Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 174: Contrary!

Beneath the World Tree

Looking at the still-unconscious Serperior, Granny finally decided to give up.

To her, this was an absolute shame.

Just moments ago, its Leaf Storm had managed to hold its ground against Salamence's Hyper Beam!

For a Grass-type Pokémon to achieve that kind of power, only to die here…

It was a waste.

"Is there really no way to save it?"

The League President, who had just finished tending to the other injured Pokémon and sending them away, glanced at the Serperior's increasingly weak breathing.

He couldn't help but sigh in regret.

"…No."

Granny had already begun looking for a good burial spot.

After all, this was a Champion-level Pokémon.

Leaving it to rot in the wilderness would be too cruel.

Just then—

A powerful gust of wind swept downward.

Descending at high speed were Dragonite and Latias, carrying Lance and Hikaru.

"Champion Lance…? Hmm? Hikaru?"

Granny looked up, slightly taken aback.

So this was the person Lance had been looking for?

That was unexpected.

What was Hikaru doing deep inside the Qinling Mountains?

Granny still vividly remembered his performance at the High School League.

Even now, she thought back to it from time to time.

"This is Granny—she's the Elite Four Ghost-type specialist and a Gym Leader at the national level. If you ever want to challenge the Ghost-type National Gym, you'll have to go through her."

Seeing Hikaru's confusion, Lance introduced her.

"This is also the President of the Qinling Pokémon League Branch—a Champion-level trainer."

"Nice to meet you, Granny. Nice to meet you, President."

Hikaru greeted them respectfully.

The National Gym Leader of the Ghost-type…

He had actually seen her before during the High School League—she was on the judging panel.

So she wasn't a complete stranger.

"Ah, so Champion Lance came all this way just to find you?"

Granny smiled kindly, curiosity in her eyes.

"What exactly are you doing here, kid?"

Hikaru hesitated.

Before he could speak—

Lance answered for him.

"That's a long story. Let's have him check on this Serperior first—he's an Expert-level Pokémon Breeder, specializing in treatment."

That statement alone was enough to shock both Granny and the League President.

"Wait… he's a Breeder? And an Expert-level one?"

"An Expert-level Breeder?"

Their disbelief was understandable.

Becoming an Expert-level Breeder was no simple feat.

It required mastery in medicine and Pokémon food preparation, particularly the handling of S-Rank materials.

To be considered an expert, a breeder needed to be able to extract and refine the energy within high-grade treasures, ensuring maximum absorption efficiency for Pokémon.

"Hikaru's really talented in this area."

Lance reassured them with a smirk.

He personally knew just how capable this kid was.

His grandfather, his younger cousin, and even his uncle—they all owed Hikaru for fixing their Dragonite's mental damage.

Even their family's Expert-level Breeder had struggled with the problem for years before finally figuring out the cause.

Yet Hikaru had seen through it in a single glance.

And healed it.

"All right, let me take a look."

Hikaru turned toward Serperior, his expression serious.

The damage was severe.

Its once emerald-green scales were now blackened and peeling, exposing charred, bloodied flesh beneath.

Even worse—

Its internal organs were displaced.

Yet despite that, its body was still clinging to life.

This wasn't just sheer endurance—it was being fueled by some lingering life force within.

[Pokémon: Serperior]

Ability: Contrary

Gender: Female

Potential: Champion

Level: 70

Moves: Vine Whip, Bind, Leer, Growth, Leaf Tornado, Leech Seed, Mega Drain, Leaf Storm…

Status: Critically injured—life force rapidly draining.

A Contrary Serperior?

That made this Pokémon even rarer.

But in this condition…

Hikaru frowned slightly.

Even with all his expertise, this would be a challenge.

His recent Aura boost didn't just enhance his combat strength—it also improved his Breeding knowledge and medical skills.

Unfortunately, he had already used up all of Xerneas's Life Essence.

If he still had some left, he would have absolute confidence in saving Serperior.

"Milotic, please keep using Life Dew."

After assessing the situation, Hikaru turned to Granny's Milotic.

"Milooo~"

Milotic nodded, summoning shimmering drops of life energy that rained down upon Serperior.

At the same time, Hikaru activated both his Aura and Verdant Power.

The Aura allowed him to scan Serperior's internal injuries.

The Verdant Power provided the life energy needed to stabilize them.

This kind of treatment process required constant, steady energy infusion.

"Wait… this energy… is it Verdant Power?"

Granny's usually calm eyes widened in shock.

It was common knowledge that Hikaru possessed Aura.

Many Breeders dreamed of acquiring this ability—because it allowed for precise energy control when creating Pokémon food and medicine.

But Verdant Power?

That was another story.

If Aura was useful for Breeding, then Verdant Power was the ultimate healing ability.

No Pokémon battle was free of injuries.

And with Verdant Power, a trainer would never have to rely on hospitals again.

Now Hikaru had both abilities?

Granny's hands trembled with excitement.

"This might actually work!"

She had been helpless before.

Even if she could have stabilized Serperior's condition, she couldn't have realigned its displaced organs.

But Hikaru had both Aura and Verdant Power.

One for detection, the other for stabilization.

All three of them held their breath, watching Hikaru work.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

He was using Aura to carefully realign Serperior's organs.

At the same time, he infused Verdant Power to heal the internal damage caused by the displacement.

Even though Serperior remained unconscious, its brows furrowed from the process.

After about ten minutes—

Hikaru wiped the sweat from his brow and shook his head.

"This isn't enough…"

Even with Aura and Verdant Power, the injuries were too severe.

Even with Milotic's Life Dew, they still couldn't fully heal Serperior.

"Hah…"

Granny sighed, glancing at the still-unmoving Serperior.

"What a waste…"

But then—

"Wait."

Hikaru suddenly thought of something.

He turned toward Latias.

Then he asked,

"When exactly did Serperior sustain these injuries?"

"Hm? Let's see… We've only been here for about an hour, right?"

The League President thought for a moment.

"It must've been about an hour ago."

Hikaru's eyes narrowed.

If the injury had been sustained within the last hour…

Then there was still one thing left to try.

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