Aoki squatted down, placed his hand on the stones nearby, and felt a coolness radiating from them. Oddly, there seemed to be a sense of relief emanating from the stones, though he quickly shook his head to clear such illusions from his mind.
Carefully, Aoki lifted the rocks and inspected the Pokémon egg. As expected, there was a small crack on its surface, but today, the crack was tightly sealed. This was due to the Earth Core Milk that had condensed over the fracture, mending it with nature's magic. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI~Fire.net
The Earth Core Milk, known for its vitality-restoring properties, not only sealed the egg but also replenished the life force lost from within.
Sensing the surging vitality inside the egg, Aoki sighed softly, "A great parent, and great nature."
It was purely by chance that Aoki had come across this Pokémon egg from Tyranitar, though perhaps fate had played a role.
The Earth Core Milk, covering the egg in a protective layer, could rejuvenate its life force. If it could hatch, Tyranitar's inherent rock-type talent would undoubtedly be extraordinary.
However, the powerful energy within the Earth Core Milk presented a paradox. Over the years, it had fused with the eggshell, making hatching nearly impossible.
Under the analysis of Aoki's advanced tools, the egg—despite its immense vitality—had become an anomaly: a pseudo-legendary egg incapable of hatching.
With mixed feelings, Aoki handed the egg to Slowpoke, instructing it to hold the incubator gently with psychic power.
Though the situation seemed hopeless, Aoki resolved to find a way to hatch the egg. It was worth every effort.
Collecting all the Earth Core Milk from the pool, Aoki filled ten glass bottles, even repurposing a water container for additional storage.
If exchanged, the Earth Core Milk could yield nearly a million points. But Aoki knew better than to flaunt such wealth—discretion was essential for survival. He would trade only a portion of it for resources, ensuring his safety and facilitating the growth of his Pokémon.
This newfound resource marked a turning point. From now on, Aoki could assemble a full team of six Pokémon that met his rigorous standards of strength and temperament.
Tucking the ten bottles into his storage belt, Aoki felt a wave of satisfaction. The journey to this cave had been worthwhile.
"Earth Core Milk doesn't just serve as medicine. If used on a rock- or ground-type Pokémon, its effects could be incredible," Aoki mused. He began considering whether to add a rock- or ground-type Pokémon to his team.
"Still, it's better to focus on the mission. If I encounter a strong candidate, I'll consider it, but there's no need to force the issue."
Most of the Pokémon in this area—like Geodude—didn't meet Aoki's expectations. Only exceptional specimens would merit consideration.
In his heart, Aoki nurtured a small hope: if Tyranitar's egg could somehow hatch, it would undoubtedly become a powerhouse—a pseudo-legendary and a testament to the magic of nature.
Taking out a portable Pokémon egg incubator from his gear, Aoki placed Tyranitar's egg inside. Though hatching seemed impossible for now, he believed it wasn't permanent. If he could remove the Earth Core Milk fused with the eggshell—or make the shell fragile enough—the egg might eventually hatch.
Since Pokémon eggs couldn't be stored in spatial equipment, Slowpoke's new task was to carry the incubator using its psychic abilities. This served as both a responsibility and a constant exercise of its powers.
When Aoki returned to the open terrain of the stone forest, he noticed the peculiar richness of the rocks in this area. Despite their abundance, the rocks contained little mineral energy, resulting in low-level Geodudes.
The explanation became clear: Earth Core Milk had absorbed the minerals from the surrounding rocks and soil, concentrating them in the cave's depths.
This also explained the presence of the level-30 Onix, which had thrived by consuming stones near the Earth Core Milk. The energy-rich environment allowed it to grow stronger, and over time, it developed a habit of basking in the area.
Nature, in its mysterious balance, often works in contradictions. In barren stone forests one, the most potent mineral resources could be found. Earth Core Milk was a prime example of this phenomenon—a miracle of nature that even Pokémon were part of.
"As long as we cross this pathway, we'll reach our destination," Aoki thought, his mind still influenced by the story of Tyranitar's devotion. He pressed forward with Slowpoke and Murkrow, ready to continue the mission.
The rewards of 10,000 points from this task now seemed minor compared to the discovery of Earth Core Milk. Yet Aoki was determined to see the mission through, especially since its outcome could determine his eligibility for shadow operations.
After five days of travel, Aoki finally reached the marked location on the map—a cave, once again.
Aoki couldn't help but laugh. "Another cave? Am I destined to explore every cave on this trial island?"
Despite his complaints, he pressed on. He hadn't come all this way to turn back now.
Upon entering, Aoki's movements startled a colony of Zubat resting on the ceiling. A wave of chaos ensued as the swarm descended.
Fortunately, Slowpoke's psychic abilities proved effective against the poison-type Zubat. With a few well-placed attacks, the swarm was subdued, leaving a trail of fainted Zubat behind.