After capturing Steelix, its level 66 immediately became Julian's highest among all his Pokémon, even surpassing Metagross, who currently sat at level 55.
He knew that the further ahead a Pokémon was in levels, the slower it would progress. Many Pokémon remained stuck at certain levels their entire lives due to their qualifications.
Despite Steelix's high level, Julian understood that a high level did not necessarily equate to high combat power.
In terms of pure combat ability, Steelix still ranked as a junior compared to Metagross, and even his Lucario and Dragonair surpassed Steelix in strength.
They had all grown with the help of system points, elevating them to a level that far exceeded that of a wild Pokémon like Steelix.
However, one aspect stood out: Steelix's unique connection to the rough diamonds it had guarded. This had allowed it to polish its body over time, making it harder than most Steelix in the wild.
"Come out, Steelix!"
Julian released Steelix again, and the moment it emerged, excitement radiated from it. The Pokémon wagged its massive tail joyfully, clearly it seemed to like the environment in Poké Ball.
"I guess Steelix isn't as stiff as I thought," Julian mused to himself, chuckling at the sight.
He returned Metagross to its Poké Ball for some much-needed rest, knowing that it would be needed later for mining and battling.
Steelix, sensing Julian's intentions, tried lowering its head, but just as he was about to, Julian jumped up and landed on Steelix's head.
Mega Pallet Town Physique sure was useful.
"Departure, Northwest!"
Julian commanded, clutching the Dowsing Machine tightly. A large red dot blipped on the screen, as promising as the one that indicated the soft sand he had previously unearthed.
This new unexplored intermediate-level secret realm was really a treasure trove. If he had more time, Julian would have loved to explore all the little red dots scattered around, but he focused on maximizing his chances by pursuing the larger ones.
While Steelix was not as swift as Metagross in the air, its steadiness made it a reliable ground mount.
'Soon, I'll have a soaring mount like Dragonite, and maybe even a water mount like Kyogre,' he mused, anyway it's just a fantasy, Such fantasies made the journey enjoyable, and before he knew it, they had reached the location of the red dot.
But at this moment, Julian noticed another figure near the red dot. The person eyed Steelix cautiously and quickly recognized Julian sitting on its head.
'I thought it was just another Pokémon in the secret realm, but it seems there's a Trainer here,' he thought.
The man held a square device about 30 centimeters long in his hand—an energy detection device capable of sensing the unique energy emitted by treasures.
However, its accuracy and range were limited, and many treasures do not emit energy at all, making it far less effective than Julian's Dowsing Machine.
The man's ability to find this spot was partly due to luck.
As it turned out, the treasure in this area did emit energy, which had been detected by his device.
"Young Master Walker"
The man said, recognizing Julian seated atop Steelix. His expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and concern crossing his face.
Not only was Julian's identity known, but the pseudo-Elite aura radiating from Steelix made the situation even more complicated. If Julian had the desire to take the treasure, the man could do little to stop him.
"Steelix, let's go," Julian commanded.
He had no intention of robbing the man. It wasn't that Julian didn't want the treasure; but the other Trainer was a local from Lake City, And the man hadn't been rude or aggressive, and the other party came here first, so it seemed only fair to allow him the opportunity to claim the find.
However, whether the man could actually locate the treasure was another matter. The accuracy of his energy detector only reached a few dozen meters, or at most, 100 meters.
Given that treasures are often buried deep, the likelihood of him finding anything substantial was slim.
'I'll come back tomorrow,' Julian thought. 'If he doesn't find it, then it's mine.'
When the man saw Julian leave, he couldn't help but sighed in relief.
"This Steelix must have been captured in the secret realm," he whispered to himself.
While only Meltan remained hidden due to its special Condition, everyone else knew which Pokémon Julian possessed.
After letting Steelix roam the Rock zone for over an hour, Julian noted the red dots displayed on his Dowsing Machine changed several times, but they were all of minor value, around 10 million.
It wasn't worth a special trip.
After returning Steelix to its Poké Ball, Julian released Metagross once more.
"Metagross, keep flying towards the north," Julian instructed.
He was ready to leave this Rock zone. The intermediate secret realm spanned several cities, naturally featuring a variety of environments.
Julian had already passed through four distinct areas: forest, swamp, lake, and rock.
The forest, lake, and rock environments were the most common in all secret realms. Apart from a few exceptions, most secret realms incorporated these three settings.
More than half an hour later, Metagross was still traversing the Rock area, but Julian noticed the color of the rocks shifting from taupe to black. The temperature began to rise, and the humidity steadily dropped.
As he squinted through the shimmering heat, Julian wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Fire-type Pokémon occasionally popped up, their warmth mixing with the rising heat from the ground.
"It seems there's a volcano nearby, or maybe even one underground," Julian speculated.
This black rock formation was likely the result of cooling magma after a volcanic eruption, with a layer of mud on its surface formed from accumulated volcanic ash.
Due to the relentless heat radiating from the surface, most plants struggled to survive, leaving only a few heat-resistant species scattered across the barren ground.
After taking a swig from his bottle of water, Julian muttered, "My Mega Pallet Town body is definitely not built for this heat. I thought I'd be fire-resistant."
As he ventured deeper, the temperature continued to climb. Checking his thermometer, it read 43 degrees Celsius.
Thanks to his Mega Pallet Town physique, Julian was holding up against the heat; otherwise, he might have succumbed to heat stroke. Although his body wasn't heat-resistant, it prevented him from collapsing.
Charizard's Flamethrower would also char Ash at best, before quickly returning to normal.
At this heightened temperature, the fire-type Pokémon below had also leveled up considerably. Fortunately, Metagross was flying high enough that their Flamethrower attacks couldn't reach him.
Suddenly, a level 57 Talonflame appeared before Metagross, followed by dozens of Fletchinder. The heat radiating from their bodies, combined with the powerful flapping of their wings, all rushed toward Julian.
"Dragonair, use Thunderbolt!"
After capturing Steelix, its level 66 immediately became Julian's highest among all his Pokémon, even surpassing Metagross, who currently sat at level 55.
He knew that the further ahead a Pokémon was in levels, the slower it would progress. Many Pokémon remained stuck at certain levels their entire lives due to their qualifications.
Despite Steelix's high level, Julian understood that a high level did not necessarily equate to high combat power.
In terms of pure combat ability, Steelix still ranked as a junior compared to Metagross, and even his Lucario and Dragonair surpassed Steelix in strength.
They had all grown with the help of system points, elevating them to a level that far exceeded that of a wild Pokémon like Steelix.
However, one aspect stood out: Steelix's unique connection to the rough diamonds it had guarded. This had allowed it to polish its body over time, making it harder than most Steelix in the wild.
"Come out, Steelix!"
Julian released Steelix again, and the moment it emerged, excitement radiated from it. The Pokémon wagged its massive tail joyfully, clearly it seemed to like the environment in Poké Ball.
"I guess Steelix isn't as stiff as I thought," Julian mused to himself, chuckling at the sight.
He returned Metagross to its Poké Ball for some much-needed rest, knowing that it would be needed later for mining and battling.
Steelix, sensing Julian's intentions, tried lowering its head, but just as he was about to, Julian jumped up and landed on Steelix's head.
Mega Pallet Town Physique sure was useful.
"Departure, Northwest!"
Julian commanded, clutching the Dowsing Machine tightly. A large red dot blipped on the screen, as promising as the one that indicated the soft sand he had previously unearthed.
This new unexplored intermediate-level secret realm was really a treasure trove. If he had more time, Julian would have loved to explore all the little red dots scattered around, but he focused on maximizing his chances by pursuing the larger ones.
While Steelix was not as swift as Metagross in the air, its steadiness made it a reliable ground mount.
'Soon, I'll have a soaring mount like Dragonite, and maybe even a water mount like Kyogre,' he mused, anyway it's just a fantasy, Such fantasies made the journey enjoyable, and before he knew it, they had reached the location of the red dot.
But at this moment, Julian noticed another figure near the red dot. The person eyed Steelix cautiously and quickly recognized Julian sitting on its head.
'I thought it was just another Pokémon in the secret realm, but it seems there's a Trainer here,' he thought.
The man held a square device about 30 centimeters long in his hand—an energy detection device capable of sensing the unique energy emitted by treasures.
However, its accuracy and range were limited, and many treasures do not emit energy at all, making it far less effective than Julian's Dowsing Machine.
The man's ability to find this spot was partly due to luck.
As it turned out, the treasure in this area did emit energy, which had been detected by his device.
"Young Master Walker"
The man said, recognizing Julian seated atop Steelix. His expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and concern crossing his face.
Not only was Julian's identity known, but the pseudo-Elite aura radiating from Steelix made the situation even more complicated. If Julian had the desire to take the treasure, the man could do little to stop him.
"Steelix, let's go," Julian commanded.
He had no intention of robbing the man. It wasn't that Julian didn't want the treasure; but the other Trainer was a local from Lake City, And the man hadn't been rude or aggressive, and the other party came here first, so it seemed only fair to allow him the opportunity to claim the find.
However, whether the man could actually locate the treasure was another matter. The accuracy of his energy detector only reached a few dozen meters, or at most, 100 meters.
Given that treasures are often buried deep, the likelihood of him finding anything substantial was slim.
'I'll come back tomorrow,' Julian thought. 'If he doesn't find it, then it's mine.'
When the man saw Julian leave, he couldn't help but sighed in relief.
"This Steelix must have been captured in the secret realm," he whispered to himself.
While only Meltan remained hidden due to its special Condition, everyone else knew which Pokémon Julian possessed.
After letting Steelix roam the Rock zone for over an hour, Julian noted the red dots displayed on his Dowsing Machine changed several times, but they were all of minor value, around 10 million.
It wasn't worth a special trip.
After returning Steelix to its Poké Ball, Julian released Metagross once more.
"Metagross, keep flying towards the north," Julian instructed.
He was ready to leave this Rock zone. The intermediate secret realm spanned several cities, naturally featuring a variety of environments.
Julian had already passed through four distinct areas: forest, swamp, lake, and rock.
The forest, lake, and rock environments were the most common in all secret realms. Apart from a few exceptions, most secret realms incorporated these three settings.
More than half an hour later, Metagross was still traversing the Rock area, but Julian noticed the color of the rocks shifting from taupe to black. The temperature began to rise, and the humidity steadily dropped.
As he squinted through the shimmering heat, Julian wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Fire-type Pokémon occasionally popped up, their warmth mixing with the rising heat from the ground.
"It seems there's a volcano nearby, or maybe even one underground," Julian speculated.
This black rock formation was likely the result of cooling magma after a volcanic eruption, with a layer of mud on its surface formed from accumulated volcanic ash.
Due to the relentless heat radiating from the surface, most plants struggled to survive, leaving only a few heat-resistant species scattered across the barren ground.
After taking a swig from his bottle of water, Julian muttered, "My Mega Pallet Town body is definitely not built for this heat. I thought I'd be fire-resistant."
As he ventured deeper, the temperature continued to climb. Checking his thermometer, it read 43 degrees Celsius.
Thanks to his Mega Pallet Town physique, Julian was holding up against the heat; otherwise, he might have succumbed to heat stroke. Although his body wasn't heat-resistant, it prevented him from collapsing.
Charizard's Flamethrower would also char Ash at best, before quickly returning to normal.
At this heightened temperature, the fire-type Pokémon below had also leveled up considerably. Fortunately, Metagross was flying high enough that their Flamethrower attacks couldn't reach him.
Suddenly, a level 57 Talonflame appeared before Metagross, followed by dozens of Fletchinder. The heat radiating from their bodies, combined with the powerful flapping of their wings, all rushed toward Julian.
"Dragonair, use Thunderbolt!"
Just as Metagross was about to use Steel Beam to finish off the Magmortar in front of it, Julian's voice cut through the air.
"Metagross, stop."
The condensed Steel Beam slowly disappeared, and Metagross looked back at Julian in confusion.
Magmortar, half-kneeling on the ground, looked up as two feet appeared in front of it. It was Julian, standing there, staring down at it.
Beside him, Metagross stood ready, Steelix was watching closely, and Dragonair hovered above. Magmortar felt the tension in the air and suppressed the urge to lash out.
"Do something for me, and I'll let you and your men go," Julian said calmly, holding out an object in his hand. "Plus, I'll give you this."
In Julian's hand was a Magmarizer—a rare item that could evolve a Magmar into a Magmortar.
This kind of item was incredibly rare in the wild, and even with the advanced technology humans had, making one was still a difficult task.
The Magmortar before him had been lucky enough to evolve with the help of a Magmarizer it had found in the secret realm, but none of the other Magmars had been that fortunate.
They were all strong, around level 50, but without a Magmarizer, they couldn't evolve.
Magmortar glanced at the Magmarizer. It remembered finding something similar deep in the magma long ago when it was still a Magmar, which had led to its evolution.
If it had this Magmarizer, one of its offspring could evolve into a new Magmortar.
Magmortar knew it was getting old, its strength fading over time. Soon, it wouldn't be able to protect its clan or its precious magma territory from rivals like the Magcargo clan.
Having another Magmortar to take its place was essential.
Magma was very important to the their clan, it was the key to increase the fire type energy in their bodies.
Therefore, now that he was old, he had to let one of the Magmar evolve into a Magmortar, so as to ensure that at least one of the magma sites belonged to them.
Magmortar looked at its unconscious clan members scattered around and then back at the Magmarizer. It nodded in agreement. Julian held all the cards—the clan was defeated, and without the Magmarizer, there wasn't much choice.
Magmortar growled: What do you need from me?
Julian didn't know exactly what the treasure inside the magma was, but the Dowsing Machine was showing a red dot so large it covered one-third of the screen, indicating that whatever it was, it had to be incredibly valuable.
In response to Magmortar's question, Julian said, "I need you to dive into the magma and retrieve something for me."
As they spoke, a few Magmars began to stir, slowly regaining consciousness. They stood, shaking off their dizziness, and upon seeing Julian, they prepared to attack again, ready to avenge their earlier defeat.
Magmortar: stop
Magmortar immediately stopped the few who wanted to attack.
The Magmar froze, confused by their leader's command. Why was their boss holding them back from fighting?
Ignoring their confusion, Magmortar gestured for Julian to follow it back to the edge of the volcano.
Along the way, none of the surrounding Fire-type Pokémon dared to attack, likely out of respect for Magmortar's authority.
It seemed that this Magmortar wasn't just the leader of its pack but also the ruler of the entire volcano area.
"Take this and it will tell you where the stuff that you need to retrieve is in the lava"
At the volcano's edge, Julian handed the Dowsing Machine to Magmortar. Dowsing Machine had the indestructible property, so there was no need to worry that it will be burnt to ashes by lava.
Magmortar took the device and, after giving orders to its remaining conscious clan members, dove into the bubbling magma without hesitation.
Julian and Metagross waited patiently at the edge, he used Probing eyes to look at the surrounding Magmar. They were all yellow, and only two were green.
The previous Magmortar also had green qualification, but it was half way up to cyan. But it was old and its strength was declining.
Julian also noticed eight Pokémon eggs nestled on a nearby rock. They must have been the offspring of the Magmar clan, but there were no Magby in sight.
"Why haven't I seen any Magby around?" Julian muttered to himself.
Curious, he asked one of the Magmar. The response was immediate and full of anger. The Magmar angrily gestured, telling Julian a story of recent tragedy. The other Magmar shared the same outraged expressions.
From the fragmented story, Julian gathered that the Magcargo clan, longtime rivals of the Magmortar family, had attacked recently in a brutal battle for control over the magma.
The clash had cost the lives of several Magmar and resulted in the death of over 20 Magby. Though the Magmortar clan had fought valiantly, they had suffered heavy losses, and the Magcargo clan had not fared much better.
Julian nodded to himself. It was a reminder that life in the wild and secret realms was far more brutal than what he was used to in human civilization. Battles over territory, food, and resources were frequent, and the law of the jungle ruled over everything.
After about twenty minutes of waiting, the magma began to bubble more violently. Magmortar finally emerged, cradling something in its hands as it approached Julian.
In Magmortar's hands was a beautiful, crystal-clear stone.
Julian's eyes lit up the moment he saw it, immediately recognizing what it was. He eagerly took the stone from Magmortar, surprised at how cool it felt, despite having just been submerged in molten lava.
The stone was about the size of a fist, completely transparent, with a deep red hue. As Julian shined his flashlight on it, he could see a faint flame flickering inside.
"A fire crystal…" Julian whispered in awe.
These stones, only found in ancient volcanoes or those thousands of years old, were incredibly rare.
Whenever one appeared, it would spark a frenzy among collectors and trainers alike, as they possessed immense fire energy.
The outer surface of this thing was covered with a layer of red crystal, and this crystal perfectly wrapped the flame inside it, and not even a trace of energy could be emitted.
So this thing had always been in the magma, but Magmortar was never able to find it, and even if he did find it, he might just toss it around as it didn't emit any energy and thus be considered useless.
This kind of fire crystal had first been discovered by accident years ago when a fire type trainer had found one during a volcano eruption and taken it home as a decoration.
By chance, his Flareon had eaten the crystal, and the trainer had gone on to become one of the fire-type Elite in his country.
The most significant function of the Fire Crystal was its ability to increase a Fire-type Pokémon's elemental energy, making their Fire-type moves more powerful and their temperature more intense.
At the same time, it also had the ability to improve a Pokémon's potential. For any Pokémon below cyan qualification, consuming this crystal would instantly raise them to cyan aptitude.
Fire-type Pokémon gain the maximum benefit from this treasure, while other types can only enhance the power of their Fire-type moves.
The Fire Crystal was undoubtedly among the top three fire-related treasures in existence.
Julian had never expected to find such a rare item in the magma. Although he currently didn't have a Fire-type Pokémon, this discovery alone was enough to convince him to seek one in the future. Owning a treasure like this was too valuable an opportunity to pass up.
He couldn't help but compare the Magmortar clan to his own team. Their lack of talent was apparent, none even reaching the cyan aptitude level. They clearly didn't have the same drive and discipline as his Steelix.
Storing the Fire Crystal in his system space, Julian noticed something else. The Dowsing Machine showed another valuable item hidden beneath the magma, its signal initially concealed by the strong energy of the Fire Crystal.
"There's more down there. Keep diving," Julian instructed the tired Magmortar.
Magmortar was about to mention the Magmarizer, having already provided Julian with the treasure. However, Julian's firm order made it clear he wasn't done yet.
Magmortar: Might makes Right, sigh.
Shooting a resentful glance at Julian, Magmortar took the Dowsing Machine again and plunged into the lava.
After about ten minutes, it emerged once more, this time carrying a massive, dark red stone that radiated intense heat.
The stone weighed dozens of pounds and looked incredibly dense.
"Fire Ore," Julian murmured with a smile. "Aron will love this."
"Don't think you can fool me. There's plenty more down there. You and your subordinates are going to dig them all out for me, and once that's done, I'll give you this"
Julian promised, holding up a box of high-grade Fire-type energy cubes. To tempt them further, he gave one to Magmortar.
Magmortar quickly fell under the spell of the delicious energy cube and, with renewed vigor, led its Magmar underlings back into the lava, now working as Julian's miners.
Fire Ore was a valuable material in which most Fire Stones were formed.
While it was beneficial to the Magmortar clan, they didn't prioritize it since magma provided them with more significant benefits.
Had magma not been their primary resource, they might have been more reluctant to allow Julian to mine.
Each time a Magmar emerged, it carried a large chunk of Fire Ore, some weighing up to a hundred pounds.
In return, Julian rewarded them with basic energy cubes. Though these cubes were of lower quality, they were unlike anything the Magmar had ever tasted, making them eager to keep working.
The mining operation continued until nightfall, and by the end, the Magmar had hauled up an impressive seventy to eighty tons of Fire Ore.
With the Dowsing Machine now showing no further treasure, Julian concluded the digging session.
As promised, he handed over the high-grade energy cubes and a Magmarizer to Magmortar.
In return, the leader barked an order, and a heavily scarred, sturdy Magmar stepped forward, its eyes gleaming as it gazed at the Magmarizer in Magmortar's hands.
The younger Magmar clearly sensed that this item was very important. The other Magmar shared similar expressions of longing, but none dared speak up, restrained by the authority of their leader.
Magmortar, however, hesitated for a moment, unsure how to properly use the Magmarizer.
(T/N: for anyone asking how did he evolve than, well that's the thing he just knew this thing was related to his evolution somehow but didn't know how to use it properly.)
Julian noticed this and spoke up, "Just attach it to Magmar."
A bright white light enveloped the scarred Magmar, and it began to evolve. When the light faded, a powerful new Magmortar stood before them.
"Well done" Julian said, smiling slightly.
The Pokémon's aptitude had shifted from green to cyan with the evolution, marking a significant transformation in its potential, and this guy was already half way to cyan.
Normally evolution alone was not enough to make a breakthrough, but it was clear that this Magmar had accumulated enough strength over time, combined with a bit of luck, it broke through its previous limits.
The evolution had fundamentally transformed the newly evolved Magmortar, setting it on a potential path toward becoming an Elite-level Fire-type Pokémon.
Even though the new Magmortar's aptitude had turned Cyan, Julian didn't have any desire to catch it. It had its responsibilities here as the future leader of the Magmortar clan, especially given the looming threat from the Magcargo clan.
Besides, Julian preferred to raise his Pokémon from a young age, building deep bonds that allowed them to reach their full potential.
Steelix was just an exceptional case, as he himself came to Julian, who just decided to keep him.
The newly evolved Magmortar roared in excitement, feeling a surge of power.
Flames shot from its mouth, soaring into the sky, and the remaining Magmar, along with the older Magmortar, joined in, firing off celebratory blasts of fire.
The Volcano's night sky glowed a bright red, illuminated by their fiery display.
After the celebration, the leader Magmortar and the newly evolved Magmortar approached Julian, their expressions filled with gratitude.
"Don't thank me," Julian said, shaking his head. "You earned it."
In truth, he had only given them a box of high-quality fire energy cubes, a Magmarizer, and some basic energy cubes, all of which were insignificant compared to the rare treasures he had gained: the Fire Crystal and tons of valuable Fire Ore.
The Magmortar clan didn't realize just how much they had given away, but their gratitude still made Julian feel a little embarrassed.
'As long as the employees work hard enough, the boss will change his villa next year.'
In the end, it was a deal where hard work was rewarded, and Julian certainly didn't mind playing the role of a "black-hearted boss," as he put it.
He gave them a small incentive, and in return, they mined for him treasures beyond their understanding.
Bidding farewell to the Magmortar family, Julian decided it was time to leave the Volcano area.
He'd normally set up camp for the night, but with temperatures still soaring around 50 degrees Celsius, sleep was out of the question here.
"Let's head back to the Rock area and check it out," he said, mounting his Metagross.
Julian hadn't forgotten about the treasure he'd seen there earlier. Though someone had reached it first, he wanted to confirm whether it had been dug up or if it was still waiting for him.
With that, he and Metagross left the Volcano area, heading for the Rock zone.
It was well past one o'clock in the morning by the time Julian returned to the Rocky Area, his eyes heavy with sleep as he fought back a yawn.
The Dowsing Machine in his hand continued to beep, signaling that the treasure was still nearby. It appeared the previous visitor hadn't managed to uncover it, even though numerous large and small holes dotted the area.
Julian observed the scene before him—there were at least a dozen holes scattered about, ranging in size. The largest was over a hundred meters wide, while the smallest was around seven or eight meters across.
He made his way toward one of the medium-sized pits, which stretched about fifty meters wide and ten meters deep. The Dowsing Machine indicated the treasure lay somewhere below.
Without having to say a word, Metagross immediately understood the command and began to dig.
Thanks to the efforts of whoever had dug before, much of the hard work had already been done.
Julian and Metagross were essentially finishing what someone else had started. It only took another five or six meters of digging before they hit the jackpot.
"Mega Evolution Stone"
Julian's eyes lit up with surprise and excitement as Metagross carefully handed over the shimmering stone.
He knew full well the significance of this find. Mega Evolution stones were treated as a type of currency among trainers.
Many coveted such treasures, especially when money wasn't enough to buy certain rare items, tools, or Pokémon with excellent potential. With a Mega Evolution stone, however, trades like these became much easier to pull off.
"Meta~"
Suddenly, Metagross emitted a low, warning growl and positioned itself in front of Julian.
Julian, who had been caught off guard by both his exhaustion and the thrill of the discovery, instantly tensed up.
Two Poké Balls clicked open, releasing Dragonair and Lucario, both now on high alert, flanking Julian.
"Young Master Walker, don't misunderstand—I'm not here to cause trouble," a voice called out.
From behind a nearby rock, a man stepped into view, raising both hands to show he meant no harm. Walking a few steps behind him was a Golem, keeping pace as he cautiously approached.
Julian narrowed his eyes. He recognized the man as the same person who had been at the Rocky Area earlier, the one who had likely dug those holes. The man hadn't managed to find the Mega Evolution stone, but it seemed he hadn't left the area after all.
"The Smith family," Julian murmured, recognizing him.
"It's rare that Young Master Walker still remembers. My uncle is Luke."
The young man smiled in acknowledgment.
Luke, he was the leader of the Steel-type Gym in Lake City and a figure Julian had encountered on a flight once. Before entering the secret realm, it was Luke who accompanied this man.
That's why Julian knew that the other party was from the Smith family.
Though the stranger insisted he had no ill intent, Julian remained wary. Trusting someone too easily in a place like this—especially in the secret realms—was a good way to meet a dead end.
Sensing Julian's caution, the man stopped in his tracks, keeping a respectful distance. He glanced at the Mega Evolution stone in Julian's hand, eyes flickering with envy.
Originally, he wasn't able to find the treasure earlier and had left. But as he was heading out, he saw Julian fly in on his Metagross.
Intuition told him that Julian's destination was the place where he was digging for treasure before. After all, Julian had also discovered that place at the beginning, and it was only because he came first that Julian gave up.
Out of curiosity, he went back to take a look.
But When he saw Julian had dug out a Mega Evolution stone, that too from the hole he himself had dug halfway, he deeply regretted coming back.
'That's a Mega Evolution stone, and I was only a few meters away from it, but unfortunately I missed it.'
The young man sighed, his dreams of owning such a powerful item dashed.
With the stone, he could have made significant strides within his family, even if it was not for one of his Pokémon, he could have used it to trade for a Mega Evolution stone suited to his own Pokémon.
It could have set him apart, perhaps even positioning him as a contender for leadership in the Smith family someday.
Julian watched as the man's expression soured with deep regret. He could see the gears turning in the man's head—the realization that he had been just meters away from the Mega Evolution stone and had somehow missed it.
Despite his jealousy, Tom knew better than to attempt anything rash. Julian was not only from an influential family, but his Metagross was exceptionally powerful. He would be a fool to provoke a fight.
And as the member of a clan himself, he knew very well that a person from a family's like Julian would definitely carry a powerful Pokémon, a bodyguard given to him by an elder.
Although he couldn't get the stone, but if he took this opportunity to form a friendship with Julian, he might not get any less benefits.
"Young Master Walker, I heard that you have been recruited by the Imperial University."
Tom said, changing the subject with a forced smile.
"Um"
Julian gave a slight nod, this was no secret, after all, he had already sent the admission notice to his circle of friends.
"I'm a sophomore there myself," Tom said, attempting to make conversation.
"It looks like I'll be seeing you around campus. Though, calling myself your senior would be a bit of a stretch." He chuckled awkwardly, realizing that Julian was much stronger than him, despite the age difference.
Julian remained quiet, though his expression softened slightly. He hadn't expected to run into a fellow Imperial University student out here, much less one with connections to his own family.
"So, you train Rock-type Pokémon?" Julian asked, glancing at the Golem standing by Tom's side.
Tom nodded. "Yes, although most of my family trains Steel-types, but I've always had a natural affinity for Rock-types, so I decided to specialize in them."
Julian raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting. The only Rock-type Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution are Tyranitar, Aggron, and Aerodactyl, You got any of those?"
Tyranitar was a pseudo-legendary, and Aerodactyl was even more rarer. Only some ancient secret realms had them. Only an Aron was available, that too because of them now being under the Walker family.
Tom chuckled weakly. "I wish, Tyranitar and Aerodactyl are way out of reach. Aggron is more within the realm of possibility—if I'm lucky."
Julian smirked. "Well, keep at it. Maybe one day you'll get your hands on an Aggronite."
Tom's forced laughter echoed through the Rocky Area, but there was an unmistakable note of bitterness in his voice.
Even if he were to obtain an Aggronite, the Walker family would likely claim it for themselves, given their standing.
He realized that even if he stumbled across the rare stone, he might not have the power to hold onto it for long.
As Tom's expression soured once more, Julian observed him quietly, aware of the unspoken struggles behind his polite words.
"Well, good luck with that," Julian said, his voice light but carrying a subtle undertone of finality.
Tom forced a smile, feeling a wave of disappointment and frustration wash over him.
He had been so close to something great, but now it was nothing more than a missed opportunity he'd regret for a long time to come.