Chapter 280: Elite
Pokémon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
Level: 70
Potential: Purple
Ability: Inner Focus
Held Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Agility
TMs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe, Ice Punch, Wide Guard, Dragon Claw, Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Mega Punch, Dragon Pulse, Superpower, Giga Impact, Outrage, Focus Punch
Egg Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage
Note: Due to soaking in the Dragon Pool, the power of Dragon-type moves increases by 25%.
---
After 41 hours of soaking in the Dragon Pool, Dragonite's potential remained unchanged at Purple. This didn't surprise Julian.
If the Dragon Pool could elevate potential to Gold, then Dragonite's father would already be at Gold instead of Purple.
However, there was now a faint trace of gold within the Purple, much like when Metagross consumed the Heart of Arceus.
Though subtle, it did slightly improve Dragonite's potential.
As for strength, Dragonite has reached the peak of pseudo-Elite rank.
Its energy reserves were sufficient to ascend to Elite-level, but its body was temporarily weakened due to the violent infusion of Dragon Pool energy. Immediate progression wasn't advisable.
This was similar to Dylan's Salamence, which broke through to Elite-level after soaking in the Dragon Pool and absorbing sufficient energy.
Additionally, the power of Dragonite's Dragon-type moves was enhanced, thanks to the Dragon Pool.
However, this wasn't a guarantee for all Pokémon—when observing Dylan's Salamence, no such enhancement was noted. Clearly, the duration of the soak played a critical role.
Champion Dragonite: "Son, eat this."
Dragonite's father handed over a thumb-sized, jelly-like object.
Julian, unfamiliar with the item, used his Probing Eyes to inspect it:
Dragon Pool Crystal: A crystallized form of Dragon Pool energy. Consumption enhances overall physical strength. Most effective for Dragon-type Pokémon.
Without a doubt, this was a treasure among Dragon-types.
It enhanced comprehensive physical attributes, including speed, strength, reflexes, and durability.
Julian quickly searched for it in the system store and found it listed for 30,000 points.
'Wow, We hit jackpot!'
Julian grinned at Dragonite's father, shamelessly asking, "Got any more of these?"
After all, he had a Gabite waiting in line, and even non-Dragon-types could benefit from the crystal—though it worked best for Dragon-types.
The Champion-level Dragonite shook its head and said, "This crystal only forms three pieces every hundred years. I'm down to my last one. If you want, I'll save the next one for you."
Julian immediately nodded. This Dragonite was worth befriending—offering such treasures so generously.
"How long until the next one appears?"
"About 80 years. It'll pass in no time."
Julian: (ಠ_ಠノ)
'Eighty years? I don't even know if I'll live that long!'
For Dragonite, whose lifespan stretched over a thousand years, 80 years felt like a blink. But for humans, 80 years was nearly an entire lifetime.
The average life expectancy in Drakoria hadn't even reached 75 yet.
"Alright, I'll have my grandson pick it up when the time comes"
Julian said resolutely. Even if he wasn't around to claim it, his descendants would. And if he somehow survived, he'd come to retrieve it himself.
"Oh, I forgot you humans are such short-lived creatures. If you die, I'll have my son deliver it to your descendants"
The Champion-level Dragonite replied, a hint of melancholy flashing in its eyes.
This Dragonite, now over 200 years old, had once been bonded with a trainer.
After its trainer passed away, the trainer's descendants had returned Dragonite to the Dragon's Den. That trainer was now considered an ancestor of the Drake family.
Julian: "How polite of you."
It was a fact, though—Julian would likely pass away first. None of his Pokémon had short lifespans.
Even his Growlithe, the one with the shortest potential lifespan, could live 70-80 years. If it evolved into an Arcanine and reached Elite-level, it could easily live over a century.
This was one of the reasons prestigious families survived for generations. Their longevity wasn't just about wealth or connections—it was also because of the Pokémon left behind by their ancestors.
When an existential crisis loomed, these ancestral Pokémon, recognizing the bloodline of their original trainers, would intervene to protect the family.
Take the Drake family, for example. While they might lack a visible Champion-level trainer, they had plenty of powerful ancestral Pokémon.
This Champion-level Dragonite itself belonged to one of their forebears. If the Drake family faced annihilation, this Dragonite would step in without hesitation.
Such was the foundation of a top-tier family—an unpredictable reserve of hidden cards.
The Walker family had similar resources. Within the Oreburgh Great Wall Secret Realm lay a Champion-level Metagross, another ancestral Pokémon of the family.
After consuming the Dragon Pool Crystal from its father and a Full Restore provided by Julian, Dragonite healed rapidly, and its body continued to grow stronger.
Julian and the Champion-level Dragonite stood by, watching as Dragonite closed its eyes.
Its aura steadily intensified, its life essence climbing to new heights.
It was about to break through!
Julian's breath quickened as he fixed his gaze on Dragonite.
The leap from pseudo-Elite to Elite was not just a level breakthrough; it marked a profound transformation in the essence of life itself.
Dragonite's breakthrough wasn't dramatic or earth-shattering. Amidst the winds and snow at the summit of Dragon Mountain, it calmly advanced to the Elite level.
Pokémon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
Level: 71
Potential: Purple
Ability: Inner Focus
Held Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Agility
TMs: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe, Ice Punch, Wide Guard, Dragon Claw, Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Mega Punch, Dragon Pulse, Superpower, Giga Impact, Outrage, Focus Punch
Egg Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage
Note: Due to soaking in the Dragon Pool, the power of Dragon-type moves increases by 25%.
---
Julian's first true Elite-level Pokémon was officially born.
This wasn't the result of Mega Evolution or a temporary Elite-tier enhancement from an Elite Experience Card; this was a genuine, undeniable breakthrough.
Julian had expected his ace, Metagross, to be the first to reach Elite tier. However, to his surprise, Dragonite claimed the milestone ahead of it.
The primary reason for this achievement was undoubtedly the Dragon Pool.
The pool, however, had paid a significant price for Dragonite's breakthrough. Its water level had dropped by at least one-third due to the massive energy absorption.
Restoring it to its former state would take approximately ten years.
*****
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