Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 80

Hi all, 

Here’s the owed chapter from last week. Lucas causes a major commotion at the theme park, and heads to Rustboro City to investigate Devon Corps fossil revival technology.   

Chapter 80

Lucas approached the counter, surveying the wall of prizes behind the exchange attendant. His hard-won points would secure one of the key ingredients for the Legendary Amplifier pill.

After his encounter with Courtney, the competition had escalated dramatically. The park sent trainers with increasingly powerful Pokemon against Nero. A level forty-five Nidoking had pushed his Krokorok to the limit. Then came a vicious Electabuzz whose Thunder Punch nearly ended their streak.

Nero prevailed through sheer stubborn tenacity, but Lucas called it quits after the seventh round. Nero's condition had dropped dangerously low, and he had made more than enough points to get what he wanted.

"How can I help you today, sir?" The attendant, a young man with slicked-back hair and the resort's logo stitched on his polo shirt, asked with a rehearsed smile.

Lucas gestured toward the back shelf. "I'm interested in those vials on the top row."

The attendant followed his gaze, eyebrows rising slightly. 

"Ah, the crystallised essence. Quite a rare choice." He retrieved a stepladder, climbing to reach the dusty shelf. "Most people go for evolution stones or technical machines."

"How many do you have in stock?" 

"Eighteen, sir." He placed the case on the counter, unlatching it to reveal eighteen identical crystal vials nestled in velvet.. "They're one thousand points each. Not many trainers show interest in alchemical ingredients."

"I'll take all of them."

The attendant blinked, his customer service mask slipping momentarily. "All eighteen? How many points do you have?"

"Enough."

The attendant hesitated, glancing toward the manager's booth. "I should probably check with my supervisor before selling our entire stock..."

"Is there a rule against it?" Lucas asked, sliding his points card across the counter. "I earned these points fair and square."

The attendant's fingers hovered over the card reader, indecision written across his face. "No, sir, no rule. It's just... we've had these for months without a single purchase."

"Well, today's your lucky day," Lucas said, tapping the card.

With a reluctant nod, the attendant swiped the card. "What are you using these for?" 

He accepted the box with a smile. "Special research project.”

Lucas stored the box in his inventory when no one was looking. He had saved himself the effort of searching for the rare ingredient. Now, he only needed one more ingredient before he could start making the pill. 

"See anything you want to spend your points on?" he asked Sabrina, nodding toward the prize wall.

"These are quite something," Sabrina murmured, pointing to a Banette plush with a real working zipper mouth.

Lucas peered over her shoulder. "I didn’t know you liked stuffed toys."

"It’s for Bree." 

Sabrina purchased several more stuffed toys along with the Banette. Even if they were overpriced, she still had plenty of points. Not wanting them to go to waste, she purchased some more items until she had nothing left. 

"We've dealt Maxie a financial blow," Sabrina noted as they exited the exchange booth.

Lucas snorted. "I doubt it. This is a drop in a bucket compared to what he earns from this place. But the day is still young."

“Before you try any more reckless stunts, I need something to eat.” 

They found a restaurant that specialised in seafood dishes. Lucas ordered seafood pasta while Sabrina opted for a bowl of garlic butter shrimp. The waiter had barely cleared their plates when both their phones buzzed simultaneously.

Sabrina checked the message first. "It's from Moore. Says he's discovered something interesting and wants to meet at the pier in fifteen minutes."

"Cryptic."

They left the restaurant and made their way to the pier. Moore waited at the far end of the pier, his weather-beaten face grim beneath his wide-brimmed hat.

"What's with all the cloak-and-dagger business?" Lucas asked as they approached.

Moore slid his phone across the wooden railing. "Take a look."

The screen showed several people in casual summer attire milling around the theme park's entrance. Nothing seemed unusual about them at first glance.

"What am I looking at?"

Moore reclaimed the phone, swiping to zoom in on specific faces. "These are all members of Team Aqua. The older gentleman is Archie, their leader."

Sabrina leaned closer. "What are they doing here?"

"Either they're infiltrating Maxie's operation—which I find unlikely—or they're here to meet with him," Moore continued, flicking to another image showing Archie entering a building.

Lucas frowned. "What are you getting at?" 

"I always found it suspicious that Maxie had the resources to build this place on his own. I suspected he had at least one silent partner funding the construction."

"You think it's Team Aqua?" Sabrina asked incredulously.

Moore nodded, tapping the image. "I followed Archie and watched him enter this administrative building near the park's centre. The public is restricted from entering, and it's heavily guarded. Not exactly where you'd expect to find an infiltrator moving freely."

Lucas stared at the image. "So their animosity is only a pretence. They're actually working together."

"But what are they trying to achieve?" Sabrina wondered.

Moore shrugged. "I don't know. But it can't be anything good."

Lucas drummed his fingers against the railing. "What's your next move?"

"I need to get inside that building." 

"Then you'll need a distraction,” Sabrina said. “Something big enough to draw security personnel away."

A slow grin spread across Lucas’ face. "I think I have an idea. Give me some time to see if it’s feasible. I will message you when I’m ready."

Moore didn’t ask questions and walked away.

Sabrina turned to Lucas, her eyes narrowing at his mischievous expression. "I recognise that look. What madness are you plotting?"

"Tell me," Lucas murmured, voice low as he glanced around for eavesdroppers, "what would happen if this island received an unexpected visit from a legendary Pokemon?"

"What?" Sabrina's eyebrows shot up. "You can't possibly—"

Lucas opened his menu and examined the skill he had recently upgraded with his remaining points.

========== 

Skill: Aura Projection  Level 2/3  Next: 7 SP  Type: Active Aura: Variable. 

Description: Aura Projection is a technique that allows the creation of illusory visual projections. Users can manifest up to three human-sized or smaller illusions within a 100-metre range. At the first level, these projections can be static or have limited movement but lack sound or physical substance. Advanced users can create detailed replicas of people, Pokemon, or objects with stunning accuracy—the aura cost increasing proportionally with both size and complexity, as well as the level of realism required to make the illusion truly believable.

========== 

"This skill upgrade is broken," Lucas murmured.

After consulting his Divination skill to guide his choice of upgrades, Aura Projection had leapt out as the clear winner. The possibilities seemed endless—creating diversions, confusing enemies, testing reactions without personal risk. He could project illusions of himself, his Pokémon, or even legendaries. The strategic applications alone made it worth the investment.

The only real drawback lurked in the aura consumption. Even with his expanded reserves, maintaining complex illusions drained him rapidly. The larger and more detailed the projection, the faster his energy depleted. He'd need to develop more efficient aura management or create stronger potions to offset the cost.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas positioned himself on the observation deck overlooking the theme park's central plaza, ensuring he had an unobstructed view of the sky. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the artificial island as tourists meandered between attractions, blissfully unaware of what was about to unfold.

He glanced at his phone—a message from Sabrina confirmed she was in position near the main gates, ready to manage the exodus and ensure no one was trampled in the inevitable panic. Moore needed access to that administrative building, and Lucas intended to provide the distraction.

Inhaling deeply, Lucas centered himself and accessed his aura reserves. He hadn't had time to test his upgraded projection skill properly, but theory and practice were about to collide. 

The massive illusion he planned would drain his aura at an alarming rate, but the fallout for Maxie's business would be worth it. If tourists believed Ocean Paradise had attracted a legendary Pokémon's wrath, return visits would plummet.

Lucas focused his energy skyward, molding his aura into something massive, serpentine, and emerald. The projection took form high above the artificial island, materialising from wisps of cloud. First the sinuous head, crowned with golden filaments that caught the sunlight. Then the elongated body, scales gleaming with impossible detail. Finally, the tail, undulating with lifelike precision.

Rayquaza—or rather, the perfect illusion of it—now hovered above Ocean Paradise.

The reaction was instantaneous and far more extreme than Lucas had anticipated. A woman's scream pierced the air, quickly joined by others as people abandoned concession stands and midway games, shoving past one another in blind panic.

Lucas gritted his teeth as aura drained from his body at an alarming rate. He fumbled in his pocket for one of the potions he'd prepared, uncorking it and downing the liquid in a single gulp. Energy surged through him, temporarily restoring his depleted reserves.

Below, chaos erupted. Resort staff attempted to direct the flow of humanity, but their voices were lost in the cacophony of screams and pounding feet.

Lucas directed the Rayquaza illusion to descend until it was hovering just above the theme park. The movement accelerated the panic, people knocking over stands and barriers in their desperation to escape.

Alarm sirens blared across the resort. Security personnel flooded the plaza, gesturing frantically at the sky while barking into radios. 

Gathering the last of his initial aura reserves, Lucas added sound to the projection—just once, knowing the cost. The fabricated Rayquaza opened its massive jaws and unleashed a roar.

Lucas immediately downed a second potion, the rush of energy barely keeping pace with the massive drain.

Through his swimming vision, he spotted a familiar figure striding into the now-emptying plaza. Maxie's crimson suit stood out amid the chaos, his face upturned and fixed on the legendary dragon. Lucas couldn't hear the man's words from this distance, but his gestures told the story—arms windmilling as he shouted at his security personnel, jabbing fingers toward exits, making slashing motions across his throat.

Evacuation orders. Perfect.

Lucas uncorked a third and fourth potion. He would reach his limit soon. There were only so many potions he could consume every day. 

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he checked it. Moore's signal—he'd made it into the administrative building.

Lucas guided the Rayquaza illusion higher into the clouds, its form beginning to fragment slightly as his control wavered despite the potions. The projection rose into a bank of clouds, its tail the last visible part before disappearing entirely from view.

He released the projection, sagging against the observation deck railing. Even with the potions, the aura drain had been staggering—far beyond his calculations for maintaining such a large, complex illusion.

In the plaza below, Maxie remained rooted in place, scanning the empty sky with narrowed eyes. His expression had transformed from shock to something more calculating. He barked orders at his remaining guards, who scattered in different directions.

"He suspects something," Lucas murmured.

His phone buzzed again—Sabrina this time: "Crowd safely exiting. Several minor injuries so far but nothing serious."

Lucas grinned in satisfaction. The illusion had achieved its purpose—Moore had his opening, and Ocean Paradise's reputation would suffer a devastating blow. The rumor of a Rayquaza attack would spread across the region within hours, tourist numbers would plummet, and Maxie's operation would feel the financial impact for months.

He left the deck and threaded through the evacuating crowds, searching for Meowth. The Pokemon had managed to disappear again while he wasn’t looking. He should have kept him in his pokeball.

"There," Sabrina pointed toward a shop.

Meowth emerged from behind the counter, his paws clutching several pieces of jewellery. His whiskers twitched with satisfaction as he spotted them.

"Found some good loot," he announced. "This place was a goldmine once everyone scarpered."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "We need to leave. Now."

"Already? But I've barely started, Meowth."

"Moore's got what he needed, and security will be searching for whoever caused the panic," Sabrina said, glancing nervously at the guards sweeping through the emptying park. 

Lucas summoned Saphira, who materialised in a flash of light. 

"What about Moore?" Sabrina asked as they climbed onto Saphira's back.

"He can handle himself," Lucas replied. "Said he'd make his own way off the island."

Saphira rose into the air and flew in the direction of the mainland. 

"Maxie didn't look happy," Sabrina said.

"Good. It’s going to take time for him to recover from this."

If Maxie was indeed collaborating with Team Aqua, today's chaos had dealt a significant blow to both organisations simultaneously. The financial fallout alone would be substantial. More importantly, the disruption would force both team leaders to focus inward on damage control rather than pursuing whatever scheme they'd been planning.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Rustboro City's skyline loomed against the morning clouds, its architecture blending tradition with modernity. The city's silhouette rose from the surrounding forests like a stone crown—buildings of weathered sandstone stood shoulder-to-shoulder with gleaming glass-fronted corporate headquarters. 

Unlike other parts of Hoenn, Rustboro had escaped the worst of the legendary Pokémon's rampage. The city showed few signs of damage—just some scattered scaffolding where repairs neared completion and a handful of construction crews working efficiently. Life had returned to normal with remarkable speed.

Lucas and Sabrina approached Devon Corporation's headquarters, which dominated the city's northern district. The corporate giant's influence was evident in the city's swift recovery; Devon-branded equipment assisted work crews throughout Rustboro, and company logos adorned the temporary shelters housing displaced citizens from harder-hit regions.

The past two days had stretched Lucas' patience to its limit. Since returning from Ocean Paradise, he'd been waiting for results from the laboratory tests on the meteorite material he'd collected from Rayquaza's floating structure. The Prime Minister had promised to expedite the results, but bureaucratic delays kept pushing back the timeline. 

Lucas didn't believe the Prime Minister harboured any ulterior motives in delaying the results. As the only person with confirmed access to Rayquaza's floating structure, his position remained secure—the Hoenn government would need to maintain his goodwill if the material proved valuable. 

Reports had already reached him of research vessels anchoring at the perimeter of the exclusion zone, filled with scientists from Kanto, Kalos and even distant Unova, all clamouring for samples. The political pressure on Maeve must be mounting by the hour.

Shichiro, predictably, had dispatched his own researcher,  who'd approached Lucas at his hotel with official credentials and a letter from the Prime Minister himself. Lucas had provided her with a sample. 

Equally frustrating was the silence from Detective Moore. After their dramatic distraction at Ocean Paradise, the International Police detective hadn’t responded to his calls. He only sent a brief message stating that he was busy and couldn’t speak at the moment. 

Lucas had expected more frequent updates about Team Magma and Team Aqua's suspected collaboration, but Moore was playing his cards close to his chest. With the detective pursuing his agenda and the material analysis stalled, Lucas had decided to make productive use of their waiting time by investigating Devon Corporation's fossil revival technology. 

"This place sure is opulent," Lucas said as they passed through the sliding glass doors into the marble-floored lobby.

A receptionist looked up from behind a curved desk. "Welcome to Devon Corporation. How may I help you?"

"We'd like to speak with someone about your fossil revival program," Lucas said.

"I'm afraid that particular division doesn't accept visitors without prior appointments."

"Perhaps we could schedule one?" Sabrina suggested.

"The division director's calendar is fully booked for the next three months," the receptionist replied smoothly. "However, I can put you on a waiting list."

Lucas leaned forward. "It's quite important. We have information that could benefit your research."

The receptionist's fingers hovered over her keyboard, hesitation visible in her expression. Before she could respond, the lift doors opened, and an elderly man in an immaculate suit stepped out.

"Mr Stone," the receptionist called. "These visitors are inquiring about the revival program."

Mr Stone adjusted his round spectacles, studying them with keen interest. "Is that so? Why are you interested in our research?"

"I've discovered something that might interest your researchers," Lucas said. "Regarding extinct Pokémon."

The president's eyebrows rose fractionally. "We should continue this conversation in my office."

They followed him into a private lift that whisked them to the top floor. Mr Stone's office offered panoramic views of Rustboro, bookshelves lining the walls and display cases containing rare stones and fossils.

"Now then," Mr Stone settled behind his desk, "what exactly have you discovered?"

“I will get to that in a second,” Lucas said. "I understand your company leads the region in fossil revival technology."

Mr Stone nodded. "We've made certain advances, yes. But I'm afraid I can't divulge details about our research. Security concerns, you understand."

"What if I offered to trade?" Lucas leaned forward. "Living specimens.” 

Mr Stone's eyes sharpened. "Explain."

"Hypothetically speaking," Lucas continued, "what if someone had discovered living fossil Pokémon? Not revived—actual survivors."

The president's composure cracked further. "That would be remarkable. If true."

Sabrina spoke up. "What would Devon Corporation offer in exchange for these Pokemon?"

Mr Stone considered this, studying them both carefully. "Access to our revival technology, for starters. A research partnership, perhaps."

"And ownership of some of the fossils you have?" Lucas pressed.

"Shared research rights, at minimum," Mr Stone countered. "These fossils are national treasures.” 

“But they don’t compare to actual Pokemon. I will trade one ancient Pokemon for every fossil.”

Mr Stone sighed. “Before that can happen, you need to give me proof of your claims. You're not the first to walk into my company with outlandish stories."

The conversation had reached its critical juncture. Lucas exchanged a quick glance with Sabrina, who nodded almost imperceptibly. 

She reached for a pokeball at her belt. "Mr Stone, I'd like you to meet someone."

Sheldon materialised on the desk. The Pokémon blinked its large eyes, tentacles waving curiously as it examined its unfamiliar surroundings.

Mr Stone froze, the blood drained from his face as he stared at the living fossil before him.

"Impossible," he whispered, half-rising from his chair. His fingers trembled as he reached toward Sheldon, stopping short of touching the creature. 

Sheldon tilted his shell, curious about the elderly human's reaction. One blue tentacle stretched out, leaving a small damp spot on the mahogany as it poked at a paperweight.

"I assure you, he's quite real," Sabrina said. "And perfectly healthy."

Mr Stone sank back into his chair, his eyes never leaving the Omanyte. "Our revival process has never produced specimens this perfect. The cellular degradation alone should make this impossible." 

He looked up. "Are you sure the Pokemon isn't revived from a fossil?"

"No," Lucas confirmed. "If he were, would we need to cooperate with you?"

Mr Stone reached for the intercom on his desk, then hesitated. "My head researcher should see this immediately, but...perhaps discretion is best for now."

Lucas nodded. “Smart.”

"The implications are staggering," Mr Stone continued. "You understand what this means for evolutionary biology? For our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems?"

"We do," Lucas said. "Which is why I'm proposing something specific."

Mr Stone steepled his fingers, visibly collecting himself. "I'm listening."

"I won't reveal the location where these Pokémon exist," Lucas said firmly. "But I'm prepared to provide Devon Corporation with several Pokemon for research—breeding pairs of three different species."

He wasn’t going to decimate the Pokemon population in the Seafloor Cavern. They should be allowed to live and thrive without interference from humans. He wasn’t above capturing some Pokemon for his benefit, but wouldn’t take it too far.  

Mr Stone's eyebrows shot up. "Breeding pairs? Multiple species?"

"Under the strict condition that the Pokemon are treated humanely,” Lucas said. “I don’t want any crazy experiments that harm them.” 

Sabrina recalled Sheldon into his pokeball. "We're offering a unique opportunity, Mr Stone. But we need assurances that your company will act responsibly."

The president leaned back, weighing the proposal. "Without the source location, we'd be dependent on you for additional specimens in the future."

"True," Lucas acknowledged. "But you're going to have to trust me as I won’t change my mind on this matter.”  

Mr Stone tapped his fingers on the desk, his scientific curiosity warring with business pragmatism. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. Six Pokemon—three breeding pairs—would provide enough material for groundbreaking research. I can work with that arrangement."

"I'll need your terms in writing," Lucas said, rising from his chair. "Is there a direct way to contact you when I'm ready to proceed?"

Mr Stone produced a business card from his jacket pocket. "My private number. Available day or night for matters of this importance."

As they departed the building, Sabrina glanced sideways at Lucas. "You never intended to tell him about the Sea Cavern, did you?"

"Of course not," Lucas replied. “I don’t want the place to be disturbed. And with Kyogre around, I doubt Captain Stern would be willing to return anytime soon.”

"I've been thinking," Sabrina said. "My Pokemon need more training, especially after everything that's happened recently. I want to find a good spot to work with them."

Lucas nodded. "Good idea. I could use some training too."

"Where will you go?" Sabrina asked.

Lucas pulled out his phone, scrolling through a research page he'd bookmarked earlier. "Route 111. I've been searching for the final ingredient for the pill. It grows in the desert there."

"The desert? Half of it was underwater days ago."

"True, but the northern sections sit at higher elevation. The floodwaters have already receded there according to the rangers' reports." He enlarged a topographical map. "Plus, it gives me a chance to help Max meet his evolution requirements."

"He's close?"

Lucas nodded. 

She squeezed his arm. "Just be careful. The ecosystem's bound to be unstable after all that water."

"Always am." 

"Uh-huh. Let's meet back at the hotel tomorrow." 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The desert stretched before Lucas, a vast expanse of golden sand punctuated by rocky outcroppings. Though patches of damp earth remained where floodwaters had recently receded, most of the landscape had returned to its arid state with surprising speed. The sun beat down mercilessly from a cloudless sky, heat rising in visible waves from the sand.

"Ready for this?" Lucas asked, releasing Max from his pokeball.

Max stretched, electricity crackling between his horns as he surveyed their surroundings. 

Lucas consulted his phone, checking the description of the desert plant he needed—a rare succulent with metallic blue leaves that flourished after rainstorms. It stored rainwater in specialised cells, creating the perfect environment for the reactive compounds the pill required. The recent flooding should have triggered a brief blooming period, making this the ideal time to harvest.

"We need to keep an eye out for succulents with blue leaves," Lucas explained, showing Max the reference image. "But first, let's find some ground-types to battle."

They set off across the sand. The landscape appeared desolate at first glance, but Lucas spotted signs of life everywhere—tiny tracks crisscrossing the dunes, burrows half-hidden beneath rock overhangs, and the occasional shimmer of movement beneath the sand's surface.

They didn't have to wait long for their first encounter. The sand before them bulged upward as a burrow collapsed, revealing a Sandslash with quills bristling along its back. Lucas checked its parameters—level forty-two, perfect for their needs. 

Max stepped forward, taking a battle stance as the Sandslash charged. His body glowed with blue energy as he activated Protect, creating a transparent shield that the Sandslash's claws scraped against harmlessly. Sand sprayed in all directions as the ground-type's momentum carried it past.

Instead of immediately counter-attacking, Max used the brief opening to activate Bulk Up. His muscles swelled visibly, power coursing through his frame as he enhanced both his offensive and defensive capabilities. The Sandslash circled warily, reassessing its opponent.

Irritated by Max's defensive stance, the Sandslash initiated Sandstorm. Visibility dropped instantly as swirling sand filled the air between them. The ground-type thrived in these conditions, its outline becoming difficult to track as it darted through the tempest.

Max remained calm, his eyes half-closed to protect against the stinging particles. When the Sandslash lunged through the sandstorm, Max anticipated its trajectory perfectly. He dropped into a crouch and executed a devastating Low Kick that connected with the Pokemon.

The Sandslash tumbled across the sand but recovered with surprising agility. It burrowed into the ground with frightening speed, disappearing from view entirely. Max stood motionless, feet planted firmly as he concentrated on detecting vibrations through the desert floor.

The sand erupted beneath him as Sandslash burst upward with Fury Swipes. Max twisted sideways, but not quickly enough to avoid all five slashes. Deep cuts appeared across his torso, drawing a grimace of pain.

Rather than retreat, Max seized the moment of close proximity. His arm glowed with fighting-type energy as he brought Hammer Arm down on the Sandslash's head with bone-jarring force. The ground-type staggered backward, momentarily stunned by the strike.

Max pressed his advantage, his fist bursting into flames as he followed with Fire Punch. The attack connected squarely with the Sandslash's chest, sending it skidding backward through the sand. Smoke rose from its quills as it struggled to regain its footing.

The Sandslash, despite its injuries, launched a final desperate Sand Tomb attack. A vortex of sand swirled around Max, threatening to trap him in its grinding embrace. With a powerful leap, Max broke free of the forming tomb and delivered another Fire Punch that finally rendered the Sandslash unconscious.

They continued their trek, encountering a variety of ground-types. By midday, Max had completed his objective of defeating ten ground-types for his evolutionary condition. Now, he could evolve Max into an Electivire but held off for the moment. 

Their path took them deeper into the desert, where the sand gave way to cracked earth still drying from the floodwaters. Here, Lucas spotted what they'd been searching for—clusters of metallic blue succulents sprouting from crevices in the parched ground.

"There they are," he said, kneeling to examine the plants. They matched the description perfectly.

Lucas carefully harvested the plants. As he was finishing up, the sky darkened suddenly.

“Trouble,” Max warned.  

He glanced up, expecting clouds, but instead saw a wall of sand approaching from the west—a sandstorm forming with unnatural speed. 

"We need shelter," Lucas shouted over the rising wind. 

He opened his menu and purchased a Secret Base kit, before scanning the area for a suitable location.

A large boulder stood relatively secure on a patch of solid ground. Lucas slapped the kit against its surface, watching as the device scanned the rock. A doorway shimmered into existence, growing until it was large enough to enter.

"Inside, now!" Lucas pushed Max through the entrance as the first wave of sand hit them. He dove in after the Electabuzz, the door sealing automatically behind them.

Lucas brushed sand from his clothes and hair, before taking a look at his surroundings. The interior generated by the kit looked identical to the others, with several rooms, including an alchemical room with ventilation. 

Outside, the sandstorm howled with growing intensity, sand hissing against the boulder's surface. Lucas checked his phone—no signal. They were stuck until the storm passed. He could use Dante to teleport out of there, but he wasn’t finished exploring the desert. 

"Might as well make use of the time," he murmured, unpacking his alchemical supplies.

He laid the harvested plants on the workstation, their blue leaves already beginning to dry. Working methodically, he extracted the crystalline structures from each leaf, carefully crushing them into a fine powder.

"Pills need absolute precision," Lucas reminded himself as he measured the powder on a scale. 

He combined the powder with the essence vials purchased at Ocean Paradise, stirring the mixture with a glass rod. The mixture glowed faintly as he added each precisely measured ingredient. 

The storm outside provided a consistent white noise as Lucas worked through the complex recipe.

Hours passed as Lucas refined the compound, discarding failed attempts and starting again. The pill's complexity exceeded anything he'd previously attempted, requiring perfect temperature regulation during the condensation phase. Every few minutes, he had to take the developing mixture from the cauldron and press it through a series of progressively finer filters, removing impurities that would be harmless in a liquid potion but catastrophic in a solid pill.

As he approached the final stage, heating the dried compound to activate the binding catalyst that would transform the loose powder into a solid pill, a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. The temperature window was minuscule—two degrees too hot would destroy the magical properties, two degrees too cold would leave the pill inert.

Lucas held his breath as he introduced the final component. For a moment, the compound stabilised, turning the promised golden hue. His lips curved into a triumphant smile.

Then everything went wrong.

The mixture bubbled violently, its colour shifting from gold to angry crimson. Lucas barely had time to throw up his aura barrier before the bowl shattered, spraying caustic powder in all directions. The explosion rocked the small space, the fire scorching the ceiling as fragments of the bowl embedded themselves in the walls.

Max dove for the ground, electricity crackling defensively across his fur. When the chaos subsided, the Electabuzz raised his head cautiously to find Lucas standing unharmed within his shimmering barrier, surrounded by destruction.

Lucas surveyed the ruined workstation with a grimace. The first set of ingredients had gone to waste. And what had he learned from it? Absolutely nothing. He couldn’t figure out where he went wrong, as he followed the recipe perfectly. It showed just how much more difficult making pills were compared to potions.  

He lowered his barrier and began cleaning up the mess. He would need to start from scratch and be more careful next time.  

When he was finished, Lucas glanced at Max. He knew just the thing to improve his mood. 

“Are you ready to evolve into Electivire?”  

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Max finally reaches his final evolution, and gets even bigger. 

Thanks for reading.