After a whole round of tests at the institute, all the data was finally recorded.
Ashen Vale clapped his hands to bring everyone's attention back and asked, "The data's complete. Next, once we settle on a name, we can add it to the Pokédex."
"How about 'Steel-Armored Tyrannosaur'?" Dax Jonas raised his hand, visibly excited.
Auron Vale froze. Was even Steelix about to get renamed out of existence?
Before Auron could say anything, Ashen's brows drew together. "No. Next."
Auron cut in quickly. "Onix evolves and its Rock type becomes Steel—so let's go with 'Steelix.' Simple and easy to remember."
"Fine. Steelix it is. I'll upload the data." Dax muttered under his breath, dissatisfied. "I still think 'Steel-Armored Tyrannosaur' sounds cooler."
Ashen shot Dax a glance and left him with a single word, "Vulgar," before turning back into the front lab. "It's late. We'll leave it for tomorrow. We'll compile the conditions and then test the evolution trigger. If that works, we can call this project a success."
"Okay~," Auron and Dax answered in unison.
Auron stepped outside and tilted his head up. Sure enough, the sun was already half set.
"So," Dax asked, puzzled, "you're not treating me to dinner? I came all this way the second you called—how does it make sense not to feed me?"
"Alright, give me a minute. Don't leave either, Jace—you're coming too."
"Okay, Uncle Dax," Jace Rowan replied sweetly.
Ashen began sorting and uploading the data. Auron poured tea for both of them, then sat on the couch and chatted as they waited.
Auron arched a brow at Dax, mischief tugging at his mouth. "Uncle Dax, what did Grandpa Mo say when you brought your girlfriend home this time?"
Dax's eyebrows danced. "The old man was over the moon. I suspect he didn't even hear what I said before he nodded."
Auron's heart skipped. "No way. Will he still acknowledge it when he sobers up after?"
"Tch. I recorded it. You think I don't have a brain?"
"Sigh…" Auron exhaled. He'd been thinking of using that Luxury Ball they scored today to switch Charmander into a better Poké Ball. He was, after all, the only Shiny on the team.
Dax clapped Auron on the shoulder with hearty assurance. "Relax. You won't be short of that."
"Then… can you add one more?"
"No."
Dax's palm came up like a wall. His answer was adamant.
"Look at the Steelix in your arms," Auron shot back. "You seriously won't throw in a few more for me?"
"A few more? Just kill me now."
Dax slumped against the couch, the picture of a pig unbothered by boiling water.
Seeing that look, Auron sensed an opening. His eyes rolled once. "How many can you add, then?"
Dax pushed himself upright and held up two fingers. "Two at most. Not a single one more."
"You can't even round it out to a full party for me?"
"Deal."
Dax thrust out his hand and slapped Auron's palm with lightning speed—far too fast.
"Damn it, how much did you extort?" Auron scowled. If he'd agreed that fast, the haul had to be huge.
"Heh-heh." Dax gave a sly little laugh and reclined again, refusing to say another word.
"Fine, you won't talk? I'll call Aunt Ji and ask her."
Auron pulled out his phone in mock threat.
Dax's expression shifted, then relaxed again. "Tch, like you have her number. I don't buy it."
Auron turned his head. "Dad!"
"Don't—don't!" Dax hurriedly clapped a hand over Auron's mouth.
Ashen looked back, puzzled. "What is it?"
"Nothing!"
Once Ashen turned around again and lost himself back in the work, Dax finally lowered his voice and flashed a discreet gesture.
Auron's eyes went wide. He pried Dax's hand away, stunned. "Thirty Luxury Balls?!"
"Wrong. Three hundred."
Auron fell silent as Dax basked in his own triumph.
"You're not afraid Grandpa Mo will come to his senses and kill you later?"
"Tch. I've got the recording. What's there to fear?"
Auron and Jace traded a look. Then, in perfect synchrony, they each gave Dax a thumbs-up. "Good luck."
Jace's expression turned a shade complicated. Meeting an Elite Four member should have been exhilarating. But after this afternoon, there was nothing for it—he had to admit defeat before this particular Elite.
Why did this Elite feel so much like Steelix? The aloof, mysterious, overwhelmingly strong figure shattered in Jace's mind with a single—
"Pop."
In its place rose the image of Dax Jonas: smacking a Steelix and fleecing his dad.
Jace shook his head hard to fling the impression away, then glanced back at Dax. Dax happened to be looking at him too, frowning at the sudden head-shake. The two shared a brief smile, and the same thought flashed through both minds:
"This guy… has problems, right?"
...
The Next Day
Dax and Auron gathered once more in Ashen's research institute. Same couch as yesterday—but today, Jace was missing.
Last night, they'd heard Tim Wynn had spent the whole day training with his Pokémon. Today, Jace declared he had to train too—and as soon as possible, he meant to pound Tim into the ground.
"Alright then," Ashen said after a sip of tea. "Let's put our ideas on the table. We'll pool our thoughts and then run the experiments."
He knew next to nothing, really. Onix wasn't his Pokémon, and the idea hadn't been his either; he was just a witness. He'd racked his brains all night and still couldn't figure it out: why had Onix suddenly evolved right after a single communication transfer?
"Go on, Onix is yours—start us off," Ashen said when both of them stayed silent.
Called on, Dax had no choice but to venture, a bit meekly, "Uh… could it be because my Onix is the master of a Secret Realm?"
"No. There have been Onix that were Secret Realm rulers before, and transfers didn't make them evolve."
"I'll take it," Auron said, raising his hand quietly.
"Alright, let's hear it. The idea came from you anyway," Ashen replied, watching his son intently. He was starting to feel a little afraid. His kid was too much of a prodigy. In this short a time, Auron had offered too many suggestions that turned out right.
And every time, they were the kind of suggestions that could greatly boost the nation's overall battling strength. If domestic spies caught wind and passed it to malicious actors abroad, Auron would be in real danger.
"Here, Dad—look at this first," Auron said.
He set a laptop on the table. On the screen was an old account, left by the descendant of a general. The general's strongest Pokémon had been an Onix. When the general died, the soldiers were stricken with grief. They pinned the Onix beneath massive stones and backfilled the pit with soil. Because the Onix was so enormous, the grave they dug was exceptionally deep.
That should have been the end of it. But years later, while the descendant was paying respects at the ancestral tomb, a serpent of forged iron burst up from underground. When its eyes met his, hatred flashed there. It attacked without hesitation. He was no pushover, and he threw his own Pokémon into the fray.
But their attacks did nothing to the iron behemoth. Helpless, he abandoned the family tomb and fled for his life. Thankfully, the giant serpent wasn't fast.
"This iron monster—is that a Steelix?" Dax asked, pointing at the screen with a trace of doubt.
"Without question," Auron said as if it were obvious.
Ashen folded his arms and propped his chin on the back of one hand. "But that still doesn't explain it. What are the evolution conditions for Steelix?"
(End of Chapter)
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