Trainers returning from the Kingdom of Roc

Chapter 8: The Leader's Bloodline

Hou Hao kept calling her "little darling" affectionately, but Luo Yan didn't think much of it.

All he wants to do now is to improve Iris's combat power as quickly as possible. The most important thing is to condense a wishing star to see if it can release magic, and at the same time, see if he can bring over some more good things.

If he hadn't forgotten, Iris had the bloodline of a leader. If he could bring that thing with him, he could try to evolve into a leader when Iris evolved into a Platinum Unicorn in the future.

Leader evolution is similar to Mega evolution in some ways.

Mega Evolution requires corresponding Evolution Stones and Key Stones, as well as a certain level of synergy with the Pokémon. While Boss Evolution is not as complicated, it's not exactly simple either.

The most crucial factor in the evolution of a leader is whether the spirit possesses the bloodline of a leader.

Only elves with the bloodline of a leader possess the potential to evolve into a leader.

At this point, some people might ask, what if the elves don't have the bloodline of a leader?

Good question.

The magic in the Kingdom of Locke is no joke. Even if an elf doesn't have the bloodline of a leader, as long as a leader's bloodline potion is made, the elf can still awaken the leader's bloodline after consuming it.

Luo Yan was also curious whether Pokémon could undergo Boss Evolution if they were given the Boss Bloodline Potion.

If Pokémon can really evolve into their leader form, then what's the difference between their leader evolution and Mega Evolution?

Of course, now is not the time to think about that. Whether it's Mega Evolution or Boss Evolution, it's all too far away for Luo Yan right now. Right now, the priority is to improve his strength.

Thinking of this, Luo Yan turned to comfort the extremely excited Hou Hao.

"Okay, okay, I know you're anxious, but don't rush."

"Don't tell anyone about Iris. I don't want him to be exposed yet, understand?"

Hearing this, Hou Hao nodded repeatedly. "I understand. Such a rare Pokémon will definitely be revealed on the day of the college entrance exam. It's Wang Jie's return, I know. It will definitely give you extra points on the college entrance exam."

Hou Hao was well aware of how rare Shiny Pokémon from special regions were. Their value was self-evident, and revealing them in advance would not only bring no benefits but also make them easy targets.

As for the "Iris" that Luo Yan mentioned, Hou Hao simply assumed it was a nickname Luo Yan had given to the little pony.

This is quite common; many trainers name their Pokémon.

Not to mention such a precious little guy.

"Alright, let's keep going. There are plenty of sprites out drinking water in the morning, let's see if we encounter any interesting little creatures by the river."

After retrieving Iris, Luo Yan and Hou Hao continued their journey.

He could ride Iris, but he couldn't carry Hou Hao. It wouldn't do for him to ride the horse while Hou Hao carried so much stuff behind him.

In addition, Iris still had to fight, and there were no teleportation points to be opened here, so Luo Yan chose to walk with his good brother, which was also a way of enjoying nature.

After Ekans, the two encountered quite a few Pokémon, but most of them were Caterpie and Oddish.

These sprites were relatively weak, and there was no need for them to spar, so the two of them usually took a detour or gave them some food before leaving.

Finally, we arrived at the riverbank. Pushing aside the last layer of intertwined branches, a bright and open view appeared before us.

The rushing river was laid bare before them.

The river was wider than I had imagined, and the water was clear and rapid, crashing against the rocks in the river and splashing up white waves and moist mist.

Sunlight poured unhindered onto the riverbank and the open water, dispelling the darkness in the forest, making everything bright and full of life.

Just as Luo Yan had predicted, the riverbank in the early morning was the liveliest social spot in this forest. Wild Pokémon could be seen everywhere, coming to drink water, on the riverbank, in the shallow water, and even on the grass on the opposite bank.

Several groups of small Rattata and Tail-tailed Rattata huddled together on the rocky shore, licking the water quickly with their small mouths, their ears and tails twitching alertly. A large Rattata with its fry stood a little further away, remaining vigilant. On the water's surface, several goldfish frolicked in the gentle river bend, while on the opposite bank, several Nidoran and Nidoran were strolling leisurely.

They are mostly the most common inhabitants of this forest, and even the wider area. They are neither rare nor powerful, but they still give people a special feeling.

Just then, a soft and rhythmic flapping sound came from the woods behind them.

The two turned around.

Nearly a hundred giant butterflies were seen fluttering out of the forest bathed in the morning light.

They glide slowly across the shimmering river surface, their broad and beautiful wings adorned with delicate scales that refract a dreamlike blue-purple halo in the sunlight.

"Wow, that's interesting..." Hou Hao couldn't help but exclaim.

Luo Yan, however, did not focus on admiring the beautiful scenery. His eyes swept around, his gaze sweeping over each Pokémon.

Sure enough, there are many Pokémon here, but the variety is still a bit limited.

Apart from Butterfree and Rattata, which are the final evolutions, most Pokémon here are not up to the standard for dueling, and there are no rare Pokémon here either.

The rarest of them are probably the Nidoran and Nidonna on the other side of the river, but in Luo Yan's observation, although they are rarer than the little Rada, their potential is still worrying.

Without a Moon Stone, they will never be able to evolve into Nidoran, and their potential will gradually be exhausted, eventually turning them into just ordinary people.

Turning her gaze away, Luo Yan looked at Hou Hao, only to see him taking pictures continuously with a camera.

No wonder his bag was so heavy; he even brought out his photography equipment.

"You keep filming and take a break. I'm going to find some Pokémon to battle."

"Okay, don't go too far."

The Pokémon here generally don't attack people unless provoked, and they only glanced at Luo Yan and Hou Hao with curiosity.

As long as he doesn't cause trouble for no reason, Hou Hao, even if he's not a trainer, won't offend wild Pokémon by just taking a few photos.

After exchanging greetings, Luo Yan took the Gulu Ball and walked towards Radamanthys.

Battles in the wild are common for wild Pokémon. Seeing that Luo Yan only wanted to battle, rather than catch him or his children, Rattata relaxed its guard.

These wild Pokémon would never refuse such a good deal—a reward for both winning and losing.

So soon, Luo Yan started battling, which also attracted a lot of Pokémon to join in the fun. It seems that quite a few of them were eager to try their luck.

Luo Yan naturally accepted all offers, since what Iris needed most right now was experience.

...