After Wen Qi selected the Miltank, Sun Zheng led him to the Mareep warehouse. There were numerous Mareep here, around a hundred or so. Wen Qi stepped into the warehouse and was greeted by a lively group of Mareep—some frolicked and played, while others rested quietly, looking utterly adorable.
Sun Zheng stood to the side, pointing at the flock and saying, "There are over fifty younger Mareep here. Take a look and see if any catch your fancy."
Wen Qi carefully examined the Mareep. Their wool was clean and smooth, like silk, and their eyes sparkled with lively brilliance. He walked up to one Mareep, slowly extended his hand, and gently stroked its head. The Mareep docilely lowered its head, as if reveling in the affection. Wen Qi felt a stir in his heart, sensing a special connection with this Mareep.
However, Sun Zheng's words interrupted his thoughts: "If you're not satisfied with the existing Mareep, we also have a few Pokémon Eggs here. You can pick some to take home and hatch—you might get a more pleasant surprise."
Wen Qi turned to look at the Pokémon Eggs, quietly resting in their boxes, full of mystery and endless anticipation. He hesitated for a moment, but through the system's inspection, he found that these eggs had no outstanding qualities. In the end, he decided to go with the existing Mareep. He felt that encountering these Mareep was a destined bond, and this one in particular looked truly charming.
Still, he used the system to check the Mareep's aptitudes. Wen Qi discovered that most of them were Pokémon with red or orange aptitudes. Scanning around, he spotted only three or four with yellow aptitudes, which left him somewhat disappointed. But then he thought, this was just a small farm, not the League's Pokémon Breeding Center, so he let it go.
Yet when Wen Qi looked down at the Mareep that was especially friendly with him, he was pleasantly surprised to find it had a deep green aptitude. Overjoyed, he checked its details:
Pokémon: Mareep Level: 14 Type: Electric Ability: Static (The Pokémon is charged with static electricity, so contact with it may cause paralysis.) Aptitude: Deep Green Moves: Tackle (Proficient), Growl (Proficient), Thunder Wave (Proficient), Thunder Shock (Proficient), Cotton Spore (Proficient), Charge (Proficient), Electro Ball (Proficient), Electric Terrain (Proficient)
However, after reviewing the Mareep's information, a hint of doubt crept into Wen Qi's mind. Though its level wasn't high, its move proficiency was remarkable. Normally, Mareep were gentle-natured and rarely trained. Even with high aptitude, that alone shouldn't explain such skill mastery.
So Wen Qi pointed at this Mareep and asked Sun Zheng, "Does this Mareep usually have anything unusual about it?"
Sun Zheng looked at the Mareep Wen Qi indicated, pondered for a moment, and said, "This Mareep is indeed a bit odd. Most Mareep are timid and lazy, basically never training on their own—just quietly eating grass and resting. But this one is different. It's quite bold and competitive. Besides eating and sleeping, it loves to fight, always picking quarrels with the Miltank. It causes trouble every day, sometimes disturbing the peace in the Miltank's area. I was planning to send it away or sell it soon—it disrupts the farm's tranquility too much. Maybe you should pick another one?"
Wen Qi replied, "No need. I'll take this one, plus those few over there." He pointed to the yellow-aptitude Mareep he'd selected earlier.
Seeing Wen Qi's firm decision, Sun Zheng said no more. "These five will cost you 400,000. With the Miltank's 1,350,000, that's 1,750,000 total."
Wen Qi paid gladly, chatted briefly with the owner, and then set off home with his new companions.
Back at the farm, Wen Qi didn't immediately release the Miltank and Mareep. He wrestled with whether to bring these Pokémon into the small world. Since they'd live on the outside farm later, would entering the small world risk them revealing its secret? After a moment's thought, he decided to take them in. He believed that if he treated them wholeheartedly, they would be loyal to him.
He first had Bellossom prepare a meal, then led the Miltank and Mareep into the small world. Placing them on a vast grassland, the three Miltank immediately felt at ease in the comfortable environment. Wen Qi said to them, "Miltank, you three rest well here tonight. Tomorrow, I'll take you to my outside farm to recuperate properly."
After settling the Miltank, he took the Mareep to an electric valley. The grass was lush, rocks stood tall, and electric energy was abundant. Wen Qi released the Mareep. As soon as they came out, the four yellow-aptitude Mareep quickly hid behind the deep green one, looking as timid as mice. But since their previous owner had told them Wen Qi was now their master, they didn't reject him. Delighted by the pleasant environment, the Mareep were overjoyed.
The seemingly docile but actually combative Mareep especially loved it here, feeling its strength grow faster than before. Suddenly, the Mareep's body was enveloped in a strange, radiant light. The light was warm and dazzling, like the rising sun, gently falling upon it, granting endless power and hope. Wen Qi watched intently, his heart full of excitement and anticipation.
He quickly pulled out a prepared Energy Cube from his pocket and held it out to the Mareep. The Mareep seemed to sense the surging power about to burst forth. It lowered its head, sniffed the Energy Cube with its moist nose, and its eyes gleamed with longing. The Energy Cube emitted an enticing aroma, deeply attracting the Mareep. It knew the energy within was crucial for its evolution. Without hesitation, it opened its mouth and began devouring the cubes. With each bite, its body grew sturdier and more powerful.
At the same time, the electric energy in the air stirred. Drawn to the Mareep, it gathered around, swirling beside it. This electric energy intertwined with the light on the Mareep, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Under the combined effect of energy and light, the Mareep's body began to transform. Its wool grew sparser, its body more robust. The most noticeable change was its posture—from standing on all fours to standing on two legs.
Finally, with a resounding cry, the Mareep successfully evolved. It was no longer an ordinary Mareep but a majestic Flaaffy. The Flaaffy stood proudly as the light faded, but its eyes grew more determined and confident. It knew it had embarked on a new journey, ready to face more challenges and opportunities.
Wen Qi gazed at the Flaaffy, filled with joy and pride. He hadn't expected the Mareep to evolve so quickly—right after entering the small world. The evolution was a bit rushed, with limited aptitude improvement. Though it remained deep green, a hint of cyan was faintly visible, suggesting that with proper nurturing, it might become cyan-aptitude.
Checking the system for the Flaaffy's info:
Pokémon: Flaaffy Level: 16 Type: Electric Ability: Static (The Pokémon is charged with static electricity, so contact with it may cause paralysis.) Aptitude: Deep Green Moves: Tackle (Proficient), Growl (Proficient), Thunder Wave (Proficient), Thunder Shock (Proficient), Cotton Spore (Proficient), Charge (Proficient), Electro Ball (Proficient), Electric Terrain (Proficient), Take Down (Beginner), Agility (Beginner), Brick Break (Beginner), Thunderbolt (Beginner)