Noibat, like Zubat, is a bat-like Pokémon. Another in this category is Woobat, and their signature move is the annoying Supersonic.
Noibat resembles a purple bat with bat-like wings and sensitive ears. However, it has some reptilian traits, with ears larger than its head, layered in structure, and distinctive patterns around its eyes. It's highly sensitive to sound, being a soundwave-based Pokémon.
In the games, Noibat has the lowest base stat total of any Dragon-type Pokémon, at just 245. Its evolved form, Noivern, isn't particularly strong in-game either.
Even so, Xia Yu was thrilled with his first Pokémon. Reality isn't like the games, where everyone has a full Pokédex or a shiny Rayquaza from an event. In this world, Legendary Pokémon are rare, and even pseudo-Legendaries are scarce. Getting a Dragon-type like Noibat was already a great start.
"Little Yu, take good care of that egg," Xia Luo said when they got home. "It doesn't look like a Zubat egg, but I can't tell what it is. We'll know once it hatches. I'm on break for a few days, so I can have Volcarona help with incubation."
Xia Luo's words dripped with affection. Volcarona's Flame Body ability was perfect for speeding up egg hatching. Lending his ace Pokémon to Xia Yu showed just how much he doted on his brother.
"Thanks, Bro," Xia Yu said, carrying the egg to the family's incubator. He gently placed it inside, smiling at the purple patterns on the shell.
"Incubating Pokémon in reality is different from the games. In games, you just walk around to hatch eggs. In reality, you need the right temperature, humidity, and, if possible, nutrient solutions to boost the Pokémon's health. If you're rich, you can use type-specific nutrient solutions."
Xia Yu stared at the egg, wondering where he could get a Dragon- and Flying-type nutrient solution for Noibat.
Regular nutrient solutions cost about 150,000 yuan per bottle, enough for a normal Pokémon to hatch.
Type-specific solutions were pricier, ranging from 750,000 to 1.5 million yuan depending on the type. Dragon-type solutions for Noibat cost 1.5 million per bottle, and Flying-type ones were 1.1 million. Even splitting the difference, it'd be 1.2 million.
The price made Xia Yu wince. 1.2 million could buy a decent starter Pokémon! Spending that much on a nutrient solution was unthinkable.
His family was well-off, but not *that* rich. Compared to true elite families, their wealth was modest. His grandfather's generation were ordinary people. It wasn't until his dad seized the chance to become Starlight City's Gym Leader that they entered the ranks of the wealthy.
"Money problems," Xia Yu grumbled. Whether in his past life or this one, money was always key. "How can I make some cash?"
He brainstormed ways to earn money. In this world, the most lucrative industries were Pokémon-related: Poké Ball manufacturing, berry cultivation, and energy cube production.
His father had contracted large swaths of forest for berry cultivation and energy cube manufacturing.
…
*Click.*
The door opened, and Xia Yu's parents, Xia Yong and Lin Xuemei, walked in.
Xia Yong, fifty-three, had graying temples but a sturdy build. Beside him was Xia Yu's mother, Lin Xuemei, a Pokémon nurse and deputy director of the city's largest Pokémon Medical Center.
Spotting Xia Yu by the incubator, Xia Yong frowned, noticing the purple egg inside. "Where'd that egg come from?"
"I got it from the wild today," Xia Yu explained. "It's my starter Pokémon."
"Yours?" Xia Yong asked, surprised. He'd tried multiple times to give Xia Yu a starter, but Xia Yu always refused. Now, he'd gone and gotten one himself. "Old Lin, check out this egg."
Lin Xuemei, beautiful in her youth, held a doctorate. Her family was full of scholars: her brother was a Pokémon researcher, and her parents were Pokémon professors—a true academic lineage.
Xia Yong marrying someone like Lin Xuemei was a stroke of luck. Their wedding had been a sensation, and Xia Yong often boasted that marrying her was his proudest achievement. Their marriage remained strong.
"Little Yu?" Lin Xuemei set down her bag, surprised. Wasn't this kid always against becoming a Pokémon Trainer?
Though curious, she didn't pry, instead encouraging him. "There's still a year until the college entrance exams. If you want to become a Trainer, it's not too late. Let me see that egg."
Lin Xuemei approached the incubator, examining the egg closely. Its purple patterns and black lines were unusual.
The egg was round and full, its shell glossy and vibrant, with thick, vivid patterns. Just from its appearance, this Pokémon's potential was high.
"Where'd you get this egg?" she asked, already forming a guess.
"From a cave in Qianlian Mountain, about 200 miles out," Xia Luo chimed in from the couch. "We ran into a strong Crobat there. This egg might be its offspring, but it doesn't look like a Zubat egg."
"It's not a Zubat egg," Lin Xuemei said with a smile. "It's a Noibat egg. You guys got lucky—this is a rare Dragon-type Pokémon. Dragon-types are already scarce, and this Noibat's potential should be solid."
"Noibat's evolved form, Noivern, is a strong Dragon-type, especially in darkness or at night. Noivern is aggressive and hot-blooded but becomes friendly if fed ripe fruit it likes. In the dark, even Hydreigon fears it and avoids fighting until nightfall. It's ferocious, ruthless, and unbeatable in dark battles."
"Old Xia, grab that nutrient solution. This is our son's first Pokémon—we've got to give it a strong start."
…