61. East China Sea Dragon Nest

Half an hour later, Chris and Olivia were still walking across the endless sea.

There were no clouds in the sky. The sky was so clear, it looked like it had been washed clean. The sea mirrored the sky, making it difficult to tell where one ended and the other began. Chris, who was nearing 40, couldn't recall ever seeing such breathtaking scenery in his life.

Speaking of which, the environment in this world was far better than in his previous life.

The presence of Pokémon had made people prioritize environmental protection long ago, and Pokémon themselves contributed to repairing and enhancing the environment.

Occasionally, Chris would read online about Suicune appearing somewhere, purifying a polluted water source.

"If this was in my previous life, Zygarde and humans would have probably been at each other's throats," Chris thought, shuddering at the idea.

"What did you say?" Olivia asked, turning her head. She was sitting on Blastoise's back.

"Nothing," Chris replied. "Sister Tang, where is the East China Sea Dragon Nest? I don't see any islands around."

It was said that seeing a distant mountain could exhaust a horse before reaching it, but here, there wasn't even a mountain in sight, and the journey felt endless.

"The Dragon Nest doesn't have a fixed location, but it shouldn't be far now," Olivia responded casually, unfazed by Chris's use of "Sister Tang." She gazed out at the sea as she spoke.

Chris yawned, stretched out, and lay back. He had asked Olivia how far it was when they set out, and she had said it wasn't far.

Needless to say, Gyarados was a great swimmer.

"If I had known, I would've brought my tablet. I could have watched a TV series instead of being stuck with nothing but my handheld."

After about five more minutes, mist began to roll in over the sea. It came with the wind, a vast expanse of white, rushing forward like a giant beast ready to swallow Chris and Olivia whole.

"Stay close, we're almost there," Olivia warned before diving into the mist with Blastoise.

Without needing Chris's command, Gyarados leaned forward and swiftly followed Olivia into the thick fog.

For a while, Chris couldn't even see his own hands in front of him. The white mist was so intense that it obscured everything.

After another three or four minutes, the mist started to thin out. Once they crossed through it, a massive island appeared before Chris.

The mountains in the distance were layered, and the lush emerald-green forests stretched as far as the eye could see. As the wind blew, the forest seemed to ripple, and several swift figures darted through the trees. Chris recognized them instantly—Dragonite and Salamence.

Closer to the shore, on the golden beach, a Goodra strolled by with Sliggoo and Goomy, while two Krabby were locked in close combat. A Starmie lay lazily on the beach, sunbathing, with its ruby core flashing like it was mimicking Ultraman's timer.

Looking back, Chris could see the towering wall of mist stretching along the island's coastline, enclosing the entire island like a barrier. It seemed to be the protective shield of the East China Sea Dragon Nest.

"Let's go. I'll take you to meet the Dragon King," Olivia said, recalling Blastoise and Gyarados.

"Dragon King?" Chris asked as he followed close behind.

"Every Dragon's Nest has several Dragon Kings. They represent the strongest of the race," Olivia explained as they walked. "According to the contract between Dragon University and the East China Sea Dragon's Nest, the dragon-type Pokémon you can catch must be selected by them."

"Huh? I thought I got to choose?" Chris looked puzzled. "I spent ages deciding between Bagon, Gible, and Dratini. Guess I overthought it."

Olivia gave him a sideways glance.

"The choice between Trainer and Pokémon is always mutual. If you come across a Pokémon that particularly takes a liking to you, you can mention it. If that Pokémon is willing to go with you, the Dragon Kings will allow it."

Chris exhaled in relief. The Dragon Kings seemed flexible after all.

"But if no specific dragon-type Pokémon stands out to you, I'd recommend choosing from those the Dragon Kings suggest. The ones they select are likely the best fit for you."

"Fit?" Chris asked, still a bit confused.

"In simple terms, it depends on your personality and which Pokémon aligns best with you."

"So, it's like choosing a dragon-type version of me?"

"You're on the right track, but it's not always that exact."

Chris began to wonder what kind of dragon-type Pokémon might match him.

Olivia led Chris away from the beach and into the forest, heading towards the center of the East China Sea Dragon's Nest Island. Along the way, Chris encountered several dragon-type Pokémon.

Near a cave, a Garchomp mother was teaching her Gabite how to use Dragon Claw, while a few mischievous Gible darted around, playfully causing trouble. The Gible weren't afraid of humans and even seemed curious enough to approach.

In the trees, Chris noticed what looked like a cloud of cotton candy covering the branches. It turned out to be the nest of Altaria and its pre-evolution, Swablu.

"Dragon traitor!" Chris muttered under his breath when he saw the Altaria.

Immediately, a group of Altaria fixed their sharp falcon-like eyes on him.

"Shhh! Let's move quickly before they get upset," Olivia laughed, gently pulling Chris away.

"They even know about the whole 'dragon traitor' thing," Chris thought, baffled. Altaria's Mega Evolution changes its type from Dragon/Flying to Dragon/Fairy. Since Fairy-type is the dragon-type's natural enemy—being immune to dragon-type moves and resistant to its attacks—Altaria's dual nature could be seen as a 'betrayal' to the dragon kind.

After passing through the cotton-like trees, Olivia and Chris arrived at the heart of the island, where a large lake stretched out before them. Several dragon Pokémon were gathered, drinking from the water.

In front of the lake stood a giant, ancient horn. It appeared slightly damp, likely from a recent rain.

"Go ahead, blow the horn," Olivia instructed.

"It's huge… How am I supposed to blow this thing?" Chris stared at the horn, which was bigger than his head, unsure what it was even made of.

"Just breathe into it, and it will sound on its own."

"Alright..." Chris stepped up to the mouth of the horn, still skeptical, and blew lightly.

"Woo~~~"

A deep, resonant sound echoed from the horn, vibrating through the island like a wave.

In that moment, several powerful presences across the island turned their attention towards the center, where Chris stood.