Chapter 674: Wow! So Many Dragonites! (Please Vote for Double Monthly Tickets)

The little one, Miniryu, strained its body, rubbing against shrubs and branches to scrape off the thin, translucent “membrane” covering its skin.

Though a one-meter-long serpentine creature hardly qualifies as a “little one,” Miniryu’s appearance was undeniably cute.

—Even though it could now raise its body up to Luo Mu’s waist.

Sensing the approach of unfamiliar energy, Miniryu lifted its small head, revealing its front face with white fins on either side and a large, round white nose.

Its damp purple eyes regarded Luo Mu and the others with curious curiosity.

There was no fear, no dread—only the pure, unspoiled curiosity of one untouched by the world.

It was clear this Miniryu had been well cared for.

Realizing it had only managed to shed the skin around its head after all that effort, Miniryu looked crestfallen, its big watery eyes fixed on Luo Mu as it let out a soft, mewling “nyaa.”

—It seemed to be asking Luo Mu for help with its molt.

Seeing its expression, Luo Mu was unexpectedly reminded of the early days of his Dragonite.

Their childhoods were worlds apart.

Compared to Dragonite’s past—hiding at the bottom of Big Pot Lake, feeding on sinking scraps, scraping off its daily molt by itself—

this Miniryu’s quality of life was visibly far superior, protected by elders during its most vulnerable stage.

Perhaps this was one of the reasons for the existence of a clan.

“Don’t move around too much.”

Luo Mu sighed and crouched down.

Miniryu, as if understanding, immediately rubbed its body against Luo Mu’s lowered hand.

Luo Mu carefully lifted the edge of the molt beginning to split at Miniryu’s head and began peeling it off with gentle motions.

Though his movements were clumsy at first, he quickly got the hang of it.

After all, during the days when Dragonite was still a Miniryu, Luo Mu had personally cleaned and peeled off its daily molts.

But since Dragonite completed its final evolution and no longer needed to molt, Luo Mu’s “skill” had gradually grown rusty.

Once he resumed, he quickly regained his touch.

“Boooh~”

Dragonite, holding Bulbasaur and Togepi, drifted closer, its large eyes fixed on Miniryu, as if filled with memory and nostalgia.

Even the soft, mewling “nyaa” Miniryu made from comfort—it had made the same sound once.

After all, scraping off a molt by oneself was entirely different from having someone help peel it away.

During the gaps of the molt, Luo Mu also gently touched Miniryu’s new skin.

He felt the cool, slippery texture beneath his fingertips, clearly sensing the scale patterns, yet it wasn’t rough—it was as soft and delicate as Miniryu’s voice.

Indeed, the moment after a molt, Miniryu’s skin felt the best.

A nostalgic expression settled on Luo Mu’s face.

Some might argue he shouldn’t use his “external force” to help Miniryu molt—that it was like pulling up seedlings to help them grow, stunting its eventual development into a weak dragon.

Whether this claim was true or not, he set it aside for now.

At least according to what he knew, and what he’d learned from the Dragon Tamer clan—

Miniryu typically molted once per day, because its internal life energy was swelling, a process impossible to suppress, gradually increasing its size.

Until it neared half the size of a Haxorus—on average about 1.8 meters—it would soon evolve.

Since this was a natural, internal growth process, molting was simply shedding its old constraints; whether it did so by itself or with aid, it had no effect on Miniryu.

After all, the growth had already been completed—it was merely shedding the old skin.

Of course, it couldn’t be denied that constantly wriggling to shed its skin did strengthen its physical condition to some degree.

That also consumed energy and stamina, leading to a post-molt weakness.

Luo Mu clearly remembered that his own Dragonite, perhaps because it had stayed in its Poké Ball for too long, molted faster than the average once-per-day rate.

Normally, it molted every half-day; sometimes, even within a single half-day.

Perhaps this was one reason Dragonite grew so quickly despite its late-blooming nature.

Under such conditions, forcing it to wriggle through molts would drain both stamina and energy, leaving less time for training—and in extreme cases, no time at all.

Which option was better was obvious.

“There, that should be enough.” Luo Mu murmured.

As a soft popping sound came from Miniryu’s tail tip, the final membrane peeled free, forming a relatively intact molt.

Luo Mu stared at the molt, filled with awe.

Miniryu’s shed skin was a prized material sought by luxury brands; after tanning, it was turned into boots adored by thousands—truly a top-tier commodity.

Most of the funds for the Ato family came from this source, and Luo Mu had once funded his travels the same way.

Looking at the discarded molts casually piled along the path he’d just walked, his heart warmed.

But fortunately, the thick mist from the giant Dragonite had protected this "treasure island"—otherwise, greedy hyenas would have already descended upon it.

“By the way, it’s almost been a year since Hunter J was imprisoned—should I find a chance to visit and see if she’s been reformed?”

As Luo Mu pondered random thoughts, he still crouched down, holding the molt in front of Miniryu, which looked comfortably relaxed and slightly larger.

“Can I have this?”

“Miiyaa?”

Miniryu tilted its head, confused why this friendly two-legger wanted its molt.

There was plenty lying around anyway.

But this was the first time it had experienced such comfort during a molt—it now held great affection for Luo Mu and nodded gently, granting him full rights to the molt.

“Hehe, then I won’t be polite.”

Luo Mu turned and placed Miniryu’s molt into a wooden box he pulled from his backpack—it was his labor, and he had the owner’s permission, so why not take it?

As for the molts scattered everywhere, though it might seem wasteful, molts not freshly collected and properly preserved couldn’t produce boots of good quality.

They had been exposed to nature—some parts weathered, others dried and cracked, some lost their former flexibility.

Otherwise, how could Luo Mu, who’d pluck a handful of soil just to reach Baiyin Mountain, ignore these molts?

Helping Miniryu molt was a simple favor—just as Luo Mu was about to say goodbye to the creature, now affectionately rubbing against his leg, and continue exploring this Dragonite Island—

A rustling sound parted the leaves, and two figures appeared in his and Dragonite’s view.

Two Haxorus.

Miniryu turned and eagerly wriggled toward them.

From its reaction, Luo Mu guessed their identities.

—Most likely Miniryu’s parents.

As expected.

When Miniryu approached, the two Haxorus gently touched heads with it, then inspected it carefully from head to tail.

Seeing its scales gleamed like new from the factory, their eyes clearly softened with relief.

Miniryu’s molt had succeeded.

“Luuu~”

After confirming Miniryu’s condition, the two Haxorus turned to Luo Mu and his group, greeting them.

“Boooh~”

Because of its three godmothers, Dragonite, waving its claws, responded warmly to the Haxorus.

“Hello.”

Luo Mu also raised his hand in greeting.

The two Haxorus exchanged glances, unshocked by Luo Mu’s presence, and nodded to him.

After all, this human had been brought back by the Guardian Dragonite himself—he couldn’t be evil.

The fact that Dragonite beside him was the one the Guardian had entrusted with hopes of becoming Clan Chief further confirmed it.

So even seeing Miniryu beside Luo Mu, they felt no tension.

They wouldn’t, like some overprotective Pokémon, launch an unprovoked attack.

The two Haxorus slithered over to Dragonite, looking at this outsider of their kind, and issued a friendly invitation.

“Luuu~” (Would you like to come see our settlement?)

“Boooh?” (Settlement?)

Dragonite blinked, then turned its questioning gaze to Luo Mu.

He didn’t need to summon the Firebird from its Poké Ball to translate—Luo Mu understood the meaning of Dragonite’s look.

The Haxorus had invited Dragonite, just like in the anime.

“Do as you wish.”

Luo Mu gave a response leaving the decision entirely to Dragonite.

“Boooh!”

Dragonite’s eyes lit up, and it nodded to the Haxorus, accepting the invitation.

Today was the first time it had seen so many of its own kind—it was genuinely curious about their settlement.

Was it like the Big Pot Lake where its godmothers had once lived, a chaotic ecosystem all mixed together?

Led by the two Haxorus, Luo Mu and his group moved deeper into the forest.

Since the distance wasn’t far, they had no intention of flying.

The tiny Miniryu had already climbed onto Luo Mu’s body, wrapping itself several times around his neck like a scarf.

With any other serpent, Luo Mu would have suffocated long ago.

Fortunately, Mini Dragon merely enjoyed trying new sensations, coiling around him lightly and with perfect restraint.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, suddenly a scent drifted through the air into his nostrils, causing Luo Mu’s nostrils to flare slightly.

“Water source?”

He murmured to himself.

And this wasn’t just any water source.

——It was freshwater.

Luo Mu could still distinguish the salty, briny odor of seawater from the unique, faint scent of freshwater.

He pushed aside a layer of shrubbery, and the view opened up before him.

Luo Mu’s gaze turned forward.

Before him stretched a vast, open area, devoid of dense trees, replaced instead by a massive freshwater lake.

On the grass near the lake, a few Dragonites and Haxorus huddled together, basking in the sun.

In the lake itself, many Mini Dragons—rarely seen outside—swam and played, letting loose their youthful instincts.

Their numbers were far greater than those gathered on the beach.

“Geez. If Adu saw this, his cultivation heart might shatter.”

In his mind surfaced the memory of visiting the Yulong clan’s ancestral home in Vermilion City, when Adu and Xiao Chun proudly explained how their clan raised dozens, even hundreds, of Mini Dragons, Haxorus, and Dragonites.

Luo Mu murmured.

“Bago?”

Hearing Luo Mu call out, Tai Le Bago tilted his small head curiously toward him.

“Sorry, I didn’t call you.”

He patted its small head, offering a soothing explanation.

Meanwhile,

their arrival had drawn the attention of the Dragonites and Haxorus lounging nearby.

Several wild Dragonites trotted over and gestured with their fingers toward Luo Mu’s Dragonite.

——It was a challenge to spar.

They wanted to see what made Luo Mu’s Dragonite worthy of being recommended by the Guardian Great Dragonite and granted eligibility to compete for tribal leadership.

Although Dragonites were generally gentle and kind Pokémon, they still upheld the creed of strength above all.

——Only a leader with sufficient power could guide them in protecting their own “paradise.”

Dragonite declined the challenge.

Because he preferred staying by Luo Mu’s side over competing to become leader of the Dragonite tribe.

He had been raised by Luo Mu himself; he couldn’t imagine life without him, nor would he stay here for that reason.

Not to mention Luo Mu had personally refused the Dragonite chieftain—Dragonite had zero interest in vying for the position.

Though eager to fight, the wild Dragonites didn’t force the issue.

After exchanging glances, they scattered like birds and beasts.

Perhaps because they’d been turned away, no other Dragonites or Haxorus blocked Luo Mu’s group during the rest of their tour.

They walked smoothly across the grass and reached the lake’s edge.

Mini Dragon happily leapt into the water to play with its companions.

Through observation, Luo Mu realized this lake was likely where Dragonites and Haxorus cared for their young.

After all, though neither Mini Dragon nor Haxorus carried a Water typing, both were far more accustomed to aquatic life.

Even after evolving into Dragonite, this instinct never changed.

As he observed the ecology of the Mini Dragons and Haxorus in the lake, Luo Mu sat on the grass, peacefully enjoying the breeze and quiet time—this went on for half an hour.

Until a distant explosion and thunderous boom yanked his drowsy mind back to reality.

(End of Chapter)