3. Family

Like Zubat, Noibat is a bat-type Pokémon. Another Pokémon in this category is Woobat. Their signature move is the irritating Supersonic attack.

Noibat resembles a purple bat with typical bat-like wings and sensitive ears, but it also has features similar to some reptiles. Its ears are even larger than its head, divided into multiple layers, with a distinctive pattern between its eyes. Highly sensitive to sound, it's classified as a Sound Wave Pokémon.

In the games, Noibat has the lowest base stat total among all Dragon-type Pokémon, with only 245 points. Its evolved form, Noivern, isn't particularly powerful in the games either.

Even so, Jacob was still quite satisfied with his first Pokémon. After all, reality differed from the games. In games, everyone had a complete Pokédex and could easily obtain a Shiny Rayquaza. In reality, not to mention Legendary Pokémon, even Pseudo-Legendaries were exceedingly rare. For Jacob to acquire a Dragon-type Pokémon was already quite fortunate.

"Jacob, remember to take good care of your Pokémon egg," Asher reminded him after they returned home. "Your Pokémon egg doesn't look like a Zubat egg. I can't tell what Pokémon it is. We won't know until it hatches. I happen to be on vacation these next few days, so I can let Volcarona help with hatching it."

Asher's words were full of affection for Jacob. The Volcarona, with its Flame Body ability, was undoubtedly excellent for hatching eggs, capable of speeding up the incubation process. That Asher would lend his ace Pokémon to Jacob for egg hatching showed his fondness for his younger brother.

"Okay. Thanks, brother." Jacob picked up the Pokémon egg and approached the incubator at home. He gently placed the egg inside. Looking at the purple pattern on the eggshell, a smile spread across his face.

"Hatching Pokémon in real life is different from the games. In games, you just need to walk around to hatch eggs, but in reality, you need to consider the appropriate temperature and humidity. Additionally, if conditions permit, you can add nutrient solution to improve the Pokémon's physical condition. If your family is particularly wealthy, you can even add type-specific nutrient solutions."

Jacob looked at the egg in the incubator while contemplating where he might obtain a bottle of mixed Dragon and Flying-type nutrient solution.

The price of standard nutrient solution was about 150,000 Pokédollars per bottle, with one bottle typically sufficient to support the hatching of a normal Pokémon.

Type-specific nutrient solutions were even more expensive, ranging from 750,000 to 1.5 million Pokédollars depending on the type. For instance, the Dragon and Flying nutrient solutions needed by Noibat cost 1.5 million and 1.1 million Pokédollars per bottle respectively. Even a compromise blend would still cost around 1.2 million.

Jacob was stunned by the price. One million two hundred thousand Pokédollars was enough to purchase a good starter Pokémon. To be honest, Jacob couldn't afford to spend that much money on type-specific nutrient solutions.

Although his family, the Xia family, was considered well-off, they weren't excessively wealthy. Compared to the truly affluent families, his family's accumulated wealth was still relatively modest. His grandfather's generation had been ordinary people. It wasn't until his father seized the opportunity to become the Gym Leader of Starlight City that they entered the ranks of the wealthy.

"I'm short on money," Jacob couldn't help but complain. Indeed, whether in his past life or this one, money remained crucial. "Where can I make some money?"

Jacob began to consider ways to earn income. The most profitable enterprises in this world were invariably Pokémon-related. Industries like Poké Ball manufacturing, Berry cultivation, and Technical Machine production were all quite lucrative.

Jacob's father had contracted a large area of forest to grow Berry trees and manufacture Technical Machines.

...

Click.

The door opened as Jacob's father and mother walked in.

Jacob's father was fifty-three years old this year, with slightly gray hair at his temples and a robust physique. The middle-aged woman beside him was Jacob's mother in this life, Zoe. She worked as a Pokémon nurse and served as the vice president of the largest Pokémon Center in the city.

The man who had just entered the room noticed Jacob lying next to the incubator, frowned slightly, and keenly observed that there was an additional purple Pokémon egg in the incubator. "Where did the Pokémon egg in the incubator come from?"

"I brought it back from the wild today," Jacob explained. "This is my starter Pokémon."

"Yours?" his father asked in surprise. He had tried to give Jacob a Pokémon several times before, but Jacob had always refused. Unexpectedly, today he had suddenly taken the initiative to capture a Pokémon. "Zoe, come see what kind of Pokémon egg this is."

When she was younger, Zoe had not only been attractive but also held a doctorate degree. More importantly, her mother and entire family were accomplished academics. For example, Jacob's uncle was a Pokémon researcher, and his grandparents were both Pokémon doctors. They truly came from a family of scholars.

Jacob's father had been fortunate to marry someone from such a distinguished family. Their marriage had caused quite a sensation at the time. His father often said that the proudest achievement of his life was marrying Jacob's mother, and naturally, the couple maintained an excellent relationship after marriage.

"Jacob?" Zoe set down her bag and looked at her son in surprise. Why had this child suddenly changed his attitude today? Hadn't he always insisted he didn't want to become a Pokémon Trainer?

Although Zoe was surprised, she didn't question him, instead offering encouragement: "There's still one year before college entrance exams. If you want to become a Trainer, it's not too late. Let me see what kind of Pokémon egg this is."

Zoe approached the incubator and carefully examined the egg inside. The purple pattern with black lines represented a relatively rare color combination.

The egg was full and round, its shell clear and shiny, with thick and vibrant patterns decorating the surface. Judging by appearance alone, this Pokémon likely possessed excellent potential.

"Where did you get this Pokémon egg?" Zoe asked. She already had a general idea about the egg's identity.

"I got it from a cave on Mount Zenith, about two hundred miles away," Asher, who was lounging on the sofa, interjected. "We encountered a Crobat in the cave. Quite powerful. This egg should be the offspring of that Crobat, though it doesn't resemble a Zubat egg externally."

"This indeed isn't a Zubat egg," Zoe said with a smile. "This is a Noibat egg. You're fortunate—it's a rare Dragon-type Pokémon. Dragon-types are very uncommon, and this Noibat likely has impressive potential."

"Noibat's evolved form, Noivern, is an excellent Dragon-type Pokémon, especially when battling at night or in dark places. Noivern becomes even more powerful in such conditions. Noivern has a rough personality and is quite hot-blooded. However, if you offer it its favorite ripe Berries, its behavior changes, becoming quite friendly. In darkness, even Hydreigon will be wary of it and avoid battling after dusk. Noivern is brave and fierce, virtually unbeatable in battles fought in darkness."

"Rory, bring me that bottle of nutrient solution. This is my son's first Pokémon, so we must establish a good foundation."