"I see," Geeta nodded in uanding.

  Though the Paldea League khat Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo were dug research at Area Zero, they were only aware of the broader details, not every aspect of the experiments.

  Retly, Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo had developed Terastallization, which added a fasating dynamic to Pokémon battles. The Paldea League romotiallization across the region, starting with the gym leaders stationed in various cities.

  As Geeta observed Koraidon, her mind wandered back to the se onite summoning a rainstorm and the Gogoats spreading the Grassy Terrain across the mountain forest.

  Her curiosity about this ranch grew deeper.

  "If it's not too much trouble, could I see the three Gogoats?" Geeta asked.

  "Of course," Naoki replied with a warm smile. "This lease!"

  As they walked, Geeta took in the well-kept surroundings. The fertile fields aly mowed grass were clear signs of meticulous care. Pokémon roamed freely, enjoying their time in the pasture.

  Geeta quietly observed the Pokémoally noting their names.

  "G, Naclstack, Butterfree, bee, Miltank..."

  Naoki, notig her i, slowed his pad began expining, "Most of these Pokémon have gathered here over time. Naclstack produce rock salt. The bee colleectar to make sweet honey, and the Miltank provides us with fresh, deliilk."

  Geeta, intrigued, houghtfully. "I see. So, the ranot only nurtures Pokémon but also tributes to the region's food supply."

  She reflected on how other ranches across Paldea pyed a crucial role in supp local unities with their produd milk.

  Just as Geeta was about to say something, a fsh of red caught her attention.

  To her surprise, Pawmot, wearing a little red cape, flew toward Naoki, holding a mud-streaked egg.

  Startled, Geeta blinked. "Did... did that Pawmot just fly?"

  It had raihe previous day, and one of the hens had id an egg outside, now covered in mud. Pawmot had discovered it during his patrol around the chi coop and proudly prese to Naoki.

  "Pawmot!"

  Naoki smiled knowingly. "I see, you found an egg. Why don't you take it to Indeedee? I'll make you an egg cake ter."

  "Pawmot~!"

  At the mention of egg cake, Pawmhtened up, joyfully taking the egg and flying off.

  As Pawmot disappeared into the house, Geeta's gaze followed him in amazement.

  "That Pawmot... is it really your Pokémon?" she asked curiously.

  Naoki chuckled. "Yes, it is."

  "And how did you mao teach it to fly?"

  Naoki scratched his head, momentarily unsure how to respond. Finally, he looked at her with siy and said, "Would you believe me if I told you it has a special talent?"

  Geeta blinked before smiling, clearly amused. "A secret talent, huh? I'll respect that. Let's move on. I'd love to meet those Gogoats."

  Relieved, Naoki couldn't help but admire Geeta's tad emotional intelligence.

  Naoki guided Geeta toward the sheepfold.

  At the moment, the Gogoats were gathered around the feeding trough, eagerly mung on the grass balls inside.

  Geeta looked at the three sturdy Gogoats, nodding approvingly. "You've raised them well."

  Naoki, gng at the goats, thought to himself: 'That's because they burn all that energy from eating so many green grass dumplings.'

  Geeta chuckled lightly. "Joy mentiohese Gogoats had so muergy that they had to release it every m by running around the pasture. Is that right?"

  Naoki nodded. "Yes. Every day, like clockwork, they'd hop and prance around. I got a little worried, so I called Miss Joy to che them."

  Geeta's eyes sparkled with amusement. "So, they were doing dis the grass?"

  The image of Gogoats dang in synized joy made her ugh softly.

  Naoki grinned. "Pretty much! Miss Joy ran a full checkup, but it turned out there was nothing wrong. They just had too muergy. That's also why they eat and sleep o—burn energy, recharge, and then do it all again."

  "But back then, I didn't have a proper solution to handle all that energy. So I came up with the idea of a battle event—the Green Grass Trial—right here at the ranch. It gave them a way to burn energy while challenging passing trainers."

  Geeta leaned in slightly, intrigued. "What happened after you started the trial?"

  Naoki smiled as he tinued, "Eventually, I found a better way. Instead of just battles, I let the Gogoats el their energy into maintaining the crops on the pasture. Their grassy aura helps the pnts grow strong ahy. It worked out perfectly—a win-win for everyone."

  Geeta nodded, impressed. The memory of the vibrant green fields from the previous day fshed in her mind—fields that stretched across the mountains like a rolling sea of lush grass, every bde swayily in the wind.

  "A trial on top of that? Sounds amazing," Geeta mused, picturing the Gogoats in a against trainers.

  " you tell me more about this Green Grass Trial?" she asked, curious.

  Naoki hesitated for a moment, w about her iions.

  Sensing his hesitatioa gave a reassuring smile. "I'm just curious to see what kind of challe is."

  After a brief pause, Naoki relented and expined. "The trial is divided into three rounds. In the first round, trainers face off against a single Gogoat. If they pass, they move to the sed round, where they take on two Gogoats at ohe third and final round pits them against all three Gogoats at the same time."

  "And if a trainer clears all three rounds," Naoki added with a pyful grin, "I prepare them a special meal—a reward straight from the ranch's kit."

  Geeta's eyes sparkled with geerest. "I'd love to try it."

  Naoki sighed, feeling a bit flustered. "Alright, let's give it a try."

  At this point, Geeta, now ag as the chief Champion of Paldea seemed less formal and more rexed than her usual posed demeanor. Both her personality and appearance were still evolving, showing glimpses of her more refined self seen in official battles.

  To prepare, Naoki called over three of his Gogoats. He also asked the Indeedees t some snacks to help restore the Pokémon's energy after the matd then led Geeta toward the ranch's modest training field.

  With a swift motioa took a Poké Ball from her belt. A burst of white light revealed a sturdy Gogoat, standing proudly before her.

  "This is my Gogoat," Geeta decred. "I've raised it myself. Let's see how it stacks up against yours!"

  Naoki blinked, slightly overwhelmed. "Wait, wait, hold on a sed!"

  Geeta arched an eyebrow. "What's the problem?"

  Naoki poioat and asked, "Does it have the Sap Sipper ability? If so, this might not be the kind of battle we should have."

  Both trainers khe ability. Sap Sipper allookémon to absrass-type moves, boosting its attack without taking any damage. If both Gogoats shared this trait, the battle could bee less of a duel and more of a edy routine—like they'd wandered into a dance css instead of a battlefield.

  Geeta paused for a moment and nodded in realization. "You're right. That was an ht on my part. Let me switon."

  She returned her Gogoat to its Poké Ball and pulled out another. Naoki watched with curiosity, w okémon she might summo.

  The white light burst forth, revealing a formidable-looking Kingambit—a Steel- and Dark-type Pokémon known for its warrior-like demeanor, evolved from Bisharp. Its pierg gaze exuded fidend authority, fitting for a Pokémo to lead.

  Geeta smirked. "Kingambit is eager to test yoat. Are you ready?"

  Naoki nodded, signaling one of his Gogoats to step forward. The two remaining Gogoats stood off to the side, calmly the situation, as if they'd been through simir trials before.

  Geeta hesitated, gng at Naoki with slight fusion. "Aren't you going to issue any ands?"

  Naoki shrugged casually. "Nah, my Gogoats know what to do. They hahis on their own."

  Geeta blinked. "That's... not quite the battle I was expeg."

  Geeta took a step back, she gave a pyful grin. "Fet it. If yoat doesn't need any ands, then I won't give any orders to Kingambit either. Fair is fair!"

  She narrowed her eyes, studying Naoki with intrigue. 'Let's see what kind of talent you've got.'

  "Kingambit, fight on your own!"

  Kingambit gave a solemn nod, shifting into a battle stas long bdes gleamed uhe sunlight, fully focused on the Gogoat standing before it.

  The battle begins.

  Gogoat charged forward, majestic green energy swirlih its hooves as it summoned a vibrant Grassy Terrain. The lush grass spread rapidly across the field, rest Gogoat's stamina and filling the air with the st of fresh greenery.

  Suddenly, thick, serpentine vines burst from Gogoat's body—this wasn't just any Vine Whip. The tendrils were massive, like the coiled roots of arees, shing through the air toward Kingambit with overwhelming force.

  Geeta's sharp instincts kicked in. "That's no ordinary Vine Whip. You 't treat this Gogoat like just any Pokémon!"

  Kingambit remained calm and posed, assessing the oning attack with icy precision. Its bdes glinted brightly as it swiftly raised its arm.

  Ssh!

  With one fluid motion, Kingambit's bde cleaved through the thick vine, cutting it in two. The severed halves thudded to the ground, scattering dust into the air.

  her side yielded the upper hand.

  More massive vines whipped toward Kingambit, slig through the air like coiled serpents. But Kingambit, unmoved, leaped forward, cutting through the onsught with swift, calcuted sshes.

  Each of Kingambit's strikes recise and elegant, like a knight wielding its sword in perfect harmony. The viried to twist and ens, but the sharp glint of Kingambit's bdes carved them apart effortlessly.

  For a brief moment, Gogoat hesitated, startled by the relentless precision of Kingambit's terattacks.

  Seizing the opportunity, Kingambit surged forward, breaking through the wall of vines. Its bde-like arm shimmered in the sunlight as it swung downward in a decisive ssh.

  Gogoat staggered, ko the ground by the powerful blow.

  Naoki ched his fists, worry flickering across his face. "Gogoat is strong, but Kingambit has far more battle experiehis isn't going to be easy."

  Kingambit stood still, its cold gaze locked on Gogoat, as if waiting for the battle to end.

  "We're going to lose…" Naoki murmured, feeling a sense of dread creeping in. "Is this the end of the Green Grass Trial?"

  Just as hope seemed to wane, somethiraordinary began to unfold.

  The Grassy Terrain pulsed with renewed energy, flowing into Gogoat like a river of life. Kingambit's gaze shifted sharply, sensing the sudden ge in the air.

  The vibrant grass field shimmered, sending waves of healing energy into Gogoat. Slowly, the Pokémon rose to its feet, glowing with newfound vigor. Its curved horns sparkled with energy, growing sharper and more radiant with power.

  "Mea!"

  Gogoat lowered its body slightly, then propelled forward like an arrow released from a bow. In a fsh of white light, it closed the distan an instant.

  At some point during its charge, a massive bde of grass glowing with emerald energy appeared in its mouth.

  Before anyone could react, the shimmering leaf bde struck Kingambit squarely.

  The impact was so powerful that Kingambit's sturdy form was unched backward, sending it tumbling through the air. The blow caused it to involuntarily release a pained grunt, and a faint gurgling sound escaped its throat.

  For a brief moment, everything seemed to stand still.

  Naoki, stunned, quickly snapped back to reality.

  It was the same bination: closing the gap with Aerial Absp;and striking with the grass bde at the perfeent!

  'Could it be... the Gogoat had actually taken down a champion-level Pokémon?'

  The thought struaoki, leaving him speechless.

  He wasn't the only one in disbelief. Geeta stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock. The situation had ged in an instant, and Kingambit—one of her most reliable Pokémon—had fallen.

  Her gaze fixated on the Gogoat, repying the se of its swift and precise attack, the enormous bde of grass slig through with such elegand force.

  "What kind of move is that?"

  A question mark appeared oa's head.