The price for a single Tera Shard is about 3,000 League Coins, roughly the same as items like Hard Stone.
Tera Shards have only one use—to make a special dish at the renowned Treasure Eatery in Paldea. With 50 Terastal Shards of the same type, you can prepare a meal that changes a Pokémon's Tera Type.
"For wealthy folks, changing Tera Types offers more tactical options. But, honestly, the default Tera Type is usually good enough. I'll just sell these two shards for cash."
Lucas shook his head. Tera Shards are abundant in Paldea. They randomly appear from shattered crystals all around the region, so you see plenty of assorted shards for sale on the market.
This has even led to a group of people who make a living just by collecting Tera Shards.
Lucas didn't catch the Crabominable he defeated. The claws dropped by wild Crabominable taste drastically different from those dropped by domestic ones—there's just no comparison. Most restaurants specifically require claws from wild Crabominable when they purchase them.
Lucas and his Luxray found a flat spot in the mountains, pitched a tent, lit a campfire, and set up a small pot to steam the Crabominable claws.
Cracking open a claw revealed about six or seven pounds of tender, white crab meat. With a nearby water source, simply steaming it was enough to bring out its full deliciousness.
Lucas had once, after defeating the Normal-type Gym, dined at the Treasure Eatery with wage slave Larry.
At the time, a chef at the eatery heard Lucas had found a pair of wild Crabominable claws and had eaten one simply boiled. The chef couldn't help but sigh at the waste.
That way of eating was a travesty. The chef immediately taught Lucas the best way to prepare Crabominable claws.
Unfortunately, Lucas didn't bring any soy sauce, just some salt and chili powder. Otherwise, with the deliciousness of the claw meat, a dip of soy sauce would be enough to make it unbelievably tasty.
Steam wafted upward. Lucas wasn't worried that the campfire or the smell of food would attract wild Pokémon.
Not to mention, no wild Pokémon nearby could last three moves against Luxray. Even just now, Luxray's Tera-morphed roar would have scared away any wild Pokémon who might have been tempted by the aroma.
Once the countdown in his head finished, Lucas decisively lifted the lid. Amidst the billowing white steam, tender crab meat rested on the shell, releasing a sweet, fresh aroma. Just one sniff had Lucas's mouth watering uncontrollably.
Top-tier ingredients often only need the simplest cooking.
Lucas and Luxray exchanged a glance. Ignoring the hot shells, they each grabbed or hugged a claw, their faces excited as they tasted the crab meat.
Thick, tender, and snowy white, the crab meat was juicy and had a perfect, soft texture. Just swallowing one bite, Lucas felt all his efforts over the past year were worth it.
Luxray's eyes shone as it ate, its star-shaped tail tip swaying happily.
Lucas ate about half the claw; Luxray ate the other half.
Still, their eating speeds were almost evenly matched.
After this top-notch meal, Lucas felt that just this trip out had been worth it.
He planned to take the remaining claw back as a treat for the other Pokémon. After all, it wouldn't be right for just himself and Luxray to enjoy it alone.
The early spring night was chilly, but after eating the crab, Lucas felt warm all over, unfazed by the cold wind.
Luxray felt it even more—after eating the crab, its energy surged, and even its physical abilities improved slightly.
…
The Next Morning.
Lucas and Luxray packed up early and headed back down the mountain. The lake they needed to visit was a few hundred meters east at the mountain's base.
They walked quickly and reached their destination in under ten minutes.
The lake was in the middle of a small wetland, with many wild Pokémon living nearby.
None were as rare as Goomy, but you could see Wooper and Clodsire, Psyduck and Marill, or even Barboach.
Lucas observed that the wetland would make it much easier for Swampert to build irrigation channels. As for what Pokémon and fish were in the lake, he couldn't tell yet, but the water volume was plentiful—enough to fill the large pit on his farm without risking a drop in the lake's level.
As for the water quality…
Lucas walked to a dry spot at the lake's edge, squatted down, and took out a water testing kit from his backpack.
He dropped a sample of lake water onto the kit. After about three minutes, there was no sign of the two red lines indicating contamination, which meant the water met all the requirements.
Luxray came over and nudged Lucas, purring with short, rapid rumbles.
Lucas patted its head and smiled: "No problem. We can bring Swampert over to divert water soon."
With this settled, Lucas decided to stroll around the wetland before heading back, hoping to find a suitable Water-type Pokémon to adopt!
Wooper, Psyduck, and Marill weren't what Lucas wanted.
Most Wooper are too lively and rambunctious, while their evolved form, Clodsire, is the opposite—slow, easygoing, and laid-back, like the Pokémon equivalent of a capybara.
Psyduck is too dopey. Golduck is better suited to working with fishermen than on a farm.
Marill and Azumarill are better at play-fighting Salamence (no joke).
Lucas scanned the lake, hoping to find a Water-type that would fit the farm.
About five minutes later, after staring so hard his eyes watered, he finally spotted a Pokémon emerging from the water nearby.
Smooth blue skin, a round body with no arms, a round, feathery tadpole tail, and a black swirl on its belly!
The Tadpole Pokémon—Poliwag!
Poliwag's first stage isn't much different from Psyduck, Marill, or Wooper. But after two evolutions, one branch—Politoed—has unique abilities that make it perfect for Lucas's farm!