The sun had just begun to rise over Foosha Village, casting a golden glow over the peaceful shores. Xpovac stood by the docks, his hands in his pockets, lost in thought. It had been a few days since his last spar with Shanks, and ever since, he felt like something big was about to happen. His system had been silent, but Xpovac had a gut feeling that another quest was around the corner.
Ding!
The familiar sound jolted him from his thoughts.
"New Quest: Witness Shanks' Departure. Reward: Egg Incubator function added to the system."
Xpovac smirked. "So, he's leaving, huh?" He glanced toward the sea, where Shanks' ship was anchored, knowing that the pirate's departure was inevitable.
"Guess I better head over there." He took a deep breath and started walking toward the village, where the sounds of activity were already beginning to stir.
---
At the village square, Xpovac spotted Luffy, as always, pestering Shanks to take him out to sea.
"Shanks! Take me with you! I wanna be a pirate!" Luffy yelled, determination written all over his face.
Shanks laughed, ruffling Luffy's hair. "You're still too young, Luffy. When you're older, we'll see."
Xpovac chuckled to himself as he walked up to the group. He had grown fond of Luffy's relentless ambition, and he admired the kid's spirit. It reminded him of his own goals in this strange world.
"Leaving so soon, Shanks?" Xpovac asked, causing the red-haired pirate to turn his head.
"Yeah, it's time we set sail again," Shanks replied, a grin plastered on his face. "But we'll be back, don't worry. You boys keep growing strong in the meantime."
Luffy puffed out his chest. "I'm gonna be the strongest pirate ever! Just wait!"
Xpovac grinned. "I'll hold you to that, Luffy. Let's see who's stronger when we're older."
Luffy looked up at Xpovac, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "You too, Xpovac! You better train hard, because I won't go easy on you!"
"You know I will," Xpovac said, crossing his arms. "By the time we meet again, I'll be even stronger. You too, Luffy—don't slack off!"
Shanks laughed heartily, watching the interaction. "Sounds like you two have a challenge on your hands. I'm looking forward to seeing how you turn out."
As Shanks and his crew began preparing for departure, Xpovac watched in silence, the weight of the moment sinking in. He wasn't sure when he'd see Shanks again, but he knew one thing: this world was going to change drastically, and he intended to be part of that change.
Ding!
"Quest Complete: Egg Incubator function unlocked."
With the quest complete, Xpovac immediately opened his system and checked out the new feature. The Egg Incubator tab had appeared on the menu, and he eagerly pulled out the Pokémon egg that he had received as a previous reward.
"Alright, let's see what this does," Xpovac muttered as he placed the egg into the incubator. A countdown timer appeared, indicating that it would take one day for the egg to hatch.
"Not bad," Xpovac grinned. "One more day and we'll see what hatches from this."
---
That evening, Xpovac sat on a grassy hill overlooking the sea, Luffy sitting beside him. The two of them shared a peaceful silence for a while before Luffy spoke.
"Xpovac, when I get older, I'm really gonna become a pirate," Luffy said with absolute certainty in his voice. "I'm gonna get my own crew, find the One Piece, and be the Pirate King!"
Xpovac chuckled. "I don't doubt it. You've got the spirit, Luffy. But remember, being strong isn't just about fighting—it's about protecting the people you care about too."
Luffy looked up at him, his eyes full of curiosity. "What about you, Xpovac? What do you wanna be?"
Xpovac stared at the horizon, thinking for a moment before answering. "I want to become stronger too. Strong enough to face anything this world throws at me. And along the way, I'll protect my friends and find my own path."
Luffy grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Then we'll both get stronger! Let's make a promise—when we get older, we'll see who's stronger."
Xpovac nodded, extending his fist. "Deal."
Luffy bumped his fist against Xpovac's, sealing their promise.
---
The next day, the egg inside the incubator was ready to hatch. Xpovac excitedly opened the system, watching the countdown hit zero. In an instant, the egg cracked open, and a small, blue Pokémon emerged, shaking off the shell pieces.
"Riolu!" it chirped, looking up at Xpovac with bright, eager eyes.
"A Riolu, huh?" Xpovac knelt down, smiling warmly at his new partner. "Welcome to the team, buddy."
Mudkip waddled over, curiously sniffing the new addition, and Riolu greeted its new companion with enthusiasm.
Over the next few days, Xpovac spent his time training and bonding with both Mudkip and Riolu. He taught them new moves, practiced battle strategies, and even had fun running around the village with the two Pokémon by his side.
Mudkip had grown stronger from all the training, and after an intense session, Xpovac noticed something unusual. Mudkip's body began to glow brightly, its form shifting and growing larger.
"Is it evolving?" Xpovac muttered, watching in awe as Mudkip transformed.
When the glow faded, Mudkip had evolved into a powerful Marshtomp.
"Nice! Marshtomp, we're leveling up!" Xpovac cheered, patting his newly evolved Pokémon on the back.
---
As the days went by, Xpovac continued his Ki training as well. With each passing day, his mastery over Ki manipulation grew stronger. And then, one evening, something clicked. He focused on his energy, channeling it into his feet and lifting himself off the ground ever so slightly.
"I... I'm doing it!" Xpovac gasped, hovering a few feet in the air. He grinned widely as he realized he had finally learned how to fly.
Landing back on the ground, he couldn't help but feel proud of how far he'd come. With Marshtomp, Riolu, and his newfound ability to fly, Xpovac knew he was just getting started on his journey. He was ready for whatever the world had in store for him next.