Chapter 22: Darmanitan

"Huh? This Pokémon?"

Xia Yu, who had been wandering aimlessly, caught sight of a Pokémon egg and began to examine it closely. This was the first Pokémon egg with Elite-level potential he had discovered in this area.

[Pokémon Egg]
Darumaka
Gender: Male
Type: Fire
Potential: Elite-level
Ability: Inner Focus
Moves: ???

Darumaka resembles a plump, red-furred monkey. Its entire body is covered in fluffy red hair; when it tucks in its limbs, it curls into a round, tumbler-like shape. It has yellow, cloud-shaped eyebrows, three yellow spots on its belly, and yellow, seagull-shaped stripes on its back.

This Darumaka’s ability is its hidden ability, Inner Focus, which means that once it evolves into Darmanitan, its ability will become Zen Mode.

In the games, a Darmanitan with the Zen Mode ability transforms into its Zen Mode form when its health drops below half. Its speed and attack stats decrease, while its defense, special defense, and special attack skyrocket. Its typing also changes from pure Fire to Fire/Psychic. It is considered an ability that allows for some "fancy tricks."

While it sounds flashy, it is quite impractical in the games. Most players prefer Darmanitan's other ability, Sheer Force, which eliminates the secondary effects of moves in exchange for a 30% boost in power—a simple, brutal way to increase damage. Since the games are turn-based, one move at a time, a 30% power boost can often mean a one-hit knockout.

However, reality differs from the games. In the real world, Darmanitan with the Zen Mode ability are highly sought after and command prices several times higher than those with Sheer Force. This is because, in reality, a Darmanitan with Zen Mode can voluntarily enter its Zen Mode rather than waiting for its health to drop below half.

This means a Darmanitan can shift into Zen Mode to bolster its dual defenses when blocking an attack, and then switch back to its normal form to launch an offensive. It is incredibly flexible and powerful.

The only other Pokémon with such a unique ability is Aegislash, whose "Stance Change" ability is rather cheap. In Shield Form, its defensive stats are both 140, while in Blade Form, its offensive stats are both 140. With 60 in speed and HP, Aegislash is theoretically a "pseudo-legendary" with a base stat total of 680. And that is even after being nerfed by the developers; originally, both its offensive and defensive stats were 150 in their respective forms, totaling 720.

What does a base stat total of 720 mean? It’s the same as the creator god, Arceus.

Combined with its excellent Ghost/Steel typing—which has only four double-weaknesses, while boasting three immunities, eight resistances, and one quadruple resistance—it’s no wonder Xia Yu often wants to shout, "The Steel-type is the greatest in the world!"

"Mr. Xia Yu, do you like this egg? It’s a Darumaka egg. They aren't native to China, but the Darumaka population in the Flame Secret Realm has been established for fifteen years. This batch of eggs has very good potential. Besides, this egg is available for public sale; as long as you pay for it, it won't count toward the two selection slots granted to Gym Leader Xia Luo."

Jiang Qinglan, seeing Xia Yu linger at this egg for the longest time, spoke up with a bright look in her eyes. The Flame Secret Realm had been breeding Darumaka for fifteen years, but the potential of the hatched offspring had generally been low. It wasn't until the previous batch that the highest potential recorded was only Overlord-level.

The authorities of the Flame Secret Realm hadn't expected an Elite-level Darumaka to appear suddenly, which is why they put it up for sale. The price tag was surprisingly modest: only 1,288,888.

Wait, 1.28 million?

That is indeed not expensive for a Pokémon with Elite-level potential. But considering the Flame Secret Realm officials likely believed this egg only had Overlord-level potential, asking for 1.28 million was quite aggressive.

Xia Yu wanted to buy it immediately, but unfortunately, he didn't have that much money on him. However, his older brother did. "Wrap this egg up, and we'll settle the bill together later."

"Certainly!" Jiang Qinglan’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. She would earn a hefty commission from this, and her smile grew even wider.

Xia Yu continued to walk around the area, but he didn't encounter another Pokémon with Elite-level potential, though he did find three with Pseudo-Elite potential.

Just then, Xia Luo finished his own circuit and walked over.

"Which egg is this?" Xia Luo asked, looking at the egg Jiang Qinglan had packed.

"Big brother, this is an egg I picked for you. It doesn't take up one of our quota slots, and it only costs 1.28 million," Xia Yu said quickly.

Huh? Only 1.28 million?

Xia Luo was taken aback. He had spotted a few decent eggs earlier, but had been scared off by the prices. He didn't expect his younger brother to be so generous, picking one out and having it packed immediately.

Still, Xia Luo didn't say anything. He knew Xia Yu’s eye for identifying Pokémon eggs was exceptional; his own secret weapon, Blaziken, and their father's Shiny Scizor had both been discovered by Xia Yu.

"Then let's take it." Over a million wasn't much for Xia Luo. "Ms. Jiang, please take us to the Treasury Room."

"Certainly. Please, this way."

...

As the two walked into the Treasury Room, they found it much less crowded than the outer area. Aside from the two brothers, there was only a young man and a middle-aged man, who had arrived just a minute before them.

With fewer people, there were also fewer eggs in the Treasury Room. Each one was meticulously cared for, and the lowest potential among them was Overlord-level, with most being Gym Leader-level or even Pseudo-Elite-level.

Xia Yu was dazzled, sighing at the foundation of a major Secret Realm. With so many high-potential Pokémon, they could easily cultivate an Elite-level trainer. For the Pokémon Association to grant his brother two slots, they were really bleeding out.

"The Pokémon here all have very high potential and are not for sale. Only those who have made significant contributions to the Pokémon Association are granted selection slots," Jiang Qinglan explained earnestly. "You may begin your selection now."

This time, the brothers didn't split up but walked together, discussing their options.

"Big brother, the potential of the eggs here is truly impressive. Just looking at their size, they're much larger than the ones outside," Xia Yu remarked.

"Indeed." Xia Luo nodded. It was his first time receiving a selection quota, and he was quite curious, looking left and right like a child in a candy store.

"I have a feeling this egg has great potential," Xia Luo said, pointing to an egg with an exaggerated size, a pale red shell, and faint, flame-like patterns.

Looking in the direction Xia Luo was pointing, the egg did indeed look extraordinary. Not only was it large, but the faint, flowing flames within the shell were quite rare.

[Pokémon Egg]
Growlithe
Gender: Male
Type: Fire
Potential: Pseudo-Elite-level
Ability: Flash Fire
Moves: ???

Xia Yu took a closer look and realized the egg was merely all bark and no bite; its true potential was only Pseudo-Elite-level.

Xia Yu realized that since coming to the capital, his standards had risen significantly. Back in Starlight City, he wouldn't have even seen a single Pokémon with Pseudo-Elite potential, but here in the capital, he was starting to look down on them. He realized he was truly getting carried away.

My bad, my bad.

"Excuse me, could you move aside?" Just then, the middle-aged man spoke, interrupting Xia Yu’s wandering thoughts.

"Please, go ahead." Xia Luo had clearly noticed the two luxuriously dressed men earlier. He didn't mind and stepped aside to let them get closer to examine the egg.

After the middle-aged man carefully inspected the egg, he turned and whispered a few words to the young man. He then turned to their guide and said, "Please wrap this egg up for us. We’ve chosen this one."