Chapter 77: Why Isn't the Gyarados a Water Dragon?

Zhao Fang walked out of the laboratory with a strange look on his face, leaving the Ice Snow Dragon inside. Dr. Otamaki needed to conduct further research on the Ice Snow Dragon, and Zhao Fang had also asked the doctor to help him study the creature’s current skill set. Only when he fully understood the Ice Snow Dragon’s abilities could Zhao Fang bring out its true power in future battles.

“This Dr. Otamaki really is something…” Zhao Fang couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated whenever he recalled what had happened earlier.

Because of his deal with Xiaoyao, Zhao Fang kept trying to persuade Dr. Otamaki to let Xiaoyao go on a journey. But the doctor simply wouldn’t agree. Zhao Fang had almost given up, thinking it was hopeless and was about to go back to Xiaoyao and ask her to figure out how to soften up the doctor with some sweet talk. Unexpectedly, Dr. Otamaki suddenly agreed.

This left Zhao Fang completely puzzled, but the fact that the doctor had finally consented was good news. Now all Zhao Fang needed to do was get in touch with Shirona and ask about the pattern.

Before that, however, Zhao Fang returned home, greeted his parents, and, under their warm hospitality, enjoyed a sumptuous lunch. Afterwards, he went to his room and took out his own Pokédex.

He tapped the contact button on the Pokédex, entered a string of numbers, and soon saw Shirona’s avatar—a Garchomp. Zhao Fang recognized it; it must be the same Garchomp he had seen before.

He quickly sent Shirona a message, explaining that Dr. Otamaki had sent him.

The message was sent, but half a day passed without a reply. Whether Shirona had seen it or was simply busy, Zhao Fang didn’t fret. Instead, he messaged his contact at Devon Corporation, suggesting they add a “read” feature to the software.

Since Shirona hadn’t responded yet, Zhao Fang went to find Xiaoyao. After telling her what he’d discussed with Dr. Otamaki, Xiaoyao cheered and jumped with joy, and her Combusken clucked happily beside her.

“So, it’s time to fulfill our promise! I’ve already spoken to Dr. Otamaki about your journey. Now you should teach me the flying move,” Zhao Fang interrupted Xiaoyao’s excitement, eager and impatient.

But as soon as he interrupted, Xiaoyao’s expression turned shy. Her cheeks flushed red, and she looked bashful. Zhao Fang was confused—was she not going to teach him after all?

“Um, Zhao Fang, I’m sorry. I checked some information when I got home—Gyarados can’t learn flying moves,” Xiaoyao said, hands pressed together, looking at Zhao Fang with pleading eyes.

“What? Isn’t Gyarados a Water and Flying type? Why can’t it learn flying moves?” Zhao Fang was surprised; he remembered Gyarados had Water and Flying attributes.

“It’s true, Water and Flying, but all sources say Gyarados can’t learn flying moves. Professor Oak once published a paper saying Gyarados lacks a certain organ…” As Xiaoyao explained, Zhao Fang felt a headache coming on. So Gyarados really couldn’t learn flying moves?

So much for its supposed Flying type—it’s practically fake! Might as well switch it to Dragon type!

“Is there really no way?” Zhao Fang was unwilling to accept it. A Pokémon with Flying type that couldn’t even learn flying moves—what kind of joke was that?

“There really isn’t… But I heard from my dad that one of Professor Oak’s relatives in the Alola region has a Gyarados that can use Hurricane,” Xiaoyao said, frowning in thought for a while before answering.

Zhao Fang nodded in disappointment. Alola was near Galar and still quite a distance from Hoenn.

Xiaoyao seemed to realize the distance was an issue for Zhao Fang. To make it up to him, she handed him a set of Pokémon encyclopedias from home. Zhao Fang didn’t get angry and accepted the gift.

Lying on his bed, Zhao Fang was still disgruntled—not with Xiaoyao, but simply unable to understand why Gyarados couldn’t learn flying moves.

“Isn’t this a Froslass? Female Snorunt can only evolve into Froslass after using a Dawn Stone—such a harsh evolutionary condition,” Zhao Fang muttered, idly flipping through the encyclopedia, which was filled with fascinating facts.

For example, Farfetch’d nearly went extinct because it always carried seasoning with it; if you feed Caterpie extra scale powder during breeding, the resulting Butterfree will be stronger, and so on.

Suddenly, Zhao Fang paused. He realized something: according to the encyclopedia, Froslass only evolves when a female Snorunt comes into contact with a Dawn Stone, making wild Froslass extremely rare. Yet Zhao Fang had encountered a Froslass before.

Moreover, Team Magma had unexpectedly tried to capture that Froslass. Considering its evolution requirements, Zhao Fang had a bold suspicion: could the location where Froslass appeared actually contain a Dawn Stone?

The thought instantly excited Zhao Fang. Dawn Stones and similar mystical stones were extremely rare; even a common Water Stone could fetch a price of half a million.

Even if Zhao Fang didn’t sell it, he could use it to trade for other resources. That Froslass might be guarding a hidden treasure—and perhaps there was even the gem Gengar needed!

With that in mind, Zhao Fang’s mood brightened. He knew Froslass’s strength—it was no match for him—but searching for it meant possibly running into Team Magma again, which was the biggest headache.

He could only take things step by step. If the opportunity arose, he definitely wanted the Dawn Stone.

Just as Zhao Fang was pondering how to investigate the Dawn Stone through Froslass, his Pokédex vibrated. He quickly took it out and saw Shirona was requesting a video call.

Zhao Fang immediately answered, and Shirona’s face appeared on the screen, just as in the Petalburg Forest before. Recognizing him, Shirona smiled and greeted him.

Zhao Fang wasted no time with pleasantries, instead taking out the sheet of paper and explaining he’d found it in the high tower of an ancient ruin, describing the information printed on the tower.

“This is interesting. This pattern… I think I’ve seen something similar on Mt. Coronet. Wait, let me check,” Shirona said, placing the Pokédex on the table. Sounds of rummaging came from her side of the screen.

Mt. Coronet? Zhao Fang was surprised—that was in the Sinnoh region.