"Shua!"
A sound of breaking wind was heard.
Under the vigilant eyes of Diluc, Eula, and others, the figure on the statue instantly disappeared. In the blink of an eye, Hiroshi appeared steadily in front of the group, standing on the cobblestone pavement of the plaza.
"Everyone, welcome to the Pokémon Home."
Hiroshi smiled, his demeanor calm and unruffled.
"Wow! Brother, you can teleport just like the Abyss Mages! No, you are much faster than them!"
Klee carried her schoolbag, her red eyes shining as she circled Hiroshi.
"Klee, don't be rude."
Kaeya stepped forward, a signature smirk on his face, but his single visible eye was scanning Hiroshi with intense scrutiny. "Manager Hiroshi, your way of greeting customers is truly... unique. Teleportation magic without the flow of elemental energy? It seems the reports from Acting Grand Master Jean were not exaggerated."
"It's just a little psychic trick."
Hiroshi waved his hand dismissively.
He glanced at the luxury lineup in front of him.
Diluc Ragnvindr, the Uncrowned King of Mondstadt, with a face as stoic as a statue.
Eula Lawrence, the Spindrift Knight, carrying her claymore with elegant arrogance.
Barbara, the Deaconess, looking a bit nervous.
And Klee, the Spark Knight, the most dangerous "explosive" in Mondstadt.
"Since you are here, please come in. The store is just ahead."
Hiroshi led the way. While walking, he quietly took out the third golden item from his previous draw—the [Aura Awakening Card].
"Use it."
Buzz!
An invisible ripple spread from Hiroshi's body. Unlike the violent surge of Psychic power from Caitlin's card, the power of Aura (Waveguide) was warm, resilient, and full of vitality.
In an instant, Hiroshi's vision changed.
He didn't need to look back to "see" the life energy of the people behind him.
Diluc's Aura was a blazing, restrained red, resembling a dormant volcano.
Eula's Aura was a cool, sharp ice blue, but wrapped in a layer of defensive spikes—a sign of her guarded heart.
Klee... Klee's Aura was a bouncing, chaotic ball of bright orange fire, filled with pure joy and destructive potential.
"Psychic power for the mind, Aura for the body and senses. Now I'm really becoming a 'Superhuman'."
Hiroshi clenched his fist, feeling his physical fitness skyrocketing. Aura not only granted sensory abilities but also strengthened the body to superhuman levels.
...
Inside the Pokémon Home.
"Welcome!"
As soon as they entered, they saw Jean and Lisa, who were already there, chatting with Venti (who was hugging his Lapras and refusing to let go).
"Master Diluc... and Eula?"
Jean stood up, looking at the reinforcements she had summoned. "I'm glad you all rushed back so quickly."
"Hmph. The Knights' efficiency is as worrying as ever if you have to call for retired personnel."
Diluc crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the shop's interior, pausing on Venti's Lapras and Jean's Eevee. "But... these creatures. They possess a power different from elemental energy."
"It's called 'Pokémon'."
Hiroshi walked behind the counter. Cresselia and Meloetta immediately floated over to flank him.
Seeing two flying, humanoid "mythical beasts," even the knowledgeable Diluc narrowed his eyes.
"Okay, who wants to be the first to try?"
Hiroshi took out the Pokédexes.
"Me! Me! Me!"
Klee jumped up, raising her small hand high. "Jean said there are magical friends here! Klee wants a friend who can help Klee... um... fish blasting!"
Jean's eyelids twitched violently. "Klee! No blasting inside the city!"
"Hehe."
Hiroshi handed the Pokédex to Klee.
"Come on, little Spark Knight. Let's see what your partner is."
Klee grabbed the device with both hands.
"Go! Dodoco's new friend!"
Ding!
The silhouette spun rapidly on the screen.
[Charmander] (The Lizard Pokémon)
A small, orange lizard appeared on the screen. It had big blue eyes and a flame burning brightly at the tip of its tail.
"Wow! It has a fire on its tail!" Klee's eyes sparkled.
Hiroshi smiled. "Congratulations, Klee. This is Charmander, one of the Kanto Starters. The fire on its tail represents its life force. When it evolves into Charizard, it becomes a huge dragon that can fly in the sky and breathe fire hot enough to melt boulders."
"A dragon that breathes fire?!"
Klee was so excited she almost threw a bomb. "Is it as powerful as Dodoco?"
"Much more powerful. And..." Hiroshi leaned in and whispered, "It loves fire and explosions just as much as you do."
Jean covered her forehead. She felt a migraine coming on. Great. Now the arsonist has a fire-breathing dragon.
Hiroshi turned around to retrieve the Pokémon. Moments later, a small Charmander waddled out.
"Char!"
It looked at Klee, sniffed her, and sensing the Pyro element and the smell of gunpowder on her, it immediately smiled and wagged its tail. The fire on its tail flared up happily.
"Yeah! Charmander!" Klee hugged the Charmander (who didn't mind the heat). "We will go fish blasting together!"
"Char!" (Yes!)
Jean: "..."
...
"Next."
Hiroshi looked at Diluc.
The owner of the Dawn Winery walked forward silently. He took out a bag of Mora—heavy, clinking loudly—and placed it on the counter.
"I don't need a pet. I need a combat partner."
Diluc said coldly. "Something that can help me... clean up the trash in the dark."
"Straightforward. I like it."
Hiroshi handed him a Pokédex.
Diluc pressed the button without hesitation.
Ding!
[Fletchling] (The Tiny Robin Pokémon)
"A bird?" Diluc frowned slightly.
"Don't underestimate it."
Hiroshi explained seriously. "This is Fletchling. It evolves into Fletchinder, and finally Talonflame."
"Talonflame is a Fire/Flying type. It has a characteristic called 'Gale Wings' (in its hidden ability form, though this one might develop it). It possesses incredible speed, able to dive at foes like a streak of flame."
"For a 'Darknight Hero' who patrols the city, aerial reconnaissance and high-speed strikes are essential, right?"
Hearing the title "Darknight Hero," Diluc's expression stiffened for a second, and Kaeya snickered in the background.
"Hmph. Acceptable."
Diluc took the Fletchling. The small bird chirped and landed on his shoulder, its red feathers matching Diluc's hair perfectly. It looked sharp and alert, much like its master.
...
"It's my turn."
Eula walked up, flipping her blue hair.
"Vengeance will be mine! If this store manager gives me a weak Pokémon, I will remember this grudge for a lifetime!"
Although she spoke of vengeance, her eyes were filled with curiosity.
Ding!
[Piplup] (The Penguin Pokémon)
A cute, blue penguin appeared on the screen. It held its chest high, looking incredibly proud and arrogant.
"Pfft..." Paimon (who was watching from the side) couldn't help but laugh. "It looks so... proud! Just like Eula!"
"Shut up, Emergency Food!" Eula blushed.
Hiroshi nodded. "A perfect match. Piplup is very proud and hates to accept food from others. It has high self-esteem."
"However, when it evolves into its final form, Empoleon, it gains the Steel/Water typing."
"It becomes the Emperor of the sea. Elegant, powerful, and unyielding. It wears a trident-like crown and can slice through drift ice with its steel wings."
"Empoleon..."
Eula murmured the name. An Emperor?
"Hmph. An arrogant penguin fitting for a descendant of the Lawrence clan? Interesting."
Eula crossed her arms. "I accept this challenge. I will train it to become the strongest Emperor, and then... I will crush anyone who looks down on us!"
Hiroshi handed her the Piplup.
"Piplup!"
The little penguin looked at Eula, lifted its beak, and turned its head away haughtily.
Eula raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You dare ignore me? This grudge... I've written it down!"
Despite her words, she gently picked up the Piplup, who struggled for a second before settling into her arms, seemingly accepting her nobility.
Now, the "Mondstadt Avengers" had their partners.
Fire for Klee.
Fire/Flying for Diluc.
Water/Steel for Eula.
Hiroshi looked at the chaos in his shop and smiled.
"Now... Barbara, are you ready?"