"Miss Clair, thank you so much for everything during this time."
Caster hurried forward to express his gratitude to Clair.
This special training had progressed so quickly not only because Gyarados had built a solid foundation and trained diligently throughout, but also because of Clair's careful guidance.
"No need to be so formal! You taught my Magikarp the Bounce technique, and I taught your Gyarados Dragon Dance. We each got what we needed—it's fair."
Clair waved her hand dismissively, then reminded him, "Gyarados just finished performing Dragon Dance. Let it rest for a bit!"
"Will do!"
Caster nodded and quickly activated an Energy Orb, infusing it into Gyarados to nourish its body.
Next, Caster pulled out a Dragon Gem and popped it into Gyarados's mouth, rapidly replenishing the depleted Dragon-type energy within.
"Thank goodness for Wyatt's support. Otherwise, I'm not sure Gyarados could've completed this training."
Watching Gyarados crunch down the gem like it was candy, Caster felt deeply moved.
During this half-month of intensive training, Gyarados needed to consume at least two Dragon Gems daily just to keep going.
Without that support, it simply wouldn't have lasted.
Forcing training without proper supplementation would inevitably damage a Pokémon's body, and the consequences would be even worse.
The sheer quantity of Dragon Gems required would cost at least seven figures in cash.
With only a few tens of thousands of yen in his account, Caster could never have afforded it.
Fortunately, all these gems were being paid for by the young master of the Dragon Clan himself.
"Wyatt's such a good guy! When I get the chance, I'll definitely repay him properly."
Caster gazed distantly toward Wyatt, who seemed to sense something and turned around, only to see Caster staring at him with a beaming smile.
This made Wyatt involuntarily shiver.
He'd originally agreed to provide training resources for Caster thinking that with only one Pokémon, Gyarados wouldn't consume too many gems.
But he'd forgotten one crucial detail: Caster's Gyarados was massive, far larger than ordinary Gyarados.
And when a Pokémon grew larger, its consumption naturally increased, meaning the energy it needed to replenish would rise proportionally.
The result? Just Gyarados alone consumed as many Dragon Gems as all three of Wyatt's Pokémon combined.
However, the young master of the Dragon Clan clearly valued his reputation. Words spoken were like water spilled—they couldn't be taken back.
No matter how much Caster's Gyarados consumed, Wyatt could only grit his teeth and provide.
Only in the dead of night would Wyatt toss and turn, unable to sleep, which had left him looking increasingly haggard these past few days.
---
Around noon, Krabby brought over rice balls for everyone to enjoy while sitting by the lake.
"Pi~"
Pichu held a rice ball in its hands, munching away happily.
"Miss Clair, Wyatt, thank you both for taking care of me during this time. Gyarados has pretty much mastered the basics of Dragon Dance now.
What's left is just the slow grind, which won't show much progress in the short term."
After wolfing down a rice ball in a few bites, Caster clapped his hands and announced his departure. "So, I should probably head back now."
At these words, joy visibly spread across Wyatt's face.
Clair, however, tried to convince him to stay. "The Dragon-type energy in the Dragon's Den is abundant—it's the perfect place to train Dragon-type moves.
Why not stay a few more days and let Gyarados consolidate its training results?"
Wyatt stared at Caster's face, terrified that he might be unable to resist the temptation and agree on the spot.
"No thanks! I've been in the Johto region for nearly a month now, all told. My channel subscribers have been begging for updates so hard they're about to lose it. If I don't show up soon, I'm pretty sure they'll actually call the police."
Caster was clearly a man of firm resolve.
He shook his head. "Besides, the Indigo League Conference is starting in just a few months. I still need to collect five more badges, and I only have two Pokémon. If I don't pick up the pace, I'm in trouble."
Speaking of this, Caster couldn't help but sigh.
This trip to Johto had yielded far more than he'd expected.
The only disappointment? He hadn't obtained a Dratini, nor had he caught any new Pokémon.
But these things couldn't be forced.
"Caster's right, a man should prioritize his goals. Clair, don't try to stop him."
Wyatt patted Caster on the shoulder and said with feigned reluctance, "buddy, I'm wishing you success at the Indigo League Conference right now. When it's over and you've got some free time, remember to come visit me in Johto. We'll hang out properly then."
Caster was touched and nodded solemnly. "Definitely! I'll absolutely take you up on that!"
Wyatt's hand froze mid-motion.
Seeing that Caster was determined to leave, Clair didn't press further. She simply reminded him, "Caster, given your Gyarados's current physical condition, it can only use Dragon Dance twice at most. If you push beyond that limit, it'll place enormous strain on its body. Keep that in mind!"
"Understood!"
Caster nodded seriously.
Six Dragon Dances might be simple in the games, but in the real world, it was an almost impossible feat. The physical burden on a Pokémon was just too great.
Even Lance's ace Dragonite might not be able to pull it off.
Just then, an elderly figure wearing a Rayquaza hat approached from the entrance to the Dragon's Den. It was none other than the Dragon Elder.
"Why's the Elder here?!"
Wyatt had sharp eyes and was the first to spot the Dragon Elder approaching. His heart stirred.
During this training session, while Wyatt's Pokémon hadn't progressed as quickly as Caster's Gyarados, they'd had ten full days more training time.
Hard work made up for lack of talent, and two of his Pokémon had preliminarily completed their Dragon Dance training.
This result would be considered quite outstanding within the Dragon Tamer families.
So now, seeing the Dragon Elder coming to inspect, he felt the urge to show off a bit.
The Dragon Elder was the supreme leader of the Dragon Tamer families.
If he could catch the Elder's eye, the future benefits would be endless, and the family resources allocated to him would surely increase.
With this thought, Wyatt turned to Caster with ill intent. "Caster, now that I think about it, we've known each other this long and never had a proper battle. Since you're leaving now, how about we have a match?"
"A match?"
Caster raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Before heading to the Whirl Islands, Caster's Pokémon had clearly been a notch weaker than Wyatt's.
But Caster had made a fortune at the Whirl Islands, and both his Pokémon had grown tremendously stronger. They were in a completely different league now.
Especially with the Sea King's Authority boost, Gyarados's power had skyrocketed—an increase no less significant than a Mega Evolution.
The key difference? It placed no burden on the body and could be maintained indefinitely in any place with water.
Going up against Wyatt again now, it was genuinely hard to say who would win!
"Having Gyarados go all out in the Dragon's Den and battle one of Wyatt's Pokémon wouldn't be bad."
Caster's heart burned with excitement. He thought to himself, "This'll give me a much clearer sense of where I actually stand now—"