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Chapter 189: Consuming the Custap Berry
🕑 Added 2025-09-09 12:42:06 +0000 UTCChapter 189: Consuming the Custap Berry
"A Custap Berry?"
Basalt and Bronzor were both stunned. They knew exactly how rare and powerful this fruit was. After all, Basalt still had a Custap Berry seed in his bag. But this was a whole, ripe fruit, its aroma intoxicating.
"That's right," the Great Elder nodded. "It comes from a tree that grows in the heart of our Hidden Land. It bears very little fruit each year. The harvest is usually divided between myself and the other two Titans, the Skarmory and the Aggron. But now... I believe it will be of greater use to you."
The Great Elder looked at Bronzor with an undeniable affection in its eyes. The moment it had sensed Bronzor's return, it had known its psychic power had undergone a breakthrough. Despite being away from its clan, Bronzor's growth had not been hindered; it had broken through its limits. The Great Elder knew that none of the other young Bronzor in the clan could match it now.
This Bronzor was the clan's best hope for a successor, a leader who could surpass even the Great Elder itself. It had spent its whole life as a big fish in a small pond. It did not want the next generation to suffer the same fate.
"Eat this now," the Great Elder instructed. "Use the time before the Evolution Festival to accumulate as much energy as you can and unlock your potential. When you evolve, your power will increase even more. Strive to reach the advanced tier in a single leap."
"The advanced tier," Bronzor whispered, taking the Custap Berry with its psychic power and bidding farewell to the Great Elder. The elder's expectations weighed heavily on it, but it was determined not to disappoint.
"Don't think about it too much," Basalt said, patting Bronzor's head as they left the cave. "Just do your best. The festival is in three days. Let's find a quiet place for you to eat this berry. It's a real treasure."
Basalt was incredibly pleased with the Great Elder. A true leader, indeed. A single gift, and it was a Custap Berry. And not just any Custap Berry, but one from the only tree of its kind in the entire Hidden Land. Its effects were sure to be extraordinary.
"Alright. Let's go to my old home," Bronzor said, its spirits lifting. It led Basalt to a small, shallow cave nearby.
"Excadrill, you're on guard duty," Basalt said, releasing his other Pokémon.
"Excaaa!" Excadrill nodded, its claws at the ready.
"Here I go," Bronzor said. It brought the Custap Berry to its non-existent mouth and devoured it in three quick bites, not wasting a single drop of juice.
A cool, refreshing energy flowed through its body, stimulating the dormant power within it. Its own energy began to circulate, slowly at first, then faster and faster. It closed its eye, focusing on the changes within. Before, the speed of its energy circulation had been a 1.0. Now, it was at least a 1.1, and still climbing.
Hours passed. The sun began to set. Finally, Bronzor opened its eye.
"How do you feel?" Basalt asked, his voice filled with anticipation.
"I feel great," Bronzor replied, its voice buzzing with excitement. "The speed of my energy circulation has increased by nearly thirty percent. My moves are not only stronger, but also much faster to execute. If I were to face that Ninjask now, I could at least block its first attack with my psychic power." It was clearly still bothered by its earlier defeat.
"Excellent," Basalt said with a satisfied nod. "A Pokémon's movement speed can be slow, but its move execution speed cannot. With your psychic power, your reaction time is already top-notch. Now, with this boost, you won't have to worry about assassin-type Pokémon anymore."
"Wait a second," Bronzor said suddenly. "I think the increased energy flow has allowed me to unlock some new moves."
It then began to gather Steel-type energy, its body hardening, and slammed itself into the cave wall, leaving a Bronzor-shaped indentation and sending a shower of rocks to the ground.
"Iron Head!" Basalt exclaimed. It was a powerful, native-type move, a much-needed addition to Bronzor's arsenal. Its only other physical Steel-type move, Gyro Ball, was too dependent on the opponent's speed to be reliable.
"And there's one more," Bronzor said, a wisp of dark, strange energy coalescing in front of it.
WHOOSH!
The dark energy shot out with incredible speed, slamming into the cave wall.
"Is that... Sucker Punch?" Basalt asked, not quite sure. It was either a Ghost- or Dark-type move.
"That's right," Bronzor confirmed. "I've been trying to master Dark-type energy for a while, but without much success. Now, with the increased circulation speed, I've finally managed to learn a mid-tier move. It's nothing special."
Its tone was nonchalant, but to Basalt and Excadrill, it was anything but. With these two new moves, Bronzor's move pool now surpassed Excadrill's. And with its evolution just around the corner, Excadrill was beginning to feel the pressure.
"Excaaa," it grumbled, its eyes narrowed. This little guy is catching up fast.
"Bronzor, keep meditating," Basalt said. "Make sure you absorb every last bit of the berry's power."
"Alright," Bronzor nodded and closed its eye.
Just then, at the base of Mount Veridian, the young man with the almond-shaped eyes finally arrived at the summit.
