For the next two days, August 5th and August 6th, Zhou Yuan did not wander around.
Besides feeding Magikarp every day, he stayed at the ranch, letting Growlithe train with Big Red, while he himself returned to intense physical training and learning Trainer knowledge.
Time came to August 7th, the day before the Warm Pig Cup began.
In the morning, Zhou Yuan went to feed Magikarp as usual.
Recently, Magikarp had become increasingly close to him, unconsciously moving closer to Zhou Yuan when eating.
If Zhou Yuan chose to throw a Poké Ball, he could hit Magikarp if he aimed accurately, but Zhou Yuan hesitated.
After a few days of building affection, Zhou Yuan felt that a certain bond had been established between him and Magikarp.
If he were to throw a ball and capture it at this moment, it might cause the newly established bond to quietly shatter.
Zhou Yuan was unwilling to do this; he wanted to get along with Pokémon as partners, not treat them as tools.
Every time Magikarp finished eating, it no longer immediately swam back into the lake but floated on the surface, meeting Zhou Yuan's gaze, only swimming back after Zhou Yuan had left.
After feeding the fish, Zhou Yuan returned to the ranch.
After sending the dog out again to train with its mom, Zhou Yuan went to the kitchen.
After these past few days of consumption, there were still eighteen Wepear Berries left.
Two Hamelon Berries and two Leppa Berries were consumed, and one of each special effect berry like Shaling Berry, Liechi Berry, Lansat Berry, and lum berry were consumed.
The consumption of these berries resulted in Growlithe growing fatter and stronger.
Although the system still judged Growlithe to be in the late Ordinary Level, Zhou Yuan felt that Growlithe's breakthrough was not far off; all that was needed was a hearty battle.
But where to find such a battle, Zhou Yuan had no clue for now.
He could only continue making energy cubes for Growlithe, hoping that a quantitative change could lead to a qualitative change, directly pushing Growlithe to breakthrough through the accumulation of energy.
Pokémon do not have unstable foundations; it mainly depends on the Skill configuration and the Trainer's command.
If one had to say, Pokémon that have experienced more battles are stronger than those that live in luxury.
Unlike the previous two days, this time Zhou Yuan planned to make the purple-quality silver manberry fruit into energy cubes.
After all, the Warm Pig Cup was starting tomorrow, and he would be playing matches in Shuangqing City's main urban area for several days.
It was unrealistic to come back every day to feed the fish during those days.
He could only make the silver manberry fruit into energy cubes, hoping to achieve his goal in one go and directly coax Magikarp away.
Even if this goal could not be achieved, significantly increasing Magikarp's affection through feeding would not be a loss; at least Magikarp would not forget him when he returned after the Warm Pig Cup.
With various complex thoughts, Zhou Yuan's production of energy cubes was nearing its end.
Since he was going to play in the Rookie Cup starting tomorrow, he definitely wouldn't have time to make energy cubes, so he decided to make all the remaining portions today.
Aside from the Peach Berry for curing poison, the persimmon fruit for healing confusion, the Micle Berry for restoring HP when hit by a super effective move, and the currently unusable candle wood fruit, Jaboca Berry, Custap Berry, and Passho Berry, all other berries were transformed into energy cubes by Zhou Yuan's hands.
After dealing with nearly thirty different berries, Zhou Yuan's hands felt a bit sore.
With the production over these past few days, Zhou Yuan himself had become increasingly skilled at making energy cubes.
Previously, he needed to be careful with both hands to complete them, but now, he could simply clap his hands together, and an energy cube would appear.
In addition, Zhou Yuan gained a deeper mastery of Combat Aura.
Although the total amount and quality of Combat Aura did not change, Zhou Yuan could move Combat Aura to his desired position faster and more accurately.
Zhou Yuan had experimented, initially having Growlithe use Ember, and after realizing it couldn't even cause a burning sensation, he gradually tried other Skills.
Finally, Zhou Yuan concluded that the system indeed didn't boast; at least for now, Growlithe would have a hard time harming him.
Even if Growlithe hit him with Flare Blitz, he would only experience a certain pushing force.
Damn, a humanoid Pokémon, a Super True Human, right?
After packaging the energy cubes and labeling them accordingly, Zhou Yuan left the kitchen to check on Growlithe, who was training.
In these two days, under the combined efforts of various energy cubes, Big Red, and the Exp. Share, Growlithe learned and self-learned some new Skills, and its combat power also clearly improved.
It was evident from its physique; this chunk of flesh, if it used Flare Blitz, any Pokémon of the same level with a type disadvantage wouldn't be able to withstand it with a hundred thousand lives.
"System, scan Growlithe."
"【Growlithe】"
"【Level: Ordinary Level, Late Stage】"
"【Ability: Intimidate】"
"【Moves: Howl, Flame Wheel, Fire Fang, Take Down, Helping Hand, Agility, Flame Burst, Flare Blitz, Wild Charge, Morning Sun, Close Combat, Crunch, Play Rough, Psychic Fangs, Thunder Fang, Endure, Reversal, Protect, Will-O-Wisp, Substitute】"
Compared to before, Growlithe's Skill pool was significantly richer.
It had basically learned all the Skills it could learn from Big Red, and Zhou Yuan had also used the Substitute TM on Growlithe.
It could be said that Growlithe now, Fighting in the Warm Pig Cup, would be like Fighting babies.
After accompanying Growlithe in training for a day, the distant sun slowly set.
Zhou Yuan once again lured Big Red with energy cubes to take him to the lake.
After Big Red's twenty-plus minute run, Zhou Yuan stood by the familiar lake again.
"Oh, this place, I've been coming here every day recently, and it'll be strange not seeing it starting tomorrow."
Zhou Yuan felt a bit emotional, but his hands didn't stop.
He crushed a regular energy cube and tossed it onto the lake surface, planning to lure Magikarp out first before feeding it the silver manberry fruit energy cube.
As bubbles floated up and burst, the familiar golden crown reappeared before Zhou Yuan's eyes.
"Boruru..."
Magikarp blew bubbles, eating the energy cube crumbs floating on the lake surface.
Although it didn't know what this person was feeding it, these foods contained a lot of energy.
The water plants at the bottom of the lake were simply incomparable to it.
After a few days of Zhou Yuan's feeding, Magikarp had visibly gotten fatter.
At least in the lake, most of the Pokémon who disliked Magikarp because of its color could no longer defeat it.
Thinking of this, Magikarp's gaze towards Zhou Yuan also held emotion.
Although Magikarp is a very common Pokémon and very weak, they are not completely ignorant; at least they know who treats them well.
Zhou Yuan smiled when he saw Magikarp appear, finding this fat-headed fish cuter the more he looked at it.
At this moment, the system started acting up again.
"【Issuing a timed mission: Host, please state Magikarp's Pokédex information and evolution method within three minutes.】"
Although he didn't know why a timed mission suddenly appeared, Zhou Yuan recited it from memory.
"Magikarp, a Water-type fish Pokémon.
It's so weak that it can only jump and cannot battle, but it's a stubborn Pokémon that will survive even in the dirtiest water to show others."
"Its main ability is Drizzle, and its hidden ability is Rattled.
In the game, it evolves upon reaching level twenty, but in the real world, it should be able to evolve under extreme anger or by crossing the Dragon Gate."
"【According to system judgment, Host's statement is 90% complete.
Energy Points +100.】"
"【Host's current Energy Points: 5410】"
Looking at the system's evaluation, Zhou Yuan was a little confused.
Logically, what he said should have been complete, but the system didn't give an answer when asked.
Zhou Yuan didn't dwell on it and continued feeding the fish.
As Zhou Yuan gradually moved the position where he threw energy cubes closer to himself, Magikarp slowly approached Zhou Yuan.
After all, after these days of interaction, it found him increasingly pleasing to the eye, at least trusting that he wouldn't harm it.
When Magikarp reached the closest position to him it had been in all these days, Zhou Yuan took out the silver manberry fruit energy cube.
Magikarp smelled a richer scent than usual and looked towards Zhou Yuan's hand.
As the scent diffused, other Pokémon drinking water by the lake also raised their heads and looked over, but ultimately did nothing, because this forest had almost all been severely beaten by Zhou Yuan and Growlithe.
But deep within the lake, a pair of eyes suddenly opened.
Zhou Yuan was still by the lake, crushing and tossing the cubes piece by piece to Magikarp, who opened its mouth, waiting for Zhou Yuan's feeding.
After tossing a few small pieces, Zhou Yuan began to speak to Magikarp.
"Magikarp, I won't be able to come tomorrow.
I'll be busy for the next few days and won't be able to feed you for a while.
Do you want to come with me?"
Saying this, Zhou Yuan stopped and waited for Magikarp's reaction.
Hearing Zhou Yuan's words, Magikarp's small head quickly whirred.
What did this human say?
He seemed to say he was leaving?
He also asked if I wanted to go with him?
Doesn't he think my color is strange?
Just as Magikarp was still considering whether to follow the human in front of it, an extremely strong energy surged from the bottom of the lake, heading directly towards Zhou Yuan, or more accurately, towards the hand Zhou Yuan was holding the energy cube with.
Magikarp, being in the water, keenly sensed this energy fluctuation and clearly felt that this fluctuation was directed at the human in front of it.
For some reason, it felt a little restless.
Zhou Yuan looked at the somewhat restless Magikarp in front of him, wondering if his words had made Magikarp uneasy?
Just as Zhou Yuan was still pondering the reason for Magikarp's behavior, the keen perception brought by Fighting Mastery and Combat Aura made him realize that danger was approaching.
Just as he was about to release Big Red, he saw the Magikarp in front of him jump out of the water, blocking his path.
"This is... Splash?"
The very next instant Magikarp leaped, the lake surface was suddenly broken, and a fist covered in Fighting-type energy solidly struck Magikarp.
Magikarp was sent flying into the sky by the punch, scales and blood scattering from above.
Zhou Yuan only reacted to this scene then; a wild Pokémon was attacking him, and Magikarp had predicted the attack and took the blow for him.
Zhou Yuan hurriedly stepped back two paces, creating distance from the wild Pokémon while also catching the falling Magikarp.
Seeing that Magikarp's left side was caved in, its scales cracked and bleeding profusely, clearly on the verge of collapse, Zhou Yuan quickly pulled out a Max Revive and fed it to Magikarp, simultaneously spraying a Full Restore on Magikarp's body, then threw out Growlithe's Poké Ball to confront the attacker.
It just goes to show how effective Max Revive and Full Restore are; Magikarp opened its eyes not long after they were used.
Looking at the person in front of it, Magikarp was a bit confused. Logically, after taking such a heavy punch, it should have died, but now it was still alive. Did this person save it?
Why would he feed it and save it? Magikarp was puzzled.
Seeing that Magikarp had recovered, Zhou Yuan gently placed it on the grass to await its full recovery, and he finally had time to look at the system scan results.
【Poliwrath】
【Level: Senior Level Early Stage】
【Ability: Damp】
【Skills: Bubble Beam, Encore, Endure, Ice Ball, Mud Shot, Water Pulse, Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis, Double Slap, Rain Dance, Body Slam, Belly Drum, Submission, Seismic Toss, Dynamic Punch】
This was a wild Senior Level Poliwrath. Zhou Yuan now realized that it had come for the energy cube in his hand. The appeal of silver manberry fruit to wild Pokémon was too strong, and Magikarp had simply suffered an unprovoked disaster.
But Zhou Yuan was also a little touched. Magikarp was injured trying to shield him, which showed that he was already very important in Magikarp's heart.
Zhou Yuan looked at Growlithe and Poliwrath, who were tangled in battle. Due to the difference in level and type, Growlithe was clearly at a disadvantage, having already been subjected to a Bubble Beam, and its current condition was not good.
The best solution right now would be to release Gyarados. With Gyarados's strength, two claws would be enough to subdue Poliwrath.
However, Zhou Yuan also felt that this was an excellent opportunity to help Growlithe achieve a breakthrough.
The problem was that Growlithe's current raw strength couldn't defeat Poliwrath. Even with his command, the margin for error was very low. One mistake could lead to serious injury, and although Super Potion was available in the system store, it might still affect tomorrow's Warm Pig Cup.
After much thought, Zhou Yuan felt that there was only one best solution.
Zhou Yuan immediately began directing Growlithe.
“Growlithe, use Morning Sun!”
Growlithe, who was entangled with Poliwrath, heard its Trainer's command. Although it didn't know why its Trainer would say that, out of trust in its Trainer, Growlithe disengaged from the fight and began using Morning Sun in place.
Poliwrath saw its opponent ignoring it and starting to recover in place, and it was furious. “Are you looking down on me, Poliwrath? Take this Dynamic Punch!”
Just as the fully charged fist was about to strike Growlithe's body, a hand covered in white light extended from the side and steadily caught the punch.
Poliwrath: 【・ _ ・ ?】
Magikarp in the distance: 【・ _ ・ ?】
Growlithe: 【・ _ ・ ?】
Growlithe, who was recovering its stamina, stared at its Trainer blocking Poliwrath's attack, completely stunned.
“You have this strength, and you still made me battle?”
“Who's the dog between us, anyway?”
Poliwrath was also a bit stunned. “This person can actually take my punch? Huh? Which one of us is the Pokémon again?”
Magikarp, lying on the grass, was also a bit dazed. This person seemed so gentle when feeding it, but it turned out he was also someone who played the pig to eat the tiger?
Zhou Yuan clenched his hands, making a cracking sound. Although Zhou Yuan appeared impressive on the surface, he had a clear understanding of his own strength.
Although he had the Combat Aura and Fighting Mastery Skills, which allowed him to withstand Poliwrath's attacks to a certain extent, it was limited to that. He had no effective offensive means to damage Poliwrath.
It seemed he could only restrict Poliwrath's output and movement to create good offensive opportunities for Growlithe.
With that thought, Zhou Yuan moved forward, applying Combat Aura to his arms to receive Poliwrath's attacks and restrict its movement.
After recovering its stamina, Growlithe also followed its Trainer's lead, taking a sudden Bite at Poliwrath with Thunder Fang.
Seeing that its attacks were ineffective while the opponent was damaging it, Poliwrath became furious. It threw both the person and the dog with two Seismic Tosses, then violently pounded its own abdomen.
Poliwrath used Belly Drum! Poliwrath's Attack greatly increased! It directly reached its peak!
After completing its power-up, Poliwrath strode towards Zhou Yuan. Upon closing the distance, it unleashed a heavy punch.
This time, Zhou Yuan still used Combat Aura to block, but he couldn't stop the accompanying impact, and he was sent flying.
Zhou Yuan landed steadily with agile movements, and at the same time, caught Growlithe, who had also been punched away.
“Tsk, it's fully buffed. It's hard to withstand. Even if special energy can be blocked by Combat Aura, the accompanying impact still causes knockback.”
Poliwrath didn't give Zhou Yuan much time to think, directly closing in with a double-fist attack. Zhou Yuan could only struggle to defend, unable to make effective counterattacks. The person and the dog were sent flying multiple times.
Magikarp, not far away, watched this battle of vastly unequal strength. It didn't know that Zhou Yuan was trying to train Growlithe, nor did it know that Zhou Yuan still had Gyarados. It only assumed that Zhou Yuan was protecting it, since with Zhou Yuan's Skill, he could have left at any time, but he chose to fight Poliwrath here.
After much thought, Magikarp finally concluded that Zhou Yuan was protecting it.
Magikarp felt a surge of emotion. This was the first time it had been cared for and loved since its birth. It had never experienced this feeling before. This person would feed it delicious food, wouldn't look down on it because of its color, and would even Protect it.
At this moment, Magikarp's affection for him exploded! And because it believed Zhou Yuan was protecting it, correspondingly, it also wanted to Protect the person who protected it.
Driven by a strong desire to Protect, the light of evolution burst forth!
Under the white light of evolution, Magikarp's body gradually grew larger, thicker, and longer. After the light of evolution dissipated, what remained in place was no longer Magikarp, but Gyarados!
Under the orange glow of the setting sun, Gyarados's entire body of red scales shimmered brilliantly.
Zhou Yuan, who was far away, was still exchanging blows with Poliwrath and hadn't noticed this scene. But when Poliwrath's Dynamic Punch came at Zhou Yuan, just as Zhou Yuan was about to channel Combat Aura to block, a long, crimson tail reached out from the side and blocked it, also sending Poliwrath flying.
Looking up the tail, a ferocious large head was also staring at him, but Zhou Yuan didn't feel scared, muttering:
“It was cuter when it was a fat-headed fish.”
Poliwrath, who had been thrown, saw that the situation was bad and was about to slip away when Zhou Yuan noticed it.
“Gyarados, stop it! Don't let it run away!” Zhou Yuan tried to command Gyarados. To his surprise, Gyarados showed no defiance after hearing his words and flew directly to block Poliwrath's path.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuan felt a sense of relief, like a child had grown up.
Then he said to Growlithe, who had been beaten up:
“Growlithe, let's go together! Today, we're going to beat it down!”
Growlithe, seeing such a small fish suddenly become so large, felt a sense of crisis. It felt its position as the 'leader of the dogs' was in jeopardy and urgently wanted to improve its strength, so it followed Zhou Yuan, charging forward with "Woof woof!"
As the saying goes, two fists are no match for four hands. No matter how strong Poliwrath was, it was only Senior Level Early Stage. Ultimately, under the combined assault of one person, one dog, and one dragon, it met its demise, its eyes turning into swirls as it collapsed to the ground.
【Host's first victory against an opponent of higher level, Energy Points +1000】
【Due to the Host's personal participation in the battle, congratulations to the Host for achieving: Humanoid Pokémon, Energy Points +500】
【Host's current Energy Points: 6910】
Zhou Yuan looked at Poliwrath and remembered that the ranch needed someone to water the fodder. Coincidentally, it knew the Rain Dance Skill, so he took out a Poké Ball and caught it, planning to give it to Liu Yongming when he returned.
After catching Poliwrath in the Poké Ball, Zhou Yuan sat by the lake again, with Growlithe sitting beside his hand, and Gyarados entering the lake water.
Only then did Zhou Yuan have time to scan Gyarados.
【Gyarados】
【Level: Normal Level Late Stage】
【Ability: Moxie】
【Skills: Thrash, Bite, Bind, Whirlpool, Salt Water, Scary Face, Waterfall, Crunch, Rain Dance, Rage, Dragon Tail, Dragon Rage, Glare, Twister, Ice Fang, Aqua Tail】
The three creatures looked at each other by the lake. As the sun was about to set completely, Zhou Yuan stood up, ready to go back.
Before leaving, he made one last attempt, saying to Gyarados:
“Gyarados, are you willing to come with me? We'll live, grow, and battle together from now on.”
After Zhou Yuan said these words, Gyarados showed no reaction or movement, only its whiskers twitched twice.
Seeing that Gyarados didn't react, Zhou Yuan had to accept the fact that it didn't want to go with him. He turned to leave this sad place.
Just as Zhou Yuan turned around, a whisker gently tapped his shoulder. Zhou Yuan turned back and found that Gyarados had tapped the Poké Ball at his waist with its whisker again.
Zhou Yuan was a little excited, his voice trembling slightly.
“You mean, you're willing to come with me?”
Gyarados nodded and extended its whisker towards Growlithe. Growlithe also raised its right paw, and in a sense, one dog and one dragon shook hands.
Zhou Yuan took out a Heal Ball. Gyarados looked at the pink and tender ball and couldn't help but tilt its head. “Hmm?”
Zhou Yuan followed Gyarados's gaze to his hand and realized that he had taken the wrong ball due to his excitement. Just as he was about to take out a Net Ball, Gyarados's whisker had already pressed the capture button on the Heal Ball, and the entire dragon transformed into a red light and was sucked into the ball.
Zhou Yuan looked at the ball in his hand, still somewhat incredulous, feeling as if he were living in a dream.
But no matter what, once inside the ball, they were family, and his hard work and effort had not been in vain.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan also smiled, raising Gyarados's Poké Ball high above his head with his right hand, then shouted towards the lake:
“Gyarados, Get ☆ Daze!”