Even the system store didn't have any items to ge a Pokémon's ability, and if su item existed, it would likely be ridiculously expensive, something you could only look at without aff.

  As Dragonite nded, it immediately caught the attention of the Vigoroth. The Skoth and Sking noticed as well but didn't make any moves.

  Although there were nearly ten thousand Skoth, the Vigoroth were much fewer, probably only around three or four hundred.

  Both Metagross and Dragonite exuded the aura of pseudo-Elite-level, making the Vigoroth hesitate to approach.

  The three rare dies Julian previously obtained could only be used by Pokémon below pseudo-Elite level, so he had Dragonite e them all. Its level rose from 58 to 61, making it Julian's third pseudo-Elite Pokémon.

  Julian then released Aron and Growlithe.

  Aron was currently level 28, and Growlithe was at level 29.

  Juliaook a bunch of Nanab Berries out from the system ste. From what he khese berries weren't avaible in this advanced secret realm.

  "Send two of your Pokémoo battle mine. Whether they win or lose, they'll receive a bunch of Nanab Berries," Julian said to the group of Vigoroth before him.

  The Vigoroth looked agitated, scratg their heads unfortably. They wao rush over and just grab the berries, but they held back, intimidated by the aura of Metagross and Dragonite.

  Sking, the group leaders, wouldn't move uhere was a real threat.

  After some discussion, two Vigoroth stepped forward. Both were level 29, making them perfect oppos frowlithe and Aron.

  "Let's begin," Julian said.

  Growlithe and Aron charged at their respective oppos without waiting for any ands from Julian, relyiirely on their own abilities.

  After all, the main purpose of ing here was for training and leveling up, so there was no need for ands. It was best to let them perform freely.

  Inside Growlithe's body, the Fire Crystal, a precious fire-type resource, was still being absorbed. However, frowlithe to fully absorb the crystal, it would likely have to reach pseudo-Elite level first.

  The Fire Crystal was tinuously absorbed, gradually turning Growlithe's fur red. When it ran, sparks flickered from its fur.

  As a top-tier fire-type treasure, the Fire Crystal could enhahe essence of fire, making even a basic Fmethrower potentially cause a burn status oargeted Pokémon.

  bined with resources Julian had purchased from the system, Growlithe's base stats in all six areas were steadily rising.

  In terms of potential, the Growlithe with the Fire Crystal was sed only to Metagross aan.

  Another of Julian's Pokémon, Aron, had the soul of Totem, making it a Totem Pokémon. Normally, an Aron would be only about 0.4 meters tall.

  Julian's Aron was already 1.4 meters tall, the same height as the Vigoroth in front of it.

  It regurly ed rough diamond ores, making its armhteningly hard.

  When a Vigoroth cwed at it, it couldn't leave a single scratch; instead, it ended up breaking its own cw.

  Even if Aron stood still, the Vigoroth couldn't harm it.

  The imposing steel barrier of an Aggron was already apparent in this Aron.

  Ihan a mihe two Vigoroth were defeated.

  Julia his word and rewarded them with two hands of Nanab Berries.

  (T/N: a cluster of banana is called a hand, a single banana is called a finger)

  Instead of keeping the berries for themselves, they shared them with their panions nearby.

  Tasting the Nanab Berry for the first time, which perfectly suited their taste buds, the Vigoroth who got to eat it were thrilled.

  They almost started fighting each other for the wo spots.

  "Defeat them, and you'll get two hands," Julian announced.

  To fuel the Vigoroth's enthusiasm, Julian deliberately increased the reward.

  The battles tinued from m until five iernoon, with Julian losing t of how many matches Growlithe and Aron had fought.

  Both of their levels increased: Growlithe went from level 29 to level 32, while Aron rose from level 28 to level 31.

  Aron was now just one level away from evolving.

  pared to Growlithe, whose stamina was running low, Aron's strong defenses meant it still had plenty of energy.

  "Growlithe, e back"

  Julian called, seeing that it had just defeated yet anoroth.

  If Growlithe kept spouting fmes, it might end up straining its vocal cords.

  Growlithe's battles were nowhere near as effortless as Aron's. Aron's size a made each blow overp, with no Vigoroth able to withstand a si.

  "Here, eat this to restore some stamina."

  Julian pced energy cubes and water in front of Growlithe. Since m, they had been battling tinuously without any breaks.

  Though tired, the bes were obvious. Along with its level increase, Growlithe was also abs the Fire Crystal in its body at a slightly faster rate.

  However, as Growlithe regained some stamina, its absorption rate of the Fire Crystal would gradually return to normal.

  "Let's have ten of you go at once."

  Sending them one by one didn't seem to help Aron break past its level cap, so Julian decided to up the challenge.

  After spending most of the day together, the Vigoroth, who had initially fought just for the berries, were now fighting for their pride.

  Vigoroth: Enough is enough! After beating so many of us, don't we deserve some dignity too?

  Soon, ten Vigoroth surrounded Aron. Since Julian gave them the option to not fight fair, they saw no reason to hold back either.

  Headbutts, Karate Chops, Fury Swipes, Arm Hammers and other attacks kept raining down on Aron, which stood there like an immovable sandbag, taking each hit head-on.

  Quantitative ge eventually lead to qualitative ge. With Aron having fought for a long time already, and now fag ten Vigoroth at once, marks and scratches started to appear on Aron's tough shell.

  "Aron!"

  Arohe pain, but it only fueled its ferocity.

  With an Iron Head, it tered a Vigoroth's Karate Chop, sending it flying in the instant.

  Metal Cw sent three more Vigoroth s.

  Rock Smash took down two additional Vigoroth.

  However, one Vigoroth mao nd a Brick Break on Aron's back armor, creating a crack through which flesh and blood could be seen.

  Blood trickled from the crack.

  The remaining foroth, their eyes bloodshot, felt humiliated—ten against one, and six of them were already down. No matter what, they were determi Aron to its knees.

  "Aron!"

  The searing pain in its back stung deeply. Aron had never suffered such a severe injury si was born.

  But Aron didn't look to Julian for help. Its gaze remained fixed on the four remaining Vigoroth, and it felt a new surge of energy building ihough something was blog it.

  This frustrated Aron. It was going to break through that thing, it was going to fight, it was going to knock down the foroth standing before it.