With Steelix as the new temporary worker, the mining speed increased several times. While Steelix was not as strong as Metagross, its ability to dig was unmatched, far more efficient for the job.
A single flick of its massive tail or a head bump would unearth countless rough diamonds.
Aron, now overstuffed from all the diamond meals, was round and bulging like a small ball wrapped in Iron armor.
Julian returned him to his Poké Ball, giving Aron time to rest and digest all the precious stones, ready to eat more tomorrow.
With hundreds of tons of rough diamonds now in his possession, Julian figured not just his future Aggron but even a Tyranitar could thrive on this mineral treasure. Maybe—just maybe.
After half a day of digging, the entire area was cleared, leaving behind a crater stretching three to four kilometers long and five to six hundred meters deep.
Steelix, satisfied with its work, approached Julian, eyes fixed on him.
"Here you go"
Julian smiled, placing two boxes of high-grade steel type energy cubes on the ground.
Steelix gleefully devoured five cubes in one bite, wagging its tail like a happy Growlithe, eyes half-closed in contentment.
"You can't eat too much at once; pace yourself" Julian advised.
"These cubes are powerful. You'll waste them if you don't give your body time to digest the energy."
There were only twenty cubes in the two boxes. At Steelix's current rate, it would run out in a week.
Julian hopped onto Metagross's back, as another red dot flashed on the Dowsing Machine—a large red dot, indicating something valuable.
"Let's go," Julian commanded, and Metagross swiftly flew toward the marked location.
"Boom!"
"What was that?"
Julian murmured, hearing a distant sound. Turning around, he saw Steelix charging towards them, a cloud of smoke billowing up behind it.
"Looks like someone's getting in some post-meal exercise"
Julian didn't dwell on it for long and signaled Metagross to continue.
As they traveled about 30 kilometers, Julian noticed Steelix was no longer following them and likely returned to its original place. Upon reaching the red dot, Julian had Metagross drive away nearby Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon.
"Metagross, Dig here" Julian ordered.
"I wonder if it'll still be rough diamonds," Julian thought aloud.
Just because they had found rough diamonds earlier didn't mean there couldn't be more hidden around the chlorite deposit. There could be a second cache nearby, waiting to be uncovered.
After a few minutes, Metagross unearthed something and brought it to Julian: a small ball of soft sand, khaki-yellow in color and jelly-like to the touch.
Julian recognized it immediately as a Ground-type treasure that could enhance Ground-type Pokémon's power and even improve their qualifications.
The soft sand in front of Julian was about the size of a basketball—not massive, but decent enough to register as a small red dot on the Dowsing Machine.
Even this size was something rare. Soft sand of this quality wasn't available in the market. The kind sold in stores was divided into much smaller portions, usually the size of a fist, and those sold for over 10 million each.
Only top-tier stores had it, and you had to be a VIP customer just to have the chance to buy one.
Since Julian didn't currently own a Ground-type Pokémon, this treasure would either need to be traded or kept for when he found the right Pokémon to benefit from it.
"Boom~"
Just then, a familiar sound reached Julian's ears. Turning around, he saw Steelix rushing toward him, panting as if it had been chasing them.
"You want to follow me?"
Julian asked, piecing it together. Steelix, after eating those energy cubes, wasn't simply running for a post-meal exercise. It wanted to join him.
'Sure enough, my charm is very great, and a prospective Elite Pokémon wants to follow me.'
Steelix nodded eagerly, its eyes full of hope and excitement.
The Pokémon had realized that staying with Julian meant a steady supply of that delicious food.
On top of that, Julian had taken all the treasures Steelix had been guarding.
But if he followed Julian, the treasures might not be his anymore, but Julian would have to support him with them and there was also those tasty treats. A win-win in Steelix's eyes.
Steelix: I'm such a smart guy.
Sensing Steelix's proud Aura, Julian realized exactly what was going through its mind.
Whoever said that wild Pokémon were just cruel and mindless clearly hadn't met this Steelix. Its mind was sharp, and it knew exactly what it wanted.
As Steelix wagged its tail happily, Julian glanced between it and the soft sand Metagross was holding. He couldn't help but ponder the situation.
Julian pondered for a moment, Perhaps it was fate—he had just found a Ground-type treasure, and now a Ground-type Pokémon wanted to join him.
Was it fate taking care of him, or Steelix?
Steelix: Don't think too highly of yourself, of course it's me.
Pokémon: Steelix (Steel/Ground)
Level: 66
Qualification: Green
Ability: Rock Head
Props: none
Gender: Male
Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Rock Polish, Iron Tail, Dragon Breath, Earthquake, Crunch, Harden, Smack Down, Sand Tomb, Stealth Rock, Slam, Sandstorm, Dig, Stone Edge.
Disc Moves: none
Genetic Moves: Defense Curl, Double-Edge, Head Smash, Dragon Tail.
Although Steelix's qualification was only green, half of that green had turned cyan. Of course, if there was no significant experiences to catalyze this growth, it was likely that this aptitude would remain stagnant for the rest of its life
Julian saw that Steelix was eyeing the soft fine sand Metagross was holding with intense longing.
"Alright, here"
Julian offered, having already decided to accept Steelix. The soft sand was perfect for it.
Steelix quickly snatched the sand and swallowed it, much like a dog gulping down a treat.
As Steelix consumed the sand, its green qualification slowly inched closer to cyan but stopped just shy of breaking through.
Steelix seemed anxious, sensing the unbroken bottleneck limiting its future growth.
"Here, take this too"
Julian said, pulling out a small cyan qualification potion. This special item could improve Pokémon's qualification and break such bottlenecks.
Steelix eagerly drank the potion, and after a few minutes, the final sliver of green disappeared, replaced by cyan.
"Roar!!"
A cyan-qualified Steelix now stood before Julian, roaring in triumph, its tail smashing into the ground in excitement.
After it calmed down, Steelix looked at Julian with newfound respect, fully aware that it was Julian who had helped it break its limits.
"Alright, let's make this official," Julian said, holding out a Poké Ball.
Without hesitation, Steelix tapped its head lightly against the ball. After a few shakes, the ball stilled, and Steelix was captured.
*****
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