Fossil?
What truly caught Dragapult's attention was this fossil?
A fossil crafted by the same hand that crafted the Dragon Scale?
This was indeed unexpected.
Natsuhiko tried to control the various images on the screen, carefully examining the appearance of the fossil.
As he flipped through them, the surprise in his eyes grew more intense.
Seeing it really shocked him.
On this fossil, tightly embedded within the stone, only a trace of contour and pattern could be seen, and if he hadn't misidentified it, it turned out to be a...
Dreepy!
The triangular contour resembling an airplane, along with the size of the whole fossil, appeared to fit the size that could accommodate a Dreepy.
Having witnessed Regigigas move tectonic plates, Natsuhiko wasn't surprised that the Sinnoh Region could uncover a fossil of Dreepy.
Perhaps, the seller didn't necessarily find it in the Sinnoh Region.
Besides, the previous Dragon Scale was quite extraordinary.
"I'm sure everyone can see the appearance of this fossil. The starting bid is 800,000 Alliance Coins, with each subsequent bid not less than 50,000 Alliance Coins!"
But this time, as the auctioneer's voice fell, the auction venue remained unusually quiet.
No one attempted to be the first to bid.
Mainly because the authenticity, age, and the creature embedded in the fossil, or even whether it is a Pokémon at all, were still open to debate.
Its abrupt presentation indeed made it difficult to ascertain its value.
The Sinnoh Region, where fossils are abundant, showcases many different kinds of fossils, among which are quite a few fossils of Ancient Pokémon.
On the flip side, as there are real fossils, there are also many people who forge them, specifically deceiving those wealthy individuals who want to collect fossils to display in their homes for prestige and status.
Initially, this method was quite profitable, because unless one is a professional archaeologist who can observe and analyze them closely, differentiating between real and fake fossils is challenging.
Moreover, those who fabricate fake fossils understand well that it's easier to replicate known fossil types, so they focus on crafting obscure fossils or even invent fossils that have never been heard of, to capture attention.
It once stirred quite a wave in the Sinnoh Region's collector circles.
But now.
Nobody is a fool anymore, so why would they fall for such tricks?
As a result, most people are waiting.
Waiting for what?
Waiting for a "authority" in the fossil circle to speak up.
As long as those true big shots speak out, it would mean that the credibility of this fossil is fairly high, otherwise, it shouldn't be considered.
The creature on that fossil really looks like something unseen before.
Inside the box.
Natsuhiko gently patted Dragapult's head, judging the authenticity of the fossil based on its reactions.
But clearly, everyone was observing silently, once someone placed a bid, maybe others would follow, so he wasn't in a rush, just watching and waiting.
Turning his attention back to the previous Dragon Scale and the purple powder stripped from it.
"What is this?"
"Baluya..." Dragapult reluctantly withdrew its gaze, and explained.
"Dragon Crystal powder, but it's very pure Dragon Crystal, no less than the ones on Regidrago."
Upon hearing this, Natsuhiko showed a bit of surprise.
"Then what about this Dragon Scale?"
"Baluya."
"According to the naming convention of our time, it should be called 'Dusk Dragon Scale.'
Most of Dragapult's acquired memories stemmed from Regidrago, having a good understanding of anything related to Dragon-Type Pokémon.
"Dusk Dragon Scale?"
"An aging dragon, feeling its life nearing an end, condenses all its energy onto the Nirvana and sheds the Dragon Scale, the energy it contains is higher and purer, thus forming some Dragon Crystal powder, indicating the crystallization of energy."
The last crystallization of an aging Dragon-Type Pokémon...
Natsuhiko lightly stroked the rugged yet firm scale in his hand, his complex expression revealed his sentiment.
"When the Dusk Dragon doesn't die of old age..."
A truly powerful dragon, sensing the nearing end of its life, with a champion's perspective, possibly won't wait to die quietly?
Rather, it ends its life actively, leaving behind something for its descendants, embodying the pride of Dragon-Type Pokémon.
Moreover, before death, it might engage in a slaughter, leaving behind a legacy and clearing dangers for the descendants.
Dragapult glanced at Natsuhiko surprisingly upon hearing him.
And nodded empathetically.
A dragon that doesn't die of old age!
This is the pride of purebred Dragon-Type Pokémon.
"That's the fossil of a Dreepy, right?" Natsuhiko redirected the conversation back to the venue.
Following a period of awkward silence, just when the auctioneer thought it might fail to sell, someone finally placed a bid.
Taking a gamble.
What if it's genuine?
And once one person placed a bid, others started following suit gradually, albeit most conservatively, harbouring a similar mindset of trying to catch a bargain.
Like this, with the bidding price slowly ascending, the price of this fossil finally reached 1,200,000.
But the intervals between bids had grown quite large.
"Baluya..." Dragapult, full of sorrow, nodded along.
Seeing its kin's fossil, the feeling was something even Natsuhiko couldn't fathom.
It probably felt terrible.
Especially since Dragapult inherently showed special care for the young Dreepy within its tribe.
Compared to a Kangaskhan, with an empty pouch on its belly now devoid of the Little Bag Beast, both the body and spirit feeling empty, yet seeing a fossil of a Kangaskhan was akin to pouring salt on a wound, hurting deeply.
Seeing its state, Natsuhiko silently sighed.
It truly seems necessary to refill the empty chamber for it.
With this thought, his speed inputting the bid didn't slow.
Before the auctioneer hammered down, he entered a bid.
1,250,000!
This time everyone was very conservative, there wasn't a need for Natsuhiko to appear overly eager and determined.
But his previous "crazy" bidding for the Dragon Scale left quite a deep impression.
As soon as he placed a bid, many instantly abandoned the idea of catching a bargain.
The person inside that box was a madman, inputting figures as if it's not about throwing money, with him around, there's basically no way to think about catching a bargain.
And so.
Even Natsuhiko himself hadn't expected, that upon quoting a price, everyone else simply gave up.
He acquired the Dreepy fossil for 1,250,000.
But frankly.
This fossil was truly just to console Dragapult, with it not having real actual worth.
Unless the fossil is revived using special equipment.
Revival...
Upon thinking this, Natsuhiko suddenly shivered.
He remembered that the neighboring Steel City (Blackgold City) Rock Dojo Leader Piaotai seemingly had an Ancient Pokémon revived Skull Dragon.
But unsure whether such an apparatus has been developed yet.
Because as Natsuhiko remembered, seemingly when Master Ash visited, this apparatus was said to have not been developed for a long time.
But still, isn't this also a possibility?
Natsuhiko conveyed what he knew along with the attempted plans to Dragapult.
Dragapult's eyes lit up immediately, its entire mental state dramatically restored.
It's possible to revive?!