Victory

The month passed quickly.

Each of the three breeders had worked tirelessly on their Pokéblock formulas, and now it was time for the Goomy to decide.

A large courtyard in the Pendragon Estate had been cleared for the test. The sun cast a golden glow over the scene as the three breeders stood side by side, presenting their Pokéblocks on trays.

Before them, a group of Goomy—twenty in total—wriggled excitedly in anticipation of the feast.

At the head of the table stood Asta Pendragon, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the competitors.

"Today, we will determine which Pokéblock is best suited for the Pendragon Family's Goomy." He gestured toward the small dragons. "They will decide which they prefer. The formula that wins will be kept by the Pendragon Family, but as promised, none of you will have to pay for the materials used."

He gave a faint smirk. "Let's begin."

The grizzled Hoenn breeder stepped forward, setting his tray down. His Pokéblock was a dark blue cube with a glossy surface.

"I focused on reinforcing their slime," Vance explained. "A lot of dragon Pokémon suffer from weak defenses early on. This block contains a blend of Dratini Oil, Wyvern Root, and Iron Berry to promote tougher body structure."

The first few Goomy tasted his Pokéblock—and while they didn't spit it out, their expressions were… underwhelming.

One let out a small "Goo…" before sluggishly sliding away.

Vance scowled. "Tch. Guess they don't appreciate durability."

Asta raised a brow. "A good attempt, but it seems they do not enjoy the texture."

Next was the Kalosian researcher, who placed her Pokéblock down carefully. Hers was a sleek, violet-colored block that shimmered slightly in the light.

"Mine is designed to enhance speed and reflexes." She adjusted her glasses. "I used a blend of Dragon's Pulse Fruit, Noibat Extract, and Sitrus Nectar. This should encourage faster evolution and increased agility."

Several Goomy eagerly slid up to taste it. Their eyes widened at the flavor, and some even wiggled excitedly.

Eloise smirked. "They like it."

But then, a few moments later, several of the Goomy twitched uncomfortably. One even hiccupped, sending out a random Dragon Breath attack.

Asta frowned slightly. "Effective, but unstable."

Eloise sighed. "I may have made it a little too strong."

Finally, it was Rei's turn.

He placed his Pokéblock tray down with no theatrics, just a simple presentation. His blocks were a deep amber color, slightly translucent, with a firm texture.

"Mine is designed to return Goomy to its origins." Rei's voice was calm, confident. "I incorporated Rock-type and Dragon-type ingredients to strengthen their slime into something closer to a shell. This should help them retain moisture, increase endurance, and promote a more natural evolution."

Asta's expression was unreadable. "Let's see."

The moment the Goomy tasted Rei's Pokéblock, the reaction was instant.

Their eyes lit up, and they immediately rushed toward his tray, devouring every last piece. Some even pushed each other aside to get more.

A few started glowing faintly, as if their internal energy was stabilizing.

One particularly large Goomy looked up at Rei and nudged his leg affectionately.

Vance stared in disbelief. "What the hell…?"

Asta nodded approvingly. "It seems we have a clear winner."

Once the Pokéblock test was concluded, Asta turned back to them.

"You have all done well," he said. "As promised, we will take ownership of your formulas, but you will not need to pay for the materials. However…"

His gaze sharpened. "I have another offer for you."

The air became heavy with tension.

"Would any of you be interested in formally joining the Pendragon Family?" His tone was firm. "We could use skilled breeders like you."

Vance chuckled, shaking his head. "Sorry, but I work for myself. No offense."

Rei simply crossed his arms. "Not interested."

Eloise, however, hesitated. Then she stepped forward.

"I accept."

Asta nodded. "Then welcome to the Pendragon Family, Eloise."

The Kalosian woman smiled, adjusting her glasses. "Seems like a good career move."

Rei simply turned away. He had no intention of tying himself down to any family.