine, Paimon, and Pikachu became well-acquainted with Chespin. Pikachu even welcomed the new little friend.

"Pika pika!"

(Little brother, I'll protect you from now on!)

"Well~"

(Can you give me an extra share of your ration?)

Pikachu looked confused for a moment. But when he noticed Lumine looking at Chespin expectantly, Pikachu, who took his role as caretaker seriously, sighed inwardly and nodded.

"Pika!"

(No problem!)

"Well~"

(Hey, thanks, bro!)

So Lumine quickly picked up Chespin, afraid that this wild starter Pokémon might change its mind. Paimon also understood without needing words; they exchanged a look.

They strode away!

They had no intention of staying in the forest any longer. The ecological zone had multiple landscapes—beaches, rocky areas, even underground caves. Anywhere was better than staying in the forest!

Because after Lumine and Paimon captured Chespin, they couldn't shake off the sense of cold chills on their backs—a gut feeling of danger.

Sure enough, just as they stepped out of the forest area—

"Roar!"

An angry roar came from the depths of the forest. A large number of Pidgey and Fletchling in the area flew up in fright. Some timid Pokémon were scared by the roar's violence and fainted. Chaos broke out in the forest, and soon the group chat became abuzz with discussion.

**Xingqiu:** I was scared to death! *(horror.jpg)*

**Chongyun:** Xingqiu and I were training our Pokémon in the middle area of the forest, and suddenly we encountered a horde of wild Pokémon?!

**Hu Tao:** What's going on?! The boss is at the ecological area's entrance, and I'm trying to get my Pokémon to experience rapid leveling!

**Paimon:** Well, well, the Traveler and I may know why.

From the rocky area on a hill, Lumine and Paimon looked at the scene of wild Pokémon rioting in the distant forest and the countless grass-type Pokémon running wildly. They exchanged glances filled with lingering fear.

They had seemingly captured the cub of the Champion deep in the forest?

**Lumine:** *(Chespin Pokédex entry.jpg)* Just caught a Pokémon.

**Hu Tao:** ???

**Yelan:** Is it unusual to catch a wild starter Pokémon?

**Ningguang:** Wry smile. Do you know how many people have caught a wild starter Pokémon? Maybe two or three adventurers. If any of those lucky ones are willing to sell it, the price will be more than double that of the Pokémon House!

**Yelan:** That's strange. Can't you just go to Takumi's shop and draw for one? Why pay double?

**Childe:** Because not everyone is lucky enough to draw a starter Pokémon!

**Xiangling:** Childe, no way! You actually drew the Kalos Region's Fire-type starter—Fennekin! And you didn't want it!

**Childe:** Shut up! *(crying.jpg)*

---

Takumi passed through the secret space-time gate and arrived in the Hisui region on the other side.

Looking in the direction of Jubilife Village, Takumi planned to capture the batch of Hisuian Growlithe that Ningguang needed before discussing cooperation matters with Team Galactic and Professor Laventon.

"Jirachi."

"Use your wish power to help me find it."

"Find the largest group of Growlithe or Arcanine!"

Jirachi, comfortably resting in Takumi's arms, stood up after hearing his words.

"Okay, Takumi~"

Jirachi obediently activated the eye of truth on its belly.

"Found it! Let's go, Takumi!"

Jirachi, being Steel and Psychic type, could also use its psychic power to teleport quickly.

---

**Cobalt Coastlands, Volcanic Area**

"Huh?"

As soon as they teleported to the crater, Takumi noticed the locals from the Hisui region below, battling a huge Arcanine that shone with golden light.

"Is this the noble Pokémon unique to the Hisui region?"

Takumi was very interested and decided not to interfere for now.

Noble Pokémon were special; males were called Kings and females were called Queens. It was said that their ancestors gained power from the Almighty Sinnoh, as if blessed by myths, giving them a power unmatched by regular Pokémon.

The King Arcanine was level 79—just one level shy of Champion rank!

Moreover, the size of this King Arcanine was enormous, and its entire body shone with a golden glow.

Of course, the indigenous trainer fighting this King Arcanine was also very powerful.

Takumi's eyes focused on the battle.

It turned out to be a "Warden."

A Warden was responsible for taking care of the Noble Pokémon in a particular area of the Hisui region. Every known Warden belonged either to the Diamond Clan or the Pearl Clan.

It was worth noting that both the Diamond Clan and Pearl Clan worshiped the so-called Almighty Sinnoh.

However, there were actually two entities believed to be Almighty Sinnoh: Dialga, the God of Time, and Palkia, the God of Space.

The Diamond Clan believed in Dialga, while the Pearl Clan believed in Palkia.

The battle was intense.

Takumi recognized the Warden as Palina from the Pearl Clan. She was a Champion-level trainer. All six of her Pokémon were out, but four had already been defeated and lay on the edge of the battlefield.

The two main Noble Pokémon still standing were in very poor condition.

**Crunch!**

**Rock Slide!**

**Flare Blitz!**

The King Arcanine, in a frenzied state, unleashed its moves without restraint, furiously attacking Palina's two remaining Pokémon.