That he could so easily get close to the Tyrunt didn't surprise Theo in the slightest.
After all, in his previous life, the anime portrayal of Bonnie and her Tyrunt had left a deep and unforgettable impression on him.
Especially Bonnie.
Among all the trainers he had seen in anime during his past life, Bonnie was the one he admired the most.
At only seven years old, she had already been recognized as the future Elite Four member of Kalos—
No, that title didn't even do her justice.
By the time she set off on her journey at the age of ten, the only title barely worthy of her was:
The Champion of the Kalos League, one of the strongest trainer of her generation.
He couldn't help but recall a certain scene:
Bonnie: "Come back, Dedenne, you've done well!"
Bonnie: "Excellent, you've defeated my Tyrantrum. Then it's your turn—go, Squishy!"
Leon: "Squishy? What a ridiculous name! End this, Charizard—Gigantamax!"
(Poké Ball hits the ground, Bonnie releases Squishy—Zygarde.)
Leon, with Gigantamax Charizard: "?!"
Zygarde: "If my 50% form can't defeat you, then I'll switch to Gundam mode!"
Referee: "Ohhh! Unbelievable! Bonnie's Pokémon is… Zygarde, the Order Pokémon, equal to the gods of life and death! Can Leon possibly win?"
Theo's shook off his wandering thoughts and returned his focus to Tyrunt.
Tyrunt was one of the Pokémon with the greatest contrast between appearance and personality. Its looks were fierce and majestic, yet inside lived a little cutie. Its favorite things, aside from biting with its oversized jaws, were acts of affection.
This wasn't simple playfulness—it had already manifested as a move:
Charm: gazes adorably at the opponent, lulling them into carelessness and sharply lowering their attack.
Who would have imagined that a Rock/Dragon-type Pokémon's first learned move would be Charm?
Meanwhile, the elderly researcher finished saving the final genetic profile into the database. The progress bar reached its end, and a prompt appeared: "Archiving Complete."
He exhaled deeply, removed his glasses, rubbed his brow, and turned to Theo.
"Well then, the revival project for this ancient fossil is officially complete. In the future, when this little one evolves into Tyrantrum, please bring it back here. I'd like to record its genetic data and physical traits again with precision. That would be invaluable for our ongoing fossil research."
Theo nodded solemnly, his tone earnest.
"Of course, Doctor. Once it evolves, I'll definitely bring it back to assist your research."
As they spoke, Tyrunt had already been distracted by something else.
Its stubby tail wagged as its round eyes fixed curiously on the inflatable tank at Theo's chest. Its head tilted now and then, full of wonder.
Inside the tank, Feebas noticed the gaze. It swam about, flicking its fins, occasionally nudging the glass with its snout—greeting its new companion.
Tyrunt responded with a low growl, pawing at Theo's trousers in a clumsy, endearing manner.
"Seems the two of you have already built the beginnings of trust," Steven remarked, stepping forward. His eyes softened as he looked at Tyrunt rubbing against Theo, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"The company has matters that require my attention, so I won't keep you. If you need anything while in Rustboro, contact me directly."
He reached into his pocket and handed Theo a heavy metal card. Its surface bore only a simple number and the sharp Devon Corporation emblem—low-key, yet carrying undeniable weight.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Steven!" Theo exclaimed, rising to his feet and bowing deeply.
From their chance encounter in the cave, to the gift of a fossil Pokémon, to witnessing Tyrunt's revival—this single day felt like a dream woven of miracles.
Steven waved lightly, his gaze returning to Tyrunt's bright eyes, his voice filled with expectation.
"Raise it well. I look forward to seeing it evolve into Tyrantrum. And don't forget our promised battle."
"I won't forget—and I won't let you down!" Theo replied firmly, his eyes shining with determination for the future.
Theo returned Tyrunt to its Poké Ball and bid Steven farewell, leaving Devon Corporation.
Stepping outside, the afternoon sun filtered through the branches of roadside trees, scattering dappled shadows across the ground.
Rustboro's streets bustled with life. Shops displayed advertisements for Pokémon goods, trainers hurried past with their partners, and the air carried a faint fragrance of greenery.
Following the signs, Theo soon spotted the red-and-white logo of a hotel partnered with the Pokémon Center.
Inside the lobby, a receptionist greeted him with a smile. Her gaze lingered briefly on the Feebas in his chest tank, but she asked no questions, only inquired politely:
"Welcome. Would you like to check in? Shall I arrange a room suitable for Pokémon activity?"
"Yes, please," Theo replied, handing over his ID. "I have two Pokémon, so I'd prefer a spacious room."
The receptionist swiftly completed the process, handing him a keycard embossed with the hotel's emblem.
"You got lucky, there's not a lot of trainers today. Your room is on the third floor, with a private balcony. It includes a purified water tank, convenient for water changes—perfect for trainers with Water-types."
"Thank you very much," Theo said gratefully, heading toward the elevator.
As the lift ascended, he touched the tank at his chest. Feebas pressed curiously against the glass, watching the surroundings.
Ding. The doors opened.
Theo found his room, inserted the card, and pushed the door open. His eyes immediately fell on the transparent fish tank in the center. A smile tugged at his lips.
"This will be much easier."
He filled the tank, then gently transferred Feebas inside. The little fish perked up instantly, swimming lively circles and exploring its new home.
Satisfied, Theo drew Tyrunt's Poké Ball from his pocket. With a press of the button, red light flashed, and Tyrunt landed on the carpet with its stubby legs.
It perked its ears, scanned the room cautiously, then turned to Theo. With soft cries of "Tyrrr, Tyrrr," it tugged at his trousers, clearly hungry and asking for food.
Theo chuckled, rubbing its head.
"I know you're hungry."
He opened his backpack, pulling out two bags of food—one for Feebas, the other the carnivore mix gifted by the researcher.
He poured some into Tyrunt's bowl. The little dinosaur immediately pounced, gnawing eagerly, tail wagging with pride.
Then Theo sprinkled floating feed into the tank. Feebas darted over, nibbling happily at the surface.
With his partners fed, Theo leaned against the bed, exhaling in relief. Watching them eat, he opened his panel, ready to convert the points he had earned since Granite Cave into strength.
The display showed 280,000 points.
Theo selected two advanced draws and eight intermediate draws.
The results appeared:
[Dragon Dance ×1, Protein ×1, Hypnosis ×1, Intermediate Energy Orbs ×3, Whirlpool ×1, Thunder Stone ×1…]
(End of Chapter)