The diamonds weren't large—each about the size of a fingernail.
In this world, diamonds lacked slogans like "A diamond is forever," so while valuable, they weren't excessively rare. They were simply high-quality gemstones.
But fundamentally, diamonds were a type of mineral. So… could Larvitar and Aron eat them?
Aoki called the two Pokémon over.
Larvitar had grown adept at controlling its strength—its footsteps were noticeably lighter, leaving almost no imprint on the grass. It bounced toward Aoki, clutching a piece of ore in its tiny claws, nibbling it like chocolate.
Larvitar ate quickly. It had already finished the barbecue Aoki prepared, leaving only room for ore.
Aron was more composed, lumbering forward steadily.
Aoki smiled, patting their heads. Larvitar's rough, rocky scalp contrasted with Aron's smooth, metallic surface.
Both had developed well under his care.
Larvitar hadn't grown taller or heavier, but its body had darkened, gaining a denser, armor-like texture—almost like a miniature Tyranitar.
Perhaps the Groudon Armor Fragment it carried had influenced its growth.
Or maybe it was the high-grade ore, supplemented by Pokéblocks and calcium tablets, that accelerated its development.
Wild Tyranitar rarely enjoyed such luxury as hatchlings—even most trained Larvitar didn't eat this well.
Aoki's methods mirrored Steven's approach with his Aggron. Without deep pockets, this level of care was impossible.
The 10 million Pokécoin ore stockpile? Nearly gone, devoured by Larvitar.
And that wasn't even counting Aron—another bottomless pit.
Since joining Aoki, Aron's diet had improved drastically: occasional barbecued treats, daily premium ore, and specialized Pokéblocks.
Aoki had even mixed Soft Sand and Hard Stone into their Pokéblocks, enhancing their Ground- and Rock-type energy sensitivity while boosting longevity and peak performance.
Larvitar, already skilled with these energies, had grown even more proficient—thanks to the armour fragment's influence.
Aoki was pleased.
The two Pokémon waited obediently as he produced two diamonds.
Their eyes sparkled—literally.
"So you can eat these?" Aoki chuckled.
They nodded vigorously. The gems radiated more concentrated energy than any ore they'd tasted.
Larvitar snatched one, crunching it like a candy.
Aron swallowed the other whole.
CRUNCH!
Aoki winced—were Larvitar's teeth okay?
But the sound wasn't cracking enamel. It was the diamond shattering like a brittle cookie.
Aron, being part Steel-type, had no trouble either. Soon, both were munching diamonds like jelly beans.
Then they stared at Aoki, eyes pleading: More.
Aoki hadn't expected this.
He surrendered the remaining diamonds. The two devoured them, chewing faster with each bite.
A handful of gems—worth hundreds of thousands of Pokécoins—vanished in minutes.
Hic!
Larvitar and Aron patted their full bellies, finally satisfied.
Aoki blinked. Normally, they'd need pounds of ore to feel this full.
"Are diamonds that nutrient-dense?"
He sent them off to play, then pondered a terrifying question:
What if they grew up eating only diamonds?
The potential was staggering—but so was the cost.
A diamond-based diet? Even Steven would balk at the expense.
One meal = millions of Pokécoins.
Only the wealthiest trainers could afford this. For now, diamonds would remain an occasional treat.
Aoki shuddered and buried the thought.
Then he turned to Shuichi's storage pouch.
As expected of a Neverland participant, it held rare materials—some freshly gathered here.
"Stealing is truly the fastest way to earn profit," Aoki mused.
The ancients hadn't lied.