Chapter 273: Gible

In the end, under Garchomp's eager gaze, Julian handed it a portion of High-Grade Dragon-Type Pokéblocks.

Garchomp: "Whoa, what is this? It's amazing!"

"Want to come with me?"

Seeing Garchomp's foodie tendencies, Julian immediately extended an invitation, feeling confident it was a done deal.

Garchomp's strength was undeniable, capable of bursting out with peak-Elite level power.

Garchomp: "No"

'Sure, the food's great, but you think I'd leave just for that? You must be kidding.'

Julian: 'Not even a hint of hesitation. At least pretend to think about it, or fake some reluctance for appearance's sake. Now it just feels embarrassing.'

Julian hadn't expected the dragons on Dragon Mountain to be so hard to recruit. Kingdra had already rejected him earlier, and now Garchomp was turning him down too.

The worst part? Both of these jerks had taken his stuff without the slightest sense of guilt or gratitude.

'This is where Steelix is way better than you two. Give it a little food, and it's happy to tag along. Don't want it? It'll still stick around shamelessly.'

Garchomp: "I can let my kid go with you"

"-Really?-"

Julian looked at it in surprise.

If the adult wasn't willing, a younger one was just as good—if not better. He preferred raising Pokémon from a young age to maximize their potential.

Garchomp nodded and roared in a specific direction.

Before long, another Garchomp descended from the sky, clutching a small Gible in its arms.

Perhaps because it was carrying its child, the second Garchomp didn't approach but instead watched Julian and Dragonite warily.

Judging from the battered state of her mate, she guessed he had been defeated.

Female Garchomp: "So you sold me and our child?"

Male Garchomp: "Honey, no, listen to me—"

Female Garchomp: "Not listening, not listening, Squirtle's reciting sutras!"

Julian ignored the couple's squabble, his focus entirely on the little Gible.

It seemed to be its first time seeing a human, and instead of fear, curiosity filled its gaze as it studied Julian.

Pokémon: Gible (Dragon/Ground)

Level: 20

Potential: Cyan

Ability: Rough Skin

Held Item: None

Gender: Male

Moves: Sand Tomb, Tackle, Sand Attack, Dragon Breath

TMs: None

Egg Moves: Draco Meteor, Twister, Dig, Dragon Claw

---

A Cyan-potential Gible, destined for Elite. Its parents were both of Cyan potential, and a third of its own Cyan potential has turned into Blue.

Female Garchomp: "So, you sold our son over some food"

The female Garchomp was absolutely furious. This spineless idiot had sold their son to a human over some food! She was ready to beat him to a pulp.

Watching the fight between the Garchomp couple—or more accurately, the one-sided domestic violence—Julian couldn't help but marvel. The male Garchomp didn't resist at all as his wife sat on his face and pounded away.

No wonder this guy could take a beating so well; apparently, he lived under constant high-pressure conditions every day.

Meanwhile, the young Gible seemed entirely unfazed by its parents' brawl. It was clear this wasn't its first time witnessing such a scene.

Julian had already made his way to Gible, studying the little Pokémon's round, chubby form. It really did have an adorable charm.

"Here, try this."

Julian pulled out a box of Gible-exclusive High-Grade Pokéblocks.

To win over this little dragon, Julian wasn't holding back. Anything labeled "exclusive" cost significantly more points, but the results were worth it.

Gible hesitantly took a small bite at first, but after that first taste, there was no stopping it. Its little hands and mouth went into overdrive.

However, since it was still young, it could only eat two blocks from the entire box.

Dragonite, watching from the side, couldn't help but eye the remaining blocks with greed.

Noticing this, Gible immediately offered half of the remaining Pokéblocks to Dragonite.

Dragonite was stunned. This was the first time another Pokémon had willingly shared food with it.

Julian's Pokémon were notoriously protective of their food. They'd usually get along fine, but if anyone dared touch their meals—even Metagross would find itself in a fight.

Dragonite was so touched that its "tears" seemed to flow from the corner of its mouth.

It shook its head, signaling it didn't need any, and patted its own round belly.

Dragonite: "Kid, from now on, I've got your back."

It knew that, barring surprises, this Gible was likely to become its new companion.

Eventually, the domestic dispute ended, and the male Garchomp, sporting a bruised and battered face, approached with his wife.

Male Garchomp: "I'm entrusting my son to you"

He wasn't stupid. Dragonite wasn't even at Elite level, yet it had managed to defeat him, who was at the late stage of that rank. This proved just how exceptional Julian was at training Dragon Pokémon.

Julian: 'Actually, I'm a Steel-type Trainer'

The male Garchomp wouldn't leave the Dragon's Den. Having lived there his entire life, he knew that if he left with this human, his wife might just pair up with another Garchomp. That guy would then raise his child and... well, sleep with his wife.

So, could he leave? Absolutely not.

Besides, Gible was already at the age where it would soon be driven out of the territory to live on its own. Whether it survived or not wouldn't be his concern anymore.

Letting his son go with this human was undoubtedly the better option. It would have a safer and brighter future.

The female Garchomp agreed for the same reason.

Most Pokémon are driven out by their parents once they reach a certain stage of development and have gained enough survival skills to fend for themselves in the wild.

This is especially pronounced in Dragon-type Pokémon.

As soon as they outgrow their infancy and acquire the ability to protect themselves, their parents expel them from the territory, forcing them to survive on their own.

Whether they thrive or perish from that point on is entirely up to them.

The Garchomp parents knew exactly what awaited their young Gible. They had experienced the same fate themselves—cast out into the wild and left to survive in a world of harsh realities.

Sure, the Gible might one day grow into a powerful Garchomp. But it was equally possible that it might meet its end in some remote corner of the Dragon's Den.

Male Garchomp: "Son, from now on, you're following him"

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as he glanced at the energy block in Gible's tiny claws. Earlier, he had stared at the human with puppy-dog eyes for a long time before reluctantly being given just one.

Yet now, his son was being showered with treats without even lifting a claw.

Gible: "So… you don't want me anymore?"

Male Garchomp: "That's right. You're useless now. Your mom and I plan to start fresh with a new one"

Gible: "A new one? Is it the uncle from next door?"

Male Garchomp: "That son of a b**ch! That bastard's at it again, trying to steal my wife!"

With a roar filled with murderous intent, the male Garchomp launched himself in the direction of the supposed offender.

The female Garchomp smacked Gible on the head: "I told you not to mention that to your father!"

Julian, unsure of what just transpired, decided to ease the tension. "Uh… here. Take these as a small token of thanks."

He pulled out two boxes of high-grade Dragon-type Pokéblocks. After all, they had just entrusted their son to him—it was only right to offer something in return.

He had no idea where the male Garchomp had flown off to, looking like it was about to start a fight, but with the female Garchomp still present, it seemed polite to hand the treats to her instead.

Female Garchomp: "Perfect timing. I'll give one of these to your uncle"