Meanwhile, a faint smile of satisfaction crossed her lips. She had just experienced White-Purple Pufferfish toxin firsthand—an incredibly rare poison. For her, this alone made the trip to Foodie Paradise worth it.
The vendor, still stunned, finally processed what had happened. His initial shock turned into barely-contained excitement. He had finally found someone capable of safely handling the White-Purple Pufferfish! More than anything, he needed to make sure she stuck around.
Before he could say anything, Gel turned, noticing Larry and Menchi among the crowd. "Oh, you two are here as well," she said with a small smile.
After exchanging a few greetings, Larry's gaze shifted back to the vendor. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Boss, just to confirm—whoever successfully prepares the pufferfish gets to take it with them, right?" he asked casually.
The vendor, still riding the high of his discovery, nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that's right."
That was exactly what Larry had wanted to hear. 'If this fish is as rare and valuable as they say, then it should be able to speed up my Pokémon's gestation process even more.'
Taking a step forward, he stood beside Gel. Another unprocessed White-Purple Pufferfish was placed in front of him, its delicate body still trembling slightly.
The crowd, which had been about to disperse, hesitated. Their curiosity had been piqued again.
They had just witnessed Gel perform an incredible feat—was her friend capable of doing something just as impressive?
Silence fell as Larry placed both hands above the pufferfish. A soft, pink glow spread from his fingertips, enveloping the fish entirely.
Then, without any physical contact, an invisible force materialized inside the pufferfish's body. The onlookers could feel the shift in energy, though they had no idea what was happening. And then, in the blink of an eye, a perfectly intact poison sac materialized on the table.
"…Ha?!" The vendor's pupils shrank as he let out an involuntary gasp. His eyes darted between the untouched White-Purple Pufferfish and the poison sac that had somehow been extracted whole, sitting right there in front of him.
"It's done, you can check it out."
Larry took a half-step back and gestured toward his boss, signaling him to inspect the pufferfish. The boss wasted no time—he grabbed the sharp knife beside him and made a careful incision in the fish's belly.
If the poison sac had been left inside, the toxins would have spread, turning the pufferfish a deep purple. But instead, its flesh remained pure white, a clear sign of success.
Looking deeper inside, the poison sac was completely gone, as if it had vanished without a trace. "They're both masters," the vendor muttered in amazement, placing the pufferfish down gently.
The techniques displayed by Larry and his competitor were nothing short of extraordinary. Even if the toxins had spread, they could have removed them without contaminating the fish. And not only that—the poison sac had been extracted without leaving a single mark on the delicate flesh.
The precision and skill they demonstrated left the surrounding spectators in awe. Applause erupted from the crowd, acknowledging their mastery.
Impressed, the vendor offered to prepare the pufferfish for Larry and his opponent so they could enjoy its rare delicacy on the spot. The preparation process mainly involved slicing it into razor-thin pieces with precise knife skills, a method considered the best way to experience its flavor.
Before long, a large plate was arranged with countless translucent pufferfish slices, each one glistening like crystal. Larry picked up a piece and placed it in his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, an indescribable flavor exploded in his mouth. It wasn't just the deep, oceanic freshness he had tasted before—it had a distinct, almost sweet undertone. As he savored it, he felt as if he had been transported to the middle of the sea, floating weightlessly in its depths.
It was his first time tasting white and purple pufferfish, and the sheer pleasure of it left him intoxicated.
But just as he was lost in the bliss of the flavor, something unexpected happened.
[Ding! A Pokémon has hatched!]
Larry's thoughts immediately shifted. He focused inward, and as expected, a familiar figure took form in his mind. He had a hunch about this outcome, and sure enough, his prediction was spot on.
What appeared before him was a Pokémon with a round, plump body, split into two colors—its front was white, while its back and hands were a deep navy blue. Its wide frame made it stand out as a rare "big-bodied" Pokémon, yet it exuded an undeniable charm.
Two pointed ears stood erect atop its head, and its belly and feet were pure white, with three sharp claws on each foot. Its eyes were perpetually narrowed, giving it a sleepy, carefree expression, as if it had never quite woken up.
Its round face and large belly made it look incredibly soft—so much so that it could probably be used as a pillow. Even at a glance, anyone could tell this was a Pokémon that lived to eat and sleep.
It was Snorlax, the "Big Eater"!
Larry wasn't surprised in the slightest. Given that consuming food had sped up the pregnancy bar, it only made sense that the resulting Pokémon would be Snorlax. Or possibly, a baby Snorlax.
Without hesitation, Larry extended his hand toward it and made an oath.
***
Species: Snorlax
Type: Normal
Ability: Thick Fat
Strength Rank: A
Known Moves: Belly Drum, Heavy Slam, High Horsepower, Rest...
Description: Snorlax's soft appearance hides its raw power, using Belly Drum to maximize strength before delivering crushing blows. Its Thick Fat ability grants resistance to extreme temperatures, while Rest ensures it can endure prolonged battles, making it a relentless force in attrition warfare.
***
With another powerful Pokémon in his arsenal, Larry was satisfied. Its strength aside, just having it added to his collection was a victory in itself.
Without wasting any time, he activated his Telekinesis Fusion ability, merging with Snorlax. Ever since developing this fusion technique, he had made it a habit to merge with every new Pokémon he obtained, just to see if they possessed any unique abilities.
As the fusion completed, Larry took a moment to assess himself. He didn't notice any drastic changes in strength, but two things immediately stood out.
First, his ability to sleep on command. While he didn't feel drowsy at the moment, he knew that if he wanted to, he could fall asleep instantly. A skill that countless insomniacs would probably kill for.
Second, his appetite. He suddenly felt as if his stomach had expanded several times over, capable of holding far more food than before.
Larry raised an eyebrow. 'What exactly was he supposed to do with this? Enter competitive eating contests?'
Still deep in thought, he absentmindedly picked up another slice of pufferfish and placed it in his mouth. And that's when he felt it.