"The spaside Area Zero is massive, and the terrain is plex," Dr. Sada expined.

  "While there's an observation station down there, it only has a basic bed for resting. You'll extra clothes and enough food to st."

  She tinued with a slight smile. "The area we're stationed in is at the bottom of the crater. Although you could ride Koraidon and drop straight in from above, I wouldn't reend it."

  Naoki tilted his head curiously. "Why not?"

  "Because there are many aggressive Pokémon along the way, and they e from the same timeline as Koraidon," Dr. Sada warned. "We call them Paradox Pokémon."

  Hearing this, Naoki's heart skipped a beat.

  'Paradox Pokémon.' He thought of the names he had heard: Great Tusk, Scream Tail, R Moon, Brute Bo, and Iron Thorns.

  "Paradox Pokémon?" Naoki repeated aloud, trying to firm.

  Dr. Sada nodded. "They're Pokémon from alterimelio put it simply, some are a forms of familiar Pokémon, while others are futuristic versions of them."

  Naoki furrowed his brow in thought.

  He'd always wao visit Area Zero ahese special Pokémon with his own eyes. But until now, he'd never had the bsp;

  And now...

  'This might finally be the perfect opportunity.'

  He could barely tain his excitement at the thought of entering Paradox Pokémon. And if possible... maybe even capturing one or two!

  Because holy, they were just too cool!

  Take Slither Wing, the Paradox version of Vola—it was a giant, fluffy bug with a slightly chubby build. It looked both fierd adorable at the same time!

  Or Iron Thorns, the futuristic version of Tyranitar—a massive, metal-cd monster with both brains and brawn.

  Dr. Sada noticed the glimmer in Naoki's eyes and mistook his enthusiasm for . She smiled kindly. "The route we'll follow is the safest one. We've carefully surveyed it, and as long as you stay oh established by the observatory, you won't enter too much trouble."

  But Naoki wasn't worried about the dangers at all. He was already imagining his dream team of Paradox Pokémon.

  Suppressing his excitement, he asked, "Doctor, humans actually capture Paradox Pokémon?"

  Dr. Sada blihen smiled warmly. "Of course! As long as you subdue them, just like you did with Koraidon."

  Naoki's eyes lit up instantly.

  'That settles it—I'm going for it!'

  He wahem all: Slither Wing, Iron Thorns, Scream Tail, R Moon, Iron Bundle, and Iron Hands!

  Dr. Sada couldn't help but smile at Naoki's eagerness. Her expression softened with a touch of nostalgia. "To be ho, Naoki," she said gently, "it has always been Dr. Turo's and my dream to see Paradox Pokémon and modern Pokémo peacefully here in Paldea."

  She gazed into the distance as if picturing that future. "We hope they ie into the world, live alongside humans, and battle and travel together—just like any other Pokémon."

  "We've been w toward that dream for a long time," she added, her voice full of quiet determination.

  Hearing this, Naoki's excitement slowly settled into something deeper—an uanding of the doctors' vision.

  He realized this wasn't just about catg rare Pokémon—it was about fulfilling a dream of harmony.

  But in the back of his mind, a bittersweet thought lingered.

  'In the game's plot… this dream never came true.'

  Because the raw, primal energy from aimes is so ferocious, and the mysterious power evolved to the extreme from the distant future is so overwhelming, the existence of Paradox Pokémos a signifit danger.

  The paradox between a and future Pokémon: their immeality could disrupt and overwhelm the modern ecosystem.

  In the game's plot, after the tragic deaths of the two professors, the AI they created was forced to activate barriers around Area Zero. These barriers were meant to tain the Paradox Pokémon, preventing them from esg into the Paldea region and causing chaos.

  But even with the barriers, some Pokémon—like Great Tusk and Iron Treads—mao break through. Ohey escaped, they cimed their owories in Paldea, establishing themselves as rulers in those areas.

  After thinking it over for a moment, Naoki nodded silently. "I get it. If it be dohis really is an amazing dream."

  Dr. Sada smiled gently. "Then we'll wait here for you and Koraidon to arrive."

  After ending the call, Naoki's mind buzzed with thoughts, and he couldn't quite calm himself down.

  He thought back to a versation with Dr. Sada, when he had jokingly warned her to be cautious about b explosions.

  "If only they took that warning seriously..." Naoki muttered to himself. Maybe—just maybe—that would save the two professors from meeting their unfortue.

  'But if they survive, would they abandon their dream?'

  Naoki shook his head. He didn't have the answer.

  It felt like everything was slowly shifting in an uable dire.

  "Whatever. There'll be a way forward wheime es," Naoki thought, brushing away his worries. "With Geeta and the other champion-level traihe Paldea League has raised, things shouldn't get too out of trol."

  He exhaled, feeling lighter. After all, if something catastrophic happened, Geeta would be the oo shoulder the responsibility. Right now, Naoki only wao explore Area Zero ahe legendary Paradox Pokémon for himself.

  Humming a little tune, he pulled out the taumber Geeta had given him and dialed her.

  He wasn't ied in rewards from the League—he had enough money, and Pokémon eggs dide him much either. What truly excited him was the idea of catg a Paradox Pokémon.

  When the call ected, Naoki kept things simple. After exging greetings, he got straight to the point.

  "I want to visit Area Zero," he expined. "Dr. Sada mentiohey o do a physical check-up on Koraidon, but she said I'd need approval from the Paldea League to ehe crater."

  Geeta, to Naoki's surprise, was easier to talk to than he had expected.

  She listened quietly, then responded in her usual calm tohe interior of Area Zero is extremely dangerous. Without the strength of a champion-level trainer, it's nearly impossible to navigate safely. Are you prepared for that?"

  Naoki smiled to himself, grateful for the way Geeta seemed to overestimate him.

  "Of course," he said fidently, though a pyful grin tugged at his lips. 'This 'champion-level' assumption will work in my favor.'

  Once he brought enough restorative items and food, he felt sure he could handle whatever Area Zero threw at him. With Koraidon by his side and some thoughtful preparation, he would be ready for anything.

  "Alright," Geeta nodded. "I'll submit the application to the Paldea League. It might take some time, but I'll tact you as soon as I get a response."

  "Thanks for your help," Naoki replied with a grateful smile.

  Geeta grinned mischievously. "You know, I'd be even happier if you decided to join the Paldea League. We could use trainers like you."

  Naoki: "…"

  After ending the call, Naoki stepped out of the living room and wao the eaves outside. Just as he expected, Koraidon y sprawled across the sunlit grass, basking zily in the warmth.

  The moment Koraidon picked up Naoki's st, it opened one curious eye and tilted its head. "Raao?"

  "Koraidon!" Naoki called, croug down beside it. He reached out and gave the Pokémon a pyful rub along its jaw. "Have you ever seen any Pokémon like you down there in Area Zero?"

  Koraidon gave a puzzled blink, so Naoki eborated, "I mean, Pokémon that might look like a huge elephant with giant tusks or another ohat crawls around with massive wings that look like they're made of fire."

  At first, Koraidon seemed fused. But as Naoki's description sank in, a spark nition flickered across the Pokémon's face.

  "Ah gah!" Koraidon chirped enthusiastically, nodding.

  Naoki grinned. "So, are they strong? Aggressive?"

  Koraidon sched its fa deep thought for a moment, its tongue peeking out as if really trating. Then, it puffed out its chest proudly and excimed, "Raao!"

  It wasirely sure if the other Pokémon had fierce personalities—but ohing was certain: 'none of them were as strong as it!'