LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 177: The Second Spatial Portal
Loke's departure left everyone feeling a bit down. After returning to the Tree of Beginning, the group seemed dispirited and lacked their usual energy.
Seeing this, Angie tried to comfort everyone, saying, "It's not like we won't meet again. You all don't need to feel this way. Who knows? Maybe one day, somewhere, we'll run into Loke again!"
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
I'll never be separated from Angie!
Pawmot ran over and clung to Angie.
"Alright!" Angie said, patting its head. "I'll never be separated from you either."
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
Pawmot was overjoyed and started nuzzling against Angie's stomach energetically.
At that moment, Angie said, "Oh! How about I make something delicious for everyone?"
Hearing this, Pawmot, Mew, and Sneasel's eyes all lit up as they turned to Angie eagerly.
"Let's go back!" Angie waved his hand and headed off.
"Pawmot~"
"Sneasel~"
"Mew~"
Pawmot, Sneasel, and Mew followed after him, bouncing along in excitement.
Metagross floated lazily behind them while carrying Komala on its back.
When they returned to Mew's home, Angie began setting out his cooking tools and ingredients.
Today, he was going to make pumpkin omelet.
In the past, when he only had five Chansey eggs, Angie was extremely stingy and reluctant to use them. But now that he had plenty of them, he was eager to show off his cooking skills.
Once all the ingredients were prepared, Angie got to work.
First, he brought out a pumpkin from his own vegetable garden.
After thoroughly washing the pumpkin, he peeled and seeded it, then cut it into fine shreds.
During the process, Angie didn't forget to channel his aura into the ingredients. After being treated with aura, the pumpkin's natural energy immediately became much more harmonious.
Next, he took out two Chansey eggs.
Chansey eggs were enormous, and two were more than enough.
He cracked the eggs into a bowl, added a pinch of rock salt, and began whisking them. As he whisked, he continued to channel his aura into the mixture until it became smooth and even.
As Angie's physique grew stronger, tasks like whisking eggs, which required physical effort, had become increasingly easy for him.
The next step was stir-frying the pumpkin.
He heated a skillet and added a drizzle of Olivine oil.
The moment Dolliv oil hit the pan, a rich fragrance filled the air.
The golden oil shimmered in the pan, pure and pristine, like a beautiful gemstone.
Angie had noticed that ever since the Dolliv had arrived at his home, the quality of the oil they produced had been improving by the day.
The same was true for Nacli, Garganacl, Capsakid, and Scovillain. The rock salt and spicy seasonings they produced were also of increasingly higher quality.
What Angie didn't yet realize was that the recipes provided by the system subtly enhanced the innate talents of Pokémon when consumed regularly.
Once the oil was hot, Angie added the shredded pumpkin to the pan and stir-fried it until it softened. He then seasoned it with a bit of rock salt and black pepper.
During the stir-frying process, Angie continued using his Aura power to carefully adjust the Aura of the ingredients in the pan, ensuring the high temperature didn't cause any drastic changes in their natural energy.
Once the pumpkin shreds were fried to a golden crisp, they were ready to be removed from the pan.
Angie then mixed the fried pumpkin shreds with the Chansey egg mixture, stirring until evenly combined, before pouring the mixture into the skillet to bake.
As time passed, the aroma gradually spread through the air. Pawmot, Mew, and Sneasel lined up side by side, resting their chins on the edge of the stove, with suspiciously glistening drool forming at the corners of their mouths.
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
Is it ready yet?
Pawmot urged impatiently.
Angie lightly tapped its forehead. "How many times have I told you? Patience is key—you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry!"
Hearing this, the three Pokémon pouted and continued waiting reluctantly.
Soon, the pumpkin omelet was done baking. Angie turned off the heat and slid the golden creation from the pan onto a plate. Using a small knife, he carefully cut it into individual portions.
"All done!" Angie announced.
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
"Sneasel~ Sneasel~"
"Mew~ Mew~"
The three Pokémon, who had been waiting eagerly, rushed over in unison, their eyes fixed intently on Angie as they awaited their portions.
Angie chuckled as he took out several small plates. He divided the pumpkin omelet evenly, placing portions on each plate before handing them out to the Pokémon. Naturally, he didn't forget to keep a share for himself.
Pawmot, Sneasel, and Mew grabbed their plates and immediately began devouring the food enthusiastically.
Metagross and Komala, however, were far more composed.
Komala used Metagross's head as a makeshift dining table, setting the plate on top before lying beside it and eating in small, deliberate bites.
The Chansey eggs truly lived up to their reputation as premium ingredients—the pumpkin omelet turned out to be far more delicious than anyone had imagined.
The golden omelet was studded with soft, glutinous shreds of pumpkin. With each bite, the creamy texture of the egg and the sweet aroma of the pumpkin blended perfectly.
This was where the benefits of Aura treatment truly shone. The balance between the two ingredients was absolutely flawless, while their distinct textures created a delightful contrast.
Perfection!
If it had been Angie from his previous life, he would never have believed he could make something this delicious with his own hands.
Pumpkin omelet wasn't anything particularly fancy, but with all the factors coming together, the result was explosively good.
Pawmot, Mew, Sneasel, Metagross, and Komala were all astonished by how amazing it tasted.
Mew: What do I do? I'm getting less and less willing to let Angie leave!
After finishing the delicious meal, everyone's melancholy from the earlier farewell lightened considerably. Mew then resumed leading the group on an adventure inside the Tree of Beginning.
Meanwhile, in Allearth Forest, Charcadet and Smoliv had once again brought Tree of Beginning Tofu to Xerneas.
After consuming the Tree of Beginning Tofu consistently for more than ten days, Xerneas's tree form had become increasingly radiant, glowing with dazzling brilliance.
At the same time, it exuded a warm, life-affirming aura that enveloped everything around it.
Every time the two Charcadet and the two Oinkologne came to visit, they would bask in this comforting energy, which made them feel incredibly relaxed, as though every cell in their bodies was breathing.
"You've worked hard these past days."
As the four Pokémon arrived, Xerneas's gentle and compassionate voice resonated in their hearts.
Over the past several days, the Charcadet and Oinkologne had tirelessly traveled back and forth between the Nebel Plateau and the Alruanes Forest.
"Charchadet~ Charchadet~"
"Oinkologne~ Oinkologne~"
The four Pokémon shook their heads vigorously, indicating they didn't feel it was hard work at all.
Though the constant commuting was a bit troublesome, it had also made their bodies stronger than ever, especially the two Oinkologne.
Previously, their plump and squishy appearance gave the impression of being soft and chubby.
Now, however, not only had they grown taller and sturdier, but their movements revealed hints of the solid muscles hidden beneath their layers of fat.
They looked undeniably powerful.
Adding to their development, they often attended lessons taught by Metagross, gaining extensive knowledge about training methods. They kept up with their physical conditioning routines, so their strength had drastically improved. They could now easily shatter a boulder with a single charge.
The two Charcadet had also made significant progress, with their levels increasing substantially.
The goodboy Charcadet hopped off the male Oinkolognek's back and, as usual, retrieved the basket of Tree of Beginning Tofu and placed it before Xerneas.
As always, Xerneas extended its roots, carefully pouring the two servings of Tree of Beginning Tofu into the hollow of its tree form.
Ever since discovering Xerneas's preference for savory tofu, Snorlax had ensured that all the tofu sent to Xerneas was savory.
As for the sweet tofu, it was exclusively reserved for Yveltal.
After consuming the two servings of Tree of Beginning Tofu, Xerneas suddenly radiated an intense brilliance. Beams of light burst forth from its body.
Within the dazzling glow, the tree form of Xerneas rapidly shrank, its branches and crown retracting at an incredible pace, while the thick roots grew slender.
It was unclear how much time had passed before the light finally dissipated. Standing before the Charcadet and Oinkologne was no longer a towering tree but the deer-shaped form of Xerneas.
The four Pokémon stared blankly at the transformed Xerneas, their disbelief evident.
Xerneas spoke with a gentle laugh, "What's the matter? Don't recognize me?"
Unlike the dignified and authoritative tone it once used, Xerneas now spoke with a hint of familiarity and harmony.
At last, the four Pokémon snapped out of their daze.
"Charchadet~ Charchadet~"
"Oinkologne~ Oinkologne~"
They cheered and dashed toward Xerneas. The two Charcadet hugged its right foreleg joyfully, while the two Oinkologne affectionately rubbed their heads against its left foreleg.
Xerneas lowered its head, gently nuzzling each of the little ones in return, a gesture of warmth and affection.
After the excitement subsided, Xerneas looked at the setting sun and said to the four Pokémon, "Let's head to the Nebel Plateau!"
With that, it leaped gracefully in the direction of the Nebel Plateau.
It felt it was time to meet Angie.
And it knew that Yveltal was also on the Nebel Plateau!
That was a Pokémon extremely dangerous to any living creature, and it had to go and see it with its own eyes.
"Charcadet~ Charcadet~"
"Oinkologne ~ Oinkologne ~"
The two Charcadet riding on the backs of the two Oinkologne chased after it without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Angie and the others, after spending the day exploring the Tree of Beginning of Beginnings with Mew, returned to Mew's home after nightfall.
Then, they began dinner.
After dinner, Mew played hide-and-seek with Pawmot and Sneasel, while Metagross lounged nearby with Komala dozing on its back.
Angie sat on a carpet, lost in thought.
He had been away for so long. Was it time to go back? The stockpile of Tree of Beginning leaves should last for quite a while, so there didn't seem to be a reason to stay here much longer.
After all, he couldn't leave the store entirely in the hands of Inteleon forever.
Angie glanced at Mew, uncertain how to broach the subject.
Should he leave tomorrow? Or the day after?
For the moment, he was rather conflicted.
"Never mind, I'll think about it tomorrow!" he thought to himself, deciding to first claim the rewards for today's daily tasks.
However, when he opened the task menu, he was momentarily stunned to see the display.
[ (Rescue Mission) Help Xerneas recover from its Great Tree form – Completed. Rewards pending! ]
It was already completed? Angie thought. Did that mean Xerneas was fine now?
That's great!
With that thought, Angie clicked to claim the rewards.
Having put in so much effort, he had high expectations for the rewards this time.
In fact, the system did not disappoint.
As soon as the claim was complete, a pop-up appeared on the screen.
...
[ Congratulations, Host, for completing the (Rescue Mission): Help Xerneas recover from its Great Tree form. ]
[ Rewards: A Space Portal connecting the Tree of Beginnings and the Nebel Plateau, an Auspicious Armor, a Malicious Armor, individual values +10, Constitution +5, and Intelligence +5 ]
...
Seeing this list of rewards, Angie's heart began to race.
This… this was too generous!
Aside from the usual achievement rewards, this was the first time he'd received such a bountiful reward for completing a mission.
The evolution items included two armors: Auspicious Armor and Malicious Armor, which were essential for Charcadet to evolve into Armarouge and Ceruledge, respectively.
Moreover, he had simultaneously received boosts to individual values, Constitution points, and Intelligence points, and the amounts were substantial.
But the most crucial reward was the Space Portal connecting the Nebel Plateau and the Tree of Beginnings!
With a passage between the two locations, he wouldn't even need to say goodbye to Mew! Nor would he have to worry about running out of Tree of Beginning leaves in the future!
This reward couldn't be more perfect for him!
After calming his excitement, Angie opened his personal stats menu.
...
[ Angie ]
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 16 (+500)
Constitution: 60
Intelligence: 33
Culinary Skill Rating: A novice just passing as competent.
...
This was incredible—his Constitution had reached 60. Angie felt strength coursing through his body!
And his Intelligence had also surpassed 30.
Sensing the enhanced Aura power within him, a delighted smile spread across Angie's face.
The feeling of becoming stronger was truly amazing!
After closing the personal stats menu, Angie moved on to allocating the 10 individual value points. Naturally, they were all going to Inteleon!
Opening Inteleon's stats menu, he began the adjustments.
+8 to HP, maxed!
+2 to Attack, also maxed!
Updated stats.
...
[ Inteleon ]
Type: Water
Ability: Sniper
Gender: Male
Level: 48
Moves: Sniper, Pound, Growl, Water Gun, Water Pulse, Feint Attack, Wrap, Soak, Brine, Water Pledge, Whirlpool, Aqua Ring, Swift, Muddy Water, Rain Dance, Hydro Pump, Scald.
...
[ Individual Values (IVs) ]
HP: 31
Attack: 31
Defense: 20
Special Attack: 31
Special Defense: 24
Speed: 31
...
Thus, the only individual values left incomplete for Inteleon were its defense and special defense. What a cause for celebration!
Afterward, Angie claimed rewards from two daily tasks, though they were unfortunately ordinary and not worth mentioning.
Closing the system, Angie called out to Mew and the others: "Hey, all of you, come over here for a moment!"
Mew and the others, who were having a great time playing, looked confused but obediently ran (or flew) to Angie's side.
Angie asked Mew, "Mew, we've stayed here with you for a long time now, and I think it's about time for us to head home."
"Mew~ Mew~"
Hearing this, Mew's expression changed drastically. It anxiously flew back and forth above Angie's head before finally hugging it tightly.
Angie helplessly pried Mew off his head. "Listen to me first, okay?"
"Mew~ Mew~"
Mew escaped Angie's grip and plopped onto the carpet, throwing a full-on tantrum. It kicked its legs and smacked the carpet with its tail like a spoiled child refusing to yield.
Nearby, Pawmot and Sneasel exchanged incredulous glances at Mew's antics. Eww~~ Aren't you a bit too old to act like this? I gave up tantrums ages ago!
"Mew, what if there was a way to connect my home to yours, letting us travel freely between the two places? Would you agree to that?"
Hearing this, Mew froze mid-tantrum.
"Mew~"
What do you mean?
Angie said, "Just answer me. Yes or no?"
"Mew~"
Of course, Mew nodded enthusiastically.
"That's great!"
Saying so, Angie stood up from the carpet and looked around. His gaze finally landed on a massive rock beneath the grass.
He placed one end of the space portal on the rock. A faint blue vortex gradually formed on the rock's surface.
As for the other end of the portal, Angie positioned it on the first floor of his secret fortress.
Seeing the sudden appearance of the vortex, Mew and the other Pokémon were visibly astonished. They couldn't help but lean closer to the vortex to inspect it curiously.
Angie introduced it to them: "This vortex connects directly to my home, the Nebel Plateau."
Then he turned to Mew and asked, "So, Mew, would you like to visit my home?"
"Mew~ Mew~"
Mew nodded excitedly.
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
Pawmot leaped for joy upon hearing they could go home.
Sneasel was equally intrigued—it was incredibly curious about what Angie's home was like!
Even Metagross couldn't hide a smile on its face. It missed its companions and students back home quite a bit.
"Alright, let's go!" With that, Angie stepped into the vortex, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
Pawmot cheered as it eagerly followed after him.
"Mew~"
Mew, not wanting to be left behind, hurriedly darted in as well.
Sneasel hesitated slightly, but Metagross gave it a gentle push with its hand.
"Metagross~"
Let's go together.
Sneasel looked up at Metagross, nodded, and walked into the vortex alongside it.
When they emerged from the vortex, Angie and his companions were standing on the first floor of the secret fortress—right in front of the bar's entrance.
Angie had positioned the space portal right next to the bar's main door.
As soon as they arrived, Mew began flying around, inspecting its new surroundings with unbridled curiosity.
Yveltal was asleep, but the noise from outside immediately caught its attention since the bar's door was ajar.
It flapped its wings, rose from the sofa, and peeked its head out of the doorway.
Upon seeing Angie, a look of unmistakable surprise flashed across Yveltal's face.
"Yveltal~"
You're back!
Yveltal spoke in a soft tone.
Angie was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Yveltal to address him so gently.
"I'm back, Yveltal. Long time no see!" Regaining his composure, Angie smiled and greeted it. "Did I disturb your rest?"
Yveltal shook its head.
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
Pawmot, in high spirits from being home, waved cheerfully at Yveltal to say hello.
As for Mew and Sneasel, who were seeing Yveltal for the first time, they were utterly petrified. Their bodies stiffened as they stared in terror at the imposing Legendary Pokémon.
Why does Angie have such a terrifying Pokémon in his home?!