Chapter 300: Beach's Request

"Chimchar, you're working really hard, but remember, battle training should be done in moderation, alright?"

After Victreebel treated Chimchar, Rex walked over to it and gave a stern reminder.

Chimchar nodded seriously, acknowledging its trainer's advice, but deep down, it was determined to continue its training. After all, it didn't want to be outdone by Bagon.

For the rest of the day, Rex and Swellow continued to help Bagon push its jumping limits, gradually increasing the height of its leaps. Eventually, they reached a point where the height was too much for Bagon and started causing it injuries, so they stopped increasing the height further.

This new height marked Bagon's current limit. Until Bagon could handle this height without getting hurt, Rex decided not to push it any further.

Once the maximum safe height was determined, Rex and Swellow stepped aside. Rex instructed Swellow to select a subordinate Swellow from its flock to accompany Bagon for its "cliff-jumping" training.

Of course, Rex stayed nearby to monitor the training. If Bagon ever sustained serious injuries, he would intervene immediately to prevent any accidents that might cause irreparable harm.

After watching Bagon jump a few times from the subordinate Swellow's back and only sustain minor injuries, Rex shifted his focus to Chimchar.

Facing Combusken, who was going all out, Chimchar's strength was no match. Without Victreebel's frequent healing, Chimchar would have been unable to continue training after just a short while.

However, this high-intensity, battle-like training was yielding rapid results. Chimchar skillfully turned the pressure from Combusken into motivation, pushing its limits and even awakening its innate fighting spirit.

"Alright, that's enough training for today!"

Rex finally called an end to the session, stopping the exhausted Chimchar and the still-eager-to-jump Bagon. Both Pokémon were now covered in scratches and bruises.

Although Rex was eager to improve their strength, he understood the importance of balance. Overtraining could lead to burnout or resistance to future training.

Rex brought out the energy cubes he had prepared in advance, drizzling them with Sweet Honey to replenish the Pokémon's energy. He then channeled a pulse of life energy into both Chimchar and Bagon to heal their injuries and help them quickly absorb the day's training gains into actual strength.

As for Combusken, its energy expenditure during the sparring session was minimal—it was more of a warm-up for it. Once Rex called off training, Combusken promptly left to find Machoke for its own training.

Combusken could feel that it was close to evolving. With just a bit more effort, it believed it would soon become a Blaziken, reaching its full potential. Once it evolved, its power would surge dramatically.

Combusken eagerly anticipated that day. It had been waiting for so long to compete with Machoke on equal footing and wasn't about to let its training slacken now.

After Chimchar and Bagon finished eating the delicious food Rex had prepared for them, they began running around the farm together.

Despite being rivals, they were still the only "baby Pokémon" on Rex's farm, so they got along well and enjoyed playing together.

"Beach, what's up?"

As Rex watched Chimchar and Bagon frolic, his phone began to vibrate. Upon answering, he discovered it was Beach calling him.

"Rex, I heard from Professor Sycamore that the Mega Stone you found is for Salamence. I was wondering if you'd be willing to trade it for the Metagross Mega Stone I have?"

As soon as the call connected, Beach got straight to the point, speaking with a sense of urgency.

Earlier that day, Beach had learned from Professor Sycamore that Rex's Mega Stone from Meteor Falls was meant for Salamence, while his own was for Metagross.

In terms of value, the two Mega Stones were equivalent. After all, both Salamence and Metagross were pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

However, since Beach owned a Salamence, he was eager to trade for the Salamence Mega Stone. This way, both sides could benefit without any loss.

What Beach didn't know, however, was that Rex had captured a Bagon in Meteor Falls. With Bagon in his possession, Rex had no intention of trading the Salamence Mega Stone.

"I'm really sorry, Beach. I caught a Bagon in Meteor Falls, so I'll be needing the Salamence Mega Stone myself in the future. I can't make the trade," Rex replied apologetically.

Had Rex not caught Bagon, he would have likely agreed to Beach's request. But under the current circumstances, he had no choice but to refuse.

"Ah, I see. You're so lucky, Rex! No need to apologize—I'll just look for someone else to trade with."

Beach was surprised to hear that Rex had managed to catch a Bagon, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. He quickly realized, though, that Rex wouldn't part with the Salamence Mega Stone, as he clearly needed it for his own Pokémon.

"So, did Rex agree to trade?"

After Beach ended the call, John approached him, curiosity written all over his face.

Seeing John's eager expression, Beach hesitated for a moment. Of the four of them who had entered Meteor Falls, three had found Mega Stones, and Rex had even captured a Bagon. Meanwhile, John had only managed to gather some resources.

Beach could already imagine how envious John would be when he learned of Rex's good fortune. After all, even Beach himself couldn't help but feel jealous.

"No, Rex said he caught a Bagon in Meteor Falls, so he'll need the Salamence Mega Stone for himself," Beach said honestly after a moment of hesitation.

"What?! How is Rex so lucky? I'm so jealous I can't stand it!"

As expected, John was floored by the news. He felt like the universe—or perhaps Arceus—had abandoned him.

After all, they had all worked equally hard in the depths of Meteor Falls for a month. John had even put in extra effort digging without slacking off, yet his rewards didn't come close to matching the value of what the others had found.

"No way—I won't give up! I'm heading to the Kalos region next. There's no way I'll leave empty-handed when it comes to Mega Stones!"

After sulking for a while, John decided to embark on a solo journey. He hoped to find success in Kalos and turn his fortunes around.

He also chose not to travel with Beach. Just being around Beach reminded him of Meteor Falls, and he felt as though all the luck had been sucked away by the others.

Watching John rush off in such a dramatic manner, Beach could only shake his head helplessly.

Compared to John, Beach's own gains were substantial. With the Metagross Mega Stone in hand, he was confident he could eventually trade for the Salamence Mega Stone—if not with Rex, then with someone else. It was just a matter of time.

(Chapter End)