A few hours ter, Naoki finally pced the axe down, wiping his brow with a satisfied sigh. Every log in the firewood pile had beely chopped, and the ranow had enough wood to st for weeks.

  Feeling the tension in his muscles ease, Naoki headed back to his room for a shower. The warm water casg over him washed away the dirt and fatigue, leaving him refreshed and energized.

  "That Life Goat Milk is no joke," he muttered, drying off with a towel. "It's definitely not something the average person handle in rge quantities."

  The milk's effects were undeniably potent—a remarkable tonic for boosting energy and vitality—but Naoki knew he'd o be more cautious moving forward. Drinking aire bottle in one go had been reckless. Perhaps smaller, more trolled portions would provide the bes without the overwhelming surge of energy. Coupled with regur exercise to burn off the excess nutrients, it could bee an incredible regimen for long-term health and vitality.

  As Naoki mused over this idea, a voice rang out from outside the house. Curious, he quickly dressed and stepped out to see a short-haired girl in a Uva Academy uniform standing by the ranch gate, a backpack slung over her shoulders.

  Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Hello! I'm a student from Uva Academy. Could you tell me how to get to the Shrine of Plenty?"

  Naoki blinked in surprise. A trainer already? It seemed the news ce of Calyrex had been incredibly effective.

  He pointed down the main path leading away from the ranch. "Just follow this road straight ahead. At the end, you'll find a mountain trail that leads to the shrine."

  The girl csped her hands together in gratitude. "Thank you so much!"

  Without another word, she turned and jogged off in the dire he'd indicated, her backpack boung as she disappeared dowh.

  Naoki watched her go, deep in thought. This girl wouldn't be the first, and she certainly wouldn't be the st. The legend of the King of Bountiful Harvests was already drawing traio the region, eager to learn more aheir mettle.

  This could only meahing—the Lightning Trial and Storm Trial he'd envisioned were finally ready to be put into motion.

  Determined, Naoki called over Pawmot and Dragohe two Pokémon hurried to his side, their eyes bright with curiosity.

  "Do you remember the Lightning Trial and Storm Trial we talked about?" Naoki asked, croug down to their level.

  "Pamo!" Pawmot chirped, nodding eagerly.

  "Awoo!" Dragonite responded with a rumbling cry, its wings fluttering iement.

  Naoki smiled. "Good. These trials are desigo make you strorohan you've ever been before."

  Both Pokémon's eyes sparkled with determination.

  "Great," Naoki said, standing up. "Let's go over the trial details together so repare."

  He turonite, who bli him expetly, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

  Dragonite blinked, looking expet: "Awoo?"

  "The trial you're in charge of is called the Storm Trial," Naoki expionite. "As the name suggests, yoal is to unleash the most powerful storm you muster to challenge your oppo."

  He began outlining the strategy. "Start with Rain Dao set the field. Follow it up with Hurrie for devastating storm ce. Depending ouation, you mix in other moves like Thuhunderbolt, e for added offense."

  Naoki's tone became serious as he tinued. "But remember, the goal isn't to defeat your oppo ht. The purpose of this trial is to gain valuable experiereat your oppos as sparring partest your moves, learn how to adapt in real battles, and grow strohrough real bat. Do you uand?"

  "Awoo!" Dragonite responded enthusiastically, nodding with vigor.

  Naoki couldn't help but smile. Ever since Dragoe the Buns st time, it had been itg to test its newfound strength. The annouhat challengers would soon arrive clearly excited the Pokémon.

  Fpping its wings in anticipation, Dragonite created a sudden, powerful gust of wind that rustled the grass and shook nearby trees.

  Naoki blinked in surprise, marveling at the dispy. "It seems your patibility with the Storm Bun is eveer than I expected," he mused.

  With Dragonite ready, Naoki turned his attention to Pawmot, who stood clutg its miniature hammer, its expression filled with determination.

  Before Naoki could say anything, Pawmot began swinging the hammer in its paw. As the hammer twirled, bright arcs of lightning crackled around it, sending sparks dang through the air.

  "Pamo!" Pawmot excimed, its eyes shining with resolve.

  It wants to bee stronger and bee a powerful Pokémon, and thehis power to punish evil and promote good, like the Pokémon hor, and bee a real superhero!

  Naoki chuckled, impressed by its enthusiasm. "It seems like you're already raring to go. I don't eveo expin—your mastery of that hammer speaks for itself."

  "Pamo!" Pawmot cheered, sparks of excitement crag around it.

  Naoki nodded with satisfa. Everything was falling into pow, all that remained was to wait for the challeo arrive at the ranch.

  ---

  February 6, Alliance dar, Year 199

  That m, Naoki received a letter from the Elif Cherry Orchard. The invitatiohat this year's Cherry Blossom Festival would soon take pd enced Naoki t his Pokémon along for the festivities.

  'Cherry Blossom Festival.'

  The memory brought a smile to Naoki's face as he recalled attending st year's event. It erfect opportunity to bond with Pokémon and friends while enjoying the serey of blooming cherry blossoms. This year, the Indeedee siblings who had since joihe ranch would finally have a ce to experie too.

  But as always, pns could ge.

  That afternoon, Naoki received a call from Area Zero Researstitute. Answering, he was greeted by the image of Professor Sada, eared unusually animated.

  "Professor?" Naoki blinked in surprise. "What's going on?"

  Professor Sada, visibly excited, nodded eagerly. "Naoki, remember the discussion we had about identifying Paradox Pokémon that could ie well with human enviros?"

  Naoki nodded slowly. "Yes… What about it?"

  Professor Sada's expressihtened. "Well, the search has paid off! We've made a remarkable discovery!"

  "What kind of Paradox Pokémon?" Naoki asked, intrigued.

  Sada leaned closer to the s, her voice practically bursting with enthusiasm. "We've firmed the presence of Flutter Mane in Area Zero. It's an a Pokémon, much like Koraidon, recorded in the Scarlet Tome!"

  Naoki's eyes widened. "Flutter Mane?"

  He had not expected that the Pokémon iion would be Flutter Mane, a creature often described iness ats as fiercely aggressive and highly bative.

  "That's right," Professor Sada firmed, nodding as she began expining Flutter Mane's unique circumstances. "Not long ago, we used the time mae t it from aimes into our era."

  "At first," she tinued, "both Dr. Turo and I assumed it would immediately attack us, given the ats of its violent nature. But to our surprise, it didn't. Instead, it stayed hidden in the shadows, us as if trying to uand ere."

  Naoki listened ily, intrigued.

  "Not only that," Sada added with a chuckle, "it also mao sneak into the cafeteria ste and steal a signifit amount of food supplies. But there's more—something truly fasating."

  Naoki leaned forward, curious. "What did you discover?"

  Sada's expression turned serious yet excited. "We noticed that Flutter Mane shoeculiar i in a photograph taken at the Area Zero Researstitute—the ouring you and Koraidon."

  Naoki blinked in surprise. "The photo of me and Koraidon?"

  Sada nodded. "Yes. That behavior led Dr. Turo ao form a rather bold hypothesis: could Flutter Mane and Koraidon have known each other in the a past?"

  Naoki's mind raced. The idea that these two Paradox Pokémon might share a history was both thrilling and mysterious.

  "Because of this," Sada tinued, "we'd like to invite you and Koraidon to the Area Zero Researstitute. We believe that bringing Koraidon face-to-face with Flutter Mane could help us verify this theory."

  Naoki nodded slowly, already sidering the implications. "And if they dnize each other?"

  Sada smiled. "If that's the case, we think Koraidon could be instrumental in taming Flutter Ma may help the Pokémon feel more fortable and secure."

  "And bringing Flutter Mane back to the ranch…?"

  "Absolutely," Sada firmed. "If their bond is real, the ranch could bee the perfect sanctuary for Flutter Mane."

  "I'll hahe formalities with Geeta. You don't o worry about that part. Just focus on ing to the institute and bringing Koraidon with you."