July 11th, Wednesday.
"Anyway, I've already highlighted all the key points for the exam. Good luck, everyone!"
Johan held a thick book and gestured encouragingly to the densely packed students in the lecture hall below.
"Vii!!"
Victini made a rare appearance, sending "Victory's Blessing" to the students.
However, the students below already wore expressions of defeat, even despair.
Key points?
Highlighting most of the book?
As an experienced teacher, Roxanne commented:
"You'll get used to it. Last semester Teacher Johan highlighted an entire book. This time it's only most of the book - that already counts as 'key points.'"
As a top student, Roxanne naturally had no major problems, but Flannery beside her... her hair was getting so frazzled it was approaching Flint's level.
"Teacher."
Johan was caught up to by Steven as he left the classroom.
In terms of academics, Steven naturally had no issues.
"What's up?"
"After final exams end, I'm planning to go to Kalos again. Do you still need diamonds, Teacher?" Steven asked while walking toward the training room alongside Johan.
Diamonds...
The image of Larvitar eating diamonds like candy flashed through Johan's mind.
Even though diamonds in the Pokémon world weren't ridiculously overpriced due to marketing, they were still much more expensive than ordinary minerals.
But there was no choice...
Johan thought of his bank account balance and gritted his teeth:
"Please bring me some."
"Alright." Steven made a mental note of this.
The two arrived at the training room to see...
"Aggron!" Steven's Aggron stood with a serious expression, its body like a small mountain while covered in a brilliant metallic sheen.
Iron Defense!
"Yoji!"
Larvitar, looking tiny next to Aggron, mimicked Aggron's movements with an adorable roar, its body similarly covered in metallic luster.
Iron Defense!
Seeing this, Steven's eyes lit up with admiration:
"Larvitar's progress is really fast. That Iron Defense already looks quite solid."
As someone passionate about Steel and Rock-type Pokémon, Steven could tell at a glance how strong Larvitar's Iron Defense was.
"After eating so many minerals, even if it's just the accumulated minerals, the hardness shouldn't be low," Johan said.
The investment he'd made in Larvitar... he'd really spent a fortune.
Both being pseudo-legendary Pokémon, when Dragonite was still a Dratini, compared to Larvitar, Johan's training pressure had been so much lighter.
Facts proved that not everyone could easily raise pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
"Teacher, aren't you planning to let Larvitar evolve yet?"
Steven noticed the Everstone hanging around Larvitar's neck and looked somewhat puzzled.
With Larvitar's current strength and the energy accumulated in its body, it could definitely evolve into Pupitar.
But due to the Everstone's restriction, Larvitar remained in its initial form.
"Let's wait a bit longer. Even after evolving into Pupitar, it would need to accumulate power for transformation anyway, so it's better to let it accumulate more while still a Larvitar."
Although after evolving into Pupitar it would temporarily stop eating, once it evolved into Tyranitar...
Moreover, Giovanni's "Earth's Mysteries" had mentioned more than once that early accumulation was very important for Larvitar-type Pokémon. If necessary, delaying its evolution progress was acceptable.
However... cases like Johan's where he "delayed" evolution while providing so much food were truly rare, almost nonexistent.
Even Larvitar's "diet" included fragments of the Earth Plate - this was absolutely unique in the Pokémon world.
Steven nodded with understanding.
Every trainer had their own plans and directions for raising their Pokémon. Steven wouldn't say much about it, just gained some insight.
After chatting a bit more, Steven excused himself to prepare for final exams.
Johan then turned to lead his little ones in consuming energy - no, training.
"Ka-kaah!"
After finishing basic training, Gengar lay on the ceiling scrolling through its phone.
In this regard, Gengar was also part of the heavy internet surfing demographic. For current events and news, it often learned about them first before telling Johan.
Sure enough, it floated over excitedly to show Johan the news it had just seen.
Johan glanced at it...
"'Pokémon Triathlon Competition'?"
In the Pokémon world, the so-called "triathlon" wasn't the traditional bicycle, running, and swimming.
Instead, it referred to: racing, strength, and swimming.
"No." Johan pressed Gengar's head, leaned closer to the screen, and pointed at the first event "racing" in the triathlon: "Do you think any of our family could serve as this 'mount'?"
Everything else was fine, but for racing you at least needed a mount, right?
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar scratched its butt and looked toward Rotom.
Hey? Doesn't Rotom-Bike count as a mount?
"What do you think?" Johan said irritably.
If it were a "real triathlon" that would be fine - Rotom-Bike's horsepower was definitely top-tier, but racing...
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar pounded its fist into its palm and pointed toward Ninetales, who was practicing Moonblast nearby.
"Oowoo?"
Ninetales seemed to sense something and cast a puzzled glance over.
Johan's mouth twitched.
Forget about whether they could even ride Ninetales due to its size - who could withstand the unconscious cold emanating from Ninetales when it ran at full speed?
Others got hot spring eggs; you'd get frozen eggs, right?
"Gengar, you have bad intentions, don't you? You can just say it directly - no need to drag Ninetales into this."
Johan pressed his fists against both sides of Gengar's head, giving it a left-right temple massage.
"Ka-, Ka-kaah..."
Gengar quickly laughed awkwardly while escaping Johan's "restraint," its eyes spinning around.
If, if that doesn't work... I'll do it!
"You?"
Johan looked up and down at this purple little fatty.
Black mist suddenly swirled around Gengar, and then "Transforming Gengar" made its debut.
"Ka-kaah!"
Tell me, what kind of mount do you want? Rapidash? Mudsdale? Zebstrika?
Sure enough, after the black mist swirled around Gengar's body, it really simulated the appearance of several equine Pokémon.
It wasn't just equine Pokémon either - it also transformed into Dodrio, Rhyhorn, and other Pokémon that could participate in "racing."
"You think you're Spectrier," Johan lightly rubbed his forehead.
But since Gengar was willing to make such a "sacrifice," it showed that it was genuinely interested in this kind of fun competition.
Johan scanned through the Pokémon used by contestants in the previous "Pokémon Triathlon" racing events.
Rapidash, Mudsdale, Zebstrika, Galarian Rapidash...
Speaking of which, Galarian Rapidash was the most "eye-catching," making him hum the "Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse" tune unconsciously.
"What about the swimming event then?"
The strength event went without saying - Johan's family might not have much else, but they had plenty of strong ones. Even Gengar could throw punches.
But the swimming event...
They couldn't have Urshifu swim with Johan riding on its back, right?
Others used Blastoise, Lapras, Sharpedo, Gyarados... at worst, they could ride a Starmie.
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar rested its chin on its hand and tentatively spoke.
How about I transform into a Blastoise for you?
Johan: "..."
So you're going to handle everything yourself?
"We'll think about it later," Johan waved his hand.
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar's ears drooped dejectedly, and it let out a deflated "oh" before turning to walk away.
Seeing it like this, even though he knew it was acting, Johan still asked: "Where's it being held?"
Gengar's drooping ears immediately perked up.
"Ka-kaah!"
It pointed at the "Pokémon Triathlon" venue on the screen - the Kalos region!
And one of the organizers was even the Flare-Life Laboratory.
Why did everything recently point to the Kalos region?
Johan was planning to take his little ones on a vacation during summer break, though he hadn't decided on the location yet. His first choice was actually the Alola region.
Sunshine, beaches, islands, bikinis...
Honestly, in the entire Pokémon world, there was nowhere better for vacation than the Alola region.
After all, without much major development, Alola's pristine landscapes and environment were quite attractive, and Johan had never been to the Alola region either.
But going to Alola in summer carried certain "risks" - easy to get tanned, with excessive temperature and sunlight.
In terms of "danger" levels, the Alola and Kalos regions really weren't that different.
Alola often had random Ultra Beast crossing incidents, with Anabel serving as head of the "UB Task Force" handling such matters.
Additionally, Alola had... a mysterious girl who might fish up Dhelmise or Lugia.
As for other regions... they temporarily didn't have as much appeal.
And the Kalos region, besides tourism and vacation, what attracted Johan most - aside from his beloved coffee and being the birthplace of Fairy-types - should be Carbink.
Carbink that could produce diamonds!
Not considering Diancie, the legendary mythical Pokémon, but Carbink... was still worth coveting.
"If nothing else works... maybe take a trip to the Kalos region?"
Last time Professor Sycamore was planning to convene a research conference, but later due to the "World Coronation Series," Johan and many Pokémon professors like Professor Oak and Professor Rowan focused more attention on the tournament, so the conference was temporarily postponed.
"Teacher."
Steven suddenly returned.
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot to mention earlier... I wonder when you'd have time? My father wants to invite you to dinner at home." Steven smiled.
Dinner?
"It's just ordinary dinner. Roxanne and the others should be coming too." Perhaps worried Johan might overthink it, Steven added.
Johan had been to Steven's house more than once or twice, but before he could react, Gengar and the other little foodies immediately expressed their positions.
"Ka-kaah!"
I'm free today!
Not just Gengar - Larvitar, Dragonite, and Urshifu all nodded in agreement.
Steven looked at Johan.
Johan lightly rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but still said: "I should be free anytime recently."
"How about tonight then?"
"Fine."
Getting a definitive answer, Steven quickly left again, saying he needed to inform Joseph Stone so the house could start preparations.
As for why Gengar and the others were so eager to eat at Steven's house...
Please, the richest person in Rustboro City, even the richest in the Hoenn region - aside from good and abundant food, wouldn't this save money on a meal?
Even Gengar would eat and take extras, saving money on late-night snacks.
Only their eating habits whenever they went for meals made Johan feel like... he was sorry for not feeding his little ones properly.
"Let's think about vacation destinations later then."
Not being enthusiastic about eating shows problematic thinking.
Johan clapped his hands and called out:
"Increase training intensity! Move, move, move!"
Clear your stomachs - that's the greatest respect for your host!
Evening, as the sun set westward.
The hazy sunset covered the entire city with a layer of faint orange-red gauze, with light and shadow weaving together into an evening glow symphony.
At the Stone family estate in Rustboro City, after driving through the grounds for some time, the car stopped in front of a castle-like building.
"Teacher."
Steven had been waiting at the entrance and came forward to open the car door for Johan.
Joseph Stone, who had been busy rolling up his sleeves on the lawn, also walked over with a cheerful smile.
"Teacher Johan."
"Mr. Stone."
They were quite familiar with each other, so no excessive pleasantries were needed - just a simple greeting.
Later, Roxanne, Flannery, and even Sonia and Penny arrived.
Compared to Roxanne and Flannery, who were "regulars," this was Sonia and Penny's first time at Steven's house.
Sonia was fine, but Penny was naturally introverted and shy. She had improved considerably under Johan's guidance, otherwise she probably wouldn't have dared come to tonight's dinner.
According to "tradition," Steven would show everyone his "collection" as a little pre-dinner program.
Before the group headed to Steven's storage room:
"Teacher, I heard you crushed Arceus?" Flannery seemed to have just learned this news and asked with some excitement.
Arceus?
Roxanne, walking alongside, looked stunned.
Was this... the Arceus she knew of?
Unlike Roxanne, Sonia and Penny showed confusion.
"Arceus? Is that some kind of Pokémon?"
As Galarians, while Sonia came to Hoenn for advanced studies, she hadn't yet begun learning about Sinnoh region's mythology.
"The Creator God, Arceus..." Steven briefly explained what Arceus was to them.
After hearing this...
Sonia's eyes widened, and even the usually shy Penny looked utterly incredulous.
This was the legendary Creator God!
Their teacher had crushed it?
Johan rubbed his forehead somewhat helplessly: "Where did you hear that?"
Wasn't this news supposed to be blocked?
Even if Flannery's grandfather was a former Fire-type Elite Four of Hoenn...
"Some fiery-haired guy online said it," Flannery blinked.
Johan: "..."
Damn, it's Flint again...
During the Alamos Town incident, the rumor "Teacher Johan punched Dialga and Palkia to pieces" was also spread by Flint.
Flint, just wait... Johan made a mental note with gritted teeth.
Next time I'll definitely call Arceus over so you two can have a nice chat!
"You believe whatever people say? Is Arceus something that can just be crushed?" Johan said irritably.
Steven glanced at Johan and smiled without saying anything.
Others might not know the situation, but as Hoenn's prospective Elite Four member, even considered a Champion candidate, and with his status as Devon's young heir, Steven knew the truth.
Arceus had indeed been crushed, though it later reformed.
"I thought it was real..." Flannery pouted quietly.
Johan shook his head.
The group arrived at Steven's storage room, which displayed various stones in dazzling array - some placed on shelves, others in individual glass-sealed containers.
Johan firmly gripped Larvitar's trembling Luxury Ball, then "clicked" it locked.
He couldn't let Larvitar out to cause havoc - these were all stones Steven had painstakingly collected.
Some stones might not be worth much, but each one was Steven's treasure.
"This is..."
Sonia noticed a strangely shaped stone in a glass-sealed container, one that faintly emanated pale red glowing patterns, and said with surprise:
"A Wishing Star?"
"Yes," Steven said. "I found it at a meteor crash site after a meteor shower."
"It really is a Wishing Star..." Johan stepped closer.
"Teacher Johan knows about it too?" Sonia asked.
Steven, Roxanne, and Flannery also cast puzzled glances.
Although he'd collected this Wishing Star, honestly Steven just considered it a rather special meteorite.
"Professor Magnolia's research findings. Apparently Wishing Stars are the main material for making Dynamax Bands in the Galar region, capable of absorbing Galar particles."
In the Galar region, the popularization of Dynamax was largely thanks to the joint research between Professor Magnolia and Macro Cosmos - creating Dynamax Bands from Wishing Stars.
However, Professor Magnolia gradually saw through Macro Cosmos President Rose's unscrupulous methods and stopped cooperating with them.
But because of this, aside from Macro Cosmos, only Sonia's grandmother Professor Magnolia could make Dynamax Bands in the Galar region.
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar pressed against the glass, looking at the faintly glowing Wishing Star inside, feeling like...
it seemed to have some connection with him...
"What's this thing that looks similar to the Wishing Star..." Flannery pointed at a nearby meteorite-like stone.
"Those are shells shed by Minior," Steven smiled.
Minior and Wishing Stars did look somewhat similar.
"More meteorites..." Flannery murmured.
"From a certain perspective, Minior can't really be considered a type of meteorite," Roxanne said seriously while holding her books.
"Hm?"
Facing Flannery's confusion, Roxanne continued:
"According to research, Minior actually originate in the stratosphere, living in the ozone layer as special Pokémon born from mutated nanoparticles."
"Roxanne's advanced Pokémon knowledge is quite good," Teacher Johan praised.
"It's, it's nothing much..."
Hearing praise, Roxanne's cheeks reddened.
"Steven, it looks like your collection is missing two colors?" Johan counted five Minior shells total.
Minior lived by absorbing floating dust around them, determining their core's color based on the composition of atmospheric dust they consumed.
They could display seven completely different core colors: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, blue, and purple, corresponding to rainbow colors.
It was said that when Minior absorbed many dust particles and became heavy, they would fall to the ground. Their shells were extremely hard, but the intense impact of hitting the ground would shatter them into fragments.
So complete Minior shells were very rare and precious, let alone collecting shells of all seven different core colors.
Moreover, if Minior's core remained exposed after falling, it would quickly dissipate, becoming invisible nanoparticles returning to the ozone layer.
Of course, if Minior were captured, they wouldn't dissipate.
They had a very special and unique ability - Shields Down!
[Shields Down: When HP is above 50%, maintains meteor form and won't fall into abnormal or drowsy states. When HP is below 50%, changes to core form - Defense and Special Defense stats decrease, but Attack, Special Attack, and Speed stats greatly increase.]
Somewhat similar to Aegislash's form switching.
But unlike Aegislash, the switching condition depended on HP status, and when switching to core form, Minior's total base stats would increase by 60 points!
Equivalent to a mini-Mega Evolution.
However, Johan's biggest impression of Minior was...
They were Rayquaza's "snacks."
"Mm, still missing green and purple. I haven't been able to find them," Steven said.
Minior were rare enough, complete shells even rarer, let alone collecting all seven colors.
Even Steven hadn't managed to collect them all.
It was one of his current pursuits.
Johan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
If there's a chance... maybe he could ask Rayquaza for help, he thought.
After all, Minior that were hard for others to find were just "snacks" in Rayquaza's eyes - the ozone layer was Rayquaza's territory.
"Oh right."
Steven seemed to remember something and walked to a nearby cabinet, opening a drawer and taking out two wooden boxes.
Under everyone's somewhat puzzled gazes, Steven smiled and opened the boxes, revealing their contents.
"Vii?" Victini emerged from invisibility, sensing a rather pure energy fluctuation.
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar seemed to notice something too and squeezed its head over.
"This is..." Sonia looked surprised.
"Z-Crystals." Even the usually quiet Penny unconsciously whispered.
Z-Crystals!
Johan naturally recognized at first glance what these two pigeon egg-sized diamonds in the wooden boxes were, so his expression became somewhat stiff.
But his locked Larvitar Luxury Ball began shaking again.
Z-Crystals were essential items for using Z-Moves, and from a certain perspective, their value... equaled Mega Stones.
It was just that compared to the currently popular Mega Evolution, perhaps because the Alola region was relatively remote, not many people knew about Z-Moves.
As for Penny...
It was because Johan had mentioned the Eevee-exclusive "Eevium Z" to her once, so she paid special attention to Z-Crystals and Z-Moves.
Steven nodded: "That's right, these are two Z-Crystals. One is Groundium Z, the other I'm not sure about - it looks like Ghostium Z, but something doesn't feel quite right..."
The two Z-Crystals flowed with earthy yellow earth patterns and deep, dark patterns respectively.
Steven pushed both wooden boxes toward Johan.
Hm?
Johan was stunned.
"I already have one Groundium Z, and I'm not sure if the other is Ghostium Z. I thought Teacher would know better than me," Steven said.
The young philanthropist is at it again?
Johan straightened his expression and said seriously: "Steven, you don't know what kind of person I am—"
Although his student was famously a "philanthropist," as a teacher, Johan could only reluctantly try to maintain his principles and not let money "corrupt" his inner "standards."
Before he could finish speaking, Steven quickly said:
"Teacher, this is payment."
"Payment?"
"Devon's Pokémon Ecological Park that we built wants you to be our spokesperson," Steven said seriously.
Pokémon Ecological Park?
Johan knew about this.
When Devon Corporation took on the "Rusturf Tunnel" project, at his suggestion, they had already started building the ecological park, which seemed to be fully completed now.
But...
Spokesperson?
Johan's expression was complex.
Z-Crystals currently commanded outrageous prices on the market, not much less than Mega Stones.
While Z-Crystals' enhancement effects weren't as strong as Mega Evolution, Z-Crystals had broader applicability - most didn't require specific Pokémon, and compared to Mega Evolution, usage conditions were somewhat lower.
These two were easily worth tens of millions.
Being a spokesperson once for tens of millions would definitely be good business, but the problem was... Z-Crystals!
No matter what Z-Crystal, no matter how much benefit it brought, using Z-Moves required dancing embarrassing dances!
So annoying.
But thinking again...
Z-Crystals were extremely rare. Currently, the only known way to obtain them was through "Island Trials" in the Alola region.
How could trainers who obtained Z-Crystals this way possibly sell them?
Only someone like Steven, whose family literally owned mines, and lots of them, might have an extremely small chance of mining Z-Crystals while extracting ore.
Most Z-Crystals appearing on the market were produced this way.
So even if he didn't use them... he could sell them for high prices.
Thinking this way, he felt much better.
Johan stopped restricting Larvitar and unlocked the Luxury Ball - it ran out on its own.
It stared longingly at the wooden box containing Groundium Z, drool flowing from the corner of its mouth.
"This is a Z-Crystal. You really can't eat this," Johan said righteously.
This one alone was worth ten million - if you really took a bite, he truly couldn't afford to raise you anymore.
Moreover, could Larvitar even digest Z-Crystals?
But remembering Larvitar's Earth Plate fragment, Johan immediately dismissed such "dismissive" thoughts.
Maybe Larvitar really could digest it for you to see.
"Yo-, Yoji..." Larvitar laughed awkwardly.
I, I won't eat it, I'll just lick it...
Johan: "..."
The little one's awkward expression drew laughter from Johan's students.
"So cute," Roxanne made no effort to hide her affection for Larvitar.
"Yo-, Yoji... (ˊˋ)*"
Well, it's alright...
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar's attention focused more on the other box containing what seemed to flow with ghostly energy - the dark Z-Crystal.
This definitely wasn't Ghostium Z.
Steven's judgment in this area wouldn't be wrong.
But Gengar felt like it had some connection to this Z-Crystal.
Not really a connection - it just felt like it could resonate with it somehow.
Strange.
Gengar scratched its butt.
"No need to think about it - this is the rarer Marshadium Z," Johan provided the answer.
"Marshadium Z?" Everyone looked confused.
Among Z-Crystals, there was a batch of special Z-Crystals that could only be used by specific Pokémon, such as: Eevium Z, Pikanium Z, Snorlium Z, etc., including Marshadium Z.
It could enhance Marshadow's Spectral Thief move to - Seven-Star Soul-Stealing Kick.
Cough, the name wasn't particularly important - just know that this move had 195 power!
Specific Z-Crystals were rarer than ordinary Z-Crystals, and undoubtedly more expensive.
But!
If it were exclusive Eevium Z, Pikanium Z, Snorlium Z, that would be fine.
But Marshadium Z - how many people in the entire Pokémon world could capture Marshadow?
This Z-Crystal, no matter how rare, couldn't be used by anyone, so it couldn't sell for a good price.
Unless someone collected it.
Johan felt he'd been "tricked."
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar didn't feel tricked at all, just enlightened.
I see...
Wonder if I could use this Z-Crystal?
Although Gengar hadn't fully learned Marshadow's Spectral Thief - like learning Dark Void from Darkrai, it had found an alternative way to master it.
But mastered was mastered - Gengar's "Spectral Thief" wasn't much inferior to Marshadow's genuine version.
Perhaps...
Gengar could also use this Marshadium Z?
If so, this Marshadium Z would be quite interesting.
However, regardless...
While Marshadium Z might not have many people in the Pokémon world who could use it, Johan barely qualified as someone with that slight chance.
After all, he was the "Rainbow Hero" recognized by both Ho-Oh and Marshadow, and his relationship with "Shadow Guide" Marshadow wasn't ordinarily close.
It was just that Marshadow had gone off to handle its own business recently, otherwise Johan could have taken Marshadow home to try it out.
Steven's gift this time hadn't gone to the wrong person.
"Everyone."
Joseph Stone appeared at Steven's storage room entrance and called out:
"Dinner is ready."