The meeting with Ningguang had gone better than expected. The Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing had been cautiously intrigued by Pokémon, especially after witnessing a brief demonstration from Blaziken. While she had established strict regulations—including mandatory registration of all Pokémon sold within Liyue Harbor and regular reports on trainer activities—she ultimately gave her official approval for The Pokémon House to continue operations.
Shinzō returned to his shop late in the afternoon, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he hung the official business permit on the wall. Desert Tyrant growled approvingly from beside him, its rocky scales gleaming in the golden light streaming through the windows.
"Phase one complete," Shinzō said, patting the Tyranitar's armored head. "Now for phase two—setting up proper habitats for our future residents."
The back room of The Pokémon House contained an ornate circular archway that had remained dormant since Shinzō's arrival in Teyvat. Made of a strange metal that seemed to shift colors in different lighting, the archway bore intricate etchings of various Pokémon species around its rim. At its center was a currently inactive portal that, according to the system, would lead to specialized habitats for the shop's Pokémon.
Shinzō approached the archway, placing his palm against a small rectangular panel on its side. The system's interface appeared before his eyes.
Portal Habitat Feature: Status - InactiveActivation requirements: 5 successful Pokémon transactionsCurrent progress: 5/5 completedReady for activation
"Perfect timing," Shinzō murmured. With Xiangling's purchase of Growlithe, they had just reached the required milestone.
He pressed his palm more firmly against the panel, and the system responded immediately:
Initiating Habitat Expansion ProtocolPlease stand clear of the portal during initialization
The archway began to hum, a low vibration that filled the room. Streams of light—red, blue, green, yellow, and more—began to flow along the etchings, illuminating each Pokémon design in sequence. The empty space within the arch shimmered and then rippled like water, gradually transitioning into a swirling vortex of prismatic energy.
Blaziken stepped closer, its eyes reflecting the colorful light show with keen interest. Desert Tyrant remained more cautious, positioning itself slightly between Shinzō and the portal as a protective measure.
Habitat Expansion Protocol completeBasic habitats established:- Grassland- Forest- Mountain- Lake- BeachInitial Pokémon population seeding commencing
The portal stabilized, revealing what appeared to be a lush meadow extending into the distance. Shinzō took a deep breath, nodded to his Pokémon companions, and stepped through.
The sensation was unlike any teleportation he had experienced in Teyvat. Rather than the instant displacement of waypoints, this felt more like walking through a curtain of warm water, a brief moment of resistance before emerging on the other side.
What greeted him took his breath away.
Stretching before him was not just a meadow but an entire landscape that seemed to defy the laws of space. To his left, rolling grasslands extended toward a distant forest of towering trees. To his right, rocky formations rose steadily into an impressive mountain range. Behind him, beyond the portal through which he had entered, a pristine lake glittered in the sunlight, its shores gradually transitioning into a sandy beach.
"It's bigger on the inside," Shinzō whispered, turning slowly to take in the impossible geography. "Much, much bigger."
Blaziken leapt forward with an excited cry, flames briefly erupting from its wrists as it tested the solidity of this new world. Desert Tyrant followed more cautiously, sniffing the air and growling softly as it analyzed their surroundings.
The system chimed in his mind:
Welcome to the Habitat Expansion. This space exists in a pocket dimension connected to your shop. Current size: 5 square kilometers. Will expand as shop levels increase. Basic habitats have been established to accommodate various Pokémon types.
Initial population seeding has begun. Common Pokémon appropriate to each habitat will appear over the next 24 hours.
As if on cue, movement caught Shinzō's eye. A small group of Pidgey had appeared near a cluster of trees at the meadow's edge, chirping curiously as they explored their new environment. In the distance, he could see Rattata scurrying through tall grass, and the unmistakable silhouettes of Sentret standing on their tails to survey the area.
"The perfect place to raise healthy Pokémon," Shinzō remarked, already mentally mapping out where additional features might be placed. "And speaking of raising Pokémon..."
He pulled out his communication device—a system-provided tool that resembled a Pokégear but had been adapted to function with Teyvat's technologies. He sent a quick message to Xiangling:
Your Growlithe's habitat is ready. Visit when convenient for proper care instructions. -Shinzō
The response came faster than expected. Barely an hour after Shinzō had begun cataloging the newly appeared wild Pokémon, the shop's bell chimed. He stepped back through the portal to find an excited Xiangling bouncing on her heels, Growlithe yipping happily beside her.
"Manager Shinzō! Growlithe and I came as soon as we finished the lunch service!" Xiangling exclaimed, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Is it true you have a special place for Pokémon? Growlithe has been wonderful at the restaurant, but our living quarters are rather small, and I want to make sure it has space to run around when we're not working."
Shinzō smiled at her enthusiasm. "Indeed I do. And it's the perfect opportunity to show you how to properly care for a Fire-type." He gestured toward the portal. "This way, please."
Xiangling's jaw dropped as she stepped through the portal, her Growlithe rushing ahead with excited barks as it sensed the open space. "By Morax's spear! This is... this is incredible! How is this possible?"
"Pokémon technology," Shinzō answered simply, watching as Growlithe rolled joyfully in the grass. "The same principles that allow Pokéballs to work enable this space to exist."
He led her toward the mountainous region where several heat-loving Pokémon had already begun to gather. Small groups of Geodude basked on sun-warmed rocks, while a pair of Ponyta grazed on specialized heat-resistant grasses that grew in patches near a dormant volcanic area.
"Fire types like Growlithe thrive in warmer environments," Shinzō explained as they walked. "They need regular exercise to burn excess energy—something your restaurant work helps with—but they also need time to play with other Pokémon."
Growlithe seemed to prove his point by bounding toward the Ponyta, barking playfully. The horse Pokémon initially startled, their fiery manes flaring, but soon relaxed as Growlithe showed no aggression. Within minutes, they were engaged in what appeared to be a game of chase, racing around a circular path worn into the ground.
"They're making friends already!" Xiangling clapped her hands in delight.
"Social interaction is crucial for most Pokémon species," Shinzō confirmed. "When you can't bring Growlithe to work or need to attend to other matters, you can leave it here. The habitat is perfectly safe, monitored by the system, and provides all the necessary elements for healthy development."
He continued the tour, showing Xiangling the various feeding stations positioned throughout the habitats, the clear streams of fresh water, and the sheltered resting areas where Pokémon could sleep protected from the elements.
"I've prepared a care package for you," Shinzō said, handing her a small bag emblazoned with the shop's logo. "Specialized Pokémon food formulated for Fire types, grooming tools designed to handle Growlithe's fur without getting singed, and a training manual focused on channeling and controlling fire abilities."
Xiangling accepted the package gratefully, then watched as her Growlithe returned to them, panting happily after its run with the Ponyta. "What about evolution? You mentioned that Growlithe can become something called Arcanine?"
"Indeed." Shinzō gestured to a display on his system device, showing an image of the majestic Arcanine. "Growlithe evolves when exposed to a Fire Stone. I don't have any available yet, but the system will eventually provide them through reward chests. When that happens, you'll have the option to evolve your partner—though the choice should be carefully considered. Arcanine is significantly larger and more powerful."
Xiangling knelt beside her Growlithe, scratching behind its ears as she considered this. "We'll make that decision together when the time comes, won't we, Growlithe?" The fire puppy yipped in agreement, licking her hand.
As they continued exploring the habitat, more common Pokémon appeared throughout the different biomes. Magikarp splashed in the lake, Caterpie inched along tree branches in the forest, and Sandshrew burrowed into the sandy areas near the beach.
"The population will increase gradually," Shinzō explained. "The system introduces species compatible with each environment at a controlled pace to maintain ecological balance."
Xiangling nodded thoughtfully, her chef's mind already working. "The possibilities are endless! Just imagine—different environments producing different varieties of Pokémon, each with unique flavors and textures—"
"Xiangling," Shinzō interrupted firmly, though not unkindly. "Remember our agreement. Pokémon are partners, not ingredients."
She laughed nervously, waving her hands. "Of course, of course! I meant for research only! Observing how they interact with different Teyvat ingredients could inspire new dishes using traditional components."
Shinzō raised an eyebrow but nodded, accepting her clarification. They spent another hour in the habitat, with Shinzō demonstrating basic training techniques while Xiangling took detailed notes. By the time they returned to the shop, Growlithe had mastered a controlled Ember attack that could precisely heat a cooking surface without scorching it.
"Incredible," Xiangling marveled as they stepped back through the portal into the shop. "With training like this, Growlithe will become the perfect kitchen assistant. Thank you, Manager Shinzō!"
After Xiangling and Growlithe departed, Shinzō checked his appointment book for the next day. Every slot was filled, with notes indicating several prominent Liyue citizens among the prospective customers.
"The word is spreading faster than expected," he told Blaziken, who nodded sagely as it helped arrange display items for the morning rush. "Soon we'll need to think about expanding to other regions of Teyvat."
Desert Tyrant growled from its position by the window, yellow eyes fixed on something in the distance. Following its gaze, Shinzō noticed a figure in a distinctive mask watching the shop from across the street—a Fatui Scout, no doubt reporting back to his superiors about the strange new business in Liyue Harbor.
"Looks like we've attracted attention beyond just potential customers," Shinzō murmured. "We'll need to stay vigilant, my friend."
As night fell over Liyue Harbor, the portal to the habitat remained active, its gentle glow illuminating the back room of The Pokémon House. Through it, the sounds of Pokémon calls echoed softly—a new ecosystem taking root in Teyvat, one that would soon change the world in ways no one, not even Shinzō, could fully predict.