Seeing the Hydreigon couple enjoying Ma En's touch, Launce, who refused to accept defeat, decided to try his luck as well. He cautiously moved toward the Hydreigon and reached out his hand.
However, the moment he got closer, both Hydreigons turned their six crimson eyes toward him, their expressions darkening.
Under the intense gaze of six fierce dragon heads, Launce immediately froze. He awkwardly withdrew his hand and took a step back, pretending that nothing had happened.
---
After stroking the Hydreigon for a while, Ma En finally explained his purpose for coming. Surprisingly, the two Hydreigons did not show any hostility. Instead, one of them gently grabbed the back of Ma En's collar with its mouth, lifted him onto its back, and slowly rose into the air, flying toward the heart of their territory.
Seeing this, Dragonite, who had been following the Dragon Elder, carefully placed the elder on its back before taking off to follow.
Watching Ma En and the elders disappear into the sky, Launce remained on the ground, lost in thought.
His mind drifted back to the time when he had proposed taming a Deino from this very territory.
Back then, the same Hydreigon couple had responded to his request by launching a Destruction Beam straight at him, forcing him to dodge frantically before they roared at him to leave immediately.
But now, the same dragons were personally escorting Ma En to their nest.
The difference in treatment was simply unbelievable.
Feeling frustrated yet determined, Launce released his Charizard and took to the skies, following behind the others.
---
Hydreigon's nest was located in the center of their territory, surrounded by jagged rock formations and deep caves. After a smooth flight, the dragons slowly descended, gently placing Ma En on the ground. The Dragon Elder and Launce also landed soon after.
As soon as Ma En's feet touched the ground, his attention was drawn to three Deino resting in the clearing.
These three Deino were the offspring of the Hydreigon couple.
Upon noticing their returning parents, two of the Deino excitedly ran toward them, wagging their tails as they nuzzled against their larger forms.
However, Ma En quickly noticed that the third Deino was acting differently.
Unlike its siblings, which ran around clumsily, this Deino moved in a more stable and composed manner. Though it also approached, it did so in a more measured and deliberate way.
The Hydreigon parents let out a few low calls before leading their three children toward Ma En.
As soon as the Deino got closer, they seemed to sense a strange familiarity with Ma En and instinctively moved toward him.
Like their evolved forms, Deino had dark blue scales, with their eyes completely covered by shaggy black fur that extended down to their necks. Unlike Hydreigon, however, Deino had four legs, and the fur on their heads formed a distinct pointed tuft.
Since Deino were blind, they relied heavily on their sense of smell to navigate their surroundings. This also led to a habitual problem—they had a tendency to bite anything they came into contact with.
Sure enough, as the first two Deino sniffed the air around Ma En, they suddenly opened their mouths and lunged at him, attempting to take a bite.
Before their teeth could land, however, the Hydreigon parents quickly nudged them back with their heads, stopping their actions immediately.
Ma En chuckled at the display but quickly turned his attention to the third Deino—the one that had caught his interest earlier.
Unlike the other two, this Deino did not attempt to bite him.
Instead, after carefully sniffing Ma En for a few moments, it gently extended its tongue and gave his palm a warm lick.
It had no intention of biting him at all.
Ma En was fascinated. This behavior was highly unusual for a Deino.
Once the young Pokémon had grown accustomed to Ma En's scent, the Hydreigon parents allowed them to move freely.
The two more playful Deino immediately began running around excitedly, even trying to bite a nearby watermelon-sized rock out of curiosity.
However, the third Deino did not join in their antics.
Instead, it simply lay down beside Ma En, its body calm and unmoving, as if completely at ease in his presence.
This unusual behavior only deepened Ma En's curiosity.
Meanwhile, the Hydreigon parents officially gave Ma En permission to take a Deino with him. However, as their children's guardians, they made one condition—Deino had to agree to go with Ma En on its own.
Even if they liked Ma En, they would not force their child to leave if it was unwilling.
With his choice clear, Ma En immediately set his sights on the strange Deino.
However, since this was his first visit to Dragon's Den, he lacked detailed knowledge about its Pokémon. So, he turned to the Dragon Elder.
If anyone could provide insight into this Deino's peculiar behavior, it was him.
The Dragon Elder noticed Ma En's inquisitive gaze and let out a knowing sigh. A strange expression crossed his face.
Seeing this reaction, Ma En suddenly felt uneasy.
"Elder, is something wrong with this Deino?" he asked cautiously. "Does it not like to fight?"
After all, Ma En intended to train Deino into a powerful Hydreigon. If it lacked the desire to battle, then forcing it would be pointless.
The Dragon Elder shook his head and smiled.
"Don't worry about that. This Pokémon does not dislike fighting."
He then gave Ma En a mysterious look before adding, "Use your power and ask it yourself."
Ma En immediately understood.
The elder had noticed his connection to the power of darkness.
However, this revelation did not surprise Ma En. After all, he had used his powers frequently—there were bound to be traces left behind. It would have been impossible to hide it from someone as experienced as the Dragon Elder.
As for Launce, he likely sensed something as well.
But after fighting alongside Ma En, Launce had already come to see him as a friend. Out of respect for that friendship, he never pried into Ma En's secrets.
Taking a deep breath, Ma En placed his hand on Deino's head and activated his dark power to communicate with it.
While his ability wasn't as direct as telepathy, it allowed him to sense Pokémon's general emotions and thoughts.
As he reached out, he asked Deino why it behaved differently from its siblings.
The moment Deino responded, Ma En's expression shifted.
Slowly, a look of realization—and amusement—crossed his face.
It was the same look the Dragon Elder had moments ago.
After confirming that Deino did not dislike battle, Ma En removed his hand and took a deep breath.
He then looked into the directionless gaze of the young Dragon-type and asked,
"Deino, will you travel with me?"
At that moment, silence filled the nest.
The Hydreigon parents, the Dragon Elder, and Launce all turned their attention to the young Deino, waiting for its answer.
---
End of Chapter 24
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