《Pokémon: Farm Story》 Chapter 1: Starting My Life as a Farmer On a sunlit country road, an aged bus trundled slowly along the dusty path. In the nearby fields, curious Poochyenas occasionally poked their heads out, their twitching noses catching unfamiliar scents in the air, their attention drawn to this creaky, ancient bus that seemed to have traveled this road for decades. Overhead, Pidgeys spread their wings wide, basking in the sunlight. The villagers working in the fields, noticing the Poochyenas'' behavior, briefly glanced at the bus. However, they quickly lost interest, as if a passing stranger was hardly worth their attention. Maybe a newcomer had arrived, but he didnt have the time to care about such things now. With the harvest season in full swing, his focus was entirely on the crops. If there really were outsiders, news would spread quickly in this small town. After all, nothing much ever happened here. Inside the bus, a boy named Natsume gazed silently out the window, watching the scenery pass by. If everything went as expected, this small town would be where hed spend the next several years of his life. A few months ago, Natsume unexpectedly learned that he had inherited a farm from an uncle hed barely met. For Natsume, who had lived in this world for 18 years, it was a startling turn of events. His previous life as an overworked corporate drone was one thing, but even in this life, his family situation could hardly be called harmonious. If anything, he was practically alone in the world. An engineer father and a breeder mother had tragically passed away during their honeymoon, leaving Natsume to fend for himself. This kind of backstory would make him a top-tier antihero in any dystopian universe. Weve arrived, came the creaking voice of the elderly driver as the bus screeched to a stop at a crossroads. Disembarking, Natsume looked around in slight bewilderment, clutching an incubator holding a Pokmon egg while a crossbody bag hung over his shoulder. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He seemed completely out of place amidst the rustic scenery. Just as Natsume was about to take out his phone, an elderly yet energetic voice called out: Are you Natsume? Turning around, Natsume saw a lively old man with white hair standing at the crossroads. Yes, thats me. And you are? The old man, accompanied by a Mr. Mime, smiled warmly and replied, Im the mayor of this town. Your farm isnt far from here. Ill take you there. After pulling out his phone and comparing Natsumes appearance to a photo, the mayor confirmed his identity with a cheerful grin. Natsume quickly stepped forward. Thank you so much for the trouble. Its no trouble at all, the mayor waved dismissively, his friendly smile never faltering. Ive heard a bit about your situation. Youve been through a lot, havent you? Dont hesitate to reach out if you need anything. Though the farms been abandoned for a while, it should still be livable. The mayor chatted nonstop as they walked, his Mr. Mime occasionally chiming in with expressive gestures. Maybe it was just a trait of the elderlyonce they started talking, their desire to share stories became unstoppable. Whether it stemmed from years of experience or genuine care for the younger generation, the mayors words were filled with advice and anecdotes. Natsume learned a lot along the way, particularly about the state of his inherited farm. It had been neglected for years due to his uncles failing health. In its later years, the farm had been left to grow wild, practically indistinguishable from the surrounding wilderness. If anything, the mayor remarked with a chuckle, the wilderness might even look a bit better. Why does this feel like Im heading into a detective novel? Natsume mused. Then again, Ive never heard of a certain pint-sized detective bringing misfortune to his relatives. Brushing off his wandering thoughts, Natsume refocused on the mayors words. I must say, Im surprised youre willing to take on the farm, the mayor said. Young people these days all dream of becoming famous Pokmon Trainers, chasing adventure and glory. Even those with family businesses rarely stick around. I considered becoming a Trainer at first, but in the end, I decided to take over the farm. Natsume offered a small smile, choosing not to elaborate further. Heres the truth: becoming a Pokmon Trainer is expensive. Extremely expensive. The cost of Pokmon food, training facilities, medical careit all adds up to an overwhelming expense. While Natsume had some savings, it wouldnt last long if he pursued a Trainers path. And success was far from guaranteed. Becoming a strong Trainer required not just money but also exceptional Pokmon. Sure, people liked to say, There are no bad Pokmon, only bad Trainers, or point out how Giovannis Beedrill was incredibly powerful. But in reality, under equal training and resources, a Dragonite would utterly dominate a Beedrill. Taking over the farm, on the other hand, felt far more practical and reliable. Beyond that, the decision also reflected Natsumes own personality. Once the farm was up and running, he could enjoy a relaxed life, maybe even travel the world. It didnt sound so bad. And why was Natsume so confident he could restore the farm? He had his reasons. Were here, the mayor said as they stopped at a fork in the road. Following the mayors gaze, Natsume saw A desolate landscape overgrown with weeds and scattered with jagged rocks. Even the local Rattatas seemed to avoid the area. Though hed braced himself for the worst, the sight still left Natsume momentarily stunned. Dont be discouraged, the mayor said, trying to reassure him. The original layout is still intact, at least. Beside him, Mr. Mime gestured enthusiastically, as if trying to stage a comedic pantomime to lighten the mood. To be honest, even the mayor felt a bit awkward. For a young man, this would be a tough sight to facea scene as disheartening as declaring your love for a celebrity one day, only for them to announce their engagement the next. Its fine, Mayor. I came prepared for this, Natsume replied, snapping out of his daze. While the situation was a bit unexpected, Natsume remained confident. Come on out, everyone. With a tap on his Pok Balls, three brilliant beams of light erupted, and three figures emerged. Chapter 2: Pokémon in the Shrubbery A flash of white light burst forth, and three figures emerged from it. "Persian, Butterfree, Rookidee, come and check out our new home," Natsume said with a smile as he withdrew his hand. Among these three Pokmon, Persian had been left to him by his parentsa companion that had been by Natsume''s side since childhood. Butterfree was caught by Natsume himself during high school, intended to serve as both an assistant and a utility Pokmon. As for Rookidee, it had been gifted to him upon graduation, meant to be trained as his main partner. Including the incubator he carried in his arms, Natsume currently owned four Pokmon in total. After being released from their Pok Balls, the three Pokmon each reacted differently. Persian gracefully stretched its body upon landing, elegantly walking over to sit at Natsume''s feet, looking utterly disinterested in its so-called "new home." In contrast, Butterfree and Rookidee seemed brimming with curiosity about their surroundings. Especially Rookideeit couldnt stay still even near Natsume, always appearing ready to dart off and explore the world. Butterfree, by comparison, was much calmer. After its initial curiosity subsided, it quietly hovered by Natsume''s side. "They''re all such spirited little ones," the mayor said, smiling warmly as he observed Natsume''s Pokmon. The demeanor of a trainer''s Pokmon often revealed much about the trainer''s character. Seeing how relaxed and close these Pokmon were with Natsume reassured the mayor. A good sign indeed. Perhaps due to his age, the mayor no longer concerned himself with whether the younger generation achieved fame or greatness. What mattered to him now was their characterhe wished for them to be upright, kind-hearted individuals rather than prodigies. But still The mayor''s gaze lingered on Persian for a moment. He couldnt help but feel that this particular Pokmon seemed even stronger than those trained by the town''s gym apprentices. Dont ask how he knewchalk it up to a veteran trainer''s intuition. Back in the day, I too was a passionate young trainer! If Natsume could read minds, he would undoubtedly agree with the mayor''s assessment. Persian was indeed the main combatant of his team. Without Persian, Natsume might not have dared to take on the farm inheritance. After all, managing a farm required at least some basic ability for self-defense. --- "Ill give you a tour of the farm," the mayor said, leading Natsume and his Pokmon to explore the grounds. Since Natsume was to inherit the place, it wouldnt do for him to be clueless about his own farm. "That used to be the storage shed. This area was once an orchard for growing Berries. Over here, they planned to cultivate new types of crops. And this lake? It''s rumored to connect to a river underground, and sometimes wild Pokmon from the river will show up here." Meanwhile, the mayor''s Mr. Mime persistently tried to engage Natsume''s Pokmon in conversation. Persian, however, barely acknowledged it, flicking its tail with an air of disinterest and occasionally letting out a lazy yawn. Rookidee and Butterfree, on the other hand, were much friendlier and happily chatted with the enthusiastic Mr. Mime. Aside from the mayor''s explanations, the journey was filled with the chirping and calls of the Pokmonparticularly Rookidee''s loud, raspy "Caw! Caw!" Eventually, the group stopped in front of a slightly dilapidated two-story house. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is about the state of the farm," the mayor said. "As you can see, it''s rather run-down at the moment. You could stay in the town for now until the repairs are complete." Given the farm''s condition, the mayor suggested it might be better for Natsume to live in town temporarily. Earlier, as they approached the house, they had even spotted a dark green Pokmon darting out of a second-story window. "No need, Mayor. I came prepared," Natsume replied, smiling as he politely declined the offer. Before coming here, he had already made arrangements for repairs, including hiring a construction team. He wasnt one to act rashlythis decision had been carefully planned. "Well, if you say so," the mayor conceded with a laugh. "If you need anything, don''t hesitate to find me." With his hands clasped behind his back, the mayor chuckled, while Mr. Mime mimicked his pose. After seeing the mayor off, Natsume stood before the two-story house with his Pokmon. When he opened the door, a cloud of dust rose into the air. Sunlight filtered through the glass, illuminating the floating particles, which danced like tiny fairies. "Looks like the first thing well do in our new home is a thorough cleaning," Natsume declared, rolling up his sleeves and grinning at his Pokmon. His enthusiasm was palpable. "Persian, you watch over my bag and the incubator. Butterfree, help me clean up. Rookidee, scout the area for other Pokmon nearby. And rememberno picking fights!" Pulling a variety of cleaning tools from his small bag, Natsume assigned tasks to each of his Pokmon. When it came to Rookidee, however, he hesitated slightly. He hadnt had the bird for long and, despite intending to train it as his main partner, it had only learned a few basic moves so far. Its combat prowess was nowhere near impressivehardly enough to take on even minor challenges. "Caaw!" Rookidee eagerly responded and flitted off to patrol the area. Persian gave a dismissive grunt and settled next to the incubator, lazily licking its paw. Butterfree, meanwhile, began using its psychic abilities to float cleaning tools into the air. "Thanks for the help," Natsume said gratefully. Unbeknownst to him, a small figure in the shrubbery watched curiously as Natsume and his Pokmon bustled about the house. Seeing its old territory occupied, the little Pokmon hesitated, torn between reluctance and an inexplicable yearning. "Caaw!" Suddenly, Rookidee''s sharp call echoed from aboveit had spotted the figure. "Eeek!" Startled, the Pokmon bolted into the nearby forest, leaving Rookidee tilting its head in confusion, wondering why its presence had caused such a commotion. Chapter 3: Abstraction is a Talent Youre saying a Pokmon was watching us while we were cleaning just now? Wearing an apron, sleeves rolled up, and a mask over his face, Natsume looked every bit the image of a professional cleaner as he stared in surprise at the Rookidee. Caw, caw, caw! Hovering in midair, the Rookidee nodded fervently, flapping its wings and gesturing with them in an attempt to describe the scene. Over in those bushes? Caw! Oh, and its about the same size as you? Man and Pokmon conversed seamlessly, as if there were no barriers. As a modern-day transmigrator, having a little cheat ability was practically a given. Natsume didnt have some silly AI system that could turn into his wife, nor did he gain any particularly cool powers. Instead, upon arriving in this world, he had an encounter that could only be described as divine. He vaguely remembered seeing a Pokmon, one revered as the great deity of Hisuia llama (scratched out)no, the creator Arceus. In a haze, Natsume had been drawn into a unique space. Under an infinite starry sky, Arceuss radiant form shone brilliantly. Its teal-green eyes gazed at Natsume quietly. What happened afterward was a blur, but when Natsume awoke, he found his world profoundly changed. He could understand the meanings behind Pokmon cries. By focusing intently, he could see detailed information about a Pokmon. His mind had been flooded with a vast amount of then-incomprehensible knowledge. And he felt a strange energy within him, akin to the power of Aura or Viridian energy. Natsume had come to regard these changes as blessings from Arceus. Thinking of it that way made them much easier to accept. Caw, caw, caw! The Rookidee on the ground scratched a few marks into the dirt with one claw, trying to convey some information. But I still dont understand what youre trying to say. Natsume sighed in exasperation at the abstractness of the Rookidee descriptions. What did walks on two legs like you but has a green head even mean? Could the Pokmon it saw have been something from the Ralts evolutionary line? Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But when Natsume asked if the Pokmons body was white, the Rookidee shook its head. As for the patterns it scratched in the dirt, Natsume could only shake his head. Truly, abstraction was a giftone that he clearly didnt possess. Well, lets set aside that Pokmon for now. Rookidee, why dont you go check out the berry grove? Be careful, though. He gently patted the Rookidee''s head with a gloved hand before turning back to his cleaning tasks. Earlier, Natsume had checked the water and electricity in the house. Though old, everything was still functional, which made the cleaning process much easier. While this two-story house was charming in its design and would undoubtedly be comfortable to live in, it was a nightmare to cleanespecially without a Psychic-type Pokmon. Although his Butterfree had learned Confusion as part of its training, it wasnt a true Psychic-type, and levitating small objects was its limit. Precision work remained firmly in the domain of Psychic-types. The sun gradually dipped toward the horizon, tinting the sky with hues of amber. Thanks to the combined efforts of Natsume and Butterfree, the interior of the two-story house no longer resembled the neglected ruin it had been. Good work. Removing his gloves and mask, Natsume pulled a small box from his pocket. Inside were translucent, jewel-like Pokblocks. He took out two and handed them to Butterfree. Butterfrees compound eyes lit up as it eagerly clutched the Pokblocks, nibbling away happily. Natsume had made these Pokblocks himself, modifying the original recipes to suit his Pokmons tastes. Ah, thank you once again, Arceus. The knowledge that had once been incomprehensible turned out to include a treasure trove of Pokblock recipes and crafting techniques. With this knowledge, Natsume could have made a living purely as a Pokblock craftsman. He wasnt entirely sure why Arceus had given him such knowledge, but he was deeply grateful. Maybe he should build a shrine for Arceus once the farm was up and running. But what kind of shrine would the creator like? Would it appreciate something flashy, like those anime-style setups with automatic lights and speakers that played Start Dash whenever someone approached? On second thought, maybe not. You too, good work, Persian. At the doorway, Natsume scratched Persian''s head affectionately. Persian leaned into his hand, rubbing its head against him and purring contentedly as its tail swayed lazily. While petting Persian, Natsume scrolled through his phone contacts. Ah, here it is. He dialed a number labeled Moving Company. Before coming here, Natsume had arranged for his belongings to be delivered to the farm. After a brief conversation, the moving company confirmed that they would deliver his items the next morning. Thats settled, then, Natsume said with a satisfied smile. All thats left is the farm renovations and initial preparations. Since the house still smelled damp from the cleaning, Natsume sat on the ground outside with Persian and Butterfree. He flipped through a notebook filled with plans hed jotted down earlier, updating his to-do list on his phone. The notebook outlined everything Natsume believed needed doing, both before his arrival and after inspecting the farm. Next to the line Clean the house, he added a small checkmark. So, today and tomorrows goals are to finish setting up the house, contact a construction company to start the renovations, and introduce ourselves to the neighbors. Snapping the notebook shut with a satisfied grin, Natsume turned to Butterfree and Persian. Lets do our best! Brii! Butterfree responded softly, its wings fluttering gently. Persian, ever the aloof one, didnt react, though its tail swayed a little faster, softly thumping against the ground. Caw, caw! A familiar cry rang out from the sky. Looks like our little scout is back. Dusting off his pants, Natsume stood and stretched. Ah, to be young again. Even after a full day of cleaning, he still had energy to spare. If this had been his previous, overworked corporate self, hed have been completely drained just from sitting at his desk all day. Chapter 4: The First Night and a New Partner Under the night sky, the farm lay in utter silence. On the second floor, Natsume slept soundly on the mattress he''d brought along. The furniture wouldnt arrive until the next morning, so he had no choice but to make do for the night. That was the plan, at least. --- Chii? As the farm settled into darkness, many Pokmon began to stir. A curious little Rattata poked its head out from the bushes. It had noticed earlier that afternoonafter such a long time of the farmhouse being emptythat someone had moved in. This discovery left the little Rattata rather displeased. To it, the abandoned building was a well-established secret base, shared with its siblings for endless adventures. And now, a stranger had taken over. Chii! Rubbing its nose resolutely with its tiny paw, the Rattata made up its mind. It would give this uninvited guest a "special surprise"! But as the little troublemaker schemed, it failed to notice the looming shadow that had silently crept up behind it. When the clouds shifted, and moonlight bathed the scene, the silhouette of a large predator became clear. The Rattata froze, only now realizing it had been discovered. Thwack! A paw glowing with pale white energy swept through the air and smacked the Rattata with unerring accuracy. The unfortunate rodent soared in a graceful arc, bouncing a few times on the ground before disappearing into the undergrowth, dazed. Grr... The Persian, retracting its paw, cast a dismissive glance at the unconscious Rattata before turning back to its nightly patrol. Everyone knows cats are nocturnal. And for this Persian, its first night at the farm meant only one thing: establishing its territory. Its tail swayed languidly as it padded silently through the grass, its soft paw pads making no noise. The Persian largely ignored the Pokmon that resided on the farm, sparing only a brief glance. It was only when any dared approach the house that its sharp gaze locked onto them. Then, swift action was taken. Under its vigilant watch, the first night passed without incident. --- Morning As dawn broke, the farms Pokmon were greeted by an unusual sight. The human who had arrived yesterday had returned, this time leading a procession of other humans into the farm. This sofa can go in the living room on the first floor, Natsume instructed. And that small bed goes in the guest room upstairs, the one closest to the staircase. Efficiently directing a team of Machop and Machoke movers, Natsume got everything set up. Once satisfied, he paid the movers their due. With the house set up, its time to get acquainted with the farms residents. Natsume crossed off [Set Up House] on his trusty notebook and began exploring the farm with his three Pokmon: Persian, Butterfree, and Rookidee. Yesterday, during his visit with the mayor, he had only managed a quick survey of the area. Todays goal was twofold: 1. Announce his presence to the Pokmon living on the farm. 2. Recruit new partners for the work ahead. After all, this was the world of Pokmon. Who farms by hand anymore? Wouldnt it be better to have a Sandshrew dig through tough soil or a Diglett plow the land? Electric Pokmon like Magnemite or Pikachu could generate power, while the likes of Psyduck or Lotad handled irrigation. In both daily life and specialized tasks, Pokmon had become integral to human society. As a farm owner, the more Pokmon the merrieras long as he could afford to care for them. With Persian acting like a hound ready to pounce, Butterfree soaring above as a scouting falcon, and Rookidee providing a mascot-like cheerfulness, Natsume felt like a jungle hunter stalking through his own domain. Sand? As they passed a small mound of dirt, a curious Sandshrew poked its head out, its dark eyes full of curiosity. It tilted its head, unsure of the humans intentions. Hello there, Sandshrew. Im the new owner of this farm. Id like to invite you to be my partner, Natsume said, crouching down to meet the Pokmon at eye level. Sand? Sand-sand? What do I get out of it? The Sandshrew, sensing no malice from Natsume, felt oddly drawn to him but still had its reservations. Understanding its question, Natsume reached into his bag and pulled out a small container of energy cubes. These ones, earthy brown with a faint golden glow, were tailored for ground-types. Youll help with the farm work, and in return, youll get these energy cubes as payment. Sand! The Sandshrew sniffed the cubes eagerly, its eyes lighting up. Without hesitation, it grabbed Natsumes hand and started munching, devouring the cubes in no time. Sand-sand? Do I get these regularly? As long as youre my partner. Sand~ Deal. The Sandshrew even made its preference clear: it wasnt a fan of battling. Thats fine by me, Natsume replied with a smile, handing it a Pokball. The Sandshrew tapped the ball with its paw, and in a flash of light, it was captured. The ball barely wobbled before settling with a click. I caught a Sandshrew! Feeling accomplished, Natsume released the Pokmon immediately and fulfilled his promise of another helping of energy cubes. BOOM! Their bonding moment was interrupted by a loud noise from the nearby forest. Startled, the Sandshrew fumbled its energy cube, hastily scooping it up and stuffing it into its mouth. For a ground-type Pokmon, food on the ground was hardly an issue. What was that noise? Natsume asked, frowning. Sand-sand! The Sandshrew, now done eating, explained the situation as best it could. After listening carefully, Natsume nodded in understanding. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 5: Trainers and Anglers Are Cut from the Same Cloth Deep in the forest, two groups of Pokmon were locked in a tense standoff. Not far away, Natsume crouched with his Pokmon, observing the scene. "Sand-sand." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a native of the farm, Sandshrew explained the situation to Natsume. In short, the forest''s resources were relatively richer than other areas, which had led to an ongoing conflict over territorial rights between the two groups. For wild Pokmon, this kind of dispute was perfectly natural. Whether it was for berries or shelter, strength determined ownership. "I see," Natsume murmured, stroking Sandshrew''s head as he studied the groups. Calling them groups was a bit of a stretchthis was more like a family feud. On the left were two Mightyena accompanied by three Poochyena, clearly a couple leading their pack. On the right stood a single Ursaring with five Teddiursa. A single-parent household, it seemed. As Natsume observed them, the Pokmon also noticed him. For Mightyena and Ursaring, this distance might as well not exist. Rrrr! The leading Mightyena turned its head and growled at Natsume. Its low, guttural tone was full of hostility and aggression. This is our territory! Leave at once! To the Mightyena pack, this entire forest was theirs. Neither the Ursaring group nor the human had any business being here. Ursaring, on the other hand, completely ignored Natsume, showing no interest in communication. Neither seemed inclined to back down. Rrrr! The lead Mightyena growled again, urging Natsume to leave. The other Poochyena glared at him as well, their eyes full of menace. Meanwhile, the Teddiursa began to grow restless. Known for their energetic and jittery nature, they were moments away from causing a scene. If Natsume made a wrong move now, he could find himself the target of both groups'' combined ire. That wont do, Natsume muttered, standing up. He didnt seem fazed by either sides aggression. Your territory? No, this is my land. Persian, youre up. The moment Natsume spoke, his Persian, who had been itching for action, darted forward. In some ways, Persian was no different from the Mightyenait also considered this forest part of its domain. Or rather, it viewed the entire farm as its territory. A white glow enveloped Persians bodyit was using Agility. In a flash, Persian was like an arrow released from a bowstring, shooting between the two groups. Its paw lifted, and razor-sharp claws extended, gleaming menacingly in the sunlight. Fake Out! As a priority move, it ensured Persian struck first. Thud! A dull sound echoed as Persian''s paw slammed into the lead Mightyenas head. In that instant, the Mightyena felt like the world had slowed to a crawl. The scenery before its eyes warped and blurred. Its thoughts drifted away, and its mind emptied, as if it were back in its egg. The next moment, the Mightyena was sent flying like a kite with a broken string. It collided with a tree, paused for a second, then slid limply to the ground, knocked out cold. If there had been a slow-motion camera, it would have captured the moment the Mightyenas head contorted under the impact. But no one was paying attention to the fallen Mightyena anymore. Persian had become a blur of motion, weaving through the Mightyena and Ursaring groups like a streak of light. With each pass, a Pokmon was sent flying. The scene resembled a sequence from Stephen Chows movie Kung Fu Hustle. Some Pokmon tried to fight back, but most of their attacks missed. Those that landed barely fazed Persian, as it quickly incapacitated them in turn. Woolie, A blue psychic glow shimmered as Butterfree, standing guard beside Natsume, monitored the battle. Caw! The sight made the young Rookidee''s blood boil. It flapped its wings furiously, itching to join the fray. And indeed, it tried to. But Natsume, knowing Rookidee''s impulsive nature, had anticipated this. He swiftly reached out and grabbed it. Youre not ready for this yet, he said, cradling the struggling bird in his arms and gently patting its head to calm it down. Rookidee begrudgingly settled, though its frustration was plain. I have to find a way to convince him to let me fight, it thought, already scheming. In less than half a minute, the forest was silent once more. Only Persian remained standing amidst the fallen Pokmon. It licked its paw nonchalantly and strolled back to Natsume with the grace of a cat that had merely gone for a morning jog. Now, can we talk properly? Natsume asked, crouching beside the downed Ursaring and Mightyena. The two Pokmon exchanged looks. Talk? About what? How thoroughly we were beaten? For now, they both chose to remain silent. Im Natsume, the new owner of this farm, he began. Simply put, this entire area belongs to me. The Mightyena and Ursaring exchanged glances again. Is he kicking us out? If youre willing to join the farm, you can stay, Natsume continued. But there are rules: no causing trouble, no fighting, no attacking passersby. Youll also need to help with farm duties. Can you agree to that? Natsumes explanation clarified things. He had no intention of driving out all the wild Pokmon. After all, the farm was vast. Even with Persian, Butterfree, Rookidee, and the newly recruited Sandshrew, there was only so much they could manage. Recruiting the locals would be far more practical. As Natsume spoke, the other Pokmon who had been knocked out began to recover, including the Mightyena that Persian had smacked earlier. After a group discussion, the two sides finally agreed to Natsumes terms. Great, then lets make it official. Natsume pulled out a handful of Pok Balls from his bag. Trainers might pass through the farm in the future, he explained. If youre not officially part of the farm, you might be mistaken for ordinary wild Pokmon and get captured. While the town was relatively remote and lacked convenient transportation, trainers were like anglersthey had a knack for showing up in the most unexpected places. One group scours the world for untouched fishing spots. The other searches for uncharted areas to catch Pokmon and unearth treasures. Chapter 6: Pokémon with a Cleaning Obsession After successfully capturing the Mightyena pack, Natsume quickly released them from their Pok Balls. From the very beginning, Natsume had no intention of keeping Pokmon confined in their Pok Balls for extended periods. Even if he became a full-fledged Trainer, he planned to maintain this principle. To Natsume, Pok Balls were akin to pet carriers for cats. No matter how comfortable the carrier, it was still a form of restriction. Its primary use should be for convenience in cities or during special circumstances requiring transport. A green glow radiated from Natsume''s palm, spreading like a gentle spring rain over the injured Pokmon. Their wounds healed rapidly, leaving no trace of their previous injuries. All right, Im counting on you to patrol the farm from now on. He patted the Mightyena father on the head while pulling out a roll of masking tape. Carefully, he labeled each Pok Ball and recorded which Pokmon it corresponded to. Natsume casually referred to his healing power as the Power of Viridian. The name wasnt particularly creative, but Natsume found it fitting given its versatile nature. Terms like Aura or Overpower didnt quite resonate with him, so he borrowed the name directly. By tomorrow, the farm''s renovations should begin, Natsume said, continuing to organize his thoughts. Im planning to have Sandshrew till the soil for replanting. Once the fields are ready, theyll also become part of your patrol routes. After finishing the labeling, Natsume stuffed all the Pok Balls into his bag. He planned to set up a dedicated room for storing them later. Given the number of Pokmon he expected to capture, it seemed like a necessary step. Woof! The Mightyena father had grown much more attached to Natsume after being captured. In fact, Natsume naturally exuded a warm and approachable aura. Most Pokmon found it hard to resist getting close to him. Between this natural charm and the bond formed through capture, the Mightyena father now looked at Natsume with genuine affection. When Natsume scratched his head, the Mightyenas tail instinctively rose, swaying slightly. If it werent for the judging stares from his mate and pups, his tail might have been wagging like a helicopter rotor by now. Grr... On the other side, the Ursaring family had also developed a favorable opinion of Natsume, though this affection extended solely to him. They still harbored no goodwill toward the Mightyena pack or the Persian who had thoroughly humiliated them earlier. The Teddiursa pups huddled together, whispering among themselves. Occasionally, they would glance at Natsume and then at the Mightyena family. Meanwhile, the Ursaring leader remained calm, patiently awaiting further instructions from Natsume. Ursaring. Turning his attention to the Ursaring family, Natsume laid out a simple plan for them. Given their nature, they were a perfect fit for treasure hunting. The farm still had unexplored areas, and letting the Ursaring family roam freely might even uncover hidden surprises. After explaining his idea, the Ursaring leader nodded decisively. This arrangement worked perfectly, especially since his hyperactive pups were always brimming with energy. Left unsupervised, they inevitably caused trouble. Todays conflict had started because one Teddiursa had wandered off and accidentally knocked over a Poochyena, igniting the clash between the two groups. Glancing at his mischievous pups, the Ursaring leader sighed in mild exasperation. Im counting on you all, then. Standing at the forests edge, Natsume waved goodbye to the Pokmon as they saw him off. Before leaving, he negotiated a territorial boundary between the Ursaring and Mightyena families. Both sides seemed satisfied with the arrangement. Of course, with both groups now under Natsumes command, territorial disputes held little meaning. Still, Mightyena Pokmon were known for their strong territorial instincts, so a compromise seemed necessary. Next, lets check out the small lake. Natsume envisioned dividing the farm into several distinct zones in the future: Residential Area: For everyday activities and Pokmon interactions. Production Zone: Reserved for planting and farming. Recreation Area: Equipped with fishing spots and play facilities. He also wanted to establish a Ranch Zone and a Daycare Facility for Pokmon breeding and care. Yes, Natsume planned to expand his humble farm into a comprehensive ranch. He didnt just want to raise Pokmon like Miltank or Combee, which produced valuable goods. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He dreamed of managing entire Pokmon communities and running a daycare. After all, in this world, who would settle for just farming? Even if he didnt pursue the life of a Pokmon Trainer, he wanted to stay connected to Pokmon in some meaningful way. Becoming a rancher sounded perfect to him. For now, though, those ambitions were far off. His immediate priority was fixing up the farm. --- By afternoon, Natsume had explored the lakeside. The small artificial lake wasnt teeming with Pokmon, but there were some familiar species. Magikarp and Feebas were abundant, along with solitary Pokmon like Lotad, Wooper, and Poliwag. They tended to form small clusters of two or three. On a side note, Natsume wanted to address a common misconception: Many people believed Feebas were as rare as their evolved form, Milotic. In reality, Feebas, like Magikarp, were hardy Pokmon found in many places. While not as widespread as Magikarp, they were far from rare. --- Thanks for your hard work, Sandshrew. On his way back, Natsume encountered Sandshrew, who had just finished working in the fields. Knowing that Ground-type Pokmon disliked wet environments, Natsume had sent Sandshrew to till the fields instead of accompanying him to the lake. For Sandshrew, digging in the soil was far more appealing than standing idly by the water. Ground-types were naturally drawn to burrowing, just as Water-types gravitated toward wet areas. Sand~ Seeing Natsume, Sandshrew waved its dirt-covered claws enthusiastically. It seemed to be in high spirits after spending the afternoon digging. As Sandshrew prepared to run over and show off its work, a small Pokmon suddenly darted out and blocked its path. Mimi! A Minccino? Natsume blinked in surprise at the petite gray Pokmon. Then it hit himthis wasnt unusual at all. Minccino and its evolution, Cinccino, were notorious neat freaks among Pokmon. Their obsession with cleanliness was extreme. They couldnt resist rushing to clean anything dirty, even if it meant getting themselves filthy in the process. There were even cases where a Minccino, attempting to clean a dirty Pok Ball, accidentally got itself caught. Mimimi! The Minccino ignored Natsume entirely, squeaking furiously at Sandshrew. It looked like it was ready to pounce and scrub Sandshrew clean. Chapter 7: From Today On, I’ll Be a Cold and Ruthless Pokémon There''s a saying: When you''re weak, even your anger can seem adorable to others. That perfectly described the current state of the Minccino. Though it appeared furious, its cute demeanor only made it look endearinglike something youd want to scoop up and cuddle. Sand? The unexpected situation left Sandshrew momentarily at a loss, its previously waving paw now frozen in mid-air, unsure of what to do. Meanwhile, the bushes behind the Minccino rustled, and a Buneary emerged. The Buneary ran over to its friend, grasping the Minccino''s arm nervously and whispering something to it. Judging by its expression, it was either trying to persuade its friend not to meddle or urging it to quickly distance itself from humans. Thanks to years of dedication by trainers, human Pokmon trainers now had quite a reputation among wild Pokmon. Yes, the bad kind. To wild Pokmon, trainers were often synonymous with chaos: Invading territories and attacking innocent Pokmon. Stealing treasures while Pokmon were away. Kidnapping baby Pokmon and tearing families apart. When viewed in this light, trainers must seem like the villains of their world. The appearance of Buneary seemed to calm the Minccino slightly, though it still glared at Sandshrew with evident displeasure. Hello, Minccino, and you too, Buneary, Natsume greeted them softly. Im Natsume, and Sandshrew here is my partner. Is there something you need from him? Stepping forward, he squatted down to their level, speaking in a gentle tone. From the moment the Minccino appeared, Natsume had a pretty good idea of what was going on. It was nothing more than the classic case of a clean freak encountering something dirty and losing its cool. As for Buneary, it was likely trying to calm its overly emotional friend. Mi-mi! The Minccino, previously a bit calmer, suddenly grew agitated again upon hearing Natsumes words. It pointed at Sandshrew and began chirping rapidly, clearly expressing its discontent. Beside it, Buneary looked back and forth between Natsume and the Minccino, on the verge of tears. Knowing its friends character all too well, Buneary was certain that if it didnt step in, the Minccino would launch itself forward at any moment. Not that it seemed like it could hold its friend back now, either. Alright, alright, I get it, Natsume said, attempting to placate the agitated Minccino. He glanced at Sandshrew, noting its dirt-covered fur speckled with bits of grass and roots. It was indeed quite the mess. --- A few minutes later... Mi~ The Minccino, its fur slightly disheveled, wiped sweat off its forehead with a satisfied smile, a look of pride and fulfillment on its face. It was as if a long-standing internal pressure had finally been releasedlike the joy of putting on fresh underwear on New Years Day. Behind it stood a freshly cleaned Sandshrew, utterly dazed. Compared to its earlier appearance of being literally freshly dug up from the ground, Sandshrew now looked immaculate, like it had just rolled off the production line. --- Meanwhile, Buneary, happily munching on a Pokblock, sidled up to the Minccino. Yes, it only took a short while for Buneary to be thoroughly won over by Natsume. This was partly due to Natsumes natural affinity and partly due to the deliciousness of the Pokblock. For Buneary, it was the first time it had tasted something so good. But there was another, even more critical reason. As Buneary chatted with Minccino , it stole a glance at Natsume, its eyes lingering on his face. Although still bearing the youthful features of a teenager, his facial contours already showed promise. He might not be devastatingly handsome, but he was undoubtedly one of the standouts among his peers. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even now, Natsume could easily be described as clean-cut and pleasant to look at. When Natsumes questioning gaze turned toward it, Buneary hurriedly turned away, as if startled, her cheeks faintly flushed with a hint of crimson. Yes, Buneary had been convinced primarily because it liked Natsumes face. Seeing him simply put it in a good mood. Creatures like this are often referred to as "face enthusiasts." Buneary was precisely that. Of course, it justified its choice by telling itself that Natsume was a genuinely kind person. Watching her defected friend, the Minccino seemed helpless. I know youre smitten with this humans face, but cant you show a little restraint? To this, Buneary seemed to reply, When a girl sees what she wants, she strikes first! Come on, join meyou wouldnt want to lose sight of me, would you? At least, that was what Natsume imagined based on the Pokmons conversation and body language. Though he embellished a bit, the overall meaning wasnt far off. Mi! Minccino looked at its friend, then at Natsume, and finally made its decision. If it was going to follow a human, theyd have to earn it in battle! Alright, its a deal, Natsume responded with a smile, noticing the determined gleam in the Minccino''s eyes. His gaze shifted to his team of Pokmon. Persian was outit was too strong, making the battle unfair. Butterfree was also unsuitable, as its move set wasnt friendly to Minccino. Sandshrew wasnt interested in fighting, which it had made clear when it joined the team. That left one option. Go, Rookidee! Hearing its name, the little bird Pokmon, which had been doing its best to appear indifferent to the situation, immediately perked up and flew to Natsumes side, ready for action. I knew it! If I play it cool, the boss will send me out to fight! From now on, Im going to be a cold and Ruthless Pokmon. That way, Ill get more opportunities to battle! Though its inner thoughts ran wild, Rookidee maintained a composed exterior, fixing its opponent with a sharp, piercing gaze. Starting today, Ill be a ruthless, emotionless Pokmon. With that resolution in mind, Rookidee prepared for its battle. Chapter 8: The Relationship Between Trainers and Pokémon Is Like That of Coaches and Esports Players In the clearing, the battle between Minccino and Rookidee was about to begin. "Mi!" Among the two opponents, it was Minccino who first lost patience. She didnt understand strategy or tacticsonly that gaining the upper hand at the start usually meant winning. Lowering her body to the ground, Minccino suddenly dashed forward and leapt high into the air. Her tail began to glow with a dazzling white light. Tail Whip! As adorable as Minccino looked, her early-stage move pool was limited, mostly comprising status and utility moves. "Caw caw!" Rookidee, however, remained calm. He simply chose to ascend, flying higher into the sky. Minccino''s confident strike landed on empty air. Flying Pokmon had an inherent advantage against grounded opponents. They could strike at will while remaining out of reach. Energy began to gather in Rookidee''s eyes. Leer! His sharp gaze intimidated his opponent, reducing her defense. Minccino stiffened mid-fall, nearly losing her balance upon landing. But Rookidee wasnt done yet. Circling in the sky, he alternated between Leer and Hone Claws, enhancing his own attack and accuracy. Minccino, now fuming, wanted nothing more than to pluck every single feather off this smug bird. But alas, she couldnt even touch him. From the sidelines, Natsume observed the entire match without issuing a single command. There were several reasons for his silencechief among them being the importance of fostering independent battle instincts in Pokmon. Think about this: a Dragonite can circle the globe in 16 hours. Now, how long would it take for Dragonite to cross a battlefield? Natsume didnt know the exact time, but it was certainly faster than any human could react. By the time you noticed Dragonite moving, its punch would already be planted firmly on its opponents face. This wasnt limited to Dragonite. While most Pokmon werent that fast, the difference wasnt significant. Whether a trainer couldnt react at all or could barely react but failed to give a timely command, the outcome was the same: no difference. Thus, training Pokmon to make autonomous decisions during battles was an essential skill for every trainerunless they were a psychic capable of telepathic communication or had a Pokmon with a unique battle style. In essence, the relationship between a trainer and their Pokmon was akin to that between a coach and an esports player. Pokmon fought in battles, while trainers focused on daily training, strategy development, and offering guidance during critical moments. The trainers job wasnt to micromanage every move but to provide insights and tactical adjustments. "Caw!" When Rookidee felt sufficiently powered up, he finally launched his offensive. Diving from high above, he resembled a homing missile locked onto its target. A gleaming light enveloped his beaka sign of the Peck attack. With multiple boosts to his attack and accuracy, and against a foe whose defense had been lowered, the outcome was inevitable. "Mi-mi!" Seated on the ground, Minccino waved her tiny paws and voiced her protests. To be more precise, it wasnt just a protestit bordered on outright verbal abuse. She was spouting some surprisingly colorful language. Even Natsume, busy treating her injuries, twitched at her choice of words. For a Pokmon with such a cute appearance, who wouldve guessed she had such "vocabulary." High EQ interpretation: This kid could try her luck in the verbal battlegrounds of a competitive online game. Low EQ interpretation: Shes got quite the filthy mouth. Rookidee, unimpressed by Minccino''s outburst, dismissed her tantrum with a nonchalant attitude. "You''re just bad. Practice more." This was a phrase Rookidee had picked up from Natsumes short videos. It seemed fitting, so he decided to use it. "Mi!" Minccino, glaring at Rookidee, made a silent vow: One day, you mangy bird, Ill pluck every feather off you and stuff them down your throat! "Alright, alright," Natsume said, smiling wryly as he healed her injuries. This little one didnt seem to have the best temper. "Now, as promised, were partners from now on." Taking out a Pokball, Natsume held it out to Minccino. Despite her anger toward Rookidee, Minccino held a degree of fondness for Natsume. Besides, her best friend, Buneary, had already agreed to this arrangement. Glancing at Buneary, who looked at her with hopeful eyes, Minccino sighed before slapping the Pokball with her paw, allowing its red light to envelop her. There was no turning back now. She could only hope she hadnt been tricked. The Pokball in Natsumes hand shook briefly before falling still. "Come out, Minccino." Reemerging from the Pokball, Minccino stretched her body and carefully studied Natsume. From now on, she had a trainer. Although Natsume claimed he didnt plan to be a trainer, that wasnt a big deal. If he wasnt a trainer, she wouldnt have to battle. Some Pokmon were born to fightdriven by passion, destined for glory, and craving the thrill of the stage. But Minccino wasnt one of them. At least she trusted Buneary''s judgment. Natsumes face was pleasing to look at. Satisfied, Minccino nodded to herself. Pokmon didnt just wait to be chosen by trainerssometimes, they chose their trainers too. It was a mutual decision. "Alright, lets head back," Natsume said, pocketing Minccino''s Pokball. Suddenly, Rookidee began to glow white. "Caw-caw!" Initially startled, Rookidee relaxed when Natsume reminded him it was just evolution. In the brilliant light, Rookidee''s body grew larger, reshaping itself. When the light subsided, a new Pokmon stood in his place: Corvisquire. "Caw!" The newly evolved Corvisquire spread its wings wide, its proud posture exuding confidence. It had taken the first step toward becoming a fierce aerial predator, known for its swift movements and fiery spirit In certain regions, Corviknight were used as transportation for their size and speedlike a real-life ride-share service. Just as Corvisquire was about to flaunt his presence, he noticed a gaze from below. Looking down, he saw Persian, who had been quietly lying by Natsumes feet. Instantly, Corvisquire deflated. He meekly landed next to Natsume, his previous arrogance gone. Docile mode: Activated. Minccino, observing this scene, was stunned. So, youre scared of someone too, huh? To this, Corvisquire responded with a dismissive look. Dont be na?ve. Part of his fear stemmed from Persians long-standing bond with Natsume, which granted her special status. The other reason? S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Well, isnt catching birds just part of a cats DNA? Chapter 9: A Boy’s Room Is Always Messy but Never Dirty In Corvisquires memory, it had once been young and brash. Especially after Natsume painted a vivid picture of its bright future, Corvisquire had been brimming with confidence, certain it would one day reign supreme. Then, it got knocked flat by Persian. With a swipe of its claws, Persian made it clear who held the second spot in the household hierarchy. First place, of course, belonged to Natsume. Reflecting on its pain and humiliation, Rookidee realized that it simply hadnt "honed" itself enough. After a period of self-reflection, it challenged Persian again. And lost. A few more defeats later, Rookidee finally saw the light: as things stood, it had no hope of defeating Persian. It decided to go back and "hone" itself further. Now, as Corvisquire, it felt ready! Just a few more days of "honing," and it would challenge Persian for that coveted second-place spot! Flying beside Natsume, Corvisquire tried to keep a low profile, but it couldn''t help sneaking glances at Persian. Its intentions were written all over its face. Meow, Persian yawned, stretching luxuriously. Is this our new home? Minccino''s eyes sparkled as it gazed at the two-story house. Such a big house! There must be so many places to clean! Just imagining it filled Minccino with boundless energy. Beside it, Buneary stared curiously at the house. So this is where well live with Natsume from now on? It looks pretty nice. Just thinking about it made Buneary feel happy. Meow. Persian stretched, arching its back until its entire body was taut. It let out a long yawn before padding gracefully toward the stairs. It was sleepy and ready for a nap. After all, cats are nocturnal creatures. Butterfree and Corvisquire also retired to rest. Butterfree had its own room on the second floor, while Corvisquire had a small perch on the rooftop. Though, once it evolved into Corviknight, it would probably need to move outside. At over two meters tall, Corviknight would clearly be too large for the house. Besides, Natsume''s Corvisquire was already bulkier than its peers. Once it evolved, its size would undoubtedly be even more impressive. It seemed likely that Natsume would eventually build a bigger housebut for now, that plan was still just a thought, not something to mention to Buneary and the others. Mi-mi! Minccino darted around the house, poking its nose into every nook and cranny. With Natsumes permission, it zipped through the rooms, occasionally popping out from unexpected corners. As Natsume unpacked, he couldnt help but notice the little Pokmons expression gradually shift from joy to stern seriousness. Occasionally, Minccino would pause and turn back, giving Natsume a sharp look. It was as if to ask, Are you sure you actually cleaned this place? That look made Natsume a little self-conscious. Hed tried to clean, hadnt he? Maybe hed cut a corner or two, but overall, hed done a decent job... right? As everyone knows, a guys room is always messy but never truly dirty. But for Minccino... What was this hell on earth?! After its inspection, Minccino scrunched its little face in disapproval, looking as if it couldnt bear the sight. It concluded that while the house had technically been cleaned, it wasnt cleaned properly. It was almost as if someone had intentionally left a few dirty spots just to show how messy it had been before. What might pass unnoticed by a big, burly boy stood out glaringly to the sharp eyes of Minccino. Mi-mi! Rolling up its metaphorical sleeves, the little Pokmon was ready to go. Behind it, flames of determination seemed to flicker. Not just behindit almost seemed to have fire in its eyes, too. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How about we leave it for tomorrow? Natsume suggested. Its getting late. Minccino flatly refused. It gestured with its little paws, saying Natsume should focus on his own taskscleaning was now its responsibility. Watch and learn! Seeing the spirited little Pokmon flit around with a determined "Mi-mi," Natsume couldnt help but smile. Then Ill leave it to you. Mi~ Leave it to me! It waved a paw confidently and marched into the living room, as grandly as an ancient general heading to war. --- In the misty warmth of the bathroom, Natsumes figure was blurred by steam. Hot water flowed down his well-toned frame. Ill need to repair the farms perimeter fences soon. And the warehouseits completely falling apart. The machine for making PokBlocks arrived this morning. Ill start using it tomorrow. Thatll also help replenish our supplies. As he planned out his next steps, Natsume realized his life was about to get very busy. Well, that was expected for a fledgling farm. Bun? When Natsume emerged, Buneary was standing nearby, proudly holding a blow dryer like a trophy. It seemed to have been waiting for him. Thanks, Buneary. Bun~ No problem! Need help drying your hair? Buneary scrambled onto a nearby table, looking at Natsume with eager anticipation. No need. Despite Buneary''s hopeful gaze, Natsume gently declined. Blow-drying a guys hair is quick work. Besides, if he gave in now, he might start relying on them too much. Natsume had no intention of becoming one of those famously pampered humans, utterly spoiled by their Pokmon. Bun... Though a little disappointed, Buneary''s ears twitched, and it accepted Natsumes refusal without fuss. This made Natsume breathe a sigh of relief. While he could be firm with outsiders, it was much harder to turn down his own Pokmon. He just wasnt cut out to play the role of the strict parent. After drying his hair, Natsume was ready for bed but noticed Buneary trailing behind him. Youre not going to your own room? Bun! Buneary shook its head and climbed onto a nearby beanbag chair, patting the cushion. It clearly wanted to sleep there. Alright. Goodnight, Buneary. Bun~ Goodnight, Natsume. With a soft click, the room lights went out. Outside, the world was just as quiet, the sun having long dipped below the horizon. Except... Rustle, rustle. In a bush not far from the house, something stirred. It seemed a wild Pokmon was lurking nearby. Chapter 10: Stealth Suits and the Pose of a Brooding Jock As the sun''s glow fully faded beneath the horizon, the bustling world fell silent for a brief moment. Yet it wasnt long before it sprang back to life, as if the nocturnal staff had clocked in, ready to revel in the pleasures of the night. People often imagine the night to be tranquil. But in truth, the night is always teeming with stories, and the world of Pokmon is no exception. Many Pokmon that snooze away the day in their nests stretched their stiff limbs and emerged from their cozy shelters to hunt for food. Even a bear waking from hibernation will prioritize gorging itself. After all, survival comes first. Besides the naturally nocturnal Pokmon, some others also chose the cover of night to avoid human activity. Rustle, rustle. Munya? A bush swayed gently, and a small, dark green head cautiously popped out. Its starry eyes were filled with nervousness and unease. Although it knew this might be risky and perhaps even inappropriate, it couldnt resist the allure of a certain pile of junk. Earlier that morning, Natsume had cleared out some old, unusable items. Among the pile were broken furniture, childrens toys, marbles, playing cards, and toy soldiers. If young Natsume had come across these treasures, he would have been ecstatic. But as an adult, they failed to stir any emotions in him. No nostalgic joy. No cringing embarrassment over old memories. It seemed those once-vivid and joyful recollections had quietly faded, like childhood and youth slipping away unnoticed. Perhaps that was simply growing up. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Munya. The Pokmon in the bushes tilted its head, gazing curiously at the marbles sparkling under the moonlight. Though cheap, the glass orbs took on a gem-like brilliance beneath the silvery glow, exuding an air of value. And so, they captivated the attention of a little Pokmon with no concept of worldly riches. Peering at the seemingly silent two-story house nearby, the Pokmon confirmed it was completely dark and quiet. Although Persian, being nocturnal, might still be awake, living alongside Natsume had partially adjusted its habits. After careful "analysis," the Pokmon decided the time was right to make its move. Munya-munya. It pulled out a stealth suit it had meticulously crafted earlier that day. Humming a cheerful tune, it donned the outfit. Though the melody was random and improvised, it brimmed with the whimsical charm of a childs boundless imagination. Once fully dressed, the little figures eyes turned sharp and focused. Operation Nighttime Treasure Hunt! Initiate! Mimicking a pose it had once seen somewhere, the Pokmon dived forward, flattening itself to the ground. Wrapped tightly in the stealth suit, it cautiously peered through a gap, checking the house for movement. All clear. Nodding in satisfaction, the Pokmon admired its execution. Ive got talent, dont I? Even as it stifled its excitement, it reminded itself not to get cocky. Steeling its nerves, the Pokmon resumed its stealthy crawl forward: Wriggle, sneak, roll. Stop. Peer through the suit. Repeat. The so-called stealth suit was actually just a tattered, dark green windbreaker, adorned with makeshift camouflage like grass and ragged cloth strips. Though crude, the details revealed the creators earnestness in crafting the gear. Throughout its operation, the Pokmon adhered strictly to a silent approach, making no noise at all. But it failed to notice several pairs of eyes watching from the second-floor balcony. So this is the green-headed thing you mentioned? Persian glanced at the Corvisquire crouched beside it. Though silent, its expression spoke volumes. Corvisquire, spreading its wings, was about to unleash its signature raucous cry when Persian shot it a sharp glare. The glint of claws peeking through its paw made Corvisquire gulp. The cawing sound died in its throat. Yeah, thats the one spying around yesterday! This creeps totally a pervy stalker! Corvisquire flailed its wings and widened its eyes to emphasize its point, attempting to communicate through exaggerated gestures. But the display... well, lets just say it left much to be desired. You might consider a career in pantomime or comedy. Butterfree patted Corvisquires wing with approval. This kid, it thought, could save the performing arts industry. While the others remained unbothered, Buneary appeared genuinely concerned. Nudging Persian, it whispered softly into its ear. Should we go wake Natsume? Persian tilted its head, glancing at the shadowy, wriggling figure on the ground below. After a brief pause, it nodded. Go ahead. Its worth notifying him about this. Receiving approval, Buneary leaped from the railing and trotted back inside. --- Bun. With a graceful leap, it landed softly on Natsumes bed without disturbing him. Gently nudging his face, it whispered a call. Hmm? Whats up, Buneary? Rubbing his drowsy eyes, Natsume sat up, puzzled. Though his mind was still half-asleep, his hand instinctively reached out to pat Buneary''s heada familiar motion to anyone whos ever kept a pet. Bun. Natsume, theres a strange Pokmon outside. Buneary explained the situation in detail: the Corvisquire secretly watching its phone on the rooftop earlier, dramatically posing under the moonlight to "reflect on life," and then noticing the strange creeping figure on the ground. I see. Casually dismissing the Corvisquire''s dramatic antics, Natsume quickly got dressed and headed to the roof. Lets go take a look. Remember to keep quiet, okay? Bun. Covering its mouth with its ears, Buneary nodded solemnly. Not a peep from me! Chapter 11: Ogerpon – Hello A couple of minutes later, another pair of eyes joined the rooftop spectators. Apart from the Slakoth-like Minccino, which had dozed off in its nest and couldn''t be dragged out even after two tries, and the Pokmon that claimed their own territories outside, every member of Natsume''s household had gathered on the second-floor terrace, intensely observing the spectacle below. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Each had their own commentary on the scene: Buneary: "Looks like it''s trying hard."Persian: "Zero points. Already exposed."Butterfree: "Five points for bravery."Corvisquire: "Not even half as good as me." The Pokmon below, still painstakingly sneaking forward, had no idea that its so-called stealth mission had long been noticed. (Sidenote: These covert operations tend to end in chaotic group confrontations, dont they?) "Hmm!" After a seemingly endless "stealth approach," the small figure finally reached the pile of junk and eagerly turned its attention to the glass marbles within. Thanks to the moonlight being blocked by clouds, the marbles had lost their previous luster and allure, looking like nothing more than ordinary, cheap toys youd find discarded by the roadside. Even so, the small figures eyes sparkled as if beholding the most precious treasures in the world. "Hmmm!" With a trembling paw, it reached for the marbles, savoring the moment. Time seemed to stretch infinitely long, even for Natsume and the others watching from above, holding their breath. Finally "Hmm!" Cradling a few glass marbles, the tiny figure looked as though it held the most valuable treasure in existence. The glimmer in its eyes outshone the marbles themselves. "Hmm-hmm~" Hugging its hard-won "treasure," the small Pokmon spun around in joyous circles. A faint melody of delight seemed to drift in the wind, a clear testament to its excitement. Even the moon, once hidden behind clouds, shyly peeked out, casting its soft glow over the scene. Under the moonlight, the glass marbles regained their brilliance. The little Pokmon hopped with glee, as if it had received the doll it always dreamed of. However, happiness is fleetingfor humans and Pokmon alike. The marbles werent dropped or lost. No, the little Pokmon suddenly realizedit had been spotted. As moonlight illuminated the ground, shadows took shape, revealing outlines of everything around, including Natsume and his companions. Frozen in place, the tiny figure slowly turned around like a rusted machine, stiff and hesitant. Its mind, overwhelmed by the realization of exposure, had gone blank. For a few seconds, it stared at the rooftop figures bathed in moonlight, their sharp gazes seemingly drilling holes into its small frame. Shadowy outlines and eerie red glows flickered in the darkness. At least, that was Corvisquires imagination of the scene. In reality, upon seeing Natsume, the poor Pokmons mind crashed entirely. No thoughts of escape plans or survival tactics remainedjust one overwhelming realization: Oh no, Im done for. Its body screamed for action: Think of something! Its brain: ...Program not responding. After several agonizing seconds, it finally screamed and bolted. Beneath its tattered cloak, stubby legs churned, creating a comically frantic image as it dashed toward the forest. "Wait!" Natsume instinctively reached out, but the little figure was astonishingly fast, vanishing into the tree line with just a few strides. "Caaw!" "Should I chase it? I can catch up." Corvisquire, snapping out of its daydreams, eagerly looked to Natsume for the go-ahead. It had already visualized countless scenarios: A swift and clean takedown, followed by a cool Youve got a long way to go, before flying off triumphantly.A hard-fought victory, leading to a mutual nod of respect, leaving behind an epic silhouette.A narrow defeat, only to rally with its teammates, shouting, Never underestimate our bond! as it unlocked its hidden power to emerge victorious. The last scenariogetting crushed outrightwas, of course, excluded. But Natsume crushed Corvisquires enthusiasm with a wave of his hand. "No need." Snap. Somewhere, Corvisquires dreams audibly shattered. "Its just a bunch of old marbles. I was going to give them to the kids in town anyway. If it likes them, it can have them." These were childhood toys. Once, they mightve sparked arguments or even ended friendships. Now, they barely mattered. Natsume suddenly understood why characters in stories reconcile over lost treasures in their later years. "Hmm?" The little figure, now at the forest''s edge, noticed no one was chasing it. It hesitated, slowing its steps until it came to a stop just before vanishing into the bushes. Glancing back nervously, it saw Natsume waving at it. There was no greed, no anger in his expressionjust a calm, amused smile, as though hed witnessed something delightful. "Hmm" After a moments hesitation, the little Pokmon stepped forward, its body half-hidden in the underbrush. With one final glance, it raised a paw and waved back vigorously before disappearing into the forest. On the ground where it had stood lay a small object. Natsume, however, wasnt paying attention to that. "Was that a Ogerpon?" Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, Natsume had clearly seen the Pokmon beneath the cloak. Chapter 12: The “Gift” Left Behind and the Anxious Ogerpon In Natsumes memory, Ogerpon seemed to be a Grass-type legendary Pokmon, capable of changing its type and battle style by equipping different masks. It was likely categorized as a mythical Pokmon, though he wasnt entirely sure. Still, because of its adorable design, Natsume felt it must be a mythical Pokmon. In a northern village infamous among players for its hostile NPCs, Ogerpon was known as "the ghost." But in truth, it was just a poor child whose masks had been stolen. Its masks were taken by three Pokmon, and although it fought to retrieve them, it was reviled as an evil Pokmon. The thieves, on the other hand, were hailed as guardians of the village and affectionately called Pokmon companions. This was Natsume''s impression of Ogerpon. He also had a lingering question from the story: If Ogerpon had defeated all three Pokmon on its own later, how did it get bullied in the first place? But after thinking about it, he realized that the outcome of battles isnt just about strengthits also influenced by mindset and environment. It was like a certain warrior from Fallen Hibiscus King. Strong as they were, they often got outplayed by weaker opponents. Imagine a beginner Naruto player entering a competitive match with high-tier characters like Kizaru, only to get comboed into submission by a seasoned opponent. Ending up frustrated was only natural. Ogerpons case might have been similar. At first, it didnt want to fight, which left it vulnerable to bullying. But once its emotions erupted, it wiped the floor with those bullies. Of course, that was the original story. What the current Ogerpons situation was, Natsume had no idea. Left one for me, huh. Looking at the glass marble in his hand, Natsume couldnt help but chuckle. The little Pokmon must have thought something like, Paying to avoid trouble or Ill leave one, so dont get mad. Before running off, it had left him a single glass marble. For Natsume, these werent particularly valuable items. Even if Ogerpon had taken them all, he wouldnt have minded. But since it left one behind, he decided to keep it properly. Consider it a parting gift, maybe? Even though its technically mine to begin with. Shaking his head with a smile, Natsume turned to his companions following behind him. Alright, everyone, time to head back to bed. Weve got things to do tomorrow morning. Clapping his hands, he signaled his Pokmon to return home. Despite the interruption making him feel wide awake, he believed in maintaining proper rest. Even if sleep wasnt coming, lying in bed and resting was important. This was one of Natsumes long-held principles. Oh, and Corvisquire. Caw? Good thing you didnt chase after it earlier. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a legendary Pokmon, Ogerponeven if it wasnt in the mood for a fight and only focused on fleeingmight retaliate if pushed into a corner. If it had retaliated with a move like Ivy Cudgel, Corvisquire might have ended up demonstrating its ability to fall asleep on the spot. Young ones sure have it easyinstant sleep. Caw? Tilting its head, Corvisquire didnt quite understand. What do you mean its a good thing I didnt chase? Were you worried my strength might scare that Pokmon? I see. From now on, Ill need to restrain myself. Corvisquire''s thoughts had already wandered far. It was imagining scenarios of entering an anime world, strategizing how to achieve a perfect, storybook ending. Perhaps those who liked novels and anime all had this ability to multitaskresponding outwardly while pondering plots in their heads. Under Natsumes guidance, the Pokmon returned to their respective rooms. After placing the glass marble into a drawer, Natsume prepared to return to bed. Bun-Bun. The Buneary naturally climbed onto a nearby recliner, seemingly intending to sleep there from now on. Persian carried its cushion into Natsumes room, settled into a corner, and sprawled on it. Thankfully, Natsumes room was spacious enough. Even if two more Persian joined, thered still be space. Feels like my rooms going to fill up with Pokmon in the future, Natsume thought as he lay in bed, stroking Persian''s head. At least he was glad he was a quiet sleeperno sleepwalking or snoring. Even if his Pokmon didnt mind, Natsume still cared about his image. --- Meanwhile, Ogerponclutching its spoilsran all the way to a wild, overgrown field. It found its destination and dove headlong into it. The hidden cave seemed naturally formed, devoid of human interference. Deep in the cave, Ogerpon finally let out a sigh of relief. Then it gazed at its glass marbles with unrestrained joy. Even in the dark, its eyes sparkled like jewels. Mm-hmm! Playing with the marbles, Ogerpon hummed in delight. Carefully, it stashed them away with its other treasuresobjects it had worked hard to collect. Of course, they were all items nobody wanted. If someone did, Ogerpon wouldnt take them. After all, Ogerpon considered itself a good child. It plopped down on its makeshift bed of grass and rags. Though it told itself to sleep, its mind wandered. Unbidden, it thought of the human it had met earlier. Mm-hmm I left one for him before leaving. He shouldnt be mad, right? But what if he is? Should I return it? But I dont want to And he didnt chase me. He probably isnt mad right? And he didnt seem to dislike me. Was I mistaken? Everyone usually hates me No, I dont think I was wrong. He doesnt dislike me Does he? Tossing and turning, Ogerpon eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep. At the same time, it made a decision. The day after tomorrowno, tomorrow. Ill go see him again. He shouldnt dislike me. Probably --- The Next Morning Bun~! Morning!~ Mi?!?! Seeing the disheveled, bed-headed Buneary emerge from Natsumes room, the Minccino froze in shock. Did something unthinkable happen last night?! When Natsume came out to wash up, he found Minccino holding onto Buneary protectively, eyeing him warily. ? What just happened? Chapter 13: Trainers Are PUA Masters, and the Undying Loyalty of Sandshrew After a round of explanations, Minccino finally understood what had happened. And it was shocked. Such an interesting event had occurred last night, and none of you bothered to call me?! So that''s how little I mean to you all?! Nestled in Buneary''s arms, the Minccino sobbed pathetically. Bun~ Buneary wanted to explain that it had tried calling it, but the Minccino had been in such a deep sleep that no amount of shaking could wake it. But seeing its pitiful state now, Buneary swallowed its words and instead turned a pleading gaze to Natsume. Feeling Buneary''s cry for help, Natsume crouched down in front of Minccino and pulled a few pink, sweet-flavored Pokblocks from his pocket, waving them near its face. Drawn by the sugary scent, Minccino instinctively looked up, only to shake its head vigorously the next second and bury itself deeper into Buneary''s fur. Come on, dont be mad, okay? Natsume coaxed gently. Its my fault, alright? We didnt call you last night because cleaning up was exhausting. We just wanted to let you sleep peacefully. Dont be angry with me, okay? First, apologize and soothe. Then, explain and justify. Finally, apologize again while lowering ones stance. The sequence flowed seamlesslylike a textbook example of a scoundrels playbook. (Crossed out: Truly, the gold standard for manipulative charmers.) Ahem. In Natsumes defense, he had once been a hot-blooded boy with dreams of becoming a Pokmon Trainer. And for Trainers, the ability to emotionally sway otherssometimes referred to as PUA (Pick-Up Artist) tacticswas a necessary skill. Building bonds with Pokmon required not only personal charisma but also the judicious application of psychological influence. To put it simply, this world had plenty of charming manipulators. This, among other reasons, was why Natsume wasnt considering romance or marriage for the time being. (That, and he didnt feel financially secure enough yet. After accounting for the farms expenses, his remaining funds were far from abundant.) Mi~ Since you put it that way, fine. Relenting, Minccino turned with a touch of pride, taking the Pokblocks from Natsumes hand with a reluctant air. But after reflecting on its attitude, it peeked at Natsume. Seizing a moment when he wasnt looking, it lightly licked his fingertips twice before scurrying off to a corner to savor its treats. Alright, thats settled... Natsume turned, thinking the matter resolved, only to catch Buneary staring after Minccino with a stunned expression. Ive known you this long, and I never realized you were such a shameless flirt? Though Buneary didnt say a word, Natsume could practically see that thought written on its face. More work to do. After a round of chaotic appeasement, Natsume finally calmed down the emotions of his Pokmon companions. Ill be relying on you all to watch the house, okay? Waving goodbye, Natsume left with Persian and Butterfree, heading toward the town to meet the construction company hed contacted earlier. Caw! Blue Corvisquire, eyes glued to the television, absentmindedly squawked in acknowledgment. From the TV, strange lines of dialogue drifted out: Even if burdened by the heavens, I must single-handedly support the Primal Imperial City... Beware the madman sharpening his blade at night, the emperor star wavers as Mars rises... Though incomprehensible, it sounded quite impressive. Corvisquires serious demeanor suggested it was about to grab a notebook to start jotting down notes. Buneary and Minccino promised to diligently guard the house. Though Buneary wanted to follow Natsume, a few of his sweet-talking phrases had left it dazed and agreeable to staying behind. As for Sandshrew? That one had been out digging fields since morning. For a Ground-type Pokmon fond of burrowing, being assigned an entire plot of land to excavate was a dream come true. When Natsume pointed to a large, unused area and said, This is all yours to dig, Sandshrews emotions could only be described as: If you do not mind, I would gladly call you my sworn father. (Quick skip to: A true man born under heaven and earth cannot remain beneath others forever!crossed out.) ~? Humming a self-composed tune about farming, Sandshrew arrived at the field as usual. Ah, these lands. My kingdom! As Sandshrew admired yesterdays handiwork, it suddenly noticed something unusual. Tilting its head, it stared curiously at a slender hole in the ground. Sand? Did I dig this hole? After some thought, Sandshrew was certain it hadnt. For one, Natsume had always insisted it refill any holes it dug. Secondly... Measuring the hole against its claws and body, Sandshrew concluded it was far too small for it to fit through. As it puzzled over the mystery, a pink head suddenly poked out of the hole. Chirr? Sand?! Both were equally startled. Meanwhile, Natsume, strolling down a countryside path, was scrolling through his contact list. Persian lazily padded beside him, while Butterfree danced gracefully in the open air. For Butterfree, the wide outdoors offered a refreshing environment. Though life with Natsumeeven in the old dormhad been pleasant, nothing compared to roaming freely in nature. Aha, found it! Finally locating a contact labeled Miss Machamp, Natsume called the number. This person ran a small construction workshop near the town, which he had found during his search for a building company. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though referred to as a construction company, it was more like a personal workshopa Trainer raising a Machamp and Conkeldurr team. As for the nickname Miss Machamp? When she introduced herself over the phone, she had been so enthusiastic that her words came out muddled. Plus, her social media avatar featured a Machamp carrying bricks. Hence, the name stuck. Her account name, by the way, was Machamp Construction & Renovation Team. Truly a sophisticated moniker. Hello, maam. This is Natsume, the one who contacted you earlier. Great, thank you so much. Ill head to town now and stop by your place in a bit. Elsewhere, a young woman lounging in bed suddenly bolted upright with the energy of a fish flopping out of water. Throwing open the courtyard door, she yelled loudly: Weve got work! Get ready, quick! A clients coming! In the yard, several Machamps and Conkeldurr paused mid-exercise to look at her in confusion. Clients? What clients? The realization dawned on them. Oh, right! Construction work. It had been so long since their last job that theyd almost forgotten they were a construction crew. The girls fists clenched in frustration. These guys... Chapter 14: The Most Desirable Pokémon to Marry and the Pink Adorable The townspeople are really welcoming, Natsume muttered, stroking the Persian head resting on his lap as he sat on a public bench. A hint of unease lingered in his tone. Everyone knows that the aunties at the village gates possess world-class intelligence-gathering abilities. Although Natsume had only just arrived in the town of Lianshan and had spent most of his days on the farm, it didnt take long for his basic information to spread among the older locals. What the uncles and aunties cared about, however, wasnt his Pokmon or their strength, nor his aspirations for the future. What they really wanted to know was whether he planned to settle in Lianshan long-term, whether he lived alone, and most importantly: did he have a girlfriend? That last question only became a hot topic after they had seen Natsume in person. Some of the elderly, possibly old acquaintances of his distant relatives, even grabbed Natsumes hand and recounted stories about people he didnt know, finishing with heartfelt remarks: Youve had a hard life, child. You seem like such a sensible young man. If you ever need anything, just come to Auntie! (Though that last line is best taken with a grain of salt.) While Natsume wasnt one to completely sever ties with relatives, he found relying on himself to be far more reassuring when it came to unfamiliar people. Besides, most of the time, Pokmon were more reliable than humans anyway. Loyal and kindwho wouldnt love adorable Pokmon with such virtues? Take Gardevoir, for instance, a long-time champion on the Most Desirable Pokmon to Marry list. Humanoid, beautiful, loyal, and protective of their trainershow could anyone not adore them? And not just Gardevoir. Even the regional variant, Hisuian Gardevoir, consistently ranks high on the list too. Who wouldnt like a cute little Southern lady? (Ahem.) Purr~ Persian, contentedly nestled on Natsumes lap, purred happily as he scratched behind its ears with practiced skill. It hadnt understood a single word of what those humans were saying, but since Natsume didnt seem to mind, it stayed put. As for Butterfree? It had entered a blissful daydream mid-conversation. Perhaps, Butterfree wondered, it had unintentionally learned the move Calm Mind. Could this mean it actually had a hidden talent for psychic powers? Still lost in its spiraling thoughts, Butterfree fluttered aimlessly beside them. Alright, time to find that contractor, Natsume said, snapping out of his own musings. He playfully pinched the Persian''s ears into various shapes before giving it a light tap on the head. Get up, lazybones. Persian, unbothered by the gentle smack, stretched lazily and climbed off Natsumes lap. It had grown used to this kind of teasing over the years. When it was just a little Meowth, back when Natsume was in his rebellious brat phase, the two of them had shared a chaotic but inseparable bond. Natsume, in his youth, wasnt exactly pleasant to be around, and the tiny Meowth had often found itself at the mercy of his antics. But because Natsume was its trainerand thus its source of foodit had learned to tolerate being posed in all sorts of silly positions. Also, it couldnt win in a fight back then. Young Natsume had once given Meowth an unforgettable lesson in dominance, using a well-executed sleeper hold to prove who was the boss of the house. Ah, good times. --- After following his phones navigation, Natsume arrived at a shop labeled Machamp Construction and Renovation Team (Material Wholesale). He triple-checked to make sure he had the right place. The storefront looked as if it hadnt been open for quite a while. Then again, so did most shops in town. These stores seemed to open daily despite appearing perpetually out of business. It made Natsume wonder how they sustained themselves. Were they simply hobbies to pass the time? Mr. Natsume, welcome! Just as he was about to knock, the door swung open. Out came a young woman with a somewhat shrewd expression, though her face was not unpleasant to look at. Behind her followed a crew of Machamp and Conkeldurr, all looking like seasoned construction workers. A perfect lineup for a construction company. Machamp, known for their obsessive fitness habits, saw brick-laying as just another form of exercise. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, the Conkeldurr line specialized in construction, embodying their love for building and crafting. Anyone in construction usually owned at least one of each Pokmon. Hello, Im Natsume, he said, shaking hands with the young woman and briefly explaining his farms current state and his plans for it. Although they had already discussed the project over the phone, face-to-face conversations often allowed for clearer communication. He also had a few new ideas he wanted to share. No problem, boss! Leave it to me! the woman declared, thumping her chest in a show of confidence. The sound, oddly reminiscent of knocking on wood, wasnt quite as impactful as a Machamps thump might have been. But her enthusiasm was genuine. --- Upon reaching the farm, the Machamp crew wasted no time unloading supplies and getting to work. Watching the bustling construction scene, Natsume decided to fetch some water for them. But as he approached the house, he noticed something unexpected by the door. Wait, are you saying you caught this little one for me? Natsume stared at the pink, adorable Pokmon standing beside Sandshrew, who was puffed up with pride. So the meme about Pokmon taking the initiative to help trainers catch more Pokmon was real? Shrew, shrew! Nodding vigorously, Sandshrew dragged the pink Pokmon closer, as if urging it to introduce itself. The pink Pokmon nervously glanced at Natsume, seemingly worried about whether it would be accepted. Chapter 15: The Shiny Furret and “But I Was Here First!” "Chirrr~" With tiny paws clasped nervously in front of its chest, the shiny Furret lowered its head, sneaking glances at Natsume from time to time, as though trying to gauge his reaction. If Natsume showed the slightest displeasure or furrowed his brows, the poor Pokmon might decide to leave on its own. But to the Furrets relief, Natsumes expression remained calm and kind throughout. No signs of irritation or rejection could be found. "I see. I understand now," Natsume said after listening to Sandshrews explanation. "Thank you, Sandshrew." The situation was simple, and unfortunately, all too common for shiny Pokmon. This pink Furret, with its unusual coloration, had been ostracized and bullied by its peers simply for being different. Although humans might find the pink living body pillow incredibly cute, within its own species, being shiny meant being abnormala reason for exclusion. Thus, the young Sentret had been forced to leave its home, embarking on a lonely journey of exile. Who knows how far it wandered before evolving into Furret and eventually settling on Natsumes farm? Apparently, it had arrived on the very first night Natsume moved inhis first unexpected tenant. Truthfully, it was a bit of a surprise. Looking at the visibly tense Furret, Natsume spoke softly, "Hello, Furret. Im the owner of this farm. Sandshrew must have already told you about me, right?" The Furret nodded quickly, indicating it was well aware of Natsumethe kind person who provided delicious food. When introducing Natsume, Sandshrew had struggled to find the right words, eventually settling on, A really good person who gives tasty things to eat. Though the description was vague, it hit all the right notes for Furret. For a wild Pokmon, food was paramount. Questions like "Is this person nice?" or "Will they make me battle?" could only be considered once their stomach was full. As the saying goes: "Only when the granaries are full do people learn etiquette." Similarly, Furret only needed the promise of food to decide to join the farm. That, coupled with Sandshrews reassurance that Natsume wouldnt force it into battles, sealed the deal. "I wont say much more. Would you like to become my companion?" Natsume asked gently. "Im not a Trainer, so you wont have to fight, but youll need to help out around the farm." Before Natsume could finish his sentence, Furrets head bobbed up and down like a metronome. If there had been a Pok Ball in front of it, the Furret would have eagerly slapped it, happily offering itself to Natsume. A boss who offers food, shelter, and no mandatory battles? Lets put it this way: Imagine your boss telling you, "From now on, youll work at the same level as a CEO. Just show up, and well provide you with a house and a carboth in your name. Meals are free, and your workload is minimal. You might just sweep the office or walk around occasionally." To someone like Natsume in his past life, this scenario would have been too good to even dream about. But now, Furret could proudly say, "Your wildest dreams? Im living them!" "Here you go." Natsume placed a Pok Ball in front of the Furret. "Chirrr!" The Furrets eyes lit up. It immediately slapped the Pok Ball, entering it in a flash of red light. The ball wobbled twice before locking in place. "Come on out, Furret," Natsume said after the capture was complete. He gently released the Furret and carefully labeled its Pok Ball, ready to store it on the shelf later. Initially, Natsume had planned to dedicate an entire room to organizing his Pok Balls, knowing hed likely befriend many Pokmon over time. But for now, a simple shelf would suffice. After all, big goals are achieved step by stepjust like marriage comes after dating. "Chirrr~" The newly released Furret swayed slightly before gazing at Natsume with sparkling eyes. Its small paws clasped at its chest, its hopeful intentions as clear as day. Understanding the Pokmons feelings, Natsume smiled and opened his arms. Seeing this, Furret squealed with excitement and leapt into Natsumes embrace, nuzzling its soft, pink head against his chin like an affectionate puppy. "There, there." As Natsume stroked Furrets head, a smile naturally spread across his face. Spending time with Pokmon always lifted his spirits. And speaking of Furretit had the perfect texture for a body pillow. Long, soft, and incredibly warm. A natural body pillow, really. Though it might be a bit much for summer use... Meanwhile, Sandshrew crossed its arms, exuding the air of a seasoned senior. As the first Pokmon Natsume met on the farm, Sandshrew felt a deep sense of pride. Sure, Furret, you may be cuddling with Natsume now, Sandshrew thought. But when youre busy snuggling, Im out there helping him capture more Pokmon. Thats the power of being a senior Pokmon! Noticing Sandshrews smug expression, Natsume chuckled. He reached out to ruffle Sandshrews head and slipped two Ground-type energy cubes into its paws. In an instant, Sandshrews mature and composed demeanor vanished, replaced by pure delight as it munched on the cubes. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Acting all grown-up, huh?" Natsume teased. "Youre still just a kid. Do you know how many adults would love to be your age again?" In the corner, a Buneary peeked out, tugging on a handkerchief it had somehow found. Its face was filled with envy, a cartoonishly dramatic scene only lacking the signature wavy, seaweed-shaped tears of a manga character. For the first time, Buneary had found a Trainer it truly likeda home it wanted to settle into. But why did it turn out like this? I was here first. I havent even hugged Natsume yet! Buneary could only stew in its jealousy, feeling completely left out. Beside it, a Minccino gently patted Buneary on the back. Though it didnt quite understand the situation, it decided that a smile and a comforting gesture were the safest responses. Chapter 16: Daily Farm Patrol and a Delivery After successfully capturing the Pokmon, Natsume took the shiny Furret on a tour around the farm, introducing it to the other Pokmon living there. This was part of his daily farm inspection. Although it was a time-consuming and labor-intensive task, it had become a necessary daily routine during the farms early days. At least until he caught a powerful Psychic-type Pokmon or a Rotom, this work had to be done by him personally. Powerful Psychic-types typically have high intelligence and can use their psychic abilities to sense and monitor the entire farm. This would allow them to assist Natsume in managing all areas of the property. As for Rotom, it was even more indispensable. In the modern era, its one of the most sought-after Pokmon, not for its combat abilities but for its utility, making it essential for large enterprises. The same goes for Porygon. However, since the family business is farming, Natsume prioritized getting a Rotom for now. Porygon could wait. Huh? Youre wondering if Natsume has enough machinery on the farm for Rotom to possess? Heh, welcome to the age of modern tech farms, kid. Woof! At the edge of the farm, the Mightyena father. excitedly nuzzled Natsumes hand, its tail wagging like a helicopter rotor. It completely ignored the disdainful looks from its mate and pup. Seriously, you''re competing with your own kid for attention? To this, Mightyena. smugly replied: Cant hear you~ After thoroughly ruffling their head, Natsume left enough Pokblocks to last the Mightyena family three days. Though he had repeatedly invited them to hang out near his residence, they still preferred their secluded spot at the farms edge, spending most of their days either patrolling or sunbathing. The Ursaring family nearby had a similar lifestyle. Unlike the close-knit Mightyena family, the Ursaring clan resembled a treasure-hunting squad that spread out across the farm. You could find Teddiursa in all sorts of unexpected places. Just this morning, while washing up, Natsume found a Teddiursa rummaging through his bathroom cabinet, its rear sticking out. He eventually hauled it out, gave it a few light taps, and left the rest to be scolded by the unimpressed Buneary. Judging by the little bears goofy grin and wagging tongue, though, it clearly wasnt listening. Natsume could only sigh. After all, most Pokmon have childlike intelligence. And children, by nature, tend to be rebellious. Scolding rarely works. --- These are for me? Natsume stood in surprise before a large tree hollow. The Ursaring family had settled in the farms orchard, choosing a spacious hollow as their home. Inside, treasures they had scavenged from the farm were piled high. Seeing Natsume arrive, Ursaring pushed out a collection of items they had clearly prepared for him beforehand. These were things they believed Natsume would like. Thank you, Ursaring. Patting its smooth fur, Natsume left plenty of Pokblocks as usual. Unlike the overly enthusiastic Mightyena father., Ursaring maintained a reserved demeanor, only gently rubbing Natsumes hand. Teddiursa! Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nearby, a few Teddiursa jumped up and down, eager to show their contributions. We worked hard too! Pet us! Chuckling, Natsume patted each little bears head in turn. Energized by their reward, the Teddiursa bounced off like children at a sports festival, brimming with energy and ready to continue their treasure hunt. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Ursaring glanced at Natsume, as if apologizing for its kids behavior. Reassuring the Pokmon with a few more pats, Natsume gathered the gifts and started inspecting them on his way back. Lets see here. A Clefairy plushie, practically new. A can of unused repel? Not sure how useful thisll be. Is this a Moon Stone? Howd they even find something like this on the farm? Most of the Ursaring familys gifts were berries, though occasionally, thered be more unique items. The plushie and Moon Stone were nice finds, but the repel It just felt odd using it on a farm. For now, hed set it asidewho knows, it might come in handy someday. --- Bzzzt. Butterfrees blue eyes glowed softly as it used Psychic to carry the berries and plushie, easing Natsumes load. Furret? Following at Natsumes side, Furret tilted its head curiously. There are so many companions on this farm, and they all seem nice. And none of them give me weird looks. Except that Mightyenait seems a bit slow? After circling the farm and checking the construction teams progress, Natsume headed home to drop off his haul. With Persian supervising the workers, there shouldnt be any major issues. While he didnt think the forewoman was the type to slack off, you could never be too sure these days. As he reached his doorstep, he spotted a Delibird with a small satchel, holding up a card and repeatedly nodding and lowering its head, seemingly verifying something. Hello, are you delivering something? Natsume approached quickly. Hed ordered a batch of materials and equipment for crafting Pokblocks online recently, so the Delibird was likely delivering those. Delibird! The Pokmon perked up upon seeing him. Delibird! Delibird! Where have you been? Ive been searching for you forever! Knocked on the door, no response! And that weirdo bird on the second floor just stared at me, muttering who-knows-what like some kind of creep. Pulling out a clipboard from its uniform, Delibird presented it to Natsume while grumbling. At the same time, it efficiently pulled a package from its seemingly endless satchela box much larger than its bag. Sorry, sorry, I was out patrolling the farm. Ill make sure to give that Corvisquire a talking-to later. Signing his name on the receipt, Natsume took the package and apologized sincerely. Waving dismissively, Delibird flapped its wings and flew off to its next destination. Halfway through the flight, it paused. Wait can that human understand me? The realization that all its complaints might have been perfectly understood left Delibird mortified. This must be what they call dying inside. Another day, another social blunder. Chapter 17: Zigzagoon: Mom, I Can Fly! In the anime, making Pokblocks is incredibly simplejust toss some Berries into a machine, press a button, and wait patiently for the process to finish. In reality, however, crafting Pokblocks is an intricate and painstaking process requiring great attention to detail. Even the simplest Pokblocks require multiple steps: washing the Berries, juicing them, allowing sedimentation, purifying to remove impurities, and carefully blending in precise proportions. Certain Berries need to undergo repeated processing to achieve the desired effects. And this is just for the basic Pokblocks. In Natsume''s mind, some recipes for Pokblocks border on the fantastical. The ingredients range from bizarre to outright peculiar, some even requiring the intervention of psychic powers to complete. As a result, Pokblocks are a significant expense for Trainers in real life. If youre not aiming to be a powerful Trainer and simply see your Pokmon as family members, then regular meals will suffice. But if you want to grow stronger... Sir, would you like this Ground-type Pokblock for 799 per bag, or this premium one for 1,288 per bag? Or perhaps youd prefer a specialized series tailored to a specific Pokmon? Custom orders are also available, but there might be an additional charge~ After all, if spending more can make you stronger, whats there to hesitate about? Due to the complexity of crafting Pokblocks, as well as the tradition of most Breeders to withhold key techniques from their apprentices, the price of Pokblocks remains high. While not entirely out of reach for the average person, theyre definitely not cheap. --- Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All right, just set it down here. Placing the recently delivered box on the floor, Natsume stood up and stretched his shoulders. What used to be a bedroom on the first floor had been repurposed into a small workspace for making Pokblocks. Of course, Natsume didnt plan to use this room as a permanent workstation. Eventually, efficiency would demand a larger and better-equipped space. For large factories, ordinary Pokblocks are already produced through assembly-line automation. Although Natsume didnt plan to replicate their methods, he knew hed need a bigger room to meet the needs of the Pokmon on his farm. Fur. Brii. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Natsume began unpacking the items from the box one by one. Beside him, Furret and Butterfree helped organize the contents. Apart from various Berries, there were a few strange devices and small packets. Furrets ears twitched as its big tail swayed behind it. It was trying its best to understand the purpose of these items. Berries were for eatingbut what about the rest? Tableware, maybe? Furret was completely baffled. After unpacking everything, Natsume casually pushed the box aside. Noticing this, Butterfree used its psychic abilities to move the empty box into the adjacent storage room while neatly organizing the Berries and equipment. Okay, time to make some Pokblocks! Are you ready, Butterfree? Natsume glanced around the tidy room and nodded with satisfaction. While the workspace would inevitably get messy later, a clean environment always put him in a good mood. Brii! Butterfree nodded enthusiastically, ready to assist. It had helped Natsume with Pokblock-making before and was already familiar with the process. Just as Natsume was about to say something, he noticed Furret gazing at him expectantly. Newcomers always hoped to be assigned tasks so they wouldnt feel awkward standing around. After a moments thought, Natsume said: Furret, could you do me a favor? Go tell Buneary to bring over the Berries I prepared earlier. Then head to the farmland and let Sandshrew know the seeds have arrived. Furr!! Hearing its instructions, Furrets eyes lit up. Its ears perked like antennas receiving a signal. With an eager cry to show its understanding, it darted out at full speed. This is my first task from NatsumeI must do it perfectly! Watching Furret dash off, Natsume chuckled and began preparing to make Pokblocks. First, the Berries were washed, chopped, and pitted. The juice was extracted, and the leftover pulp filtered out. The juice was then left to settle while other ingredients were prepared. The small room buzzed with activity as Natsume worked. --- Meanwhile, after informing Buneary, Furret ran to the farmland to find Sandshrew. Determined to complete its task quickly, it even used Quick Attack. In a nearby patch of grass, a Zigzagoon heard a strange sound. Looking up, it saw a pink-and-white blur streak past like a low-flying meteor. The resulting gust of wind swept Zigzagoon into the air. For a moment, Zigzagoons mind filled with a single thought: Mom, I can fly! Unfortunately, it was just an illusion. With a resounding thud, Zigzagoon landed face-first on the ground. Rolling onto its back, it stared blankly at the sky. What just happened? After a few seconds, Zigzagoon sprang to its feet. It mustve been those Poochyena again! Just you waitIm getting my gang! Snarling, Zigzagoon dashed home to rally its brothers for a showdown. Dont ask whether we can win. The important thing is that our spirit wont be defeated! If we lose today, well fight again tomorrow! Always stay ready for battle! Five versus threewe have the advantage! --- Near the farmland, Sandshrew frowned as it examined a patch of earth. Sure, having land to dig up was great, but wasnt this supposed to be farmland? Shouldnt there be crops or something? Theres a saying: No such thing as overworked land, only overworked oxen. But Sandshrew felt that if this continued, the land might actually give out before it did. Just as Sandshrew was lost in thought, a pink blur raced toward it from the distance. Fur! Fur! Furret arrived, shouting: Natsume said the seeds have arrivedhe needs you to head back! Hearing this, Sandshrews eyes lit up. It curled into a ball and launched into a high-speed spin. Furret, having stopped abruptly from its sprint, watched Sandshrew zoom past in a blur, its face full of confusion. Fur? Oh well, no time to thinkI need to get back to Natsume. Shaking its head, Furret quickly followed Sandshrew back home. --- In the workshop, Natsumes first batch of Pokblocks for the farm was ready. The fragrant aroma of fresh Berries filled the room, mingling with the steam rising from the finished product. Todays work: complete. Chapter 18: What Happens When You Eat Too Much Junk Food? A rectangular mold was carefully removed from a device resembling a steamer. Inside was a translucent, jelly-like block of energy food, glistening under the light. Phew. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wearing thick gloves, Natsume exhaled softly as he placed the mold aside to cool down. Once it reached the right temperature, he would cut it into smaller portionsready-to-serve pokblocks. One such cube could sustain a Pokmon for several days. Of course, this excluded Pokmon like Snorlax, infamous for their insatiable appetites. The first batch, done. Looking at the first pokblocks he had crafted since coming to the farm, Natsume nodded with satisfaction. It seemed his skills hadnt dulled. While he had only been on the farm for a few days, hands-on tasks like these always required regular practice to maintain proficiency. Buneary! Minccino! At the doorway, Buneary and Minccino sniffed the air, their eyes sparkling at the enticing aroma wafting through the room. The freshly made pokblocks emitted a warm, fruity scent unique to berriesa rare and tantalizing treat for the two little Pokmon. Seeing their eager expressions, Natsume took off his gloves and tested the cube''s temperature. Although still warm, it had cooled enough to be safe to touch. He sliced a small piece off, divided it into three portions, and handed them to Butterfree, Buneary, and Minccino. Minccino and Buneary received their portions as if they were precious treasures. Unable to wait, they immediately took a biteonly to yelp softly after burning their mouths. Fuwah fuwah! Both Pokmon instinctively blew on the food to cool it down, their reactions mirroring each other. Briii! Butterfree floated over, sensing their struggle. Its psychic powers gently lifted the freshly prepared energy cubes, while a light breeze stirred from its fluttering wings. Move: Tailwind. Minccino! Buneary! Grateful for Butterfrees help, the two Pokmon continued blowing on their portions. Once the cubes were cool enough, they popped them into their mouths, their faces lighting up with sheer bliss. Watching this, Natsume recalled a popular meme: Reporter: Do you know what happens when you eat too much junk food? Man: You smile with happiness. Of course, pokblocks were far from junk food. Turning back, Natsume began preparing the next batch. While pokblocks technically had a shelf life, no trainer ever let them go to waste. Anyone who did should consider managing a warehouse instead of Pokmon. As he washed some berries, a dirt-colored blur rolled toward the house, followed by a pink streak zipping close to the ground. Sandshrew! Sandshrew! Sandshrew rolled to a halt just before crashing into the house, expertly performing a drift and side-parking maneuver. It then trotted excitedly inside to find Natsume. Furret, on the other hand, wasnt as skilled. Although it managed to avoid a direct collision, it overshot the house by several meters before coming to an awkward stop. When Furret finally returned indoors, it saw Sandshrew receiving several pouches from Natsume. The seriousness with which Sandshrew held the bags made it look like a dedicated otaku cradling a collectors edition of rare merchandise. Furret tilted its head but didnt bother asking. It simply filed Sandshrew under the category of "odd Pokmon." The farm seemed full of quirky Pokmon, from Mightyena Sr., who acted like a goofy dad, to the Zigzagoon and Poochyena perpetually bickering. Now Sandshrew had joined the ranks, along with the Corvisquire upstairs who endlessly recited TV catchphrases. Good work, Furret. Natsume handed Furret a piece of pokblock as a reward. Taking a towel from Buneary, he wiped his hands before patting Furret on the head. Feeling the warmth of Natsumes palm, Furret closed its eyes in contentment, its tail swaying rhythmically. At that moment, it finally understood why Mightyena Sr. enjoyed these pats so much. My apologies, Mightyena Sr. I misjudged you before. You''re not strange at all. With that, Furret mentally removed Mightyena Sr. from its blacklist and continued savoring Natsumes attention. Meanwhile, Natsume discussed the days tasks with Sandshrew. These transparent bags contain regular grains, while the ones with patterns hold seeds for Prosperity Grains. Well divide the farmland into four sectionstwo for regular grains and two for Prosperity Grains. Sandshrew! Although it didnt fully grasp why there had to be four sections instead of two, Sandshrew assured Natsume it understood. Sitting on the doorstep with its pouches and an pokblock, Sandshrews excitement was palpable. Watching farming videos on the communal tablet had stirred something deep within it. Now, holding the seeds, Sandshrew felt a profound awakeningits Farming Spirit had been kindled. Upstairs, Corvisquire paced back and forth, refining its battle combosnot strategies like "Toxic Stall," but stylish moves for flair. Essentially, it was practicing taunts to mock opponents after a victory. Amid its dramatic rehearsal, the egg in Natsumes incubator wobbled ever so slightly. Inside, a small life impatiently waited to emerge, eager to experience the world. As dusk fell, the setting sun painted the horizon with hues of orange and red. Deep within its cave, Ogerpon stretched lazily and performed a series of warm-up exercises. "Hum! In a little while, it would go meet the human from yesterday. Clenching its tiny fists, Ogerpon cheered itself on. You can do this, Ogerpon. Theres nothing scary out there. Just ordinary things. Absolutely nothing to fear... But as it peeked outside, doubt crept in. Its terrifying! Why did I think I could do this?! Hmmm The cave echoed with Ogerpons panicked cries. Chapter 19: A Small Head Hanging in the Darkness Under the dim sky, Ogerpon sat quietly near the entrance of the cave, waiting for night to fall. "Hmmm..." Staring at the desolate landscape outside, Ogerpon''s mind began to wander. When exactly had it arrived here? It couldn''t remember. Perhaps it had been one or two months ago. Back then, neither humans nor Pokmon liked it in the place where it lived. For some reason, they all seemed to dislike it. After several failed attempts to make friends, Ogerpon made a decision: I''ll leave this place and start a new life somewhere no one knows me. So, on a moonless and windy night, Ogerpon packed its small belongings and set off on a journey. It had no destination or specific requirements, just an impulsive decision to leave. The journey wasn''t a kind one. Despite trying hard to stick to remote paths, it still occasionally encountered rangers. When trainers discover an exceptionally rare Pokmon they''ve never seen before, their reactions are predictable. It wasnt just humans. Even the Pokmon it encountered werent friendly. No Pokmon wanted a newcomer stealing food in their territory. Fleeing time and time again, Ogerpon eventually stumbled into the area near the farm. It found this hidden cave in a barren patch of land and decided to settle down. After arriving, Ogerpon spent some time adapting to the environment. Food was scarce, but it was safe. A few nights ago, it discovered the farm. Venturing in for a little exploration, it was accidentally spotted by a human. At that time, Ogerpon panicked. Fortunately, that human hadnt attacked it. "Hmm!" Unsure how much time had passed, Ogerpon came to its senses as the sky grew darker. It stood up, slapped its small face lightly to stay alert, and donned its carefully prepared "stealth outfit" before setting off. Just as it was about to leave the cave, something came to mind. It turned back, rummaged through the cave''s depths, and pulled out two glass marbles, clutching them tightly. "Hmmm!" Standing at the cave entrance, Ogerpon cheered itself on. You can do this! After taking a deep breath, it somersaulted forward, tumbling out of the cave and vanishing into the tall grass. A few seconds later, it cautiously poked its head up to observe. Confirming no Pokmon had noticed it, it began crawling forward in a prone position. Though crawling, its speed was surprisingly on par with a human walking briskly. Is this the power of a Legendary Pokmon? (Not really.) With its "twisted and shadowy crawling," Ogerpon managed to reach the edge of the farm just as night fell. "Woof..." Inside the newly repaired doghouse, Mightyena''s ears twitched before its eyes snapped open. This small doghouse was built by the construction team while they were repairing the fence earlier in the afternoon. Since there were leftover materials, the lead craftsman had made it for fun during his break, even hanging a sign that read "Doghouse." Mightyena quietly exited the house, its eyes sharp and alert. It had caught the scent of something unfamiliar! Its keen gaze scanned the surroundings and eventually locked onto a small figure attempting to climb over the fence. Hmm, green, wearing strange clothes, very small, and looking quite timid. Ah, now it rememberedthis was the one Natsume had mentioned. Natsume had said not to bother it if it came by and to just let it in. The vigilance in Mightyena''s eyes faded. With a yawn, it turned back to the doghouse to rest. It had the night shift later, so it needed to catch up on sleep. As for its rowdy pups whod gotten into a fight with some Zigzagoon and Poochyena earlier in the day, Mightyena decided it would teach them how to fight properly starting tomorrow. Back in the doghouse, Mightyena looked at its foolish offspring and shook its head. What could it do? They were its pups, after all. Though clumsy and dimwitted, they were still its responsibility. sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After confirming Ogerpon had climbed over the fence, Mightyena pawed at its bedding, found a comfortable position, and lay back down. "Hmmm..." Finally, it was inside. After climbing over the fence, Ogerpon didnt linger. It leapt forward with a "belly flop," disappearing into the bushes to hide. Only after catching its breath did it notice a faint, enticing aroma. Sniffing carefully, Ogerpon realized the scent was familiar. It was the kind of smell it remembered from Pokmon that had been caught by trainers. But this aroma was much richer. Unconsciously, Ogerpon followed the scent, its feet moving as if guided by an invisible force. When it came to its senses, it was already in front of a two-story building. This seemed to be where that human lived. A shiver ran down Ogerpon''s spine, and it quickly ducked back into the bushes. Through a small gap, it peeked at the house. In its eyes, the house stood out against the night, a warm anomaly dispelling the darkness and fear. Even at this distance, it could faintly hear the lively sounds from within. Changing its angle slightly, Ogerpon managed to see through an open window. The human it had seen before was busy with something, surrounded by several Pokmon who occasionally took something from the human''s hands and eagerly ate it. They looked so happy. Ogerpon stared blankly at the scene before it. A complicated emotion welled up in its chest. "Hmm..." Clutching its chest, Ogerpon hung its small head low. What was this feeling? It was strange and unfamiliar. Am I... hungry? Having lived alone in the wild for so long, rarely interacting with humans or even other Pokmon, Ogerpon couldnt quite understand its current emotions. They were hard to describejust uncomfortable and unpleasant. --- How is it? Do you like the taste? Inside the workshop, Natsume cut off some edges from a freshly made batch of Pokblocks and handed them to his Pokmon. Hed spent the entire afternoon experimenting with various basic recipes he hadnt tried before. With so many formulas in his mind, there were still plenty left to test. His Pokmon took turns expressing their opinions. Minccino and Sandshrew found it average, while Buneary and Furret seemed to enjoy it more. Meow~ Persian, sitting by Natsumes side, perked up its ears as if noticing something. It rubbed against Natsumes hand and gestured for him to look outside. There... Following Persian''s gaze, Natsume spotted a small head hanging low in the darkness. Chapter 20: Capturing Pokémon Is Like Going on a Date In the darkness, Ogerpon''s little head drooped slightly, its silhouette faintly visible. Although it was unclear what had happened, the Pokmon seemed downcast. Perched by the window, Minccino and Buneary curiously observed the unfamiliar Pokmon from afar. They seemed to silently agree: if all went well, this little one would likely join the farm soon. Watching Ogerpon sulking alone in the shadows, Natsume decided to act. He rummaged through his cabinet and retrieved the pokblocks he had prepared earlier that afternoon. There were about twenty different types of cubes, including ones suitable for all Pokmon and several specifically for Grass-types. After all, aside from Bug-types, Grass-types were the most common Pokmon in the wild. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsume always believed in being prepared. You never knew when these would come in handy. Carefully portioning the cubes into small bags, he sealed each one neatly and placed them into a single package. When he looked up again, Ogerpon was no longer sulking but watching him with a mix of envy, unease, and longing. The moment their eyes met, Ogerpon froze. Its entire body stiffened, as if caught by a paralysis move. Then came a wave of panic, and the urge to flee took over. But as it turned to leave, it hesitated. Remembering Natsumes previous gentle demeanor, Ogerpon cautiously glanced back. Through the window, Natsume held up the small package, looking genuinely concerned. There was no malice in his gaze. Sensitive as they were, children and Pokmon alike could instinctively detect ill intentions. And Pokmon, like children, were often pure-hearted beings. After a moment of hesitation, Ogerpon turned back, inching out of the bushes. Step by step, it cautiously approached the window, all while keeping a watchful eye on Natsume, ready to bolt at any moment. Natsume noticed this and deliberately slowed his movements, ensuring he wouldnt frighten the wary little Pokmon. Hello there, Ogerpon, Natsume greeted softly as the Pokmon neared the window. The sudden sound startled Ogerpon, making it flinch. But after a couple of seconds, seeing that Natsume remained still, it timidly replied, Hmmm Hello. My name is Natsume. I run this farm, he said gently, stretching an empty hand out the window. Would you like to be friends? ... Ogerpon hesitated, but after a brief pause, it quickly darted forward to lightly touch Natsumes hand before retreating to a safe distance. Its tiny heart raced as if it had just accomplished a monumental feat. In its mind, the barrier of wariness had now largely dissolved. First steps were always the hardest. Would you like to come inside? Natsume invited. Ogerpon hesitated again but shook its head to decline. Natsume didnt mind at all. He had merely extended the offer to see what would happen. A refusal at this stage was only natural. Building trust took time, just like developing any relationship. Here, he said, holding out the small package of pokblocks. I made these this afternoon. Would you like to try them? Id love to hear your feedback. Although it felt a little awkward to say, Natsume couldnt deny ithe was quite fond of Ogerpon. Who wouldnt like a cute and tiny Pokmon like this? Yes, he admitted it openly. He was drawn to Ogerpons charm! And he was unapologetic about it. Better to be honest than to act aloof, pretending not to care while secretly longing. The era of tsundere attitudes was long over. Watching Ogerpon cautiously sniff the package, its eyes lit up with excitement. It eagerly nodded and reached out, carefully clutching the small bag to its chest. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Ogerpon pulled out two small glass beads from somewhere. Hummm! It squeaked, offering the beads to Natsume. Natsume quickly realized what Ogerpon meant. If Natsume was upset about anything Ogerpon had done before, the beads were meant to make amends. You dont have to, Natsume said with a chuckle. Didnt you already leave me one of these last time? Relieved, Ogerpons face lit up, and it quickly stashed the beads back into its bag. This human is a good person! Ogerpon gazed at Natsume with sparkling eyes, its trust solidified. It now knew, without a doubt, that this human was unlike anyone it had encountered before. Chapter 21: A Passing Trainer? Morning sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a warm glow in the room as tiny particles danced in the air currents. From the window, a heartwarming scene unfolded. A handsome boy lay fast asleep on his bed, cradling a shiny pink Furret in his arms. At the foot of the bed, a Persian slept soundly, shielding its head with its paws from the piercing sunlight. On a lazy recliner, a petite Minccino stretched languidly, loosening its tiny limbs. After rubbing the sleep from its eyes, Minccino glanced out the window at the scenery before hopping lightly onto the pillow to nudge Natsume awake. "Minccino," it squeaked softly. "Morning, Minccino," Natsume mumbled as he groggily opened his eyes. Smiling at the adorable Pokmon so close, he reached out and gently ruffled its head, eliciting a blissful expression from the tiny creature. A few minutes later, Natsume stood in the bathroom, hair a chaotic mess, brushing his teeth while scrolling through his phone. Beside him, Minccino diligently brushed its teeth with its miniature toothbrush, mirroring its trainers routine. It had been about a week since the mischievous Ogerpon had "visited" Natsumes farm. That night, Natsume hadnt captured Ogerpon, choosing instead to establish a bond of friendship. Before leaving, Natsume had told the Pokmon it was welcome to visit the farm anytime. Although it had agreed, Ogerpon had only shown up three times during the week. Each time, it would sneak in under the cover of darkness, empty its little pouch of energy cubes, and quietly refill it before skulking away. Its "stealth" efforts were far from flawless, though. Every time it climbed the fence, the Mightyena family would quietly observe from a distance, occasionally whispering comments: "Its moves are getting smoother." "But seriously, look at those stubby legsits not even trying to jump properly." Pure slander, of course. Natsume pushed open the window, and the farms lively scene stretched out before him. Compared to its neglected state when he first arrived, the farm was now brimming with life. Near the fields, Sandshrew in its straw hat strolled leisurely with a small watering can, greeting a line of passing Cottonee. In addition to the Pokmon Natsume had officially captured, the farm was also home to some "wild residents." Natsume didnt plan on catching all of themso long as they didnt cause trouble, they were free to stay. The fields, divided into neat quadrants, were lush and green. The cropsordinary grains and the specialty Gracidea grains Natsume had broughtwere growing well. Interestingly, while two fields were just sprouting, the other two were nearly ready for harvest. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This discrepancy was due to Natsume''s "experiment." Two plots were planted with regular grains, and two with Gracidea grains. For one plot of each type, Natsume had infused it with his "knockoff Viridian Force," nurturing them daily. The results were impressive: the infused crops grew significantly faster and even seemed to have mutatedthankfully in a beneficial way. Natsume planned to sell the regular crops while keeping the infused ones for personal use on the farm. He also intended to experiment with using his power to speed up the growth of berries and see if they could enhance his energy cubes. "Sandshrew~" The diligent Pokmon pulled out a large sack and used its tiny paws as makeshift scoops to sprinkle powdered remnants onto the soil. These leftovers, byproducts from Pokblock production, served as excellent fertilizer. Natsume had also saved berry seeds, experimenting with sprouting them thanks to tips hed found online. "Good morning, Furret. Morning, Butterfree. Morning, Buneary. And you, Corvisquiredid you stay up late again?" Natsume teased as he greeted his Pokmon one by one. "You know, staying up too late can cause serious feather loss for bird Pokmon." As for Persian? It had only come back to the room at dawn after patrolling the grounds overnight, seemingly treating the property as its personal territory. Thanks to Persians efforts, Natsume always slept peacefully, knowing any trouble would be swiftly detected. Just as Natsume was about to head out for his usual farm inspection, a commotion erupted in the distance. Listening closely, he realized it came from the Mightyena familyand this time, their barks carried a sense of urgency. "Whats going on?" Natsume muttered, puzzled, as he hurried toward the noise, accompanied by Butterfree and his shiny Furret. Persian, reluctantly waking from its nap, stretched and followed lazily, looking visibly grumpy from its disrupted sleep. At the farms edge, the Mightyena family had formed a semi-circle around a young boy, who stood flustered and defensive. Two Pokmon accompanied him, one on either side. "Wait, wait, I mean no harm!" the boy stammered, clearly overwhelmed as the Mightyena continued to growl and block his path. The Mightyena father, ever vigilant, had instantly deemed the boy suspicious after catching him loitering near the farms borders early in the morning. "Whats going on here?" Natsume called out, arriving on the scene. "Im the owner of this farm, Natsume. And you are?" he asked, directing a firm gaze at the intruder. "Woof, woof!" barked Mightyena senior, launching into a spirited report: This guys been skulking around since early morning. Definitely up to no good! Natsume turned back to the boy, waiting for his explanation. "My name is Fu Gu," the boy stammered. "Im a traveling Trainer. I stumbled across this place during my journey and got curious, so I stopped to take a closer look." Fu Gus nervous demeanor didnt inspire much confidence. While his intentions might have been innocent, his excessive curiosity had clearly crossed a line. Most people find overly curious individuals more irritating than endearingsomething Fu Gu had yet to grasp. Chapter 22: Dirty Tactics Are Part of Battle So much for just passing by, huh? Looking at the boy decked out with a travel backpack and a fully equipped outdoor jacket, Natsume couldnt help but inwardly ridicule him. As mentioned before, Trainers and anglers share some similarities to a degree: they both seek out uncharted territories. Only the greenest of greenhorns would obediently stick to well-trodden paths. More experienced Trainers, however, constantly search for untouched, unspoiled regions. Remote mountains, desolate wilderness, barren landscapesnone of these faze them. The fewer the people, the better. Fewer people mean more treasures and rare Pokmon. At least, thats the idea; fewer visitors usually equate to greater rewards. Whats that? You think places with bad environments might not have Pokmon? Dont underestimate the adaptability of Pokmon! Sky, land, deep sea, rainforeststheres hardly a corner of the world where Pokmon dont exist. Even space and alternate dimensions are known to harbor Pokmon. As for this kid, Fu Gu, who called himself a "traveling Trainer," it reflected one of two major classifications of Trainers in this world: Travelers and Academics. Traveler Trainers often forgo higher education after high school, embarking on journeys to explore and challenge gyms. Some even start traveling right after middle school. Of course, for safety reasons, officials recommend beginning such journeys only after completing high school. On the other hand, Academic Trainers progress through the traditional routestudying, taking exams, and pursuing degrees. Many continue into postgraduate studies before embarking on their Trainer careers. The rivalry between the two groups has always been a hot topic, with both sides exchanging plenty of derogatory nicknames over the years. While both paths ultimately lead to similar destinations, that doesnt stop the two camps from looking down on one another. This divide also shows up in competitive recruitment during college entrance exam seasonsimilar to those annoying telemarketing calls. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsume had been through this before. In the end, between Traveler and Academic, he chose a third option: not becoming a Trainer at all. Instead, he declared, Im heading home to inherit the farm! And as fate would have it, here we are. So, what brings you here, young man? Natsumes thoughts returned to the present as he eyed the boy in front of him, along with the Aipom and Weepinbell at his side. Judging by their overall energy, the boy wasnt bad. For context, Pokmon strength in this world is broadly categorized into six levels:This international system has some flexibility depending on the region, but it generally applies across the board. In Natsumes home region, the translations align with these levels. Based on observation, Fu Gus Pokmon seemed to hover around Level 20, marking him as a rookiebut a competent one. If possible, Id like to challenge you to a battle. Fu Gu bowed slightly, his eyes sparkling with excitement. His gaze kept drifting to the shiny Furret by Natsumes side. A shiny Pokmon! It was his first time seeing one in real life. Anyone capable of capturing a shiny Pokmon had to be strong, right? The boys thoughts were innocent enough. ... Though Natsume had already guessed as much, he couldnt help but feel a little exasperated. Trainers, after all, were like thisalways hunting for battles wherever they went. The whole our eyes met, so we must battle thing was practically a motto. Compared to Trainers, anglers seemed like a much quieter bunch. At least they stayed still while fishing. Well, except for when they got lost trying to find their way home. Natsume glanced at his own Pokmon lineup. Rookie (1C10)Standard (11C25)Elite (26C40)Gym Leader (41C55)Elite Four (56C70)Champion (71C80)Shiny Furret: Level 25, barely on par with the opponents strength. Having recently joined the farm, Furret hadnt undergone any rigorous training yet.Butterfree: Level 29, trained early on as both a mainstay and a tactical support Pokmon. It specialized in varied and... well, dirty strategies.Persian: Level 53, by far the farms strongest battler. This Pokmon had been with Natsume since childhood, benefiting from years of specially-crafted Pokblocks.Well, why not? Scratching his head, Natsume shrugged and agreed. Might as well treat it as morning exercise. Would a 2v2 battle work for you? No problem! Fu Gu nodded eagerly, ready to go. Since this wasnt an official match, the two skipped the formalities and got right to it. Aipom, prepare for battle! You good to go, Butterfree? Unlike Fu Gus enthusiasm, Natsume calmly turned to his Butterfree for confirmation. Freee~ After a moment of thought, Butterfree nodded. It had been a while since its last fighttime to stretch those wings. Alright then. Lets begin. The battle commenced with Aipom flashing a mischievous grin before letting out an ear-piercing screech. Scary Face, designed to startle opponents and make them flinch. But Butterfree remained unfazed, quickly gaining altitude. A blinding flash of light followed, leaving Aipoms vision entirely white. Screeech! Ah, crap! The sudden flash not only blinded Aipom but also Fu Gu himself, leaving him teary-eyed. By the time his vision cleared, the sight before him was... unsettling. A thick, purplish liquid coated Aipoms face. Above, Butterfrees wings glimmered, scattering a mix of glittering powdersparalysis powder, poison powder, and rage powderall drifting toward Aipom. Purple liquid? Likely Toxic. The combination of powders? A Sleep Powder + Air Cutter + Supersonic cocktail, garnished with disruption tactics. Floating leisurely in the air, Butterfree continued bombarding Aipom with poison and ranged attacks, occasionally tossing in Psybeam or Air Slash to interrupt any counter-moves. A few minutes later, Aipom lay sprawled on the ground, covered in unidentifiable purple fluids, tongue lolling out, with an oddly serene expression of relief. As Fu Gu frantically administered antidotes, he glanced at Natsume with a hint of grievance. Natsume, utterly unbothered, simply remarked, Dirty tricks are an essential part of a Trainers repertoire, young man. If this rattles you, youve still got a long way to go. Weepinbell, your turn! Taking a deep breath, Fu Gu steadied himself. Fine. You want tricks? My Weepinbell can play that game too! Paralysis Powder, Poison Powder, Growth, and Vine Whipit could outlast Butterfree through sheer attrition. That was his plan, at least. Until he heard Natsume issue the next command: Butterfree, Psychic Earth Toss. Ready. Fu Gu could only watch, dumbstruck, as his Weepinbell was lifted high into the airthen slammed down with brutal force. Fu Gu: ... Damn it! Chapter 23: The Egg is About to Hatch! A few minutes later, Fu Gu squatted on the ground with a defeated expression, spraying potion on his Weepinbell. The brief battle just now had plunged him into deep despair. Sure, the tactics Natsume used were technically things that had been taught in school, but experiencing them firsthand was a whole different level of frustration. Dirty tactics were despised for a reason: they were infuriating and often seemed impossible to counter. Strictly speaking, every underhanded strategy had been thoroughly researched, with countermeasures meticulously developed over the years. But remembering all of them? Impossible. There were simply too many strategies, and just as many counters. His brain couldnt keep up. Managing to memorize a handful of the basics already felt like an achievement. With a heavy sigh, Fu Gu sank further into his melancholy. Natsume, on the other hand, fully empathized. When he first arrived in this world, Natsume had been brimming with confidence. He thought his past-life experience with strategy games might not make him an unbeatable champion but would at least let him dominate the rookie scene. Then he opened a textbook full of complex tactics, and reality hit him like a brick wall. In hindsight, it made sense. The strategies he knew were merely the product of gaming communities, limited in scope and creativity. How could they possibly compare to the collective ingenuity of an entire world dedicated to Pokmon training for decades? A younger Natsume had been utterly demolished by his own overconfidence. The harsh realities of this world hammered humility into himfiguratively and, sometimes, literally. Natsume quickly realized that his brain wasnt cut out for intricate battle strategies. Whether it was before or after his reincarnation, complex operations were never his forte. So he decided: if finesse wasnt his game, then brute force would have to do. When raising his Corvisquire, Natsume focused entirely on boosting its size and defense. Simple. Direct. Effective. The plan was for it to become an impenetrable wall and, after evolving into a Corviknight, dominate the battlefield with powerful attacks like Brave Bird. Unfortunately, the dream was cut short when his priorities shifted from becoming a Pokmon trainer to running a farm. Life took him down a completely different path, and now the idea of returning to professional training felt like a distant memory. Still, Natsume didnt regret it. If anything, hed found a new kind of fulfillment. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fu Gu, meanwhile, struggled to put his feelings into words. "Master Natsume battling you was uh" He wanted to say the usual niceties: "That was such an exhilarating fight!" or "Ive learned so much from our battle!" But he couldnt. In truth, just holding back tears was a feat of emotional strength. Its okay, Natsume replied dryly, unsure how to comfort him. Dont worry, Master Natsume. Im fine. Fu Gu slapped his cheeks and forced a smile, though it didnt entirely mask his lingering frustration. Defeat was a normal part of a trainers life, after all. Failure is the mother of success, right? Well, Fu Gu felt like hed received more than his fair share of maternal affection today. Oh, by the way, Master Natsume, Fu Gu suddenly said, I have this habit of documenting my travels on the forum. Many trainers enjoyed sharing their experiences online for various reasonswhether to chronicle their journeys, brag about their accomplishments, or offer advice to newcomers. It was also a subtle way of proving they were still alive. If a trainers account suddenly went silent, especially after a post about exploring the wilderness, it usually wasnt a good sign. In the wild, going missing and dying were often one and the same, though the term "missing" gave families a small glimmer of hope. After hearing Fu Gus explanation, Natsume thought for a moment before agreeing. His farm didnt have much to hideaside from the occasional visit from Ogerpon or his secret psychic powers. A little publicity wouldnt hurt. The days of relying on quality speaks for itself were long gone. Even the best products needed online marketing these days. "Thank you so much, Master Natsume!" Fu Gu left with a spring in his step, happily clutching some energy cubes Natsume had casually handed him as a parting gift. --- Walking down a rural path, Fu Gu began updating his forum log: "Just visited a farm near Lianshan Town, run by a trainer named Natsume. Great guy! He even gave me some homemade pokblocksway better quality than the ones you find in stores." When it came to strength, Fu Gu hesitated. Thinking back to his utterly defeated Aipom and Weepinbell, he paused before typing: "Id recommend any rookie trainers challenge him. Its a good learning experience." Why should he suffer alone? Sharing the pain was the least he could do, right? Not that it mattered muchhis forum account barely had any followers. Most of the views were either his own or from bots. Thinking about it only made him feel worse. --- Back at the farm, Natsume was finally wrapping up his chores. As he approached his house, he was greeted by a cacophony of panicked cries from inside. Corvisquire, Minccino, and Buneary were all frantically shouting over one another. Corvisquire flew out from the second floor in a rush, spotting Natsume and immediately squawking in alarm: Caw! Caw! Caw! Natsume! The egg you brought backits glowing! Is it going to explode?! What?! Natsumes eyes widened as he bolted inside. Meow. Persian glanced at Corvisquire with a withering look. Fool. Its hatching. Then, with a flick of its tail, Persian followed Natsume inside. Chapter 24: A New Friend Joins the Farm Inside the incubator, a Pokmon egg with blue and red patterns shook violently, pulsing with rhythmic bursts of light resembling breaths. At a glance, it almost looked like a bomb about to explode. "Bunn!" Spinning in a panic, Buneary calmed down the moment Natsume arrived, darting to him as if seeking reassurance, waving its little arms wildly. "Relax, relax. Its fine," Natsume said soothingly. He had a pretty good guess about the egg with the blue and red diamond-shaped patterns. After all, in the Pokmon world, not many Pokmon sported this coloration. Could it be one of those jet fighters? "Buneary, could you go downstairs and grab two bottles of Moomoo Milk for me? And bring the pokblocks I packed in the pink pouch." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "And Minccino, please prepare a clean towel and a basin of warm water." Even though he wasnt sure if hed need all of it, Natsume preferred to be prepared. Caring for a newly hatched Pokmon was entirely different from reading about it online. "Bun!" "Mi!" The two Pokmon dashed off towards the stairs to complete their tasks. Behind Natsume, Persian padded into the room. It glanced at the soon-to-hatch egg, then at Corvisquire, who was crouching by the incubator like a fool, its face almost pressed against the glass. "Meow~" Letting out a soft sigh, Persian nudged Corvisquire out of the way, completely ignoring its squawks of protest. It also herded Furret and Sandshrew out of the room for good measure. Before stepping out, Persian used its tail to gently nudge the door closed, leaving it open just a crackwide enough for the Pokmon outside to peek in without disturbing Natsume. Persian vaguely remembered reading somewhere that a newly hatched Pokmon often bonded with the first being it saw, considering them the closest presence in its life. For this reason, most trainers chose to be alone in the room during such moments, even excluding their closest companions. Where had Persian picked up that tidbit? Ah, yes. It was back when a younger Natsume had been struggling with schoolwork and dragged Persian into his studies, explaining textbook material as if it were a captive student. Peering through the crack in the door, Persian watched as Natsume calmly prepared everything. It couldnt help but feel a twinge of nostalgia. The mischievous little boy had grown up. Granted, Natsume had always seemed mature for his age, but there was a certain unchanging essence about men. High EQ phrasing: "A mans heart is forever youthful." Low EQ phrasing: "Boys stay childish no matter how old they get." "Bunn!" Carrying milk and energy cubes, Buneary handed the supplies to Natsume before retreating to sit beside Persian, peeking into the room. Minccino followed suit. Many people underestimated the strength of smaller Pokmon, assuming their petite stature meant limited power. In reality, even "small and cute" Pokmon like Buneary could knock the wind out of you with a single punch. Inside the room, Natsume carefully lifted the egg out of the incubator and placed it into a small, prepared nest. Unconsciously, sweat formed in his palms. The birth of new life always carried a sense of awe and profound emotion. Finally, a crisp "crack" sounded. The egg bathed in white light began to change. When the glow faded, a small Pokmon still mostly encased in its eggshell appeared before Natsume. It blinked its wide eyes in confusion, the hazy world around it gradually coming into focus. In its emerging vision, one figure dominated the view. "Tokii?" Guided by instinct, the tiny Pokmon reached out with its arms. Warm hands gently scooped it up. "Hello, Togepi," Natsume greeted with a smile. "Im Natsume. From now on, were family." Togepi, its tiny lips puckered, didnt quite understand the words. But the warmth of Natsumes presence and the comforting aura he exuded were enough to make it instinctively clutch his shirt. "Toki-toki!" Nestled in Natsumes arms, Togepi happily kicked its little feet, enjoying the milk Natsume fed it from a bottle. The milk, warmed to just the right temperature, was mixed with crushed energy cubes specially made for young Pokmon, giving it a sweet flavor that Togepi adored. Once its belly was full, Togepi was placed back in its nest. Curious, its tiny eyes roamed around the vast and unfamiliar world. To the newborn, everything seemed enormous. "Toki!" Gripping the corner of its blanket, Togepi attempted to roll over, but after several tries, its tiny limbs couldnt muster enough strength to accomplish the task. Squirtle could surely relate. "Mi-mi!" "Ri-ri!" Outside the door, Natsumes Pokmon waited impatiently. After Togepis birth, Persian had closed the door even tighter, wary of the groups noisy antics scaring the newborn. Persian understood this little one would be the farms center of attention for the foreseeable future. Although Natsume believed in treating all his partners equally, emotions werent always so easily controlled. It was inevitable that his focus would shift to the newcomer for a while. As the de facto second-in-command on the farm, Persian saw it as its responsibility to care for the new arrival and maintain harmony among the other Pokmon. The last thing it wanted was petty squabbles over attention. Glancing at the gathered Pokmon, Persian appeared as calm as ever, but its mind was already planning. "Meow~" Its tail swished lazily. A cats thoughts were always mysterious and difficult to discern. The door creaked open slightly. Natsume peeked out, addressing the group softly. "Togepis asleep. You can come in and see, but dont wake it up." At his words, the Pokmon quietlywell, as quietly as they couldpoured into the room. Gathering around Togepis little nest, they gazed at their new companion with curiosity and affection. "Does this make me a senior now?" Furret tilted its head, staring at Togepis sleeping face adorned with a goofy smile. Its tail swayed gently, a clear sign of its good mood. Chapter 25: The First Harvest and a Mischievous Child They say Togepi is a Pokmon that represents luck and happiness. Its eggshell is said to be filled with joy, and when it feels content, it shares the luck inside its shell with others. As the Trainer of a Togepi, one is supposedly blessed with good fortune, leading to a blissful life. Of course, theres no scientific basis for this claimjust folklore. Much like the saying, If youre single by thirty, youll qualify as a grand wizard. In short, nonsense. Togeee~ Toge! Togepi darted around the room, clutching the little blanket it had been born with. Newborns are always curious, filled with an endless energy to explore the world. From the bed to under the table, from the window to the doorwayTogepi''s enthusiasm knew no bounds. Bun bun! Buneary, holding a milk bottle, frantically chased after it. Given that Natsume often had to step out, hed entrusted Buneary with a very important task: taking care of Togepi when he wasnt home. Buneary had confidently accepted the responsibility, thumping its chest in determination. It had thought, Sure, Im small too, but looking after a baby like Togepi? Piece of cake. That confidence lasted all of five minutes after Natsume left. When Togepis "energy bar" fully charged, chaos ensued. While Natsume had been home, Togepi had been napping in its nest, already tired from earlier mischief. Now, with Natsume gone, Togepi was fully energized. Buneary had been excited at first, scrambling after Togepi in a panic. Now, it simply flopped onto the floor in defeat, utterly spent. Bun Collapsing in exhaustion, Buneary looked like it had been completely worn out. It wasnt annoyedjust utterly defeated. Forget it. Im done. Meow. Persian gracefully strolled into the room. It took one look at the disheveled Buneary and then at the hyperactive Togepi. Togepi froze instantly. Clutching its blanket tightly, it scurried over to Persians feet and nuzzled its paw in an ingratiating manner. Though still young, Togepi had already grasped the food chain of the farm. The top boss was, without question, Natsume. Just this morning, Togepi had witnessed Natsume effortlessly pin a rogue Fearow to the ground with one hand, rendering its struggles futile. After a thorough scolding, the Fearow had fled the farm in disgrace. Second in command was the farms Persiana senior member who had been with Natsume since childhood. Persians status was unshakable. According to Corvisquire, such loyalty and prestige were called "achieving greatness by following a leader." Or was it "being a big fish in a small pond?" Togepi wasnt entirely sure. The third highest-ranking member on the farm was Butterfree, who diligently assisted Natsume with crafting Pokblocks. It was always buzzing about during production sessions. As for the rest, Togepi felt they were all more or less the sameeach had their own tasks to handle. --- Elsewhere, near the farms fields, Natsume and Sandshrew stood side by side, smiling at the sight of their first fully ripened crops. The synchronized movements and expressions of the two were almost comical. Youve worked hard, Sandshrew, Natsume said. The fields are in fantastic shape thanks to you. Sand sand! Raising its tiny arms, Sandshrew struck a strong pose, clearly pleased. It had discovered a newfound love for farming. Since coming to the farm, most of its time had been spent tending to the crops. Watching the plants it cared for grow day by day brought it immense joy. New hobby unlocked: farming. The next moment, a radiant white glow enveloped Sandshrews body. Sand?! Startled, Sandshrew quickly realized what was happeningit was evolving. It cast a nervous glance at Natsume, then prepared to embrace its transformation. Why the nervousness? Well, Sandshrew couldnt deny that its first thought upon seeing the white light was, Am I being born again? But wait, wasnt I already born? Sometimes, even Pokmon have their silly moments. When the light subsided, Sandslash stood proudly in its place. Compared to its round and harmless pre-evolution, Sandslash now exuded a sharper, more formidable aura. Its longer claws, piercing eyes, and spiked back gave it a fierce appearance. Slaaash! Striking a pose, Sandslash looked quite satisfied with its new form. Congratulations, Sandslash, Natsume said with a sense of pride. No matter how many times he witnessed it, the evolution of a Pokmon never failed to amaze him. Sandslash raised its claw, looking expectantly at Natsume. After a brief pause, Natsume understood and raised his hand to meet it. Clap! A solid high-five sealed the moment. Alright, lets start the harvest! Natsume said. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Slaaash! Man and Pokmon dove into the field, working with seamless coordination. Despite being human, Natsumes speed rivaled that of the evolved Pokmon. Unintentionally, the two turned the task into a friendly competition, racing to see who could harvest more. Meanwhile, unknown to Natsume, his farm had begun to attract some attention from the outside world. Chapter 26: Ogerpon’s Big Mission! Wooom~ Inside the cave, Ogerpon hummed a little tune of its own creation while tidying up its treasure trove. Well, calling it a treasure trove might be a stretchit was more like a cluttered storage room. Hmph, hmph. Ogerpon picked up a stuffed toy, took a deep breath, and buried its face into the plush fabric. After a few affectionate nuzzles, it gingerly placed the toy onto a spot it had meticulously cleaned and lined with a sheet of plastic to keep it pristine. Just as it was engrossed in tidying its "home," a noise from outside the cave caught Ogerpons attention, making it instantly alert. Ogerpon had always prided itself on its sharp sense of vigilance. How had it managed to live peacefully for so long? Was it because of its strength, capable of taking down a Rattata in a single swipe? Its speed, which left most Pokmon trailing in its dust? Or perhaps its cute and unassuming appearance? No. Its survival depended entirely on its keen awareness of danger! Crouching low in a tactical crawl, Ogerpon stealthily moved to the cave entrance and cautiously peeked outside to survey the situation. Normally, if another Pokmon discovered its hiding spot, Ogerpons instinct would be to grab its belongings and bolt. But this time Glancing back at the treasures in the cave, a hint of hesitation flickered in Ogerpons eyes. Several of the items were gifts from Natsume. Taking everything would be inconvenient, and if it ran too far, it might lose track of Natsume entirely. Wouldnt that worry him? Hmmm! After a moment of hesitation, Ogerpons eyes sharpened with determination. Fine! If it came to a fight, so be it! Though it usually preferred peace, Ogerpon was no pushover. It would show them its strength today! But as it turned out, Ogerpon was overthinking things. Outside the cave, a group of Pokmon didnt seem to have any intention of staying. Choo About ten weary-looking Bounsweet sat on the ground, their faces etched with sadness. In front of them, a Steenee was speaking passionately, trying its best to rally the group. But under the circumstances, the speech seemed to have little effect. Seeing its companions so dispirited, even the Steenee, who was holding strong, couldnt help but show traces of sorrow on its face. They hadnt rested properly in a long time, nor had they had a decent meal. Their original territory had been taken over by a powerful Pokmon, and the group had been scattered while fleeing for their lives. To be honest, Steenee felt like it was nearing its limit. Sniffing, it glanced at its downtrodden companions and inexplicably felt a surge of anger. No reason, just anger. It really wanted to kick something. Turning away, it crossed its arms and sat down, stewing in its own frustration. Hmm Ah, so thats what happened. Having eavesdropped on the conversation, Ogerpon pieced together the story. This sort of thing wasnt uncommon in the wild. The world was vast, filled with unknown adventures and powerful Pokmon. Occasionally, a strong Pokmon unable to hold its ground in its own territory would come to weaker areas and assert dominance. It was just the way of nature. With this in mind, Ogerpon tiptoed back into the depths of the cave and rummaged through its little bag, pulling out a few pieces of Pokblocks. After some thought, it decided to bring the whole bag, slinging it around its neck before dashing out. Ogerpon to the rescue! Choo! The Bounsweet group, initially enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere, was startled by Ogerpons sudden appearance. The Steenee instinctively stepped in front of its companions, ready to protect them. Bounsweet were notably weak Pokmon, lacking in strength, speed, defense, and stamina. Even Steenee, despite its evolution, wasnt much better. This evolutionary line only experienced a true leap in strength after evolving into Tsareena, transforming from a near-equal to Magikarp into a plant version of Pheromosa (well, almost). Even knowing its limitations, Steenee stood its ground to protect the others. Hump hump! Sensing the tension, Ogerpon hurriedly explained that it meant no harm. It had overheard their conversation and wanted to help. Ogerpon then enthusiastically described Natsumes farm, painting it as a paradise. In Ogerpons depiction, Natsume was the kindest person in the worldhe didnt hate Ogerpon, gave it delicious food, and even provided shelter to wandering Pokmon. Hearing this, Steenee raised a skeptical question. Choo? Then why arent you living there? Uh Caught off guard, Ogerpon stammered through a series of nonsensical explanations. To divert the topic, it quickly pulled out some Pokblocks from its bag and offered them to the group. Yes, Ogerpon had decidedit would help Natsume expand his roster of Pokmon! It had always felt a little guilty about freeloading at the farm. Helping recruit new Pokmon felt like a step toward repaying Natsumes kindness. Watching the Bounsweet and Steenee happily share the Pokblocks, Ogerpon couldnt help but feel a swell of pride. Hearing them praise Natsume made its heart flutter with joy. Yet, amid the joy, a thought lingered. Why wasnt it living at Natsumes farm? Its relationship with Natsume was good right? Fidgeting with its paws, Ogerpon felt uncertain. This kind of introspection was a bit too complex for its little brain. Choo? Choo! Steenees call snapped Ogerpon out of its thoughts. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the eager yet cautious look in Steenees eyes, Ogerpon quickly agreed to lead the way. The journey to Natsumes farm was a long one, and this was Ogerpons first time bringing others along. The experience felt strange but also satisfying. However, as the farm came into view, a sudden thought hit Ogerpon like a thunderbolt. What if Natsume didnt want to take them in? Panic set in, but it was too late to turn back. From a distance, the watchdog Mightyena family was already waving in greeting. With no other choice, Ogerpon pressed forward, silently praying that Natsume wouldnt be angryor worse, that he wouldnt dislike it for acting on its own. Chapter 27: A New Batch of Farm Residents Arrives! Huh? Youre saying Ogerpon brought a group of Pokmon here to seek refuge? By the farmland, Natsume was standing with arms akimbo, admiring the freshly harvested fields of Yache berries alongside Sandslash. Then, Mightyenas father came rushing over, urgently reporting a large group of Pokmon gathered near the farm''s edge. "Alright, thanks for the heads-up, Mightyena," Natsume said, casually tossing a few specially made energy blocks for canine Pokmon into the Mightyenas mouth. Crunching loudly, the father Mightyenas eyes gleamed with wisdom. Tasks like running back and forth between the farm''s outskirts and Natsumes house were often left to him. Why? Because each trip meant receiving these delicious, teeth-grinding energy treats from Natsume. The Mightyena had made it clearthis was non-negotiable, even for his wife and pups. His tail wagged furiously behind him, entirely at odds with his aloof and proud facial expression, resembling one of those mischievous dogs known for pointing fingers and causing chaos. Led by the Mightyena, Natsume and his companions, including the Persian, Shiny Furret, and the Mightyena family, headed toward the edge of the farm. From a distance, they could already spot a group of Pokmon gathered by the fence, peering curiously into the farm. Among them, Ogerpon stood out like a sore thumb, its face betraying guilt and unease, practically radiating "I want to run, I want to disappear" energy. It felt like dj vu from their first meeting. While I expected to eventually bring in more Pokmon, this lineup is... unique, Natsume muttered, glancing at the odd mix of Pokmon. Among them were a small group of Bounsweet, a quartet of Skiploom whispering amongst themselves, a Mudkip hiding nervously behind a Slowpoke, and two Sentret gazing in awe at Shiny Furret, seemingly envious of its pink-and-white fur. This is... something, Natsume said, walking closer to the group. Although slightly overwhelmed by the sudden influx of Pokmon, he quickly crouched beside Ogerpon. These Pokmonare they all here to live on the farm? he asked gently, signaling his companions to help maintain order in case the tension caused a chain reaction. Ogerpon hesitated, turning its head away as though trying to avoid Natsume''s gaze. After a long pause, it muttered an explanation. At first, it had only intended to bring the Bounsweet group to the farm. But as it neared the area, other Pokmon appeared, expressing a desire to join. They claimed to have long admired the farm and hoped to use this opportunity to move in. Finishing its story, Ogerpon quickly turned its head away, looking flustered and regretful for not consulting Natsume first. Feeling a warm touch on its head, Ogerpon looked up to find Natsume smiling. Thanks, Ogerpon, Natsume said, ruffling its head. The road here wasnt too dangerous, was it? Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ive been meaning to bring more life to the farm but kept putting it off. Youve really helped me out. Ogerpon froze, staring at Natsumes gentle smile. Then, in a flurry of emotion, it rammed into Natsumes leg and buried its face there. Before Natsume could react, Ogerpon abruptly turned away, puffing its cheeks like an angry puffball. Although confused, Natsume could tell it was fine now. As Shiny Furret ran to fetch some Pok Balls, Natsume took the time to talk with the new arrivals. Just as Ogerpon had said, most were here because life in the wild was toughfood was scarce, and survival wasnt easy. They even offered to work on the farm, feeling it would be improper to freeload. Alright, everyone, line up for registration! Natsume announced, rubbing Shiny Furrets head as it returned with the Pok Balls. He explained the process of being caught and went over a few simple farm rules, like no attacking fellow residents. After capturing and immediately releasing the Pokmon to officially register them, Natsume began planning where they would fit into the farms ecosystem. The Bounsweet could stay near the house, providing their sweet sap for collection. The Skiploom could help maintain the berry trees. As for the two Sentret, they would likely become Shiny Furrets followers, judging by their eager but nervous attempts to approach it. Then there was... Natsumes gaze met the slow, vacant eyes of a Slowpoke. Slow? Tilting its head, the Slowpoke let out a lazy, sluggish call. Chapter 28: The Clever Slowpoke and the Odd Bounsweet Slowpokea Pokmon known for being brilliantly dense. Its famous for its sluggish reactions and its unsuitability for battles. Even when attacked, it takes Slowpoke a good four or five punches to realize its being hit, and another two or three punches to think about fighting back. Though some individuals are a bit smarter, as a species, Slowpoke isnt ideal for combat, especially in its unevolved state. Their battling style is, well, lackluster. Half the time, they forget what strategy they were supposed to use. Things improve significantly once they evolve, particularly into Slowking. At that point, the difference is night and dayone is universally seen as dim-witted, and the other sees everyone else as dim-witted. That said, Slowpoke has its merits. Theyre gentle-natured and emotionally stable, even when faced with the most unruly kids. Plus, their tails secrete a sweet substance and can even detach naturally over time, making them a sought-after delicacy. Still, these qualities describe normal Slowpoke. The one standing before Natsume? Definitely not normal. At the edge of the farm, Natsume and the Slowpoke locked eyes in silence. Its dull, dead-fish eyes lacked any worldly desire. Yet, unlike other Slowpoke, it didnt exude cluelessness. If anything, it seemed more speechless. To put it another way, it was the difference between a brainless fool and someone who has simply given up on life. This Slowpokes gaze wasnt that of an idiot. It was more akin to someone who was utterly fed up. And standing behind it was a Mudkip. As one of the most popular Water-type starters, Mudkips potential was undeniable. Swampert, its final evolution, boasted a balanced stat distribution, great abilities, and broad move coverage. Water/Ground typing was only weak to Grass, and it could even Mega Evolve. Mega Swampert was the epitome of brute force among Pokmon. Ah, crap, Natsume muttered, catching himself spiraling into his old trainer mindset. He slapped a hand over his face, a wry smile creeping onto his lips. Though he had sworn off being a trainer, old habits clearly died hard. Seeing the Mudkip startled by his sudden gesture and the Slowpoke growing even more exasperated, Natsume chuckled and asked, Do you guys have any thoughts about joining the farm? Slow? Mud? Both Pokmon responded with confusionone unsure of what to do, the other wondering what it could do. Ah, right, Natsume said, scratching his head. It was a silly question. Neither of them seemed ready for anything yet. Ill take you both to the pond later, he offered. The view there is pretty nice. The pond was linked to an underground river, attracting a variety of Pokmon that came and went. Permanent residents were rare, though this had changed recently. Natsume had started tossing crushed PokBlocks into the water, essentially chumming to attract Pokmon. Naturally, the ponds population began to grow. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Explaining the ponds setup and safety precautions, Natsume reassured the duo, Be careful of the currents. They can be tricky. After patting the dirt off his pants, Natsume addressed the rest of the group: Alright, everyone, lets head to your new homes. Ill be around the farm most of the time, so if you have any issues, come find me. If you cant find me, one of the others will help. Behind him, a gaggle of excited Pokmon followed like students on a field trip. None dared misbehave under the watchful eye of the bossy Persian. --- Meanwhile, the Mightyena family had resumed their patrols, a duty theyd grown accustomed to. Though the area was vast, Natsumes generosity made up for it. Free food, free lodging, and even training sessions for their offspringit was hard to complain. But something wasnt sitting right with the Mightyena mother. She narrowed her eyes at a particular Bounsweet trailing at the back of the group. It wasnt the smellthat was muddled from mingling with others. No, it was something about its movements. They were strange. It felt like mixing hot tea with a splash of cold frog watersomething just didnt belong. Quietly, she called over her smartest child, a Poochyena with a red scarf around its neck, and whispered a few instructions. The pup nodded, slipping away unnoticed while the rest of its clueless siblings remained distracted. The mother sighed, glancing at her oblivious mate. He had grown duller since joining the farm. While she knew he wasnt the sharpest to begin with, this was almost too much to bear. Forget it, she muttered. Hes sleeping outside tonight. --- Back with Natsume, the journey to the pond was slow. Slowpokes pace dictated the speed of the entire group. At one point, Natsume considered carrying it, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Not because it was tiring, but because of those eyes. Looking into them stirred an inexplicable irritation in him. Something about that deadpan gaze made his blood simmer. Chapter 29: The Well-Read Boss Cat "Yaa~" By the pond, Slowpoke lazily swiped at the water with its paw, rippling the surface gently. Its dull, fish-like eyes showed a faint hint of contentment. Nearby, Mudkip crouched at the pond''s edge, looking as if it were ready to leap in and playfully splash about. Beneath the crystal-clear water, the faint silhouettes of other Pokmon could be seen moving about. The fin atop Mudkips head twitched, sensing the humidity in the air. This environment suited it perfectly. "Mud." Taking a deep breath, Mudkip plunged its face into the water, enjoying the refreshing coolness as its eyes narrowed in delight. According to the Pokmon in the pond, this body of water is connected to an underground river, Natsume explained as he sat cross-legged nearby, feeling the breeze against his face. A small smile appeared. In the future, Ill probably have to expand this pond or even create a larger lake somewhere else. Its picturesque, but the size is limiting. "Yaa~" sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Slowpoke responded lazily, its tone as vague as its usual demeanor. It wasnt so much a genuine reply as an automatic responselike a friend absentmindedly agreeing with your long-winded conversation by muttering, "Mm-hmm, true." High emotional intelligence: It provides great emotional support. Low emotional intelligence: It didnt listen to a word you said. Well, Ill check on the other Pokmon now, Natsume said, standing up. If anything comes up, let me know. Waving without turning back, Slowpoke dramatically threw itself into the pond, letting its body slowly sink. Inspired, Mudkip eagerly followed suit, mimicking Slowpoke as it sank into the water with a blissful Mud. Closing its eyes, Mudkip reveled in the tranquil moment. This is so nice. By the way, Ill need you to keep an eye on the Bounsweet group, Natsume said, stroking Persian as it emerged from the shade of a tree. Unlike Natsume, who seemed naturally adept at bonding with Pokmon, Persian had no particular interest in such activities. It was here solely to protect Natsume from potential harm caused by aggressive Pokmonnot that it doubted Natsumes ability to handle himself. Still, as Natsumes self-proclaimed enforcer, Persian had to maintain appearances. "Meow," Persian replied flatly. Ah, more work, it thought. When new Pokmon joined the farm, it was Persians job to establish the rules and hierarchy. While Natsume preferred a gentle approach, Persian believed every group needed structure and someone to play the bad cop. It had learned this from one of the many management books on Natsumes shelfbooks that Natsume himself had never touched. Titles like Microexpression Psychology and Behavioral Management lay gathering dust, read only by Persian during its leisure time. Persian prided itself on being well-read. Not out of choice, but because Natsumes fleeting interest in unusual books always fizzled out as soon as they arrived. Woof, woof! A red-scarfed Poochyena dashed toward Natsume, barking excitedly. Oh, its you. Whats up? Natsume crouched to meet the Pokmon. Among the litter, this particular Poochyena was the cleverest, far outshining its siblingsand even its father, who had recently self-appointed himself as the Head of Security. The Poochyena glanced around warily to ensure no other Pokmon besides Natsume and Persian were nearby. Then it leaned in close to whisper in Natsumes ear. Woof, woof-woof. Oh, really? Woof! Your mom told you, huh? Woof. Natsume nodded, easily understanding the Poochyenas report. The mother Mightyena had noticed something odd about one of the Bounsweet in the group. Its scent seemed normal, but its behavior was subtly off, prompting her to send her smartest pup to inform Natsume. Good work. Natsume ruffled the Poochyenas fur affectionately before slipping a few Pokblocks into its mouth. The pup chewed tentatively, its eyes lighting up with delight at the taste. So this was why its dad was always volunteering to run errands for Natsume. Should I tell Mom about this? Poochyena wondered, deep in thought. --- After considering his next steps, Natsume decided to send Persian home to fetch Butterfree and Corvisquire while he headed toward the Bounsweet group. Meow. With a graceful leap, Persian shot off like an arrow, its speed rivaling even the farms agile Furret. --- Meanwhile, among the Bounsweet, the suspicious individual quietly nibbled on a berry, its expression emotionless. When other Bounsweet approached to chat, it responded with cold indifference. Choo. One particularly popular Bounsweet, surrounded by its peers, finally managed to break away and timidly approached the odd one. Upon seeing it, the cold Bounsweets expression transformed into a rare, happy smile. Suo! Chapter 30: The Two Little Foxes Outside the Berry Grove, the furious Ogerpon glared intently at the faintly visible group of Bounsweet. Upon hearing that a strange Pokmon had infiltrated the group he brought, Ogerpon was so enraged that he wanted to grab the culprit and smash it into pieces. It was his first time trying to do something nice for Natsume, and this happened. Unforgivable! If Natsume hadn''t held him back, Ogerpon would have barged in by now. Although it might sound arrogant, Ogerpon was confident that even if the entire group teamed up, they wouldn''t stand a chance against him. Maybe not one Bounsweet with a swing of his club... But two at a time should be doable. "Woof!" At Natsume''s feet were Mightyena''s mother and Persian, their eyes sharp and alert. Worried about misidentifying the right Bounsweet or encountering any surprises, Natsume had called in Mightyena''s mother for backup. Its worth mentioning that when Natsume found Mightyena''s family, the father was trembling under the piercing glare of the mother. In human terms, this would probably be like a married man hiding secret savings for himself, spending it all on snacks without sharing with his wife or kids. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not exactly evil, but definitely a bit selfish. "Chuu!" A curious Steenee, led by Butterfree, emerged from the group, tilting her head as she looked at Natsume. Why had she been called out of the group so suddenly? "Heres the thing, Steenee," Natsume said, crouching down to her level, explaining the situation from the beginning. The matter wasnt too complicated. He just didnt want any misunderstandings to arise, so he thought it was better to explain beforehand, even if it was a hassle. What Natsume didnt notice was that behind him, Persian was tilting its head, staring at Natsume''s knee with an unreadable expression. "Chuu?" After hearing Natsumes explanation, Steenee fell into deep thought. After a moment of pondering, she seemed to understand something and began explaining excitedly. In short, their original habitat had been taken over by a powerful Pokmon, forcing her group to flee and gather as they traveled. Thus, Steenee wasnt entirely sure if these Bounsweet were originally from her group. However, among them, there was indeed one peculiar Bounsweet. It always sat silently in a corner, observing everythingjoy, sadness, conflictwith an air of detachment, as though it were a mere observer. "I see," Natsume nodded, indicating his understanding. "Then please lead us to them." "Chuu!" Steenee nodded firmly, a trace of indignation flashing in her eyes. At that moment, her thoughts aligned perfectly with Ogerpons: Find that weirdo and expose them! It didnt take long for Natsume to locate the odd Bounsweet. The process was surprisingly straightforward since the target made no effort to hide. The strange Bounsweet simply sat quietly to the side, keeping its distance from the others. Whenever another Bounsweet approached, it would move further awayexcept for one particularly popular Bounsweet that could get close. According to Steenee, that specific Bounsweet was the most well-liked in the group. Everyone got along with it, and even Steenee had a good impression of it. Hearing this, Persian shot a quick glance at Natsume. Another charmer, huh? "Hello there." Hearing Natsumes voice, the aloof Bounsweet lifted its head and glanced at him with its usual indifferent expression, showing no reaction to his presence, as if it had expected him. It made no move to respond, but Natsume didnt mind. He had already anticipated that this Pokmon might not want to communicate. Thats why he brought Ogerpon and Persian along, just in case things escalated. These two were undeniably the top fighters on the farm. While Ogerpon didnt often seek battles and lacked experience, his sheer power surpassed Persians. Persian was now Level 54, a level higher than before. Ogerpon? Level 61a force worthy of an Elite Trainer. Dont ask why a Grass-type mythic is only at the Elite level. Even baby Lugia wouldnt necessarily win against a certain electric rodent at birth (crossed out). Still, with this setup, they werent invincible but could certainly hold their ground. "Graah!" The furious Ogerpon stepped in front of Natsume, radiating hostility. If you dont explain yourself, youre getting a club to the head! Sensing the animosity, the aloof Bounsweet shrank back slightly, hiding behind the popular Bounsweet. "Introductions were already made," the aloof Bounsweet said. "You should already sense I mean no harm." "So, can you show me your true form?" Natsume asked calmly. Yes, two of them. Although Mightyenas mother had only detected one, Natsume was confident the popular Bounsweet was also suspicious. Why did his intuition outmatch that of Pokmon? Lets just say thats Arceus-given confidence. At Natsumes request, the two Bounsweet exchanged a glance before smirking mischievously. In unison, they leaped into the air. Their cute forms shimmered momentarily before transforming. When they landed, two small foxes stood before the groupone black, one white. "Suo!" The pair of foxes stared at Natsume with contrasting expressions. The black fox smirked slyly, as if plotting some mischief. The white fox, on the other hand, looked pitiful, almost on the verge of tears. "Oh, its you two little troublemakers," Natsume said, surprised. Zorua and Hisuian Zorua. Although he had suspected something, he was still caught off guard. "Hehe." The black Zorua covered its mouth, giggling at Natsumes reaction, while the Hisuian Zorua retreated shyly behind its counterpart. "Graah!" "Chuu!" Both Ogerpon and Steenee were furious, itching to teach the foxes a lesson. "So, you slipped away when I tried to capture you, huh?" Calming his Pokmon down, Natsume turned back to the foxes. The two Zorua exchanged a glance before the black one stepped forward to explain. "Suo suo!" Actually Chapter 31: Welcome New Friends and Strangers in Town Suosuo! You know, all of us have technically been caught. At least, weve been inside a Pok Ball. From a human perspective, that means were captured, right? With a sly smile plastered on its face, Zorua lazily explained. Though it seemed to be explaining things, that mischievous grin gave off the impression that it was up to no good, planning some prank. In contrast, the Hisuian Zorua behind it looked like a pitiful little thinga stark difference between one full of devious ideas and the other filled with grievances. This could likely be tied to the origins of the Hisuian Zorua. Zorua often conjures illusions to bewilder opponents, which led to it being shunned and driven from its habitats elsewhere. Eventually, it migrated to the Hisui region. But unable to withstand the battles with other Pokmon and the harsh natural environment, it tragically perished. Its lingering spirit, fueled by intense hatred for humans and Pokmon alike, transformed into the ghostly form it has now. Thats the backstory of the Hisuian Zorua. Thinking about it, its perpetually sad expression is understandable. By the way, Zoruas type is Dark, while Hisuian Zorua is a unique Normal/Ghost combinationcurrently exclusive to Hisuian Zorua and its evolution, Hisuian Zoroark. This exceptional typing grants immunity to Fighting, Ghost, and Normal attacks. It lacks a quadruple weakness, with only Dark-type moves hitting it for double damage. With well-distributed stats, dual offensive capabilities, excellent coverage, and a versatile movepool, Hisuian Zorua is a standout Pokmonwhether as a team cornerstone or even a Trainers ace. Unfortunately, this is Natsumes farm. So, youre part of the farm now. Well then, lets get along, okay? After a brief moment of sensing their sincerity, Natsume smiled. Although it was clear they were withholding some details, he didnt mind. As long as there was no malice involved, it was fine. After all, Natsumes primary reason for catching them was to prevent wild Trainers from wandering onto his farm, defeating his Pokmon, and taking them away. Dont talk to Natsume about Pokmon freedom. They eat his food, use his facilities, and live on his property. You think you can just call them free and take them away? If you genuinely love a particular Pokmon, come talk to Natsume. Explain your intentions clearly. Sneaking around and using force to capture Pokmon when hes not around? Thats unacceptable. Such incidents are bound to happen. With the sheer number of Trainers out there, its inevitable that some lack decency. Betting on the goodwill of others to ensure your safety is a foolish gambleone Natsume isnt willing to take. Suosuo! Zorua nodded, indicating it had no problem with this arrangement. After all, it came here for the food. And the Hisuian Zorua? It just happened to meet this pitiful fellow on the way here and decided to bring it alonglike taking in a little brother. Suosuo. With its big brother leading the way, Hisuian Zorua naturally had no objections. Food, shelter, and safetywhat more could it want? It was already content. Wooma! Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After hearing their explanation, Ogerpon still seemed a bit indignant. It couldnt shake the feeling it had been played. It was clear that for the foreseeable future, Ogerpon wouldnt have the best impression of these two mischievous foxes. Steenee, too, was a little upset but eventually sighed in resignation, signaling her acceptance. Chu. Even though you tricked me, thank you for teaching me all this time. Looking at the shadowy little fox, Steenee spoke earnestly. At first, Steenee wasnt particularly strong. The reason she was able to lead her kin all the way here was largely due to Zoruas guidance. From teaching moves to combat strategies, Zorua seemed to know it allan enigma in itself. Steenee had always sensed something off about Zorua, but back then, she had no choice but to trust it. Suo. Its nothing, no big deal. Zorua replied casually, sneaking a glance at Natsume out of the corner of its eye. It knew this human could fully understand what Pokmon said. But Natsume showed no reaction, only smiling at Zorua, as if silently asking, Anything youd like to share, little buddy? Faced with that smile, Zorua felt a twinge of guilt. But then it thought, I didnt even lie. Why feel guilty? With that thought, Zoruas confidence returned, and it boldly met Natsumes gaze. Natsume chuckled, ruffling Zoruas head. Then he turned to Hisuian Zorua. Why dont you both consider staying at my place? With how things are now, its probably not a good idea to keep living with Steenee and her group, right? Though the question was directed at Hisuian Zorua, it was clear the decision ultimately rested with Zorua. The two foxes huddled together, whispering to each other. Finally, Zorua made the call: Alright, well stick with you. From now on, youre our caretaker! Good, good. Natsume ruffled both their heads vigorously. Hisuian Zoruas fur was silky smooth, reminiscent of a well-groomed short-haired cat. Meanwhile, Zoruas head felt like a soft, velvety balloon, as though it might float away at any moment. Their reactions to Natsumes head rub of doom differed greatly. Hisuian Zorua, unaccustomed to the gesture, shook its head and quickly escaped. Zorua, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy it, even closing its eyes in contentment. Alright, lets head back. That day, Natsume welcomed two special new companions. The two Zorua, with their adorable appearances, were warmly received by everyone. Bun! Buneary, the self-appointed housekeeper, took it upon herself to explain the household dynamics to the newcomers: Boss Natsume, second-in-command the Persian, the Pokblock expert Butterfree, the janitor Minccino, the farming specialist Sandslash, the troublemaker Togepi, and the mysterious Corvisquire upstairs, always muttering cryptic phrases. Meanwhile, a group of youths arrived in the nearby town of Lianshan. Excuse me, is there a farm nearby? The lead boy asked the mayor while the latter was out for a stroll. The mayor paused mid-step, giving the group a suspicious look. Chapter 32: Natsume Doesn’t Have That Much Strength, You Know Were not suspicious people; were just Trainers. Oh? And what do you want? The mayor frowned slightly, pulling his Mr. Mime closer protectively. Though it wasnt polite to think this way, the mayor was well aware of Lianshan Towns circumstances. High EQ: A quaint town with stable neighborly relations. Low EQ: A place so devoid of charm that it couldnt attract visitors even if it tried. No tourist spots, no rare Pokmon, and no noteworthy training grounds. On an average day, it was rare to see any Trainers passing through, let alone someone specifically asking for Natsumes farm. And they claim to be Trainers? Thankfully, these were peaceful times. Decades ago, the mayor might have straightened his back, roared, Are you spies?! A Note on the World of Pokmon While the Pokmon world is mostly peaceful, evil organizations still exist. After all, possessing great power can lead some "ordinary people" to develop nefarious ambitions. However, this isnt the case in Jadeleaf Region, the most peaceful country in the world. There are several reasons for this: 1. Relentless Crackdowns: The authorities are ruthless in dealing with criminal organizations, conducting sweeps every five or ten days. Surprise inspections are routine, and tactical forces are deployed in overwhelming numbers. 2. Cultural Overachievement: Jadeleaf Region is an intensely competitive society. With excellent educators, open schools, and abundant resources, everyone receives quality training. The large population ensures a constant supply of talent. 3. Ubiquitous Strength: Trainers in Jadeleaf Region never retire. Even the elderly man sitting by the roadside might have been a provincial champion in his youth. If someone were to shout, That persons worth 500,000! in the middle of a crowded street, the scene would be absolute chaos. Back in Lianshan Town, the mayor remained wary of these young strangers. He didnt know their motives, but his Mr. Mime wasnt one to be underestimated. (Mr. Mime: But I really do eat berries, though.) Its like this, the leader of the group began to explain. They were students who had recently become Trainers. While browsing the web, they stumbled upon a travel blog that highly recommended Natsumes farm, claiming it was perfect for beginners. Since the farm was within their county, they decided to check it out, thinking, Why not? Weve got nothing better to do. After all, being a Trainer is about fighting or preparing to fight. Win? Great! Lose? Train harder and come back stronger! Ah, I see, the mayor nodded, though still skeptical. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ill give Natsume a call and see if hes okay with it. He pulled out his phone slowly, dialing. But let me warn you, he said, Natsume isnt a Trainer. Hes not interested in battles and doesnt have the kind of strength youd expect from professional Trainers. If youre here hoping for intense battles, youll be disappointed. Oh, we understand, the young leader replied patiently, embodying the overly polite demeanor of his generation. Deep down, he was already prepared for this. If Natsume were truly strong, why would he be running a farm instead of pursuing a Trainers career? For young people like them, having powerful Pokmon and becoming a Trainer was the dream. A few minutes later... Natsume says I can take you to him, the mayor announced, putting away his phone. Though the mayor thought it unnecessary for Natsume to bother with these kids, he wouldnt interfere with Natsumes decision. The farm owners strength should be decent at least, the young leader mused as they followed the mayor. Hed brought not only his Pokmon but also one of his fathers for extra security on the road. I should hold back during any battles. Wouldnt want to go too hard and embarrass the farmer. Maybe Ill give him some berries as a gift. Ten minutes later... Mr. Natsume, could you please go a little easier on us? The young leaders voice trembled as he watched his fathers Zangoose pinned to the ground, mercilessly pummeled by a shiny Furret. In just a few short minutes, his confidence had been shattered. First, all of his Pokmon were swiftly defeated. Then, his fathers Zangoosewhich had stepped in to avenge themwas casually knocked down by Natsumes Furret. Now, the shiny Furret, with a menacing expression, sat atop the Zangoose and rained down punches with rhythmic precision, completely ignoring its cries of pain. The young leaders mind flashed back to something the mayor had said earlier: Natsume doesnt have that much strength, you know. ...What was that again? He couldnt quite remember anymore. Chapter 33: Shiny Furret – Battle! Thrilling! "Alright, that''s enough. Come back, Furret." Hearing Natsume''s voice, the Shiny Furret, who had been relentlessly hammering the Zangoose pinned beneath it, darted back to Natsume''s side in a flash. It waved its small paws furiously, letting out a dissatisfied cry. "Furret!" What nonsense! Talking smack before the fight even began? I knocked your teeth in! The Zangoose, still sprawled on the ground after the beating, had yet to lose its ability to battle. However, no matter how hard it struggled, it couldnt get up. Its face bore remnants of frost. Yes, the punches the Shiny Furret had rained down were none other than Ice Punch. Objectively, Ice Punch wasnt a great match for Furret, whose Special Attack was a meager 45. Against most opponents, it might as well have been a tickle. Even Zangoose, with a Special Defense of only 60, barely felt it. Add in the Normal-to-Normal type matchup, and the effect was, well, negligible. This wasnt even a case of death by a thousand cuts. Strictly speaking, it was more like a cow working at a noodle shop for a year and walking away with a few bruises. But! From the beginning, Shiny Furret''s goal wasnt to defeat Zangoose quickly. It simply wanted to teach this trash-talking opponent a painful lesson. Lets begin this delightful torment, shall we? Good work. Watching the Shiny Furret shadowboxing the air as if venting its fury at the world, Natsume hesitated before offering some encouragement. "Furret!" Piece of cake! Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shiny Furret looked incredibly pleased. It silently expressed gratitude to the little Zoruaits mentorwho had taught it Ice Punch. Despite the Zorua being younger and smaller, Furret didnt mind. Power was all that mattered! Ever since it witnessed a trainer challenge the farm one day, the Shiny Furret had made a decision: I want to become stronger too! From that day onward, it trained relentlessly at the farm. Initially, it didnt know how to train systematically. After all, it used to be a wild Pokmon. So, it secretly sought advice from Natsumes original trio of Pokmon. It learned battle techniques and how to utilize its strength from Persian. From Butterfree, it expanded its move pool and learned to diversify its strategies. And from Corvisquire well, it picked up some trash talk (cough). Speaking of Corvisquire, wasnt it still reflecting somewhere? What did reflecting even mean? These questions flickered briefly in Furrets mind before being discarded. None of that mattered. What mattered was that today, Furret had fought for Natsume! Battling! Thrilling! --- Thank you for the guidance, Farm Owner Natsume. While applying potion to the Zangoose, whose face was swollen beyond recognition, the lead youth managed to force a polite smile at Natsume. His emotions had gone through a rollercoaster over the past few battles. First, his team was effortlessly swept by Sandslash, who had merely wandered over to see the commotion. Then, his Pokmon were toyed with and systematically taken down by Butterfree''s dirty tactics. Finally, his fathers Zangoose had been pinned and mercilessly pummeled by this Shiny Furret. Yet, amidst it all, an odd thought surfaced in the young mans mind: This isnt... entirely unacceptable, is it? But when he remembered that even his fathers Pokmon had been defeated, his heart sank further. What does it mean to say, just a farm owner, not as strong as professional trainers? he grumbled internally. Sure, his dad might be unreliable, lazy, and terrible at hiding his secret stash of money. But he had once been a trainer! His study was filled with trophies from county-level and city-level tournaments. And yet, this... The boy sighed, quickly adjusting his mindset. "By the way, Farm Owner Natsume, with your strength, have you ever considered becoming a trainer?" The boy looked at Natsume curiously. While it wasnt polite to question someones choices, he couldnt help but wonder. Trainer? Im not particularly interested, Natsume replied after a moments hesitation. But... most people would... Let me put it this way, Natsume interrupted, gesturing toward his farm. What do you think most people become trainers for? The boy thought for a moment before tentatively answering, To gain glory? Then, as if realizing something, he shook his head and corrected himself: No, most peoples real motivationbeyond passion or fameis to gain benefits. "Becoming stronger allows them to explore more dangerous areas and acquire rarer resources. Greater strength brings higher status, more resources, and more money. Though blunt and a bit harsh, it was the reality. Many pursued the high income that came with being a trainer. Exactly, Natsume said, pointing to his farm. I already have everything I need. Why bother becoming a trainer? "I have money, free time, and Im still strong enough to protect myself. The only thing I dont do is challenge gyms or compete in tournaments. Hearing this explanation, the boy understood but still felt there was something off about it. However, he couldnt quite articulate what it was. Oh, right. Here, take this. Natsume reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag of Pokblocks, handing it to the boy. The transparent ziplock bag contained three or four Pokblocksjust enough for his Pokmon to enjoy as a treat. Ah, thank you, the boy replied automatically, accepting the bag. Initially, he had intended to give Natsume some Berries as a gesture of goodwill, but now it seemed he was the one being comforted. His attention quickly shifted to the Pokblocks. These are high-quality Pokblocks... and an unfamiliar type, too. He opened the bag, and a faint, refreshing aroma of berries wafted out. At his feet, his battered Bibarel perked up immediately. Could I... buy some of these Pokblocks from you? the boy asked abruptly, noticing how eager his Pokmon were. Chapter 34: A Small Burst of Fame Its widely known that handcrafted items arent necessarily the best, but they are almost always the most expensive. Their price often includes not just the intrinsic value but also the allure of being "handcrafted." However, this rule doesnt apply in the Pokmon world. Be it Pokblocks or Pok Balls, countless items are crafted by skilled artisans. Take, for instance, the Pokblocks that the boy wanted to buy just now. Due to various factors, most Pokblocks on the market are basic and unremarkable. Custom orders, on the other hand, come with a hefty price tag. For an average family, this can be quite a financial burden. It''s not that they don''t want their kids to grow strongerits just that their wallets dont allow it. I dont mind, Natsume replied after a brief moment of thought. He had already considered selling his surplus Pokblocks and was planning to look for stable sales channels soon. His original idea was to approach gyms as potential distributors. On that note, the gyms in Jadeleaf Region are divided into four levels: national, provincial, municipal, and county-level. After all, with a population in the billions, fewer than 20 national-level gyms would hardly suffice. People would be waiting months just to book a single challenge. Thank you so much, Natsume! By the way, Natsume, whats the name of your farm? the boy asked curiously. Although the farm was marked on the map, its name wasnt listed. He had initially thought it was an oversight, but upon arrival, he found that even the physical location lacked any signage or plaques. The farms name? Its Sunnyhill Farm. When I inherited it, some of the paperwork wasnt finalized yet, Natsume explained. I submitted everything later, so the map should update in a day or two. The farm had a different name before, but Natsume decided to rename it to mark a fresh start. Sunnyhill held no special meaningit just sounded pleasant to him. At first, he had toyed with quirky names like Stardew Valley or Pikapika Farm, but practicality won out in the end. With his curiosity satisfied, the boy returned to discussing the details of buying Pokblocks with Natsume. Soon, they agreed on a deal: enough Pokblocks to last the boys Pokmon for half a month, priced significantly higher than market rates. Though it wasnt exorbitantcertainly not the 10,000 per block kind of premiumNatsume was still making a tidy profit. Money, however, had never been Natsumes primary motivation. Even in terms of personal lifestyle, he lived modestly. It was only when the boy transferred payment that Natsume finally learned his name. Not that it mattered much. "I have no interest in remembering the names of defeated opponents," Natsume thought smugly. Watching the boy leave, surrounded by his classmates, with a bittersweet expression, Natsume scratched... ...his back. Why did he come here again? To get beaten up and then hand me his money? Before leaving, the boy did mention hed promote Natsumes farm on online forums. He claimed it might attract more visitors. Should I set up a proper battle area? Natsume pondered aloud. He had designated part of the farm as a recreational zone but hadnt gotten around to developing it. Who has time for leisure when things are just starting to take off? Sand...slash. "I think its a good idea," Sandslash said, waving its claws in agreement. For some reason, the Pokmon on the farm had recently become obsessed with growing stronger. From the shiny Furret to the Mightyena family, even Buneary had started secretly practicing moves at night. The newly arrived black Zorua had also been sharing its expertise, teaching several Pokmon new skills. Furret, for example, had learned Ice Punch. Had their laid-back life suddenly turned into a hot-blooded training arc? Not that it affected Sandslash muchit still loved tilling the fields the most. --- Soon enough, Sunnyhill Farm garnered a small wave of online attention. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not because of the farm itself but due to the battle footage uploaded by the boys companions. The first half of the video was fairly ordinary. A well-trained Sandslash and a Butterfree with a surprisingly diverse move pool were noteworthy but not shocking. This world has no shortage of remarkable Pokmontheres even a five-meter-tall Tyranitar trending online. What truly captured viewers'' attention was the shiny Furret. Who could resist the charm of a pink-and-white, fluffy, oversized cuddle buddy? Certainly not the internet. The rules of online popularity are peculiar. Show off technical skills, and self-proclaimed experts will critique you relentlessly. But post something cute, quirky, or outlandish, and youre golden. Unsurprisingly, the shiny Furret gained a modest burst of fame. Some forum users even commented that they lived near Sunnyhill Farm and would visit soon. Others claimed they were already on their way. For now, though, none of this concerned Natsume. Piii! As he approached the house, he heard Togepis spirited cries. The tiny Pokmon, its eggshell stained with dirt, darted out from behind the house, its stubby legs moving surprisingly fast. Bun! Behind it was Buneary, towel in hand, looking utterly flustered. Taking care of Togepi was clearly proving to be a challenging task. Upon spotting Natsume, Buneary immediately tossed the towel aside and leaped into his arms, lamenting Togepis mischief. Togepi, on the other hand, feigned ignorance with an innocent expression. I see, Natsume said, glancing at the darkening sky. After a moments thought, he smiled and said: Lets all take a bath together tonight. Chapter 35: Hello, Lopunny In the bathroom on the first floor, warm water flowed steadily as steam began to fill the space. Outside the door, a group of curious yet hesitant Pokmon gathered, none of them brave enough to be the first to go in. The lineup included: the shiny Furret, Sandslash, two Zorua, Togepi, Persian, Butterfree, Mightyenas older brother, and even Corvisquire, who had been coaxed down from the second floor. Initially, Corvisquire had been content to stay upstairs, reflecting on life. But upon hearing there was a challenger earlier in the dayone who even trashed-talkedit was utterly flabbergasted. What? Someone dared to provoke us? Why didnt anyone call me? This is my specialty! Corvisquire, eager to prove itself, was frustrated to have missed its moment. A regret as bitter as missing out on KFCs Thursday deals. Mi? Minccino appeared, a towel draped over its shoulder and carrying its bathing supplies, looking puzzled at the gathering Pokmon outside the bathroom. What are you all doing here? Slash. Sandslash raised its paw. Were waiting for the first brave soul to step forward. Sandslash had no intention of being first, especially since it was a Ground-type Pokmon. The thought of being bathed in front of everyone? Absolutely not. The rest of the Pokmon nodded in agreement, sharing the same sense of embarrassment. After all, out in the wild, who cared about bathing, let alone queuing for it? Originally, the rest of Mightyenas family and Pangoros crew were supposed to join, but Natsume decided it was too much for one evening. Besides, those groups adamantly declared that wild Pokmon didnt concern themselves with such trivial matters. As for Mightyenas older brother? He was simply there for the spectacle but got roped in by Natsume anyway. Persian didnt mind. Having been with Natsume since it was young, it was used to this. Baths? It had even shared a tub with Natsume before. The typical feline fear of water simply didnt apply to it. In fact, Persian was already contemplating a nice soak later. Mi. After hearing Sandslashs explanation, Minccinos expression turned disdainful. A bunch of dirty Pokmon, refusing to bathe. Disgusting. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, it flicked its tail, turned, and walked into the bathroom. The unique warmth of the bath filled the air, prompting Minccino to take a deep breath. Ah, this is the life. First ones you, huh, Minccino? Natsume chuckled. Mi. Alright then, you go ahead. Ill deal with the others later. Minccino climbed into a specially prepared basin, relaxing as the warm water soaked its fur. The soothing sensation of the water running down its body made it close its eyes in contentment. Here. Buneary, with its ears wrapped in a special head towel, handed Natsume a bottle of Pokmon shampoo. It had volunteered as Natsumes assistant for the night. Thanks, Buneary. Natsume poured a bit of shampoo into his hand and gently worked it into Minccinos fur, creating soft white suds. Using massage techniques he had picked up, he earned a satisfied hum from Minccino. It seemed his efforts to learn were paying off. After rinsing off the bubbles, Natsume was about to apply conditioner and fur softener when Minccino insisted it wanted to soak a little longer. With a smile, Natsume set the basin aside and called toward the door: Next! From outside came a commotion before the door creaked open, and Persian sauntered in with a casual, self-assured gait. Meow. They were all hesitant, so I decided to go first, it explained as it walked to the shower, its movements practiced and precise. No one here had bathed as many times as Persian. If anything, it could lord its cleanliness over all the others. A true connoisseur. The bath routine proceeded smoothly. No Pokmon dared to resist. Even the water-averse Sandslash obediently sat on a stool, enduring the process. Togepi and the Zorua, however, proved to be mischievous. They splashed water at Natsume with their tiny paws, one of the Zorua even using Water Gun to drench him. Youre quite the troublemaker, arent you? Natsume said, wiping his face and smiling. He retaliated by ruffling Zoruas head fur playfully. Ehehehe! Zorua giggled, wagging its fluffy tail energetically. Finally, when all the Pokmon were cleaned up, it was Bunearys turn. Bun. Alright, your turn, Buneary, Natsume said, rinsing the soap from his hands. Buneary eagerly removed its head towel and perched on a small stool, patiently awaiting its bath. As Natsumes hands worked through its fur, Buneary began humming a tuneone it had heard from Natsumes phone. Natsume seemed to like the song, so Buneary had memorized the melody. Though it couldnt sing, it could hum the notes perfectly, showcasing its musical talent. All done. After rinsing the suds, applying conditioner and fur softener, and drying with a towel, Buneary looked at its reflection in the mirror. Its well-groomed appearance filled it with happiness. It was then that a soft white light enveloped Bunearys body, overtaking the glow of the bathroom lights. The transformation was impossible to ignore. The petite figure grew taller, its silhouette reshaping into something new. When the light subsided, a different Pokmon stood before them. Congratulations, Lopunny, Natsume said with a smile. The newly evolved Lopunny, now more elegant and humanoid, rubbed against Natsume affectionately. Lopunny~ Please continue to take care of me, Natsume. Chapter 36: Feathers Bathed in Moonlight Gentle moonlight blanketed the earth, soft and serene. The small town gradually quieted, and most of the Pokmon on the farm had drifted into peaceful dreams. Well, except for a few outliers. For instance, the night owl Corvisquire, the vigilant Mightyena patrolling the grounds, Persian taking a post-dinner stroll, and a Lopunny clutching her pillow, unsure of what to do. Lop~pu... In Natsume''s bedroom, Lopunny stood in front of the now-too-small beanbag chair, looking utterly lost. Just last night, she could bury most of herself in the beanbag, snuggling cozily with her favorite pillow. She would wake up in the morning, lazily gazing at Natsumes face. But within 24 hours, things had changed. The average height for a Lopunny was about 1.2 meters, but the Lopunny in Natsumes care was thriving beyond the norm, standing nearly 1.4 meters tall. Lop~pu... Her earlier excitement over evolution was replaced by a sense of regret. Maybe evolving wasnt the best idea. Now, even her sleeping arrangements had to change. She decided to move to the room next door. No need for that, Natsumes voice interrupted as he entered the room, dragging in an oversized, pumpkin-shaped beanbag chair. The chair was so large that Natsume had to tilt it vertically to squeeze it through the doorframe. This beanbag arrived earlier this morning, he explained. I left it in the downstairs storeroom and almost forgot about it. Patting the giant pumpkin beanbag, Natsume grinned at Lopunny. This should be just the right size for you. The beanbag had been intended for another part of the house, but repurposing it for Lopunny seemed fitting. The smaller chair would be moved elsewhere later. Lop~pu! Overwhelmed with gratitude, Lopunny turned and hugged Natsume tightly, rubbing her face against his chest. Alright, alright, time for bed, Natsume said, chuckling. lop~pu, she nodded, settling onto the new beanbag with her beloved pillow from her Buneary days. She even draped a small blanket over her belly. After all, no creaturePokmon or otherwisecould sleep soundly with their belly exposed. --- On Natsumes bed, the shiny Furret was already nestled in, with part of its pink body poking out from under the covers. Its glowing eyes reflected in the dim light. Pa-pa-pa, Furret patted the bed with its tiny paws, urging Natsume to join. Get on the bed already. Hugging the fluffy, pink Furret, Natsume soon fell into a deep sleep. This life was exactly what hed longed fora quiet existence free from rigid schedules and deadlines. Here, he could pursue what he loved, surrounded by creatures who werent human but could understand him. There were no exhausting social dynamics, no soul-crushing work stress, and no absurd pressures from idiots demanding the impossible. No bottled-up grievances, no fear of emotional breakdowns. What more could he ask for? As Natsume dreamed, the corners of his mouth curled into a soft smile. Sometimes, pleasant dreams attracted special visitors. A feather glowing with moonlit radiance drifted down from the sky, landing gently on the windowsill. Its luminous glow brushed against Natsumes cheek. The smile on his face deepened ever so slightly. Throughout the farm, the plants and Pokmon seemed to bask in their own serene dreams, adding to the harmonious atmosphere. --- The next morning, the farms youngest troublemaker, Togepi, woke from its plush, two-square-meter bed. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rubbing its sleepy eyes, it took a moment to shake off the grogginess before hopping up with gusto. Dragging its little blanket, Togepi hummed a tune it had learned from Lopunnywell, Lopunny was Lopunny now, no longer the petite Buneary. Creeping to the door of Natsumes room, Togepi peeked inside to see him still fast asleep. Without disturbing him, Togepi turned and headed downstairs. Under the morning sun, the little Pokmon stretched its stubby arms and began its morning workout. Suwo~ A slightly unfamiliar voice came from nearby. Togepi turned to see two black-and-white foxesZorua and Hisuian Zorua. These two had joined the farm just a few days ago. So, if ones called Hisuian Zorua because of its color, does that mean Furret should be called Hisuian Furret too? As a baby Pokmon, Togepi couldnt quite wrap its head around the concept of regional forms. It was like asking a three-year-old to understand time zonesnot impossible, but unlikely. Toki! Togepi waved cheerfully at the Zorua pair before heading to the small lake for its daily training. The pond, which had been recently expanded into a small lake, glistened under the sunlight. Natsume had hired a construction team to enlarge it to accommodate the growing number of Pokmon on the farm. Toki~ Tokii! Togepi greeted the Slowpoke basking by the shore and the Mudkip practicing its own morning drills. Natsume seemed to have high hopes for these two. Mudkip, in particular, often visited the main house, likely destined to become one of Natsumes battle-ready Pokmon. At least, thats what Furret had said. Togepi didnt entirely understand but enjoyed parroting the sentiment. Standing by the sparkling water, Togepi took a deep breath and wiggled its fingers. A faint light glimmered at its fingertips. Tokii! Metronome! This move stimulated the brain to randomly execute any skill. Theoretically, it could even summon moves like Precipice Blades, Spacial Rend, or Roar of Timethough their power wouldnt match the originals. As Togepi trained, a barrage of seemingly mismatched moves erupted: Whirlpool, Earthquake, Flamethrower, and Hyper Beam. Tokki, it huffed, satisfied after its exertion. Good job, me! But the little Pokmons impromptu fireworks had an unintended effect. Deep beneath the lake, where it connected to an underground river, the bombardment caused a subtle shift in the waters flow. A Pokmon egg, dislodged by the current, floated to the surface and gently came to rest on the lakebed. Chapter 37: Another Shiny Pokémon? After finishing its morning exercise, Togepi walked home with a cheerful bounce in its step, occasionally passing other Pokmon also training in the early hours. Since a few days ago, the farm had started receiving visits from challengers. While it wasnt an official gym, it had become a popular spot for trainers to check out. The scenic views combined with the opportunity for battles made it a worthwhile destination. To accommodate the influx, Natsume had designated a plot of land at the farm''s edge as a battle arena. Beyond just battles, he occasionally sold Pokblocks, and to his surprise, the farm was already turning a profit. It had only been about a month since he took over the farm, and yet, things were running smoothly. Natsume hadnt bothered with detailed accounting; as long as there was enough money to live comfortably, that was all that mattered. If funds ever ran short, he could always make and sell more Pokblocks. A lifestyle reminiscent of Yoshihiro Togashis mantra: When I run out of money, Ill just draw manga again. (Except Togashi swaps drawing for playing Mahjong...) --- Togi! Returning to the house, Togepi found Natsume already awake. From the workshop came the fragrant aroma of berries. The scent alone was enough to make anyone feel relaxed and content. It was worth noting that the farm''s environment had changed subtly due to Natsume frequently using his Verdant Power to cultivate ingredients like Berries. The residual energy not only boosted the vitality of every plant but also made the air exceptionally fresh. Visitors staying at the farm might even find themselves gradually recovering from minor ailments. Similarly, the Pokmon living on the farm were steadily growing stronger. Just yesterday, Steenee had secretly told Togepi it was close to evolving. Lucky for you, Togepi thought enviously, tugging the little blanket tucked into the crack of its eggshell. It waddled determinedly toward the Pokblock workshop. Whenever Natsume made Pokblocks, he would cut small pieces for everyone to sample. This always drew Pokmon to gather around and watch eagerly. With some effort, Togepi pushed the door open and obediently climbed onto a small stool nearby, watching Natsume intently. At the workstation, Natsume was busy making Pokblocks, assisted by Lopunny. In recent days, Lopunny had taken over the helper role from Butterfree, who had decided to focus on improving its skills. Apparently, it had even sought tutoring from Zorua. Yes, Zoruathe one every Pokmon on the farm knew was unusual. But since Natsume hadnt raised any concerns, the others were content to train with Zorua and learn its many tricks. Lopunny! Really? Ill check it out later. Lopunny, lop! Thats great! Well have our own power source soon! As Natsume chatted casually with Lopunny, she informed him about new arrivals at the farm. Last night, a flock of Pidgey had settled near the berry grove, and the previously empty warehouse now seemed to host some Electric-type Pokmon. Natsume wasnt surprised. Given the unusually high vitality of the farm, it was inevitable that wild Pokmon would be drawn to it. Without Mightyenas patrols or Persians oversight, they might have already had troublemakers barging in. In fact, that had already happened a few times. Persians sentiment was clear: Im not targeting anyone in particular; Im just saying all of you are garbage. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Togepi, want a taste? Cutting a small piece from the batch, Natsume cooled it with a quick blow before handing it to Togepi. Sampling aside, it was mostly an excuse for him to spoil the Pokmon. Any pet owner would agree that feeding their companions is a deeply satisfying experienceprovided said pet isnt a picky eater. Togi! Taking the piece, Togepi mimicked Natsume, blowing on it briefly before popping it into its mouth. A burst of rich sweetness spread across its tongue, and it couldnt help but squint its eyes in delight. Its little feet swung happily, mirroring its mood. Togi! No more for now. Breakfast is coming up. Togi Not even a small piece. Lopunny, keep an eye on Togepi and make sure it doesnt sneak any. Natsume set the freshly made Pokblocks aside to cool before lifting Togepi and placing it on the living room sofa. Following him out, Lopunny nodded in understanding, her kind smile shifting to a blank, intimidating stare as she turned to face Togepi. Dont even think about it. Togepi froze under her gaze, then obediently sat on the sofa, focusing on the TV. As a Buneary, Lopunny had often been the target of Togepis mischief. But after evolving, her strength had skyrocketed, and she could always catch Togepi in the act. Over time, she became Togepis natural nemesis. Satisfied with Togepis behavior, Lopunny returned to assist Natsume. The Pokblocks were an integral part of his strategy when catching Pokmon. The method might be clich, but it was undeniably effectiveakin to a college freshman gifting the dormmates new gadgets and saying, If you dont like it, feel free to sell it for cash. Oh, and Ill take care of meals for the next four years. Who could resist such an offer? Lopunny! Handing Natsume his bag of Pokblocks and Pok Balls, Lopunny stood at the door like a doting housewife seeing him off. Thanks for holding down the fort, Lopunny. Lopunny. With a wave, Natsume headed toward the grove, accompanied by Corvisquire and Shiny Furret. The farm had two berry groves: one for Pecha Berries and the other for Oran Berries. The latter was tended to by the Pancham family and Ursaring. As Natsume approached the Oran grove, a dazzling golden light caught his eye. Wait a second is that a Shiny Pidgeotto?! Chapter 38: Gaining a Reputation Among the Local Pokémon Pidgeotto, the earliest of the regional birds, has a final evolution in Pidgeot with decent base stats and impressive speed. Although its overall strength is just "passable," the nostalgic attachment and its Mega Evolution potential, coupled with its ability to serve as a flying mount, have made it a frequent feature in various fan works. When Mega Evolved, Pidgeots base stat total reaches 579. To put that in perspective: pseudo-legendaries like Dragonite have a base stat total of 600. Mega Pidgeot also boasts a Speed stat of 121, outpacing most Pokmon. Of course, base stats are theoretical. After all, Dragonite, revered for its "extreme speed," has a Speed stat of only 80and yet, it''s said to circle the globe in 16 hours! Returning to the main point, when Natsume first caught sight of the golden, gleaming Pidgeotto, his brain froze for a moment. To be honest, his impression of shiny Pokmon usually involved a greenish huelike shiny Machamp, for instance. But then he remembered: the games are one thing, reality another. In reality, shiny Pokmon often symbolize strength. The reason is simple: due to their distinct coloring, shiny Pokmon are often ostracized by their groups, forcing them to survive independently in the wild. This experience cultivates strong willpower and combat abilities. In many cases, strong willpower can compensate for natural talent. To some trainers, a determined Pokmon is far more valuable than one that simply boasts good stats. Of course, there are exceptions. Shiny Pokmon also tend to have unique traits. For example, the shiny Furret at Natsumes farm is much faster than regular Furretand cuter (crossed out). Because of their rarity, shiny Pokmon are highly sought after by trainers. Even if theyre not particularly strong, their uniqueness is enough to win over most trainers. While Natsume sized up the Pidgeotto, the Pidgeotto was also assessing Natsume. A plain-looking human. No brightly colored hair, no peculiar eyes. He didnt smirk crookedly, nor did he have an unusually large head. Just an ordinary person, albeit slightly handsome. Still, the Pidgeotto was wary. This human... feels familiar. Its well-known that certain Pokmon species harbor mutual animositiesfor example, Zangoose and Seviper, or Pidgeot and Fearow. A few days ago, this shiny Pidgeotto heard from other Pokmon that a Fearow had been utterly defeated by a human. Delighted by Fearow''s misfortune, Pidgeotto had rushed over to mock it. Even though it couldnt necessarily beat that Fearow itselfand would probably lose to the same humanit didnt stop Pidgeotto from taunting Fearow. Of course, that escapade ended with a horde of Fearow chasing it down, but it was worth it. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But now? Karma? The shiny Pidgeotto glanced back at its clueless flock, then at the blue Corvisquire and shiny Furret beside Natsume. It had a sinking feeling. Hello, Pidgeotto, Natsume greeted, walking closer. Im Natsume, the owner of this farm. The shiny Pidgeotto instinctively saluted in the French style. Pidgeot! Hello! Natsume blinked, surprised by the sudden formality. This Pidgeotto didnt seem very bright. Or rather, its brain might not be entirely functional. Could this be the "shiny" part of this Pidgeotto? Its brain? Suppressing his inner doubts, Natsume continued, You must be the leader of your group, right? Pidgeot. Receiving confirmation, Natsume added, Our farm welcomes Pokmon to join, but there are rules you need to follow. The rules of the farm hadnt changed much since Natsume took over. Besides minor adjustments, one new rule stood out: "No placing your rear end on Natsumes face in the middle of the night." Dont ask why this rule exists. Every peculiar rule has a peculiar story behind it. Perched on a branch, the shiny Pidgeotto mulled over its options. Joining seemed like a good ideathis place was great, and the conditions offered were appealing. But joining outright felt undignified. Maybe... a fight first? Pidgeottos gaze slowly shifted back to Natsume. The human was out of the question. Next, its eyes landed on the blue Corvisquire. Something about that bird was irritating. Then, the pink-and-white Furret. Clicking its tongue, Pidgeotto couldnt shake the feeling that none of these Pokmon were pushovers. If it fought and lost, it would lose face entirely. If it joined without a fight, it would still lose face. Whats your decision? Natsume asked. Pidgeot! Ill join! After weighing the pros and cons, the shiny Pidgeotto decisively agreed. Welcome aboard, Pidgeotto! Natsume smiled. Pidgeot! Looking forward to working with you, Boss Natsume! Yes, this Pidgeotto seemed very aware of its place. Or perhaps it was simply well-aware of Natsumes strength. Over time, Natsume had gained some notoriety among the local wild Pokmon, known for his ability to single-handedly subdue them. This led to a personal realization: if something can be solved with his own hands, why trouble the Pokmon on the farm? Besides, there was a certain thrill to taking down Pokmon with a single punch. What is a true Hisui superhuman? (leans back smugly) For now, you and your flock can stay here, Natsume said. Help keep an eye on the orchard, and let me know if any outsiders show up. Ill bring pokblocks over regularly. After explaining the rules and handing over some Pokblocks, Natsume ignored the Pidgeottos stunned reaction ("What kind of garbage have I been eating before this?") and headed toward the warehouse at the farms edge with Corvisquire and Furret. I need to consider getting a mount Pokmon, Natsume mused as he walked. With some money saved up, it might be time to invest in some functional Pokmon. Chapter 39: The Electric Flying Squirrel Frowns and Assembles the Crowd In a long-unused warehouse, a group of Pokmon surrounded an obviously broken-down, old diesel generator. They looked as if they were overworked office employees debating overtime or students stressed about an impending exam. Zzz A large yellow spider with piercing blue eyes stared at the outdated generator. It had seen others use similar machines to generate electricity, but as for how it worked... the logic was beyond it. The Galvantula had hoped that things would work out somehow, but this contraption defied comprehension. It wanted to dig a hole and hide itself. But feeling the expectant gazes of its newborn Joltik children, it could only feign an air of intense focus, pretending to be in deep study. Above the generator sat an Electric Flying Squirrel. No, not the iconic Pikachu, but an Emolga. Despite its undeniable cuteness, Emolgas screen time in stories was surprisingly low. Yimo. So hungry The little squirrel idly scratched its paw as its stomach rumbled. Living in the wild meant most Electric-type Pokmon couldnt always find a power source, so they relied on berries to fill their bellies. But even berries had been scarce lately. Its gaze drifted to the Galvantula. Ever since meeting that spider, its luck had seemingly taken a nosedive. Behind the Galvantula, four tiny Joltik watched their father work with rapt attention. To a child, parents are often omnipotent, and for Pokmon, it was no different. Meanwhile, in a corner of the warehouse, two sluggish Charjabug huddled together, looking utterly dejected. For Charjabug, life without electricity was catastrophic. If things continued this way, they feared they might starve to death. Near the clutter, a Pokmon rummaged through a pile of junk, its face obscured. Judging from its rounded posterior, it resembled a Corgi. Emolga dangled its legs thoughtfully, considering its options. Sticking with this group didnt seem promising. They werent even friendsjust Pokmon who had coincidentally crossed paths during migration. Maybe I should find a capable Trainer to take me in, it mused. Rely on my adorable looks and live a cushy life. As it daydreamed, the warehouse doors creaked open. Bright sunlight spilled in, chasing away the gloom. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sudden burst of light dazzled the Pokmon, who had grown accustomed to darkness. Wow, there are quite a few new friends here, a voice called out. At the back of the group, Emolga squinted and adjusted to the light. After a moment, a face entered its viewa face it found acceptable. As a Pokmon with standards, Emolga believed that if it were to be caught, it should at least be by someone pleasing to the eye. After all, choosing a Trainer was like picking a partnertheyd be together for years. If its Trainer were unsightly, it would be miserable. This face, however, was tolerable and worth considering. The warehouse erupted into chaos. The rummaging Pokmon revealed itselfa Yamper. Its tan, white, and brown fur gleamed, and its upright ears resembled a rabbits. Its tail had a lightning-bolt shape, with a heart-shaped base right above its rear. A Yamper! Natsumes expression lit up. To him, Yampers evolution, Boltund, was the quintessential herding Pokmon. He planned to eventually raise Pokmon capable of producing resources, like Combee, Mareep, and Miltank. For herding duties, Boltund and Arcanine were ideal choices. Encountering a Yamper here was a delightful surprise. The other Pokmon werent bad either. Natsumes gaze turned to the Galvantula and its Joltik children. Electric and Bug-types that could spin silk and generate electricityperfect for solving the farms power issues. Currently, the farm had external power lines, but internal electricity production would be much more convenient. Then there were the two Charjabug. As their name suggested, they functioned like living power banks. Not only could they store vast amounts of energy, but their evolved form, Vikavolt, was an excellent turret Pokmon. Though their HP, physical attack, defense, and speed were unimpressive, their 145 base Special Attack could devastate enemies. Finally, Natsumes gaze landed on a red-hued Charjabug hiding in a corner. Unlike the usual green color, this one was shiny. Counting the shiny Pidgeotto from before, this marked the third shiny Pokmon hed encountered on the farm. His attention returned to Emolga, lingering at the back. Sensing his gaze, Emolga frowned and instinctively pulled the others forward as a shield (or so it imagined). Instead, it retreated further into the corner. Why did this humans gaze feel so intense? It was almost like the obsessive villains in TV dramas who fixated on little girls. Yes, Emolga had watched TV beforealbeit through a strangers window. Hello, everyone! My names Natsume, and Im the owner of this farm. No need to be nervous. He paused for a second, nearly blurting out something inappropriate, before continuing. Raising his hand, Natsume channeled a gentle flow of Viridian energy, subtly easing the tension in the air. It wasnt enough to brainwash the Pokmon into adoring him but helped reduce their wariness. Even Yamper, who had been prepared to bite him, started wagging its tail instead. Chapter 40: A Taste for Mature Emoji After a brief self-introduction, the Pokmon''s perception of Natsume improved significantly. Especially the Yamper, which wagged its tail incessantly at Natsumes feet, barking Woof, woof! Roughly translated, it seemed to be saying: Father! Im your long-lost son, Father! For wild Pokmon, the allure of guaranteed food, shelter, and leisure without the burden of battling was irresistible. Few wild Pokmon could refuse such an offer, particularly an affectionate species like Yamper. If the situation had allowed, Yamper would probably have taken up the role of Natsumes spokesperson, earnestly persuading the others to join. The Galvantula glanced back at its offspring, then at Natsume, before resolutely nodding. If youre willing to take us in Never mind. Lets skip the formalities. Boss Natsume, our family will follow you from now on! The two Charjabug made the same decision. After all, wild Electric-type Pokmon didnt have many choices. Most would eventually partner with trainersonly with a trainer could they feed on electricity openly. The alternative? Sneaking power and risking a beating, followed by capture or abandonment. Better to find a reliable trainer sooner rather than endure hardship. The only holdout was Emolga. Not that it wasnt temptedit found Natsumes farm quite appealing. However, this was a matter of lifelong commitment, and such decisions required caution. In its city days, Emolga had learned a lot by eavesdropping on beauty courses and lifestyle tips. It scrutinized Natsume closely, weighing its options. Hmm, he looks pretty handsome. His outfits a bit plain, lacking style, but thats not a big deal. That can be improved later. For Emolga, things like bad fashion sense werent deal-breakersthey could be corrected over time. What mattered more were the unchangeable hardware factors, like height. A bad haircut could be fixed, and poor taste in clothes could be learned. But short stature? That was permanent. Judging by what it saw, Natsume passed the test. His face was definitely within Emolgas acceptable range. Shifting its gaze from Natsume to his Pokmon, Emolga evaluated his care. The bird flying nearby looked energetic and well-maintained. The pink, long-bodied Pokmon beside him had sleek, glossy fura clear sign of good grooming. And the fox cradled in his arms was no exception. All things considered, following Natsume seemed like an excellent choice. Yimo! Pushing past the other Pokmon, Emolga stepped forward, raising its tiny hand. From now on, Ill be in your care, Natsume. You too, Emolga, Natsume said, crouching to gently tap its paw with his finger in a mock high-five. As Emolga had been assessing him, Natsume had been observing Emolga in return. Though he often appeared easygoing and patient with Pokmon who wished to join his farm, this wasnt always the case. His kindness extended only to pure-hearted Pokmon without malicious intentions. For those with disruptive tendencies or arrogant attitudes, Natsume had no qualms about rejecting them outright. Case in point: the Spearow he once had to pin down and discipline. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (Spearow: Why me again?!) If Emolga had shown an excessively rebellious demeanor, Natsume might have politely asked it to leave. Fortunately, things ended on a positive note. All done, Natsume said, completing the process. After formally capturing each Pokmon, he released them again, his thoughts wandering to the growing population on his farm. Ill need to find proper accommodations for all these Pokmon Clearly, the farm needed an expansion. With this in mind, Natsume took out his phone and messaged a familiar contact. [Why Doesnt Ultraman Seven Have Ears?]: Are you there? Are you there? [Machamp Construction and Renovation Team]: Im here, boss! What do you need? [Machamp Construction and Renovation Team]: (Serious cat face emoji) [Why Doesnt Ultraman Seven Have Ears?]: The farm needs expanding. Lets build a bigger house and renovate those old warehouses. [Machamp Construction and Renovation Team]: Got it! On my way! [Machamp Construction and Renovation Team]: (Saluting cat emoji) [Why Doesnt Ultraman Seven Have Ears?]: (Handshake) (Handshake) Meanwhile, in town, a muscular girl lounging under an air conditioner sprang off her bed. Kicking open the back door, she shouted, Works here, everyone! Get moving! Finish this job, and well upgrade the gym equipment! Maybe buy new tools too! In the backyard, Machamp and Foreman Pokmon Conkeldurr turned their heads toward her in unison. The girl felt like dozens of spotlights were glaring at her. Lets go, lets go! Watching her enthusiastic Pokmon, she nodded in satisfaction. Exactlywork hard so I can buy new bags Err, I mean, better gym equipment for you all. Looking at her phones chat log, she smiled, her heart brimming with joy. Life was tough these past months, but thanks to that young farm owner, everythings turning around. Still, Natsume sure has a mature taste in emojis, she murmured, scrolling through his messages. The handshake and flower emojis stood out among his replies, occasionally accompanied by an OK gesture. Such refined tastes! Alright, time to head out! Standing at her shops entrance, the girl prepared to leave, only to hear a crisp voice behind her. Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to Sunnyhill Farm? Chapter 41: Emolga: Why Does Everyone Seem a Bit Off? Yimo. Inside its new home, Emolga curiously inspected the space where it would be living from now on. Unlike the more people-friendly Emolga, Galvantulas family preferred the outdoors. After all, the nature of spiders meant they werent particularly fond of staying too close to humans. Downstairs, the two Joltik were feasting voraciously on electricity. Having gone so long without such indulgence, they were now practically glued to the power outlets, impossible to pull away. It was safe to predict that Natsumes electricity bill was about to skyrocket. But, it was all worth it! Maybe it was the blessing of the Alpaca Pokmon, but in just over a month, Natsume had managed to catch three shiny Pokmon. And all of them had stunning color schemes. The pink-and-white Furret, which always reminded Natsume of a certain interstellar diva. The golden Pidgeotto, whose brassy plumage gave Natsume ideas about training it to deliver sarcastic quips from streetlamps. And the red Charjabug. To most, this might not seem impressive. But its final evolution into the shiny Vikavoltsleek silver with fluorescent green patternslooked like a machine straight out of a futuristic war movie. In short, the evolution was destined to be incredibly cool. Far cooler than the green Machamp models Natsume used to see in his classmates fashion magazines. Even among shinies, there were levels to this. Yimo! Emolga raised its paw in a polite greeting as the surrounding Pokmon gathered around to observe the newcomer. Hello, everyone. Im Emolga, the new arrival. Please take care of me. The little flying squirrel Pokmon struck a well-mannered pose, as if it were a diligent student on its first day of school. Emolga understood the importance of making a good first impression. Its priority was to establish friendly relationships and understand the dynamics of its new home. By figuring out the hierarchy and pecking order, it could avoid missteps and even gain support for any future endeavors. If worst came to worst, it could always play the cute cardacting pitiful, flashing its big eyes, and calling everyone "big brother" while tugging at their heartstrings. Yes, Emolga was very confident in its charm. It silently praised its own cleverness. But... Stare Minccino was glaring at Emolga, a cleaning cloth still in its paws. The intense gaze made Emolga break into a nervous sweat. Whats going on? Did I do something wrong? Or is this just not how greetings work here? Mi! After scrutinizing Emolga for a while, Minccino nodded with satisfaction. Seems like a clean kid. Thats good. Very good. Giving Emolga a reassuring pat on the shoulder, Minccino resumed cleaning. Lately, the households chaos had increased Minccinos workload exponentially. In retaliation, the younger Pokmon led by Togepi had all found themselves pinned to the floor by Minccino at least once. It wasnt about strengthjust sheer authoritative pressure. San! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sandslash returned to grab an pokblock for lunch. Giving Emolga a casual pat, it offered a few encouraging words. Work hard, little one. Im heading out. Carrying its meal, Sandslash left to tend to its crops, clearly more invested in its fields than in the new arrival. Tokii. Togepi mimicked Sandslashs actions, patting Emolga on the shoulder as well. Keep it up; I believe in you. Toki-toki. Work hard, thats advice from your senior. Though it had only hatched recently, Togepi insisted on playing the role of a mature mentor, much like a high schooler pondering how to save the world. Furr. Following Togepi, the shiny Furret gave Emolga a quick pat but said nothing. "Hmph, I admit youre cute. But cute Pokmon only slow me down!" Determined, Furret bolted out of the house. It had decidedtoday, it would run fifteen laps around the farm. If it couldnt finish, it would do fifty sprints instead. This was a training method it had learned from watching anime. Squeak! "My youth will never fade!" Caw! Descending from the second floor, Corvisquire fixed Emolga with a sharp gaze. "Hmph. A mere nobody. Shall I" Before it could finish its arrogant monologue, Persian kicked it aside, cutting the drama short. Youre using the wrong idiom, idiot. Acknowledging Emolga with a slight nod, Persian dragged Corvisquire into a corner, ready to discipline the TV-obsessed troublemaker. ...Yimo? Standing frozen in place, Emolga felt its brain short-circuiting. Why does everyone here seem so weird? The only seemingly normal one had been the Butterfree it met earlier. Turning to the Hisuian Zorua that had been quietly observing from the side, Emolga looked for some explanationor maybe just some comfort. But the moment Zorua noticed Emolgas gaze, it darted into the adjacent room through the wall. Now, only Zorua''s Unovan counterpart remained, leisurely swishing its tail. As for Lopunny? It had gone with Natsume to move some supplies. Though, truth be told, Zorua doubted Natsume needed any help from a Pokmon. In Zoruas experience, there wasnt a human stronger than Natsume. Even martial artists wouldnt stand a chance. Sure, "using force to overcome technique" might sound crude, but it worked. And with Natsumes ability to tank even Hyper Beam hits to the face, finesse wasnt exactly a priority. Most problems could be solved by charging straight through them. Hehe. Seeing Emolgas bewildered expression, Zorua let out a mischievous laugh. Hearing the chuckle, Emolga snapped out of its daze and turned to Zorua, its cheeks puffed in annoyance. Yimo! Yimo! For some reason, Emolga felt it shared certain traits with this black-furred fox. They locked eyesit was the look of two Pokmon who knew how to vie for attention. Faced with the agitated Emolga, Zorua tilted its head thoughtfully. Stretching lazily, Zorua leapt into the air. As its body twisted mid-flight, it transformed into... an identical Emolga. Yimo! Shock! The sudden appearance of another Emolga startled the original. Circling the doppelg?nger, Emolga inspected it closely. After a thorough examination, it reached a conclusionthis copy was identical in every way. Yimo... Pinching the fake Emolgas cheek, the real one was utterly flabbergasted. Meanwhile, Natsume, in another part of the house, was having his own share of shocking experiences. Chapter 42: An Unexpected Visitor and the Meaning of Battle Sometimes, people tend to overestimate their tolerance for surprises. Natsume had always considered himself someone hard to faze. After all, as a transmigrator who had encountered a woolly llama deity firsthand, he thought there wasnt much left to shock him in the world of Pokmon. Even if one day he woke up to find Groudon flying in the sky... Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Okay, fine, that would still be pretty shocking. Lets rephrase. If one day he woke up and found a Gardevoir lying next to him in bed, Natsume believed he wouldnt be too surprised. Hed just sigh and reflect on how his ever-evolving XP preferencesrefined through years of updateshad finally come into play. Sure, his tastes were probably a bit old-fashioned compared to trendsetters, but his good ballpark did extend to humanoid, aesthetically pleasing non-human creatures. That said, Natsume firmly believed he wasnt a furry. Sure, fluffy things were cute, and he did have a thing for humanoid forms, but he wasnt a furry. No debate about it. Natsume simply appreciated beauty in all its forms. Ahem, moving on. What Actually Surprised Natsume Hello, Natsume-san. Standing before Natsume was a teenage girl with twin buns tied atop her head and a sun visor perched jauntily. Her youthful energy practically radiated off her. If it were just another random trainer stopping by his farm, it wouldnt have been anything unusualthere had been plenty of visitors coming for photo ops and battles lately. What really surprised Natsume, however, was My name is Mei. Im a trainer who just started her journey this year. Natsumes brain momentarily short-circuited. Wait, what? Where am I? Is this Ashs world? I thought I transmigrated into a modern Pokmon setting! And these names they arent from the Pokmon Adventures manga, are they? Although momentarily startled, Natsume quickly composed himself. After all, zoning out during someone elses introduction would be incredibly rude. Nice to meet you, Mei. Looking at the girls familiar features and the smug-looking Snivy by her feet, Natsume was certain this was indeed that Mei from the Pokmon world. Yep, Pokmons Meinot Mei-nee, I dont want to die! Mei from elsewhere. Im here today to challenge you! Bowing slightly, Meis voice carried a serious tone. Though polite, the burning determination in her eyes made her resolve crystal clear. To Battle Bringing his thoughts back under control, Natsume led Mei to the battle arena he had set up on his farm. Standing on the battlefield, Meis expression turned deadly serious. She raised a hand dramatically and called out, Alright, my first choice is yougo, Snivy! The Snivy that had been swaggering by her feet raised its head confidently and sauntered onto the field. The pride in its gaze made it clear this Pokmon was used to winning its battles. If a Pokmon constantly lost, no matter how strong it was, traces of nervousness and hesitation would inevitably show in its demeanor during battles. This Snivy, however, radiated self-assurednessa testament to its frequent victories. And yet, this confidence wasnt something deliberately cultivated. Both Mei and her Snivy carried a fiery, unstoppable aura. For such a petite and adorable girl, Mei exuded an unexpectedly intense, hot-blooded energy. Alright, in that case Just as Natsume was pondering which Pokmon to choose, a Corvisquire suddenly dashed out from behind him. Its sharp gaze carried a glint of wisdom, as if to say, Leave this battle to me. Well, Ill leave it to you then, Corvisquire. Seeing the eagerness in its eyes, Natsume couldnt bring himself to turn it down. Among all his companions, Corvisquire had the strongest craving for battles. Partly, this was its natural fighting spiritfew bird Pokmon were truly mild-mannered. But mostly It was because Corvisquire loved showing off. The Audience The farms Pokmon had gathered around the battlefield to watch the match. Ever since the battle arena had opened, trainers had frequently come by to challenge Natsume. Whether they won or lost didnt matter muchit was all about gaining experience. Watching battles had even become a daily pastime for the Pokmon living on the farm. A special shoutout to the Zigzagoon squad, habitual audience members who always attempted to rummage through challengers bags when they werent looking. Theyd already been scolded multiple times by Ursaring for this, but bad habits die hard. Like calculus. Caw! Caw! Circling in the air, Corvisquire basked in the attention from the audience, feeling exhilarated. Ah, this is what battles are about. Without an audience, battles lose their meaning. Corvisquire wasnt interested in fighting over resources or territory. It fought purely for the sake of showing off. Because why else? Style, of course. Natsume was well aware of Corvisquires little motives. In fact, hed been considering taking Corvisquire and a few other Pokmon to nearby small-scale competitionsperhaps ones hosted by shopping districts. After all, several Pokmon on the farm had started training themselves, and Natsume couldnt just ignore their efforts. Caw! The winds of destiny are especially wild today. On the ground, Corvisquire mimicked Snivys haughty stance, tilting its head upward to glance at others disdainfully. This bird definitely had the potential to join the Uchiha clanits mastery of condescending stares was almost perfect. Snivy, arms crossed, snorted in response but said nothing. Idiot. Its expression said it all. Caw! Corvisquire remained unbothered, continuing its trash talk. Most of it was dramatic phrases it had picked up onlinelines so cringe-inducing even Natsume struggled to translate them into something intelligible. But as Natsume listened, an unsettling realization dawned on him. Wait a second Why does this sound so familiar? Holy crap, isnt this from the diary I wrote in middle school?! Where the heck did this bird find that?! Completely oblivious to the increasingly murderous aura emanating from behind it, Corvisquire grew even more animated with its theatrics. Someone was about to get into serious trouble. Standing silently beside Natsume, Lopunny shot Corvisquire a pitying glance. Poor thing. Your doom approaches. Chapter 43: Corvisquire’s Combos and Mei’s Curiosity Sometimes, battles reveal a Pokmons true potential. The instant the match began, the chattering Corvisquire fell silent. It spread its wings and swiftly ascended, dodging Snivys initial Bullet Seed attack. Seeds struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt. Tsk. Snivy clicked its tongue. It had assumed this opponent was all talk, but Corvisquires quick reflexes were surprising. More importantly... Snivys gem-like red eyes locked onto Corvisquire. As much as it hated to admit it, this bird was a serious threat. Its own repertoire of moves was limited, and it lacked effective anti-air tactics. Worse still, it had no idea whether this opponent possessed long-range attacks. If it did, things could become dire. Thinking this over, Snivy launched another wave of attacks, alternating between Vine Whip and Bullet Seed. But Corvisquire evaded them effortlessly. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Snivy, dont rush, Mei called out, her tone calming and analytical. Well focus on a defensive counterattack strategy. Corvisquires special defense isnt highif our attacks land, well have the upper hand. Meis words helped Snivy regain its composure. A true trainers role in battle isnt to yell meaningless phrases like Dodge it! or Hang in there! Pokmon arent robots. If theyre in danger, theyll naturally dodge. If theres an opening, theyll naturally strike. Instead, Meis mind raced, analyzing the situation. From what Ive read online, this Corvisquire knows a lot of movesProtect, Roost, and aerial moves like Drill Peck. A prolonged battle isnt in our favor, but Snivys current tactics are all about endurance She furrowed her elegant brows, mentally noting the need to teach Snivy more moves after this battle. Still, it couldnt be helped. With Snivys Contrary ability, its potential as a future ace was unquestionable. Once it evolved into Serperior and learned Leaf Storm, its combat power would skyrocket. But until then, it was merely decent. Caw! High above, Corvisquire flapped its wings, sending several transparent blades slashing toward Snivy. It was using Air Slash, a move it had only just learned yesterday. Though its mastery wasnt high, it got the job done. Many times, proficiency in a move only needs to be good enough, as demonstrated now. Corvisquire rained down Air Slash attacks, forcing Snivy into a frenzied retreat to dodge. Occasionally, it would dive at high speed, delivering a close-range Drill Peck before retreating to safety. Ugh! Snivy narrowly avoided a Drill Peck, rising from the ground covered in dirt. Its emerald body was now stained with mud, and its red eyes burned with fury. Its own attacks had been utterly ineffective. Even its Magical Leaf, which should have homed in, was mostly blocked by Corvisquires Protect. The few hits that landed barely fazed the bird, who still looked as energetic as ever, hurling taunts with its usual fervor: Such pitiful efforts amount to nothing! Kneel and gaze up at me in awe! Realize your weakness and despair! If Butterfrees typical combo was something like Stun Spore Toxic Psybeam Air Slash, Corvisquires strategy could be summed up as: Air Slash Trash Talk High-Speed Dive Trash Talk Drill Peck Trash Talk x3 Air Slash Close-Range Trash Talk. If there ever came a rule banning mid-battle dialogue, Corvisquires combat effectiveness would be halved. Eventually, Snivy collapsed in defeat. Its attacks, though accurate, lacked impacta classic case of scratching the surface. This was understandable. While Snivys special attack stat was decent, theres a thing called level suppression. At just over level 20, Snivy had only recently learned Leech Seed, an impressive milestone for a novice trainers Pokmon. But Corvisquire was already level 35 and nearing evolution. The gap was undeniable. Defeat was inevitable, though Snivy wasnt sure whether it lost due to Corvisquires strength or sheer frustration. If it could, Snivy wouldve gladly yanked out Corvisquires beak and shoved it somewhere unpleasant. Just you wait, feathered freak. One day, Ill tear that smug look off your face and plant grass on your skull! Cradled in Meis arms, Snivy glared daggers at Corvisquire. Well stop the battles here for now, Mei said, applying a potion to Snivys injuries. My other two partners would likely fare no better than Snivy. She offered an apologetic smile to Natsume. Ill return for a rematch once weve grown stronger. Some trainers advocate for constant combat, arguing that losing builds character. But sending your Pokmon into a clearly unwinnable battle just to learn their limits is pointless. Mei had no interest in subjecting her partners to unnecessary beatings. Sorry for the trouble, Natsume, Mei said, her demeanor shifting back to that of a bright and cheerful girl. Accepting the small, resealable bag Natsume handed her, she peered curiously at the glistening Pokblocks inside. Shed heard about these onlineNatsume was supposedly a master at crafting Pokblocks, surpassing even recognized experts. But anyone with common sense knows not to fully trust online information. At best, believe 30C40% of it. The rest is likely exaggerated. Still, she couldnt deny her curiosity. Its no trouble at all, Natsume replied, waving dismissively. He wasnt particularly invested in battles. If challengers came, hed fight. If not, hed sunbathe. Most of the time, he let his Pokmon handle battles for him while he managed the farm. By the way, Mr. Natsume, Mei asked as they walked, what made you decide to take over this farm? Chapter 44: The Best Way for Students to Bond is Complaining About School Why did you choose to inherit a farm? This was a question Natsume had been asked countless times recently. The answer was always the same: Because he felt he might have some talent for it. Because it was something left behind by his late uncle. And most importantly, because there was a farm to inherit. If, back then, he had been left with a major corporation instead, Natsume would have inherited that too. After all, such companies typically have well-established management systemshed just need to avoid any catastrophic decisions and hed live comfortably. Of course, this was just wishful thinking. There was no corporation for him to inherit. Something like that, Natsume replied casually. Besides, I dont think Im smart enough to be a great trainer. As he teased the aloof, tsundere Snivy, Natsume spoke in a relaxed tone. In this world, being a top-tier trainer requires more than just passion. It demands intelligence. Type matchups, coverage strategies, the opponents potential movesets, and their lineup order all had to be calculated. Ones own team needed constant adjustment based on the enemys composition. For each battle, there was an overwhelming amount to consider. Those who charged forward with nothing but raw determination were often outmaneuvered by veteran trainers as soon as they stepped out of school. This world might lack many things, but it certainly wasnt short of people who found amusement in "camping" at beginner-level areas just to crush newcomers. Natsume had once aspired to be a scholar-level trainer, but reality said otherwise. Crossing dimensions might change your appearance or habitsturning a 1.8-meter-tall man into a 1.5-meter albino with red eyesbut intelligence? That remained stubbornly fixed. The idea of someone going from a scatterbrained university student to a calm, calculating genius plotting against brilliant minds was nothing but fantasy. Besides, Natsume had always lived by the principle that brains were meant to rust. Realizing his limitations, he decisively switched career paths. Got it. Mei nodded thoughtfully, then sighed nostalgically. Back in school, we had to memorize so much. The battle class teacher even made us watch battle videos and write analysis reports for homework. It was exhausting, especially after late-night study sessions. Exactly, right? In no time, the two bonded over shared frustrations about their school days. For studentsor recent graduatescomplaining about school is the perfect icebreaker. You think your school was bad? Wait till you hear about mine! This kind of conversation naturally pulls out all the absurd stories from ones school life, bringing both sides closer together. So long as no one insults each others alma mater, of course. After a round of shared grievances, their relationship had noticeably warmed. But Mr. Natsume, youre really amazing, Mei said with genuine admiration. In just a couple of months, you turned an abandoned farm into this. She glanced at a group of Zigzagoon scampering across the fields and couldnt help but marvel. While she lacked any farming experiencebeing the textbook example of a high schooler with zero practical life skillsstarting a farm from scratch sounded exhausting. Its nothing, really. The townsfolk were very supportive, Natsume replied modestly. A lie, of course. The truth was that after arriving at the farm, Natsume had transformed from a slightly introverted high school boy into a full-blown shut-in. If unnecessary, he wouldnt step out of the farm. Even now, most people in town barely knew who he was. Even the mayor, busy with his own responsibilities, didnt have time for idle chats. Unlike the leisurely, cane-toting village elders in anime, real-world mayors were far busier. Still, its impressive, Mei insisted. And youre doing great too, Natsume said. For a rookie trainer, youre off to a fantastic start. Their conversation naturally veered into mutual compliments. Looking at Mei, once a "protagonist" of sorts, Natsume felt surprisingly calm. He didnt feel excited, let alone overwhelmed with adoration. Instead, he saw her as an unfamiliar acquaintancesomeone interesting but not idolized. Sure, he felt some fondness toward her, but nothing so intense that hed throw himself at her. After all, Natsume was a "reserved man" (or so he claimed). By the way, Mr. Natsume, can I buy some Pokblocks from you? Mei asked suddenly. Her primary reason for visiting, besides the battle challenge, was to purchase some of Natsumes renowned Pokblocks. The forums were abuzz with praise for his creations, claiming they were even better than what some top-tier professionals could make. Of course! What type are you looking for? Natsume asked, his business instincts kicking in. I have a Snivy, Dewott, and Tepig in my team. Do you have any recommendations? Mei replied thoughtfully. As she spoke, a Zorua quietly crept up on the two of them. Zor? Seeing Natsume and Mei walking side by side, the Zorua skidded to a halt, then dived elegantly into a nearby bush before being noticed. Peeking out from its hiding spot, the Zorua studied the pair mischievously. Its expression hinted at a cheeky plan forming in its mind. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pink energy enveloped its small body, and in the blink of an eye, the Zorua vanished into the foliage. Hm? What is it, Mr. Natsume? Mei asked curiously. Nothing, Natsume replied, glancing back at the bush where the Zorua had been hiding. Something about it felt off, but he decided to let it go. Chapter 45: A Leisurely Stroll Around the Farm With a soft "whoosh," Zorua materialized in one of the second-floor rooms. Feeling the softness under its paws, it instinctively kneaded the surface, much like a cat making biscuits. Leaping gracefully from the bed, Zorua paused briefly before darting into the adjacent room. There, it whispered something to Corvisquire, who was engrossed in watching a movie. "Suo." "Caw?" "Suosuo!" "Cawcaw." No one knew exactly what Zorua shared with Corvisquire, but when it emerged from the room, it was carrying a smartphone in its mouth. Since the farm began turning a profit, Natsume had purchased several phones and left them around the house, anticipating that some Pokmon might take an interest in the internet. With modern networks and user-friendly devices, more and more Pokmon were becoming internet addicts. A few even became famous online, capitalizing on their tech-savvy antics. A few minutes later, Zorua, now darting about the house, finally stopped. Before it lay a pile of miscellaneous itemspokblocks, flower bouquets, ribbon-wrapped gift boxes, and more. Tilting its head, Zorua pondered for a moment, then sneakily glanced around. Seeing no other Pokmon in the living room, its small body began glowing with a faint blue energy. The scattered items were drawn toward the prepared satchel, as though magnetized. Dont question how a tiny bag could hold so much. Pokmon tech, kid. Satisfied, Zorua slung the satchel over its shoulder. Floating slightly off the ground, it clutched the smartphone with its front paws, tapping and swiping with remarkable dexterity. Just then, the door creaked open, and Persian, freshly awake, sauntered into the room. The living room was empty, but its nose twitched as it caught a familiar scent. Its tail swayed lazily, but Persian didnt dwell on it. Everyone on the farm knew that Zoruas so-called "perfectly hidden" antics were far from subtle. The last Pokmon who had been this confident about its stealth? An Ogerpon caught sneaking into the game room in full view of everyone. Speaking of Ogerpon, it hadnt shown up in a couple of days. If it didnt appear tonight, Persian decided it might be worth reminding Natsume to check on it. --- Elsewhere, Natsume was giving Mei a tour of the farm. It had all started when Snivy got flipped onto its head by a passing Zigzagoon. Unwilling to let it slide, Snivy instinctively chased after it. Mei, who had been preparing to leave, decided to stay and help sort things out. The situation ended with Snivy sulking in Meis arms while Ursaring pinned Zigzagoon to the ground. Judging by Zigzagoons playful, tongue-lolling grin, it clearly didnt take the scolding seriously. In the early days, being reprimanded by its mother would leave it nervous and upset. But now? Zigzagoon had lost count of how many times it had been pinned and scolded. To it, dodging these situations had become a gamejust a matter of perfecting its "Zigzagoon-style evasive maneuvers." Natsume, feeling somewhat responsible, offered to show Mei around the farm as an apology. Mei, considering her plans to train in the area for a while, agreed. As a new trainer, Mei wasnt in any rush to compete in regional tournaments. She knew that aiming for the Junior or Senior divisions in her first year was overly ambitious. Though she had undeniable potential as a trainer, growth and experience couldnt be rushedunless fate had a miracle in store. Jadeleaf Region was vast, and every year, a handful of lucky trainers managed to befriend exceptionally strong Pokmon early in their journeys. Such occurrences werent unheard of, but Mei wasnt counting on it. For now, her focus was on training and getting stronger. Oddish~ A line of Oddish marched past Natsume and Mei in neat formation. These Pokmon were also residents of the farm, though not as close to Natsume as his more loyal companions like Furret. While they acknowledged Natsumes authority as the farms owner and followed the rules, they preferred their own carefree lifestyle. This dynamic wasnt uncommon. Even in Steenees domain, a few Bounsweet showed little interest in interacting with Natsume. It wasnt out of dislike or ingratitudejust a lack of interest in bonding with humans. To them, their relationship with Natsume was akin to the connection between villagers and a sacred guardian spirit in some fantasy tales. The villagers offer tributes, the spirit occasionally shows up to accept them and bestows blessings in return. Good afternoon, Oddish, Natsume greeted, crouching down to gently pat the heads of the Pokmon gathering around him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a bag of small treats and began handing them out one by one. Recently, Natsume had started experimenting with crafting Pokmon Pok Puffs. While pokblock were great, switching things up occasionally was a nice change of pace. Even the best noodles, no matter how varied, could make one crave rice now and then. So far, the results were promising, and the effort had even led to the discovery of some tasty Pokmon snacks. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maybe I have a hidden talent for this? Natsume mused, silently offering his thanks to Hisui''s deities for their guidance. After all, those blessings had been genuinely helpful. Oddish! The Oddish lined up, patiently waiting for their treats. Mei, who had crouched beside Natsume, instinctively placed her hands on her knees, watching the interaction. Glancing at Natsume and the snacks in his hand, she remarked thoughtfully, You really seem to love Pokmon, Mr. Natsume. Just call me Natsume, he replied, brushing crumbs off his hands as he stood. I think most people, even if they dont love them, dont dislike Pokmon either, he added with a shrug. Im just... normal, I guess. In a world filled with Pokmon, were there people who truly disliked them? Certainly, just as some people disliked cats or dogs. But youve done a great job caring for the Pokmon on your farm, Mei pointed out. Maybe, Natsume said nonchalantly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He wasnt one to judge others preferences. As long as they didnt cross any boundaries, even someone obsessed with pink Walmart bags would get his blessing. Alright then, let me show you the berry grove, he offered with a smile. Thats where our farms security team resides. Chapter 46: Wrote Another Chapter Out of Frustration For once, Natsume wasnt busy with farm work all day. He spent the entire afternoon chatting and strolling around the farm with Mei. Earlier, he had thought about doing something else, but whenever he wasnt busy with work, he didnt know what else to do. Training? Not really. Maybe it was because he had already decided to give up on becoming a Trainer, so he didnt want to engage in activities typical of one. Instead, he preferred lying under the shade of a tree, idly holding his shiny Furret. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To be fair, it was quite relaxing (not that hed openly admit it). Natsume had considered picking up some of his old hobbies but always felt unmotivated. Living alone in the mountains for so long, most hobbies had faded away, leaving only the skills essential for survival. Natsume figured he was a product of this process. Spending so much time alone, he sometimes worried he might lose his ability to interact with other humans altogether (laughs). Ah, saying it like this feels a bit depressing. That wouldnt do! A transmigrator should be brimming with energy and drive! Even when feeling down, you should shout confidently, Its not me whos wrong, its this world! Rubbing his face to shake off the negative thoughts, Natsume handed the Bounsweet in his arms to Mei. This Bounsweet was particularly fond of people. Every time Natsume visited, it would rub affectionately against him. It was hard to tell who was cuddling whom. Ah, hello there, Bounsweet! With a gentle touch, Mei carefully took the Bounsweet into her arms, her face lighting up with joy at the adorable creature. Cute appearance, affectionate personality, and a faint sweet scentwhat girl wouldnt adore such a darling Pokmon? At least Mei was completely smitten. Chuu! Nestled in Meis embrace, the Bounsweet shifted into a comfortable position, using the leaf on its head to nuzzle her arm. Ah, a sweet human girl. Time to snuggle! Girls should stick together, even if theyre from different species! It seemed the Bounsweet really liked Mei. For the rest of the walk, it clung to her, unwilling to leave. Even when placed on the ground, it would trail behind her like an elementary schooler on a field trip. Mei took a step, and it took three. Its tiny legs made that inevitable. Chuu~ The hopping Bounsweet looked like an inflated balloon, ready to float away at any moment. Natsume glanced at the Bounsweet, a thought flickering through his mind, but he chose not to say anything just yet. For now, he would observe. Besides He subtly turned his head to look at a nearby fruit tree. The leaves on its branches rustled slightly, as if something had just left. But scanning the area revealed no suspicious Pokmon in sight. Once Natsume looked away, a petite figure gradually materialized in midair. Satisfied with the photos on its phone, it nodded approvingly. Then, like a fish in water, it gracefully turned and followed after them, leaving behind a series of cat-like giggles that slowly faded into the air. --- As time passed, the sky turned a shade of golden dusk. Mei and Natsume had nearly toured the entire farm. Many areas were still under development, so they only gave them a brief look. Natsume shared some of his plans for these spaces with Meithis patch for a garden, that area for greenhouses, and so on. In short, there were plenty of ideas. The farm could undoubtedly be described as promising. High EQ: Promising, a first-rate warrior of the future. Low EQ: Nothing much right now. How do you feel? Standing at the farms entrance, Natsume smiled at Mei. Its been really fun, and also Meis gaze drifted to Natsumes knees. Natsume, your stamina is impressive. The remark was slightly ambiguous, but there was no romantic undertone between them. While touring the farm, Mei had noticed that whenever Natsume encountered small Pokmon, he would habitually squat down to make eye contact while communicating with them. This approach maximized his ability to convey goodwill without intimidating them. The advantage of squatting to interact was clear. The downside? Sore legs. Since Natsume squatted, Mei followed suit to engage with the Pokmon. At first, it was fineshe just thought, Oh, the Pokmon on the farm are so cute, This ones adorable, and That ones even cuter. But gradually, Mei realized something was off. It seemed like Natsume squatted a lot. Theyd barely walked a few steps before encountering a few Hoppip. Squat, chat, feed, bid farewell, stand. A few more steps, and there were some Poochyena. Squat, chat, feed, bid farewell, stand. Then came a chatty Corvisquire. Talk, raise a hand, andsmack! Wait, what?! According to Natsume, this Corvisquire was one of the Pokmon hed caught during his earlier goal of becoming a Trainer. He had hoped to train it into a cold, aloof powerhousethe kind that avoided chatter and delivered decisive strikes. Instead, it turned into a top-tier loudmouth. It wouldnt act unless it could taunt its opponent first. Once, it excitedly told Natsume it had found a new idol: a Korean streamer known for playing Raven and trash-talking between combos. Natsumes response? A slap that sent it tumbling. Learn something useful for once! In the end, Mei found her legs sore and her knees aching after the tour. Why did it feel like shed spent the entire afternoon doing squats at the gym? Yet, looking at Natsume, who showed no signs of exhaustion, Mei started wondering if she should step up her fitness routine. As a proper Trainer, a strong body was essential! By the way, what about this little one? Mei glanced at the Bounsweet clinging to her leg, looking distressed. The Pokmon had been feigning pitifulness since earlier, refusing to let her leave. It was clear how much it liked her. But this Bounsweet was one of Natsumes farm residents and seemed to have already been caught. Ah, thats simple. Natsume shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. He had anticipated such situations from the beginning, so he wasnt caught off guard. Chapter 47: Bounsweet: Ready to Battle! Bounsweet, do you want to see the world outside? Crouching to match Bounsweets gaze as much as possible, Natsume asked sincerely. If Bounsweet wanted to leave with Mei, Natsume wouldnt mind. To put it bluntly She used to be the heroine of the game! The goodwill bonus from the past, coupled with todays interactions, had left Natsume with a favorable impression of Mei. And aside from battling, Mei had a somewhat endearing naivety about her. The two could now be considered friends. So, if Bounsweet wanted to follow Mei, Natsume wouldnt oppose it. There were many reasons: One was that Natsume hadnt planned on training Bounsweet. She wasnt exactly a rare Pokmon. This was a pragmatic consideration. Of course, the premise was that the other party had to be someone Natsume knew and got along with. If a random trainer passing by declared they fancied a Pokmon on the farm and asked Natsume to let it go, promising theyd take it to the pinnacle of the world Natsumes likely response would be: Persian, wreck them! What pinnacle? What sacrifice? Come back after winning this years provincial Beginners Cup. Competitions like that are packed with all kinds of monsters. Watching those matches teaches humility. It motivates one to get a stable job. After a few matches, no one talks about the pinnacle of the world anymore. As for the argument that attacking a trainer with Pokmon is illegal, Natsume could only say: I can fight myself, no problem. Time to experience a punch that can shatter a Protect move. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sword breaker, physical edition: Breaking your nonsense. The other reason was that Mei was a good person. If she caught Bounsweet, shed treat it well. Chuu?! The question startled Bounsweet. Meis an excellent trainer. If you go with her, youll see sights youd never experience on the farm. Youll grow stronger, defeat opponents. Youll battle alongside your companions. Those will be incredible days. But in return, you wont have a leisurely life anymore. Youll need to work hard to meet Meis expectations. You cant get arrogant when you win or discouraged when you lose. And you cant regret it, thinking you were misled. Do you understand? Natsume lowered himself further but soon realized it was impossible to match Bounsweets 0.3-meter height. He gave up and instead clarified the pros and cons. He didnt want Bounsweet to leave on impulse, only to later find life outside wasnt what she imagined. Such disappointments could lead to resentment toward the trainer who took her away. Better to address these concerns early. Mei, standing to the side, didnt interrupt. Her eyes darted between Natsume and Bounsweet. Somehow, this felt like a parent giving heartfelt advice to a child before a big journey. Chuu... Listening to Natsume, Bounsweets eyes began to swirl like spirals. So much information all at onceit was overwhelming. CPU overload. Until now, Bounsweet hadnt thought much about the future. She just liked Mei and thought it might be fun to stay close to her. Chuu! After some effort, Bounsweet finally made a decision. She wanted to go! Her gaze turned resolute. Though life on the farm was cozy and playing with friends was enjoyable, something always felt missinglike there wasnt enough excitement. Now, Bounsweet had decided. Shed leave. Shed grow stronger. Shed fight! And then, shed come back to give that Zorua who tricked her a good beating! She had cared for it, thinking it was abandoned, only to find out later it was all a ruse. Traitor! Seeing Bounsweets inexplicably fired-up expression, Natsume and Mei exchanged a look. It seemed like this little one had plenty of spirit. Great! Thats the attitude! Mei cheered. Lets work hard and get stronger together, Bounsweet! Chuu! Battle! Here, this is Bounsweets Pokball. Having anticipated this outcome, Natsume handed over the Pokball. After realizing Bounsweet might want to go with Mei, hed secretly asked Corvisquire to fetch it. Since each Pokball was carefully labeled and organized, it wasnt hard to find. Of course, all of this was done discreetly. Otherwise, it might seem like he was eager to get rid of Bounsweet. If Bounsweet didnt want to leave, hed simply consider the effort unnecessary. Thank you, Mr. Natsume. Its just Natsume. Got it, Natsume~ Mei replied playfully. Turning to Bounsweet, Mei said, Well then, Ill be counting on you from now on, Bounsweet. Chuu! The red beam of light enveloped Bounsweet, recalling her into the Pokball. Although the usual ritual of capture wasnt necessary since she was already tamed, Meis excitement wasnt diminished. Chuu! The moment Bounsweet was released again, she clung to Mei like a kitten, rubbing affectionately against her. Why compare her to a kitten? Because once grown, shed stop being clingy (tragically). Adult cats just find a quiet spot to groom themselves at their leisure. As for those cute, clingy cats seen online? Persian says thats all an act. Oh, Natsume, I just thought of something! Mei suddenly exclaimed, rummaging through her bag. Lets exchange contact information. Also, I owe you some compensation for letting me catch Bounsweet. Though Natsume might not care, Mei still felt uneasy leaving without offering something in return for a Pokmon hed nurtured. Chapter 48: Mei’s Departure and a Night Barbecue After a classic Eastern-style tug-of-war over a gift, Mei''s compensation was ultimately not accepted. Accepting compensation for Bounsweet felt uncomfortably similar to selling Pokmon, which wasnt the image Natsume wanted to convey. In the future, he might open a Day Care or a ranch, selling eggs and Pokmon to trainers. But that was a distant plan. For now, the idea hadnt even crossed his mind. Although the compensation was rejected, Mei ended up purchasing a large number of Pokblocks from Natsume instead. If you wont take compensation, Ill at least buy your goods, right? --- Bye-bye, Natsume! Mei waved enthusiastically at the farm gate. Ill visit again sometime! At her feet, Bounsweet mimicked Meis energetic farewells, hopping and calling out to its friends. Meanwhile, Snivy maintained its aloof demeanor, crossing its arms and tilting its head slightly upward. Yet, when it glanced at Natsume, its gaze softened, hinting at a subtle sense of approval. Snivy, despite its pride, had acknowledged Natsumes culinary skills, if nothing else. Earlier, during dinner, it had even reluctantly admitted that Natsumes cooking surpassed Meis by milesonly to be met with Meis furious retaliation in the form of a relentless head rub. Take care on the road! Natsume called after her. Dont worry! Mei flexed her arm confidently. Ive planned my route carefully. Every path is an official, safe trailnothing dangerous. Her confident stance didnt match her lighthearted tone, making Natsume almost expect her to exclaim, Well win! --- After seeing Mei off, Natsume turned to face the now quieter farm. Phew... It felt calmer now but also a little too quiet. Perhaps he wasnt used to prolonged interactions anymore. For someone who hadnt socialized much, having a visitor as lively as Mei was a bit nerve-wrackingespecially when she was not just any girl but a bright and cheerful one at that. Still, Natsume figured he hadnt done too badly. After all, there were plenty of people out there who couldnt even meet a girls gaze without freezing up. It''s so quiet on the farm now, Natsume mused. Caw? Corvisquire tilted its head in confusion. Quiet? Really? Looking around, it noticed the chaos: Mightyena being wrestled to the ground by its mate, a swarm of Zigzagoon tearing through the farm, and Shiny Furret leading a squad of recruits in training. Corvisquire wondered if Natsume was deaf, blind, or perhaps both. Dont overthink it. Lets head back. Natsume ruffled Corvisquires carefully groomed feathers, leaving the bird with a messy head of plumage. --- That evening, the farm Pokmon gathered on the rooftop for a barbecue party under the moonlight. Yes, a full-fledged Pokmon barbecue. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before anyone panicked, Natsume clarified that while some Pokmon made for excellent ingredientssuch as Farfetchds leek or Slowpokes regenerative tailsthe feast didnt actually involve cooking Pokmon themselves. To ensure safety, Mudkip and Slowpoke were on standby to handle potential fire hazards. In fact, this impromptu barbecue also doubled as a welcome party for the newer additions to the farm. Lopunny, youre amazing, Natsume praised, accepting a skewer from the hardworking rabbit, who wore an apron and manned the grill with finesse. At first, everyone was supposed to cook their own food. However, after assessing the situation, Lopunny took over entirely, unable to bear the sight of others attempts at grilling. Thanks, Lopunny. Your cooking is the best! Lopunny gave him a playful side-eye. Youre just being lazy, arent you? Well... maybe, Natsume admitted, avoiding her gaze. But your cooking really is amazing! At his feet, Persian purred contentedly, nuzzling his hand before pulling away when he tried to pet it. It was typical cat behavioraffectionate one moment, evasive the next. Meow? Oh, youre right, Natsume replied, realizing something. Meow! But I dont even know where it is... Meow... Okay, fine. Tomorrow, well look for it. If we cant find it, well ask Zorua for help. Meow? No big dealjust a mischievous kid, Natsume replied, brushing it off. Finishing his skewer, he handed the stick to Lopunny for another. Cant I just enjoy myself for once? --- Meanwhile, in a distant cave, Ogerpon wrestled with its own troubles, unaware of the lively party back at Natsumes farm. Chapter 49: Ogerpon’s Handmade Project Hmm In the quiet of its cave, Ogerpon stared blankly at the scattered items strewn across the ground. It wanted to craft a gift for Natsume, but something always felt off. No matter how many versions it made, none of them seemed satisfactory. So, Ogerpon kept revising and retrying, resulting in the current mess. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, Ogerpon was deeply frustrated. Hmm Standing up, it began pacing back and forth in the cave. This habit was something it had picked up while watching TV with Corvisquire. On TV, whenever a protagonist paced around, they always seemed to come up with solutions to their problems. Ogerpon thought this method might not only aid in thinking but maybe even boost its IQ. Unfortunately, reality didnt align with Ogerpon''s expectations. Despite nearly wearing down the cave floor with its pacing, Ogerpon still couldnt come up with a good idea. Even after digging out all its precious treasures, the results were still underwhelming. To put it lightly, its creations leaned heavily into abstract art. Somewhere between "ugly" and "interesting" lay a realm Ogerpon reluctantly called hideously unique. Hmm! Clutching its head, Ogerpon let out a wail of despair. Why dont I have any artistic talent?! How do those people on TV effortlessly create masterpieces?! For the first time, Ogerpon fully understood the pain of lacking natural talent. After some melodramatic squirming, twitching, shadowy creeping, and frenzied screaming, it suddenly fell silent. Lying motionless on the ground as if in a sage-like trance, it stared blankly at the barren walls. After a moment of rest, Ogerpon flipped itself upright with a determined twist. It resumed its craftwork, aspiring to create a gift as beautiful as the ones on TV. Thats the difference between a novice and an expert. Beginnersor self-taught enthusiastsoften instinctively compare their work to masterpieces theyve seen, only to feel dissatisfied and disheartened, doubting their skills. Experienced veterans, however, focus on finding a few merits in their work, adjust their expectations, and conclude: Ignoring the ugly parts, its actually not bad. Mee? In the corner of the spacious cave, a pair of bright blue eyes emerged, observing Ogerpon''s struggles with great interest. The hidden observer pulled out a phone, snapping photos of Ogerpon hard at work. Satisfied with the pictures, the mysterious Pokmon left quietly, ensuring Ogerpon remained blissfully unaware that its secret base had been discovered. Whether it was due to Ogerpon being too relaxed or the other Pokmons excellent stealth, the visit went unnoticed. --- Thanks, Zorua. Back on the farm, Natsume browsed through the photos Zorua had taken, flipping through shots of Ogerpon in action. In the images, Ogerpon could be seen fiddling with various items, its focused profile occasionally visible. While scrolling, Natsume instinctively reached out to scratch under Zoruas chin. Suosuo. Zorua didnt resist. Instead, it tilted its head up, exposing its chin for easier access, purring contentedly as Natsumes fingers scratched with just the right pressure. It looked just like a clingy little kitten. The sight reminded Natsume of a Skitty that lived next door when he was youngeran adorable little cat he absolutely adored. The only issue was that petting Skitty in front of Persian sometimes felt a little morally ambiguous. And maybe just a tiny bit thrilling (crossed out). Now, Zoruas behavior bore a striking resemblance to that Skitty. Well, it looks like everythings fine, Natsume said, his earlier worries dissipating after seeing Ogerpon''s situation. Hmm? Whats this? His fingers unintentionally swiped to the next photo, and a new set of images appeared on the screenones unrelated to Ogerpon. Suosuo Zorua froze, its entire body stiffening as its gaze darted nervously. Just as it tried to sneak away, Natsume gently placed a hand on the back of its neck. The grip wasnt forceful, but it carried a weight of authority that made Zorua feel as if even the slightest movement would spell doom. Pinned by the scruff of fate. For feline-like creatures, no matter how strong they are, the back of their necks is often their Achilles heel. In theory, you could single-handedly take them down just by grabbing this spot (crossed out). So, care to explain this? Natsume held up the phone, showing the gallery filled with 100 to 200 photos of him and Mei, all taken from various angles. Some were close-ups that seemed almost in his face, making it clear these were candid shots taken without his knowledge. To Natsumes surprise, Zoruas photography skills were quite impressive, far surpassing his own. Suosuo? Feigning innocence, Zorua tilted its head and put on a wide-eyed, innocent expression. But combined with its naturally sly fox-like face, it didnt look entirely trustworthy. Is that so? Suosuo. Of course! Im a mature fox, and mature foxes dont lie. Well, if you say so Natsume gave Zoruas head a firm rub before scooping it up and casually tossing it onto the ground. Zorua landed gracefully, shook its tail, and sauntered off. As for the phone? That didnt matter. Since Natsume had bought it, Zorua figured it could just borrow it later. Before leaving, Zorua gave a cheeky little butt wiggle, eliciting a chuckle from Natsume. Its just like a kid, he thought, shaking his head as he pulled out his phone to browse forums. Though most posts were from trainers, occasionally thered be some on Pokmon farming and ranching techniques, which Natsume found quite helpful. Chapter 50: The Quirky Shiny Furret and Negotiating Farm Acquisitions Morning sunlight streamed through the window as Natsume groggily climbed out of bed. Since the farm had gotten on the right track, hed found himself slacking off a bit lately. After all, with a group of highly capable partners around, it was hard not to get a little lazy. Flopping back down, he stretched out on the bed, basking in the warm sunlight. He knew he should get up, but the comfort of his bed was just too enticing. The brave "Hero Natsume" had lost yet another battle against the Blanket Demon King, remaining sealed in his bed fortress. Furret must already be out training, he thought, running his hand over the cool, empty sheets beside him. Recently, the shiny Furret had developed a burning passion for training, bursting out of the house each morning, raring to go. Hed even started yelling phrases like My youth will never fade!reminding Natsume of a certain green, bowl-cut hero. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, Furret was the self-proclaimed boss of the farm. From Sandslash to Cottonee, every Pokmon had tasted his wrath. Even the occasional Poochyena passing by wouldnt escape a slap before scurrying off with its tail between its legs. As for Persian? Furret had tried. Once. He was promptly smacked flat to the ground with a single paw. Incidentally, Furret had also taken charge of a few Sentret from the surrounding area. Now, his inflated size and presence suggested he was growing into a formidable alpha Pokmon. If this keeps up, I might actually get my dream of sleeping on Furret like a giant pillow, Natsume mused with a grin. The shiny Furrets enthusiasm had clearly rubbed off on others. Many of the farms Pokmonlike Mudkip, Steenee, Yamper, and Zigzagoonhad joined the morning training sessions. Though, to Natsume, Yamper and Zigzagoon seemed more like they were just there for fun. Yamper, initially determined to become an excellent herding dog, had quickly been swayed by Zigzagoons carefree antics. Soon, he was racing around the farm aimlessly, simply enjoying himself. Why run? Zigzagoon had taught him. Because its fun! By the sink, Natsume splashed water on his face and lazily wiped it off with the towel Lopunny handed him. Thanks, Lopunny, he said. Lop! she replied happily, rubbing against him affectionately before heading off to tidy his room. Normally, cleaning was Minccinos responsibility, but Lopunny often helped out. The two were inseparablebest friends since their early days. Now, Lopunny could easily scoop Minccino up like a doll and play with her. At breakfast, Natsume scrolled through his phone, typing furiously. He had been negotiating with the owner of a struggling farm that specialized in wool production. The farm raised Wooloo, Mareep, and Skiddo, but poor management and issues with inheritance had led to declining profits. To keep the farm afloat, theyd resorted to selling Pokmon offspring, much to the discontent of the Pokmon there. The leaders, Ampharos and Gogoat, frequently voiced their protests. Because most Pokmon were as intelligent as seven or eight-year-old childrenand fully evolved Pokmon were comparable to adultsthere were strict regulations in place for farm management. If Pokmon reported mistreatment, authorities would step in, offering two options: fix the problems or sell the farm. Natsume had been chosen as a suitable buyer: young, capable, with a track record of reviving an abandoned farm. His reputation as a model youth made him the ideal candidate. Am I... actually becoming an outstanding young man? Natsume chuckled to himself. Currently, he was working with the farm owner to finalize the transfer. They were going over details like dietary preferences and daily routines for the Pokmon groups. Natsume carefully recorded everything in a new memo. Soon, well have a lot of new residents on the farm, Natsume said, looking at Lopunny with a smile. Ill need your help when they arrive. Lop! she replied enthusiastically. Leave it to me, Natsume! Her determined expression made Natsume chuckle. It seemed Lopunny was just as ready as he was for the new arrivals. Chapter 51: Vespiquen by the Berry Grove The negotiations with the other farm owner had gone smoothly. The owner was quite satisfied with the environment on Natsume''s side. If all went as planned, the Mareep and Wooloo herds would be delivered in three or four daysalong with seven or eight Gogoat. This conveniently solved Natsumes previous transportation dilemma. After all, the farm was a short distance from the town. Walking there for supplies wasnt a big issue on leisurely days, where he could stroll along with Persian and the others. But when something urgent arose, having a rideable Pokmon became essential. As for other means of transportation? There was a tricycle in the farms storage shed, but Natsume couldnt ride it. Yes, Natsume couldnt ride a tricycle. He was skilled with both two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles, even earning his drivers license recently. But for some inexplicable reason, he just couldnt get the hang of a tricycle. Every time he got on it, his body seemed to lose control. If he wanted to turn left, his body tilted left, but his hands stayed frozen. Initially, Natsume was determined to conquer it. After repeated practice, however Natsume learned to give up. If he couldnt learn it, so be it. At the edge of the farm, two humanoid Pokmon appeared in the forest, their crimson eyes scanning the area. This place seems decent. Still, we need to observe more. Our previous home is no longer an option. Yes, we need to find a new one quickly. Should we seek refuge with this human? For now, he seems promising, but lets keep watching. Hurry back; the others are waiting for us. Understood. With their silent conversation concluded, the two Pokmon disappeared into the woods. Clearly, they were Psychic-types. --- Persian, Butterfree, youre coming with me today, Natsume said, slinging a small bag over his shoulder. Last night, Ribombee mentioned that a group of Combee had appeared near the Berry Grove, seemingly led by a Vespiquen. Given that bee Pokmon are highly territorial and can attack unprovoked, Ribombee asked Natsume to help drive them awayor perhaps capture them. Normally, Combee are gentle Pokmon that focus solely on gathering pollen. Even when disturbed by other Pokmon, they tend to relocate to a new flower patch rather than retaliate. However, Vespiquen, as their queen, was a different story. A leader. A bee. Commanding other bees. Combine those traits, and it was easy to imagine a Vespiquen orchestrating an attack with her Combee against intruders. In certain regions, Vespiquen have even been known to control Beedrill to seize territory, using the aggressive Beedrill to fight while the obedient Combee gather honey for her. Briii~ Butterfree fluttered down from upstairs, its wings buzzing lightly. Recently, Butterfree had been busy learning new moves from Zorua. It turned out that Zorua was an exceptional teacher. Thanks to its guidance, Butterfrees skill set had expanded considerably. It was now better equipped to delightfully torment opponents (cough). Or rather, to fight more effectively. Meanwhile, Persian hadnt been focusing on learning new moves lately. Most of the time, Persian quietly stayed in a corner, sharpening its skills. A few days ago, Persian reached Level 55, standing on the cusp of becoming Elite-level. Having been fed countless Pokblocks since it was young, Persians growth was backed by ample resources. Now, it was simply preparing to step onto the next stage in the best possible condition. Persian had no intention of stopping here. Lets go! After double-checking his gear and confirming he had everything he needed, Natsume set out with Persian and Butterfree. Since the opponents were just Vespiquen and Combee, he brought only these two Pokmon. As long as Persian dealt with Vespiquen quickly, the rest would be straightforward. Bringing Butterfree was just a precaution. If it had been a swarm of Beedrill, Natsume would have brought more Pokmon. Speaking of which, he thought, maybe he should recruit more Pokmon to protect himself. The farm didnt seem to have any Pokmon specialized in defense or protection. When it came to safeguarding their trainers, Psychic-types were hard to beat. Whether it was a Gardevoir, ranked first on fan-favorite lists, or a mature and reliable Slowking, both were exceptional guardians. Psychic-types were a dream for any trainer: versatile, mysterious, and resourceful. Only Dragon-types could rival them in desirability. Psychic-types embodied versatility and mystique, while Dragon-types were the epitome of raw power. --- By the Berry Grove, a honeycomb-shaped hive was taking shape. It seemed the Combeeand by extension, Vespiquenintended to settle here permanently. Lately, theres been quite a surge in migrating Pokmon, Natsume mused. This was undoubtedly unusual. Though Pokmon possessed extraordinary powers, their behaviors generally adhered to natural laws. For territorial species like Vespiquen, migrating or relocating was nearly unheard of. Most Vespiquen rarely even left their hive, spending their days producing honey. Yet here was one, leading her Combee to the edge of Natsumes farm. Well, its not my problem for now. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shaking his head, Natsume decided not to dwell on it. Whatever the causebe it Legendary Pokmon or an evil organizationit wasnt his concern. Legendary Pokmon could handle themselves, and evil organizations were just career opportunities for law enforcement. Evil organizations? Performance bonuses! In a country as safe as Jadeleaf Region, such antics were nothing more than fodder for the search officers performance reviews. Or perhaps an extra income source for enthusiastic neighborhood volunteers. Buzz, buzz, buzz Even from a distance, the distinct droning of bee Pokmon filled the air. It was loud and grating. Time for negotiations, Natsume said. Meow. You mean time to fight? Diplomacy first, then force. Meow. Whatever makes you happy. Were going to fight anyway. Persian silently resigned itself to the inevitable. On a distant hill, a humanoid Pokmon observed Natsume quietly, as though lost in thought. Chapter 52: Vespiquen: “Do all city Pokémon eat this well?” The Combees, who had been busily building their hive, immediately grew restless upon noticing the presence of an unfamiliar figure. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some hurriedly flew back toward the hive, while others formed a defensive wall in front of Natsume, cautiously observing the stranger. Strictly speaking, they were the intruders here. But for wild Pokmon, such distinctions might not even exist. Hello, Combee. My name is Natsume. Im the owner of this farm. Pointing to the farm behind him, Natsume spoke with a smile. As the energy of the Viridian Forest coursed through his body, a unique aura of harmony gently spread outward. The tension among the Combee eased slightly. Although they didnt exactly rush up to ask for a hug, they no longer seemed on the verge of biting him with Bug Biteone of the few moves Combee could learn. Combee, as a species, was relatively weak. With a base stat total barely over 200 and a move pool limited to less than ten, even Magikarp might mock them as amateurs. When a Combee evolves into Vespiquen, though... Well, its still just okay. Despite decent defenses, its Bug/Flying typing comes with multiple weaknesses, including a quadruple weakness to Rock. At best, its passable. Most of the time, it serves as a utility Pokmon, setting hazards like Toxic Spikes. A few braver Combees cautiously approached Natsume, seemingly testing his intentions. At the slightest movement from Natsume, they quickly fled back, giving him no chance to get closer. A sharp buzzing echoed through the air. As if receiving a command, the Combee dispersed, creating a path as if welcoming their queen. And indeed, they were. In a Combee colony, there was only one queen: Vespiquen. The Vespiquens appearance resembled a regal figure in a voluminous gown. Her two pairs of small insect wings seemed far too tiny to support her imposing form. Hello, Vespiquen. Faced with the leader of the swarm, Natsume remained relaxed. This is the confidence bestowed by the miraculous Hisuian superhuman physiqueor so he liked to think. If they both traded punches, it wasnt clear who would end up on the ground. After introducing himself and the farm, Natsume extended an invitation to Vespiquen. Would you like to join the farm? Her crimson eyes reflected Natsumes image as she pondered his offer. From the start, Vespiquen didnt have much of a choice. The farm was the only area in the vicinity with an ideal environment. There was an almost imperceptible energy lingering in the air. After just two days, Vespiquen felt her fatigue from leading the colony on a long journey dissipate significantly. The constant exhaustion that had her on the brink of collapse vanished completely. So yes, she was inclined to stay. But if not here, where else could she go? Abandon the fledgling hive, take the colony, and continue searching for another potential home? That was an absurd idea. Leaving wasnt an option, so why not stay? Besides, she couldnt win in a fight. Vespiquen glanced at Natsumes Persian and Butterfree, her thoughts heavy with resignation. Yesterday, she had sent her Combee to secretly scout the farm. The results were clear: if it came to a battle, her colony would be crushed in no time. The Vespiquen had seen a group of Furret repeatedly charging at incredible speeds. Leading them was a pink Furret, so fast her keen Bug-type eyes almost couldnt follow. She had also witnessed Butterfree showcasing its devastating Solar Beam, chilling her heart. Its subsequent skill demonstrations only made Vespiquen question her very existence. Arent we both Bug-types? Why does it feel like your Bug-type is on an entirely different level? How did you learn all those moves? Could you teach me? (Zorua, meanwhile, gave a smug thumbs-up and happily munched on an energy pokblock from Butterfree.) Ill join! Without hesitation, Vespiquen followed her instincts. Pokmon never yield! ...Unless theres free food and shelter. These terms were simply too good to refuse. Placing her hand in Natsumes, Vespiquens eyes shone with determination, filled with longing for the promised food and comfort. Ill joinright now! Ah? Oh, okay. Vespiquens decisiveness left Natsume momentarily stunned. That was... quick. Had she already made up her mind beforehand? Still, a peaceful resolution was always welcome. After all, Natsume considered himself a pacifistat least when unprovoked. Welcome to the farm, Vespiquen. With practiced ease, Natsume completed the process of recruiting Vespiquen. The queen extended her hand againnot to shake it but to eagerly accept another pokblock. The moment she tasted it, her eyes lit up. Wow, do all city Pokmon eat like this? The delectable treat left her envious. From now on, she was determined to enjoy the finer things in life! Persian and Butterfree exchanged glances from their spot by Natsumes feet. No battle today? How surprising. Still, it wasnt a bad thing. Later, Ill expand the fence outward slightly, Natsume said. That way, your hive will be included within the farms boundaries. Initially, Natsume had planned to relocate the hive near the Berry Grove. But since Vespiquens hive was already partially constructed, he couldnt realistically move it intact. Expanding the fence was the simpler solution. Besides, the area was already part of the farm, so it wasnt technically a violation. --- On a nearby hillside, a humanoid Pokmon silently observed Natsume. It could sense that he wasnt a bad person and harbored a sincere love for Pokmon. A pure, selfless affection with no ulterior motives. Gallade, it murmured. Turning away, the Gallade disappeared from the hillside in an instant, preparing to discuss matters with its sister. At the same time, Natsume turned toward the hill, sensing something unusual. His gaze found only an empty slope. An illusion? No, there was definitely a Pokmon watching just now. Natsume was certain of it. Chapter 53: The Forest of Death In the dim forest, a Gardevoir stood silently with several Ralts, waiting. About a month ago, the forest they lived in underwent a sudden and eerie transformation. From the forest''s heart came an indescribable presence, an oppressive aura that lasted only a moment but was enough to unsettle every Pokmon in the areaespecially the Psychic-type Gardevoir. Had it not been for their ancestral ties to the forest, Gardevoir would have instantly teleported away with her younger siblings. And thats precisely what she had done initiallyrushing home with Teleport to gather her Ralts siblings. As for her Gallade brother? Hed manage. Probably. But for various reasons, they hadnt been able to leave immediately. Troubled by this growing unease, they stayed a while longer. It wasnt long before the forest began to die. Starting from the central spring, death quietly spread. Trees turned an ashen gray and withered, crumbling to powder at a mere touch. The ground cracked and became barren, while the once-clear spring transformed into a stagnant, turbid pool. The Pokmon residing near the center visibly aged at an alarming rate. Within just days, those closest to the source became frail and decrepit. Muscles atrophied, bones weakened, and even minimal movement inflicted severe damage upon their bodies. Fleeing wasnt an optionthey could only lie helplessly, waiting for death to claim them. Their clouded eyes reflected no trace of hope or will to live. Gallade had witnessed all of this firsthand during his reconnaissance. That moment, he wholeheartedly agreed with his sisters initial instinct. We should have fled this place ages ago! Luckily, their home on the forest''s outskirts had spared them from the worst effects. Even so, fatigue weighed heavily on Gardevoir and her siblings. Their psychic powers grew dull, and their internal energy became sluggish and unresponsive. Given time, they, too, would succumb to the same fate as those at the forest''s center. Determined to protect his family, Gallade had quickly whisked his siblings away from their long-time home. Leaving behind the memories of their years there was painful, but their lives were far more valuable. You can rebuild a home, but theres no coming back from death. Gallade! A sudden ripple in the air heralded Gallades arrival in front of Gardevoir. Sis? His psychic link reached out, connecting their thoughts. Gallade began relaying everything he had observed and the conclusions hed drawn. First, his assessment of Natsume: this human seemed trustworthy. Not only was Natsume kind, but he also had the resources to care for their family. The Pokmon living on his farm were healthy and thriving. Moreover, Natsume wasnt an ordinary human. There was something about himan energy within him that resonated deeply with Gallades Psychic senses. This mysterious energy was the Viridian Force, an innate gift Natsume had struggled to control in his youth. Back then, it had made him a magnet for Pokmon, much like a walking treasure trove. Even now, Natsume was still like catnip to certain Pokmon. The neighbors Glameow, for instance, practically turned feral every time she saw him. I think we should approach him. He seems reliable, Gallade concluded confidently, seated cross-legged. Despite being the elder sibling, he had no qualms about deferring to Gardevoirs judgment. After all, his analytical skills left much to be desired. Why stress myself when I have an external brain to do the thinking? sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a moment of thought, Gardevoir made her decision. Well meet him. Even if they ultimately chose not to stay, they could always retreat if necessary. This was no small step for Gardevoir, given her acute awareness of how humans often coveted her kind. To most humans, Gardevoir was irresistiblea combination of power, elegance, and allure. Whether they sought strength, beauty, or companionship, there was no reason to reject her species. Even for those with niche tastes, the male Sirknight form offered its own appeal. Gallade, meanwhile, had always been a little less popularthrough no fault of his own. It wasnt about strength or appearance; it was just human preferences. The human psyche truly is a strange and terrifying thing... --- Unaware of the impending arrival of a Gardevoir family, Natsume was busy reviewing his farm''s layout. Natsume spread out the farm''s blueprints, gesturing as he spoke. Beside him stood muscular girl Miss Machamp, who had been overseeing the farm''s construction. Thanks to her efficient work and agreeable nature, Natsume saw no need to hire another construction team. After all, horror stories about dishonest contractors were rampant online. He''d even considered capturing a few Pokmon specialized in construction to handle things himself. Leave it to me! The muscular girl slapped her chest with a resounding thud, brimming with enthusiasm. As she took the blueprints, she couldn''t help but marvel at Natsume''s progress. Now, Natsume was even expanding his Pokmon population, bringing in entire families. Her own life had transformed alongside the farm''s growth. No longer teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, she could finally afford small luxuries: Grabbing street snacks without checking prices, adding sausage and eggs to her instant noodles.... Just keep working hard! Next month, maybe I''ll myself to something even better! Work hard, everyone! she rallied her Machamp crew. Lets do this! Behind her, the team of Machamp and other muscular Pokmon raised their fists, their spirits ablaze with determination. Watching this display, the shiny Furret lounging by Natsumes feet gave an approving nod. Good energy. Nice! Just as Natsume was about to head off to prepare pokblocks, a Mightyena wearing a red scarf dashed toward him. Woof! Woof! The recently evolved Mightyena skidded to a dramatic stop, wagging its tail as he delivered an urgent message to Natsume. Chapter 54: Hello, Gardevoir Three or four days ago, Poochyenas older brother successfully evolved into Mightyena. While Natsumes care and feeding played a big part, his own natural talent also contributed to the achievement. The newly evolved Mightyena was noticeably taller than his unreliable father, towering over him like a true wolf rather than a mere dog. When they stood side by side, it was hard to tell who the real parent was. Since arriving at the farm, Mightyena had been especially lively, dutifully fulfilling his responsibilities while often wandering around various corners of the property. The red scarf tied around his neck was a gift from Natsume, who had personally put it on him. Good, well-behaved Pokmon always hold a special place in peoples hearts, and Natsume was no exception. Although, truth be told, the ones who cry and make a fuss often seem to get more attention. Whats the matter? Woof! Woof! Oh, I see. After crouching down and communicating with Mightyena, Natsume understood the situation. A Gardevoir was waiting just outside the farm. She wanted to meet him and discuss moving her family onto the farm. Unsure how to handle this alone, Mightyena had come to report it to Natsume. For now, Gardevoir was being watched by Mightyenas parents. As Dark-types, Mightyena and his family could counter Psychic-types like Gardevoir effectively. Psychic-type attacks would barely affect them. Although Gardevoirs ability to use Teleport could prove tricky in a fight, at least they werent completely powerless against her. Side note: In games, certain matchups are absolutely immune. For example, Ground-type moves deal zero damage to Flying-types, regardless of level differences. This means, theoretically, even if Groudon used Precipice Blades on a Pidgey, the damage would be... zero. But in reality, immunity isnt absolute. It exists only when the strength gap isnt significant. If the disparity is vast enough, even Lightning moves can kill Ground-types. Immunity translates to minimal damage rather than none at all. Otherwise, people could simply swarm Groudon with Pidgeys. After all, its Ground-type moves would be useless, and it cant even fly. Of course, Groudon knows more than just Ground-type moves. --- Garde... Gardevoir, waiting quietly outside the farm, raised her head at some point. Her crimson eyes reflected Natsumes approaching figure. Just as her brother had described, this human radiated an inexplicable sense of warmth and comfort. The closer he got, the stronger this feeling grewlike lying in a sunlit meadow on a lazy afternoon. Pure bliss. Except, perhaps, for those allergic to pollen. For them, this would be hell on earth. Hello, Gardevoir. My name is Natsume. Garde. Hello, Natsume. Nodding slightly, Gardevoir initiated communication. Her psychic tendrils extended and linked with Natsumes mind, allowing him to hear her voice clearly in his head. Her tone resembled that of a quiet, aloof girl who prefers solitudedistant even during rare moments of interaction. Id like to bring my brother and sisters to live on the farm, Gardevoir stated plainly. Is there anything we need to do? Battle? Or something else? She got straight to the point. Gardevoir found human conversational tactics baffling, so she avoided unnecessary pleasantries. Her brother, however, seemed oddly comfortable with them. Gardevoir neither understood nor wanted to understand. Something to do, huh? Natsume mused, tapping his chin. Id say helping out around the farm is the main thing. Since youre Psychic-types, I might rely on you for security and occasionally managing certain areas. He had no objections to Gardevoir and Gallade joining the farm. After all, no one transported to the Pokmon world can resist the allure of Gardevoir. Its like Yu-Gi-Oh! players during the GX erathey cant resist using banned cards. Why not bring a touch of chaos to this otherwise orderly world? That said, Natsume wouldnt tolerate freeloaders on his farm. If they joined, they had to contribute in some waynothing too strict, just a general understanding. If even this was unacceptable, then Natsume wouldnt accept them. After all, Pokmon were like children; excessive pampering would only spoil them. Understood. Gardevoir nodded. To her, these conditions were negligible. If Natsume had demanded nothing at all, she wouldve been suspicious. So far, her impression of him was excellent. Using her psychic abilities, she could sense no malice, greed, or other dark emotions from him. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Can I take a tour of the farm? she asked after some thought. Although she had observed it from afar, Gardevoir preferred to inspect the place openly and formally. Of course! Natsume replied, recognizing her interest. Turning to Mightyenas parents, he patted their heads and handed each a few Pokblocks before addressing Gardevoir: Allow me to be your guide. Garde. Thank you. Chapter 55: Little Green “Watermelon Heads”—Ralts How are you feeling? Standing on a small hill on the farm, Natsume glanced at the Gardevoir beside him. Its a very nice place, Gardevoir responded earnestly after a brief two-second pause. It wasnt just the environmentit was the Pokmon here too. Each one seemed happy, with something meaningful to do. The shiny Furret was busy training, while the Sandslash in the fields leisurely tended the crops, occasionally parting stalks to check on the growth of the Wattmel Berries. On the second floor of Natsumes house, the recluse Corvisquire was absorbed in binge-watching shows, while Minccino hummed a tune as it cleaned the windows. Meanwhile, Emolga perched on a Zigzagoons head, venturing across the farm, and near the lake, Mudkip trailed behind a Slowpoke, jogging laps around the water, as if working on their fitness. Every single one of them looked genuinely happy. By all accounts, this was an excellent farm. Gardevoir thought life here would be very comfortable, and her younger sisters would surely enjoy it too. So, whats your decision? Would you like to stay? Without hesitation, Gardevoir placed her hand in Natsumes outstretched one. Thank you for having us, Natsume, she said. As the decision-maker of her family, Gardevoirs choice would naturally be accepted by everyone. And before this, her not-so-reliable elder brother Gallade had already scouted the farm and proposed joining. In this rare instance, Gardevoir begrudgingly acknowledged Gallades judgment. For a brief ten minutes, he truly seemed like a competent big brother. But only ten minutes. No more. Gardevoir knew very well her brother wasnt the most dependable. Most of the time, it felt like he had dumped all his intelligence points into combat skills, leaving him woefully lacking in other areas. Even a zombie prying open his skull would walk away disappointed. Pulling out a Pok Ball, Natsume held it in front of Gardevoir. She extended a hand and lightly tapped the button. A beam of red light enveloped Gardevoir, and in the blink of an eye, she was drawn inside. The ball gave a token wobble before settling into stillness. Ive caught Gardevoir! In that moment, even Natsume, who had already caught numerous Pokmon, couldnt help but feel a surge of excitement. After all, it was Gardevoira dream Pokmon! To be honest, Natsume had become rather indifferent to the act of catching Pokmon. Many of the farms Pokmon werent even formally caught; they simply stayed. For example, the horde of Combee under Vespiquen. On one hand, their sheer number was impractical, and on the other, no typical trainer would be interested in Combee anyway. S~ea??h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Gardevoir and Ralts? They were exceptions. Who could possibly resist these adorable, psychic powerhouses? The Pok Ball opened automatically, and Gardevoir reappeared before Natsume in a burst of red light. Most of the farms Pok Balls had been modified by Natsume to allow the Pokmon inside to enter and exit at will. The standard design locked the ball externally, preventing Pokmon from leaving on their own. Removing this mechanism was a common skill among traveling trainers, saving valuable time in emergencies. Thank you, Gardevoir said, nodding to Natsume. Her form glowed faintly with psychic energy before she disappeared, teleporting away. She had gone to fetch her brother and sisters. Well, looks like Ill need to make some new kinds of Pokblocks, Natsume mused. Since the farm had never housed Psychic-type Pokmon before, there hadnt been any need to prepare Pokblocks tailored to them. While visiting challengers occasionally brought Psychic-types, Natsume hadnt felt it necessary to craft special treats for temporary guests. Lets see, Gardevoir and Ralts should be fine with the same formula, he muttered. But Gallade will need a separate batch. Ralts, Kirlia, and Gardevoir were classic mage archetypeshigh special attack and special defense but lacking in physical stats. Gallade, on the other hand, was a dual-blade fighter with high physical and special attack but weaker defenses, essentially trading special defense points for attack power. Gallade! Ralts? While Natsume pondered the recipes and materials needed, Gardevoir returned, accompanied by a Gallade and four timid Ralts peeking out from behind their elder siblings. Though a bit shy, their curiosity got the better of them, and they couldnt help but sneak glances at Natsume. Is he really as nice as big brother said? Big sister said the same thing. He gives off such a warm and comforting vibe. I feel it tooits really nice. The four little green watermelon heads huddled together, whispering, occasionally raising their ruby-red eyes to steal glances at Natsume. Their tiny, curious faces peeked through their green hair, their expressions a mix of curiosity, worry, and hesitation. Clearly, the young Ralts were still a little uneasy about their new surroundings. Hello there, Ralts, Natsume greeted them warmly. Im Natsume, the owner of this farm. Somehow, this opening line had become his go-to phrase. Like an NPC in a game with fixed dialogue, it set the stage for what was to come. Your siblings have probably already told yousoon, youll be joining the farm too. Simply put, well be partners from now on. Natsume chose his words carefully, avoiding phrases like becoming family, which felt too heavy and imposing. Imagine meeting someone for the first time and being told, Were family now. The pressure would be immense. Ralts? Ralts, Ralts! The little Ralts exchanged glances. Finally, one of them stepped forward bravely, looking Natsume in the eye and extending a tiny hand. Hello, Ralts, Natsume said with a soft laugh, gently tapping its hand with his finger. Chapter 56: True Social Anxiety Is About Being Invisible The hardest part of communication is often the initial step of establishing a connection. Most people aren''t inherently lacking in the ability or talent to communicate. Yet, they appear unskilled at conversation because they falter at building that first bridge of communication. This is especially true for Ralts, a Pokmon that can sense human emotions and flee at the slightest hint of unease. However, for Natsume, this wasnt much of a challenge. With a calm mindset and a touch of psychic power, earning the trust and affection of Ralts was an effortless task. After all, Natsume had earned the nickname "Little Charmer of Daitaka Preschool" for a reason. Ralts, Ralts! Before long, the little green Ralts were crowding around Natsume, chattering away non-stop. They eagerly shared their curiosity about the farm, their experiences so far, and even whispered complaints about their older siblings. The last part, in particular, gave them the vibe of classic backstabbers. Selling out their older siblings right after meeting someone newwhether it was out of naivety or genuine affection for Natsume, who could say? Even though people say the eldest brother is like a father, Gallade didnt seem to hold much authority in the family. Alright, alright, lets go meet the others on the farm, Natsume said with a chuckle, scooping up a Ralts that had climbed onto his head and cradling it in his arms. Turning to the observing Gallade and Gardevoir, he added, Shall we? Gallade! Gallade raised an arm in agreement. Since the newcomers didnt have gifts prepared, at the very least, they should introduce themselves. After all, it would be awkward if, after living on the farm for a while, they were mistaken for outsiders due to their low profile. Gardevoir, on the other hand, remained indifferent. It didnt particularly care as long as no one forced it to bond with others. True social anxiety. Gardevoir embodied the essence of true social anxiety: not announcing it to the world, not retreating to a corner to stand out, nor engaging in eccentric behavior to attract attention. Real social anxiety involved blending seamlessly into the crowd, minimizing ones presence. Laugh when others laugh, cry when others crythus the origins of delayed laughter and delayed tears (or so it claimed). After formally capturing Gallade and the Ralts group, Natsume released them again and began the walk back to the house. Not capturing them wasnt an option; leaving them unregistered on the farm made him uneasy. Believing in the inherent goodness and moral integrity of humanity often left people vulnerable to malice. Natsume had no intention of becoming the protagonist of a melodramatic tragedy. No misunderstandings, no slapping contests. He had neither the need nor the patience for such nonsense. Hed rather spend that time napping with his shiny Furret. Speaking of which, due to its intense training regime lately, Furret was no longer as soft and plush as beforeits once-cuddly body had hardened slightly. A pity. But no matterthere were plenty of other Pokmon on the farm to cuddle. Take Lopunny, for instance. Though Lopunny had yet to share Natsumes bed, it was tempting. While its fluffy, humanoid form was undeniably adorable, something about it still felt a bit... awkward. Perhaps one day, when Natsume decided to embrace his inner "Dark Emperor," hed proudly step into the world of furry fandom. Everyone, we have new friends! Pushing open the door, Natsume was greeted by a flurry of Pokmon scurrying out from all corners of the house. Minccino was the first to hop down from a windowsill, inspecting the Ralts group hiding behind Natsume, as well as the flanking Gardevoir and Gallade. Satisfied, it nodded approvingly. Diligent newcomersgood, good. For Minccino, cleaning wasnt the issueit had to do that anyway. What it couldnt stand were Pokmon that lacked motivation. It particularly disapproved of Togepi and Hisuian Zorua. Hisuian Zorua, a perennial wallflower in the household, had recently teamed up with the troublemaker Togepi. Now the duo spent their days causing chaos across the farm. Stealing eggs, sneaking into storage, and yesliterally petting the dog. A Mightyenas rear was nearly rubbed bald. From a distance, the shiny patch of fur on its hindquarters gleamed conspicuously. Mimi! After a brief introduction, Minccino happily returned to its cleaning duties. Another satisfying day. Following Minccino, Lopunny, Emolga, Butterfree, Zorua, and Persian all came forward to greet the newcomers. As for Shiny Furret and Corvisquire? Furret was outside training tirelessly, only returning for meals and rest. Corvisquire, on the other hand, had become a recluse, binge-watching shows upstairs in increasingly unhealthy positions. Its once-fit frame was growing rounder by the day. Unable to stand it, Natsume assigned Furret the task of dragging Corvisquire out daily for training. Do what you mustjust dont overdo it. At this rate, Corvisquire might soon turn into a feathery ball, unable to fly. The thought of it rolling around on the ground, frantically flapping its wings, was both amusing and tragic. But space is becoming an issue, Natsume mused, glancing at the crowded living room. When he first moved in, it had just been him, Butterfree, Persian, and Corvisquire. Back then, the space was more than adequate. Now, however, with the growing number of Pokmon in the household, the space was feeling cramped. Sure, they could all technically fit, but comfort was another matter. If fitting was all that mattered, a cramped internet caf booth would suffice. Thankfully, the new home under constructiona spacious three-story villawas nearly complete. It boasted plenty of rooms, more than enough for the current Pokmon. By the time space became an issue again, the farm would have reached a new level, complete with facilities like breeding houses. So, Natsume wasnt too worried. Gardevoir. Gallade. The two Pokmon introduced themselves warmly, only to discover, to their surprise, that many Pokmon on the farm shared similar stories of having fled from hardship. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 57: The Arrival of Mareep and Wooloo Herds Much like how Stand Users are drawn to one another, those with similar experiences often resonate with each other and become fast friends. Many of the Pokmon at Natsumes farm were forced to leave their original homes due to unexpected disasters. The Gardevoir family lost their forest when it died off. The Emolga were displaced after a sudden rise in temperature made their habitat uninhabitable. As for the Bounsweet herd, their plight was even more tragic. A powerful and mysterious Pokmon claimed their entire forest, driving all its inhabitants away to seek refuge elsewhere. Alright, thank you so much. While the Gardevoir family shared their experiences, Natsume ended his phone call. The platform had just called to confirm some basic details and the farms location. They informed him that by the afternoon, the two Pokmon herds he had purchasedalong with a few Gogoatwould be delivered to the farm, along with various supplies hed ordered. Since the Ampharos herds original farm was shutting down, they decided to sell everything off, including all their equipment. Natsume had picked out and bought some of it. Having familiar items from their old home would help the Ampharos feel more at ease. As for the Wooloo, caring for them was no simple task. Beyond dietary needs, their daily care required regular inspections and adjustments. It wasnt an easy job. Fortunately, the farm now had a team of psychic prodigies. With the help of the Gardevoir family, everything should go much more smoothly. This is what it means to finally be on the right track. Now with berry orchards, crop fields, and Pokmon capable of production, the farm felt complete. Before, it always felt like something was missing. From now on, Ill be counting on all of you. Natsume turned to the Gardevoir family, who were still chatting with their new friends. No problem at all, Gardevoir nodded, finding it a trivial matter. For others, being put to work right after arriving at the farm might have been unpleasant. But for Gardevoir, it was fine. To truly belong here, they needed to show their value. She didnt want her sisters and herself to be seen as dispensable. Even if they disappeared one day, she wanted their presence to matter. --- By the afternoon, the farm was bustling. Just moments ago, a large group of new residents had arrived. Lets see here Holding a thick stack of documents, Natsume checked the numbers for the two herds. The Ampharos herd consisted of one leading Ampharos, three additional Ampharos, and a large group of Mareep and Flaaffy. Considering that Mareep lose their wool as they evolve, most of the Mareep in the herd were relatively low-leveled. The Ampharos among them were older and had grown into their roles over time. In terms of strength, they werent particularly formidable. The Wooloo herd, however, had no such limitations. Whether Wooloo or Dubwool, their wool was of excellent quality, both in texture and quantity. Touching it felt soft and warm. A gentle squeeze would sink your fingers into the fluffy wool, warmth seeping through your fingertips, making it hard to let go. Given enough time, you might even lose yourself in the sensation. Baaah... The leading Ampharos was instructing its herd, emphasizing the importance of staying low-key in their new home. If anyone faced grievances, they were told to hold back and report it to their leader, who would handle it with Natsume. The Mareep and Flaaffy listened attentively, occasionally bleating in response. For some reason, the scene appeared oddly amusing. Perhaps it was because Ampharos and Mareep looked nothing alike. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A sheep that evolved into a dragonwhat a peculiar transition. Even if it was technically a pseudo-dragon with just the name, its Mega Evolution did grant it the rare Electric/Dragon type. Aside from Ampharos, very few Pokmon shared this unique typing: Zekrom, Dracozolt, Miraidon, and Iron Jugulisthe last rumored to be a Paradox form of Raikou. Meanwhile, the Dubwool leader was having a similar talk with its herd. Their previous farm had been fraught with conflict with the owner. What began as tolerable tensions had eventually escalated into irreconcilable disputes. Knowing this, the Dubwool leader emphasized the importance of behaving well, at least during the early days at the new farm. Even if they were merely pretending, it was crucial to start off on the right foot. Along with the Ampharos and Dubwool herds, several Gogoat were also delivered. These Pokmon were not known for their combat capabilities. Instead, their endurance was remarkable, having served as mounts and beasts of burden. From now on, Ill be counting on you too. After giving the Gogoat a quick health check, Natsume patted each one on the head. Gentle in nature, highly resilient, and sturdy enough to carry an adult human over long distances, it was no wonder they earned their title as dependable mounts. In this regard, only Cyclizar could rival them. Although Cyclizar looked like the ideal ride, it was actually a noble Dragon-type Pokmon with base stats exceeding 500. Unlike Gogoat, Cyclizar came with no evolutions or pre-evolutions and boasted decent combat capabilities right from the start. Its versatility and strong traits made it a luxurious choice, far removed from the simplicity of Gogoat. --- Back to the main story: after settling in the two herds, the farm became livelier than ever. With so many new residents arriving at once, the prospect of making new friends thrilled everyone. Togepi was particularly excited. But the most elated of all was Yamper. Arf! Arf! Arf! At the sight of so many sheep, Yamper felt an instinct awaken within him. He zipped around the herds like a flying loaf of bread, barking energetically, as if herding them. Unfortunately, his cute appearance lacked the authority to match. Most Pokmon simply stared at him with curiosity, and a bold Wooloo even approached to nudge him with its head. This left Yamper flustered. Hey! Thats not how youre supposed to react! Couldnt you at least play along a little? Chapter 58: Zorua’s Sudden Revelation For Yamper, becoming a proper herding dog still seemed like a distant goal. At least until it evolved into Boltund, it was missing something crucial. But that didnt matter; the farm had the Mightyena family to help out as well. As the parents and elder sibling, Mightyena focused most of its energy on patrolling the farm. Meanwhile, its younger siblings, Poochyena, showed an unexpected enthusiasm for herding duties. Perhaps it was a canine thing, but the two Poochyena got along very well with Yamper. Unlike their calm elder sibling and meticulous mother, the younger Poochyena had inherited their fathers rather unreliable traits. In short, the Husky genes had taken over. Many joked that while other large dog breeds might be labeled as fierce, Huskies would probably be classified as defectiveunpredictable in both intelligence and behavior. And it seemed the father and younger siblings of this family were prime examples of this stereotype, much to the eldest Poochyenas occasional dismay, making it feel somewhat out of place. Bark, bark, bark! The three mischievous pups darted around the two herds, filling the farm with lively commotion. While the farm already housed many Pokmon, most were reserved and kept to themselves for various reasons. The only exception was the shiny Furret, who had recently taken to leading its gang around in a showy display. But starting today, the farm would clearly be much livelier. Alright, everything seems to be in order. After cross-checking the list in his hands, Natsume gave his shoulder a pat, satisfied. To be honest, it had been quite the task. The previous farm owner had been meticulous, keeping records for every Pokmon, and Natsume had instinctively followed suit, checking on each one individually. By the time he realized what he was doing, he figured he might as well finish the job. This was all with Gardevoirs help, too. Otherwise, it mightve taken him until nightfall. Meow. Lying at Natsumes feet, Persian let out a long yawn, showing no reaction to his antics. Persian had long known its trainer wasnt the brightest bulb in the boxsomething it would only dare mutter internally. Saying it aloud would invite fatherly love, as Natsume called it. Persian agreed, primarily because it couldnt win a fight against him. And even if it could, what then? Would it cook its own meals? No one messes with their meal ticket. After a brief chat with the leaders of the Ampharos and Dubwool herds, Natsume asked Gardevoir to bring over the Pokblocks hed prepared. Garde. With a nod, Gardevoirs eyes glimmered with a soft blue light. In the blink of an eye, it disappeared, only to reappear moments later with a large bag in hand. The bag was slightly open, revealing Pokblocks that sparkled like gemstones under the sunlight, their alluring sheen enough to make any Pokmon salivate. Thats exactly what happened with the Ampharos and Dubwool leaders, who eagerly dug into their portions. Forget their herds; their first priority was to enjoy the feast themselves. The Pokblocks made by Natsume werent just deliciousthey were extraordinary. Even for seasoned Pokmon who had lived on farms and eaten their fair share of treats, this was a whole new level. As a warm energy coursed through their bodies, the leaders exchanged satisfied glances. This farm owner? Fantastic. They could settle here without a second thought. All right, Ill leave you to it. If theres anything you need or any suggestions about the environment, let me know, Natsume said, leaning against a newly built fence. The gate to the enclosure remained opennot to restrict the Pokmons movements but to remind them to return to the enclosure at night. Wandering too far wouldnt necessarily be dangerous, but it could attract trouble. Take Hisuian Zorua, for example. After hearing from its Unovan counterpart that Ghost-type Pokmon thrive by scaring others, it had recently taken to planning pranks. Unfortunately, its kind nature made it hesitate, worried about actually frightening or harming anyone on the farm it was close to. As a result, it often missed the perfect moments for mischief, leaving it frustrated. But with so many new Pokmon, Zorua felt it had a golden opportunity. It didnt know them yet, so thered be no guilt. Determined, Hisuian Zorua set off to embark on its prankster career. Meanwhile, its Unovan counterpartrevered on the farm as a teacher, mentor, and master of skillswas searching for something. Zorua? For a while now, it had sensed a familiar presence. Initially, it thought it was just its imagination, but the feeling had grown stronger recently. Eventually, Zorua stopped by the small lake, tilting its head as it peered into the water, its gaze piercing through to the lakebed. An egg? Zorua? Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its head tilted further, showing a thoughtful expression. After swiping at the water with its paw, Zorua intercepted a passing Goldeen and started a conversation. Zoru-zoru? Goldeen! Zorua. Ah, so thats what it was. Nodding in understanding, Zoruas expression lit up with sudden clarity. What had it realized? That remained a mystery. Chapter 59: Found an Egg? As night fell, Natsume, having worked tirelessly all day, decided to order takeout for himself. Tonight, he didnt feel like cooking. Making Pokblocks was enjoyable, but cooking Well, everyone knows that cooking involves far more than just frying up a dish. Buying ingredients, washing, prepping, frying, plating, and cleaning up afterwardfrying is merely the easiest part, while the others are the real time and energy drain. Since hed been busy all day, Natsume just didnt feel like going through all that tonight. Thanks, Delibird. Taking the delivery from the Delibird, Natsume waved at it in thanks. The Delibird perched on his windowsill gave him a polite wave in return. Unlike the courier Delibird from before, this one wasnt carrying a large bag. Delibirds tail doubles as a pouch, though its capacity is somewhat limited. Thats why the previous Delibird needed to carry a bigger bag for extra items. Watching the Delibird disappear into the night sky, Natsume sighed in reflection. Working late delivering food must be tough. He suddenly regretted not offering the Delibird a Pokblock. When it came to Pokmon, Natsume had always been forgiving and fond. Even for Pokmon just passing by, he wouldnt hesitate to show them kindness. Humans, however? Natsume wasnt nearly as patient or kindhearted. Its like how the faults of humanslaziness, obesity, round faces, or small eyesmight annoy people, but those same traits on animals? Theyre endearing. A lazy cat gets cuddled, a chubby dog gets hugged... but no one hugs you (strikethrough). Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Natsume placed the steaming takeout on a small round table. Leee. Nearby, a shiny Furret, having just finished its daily training, lay sprawled comfortably on the floor. Its body curled into a perfect C shape, making it the perfect makeshift couch for Natsume to lean against. Youve grown bigger, havent you? Leaning against the shiny Furrets fluffy body, Natsume rubbed its fuzzy head. It seemed noticeably larger than when it first arrived at the farm. By now, its body length had exceeded the norm for its species by at least half. Despite its increased size, the Furrets speed hadnt dropped at all. In fact, it was so fast that it could now rival Persian for the title of the farms swiftest Pokmon. Leee? Have I? The shiny Furret tilted its head in puzzlement. It wasnt entirely sure. Maybe? Growing bigger didnt feel as obvious to it. After all, who really notices themselves getting taller day by day? But it did notice that it had been getting faster lately. In fact, it could now outrun most of the Pokmon on the farm during their training sessions. Great! The trainings working! Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tomorrow, Ill train even harder! Resolved, the shiny Furret silently vowed to keep pushing itself. --- After quickly finishing his meal, Natsume followed his usual routine of checking on the Pokmon around the house. The Minccino, fresh from cleaning, was taking a bath. Lopunny was tidying up. The Hisuian Zorua was playfully chasing Togepi. Corvisquire was engrossed in watching videos on its Pokphone, occasionally mimicking lines it found amusing. Persian and Butterfree were deep in conversation, as usual, sharing topics they always seemed to have in common. Then there was Zorua playing some sort of wobble game on top of an egg? Wait a second Natsume stared at the scene, dumbfounded. Where did you get that egg? He didnt recall any Pokmon on the farm laying an egg recently. Surely, no Pokmon would secretly lay an egg, abandon it, and disappear, right? That seemed way too far-fetched. Suo suo! Perched atop the egg, Zorua raised a paw, as if trying to explain. It wasnt stolen! Zorua found it at the bottom of the lake. It was just doing a good deed! Found it? Suo suo! Zorua nodded enthusiastically. It had sensed a familiar presence and followed it to investigate. What do you mean by a familiar presence? Suo. You know, like someone I know! Zorua scratched its head, struggling to articulate. It had never been great at explaining things, and being asked to do so now felt awkward. It was like asking Togepi to explain why it always demanded a friendship fee from its Lopunny seniorsome things were just hard to put into words. Even after hearing that, I still dont get it, Natsume muttered, scratching his own head in frustration. One was bad at explaining; the other was bad at understanding. Both sides found the conversation exhausting. Finally, after some back-and-forth, they reached a conclusion: Forget it. Lets not overthink it for now. Natsume decided to let it go. The egg was here, so it was here. Just make sure you take care of it properly. He trusted Zorua enough to handle the responsibility. Suo suo! Zorua eagerly nodded. It was thrilled with this arrangementno need to explain further! While it didnt particularly enjoy babysitting, playing with the egg was fun. For now, Zorua lay atop the egg, wobbling back and forth like it was on a rocking horse. Alright, enough for today. Time to sleep, Natsume said. He retrieved Togepis old incubator, filled it with nutrient fluid, and carefully placed the egg inside. Behind him, a large crowd of curious Pokmon gathered, all eager to see the mysterious egg. Tomorrow, Ill need to buy more nutrient fluid... and some berries too. Looking at the egg soaking in the green fluid, Natsume began planning tomorrows errands. With his schedule set, he slung an arm around the shiny Furrets neck and dragged it upstairs like a giant sack of fluff. The Furret, utterly spent from the days activities, didnt resistit was like a soft, furry pillow being dragged along. Following them upstairs were Togepi, clutching its blanket, and Lopunny, carrying its pillow. These two insisted on sleeping with Natsume every night. Lopunny had its own pumpkin-shaped beanbag chair to sleep in, while Togepi and the shiny Furret always nestled in bed with Natsume. At least, that was the current arrangement. Togepi might change its mind after evolving. Chapter 60: A Journal and Prepared Gifts [Natsumes Notebook] October 24th "Its been a week since the two groups moved into the farm.""Theyve more or less gotten used to it.""The egg that Zorua picked up hasnt shown any changes. Still the same.""Spent the afternoon sunbathing with Furret. It was very warm." October 25th "This morning, Ogerpon stopped by to borrow a bottle of glue and some card stock.""It looked very secretive. Didnt say what it was doing, no matter how much I asked.""Spent the afternoon sunbathing with Togepi. Still very warm." October 26th "The garden is in shambles. Should I try to get a Roselia or Florges to help out?""Although I can make flowers bloom myself, Im hopeless at maintaining a garden.""Spent the afternoon sunbathing with Persian. Today wasnt as warm." October 27th "Nothing happened today. Spent time fishing by the lake with Lopunny using a homemade fishing rod.""We didnt catch much, but Air Cutter scooped up a Mudkip before leaving, so at least that counts as a catch.""Clearly, fishing requires professional gear.""But the gifts Ive prepared for everyone on the farm are already on their way." Closing the notebook, Natsume glanced at the budding garden, feeling a little conflicted. Technically, the farm didnt need a garden. But Natsume insisted on building one, taking care of most of it personally. Psychic powers made things much easieroccasionally using Verdant Force ensured the flowers bloomed brilliantly. Even without tending to it, the garden easily surpassed what most people could achieve in years. But that would be boring. It had been less than half a year since Natsume took over the farm, but he already felt that the initial excitement was fading. At first, there were so many things to dofixing the house, tilling the fields, and countless other tasks that had to be done. Now, there didnt seem to be any pressing matters left, and life was slowing down. If things continued like this, he felt he might age prematurely. And that was absolutely unacceptable. He was barely 20! Natsume refused to become someone who aged before their time. Mudkip. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mudkip, trotting along by Natsumes feet, let out a little croak. For the past few days, Mudkip had been sticking close to Natsumenot just to bond with him, but also to get extra snacks. To the Pokmon on the farm, Natsume was like that kind relative youd visit during the holidays, always ready to hand out candies and treats without you even asking. If Slowpoke werent so lazy, Mudkip would have dragged it along too. Unfortunately, Slowpoke preferred lying by the lakeside, seemingly contemplating life. Unlike other Slowpoke, this one had a very peculiar air. In human terms was it wise in foolishness or foolish in wisdom? Mudkip didnt quite understand. It was just a simple Mudkip, after all, and such profound concepts went over its head. Oh, the gift I promised you is on its way, so look forward to it, Natsume said, patting Mudkips smooth head. A while ago, Natsume conducted a small survey among the farms residents, asking what kind of gifts theyd like. The responses varied widely. Persian wanted a larger, sturdier scratching post. Butterfree wanted a forced training device. Natsume readily agreed to most of their requests. Even for Slowpoke, who couldnt think of anything, Natsume prepared what he deemed fitting. Of course, not all requests were accepted. For example, Shiny Furrets desire for a green bodysuit was immediately vetoed. And then there was Corvisquire, who asked for a 1:1 replica of Frostmourne. What was it planning, a coup? Natsume gave them both a stern "fatherly glare." In the end, under his watchful gaze, the two revised their choices to something more reasonablethough the gifts were still unmistakably their style. The exact nature of their gifts? That would remain a surprise for now. Mudkip! Hearing that the gifts were arriving soon, Mudkip nuzzled against Natsumes pant leg, expressing its affection and joy. It wasnt just the giftsit was also because Natsume had promised to one day take Mudkip and its fellow refugees back to their homeland if the chance arose. That promise meant a lot to them. Just like humans, Pokmon carried a deep attachment to their homes, no matter where they went. --- Meanwhile, deep in the forest where Mudkip once lived, a massive creature was moving with heavy steps, each one shaking the ground. The once-thriving forest was now a desolate wasteland. Most of the Pokmon had fled, leaving behind only a few who refused to abandon their "home." If this ruined land could still be called a home. Fallen trees, dried-up water sources, and cracks etched across the ground. A low, guttural roar echoed, like a proclamation of its presenceor a call to something. The air trembled with the sound. Through the gaps in the remaining trees, a faint glimmer of bronze could be seena massive cauldron inscribed with mysterious symbols. It carried a weight of history, but also an unsettling aura that sent chills down ones spine. Normally, ancient relics like this would evoke awe or admiration for the craftsmanship and stories they held. But this bronze cauldron only inspired revulsion, a primal urge to flee. It was the kind of dread one might feel when encountering statues in the wildernesswhere reverence gave way to fear. Roar Amid the ruins, a pristine white figure glared at the colossus with eyes full of hatred. Its crimson gaze reflected the image of the cauldron. After a moments hesitation, the figure turned and left without hesitation, as if making a resolute decision. It would return. No matter what, it would return. Chapter 61: Corviknight – Sweating Profusely On the farm''s battle arena, Corvisquire was locked in combat with a Pokmon belonging to a young trainer from the nearby town. After the initial buzz surrounding Natsumes farm subsided, life gradually returned to its peaceful daily routine. Now, only a handful of trainers who had already planned to travel through this area stopped by for casual challenges and to restock their supply of Pokblocks. The farms Pokmon participated in battles purely out of interest. If they wanted to fight, they joined; if not, they stayed away. Most of the time, a Mightyena would inform Natsume if someone came to challenge, and Natsume would relay the message to Pokmon interested in participating. The top three Pokmon with the most battles were the shiny Furret, Corvisquire, and Gardevoir. Yes, Gardevoir often joined battles as well. In contrast, her older brother Gallade wasnt particularly fond of fightingespecially these seemingly meaningless skirmishes. If Gardevoir hadnt joined the farm later than the others, she would likely hold the record for the most battles. Additionally, after arriving on the farm, Gardevoir secretly picked up a trick from Zorua: the "Farmers Triple Punch." When faced with an opponent she didnt like, she unleashed a seamless combo of status-reducing moves followed by a barrage of Fire Punch, Ice Punch, and Thunder Punch to grind down her opponent. It was unclear if this devious streak was part of Gardevoir''s personality or if shed picked up bad habits from others on the farm. After all, the farm was home to many mischievous troublemakers. Natsume wanted to claim they were all well-behaved, but even he couldn''t say that with a straight face. At the edge of the battle arena, Gardevoir was currently watching Corvisquires fight while accompanying her younger siblings. She originally planned to use the match to teach them battle strategies. However, after a while, Gardevoir realized she might have made a mistake. Why does this bird talk so much?! Caw, caw, caw! Corvisquire flapped through the air, chattering incessantly. To the opposing Gloom, Corvisquires endless banter was more damaging than the physical attacks. This was no longer a Pokmon battleit was personal harassment! Enduring the pain from its wounds, Gloom inhaled deeply, its mouth puffing up before firing a flurry of glowing seeds. Bullet Seed! The seeds, sharp and fast, shot at Corvisquire like a machine gun firing at an airplane. Corvisquire dodged gracefully, carving elegant arcs in the air. At the same time, it unleashed multiple Air Slashes, each one slicing through the air toward Gloom. Dark blue wings glowed as Corvisquire dived. Caw! Aerial Ace! Cry for your weakness! Laughing maniacally, Corvisquire rocketed toward Gloom like a firework. Its glowing wings slammed into Glooms face, leaving its already battered features further distorted. The direct hit sent Gloom flying like a kicked ball, bouncing across the ground before it struggled to stand. I surrender! The young trainer, clearly worried, ran over to call off the fight. Though he was concerned, he hesitated to step into the arena. Unlike Pokmon, humans couldnt shrug off a few Air Slashestheyd be in serious trouble. Hearing the word "surrender," Corvisquire ended its assault and landed gracefully. Strutting like a proud rooster, it tilted its head and gave Gloom a condescending sideways glance. Occasionally, it added a smug caw or two. Its language was too offensive to translate, but Gardevoir was already regretting bringing her siblings to watch. If any of them picked up these habits, Gardevoir might actually kill Corvisquire. One of her younger siblings seemed particularly intrigued. Gardevoir quickly pressed her hand against the curious Raltss head. Garde! Dont learn that! Forget everything you just saw! Ralts? But it seems really useful. Ralts, chewing on her tiny hand, found the trash talk intriguing. Gloom had started off composed, but by the end, it had completely lost its cool. This seemed like a skill worth mastering. Ralts silently decided to practice in secret later. Satisfied with Ralts''s apparent compliance, Gardevoir finally relaxeduntil commotion broke out behind her. Turning around, Gardevoir saw Corvisquire enveloped in a dazzling white light. Garde?! Now? Of all times?! Panicked, Gardevoir teleported to find Natsume. After quickly explaining the situationthough it sounded more like wa-wa-washe grabbed Natsumes hand and teleported them both back. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whats going on? Still holding a box of supplies, Natsume barely had time to react before being teleported to the battlefield. The sight of Corvisquire glowing with evolution energy immediately made the situation clear. Oh, so Corvisquires evolving. Setting the box aside, Natsume walked over. Even in the middle of its evolutionone of the most critical moments of its lifeCorvisquire couldnt keep quiet, endlessly spewing its signature trash talk. If its current power level had been higher, it mightve already declared something outrageous like, "I reign supreme across time!" When the light faded, Corviknight stood proudly before Natsume. Its indigo-blue body gleamed with a metallic sheen, each feather resembling finely forged steel. It looked like a majestic knight clad in armor, exuding strength and authority. Corviknight lifted its head high, its gaze embodying the aloofness of a tyrantpart disdain, part smugness, part mockery, and a small hint of panic. Darn it! I didnt expect to evolve so soon! Corviknight had planned a dramatic line for this moment, but now it couldnt decide which one to use. "From this day forth, I shall soar above the heavens!"? Or maybe "I am the God of a new world!" Shoot, this was harder than expected. For the first time, Corviknight felt sweat dripping down its steel feathers. Chapter 62: No Man Can Resist Something Big "Congratulations, Corviknight." As Natsume approached the silent and brooding Corviknight, he couldn''t help but crane his neck higher with every step. This guy''s height was... a bit beyond expectations. Looking up at Corviknight, Natsume couldn''t stop thinking: This kid''s growth spurt must have been off the charts. A typical Corviknight stood about 2.2 meters tall and weighed around 75 kilogramsa towering and imposing figure. At over two meters tall and with a weight of 150 kilograms, Corviknight''s proportions might seem lean on a human, but for a bird Pokmon, it was... acceptable? Still, Natsume''s Corviknight had clearly gone above and beyond. Its height easily exceeded 2.5 meters, and while they hadn''t measured its weight yet, judging by its appetite, it was definitely not light. "CAW!" Corviknight spread its wings, fidgeting as it tried to adjust to its new body. It was clearly uncomfortable with its evolved formwhether it was the steel-like feathers or the suddenly massive frame, everything felt unfamiliar. Adding to its woes, the increased size and weight had noticeably slowed it down. For Corviknight, its next tasks were clear: One, adapt to its evolved body. Two, refine its battle strategy to suit its new physique. Fortunately, Corviknight didnt need to stress much about the latter. From the moment he captured it, Natsume had already planned out a fighting style tailored to Corviknight. It revolved around two core moves: Iron Defense and Body Press. One raised its defense, while the other dealt greater damage the higher its defense was. Combined with Corviknight''s size and weight, these moves were a perfect match. Simple, efficient, andmost importantlyit left plenty of time for Corviknight to spout trash talk. Corviknight was overjoyed. "Alright, time to head back." Natsume reached out, intending to pat Corviknight''s head. But after a few failed attempts to reach the top of its head, he settled for tapping its forehead instead. Corviknight, realizing this, lowered its head slightly so Natsume could pat it properly, then eagerly nodded its massive head, signaling its hunger. Even though Pokmon biology often defied logic, certain basic rules still applied. The sudden growth from evolution had drained Corviknight''s energy, leaving it ravenously hungry. It felt like the time Natsume had skipped dinner and breakfast while binge-watching a showso hungry hed almost eaten the soap in the bathroom. Right now, all Corviknight wanted was a hearty meal and a good nap. Adjusting to its new body? That could wait. It had already done enough for the day. Corviknight, now resembling an oversized terrestrial chicken, awkwardly followed Natsume back to the farm. It flapped its wings experimentally a few times but quickly gave up on flying, opting to walk instead. Though it was trying to maintain its pride, the sight of the massive bird plodding along on foot was undeniably comical. If it clucked while walking, itd be the perfect image of a giant free-range chicken. Despite the amusing display, Corviknight held its head high, refusing to bow its proud neckreminiscent of the haughty air of the Uchiha clan. Its majestic, armored exterior clashed with its cheeky demeanor, creating an odd mix of grandeur and mischief. Anyone watching would be tempted to land a punch on its smug face. As Corviknight strutted behind Natsume, it looked like a king parading in his new robes, showing off its evolved form with no small amount of pride. This is it, Corviknight thought, admiring its reflection in a puddle. From now on, Ill be the farms poster Pokmon and undisputed top-tier looker. While most of the Pokmon on the farm merely glanced at Corviknight''s new form before losing interest, one Pokmon was visibly stunned. "Pi!" The shiny Pidgeotto, who had been strolling around the farm with a group of the flock''s most beautiful female members, froze in its tracks. As the flock''s leader, the shiny Pidgeotto naturally enjoyed certain privileges. What was wrong with taking a few ladies out for a walk? It wasnt like it was neglecting its duties. But the sight of Corviknight brought its good mood to an abrupt halt. We''re both birdsyoure a crow, and Im a sparrow. Why is the size gap so huge?! To most Pokmon, bigger was better. Large Pokmon were seen as stronger and more desirable. And in that moment, shiny Pidgeotto couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy toward Corviknight''s massive frame. It even fantasized about swapping Corviknights protein powder with something less effectiveif it had access to such things. "Pi!" Shiny Pidgeotto fluttered down in front of Corviknight, curiously and somewhat enviously asking how it got so big. In response, Corviknight proudly declared, Through hard work and effort! And, well... Natsumes feeding. The shiny Pidgeotto ignored the boastful first part, focusing instead on the latter. So, it all comes down to Natsume, huh? Previously, the shiny Pidgeotto had been content to simply enjoy its food and lead the flock. Building a closer relationship with the farms owner hadnt seemed necessary. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had its pride, after all. Fawning over Natsume felt beneath it. But now, looking at Corviknights imposing form, the shiny Pidgeotto realized: Maybe lowering my head a little isnt so bad. Its not about sucking up; its about becoming stronger and bigger. Yeah, thats it. After all, who could resist the allure of becoming bigger and better? And by big, of course, it meant something impressive. Like a Gundam. Chapter 63: A Casual Chat with Mei What the Shiny Pidgeotto was pondering could wait. At the moment, Natsume was busy setting up a new nest for Corviknight. Previously, Corviknight had been living in a second-floor room but sometimes slept in a rooftop nest. Back then, sleeping outside was more about enjoying the night breeze and indulging in its dramatic fantasies. Under the deep night sky, it would imagine itself as a being of immense power with a tragic past, lamenting how the world was fundamentally flawed. Of course, the details of these tragic backstories were updated every few days, depending on the anime it had recently watched. But now, Corviknight had no choice but to live outside. At its current height, getting through a door was almost impossible. Even if they widened the doorway, there wasnt a suitable room where Corviknight could comfortably live. Looks like the plan to build a breeding facility with simulated natural environments needed to be prioritized. Caw, caw! Can we put a cushion over there? Corviknight voiced its opinion about the new nest, offering suggestions about its placement and size. Since the nest was being set in a new location, Natsume enlisted Gardevoirs help. As for Gallade? Natsume had sent it to watch over the flock of Mareep. Until Yamper could fully assume the role of a herding Pokmon, Gallades assistance was essential. Gallade had no complaints about the arrangement. It could relax in the sun and avoid being on the receiving end of its sisters deathly stares for idling about. What a life, Gallade mused contentedly. With Gardevoirs help, Corviknights new nest was soon completed. Corviknight wasnt entirely satisfied with it, though. If possible, it wanted to decorate its nest with some game and anime merchandise. Unfortunately, it was broke. It was infuriating! How could the farms dialogue coach, ambassador, and sole airborne combat unit not even afford a figurine? This put it at a natural disadvantage during online arguments. It desperately needed to earn some money to buy those collectibles. But, on this farm, there didnt seem to be many opportunities to make that happen. Corviknight fell into deep thought. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- That night, Natsume lay in bed, leaning against his Shiny Furret while texting. His conversation partner had an avatar of a Servine and was listed as Mei in his contacts. [Mei]: Corviknight looks huge after its evolution! [Natsume]: It eats a lot. Sometimes it even cons other Pokmon into giving up their Pokblocks. Before Mei left, they had exchanged contact information and would occasionally chat. At first, their conversations were formal, mainly discussing Pokblocks. Natsume would ask about Meis experiences using them, and Mei would share her feedback, including details about flavor and texture. Over time, their discussions extended to life on the farm. Natsume would send Mei photos, and she would kindly respond with positive comments. Gradually, Mei began to open up, sharing stories from her travels, the Pokmon and people she met, her thoughts on battles, and her future plans. The two had grown quite familiar with each other. Though not to the point of complete transparency, they both had a well-rounded understanding of one another, evolving from a surface-level impression to something far more vivid and personal. [Mei]: Your farm feels livelier every day. Thats so nice! In her room at the Pokmon Center, Mei sat at the bedside in loose pajamas, towel-drying her damp hair. Behind her, Servine climbed onto the bed with a hair dryer in its vines, preparing to dry her hair properly. After Mei caught it, Servine had taken over the task of hair drying. Though Mei owned a Tepig, its personality made it ill-suited for such workit might accidentally singe her hair. So, Servine handled the job, even more adept now that its vines had grown longer and more agile after evolving. As Mei scrolled through the photos Natsume had sent, her eyes sparkled with a hint of envy. Life on the farm seemed so wonderful, surrounded by adorable Pokmon every day. If only I could live on a farm too, she murmured to herself. Then again, the workload might be overwhelming for her. Still, Natsume is amazing, Mei said softly. Managing the farm seemed exhausting even in her imagination. While she loved the idea of a peaceful and relaxing life, running a farm required an entirely different level of effort. It reminded her of a saying: Occasionally visiting the countryside feels romantic, but for those living there, its all about the harvest. Mei felt that Natsume was incredible. Despite being her age, he had transformed an abandoned farm into what it was today. Even his skills as a trainer seemed on par with, if not better than, a city gym leaders. Whether in terms of work ethic or strength, Natsume truly impressed her. The phone chimed, and a new message popped up. [Natsume]: Come visit when you have time. [Natsume]: Oh, and bring back Bounsweet. The group here misses it. Reading the message, Mei smiled faintly. [Mei]: Sure! But will you give me a discount on Pokblocks? [Natsume]: Ill try? [Mei]: Why does that sound uncertain? [Natsume]: Its a long story. Hard to explain over text. [Mei]: Then dont bother explaining, thanks. [Natsume]: (Psyduck tilting head) [Mei]: Stop stealing my reaction images! In the quiet night, the glow of their phones illuminated two smiling faces in separate places. Chapter 64: Natsume: Want to Try Entering a Tournament? Early in the morning, Natsume woke naturally from his sleep and stretched lazily before climbing out of bed. His hair was a chaotic mess, resembling a bird''s nest. Since taking over the farm, the biggest change in Natsumes lifestyle was that he no longer needed an alarm clock. Every day, he could sleep as long as he wanted, with no worries about oversleeping. He could go to bed whenever he liked at night without needing to fret about being too tired the next morning. Work and school? Those didnt matter anymore. The only priority was sleeping comfortably. Somehow, we ended up chatting until late, he murmured. I hope Mei didnt oversleep. Looking at the last message on his phoneGoodnight sent at 1:30 AMNatsume felt a tinge of concern. If he hadnt noticed how late it was and stopped their conversation, they could have easily chatted for another hour or two. Normally, Natsume wouldnt mind extending the conversation. After all, who would turn down the chance to chat with a like-minded, beautiful girl? But Mei had mentioned that she was planning to challenge a gym today, so she had to wake up early. Unlike in anime where gym challenges could happen at any time, real-life Pokmon gyms operated quite differently. Apart from the standard 18 type gyms, every major city had its own provincial and municipal gyms. However, the number of gyms wasnt enough to meet the overwhelming demand from trainers. Most gyms required challengers to book an appointment on their official website. Depending on the number of challengers, the wait time could extend to one or two weeks. Missing an appointment was a hassle. But it should be fine, right? Meis Servine is reliable enough to keep her on track. Although Mei could be a little absentminded at times, her Servine was a dependable and composed presence in her team. Most trainers had at least one Pokmon in their party that acted like a responsible parentor perhaps a nurturing mother. These Pokmon were typically among the strongest in the team, with keen minds and the ability to maintain harmony among the rest of the group. S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They also tended to look after their trainers. This dynamic was especially noticeable in teams belonging to less reliable trainers. Meis Servine and Natsumes Persian played these roles well. However, while Servine had to balance its duties as Meis caretaker and oversee the recently captured Bounsweet, Persian had it relatively easy. Compared to Servines meticulous work, Persian mostly focused on disciplining new and unruly Pokmon by smacking them into line. Lopunny! The door creaked open, and a Lopunny wearing an apron walked in, carrying a fresh set of clothes for Natsume. After slipping into his usual black jacket, white T-shirt, and black trousers, Natsume was ready to start another day. Meanwhile, his shiny Furret, who shared his bed every night, had long since started its morning routine. If Natsume stood by the window now, hed see the shiny Furret leading a whole gang of Furret in a chaotic charge. The shiny Furret had become the unchallenged ruler of the farm, with sheer numbers to back its dominance. While only the shiny one could actually fight, there were so many Furret that it didnt matter. They were second only to the farms many Grass-type Pokmon in numbers. Given that it was a farm, it naturally attracted a wide variety of Bug- and Grass-type Pokmon. Fortunately, the shiny Furret was well-behaved and kept its gang in check, so no major conflicts had broken out. Caw! Ah! The sun shines upon my majestic form! Ah! Praise the sun! On the rooftop, Corviknight spread its wings, basking in the morning sunlight. Its dark feathers gleamed like polished metal in the light, making it look less like a living Pokmon and more like a finely crafted statue. After a while, it sighed softly. Being invincible is so lonely. Although it hadnt yet issued its 78th challenge to Persian, based on its experience of losing 77 times, Corviknight felt optimistic. I may not have won yet, but Im a three-stage evolution Pokmon, and Persians only a two-stage! Im still youngthe odds are in my favor! The previous night, unable to sleep after its evolution, Corviknight had scoured the internet for information about itself. While many claimed that Corviknight was just a utility bird rarely used as a Champions main fighter, Corviknight proudly declared: Youre right, but thats the beauty of Corviknight! With a base stat total of 495, 98 HP, and 105 Special Defense, I can take hits! With a Hidden Ability, Protect, Iron Defense, and Brave Bird, plus Gigantamax potential, Im unstoppable! Flying/Steel typing? No quadruple weaknesses, only two doubles! Four double resistances and five singles, including Dragon and Psychic! Immunity to Poison and Ground? Yes, please. Of course, when it came to actual battles... AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! The previous night, Corviknight had gotten into an online argument and became so worked up that its screams woke up Persian, who promptly beat it into submission. Even Gardevoir had to set up a psychic barrier to prevent the noise from disturbing Natsume. When Persian learned of this, it hit even harder. Still, Corviknight refused to count this as its 78th loss, insisting it was an unfair sneak attack. As a frequent visitor to online forums, Corviknight often borrowed strategies and tactics from other users to try in battleswith some success. Most Pokmon who battled Corviknight ended up at least slightly tilted. Morning, Corviknight! You seem lively today, Natsume called out from the window. From his angle, all he could see was Corviknights slightly round belly. Lately, it seemed to be eating a bit too much. I might need to find more things to keep you occupied, Natsume mused, eyeing Corviknight thoughtfully. Caw! Good morning, boss! Todays another great day! Corviknights cold, aloof demeanor vanished as it chirped enthusiastically, its dark face suddenly looking rather ingratiating. It wasnt afraid to push back against Persian, but it couldnt afford to upset Natsumewhat if he cut its food rations? So, how about entering a tournament? Natsume suddenly asked. Caw? Lop? Corviknight, basking in the sun, and Lopunny, tidying the room, both blinked in confusion. Had they misheard? Chapter 65: Avoiding Competitions Because Losing Is Unacceptable On the farm, those Pokmon close to Natsume were well aware that his interest in participating in competitions had always been minimal. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Becoming a professional trainer to gain fame and fortune? That idea held zero appeal for Natsume. After all, he had already achieved financial independence. He could wake up whenever he wanted, sleep whenever he pleased, and live life exactly as he liked. Becoming a professional trainer? That sounded neither interesting nor meaningful to him. For this reason, Natsume had never been particularly inclined toward competitions. And, well... If you lot cant even beat me, what makes you think youd fare better in a competition? (crossed out in his mind). Comparing ordinary Pokmon to a Hisuian superhuman like Natsume felt a bit unfair. Why do you look so surprised? Youre acting as if Ive said something unthinkable. Looking at the incredulous expressions on Lopunny and Corviknights faces, Natsume chuckled softly. Ive actually thought about this quite seriously. It probably started when his shiny Furret began its rigorous training. Natsume had realized that many of the Pokmon on his farm had a strong desire for battle. There were peaceful Pokmon, but there were also those who craved combat. Taking them out occasionally to participate in some matches wouldnt be a bad idea. It would serve as a change of pace for both him and the Pokmon on the farm. That said, Natsume had no intention of entering highly competitive formal tournaments. Such competitions required not just the Pokmons and trainers on-the-spot performance but also meticulous preparation beforehandresearching opponents, devising strategies, deciding the battle order, and analyzing attributes and movesets. And if things didnt go according to plan, youd need contingency strategies. All of it sounded like way too much effort. Instead, Natsume preferred the straightforward overpowering force approach. However, he wasnt yet at the level where he could crush all trainers with ease. Since he lacked the power to dominate effortlessly, there was no point in aiming for world champion titles or the like. Natsume disliked the feeling of failure. If he attempted something, he wanted to succeed. The idea of failing and just brushing it off with a better luck next time didnt sit well with him. Perhaps it was a bit of cowardice or double standards, but Natsume was perfectly fine with that. The frustration and reflection that came with failure? Totally unnecessary, in his opinion. Loo. After listening to Natsumes reasoning, Lopunny nodded in understanding. It shared his distaste for failure. For wild Pokmon, failure often meant deathfailing to find food meant starvation; failing to hide meant being hunted; failing to escape meant death. Even after living on the farm for a long time, that instinct to avoid failure was ingrained in its very being. By not attempting risky endeavors, you eliminate the chance of failure entirely. Lopunny wholeheartedly agreed with Natsumes philosophy. Caw! From the rooftop, Corviknight also voiced its approval. After hearing Natsumes plan, it picked up on two key words: easy wins. Say no morethis was right up its alley! Corviknight was a master at defeating weaker opponents. With its simple yet effective strategy of combining Iron Defense and Brave Bird, it was a nightmare for Pokmon less powerful than itself. Opponents couldnt break through its defense, while its retaliatory strike could strip them of their dignity. Lopunny, are you going? Loo. Lopunny shook its head, expressing no interest in battles. It was perfectly content with a peaceful life on the farm, occasionally entertaining itself with a smartphone. Yes, Natsume had bought phones for many of his Pokmon. Pokmon like Lopunny and Zorua were particularly fond of them. Corviknight, on the other hand, was a full-blown internet addict. If not for its physical structure being ill-suited for esports, it wouldve considered going pro. After all, it believed it was far superior to the incompetent players it saw online, whose absurdly bad gameplay made them seem almost inhuman. Back to the matter at hand. Though Im thinking about entering competitions, its not happening anytime soon. Natsume chuckled as he patted Lopunny on the head. For now, it was just an idea. Of course, he did intend to participate eventually. First, he needed to decide which Pokmon to bring along, and second, he had to select an appropriate competition. His plan was to start with a small-town or county-level tournamentessentially, starting in a small pond to build confidence. Once he gained some momentum, he could consider bigger competitions. Loo. Lopunny nodded before hopping off to handle some chores. Usually, Minccino was in charge of cleaning. It enjoyed housekeeping and initially took on the role because it couldnt stand Natsumes habit of stuffing clothes haphazardly into his wardrobe. After kicking him in disapproval, it began tidying things itself. In short, Natsume had been deemed unworthy. As a single guy living alone, he couldnt be expected to meet high standards. In his mind, he was already doing his best. But nowadays, Lopunny had taken over many of the household chores. For some reason, seeing Lopunny stealing Minccinos job made Natsume think of certain fantasy novel concepts. For instance, how a divine being of fertility might carve out a fragment of authority from another deitys domain. Perhaps Lopunny had claimed a portion of Minccinos housekeeping authority? The sudden shift in tone felt oddly jarring, almost surreal. Oh, right. Make sure Minccino tidies up the living room. The gifts for everyone will arrive soon. When they do, Ill need everyones help to sort them out. Corviknight, dont think you can slack off. As if remembering something, Natsume called out to Lopunny as it headed out. Loo loo. Lopunny nodded and hopped away. Hearing the word gifts, Corviknights eyes lit up. A present! When it arrived, it would make sure to stand out and leave everyone in awe! Its usually stoic bird face was now filled with uncharacteristic anticipation and delight. For a creature with such a majestic appearance, its demeanor often felt like a waste of its good looks. Chapter 66: Zorua: Go Eat Dirt When do people usually feel like they''ve grown up? Graduation? Falling in love? Or the first time they receive a paycheck after starting work? For Natsume, the first time he realized hed grown up was when he noticed that the older sisters and aunts in those easily captivating "big truck crushing little pony" stories were now younger than him. In that moment, he didnt just feel like hed grown uphe felt old. Nowadays, Natsumes realization of maturity often came with the need to keep certain things private. Not everything could be shared so openly. And with that, he felt like hed grown just a little more. Though he also felt a little more exhausted. Right now, several Pokmon were gathered in front of him, all staring at him with expectant eyes. It hadnt even been half an hour since the idea of entering battles with his Pokmon first occurred to Natsume, but already the entire farm knew about it. That big-mouthed Corviknight. When it came to spreading information, Corviknight was practically on par with the neighborhood gossip crew. The bird had single-handedly spread the news far and wideimpressively, without even exaggerating it. Should I actually praise it for not twisting the facts? Covering his face, Natsume wasnt sure whether to be angry or amused. Though hed intended to share the news with everyone eventually, the sudden reveal still caught him off guard. Now, gathered in front of him were not only Pokmon genuinely interested in battling but also a few with their own ulterior motives. There was the diligent, battle-loving shiny Furret; Gardevoir, eager to prove her worth; Gallade, dragged along by Gardevoir; the shiny Pidgeotto, hoping to curry favor with Natsume for extra Pokblocks; and a curious Mudkip, who didnt seem to understand much but wanted to join in anyway. And, of course, Zoruahere to stir up troubleand Corviknight, looking guilty but still reporting for duty. Faced with their eager eyes, Natsume sighed and said: Dont get too excited. Were not entering any battles just yet. If youre interested, let me know. When the time comes, Ill make sure to tell everyone. Once he finished speaking, the gathered Pokmon muttered among themselves before dispersing. But not before each of them brushed against Natsume, one after another, as though marking himor maybe just being affectionate. You look like youre having a great time watching the show, dont you? Natsume grabbed Zorua by the scruff of the neck just as the mischievous Pokmon was about to sneak away after giving him a playful nuzzle. With Corviknight still adjusting to its evolved form and unable to fly smoothly, Natsume doubted it could have spread the news so quickly without help. He was sure Zorua had played a part. Zor? Tilting its head and sticking out its tongue, Zorua gave him an innocent look. What are you talking about? I dont understand a thing! Im just a sweet, innocent little fox, incapable of such schemes! You, my little troublemaker, might have what it takes to become a follower of Aha. Natsume ruffled Zoruas fur until it was a complete mess, then casually tossed the Pokmon aside as if it were a cat. Zorua landed nimbly, twisting in midair to execute a perfect landing. Anyone whos ever had a cat would recognize this move. After playing with their cat, theyd often toss it gently to the floor, knowing the cat would land just fine. But dogs? Thats a different story. A dog would face-plant in a disaster of flailing limbs. A word of advice to anyone with both cats and dogs: be careful. A cat might forgive you after a treat, but a dog? Youll be footing some hefty vet bills. Zor. Shaking its head, Zorua shot Natsume a sassy go eat dirt look before scampering off, its short legs moving in a zigzag to avoid any further attacks. Just as Natsumes foot swung toward its retreating backside, Zorua dodged with precision, leaving his kick to hit empty air. Its quick reflexes saved its butt from disaster. You think you can kick me? Dream on, buddy. Go eat dirt back there! With its zigzagging serpentine moves, Zorua quickly disappeared from sight. Perhaps it was off to its favorite sunbathing spotor maybe looking for other Pokmon to scam with its usual spiel: Listen, Im not saying youre bad, but your technique needs work. Give me some Pokblocks, and Ill teach you a thing or two. Despite sounding like a con artist, Zorua was undoubtedly skilled. Many Pokmon on the farm willingly offered up their Pokblocks in exchange for its advice. Skipping a few treats was no big dealthey could always try other flavors later. But the chance to improve their skills? That was priceless. Because if you missed the opportunity to grow stronger, you might just end up... lying around. And theres nothing more infuriating than watching someone laze about happily while you struggle. Its like when people say: Im not jealous if you have a girlfriend. Im fine on my own. sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Im not jealous if youre rich. Im getting by just fine. Im not jealous if youre successful. Some people are just destined for greatness. But if youre lying around carefree while Im struggling? Now Im jealous, you jerk! This little rascal Watching Zorua disappear, Natsume sighed in exasperation. It was a great Pokmonjust a bit too mischievous. Lets go, Corviknight. Help me move these boxes. Natsume gave Corviknight a kick, nudging it forward as he picked up a box of miscellaneous items. You talk too much, so now youve got work to do. Caw! Im on it, boss! The oversized bird hopped along behind Natsume, looking like a wind-up toy as it waddled forward with its peculiar, bobbing gait. Caw? So, what are we doing now? To pick up the gifts. Your figurine has arrived. Caw! Gifts! At the word gifts, Corviknights excitement surged. It instinctively spread its wingsonly to knock over the box in Natsumes hands, almost toppling him in the process. Turning stiffly to look at the mess it had caused, Corviknight froze, realizing its mistake. Well, looks like Im getting scolded again today. Chapter 67: Natsume the Gift Distributor Done. In the living room, Natsume straightened his back after setting down a pile of boxes on the floor, casually wiping away imaginary sweat from his forehead. Behind him trailed Corviknight, who had its neck tucked low, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. It was still reeling from the thorough scolding it had just received for its earlier carelessness. If it had been another Pokmon doing the scoldingsay, even Persianit might have tried to fight back, though such resistance would likely end in a comically tragic defeat. But against Natsume? Sorry, theres no chance. Any attempt to rebel would only invite harsher punishment. For instance, having its supply of Pokblocks confiscateda consequence Corviknight absolutely couldnt bear. Anything else, though? It could manage. Go call everyone over. Its time to hand out gifts, Natsume said, glancing at the sulking bird. With Corviknight, it was hard for Natsume to maintain his usual calm demeanor. When it was younger and freshly caught, it had seemed like a normal, reliable Pokmon. But somewhere along the way, it had started to grow crooked, walking further down the path of chaos with each passing day. Sometimes Natsume wondered if, should Corviknight ever become famous, it would need a fitting title. How about "Warhawk"? It felt appropriate on multiple levels. Caw-caw!! The moment it received its orders, Corviknight transformed from its previous timid state, puffing out its chest and energetically flapping its wings before bolting out the door. As it dashed outside, Corviknight began a running takeoff, flapping its wings with great effort. After several attempts, it finally managed to get airborne. Its awkward, flapping gait before liftoff made it look more like a village goose than a majestic bird Pokmon. If only its combat ability could match that of a feisty goose. Or at least, it could work on fixing its personality. With that thought, Natsume sighed deeply. Im starting to sound more and more like a nagging parent. Furrr! Not long after Corviknights departure, a flash of pink bolted toward the house, stopping dramatically at the doorway with a quick tail flick before trotting inside on excited little steps. Furret! Without hesitation, the shiny Furret leapt into Natsumes arms, nuzzling and squirming as if to demand attention before its gaze shifted to the pile of boxes on the floor. Fur? Is there a gift for me in there? Its sparkling eyes and the wagging of its fluffy tail made it almost impossible for anyone to refuse. Even if there werent a gift prepared, anyone on the receiving end of this kind of look would feel compelled to rush out and get one immediately. Of course there is. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Here, this ones for you. Natsume retrieved a small gift box from the pile and handed it to Furret, motioning for it to open it up. Instead of unwrapping the gift himself, Natsume preferred to let his Pokmon experience the joy of opening their own presents. Even though he personally found opening packages tedious, he had read online that many people found it oddly satisfying. Maybe the farms Pokmon would enjoy the experience, too. Or maybe not. Who knew? Furret! Furret eagerly took the box in its little pink paws, rubbing against Natsume one last time before setting to work on the wrapping. When the packaging came off, the gift inside was revealed: a peculiar item resembling a restraint device. (Some enthusiasts with unique tastes might have been especially thrilledcrossed out, moving on.) Next to the device was a small white card that read: [Power Bracer] A hard and heavy training tool. While it reduces speed, it significantly enhances growth during training. This was the gift Furret had been yearning for. Initially, it had wanted a green bodysuit as a tribute to its idolthe "Green Beast of the Konoha," a certain watermelon-haired ninja with dazzling white teeth. That idea, however, had been vetoed by Natsume almost instantly. After much deliberation, Furret had settled on a tool that could improve its training results, leading Natsume to select the Power Bracer after careful consideration. Unlike ordinary weights, this special item offered noticeable results. The exact mechanics behind it were beyond Natsumes understanding, but as he wasnt a researcher, he didnt feel the need to dig too deep. Furret, however, was thrilled. Not only would it help with training, butit was green. In a way, it still honored its idol. Wearing the Power Bracer, Furret couldnt wait to start training. My youth will not allow me to slack off here! Radiating a fiery determination, the shiny Furret dashed outside, ready to embrace its rigorous training regimen. After Furret left, other Pokmon from the farm began arriving one after another. Calm down, calm downone at a time, Natsume said, trying to reassure the crowd while sifting through the pile of gifts. Everyone will get something. He handed out each gift like a diligent deliveryman: Here you go, Persianyour catnip chew stick and silk scarf. Lopunny, heres your full grooming kit. Its highly rated online. Sandslash, this is for you. Aside from the seeds you wanted, I also got you some Stardust. Hope you like it. One by one, Natsume distributed the gifts. While not all of them were rare or extravagant, each one had been chosen with care to suit the recipients preferences. After all, most of these gifts had been decided upon after in-depth discussions with his Pokmon, like Lopunnys grooming kit. It was something it had seen online recently and had been longing for, so Natsume made sure to get it. The same went for Persians silk scarf. (The catnip chew stick, however, was Natsumes idea. He was curious to see how Persian would react to an item supposedly irresistible to cats.) For now, Persian seemed indifferent, but who knew? Perhaps it would secretly play with the chew stick in private, embracing its inner playful kitten. After a while, nearly all the gifts had been handed out, but a few boxes remained. Hmm, still a few left... Natsume frowned, deep in thought. Some of these were deliberately set aside for later use. Others were for Pokmon who hadnt shown up to claim them yet. Chapter 68: Every Team Needs a Villain Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Natsume casually sorted through the remaining packages. Aside from the regular gifts he had prepared, most of what was left were little surprises hed put together. For example, the Shiny Stone he bought for Minccino. If Minccino wanted to evolve, it would need a Shiny Stone; otherwise, it would remain a Minccino forever, regardless of its strength. Its like how WarGreymon needs MetalGarurumon to become Omnimon. No matter how hard it tries, it would only remain WarGreymon. Of course, theres also the possibility of becoming VictoryGreymon. Apart from Minccino, he had also prepared gifts for other Pokmon. Some might ask: wouldnt those Pokmon who didnt receive special gifts feel unbalanced or upset? Well, theres no helping it. Natsume could only strive to treat his closest Pokmon fairly. Anyone with two kids or even just one cat at home could relate to this. Even if you aim to treat both children equally, a little favoritism is inevitable. After all, humans arent machines; its impossible to divide love or care perfectly into equal portions. If any of his Pokmon did feel unhappy, Natsume would just have to make it up to them later. As for Pokmon he wasnt particularly close to, like the Oddish on the farm that he rarely interacted with? Natsume naturally wouldnt prepare gifts for them. A head rub and a couple of Pokblocks during a walk would be more than enough. He wasnt some overly generous tycoon handing out evolutionary stones and rare items to every Pokmon he met. Even if he had the money, he wouldnt spend it like that. Or rather, maybe he wasnt wealthy enough yetcompared to an oil baron, anyway. These can wait; no rush to deliver them now, Natsume said. First, I need to check on Ogerpon. After packing up the remaining gifts, he called Persian over to watch them, intending to take a few Pokmon to look for Ogerpon. He wouldnt feel comfortable leaving the packages with just any Pokmon. It wasnt that he worried theyd steal anything but rather that they might give in to the persistent pleading of other Pokmon and sneak a peek at the gifts. Like kids with new toys, who often cant resist opening them before they get home. But if Persian was in charge, Natsume had complete peace of mind. Every team needs someone to play the bad guysomeone who can step in when necessary to refuse unreasonable demands. It sounds simple, but not everyone can do it. If someone youre close to tugs at your sleeve and begs for a small, seemingly insignificant favor, would you refuse? Most people find it difficult. But Persian could. Not only could it refuse, but if Corviknight came over and started pestering, Persian might even throw in a Power Gem to teach that fool a lessonlet it experience the might of the farms second-in-command. Hmm Something about that sounded off. Lets go with vice leader instead. Ill leave these here for now, Natsume said as he shoved the unopened packages into Persians nest under its disapproving gaze. You didnt even ask me! Persian opened its mouth as if to meow a complaint but ultimately let it go. It rarely said no to Natsume anyway. And so, with its tail flicking in resignation, Persian decided to find another sunny spot to nap in, leaving the pile of gifts behind. Next up, lets find Ogerpon. Scratching his head, Natsume pondered which Pokmon to bring along. According to Zorua, Ogerpons little hideout was quite a distance from the farm. There was also a path leading to a water source nearby, where wild Pokmon occasionally passed throughsome of them even aggressive. So Natsume figured hed better bring two Pokmon with him, just in case. If some battle-hungry wild Pokmon or Trainer challenged him to a fight, he couldnt exactly yell, I choose you, Natsumemon! and jump in to brawl with them himself. That would be a bit much, no? Although those Trainers who lock eyes and immediately demand a battle arent exactly calm either. Who should I bring? Muttering to himself, Natsume absently toyed with Persians tail. When he turned around, he found a large black figure blocking the doorway. With its back to Natsume, Corviknight had been silently crouching there, waiting for him to notice. Wow, what a floorboard this floorboard is, thought Corviknight, deeply focused on the step below. It stared intently, as if studying the patterns on the doorstep. What was so fascinating about that step? After watching the back of Corviknights head for a few seconds, Natsume seemed to understand. This time, Ill need a mature and steady Pokmon, he said loudly, ensuring Corviknight could hear. The bird remained motionless, only shifting its gaze. Hmm, what lovely grass this grass is. Preferably one thats strong and reliable, Natsume continued. Corviknight raised its head slightly. The wind today is particularly noisy. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Better yet, a Flying-type Pokmon. Corviknights beak twitched into a barely contained grin, harder to suppress than recoil on an AK. With that in mind, the choice is obvious. As Corviknight prepped its pose, Natsume said, Ill bring the shiny Pidgeotto! CAW?! Corviknight squawked, utterly shattered. CAW! CAW! CAW!! It flapped wildly, rushing over to Natsume like a tantrum-throwing llama, tears and spit flying everywhere. If not for Gardevoirs timely Psychic barrier, Natsume wouldve been drenched. Calm down! Natsume barked, smacking Corviknight on the head. It wasnt anger; it was just that without the slap, the dizzy bird probably wouldnt hear him clearly. CAW Corviknight sat dazed on the ground like a duck, stars spinning around its head. It gazed at Natsume with newfound reverence. No wonder hes the bosswhat terrifying strength. Compared to him, even Persian seemed insignificant now. Thinking this, Corviknight felt its odds of taking the vice leader position improve significantly. Alright, get up, Natsume said, exasperated. Ill take you along this time. The birds antics made it seem like Natsume was some cruel Trainer who mistreated his Pokmon. Chapter 69: Natsume: Is Ogerpon Home? The ancients once said: Buy fine horses in the east market, saddles in the west, bridles in the south, and whips in the north. Natsumes current situation wasnt far from this. At the entrance, he had Corviknight and Gardevoir. From the farm, he brought along the shiny Furret. By the lake, he picked up Zorua, who was hanging out with Slowpoke. The reasoning behind this team was quite simple. Corviknight and Gardevoir happened to be nearby. Plus, Gardevoirs Psychic abilities were exceptionally useful for wilderness exploration and locating things. Poor Butterfree had just lost its role as the groups utility tool. As for Zorua, it was necessary for finding Ogerponafter all, Zorua was currently the only one who could track Ogerpon. And the shiny Furret? It was purely because Furret and Ogerpon had always gotten along well. After all, those with similar personalities tend to click. Simply put, substitute users are destined to attract each other! It didnt hurt to bring it along anyway, so Natsume casually included Furret before leaving. At the moment, Natsumes party consisted of four Pokmon, leaving two spots open. Of course, this was only relevant to Trainers. Natsume wasnt a Trainer. If he wanted to, he could bring along dozens of Pokmon without issue. The six-party limit was merely the official recommendation for the optimal team size. Six Pokmon were enough to form a balanced team without significant weaknesses while also remaining manageable for a Trainers resources and energy. In addition to his four Pokmon, Natsume carried a small bag containing gifts for Ogerpon, Pok Puffs, and a few Pok Balls. Dont ask whyjust in case he came across a Pokmon he liked. A couple of days ago, Natsume had seen an adorable Alcremie online. The comments mentioned that Alcremie was theoretically the Pokmon with the most formsseven decorations multiplied by nine flavors made 63 combinations. Including shiny forms and Gigantamax, there were 128 variations in total. This reminded Natsume that some Pokmon indeed had numerous forms or distinct traits. Take Vivillon, for instance. Natsume had started entertaining the idea of capturing more Pokmon like thismaybe he could achieve the title of a master collector someday. But that was a matter for another time. For now, Ill leave it to you to guide us, Zorua. Seated atop his Gogoat, Natsume addressed the Zorua perched on the goats head. Zorua haughtily nodded in response. Hmph, in the end, you all still need me. This house would fall apart without me. Take care of the egg you brought back first before making such claims. Natsume ruffled Zoruas fur so vigorously it looked like he might rub a hole in its head. Ever since Zorua had brought back that egg, it hadnt done much to care for itjust occasionally glanced at it and played for a bit. Suo! Thats not my child! Shaking off Natsumes hand, Zorua stuck out its tongue before signaling Gogoat to move forward with a couple of taps on its head. Initially, Natsume had thought of walking to their destination. But Zorua protested, not wanting to waste too much time outdoors. It had plans to sunbathe with Slowpoke later that afternoon. (Slowpoke, still processing the idea: Sunbathe? Sure!) However, Gogoat remained motionless, as steady as a mountain, completely ignoring Zoruas signals. It slightly tilted its head toward Natsume, waiting for his command. Lets go, Natsume said. At his word, Gogoat finally moved, starting with small strides that quickly transitioned into a gallop. Despite the abrupt acceleration, the ride felt smooth and comfortable, with no hint of jolts. If not for the rushing wind in his ears, Natsume might have thought they were still ambling leisurely along. As expected of a Pokmon famed for its riding capabilities. Much better than the shared Dodrios Natsume had ridden to school in the past. Suo, suo. Though annoyed at being ignored, Zorua dutifully pointed the way for Gogoat. Now wasnt the time to act upNatsume would be upset if they delayed. And an upset Natsume meant no tasty treats. Zorua understood priorities well. As for stealing other Pokmons food? Zorua wasnt the type to stoop so low. Suo, suo. Following Zoruas guidance, Gogoat quickly brought Natsume to a desolate plain. Apart from scattered rocks and withered weeds, there was nothing. It was so desolate that not even Trainers bothered coming here. This barren land was only appealing to Ghost Pokmon. Even Pokmon that could endure harsh environments wouldnt like it here. After all, while they might tolerate harsh conditions, who would choose to sleep under a bridge if a warm bed were an option? Unless they were streaming for sympathy, of course. Suo. Here we are. Standing majestically on Gogoats head like Simba from The Lion King, Zorua indicated the destination to Natsume. Looking in the direction of Zoruas tail, Natsume saw... Weeds. It really looks like theres nothing here. Dismounting from Gogoat, Natsume sighed. No wonder Ogerpon chose this spot to hide. Even at such a close distance, the hiding place was flawless. If not for Zorua, Natsume doubted he couldve found it himself. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ogerpon, are you home? Ive come to see you! Crouching down, Natsume called into the seemingly small cave ahead. His voice echoed through the tunnel, eventually reaching Ogerpon deep within. Mmmph! Ogerpon froze in place. Like a rusty machine, it slowly turned around, step by hesitant step. That voice... It was Natsume! Natsume was here! Mmmph! But my gift isnt ready yet! Or rather, it feels like Ill never be ready! Clutching its head, Ogerpon looked like the famous painting The Scream come to life. Its entire demeanor radiated anxiety, unease, and a desperate urge to escape reality. Ogerpon? Mmmph... Hearing Natsumes voice from the cave entrance, Ogerpon hesitated briefly before deciding to respond. Picking up a gift it wasnt satisfied withone it even dislikedOgerpon began trudging toward the entrance, taking one hesitant step at a time. Each step felt as heavy as lifting a mountain, requiring immense courage. As it neared the entrance, Ogerpon paused, placing its unwanted gift on the ground. It decided not to bring it out after all. Its not anything important anyway, just like my other collections. Lets just leave it here. Ogerpon resigned itself to the thought, feeling a hint of self-abandonment. Chapter 70: Natsume: Would You Like to Be My Partner? At the entrance of the cave, Natsume and Zorua watched as Ogerpon reluctantly shuffled out of the dark depths step by step. Its unwillingness was written all over its face. "Am I that hard to deal with?" Sharing a glance with Zorua, Natsume, who already understood the situation, feigned a hurt expression. Though he pretended to be upset, the corners of his mouth couldnt help but curl up slightly. Mmmhm! Hearing this, Ogerpon, who had been hanging its head low, immediately perked up and frantically tried to explain to Natsume. It wasnt that it didnt want to see himabsolutely not! It was something else entirely. It definitely wasnt because it disliked Natsume. In its anxious state, Ogerpon didnt notice the faint smile on Natsumes lips or the mischievous glint in Zoruas eyes. Seeing Ogerpons panicked look gave Natsume a slight pang of guiltlike teasing a curious child during the holidays by asking endless questions just to see their flustered reactions. "Alright, alright, I know you dont dislike me." Noticing how close Ogerpon was to tears, Natsume quickly tried to comfort it. Although Zorua had mentioned that Ogerpon wasnt in a great mental state lately, Natsume hadnt expected it to be this sensitive. A single sentence nearly brought it to tears. Feeling the warmth of Natsume''s hand on its head, Ogerpon sniffled and forced its emotions back down. Then, as if embarrassed by its behavior, it tilted its head away, refusing to meet Natsumes eyes. It didnt want anyone, especially someone it cared about, to see such a vulnerable side of itself. After all, crying in front of someone you hold dear feels deeply embarrassing, regardless of age, gender, or species. Ogerpon cared too. "Alright, dont be mad now." Here, I brought you a gift. After calming Ogerpon down, Natsume reached into the small satchel he carried and pulled out a large gift box. Inside was a gift he had prepared especially for Ogerpon. Holding the box, which was almost bigger than itself, Ogerpon hesitated, unsure of what to say. It glanced at the box in its arms and then at Natsume. Suddenly, it felt its tears welling up again, barely under control. For a child accustomed to being alone, the smallest acts of care could unravel them. They might normally be calm, even indifferent in the face of adversity, but when someone extended genuine kindness, it was overwhelming. Do you want to open it and take a look? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Noticing how Ogerpon used the gift box to hide its face, Natsumes voice instinctively softened. It was hard to be stern with such an endearing Pokmon. If it were Corviknight, Natsume wouldve probably just given it a swift kick to make it act normal. (Corviknight: Why am I always the target?!) Mmmhm! Nodding enthusiastically, Ogerpon set the gift box on the ground and quickly unwrapped it. Inside the large box were two separated compartments. One contained two stacked masks, and the other held an ornate incense burner. As Ogerpon examined the masks, Natsume explained: These two masks are something I found online. Theyre not the ones you lost originally, but their designs are quite similar. I thought you might like them, so I bought them for you. And the other item is a Rose Incense. It not only enhances Grass-type moves but also smells great. The masks had been an unexpected find when Natsume was shopping for gifts. Of course, they werent the original masks Ogerpon had lost. But in the age of the internet, anything was possible. These masks were advertised as replicas of the ones Ogerpon had supposedly lost, and their designs were strikingly similar. As for the Rose Incense, it was exactly as Natsume saidpleasant and functional. Among the many items that boosted Grass-type moves, this one stood out for its aesthetic appeal. After all, a gift should be presentable. It wouldnt make sense to say, Heres a gift, and then pull out something unrecognizable from your pocket. That would be downright bizarre. Do you like it? Watching Ogerpon, who seemed lost in thought, Natsume asked nervously. The truth was, he wasnt very experienced with gift-giving. Back in school, his classmates often seemed to form inexplicably close bondssuddenly staying over at each others houses, becoming best friends, and then just as suddenly drifting apart. Natsume had never really understood those dynamics. Birthday parties? Holiday gifts? Those werent part of his world. He didnt even celebrate his own birthday. Humans were complicated. Compared to them, interacting with Pokmon was much simpler. Mhhmmh! Ogerpon hastily wiped at its face, grabbed one of the masks, and placed it over its own, hiding its current expression. Then it nodded firmly. It loved the gift. As long as it was from Natsume, it would love it. Thats great. Seeing Ogerpons face obscured by the mask, Natsume didnt press further about why it hadnt visited the farm lately. Instead, he started chatting about recent events on the farm. The storage shed where Ogerpon used to play hide-and-seek with Shiny Furret had been renovated. Flowers had been planted around the lake, though it wasnt clear if theyd survive. Sandslash had bought a pack of giant pumpkin seeds online and was eager to plant them. Togepi had gotten itself covered in mud yesterday, leaving footprints all over the house, and ended up being chased down by Minccino. In the end, Minccino had dragged Togepi into the bathroom for a real cleaning sessionwith a showerhead and a scrub brush. True combat bathing. As for why Ogerpon hadnt visited, Zorua had already explainedit had been obsessing over creating the perfect gift for Natsume, only to end up stuck in an endless loop of self-doubt and frustration. Sitting on the ground with Natsumes gift in its arms, Ogerpon quietly listened to his stories. It nodded vigorously and let out little sounds of agreement, showing its complete support for everything Natsume said. No matter what Natsume said, Ogerpon wholeheartedly agreed. So, Ogerpon. Would you like to be my partner? Suddenly, Natsume extended his hand toward Ogerpon and asked. Mhhmm mah?! Ogerpon, who had been nodding absentmindedly, froze in shock. What was going on? It felt like a casual conversation about dinner had suddenly veered into, I want to become a magical girl. This was completely unexpected! Well? What do you say? Would you like to be my partner? Natsume repeated the question, watching the stunned Ogerpon intently. Chapter 71: Looking Forward to Working Together, Ogerpon Throwing a straight balldirect and straightforwardis a high-level yet incredibly effective strategy. Though simple and lacking intricate techniques, mastering this skill isnt common. In countless romance anime, there are only a handful of characters who can wield this approach effectively. Rather than directly expressing feelings, many seem to prefer engaging in a game of back-and-forth probing. Even when a straightforward confession would guarantee success, they insist on dragging it out. Its like fencing, like dancing a tango. Or like playing Nasus in top lane and being kited endlessly by a Vayne. The renowned love theorist Kaguya Shinomiya, who once said, "Love is warwhoever confesses first loses," would argue that the key to winning lies in making the other party confess first. To put it plainly, the one confessing first is essentially offering themselves up as prey for taming. Based on this theory, we often see characters in anime saying things like, Shes cute, but I dont like her, or Id never be with him, only to end up eating their words or crying in a corner, lamenting, I was here first! To such losers, we can only say: Please calm down. Its not the season for White Album anymore. Eris Sawamura, a poster child for such characters, would likely have a lot to say. If necessary, she could write a 100,000-word dissertation titled A Hundred Ways to Lose Despite a Perfect Start. In contrast, theres the straight ball faction. Instead of intricate maneuvers and convoluted tactics, they believe in boldly laying their emotions bare, presenting their feelings openly, and ensuring the other person understands. Love should be shouted out loud! Denji, the uneducated but straightforward protagonist, once declared, "I want to be Miss Makimas dog." He got his wish, being turned into her literal plaything. And then he inherited her dog. Its like a dog owning another doglayers of irony. Anyway, back on topic. Though Natsume lacked romantic experience, his extensive anime-watching history had taught him a vital truth: Hesitation leads to defeat. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, he was firmly in the "straight ball" camp, much like how certain generals families have unwavering loyalty to triangular underwear. ...Suo... An unexpected turn of events. Zorua, observing from the sidelines, found the scene utterly riveting. If only there were snacks to munch on while watching this drama unfolditd be perfect. Umma The sudden invitation left Ogerpon flustered. When someone is moved, their judgment often falters. Its akin to proposing marriage when emotions are hightheres a good chance of success. Wait until theyre calm, though, and the odds arent as favorable. Like a four-panel comic where a knight proposes with a ring labeled INT-7. The girl, touched, says, Yes. But after wearing the ring and gaining intelligence, she rethinks and promptly declines. Mhmm, mmm Covering her face, Ogerpons mind raced at unprecedented speed. This was her peak performance, even if her thoughts were absurdWhat pose should I use to say yes? Would accepting immediately seem too eager? If I agree, should I move in with Natsume right away? Amidst the chaos, a shred of logic prevailed. Do I like Natsume? Yes. Is Natsume a good person? Yes. Would joining Natsume bring any downsides? None. Would Natsume treat his Pokmon well? Absolutely. So Is there any reason to refuse? None. Mhmm! The answer was clear! Behind her mask, Ogerpons gaze firmed up, radiating determination. Mhmmm! I pledge my loyalty! (Or something like that.) Im willing to become Natsumes partner! With that, Ogerpon reached out her small hand. Seeing her response, Natsume smiled and extended his hand as well. A large hand and a small hand lightly met in the air. With that, their bond was sealed. If this were a game, youd probably hear some narrator declaring the partnership formed. But this wasnt a game. Here, both humans and Pokmon were alive and real. They werent just cold data or NPCs acting on pre-set logic. When faced with living, breathing Pokmon in this world, even the coldest person would inevitably change. Even the antagonists of the Pokmon world rarely aim for outright destruction. Giovanni sought to overturn the League and reshape the world. The goals of Team Aqua and Team Magma were to expand the sea and land, respectively. By the time of Sword and Shield, Team Yell was just Marnies passionate fan club. Their so-called evil deeds often boiled down to blocking the protagonists journey and creating minor inconveniences. Some even helped people. Thats the kind of villains we have in the Pokmon world. Pulling out a Pok Ball from his bag, Natsume held it up toward Ogerpon. Before he could say anything, Ogerpon took the initiative to press her hand against the button, letting the red light envelop her. The Pok Ball wobbled slightly before clicking into place with a soft chime, signaling a successful capture. Though it was just an ordinary Pok Ball, it now held a mythical Grass-type Pokmon. It felt surreal, like a tabby cat falling for a pure white one. (For those unfamiliar with the analogy: a tabby cat is like Liu Yifei, while a white cat well is like you, dear reader. Crossed out.) Poof! In a flash of light, Ogerpon emerged from the Pok Ball. For her, the Pok Ball wasnt restrictive at all. She had to be careful not to accidentally break the delicate device. Pok Ball: Im full! I cant take it anymore! (Crying). Feeling better? Natsume asked with a smile, watching Ogerpon, now lively and spirited. Mhhmm! Brimming with energy! Good, then lets get along well from now on, Ogerpon. Mhmm! Clutching her precious gift tightly, Ogerpon nodded enthusiastically. Chapter 72: Ogerpon’s Gift Mhmm. After being captured by Natsume, Ogerpon immediately decided to move into the farm. This desolate place was too barren and boring. When it first arrived here, it had chosen this location because it was safeonly a fool would willingly stay here otherwise. People change over time. So do Pokmon. When Ogerpon had first arrived, this place seemed perfect in every way: safe, secluded, and undisturbed. Even if danger arose, it could always dart into the nearby forest to hide. But now, no matter how it looked at this place, Ogerpon couldnt stand it. Barren, remote, with no other Pokmon to talk to. And, worst of all, it was far too far from Natsumes farm! This was the biggest issue for Ogerpon. The rest? Tolerable. But this one thing was absolutely unacceptable. It didnt matter anymore, thoughbecause now it was moving into Natsumes farm! But before that, there was one last thing to do. Moving out. Um-mah! Watching Gardevoir use Psychic to carry out its collection, Ogerpon couldnt help but feel a bit embarrassed. It was like having someone else see your browser history. No, waitmaybe not that bad. To be more precise, it was like being caught by a friend after sending your goddess an essay-length confession in the middle of the night, only to get a red exclamation mark in response. Wait, isnt that about the same? Hmm Mhmm! At Ogerpons insistence, Gardevoir placed its treasures off to the side, letting Ogerpon sort through them itself. Gardevoir was more than happy to comply. If it didnt need to organize them, all the better. Honestly, Gardevoir had no clue how to even begin categorizing those things. Ill help. Natsume knelt beside Ogerpon, offering to help organize the items. Among Ogerpons collection, most were things humans had discarded as trash. Yes, trash. To Ogerpon, though, these discarded items were treasures. Colorful but cheap-looking glass cups, shiny hairpins, a broken and non-functional Pokdexthese human trash items were the centerpieces of Ogerpons collection. Having spent so long avoiding humans and other Pokmon, Ogerpon had no idea whether these things were valuable or even useful. To Ogerpon, they were shiny, interesting, and, therefore, treasures. They were some of the only things it could find without having to get too close to humans. Like the glass bead it had taken from Natsume earlier. Back then, among all the items in that pile, there had been things of actual value. But Ogerpon had still chosen the glass bead that sparkled in the moonlight. At that time, in its eyes, that bead was the most precious treasure. However, after getting to know Natsume, Ogerpon began to understand more about the human world. Through Corviknight, it even got to use a smartphone. Originally, it just wanted to learn some crafting techniques to make a gift for Natsume, but in the process, it accidentally stumbled upon the rich and colorful world of the internet. To be honest, the moment Ogerpon saw the internet, its worldview was completely shattered. It never imagined that the world wasnt limited to forests, villages, or crocodiles baring their teeth by the lake. The world could be so vibrant, so vast. It was then Ogerpon realized it had never truly understood the worldit didnt even feel like it belonged. It was unfamiliar, foreignentirely so. Everything about it screamed of a world that Ogerpon didnt know, a world it could never truly enter. It was like a child from the mountains stepping into a bustling city filled with neon lights for the first time. To see a world it could neither belong to nor tread upon was overwhelming. The shock, coupled with the deep-seated sense of inferiority, could crush a person in an instant. Ogerpons recent slump likely stemmed from this realization: that the treasures it once held dear were nothing more than discarded garbage to others. All done. After helping Ogerpon tidy up its treasures, Natsume stood and dusted off his pants. Ogerpon, meanwhile, silently stared at the objects it had once cherished. Then, without much thought, it stuffed them all into the bag Natsume had brought. Perhaps it would use these items to decorate the room waiting for it at the farm. Or perhaps it would abandon them altogether. But that wasnt for Natsume to meddle in. It was like raising a teenagerthey had their own thoughts. As a parent, your role wasnt to force them to act according to your ideals, but to ensure they didnt stray off the right path while granting them the respect and freedom they deserved. Oh, right. Zorua mentioned you prepared a gift for me. Can I see it? Mhmm! Ogerpon froze, its eyes darting wildly behind its mask. Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ah, the gift. Right, there was that. But it was terrible! So bad that Ogerpon didnt even want to show it! Mhm Mhhmm! Frantically waving its arms, Ogerpon tried to change the subject, diverting Natsumes attention from the utterly embarrassing gift. But no matter what it said, Natsume just smiled patiently and waited. Once Ogerpon finished rambling, Natsume simply added, I see. So, wheres my gift? Um-mah! Finally, Ogerpon gave up. Feigning anger, it lightly kicked Natsumes shin before turning and diving into its den. After a brief rustling, it emerged with A handmade poster? A piece of white paper larger than Ogerpon itself, with wobbly cartoon figures scrawled on it using colored markers. Judging by the colors and distorted outlines, it seemed to depict Natsume and several Pokmon from the farm with whom Ogerpon was close. The poster was decorated with a variety of shiny trinkets. Judging from the creases and marks on the paper, Ogerpon had originally planned to make a pop-up book but had given up due to technical and material limitations. Mhhm! Avoiding Natsumes gaze, Ogerpon raised the poster with a feigned nonchalance. See? This is your gift. Not that its any good, though. Thank you, Ogerpon. I love it. But then, that familiar, comforting hand landed on Ogerpons head again. Peeking up, Ogerpon saw Natsumes usual gentle smilewithout a hint of displeasure. Oh, right. Natsume had always been kind. Watching Natsume carefully tuck away the poster it had poured its heart into, Ogerpon hesitated for a few seconds before suddenly lunging into his arms. Resting its head against Natsumes chest, it stayed there quietly for a few seconds before quickly pulling away. Mhmm. So, what are we doing next? Looking at the nonchalant Ogerpon, Natsume couldnt help but chuckle. How could a gift made with such care ever be disliked? Chapter 73: A Call with Mei and Corviknight’s Spoils Mhmm~ Mhmm~ Leading the way like a small, enthusiastic captain on a school trip, Ogerpon marched at the front of the group. One mask adorned her face, another strapped securely to her back, and she hugged a bundle of fragrant flowers close to her chest. Although Natsume had offered to carry them for her, she refused without hesitation, declaring these were gifts from himpriceless treasures she had to hold herself. This, despite the fact that all her other "treasures" were unceremoniously stuffed into the bag Natsume was carrying. Fur-Furr~ Beside her, the shiny Furret matched her stride, humming an improvised, nonsensical tune. No melody, no rhythm, just a carefree expression of joy. Earlier, when Natsume was talking with Ogerpon, Furret had been watching from the sidelines. Although it had tried to approach several times, Zorua had firmly held it back. This is good drama; dont ruin it, Zorua had warned. Despite Zoruas small frame, its strength was unexpectedly impressiveit pinned Furret to the ground with one paw. Darn it, guess I need to train harder when we get back, Furret had thought bitterly. Looks like everythings okay now, Natsume thought, following behind Ogerpon with a noticeable sense of relief. Before this trip, hed been quite worried about her. Like a teenager stuck in a bout of self-doubt, Ogerpon had been isolating herself, unreachable by others. In such cases, the only thing one can do is gently guide them, hoping they find their own way out. Thankfully, Ogerpon''s condition wasnt too severe. Sure, the colorful, dazzling world shed glimpsed had overwhelmed her. But so what? To her, that world was distant, out of reach, and irrelevant to her present. Right now, the only thing she cared about was living with Natsume. The rest could wait for another day. It wasnt something she needed to concern herself with right now. Zor. Perched smugly atop Gogoats head, Zorua looked utterly satisfied. What a great day. A heartfelt story about a kind-hearted farm boy and a wandering mythical Pokmonit felt like a TV drama brought to life. Now, Zorua had even more tales and gossip to share with the other Pokmon back at the farm. Maybe it could score a few extra Pokblocks while it was at it. The thought filled Zorua with glee. Of course, if Zorua had wanted Pokblocks, it couldve just asked Natsume. He would never refuse. But wheres the fun in that? Conning Pokblocks out of others? Now that was satisfying. You should move around more, you know, Natsume said, poking Zoruas head twice with his finger. At this rate, youre going to get fat. Even Im walking on foot, he thought, and yet this supposedly energetic Pokmon seemed determined to laze around all day. Even now, Zorua was riding on Gogoats head, letting it do all the work. Zor! Zorua protested indignantly. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Me? Fat? Impossible! My figure is perfectly proportioned. Even if I do gain a little weight, it just means the perfect Pokmon body proportions have changed. Yes, thats it. Perfect proportions are based on me! Zorua thought confidently. Like those debates over the "proper" way to hold a wine glassdidnt Queen Elizabeth once silence the argument with her unique grip? Caw! Corviknight, circling above Natsume, landed gracefully on the ground. It strutted behind him like a rooster, occasionally muttering under its breath. This trip had felt utterly pointless for itno action, no excitement, nothing to do but watch. I even prepared some cool lines... wasted! Still, Natsumes earlier words about heartfelt gifts not being rejected sounded pretty cool. Maybe I should write that one down, Corviknight thought. It decided to add the line to its phones notes later. One more line for the stockpile, it thought, feeling slightly better about the wasted trip. Gardevoir, on the other hand, stayed silent. Using her psychic abilities, she expanded her perception, carefully scanning the surroundings. No movement, no disturbance would escape her. Such was the power of a Psychic-type Pokmon. At the same time, Gardevoir began pondering gifts for her younger sisters back at the farm. If not for Natsume, she mightve forgotten about preparing something for them entirely. As for that idiot brother of hers Gardevoir hesitated. She felt she should prepare something for him, but whenever she thought of his leisurely lifestyle, she grew inexplicably annoyed. Each morning, hed wake up naturally, exercise a bit, then spend the rest of the day in retirement modepatrolling the berry orchard, chatting with Sandslash, fishing by the lake. How irritatingly carefree! she thought. Perhaps... his gift could wait. Its fine, youll have your moment, Natsume reassured Corviknight, who seemed eager for a role. Just as he was about to continue, he felt his pocket buzz. His phone had received a message. Natsume used to keep his phone on silent 24/7there wasnt much point in sound notifications when no one messaged him. Most of the time, it was just ads or spam. But things were different now. There were people and messages he cared about. Caw? Corviknight cocked its head, curious about Natsumes reaction. Whats this? Is Natsume finally falling in love? Was it that girl from before? Because Corviknight spent most of its time watching anime in its room, it was always behind on the latest farm gossip. Yep, you guessed right, Zoruas smug glance seemed to say, as it confirmed Corviknights suspicions. But seriously, get with the times, birdbrain. This 2G internet lifestyle of yours is getting old. Oh, sorry, I got distracted. Snapping out of it, Natsume smiled apologetically and scrolled through his contacts. He found Meis number and dialed. Hello, good afternoon, Mei. His voice was light and relaxed as the call connected. Chapter 74: Next Week’s Guest and Heading Home "Suo?" Watching Natsume step aside to make a phone call, Zorua tilted its head in confusion. Do you think our Pokmon hearing is bad? At this distance, even if you step ten meters farther away, we can still hear every word loud and clear. It wasnt just Zorua. The other Pokmon nearby also had their ears perked up, secretly eavesdropping on Natsumes conversation. Leading the group of snooping Pokmon were Ogerpon and Corviknight. Ogerpon, having just been captured and still very curious about Natsume, wanted to know more about him. As for Corviknight... it was purely driven by gossip and curiosity. This bird had an insatiable appetite for gossip and loved sharing rumors. Whenever it caught wind of juicy news, it couldn''t resist spreading it around. No worries, no worries. It was just a minor setback, Natsume said. Youve already surpassed so many others. Although the Pokmon couldnt hear the entire conversation, Zorua managed to piece together the gist: It seemed like that girl, Mei, had lost a battle and called Natsume to vent her frustration. Well, that was pretty normal. When people fail, they often need someone to talk to. Expressing oneself is just one way of dealing with setbacks. When faced with frustration or failure, everyone has their own way of coping. Some choose to vent, others opt for a trip, while a few might simply sleep it off. For Zorua, its method was a bit unique. Last week, it played chess with Togepi. Upon realizing it was on the verge of losing, it "accidentally" flipped the chessboard in a single swift move. Not only did it avoid losing, but it also relieved its stress. Two birds with one stone! Of course, Zorua explained the incident as a mere slip of the pawnot because it couldn''t handle losing. Me? A proud Pokmonno, a proud fox! How could I possibly be a sore loser? Alright, alright, dont be upset. Get stronger, and then give them a good thrashing next time. The Gym isnt going anywhere. Natsume clumsily tried to comfort Mei on the other end of the call. He knew he wasnt great at consoling people. Everyone has things they arent good at, and for Natsume, comforting others was definitely one of them. Whenever he had to cheer someone up, he felt like tying himself to a lamppost out of sheer embarrassment. I mean, do I really give off the vibe of someone whos good at comforting people? Why does everyone come to me with their problems?! sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsume just couldnt figure it out. Got it, Mei replied on the other end, nodding vigorously. After wiping her nose, she made an effort to pull herself together. Honestly, it wasnt just the loss that upset Mei so much. As a Trainer, losing to someone stronger is par for the course. Its the same with Gym battles. Its not like she was some invincible prodigy, guaranteed to win every match. But still... losing stung. By the way, Natsume, I was hoping you could do me a favor, Mei hesitated, sounding a little embarrassed. Id like Corviknight to help train my Pokmon, especially in terms of mental toughness and handling pressure. Apparently, the trash talk during her battle had really gotten under her skin, leaving her feeling defeated and frustrated. No problem at all, Natsume agreed without hesitation, glancing at Corviknight, who was still busy eavesdropping. He had been looking for something to keep this lazy bird, who spent all day binge-watching anime upstairs, occupied. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. After all, theres nothing more exhausting than babysitting. Meis team lineup, Natsume recalled, consisted of several challenging personalities. Servine was aloof and composed, so it wouldnt be much trouble. But Tepig and Dewott were a different story. Tepig was overly energetic and loved to recklessly spit flames everywhere. Dewott, on the other hand, kept to itself, training silently and barely interacting with others. The last member, Steenee, who had recently evolved from Bounsweet, seemed easygoing enough. However, Natsume predicted that the moment Steenee arrived at the farm, it would rush to reunite with its old friends in the Steenee group. Trying to enforce strict training under such circumstances would be tricky, especially in front of its family. Even with the excuse of its for your own good, it wouldnt go over well. Caw? Corviknights expression froze mid-eavesdrop. Wait, what? How did this become my responsibility?! Im just here for the gossip! But then it reconsidered. Mei had specifically asked for its help, which was a clear sign of trust and recognition. Training Pokmon, trash-talking them, and keeping them on their toes? That was right up its alley! Corviknights mood flipped instantly, and a sly grin spread across its beak. Caw, caw, caw! Its mischievous laugh, however, wasnt exactly a crowd-pleaser. Alright then, see you next week, Natsume said before hanging up the phone. Turning around, he noticed the Pokmon behind him awkwardly pretending not to have been eavesdropping. When Natsumes gaze landed on them, Corviknight and the others quickly averted their eyes, avoiding eye contact. Getting caught snooping was just a little too embarrassing. Zorua, however, stared back at him boldly, its expression saying, Yeah, I listened. So what? What are you gonna do about it? But because Zorua was perched on Gogoats head, when Gogoat turned its head, Zorua was forced to turn away as well, breaking eye contact. Suo? Zorua spun back around to face Natsume, looking curious. So, whats the deal? Mei will be staying at the farm next week for some special training, Natsume explained. Not sure how long shell stay, though. When we get back, lets make sure the guest room is cleaned up. Smiling, Natsume didnt dwell on the topic. Instead, he turned his attention to Ogerpon, who was happily gesturing with its mask up ahead. Earlier, Ogerpon had mentioned that Ghost-type Pokmon like Phantump, Misdreavus, and Yamask tended to show up in this area at night. Although Ogerpon didnt know their exact names, its descriptions matched these Pokmon closely. Among them, Natsume was particularly interested in Misdreavusfor no other reason than its cuteness. In this world, cuteness is justice. Adorable Pokmon always get preferential treatment. He planned to return at night and see if he could catch some Ghost-types. But for now, it was time to head home. Alright, everyone, lets go home. Chapter 75: Ogerpon Joins the Farm and Cinccino’s Evolution After returning to the farm with his Pokmon companions, Natsume quickly gathered everyone to announce the addition of Ogerpon to the farm. Hmm, the phrasing felt oddly reminiscent of clickbait headlines like XXX joins Platform Y! that frequently trend online. Those are usually a dead giveaway that some platform spent a hefty sum to invite a celebrity or influencer no one has really heard of. Much like those comments reading xx, xxxxxxxx, which always mean another top-lane player has lost their cherished account. The arrival of Ogerpon was warmly welcomed by the farm''s residents. After all, they were already quite familiar with one another. Shiny Furret and Togepi, in particular, had built a good rapport with Ogerpon. Well, at least Togepi thought they had. The mischievous little Pokmon often tried to drag Ogerpon into its pranks. But despite Togepi''s enthusiasm, Ogerpon wasnt particularly fond of mischiefit simply didnt know how to say no, so it kept getting dragged along. On the other hand, Shiny Furret genuinely shared a great bond with Ogerpon. Though calling them two little ones felt misleadingShiny Furret was now taller than Natsume when standing upright, starting to resemble a certain blue weasel from next door. "Brother, you smell amazing." Meow~ As the farms second-in-command, Persian was the first to welcome Ogerpon. Being second only to Natsume, Persian was undoubtedly the leader among the Pokmon on the farm. Partly due to its special place in Natsume''s heart, but also because of its strength. Previously, Persian was unquestionably the strongest on the farm. It could easily handle any challenger lining up for a fight with a single swipe. However, Ogerpon''s arrival had altered that dynamic. Though they hadnt battled, Ogerpon, being a mythical Grass-type Pokmon, clearly outclassed ordinary Pokmon in stats and raw physical prowess. Even pseudo-legendary Pokmon would seem frail compared to Ogerpon. Yet Persian didnt appear to mind at all. With Persian setting the tone, the other Pokmon naturally had no objections. Emolga. Just then, Emolga returned from an outing, clutching several berries in its paws. These berries were gifts from its admirers on the farm. Though there had been many more, Emolga had carefully picked out only a few that suited its taste. Of course, it told its suitors, "These are enough for me. You can keep the rest; no need to go out of your way." The poor Pokmon were so moved they nearly handed over their entire stockpile, including their last reserves. To welcome the new addition, Emolga chose its favorite berry and offered it to Ogerpon, signaling for it to have a taste. Ogerpon accepted the berry and took a tentative bite. The sweet flavor exploded on its tongue. Delicious. Its eyes squinted in delight. Seeing Ogerpons reaction, Emolga was pleased as well, and the two quickly became good friends. Watching the two chat happily on the couch, Natsume turned and began rummaging through the gifts he had tucked away in Persians den, preparing to hand them out. Minccino! Holding a smaller gift box, Natsume called out toward the attic. At this time of day, Minccino was probably upstairs cleaning. Natsume had even heard the distinct tap-tap-tap of its footsteps earlier. By now, Natsume could proudly say he could recognize his Pokmon by their footsteps. Before Lopunny evolved, he could easily distinguish between Minccino and Bunearys footsteps simply from the subtle differences. It wasnt a talentjust something he picked up from listening to them so often. Thud. Tap-tap-tap Mi? After a heavy object hit the floor with a thud, there was a series of light, rapid steps. Minccinos little gray head peeked out from the attic entrance. This is a little gift for you, Natsume said, holding up the gift box and beckoning Minccino over. Mi-mi? Another gift? Didnt you already give me one? Minccino tilted its head in confusion. Not that it was complainingit loved the previous gift. Was this an extra one? How generous! This is a special surprise gift for you, Natsume explained. Come check it out. Hearing this, Minccinos eyes lit up instantly. It bounded down the stairs, skipping steps as it went. Mi! As usual, it nuzzled against Natsumes wrist before eagerly accepting the gift box and tearing it open. Inside, under the wrapping, was a transparent case holding a shimmering gem. This is a Shiny Stone, Natsume explained. It will allow you to evolve into Cinccino. If you want to evolve, just touch it. He hesitated for a moment before adding, But Natsume originally wanted to remind Minccino to think carefully before deciding to evolve. After all, evolution was irreversible. Many Pokmon chose not to evolve, and while Natsume had subtly confirmed that Minccino wasnt against evolving, it was still better to double-check. Before he could finish his sentence, however, Minccino had already ripped open the case and slapped its paw on the Shiny Stone without a moments hesitation. The next second, a radiant white light enveloped its small frame. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Shiny Stone gradually shrank, dissolving into energy that fueled Minccinos evolution. When the light faded, a new Pokmon stood before him. So youve been waiting to evolve for a while, huh, Cinccino? Natsume chuckled as he observed the newly-evolved Cinccino examining its body with curiosity. It looked like a taller, more elegant version of Minccino, with longer, more luxurious fur. Its long tail was covered in fine, silky hair, and two tufts of fur draped over its head like a scarf. It resembled an aristocratic lady, brimming with elegance and charm. The internet had always said Cinccinos fur felt exceptionally smooth to the touch. Natsume could now confirm that this was absolutely true. Cinno. Feeling its newly-evolved form, Cinccino was clearly delighted. This newfound power! Its intoxicating! How could anyone not adjust to their evolved form? Right, Corviknight? After cuddling with Natsume for a while, Cinccino darted off to share the joy of its evolution with its friends. Moments like these deserved to be shared immediately! Once Cinccino left, Natsume dug out another box. This one contained a gift for Slowpoke. All right, time to find Slowpoke, he said. Chapter 76: The King’s Rock and the Wild Shellder Appears! The Pokmon on Natsumes farm were always a bit peculiar, with distinct personalities and strong opinions. This was something Natsume had long come to understand. Even Slowpoke, typically known for being slow-witted, sometimes displayed remarkable wisdom. One sunny afternoon, Natsume was lounging by the lakeside with his shiny Furret in his arms, basking in the sun. Out of boredom, he struck up a conversation with Slowpoke. To call it a conversation was a bit of a stretchNatsume was mostly talking to himself. After all, one couldnt realistically expect to have a smooth exchange with a Slowpoke. Even though Natsume could understand Pokmon speech, that didnt mean the Pokmon could always understand him. Slowpokes general response seemed to be: What youre saying is too profound; I dont quite get it. Whenever Natsume started a new topic, it usually took Slowpoke a good while to process what he had said. But when Natsume casually brought up Slowpokes potential evolution, it showed a surprisingly excited reaction. Slowpoke, do you think youll evolve into a Slowking or a Slowbro in the future? Natsume had asked lazily, his shiny Furret resting in his lap. If you want to become a Slowking, Ill need to get you a Kings Rock. If Natsume had to choose, hed definitely prefer Slowking. With its sharp rise in intelligence, communication would become much easier. He hadnt expected Slowpoke to respond. Typically, it would take another minute or two for Slowpoke to even realize what was being discussed. But to Natsumes surprise, Slowpoke responded almost instantly. Slow~ I want to evolve into a Slowking, it said, lying calmly beside Natsume. Huh? Startled, Natsume sat up and removed his Psyduck-themed sleep mask, staring at Slowpoke. Slowpoke, in turn, gazed back at him with an unusually wise and serene expression. Slow. Slowking, the smart one, it clarified after a few seconds, as if afraid Natsume didnt understand. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes I really dont know what to make of you... Natsume sighed, unsure how to respond. He had noticed early on that this Slowpoke was different from others of its kindparticularly when it came to intelligence. Most of the time, it behaved like a typical Slowpoke: slow to react, seemingly clueless, and prone to bizarre actions, like fishing with its tail only to have it yanked into the water by the fish. It had plenty of antics that could make your blood pressure spike. But occasionally, it displayed behavior that was far from slow. Like now. Fast forward to today, Natsume walked toward the lake, carrying a small gift box. The contents were obviousit could only be a Kings Rock. This particular Kings Rock hadnt been easy to acquire. Unlike evolutionary stones like the Dawn Stone, the Kings Rock also served as a held item. Its Pokdex description read: When held, it may cause the target to flinch after being hit. In simple terms, it granted a chance to inflict a flinch status on opponents, and with multi-hit moves, each hit had its own probability of triggering the effect. I wonder if Slowpoke is ready to evolve, Natsume mused. To evolve, Slowpoke not only needed the Kings Rock but also a Shellder. If its tail was bitten, it would evolve into Slowbro. If the Kings Rock was equipped and its head was bitten, it would evolve into Slowking. Both evolutions had a base stat total of 490, with Slowbro excelling in physical defense and Slowking in special defense. Before the introduction of Mega Evolution, most trainers favored Slowking due to its higher intelligence and overall utility in both battles and daily life. However, after Mega Evolution became a thing, Slowbros Mega Form earned it more fans. Good afternoon, Mr. Slowpoke. Your package has arrived! Natsume called out to Slowpoke, who was lazily fishing by the lakeside. Package? What package? Drowsy from basking in the warm sunlight, Slowpoke was momentarily dazed. Then, as if struck by a sudden epiphany, its eyes lit up. The package! It must be the Kings Rock! Realizing this, Slowpoke shot up and sprinted toward Natsume with a speed that seemed entirely uncharacteristic of its species. It looked almost like a Husky dashing toward its owner. Alright, alright, here you go. Amused by Slowpokes eager expression, Natsume couldnt help but laugh. It was the first time hed seen such emotion in Slowpokes usually vacant eyes. Normally, it wore an expression that seemed to say, Oh, youre so smart, good for you. But now, it seemed genuinely invested. Slow. Slowpoke plopped down on the ground and began tearing into the gift wrap, its tail wagging faintly behind it. Dont litter. Slow. Dont worry, Ill clean it up later. Really? Slow. Nope. After unwrapping the box, Slowpoke stared at the somewhat cheap-looking crown inside. For a moment, its emotions seemed to fluctuate, but it quickly regained composure. Carefully placing the crown on its head, it stood up, as though trying to sense some new power. Do you feel anything? Natsume asked curiously. Slow. Not really, I just wanted to change my pose. It glanced at Natsume with an expression that was either exasperated or sarcastic, as if to say, How could you expect me to feel anything? Its just a crown, not actual royalty. Youre really dropping the act now, huh? Natsume chuckled. Slow? I have no idea what youre talking about. Crown on its head, Slowpoke tilted its head and stuck out its tongue, fully adopting its usual dimwitted persona. Seeing Slowpokes playful antics, Natsume didnt press further. Well, now that youve got the Kings Rock, you just need a Shellder to complete the evolution. Do you need my help? Slow. No need. Im ready for this. Shaking its head, Slowpoke signaled for Natsume to follow it to the lakeside. Once there, Slowpoke slapped the waters surface with its tail. Slow~ Its drawn-out call echoed as if summoning something. Moments later, ripples spread across the water, and a wild Shellder leaped out! Chapter 77: Slowpoke and Uxie After leaping out of the lake, the Shellder scanned the shore. Upon spotting the Kings Rock atop the Slowpokes head, its expression shifted to one of understanding. So thats how it was. Clacking its shell, the Shellder hopped to Slowpokes side and quietly awaited its destined moment. After evolution, it would become part of another Pokmon. Though it would retain its own thoughts, it could no longer move, speak, or express emotions. It would exist like a repulsive parasite, growing by siphoning nutrients from the Slowpoke. No longer an independent being, but a mere component of another creature. Such a future felt suffocating just to imagine. Yet the Shellder seemed utterly calm, as if it had long prepared itself for thiseven welcoming it eagerly. So youve already made arrangements and even convinced it willingly. Natsume watched the Shellder lingering near the Slowpoke, seemingly in a daze, and felt surprised. He knew this Slowpoke was clever, but hadnt expected it to procure its own Shellder for evolution in advanceand to tame the creature into willingly becoming its component. Yes, component. No matter how kindly phrased, Slowpokes evolution required a Shellders cooperation. All the Shellders past joys, sorrows, and efforts would vanish the moment evolution took hold. No one would remember the Shellder; theyd only think of Slowking. Thus, trainers rarely allowed their own Shellder to evolve their Slowpoke. Even wild Shellder avoided this fateunless driven by insatiable hunger (scratch that). Of course, in some ways, this might be a good outcome for the Shellder? After evolving into Slowbro, it would no longer hunt or struggle to survive, instead waking daily to savor sweet secretions from Slowbros tail. Slow. I simply explained the situation. Perhaps because evolution neared, Slowpoke shed its usual vacant demeanor. The act was no longer necessary. Alright. Noticing Slowpokes disinterest in conversation, Natsume stepped back to give it space. The Slowpoke, adorned with the Kings Rock, glanced at the Shellder at its feet. Slow? Do you have any last wishes? The Shellder shook its head calmly. It had none. Even before drifting to the farms lake and meeting Slowpoke, its days had been meaningless: eating seaweed, hiding, sleepingan endless cycle of survival for survivals sake. Now, at least, it had found purpose. Slow. Then let us evolve. Slowpoke lowered its head, offering it to the Shelldera gesture that left it visibly uneasy. This felt like surrendering its life to another creature. Uncomfortable. CRACK! Without hesitation, the Shellder clamped onto Slowpokes head. In the next instant, evolutions radiant light erupted Natsumes second evolution witnessed that day. No matter how often seen, this brilliance never lost its awe. Perhaps this is lifes true miracle. Within the light, Slowpokes face flickered with rare excitement. It had waited so long for this moment. Finally evolution! Memories surged Slowpoke had always been unusual. It knew this well. While others in its tribe mindlessly fished with their tails by the lake, it had pondered its future. But it hadnt always been special. Once, it was just another Slowpoke in the herd, waking daily to scavenge berries, following the crowd, its mind a fog. That era was one it preferred to forgetnot because of its peers, but because it couldnt bear remembering its own past idiocy. Like humans cringing at their teenage selves, it refused to revisit those dark ages. Everything changed one midnight. Hunger drove it into a canyon, where Psychic-types gathered Lunatone and Solrock most numerous. Bathed in moonlight, they performed an eerie ritual, as if summoned by unseen forces. In the canyons heart, Grumpig danced strangely, Meowstic chanted, Musharna exhaled pink mist. Sigilyph guarded the rite, while Reuniclus ferried materials. Under the guidance of Lunatone and Solrock, moonlight and other unseen forces coalesced into nearly tangible rays of light, funneling into a gemstone at the valleys heart. All proceeded orderly until the brainless Slowpoke blundered in. Uncomprehending, it spotted berries and lunged. Under the hollow gazes of the Psychic horde, it devoured a berry and kicked aside a frozen Reuniclus blocking its path. Then It remembered little. Only that the ritual spiraled out of control. Agony seared its bodyas if bursting. Something flooded into it; something else drained out. Warmth spreadBlood, it realized belatedly. Am I dying? That was its final thought before darkness took it. Yet upon waking, it lay unharmed by a mirror-clear lake. Slow? Confused, it discovered newfound Psychic power: a crushing telekinetic force erupting at will uncontrollable, destructive. Attempting to pluck a berry obliterated the entire tree. As it rampaged, a breeze stirred. A small Pokmon emerged from the lakea gray-bodied, red-gemmed creature resembling a mythic lake sprite. Slow? Who are you? Slowpoke tilted its head. So tiny. Cant see clearly. Unleashed Psychic energy surged toward the creature. Disaster! Slowpoke panicked but couldnt stop ityet the energy dissolved upon contact, vanishing like snow in sunlight. I am Uxie. The voice resonated in Slowpokes mind. The floating Uxie drew near. You disrupted a ritual last night. The surge nearly destroyed you. I brought you here. Now, youll learn to control this power. Without awaiting consent, Uxie lifted a paw. Slowpoke floated helplessly into the air, its Psychic abilities inert despite its thrashing. I considered sealing your power until you evolved into Slowking, Uxie mused, but teaching you now will save future trouble. Stay here. Youll be fed. Slowpoke scratched its head. Howd you know I was hungry? Can you read minds? Uxie didnt answer. (Of course it could.) Lonely from silence, Uxie began sharing countless tales during their time together. Thus, Slowpoke pieced together the truth: A Pokmon named Deoxys sought to awaken its kin, hypnotizing Psychic-types to fuel a ritual. Slowpokes interruptionkicking a crucial Reunicluscombined with Uxies clash against Deoxys, had funneled the rituals energy into Slowpoke. Uxies ally had barely stabilized it. In the end, Deoxyss rage forced Uxie to flee with help from friends. The hypnotized Psychic-types remained in the energy-rich canyona minor paradise for their kind. Through Uxie, Slowpokes intelligence grew. So itchy feels like Im growing a brain. Life was peaceful, idyllic. Slowpoke cherished it. Uxie once described its possible evolutions: four forms, including regional variantsa promising future. Slowpoke resolved to become Slowking: not just for its latent power, but because Uxie called it the wisest form. Uxie is wise. I want to be like Uxie. It had come to view Uxie as a dear friend. But one day, tranquility shattered. Uxie urgently spouted incomprehensible words, sealed Slowpokes unstable power, and flung it far away, saying, The seal breaks upon evolution. Slowpoke tried returning, but found only scorched earthcracked ground, dried lake. After a month, it accepted Uxies absence. Leaving a crude marker of stones and twigs, it embarked on a journey, seeking Uxie while chasing evolution. Along the way, it met a homeless Mudkipa tiny refugee. Slowpoke took it in, mirroring Uxies kindness. Later, they encountered a human: Hello. Im Natsume, the owner of this farm. Initially, it planned to leave Mudkip at the farm and resume its quest alone. But circumstancesand Mudkips attachmentkept it there. Guess Ive grown attached too. Besides, wandering aimlessly seemed futile. Maybe this human, Natsume, can help. When Natsume later discussed evolution, Slowpoke doubted hed procure the rare Kings Rockyet he did. Now, as the evolution glow faded, Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsumes voice rang out: Congratulations Slowking. Eyes opened, Slowking made its grand debut. Chapter 78: Slowking: Power Surge! After evolution, Slowking looked quite different from before. It now stood on two legs, with an orange-and-white umbrella-like structure around its neck and its hands clasped behind its back, giving off the air of a supervising leader. The Shellder on its head had its eyes on the back, near the base of Slowkings skull, while a red gem adorned the front. If pre-evolution Slowpoke was the type that seemed clueless and foolish to everyone, post-evolution Slowking was the type that seemed to regard everyone else as fools. After all, research showed that evolved Slowpoke possessed intelligence rivaling that of top human scientists. It also boasted extraordinary wisdom and creativity. Many leading scholars in various fields today had Slowking as partners. Whether battling as a trainers Pokmon, managing industries, or conducting scientific research, Slowking excelled. However, owning a Slowking came with a downside: daily intellectual disdain. Not directed at any one personSlowking disdained everyone equally. Slow. Its cry now carried a sense of gravitas, like a wise sage brimming with knowledge. In ancient tribes, Slowking was indeed revered as a prophetthough Slowking itself disliked such treatment. After all, being seen as a prophet by a bunch of monkeys wasnt exactly flattering (scratch that). Congratulations, Slowking. Natsume offered his congratulations, to which Slowking responded with a nod before closing its eyes again. It focused inward, sensing the power within. Its hands, previously behind its back, now extended forward as an overwhelming surge of psychic energy erupted. Even pure Psychic-types specializing in mental power would find this staggering. The energy manifested as a visible blue glow, enveloping the farm in an instant. Under this power, every corner of the farm became clear to Slowkings vision. The training Shiny Furret, the Corviknight hiding figurines in its room, the Tidy Up-loving Cinccino, and a Zorua floating in the living room, eating chips and reading manga? What the heck is that? Before Slowking could figure out this peculiar Zorua, another Pokmon appeared before it. Gallade! Radiating a sharp aura unlike its usual calm, Gallades arm glowed with the light of Sacred Sword, ready to strike at the first sign of hostility. Its raised arm paused upon seeing Natsume. This brief hesitation gave Gallade time to assess the situation. Hmm, Natsume and a bipedal Slowpoke. Is this the evolved form of that Slowpoke? Whats that on its head? A seashell? Isnt that going to cause neck problems? And whats that around its neck? A lifebuoy? A bib? An Elizabethan collar? In that brief moment, countless questions flooded Gallades mind. But one thing was clear: this Pokmon wasnt an enemy. After all, it hadnt restrained Natsume with Psychic power, nor had Natsume beaten it to a pulp. So, peaceful coexistence? With that thought, Gallades sharp aura softened slightly. But the glow of Sacred Sword remained, ready to slice this pink creature into sashimi and serve it in its own shell at the first sign of trouble. Relax, Gallade. This is Slowking. Seizing the moment, Natsume quickly explained. As he spoke, Gardevoir teleported to his side, and a small gray fox emerged from the bushes. Natsume took the opportunity to explain to all three. After hearing the explanation, the Pokmon relaxedexcept Zorua, who had been relaxed from the start. Gallade dispelled the glow from its arm. Still, this guys Psychic power is insane. Is it some Legendary or Mythical Pokmon pretending to be ordinary? Gallade couldnt help but suspect, given how absurd it soundedthough not entirely unprecedented. Not my problem, though. Shaking its head, Gallade returned to its usual lazy demeanor. Gardevoir. Got it. Ill head back to training now. With a nod to Natsume, Gardevoir teleported back to the small workshop. Natsume had since moved his workspace next to the new house, leaving the old one for Gardevoir to practice making Pokblocks. Yes, Gardevoir was learning to make Pokblocks from Natsume. That way, it could make its favorite flavors whenever it wanted. Gardevoir claimed it was to help Natsume share the workload. Natsume was fine with Gardevoir using the workshop, especially since hed asked Butterfree to keep an eye on things. Slow. After Gallade and Gardevoir left, Slowking opened its eyes. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had already adapted to its new power. After all, this energy had always been within it, and it had practiced controlling it under Uxies guidance. Now, with evolution, it had fully mastered it. The delay was due to a message from Uxie that surfaced alongside the unsealed power. After digesting the message, Slowking fell silent for a moment before refocusing. Slow. Natsume, can you assign me some tasks? Managing the farm or handling accountsanythings fine. Hands still behind its back, Slowking glanced at the Zorua playfully crouching at Natsumes feet before asking softly. Despite the immense power it had gained, Slowkings demeanor seemed unchangedat least on the surface. Sure. Ive been feeling a bit overwhelmed managing the farm lately. Ill be counting on you, Slowking. Natsume agreed without hesitation. He trusted Slowking to handle farm management. Slow. Dont worry, Natsume. With a slight bow, Slowkings tone remained as calm as ever. Uxie, it seems Ill be staying here for a long time. I hope the next time we meet, Ill surprise you. Chapter 79: Is Your Persian Even Legal? And Mei’s Arrival After evolving, Slowking felt as if a switch in its brain had been flipped. Its thoughts were much clearer, and its reactions were noticeably faster. It was as if a foggy pane of frosted glass had been replaced with a perfectly clear one. Everything in its vision became sharp and distinct. This newfound clarity also allowed Slowking to perceive things it couldnt before. Take that clearly abnormal Zorua, for instanceno need to mention its oddities further. Then there was that Ogerpon that came by today, a Pokmon that seemed incredibly powerful. Whats more, there was a faint sense of something about Ogerpon that resembled Uxie, which left Slowking with a favorable impression of it, even though Ogerpon didnt yet know Slowking personally. And then there was the one standing right before it. Slowkings signature everyone looks like an idiot to me gaze locked onto the cat-like glare of a Pokmon with an air of feline superiorityone that naturally regarded everyone else as beneath it. For a brief moment, neither Slowking nor the Persian said a word. It felt like the two were engaged in some sort of staring contest. Finally, Slowking broke the silence. Slow. Meow. The tension between the two Pokmon quickly dissipated as Slowking took the initiative to speak. The two began chatting away, utterly ignoring the humans around them. Their conversation? It was mostly mutual praise: Ill be counting on you in the future, No, no, I should be saying that to you, and other such trivialities. Nothing of much substance, honestly. Afterward, Slowking turned to look at Natsume beside it. Since Natsume had said hed help familiarize Slowking with the farms management, they were currently doing a tour of the area. Slowking listened intently as Natsume explained the key points to running the farm. Managing a farm was a first for Slowking, so it figured it had better take the time to learn. Naturally, that also meant interacting with the other Pokmon on the farm. The ones it had seen so far hadnt made much of an impression on it. To be fair, they were all ordinary Pokmon, nothing particularly remarkable. Even the shiny Pokmon were treated by Slowking with a calm indifference. That was, until it saw Persian. Hold on a second. Is this Persian even legal? Slowking, whose evolved form had left it feeling a little self-important, suddenly felt grounded as it laid eyes on Persian. Just looking at Persians stance, it was obvious how absurdly strong it was. It wasnt joking. At first glance, Slowking didnt think much of Persian. Oh, just a normal Pokmon, it thought. Persiana second-stage evolution, Normal-type. Nothing flashy about it. Sure, it was fast, but its other attributes Average. Even as a high-speed attacker, it would struggle to excel. Its move pool was decent, offering good coverage, but it lacked a defining, decisive move. That was Slowkings initial assessment. As such, it didnt pay Persian much attention at first. It only gave Persian a second glance because it happened to be Natsumes earliest companion. And then, Slowking noticed something was off. Wait a minute. This Persian doesnt feel entirely legal. Through its psychic perception, Slowking became certain that, purely in terms of physical condition, Persian was unparalleled among the Pokmon on the farm. Even Ogerpon might only barely hold its own in a contest of strength. Seriously, is this Persian even legal? Youre the last Pokmon qualified to say that, Natsume remarked. Slowking glanced at Natsume, feeling wronged. It wasnt wrongWater/Psychic-type Pokmon or not, its psychic powers were leagues beyond anything Natsume had ever encountered. The moment it evolved, its mental energy expanded to cover the entire farm. Youre the least legal one here, okay? As for Persian? Having followed Natsume for over a decade, Persian had been fed a variety of Pokblocks for just as long. This included the highly experimental batches Natsume made during his edgy phase when he aspired to become the worlds greatest Pokblock craftsman. Under such nurturing conditions, wasnt it only natural for Persian to be incredibly strong? Yadon. No way. This thing isnt just strongits downright terrifying. Its HP and SP stats are off the charts. While replying to Natsume, Slowking absentmindedly scrolled through information on its phone. It was studying human knowledge. Based on something it just read online, this Persian was like a character from a martial arts comic. It had abandoned fancy techniques and special moves, focusing instead on building up raw strength and endurancemaxing out its HP and SP bars, then relying on basic attacks and sheer willpower. Yadon? Slowkings fingers froze mid-scroll as it raised its head to glance toward the farms entrance. What is it, Slowking? Natsume, who had been explaining details about the berry grove, looked at Slowking curiously. He couldnt figure out what was on its mind now. Honestly, Natsume missed the pre-evolution Slowpoke. It had been much cuter. Now, after evolving, Slowking was distinctly less adorable. Worse, it kept asking questions he couldnt answer. Like: Whats the meaning of life? How do you survive the heat of the Big Bang? Why are human preferences so bizarre and varied? Could a nuclear explosion perfectly cook a pizza in a specific spot? Do dogs think theyve met a cop when they see a police dog? Natsume couldnt answer a single one. It felt like Slowking was constantly exposing the gaps in his knowledge. Slow. Slowkings psychic senses picked up someone approaching the farm. Its a visitora very cute girl. Scratching its chin, Slowking casually mentioned this while wondering if it should create a forum account for itself. Sure, it could use telepathyand now, after evolving, it was getting pretty good at it too. But telepathy required effort, and since Natsume understood its speech just fine, Slowking didnt see the point in overexerting itself. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yes, Slowking had quickly embraced Natsumes philosophy of Why use your brain if you can let it rust? Doubt! Understand! Transcend! A girl? Oh, its Mei. Mei had mentioned earlier that shed be coming to train at Natsumes farm for a while. Slow? Do you need me to come with you? Are you sure you wont get nervous? Slowking looked at Natsume with concern. Based on what it had read online, boys like Natsumewho had never dated, had few female friends, and small social circlestended to get nervous around girls. They were also easily manipulated by them. Just look at Denji from Chainsaw Man. Slowking worried that its new trainer might get deceived by a bad woman. Ill be fine. But if youre really that worried, you can come along. Natsume couldnt help but laugh at Slowkings concern. What kind of image do you have of me, anyway? Slow? A shy, innocent country boy who blushes when talking to girls? The type youd see in manga, with an untainted smile unspoiled by knowledge? Youre overthinking it. Slow. I think it fits pretty well. Meanwhile, Mei was at the farms entrance, chatting with a Servine. Chapter 80: Mei Refuses to Comment on Natsume’s Taste "Servine, this is where we''ll be staying for a while," Mei said, pulling her small suitcase and looking at the farm before her with a mix of nostalgia and surprise. It hadnt been that long since shed left, yet the farm seemed to have undergone significant changes. Even from this distance, she could spot Wooloo and Mareep leisurely wandering around. Overhead, a shiny golden Pidgeotto soared, leading a flock of Pidgey and other Pidgeotto. The last time Mei had visited, the Mightyena family was just the parents and three rambunctious Poochyena pups. Now, the pups had all grown into Mightyena themselves, with two clearly inheriting their fathers chaotic, husky-like demeanor. "Hmph." The Servine at Mei''s feet crossed its arms, wearing a sullen expression. Ever since its loss during a gym battle, it had been sulking. It wasn''t just the loss that stungit was also realizing that the carefully crafted taunts it had prepared for the enemy were ineffective. To be fair, Mei had always shielded her Servine from harsh realities. As a result, it had little experience with biting comebacks. Its attempts at "trash talk" were more like harmless remarks compared to the razor-sharp retorts of Pokmon like Corviknight. This realization had fueled Servine''s resolve. It was determined to seek out that foul-mouthed "junkyard bird" for guidance. Not that it liked the bird or anythingthis was purely a practical decision. For the time being, it begrudgingly decided to view Corviknight as a fellow Pokmon rather than the annoyance it usually considered it. "Let me call Natsume and let him know we''ve arrived," Mei said, pulling out her phone with a sly smile. She messaged Natsume every day, so by all logic, he shouldve known she was coming today. However, Mei had kept her actual arrival date a secret, planning to surprise him. "Hmph," Servine huffed, choosing not to comment on her antics. The call connected, but before Mei could hear Natsume''s voice, a peculiar ringtone echoed nearby. "Ribbit-ribbit-ribbit" A bizarre, almost comically absurd sound rang out. Looking up, Mei saw Natsume standing right in front of her, with a Slowking by his side. "Natsume!" "Long time no see, Mei." "Cant you please change that ringtone?" Mei asked, exasperation evident in her tone. She had wanted to complain about it for ages. The "music" wasnt music at allit sounded like a frog being pummeled. For all his qualities, Mei found Natsumes taste in certain thingslike his ringtone and even his fashion choicesutterly baffling. "Lets move on from the ringtone topic," Natsume said, swiftly deflecting. "Youre not even letting me start, huh?" Mei sighed, realizing there was no point in pressing the matter. "This is Slowking," Natsume introduced, gesturing to the Pokmon beside him. "Mei, meet our farms new overseer. During training sessions, Slowking will be helping out." "Slowking," Mei greeted politely, her thoughts spinning. Was this the same Slowpoke shed seen lounging by the lake last time? ''Good day, Miss Mei. Im the bosss newest underling,'' a voice suddenly echoed in Meis mind, startling her. "Huh?" Mei froze for a moment before responding, "Ah, hello, Slowking. I look forward to working with you!" She quickly masked her surprise. When did this Slowpoke evolve? And since when could it use telepathy? More importantly, underling? Why did that sound like something out of a mafia movie? Mei had heard plenty of stories about the farm from Natsume during their nightly chats. She felt like she was playing a "cloud farming" game, enjoying the vicarious experience of managing a farm while traveling. But this Slowking seemed extraordinary. Telepathy and Teleport? That sounded a bit too overpowered for a Slowking. Before Mei could dwell on it further, Natsume spoke. "Come on, Ill show you to your room," he offered, hesitating slightly before reaching out for her suitcase. Wasnt it standard for guys to help with this sort of thing? Not having much experience in relationships, Natsumes knowledge mostly came from online advicewhich, as everyone knows, often ranges from terrible to downright ridiculous. "Ah, thank you," Mei said after a moments hesitation, handing over the suitcase. She wasnt one to fuss about these things, but since Natsume had offered, it wouldnt be polite to refuse. As the two walked ahead, chatting and laughing, Servine and Slowking trailed behind them. "Slow," Slowking mused. "Ah, youth. Such a sweet time in life. Is this what young love looks like?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For someone who had only recently evolved, Slowking sure sounded like an old soul. Chapter 81: The Return of the Dragon King and the First Night on the Farm The room Natsume prepared for Mei was on the second floor of the new house. Natsume himself usually stayed on the second floor, while the first floor was mostly reserved for the Pokmon on the farm to use as a lounge and recreation area. There was a playroom for Togepi, a screening room for Corviknight and Butterfree, and so on. Natsume had even thought about setting up an esports room in the future if more Pokmon joined the farm. After all, while he wasnt good at gaming himself, he figured that with so many Pokmon around, at least one of them had to be skilled. Yes, Natsumes gaming skills were quite poor. His level of proficiency was such that even a Golem might outperform him in understanding the mechanics. Gaming, like many things, required a certain degree of talent. If the average persons talent level was a 10, and professional players were at 60 and above, Natsumes talent hovered somewhere around a 5. He had long since given up on making any notable progress in gaming and now just played casually to relax. After all, wasnt that the whole point of gaming? If you obsessed over ranks and stats, wouldnt that strip the activity of its original purpose? Or so Natsume, the subpar gamer, liked to reason. Wow, this room is huge! Thank you so much, Natsume. Meis eyes lit up as she saw her new room. As a novice Trainer, Mei was already used to roughing it out in the wildsleeping in a cramped tent was an everyday affair. Only those Trainers who had already made a name for themselves could afford the luxury of staying in grand hotels and enjoying a life of comfort. New Trainers, in contrast, would spend most of their time camping out in the wilderness, catching Pokmon, and honing their skills. This was said to cultivate both mental and physical resilience. Well, at least thats how the story went. Whether or not this claim had any basis was debatable, but it served as a convenient justification. It was not unlike how middle school teachers would tell students, This topic will be covered in high school, and high school teachers would say, You should have learned this in middle school. They didnt know for sure whether anyone would actually teach it but said it anyway to save themselves the trouble. Returning to the topic, while Mei had grown accustomed to sleeping in tiny tents, no one would ever turn down a larger room if given the choiceespecially one so clean and cozy. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Cinccino and Loppuny, the guest room was in excellent condition. In anticipation of Meis arrival, they had gone the extra mile to ensure everything was spotless, even replacing the bedsheets and blankets with fresh ones. Incidentally, Natsume had already decided to permanently give Mei this guest room. If another guest room was needed in the future, they could simply clean and prepare another space. After all, land was one thing the farm had in abundance. No need to thank me. As long as you like it, Natsume replied with a wave and a smile. When setting up the room, Natsume had done his research, reading countless online posts for inspiration. After all, he knew nothing about decorating a girls room. In terms of understanding romance and girls, Natsume was about on par with Ash Ketchum. He had put a lot of thought into the rooms design, but in the end, it turned out fairly basic. Natsume figured it was better this wayhe left room for Mei to decorate the space as she saw fit after moving in. After helping Mei unpack, Natsume took her on a tour of the farm. Although they had talked about doing special training, there was no rush. It was better to take the first day to relax and unwind after her long journey. Even if Mei insisted on starting right away, Natsume would have found a way to convince her to rest for the day. As they unpacked, Mei released her three other Pokmon from their Pok Balls. Tepig, Dewott, dont wander too far, she cautioned. She didnt add the part about them getting into trouble, but Mei was acutely aware that few Pokmon on this farm were what one might call "normal." Take Corviknight, for instance. Since evolving, it had developed a fondness for sparring with weaker opponents, relishing the thrill of overpowering them. Then there was the previously adorable shiny Furret, which had turned into a training fanatic. If it encountered a new Pokmon, it might very well issue a challenge and go all out in battle. As for Steenee, it immediately dashed off to reunite with its old tribe. Mei could understand the feelingit was only natural to miss ones family after being away for so long. Of course, there was also the possibility that Steenee just wanted to show off its newfound strength. After all, it had long noticed how the rest of its tribe had grown complacent, enjoying a laid-back life on the farmeating, sleeping, and occasionally providing juice for Natsume. That kind of life wasnt for Steenee. It had always felt there was something off about it, which is why it had decisively left with Mei in the first place. Now, three months later, it was time for the Dragon Kings triumphant return! Smirking arrogantly, Steenee radiated an air of dominance, as if ready to unleash a barrage of dramatic comebacks and commands. Meanwhile, Dewott had found its own target. Hmm? It locked eyes with Gallade, who was leisurely fishing by the lake. This guy is strong. Dewott could sense the aura of a fellow swordsman emanating from Gallade. My blades are itching for a fight. However, remembering Meis insistence on a day of rest, Dewott reluctantly suppressed its excitement. Tomorrow, it thought. Tomorrow, Ill challenge that Gallade. As for Tepig, it had no immediate goalsthere werent any strong Fire-type Pokmon on the farm for it to seek out. This area will be designated as the pasture in the future, Natsume explained as they strolled. Right now, the Mightyena family and Yamper help manage it, with Gallade occasionally pitching in. Although Mei had already learned about the farm through Natsumes descriptions and photos, seeing it in person was an entirely different experience. --- That night, Mei lay in her soft bed, hugging her Servine as she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Servine... Servine stretched out its tiny arms, pushing against Meis face in irritation, its displeasure written all over its face. Ah, sorry, Servine, Mei said sheepishly. We need to get some sleep. Training starts tomorrow. Servine... Then let me go already! And so, Meis first night on the farm quietly came to an end. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 82: The Fall of the Dragon King and the Shiny Furret Coach The next morning, Mei slowly opened her eyes, half-buried in a soft, oversized pillow. Shed stayed up late last night, brimming with inexplicable excitement, and by the time she realized she should sleep, the wave of drowsiness hit her all at once. In an instant, she was swallowed by the tide of sleep. Mmm, what a good sleep, Mei murmured, sitting up groggily. She rubbed her face haphazardly, her long hair sticking messily to her cheeks. Before going to bed, Mei had made an effort to tidy her hair properly. However, her restless tossing and turning had undone all her work, leaving her in her current disheveled state. Servine... Lying belly-up on the bed, Servine rolled over, burying its face into the pillow. It was far too comfortable to even think about getting up. Oh, right, this is the farm, Mei muttered, still half-dazed, sitting on the bed in a stupor before finally realizing she was at Natsumes farm. She hadnt slept this well in ages, and for a moment, shed forgotten where she was. On the floor by the bed, Tepig and Dewott were still sound asleep. Dewott lay with its arms crossed in a pose resembling a down-and-out swordsman, though its utterly peaceful expression and the telltale glimmer of drool at the corner of its mouth betrayed it. A would-be hero... but still just a child. As for Steenee? The Pokmon was asleep on the table, for some strange reason. Despite having a bed and a cozy little nest, it stubbornly insisted on sleeping on the hard tabletop. Time to get up, Mei said, slapping her cheeks lightly to wake herself. Her bare feet touched the soft carpet as she tiptoed carefully around Tepig and Dewott, doing her best not to make a sound and wake her Pokmon partners. On the bed, Servine stirred at the sound of Mei getting up. The Grass Snake Pokmon struggled to open its eyes, wobbling and tumbling off the bed in an attempt to follow her to the bathroom. It nearly face-planted onto the floorif not for Mei catching it in time. Otherwise, poor Tepig might have suffered a rude awakening via a falling Servine. You dodged a critical hit there. Thankfully, the guest room had its own en suite bathroom, sparing Mei from any awkward early-morning encounters. Those classic light-novel scenarios? They werent happening here. After all, neither Mei nor Natsume had the trip over nothing skill unlocked. And no one had the bizarre habit of running around in their underwear. Who even does that, anyway? This isnt a diving club or something. Fully recharged! Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Freshly washed and groomed, Mei gave herself a satisfied nod in the mirror. Dressed in her usual sporty attireshort-sleeved top, skirt, and... ...black tights and sneakers? It was a bit of a puzzling combination. (A quick side note: pairing black tights with sneakers often results in... less-than-pleasant foot odor. Fans of such a look? Definitely the niche crowd.) Snort, snort! An energized Tepig darted around the room, exploring every corner with boundless curiosity. Though it had already scouted the room the previous night, its enthusiasm remained undiminished. Meanwhile, Dewott and Servine donned their usual aloof expressions, as if trying to distance themselves from any association with drooling in their sleep or nearly face-planting. Alright, everyone, today marks the start of our special training! Tepig! Steenee! Unlike the stoic duo, Tepig and Steenee were full of excitement. Tepigs eagerness stemmed from its naturally lively personality and insatiable curiosity. As for Steenee... It was motivated by revenge. Yes, revenge. Last night, Meis Steenee had proudly returned to its old group, brimming with confidence after countless battles and grueling training sessions. Surely, with all it had endured, it would now be the strongest in the group. After all, back then, even the big sister of the group hadnt been as strong as Steenee was now. Steenee had imagined showing off its growth, shocking everyone with a dazzling display of strength. Instead, it got spanked by the group leader. The so-called "Dragon Kings Return" ended in a crushing defeat at the hands of some random street thug. The sheer humiliation! Why? Steenee couldnt comprehend it. But no matter! Ill train harder than ever and surpass her one day! Meis Steenee resolved. --- Good morning, Natsume! Coming downstairs, Mei caught sight of Natsume placing breakfast on the table. Living alone for so long, Natsume had picked up some cooking skills over the years. While he wasnt exactly a master chef, his meals were decent enoughand definitely not life-threatening. Morning, Mei. Just in timebreakfasts ready. Come eat, Natsume said as he tidied up the kitchen and took off his apron. Hed even considered asking Gardevoir to go wake Mei earlier. Thanks! Ill dig in, then. Oh, and Ill do the dishes after, no arguments! Otherwise, Ill feel bad, Mei said cheerfully, clasping her hands behind her back as she leaned closer to Natsume. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though a gentle breeze carried her fragrance toward him. ...Except there wasnt one. Mei didnt have any noticeable scentcertainly not the kind that cosmetics or perfumes might provide. Shed mentioned before that she never paid much attention to skincare or beauty products, yet her skin had always been flawless. A statement that would likely spark envy among many girls. After a simple yet hearty breakfast, Mei couldnt contain her excitement any longer. She eagerly requested to begin the days special training. Despite Natsumes repeated claims that he wasnt particularly skilled at training Pokmon, Mei merely dismissed his modesty as humility. After all, every Pokmon on the farm seemed anything but ordinary. Not to mention Natsumes own main team. From Persian, Butterfree, and Corviknight to Slowking and even the Steenee tribe leader that had overpowered her own Steeneeevery one of them was exceptional. Alright, alright, Natsume clapped his hands, stepping toward the window. Furret! Youre up! Before Mei could process what youre up meant, an oversized Shiny Furret barreled into the living room with boundless energy. Furrrrret! Coach Furret reporting for duty! Who needs training? Seeing the determined look on the Shiny Furrets face, Mei suddenly had a strange, indescribable feeling. It seemed... her Servine and the others werent in for an easy time. Chapter 83: The Trash-Talking Shut-In Bird: “Who Are You?” Fur fur!! Run, run, run!! Furret!! Keep running!! On the open field, a shiny Furret led a group of Furret and Sentret in a chaotic sprint, yelling out strange slogans about youth and bonds that nobody else in the farm quite understood. The Furret pack ran like it was some sort of competition, with no care for keeping formation. If one of them fell, no one stopped; the fallen simply scrambled to their feet and continued the chase, eyes locked on the figure ahead. Servine At the tail end of the pack, Servine struggled to keep up, gasping for breath. Its body was drenched in sweat, as if it had just been fished out of a river. And it wasnt just ServineTepig, Dewott, and Steenee were all putting every ounce of energy into staying in the race. At first, they had felt confident, thinking, This training isnt so bad after all. But as their stamina drained away, they naturally fell to the back of the pack. Now, they werent even close to catching up with the shiny Furret. Just keeping pace with the reckless runners was taking everything they had. Do these guys never get tired?! Servine thought bitterly, glaring at the energetic Sentret running alongside it. Half an hour earlier, when Natsume had mentioned that the farms Pokmon would serve as the trainers, Servine had been skeptical. Could this kind of training really be effective? After all, if Pokmon could train themselves, what was the point of trainers? Were they just there to sign up Pokmon for competitions? The truth was, one reason Pokmon chose to partner with human trainers was because trainers helped them grow stronger. If Pokmon could achieve that on their own, why would they bother getting captured? For fame and glory? Dont make me laugh. But now, just thirty minutes into this training, Servines perspective had completely shifted. Running with this group, one thing became clear: At the very least, my stamina is definitely going to improve. No matter what kind of base stats or strategies a Pokmon had, stamina was the foundation. You could have the most brilliant tactics in the world, but without the endurance to execute them, it was pointless. Even high-burst attackers like Weavile needed enough stamina to set up and strike decisively. If a Pokmon was too exhausted to take a hit, no strategy could save them. Phew Tepig, the weakest of the bunch in terms of stamina, felt like it was teetering on the edge of collapse. Its vision began to blur, and it thought it saw a river ahead. On the far bank, something seemed to be waving at it Slow Standing on the sidelines, Slowking lazily opened its eyes. With a casual wave of its hand, a surge of psychic energy caught the stumbling Tepig, gently laying it down beside the Slowking. Slow Your stamina is terrible, Slowking muttered, scratching the back of its head in mild annoyance as it looked at the utterly spent Tepig. Dressed like a proper coach, Slowking held a tactics board in one hand and a pen in the other, occasionally jotting down notes. After recording Tepigs training results, it tossed the board and pen into the air, where its psychic energy kept them floating. It rummaged through a nearby box, eventually pulling out a few vials of medicine and a bag of Pokblocks. Technically, the vials were just energy supplements, similar to glucose but more effective. Slow After giving Tepig the medicine and setting it aside, Slowking continued its coaching duties. Natsume had promised to prepare more Psychic-type Pokblocks soon, even developing a custom recipe tailored specifically for Slowking. Champions and Elite Four Pokmon have entire teams of experts collecting data and designing Pokblocks for them, Slowking mused. And now Im getting the same treatment? Thats amazing. I have to work hard to repay Natsumes efforts. (Though, to be fair, the Pokblocks are still in the concept stage whispered a tiny voice in Slowkings head.) As it reminisced, Slowking casually caught the collapsing Steenee with its psychic power. Slow Its good to push yourself, but you need to know your limits. Its immense psychic power allowed Slowking to multitask effortlessly, keeping tabs on Servine and the others without even glancing up. Servine! Compared to Tepig and Steenee, Servine and Dewott were performing significantly better. Though they were straining at the back of the pack, they hadnt fallen behind completely. Which made sense. While Servine and the others were battle-oriented Pokmon trained by a human trainer, their practice time was limited. In the wild, they had to stay alert and cautious, never able to train at full intensity. In cities, time spent outside their Pok Balls was restricted, and training facilities had time limits. All these factors meant they could never train as much as they wanted. How could they compare to this group of Pokmon, who spent all day running wild on the farm? Someone who occasionally jogged for fitness couldnt hope to match someone surviving on a deserted island. They were on completely different levels. Slow Alright, time for a break. Lunch is ready, Slowking called out, pulling a pocket watch from behind its back. (Why a pocket watch? Because its stylish, obviously.) The watch was something Natsume had bought during his edgy teenage years, thinking it looked cool. After sitting in a drawer collecting dust, it was finally dug out last night and claimed by Slowking. Servine. Servine plopped onto the ground, glancing up at Slowking. This Pokmon was something else. Its psychic power was leagues beyond anything Servine had ever seen. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Servine. Whats next on the schedule? Slow Trash-talk resistance training, followed by skill and combat drills in the afternoon. Before dinner, more trash-talk resistance. After dinner, free time. Flipping through its tactics board, Slowking added, Your trash-talk resistance training is pretty interesting. If I knew how to trash-talk, Id join in myself. Servine? Is Corviknight in charge of that part? Slow Yep. The trash-talking shut-in bird. Servine. Got it. Clenching its tiny fists, Servine radiated determination. This time, Ill show that bird how much Ive grown. Im not the same weak Snivy I used to be! However Caw? Wait, who are you? Tilting its head, Corviknight stared blankly, its bird face full of confusion. Snap. In that instant, something broke inside Servines mind. Chapter 84: I Completely Understand! On the spacious battlefield, Servine glared furiously at Corviknight, as if itching to tear a chunk of flesh off it. Meanwhile, Corviknight looked utterly confused. Waitwhy are you mad? Corviknight genuinely didnt get it. From its perspective, all it did was ask a simple question. Then suddenly, this little grass snake just lost its temper. Whats going on here? Are you picking a fight with me? At that thought, Corviknight''s eyes sharpened instantly. Normally, it didnt care much about trivial things, but provocation? Now, that was unacceptable. Guess there was no choice but to go all out now. In a flash, Corviknight had already planned out its victory lines, post-battle poses, and the perfect expression to strike after winning. As for battle tactics? Yeah that was a bit too complicated for Corviknights brain. Back when it was still a Rookidee, it had to think about keeping its distance, kiting opponents, and all that. But after evolving into Corviknight, its defense skyrocketed, and with it came overwhelming confidencealong with a noticeable drop in strategic thinking. Now, its battle plan boiled down to one thing: Iron Defense + Brave Bird. Any remaining brainpower was dedicated to memorizing dramatic catchphrases and yesterdays anime episodes. There just wasnt enough space left in its memory to remember past opponentswhether they were ones it defeated or the rare few that had defeated it. Corviknight had its own philosophy: Why bother remembering the ones you already beat? No point in that. And as for the ones that had beaten it? S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why relive painful memories? Shouldnt happiness be the priority in life? On that, Corviknight felt it had a pretty solid understanding. "Servine!" Go ahead and laugh while you can! I''m gonna beat you so bad you wont even be able to cry! Servine huffed, trying its best to look intimidating. Unfortunately, despite its furious expression, it still looked adorable. Not threatening at all. "Caw, caw!" Come at me, all of you. Im on a schedule. "Caw, caw, caw!" Bring as many as you want, it''s not gonna change the fact that youre all first-rate weaklings. "Caw!" And after Im done, make sure to run back to your Trainer and whine about how mean I was. Before the battle had even started, Corviknight had already turned its trash-talking up to max volume. This was exactly what Mei had asked of it. After the Gym Battle, Mei suddenly realized somethingforget power levels for a second, her Pokmon were lacking in mental resilience. This was a common problem for rookie Trainers. They focused entirely on making their Pokmon stronger but overlooked other important factorswillpower, move mastery, and battle awareness. These were all crucial for a truly strong Pokmon. Of course, Meis request was just a suggestion. At the end of the day, Corviknight still listened to Natsume. And Natsume had told it: "Take it slow. Dont pressure them too much at the start." "Youll break the poor kids." Corviknight nodded in understanding. So basically, hold off on the insults for now, right? Got it. I completely understand. "Servine!" You damn feathered freak! Just waitI''m gonna pluck you bald! Fuming, Servine unleashed its moves in rapid successionBullet Seed, Magical Leaf, and Vine Whipall firing at Corviknight one after another. It tried to remind itself to stay calm, but when emotions ran high, logic wasnt exactly the first thing that kicked in. "Caw, caw, caw!!" Pathetic! Weak! Your attacks are as soft as your vines! You need me to teach you how to scream like a real warrior?! With a single powerful flap, Corviknight lifted off, keeping its distance while spamming Iron Defense. By the time it had stacked five layers of Iron Defense, its physical defense had maxed out. Even when Servines attacks did land, they barely left a scratch. Now, it was time to turn the tables! With a mighty beat of its wings, Corviknight revealed its full, imposing form Then plummeted from the sky, diving toward Servine like a shadow blotting out the sun. Under the sheer pressure of Corviknight''s descent, Servine froze on the spot. It wasnt from any move effectthis was pure, primal fear. A reaction hardwired into its genes when facing something massively larger than itself. BOOM! Corviknight crashed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris. Mei and Natsumes vision was instantly obscured. "Servine!" Mei called out in concern, unable to see through the thick smoke. "Slow." Standing at the sidelines in a referee uniform, Slowking nonchalantly raised a hand and waved. A psychic pulse swept across the field, blowing all the dust away in an instant. Normally, referees werent supposed to interfere, but heythis was pressure training, not an official match. When the dust settled, the battlefield became clear once more. Standing tall, Corviknight folded its wings, while Servine sat on the ground, still visibly shaken. If that attack had landed, it wouldve been game over. Was this damn bird trying to kill me?! "Caw." Hmph. Thats all youve got? "Caw, caw, caw." Seems like you forgot one thingyou are the challenger here. "Servine!" You bastard! Servine furiously scrambled to its feet, but its anger was nothing more than powerless frustration. Truthfully, right before Corviknight had landed, Servine had just managed to break free from its fear and react. In a desperate move, it threw itself into a roll to the side, barely dodging the full impact of the attack. Even so, the sheer force of Corviknights wing sent it tumbling across the field. In those final moments, Servine had launched a Leech Seed, Giga Drain, and a Leaf Bladeprobably the best Leaf Blade it had ever performed in its life. And yet It didnt even break through Corviknights defenses. Meanwhile, Corviknight had swatted it aside without even thinking. That was the reality of their strength difference. Now, Mei and Natsume could see it clearly. "Caw." Alrightwhos next? Completely ignoring Servine, Corviknight turned its gaze toward Dewott and Steenee at the edge of the battlefield. As for Tepig? Yeah, Corviknight didnt even acknowledge it. That thing was still recovering from the mornings training. "Dewott!" Ill take you on! Dewott stepped forward, gripping its scalchops tightly, eyes full of determination. "Caw, caw!" Then let me show you just how far apart we are! Meanwhile, hidden in the bushes at the edge of the battlefield A disguised Ralts watched the fight with shining eyes, occasionally jotting down notes in a tiny notebook. "Lalu, lalu." So thats how it works! I completely understand! Chapter 85: The Departing Zorua Hidden in the bushes, Ralts cautiously observed the ongoing battle, occasionally jotting something down with a small pencil. That tiny hand struggled to grip a pencil thicker than its own wrist, scribbling down words that, aside from itself, only Natsume could decipher. At some point in the past, Ralts had developed a peculiar habitspecifically, it had discovered that trash talk was ridiculously effective. Not only did it break an opponents mental defenses in battle, but it also made itself feel great. As the saying goes, "Let the curses out, and the heart stays clean." Ralts deeply agreed with this sentiment. Every time it watched Corviknight battle, Ralts felt like that was the kind of battle it aspired to. Unfortunately, its sister didn''t approve. She always warned it to stay away from Corviknight and not to be led astray. Ralts couldnt understand why. But it didnt matterI can just watch in secret! To avoid getting caught by its sisters search operations, Ralts had trained itself to be the second-fastest Teleport user on the farm. In terms of just Teleport, Ralts was confident it ranked in the top three on the farm. Even its sister and brother could only eat its dust! Sensing something, Ralts abruptly closed its notebook. A brilliant blue glow flashed under its mushroom-like head. The next momentRalts vanished. Shortly after Ralts disappeared, Gardevoir arrived at the same spot. She narrowed her eyes and scanned her surroundings. She was certain her little sister had just been here, secretly watching the battle. But She got away again!!! Gardevoir slapped her own face, frustration written all over her expression. Her little sister clearly had a remarkable talent for teleportation. That kind of talent was supposed to be a good thingnormally, it should be something to celebrate. But for the love of Arceus, dont waste it on sneaking around learning that damn couch-potato birds trash talk! At least use it for something productive! Even delivering food would be better than this! If she were teleporting food deliveries, maybejust maybeGardevoir could accept it. (Okay, no, that would still be bad. But less bad than this.) Garde. Gardevoir sighed. A moment later, she teleported away. Even though she knew the chances were slim, she had to at least try catching that troublemaking little sister. She couldnt just stand by and let her go astray. She also needed to visit that oddball Zorua for lessons soon. Otherwise this was getting way too embarrassing. The moment Gardevoir vanishedpoof!a tiny mushroom-headed figure reappeared in the bushes. Pencil in hand, Ralts resumed scribbling in its notebook with great focus. Nothing can stop me from learning trash talk. Nothing. (shrug) sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, in Natsumes house, a small black fox stealthily nudged open his bedroom door. Suo. Zoruas ears flicked as it scanned the room. After making sure the coast was clear, it leapt onto the desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a fresh notebook. Then, with a serious expression, it started writing. The way it sathunched over, scribbling awaymade it look less like a Pokmon and more like a little kid. Everything from its posture to its expression was downright adorable. Suo. Just as Zorua was writing, a small, hesitant voice spoke up. Zorua turned its head. At the doorway, Hisuian Zorua crouched low, gazing at it with reluctant, almost pleading eyes. Suo. Whats with that look, little bro? Suo suo. Come on, Im still right here, arent I? Im not dead, lighten up! With an effortless hop, Zorua landed on the floor and, in a wise older-brother manner, patted Hisuian Zorua on the shoulder. Suo. I just dont want you to go. Hisuian Zorua mumbled, looking as if it had just been abandoned. Zorua could only sigh. Why is this kid so attached to me? It wasnt like Zorua was particularly nice to it. If anything, it was pretty mean most of the time. Recently, it had barely even acknowledged him. Wait. Was he M? A weird thought popped into Zoruas head. It immediately shook it off. No. Nope. Cant go there. If it let that thought linger, its brain would get contaminated. Forget it. Forget it. Suo. Come on, lets go for a walk. Without waiting for an answer, Zorua trotted out the door. Hisuian Zorua followed. The notebook Zorua had been writing in remained spread open on the deskuntil a Lopunny, tidying up the room, discovered it. --- "Thanks, Lopunny." Taking the notebook from Lopunny, Natsume chuckled and gave its head a fond pat. Lopunny happily rubbed against his hand, just like a cat. As he absentmindedly stroked Lopunnys fur, Natsume flipped through the notebook. The handwriting was messy, the letters crooked. But the message was clear: Dear Natsu, By the time you read this, Ill have already left the farm. (Oops, forgot the intro. Forgot the middle. Forgot the end. Thats what Genshin Impact does to me. (crossed out)) Anyway, Ill be gone for a while, but dont worryIll be back soon. I took the Pokblocks you stored in the warehouse since they were just sitting there. Consider it helping you clear out inventory. No need to thank me. Doing good deeds without seeking creditthats me, the worlds cutest Zorua! P.S. By the time Im back, that egg should be hatching. Take good care of it for me! Love, (crossed out) Suo After finishing the note, Natsume couldn''t help but laugh. This little brat Even when leaving, it had to take some snacks, huh? And that egg? It was your egg, you take care of it! Why had the responsibility somehow shifted to him? And really"the worlds cutest Zorua"? The first half of that sentence was up for debate, but the second half was an outright lie. Even though he had plenty to complain about, Natsume still took note of the important details. Thanks for bringing this to me, Lopunny. Lopunny~ Not a problem, Natsume. Lopunny hugged his arm before happily hopping away, looking every bit like an energetic little rabbit. --- Far from the farm, deep in the wilderness, a white Pokmon staggered through the barren hills. Its breathing was weak. Its conditiondire. Yadon? Now dressed in a training bodysuit instead of referee attire, Slowking suddenly looked up. It had felt something. Something importantsomething urgentin that direction. Chapter 86: Slowking – You Just Cheated Death, Absol Slowking paused for a few seconds as it trained Servine, then casually left behind the words, Train on your own, before vanishing from sight. When it reappeared, it was already at the farms entrance. Looking down at the unconscious Pokmon lying on the ground, Slowking fell into deep thought. What the heck? Is this some midday scam attempt? Of course, that thought only flashed through Slowkings mind for a brief moment. From the numerous wounds covering the Pokmons body, it was clear this guy had been through a lot. Yadon. Tilting its head, Slowking wondered if it should inform Natsume first. After all, it was now officially one of Natsumes subordinates. No matter what it did, it had to report to the boss first That was a rule Slowking had learned from last nights yakuza novel. As for the Pokmon on the ground? It wasnt going to die immediately, so whatever. Slowking had always been rather indifferent toward other Pokmon. To Slowking, all living beings could be categorized into a few groups: Very important, just okay, and dead or alive, doesnt matter. The only Pokmon in the very important category were Uxie and Mudkip. Natsume? Maybe half a point. The just okay ones included Pokmon like Persian and Corviknightrelatively close acquaintances. They didnt interact much, but at least they recognized each other. If they died, Slowking might feel a bit sentimental. Everything else? Dead or alive, doesnt matter. Like this unfamiliar Pokmon in front of it. And honestly, a lot of Pokmon on the farm fell into that category too. At best, they were just neighbors. If your neighbor died, would you really be that upset? In fact, how often did you even interact with them? Geniuses in many fictional works were often portrayed as emotionally distant, appearing indifferent to everything around them. That was inevitable. With great intelligence came highly logical thought processes, which sometimes made them seem cold. And as a fully evolved Slowking, its intelligence was no joke. It surpassed the vast majority of humans and was among the smartest Pokmon in existence. If this Absol had collapsed somewhere else, Slowking probably wouldve ignored it. Every second, somewhere in the world, someone was getting hurt. Pokmon were being killed. Am I supposed to save them all? Yeah, no. Yadon. Closing its eyes, Slowking Removed the crown from its head, reached inside, and pulled out a smartphone before casually placing Shellder back on top. Did you think Slowking would use its psychic powers to search for Natsume? Not a chance. Unless it was an emergency, Slowking wouldnt bother. Sure, psychic abilities were convenient. With its mental reach, it could instantly perceive everything happening nearby. But that was also highly disrespectful. Think about it Youre just a normal high school guy, showering while singing dramatically, admiring your reflection in the mirror, thinking, Damn, I look good today. Meanwhile, an unseen Psychic-type Pokmon is watching you lose your mind. Now, thats a social death scenario. Out of respect for privacy, Slowking generally avoided scanning for people or things unless absolutely necessary. Besides, modern technology worked just fine. Why rely on psychic power when you could just use a phone? Most people wouldnt even get past bending a spoon in their entire lives. This was something any functioning adult could do. Pulling up Natsumes contact, Slowking dialed. Dooooo... doooooo... S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Listening to the odd ringtone from the other end, Slowkings expression remained neutral. But internally, it was troubled. Natsume always had the strangest hobbies and obsessions. Just yesterday, he was talking about collecting coins. How was that any different from people who collected bottle caps for necklaces? Slowking just didnt get it. Much like it didnt understand why Corviknight enjoyed browsing anti-fan forums and internet drama. Even with its ability to master an entire language overnight, it still couldnt quite wrap its head around that one. Slowking preferred the regular forums Everyone there was a talent, capable of continuing any conversation no matter how obscure. Slowking loved that atmosphere. Whats up, Slowking? Yadon yadon. Absol? I see. Ill be right there. Keep an eye on it for me. Yadon. Hanging up, Slowking looked down at the unconscious Pokmon. You just cheated death, Absol. From the very start, Slowking had recognized this Pokmon An Absol, a species that even now was still labeled as a bringer of disaster. Despite modern research proving Absol were actually gentle Pokmon who could predict calamities and warn humans, old prejudices were hard to change. Like how, despite being strong enough to take down a pack of wolves, pandas were still seen as cute and weak. Or how, no matter how much you explain that this character is biologically male, some people will still insist on treating them like a delicate wife who just happens to be infertile. Yeah, that was another thing Slowking couldnt understand. Removing Shellder from its head, Slowking reached inside and pulled out A bottle of hyper potion and a bag of Pokblocks it had planned to eat later. Looking at the bag of Pokblocks, Slowking hesitated for a moment Then ate half of them itself. The rest, it crushed with telekinesis and mixed with the healing liquid before feeding it to Absol. Later, it would have Natsume reimburse it. Yep, definitely claiming a full bag. After administering some basic first aid, Slowking waited quietly. Not even a minute later, Corviknight descended from the sky, carrying Natsume and Mei. Caw, caw! Skybus Corviknight Airlines has landed! Oddly enough, despite this being its first time carrying passengers, Corviknight seemed to take to it instinctively. Thanks, Slowking. Yadon. No problem. Just remember to reimburse me for that bag of Pokblocks. Ill give you two bags. Yadon. Deal. Stepping off Corviknight, Natsume quickly examined Absols condition. On the surface, the wounds werent too severe, and Slowking had already provided some basic treatment. But still Natsume couldnt help but frown. Is something wrong with this Absol? Noticing Natsumes reaction, Mei softly asked after he finished his examination. Its injuries are a little strange. Chapter 87: Natsume, the Born Farming Prodigy, and Mei’s Curiosity At some point during school, everyone has likely encountered a certain type of math problem: A swimming pool is being filled with water while simultaneously being drained. How long will it take for the pool to be emptied? The first time Natsume came across this kind of question, he was genuinely curiousjust what kind of lunatic would come up with such an irrational scenario that defies normal human logic? Now, it seemed like he was facing a real-life version of that problem. Its injuries are severe, no doubt about that. But more importantly, theres a strange energy wrapped around it, continuously dragging its condition down. To Natsumes eyes, this Absol was just like that swimming poolbeing healed and drained at the same time. With the combined effects of hyper potion sprays, pokblocks, and nutrient supplements, its condition shouldnt be this bad. It might not make a full recovery instantly, but at the very least, it should have regained consciousness by now. Yet, instead of improving, the Absols condition was still deteriorating. Its expression remained twisted in pain, showing no signs of waking up. Should we take it to the Pokmon Center in town? Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mei, feeling a little helpless, suggested the most logical course of action. After all, none of the Pokmon in her current team had healing abilities, nor did she carry any particularly potent medicine. She had seen the medicine Slowking used earlierit was a high-quality type, similar to what she usually used herself. And yet, even after Slowking generously emptied an entire bottle onto Absols wounds, it had no effect. If that wasnt working, then Mei truly had no idea what else to do. At this point, she figured it was best not to interfere. Many situations escalate because someone decides to act without fully understanding the problem. Like attempting CPR on someone with a punctured chest wound. Are you trying to save them, or finish them off? Ill give it a try first. Natsume neither agreed nor refused Meis suggestion. As blunt as it might sound, the Pokmon Center in town wasnt exactly top-tier. It was just a standard facility in a small, ordinary town. The fact that it even had a Pokmon Center at all was a testament to Jadeleafs well-developed infrastructure. For routine check-ups and minor injuries, it was fine. But for something like this? The medical staff there might not have any better solutions than he did. So, he decided to try first. If it didnt work, they could always take Absol to the center and let someone else figure it out. At least he would have done his best. Try? Mei tilted her head slightly, confused but intrigued. She watched as Natsumes sapphire-blue eyes began to shimmer with a soft green light. The power of Viridian gathered in his hands, its emerald glow radiating an aura of pure life energy. Under its influence, the grass around them flourished at an unnatural speed. Tiny blossoms sprouted among the weeds, unfolding their petals in silent bloom. This is Mei instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes wide with astonishment. She knew psychics existed, of course. But this was the first time she had ever seen one in real life. And wasnt it a universal rule that all psychics started by bending spoons? So why did Natsumes abilities look more like something out of Green Lantern? Or was he some kind of born-to-farm divine prodigy? A dozen questions swirled through her mind at once. But beyond curiosity, there was also a subtle, indescribable feeling in her heart. After all, Natsume had chosen to reveal his abilities in front of her. Did that mean he trusted her? Girls tend to be sensitive to these things. But Natsume was too focused to notice. Encased in the green glow, his hand slowly reached out toward Absol. The infusion of life energy stabilized the worsening condition almost instantlybut that was merely a side effect of what he was trying to do. He cleared his mind of distractions, focusing entirely on searching Absols body for what he knew must be there. There it is. At that moment, Natsume felt it. A deep, lingering resentment mixed with fear. This energy wasnt particularly strong, but its nature was unmistakable. It clung to Absols body, gnawing away at its vitality. Preventing it from healing. Dragging it further into decline. But this was as far as it would go. With a final surge of Viridians power, the curse-like presence quietly dissipated. Hah As the green light faded, Natsume wiped at his foreheadthough there wasnt any actual sweat. For him, this wasnt any more exhausting than rolling around in bed with his shiny Furret after a meal. Not tiring at all, really. Is it better now? Mei hesitated, glancing at Absol. There was something almost eerily peaceful about it now. Under the influence of Viridians power, all external injuries had vanished. Its previously pained expression was now completely serene. At the same time, the surrounding grass had grown so tall that it was nearly burying Absol. Delicate white flowers swayed in the gentle breeze, standing proud. It looked Like one of those scenes where a hero, having fulfilled their final wish, passes away peacefully in a forest. Surrounded by flowers and the people who cherished them. Youre searching for Himmel, arent you? (Redacted.) Its fine now. It should wake up soon. There was a curse-like force on it earlier, but Ive dispelled it. Natsume offered Mei a simple explanation. She nodded, half-understanding. Dispelling curses So Natsume was actually a Digimon? Mei was about to ask more about his powers when Absol suddenly stirred. Then, it slowly opened its eyes. Sol It blinked in confusion, its crimson gaze still dazed. What happened? It felt strangely comfortable. Before Absol could make sense of its situation, it noticed Natsume and Mei standing nearby. And, further back, Slowkingwho had been diligently playing the role of an invisible background character. Sol? Did you save me? For a moment, Absol was surprisingly calm. It seemed like the type to have a naturally steady temperament. Yes. My name is Natsume, and this is Mei. Did something happen to you? You were in pretty bad shape just now. Natsume studied Absol curiously. Earlier, Slowking had secretly told him through telepathy that there was something unusual about this Absol. So, he was more than willing to hear what it had to say. Chapter 88: The Stubborn Absol Refuses to Accept Defeat Absol didnt immediately answer Natsumes question. Instead, it stood up and began checking its own body. The injuries it had sustained seemed to have completely healed. The strange energy that had been preventing its recovery had also vanished along with them. Its body felt better than everalmost as if it had just come fresh out of the factory. Was it these two humans who had saved it? Absols gaze lingered on both Natsume and Mei for a moment before finally settling on Natsume. It should be this human. Absol wasnt entirely sure, but there was something about Natsume that made it feel an inexplicable sense of closeness. If it were a Pokmon like a Glameowone naturally inclined to be affectionateit would probably already be lying on its back, showing its belly, begging Natsume for pets, hugs, and to be lifted high into the air. Plus, in its unconscious state, Absol vaguely remembered hearing Natsumes voice. So Absol figured it must have been Natsume who saved it. As for the human female next to him? She was probably just there for decoration. Absol had encountered human Trainers before. It seemed like quite a few of them enjoyed bringing along a "flower vase" or some sort of "accessory" on their travels. Not sure about their actual strength, but at least they provided some emotional support. And when trouble came, they acted just like NPCs in a gamespouting the same few lines over and over again. At this moment, Mei, completely unaware that Absol had mentally categorized her as a decorative companion, was looking at it with concern. "Sol." Thank you for saving me. Though Absol had a lot of thoughts swirling in its mind, it didn''t show any of them on the surface. It simply lowered its head slightly toward Natsume and Mei in gratitude. This was quite different from the usual aloof and proud demeanor of Absols, which took Mei by surprise. Natsume and Slowking, however, remained unfazed. For Natsume, it was simply because, since childhood, he had never met a Pokmon that stayed "cool and distant" around him. He could even turn a stern police officers Houndoom into a playful goofball. As for Slowking, it was probably the Pokmon on the farm that best understood just how unusual Natsume was. When it evolved into Slowking, the seal placed by Uxie had dissolved. Along with the surge of power that returned to it, a flood of knowledge left behind by Uxie had also rushed into its mind. It was as if a parent, worried their child might go hungry while traveling, had left them with an excessive amount of money and food. Uxie, the god of wisdom, had left behind a great deal of information. As a self-proclaimed wise mushroom (scratch that)as the embodiment of wisdom, Uxie possessed knowledge beyond what ordinary beings could comprehend. And after receiving this sudden info dump, Slowking spent days sorting it all out. With this knowledge, Slowking understood better than anyone just how abnormal Natsume was. To Slowking, this farm was filled with unnatural occurrences. That mysterious Zorua, always scheming and knowing far too muchnot normal. That Persian, with an absurdly powerful physique and energynot normal. That Corviknight, whose size and defensive capabilities were off the chartsnot normal. Even the farm itself seemed to be evolving in strange ways. But among all these abnormalities, Natsume was the most abnormal of them all. This was one of the main reasons Slowking had decided to stay. Maybe it wanted to find Uxie again. Maybe it just wanted to witness something different. Either way, Slowking had chosen to remain here. Helping Natsume manage this farm that, in its view, made no logical sense. Not that it was complaining. Work was work. Who actually likes working? But then again, how many things in life do people really do just because they like them? People dont necessarily go to school because they like itits just something they have to do, because everyone else does. People dont study for exams out of love for learningthey do it because they dont want their years of effort to go to waste. People dont work because they enjoy itits just that, well... they need money. Slowking never resented its life. It knew that compared to most Pokmon, it was already living quite well. And so, it was content. But if there was ever an opportunity to nudge things along, to stir up the status quo just a little... Slowking wouldnt mind at all. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was why it had called Natsume over to heal Absol in the first place. As the blue glow in its eyes faded, Slowking returned to its usual calm expression. The ability to foresee the future was a signature skill of the Lake Guardians. And Slowking had picked up a thing or two. Watching Natsume communicate effortlessly with Absol, Slowking silently stepped back behind Mei and Corviknight. Now then... what should I eat tonight? Maybe Ill try that barbecue Natsume mentioned yesterday. Slowking, lost in thought once again. "I see. Thats what happened." After a brief exchange with Absol, Natsume had a general grasp of the situation. Its home forest had been taken over by an unknown Pokmon, forcing many of its original inhabitants to leave. And this Absol, apparently possessing quite the stubborn streak, had refused to leave. Instead, it had relied on its speed and agility to launch a guerrilla-style resistance, striking at the intruder and retreating immediately after. But as everyone knows, people who love to tempt fate often dont live long enough to regret it. The more the forest was destroyed, the fewer places Absol had left to hide. Eventually, it had no choice but to leave. But running away just like that didnt sit well with Absol. So, before leaving, it had tried to deliver one last big attack And completely failed. It had barely escaped with its life. In its last moments of battle, all Absol remembered was the enemy lowering its head to the ground. Then, the earth itself had split open, forming a bottomless chasm. Everything after that was a blur. It only recalled fleeing in an incredibly sorry state. And the rest of the story was straightforward Absol had pushed through its injuries, made it all the way here, and finally collapsed, where it was found by Natsume. Of course, what Absol didnt admit was that it had no particular attachment to that forest. It simply couldnt stand the Pokmon that had taken it over. "Huh... that sounds kinda familiar." For some reason, Natsume found this story oddly reminiscent of something. Like hed heard it before. Who was it again...? "Oh, right! The Bounsweet group!" Natsume snapped his fingers in realization. Hadnt Steenee mentioned something similar before? Its group had also fled their habitat after a powerful Pokmon had taken over. "?" Beside him, Mei looked completely lost. She couldnt understand what Absol was saying, nor did she know about the Bounsweet groups situation. Right now, she was just in a state of total confusion. Fortunately, Natsume quickly explained the situation, allowing Mei to finally understand what was going on. Chapter 89: Welcome, Absol—And the Watched Forest "You''ve been through a lot, Absol." Watching the obediently crouched Absol, Mei felt a mix of emotions. Somehow, this Pokmons personality didnt quite match its appearance. Normally, Absols were known for their aloof and dignified nature. They would appear before humans briefly before vanishing just as quickly. Even when captured by trainers, they tended to maintain a certain level of reserve. But this one felt a little strange. It repeatedly challenged an obviously stronger opponent out of sheer stubbornness. Then, in a final act of defiance, it tried to go bigonly to nearly get itself killed. In short, it really shot itself in the foot. Honestly, the fact that it was still alive was kind of impressive. "Sol?" Tilting its head, Absol didnt quite understand why Mei seemed so sentimental. It felt fine. More than fine, actually. Sure, it almost got obliterated this time, but regret? Not a chance. Well, okayif it had to reflect on anything, maybe it should have planned its attacks better. In hindsight, it shouldve stayed far away, built up its power, and only moved in to strike at the perfect moment before making a quick escape. Yeah that was the way to do it. Lowering its head, Absol was already constructing a brand-new battle strategy in its mind. Though, to be fair, calling it a "battle strategy" was a bit of a stretchit was more like imagining itself utterly thrashing that Pokmon. A lot of people have probably had a similar experience: Arguing with someone, only to stew in frustration afterward, feeling like they hadnt responded as well as they could have. Then, in their head, they replay the scenario, thinking of all the perfect comebacks, imagining themselves verbally destroying their opponent and finally, satisfied, drifting off to sleep. That was exactly what Absol was doing right now. "Absol, what are your plans from here?" Watching Absols contemplative expression, Natsume asked the question softly. He didnt mind taking in another Pokmon for his farmthere were plenty already, so one more wouldnt hurt. If Absol wanted to stay, it was welcome. If it wanted to leave, he would let it go without hesitation. "Sol." Plans? None, really. "Then how about joining my farm?" "I actually own a pretty big one nearby." "Sol?" A farm? Absol thought for a moment and realized there was no real reason to refuse. After all, Slowking had already subtly worked on convincing it. For example: Natsume is an amazing guy. Free food, free lodging, and guaranteed work. Everyone on the farm is talented and interesting. They all speak well, and the vibes are greatI totally love it here. Okay, maybe the wording was a bit off, but that was the gist of it. At least, thats how Absol interpreted it. "Sol!" I''m in! Absol made the decision without hesitation. Seriously, where else would it find such a good deal? As for becoming a trainers Pokmon? Absol had no interest in that. Sure, it wanted to grow stronger and didnt mind battling, but there was a key difference I want to get stronger because I want to, not because you told me to. If I slap a passing Mightyena, its because I felt like it. If you tell me to fight another Pokmon, thats your problem, not mine. And if you like battling so much, why dont you fight yourself? Youve got hands and feet, dont you? In short, this Absol had a bit of a rebellious streak. But it liked Natsume, so listening to him didnt seem so bad. Natsume shall be protected! Maybe. Glancing at Slowking, who was lost in thought, Absol hesitated. Something told it that fighting this guy wouldnt end well. And that high-and-mighty black bird behind him? Also felt out of its league. As Absols gaze landed on Corviknight, it had a realization. This bird radiated cold, steely energycompletely unreadable. Coincidentally, Corviknight was thinking the exact same thing. Since they hadnt interacted much yet, and Corviknight had been standing further away, it hadnt caught most of Natsume and Absols conversation. So from Corviknights perspective, Absol seemed just as cold and aloof as any other of its kind. Tch, I dont really get along with this type. Both of them, simultaneously. "Alright then, Ill be counting on you, Absol." Natsume pulled a shrunken Pok Ball from his pocket, enlarged it, and set it down in front of Absol. Without hesitation, Absol lightly tapped it with the blade-like horn on its forehead. As the red light flashed, it remained perfectly calm, letting the Pok Ball pull it inside without resistance. Seeing this, Corviknight became even more convinced Yep. Definitely one of those cool and aloof types. But in reality, Absol was just thinking Damn. Human technology is insane. Absol couldnt even begin to wrap its head around how Pok Balls worked. Even with all its knowledge, it was completely beyond comprehension. So, Absol had to admithumans were impressive. And Natsume was impressive. He could do things even Pokmon couldnt. No wonder Slowking calls him Boss Natsume. In Absols mind, a simple equation took shape: Natsume can heal me, but Slowking cant. So Natsume > Slowking. I cant beat Slowking, so Slowking > Me. Therefore: Natsume > Slowking > Me. Perfect logic. With that realization, it felt even more at ease about being captured. "Sol." Nice to meet you, Boss Natsume. Emerging from the Pok Ball, Absol greeted him naturally. "Huh?" Natsume stiffened mid-motion as he put the Pok Ball away. Where did it learn that? He didnt exactly dislike the title, but it was a little embarrassing. "Ya-don!" sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rejoice! Out of nowhere, Slowking, who had been spacing out for a while, suddenly pulled out a brand-new, unopened notebook and raised it high in the air. For a moment, four pairs of eyes locked onto Slowking. And then "Ya-don." Uh forgot the next part. After a brief pause, Slowking quietly put the notebook away. Yeah, no, that was way too embarrassing. I should never have trusted that Zorua. Decision made: the moment it got back, it was eating Zoruas dinner. "You this ugh, forget it." Watching Slowkings completely unbothered expression, Natsume began to doubt his own hearing. Had he imagined it? But judging by Mei and the others reactions no, Slowking definitely spoke. After mulling it over, Natsume decided to drop it for now and turned back to Absol. "Absol, was this the forest you used to live in?" Pulling out his phone, he displayed a map for Absol to see. Ever since hearing Steenees story, he had been keeping an eye on this place. Chapter 90: The Two Growing Closer Sol Fixing its gaze on the map displayed on Natsumes phone, Absol looked as though it was trying to pierce through the screen with sheer focus. But I cant understand it. Unknowingly, a bead of cold sweat rolled down Absols forehead. Human technology was still somewhat of a mystery to it. Fortunately, after a few adjustments and explanations from Natsume, Absol managed to grasp the basics of the map and even recognized the forest it once called home. Seeing its former home again through satellite imagery stirred up a mix of emotions within Absol. It wasnt just nostalgiait was also the place where it had nearly lost its life due to an unfortunate misstep. A black mark on its history Sol. This is the place. Even though it wasnt exactly thrilled to recall its past failures, Absol still gave Natsume a clear answer. Its fine. As long as I dont mention it, no one will know about my embarrassing history. Except Natsume. As for that girl? She cant understand me anyway. Wait a second. How does Natsume understand me? A belated realization struck Absol. Hiss Something about this guy isnt quite right. So, it really is the same place where Steenee and the others come from. Putting away his phone, Natsume frowned slightly. Normally, Pokmon have their own habitats. Just like in gamesLevel 60 monsters dont usually show up in beginner zones, and Level 10 critters dont spawn in final boss areas. Its not just a matter of habit; its about resources. Scarce resources lead to Pokmon that are weaker and lower-leveled. Abundant resources create strong Pokmon, and the weaker ones get wiped out. But now, theres an abnormality. A powerful Pokmon appeared in the same forest where Steenee and the others live. Its like one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lords Army camping at the newbie village gates. No, wait. The Four Heavenly Kings usually camp there to wipe out heroes before they grow stronger. But whats this Pokmons reason? It doesnt seem to have any purpose beyond sheer destruction. Almost as if its gaining something from its rampage. Natsume, are you planning to go there? Seeing the look on his face, Mei asked with some concern. Not that she could be blamed for thinking that. Trainers were just that kind of creaturealways eager for excitement, adventure, and pushing their limits. Even the most extreme athletes sponsored by Red Bull couldnt match the sheer recklessness of Pokmon trainers. The more dangerous and unexplored a place was, the more trainers youd find there. This world had many well-known "forbidden zones" where life was practically unsustainable. Some were due to the powerful Pokmon residing there, while others had impossibly harsh environments. But how did people even discover these zones? The answer: a bunch of fearless or overly confident trainers throwing themselves into danger, proving the credibility of these forbidden titles with their own lives. To this day, many trainers still sought out such places. Even if you told them, Theres an Entei in thereit breathes fire on sight and is extremely aggressive, most trainers would react like this: What? That sounds intense! I gotta check it out. A few might even rally others: Brothers, lets charge in together! Thats just the way trainers werefull of confidence (or arrogance). But Natsume wasnt a trainer. Right now, he was just a farm owner. He didnt have the boundless energy or reckless curiosity of a trainer. At this moment, all he wanted was to take care of his farm. Of course not. Waving a hand dismissively, Natsume made it clear he had no interest in getting involved. That didnt mean he would ignore the issue, though. After all, Natsume had always been the kind of guy who would help an old lady cross the street. Why brave young man instead of good young man? Well, considering his familys financial situation back then, taking that risk was a bit reckless. In a way, Natsume was definitely qualified for a Courage Badge. Hello, is this the Ranger Union? Soon, Natsume dialed a number. The person on the other end was a dispatcher from the Ranger Union. In games and anime, this organization didnt seem particularly prominent. But in reality, it was a major entityone with broad authority, handling a wide range of matters, and, most importantly, being incredibly strong. While the Union promoted peaceful solutions between humans and Pokmon, everyone knew that such organizations were often the ones with the most firepower. Why did trainers always behave when facing a Ranger? Was it out of politeness? Out of respect? No. It was because theyd get their asses kicked otherwise. If you dont understand words, I can explain with my fists. After a brief explanation, the Ranger Union assured Natsume they would dispatch a team immediately. If the situation was confirmed, Natsume would even receive a commendation for reporting it. Before hanging up, Natsume made sure to give them a heads-up about the Pokmons massive size and abnormal durability. The sheer mention of its size alone was enough to make the Rangers take it seriously. Unlike in the games, where Groudon was a massive 3.5 meters tall, the real Groudon was a true colossus. Most Legendary Pokmon were genuinely massive. Even among non-Legendary Pokmon, a large-sized one going berserk was enough to cause disaster. All done. Hanging up, Natsume clapped his hands, looking quite pleased. Leave professional work to professionals. A farm owner like him had no reason to stress over this. This left Mei a bit dumbfounded. Wait, what? She gestured in the air with both hands as if trying to articulate something. But after a moments thought, she realized this was actually the normal reaction. So why did it feel so off? For a moment, Mei fell into deep thought. Why, though? Maybe because, in her mind, Natsume was more of a powerful trainer who just happened to run a farm. Even if he didnt challenge Gyms or enter tournaments. The stereotypical image of a farm owner wasnt exactly glamorous. A middle-aged man, straw hat on his head, smelling of the farm, not particularly friendly, and sometimes downright grumpy. That was the common perception of farm owners. But Natsume? Young, strong, gentle with Pokmon, and even patient when talking to her. He could make Pokblocks, and no matter what he did, he always showed great care. Handsome, yet not the type to flirt around. sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Actually, that last part might be the real reason. Though stereotypes often came from general trends, individuals could still break the mold. Like how many Pokmon Breeders were gentle, mature big sisters. From the moment they started their profession, interacting with cute Pokmon daily, handling things with care, and being around similar people, they naturally became those familiar, kind-hearted big sisters. On the flip side, the trainer community had plenty of daredevils. After all, the best rewards came from unexplored territories. A place a million people had already scoured? Thered be nothing left but scraps. Alright, lets head back. Standing up, Natsume turned to Mei. Alright, alright! Mei bounced up energetically. Even though she still had unanswered questions, she figured they didnt really matter. If Natsume wanted to tell her, he would. So, dont overthink it Nope, still thinking about it. Even as she sat on Corviknights back, Mei couldnt stop wondering. This wasnt the first time shed been caught off guard at Natsumes farm. Back then, when he got that call from Slowking Wait, Slowking making a call? And Natsume understanding every Yadon perfectly? What the hell?! And now, she was about to learn the truth. Natsume Was a real-life psychic. Meis mind was still reeling as she found herself gripping Natsumes outstretched hand, letting him pull her onto Corviknights back. It wasnt that she was short-circuiting because of some incomprehensible sight this time. No, it was the casualness of it allthe way Natsumes hand reached out, and without a second thought, shed taken it. Then her brain went blank again. As for everything that happened afterward? Yeah, she didnt get any of it. Whether it was Natsume healing Absol with a simple touch of glowing green light, or how easily he communicated with both Slowking and Absol, or how smoothly he captured what looked like a cool, aloof Absolnone of it made sense to Mei. Is catching a wild Pokmon really this easy? She felt like her worldview as a trainer was crumbling. Today, shed witnessed so many things that completely defied her understanding. Feeling the wind rushing past her ears, Mei stared ahead, lost in thought. At that moment, her expression looked more like a Slowpokes than Slowkings ever did. Meanwhile, Slowking was sifting through its crown storage space. In simpler terms, it was treating the space under its Shellder crown like a bag, stuffing in all sorts of thingscell phones, half-eaten Pokblocks, photocopies of Corviknights script notes All neatly tucked away. Mei, were you curious about how I healed Absol earlier? Natsumes sudden question pulled her from her daze. Huh? What? She snapped her head around to face him, eyes wide. Is he really going to explain it? Just like that? The psychics shed read about online were always so secretive. Theyd make a big show out of something as small as bending a spoon, like they were about to save the world or something. I noticed you seemed curious earlier, so I thought Id explain. If Im wrong, just forget it! Seeing Meis stunned look, Natsume quickly added, trying to avoid any misunderstanding. One of lifes great misunderstandings: She likes me. Or in this case, Shes interested in me. People who think like that often end up embarrassed when reality hits them. Natsume wanted to avoid that kind of awkwardness. After all, he and Mei were still just friends, and it was too soon to assume anything deeper. No, no, no! Im super curious! Mei waved her hands frantically, eager to dispel his worries. She was genuinely curious! Shed never seen a real psychic before, and Natsume wasnt just bending spoonsthis was real power. Who wouldnt be curious about that? I see. Natsume let out a small sigh of relief, then carefully chose his words. Around when I was three or four, I started noticing it. I was different from other kids. I had a stronger body and a kind of natural affinity that most people dont understand. For example, Mightyena, which could easily shatter a grown mans ribs, was nothing to meI could pin it down with one hand. And that Houndoom from next door, the one that didnt like anyone, not even its trainer, would roll over and act all silly for me. With a wave of my hand, itd do tricksrolling, backflips, even a Thomas Flair. In short, they listened to me. Hold up! Thats way beyond just listening! Mei had so many questions, but she didnt know where to start. Over the next few years, I learned to control this affinity. And gradually, I discovered my true power. As he spoke, Natsume extended his hand, and once more, that vibrant green light filled the air. I call it the Power of the Viridian. No special reason for the nameit just felt right. With this power, I can communicate effortlessly with any Pokmon. And I can heal, transfer life energy, things like that. Its more of a support ability, really. I see. Mei nodded thoughtfully, trying to process everything. Before long, they let the conversation drift away. Neither of them dwelled on it, as though theyd just been chatting about what they had for dinner yesterday. It felt like nothing had changed, yet somehow, there was a subtle shift between them. Unconsciously, they seemed to have drawn a little closer. Elsewhere, the massive Pokmon that had been ravaging the forest looked around at the devastation it had caused. After a moment, it lowered its head, then moved on, seemingly losing interest in this ruined area as it searched for a new target to destroy. Chapter 91: The Accusations of Tepig and the Tournament Registration A sudden gust of wind swirled through the open space of the farm. A vast shadow stretched across the ground, growing larger by the second as a massive figure descended gracefully from the sky. Strange as it might sound, despite its enormous size, Corviknight landed with remarkable lightness. Perhaps this was simply a natural gift of its speciesan innate talent as an airborne taxi. Just like how some people are born with a knack for flipping woks, some excel at smoothing plaster, and others are just naturally introverted. Boof boof! The moment Mei dismounted from Corviknight, she saw her Tepig rushing toward her, its little face full of grievances. With its short, stubby forelegs, it clung tightly to Meis shin, launching into an impassioned tirade against the alleged "atrocities" committed by the shiny Furret. Watching her indignant Tepig, Mei found herself in a bit of a predicament. I have no idea what youre saying. Perhaps, in some distant future, Mei would achieve the legendary ability to communicate with Pokmon on a deeper level. To understand their thoughts with just a glance at their gestures and seemingly nonsensical cries, even discerning their exact desires. But for now She was nowhere near that level. So she could only stare at Tepigs righteous indignation with a helpless look. "I really cant understand you!" Somebody save me! Natsume! With no other options, Mei turned her pleading gaze toward Natsume. Right now, all she could do was hope that he could help. Whats wrong, Tepig? Natsume, who had followed Mei off the Caw Caw Express, crouched beside her, temporarily assuming the role of interpreter. Boof boof! The moment Tepig saw Natsume, it immediately abandoned Mei and directed its complaints toward him instead. Not that it necessarily preferred Natsume over Mei I mean, sure, Tepig liked Natsume a lot, but not that much more than Mei right? Its just thatwell, Natsume was way too generous. Pokeblocks? He handed them out like candy. Every Pokmon on the farm was well-fed and chubby. There was even a rumor that one of the farms Furret had been trying to go on a diet for ages but never managed to lose any weight. But back to the point. The real reason Tepig got so worked up upon seeing Natsume was simply that He could actually understand what it was saying. And that was incredibly rare. At least, in Tepigs short Pokmon life, Natsume was the only human it had ever met who could communicate with Pokmon without barriers. I see, I think I got it, Natsume nodded after listening to Tepigs complaints. Then he turned to Mei and summarized, In short it got mentally broken by Shiny Furret. Boof?! Tepig gasped in horror. Oi, oi, did you really have to spell it out like that?! Sure, it wasnt exactly wrong, but I still have my dignity, you know! Huh? Hearing Natsumes words, Mei was momentarily stunned. What the heck does "breaking through defenses" even mean? It seems that Shiny Furret was trying to teach Tepig a move, so it made Tepig experience it firsthand. If he couldnt learn it, he just kept getting hit. Furret! At some point, the shiny Furret had appeared beside Natsume and added its own explanation. It had noticed that Tepigs motivation to get stronger seemed weaker than the other Pokmon. So, it opted for a simple and direct teaching method Letting Tepig remember the feeling of getting beaten. That should help him learn, right? After all, Take Down is just a straightforward charge attack. At least, thats how Furret saw it. Tackle? Just ramming into something. Take Down? Ramming even harder. And Take Down with full force? That means charging in without caring about defense, aiming straight for the opponents weak spot. A rather simple and direct way of understanding it. I see. Glancing at the somewhat guilty-looking Tepig, Mei decisively turned to the shiny Furret. In that case, Ill be counting on you to take care of him from now on. Without hesitation, she grabbed Tepig by the scruff of his neck and shoved him toward Furret. Mei was well aware of her Pokmons personalities. The one that gave her the biggest headache was undoubtedly Tepig. Servine and Dewott? No need to even mention them. They were both diligent and hardworking. Even if Mei didnt push them, they would train on their own. Steenee, who joined later, was playful and curious about everything, but with a little encouragement, she would train seriously. Only Tepig was the problem. He was lazy, playful, and even slacked off during training. Scolding him didnt really work. If she was too harsh, she would feel guilty herself. So, Tepig had been living in a relatively relaxed state. If he were content with staying like that forever, Mei wouldnt mind. She could just let him be the teams mascot, cheering everyone on from the sidelines. As long as it didnt affect the teams overall atmosphere, it was fine. But sometimes, Tepig would suddenly become motivated. Like after a battle lossespecially when Mei lost a match. He would get really upset and enter a short-lived determined training phase. But it never lasted. To put it simply, he wasnt content being lazy, but he also didnt want to work too hard. Caught between anxiety and slacking off, he ultimately chose anxious slacking. He would stand up and train for a bitonly to start looking for excuses to rest again. Just like you in front of the screen. So, Mei decided she needed to put some pressure on him. Since she couldnt bring herself to be strict, she might as well let someone else do it. Furret! Leave it to me! No problem at all! Catching the tossed Tepig, Furret threw him over its shoulder and gave Mei a thumbs-up. Ignoring Tepigs frantic struggles, Furret adjusted its posture, standing upright on its hind legs, and carried Tepig off for more training. Boooor!! A heart-wrenching wail echoed across the farm, carrying far into the distance. Servine and Dewott, who were in the middle of training, nodded approvingly. Nice. Someone finally put that lazy, orange pig in his place. In fact, both of them had been annoyed by Tepig for a while now. They just hadnt said anything out of respect for Mei. Now, they had even more respect for Natsume. As expected of the human they acknowledged. Not bad at all. For now, Dewott was very satisfied with farm life. And more importantly Glancing over at Gallade, who was leisurely fishing by the lake, Dewotts eyes burned with admiration. Ever since witnessing Gallade in battle, Dewott had become completely captivated. The fluid movements, the clean and efficient attacks And the way Gallade casually turned away after the fight to chat with the others. It was exactly the kind of battle style Dewott dreamed of. With Slowking, the coach, and the ever-durable training partner Corviknight back on the farm, the training routine had returned to normal. By the way, when Mei first requested special training, she didnt think too much about it. But later, she felt like she might have been taking advantage of the situation. So, in classic university-student fashionnever haggling when shoppingshe bought a massive supply of Pokblocks. Enough to last her Pokmon a whole month. Dont ask. It was necessary. At the very least, Mei had full confidence in Tepigs appetite. So, all she could do was entrust everything to her teams biggest eater. If Natsume knew what Mei was thinking, he would probably just laugh and say it wasnt necessary. At first, sure, the special training was just for Meis Pokmon. But now, it had evolved into a full-fledged farm-wide boot camp. Since he was already training his Pokmon, adding a few more didnt make a difference. Might as well get everyone involved to make the atmosphere even livelier. That was how Slowking, the stand-in coach, saw it. At this point, most of the Pokmon who were close to Natsume had joined in. Even the ones who usually kept their distancelike Charjabug, the shiny Pidgeotto, and the Hisuian Zorua who always lurked in the shadows watchinghad joined. The training grounds were buzzing with energy. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a quick scan of the training site, Natsume headed back to his room for a break. He hadnt rested much since morning. Originally, he planned to make more Pokblocks for the Pokmon. But before he could, Slowking dragged him off to check on Absol. And, well, the rest was history. Mei, on the other hand, didnt follow him back. She decided to stay and cheer on Servine and the others. At least this way, she could contribute in some way. Otherwise, it felt like leaving them to train while she went off to relax Like putting a game on auto-mode. Mhmm? At the end of the second-floor hallway, a small head peeked out from a room, sensing Natsumes presence. When it saw him, its eyes lit up, and it immediately dashed toward him, leaping into his arms. Good afternoon, Ogerpon. Did you stay up late again last night? Catching the airborne Ogerpon, Natsume chuckled and gave its head a gentle rub. Mhmm. Nestled in his arms, Ogerpons eyes darted around evasively. Ever since arriving at the farm, it had spent a few days setting up its room. At Natsumes suggestion, Ogerpon decided to keep the trinkets it had originally planned to throw away. They were treasures from the past, after all. Then came the process of adjusting to the new environment. Overall, it had been getting along with the other Pokmon well enough. Not exactly friendly, but at least they coexisted peacefully under the same roof. Not that Ogerpon cared too much about them. As long as Natsume was there, that was enough. At first, thats what it thought. Then Corviknight dragged it into an all-night anime binge. And just like that, it got sucked in. Now, Ogerpon even greeted the other Pokmon occasionally. Among its closest friends on the farm were Shiny Furret and Corviknight. With Shiny Furret, it was a natural connectionthey were both cute, so they clicked. As for Corviknight, well It was just an extroverted otaku. Yes, that sounded odd. But somehow, Corviknight balanced being a hardcore anime nerd with an incredibly outgoing personality. It loved recommending anime to everyone. And occasionally, it even acted out dramatic scenes. Unfortunately, most of the farms Pokmon werent interested in anime. But Ogerpon was. Because it had once seen Natsume watching anime while lounging on a bean bag after a bath And figured this was a great way to get closer to him. Since there was nothing else to do, might as well pass the timeso, together with Corviknight, he started watching an anime. And then he got hooked. "Staying up late is fine, but remember to show some restraint." After giving it a firm rub, Natsume set Ogerpon down on the floor. This little one had always been quite clingy. Good thing he was raising a Ogerpon and not a Grass Cat. Sprigatito, being one of the highly popular starter Pokmon, was an extremely rare feline species and a textbook example of an adorable cat Pokmon. Not the fancy-pants, gas-tank-looking kind of cat, though. Its final evolution was a graceful, humanoid big catdecent stats all around. But the downside? Grass Cats were incredibly jealous creatures. If you got too close to other Pokmon, Sprigatito would get really jealous. Natsume had originally considered raising one, but after thinking about it, he decided against it. Still, having a Grass-type Ogerpon now wasnt much different. Just as cute, just as strong, and without that over-the-top jealousy issue. Wooma wooma. Nodding firmly, Ogerpon signaled its understanding. It would definitely be staying up late again. A classic case of acknowledging a mistake but having zero intention of changing. Lately, Ogerpon had been obsessed with a new anime, and it had already made plans with Corviknight to marathon the remaining episodes tonight. "Ahh, finally lying down." Sinking into the beanbag chair, Natsume let out a long breath as his body relaxed. That feeling of finally having solid support from the waist to the shoulder bladesno matter how many times he experienced it, it was always satisfying. "Wooma." Taking advantage of the moment, Ogerpon handed Natsume a glass of water it had just fetched, then climbed onto the backrest of the beanbag chair, gently tapping his shoulders. From this angle, it happened to catch a glimpse of the screen on Natsumes phone. "Wooma?" Was Natsume signing up for that tournament? Looking at the registration page on the screen, Ogerpon tilted its head in curiosity. It had overheard some Pokmon at the farm mentioning that Natsume was thinking about entering a town-level or county-level competition. Just for fun. So naturally, Ogerpon was a little curious. But only a little. It knew full well that Natsume wouldnt sign it up for something like this. "More or less. Interested, Ogerpon?" "Wooma." Not really. Feeling the warmth of the hand on its head, Ogerpon answered, sounding thoroughly disinterested. What would it even do in a competition like this? Speedrun the whole thing and grab the prize? "Alright then, if youre not interested, Ill have someone else enter." Natsume smiled as he finished filling out his registration details. Chapter 92: A Ghost-Type Pokémon Snuck In? After completing the registration, Natsume quickly put the matter out of his mind. He just couldnt muster much enthusiasm for this tournament. He wasnt a trainer seeking fame through battle, nor one of those hunters who frequently participated in small competitions for prize money and rare items. The only reason Natsume signed up was simplehe just wanted his Pokmon to get out and have some fun. For most trainers, letting their Pokmon relax meant skipping training and going out to play. For Natsumes Pokmon, "relaxing" meant entering a tournament. In a way, they were a particularly hardworking bunch. As for the team hed enter? Natsume already had a lineup in mind. One thing was certain: his Shiny Furret and the others, who trained hard every day, were definitely coming along. They had been looking forward to standing on a real battlefield for a long time. The small-scale sparring matches on the farm were no longer enough to satisfy their competitive spirits. "Wooma." Perched on Natsumes shoulder, Ogerpon rubbed its cheek against his before hopping down onto his lap. It curled up in a comfortable position and peered at his phone with curiosity. Ogerpon actually had a phone of its own. But it only ever used it for watching anime. Anything else? Not interested. If all the apps on its phone had physical buttons, the video apps would be visibly worn out from overuse, while everything else would still look brand new. Ogerpon might occasionally check out other apps when it first downloaded them, but after that? Nothing. Well, except for the rare moments when it called Natsume. "Do you want anything, Ogerpon?" Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Holding the phone in one hand, Natsume supported Ogerpon with the other, cradling it like a small child. He rested his chin on its head. Right now, Ogerpon looked just like a plush toy. "Wooma." Nope. You already bought me so many things. Ogerpon shook its head, making it clear that it didnt need anything at the moment. In a way, Natsume was quite the extravagant spender. When it came to himself, he barely spent money beyond the basicsfood, clothing, and shelter. Aside from the occasional interest in something weird, his personal expenses were minimal. But when it came to his Pokmon? That was a different story. He bought them tons of stuff. Just because. Like that time he went on a shopping spree for Persian. He bought several different kinds of scratching posts. Only for Persian to completely ignore them. "Do you seriously think I need these?" With a single slap, Persian shattered a scratching post. It didnt say anything, but its actions spoke volumes. Those were supposed to be premium scratching posts designed specifically for feline Pokmon. But in Persians hands, they were as fragile as a college students health. It was the same for the other Pokmon. Corviknights room had practically turned into a shrine of collectible figurines, and its collection of electronic gadgets was ridiculous. Not that Natsume minded. He wasnt exactly strapped for cash these days. His Pokblock sales were doing greatmost of his customers became repeat buyers, providing a steady stream of income. His Viridian Force-enhanced fruits and berries were also wildly popular. At this point, Natsume could confidently say he had basically achieved financial freedom. He wasnt quite at the level of never work again wealth, but if he wanted something, he could buy it without thinking twice. What? Youre saying there are problems money cant solve? Well, if you have enough money, most problems stop being problems. Take home renovations, for example. If youre broke, you have to consider material costs, labor, inspections, and all sorts of details. But if youre rich, you just hire a high-end renovation team with great reviews and let them handle everything. Thanks to that, Natsume didnt have many worries in his daily life. Any farm upgrades? He could get them done immediately. Need new equipment? He could order it without hesitation. "Alright, if you dont need anything, I wont buy anything for now." Since Ogerpon said it didnt want anything, Natsume wasnt going to force it. It was like giving gifts in a relationshipthoughtful gestures were nice, but if a girl explicitly told you she didnt want something and you still bought it, she might just get annoyed. Closing the shopping app, Natsume casually opened the Trainer Forum. The Trainer Forum was a wild place. A chaotic mix of casual travelers, professional trainers competing on the international stage, hobbyists, and even armchair experts who definitely werent just bluffing. People there prided themselves on being all-knowing. Even if you started a discussion about Arceus, theyd somehow have something to say. Of course, whether they were actually right was another matter entirely. "Suo." Just as Natsume and Ogerpon were scrolling through the ridiculous forum posts, Hisuian Zorua suddenly dashed into the room. "Whats up?" Natsume raised an eyebrow at the little fox peeking around the door. Even though he had caught it, Zorua had never been particularly close to him. Most of the time, it just followed regular Zorua and Togepi around, playing pranks on other Pokmon. This was the first time it had come looking for Natsume on its own. Even when it wanted to play with Steenee and the others, it never approached him directly. It had a natural wariness of humans. Not that this was a problem for Natsume. "Suosuo?" Are there any other Ghost-type Pokmon on our farm? I think I caught a whiff of something... Upon seeing Natsume, Zorua instinctively shrank back a little. To be honest, it had actually wanted to get closer to him before. But ever since that one timewhen Natsume had ruffled its fur so much it ended up looking like a goofy huskyit had been keeping its distance. It had zero desire to go through that again. Natsumes ability was just too unfair. "A Ghost-type Pokmon?" "Aside from you, there shouldnt be any others." The farm had a huge variety of Pokmon, covering almost every type. But as far as Ghost-types went, Hisuian Zorua was the only one. "You smelled a Ghost-type?" "Could it be that one snuck in?" That wasnt impossible. In fact, it was highly likely. Ghost-types were notorious for their stealthy, mischievous nature. If weird things started happeninglike objects constantly disappearing when you needed them, only to reappear later in their original spot That was classic Ghost-type behavior. "Lets go check it out." "Wooma!" "Suo!" Chapter 93: The Ghost Pokémon in the Treasure Chest "Suosuo." Hisuian Zorua took the lead, sniffing around as it followed the scent it had picked up. To Hisuian Zorua, the scent was fairly distinct. However, because Natsume''s farm was quite large, the owner of the scent seemed to have been wandering around for quite some time. Moreover, with so many Pokmon on the farm training and moving about, the air was filled with a mix of different smells. Not to mention... it''s not like I''m a canine Pokmon or anything. I''m just a cute little fox. And if you''re about to say that foxes are also part of the canine family There''s no need to be so pedantic about Pokmon classifications. (Indifferent face.) "Garde?" Gardevoir, who was in Natsume''s old workshop learning how to make Pokblocks, curiously looked toward the rather unusual team entering the room. sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsume and Ogerpon teaming up was a common sight. Natsume and Hisuian Zorua, while not seen together as often, was still a familiar pairing. But Natsume, Hisuian Zorua, and Ogerpon all together? That was a first. A rather rare sight indeed. "Garde." What''s going on, Natsume? Gardevoirs voice rang directly in Natsume''s mind. At first, Gardevoir wasnt exactly skilled at telepathyit could barely manage broken phrases when focusing with all its might. Both Gardevoir and its intended recipient found the process frustrating. Initially, Gardevoir didnt think much of this ability. After all, as a Psychic-type, simply linking mental energy was enough to convey meaningwho needed telepathy? It wasnt until it arrived at the farm that Gardevoir began to take this skill seriously. Even though Natsume could understand it just fine, Gardevoir felt it should do something more to show how much it valued him. Even if it turned out to be pointless, effort mattered most. That was Gardevoirs philosophy. Because of this, Gallade often teased it. To Gallade, this whole thing was utterly meaningless. Natsume was a good personhe wouldnt dislike Gardevoir over something like this. But Gardevoir fiercely refuted that claim, and in doing so, it also suffered relentless ridicule from its own younger sister. Something along the lines of: "Foolish, shortsighted, destined to be a fishless fisherman." Yeah that last part seemed to have the most impact. After being told that, Gallade instantly sank into a state of deep self-doubt, questioning its entire existence. If there had been a trash can or an empty box nearby, it probably would''ve crawled inside. "A Ghost-type Pokmon seems to have sneaked in. Hisuian Zorua is leading us to find it now." "Garde?" Do you need my help? Gardevoir set down the Pokblocks it had been working on, grabbed a towel from the table, and casually wiped its hands before asking. "Oh? You want to help? Thatd be great." Psychic-type Pokmon were useful in all sorts of situations. From daily life to wild expeditions, their abilities were invaluable. Just the move Psychic alone could solve a ton of problems in the wild. For many trainers, Butterfreeone of the most common Pokmon capable of learning Psychicwas an essential capture. That was exactly why Natsume had caught a Butterfree back then. And now? That same Butterfree had become his dedicated Pokblock assistant. Occasionally, it would help out around the farmlike managing all the butterflies drawn in by the flowers. "Garde." Its fine. If I can help you, Natsume, Id be happy to. Gardevoir untied its apron and placed it on the rack. Its eyes suddenly shone with a bright blue glow. A vast surge of psychic energy spread out, sweeping across the farm like a radar. It was on par with Slowkings abilities. Which made senseafter all, Gardevoir was known as the "Psychic Queen." This level of power should be perfectly normal Or not. Wasn''t this already way beyond the usual range of a normal Pokmon? Slowking, who had been explaining move techniques to a Servine nearby, let out a quiet sigh. Was there even a single normal Pokmon on this farm? His own abilities were thanks to a special opportunity and training from Uxie. But what about Gardevoir? Was it really just natural talent combined with a diet of high-quality Pokblocks and a unique training environment? "Garde." Found it. The blue glow faded as Gardevoir turned to Natsume. Just as he suspected, there was indeed a foreign presence on the farmsomething they hadnt encountered before. Though Gardevoir wasnt sure exactly what Pokmon it was, the Ghost-type energy it gave off was unmistakable. "Garde." Ill take you there. "Then Ill be counting on you, Gardevoir." "Garde." Its no problem. A blue psychic aura enveloped Natsume and the two smaller Pokmon as Gardevoir activated Teleport. In the blink of an eye, the group appeared in front of the warehouse. "Garde." Gardevoir clutched its chest, breathing in small, measured gasps. What shouldve been a routine teleport had unexpectedly taken a toll on it. Normally, just bringing Natsume along would have been manageable. But this time, Ogerpon was part of the group. The stronger the Pokmon, the more energy was required to teleport them. This time, the energy consumption had been several times greater than usual. The moment the teleportation activated, Gardevoir had realized the issue. Luckily, everything went smoothly in the end. Gardevoir let out a quiet sigh of relief. "You worked hard, Gardevoir." Noticing its exhaustion, Natsume quickly extended his hand, and the radiant glow of Viridians Blessing washed over Gardevoir. Bathed in its light, Gardevoirs energy rapidly recovered. "Garde." Thank you, Natsume. "Its nothing." Natsume waved it off before turning toward the warehouse. Why did it feel like weird things always happened here? Did warehouses naturally attract Pokmon over time? As he pushed open the door, he flicked on the lights. The moment the warehouse lit up, something in the corner twitched slightlyjust enough to catch the edge of Natsumes vision. Following that subtle movement, his eyes landed on an old, somewhat worn-out treasure chest. "A treasure chest?" The moment he saw it, a possibility crossed his mind. And moments later, that guess was confirmed. A small figure timidly peeked out from inside the chest, cautiously staring at Natsume. Chapter 94: Gimmighoul’s Resolve A small Pokmon peeked out from the treasure chest, its two coin-like eyes filled with tension and unease. Strange as it may sound, that expression of nervousness was unmistakable. Two antenna-like appendages protruded from its head. "Gimmighoul?" Seeing the tiny figure, Natsume was somewhat surprised. Gimmighoul was a slow-moving Ghost-type Pokmon that wasn''t particularly adept at mobility. It typically lived inside treasure chests and was naturally timidwhenever it sensed the presence of humans or Pokmon nearby, it would immediately hide, ensuring it remained undiscovered. Gimmighoul generally had two forms: Roaming Form and Chest Form. There was no fundamental difference between them. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If anything, their behavior patterns varied. Roaming Form Gimmighoul wandered around, seemingly in search of its original treasure chest, hiding the moment it encountered humans or Pokmon. Chest Form Gimmighoul, on the other hand, often lurked in warehouses, item shops, or other places where few people or Pokmon ventured. If an unsuspecting human or Pokmon wandered too close, it would take control of them. And if someone attempted to steal its treasure, it would drain their life force. The one before Natsume was unmistakably a Chest Form Gimmighoul. At first glance, it instinctively attempted to control Natsume. Now that it had found its treasure chest, there was no need to stay here any longer. It was best to leave as soon as possible. However, before it could act, three piercing gazes locked onto it simultaneously. The sheer pressure from those stares froze Gimmighoul in place. Its attempt to raise a hand was abruptly interrupted, leaving it in an awkward and somewhat comical posture. Gardevoir and Hisuian Zorua stared at Gimmighoul coldly, ready to strike at the first sign of trouble. As for Ogerpon? It had already pulled out a thorny club from somewhere. If not for Natsume holding it back, that club would have smashed down onto Gimmighouls head by now. @#% (Pokmon profanity) You dare make a move on Natsume? You think you have enough lives for that? "Gimmighoul..." Snapping back to reality, Gimmighoul shrank further into its chest, terrified that it might get its head smashed in the next second. That green Pokmon over there radiated a murderous intent so intense that it was practically blinding. It actually wanted to kill me just now. Terrifying. Waitwasnt there a saying that Grass-type Pokmon were supposed to be gentle? Then why was this green one so aggressive? Could it be that this green Pokmon wasnt actually a Grass type? Like those Pokmon that looked like dragons but werent Dragon-types? "Hello, Gimmighoul. Im the owner of this farm." Natsume wasnt particularly bothered by Gimmighouls attempt to control him. For one, it was simply an instinctual behavior of its species. For another Even if I stand here and let my mind go blank, do you really think you can make me flinch for even a second? This is the confidence given to me by Arceus (crossed out) This is the blessing bestowed upon me by the great Hisui. Natsume could proudly claim that he was a man who could walk unscathed through every hypnosis-based anime. Of course, just because he wasnt holding a grudge now didnt mean he wouldnt later. Whether he let it slide depended on Gimmighouls cooperation and attitude. If it behaved well, Natsume could overlook the incident. The farm was big enoughone more Pokmon wouldnt make much of a difference. Besides, it could help with the night shift. After all, Ghost-types were naturally more active at night. And Gimmighoul was no exception. But if it refused to cooperate or showed hostility again Then sorry, not only will I beat you up and toss you out, but Ill also break your treasure chest. "Gimmighoul." Hello, Natsume. Sensing the kindness in Natsumes aurawhile also noticing the If you dont cooperate, Ill send you straight to Arceus look on Ogerpons face Gimmighoul immediately decided to behave. To show its sincerity, it even set down the coin it had been clutching in its tiny hands. It was genuinely afraid of dying. After traveling across mountains and rivers to finally find its treasure chest, it barely had time to settle in before being discovered by humans. Being discovered wasnt the worst partat least it could try running away with its chest. But it nearly got obliterated instead. What kind of nightmare scenario was this? It had worked so hard to find its treasure chest. It had even found two extra coins inside. These should have been two joyous occasions, and yetwhy did things turn out like this? Gimmighoul was feeling a little melancholic. After going through the standard round of introductions, Natsume pulled out a thermos from his small satchel and took a sip of water. To be honest, he was starting to feel like an NPC in some game. The Pokmon were the players. Every time a new player encountered him, it would trigger a scripted conversation sequence. Followed by the inevitable Capture Event. Though, seriously, what kind of game protagonist gets captured? Its not like this was that kind of game. "So, do you want to join the farm?" NPC Natsume extended his invitation to Gimmighoul. Gimmighoul hesitated for a brief moment. But even that fleeting hesitation was enough to earn a sharp glare from Ogerpon. THUD! The thorny club slammed against the ground with a dull impact. Ogerpon didnt say a word, but somehow, it spoke volumes. "Gimmighoul!" Yes, I accept! Please spare my life, thank you very much. Gimmighoul nodded decisively. As if I had any other choice. If I refused, that green menacewho was already itching to swingwould probably pummel me into Gimmighoul paste on the spot. Damn it. I still have big dreams to achieve! Like collecting all 999 coins to evolve! Gimmighoul had a rather unique evolution methodgathering 999 of its own species coins before evolving into Gholdengo. A Pokmon that gleamed like pure gold, radiating wealth and prosperity. By the way, Gholdengo had one of the most underwhelming shiny forms in all of Pokmon. The only difference was that a few thin red lines on its body turned silver. If you didnt look closely, youd never notice. Most people, upon seeing it, would be too dazzled by its golden sheen to realize it was shiny at all. "Then welcome to the farm, Gimmighoul." Natsume took out a Pok Ball and held it out to Gimmighoul. Without hesitation, Gimmighoul obediently pressed the button. As the red light enveloped it, Gimmighoul stole one last glance at Ogerpon and made a solemn vow in its heart. Someday one day I will rise up and defeat that guy. In front of everyone, I will take him down with my own strength! Chapter 95: Lost in the Sound of “Senior” The Pok Ball on the ground shook a few times before finally settling, signaling a successful capture. Judging by the way it trembled, Gimmighoul was still a little reluctant. After all, their initial encounter had been far from friendly. Ogerpon was practically itching to smash Gimmighouls head in. If it had a helmet, it would have put it on by now. "Bang." The Pok Ball cracked open, and Gimmighoul emerged in a flash of white light. Landing on the ground, Gimmighoul glanced at Natsume. "Gim." Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What do I need to do? Or rather, whats my role on this farm? What tasks am I expected to handle? Gimmighoul asked directly. "Work? Not really." "What, are you some kind of workaholic?" Natsume looked at Gimmighoul in mild surprise. Most of the Pokmon on the farm were carefree and playful. In shortsimple, sweet, and a little naive. Aside from Gardevoir, Gimmighoul was the first one to proactively ask for work. Gardevoir had her reasonsshe lacked a sense of security and wanted to prove her worth, to show that she had a meaningful place on the farm. Even if she wasnt irreplaceable, she wanted to at least be helpful to Natsume. But Gimmighoul "Gim?" No work? You mean you dont expect anything from me? Like battling, or something else? Hearing Natsumes response, Gimmighoul was the one who looked surprised. In its understanding, humans captured Pokmon for only a few possible reasons: One, to have them fightpushing them into endless battles to bring honor and status to their Trainer. Two, to put them to worklike those Caterpie farms where people caught Caterpie to harvest their silk. So naturally, Gimmighoul assumed Natsume had a similar reason for capturing it. Even though it had no idea what exactly it could do. Gimmighoul was well aware of its own shortcomings. Production work? Forget it. It couldnt produce anything. On the contrary, it needed Natsume to collect coins for it. As for battle? It wasnt completely useless, but it was weak. Aside from being a bit sturdier than average, it had no real advantages. Surely, Natsume didnt capture it just to use it as a punching bag right? Because if that was the case Then Gimmighoul had no choice but to accept its fate. It couldnt fight back. It couldnt run away. What else could it do? Die dramatically on the spot? "Of course not." "This is a Pokmon farm, not a Pokmon factory." "We dont do that here." Natsume couldnt help but chuckle at Gimmighouls assumption. It was such a classic impression of humans. Many Pokmon who had never interacted with humans before tended to have these exact stereotypes. And honestly? It made sense. It was just like how many students'' perceptions of society were entirely shaped by what they heard from others. Which often led to misunderstandings. Even after graduating, many people still carried those misconceptions. It was simply a matter of perspectivepeoples views were shaped by their experiences, or lack thereof. For those who had always lived in peace, peace was something taken for granted. For those who had grown up in war, life-and-death struggles were just part of everyday reality. "Gim?" You serious? Gimmighoul eyed Natsume suspiciously, clearly not convinced that a human could be so kindhearted. Its eyes still held the cautious distrust common among Ghost-type Pokmon. If Natsume werent actively suppressing his aura, Gimmighoul would probably already be clinging to his arm, begging for head pats like a loyal pet. "Youll see for yourself." Natsume didnt bother explaining further. Words were meaningless in this situation. No amount of eloquent speech could compare to real experiences. No matter how beautifully something was described, it could never replicate the emotional impact of seeing it firsthand. Once Gimmighoul saw the farm for itself, its opinion would naturally change. Natsume didnt expect Gimmighoul to immediately fit in or get along with the other Pokmon. That was unrealistic. Even on the farm, there were still Pokmon who preferred solitude. Forcing everyone to interact in the same way would be arrogant and unreasonable. On the way back, Natsume introduced Gimmighoul to the farms layout and the different groups living there. Trailing behind him, Gimmighoul half-listened, half-drifted in its own thoughts. The cheerful atmosphere and warm sunlight felt unfamiliar. Something about this place didnt seem suited for a Ghost-type like itself. Previously, Gimmighoul had insisted on living in the warehousedark, isolated, and rarely disturbed. A perfect habitat for an "edgy" Ghost Pokmon. But Natsume refused. Spending too much time in darkness could lead to a darkened heart. He didnt expect Gimmighoul to become some radiant, cheerful optimist. But at the very least, it shouldnt turn into a brooding recluse filled with nothing but negativity. "From now on, youre a senior now, so take good care of the newcomers, alright?" Hisuian Zorua recalled what Natsume had told it earlier. Wait, does this mean Im a senior now? Still thinking of itself as a child, Zorua suddenly felt a strange sense of responsibility. But at the same time, it was exciting. Im a senior! "Zor." Call me senior. Zorua glanced at Natsume before scooting over to Gimmighoul and whispering. "Gim!" Senior! Gimmighoul immediately complied. Hearing the word "senior" sent a pleasant shiver through Zoruas body. Even better than one of Natsumes massages. "Zor." Again. "Gim." Senior. And so, with every enthusiastic "senior," Hisuian Zorua gradually lost itself. It completely forgot about the responsibilities Natsume had given it. Well not completely. At the very least, it made sure to explain the farms food chain properly. First and foremostthe supreme ruler of the farm, the undisputed strongest, the unbeatable Lord Natsume. This was the guy who could single-handedly pin down any Pokmon on the farm. Then, second-in-commandPersian, the true boss cat. Unlike Natsume, Persian played the role of enforcer, keeping order among the Pokmon. But overall, the cat wasnt too bad. As Zorua continued explaining, Natsume, walking ahead, posted a request on the Trainer forums to buy Gimmighoul Coins. Evolution would happen naturally when the time was right. At that moment, Natsumes real focus was elsewherethe competition he had signed up for. "Registration confirmed, huh?" Seeing the official message asking him to finalize his team details, Natsume decided that once he got back, hed pick his roster for the upcoming tournament. Chapter 96: The Contesting Pokémon and the Full-Power Corviknight "Well, that''s about the situation." "There''s still one slot left. Does anyone else want to join?" Sitting on the steps, Natsume looked at the gathered Pokmon and asked. The upcoming competition followed a 3v3 format. The event was relatively short, with a modest prize of 5,000 yen and a special commemorative Pok Ball. Normally, such meager rewards wouldn''t attract many participants. However, since the entry requirements were loweven amateur trainers like Natsume, who had never seriously pursued a Trainer''s path, could jointhe competition still had a decent turnout. The first two slots had already been taken by Corviknight and the shiny Furret, both of whom had been eagerly awaiting an opportunity like this for a long time. It was their first time showcasing themselves in an official match, so it seemed fitting to let them have the stage. "Cino?" "Lopuu." Cinccino and Lopunny exchanged glances before opting out of the selection. They had never been particularly interested in battling. When they first arrived at the farm, they had made it clear to Natsume that fighting wasnt their thing, so they wouldnt be much help in that regard. Next to withdraw were Persian and Butterfree. Persian, having grown up alongside Natsume and roamed the wilds with him, neither loved nor disliked battling. Whether it competed or not didnt really matter. As for Butterfree, it had already settled into a peaceful retirement. These days, it resembled an old government official enjoying post-retirement lifehelping Natsume make Pokblocks, wandering around the farm, chatting with new Pokmon to help them settle in. After Persian and Butterfree declined, many of the other Pokmon followed suit. Sandshrew, devoted to farming, Yamper, busy learning herding techniques, and Mightyenas pack, responsible for patrolling the farm, all stepped back. While some were somewhat interested in the competition, none felt strongly enough to participate. That left Togepi, the mischievous little troublemaker; a shiny Pidgeotto, who didnt really understand what was happening but was there for the excitement; and a Mudkip that had somehow tagged along unnoticed. Speaking of Mudkip, ever since Slowpoke evolved into Slowking, it had been spending a lot of time alone, lost in thought. Natsume wasnt sure what was on its mind. Occasionally, it would show a look of determination as if it had made an important decision, only to clam up and change the subject whenever it tried to talk to him. Natsume was curious, but he couldnt read minds. Understanding what Pokmon were thinking was often tricky. Some might wonder why Natsume didnt just use his Viridian powers to "turn on the idiot filter" (not really), but truthfully, he preferred to let things unfold naturally. As long as there were no major problems, he wanted to respect the Pokmons privacy. Its like when youre chasing someone who clearly likes you backwould you really use a hypnosis app to force a confession? Thatd be like taking off your pants just to fart. "Do all three of you want to go?" Seeing the trio''s eager expressions, Natsume looked a bit troubled. If they just wanted to tag along for fun, he could bring extra Pokmon along. But for actual competition, only one more could enter. And since registered Pokmon had to be officially listed before the match, a decision needed to be made soon. "Toki?" "Mud?" Togepi and Mudkip exchanged glances and started whispering to each other. Seeing this, the still-clueless shiny Pidgeotto was pulled into the discussion as well. Under Natsume''s watchful eye, the three Pokmon reached an agreement. "Mud." They decided to let Mudkip have this chance. But next time, Togepi and Pidgeotto would get to go! Waving its tiny fingers, Togepi declared their pact. Meanwhile, the shiny Pidgeotto looked a little disappointed. Even though Togepi had promised to share some Pokblocks as compensation, it still felt a little down. After all, it had wanted to show off its dazzling golden feathers to humans. Showing off to fellow Pokmon was getting oldno one in its flock was that impressed anymore. Even the most brilliant golden plumage lost its charm after being admired for too long. Oh well next time. With a glance at Mudkip, which was now walking toward Natsume, Pidgeotto shook its head. That little guy sure was determinedespecially when it came to getting stronger. "Mud." Standing before Natsume, Mudkip let out a soft cry and sat obediently at his feet. "Then Ill be counting on you to bring me victory, Mudkip." Natsume chuckled, gently stroking its smooth head. Feeling the warmth on its forehead, Mudkip instinctively nuzzled against Natsumes hand. It had to work hard. That thought echoed in Mudkips mind. When it first arrived at the farm, it had lived a carefree, happy life. Lounging by the lake, chatting idly with Slowpoke, feeling the cool breezeit had been a peaceful existence. Whenever it got hungry, it could go to Natsume for Pokblocks. Fresh berries were always within reach. Mudkip had loved that life. But then Slowpoke evolved into Slowking. And that peaceful life disappeared. Slowking had found its own path and its own purpose. Every day, it was busy. And Mudkip? At first, it had vowed to train seriously and become stronger. But it had been too easy to get swept up in the farms relaxed atmosphere. Before it knew it, it had fallen far behind its only friend. Slowking had tried to be considerate, never making it feel left out. But for someone as sensitive as Mudkip, the more Slowking tried to accommodate it, the worse it felt. This couldnt go on. It had to get stronger. That was the only way. "Alright, then the lineup is decided." "Corviknight, shiny Furret, and Mudkip." "By the way, does anyone want to come along just to watch?" Standing up, Natsume announced the final roster, then turned to ask if anyone wanted to tag along. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, the moment he finished speaking, a wave of soft, fluffy, and slippery bodies swarmed him. Even Emolga had somehow climbed onto his head, chirping and rubbing against him affectionately. "Wait, wait! Give me a second!" "I cant breathe!" Buried under the excited Pokmon, Natsume barely managed to stick out a hand. But in the next second, Yampera true Husky at heartleaped at him, flattening him completely. "Lopunny!" Natsume!!! Lopunny, looking flustered, anxiously watched the chaotic scene before It leaped in as well. Dont get the wrong ideait was trying to rescue Natsume. Though its method seemed a bit off. Pinned beneath the playful pile of Pokmon, Natsume felt like hed been tossed into a ball pitexcept instead of plastic balls, it was full of restless, energetic kids. Though he couldve easily shaken them all off with his strength, that wouldve spoiled the fun. After much effort, Lopunny finally managed to drag Natsume out, grumbling at the other Pokmon in exasperation. Then, it handed him a clean towel to wipe his face. After all that roughhousing, Natsumes clothes were a mess. Luckily, ever since moving to the farm, he mostly wore dark-colored or work-style outfits, so it wasnt too noticeable. If anything, a little dirt made them look even more authentic. "Alright, alright, its fine, Lopunny." Lowering the towel, Natsume ruffled its head. "Lopp." Pouting, Lopunny still looked a bit huffy. If Natsume hadnt stopped it, it probably wouldve started knocking heads like a wooden fish. There was no doubt about itLopunny could absolutely pull this off. Not liking battles had nothing to do with strength. More often than not, those who preached peace were the ones who could fight the hardest. "Cino..." Cinccino, crouched beside Natsume, looked at his clothes with a conflicted expression. They were filthy. Should it clean them? But Natsume had just said he would change once they got home. Cleaning them now would be a waste of energy. Maybe it would be better to just toss everything into the washing machine laterthat would save some effort. But if it didnt clean them now, it would feel unbearably uncomfortable. Cleaning them now would be a hassle, but leaving them dirty made its fur crawl, like ants were running all over its body. In the end, Cinccino couldn''t fight its instincts. Leaping onto Natsume, it began its cleaning ritual. For Cinccino, its tail was the best cleaning tool. Of course, most of the time, it preferred using actual cleaning suppliesgetting itself dirty was a hassle. Too many baths werent good for its fur. Cinccino had learned that from the internet. Determined to master the art of cleaning, it had seriously studied various cleaning techniques online. It had even bought a bunch of cleaning tools. All with the allowance Natsume had given it, of course. "Alright, alright, come down now, Cinccino." The constant swishing of that fluffy tail was making Natsume squirm with laughter. But Cinccino refused. It wasnt coming down until the job was done. After some playful tussling, the Pokmon eventually scattered. Aside from a few who decided to tag along to watch the action, the others had things to do. "Oh, right! I need to tell Mei." Handing Lopunny a towel, Natsume suddenly remembered the guest he had unintentionally left hanging. Mei had come as a guest, yet he had completely forgotten about her. That was pretty rude of him as a host. "Lopu." Alright then, Cinccino and I will head back first. Nodding, Lopunny picked up Cinccinowho was wiping imaginary sweat off its foreheadand headed home. At this point, those two had basically become the households cleaning crew. They handled everything from top to bottom. Whether it was cleaning or other chores, Lopunny and Cinccino took care of it. Otherwise, just keeping up with basic tidiness would be a nightmare for Natsume. "Huh? Natsume is joining the tournament too?" Mei blinked in surprise. From what she remembered, Natsume had never been the type to care about competitions. Even when there was a tournament with incredibly generous prizes, he had barely glanced at his phone before setting it aside. "Yeah, a lot of the Pokmon at the ranch want to battle." "Keeping them cooped up in the ranch, only training among themselves, isnt ideal." Natsume, sitting beside Mei, explained as they watched Corviknight unleash a torrent of trash talk while ruthlessly drilling Meis four Pokmon. Among them, the one performing best was Dewott. Technically, Dewott and Servine were about the same in strengthif not slightly weaker. But Corviknight''s Flying and Steel typing gave it a quadruple resistance to Grass-type moves. With an existing gap in power, plus the type disadvantage... Servines attacks werent just ineffectivethey barely even registered. At best, they were an annoyance. "It feels like Servine and the others are getting used to this level of trash talk." Watching her Pokmon maintain their composure, Mei sighed in amazement. Previously, Servine had always reacted emotionally to taunts. But now, it had learned to ignore them and focus on the battle. "Want to add some more pressure?" "Huh?" "Corviknight! You can step it up a notch now!" Cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, Natsume called out to Corviknight, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "Caw!" Got it! Corviknights eyes gleamed with excitement. Natsume had warned it earlierif it went all out from the start, it might completely crush Servine and the others. So Corviknight had been holding back, both in battle and in trash talk. But now that they were adapting, it was time for the next stage. "Caaaw kak caw!" Go home and cry to your mom, loser! With a powerful beat of its wings, Corviknight soared into the sky. Earlier, it had been carefully watching its words because of Natsumes restrictions. Normally, its trash talk would be something like: "Youre lucky to last a minute against meyour dead ancestors must be watching over you." Stuff that was way too brutal to say out loud. Even in a place like Zaun, its words would still be considered pretty aggressive. Natsume had strictly forbidden it from saying things like that. But now, Corviknight felt like it was finally free! "Eh?! Eh?!" Since Mei couldnt understand Pokmon speech, she had no idea just how vicious Corviknights words were. But she could tell that her Pokmon had suddenly snapped. They looked like they wanted to tear Corviknight apart on the spot. Chapter 97: The Wailing Serperior and Chief Translator Natsume From Corviknights perspective, the Pokmon below suddenly became inexplicably fired up. They charged forward, shouting about their bonds, Meis trust, and dreams of the future. Who even understands this kind of thing? Corviknight certainly didnt. And in the end, nothing changed. Even giving it their all, they still couldnt break through Corviknights defensesneither with attacks nor with trash talk. Others in Zaun have to find ways to protect their families. To do that, they train their aggression and develop lightning-fast reflexes. But if Corviknight were to go to Zaun, it would be its teammates and opponents trying to protect their families from it. Servine... Servine knelt on the ground, its eyes filled with frustration. Why? It had already worked so hard. So why was it still unable to catch up to that guy? This time, just like last time. Forget winningit couldnt even leave a real mark. Looking up at Mei, who was running toward it with a hint of worry on her face, Servines emotions churned. Unwillingness, pain, and a touch of sadness welled up in its chest And finally, turned into anger. Pokmon are highly idealistic creatures. Sure, this world has science, but there are many things that science simply cannot explain. Take the move Return, for example. That move is essentially the embodiment of a Pokmons bond with its trainer The closer the bond, the stronger the attack. Beyond just Return, many Pokmon push themselves beyond their limits simply to meet their trainers expectations. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps because of sadnessno, because of humiliation That feeling acted like a catalyst, pushing Servine past the final threshold standing between it and evolution. Servine! A white light, burning as intensely as its emotions, erupted around it Brighter than the sun in the sky. Servine! Mei, holding a potion, gasped in delight as she watched. Servine had already been on the verge of evolving for some time. But for some reason, it always felt like something was missing, preventing the final step. Yet today, under Corviknights pressure, Servine finally took that step. A crucial step One that would elevate it from an ordinary starter Pokmon to the very pinnacle of its kind. Inside the blinding light, Servines silhouette stretched and expanded. Servine still had a bit of cuteness to it before But Serperior? Serperior was a symbol of regal elegance and authority. And one of the most fearsome special attackers among starter Pokmon. Before learning Leaf Storm, different tactics might be necessary. But after learning Leaf Storm? With the Contrary ability, Serperiors battle strategy boiled down to one thing: Leaf Storm. Leaf Storm. More Leaf Storm. Just like Corviknight. Before evolution, it had all sorts of flashy maneuvers. After evolution, it was like it traded its brain for sheer physical might Now, all it had left was Iron Defense and Brave Bird. Hopefully, Serperior wouldnt turn into a Leaf Storm spamming machine. Ser... As the white light faded, a massive serpent, as elegant as if it were draped in a tuxedo, appeared before Mei. It slowly opened its eyes Deep crimson, like rich red wine, with a flicker of confusion. The changes in its body left it momentarily disoriented. Where are my arms? Wait. My arms were gone?! All thoughts of celebrating its evolution vanishedSerperior was in total shock. It turned its head slowly, looking at Meis joyous face, its mouth twitching slightly. Then Serperior!!! My arms and legs are gone!!! It burst into wails. The sudden loss of limbs was just too much to process. Then again, snakes dont usually have arms or legs... Mei scrambled to comfort the Serperior pressing its head against her, looking utterly lost. This wasnt how she had imagined its evolution at all. The Pokmon that had been preparing to celebrate also came to a halt. Uh... why was it crying after evolving? Serperior!! Not only had it lost its limbs, but it had also grown so big Now, it wouldnt be able to sleep in Meis bed anymore! Serperior!!! And to make things worse, it still hadnt learned Leaf Storm after evolving! That meant it probably still couldnt beat that dumb bird! Caw? Corviknight tilted its head, puzzled as it landed on the ground. What was this all about? Back when it evolved, it had been over the moon After all, evolution meant getting stronger. A straight-up stats boost. Like in a game, no matter the meta, mechanic-heavy Pokmon always had a place But top-tier Pokmon were always just raw stat monsters. And if you could overpower your opponent purely with numbers, who would bother training for skill? Corviknight certainly didnt. Maybe its just... a bit overwhelmed? Having listened to Serperiors entire breakdown, Natsume was probably the only one present who truly understood its thoughts. He could empathize. It would take time for Serperior to come to terms with its sudden lack of limbs. There, there, its okay, its okay. After much effort, Mei finally managed to calm Serperior down. Ser... Coiling its body, Serperiors emotions settled But it still looked grumpy. Was it dissatisfied with its new form? Or was it still mad at Corviknight? Probably both. After some thought, Corviknight decided to go and comfort it. After all, Serperior was probably just struggling to adapt, much like it had when it first evolved. This was a job for a psychology expertself-proclaimed, of course. So, brimming with confidence, Corviknight strode up and offered some encouragement. Caw. Hang in there, little bro. ...Ser. Im a girl, thanks. A vein bulged on Serperiors forehead. It wanted nothing more than to slap this idiot across the face with its tail. You didnt even know my gender?! Just wait. One day, Im going to beat you to a pulp. With Serperiors evolution as the turning point, the afternoons training session came to an end. Sitting beside Natsume, Mei spoke with a hint of envy. I wish I could understand Pokmon like you do. If she could, things wouldnt be so troublesome. Serperiors reaction had really given her a scare She had worried something had gone wrong with the evolution. Its fine. Ill translate for you from now on. That way, its basically the same as you understanding them yourself. Natsumes voice was relaxed. Then Ill be counting on you, Chief Translator Natsume. Mei responded with equal lightheartedness. Did you just make up that title on the spot? Pretty much. So... does this Chief Translator position come with a salary? Ill consider giving you a reward. Well, I wont hold my breath. Chapter 98: Respecting Your Opponent Means Beating Them with Everything You’ve Got! For Natsume, Mei was the first friend he made after taking over the farm. And, at this rate, she might just become his only friend. After all, ever since he took over the farm, Natsume had lost contact with his former classmates. He had always been the type to disappear as soon as vacation started and go completely off the grid after graduation. After elementary school, he vanished from his classmates radar. After middle school, no one could find him anymore. After high school? Even more so. To Natsume, being in the same class as someone was a kind of fate. But whether that turned into friendship was a different matter entirely. The same applied to dormmates. Just because they ended up in the same room due to some random dorm assignment didnt mean they had to be friends. Everyone came from different places, grew up in different environments, and had different values. If they got along, that was great. If they didnt, well, that was just how things were. No need to feel bad about it or wonder if you were the problem. Honestly, Natsume considered it a win that he hadnt become one of those novel protagonists who single-handedly isolated everyone around them. Not everyone could maintain a calm mindset and interact with a bunch of kids using the rational thinking of an adult. It had been pretty rough for him, to be honest. Not that he hated kids or anything. But seeing them go through their cringey, edgy phases made him recall his own dark history. Just watching them made him want to curl his toes so hard he could dig a hole through the floor. My embarrassing past is currently delivering flying elbow strikes to my soul. On the flip side, Natsume was also an important friend to Mei. With her bright and cheerful personality, it was no surprise that she had a lot of friends. Back in school, plenty of girls were happy to befriend her. What? Bullying? First, youd have to beat Mei in a fight. She was never the type to just take a hit and cry about it. Whether it was Pokmon battles or actual combat Mei, 18 years old, a genius fighter who could throw hands. For now, both Mei and Natsume had a pretty good impression of each other. As friends, sure. As members of the opposite sex? Also, sure. Honestly, love at first sight and whirlwind romances were overrated. Most relationships started with two people thinking the other seemed decent, dating to see how it went, and just continuing from there. Not that many made it to the finish line, though. "Delicious~!" Mei beamed, happily munching on a skewer of grilled meat. For the first time in a while, the farm''s open space was hosting a barbecue party. The last time had been shortly after Natsume moved in. Since then, he hadnt bothered doing it again. Not because of his cooking skills or a lack of ingredients Just pure laziness. After all, barbecuing wasnt just about grilling food. It meant prepping ingredients, setting up the grill, getting skewers ready, and worst of allcleaning up afterward. More importantly, barbecuing was about the atmosphere. Even with Pokmon around, eating alone just felt... off. But now that Mei was here, Natsume had finally dug out his neglected barbecue set from the storage. "Right? I do have some confidence in my cooking skills," Natsume grinned from behind the grill. Beside him, Lopunny carefully wiped the sweat off his forehead with a small towel. Compared to the barbecue itself, Lopunny was more concerned about Natsume. As long as the other Pokmon were having fun, that was good enough. "Natsume, you''re really amazing. It feels like you can do anything," Mei said, watching him work with admiration in her eyes. To her, Natsume was the definition of an all-rounder genius. Pokmon battles, training, Pokblock making, everyday lifehe seemed to excel at everything. Compared to that, Mei felt like a brainless brute who only knew how to fight. Especially when it came to daily life skills. Sure, traveling had forced her to pick up a few things here and there, but Compared to Natsume, she might as well know nothing. Better not to compare. Otherwise, shed start feeling self-conscious. Her brown eyes reflected Natsumes face, illuminated by the firelight. For a moment, Mei found herself staring absentmindedly. Whats wrong? Placing a freshly grilled skewer on the tray, Natsume turned his headonly to see Mei watching him, completely lost in thought. Her expression was like he had flowers growing on his face or something. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Huh? Nothing, nothing!" Mei quickly waved her hands, snapping out of it. Her fair cheeks seemed to have taken on a slight red tintprobably from the firelight. "Right, about that tournament you mentioned before." "I actually signed up for it, too." After a brief pause, Mei awkwardly changed the subject. Though, to be fair, she had wanted to tell him this earlier. Shed just been too distracted by Serperiors evolution. Now was as good a time as any. "Oh?" "That means well be opponents then, Mei." Natsume didnt seem too surprised by the news. Handing Mei and the Pokmon their grilled skewers, he wiped his hands on his apron and smiled. "Opponent? Yeah, no, I have zero chance of winning." Mei accepted the food with a helpless smile. At this point, she couldnt see any way to beat him. Earlier, Natsume had mentioned his tournament team: Mudkip, a shiny Furret, and Corviknight. Mudkip was one thing. But the other two? Straight-up powerhouses who could solo entire teams. "Just go easy on me, alright, Natsume?" Mei grinned playfully, putting her hands together in a pleading gesture. She even leaned in slightly, giving his shoulder a light squeezelike she was trying to butter him up. "Got it. Full power, no mercy." Without hesitation, Natsume declared that hed give it his all. "Eh?! Youre my official translator! Shouldnt you at least let me save some face?!" "Giving my all to defeat my opponent is the greatest form of respect!" "I dont need that kind of respect!" Mei huffed and gave his shoulder a hard squeeze in protest. Would it kill him to be a little gentler with girls?! Looking at Natsumes face, Mei suddenly had the urge to bite him. Just a tiny little shock to his system. The barbecue party celebrating Serperiors evolution and their first day of special training wrapped up in a lively atmosphere. Back in her room, Mei instinctively reached for her phone to send Natsume a goodnight message. Then, she suddenly remembered They were only separated by a single wall. Barefoot, she padded across the floor and knocked on the door next to hers. "Hm? What is it, Mei?" "Nothing much. Just wanted to say goodnight." "Well then, goodnight, Mei." "Mm-hm. Goodnight, Natsume." That night, Miss Mei slept very well. Chapter 99: A Morning with Two People and Absol’s Unease Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft glow on Meis face and bringing a hint of brightness to the dimly lit room. Mm Feeling the warmth on her skin, Mei groggily opened her eyes, still somewhat dazed. These past few days on the farm had given her a rare taste of a relaxed daily life. The barbecue party a few nights ago had been especially enjoyable. Since becoming a Trainer, she hadn''t experienced such leisure for a long time. Every morning upon waking, she had to consider a whole list of thingsher Pokmons training progress, the day''s training plan, remaining funds, supplies needed before heading to the next city, and various other tasks. Trainers were supposed to train while traveling. But in this fiercely competitive world, "training while traveling"? That was just a polite way of saying "intensive training, just in different locations." Every day was spent in a state of high tension, keeping herself in peak condition, engaging in battles, and even providing psychological support for her Pokmon. Yes, that was another essential skill for a Trainer. Which was why most Trainers were incredibly good at talking. Not necessarily with peoplebut definitely with Pokmon. Life here is nice Mei rolled over, wrapping her arms around Serperior, who was curled up beside her, and buried her face in its soft, warm belly. Unlike typical snake-like Pokmon, Serperiors body wasnt cold or slimy. Instead, it carried a fresh, plant-like warmthprobably because it was a Grass-type Pokmon. Feeling the smoothness of Serperiors scales, Mei suddenly understood why Natsume liked to sleep while hugging his shiny Furret. Because it was just too comfortable! That being said, Natsume had recently mentioned that he wasnt doing that as much anymore. Which was strange. Even in the summer heat, when the air conditioning was on full blast, he still hugged Furret while sleeping. Yet now, with autumn setting in and the nights growing cooler, he had stopped. Really weird. Shed have to ask him about it later. As she was mulling over this, a soft hissing sound came from beside her. Sssah? Serperior opened its eyes and glanced at Mei, sensing her movements. Not waking up early again today? These past few days, Mei had been sleeping in quite a bit. Just a little longer Just a little bit Her voice was muffled as she pressed her face against Serperiors belly. Ever since she became a Trainer, truly relaxed days like these had been rare. All of her classmates, as well as the Trainers she had encountered, were relentlessly pushing themselves, as if something was constantly chasing them. This made Mei instinctively tense up, pushing herself to grow stronger. Traveling, special training, encountering new companions, growing stronger, and challenging Gyms. After battles, reviewing strategies, replenishing supplies, traveling, training, fighting, growing stronger. Day after day of training could make one lose themselves. At some point, she even forgot why she had set foot on this path in the first place. The passion and excitement that once fueled her seemed to be wearing down bit by bit. Mei had shown signs of this before. Sometimes, she didnt even understand why she was working so hard. Maybe it was just because everyone else was doing it, and she was unconsciously swept along. But now, she felt much more at ease. "Mmm." Having spent the second half of the night sleeping against the wall, Dewott stretched its stiff body. It stole a glance at Mei, and upon seeing that she hadnt noticed, it carefully, ever so quietly, lay down on the floor, pretending it had been in that position all along. Dewott thought sleeping against the wall looked really coolsuper cool. But Mei never liked it when it slept that way. So, during the first half of the night, Dewott would sleep properly, lying down like it was supposed to. Then, in the second half, it would secretly get up and switch to leaning against the wall. Muscle soreness? That was just another part of training! As long as Mei didnt catch on, it was fine. Just a few more minutes of rest, then it would head out for training. That was Dewotts plan. Lately, though, it had been considering whether it should just sleep normally. Waking up sore every morning and then pushing through a full day of training... That was practically torture. "Pupu!" "Chuu!" Compared to their two seniors, Pignite and Steenee were brimming with energy. Yes, in the past couple of days, Tepig had evolved into Pignite. Unlike its previous small, Holland pig-like form, Pignite now had a more imposing presence. It had grown in many ways, even showing a slight change in willpower after evolving. Though it still had a lazy streak, at least it no longer collapsed in despair after just a few minutes of training. Now, it actually completed its training sessions properly. And, following Slowkings advice, it even focused on strengthening its weaknesses. "Pupu!" Glancing at the still-sleeping Mei, Pignite and Steenee, now quite used to this, quietly left the room, carefully shutting the door behind them. It was rare to see Mei so relaxed. Letting her sleep in a little longer wouldnt hurt. They could handle their morning training on their own. About half an hour later, Mei finally summoned enough willpower to free herself from the clutches of her blanket. Sun-dried blankets had an almost magical grip. No matter who lay on them, theyd find themselves tightly bound. And since Cinccino was a cleaning enthusiast, it always made sure to air out the blankets on sunny days. "Morning, Natsume." Still a little groggy, Mei came down the stairs in her pink pajamas. But upon spotting Natsume, she immediately woke up. Not because of her own pajamas. No, strictly speaking, not because of what she was wearing. After staying here for several days, she had gradually relaxed, no longer as self-conscious as she had been at first. Sometimes, she even wandered around in her pajamas without a second thought. Besides, her pajamas were quite modestlong-sleeved and full-length. Wearing them at home wasnt a big deal. What woke her up was Natsumes pajamas. "Natsume..." "What is it, Mei?" "You actually look... kinda cute right now." Mei covered her mouth, giggling as she looked at Natsume in his shark-patterned pajamas. Two nights ago, Natsume had mentioned wanting to buy some pajamas. So, with the guidance of the modern, fashion-conscious Mei, he ended up getting this. Well, to be fair, Natsume did have a soft spot for quirky pajamas. When he showed Mei his top picks, they included a dinosaur onesie, a green frog pajama set, and... a sleeping bag. Why was a sleeping bag among the pajama options? Simplebecause Natsume liked it. Thats just how guys are. When buying things, they either prioritize practicality or pure amusement. And in this case, Natsume had clearly gone with amusement. As long as it was wearable, that was good enough. "Really? I actually like this pajama set." Pulling at the hem of his pajamas and adjusting his apron, Natsumes tone carried a hint of something hard to describe. This was the first time he had dressed like this in front of a girl. It felt... weird. But seeing that Mei didnt seem to find it strange, he let out a quiet sigh of relief. In truth, he really did like this ridiculous little shark pajama set. "It actually looks pretty nice." "Natsume, you look really cute like this." Mei grinned, quickly sitting down at the table. It was quite a sight. Guys liked looking at pretty girls. But girls also enjoyed looking at handsome guys. Natsume simply smiled at Meis comment, not offering any particular response. Theres an old saying: If a girl says youre handsome, she might just be being polite. But if guys say youre handsomebro, you really are. "Alright, alright, enough flattery." "Hurry up and eat, our beautiful, kind, gentle, elegant, generous, and considerate Mei." "Oh my god, stop! Thats so embarrassing!" This time, it was Meis turn to feel shy. For some reason, she felt a mix of embarrassment and an inexplicable urgean urge to smack Natsume. And so, she did. Her hand, no longer as delicate after all the training and traveling, lightly patted Natsumes arm. Not in angermore like a playful gesture between close friends. But the moment her hand withdrew, she suddenly realized that, given their current relationship, that might not have been entirely appropriate. She quickly withdrew her hand and sat quietly at the table. Fortunately, Natsume remained as oblivious as ever, seemingly unfazed by her actions. Mei let out a long sigh of relief. Thank goodness. If Natsume had reacted with surprise, she mightve had to crawl into a hole and disappear. "Weird. I dont usually act like this." Mei lightly patted her own cheeks, confused by her emotions. Something felt off about herself today. Her actions, her feelingsnone of it seemed like how she normally behaved. If this had happened any other day, she probably wouldnt have reacted at all. She also wouldnt have any physical contact with a guy. After all, Mei was a completely inexperienced, hopeless romantic. Just a few months ago, she was still a lively, innocent high school girl. Wait... that phrasing sounded a little weird. "My face feels kinda hot." "Did I catch a cold last night?" Pressing the back of her hand to her cheek, feeling the warmth, Mei silently pondered. For modern people, whenever they feel unwellwhether its a headache, stomachache, sore feet, aching waist, or even just general discomfortthe default explanation is always: "Mustve caught a chill from not covering up properly last night." Of course, going to the hospital was still necessary. Pain has a way of humbling even the most stubborn people. Whats wrong? Noticing Mei acting strangely, Natsume found it odd. Whats up with this kid? Its nothing, nothing. Mei waved her hands repeatedly, working hard to control her emotions before quickly changing the topic to brush past it. Good, Natsume didnt notice anything unusual. Watching him clear the dining table, Mei let out a sigh of relief again. It was really great that he hadnt noticed anything. But what Mei didnt realize was that Natsumes gaze had been sweeping over her, lingering on her cheek for two full seconds before he thoughtfully nodded, as if something had just clicked in his mind. It had been mentioned beforeNatsume was a pure-hearted boy whose single status had lasted as long as his lifespan. No dating experience, no galgame experience. The only unrelated female he had the most contact with was his teacher. Whether his mind was pure was debatable, but his body certainly was. However, that didnt mean he was the typical dense protagonist. Many anime leads have a special kind of obliviousness, especially when it comes to romancethey hesitate and remain frustratingly unaware. Unfortunately, Natsume wasnt like that. He was the type who gave love-strategy advice to his dormmates, the tactical mastermind behind their relationships. Even though this was his first time being so close to a girl himself, Basic analysis was still within his skillset. Romance required brainpowerthis much, Natsume understood. About half an hour later, both Natsume and Mei were ready to go, having changed into their outfits for the day. The special training will last for another two or three days. After that, well need to report to the competition venue. Dressed in his usual style, Natsume looked at Mei, who was sitting obediently on the sofa. Though calling it his "usual style" wasnt entirely accurateit was more like his recent usual style. In the past, he had been too lazy to bother coordinating his outfits. As a result, his wardrobe had been a chaotic mixeither all black or a random combination of cargo pants and sports T-shirts. But lately, there had been some changes. Under Meis suggestions, Natsume had started experimenting with different styles. Today, he wore a white mandarin-collar shirt layered with a beige wool cardigan, paired with pure black suit pants. The overall look was relaxed and casual. Mei approved of his top, But as for the pants, she thought a matching color scheme might be better. Unfortunately, Natsume still preferred black pants. Maybe a pair of gold-rimmed glasses would complete the look? Mei had actually suggested he try a more trendy style before, But Natsume had firmly refused. When it came to clothing, he had his own principles. Flashy outfits were absolutely unacceptable. Natsume preferred solid-colored clothes. At least for now. Back in his chuunibyou phase, he had loved shirts with cat motifs on the back. And jackets with mismatched colors on both sides. Mei had no particular comment on that. Sometimes, saying nothing was already saying a lot. Mm-hmm. When the time comes, well be rivals. Mei nodded firmly, eyes burning with determination. A flame called fighting spirit. She had said before that she couldnt imagine winning against Natsume. Even if she sent out all her Pokmon at once, theyd be wiped out togethershe had witnessed that scene many times recently. But! A true Trainer never gives up so easily. If she didnt even dare to challenge him, then victory would never be possible. Besides, her Serperior and the others had been training incredibly hard. Even if she doubted herself, she had to trust in them. Last night, Mei had held Serperior close, chatting with her partners for a long time. They talked about their hopes for the future, about the upcoming battle. Compared to her own uncertainty, her Pokmon were brimming with confidence. Whether they could win was uncertain, but they were eager to test the fruits of their training. Just training alone wasnt enough to satisfy Pokmon who had already tasted victory. Though it might not sound nice to say That moment when an opponent falls, when their dreams and goals are shattered The exhilaration and fulfillment from that moment are unparalleled. Once youve experienced it, you cant help but crave more. Call it crushing someone elses dreams, or whatever else. It didnt matter. At the end of the day, battle is a cruel thing. No matter how many dreamers step forward, there will only ever be one champion. The rest will become stepping stones beneath the victors feet. Thus, the hunger for victory was completely justified. There was nothing shameful about it. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every Trainer knew and believed in this truth. After a long talk with her Pokmon, Mei fell asleep feeling content. She knew the chances of winning were slimprobably impossible. But that was something to worry about after the fight. Lets go see how their training is going. Natsume and Mei each mounted a Gogoat and headed toward the training grounds. Sure, teleporting there instantly with Gardevoir or Slowking would have been more convenient. But life isnt all about efficiency, is it? If sightseeing was just about the view, you could just look it up on your phone. Yet people still choose to travel in person. Seeing a beautiful sight is the goal, but the journey itself is just as important. Theyre probably already going at it full force. Mei could already picture Serperior and the others training with burning intensity. Aside from the more playful trash-talk endurance training, There was plenty of serious practice too Physical conditioning, move proficiency, new battle techniques, move combinations, simulated emergency responses in battle. They were training diligently in all aspects. Not just Meis Pokmon, but also the ones at Natsumes farm. Take that shiny Furret, for example. Rather than helping Serperior and the others with special training, It was more like it had simply included them in its own daily routine. Whether they could keep up was another matter entirely. Upon arriving at the training grounds, they were met with an unsurprising scene of intense action. Serperior was working hard to adjust to its evolved body. With the change in size, its fighting style had naturally shifted as well. Its improved stats and new moves from evolution had opened up a range of new combat possibilities. Pignite was going through the same process. As their Trainer, Mei had spent the past few days refining battle strategies for them. She had considered their evolved battle styles before, But those were just general guidelines taken from online research. Every Pokmon was uniqueno two fought exactly the same way. Personality, habits, physique, battle preferencesthese all played a role. So, the battle plans had to be adjusted accordingly, tailored to their natural growth and available moves. Mei had been completely swamped with all this. Normally, Slowking was very considerate and helped with everything, But in this case, he showed no intention of interfering. Im just a regular old Pokmon, man. Not my job to do a Trainers work. That was Slowkings official stance in Coach Mode. In reality, he just didnt want to get involved in such a hassle. At the end of the day, he wasnt even Meis Pokmon. Jumping into another Trainers battle planning seemed inappropriate, And it would probably lead to all kinds of future complications. After all, devising strategies for ones own Pokmon was a deeply personal task. It required revealing all their strengths, weaknesses, and growth plans. Asking someone else to do it was essentially handing over all your battle data. Stepping into that space uninvited? Yeah probably not a great idea. Although there had been some subtle signs, Slowking still preferred not to get involved. Not just signsso what if they actually got married? Marriage was never the end, but rather a new beginning. The days ahead were long. Who knew what would happen? "Absol?" Just as Mei and Natsume were discussing the upcoming tournament, Absol suddenly appeared before them, its face filled with unease and urgency. "Absol?" Natsume was a little surprised. In truth, ever since being captured, Absol had never been particularly close to him. It wasnt that it disliked Natsumeit simply preferred being alone. Much like some people who dont necessarily dislike their classmates and can get along just fine with them, but when it comes to gatherings, they''d rather skip and enjoy a quiet meal alone. Most of the time, Absol roamed the farm on its own, wandering around in deserted areas and putting on an aloof demeanor as it pondered life. It only showed up when Natsume specifically sought it out. Even during mealtimes, it preferred to find its own berries to eat. Taking into account the eating habits of certain Pokmon, Natsume had set aside a section of the berry grove as a self-service dining area for the Pokmon on the farm. The rest of the berries were sold outsidethis portion would simply be for internal consumption. That was the plan at the time. "Did something happen?" Crouching down, Natsume gazed at Absol seriously. Even if this Pokmon had some personality quirks, it was still an Absol. And Absols never joked about things like this. "Absol," it murmured. Something is coming from the north. That presence it feels familiar. Its the Pokmon that destroyed the forest. Lowering its head, Absol spoke in a hushed voice. No matter how much it might despise that creature, there was no denying its power. Right now, Absol was deeply unsettled. Chapter 100: Zorua: I’m Back! In video games, bosses and elite monsters typically stay within their designated areas and dont wander off. But reality doesnt always work that way. There are always some creatures who, despite being at the bottom of their own ecosystems, seek a better experience by venturing into weaker territories to reign supreme. And then there are those who, simply out of sheer boredom, like to roam around aimlessly. Most of the time, rangers dont bother intervening unless these creatures cause significant disruptions to the local ecosystem. Like the Pokmon Absol had just mentionedthe one heading toward the farm. According to Absol, this Pokmon didnt seem to have any specific goal. It was as if it was purely causing destruction in the forest just to spread fear. "Don''t panic. Everything will be fine." Seeing Absol''s obvious distress, Natsume extended his palm and channeled the power of Viridian to soothe its emotions. Bathed in the soft green glow, Absol''s previously restless heart seemed to settle. At the very least, it no longer appeared to be in a state of extreme panic, uncertain of what to do. "Absol, go find Persian and Ogerpon for me." "I need to check something first." "Sol." Absol nodded, then turned and leaped away, disappearing from Natsume''s sight in just a few agile bounds. Although Absol wasn''t a Pokmon known for its speed, it moved with remarkable dexterity. Rather than raw speed, its time spent navigating the wilderness had honed its ability to jump and climb. It was likely more adept at scaling rocks and leaping across terrain than outright sprinting. "Should we contact the rangers?" As Absol left, Mei turned to Natsume and asked. Earlier, Natsume had already called the rangers to report the presence of a powerful Pokmon causing havoc in the northern forest. After confirming the situation, the rangers had even sent him a small banner of appreciation and a 5,000 reward. A symbolic gesture, more for encouragement than any real financial significance. Still, Natsume had accepted it happily. After all, he had been the kind of kid who always dreamed of earning a Bravery Award for doing the right thing. Now, he had kind of achieved that goal, right? The ranger who delivered the banner also left a personal contact number, offering further assistance if needed. At the time, Natsume had just saved the number without much thought. Now, it was coming in handy. "Yeah, lets give them a call." "Though I think I already have a good idea of what''s going on." Nodding, Natsume scrolled through his phone to find the rangers contact. Despite the alarming nature of Absols report, he remained composed. When it came to unexpected situations, Natsume had a simple philosophy: For minor issues, theres no need to panicits pointless. For major ones, panicking doesnt help eitherso why bother? In short, panicking serves no purpose. Besides, no matter what happens, the farm isnt going anywhere. Its not like they could just pack up and leave. Sure, relocating might seem like an easy option on the surface. But while Natsume didnt have any deep sentimental attachment to the farm itself, the idea of being forced to move was irritating. A minute or two later "As expected." Hanging up the call, Natsumes expression was one of confirmation rather than surprise. At first, he hadn''t been able to picture what kind of powerful Pokmon Absol was describing. But after discussing it in more detail, he figured it out. That thingit was Ting-Lu. One of the Treasures of Ruin. Not that he could really be blamed for not recognizing it sooner. Most of the Legendary Pokmon introduced in the later generations hadnt left a deep impression on him. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among the four Treasures of Ruin, the only ones Natsume could vividly remember were Chi-Yu and Chien-Pao. Mostly because they looked better. Especially Chi-Yuarguably the best-looking of the four. At the end of the day, humans are visual creatures. Good-looking beings always get preferential treatment. "The ranger Union went into the forest and did encounter the Pokmon," Natsume relayed. "But they couldnt beat it." "Theyll probably issue a public alert soon." Aside from disaster warnings, there were also occasional Pokmon-related alerts. Most of them involved Legendary Pokmon waking from their slumber, still groggy with "morning rage," and rampaging through the land. For small island nations, having one of these creatures wake up could mean complete destruction. After all, Legendary Pokmon werent just symbols of absolute power. They were disasters incarnate. Even something as relatively common as the trio of Legendary Birds could be as devastating as a natural disaster to the average person. "I see..." Mei nodded, her face tinged with concern. Natsume had briefly mentioned earlier that this Pokmon might be a Legendary of some sort. For Mei, a newly minted trainer, the idea of facing a Legendary Pokmon felt almost surreal. Like something that only existed in textbooks suddenly appearing right before her eyes. She also remained blissfully unaware that Ogerpon was, in fact, a Mythical Pokmon. Then again, Ogerpon was naturally a low-profile creature. Very few people had ever seen one. And around the farm, it always wore the mask that Natsume had given it, wandering about in disguise. Even if Mei had noticed it, she wouldnt have associated this clingy little cutie with a Mythical Pokmon. She had simply gotten used to the fact that the farm was filled with all kinds of Pokmonsome familiar, some she had never even heard of. "Itll be fine. No need to worry." Seeing the concern in Meis eyes, Natsume smiled reassuringly. He could understand Meis concernsafter all, the idea of a Legendary Pokmon still felt a bit too distant for her. Suosuo. Yeah, yeah, dont worry. Im here. "That''s right, Zorua is also" Mid-sentence, Natsume suddenly realized something. He turned his head, only to find Zoruawho had somehow returned unnoticedsquatting on the ground, grinning mischievously at him and Mei. That smirk was seriously aggravating. Some people just have a natural talent for making others mad just by standing there doing nothing. Maybe it was a gift. "When did you get back?" He scooped up Zorua and gave its head a good, vigorous rub. To be honest, seeing Zorua again instantly put Natsume at ease. Even though hed had some confidence before, the fact remained that their opponent was a Legendary Pokmon. To say he wasnt worried at all would be a lie. No matter how indifferent he acted on the surface, deep down, there was still a trace of unease. But now that Zorua was back, he felt reassured. At least the farm had a solid safety net now. Thinking this, Natsume hugged Zorua and gave it another round of intense rubbing. Was it just his imagination, or did its fur feel even smoother than before? It also seemed chubbier. "You little rascal dont tell me you gobbled up all those Pokblocks in one go?" "Why do you feel heavier?" Natsume suddenly put two and two together. Before Zorua had left, it had taken a hefty supply of Pokblocks with itenough to feed Corviknight, Persian, and the shiny Furret for about a month and a half. And yet, this little glutton had devoured them all in less than a month? No wonder it looked like it had gained weight! "Suosuo!" Comfortably nestled in Natsumes arms, Zorua froze for a second before immediately struggling in protest. What do you mean, fat?! Im still growing! This is just my growth phase, okay?! At most, Im just a little chubby! "So, you admit you got chubby." Natsumes merciless remark landed like a critical hit. Zorua has fainted. These days, people like to act as if a little chubby doesnt count as chubby at all. But honestly? Thats just self-deception. Or maybe men and women simply have different definitions of "a little chubby"? Anyway, he was getting off track. "Suosuo" Zorua tried its best to argue that it hadnt actually gotten fat, just grown bigger. But, in the end, Pokmon were no match for humans when it came to debating. "Alright, alright. I almost forgot what I was doing thanks to you." Natsume casually tossed Zorua to the ground, clapped his hands, and looked up. Absol, whom he had sent to fetch the others, was already on its way back, its silhouette visible in the distance. But more noticeable than Absol Was the shiny Furret charging toward him at full speed. "Fur!" The moment it spotted Natsume, the Furrets eyes lit up. Even in broad daylight, that excitement was impossible to miss. "Fur!" It got even more fired up, increasing its already impressive speed. A gust of wind kicked up in its wake, sending stray blades of grass flying. "Waithold on!" Natsume''s expression changed the moment he saw Shiny Furret. He opened his mouth to say something, but it was already too late. After a running start, Shiny Furret built up momentum, gathered its strength, and leaped high into the air. Its long, slender body arced gracefully through the sky. And then BAM! A head capable of breaking stone slammed directly into Natsumes stomach. Urgh Man and Pokmon rolled across the ground like a pair of tumbleweeds. It wasnt a pretty sight. "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop charging at me like that!" Looking at the shiny Furret now sprawled across his stomach, flashing a cute, innocent look, Natsume exasperatedly knocked its head a few times. To Furrets thick skull, though, the force was barely a massage. "Fur?" Tilting its head, Shiny Furret gave an adorably clueless smile. No wonder people called it a pink, fluffy ball of cuteness. Unfortunately, its reward for that smile was another round of Natsumes "gentle discipline." If this were a comedy manga, Furret would probably have a head full of cartoonish bumps by nowlooking like a Buddhas curly headpiece. "If it were anyone else, theyd probably be skipping the hospital and heading straight for the grave after a hit like that." "Fur." But Id never pounce on anyone but you, Natsume. "So this is your special way of showing affection?" "Fur." Ehehe. Grabbing Shiny Furret by the underarms, Natsume lifted it and tossed it to the side before rubbing his sore stomach. Recalling the sensation from just now, he let out a sigh. His fluffy, pink, adorable little Shiny Furret Was no more. Mei had mentioned before that Natsume hadnt been cuddling Shiny Furret to sleep recently. At first, she suspected it might be because Shiny Furret was shedding. But then she reconsidered. For someone like Natsume, who lived surrounded by Pokmon, a bit of shedding shouldnt have been an issue. It was like cat ownersonce you let a cat onto your bed, you just learn to accept the fur. So, clearly, the reason wasnt that simple. In truth, the reason was quite straightforward. It was just that "Its not as comfy as before." Ever since Shiny Furret had gotten hooked on training, its muscle growth had been unstoppable. On the outside, it still looked like a smooth, fluffy bundle of cuteness. But the moment you touched it It was like a bodybuilder wearing a fur suit. That was the feeling. Visually, Shiny Furret was still adorable. But as a cuddle buddy? Absolutely not. Sleeping with it now just felt uncomfortable. Luckily, Shiny Furret had been getting up early every day to train on its own. That actually made things more convenient for both of them. "Meow." Trailing behind Shiny Furret, Persian took one look at Furretwho was grinning like an idiotthen shifted its gaze to Natsume, who was still getting up from the ground. It immediately understood the situation. This fool pounced on Natsume again, huh? No matter how many times it was told not to, this bad habit just wouldnt go away. Annoyed, Persian raised a paw and smacked Shiny Furret right on the head. It used to think this kid was alright, but somehow, somewhere along the line It had gone astray. Hmph. Must be that stupid birds influence. Next time that fool comes to challenge me, Ill make sure to hit harder. Persian made a silent vow. After all, it had seen Corviknight trying to "spread the gospel" to the other Pokmon way too many timesrecommending games, anime, and even keeping a notebook of famous quotes. Persian had every reason to believe that any Pokmon on the farm that had started acting weird Had been corrupted by Corviknight. So, a little discipline every now and then? Perfectly reasonable. At that moment, Corviknightcompletely oblivious to its impending 800th defeatwas still deep in thought, brainstorming what trash talk to use during its afternoon training session. After long training sessions, even Corviknight found it challenging to keep up with its trash-talk repertoire. Damn, I almost ran out of lines during last night''s training. No wayI need to come up with more today. Ummah. The last one to arrive was Ogerpon, who wasnt exactly fast and had to rely on its short little legs to waddle over. Compared to the other quadrupedal Pokmon, Ogerpons tiny legs were definitely a disadvantage when it came to running. But just like Shiny Furret, its eyes lit up the moment it saw Natsume, and it launched itself forward with a running leap. Fortunately, Ogerpons impact was much lighter than Furretsso much so that even an ordinary person could catch it without a problem. All right, everyone. I called you here because theres something important I need to tell you Chapter 101: Ting-Lu and Pre-Battle Preparations? Once all the Pokmon had gathered, Natsume held the still-fuming and struggling Zorua in his arms and began explaining the current situation. Simply put, a powerful Pokmon was making its way toward the farm. If nothing unexpected happened, it would either pass by or cut straight through the farm. And when that happened, things would likely become a complete mess. Perhaps, just like that forest before, everything would be thrown into chaos. At that point, everyone would end up like those poor Steenee and Absolhomeless (scratch that). Surely, you, Persian/Ogerpon/Shiny Furret/Slowking/Zorua, wouldnt want your hard-earned home to be destroyed, right? Ahem. Time to get serious. "So, that''s the situation." After finishing his explanation, Natsume clapped his hands and stood up from the ground. Speaking of which, he wasnt sure when it happened, but it seemed that the farm had completely cured his mild germophobia. In the past, he definitely wouldnt have chosen to sit down on the grass like this. For one, his pants might get covered in dirt and grass clippings. And another thingsome wild grass could be really prickly. Especially in autumn. That sensation? Absolutely stimulating. "Umma!" Ogerpon was the first to respond, declaring with conviction that it would absolutely defeat that Pokmon and protect the farm. I will defend everything on this farmincluding the phone and the computer. That was the declaration from Ogerpon, who had recently been following Corviknight in a rigorous anime marathon. "Yadon." Slowking clasped its hands behind its back, tilting its head in thought. A massive Pokmon, with an ancient bronze cauldron on its head. Seems like some kind of divine beast? In the knowledge left behind by Uxie, there was indeed mention of this Pokmon But only in passing, so Slowking wasnt too sure. Not that it mattered. A divine beast or not, Slowking wasnt particularly concerned. Scanning the odd bunch around it, Slowking had never felt such a profound sense of security. A mythical Grass-type Pokmonthough far from its peak, still a formidable force. A Persian with absurd physical prowessso far, Slowking had never seen another Pokmon with a more ridiculous build. Shiny Furret... Hmm. Skip. And then there was that one currently in Natsumes arms. At first, Slowking just had a vague sense that something was off. But it couldnt quite figure out what. Lately, though, it had started to understand a bit. Now it was just waiting for this one to reveal itself. Slowking was quite looking forward to it. Its seemingly vacant eyes locked onto Zorua, showing no intention of hiding its curiosity. Sensing Slowkings gaze, Zorua turned its head to glance back, flashing a mischievous grin. Slowking withdrew its gaze and looked toward the sky. Hmm. Nice weather today. As for Persian, it hadnt reacted much from the start. The only noticeable change was that, upon hearing that the Pokmon might be a divine beast, its tail began swaying faster and with greater intensity. Its long tail continuously smacked against the ground. If they were indoors, the sound of its tail hitting the floor would be echoing throughout the house. "Ah, the alert is here." Just as Natsume was about to say something, a notification popped up on his phone. It was an official alert from the Ranger Union, briefly outlining the current situation. Attached were several imagesone showing the Pokmons predicted path, another showing the Pokmon itself. And at the bottom, a warning: "Trainers in the vicinity are strongly advised to evacuate immediately. Do not approach. Do not observe. Do not approach. Unless you genuinely believe yourself to be exceptionally powerful. But if you die, we are not responsible." Of course, the alert didnt phrase it quite so bluntly. But that was essentially the message. After all, the trainer community was never short of thrill-seekers with a death wish. Any sensible person would understand that reckless people inevitably meet bad ends. But trainers? They must have an adventurous spirit! Opening the map, Natsumes farm was, unsurprisingly, right in the path. Strictly speaking, it wasnt just his farmthe whole town was in the way. That probably meant a full-scale evacuation for the townspeople. What a hassle. Natsume then opened the second image And a very hefty-looking Pokmon filled his screen. "So, it really is Ting-Lu." Forgive Natsume for using hefty as the descriptor. To be honest, none of the Four Treasures of Ruin were really his aesthetic. Wo-Chien and Ting-Lu? Not even going to comment. They had power, sure. But as for looks? They also had power. Natsume had no words about their appearance. And sometimes, saying nothing was the biggest statement of all. The remaining two, Chien-Pao and Chi-Yu, were relatively okay. At least they were within a reasonable aesthetic range. But the enormous eyeballs of Chi-Yu and the sword-like fangs of Chien-Pao... both felt a bit offas if their designs were forcibly emphasizing the artifact motif. "Let me think... Ting-Lu specializes in physical defense, right?" Natsume tried to recall its stats. If memory served, Ting-Lu excelled in HP and physical defense. Each of the Four Treasures of Ruin had two particularly strong attributes, and their abilities perfectly complemented their combat styles. Ting-Lu had high HP and physical defense, but weaker special defense. Its ability, Vessel of Ruin, lowered the special attack of opposing Pokmon. The same applied to the others. For instance, Chi-Yu had high special attack and special defense, and its ability, Beads of Ruin, reduced the special defense of others. So, against Ting-Lu, was it better to use special attackers or physical attackers? Hard to say. Its sheer defensive bulk made it hard to crack with physical moves, yet special attacks wouldnt hit as hard due to its ability. Not that this was Natsumes problem to solve. Glancing at his team, Natsume felt a bit helpless. Aside from Slowking, everyone was a physical attacker. Persian? Stat-wise, only its Speed was truly exceptional, and its movepool was mostly physical moves. Ogerpon? A physical attacker, with barely any special moves to speak of. The only proper special attacker here was Slowking. Oh, and Gardevoir. After all, she was the Psychic Queen. As for frontline tanks, Corviknight was the only option. With its current strength, Corviknight should be able to hold its own against Ting-Lu for a while. But the issue was... Ting-Lu wasnt a nimble Pokmon. Its massive frame dictated a stand-your-ground fighting style. Whereas Corviknight fought in the air. Most of Ting-Lus attacks probably wouldnt even be a real threat to Corviknight. But Corviknight wasnt about to intentionally get hit just to deal damage. Thatd be highly unprofessional. Still, even if it wasnt the perfect matchup As long as the fundamentals were solid, it would work. Natsume had faith in Corviknight. Personality flaws aside, when it came to battles, he never doubted Corviknights capabilities. From the very beginning, Corviknight had always been the serious and intelligent type. Any agreed-upon strategy would be executed with precision, and when faced with unexpected situations, it could remain calm and handle them on its own. Perhaps it was because the first anime protagonist it encountered was the cool and collected type. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So Corviknight had always demanded of itself to become a calm and mature Pokmon. To battle with composure, analyze the situation, and then ruthlessly defeat its opponent. Even though its true nature wasnt that cool-headed, at least during battle, Corviknight would do its best to suppress itself. Might as well call Corviknight over too. After thinking it over, Natsume turned to Slowking and said, Slowking, could you let Corviknight know to come here as well? Yadon. Hearing Natsumes words, Slowking, who had been counting clouds, snapped back to reality and nodded. A faint blue glow flickered in its eyes. With almost no effort, Slowking locked onto Corviknight, who was sunbathing on the rooftop. Corviknights daily routine was pretty fixed. It was either sunbathing or holed up in its room binge-watching anime. Lately, it had been coming to the training grounds before lunch for special practice. ...Which mostly involved spewing trash talk. At first, Corviknight found it quite enjoyable. But over time, it started feeling like being forced to turn in homework. It had already exhausted all the trash talk it could come up with, its mind running dry. Yet Serperior and the others kept dragging it in for more intense training, As if determined to squeeze every last ounce of trash talk out of Corviknights brain. Because of this, Corviknight had been surfing various forums lately to study up on insults. To better expand its arsenal, it even started a discussion thread on a certain forum. Basically, it was debating which past Champions winning team had carried dead weight, who had actually put in effort, whose playstyle lacked teamwork, and who was the biggest "CJB" (carry or just bait). Unsurprisingly, the thread was so controversial that Corviknight got itself launched into the stratosphere that very night. The replies kept piling up endlessly. Corviknight took the opportunity to absorb as much as it could. Back to the present Yadon. Natsume is looking for you. Slowkings voice echoed directly in Corviknights mind. The once-lazy Corviknight, basking in the sun, suddenly flailed in shock and flipped over. What the hell just spoke in my head?! Still half-dazed from the sun, Corviknight felt like a student being forcefully yanked out of bed and shoved into school mode. Its body was awake, but its mind was still lagging behind. After a few seconds, it finally registered that it was Slowking speaking to it. Caw-caw! Perched on the rooftop, Corviknight took a few steps forward, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky. In the blink of an eye, it had turned into a small black dot in the distance. It didnt know what was going on, but since Boss Natsume had called, it had to get moving immediately. On the farm, it didnt matter where you were from, It didnt matter if you were a clan leader or a lone wanderer. Here, there was only one bossBoss Natsume. This was an unspoken rule recognized by all the Pokmon on the farm. And with certain Pokmon spreading the word, Natsumes reputation was no longer limited to just the farm. Even some Pokmon in the surrounding areas had started to hear of Boss Natsumes "fame." Basically He made amazing food, could understand Pokmon speech, and could fight even better than Pokmon. At this point, who was the real Pokmon here? Caw-caw. With Corviknights speed, it took less than half a minute to reach the training grounds. Its sharp eyes quickly scanned the area, found Natsume, and descended. It seemed that most flying Pokmon had exceptional eyesight. At least, those that could fly did. Caw-caw! Boss Natsume, Im here! After landing, Corviknight saluted in a serious manner. Even though I already explained, lets go over everything again. Seeing Corviknight arrive, Natsume once again detailed the current situation. He also added some intel Including information about Ting-Lu, its characteristics, and what to watch out for if a battle broke out. Yes, unless something unexpected happened, it was almost certain that Natsume would end up fighting Ting-Lu. It wasnt that he didnt trust the rangers or anything. It was just that, given Ting-Lus speed, by the time reliable reinforcements arrived, it would already be near the farm. The destructive power of a Ground-type Legendary was undeniable. Even if it was just passing through, it was enough to give Natsume a headache. Its very footsteps would cause the ground to tremble slightly. And if Ting-Lu got too close, the town would likely suffer damage as well. Natsumes farm was on the southwestern edge of town, while Ting-Lu was coming from the north. It was almost inevitable that the town would be affected. Despite being a small, relatively unknown town, Natsume had grown quite fond of it. The people here were nice. There werent any of those clich, obnoxious characters youd see in certain stories. Sure, there were probably some unpleasant people around, but that kind of person existed everywhere. It wasnt like this town had a monopoly on jerks. There were terrible people all over the world. But that didnt mean you should hate the world just because of them. That would be ridiculous. I wonder if Id be overstepping. But I should still go check things out. With that decision made, Natsume temporarily called off todays training. Persian, Slowking, Ogerpon, Corviknight, Gardevoir, and Galladeyoure all coming with me. Like a general selecting warriors before battle, Natsume chose his team. Originally, he wasnt sure whether to bring Gallade. Strictly speaking, Gallade didnt have much of an advantage against Ting-Lu. But then again, there werent many better options. So, might as well bring it along. An extra fighter wouldnt hurt. If things go south, Ill be counting on you. After giving his instructions, Natsume turned to the Zorua in his arms. This little guy was the ace of the farm. Suosuo. Leave it to me. With a mischievous grin, Zorua looked completely confident. It was the kind of look that reminded people of a certain infamous "Warden" meme. Will we win? Maybe this was just the confidence of the strong. Chapter 102: Preparations Complete—Corviknight, Take Off! After making his decision, Natsume returned home with his Pokmon to make the necessary preparations. From gathering supplies to planning battle strategies, he went over everything he could think of. For supplies, Natsume packed his bag full of various potions and medicineParalyze Heals, Max Potions, Full Restores, you name it. He even threw in some Revive Herbs and Energy Roots, despite them being raw materials that hadn''t been processed yet. Why did Natsume have all these things? Simple. They were originally meant for making Pokblocks. With the mindset that theyd come in handy sooner or later, he had stocked up quite a bit in his personal storage. Whether theyd actually be used was another matter, but just having them there gave him peace of minda sense of security and an ideal future. And now, that foresight was paying off. With these supplies at the ready, Natsume felt much more at ease. The safety net they provided meant he could afford more mistakes during battle. This This was the triumph of the hoarders mindset! As long as he hoarded enough and survived long enough, nothing would ever go to waste! Besides, Natsume had another trump card. He rummaged through his wardrobe and pulled out a well-preserved wooden box. After opening it to check, he found a single feather resting quietly insideone that shimmered with a dreamy glow, even in broad daylight. This feather had mysteriously appeared on his windowsill during a full moon night. It seemed to be a little gift from some Pokmon. He threaded it onto a simple cord, tied a quick knot, and slipped it around his neck. Then, as he took out his long-unused Trainer outfit from the wardrobe, he sighed. "Come to think of it, even if we do manage to defeat that thing, what happens next is gonna be a huge headache." After fastening his tactical belt and securing his emergency potions and supplies, Natsume couldn''t help but feel a little troubled. Sure, it was still too early to be thinking about that now. Planning for victory before the battle even began was an easy way to get overconfident and crashlike popping champagne at halftime. They usually got flipped pretty hard. Those overly confident people who said things like, "This battle will be over in no time," were typically the ones who got knocked out the moment the fight began. Having been thoroughly conditioned by modern internet culture, Natsume naturally wouldn''t go around setting up death flags. But he was seriously considering this issue. First, the opponent was a legendary Pokmon. He didnt have a Pok Ball capable of capturing it. Using an ordinary Pok Ball to catch a legendary Pokmon? That was about as likely as money raining down from the sky. Even if, by some stroke of absurd luck, he did manage to catch it with a regular Pok Ball, it wouldn''t be able to hold a legendary Pokmon. If the Pokmon willingly followed him, like Ogerpon did, that would be one thing. But if it resisted, the Pok Ball would probably shatter instantly. Second, Ting-Lu was born from fear as one of the Treasures of Ruin. Natsume really didnt want to get entangled with something like that. He couldn''t exactly capture it and just release it onto the farm, right? Leaving aside its massive size, just the fact that a mere thought from it could crack the earth open was enough to make Natsume sleep with one eye open at night. Otherwise, he might wake up to find himself buried under his own collapsed house. Just imagine: waking up to a clear blue sky above, hard ground below, and a pile of rubble covering him. That would be a nightmare. "Forget it, I''ll think about this later." Shaking his head, Natsume pushed the thought aside. This was a problem for the victor to deal with. Right now, he hadn''t even won the battlehell, he hadnt even seen the enemy yet. The priority was preparing for the upcoming fight. According to the latest warning, Ting-Lu''s influence would reach the farm by tonight at the latest. When that happened, there wouldnt be any time for leisure. Rather than waiting for the enemy to come knocking and being forced into battle, Natsume preferred to take the initiativegive the enemy a little surprise while they were still on the move. As a certain modern street-fighting master once said: "If youre planning to fight someone, the best approach is to run them over with a truck the night before." That way, victory was guaranteed. Strictly speaking, it made a lot of sense. "Cawk!" At the door, Corviknight stood ready, watching Natsume excitedly. Well, "ready" just meant that Natsume had fed it a few berries to temporarily boost its stats and tied a Focus Sash around its head. The Focus Sash ensured that if Corviknight was hit by a fatal attack, it would survive with just one HP. A one-time use item, but one that could be a lifesaver. Wild battles werent like official matches; there were no strict rules. In the wild, being able to recall a Pokmon into its ball to dodge attacks was a vital strategy. As long as Corviknight had one HP left, Natsume could pull it back and heal it before the next attack. Fortunately, Ting-Lu wasnt particularly fast. It was a classic large-scale boss: A massive body, terrifying defense, wide attack range, and considerable power. Most Pokmon wouldnt even survive a glancing blow. In a way, it felt a bit like playing a bullet-hell game. "Lets go, Corviknight." Climbing onto Corviknights back, Natsume gently patted its head. Normally, he wouldnt be this gentle. But right before a battle, he was worried that hitting too hard might short-circuit Corviknights already questionable brain. Tactically speaking, Corviknight had the most instructions to remember. With its current mindset of "use Iron Defense, then spam Peck," Natsume was genuinely concerned it might just charge in headfirst. That would be a textbook case of "trial and error," except the error would be fatal. "Cawk!" Black feathers gleamed with a metallic sheen under the sunlight. As Corviknight flapped its wings, a strong gust of wind kicked up. In the blink of an eye, the scenery below transformed into an endless stretch of blue sky. Only by soaring through the air could one truly understand humanitys long-standing obsession with flightthe deep yearning, the indescribable thrill of finally breaking free from the ground. "If only Pidgeotto had evolved already..." Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling the wind rush past his ears, Natsume thought of the shiny Pidgeotto training hard back at the farm. For some reason, despite having plenty of Pidgey and Pidgeotto in the area, there wasnt a single Pidgeot. If there were a Pidgeot, this battle would be much easier. He could let Corviknight fight head-on while he rode Pidgeot, observing and directing from above. After all, Pidgeot was typically trained in two ways: Speed and ranged attacks. Their physique was solid, sure, but that was mostly a byproduct of training for greater speed. At least in Natsumes view, while Pidgeot could fight in close combat, there was no reason to. Why go for melee when you could kite the opponent from a distance? What, to make the fight more thrilling and suspenseful? That was like an ADC flashing forward in a team fight. Do it right, and youre a herothe chosen one, the MVP. Screw it up, and youre a liability, remembered forever as the guy who threw the game. Possibly even the reason you get benched, or retire altogether. "Pidge..." The shiny Pidgeotto, hard at training, seemed to sense something and looked up. Its sharp eyes locked onto Corviknight and Natsume soaring in the sky. That looks amazing... fighting alongside Natsume. Im a bird too. I can be a flying mount too! I just need to work harder. Shiny Pidgeotto wasnt obsessed with the idea of fighting alongside Natsumeat least, not in a sentimental way. It was just annoyed. If it were the only Flying-type on the farm, or if Corviknight wasnt much better than it, maybe it wouldnt care as much. But comparison was the thief of joy. Corviknight was already Natsumes go-to aerial ride. And what about it? If it werent shiny, Natsume probably wouldnt even remember it existed. That contrast stung. Even when alone, late at night, that feeling gnawed at its heart. If it wanted to change things, it had to get stronger. At the very least, it had to evolve into Pidgeot. Thanks to Persian and Natsumes efforts, the farms atmosphere was generally harmonious. Even when competition arose, it was always healthyno underhanded tricks. Pidgeotto wasnt the only Pokmon feeling this way. Many of the Pokmon left behind felt a little disappointed. Unlike the previous friendly competition, this time Natsume needed their strengthbut they werent strong enough to help. Aside from Zorua, Natsume had only brought six Pokmon with him. Partly because of his own limits in commanding multiple Pokmon. Partly because... there really werent any better choices. "Furret!" Back at the farm, the shiny Furret was training intensely, determined to cover every inch of the land with its sweat. It understood why Natsume hadnt brought it along. After all, it wasnt the best fit for this fight. Simply put, it was off-role. But the flip side of that was: Off-role Useless. If it was strong enough, type matchups wouldnt matter. If a Groudon can beat a Pidgey, why couldn''t it? Even if it had to launch Precipice Blades beneath its own feet to ride the earth into the sky. (But Groudon probably wouldnt be thrilled about that.) "What a commotion..." Riding on Corviknights back, Natsume felt a rare moment of calm. It seemed as if all of his worries and concerns had been left behind on the ground. At this moment, in the sky, there was only Natsume himselfnothing extra existed. However, this tranquility didnt last long. Before long, Natsume noticed some commotion in the distance. The ground was trembling, and in the far distance, a distinct "path" was visible. That was the trail left behind by Ting-Lu as it moved forward. When it encountered forests, it toppled them. When it met slopes, it destroyed them. Fortunately, the terrain in this area was relatively flat. Otherwise, Ting-Lu might have been forced to embark on a mountain-crossing journey. Maybe he would have even witnessed Ting-Lu moving mountains? For some unknown reason, Legendary Pokmon in this world were much stronger than their counterparts in games and anime. At the very least, they wouldnt end up like a 3.5-meter Groudon exchanging blows with a few other Legendaries, only for the glass windows of nearby buildings to remain perfectly intact. If Ting-Lu truly wished to, flattening a small mountain peak wasnt beyond its capabilities. "What kind of stubborn brute is this?" On the path of Ting-Lu''s advance, a middle-aged forest ranger looked extremely grim. The moment he saw Ting-Lu, he immediately realized This thing was definitely not something he could handle. If he went up against it, he would just be throwing himself away. So, he decisively avoided direct combat, doing his best to stall for time while attempting to divert Ting-Lu toward less populated areas. However, unsurprisingly, he failed. An Absol had already proven with its own experience that guerrilla tactics were ineffective against this creature. One mistake meant certain defeat. The guerrilla strategy had officially failed. Attempts to guide Ting-Lu elsewhere also proved fruitless. He and his colleagues had tried everything. From using food as a lure to attacking it to grab its attentionthey had tried almost everything short of using a honey trap. Yet, the Pokmon identified in the records as "Ting-Lu" remained unwavering in its chosen path. Their efforts were as insignificant as fleas on the roadside. Ineffective, ignored, and seemingly useless. "All we can do now is hope that reinforcements arrive soon." With a sigh, the middle-aged man, originally sent as backup, felt like his head had never ached this much before. But what else could he do? He wasnt a hero, but he also couldnt just flee from battle. Just as he was bracing himself to try another approach, a massive Corviknight descended from the sky. "Hello, Ranger." "My name is Natsume, and Im a farm owner nearby." "If you dont mind, I can try to help." A young man jumped down from Corviknight, speaking sincerely to the middle-aged ranger. Chapter 103: Buffing Before Battle Is Just Common Sense "Huh?" The middle-aged ranger was momentarily stunned as he looked at Natsumes youthful face. It wasnt that he doubted Natsumes abilities. Though, admittedly, Natsumes young appearance sometimes made people question his maturity and reliability. But in truth, the rangers first thought upon seeing Natsume wasnt skepticismit was: Where did this young prodigy come from? As an experienced ranger, he had spent years traversing the forests of Eastern Region. Encountering lesser-known but incredibly powerful trainers was nothing unusual. Every so often, hed run into young individuals whose abilities defied logic. People like that are usually called geniuses. Dont ask how they got their Pokmon. Some were picked up by chance. Some grew up together. Some were encountered on the road. Some were chosen. Some were nurtured by others. None of that really mattered. As long as they could command their Pokmon in battle, their strength was undeniable. After all, powerful Pokmon have their own pride. If their trainer was a brainless fool, they wouldnt stick around. Simply keeping a powerful Pokmon after capturing it was proof enough of a trainers capability. So when Natsume stepped up and volunteered, the middle-aged ranger didnt find it particularly surprising. At the very least, he wasnt about to act like those clich city folks in novelsquestioning and ridiculing the newcomer, only to be humiliated later. He had learned his lesson the hard way in his younger days. By the time you reach middle age, you stop making those kinds of mistakes. The ranger sighed internally. Of course, he had considered the possibility that Natsume was just some overconfident kid, the type who thought, Even if I cant help much, I still have to try! But the moment he saw the Corviknight Natsume was riding, all doubts vanished. That Corviknight was strong. You could tell just by its stance. It was far bigger than usualat least 2.5 meters tall, maybe even 3 meters. When it landed, it felt like the sky itself was crashing down. Its wingspan was terrifying. And it was clearly well-developednot just big for show, but genuinely powerful. A true airborne fortress... Hello, Mr. Natsume. Im Shouhei, a ranger sent for reinforcement. Heres my identification. Following protocol, Shouhei quickly introduced himself before explaining the situation. The first wave of rangers had already been wiped out and was now receiving medical attention. The second waveincluding himselfwasnt faring much better. Even with intelligence from the first group, they still had no real solution. At first, they had hoped to negotiate peacefully. But that Pokmon was like a Honey Badgerit simply didnt care. It didnt understand human speech. It was unbelievably stubborn. No matter what they tried, they couldnt lead it away from populated areas. It just kept marching forward. Shouheis own Pokmon had been flattened in a single strike during an attempt to communicate. They had barely avoided a total team wipe. It was frustrating. He had always been good at communicating with Pokmon. Even angry Pokmon usually responded to negotiation. But this one? It didnt acknowledge humans at all. Hopefully reinforcements are on the way... Lately, incidents were breaking out all over the place. The rangers, who used to grumble about bureaucratic bloat, now found themselves understaffed. Even retirees were being called back into service. Thats just how the job was. No matter how many people you had, when a crisis hit, it was never enough. When Shouhei was younger, he had dreamed of becoming a legendary ranger A warrior and diplomat who could both battle fiercely and resolve conflicts peacefully. He imagined himself mentoring younger rangers, swooping in at their moment of peril to save the day, earning their admiration before walking away in style. But reality didnt work that way. He lacked the talent and stamina to be that kind of hero. Eventually, he gave up and shifted toward a support rolefocusing on communication rather than combat. It wasnt about not trying hard enough. He simply understood his limits. No matter how much effort he put in, he could never match prodigies, heirs of powerful families, or those blessed by sheer luck. Once he accepted that, he found peace. From then on, he left fighting to his colleagues and Pokmon. After so many years, he had almost forgotten what real battle felt like. That Pokmon is extremely strong. Its attacks cover a wide area. If you charge in recklessly, itll be incredibly dangerous. At first, he had been relieved to see someone volunteering to help. But now, he was starting to worry. He had seen Ting-Lu''s power firsthand. It was disastrous. Its fine, Natsume replied calmly. If things get dangerous, Gardevoir will teleport me out. He tapped a Pok Ball lightly. Gardevoir emerged. Seeing the Psychic-type at Natsumes side, Shouhei finally relaxed a little. After all, their job wasnt just to distract Ting-Lu. Their real mission was protecting civilians. It already felt weird having a civilian join the fight. If something happened to Natsume, Shouhei wouldnt be able to face his family. Ill be counting on you, then, young comrade. My teammates are positioned along the route, ready to intercept that Pokmon. He smiled apologetically, then forwarded the Ting-Lu''s path to Natsume. Since he wasnt much of a fighter, it was best to leave this to others. Understood. Natsume nodded seriously. At first, he hadnt thought much about it. But then Shouhei called him comrade. That changed everything. If he didnt thoroughly thrash that Ting-Lu, hed be letting down that comrade. Decision made. He was going to rip that cauldron off its head and scatter it all over the battlefield. Im heading out, Mr. Shouhei. Alright. Stay safe. Your safety is the priority. Shouhei meant it. Natsume still looked like a boythere was a hint of youthful innocence in his face. And yet, he was about to take on that monster. Meanwhile, Shouheia grown mancould only stand back and watch. It didnt sit well with him. As he watched Natsume fly off on Corviknight, his heart filled with both worry and... Admiration. There was a wall before him. A wall named Talent. It blocked his path, obscured his vision. What lay beyond it? He had always wanted to know. Shouhei chuckled to himself. No point dwelling on it now. For now, his job was to observe and report. Regardless of how Natsume performed, the fact that he volunteered was already commendable. (Unless he ran away or attacked his alliesthatd be a different story.) High above, Natsume followed the given route. Soon, he saw itTing-Lu, slowly advancing through the forest. Its massive form towered above the trees. Natsume swiftly reviewed his battle plan, factoring in Shouhei''s intel. Dark/Ground typing. Immune to Psychic and Electric. No quadruple weaknessesonly double weaknesses to Fighting, Water, Grass, Ice, Fairy, and Bug. Gardevoir and Gallade wouldnt be very effective. Not that it matteredhe had never intended for them to be his main attackers. Gardevoirs job was relaying telepathic commands and keeping him safe. Gallade would focus on harassing and setting up attacks. Corviknight and Persian would draw attention. Slowking and Ogerpon were his heavy hitters. This was going to be a coordinated beatdown. From a distance, Natsume observed the Ting-Lu carefully before releasing Slowking from its Pok Ball. "Alright, let''s do as we planned." Even now, Slowkings face remained as composed as ever. Natsume smiled. Slowking gave a small nod without responding. A deep purple aura slowly spread through its eyes. Move: Nasty Plot. By scheming and plotting, it activated its brainpower, drastically increasing its Special Attack. On Corviknights back, Slowking continued stacking buffs. Meanwhile, Gardevoir, who had been recalled earlier, was also sent back out. Support moves, anyone? Not only was Slowking powering up, but so were the other Pokmon Natsume had released on the ground earlier. If they could charge up beforehand and unleash a powerful opening attack, why waste time buffing in front of the enemy? That would just be stupid. This is just common sense. That was Natsumes belief, and Slowking wholeheartedly agreed. While continuously boosting its stats, Slowking also engaged in some self-affirmation. This wasnt a movejust simple mental preparation before battle. Confidence made all the difference. A Pokmon filled with self-assurance and one riddled with doubt, even with similar strength, would have vastly different outcomes in battle. As for what kind of self-motivation Slowking used "I can do this. I got this. I can one-shot this dumbass." Yeah, Corviknight taught it that. The original phrase might have been even cruder, but Slowking tweaked it slightly to maintain its dignified persona. But even if its image did collapse, it could always just blame Corviknight. "Yadon." Fully buffed, Slowking silently contemplated its next move. The best options for dealing double damage to this opponent were Fighting, Water, Grass, Ice, Fairy, and Bug-type moves. With that in mind, it extended its hand toward Ting-Lu from afar. A transparent light began gathering in its palm. "Yadon." Aura Sphere. Since it didnt have an anime-style trainer yelling out attack names, Slowking decided to provide its own sound effects. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gardevoir followed suit. The glow of Aura Sphere intensified. The title Psychic Empress was often used to praise Gardevoirs unparalleled talent in Psychic-type moves. But an empress wasnt just skilled in one type. The next second, two massive spheres of energy shot forth, hurtling through the sky like meteorites. Sensing something, Ting-Lu slowly lifted its head. What it saw were two energy blasts, each bigger than its own head. Boom! For the first time, the sound of an explosion drowned out the creatures own footsteps. The billowing smoke and dust were enough to make anyone instinctively shut their eyes. But Slowking and Gardevoir didnt pause for even a second. A delicate white snowflake drifted from the skythen another, and another, until countless flakes filled the air. A howling wind picked up, carrying the icy snow in a terrifying vortex. "Yadon." Blizzard. The bitterly cold wind sliced through the battlefield like razor-sharp blades, eager to shred their enemy to pieces. It was as if winter had suddenly descended upon the forest. As the Blizzard stormed through, the thick dust cloud was blown awayrevealing Ting-Lu, standing there almost completely unscathed. Its crimson eyes locked onto Corviknight high in the air. In the next instant, black energy rippled from its body. Simultaneously, several massive boulders formed mid-air and came crashing toward Corviknight. "Garde!" "Yadon!" The moment Ting-Lu made its move, both Gardevoir and Slowking used Teleport. But their destinations were different. One teleported straight into battle. The other? It took Natsume away from the battlefield to ensure his safety. "Caw?!" Left alone in the sky, Corviknight squawked in panic. Waitdid they just abandon me?! The massive rocks collided mid-air, shattering into debris and dirt that scattered in every direction. Before Ting-Lu could even confirm if its attack had landed, a beige blur shot out from the nearby trees. A claw, glowing bright white, slammed down hard onto the bronze cauldron resting on its head. Clang! The unique hum of ancient bronze echoed far and wide. It was as if a battle drum had been struckannouncing the official start of the fight. Chapter 104: Slowking: I Have an Idea! The moment the feline claw made contact with the ancient cauldron, an immense force suddenly surged forth. Caught off guard, Ting-Lus balance shifted in an instant. Its blood-red eyes, filled with rage, widened abruptly. Out of the corner of its eye, Ting-Lu barely managed to catch sight of Persian landing lightly on the ground. How is this possible? A flicker of disbelief passed through its mind. In truth, the moment Persian had burst out from the forest, Ting-Lu had already noticed its presence. But it hadnt paid much attention. After all, it had seen plenty of weak Pokmon like this before. Aside from their numbers and speed, there was nothing particularly remarkable about them. Even if they fought with everything they had, they would struggle to leave even a scratch on its body. And so, Ting-Lu had naturally ignored Persian, focusing instead on Slowking and Gardevoir. Those two bugs how annoying. For some reason, Ting-Lus thoughts were far less agile than those of an ordinary Pokmon. It was as if a statue, slumbering for ages, had been awakened by accidentits mind a foggy mess, unable to grasp the current situation, merely executing its assigned task on instinct. Regaining its balance, Ting-Lus forelimbs became wrapped in dense Ground-type energy. It raised a leg, preparing to stomp the impudent creature that had dared to brandish its claws at it. But before the foot could land, Persian transformed into a streak of white light, darting out of the attacks range in an instant. It even stopped in the distance, deliberately turning back to glance at Ting-Lu. As if confirming its reaction before continuing to flee. More annoying than harmful. When it came to speed, Persian had absolute confidence. Just like in its previous ambush. While part of the plan relied on faith in its own attack power, a significant factor was that Ting-Lu simply couldnt react in time. With a combination of Quick Attack and Trailblaze, Persians speed in that moment was enough to outrun the vast majority of Pokmon. A deep, guttural growl rumbled from Ting-Lus throatonly to be cut off midway as the next wave of attacks crashed onto its face like a relentless tide. Perhaps due to the sheer prominence of that ancient bronze cauldron, Slowking and Gardevoir had unconsciously aimed most of their attacks at it. The cauldron resonated with continuous humming, sounding almost like a war drum from the Warring States period. Yadon. What a fool. Hidden within the forest, Slowking observed Ting-Lu, an unmistakable look of disdain surfacing on its face. Is this thing really dumber than the farms dogs? Had it spent so much time trampling on the weak that its brain had regressed to the point where it could only fight the weak? "ROAR!" The relentless barrage of attacks ignited Ting-Lus fury in an instant. A roar, nothing like that of a deer, thundered through the forest. Amidst the howling blizzard, a swirl of yellow sand suddenly emerged. Then, it rapidly spreadturning into a full-blown Sandstorm. The swirling storm of sand blanketed the sky in a yellow haze. Under its onslaught, the Blizzard that Slowking and Gardevoir had conjured flickered like a candle in the windstruggling, wavering. But in the end, it was inevitably extinguished. Yadon. Alright, a powerful fool then. Retracting its palm, Slowking made a slight correction to its earlier judgment. Though it didnt seem particularly intelligent, its strength was undeniable. Caw caw caw! Soaring through the air, Corviknight narrowed its eyes slightly. A Sandstorm, huh? First time encountering this kind of weather. Butno big deal! After a brief adjustment, Corviknight swiftly stabilized its flight. Even within the raging sandstorm, its movements seemed entirely unaffected. This is the power of a heavy bomber fortress! In the sky, Corviknight moved like a venomous snake, spitting out a steady stream of taunts and provocations while launching ranged attacks to draw Ting-Lus attention. At one point, Ting-Lu could have sworn it saw a smug, self-satisfied expression on that birds face. Annoying. Very annoying. Its focus on Corviknight intensified. Seeing the situation, Corviknight wisely chose not to engage directly. No need to risk getting stomped into a Corviknight pancake. Natsume had made it clearits role was to keep Ting-Lus attention occupied. And so far, it was doing a stellar job. Whenever Ting-Lu tried to shift its attention elsewhere, Corviknight would swoop in with a well-timed provocation, forcing it to turn back. And when Ting-Lu attacked Corviknight, the other Pokmon seized the opportunity to strike hard. Even when its attacks landed, the damage was within Corviknights acceptable rangenot enough to take it down. As long as it could escape after each hit and get a quick Heal Pulse from Natsume, it could jump right back into the fray. "Whoosh" A white-streaked Persian burst out from the forest. Ting-Lus eyes immediately locked onto it, wary of the one Pokmon that had actually managed to hurt it. But in that instant, a slender figure appeared beneath Ting-Lu. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gallade. Gone was its usual laid-back demeanor. Now, it was like an unsheathed blade, its entire being radiating a sharp, lethal aura. Golden light wrapped around its emerald arm-blades. Its lean legs bent slightlythen it sprang upward. With a decisive slash, it struck hard at Ting-Lus neck. "Grah!" The roar Ting-Lu had intended to unleash twisted into something strangely comical. Almost like Corviknights caw. Tch. Didnt cut all the way through? Gallades gaze darkened as it examined the strike. If it had, the fight wouldve been over by now. No matter. Another opportunity would come. Without hesitation, Gallades blue eyes glowedthen, in a flash, it teleported away, vanishing into the forest. "Garde." Hes losing control of his emotions. Gardevoir, tasked with protecting Natsume, cast a glance at her brother. His usual polite facade was slipping, revealing his true, sinister nature. Uhma! From somewhere in the shadows, Ogerpon suddenly appeared, clutching a thorny club larger than itself. With a few nimble steps, it leapt onto Ting-Lus back, dashing along its spine. Its tiny figure soared into the air, silhouetted against the sun, eyes sparkling with excitement. With a mighty swing, the thorny club smashed down onto Ting-Lus neck. Uhma! Now this is what I call an explosive combo move! Unlike Gallade, Ogerpon fought with reckless abandon. No hit-and-run tactics. No strategy of striking once and retreating. Just pure, unrelenting combat! With wild enthusiasm, Ogerpon rained down a flurry of strikes, thumping its club against Ting-Lus back. From the darkness, Persian and Gallade charged forth, glowing with energy, ready to land another decisive blow. But then "ROAR!" Black energy surged in Ting-Lus crimson eyes. Behind it, a shadowy, malevolent eye formed. Mean Look. A move that prevented opponents from fleeing battle. Usually used against Baton Pass teams or wild Pokmon capture attempts. But in Ting-Lus hands Persian and Gallade froze as if turned to stone. A deep, primal fear gripped their very genes, rendering them motionless. Gallade tried to teleport away But it was as if Teleport had taken the day off. No matter how much it tried, it simply wouldnt activate. Then, massive boulders erupted from the ground, forming an encirclement around them. Ting-Lu was done underestimating them. This time, it wasnt getting caught off guard. But a Legendary Pokmon is still a Legendary Pokmon. Even in this state, it retained enough strength to keep fighting. Accompanied by jagged rocks, the dark ripples that had appeared before surged once more. Ting-Lu actively triggered its Ability, Vessel of Ruin. At this range, every Pokmon except Gardevoir was affected, their Special Defense weakened. At this critical moment, a streak of black light pierced through the raging sandstorm, cutting between Persian and Gallade. "Caw-ga-ga!" Now! This was the heros moment to shine! A green radiance blossomed amidst the dusky battlefield, like an oasis in the desert, bringing life and hope. With the deafening crash of colliding rocks and the scattering of dust, an eerie "silence" descended upon the battlefieldone that felt oddly out of place in such a fierce fight. As the dust settled, a translucent, green, spherical barrier emerged. Inside it, Corviknight raised its head high, looking at Persian with a smug expression. That look seemed to say, So even you need me to save you someday, huh? Before the protective barrier completely faded, Corviknight grabbed both Gallade and Persian with its talons and swiftly carried them away from Ting-Lu. Smugness was one thing, but letting arrogance lead to a disastrous mistake would be downright humiliating. Worse than celebrating with champagne at halftime. At least that meant you''d celebrated something. But messing up now? That would be clown behavior from start to finish. And a true hero couldn''t afford such a stain on their record. "Roar!" Ting-Lu''s eyes burned red with fury, as if it were about to spew fire. A barrage of attacks rained down relentlessly on Corviknight. With a dazzling spin, Corviknight flung Persian and Gallade away as if tossing out garbage. Now unburdened, it performed an acrobatic display in midair, as if putting on a show for the other Pokmon. It executed a series of high-difficulty maneuvers with ease. And then Boom! Gaaah! A massive boulder struck Corviknight dead on, sending it flying in a graceful arc. It crashed into the undergrowth, completely motionless. That marked Corviknights sixth crash landing of this battle. You''re basically a doomed pilot at this point. As Corviknight disappeared into the trees, Gardevoir instantly teleported to its side. With another teleport, she brought it back to Natsume. For now, Gardevoir still couldn''t use Teleport with pinpoint precision to target Pokmon from a distance. "You did great, Corviknight," Natsume said softly, crouching down and pressing a hand against its feathers. A warm green light enveloped Corviknight, healing its wounds. Normally, Natsume wouldnt pass up a chance to tease Corviknight about its flying skills. But now wasnt the time for unnecessary remarks. What mattered most was trusting his partner and offering encouragement. "Caw caw!" No big deal! Now fully healed, Corviknight shook itself off. With Iron Defense stacked multiple times, it felt invinciblelike even Arceus itself couldn''t scratch it. This is the confidence that comes with being built different. While Corviknight recovered, the battle raged on. The sandstorm gradually faded, replaced by a lingering damp mist. It wasnt from a move or a special ability. Just a simple technique. For a Pokmon as intelligent as Slowking, slightly altering how a move was used could completely change its effect. This wouldnt fully counteract the damage caused by Sand Tomb, but it could at least weaken it. Slowking had considered summoning rain outright, but it had lost the weather battle to Ting-Lu. So, all it could do was keep attacking while building up its energy. Gazing at Ting-Lus massive form, Slowking wore a thoughtful expression. "Yadon." Calling all units. This is Slowking. I have an idea. Suddenly, Slowking''s voice echoed in the minds of Ogerpon, Gallade, and Persian. The three, who had been alternating their attacks, paused briefly. Then, they resumed their previous battle formationonly now, their strikes seemed a little less aggressive. Casually launching a Water Pulse, Slowking quickly explained its plan. Persian, after hearing it, immediately agreed. That meant they needed that bird back on its feet as soon as possible. Given Corviknight''s stellar performance, Persian decided it would temporarily stop calling it "stupid bird." For the next few days, at least, Corviknight would be classified as a normal Pokmon. Watching Persian and Gallade darting around before it, Ting-Lu had never felt such overwhelming rage. Strange energy churned within the ancient bronze cauldron on its back. Just a single glance at it was enough to send shivers down one''s spinean inexplicable, instinctual fear. A terror without reason. A horror without explanation. The power of dread boiled and surged within the cauldron, building to its peak. "ROAR!" With Ting-Lu''s furious bellow, an ominous shockwave exploded outward. Ruinationthe exclusive move of the Treasures of Ruin. A move that instantly halves the target''s HP. Persian and the others were caught in the blasttaking the full force of the attack. Chapter 105: Here, Ting-Lu Faces Defeat Normally, Ruination is a move best used at the very start of a battle. As long as it lands, it immediately halves the opponents HP, giving the user a massive early advantage. Perhaps due to the nature of Vessel of Ruin, the turbulent air currents were laced with an ominous black auralike an inescapable curse, hidden yet perilous. All the Pokmon caught in its wake felt a deep-seated fear welling up from the depths of their hearts. Ogerpon remembered the days it once fled under the hateful gazes of humans. Slowking recalled the helpless panic of searching for Uxie, only to find nothing. And Persian Wait, why the hell did its mind suddenly flash back to when Natsume had pinned it down and put it in a chokehold as a kid? Ah, that nostalgic feeling. How utterly painful. For a brief moment, Persians eyes glazed over before it quickly snapped back to reality. Compared to the fear of being dominated by Natsume as a child, this recent surge of terror was nothing. To put it simplynothing in its life had been that scary. Aside from the occasional beatdown, everything had gone relatively smoothly. Slash! A crescent-shaped water blade tore through the raging currents, heading straight for the ancient bronze cauldron atop Ting-Lus head. But the moment it made contact, the sharp edge of the Water Blade shattered instantly, dissolving into a spray of mist. Something must have resurfaced in Gallades mind, something unpleasant. Its expression had turned completely dark. The fragile grip it had on its emotional statealready on the brink of collapsehad now snapped entirely. Emotional control? What emotional control? Right now, it only wanted to carve this tumor-brained thing into pieces. The moment Gallade felt the restraints on its body disappear, it vanished. When it reappeared, it was already behind Ting-Lu. The emerald arm blades extending from its elbows gleamed with golden light. Yet, something about its movements felt off. Despite the speed of its strike, there was an illusionas if it were struggling to move through the depths of the ocean, exerting all its strength just to land a single blow. But the instant that slash fell A blinding flash erupted as countless slashes condensed into a single, all-encompassing strike. Yadon? Having retreated to Natsumes side for healing, Slowking tilted its head, gazing at Gallade. Something about that guy felt off today. Beside it, Gardevoir quietly turned away, unwilling to comment. As its younger sister, Gardevoir knew all too well what its older brother was really like. To put it bluntlyhe had a short fuse and was terrible at handling pressure. He always seemed easygoing, as if nothing fazed him. But the moment things started slipping beyond his expectations, or when stress piled up That cheerful, friendly persona wouldnt last. His frustration would rise, his aggression would skyrocket, and his urge for destruction would reach new heights. Simply PutIts Seeing Red. "Alright, next upPersian, you''re in." With a flick of his wrist, Natsume patted Slowking on the shoulder. When Ruination erupted earlier, Gardevoir had teleported Natsume away from Ting-Lu, preventing him from getting caught in the blast. He was, after all, the biggest safety net in this battle. Forget getting injuredeven if one of his Pokmon was knocked out, Natsume could bring them right back into the fight. "You have been revived. Now, get back in there." Aside from the swapped-out Slowking, the rest of the Pokmon continued executing their strategy seamlessly. They stuck to their roles, maintaining steady damage outputno reckless lunges, no unnecessary hesitation. They attacked whenever the opportunity arose. Even Corviknight kept up its constant harassment. Not that it expected to land any significant blowsmostly, it just wanted to remind Ting-Lu: Hey, your old mans still alive. Incidentally, if psychological damage could be measured, Corviknights taunting would be topping the charts. "Yadon." Nodding, Slowking casually snapped off a branch and held it like a scepter as it reentered the battle. Not that the branch gave it any sort of power boost It just felt weird having empty hands. Standing beside Natsume, Gardevoir narrowed its eyes. With growing proficiency, it activated telepathy, its voice ringing clearly in Persians mind. Compared to before the battle started, Gardevoirs telepathic skills had improved noticeably. As expected, the best way to master an ability was through live combat. "Suosuo." At some point, Zorua had appeared at Natsumes feet, quietly watching the fight unfold. A satisfied gleam flashed in its eyes. Most of these fighters had, at some point, learned a few tricks from Zorua. And so far, none of them were embarrassing it. If they couldn''t even handle a half-awake dumb deer, Zorua would have to seriously question whether its training had gone to waste. (Mightyena family & Yamper: ?) That said, it looked like there wouldnt be any need for Zorua to step in. "Roar!" At last, Ting-Lu turned its attention to the one person standing at a distance, continuously healing his PokmonNatsume. Realizing that this human was the mastermind behind it all, Ting-Lus fury exploded. It wanted nothing more than to trample him into a bloody pulp Then stomp on the remains for good measure. And Ting-Lu didnt just seetheit acted. Ignoring the Gallade that had nearly diced its rear end and the Ogerpon pounding away at its body, the massive beast began a full-speed charge toward Natsume. The once-settled sandstorm roared back to life. A towering colossus surged forward, wreathed in a whirlwind of destruction. "This looks straight out of a disaster movie." Natsume murmured, unable to resist the thought. Even the most realistic special effects wouldnt be able to replicate the sheer, oppressive terror radiating from Ting-Lu at this moment. Yet, despite the behemoth barreling toward him, Natsume remained calm. After all, he had Gardevoir, who could teleport him away at a moments notice. He also had the little fox at his feet, eerily composed from the very beginning. And in front of himPersian and the others stood ready. 8 vs. 1. The advantage was clear. There was no scenario in which they lost. "Yadon." Its actually running? Seeing Ting-Lu charge forward at surprising speed, Slowking blinked. Normally, massive Pokmon relied on a defensive counterattack strategy or a slow, methodical advance. The number of behemoths that actually ran into battle was few and far between. What was this, Ashs Torterra? A Pokmon that fought with agility in its youth but refused to adapt after evolution? "Yadon." Grass Knot. Raising its "scepter," Slowking activated a move it had learned on a whim to expand its arsenal. The trampled grass beneath Ting-Lu suddenly shot upward, transforming into a mass of thick vines that coiled around its limbs. Grass Knot was a move whose power scaled with the opponents weight The heavier the enemy, the stronger the effect. And Ting-Lu? It was both massive and heavy. That said, there was always a chance that Grass Knot could fail against Pokmon of immense sizeespecially Legendary ones like Ting-Lu. As expected, the moment the vines wrapped around its legs, they immediately began to tear. Slowking had anticipated this. On its own, Grass Knot wouldnt be enough to take Ting-Lu down. But this wasnt a duelit was a righteous gang-up. Immediately following Slowking, Gallade, Ogerpon, and Gardevoir all launched Grass Knot in unison. The battlefield, once stripped bare by Ting-Lus destructive march, suddenly flourished with life. Like venomous serpents, the vines coiled around its legs, binding it in place. Ting-Lus momentum halted. Yet, despite the entanglement, it refused to fallit held its stance with sheer brute force. A deadlock. Until A shadow descended from above. "Cawhaha!" The King Descends! Shouting some absurd line it had picked up somewhere, Corviknight unleashed its signature move for the first time in this battle Brave Bird. A steel-plated meteor came crashing down, slamming straight into Ting-Lus skull. "Boooooom!" The great bronze cauldron atop Ting-Lus head rang with an earth-shaking clang. And so did Corviknights head. For a moment, Corviknight swayed midair Like a sparrow that had just flown headfirst into a glass door. It nearly tumbled to the ground, vision spinning. That one hit had almost made it cough up last nights dinner. But the results spoke for themselves. The balance of the fight shifted instantly. Ting-Lus massive form began to tiltits crimson eyes flashing with fury and defiance. "This isnt tripping! "Youre just dragging me down!" If Ting-Lu had read a modern textbook, it might have had a term for its current predicament Quartered. When its colossal body hit the ground, the impact mimicked a small-scale earthquake. Dust and debris erupted into the air, obscuring the battlefield. But Slowking and the others showed no mercy. A relentless barrage of attacks rained down upon the fallen titan, all locked onto their target via psychic precision. Even Persian, who had been about to pounce, hesitated. Yeah, nope. Jumping in there right now would just mean getting hit by everything. When the dust finally settled, Ting-Lu remained barely upright, gasping for breath. The sound it made was that of a cornered beast, one prepared to launch a desperate final attack. This was its last stand. One more hitjust one And this harbinger of calamity would fall. Whoosh! A sleek figure darted through the forest, leaping from branch to branch before landing gracefully. As it touched down, its entire body ignited with radiant energy Like an arrow loosed from a drawn bow, Persian launched itself forward. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Giga Impact! As a Normal-type Pokmon, Persians move pool covered a wide range of types. But against Ting-Lu, it lacked any major super-effective moves So, for a finishing blow, it had to rely on Normal-type powerhouses: Giga Impact and Hyper Beam. Against Ting-Lus massive frame, Persian looked tiny. Almost delicate. Yet, that small frame crashed into the colossus with devastating force. "BOOM!" As the explosion of impact faded, Persian landed lightly, absorbing the recoil with only a slight tremor in its legs. For a brief momentsilence. Only the sound of Ting-Lus ragged breathing filled the air. Its crimson eyes locked onto Persianthen onto Natsume. As if trying to burn their images into its mind forever. At last, in that moment, Ting-Lu''s labored breathing suddenly came to a halt. Its eyes rolled back, and its massive body slowly collapsed with a thunderous crash. If the initial impact had signaled the start of battle, then this sound marked its conclusion. The legendary Pokmon, Ting-Lu, had met its defeat. Even after it fell, the Pokmon remained on high alert. Gallade cautiously stepped forward and slashed at it twice, testing for any reaction. Only after Gardevoir and Slowking confirmed that Ting-Lu had truly lost the ability to fight and fallen unconscious did the team finally lower their guard. "Woomah." It''s over. Clutching its chest, Ogerpon''s face showed a look of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted. Only it knew how much pressure it had been under. This was its first time battling an opponent of this caliber. Throughout the fight, Ogerpon had been treading carefully, afraid that a single mistake could render everyone''s efforts meaningless. Even more so, it worried that Natsume might get hurt. "Caw-caw!" Damn it! Kill steal! Corviknight swooped down from the sky, visibly disgruntled, and instinctively started picking a fight with Persian. No reason, reallyjust sheer habit. Persian, who had just been considering categorizing Corviknight as a "normal Pokmon," glanced at it sideways, then silently kicked it back into the "complete lunatic" category in its mind. At this moment, there was no doubtCorviknight''s confidence must have been through the roof. It was probably already planning its 800th challenge against Persian. To date, Corviknight had never won a single match against it. But hey, gotta admire the persistence. "Garde!" "Galluh" With the battle over, Gallade''s emotional control system rebooted, leaving it a little awkward as it looked at its younger sister. Reflecting on its earlier outburst, it wondered if maybejust maybeit had been a little too aggressive. But honestly, it wasn''t like it could control it that well. Gallade muttered to itself in a low voice. Managing emotions is something everyone knows they should do, but few can actually master. A mental breakdown only takes a split secondfor both humans and Pokmon alike. "Yadon." Slowking casually planted the branch it had been using as a makeshift staff into the ground, then silently walked forward, gazing down at the fallen Ting-Lu, lost in thought. "Alright, now we need to figure out what to do with this massive headache." Holding Zorua in his arms, Natsume frowned at Ting-Lu. This thing was a real hot potato. In every sense of the word. Chapter 106: Capture and Official Rewards There''s an old saying: A wisp of smoke on the mountain, an immortal ascends in prison. No matter which world youre in, setting a forest on fire is a serious crime. And in the Pokmon world, even more so. While Ting-Lu hadnt exactly set the forest ablaze, it wasnt far off. Wherever it went, destruction followed. The once-thriving woodland had been reduced to ruins. Countless Pokmon had been forced to flee, driven from their homes. Some were luckylike the Absol and Bounsweet groupswho happened to run into Natsume and found stability, making it through the ordeal without major losses. But others, less fortunate, suffered heavy casualties. Some might not have survived at all. Natsume had no fondness for Ting-Lu. Sure, he could capture it. But then what? Would he be adding an unstable force to his farm just for the sake of having it? Given Ting-Lus nature and their current relationship, calling it a ticking time bomb would be putting it lightly. A massive body, an unfriendly temperament, and an innate ability to both be born from and incite fear in others It was hard to imagine keeping something like that around. Maybe... He should just seal it away again? He couldn''t exactly keep it as some pampered overlord on his farm, right? Suo? Zorua, sitting at Natsumes feet, tilted its head in confusion. Wasnt this the part where a Trainer should be excitedly throwing a Pok Ball after taking down a powerful Pokmon? Especially one as rare as a Legendary like Ting-Lu? Zorua scrutinized Natsume for a moment before suddenly having a realization. Oh, I see! I get it now! Turning around, it rummaged through the fur on its back and, from who-knows-where, pulled out a Pok Ball? Suo suo. Nudging Natsumes foot, Zorua proudly pushed the Pok Ball toward him, its expression practically screaming: Praise me! This is? Natsume looked at the Pok Ball, slightly startled. Unlike modern Pok Balls, which were sleek and high-tech, this one had a handcrafted feel A solid, earthy brown, heavy with an antique aura, like one of those old-fashioned Apricorn Balls forged by a master craftsman, yet left unpolished. Suo suo. I brought this from home. A local specialty? Suo. Strictly speaking, yeah. Zoruas family had a bunch of these lying around. With plenty of free time and not much else to do, they often picked up little hobbieslike collecting interesting objects. This particular Pok Ball had been obtained from some master craftsman ages ago. It was said to surpass all other Pok Balls of its time, capable of capturing even weaker Legendary Pokmon. Zorua could vouch for thatit worked. So, this is your way of making the decision for me? Picking up the Pok Ball from the ground, Natsume chuckled. Hed been stuck debating whether or not to capture Ting-Lu, even considering that his own Pok Balls might not be strong enough. But now, he had no excuse to hesitate. Whatever problems came nexthed deal with them later. That was future Natsumes problem, not his. Good luck, future me. With a sharp throw, he launched the Pok Ball, putting all his strength into italmost as if venting his pent-up emotions. Despite it being a standard capture motion, the sheer force behind it caused the Pok Ball to whistle through the air. If it had been a Caterpie instead of Ting-Lu, the poor thing probably wouldve been knocked out cold on impact. Thud! Maybe it was just his imagination, but the Pok Ball seemed to make a rather distinct thud as it struck Ting-Lus head. Bouncing into the air, it released a crimson light that enveloped the massive Pokmon. As the light retracted, Ting-Lus colossal form was drawn inside. No matter how many times I see it, this still feels like some crazy magic. Even now, Natsume couldnt fully grasp the science behind Pok Ball technology. After all, he was just a simple farm owner who had never even gone to college. The Pok Ball landed and began shaking violently. Even in an unconscious state, a Legendary Pokmon could still resist capture with ease. But Natsume remained relaxed. He wasnt particularly desperate to capture Ting-Lu. If it worked, great. If notwell, that was Ting-Lus problem. Either way, another beatdown was inevitable. And whatever happened afterward? That was a problem for later. It wasnt like getting captured would be the worst outcome for Ting-Lu. Wumah wumah. Clutching its thorny club, Ogerpon hopped from side to side excitedly, like a boxer waiting for an opening to land a finishing blow. If that thing broke out, she was ready to smack it right back down. If notwell, shed save it for next time. She was still a little bummed about not landing the final hit herself. And honestly? She wasnt the only one. Slowking and the others felt the same. Theyd already unleashed their final attacks, only for Persian to swoop in and steal the last hit. Sure, Persian might not have dealt the most damage But it had definitely landed the finishing blow. But it was the one that landed the final blow. Just like how in games, the broadcast never mentions who dealt the most damageonly who got the kill. "Beep~" Under the watchful eyes of Natsume and his partners, the shaking Pok Ball finally came to a stop. "Ah, I caught Ting-Lu." Staring at the now-motionless Pok Ball on the ground, Natsume spoke in a flat, almost delayed realization. To be honest, even now, it still felt somewhat unreal to him. Even though he had already captured Ogerpon, a Mythical Pokmon, it never really acted like one. There was no air of dignity, no sense of grandeur Just a complete bundle of adorableness. Even its combat power wasnt as overwhelming as one might imagine. Maybe that had something to do with its lost masks? Yeah, he really needed to make retrieving those masks a priority. As these thoughts passed through his mind, Natsume bent down and picked up the Pok Ball. After a brief two-second hesitation, he turned to Slowking. "Slowking, could you help reinforce this a little?" He gestured in the air, trying his best to get his meaning across. He had heard that some Psychic-type Pokmon could use their powers to seal Pok Balls, preventing their opponents from releasing their Pokmon. "Yadon." Slowking nodded, indicating that it was no big deal. A seal? Thats nothing. If theres one thing we Psychic-types have plenty of, its tricks. Although, strictly speaking, Im more of a Water-type But compared to those twin siblings, Slowking felt he still had a little more authority in this field. "Buzz~" A flash of blue light swept over the Pok Ball, forming a faint, mysterious pattern. "Done." Satisfied, Natsume casually tossed the Pok Ball into Zoruas arms. Zorua, now suddenly holding a Pok Ball, sat there in stunned silence. It looked down at the ball in its arms, then back up at Natsume An expression of utter confusion. "Cant be helped. This guy is a Legendary Pokmon, and not exactly the friendly type." "If it breaks free, things could get dangerous." "So, Im counting on you." "Suosuo!" Hands clasped together, Natsume completely ignored Zoruas protests. "Two bags of Pokblocks." "Custom-made." "Suo." Deal. With a crisp slap, Zorua''s small paw smacked against Natsumes hand. Its eyes were filled with an insatiable hunger. It didnt care about much, but when it came to foodsuddenly, it was wide awake! sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hugging the Pok Ball tightly, Zoruas face took on an uncharacteristically serious expression. I will suppress this Pok Ball! Even if I must single-handedly keep it sealed (scratch that). Ignoring Zoruas inexplicable surge of enthusiasm, Natsume looked up toward the sky. A Pidgeot was circling down. On its back was the park ranger from earlierwas his name Shouhei? Natsume wasnt entirely sure. It had only been a short while, yet for some reason, it felt like days had passed. Even remembering the guys name had become hazy. Natsume had always been a bit forgetful. Back in school, hed often forget whether he had even eaten breakfast, let alone what he ate. Which, honestly, was probably pretty normal for most high school students. Sharp enough to solve math problems, yet clueless about what they did during break. "Natsume, its me." Jumping down from Pidgeots back, Shouhei called out loudly. His gaze swept across the battlefield, his expression turning to one of disbelief. A fight on this scale The younger generation is seriously something else. No, at this point, age didnt even matter. Strength like this wouldnt be overlooked no matter where you went. "So, I came here because" To prevent any misunderstandings, Shouhei quickly explained his purpose for coming. In short, he wanted to check if Natsume needed anythingtreatment for his Pokmon, assistance, whatever it might be. As for Ting-Lu? Shouhei had no thoughts on that. When the battle started, he had already reported the situation to his superiors, including the fact that Ting-Lu had been captured. Natsume had made no effort to hide his identity, so his information had been pulled up almost immediately. While Shouhei had no personal opinions, it seemed his superiors had quite a favorable impression of this young man. He was surprised when Ting-Lu was actually caught But in the heat of battle, there hadnt been much time for shock. Now, the priority was to show goodwill. As much as it might sound bad, a lot of young people nowadays were paranoid. Especially when it came to the authorities. It felt like there was this widespread misconception that the government was out to get them. There was even a case of a Psychic Awakener who, after discovering their powers, went into hiding for two months in the mountains, terrified that the moment they were exposed, the government would dissect them. They lasted purely on sheer stubbornness (or stupidity) until the police found themafter their parents reported them missing. What followed was a legendary parental beatdown. Word was, it was brutal. After that? Someone came over, registered them, and that was it. Truth be told, the League was pretty lenient about these things. Back in the old days, Ghost-type specialists were treated like public enemies. After all, some Ghost-types could grow stronger by feeding on human life force. But now? As long as you werent causing trouble, nobody cared if you were a hardcore Ghost-type fanatic. So when Shouheis superiors heard about Natsume catching Ting-Lu, their reaction was pretty calm. I mean, a young Trainer used their own strength to defeat and capture a rampaging Legendary Pokmon Thats a good thing, isnt it? Proof that Jadeleafs younger generation was outstanding. If this were ancient times, his deeds would be sung about. Nowadays? Thered be official recognition and rewards, of course. Though, of course, the specifics would depend on further discussions. "In the coming days, well work on restoring the damaged environment." "The commendation process and rewards will be arranged as soon as possible." "There might be some public recognition involved, but if you prefer to keep a low profile, well respect that." Shouhei carefully conveyed the stance of his superiors. After years as a ranger, even if he hadnt initially wanted to get involved with this kind of stuff, he had inevitably picked up some experience. Over time, he had gone from a na?ve, self-important rookie to a proper middle-aged salaryman. "I see. Thank you for the trouble." "No, no, its no trouble at all. Honestly, we should be thanking you for solving such a huge problem for us." "Not really. I just handled the battle. Theres still a lot I cant help with." "Thats what we rangers are here for." The conversation flowed rather smoothly. Natsumes attitude made Shouhei feel relieved. Good. Natsume might be young, but he wasnt like those reckless, arrogant kids. Young hotheads who were full of themselves were the hardest to deal with. Neither of them mentioned Ting-Lu. From the rangers perspective, Natsume had caught it, so that was that. A Trainers Pokmon was their ownno one had the right to take it. And if someone tried? The entire Trainer community would unite against them. The internet would probably explode, and some netizens might even start a Dust Release: Family Tree Severance Technique. As for Natsume? If Shouhei had brought it up, he wouldnt have minded. He had already prepared himself for some back-and-forth. But since Shouhei didnt mention it, he wasnt about to complain. And so, Ting-Lu naturally became his rightful prize. "By the way, regarding the concrete rewards, we''d like to hear your thoughts on the matter, Mr. Natsume." After chatting for a while, Shouhei glanced at the message on his phone. Receiving his instructions, he turned to Natsume and asked. Thats pretty efficient. Natsume was somewhat surprised, but he didnt show it on his face. Instead, he gave the matter some serious thought. Chapter 107: The Reward Natsume Wants and Going Home "Rewards, huh..." To be honest, Natsume hadnt really thought about rewards. Now that the topic was suddenly brought up, he wasnt quite sure what to ask for. "I have a reference list here, Natsume. You can take a look." Noticing Natsumes hesitation, Shouhei stepped forward and spoke in a gentle tone. From addressing him as "Mr. Natsume" at the start, to "comrade" before their departure, and now back to "sir"the change in how Shouhei referred to Natsume reflected his evolving attitude. In this world, no matter how high your status is or how popular you become, strength is the only real measure of worth. Powerful Trainers are the true mainstream, the real superstars of this world. Idols? Pretty boys? They all have to take a step back when facing a strong Trainer. You can talk about how inspiring and talented your idol is all you wantbut when it comes down to it, thats just words. Why not prove it in a real battle? Thats precisely why, even though Natsume gave up on being a traditional Trainer, he never did what some novel protagonists wouldreleasing all his Pokmon or intentionally keeping up a weak persona. After all, if you lack strength, you cant even protect your own farm. A random passing Pokmon could just waltz in and take advantage. "Is that so? Then Ill trouble you for it." Shouheis voice brought Natsume back to reality. Looking at the middle-aged Ranger before him, who carried a hint of exhaustion on his face, Natsume smiled as he responded. Those one-of-a-kind, dazzling super Trainers were certainly enviable, but people like Shouheisilent, unrecognized, yet indispensablewere the true backbone of a nation. "My personal suggestion would be to pick rewards that can be quickly redeemed, like supplies or Pokmon that are already available." Taking out his phone, Shouhei opened an internal Ranger app and briefly explained how Natsume could exchange his reward points. Essentially, this whole event was being treated as a mission, meaning Natsume was awarded a set amount of points, and specific resources would be unlocked for him. It might not maximize the benefits, but it was an efficient and acceptable solution for all parties involved. "Since I dont know what the higher-ups are planning, this is just for reference." "I hope it helps, Natsume." Putting away his phone, Shouhei gave Natsume an apologetic look. Strictly speaking, this wasnt really part of Shouheis job. He was only assigned to communicate with Natsume because they had spoken before the battleit was a flimsy connection at best. His actual task was simply to reach out and show goodwill. Someone else would officially handle things with Natsume later. As long as he didnt screw up, Shouhei was fine. Yet, he still chose to offer personal advice. Maybe he saw a younger version of himself in Natsume. Maybe he was grateful that this young man had resolved a huge crisis, potentially saving countless lives and Pokmon. Or maybe... he just wanted to cozy up to someone powerful. Shouhei chuckled at himself. With his personality, clinging to a strong figure seemed like the best option. All those noble justifications? Not really his thing. "Youve really helped me out." "Thank you, Ranger." If it werent for Shouheis suggestions, Natsume would probably still be stuck overthinking his options. Most young people nowadays suffer from decision fatigue to some extentNatsume was no exception. "If I had to choose..." As his thoughts flowed, Natsume had already made up his mind. First, he wanted to expand his farms territory. Thanks to Pokmon, land was not easy to acquire in this world. Whether for farms or city expansion, reckless development had historically led to too many Pokmon-related incidents. Laws and regulations had long been established to prevent such issues. Second, Natsume wanted Pokmon that were hard to come by. Pokmon like Indeedee, Audino, and Blissey. The latter two were the designated assistants for Pokmon Center medical staff, making them almost impossible to find in the wild. As for Indeedee, there were no known wild populations in Jadeleaf, making it an exceptionally rare Pokmon. Lastly, he needed some official certifications. Nowadays, everything required proper documentation, and some procedures were quite tedious. Although Natsume already met the conditions, he hadnt received the official paperwork yet. Might as well take this chance to get everything sorted at once. Those were his three requests. It might seem like a lot, but considering his strength and his role in defeating a Legendary Pokmon, this was far from excessive. If he were truly greedy, he could demand far more and walk away with an immense fortune. But so what? It would take time and effort and might leave a bad impression. This wasnt some one-time deal where hed never have to interact with these people again. There was no need for that kind of hassle. Getting the short end of the stick isnt always a blessing, but being overly calculative is definitely not. Natsume disliked endless back-and-forth negotiations. It was tedious and a waste of time. If he had to deal with that, hed rather just pretend Ting-Lu broke out of its Pok Ball and have another round of battle. Wouldnt that be much simpler? "Ill go back and report this. You can return to your farm and rest for now." "Someone will officially reach out to you before dinner." After taking a few notes and exchanging contact information with Natsume, Shouhei informed him of the next steps. As mentioned before, the moment Natsume battled Ting-Lu, his records had already been pulled up. Right now, he was somewhat of a rising name. The high-quality berries and Pokblocks from his farmfar superior to the ones on the markethad already caught the attention of certain individuals. Whether sales would increase was uncertain, but at the very least, he might avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble. The classic "urban protagonist face-slapping" scenario Natsume had envisioned? Yeah, that probably wasnt happening to him. A bit of a shame, really. "Alright. See you." "See you, Natsume." Standing on Pidgeots back, Shouhei smiled. Another day of being a background character in someone elses story. Some people were born to shine, destined to be the center of attention. And people like him? They were the crowd. The common folk, the stepping stones for the strong, the nameless challengers who lost before even making a name for themselves. But they were also the pillars of their families. Despite his complicated emotions, Shouhei harbored no resentment. Once you have a family, your sharp edges naturally get worn down. In his younger days, he might have felt dissatisfied. But now? "...The reward for this mission should be decent, right?" Shouhei was already considering getting his sons first Pokmon. Meanwhile, after bidding farewell to Shouhei, Natsume climbed onto Corviknights back. Compared to Pidgeot, Corviknight was much larger and far more comfortable to ride. After all, it was known as the "airborne taxi" of the Pokmon world. Of course, when it came to pure speed, Corviknight couldnt compete with Pidgeot. If Corviknight was an airbus, Pidgeot was a high-speed motorcycle. Comfort aside, speed and thrill were maxed out. In every sense of the word. "Caw-caw!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Are we heading back to the farm now? Spreading its razor-sharp wings, Corviknight glanced at Natsume. There was one time when it had flown in the wrong direction, making Natsume return home late and miss dinner. It had nearly gotten beaten up by the hungry Pokmon back at the farm. Since then, Corviknight always double-checked the destination before taking off. "Hmm, lets go home." Ruffling Corviknights head absentmindedly, Natsumes tone carried a hint of something indescribable. At this moment, he seemed to suddenly understand what "home" truly meant. Home was never just a place to live, nor a specific house. Home was wherever one felt at ease, where the things that mattered were. A place where one could sleep peacefully. "Caw caw!" Alright! Crow Airlines, taking off! With a powerful flap of its wings, Corviknight shot into the vast blue sky. Just ten minutes ago, this same sky had been shrouded in sandstorms and blizzards. But now, it had returned to its usual state. Clear, and serene. Natsume tilted his head back, gazing at the endless sky, his thoughts drifting far away. He thought of Rayquaza, guardian of the Sky Pillar, and of Zygarde, the deity of balance. When he finally came back to his senses, he lowered his head, looking down at the battlefield below. Caught in the midst of the fight, the sheer force of it had felt overwhelming. Every move in a battle between Pokmon could bring about massive devastation. But from up here, from this vantage point, it all seemed... so insignificant. The traces of that fierce battlewhen viewed from the skywere nothing more than faint marks on the land. His fleeting sense of grandeur quickly faded. No, he still had a long way to go. He was far from reaching the point where he could do as he pleased, without constraint. Todays battle, in more ways than one, had changed Natsumes perspective. "Caw caw!" Natsume, were home. Lost in thought, Natsume barely noticed when Corviknight carried him back to the farm. Before they had even landed, he could see a crowd of Pokmon gathered at the farms entrance, waiting for him. "Lopuu!" The moment Lopunny spotted Natsume on Corviknights back, its expression visibly shiftedgrowing excited and relieved all at once. Ever since hearing that Natsume was going to fight a Legendary Pokmon, Lopunnys heart had been in turmoil. The constant fear of bad news kept it on edge. It trusted Natsume, of coursebut to an ordinary Pokmon, Legendary Pokmon were nothing short of untouchable myths. They represented absolute powerbeings beyond the reach of most Pokmon in their lifetime. But all that worry melted away the moment it saw him. "Lopuu!" As soon as Natsume touched the ground, Lopunny bolted forward and threw itself into his arms. With both arms wrapped tightly around him, it rubbed against him with the enthusiasm of a cat high on catnip. "Cinoo!" "Lili!" One after another, the Pokmon from the farm rushed forward, swarming him like a hero returning from war. To the Pokmon living here, Natsume was unquestionably their hero. He was the one who provided them with food and shelter. And today, he had gone out to defeat a terrible enemy that had threatened their home. They didnt quite understand what a Legendary Pokmon was. All they knew was that Natsume had protected them. "Alright, alright, everyone, let me breathe a little." Surrounded by a sea of fluffy bodies, Natsume struggled to reach out, hoping Corviknight would give him a hand. Unfortunately, Corviknight either didnt understand what he meant... Or perhaps it did understand, but simply couldn''t help. After all, Corviknight was just a bird. It didnt have hands to pull him out. Thud! Several crisp sounds echoed as Persian and the others emerged from their Pok Balls. Natsumes Pok Balls had long since been modified to remove their locking mechanisms. This meant that his Pokmon could come out on their own, whenever they chose. In many situations, this allowed them to react quickly and assist their Trainer. Persian stepped onto the ground, lazily licking its paw, completely ignoring the pleading look in Natsumes eyes. Slowking, on the other hand, removed the "crown" from its head and began rummaging through something. For a moment, Natsume had the strange impression that, without the Shellder attached to its head, Slowkings intelligence had regressed to its pre-evolution state. Ogerpon wanted to help, but its tiny body wasnt exactly suited for the task. In the end, it was Gardevoir who reached out and pulled Natsume free. As for Gallade? That guy was still sulking, having spiraled into self-imposed isolation after losing control of his emotions during the battle. It would probably take him some time to recover. "Saved at last." "Thanks a ton, Gardevoir." Natsume patted his chest, exhaling in relief. He had almost drowned in an ocean of fluff. Sure, fluff was cutebut that was not how he wanted to go out. "You worked hard, Natsume." Standing off to the side, Mei finally spoke up. The atmosphere just now had felt so... intimate. She wasnt sure if she wouldve been intruding by saying something earlier. So, she had kept silent. "I wasnt the one who worked hard. It was mostly Persian and the others." Straightening out his clothes, Natsume glanced at Persian, who was already sprawled out on the ground, basking in the sun. He honestly didnt feel like he had done much. At the end of the day, his role was simply planning strategies and providing support. The ones who had truly worked hard were Persian and the othersthe ones who had faced the battle head-on. "As a reward for everyones efforts, lets have a barbecue party tonight." Natsume really couldnt think of a better way to celebrate. A barbecue was one of the few things he knew that could liven up the mood and bring everyone together for a fun time. "Lopuu!" "Yadon~" "Uma-uma!" As night began to fall, the person Shouhei had mentionedthe one coming to meet with Natsumefinally arrived at the farm. Chapter 108: New Companions and Natsume’s Reward A few days later, a large truck slowly drove into Natsumes farm. It had been several days since the battle with Ting-Lu. In that time, quite a few changes had taken place on the farm. The most noticeable change was the expansion of its territoryit had grown considerably, practically extending its borders by a full circle. Even the cave where Ogerpon had been living was now within the farms grounds. On another note, Natsume had once again gone viral online. After all, he was someone who had taken down a Legendary Pokmon head-on. When Ting-Lu had been on the move, the emergency alerts practically leaped out of peoples phones, desperate to slap them in the face with warnings. There was an intense online discussion about this disaster-bringing Legendary Pokmon. And just when the hype was picking upwhen the internets ever-resourceful netizens had finally pieced together the details of Ting-Lus identitybam. It got defeated. Cleanly. Decisively. Dude, come on. This is kind of awkward for everyone. One second, the internet was debating the sheer power of the Treasures of Ruin and the devastation they could bring. The next second, before Ting-Lu even got close to a town, it was already taken down. What was this, "The emperor had barely begun his conquest before the treasury ran dry"? Soon, the discussion shifted from Ting-Lu to the person who had defeated it. And just yesterday, when the League officially released the battle details, everyone finally found out who was responsible. They even included a short video clip from the latter part of the battle. Though recorded from afar, the footage still conveyed Ting-Lus overwhelming power. Many online commenters were left in awe. An eighteen-year-oldbarely two or three months away from turning nineteenhad taken down a Legendary Pokmon to protect his farm, rallying his Pokmon companions to victory. Was this the legendary hidden masters among common folk? It was like winning a world championship in table tennis, only to return home and get utterly schooled by the elderly man at the neighborhood ping-pong table. You never know what kind of hidden talents an ordinary-looking person might have. In no time, Natsume had become the hottest topic on the internet. Young, accomplished, wealthy, and handsome. Honestly, this was the kind of thing that could make people jealous. And that face of hiswasnt there supposed to be a rule that when God opens a window for you, He closes a door? So what door got closed for him, exactly? The door to hardship? While simultaneously flinging open a massive window of success? As mentioned before, in this world, whether youre a celebrity, an idol, or an internet personality, you still have to take a step back when standing before a truly powerful Pokmon Trainer. If you''re a strong Pokmon Trainer and good-looking, your popularity doesn''t just add upit multiplies. Humans are visual creatures, after all. Attractive people always seem to get some extra perks. It''s like the classic wuxia trope of the hero saving the damsel in distress. If the hero is handsome, the girl will usually say, "I have nothing to repay you with, so I can only offer myself to you." But if the hero isn''t exactly easy on the eyes, then she might say, "I have nothing to repay you with, so I will serve you in my next lifeas an ox or a horse." The same logic applies here. It wasn''t just Natsume himself who attracted attention. His Pokmon also became a hot topic. Many people were eager to copy his homeworkanalyzing his team to build their own second or third squads. After all, the Pokmon used by the Elite Four and Champions are always closely studied, influencing battle strategies for many Trainers. Adjusting an already powerful Trainers lineup to suit one''s own needs was a common shortcut in the competitive world of Pokmon training. After all, the Elite Four only needed to build their own teams once. But for those copying them? There was a lot more to consider. Back to the main point. When people looking to copy his teamor those with ulterior motivesopened the relevant data, they fell silent. Persiannothing special, a common Pokmon, often kept as a pet. Corviknighta flying taxi service Pokmon, plenty of those around. Slowkinga bit rare, but not too uncommon. Gardevoirnow thats a different story. A highly sought-after Psychic Queen. Galladean even rarer dual-blade Psychic warrior. And then that green one. What the hell was that? A Legendary Pokmon?! "Sir, are you the Legendary Pokmon guy?" "He''s younger, stronger, and better-looking than me. My existence is meaningless. Goodbye, world." "At eighteen, he took down a Legendary. At eighteen, I ignored the risks of staying in bed all day." "Hey, uh I have a friend" "I am that friend. Send it to me directly. (Serious)" Seeing the online discussions, Natsume rubbed Ogerpons head. "Just wait a little longer. Soon, well clear your name." "Umah?" Ogerpon, gnawing on a berry larger than its own head, looked up in confusion. Clear its name? What name? Even now, Ogerpon still didnt quite understand why so many people used to hate it. But at this point, it didnt really care anymore. "Umah." Nuzzling against Natsumes hand, Ogerpon continued its battle with the berry. This particular berry was actually an experiment of Natsumes. Since it was just a sapling, he had been nourishing it daily with the Viridian Force. He wasnt forcing it to grow fasterjust watering it with energy. And somehow, the tree started developing in the direction of a mystical spirit tree. Simply standing near it made one feel an incredible sense of relaxation. Its berries were noticeably larger than normal. Although they hadn''t been officially tested, based on his Pokmons reactions, their nutritional value and taste were top-tiernot any worse than the energy cubes on the market. Incidentally, for some reason, when Natsume casually called it a "spirit tree," it seemed to awaken Corviknights chuunibyou soul. For the past few days, Corviknight had been staying near the tree, no matter whether it was eating or sleeping. As if it were cosplaying as its guardian beast. Well, sort of. What kind of guardian beast watches over something while binge-watching dramas, completely ignoring the thing it''s supposed to guard? "Pi!" In the distance, the cry of a Shiny Pidgeotto rang out. Previously, Corviknight had been the one responsible for relaying messages around the farm. But lately, since it had been enjoying its roleplaying sessions, it temporarily handed over the job to its "little bro." Yes, all the birds on the farm were now Corviknights little bros. Just like how all the Sentret and Furret on the farm were under the rule of the Shiny Furret. Corviknight figured that it deserved some followers, too. After all, it had now officially been part of a battle that took down a Legendary Pokmon. Sure, it wasnt the main fighter this time. But someday, it would defeat a Legendary with its own strength. Natsume had said so. And Corviknight fully trusted Natsumes words. To be fair, Natsume wasnt lying. With its current strength, Corviknight could definitely beat something like a Cosmog or a Meltan. Natsume never liedhe just withheld some details. "Pi-Pi!" Natsume boss! Theres a big truck at the farms entrance! The Shiny Pidgeotto landed, looking at Natsume expectantly. "Got it." Seeing its eager gaze, Natsume reached into his pocket and pulled out a few pokblocks, stuffing them into its beak. As the flavors exploded on its tongue, the Shiny Pidgeottos eyes narrowed in bliss. As expectedNatsume always rewarded any Pokmon that helped out. Brushing some crumbs off his hands, Natsume called out into the air. "Gardevoir." "Ogerpon." In the next instant, Gardevoir appeared beside him. Her eyes glowed as she teleported Natsume and Ogerpon to the farm entrance. "Thanks." For Natsume, it was just a blink of an eye before he arrived at the gate. "Mr. Natsume." A man in a suit stepped out from the trucks passenger seat, nodding slightly when he saw Natsume. There was a hint of respect in his eyes. Because, in the end, power was the ultimate truth. Only fools would act arrogant in front of a true powerhouse. Even so-called prodigies were nothing until they had grown strong enough to prove themselves. High EQ: You have a bright future ahead. Low EQ: Right now, you''re nothing. It might sound like something a villain would say, but in reality, only those who survive long enough can be called geniuses. The ones who get crushed? Just unlucky. "Hello." After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Natsume turned his attention to the back of the truck. Two Machamp, wearing yellow safety helmets, were unloading cargo. There was a lot of stuff this timelarge and small crates, all essential for the farms development. Some advanced machines were included, too. The suited man lifted a briefcase and gestured towards Natsume. "Here are the Pokmon and valuables you applied for." As he spoke, he handed the case over. Before doing so, he had already performed a series of verifications in front of Natsume. This wasnt just a security measureit was also a way of proving that the items inside hadnt been tampered with. Essentially, it was a seal of authenticity. "Got it. Thanks." Taking the case, Natsume began the final unlocking process. He had already received the necessary passcodes earlier. Honestly, with how complicated this case was, it felt more like a safe than a briefcase. As he looked at the sleek, black, undecorated box in his hands, he couldn''t help but think that it might be useful in the future. Ever since taking over the farm, Natsume had developed a habit of keeping anything that might come in handy later. Because you never know. "Umah" Ogerpon, still holding its half-eaten berry, glanced at the suited man, then at Natsume. And ultimately decidedthis berry was more important. Click. With a final unlock, the case''s hydraulic arms opened automatically. Inside, nestled in black velvet Five Pok Balls on the left. Three shimmering stones on the right. "The left side contains the Pokmon you requested," the suited man explained. "The right side holds a Key Stone and Mega Stonesrewards for your efforts in sheltering the migrating Pokmon on your farm." Natsume hadn''t asked for Mega Evolution items. Yet, here they were. "I see." Staring at the radiant Mega Stones for a few seconds, Natsume calmly closed the case. Seeing his reaction, the suited man exhaled slightly in relief. This was a very generous gesture. Thinking about it carefully, having the strength to defeat a legendary Pokmon head-on and successfully capturing it Regardless of whether Natsume can make Ting-Lu submit in the future, the fact remainshe is a man with legendary-level combat power. At the very least, dealing with the remaining three Treasures of Ruin shouldnt be an issue. Even if hes at a disadvantage due to type matchups or battle styles, he should still be able to hold his ground for a while. Young, powerful, and yet instead of joining the League, he chose to live as an independent farm owner. Given these circumstances, it makes sense to offer him some goodwill now to facilitate future cooperationeven if it means going the extra mile. Still it''s hard not to feel envious. Casting an inconspicuous glance at the briefcase, the well-dressed man quickly adjusted his mindset. Someone like him, with neither power nor influence, had climbed up the ranks step by step using his ability to read people and swiftly adapt. My name is Fu Gakuji. If you ever have any questions, Mr. Natsume, feel free to contact me. With a warm smile, Fu Gakuji naturally exchanged contact information with Natsume. Another connection secured. Gakuji clenched his fist in his heart. More friends, more opportunities. More powerful connections, even bigger opportunities. This is one connection Im definitely holding onto. After all, who wouldnt want to stay close to someone like Natsume? Young, capable, and with a surprisingly good personality. No one would let go of such a valuable connectioncertainly not Fu Gakuji. Right now, he was a secretary, but soon he would be assigned to a township post. If he happened to be sent to Lianshan Town, then Natsume would become a person he must maintain a good relationship with. Heave-ho! Heave-ho! Two Machamp efficiently unloaded the cargo from the truck, arranging everything neatly before silently getting back on board. The entire process was smoothno unnecessary movements, no exaggerated poses. For a species like Machamp, this was quite rare. After all, even when they eat, they strike bodybuilding poses. Flexing is practically ingrained in their very bones. For them to restrain themselves like thisits about as difficult as getting a Slaking to willingly do two push-ups. Well then, I wont disturb you any longer, Mr. Natsume. After bidding Natsume farewell, Fu Gakuji took the passenger seat in the cargo truck and left. It wasnt that the department lacked official vehicles. He simply felt that this way, he could get closer to Natsume more naturally. After all, many young people tend to keep their distance from government officials. Fortunately, it seemed like his approach was working. And their conversation had been smooth, without any hint of arrogance from Natsume. Not an easy thing to find these days. Fu Gakuji had a gut feelingNatsume was going to go far. His job wasnt to fawn over him but simply to do his work properly. Switching his phone back from silent mode to vibrate, Fu Gakuji continued handling his tasks. ... Alright, everyone, come meet your new companions. Back at home, Natsume gathered his Pokmon, as he always did whenever a new member joined the farm. A small welcome ceremony helped new Pokmon integrate into the group more easily. Lopunny! Emolga? Lopunny and Emolga reacted in stark contrast. Lopunny was always full of warmth and kindness toward new arrivals. Since the farm belonged to Natsume, Lopunny was naturally happy to see it grow and thrive. Emolga, on the other hand, remained indifferent. At most, it was mildly curious. Lately, Emolga had been busy establishing its own Emolga fan club. Not for some grand rebellion against Natsume or anything. It was just that if that dumb Corviknight could have followers, then of course Emolga couldnt fall behind. Putting aside battle prowess, Corviknight was basically at the bottom of the farms social hierarchy. Many Pokmon found its relentless preaching habits quite annoying. Seriously, what kind of normal Pokmon actually listens to that stuff?! By the way, sitting at the top of the farms hierarchy was Slowking. This guy had already reached the stage where he looked down on everyone''s intelligence equally. He always kept his shell filled with brain-boosting supplementswalnuts, memory enhancers, that kind of thing. And whenever he encountered someone he deemed both stubborn and foolish, Slowking wouldnt bother arguing. Instead, hed silently hand them a bag of walnuts. Some people just need a little extra help in the intelligence department. Under the watchful eyes of the other Pokmon, Natsume tossed five Pok Balls into the air. Audino. Indeedee. Chansey~ You must be Natsume, Roto! As the white light faded, five unfamiliar Pokmon appeared before Natsume. The previously calm and quiet living room instantly became lively. Some Pokmon greeted the newcomers enthusiastically. Others whispered amongst themselves, sharing their thoughts. Alright, settle down, everyone. Honestly, Natsume was starting to regret his decision. Maybe he should have introduced them in a quieter environment. Fortunately, the newcomers didnt seem to be overwhelmed, which reassured him a little. He made a mental notefirst impressions were important. For a Trainer and a Pokmon, their first meeting was akin to a newborn seeing its caretaker for the first time. Hello, everyone. Natsume stepped forward, greeting the five Pokmon who, despite the noise, remained composed. As he spoke, he studied them carefully. From left to right: two Indeedee, a male and a female. The Indeedee species were the very definition of butler-type Pokmonmeticulous, efficient, and highly capable. Rumor had it that even the daily operations of the British royal family were handled by a pair of Indeedee. With two psychic-type Pokmon of this caliber, they could easily replace a whole team of maids. If not for the need to maintain royal traditions, all the human staff might have been dismissed already. Next were two pink cutiesAudino and Chansey. Both were officially recognized Pokmon Center medical assistants. They had excellent healing abilities, gentle temperaments And, well, they were surprisingly good fighters. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chansey, in particular, was notorious. The Pink Demon. With moves like Toxic, Substitute, Protect, Minimize, Soft-Boiled, and Charm, it had a well-earned reputation in both singles and doubles battles. Most opponents ended up completely mentally shattered by the end of a fight. Audino, as Chanseys successor, wasnt much better. Toxic, Double Team, Thunder Wave, Substitute, Rest, Amnesia, Grass Knot Just looking at its movepool was enough to make a Trainer lose their composure. These two would probably get along very well with Butterfree. Finally, there was Rotom. One of the most useful Pokmon in the modern era. At least in terms of functionality, only Porygon could really compete with it. Rotom could possess appliances and vehicles, changing its form and typing accordingly. And once it inhabited a device, its performance would be greatly enhanced. In short, with Rotom around, Natsume basically had a fully automated smart home. Everything would work seamlessly with just a simple command. Pretty convenient, honestly. At the very least, he wouldnt have to worry about using any of the machines he had just stored away. Nice to meet you all. Im Natsume, a farm owner. This first meeting may not be what you expected. But I hope we can get along well from now on. He extended his hand and spoke softly. The five Pokmon exchanged glances before taking turns giving him a high-five. Truth be told, they already knew about Natsume and the farm before coming here. And from what theyd heard, it seemed like a pretty good place. After all, this was the kind of life they had been trained for. Whether it was a Pokmon Center or a farm, it didnt really make much difference in the end. If the farm owner was reliable, maybe life on the farm would actually be pretty comfortable? "Alright, alright. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask." "But one at a time, okay?" "Dont scare our new friends." Just as Natsume straightened up, he immediately felt curious gazes coming from all directions. Faced with his group of inquisitive Pokmon, he could only step aside and let them have their moment. The moment Natsume gave his approval, the Pokmon, led by Lopunny, eagerly swarmed forward. They were all filled with curiosity about their new companions. Lately, the farm had been in a relatively stable state. The last time a bunch of new Pokmon arrived at once was when Gardevoir came. "Right, Rotom, for now, you can use this phone." "If I get the chance, Ill go to the Trainer Association and apply for a Pokdex." As if remembering something, Natsume pulled out an old phone from the cabinet. Since there were quite a few internet-addicted Pokmon at home, Natsume had stocked up on extra phones and computers. Now, one of them was finally coming in handy. But this was just a temporary solution. "Got it, Roto!" Grinning mischievously, Rotom transformed into a bolt of electricity and entered the phone. In an instant, the phone underwent a visible transformation. Its outer shell turned Rotom''s signature orange, and even developed facial features. "Looking forward to working with you, Natsume!" "What should I do next?" Rotom grinned, happily zipping around in the air. In just this short time, it had already grasped the general layout of the farm. The future looked promisingreally promising. And this time, it was a genuine compliment. In Rotom''s eyes, Natsume was definitely someone bound for great things. And more importantly, the farm had an unlimited supply of customized Pokblocks! To those Rotom working for the Leaguedo you guys get this kind of treatment?! Do you?! Well, now there was no choice but to work hard. Forget about surpassing the veteran Pokmon At the very least, among the ones who arrived today, it had to be Natsume''s favorite! "Take your time and get familiar with the farm over the next few days." "We can talk about work later." Seeing Rotom so eager to start working, Natsume chuckled and gently put a hold on the idea. It had just arrivedgetting used to the place should come first. This wasnt some exploitative sweatshop, after all. Throwing Pokmon into hard labor the moment they arrived? Natsume couldnt do that. (Meanwhile, Slowking, who had barely evolved before being put to work: "??") "Suosuo." Amidst the lively atmosphere, Zorua quietly approached Natsume and whispered something to him. "I see so that guy is acting up again." As he listened to Zorua, the smile on Natsumes face gradually faded. Just as expected, that guy was a huge headache. "Persian, keep an eye on things here for me. Ill be back soon." Grabbing a jacket from the couch, Natsume asked Cinccino to help brush off any loose fur before throwing it on and heading out. "Lead the way, Zorua." "Suosuo." No problem. Just make sure to give me an extra meal when we get back. Keeping that guy in check is exhausting, you know. With an expression that didn''t betray a single hint of guilt, Zorua casually made its demand. Chapter 109: The Physically Convinced Ting-Lu Led by Zorua, Natsume arrived at a sunken basin on the edge of his farm. Originally, this basin wasnt part of the farms territory, but after Natsume expanded the property, it was incorporated within the boundaries. That was a deliberate decision on his partafter all, the massive Ting-Lu needed a place to be temporarily contained. Following a series of modifications, the basin now resembled a deep, shadowy prison. At its lowest point, sunlight couldnt even penetrate. That was strange. The sun was directly overhead, and there were no obstructions, yet the basin seemed like a void that swallowed light itself. Any rays that managed to reach in were gradually consumed by the darkness. Deep within the basin, Ting-Lu lay stilluntil, at a certain moment, it stirred. Its crimson eyes snapped open, glaring ahead. ROAR! A chilling bellow rang through the basin before everything fell silent once more. Only the increasingly heavy sound of the beasts breathing echoed in the still air. A few seconds later, the crisp sound of footsteps broke the silence. A small orb radiating a soft, gentle glow abruptly appeared, hovering in the air like a mischievous spirit dancing through a field of flowers. It trailed a long, wispy tail behind it as it swirled playfully. Hee hee. A sly chuckle followeda taunting, teasing laugh that seemed to mock Ting-Lus current state. Alright, alright. A voice it would never forget echoed through the basin. Ting-Lus crimson eyes widened to their limits. If rage had a physical form, its expression would embody it. As it glared furiously, a familiar figure slowly emerged from the darkness. Step by step, Natsume walked into the illuminated space, the glowing orb flitting around him as if it had found its center. In the depths of the shadows, a boy, surrounded by luminous spirits, emerged, cradling a small fox with a mischievous grin on its face. To some, this scene might have seemed poetic, even ethereal. But to Ting-Lu, it was nothing but infuriating. "ROAR!" With a deafening bellow, it lunged forward. Its hooves slammed into the ground as it charged straight at Natsume with a single, clear intentcrush him. In its long, storied existence, never had it suffered such humiliation. Even those who once sealed it away had spent an immense amount of time, effort, and resources, gathering countless warriors just to barely subdue it. Yet, this human had defeated it effortlesslyalone. Then, with some absurd Pok Ball, he had captured it. And worst of all, he had sealed it in this place, alongside that damned fox! Wait. Could a fox even be this powerful? That sudden doubt flickered through its mind. The very next second, phantom chains materialized within the previously empty basin. These chains extended from the rock walls, wrapping around Ting-Lus body. Just as it rose to its feet, the chains yanked it back down, slamming it into the ground. Immediately after, an immense gravitational force pressed down on it, pinning it in place. Watching his handiwork, Zorua nodded in satisfaction. As expected of me. Though standard Psychic-type moves didnt have this kind of effect, Psychic abilities themselves were highly versatile. If a Psychic Pokmon was strictly limited by move descriptions, then what was even the point of being a Psychic-type? Suo You know, this is making things really complicated for me too. Zorua rubbed its little paws against its head in frustration as it observed the Ting-Lus stubborn resistance. Logically speaking, a Pokmon that was defeated in battle and then captured shouldn''t be this uncooperative. Call it survival of the fittest, or an instinctive respect for strength. Even if a Pokmon disliked the Trainer who bested them, they wouldnt normally be consumed by this much ragerage so intense that they wanted to kill their captor. Zorua couldnt quite understand it. So communication really is impossible, huh? Looking at Ting-Lus seething expression, Natsume sighed. Just what kind of creature had he captured? It refused to communicate. The moment it saw Natsume, it just wanted to kill him. Honestly, he might as well have just captured a random wild Pokmon on the roadside instead. There was no way he was going to resort to extreme methods. Taming techniques like "eagle training" werent something he wanted to use on Pokmon. Pokmon captured that way would only submit in appearance but never in spirit. There was no point in that. Staring at Natsume, Ting-Lu exhaled heavily, white mist billowing from its flared nostrils. It practically had the words "I refuse to submit" written all over its face. "Are all Legendary Pokmon this arrogant?" "...That cant be right, can it?" Natsume was starting to doubt reality. These past few days, he had tried everything. Verbal persuasion? Useless. Food temptations? Ignored. Even blasting it with his Viridian Aura point-blank did nothing. Well, it did make some progress. At first, the moment it saw him, it would immediately try to kill him without a seconds hesitation. Now, after one failed attempt, it would simply turn its head away and ignore him. Still, no proper communication was possible. "Suo..." Watching Natsume struggle, Zorua felt both upset and annoyed. Upset because it empathized with Natsumes frustration. Annoyed because of this stubborn, ungrateful Ting-Lu. Originally, Zorua thought that helping Natsume capture a Legendary Pokmon would make him really happy. And that happiness would surely lead to extra treats for Zorua. At first, everything went as plannedNatsume was indeed thrilled and even gave Zorua a bonus meal. A happy Natsume meant a happy Zorua. A win-win. Once Ting-Lu willingly accepted its capture, it would be a triple win. At least, thats what Zorua had thought. That joy lasted until they realized this beast was completely uncooperative. Little brother, youre making me lose face here. Zorua stared at Ting-Lu, scheming in silence. Meanwhile, Ting-Lu, which had turned its head away from Natsume, suddenly shuddered. Something felt off. A cold, unsettling feeling crept up its spine. It was being watchedno, targeted. A few seconds later, Zorua turned toward Natsume. "Suosuo!" "...You want me to leave first?" "Suosuo!" "Alright." Zorua insisted that Natsume step outside for a moment, saying it would have a friendly conversation with Ting-Lu. By the time Natsume returned, it would most likely be convinced. Though Natsume wasnt sure what exactly Zorua had in mind, he chose to trust it. Nothing bad would happen. At least not to Zorua. As for Ting-Lu? Well, that was another matter entirely. Once Natsume was gone, the playful expression on Zorua''s face gradually faded. Turning around, it glared menacingly at Ting-Lu. So, you think you can just ignore me, huh? Heh. Foolish deer. Faced with Zoruas gaze, Ting-Lu merely raised its head arrogantly. Indeed, this little fox was... odd. But so what? A mortal was just a mortal. Even if it was a little stronger than usual, what did it matter? I am a Legendary Pokmon! The day you die, Ill be dancing on your grave! That was the confidence that came with being a Legendary. "Miu?" What nonsense are you talking about? Meeting its condescending gaze, Zorua returned an equally disdainful look. Then, with a light push of its tiny paws, it leapt into the air. Its body began to shift. The floating light orbs cast a long shadow against the basin walls. The small, fox-like silhouette stretched and elongated A long, slender tail unfurled behind it. As Ting-Lu watched in disbelief, a new Pokmon appeared in the darkness. "...Oh-oh-oh-oh" Seconds later, the basin echoed with a miserable scream. It sounded like a cartoon cat getting mercilessly beaten by a certain mouse. "Youre saying Ting-Lu is now willing to be my partner?" Looking at Zoruas smug little face, Natsume felt... complicated. Seriously? Was this really persuasion? Or was it just beating Ting-Lu into submission until it had no choice but to agree? "Suosuo!" Zorua nodded enthusiastically. After an intense and passionate debate, Ting-Lu had recognized its mistakes. It had reflected deeply, turned over a new leaf, repented its sins, and suffered greatly. In short, it had realized the error of its ways. From now on, it was wholly devoted to Lord Natsume. (Error: "Lord Natsume" replaced with "Natsumes loyal companion") "Suo?" Right, Ting-Lu? As it spoke, Zorua turned its gaze toward Ting-Lu. The once-mighty beast quickly nodded, hurriedly expressing that it was now willingly under Natsumes command. No complaints at all. Nope, none. ...Though, could it at least fix the dent in its cauldron first? Natsume stared silently at Ting-Lus battered cauldron. The once-imposing bronze vessel atop its head was now dented in several places, with a visible crack running along its edge. Even Corviknights strongest attack hadnt managed to cause such damage. Yet now... For a moment, Natsume didnt know what to say. "...Ill give you extra food tonight." Faced with Zoruas eager "praise me!" expression, Natsume fell back on his usual solution. It was old-fashioned, but still incredibly effective. One look at Zoruas instantly brightened eyes was enough proof. "Suo!" Ignoring the fox now bouncing around in excitement, Natsume turned his attention to the large yet visibly miserable Ting-Lu. He had no idea what it had just gone through. "...Well then, Ill be counting on you from now on, Ting-Lu." Looking straight into its crimson eyes, Natsume spoke without hesitation. Even when facing a creature akin to a walking natural disaster, there wasnt a trace of fear in his expression. For the first time, Ting-Lu felt slightly more comfortable. At least this human wasnt a coward. If its so-called Trainer had been spineless, it would have felt utterly disgusted. But this unwavering, fearless presence? It earned Natsume a slight degree of respect. For the first time, Ting-Lu properly examined Natsume. Not bad. He had a decent auraone that felt rather pleasant. He was apparently skilled at making Pokblocks, so its future diet should be decent. Yes. If it had to submit, it might as well focus on the positives. With that thought, Natsume suddenly pulled out its Pok Ball. "Lets make it official, then." A beam of red light enveloped the Ting-Lu. It hesitated for just a moment. Then, suppressing its instinct to resist, it allowed itself to be absorbed into the Pok Ball. Only now did Natsume truly feel like he had captured the Ting-Lu. With a flick of his wrist, Natsume tossed the Pok Ball, releasing the towering figure once more before him. In a way, Natsume had a strong sense of ritual. After all, such formalities held a certain significance, especially for Pokmon, whose thoughts were often quite straightforward. Grrr... A low growl rumbled from Ting-Lu as it silently lay down on the ground. Though it had accepted its fate, it had no intention of playing the role of a loyal, affectionate companion. A proper enforcer should step up when theres a battle and otherwise stay out of the waypreferably at the farms outskirts. That was the condition Ting-Lu set. It was also its last shred of dignity. Having already been beaten down twice, it at least wanted to keep a little of its pride intact. Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsume agreed without hesitation. The request was hardly unreasonable. Besides, with the farm expanding, the Mightyena family had taken on a much heavier workload. Just patrolling the entire perimeter took a considerable amount of time. With Ting-Lu stationed at the farms edges, it could help cover a large portion of the land. That alone would ease the burden on the Mightyena pack. And so, nearly a week after being captured, Ting-Lu finallybegrudginglybecame Natsumes... enforcer. For now, "partner" was still a long way off. A Small Favor Oh, rightlower your head a little, Ting-Lu. Just before leaving, Natsume gestured for it to lower its head. Though puzzled, Ting-Lu complied without protest. No other reasonjust that damned fox was watching. As it lowered its massive head, Natsume reached out and placed a hand on the bronze cauldron. A soft green glow radiated from his palm, spreading across the cauldron as the Viridian Force took effect. Feeling the power coursing through its body, Ting-Lus eyes flickered with understanding. No wonder that ridiculous bird it knocked down so many times kept bouncing back like nothing had happened. So it was this human So it was Natsume. With some reluctance, Ting-Lu adjusted how it referred to him. That fox had warned itif it didnt behave and speak properly, all its teeth would be pulled out. Casting a resentful glance at Zorua, Ting-Lu slumped to the side and prepared to finally get some sleep. It hadnt had a proper rest in days. Natsume! Natsume! Just as Natsume and Zorua were about to head back, they spotted an orange Rotom Phone speeding toward them like a bullet. Chapter 110: The Rotom Project and the Pokémon That Fainted at the Farm Gate "What''s up, Rotom?" "There are a lot of people online talking about the farm. Some are even saying they want to come here to check in." As a modern, fully trained assistant-type Rotom, it had no trouble understanding online content. In terms of intelligence, it was no different from a human. In fact, when it came to navigating the internet, Rotom was exceptionally skilled. If it werent for the strict rule at Rotom School prohibiting students from posting comments online, Rotom figured its forum rank would be pretty high by now. "Oh, right, that makes sense." "Its probably because of the whole thing with beating Ting-Lu." After thinking for a moment, Natsume recalled the incident. Ever since moving to the farm, his phone usage had steadily declined. Back when he was still in school, he used to cling to his phone all day. During holidays and breaks, hed spend most of his time lying around at home, playing on his phone. But ever since arriving at the farm, his free time had been taken over by fluffy or slippery creatures. Every morning, the first thing he did after waking up was pet his shiny Furret for a while. While brushing his teeth, hed chat with Lopunny. After meals, hed have casual conversations with Cinccino as it diligently cleaned up, offering some encouragement. His schedule for leaving the house was also packed. There was the farm patrol, checking in with Sandslash, who was obsessed with farming. Then, hed ask Mightyena and its family if anything had happened the night before. He also made regular visits to the Ursaring den to collect whatever random objects they had picked up. Of course, hed exchange them for Pokblocks. The Ursaring family was more than happy to tradethose items were useless to them anyway. Every so often, hed stop by Vespiquens hive to collect Honey. In the afternoons, hed check out the training grounds, then spend time interacting with the Ampharos and Dubwool herds. After all, communication was crucial for both humans and Pokmon. Without proper communication, misunderstandings could arise. Like, say, changing the workers meals from high-calorie, rich dishes to light and low-quantity "healthy meals." That was just plain stupid. These conversations took up a lot of timean entire afternoon would pass just like that. In the evenings, Natsume would finally have some time to play on his phone. Usually, hed have a small, cute Pokmon like Ogerpon or Emolga in his arms. They even had a secret night-duty schedule to decide who got to sleep with him. Natsume himself had no idea this schedule existed. Hed only find out when he climbed into bed and saw which Pokmon had shown up that night. Of course, there were times when the "assigned" Pokmon got kicked out. For example, Corviknight. No one knew the depths of Natsumes frustration when he opened his door and found that big oaf crushing his bed. It hardened him. His fists, that is. Anywayback to the topic. With his phone usage decreasing, Natsume had stopped keeping up with online trends. There were tons of trending topics he had no clue about. Sometimes, he really felt like an out-of-touch old man from another planet. "Mr. Natsume, have you considered starting a video channel or something?" "It could attract traffic and be really beneficial for the farms development." Rotom suggested the idea as a matter of habit. This was something it had learned at Rotom School. Helping Trainers grow their ventures was part of its job. It couldnt be helpedRotom was just built that way. Trainers could focus solely on battling, but Rotom had a lot more to consider. (crossed out) Being well-versed in modern internet culture, Rotom knew exactly how to quickly boost a Trainers visibility and income. In todays fast-paced digital world, clout was everything. A Trainer with a strong online presence would naturally gain attention and resourceseven their personal safety could be somewhat assured. And conveniently, Rotom was an expert at this. From branding and scripting to filming, editing, and even account management Rotom could handle it all on its own. No outside help needed. "Oh, that, huh?" Natsume was momentarily caught off guard by the proposal. To be honest, he had thought about it before. Something like Building My Farm from Scratch. There was a time when videos like that were really popular. The old Natsume had also dreamed of that peaceful, idyllic farm life. But for various reasons, he never went through with it. There were plenty of obstacles. Lack of proper equipment and skilled personnel was one. The sheer amount of work involved in setting up the farm was anotherthere simply wasnt time. But the most important reason was... After actually inheriting the farm, Natsume realized that the so-called peaceful rural lifestyle was absolute nonsense. There was nothing peaceful about it! There was always something to do, and he was constantly a mess. The most relaxing part of his day was lying in bed at night. As for anything else? Not even on his mind. But since Rotom brought it up, maybe it was worth considering. "I mean, I guess we could, but Im not really good at this kind of thing." "If we do it, itd probably just be me filming random stuff." Although he had no objections, Natsume still gave Rotom a heads-up. At the end of the day, recording videos wasnt something Natsume cared much about. Whether it was income or the resources it could bring To him, these were just icing on the cake. If Rotom wanted to film, Natsume had no problem with it and fully supported the idea. But that was the extent of it. He wouldnt invest too much effort into it. If he had the time, hed rather be napping with his shiny Furret. Oh, wait. He almost forgot. That little one was now a full-fledged muscle powerhouse. Hugging it Felt absolutely awful. Just thinking about how his once soft and adorable shiny Furret was now striking poses and flexing muscles against a MachampNatsume suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. This feeling Damn, was this a heart attack? "No problem, Roto!" Hearing Natsumes response, Rotoms eyes visibly lit up. In the literal sensethey glowed. It had completely filtered out everything except the word agree. As for the rest? Ah, Rotom seemed to have momentarily crashed. "Ill give it serious thought!" Rotom did a mid-air twirl, looking utterly delighted. Ever since it hatched in the north, Rotom had been raised with the belief that it should help its Trainer, ease their burdens, and solve their problems. That had been drilled into it even when it left the Rotom Home. So after arriving here, it instinctively wanted to do something. Preferably something that would prove its worth as soon as possible. Hmm, this sounded oddly familiar Like someone else had said something similar before. Right, Gardevoir? "Oh, that reminds me, theres one more little thing, Roto!" As if suddenly recalling something, Rotom forced itself to stop zipping around. "A Mightyena with a red scarf around its neck said it found a fainted Pokmon at the farm entrance." "It told me to let you know, Natsume, or anyone else nearby." "Since I was already coming to find you, I took care of it, Roto!" "Huh?" This was a small thing? Just as Natsume had started to relax, he slowly turned his head to look at Rotom. Rotom, meanwhile, met his gaze with a perfectly innocent expression. Honestly, when Natsume had seen Rotom zipping toward him like a lightning bolt, he thought something serious had happened. But after hearing Rotom ramble about videos, he relaxed a little. He figured it was just a newcomer getting a bit too excited and overwhelmed. But turns outthis little guy had been holding out on him?! Why did it feel like yet another unreliable character had joined the farm? "Ill go take a look." Regaining his composure, Natsume smiled. Seeing his reaction, Rotom secretly let out a sigh of relief. In truth, it never considered this a minor issue. It had rushed over at full speed specifically to report it. But somewhere along the way, the topic had veered off-course. After all, back at Rotom School, it had accumulated so many ideas and plans that it was itching to put into action. Now that the opportunity had finally come, it just got a little overexcited. Once it finished talking about the videos, it realized its mistake. So, it tried to slip the important part in as an afterthought. Which, well Was incredibly awkward. Honestly, Rotom really wanted to find a hole to crawl into. If it were possible, itd even look for a time machine. "Kirlia." "Kirluu." At Natsumes call, a petite figure appeared beside him. If Gardevoir was an undeniable psychic queen, Then Kirlia was a psychic maiden. Having just begun mastering its psychic abilities, Kirlia was now showing its potential both in battle and everyday life. Back when it was a Ralts, aside from teleportation for self-defense, its other moves had been rather unimpressive. Promising, but nothing outstanding yet. But after evolving into Kirlia, the future psychic queens brilliance was beginning to shine through. Before, Natsume had always relied on Gardevoir for teleportation. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But since she spent a lot of time researching Pokblock recipes, he decided to switch things up and use Kirlia instead. Unlike its siblings, this little one spent most of its days wandering around the farm And recording Corviknights trash talk. Yes, it was that Ralts who had secretly taken notes on the battle sidelines. A Corviknight fangirl, perhaps? At the very least, when it came to collecting and documenting trash talk, Kirlia was more dedicated than most hardcore celebrity fans. "Can you take me to the farm entrance, Kirlia?" "Kirluu." Its an honor to assist you, Natsume. Lifting the hem of its dress, Kirlia displayed the elegance of a refined young lady. It was hard to imagine that this same Kirlia, when in battle, would hurl trash talk with a bright smile. That was something its esteemed senior, Corviknight, had taught it. Apparently, the contrast made a greater impact during fights. And Kirlia took those lessons very seriously. So in daily life, it worked hard to be a perfect lady. No way was it going to turn out like its siblings. Even if they were strong, and even if Kirlia loved them That didnt stop it from disapproving of them. One was a workaholic with constant anxiety unless occupied. The other was a lazy mutt who struggled with emotional regulation when things went wrong. "Kirluu." A blue light flickered as Kirlia, perched on Natsumes shoulder, wrapped him in psychic energy. After scanning the surroundings to pinpoint the destination, it activated teleportation. Compared to Slowking or Gardevoirs near-instantaneous teleportation, Kirlias had a slight delay. Maybe because of its personalityit didnt like rushing things. In a way, that could be considered a strength? When Natsume appeared at the farm entrance, the Mightyena family immediately gathered around him. The ever-goofier Mightyena father wagged his tail like a propeller, circling Natsume in excitement. He even tried standing on his hind legs to paw at Natsumes coat. Only to be firmly pushed down by Natsumes hand. Compared to him, the elder Mightyena brother standing calmly nearby felt much more mature and reliable. "So, whats the situation with this little one?" Shifting his gaze from the Mightyena family, Natsume looked toward the small, slightly timid figure sitting nearby. A Purrloin, huh That was rare. Yes, the Pokmon Mightyena had found at the farm entrance was a Purrloin. No one knew why it had collapsed there, but Mightyena had carried it back. After being taken care of for a while, it had regained consciousness. But for some reason, it seemed rather shy and reserved? When Natsume looked over, its ears twitched And it curled up even tighter, hugging its knees. Honestly, there wasnt much to explain. It had simply fainted from hunger. Purrloin wanted to say that. But at the moment, it had no idea how to begin. "Woof." Taking small, measured steps, the elder Mightyena walked to Natsumes side and offered a simple explanation. There wasnt much to tell. He had just found this little one while patrolling. And the way he had found it Well, it was certainly an interesting pose. Face-down on the ground, one paw stretched forwardpointing directly at the farms gate. So, Mightyena had picked it up and brought it back. The elder Mightyena, having finished his explanation, quietly stepped aside. In passing, he casually swiped his paw at his overexcited father, yanking him away. Nows not the time to disturb Natsume, you dumb old man. "Hello, Im Natsume, the owner of this farm." "Did something happen to you?" Sitting cross-legged on the ground in front of Purrloin, Natsume gazed at the little Pokmon with curiosity. Since the farm had expanded, plenty of Pokmon had come seeking shelter. He had seen all sortsboth normal and eccentric ones. But this was the first time hed encountered a Pokmon that had starved itself unconscious right at the farms entrance. Purrloin lifted its head, first meeting Natsumes sincere gaze, then glancing toward the elder Mightyena. After hesitating for a few seconds, it slowly began explaining its situation. Chapter 111: The Struggle Among Kin and the Soon-to-Hatch Egg Chapter 111: The Struggle Among Kin and the Soon-to-Hatch Egg14 FebWhere there are people, there are rivalries. The same holds true for Pokmon. Whenever a group of Pokmon gathers, its inevitable that one or more factions will form, competing for resources. This is especially true for stray Pokmon in the city. They usually have their own organizationsperhaps not large, but certainly hierarchical. Purrloin was once part of such a small group. It lived alongside a few other Pokmon, surviving by scavenging trash when necessary. Its not that it didnt want to win over humans with its cuteness to get food. Its just that all the good spots where kind-hearted humans would feed Pokmon were already claimed by others. If they tried to approach, theyd get beaten up. So, Purrloin usually wandered the citys outskirtsold neighborhoods, small villages near the urban fringes, places like that. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There, it would occasionally come across kind-hearted humans who would offer some food. Being cute definitely had its perks. And Purrloin had great confidence in its ability to act adorable. Strictly speaking, Purrloin had grown up living off the generosity of many different people. But whatever food it managed to scavenge from humans or elsewhere, it never ate aloneit had to bring it back to their groups gathering place. There, a powerful Gloom would distribute the food. That was just how it worked for weak Pokmon. Purrloin didnt like it. Sometimes, it even thought about leaving altogether. But the other Pokmon would persuade it otherwise. "Just bear with it a little longer." "Endure it. Just a bit more." After all, this was at least a way to survive. If it left, it would just become an easy target for others. If you dont want to do this job, plenty of other Pokmon do. Pokmon are simple creaturesor at least, theyre supposed to be. But city-dwelling strays? They were anything but simple. Many of them had once been owned by humans, only to be abandoned or released. Some had picked up a thing or two from their former trainers. Over time, urban Pokmon developed their own intricate social networks, full of manipulation and backstabbing. It was exhausting. Sometimes, Purrloin would sit idly on the windowsill of an abandoned warehouse, staring blankly at the distant skyline. It had heard that some Pokmon were loved and cared for by humans. They didnt have to scheme and fight. They didnt have to worry about their next meal being stolen. They didnt have to wonder what tomorrow would bring. All they had to do was train under their trainers guidance and grow stronger. Nothing else. What a nice life that must be. According to rumors, one Pokmon in their little group had once belonged to a trainer. But it had longed for freedom and hated training, so it ran away. It hadnt gone well. Supposedly, it even injured its trainer in the process. All for the sake of so-called "freedom." But it didnt take long before it regretted that decision. Life outside wasnt as great as it had imagined. Freedom came with a price. And that price was having to worry about things it had never even considered before. Later, that Pokmon actually tried to go backto return to its old life. The result? It was obvious. The fact that it was still here, running with the strays, said everything. Purrloin, who had been born into this kind of life, didnt really understand that Pokmons way of thinking. If it were ever caught by a trainer, would it want to escape? Probably not. At least, thats what Purrloin thought. But it wasnt in any rush to find a trainer just yet. There were good humans, but also bad ones. So, it kept observing. Then, one day, Purrloin overheard something interesting. It had learned about a farm. Dont be surprisedwild Pokmon have their own information networks. In fact, they gossip like old villagers at the town square, spreading news at lightning speed. Word was that the farms owner was strong and kind-hearted. Many Pokmon had been taken in and were living there. Any Pokmon the farm owner accepted could stay. There was unlimited foodPokblocks every day, as much as one could eat. There was no need to worry about safety. And the farm owner didnt force Pokmon to do anything they didnt want to do. At first, Purrloin didnt think much of the rumors. After all, stories like these were never reliable. They had about as much credibility as the urban legend that a Caterpie could evolve into a Rayquaza at max level. Not just questionableoutright impossible. Some Pokmon even spread tales about a lone stray possessing a legendary artifact. Seriously? Not a chance. Purrloin dismissed it as just another exaggerated rumor. There were more immediate concernslike what to eat tomorrow. Where to beg without getting beaten up. But as time passed, the rumors about the farm didnt fade. More and more Pokmon left for itsome never returned. And those that did come back? They scoffed, calling it all lies. Fake. They said this while sporting bruises all over their heads. Slowly, Purrloin started to waver. If it stayed in this miserable place, its whole life would be set in stone. A future so predictable it was suffocating. So one night, it made up its mind. It was going to find that farm. "Meow?" Is the farm far? Purrloin hesitantly asked a Pokmon that had been there before. "Woof." Very far. You have to cross the whole city and then keep going. And that farm owner is a bad guy. The Houndour, its face still swollen from a beating, growled through gritted teeth. Purrloin didnt believe it. Or rather, it wasnt sure what to believebut it still wanted to try. Better to take a chance than waste away in this place. That night, Purrloin packed its things. A shabby bag filled with a bit of food. The last of its personal stash. A few berries and a small box of failed Pokblock experiments. They tasted awful and burned its throat. But Pokblocks were Pokblocks. It figured theyd have to do. Not that it had much choiceit didnt have anything else. Once everything was ready, Purrloin quietly slipped out of the abandoned warehouse. Its natural Psychic abilities helped it evade the guards on night patrol. And just like that, Purrloin set off on its journey. Honestly? It regretted it almost immediately. Not because of any real hardshipjust the creeping uncertainty. But Purrloin knew one thing for sure: no matter what choice it made, it would always have regrets. If it stayed, it would regret never having ventured out. If it left, it would regret not staying where it was safe. Either way, there would be regret. So it might as well move forward. After giving itself a pep talk, Purrloin continued on its journey. Its initial food supply had run out halfway through the trip. From then on, it had to forage for food as it traveled. Looking back now, Purrloin didnt even want to recall everything it had gone through. Suffice it to say, stepping out of its comfort zone and getting beaten down by reality was inevitable. The accumulated stress and tension from the journey erupted the moment it caught sight of Natsumes farm. Overcome with excitement, Purrloin dramatically fainted. When it regained consciousness, it found itself being watched. And that, in a nutshell, was Purrloin''s story. Of course, certain details had been embellished, and some things had been conveniently left out. Not that it was a bad thingit was just that some parts of its past werent exactly something it wanted others to know. Kind of like how no one wants to recall that phase in middle school where they clutched a utility knife, imagined themselves as an elite assassin, and seriously considered taking out the teacher who kept holding the class back after hours. After listening to Purrloin''s tale, Natsume scratched his head. "You sure have a lot going on in that little head of yours." As Purrloin had mentioned earlier, recently, quite a few Pokmon had come to the farm seeking refuge. It wasnt exactly an overwhelming influx, but it wasnt a small number either. The kinder ones, Natsume allowed to stay. With the farms recent expansion, there was now plenty of open space. Taking in more Pokmon was just a way of increasing the farms population. Of course, there were also those who came with ulterior motives. Most of them were politely shown the way out. That is, if they cooperated. And if they didnt? Well, just take a look at the bruised and battered Houndour Natsume had "escorted" off the premises. "Come on, lets have a one-on-one match. Lets see whats tougheryour skull or my fist." Lately, Natsume had encountered all sorts of Pokmon. Ordinary ones, eccentric ones, kind ones, and even outright malicious ones. But one like Purrloin? This was a first. A Pokmon that had actually starved itself into unconsciousness. Emmmm... Hard to judge. In a way, that was kind of impressive. "Ugh..." Turning its head away, Purrloin was mortified. It didnt want to face Natsume. "Alright, alright, its fine." Seeing Purrloin''s reaction, Natsume chuckled and reached out, giving its head a gentle rub. "Meow?" "You mustve had a rough time getting here." "But from now on, you dont have to worry anymore." Hearing Natsumes words, Purrloin suddenly felt an inexplicable wave of emotion welling up inside. That feeling of being understood, of someone finally acknowledging what it had been struggling with aloneit was overwhelming. Its nose twitched slightly, and it rubbed its little face, doing its best to maintain its usual blank expression. Crying in front of someone it had just met was way too embarrassing. After all, it was a beautiful young lady. Even among other Purrloin, it was one of the better-looking ones. A beautiful young lady must not shed tears so easily! With Mightyenas family and Kirlia as witnesses, Purrloin was officially welcomed into the farm. At that moment, Emolga happened to pass by and caught sight of Purrloin being released from its Pok Ball. "Yimo?" The small gray feline, expressionless as ever, made Emolgas eyes narrow slightly in suspicion. Why did this one feel... familiar? No, dont get the wrong idea. There wasnt some dramatic, long-lost blood relation at play. A cat and a squirrelwhat kind of connection could they possibly have? It was just that something about this new Pokmons aura felt oddly familiar to Emolga. Hmm... the scent of a little "green tea" schemer, huh? As the reigning top-tier green tea strategist of the farm, Emolgas eyes sharpened instantly. This guy wasnt simple. Purrloin, on the other hand, seemed to sense something as well. Turning its head, it quickly spotted Emolga among the crowd. Faced with this tiny rodent that was clearly harboring some hostility toward it, Purrloin... Raised a paw and waved amicably. It even forced its mouth into an awkward little smile. ! This ones ranking is high! In that instant, Emolga made a snap judgment. Despite having a million thoughts racing through its mind, it recognized the strategy at playarriving in a new environment, immediately displaying goodwill, and showing that youre harmless. This was a move Emolga was all too familiar with. It was one it had used many times before. As their gazes met, an invisible battlefield was set. A war of social maneuvering had begun. Of course, Natsume was completely unaware of all this. Even if he knew, he wouldnt pay much attention. A little "green tea" behavior? Normal. As long as it didnt lead to anything problematic, he wouldnt interfere. After all, the so-called harmony of the farm was only harmonious on the surface. There was no way every single Pokmon would get along perfectly with every other Pokmon. That was simply impossible. If such a thing did exist, it could only mean one thingsome tyrant was enforcing an iron-fisted rule, forcing everyone to maintain that facade. Besides, the Pokmon that usually stayed close to Natsume had already taken it upon themselves to regulate the day-to-day matters of the farm. Conflicts between Pokmon were generally handled internally. A system was already in place. The cold and intimidating Persian played the enforcer. The ever-calm Slowking acted as the mediator, sometimes delivering an intelligence-based beatdown that left both parties too stunned to argue. The always-ready-to-fight Ogerpon stood by, prepared to bonk any troublemakers. Ah, all strict enforcers, huh? Damn it, was there not a single warmhearted, friendly Pokmon on this farm?! (Just kidding.) Jokes aside, things rarely escalated that far. With Slowkings intellect, resolving disputes was practically overkilllike asking gods to sing for tips in a tavern. Meanwhile, Lopunny was leading a pair of Indeedee around the farm, showing them the facilities. The two Indeedee were siblings and had an exceptionally strong bond. Natsume had mentioned that in the future, the farms daily operations would likely be entrusted to them. The male Indeedee would handle farm management. The female one would oversee daily affairs. These were originally Lopunnys responsibilities, but there was no conflict in their duties. Lopunny had never particularly cared about anyone other than Natsume and Cinccino. It only helped with daily tasks because Natsume asked. Things like preparing and distributing the Pokblocks for other Pokmon could be delegated to the female Indeedee from now on. Lopunnys only real priority was staying by Natsumes side. "Indee?" As they passed by a room on the second floor, the female Indeedee suddenly stopped. For just a moment, it had sensed something from inside. Though they were siblings, its sensitivity was far sharper than its brothers. It could perceive things othev r Pokmon wouldnt notice. "Indee?" Is there... an egg inside? Pointing at the door, the female Indeedee curiously asked. "Lopuu." Yeah, theres an egg. Why? Lopunny glanced at the female Indeedee in confusion. "Indee..." That egg its about to hatch. After a slight hesitation, the female Indeedee voiced its observation. The joy of a new life about to enter the worldthe energy was overwhelmingly strong in its perception. Chapter 112: Hello, Phione In a room on the second floor, Natsume and a group of Pokmon from the farm huddled around the incubator, watching nervously. Ever since Zorua had brought this egg back, it had shown no reaction for a long time. At one point, they even wondered if it was a dead egg. However, the life energy pulsing from within indicated that it was growing steadily. Not just Natsumeevery other Pokmon was equally puzzled. Did Togepi take this long to hatch back then? "Toki?" No way, it just popped out instantly. Togepi, pacing around Natsumes feet, looked at its companions with confusion. In its memory, its earliest moments were hazy. It felt like it had only taken a short nap, and the next thing it knew, it was looking at Natsume. It didnt feel like much time had passed at all. Hmm Not much of a reference point. "Audino." Audino pushed open the door, holding two bottles of warm milk. Aside from the milk, it had also prepared a variety of items to care for the newborn Pokmon. Clean towels, toys to catch attention, soothing incense to relax the atmosphere Anything that might be useful, Audino had prepared it. It was a much more thorough setup than what Natsume had arranged when Togepi hatched. "Hoo~" Testing the temperature of the MooMoo Milk against the back of its hand, Audino conjured tiny flames on its fingertips. These flickering flames hovered around the bottle, gently warming the milk. As a Normal-type Pokmon, Audino had quite a versatile skill set. If not for its widespread use in the medical field, it could have been a formidable support Pokmon in double battles. "Audino." After preparing the milk bottle, Audino turned to the gathered Pokmon watching the scene unfold. Too many onlookers could put pressure on the newborn. Its soft voice, like a feather brushing against the heart, made everyone feel slightly ticklish inside. Despite their curiosity, under Persians leadership, the Pokmon obediently left the room. "Uumah!" At the back of the group, Ogerpon made a cheering motion toward Natsume, as if encouraging him. Natsume couldn''t help but laugh. Why does it feel like I''m the one giving birth? Now, only Natsume, Audino, and Zoruawho was busy playing with a ballremained in the room. Truly playing with a ball. Somehow, Zorua had found a Pok Ball and was rolling it around. It looked similar to the one used to catch Ting-Lu earlier. The difference was that this one was entirely water-blue Kind of like a Dive Ball. "You little troublemaker, you brought it back and then completely ignored it." "Suosuo!" Who says I ignored it?! I played with it, okay?! Zorua immediately protested. Natsume, you cant slander me like this! I used to cuddle with the egg whenever I had nothing to do! How is that ignoring it?! Zorua refused to take the blame for this. "Thats even worse than ignoring it." Natsume ruffled Zoruas head before turning his attention back to the incubator. The egg inside wobbled occasionally, as if eager to enter the world. Natsume had considered taking it out, but Audino stopped him. Audino explained that it wasnt quite time yetthis was just the Pokmon inside gathering strength and testing the moment. The real hatching would begin when the shaking became much more intense. That would be the right time to take it out. Natsume had always been good at listening to advice. He knew he wasnt an expert in every field, so he never stubbornly insisted on doing things his way. Trying to argue against professionals with half-baked knowledge was just plain foolish. Seeing Natsume accept its guidance, Audino felt a sense of relief. Back when it was an intern at the Pokmon Center, it had encountered all sorts of frustrating cases People who didnt follow medical advice, those who used home remedies instead of proper treatment, those who stopped medicine without permission, and those who outright refused professional help. Every day, those patients had given Audino endless headaches. When it first arrived at the farm, it had seemed relaxed on the outside, but inside, it was anxious Worried that its new trainer might be one of those people who refused to listen. That would have made life really difficult. Luckily, Natsume was a good person. Humming a light tune, Audino took some of Natsumes worn clothes and placed them around the room. These clothes carried Natsumes scent, which would help the newborn Pokmon feel more comfortable with him. A chaotic mix of unfamiliar scents could confuse or unsettle a newly hatched Pokmon. This method wasnt guaranteed to work, but at the very least, it wouldnt hurt. A lot of things labeled as unnecessary were, at their core, simply acts of goodwill. "Audino." After a brief observation, Audino told Natsume it was time to take the egg out. By its estimation, in just a minute or two, new life would arrive. Since newborn Pokmon tend to recognize the first creature they see as their closest companion, Audino gave Natsume a few simple instructions before leaving. Before stepping out, it also scooped up Zorua and carried it out the door. "Suosuo!" Let me go! I wanna watch! "Audino." Alright, alright, well check later. Like coaxing a child, Audino gently patted Zoruas back while walking outside. Having interned at a hospital, Audino had mastered just the right amount of force to hold Zorua securely No matter how much Zorua struggled, it couldnt escape. The first Pokmon on the farm, aside from Natsume, to successfully restrain Zorua had appeared. Though, to be fair, Zorua hadnt been trying that hard to escape. Still, it was a victory. When Audino emerged carrying Zorua, the other Pokmon outside looked at it with wide eyes Awe-struck at the sight. As expected of a Pokmon from the big city, it had effortlessly accomplished what none of them could. Back inside the room, Natsume placed the egg on a cushion and sat down on the couch. For some reason, he felt oddly nervous. Unlike with Togepi, this time, the Pokmon about to hatch was definitely not ordinary. Zorua had hinted at this multiple times before. See? I brought you a huge surprise! Shouldnt you reward me with an extra meal or something? To which Natsume had firmly refused. Your appetite is already as big as Corviknights. If you keep eating like this, wont you turn into a little piglet? Natsume was highly skeptical. Back in the room, the egg''s movements grew more intense. A blinding white light seeped through the shell. At that moment, Natsume felt like he was sitting in front of a bomb about to explode. Finally, a crisp cracking sound echoed through the room. The glow of life burst forth in its brightest form. "Nyaa!" (A very anime-style crycrossed out) As the light faded, a small Pokmon appeared on the cushion. Its water-blue body looked almost liquid. It had a tiny frame and a large, round head adorned with flat flotation sacs and ribbon-like feelers. Above its eyes were two blue circular markings, connected by a thin black line. A red gem was embedded in its chest. Even though he had already anticipated it, seeing this Pokmon in person still left Natsume deeply shaken. "Hello, Phione." Steadying his emotions, Natsume reached out and greeted it softly. Thats right The Pokmon that hatched from the egg was none other than the mythical Pokmon, Phione. To be honest, Phione was a rather awkward Pokmon in many ways. It carried the title of a mythical Pokmon, But many people were reluctant to recognize it as one. First of all, Phione is the child of Manaphy, the Prince of the Sea. From a title standpoint, you could say this child is... A commoner of the sea? From a stat perspective, this little one is a classic jack-of-all-trades. High EQ: Well-rounded, no weaknesses. Low EQ: Nothing special, all weaknesses. Phiones base stats are a perfectly balanced 80 across the board, totaling 480. What does that mean in comparison? Slowking: 490. Corviknight: 495. Gardevoir: 518. Yeah not great. You could say it inherited Manaphys balance, but not its strength. Manaphys stats are all 100, with a total of 600. Of course, we know a Pokmons strength isnt just about base stats. Abilities and move pools matter too. As for its ability, Hydration allows it to recover from status conditions when it rains. Its move pool is decent, and it shares an exclusive move with ManaphyHeart Swap, which heals status conditions while boosting Special Attack and Special Defense. All in all, its a fairly solid Pokmon. But as a Mythical It could probably compete for the title of Most Disappointing Mythical. That aside, Phione is one of the rare Mythical that actually exists in large numbers. The Pokdex describes them as living in warm seas, inflating the float sacs on their heads to drift on the oceans surface. When the water temperature rises, you can see them floating near the coast. Yes, them. Phione isnt rare. After all, Manaphy can breed with Ditto to produce Phione eggs. (Someone should probably investigate Manaphys private liferedacted.) Also, the Pokdex has this to say: "Its azure blue body blends in with the sea, allowing it to avoid predators." Excuse me, what kind of Mythical has predators?! A flood of thoughts flashed through Natsumes mind before he quickly adjusted his mood. Regardless of whether Phione counts as a Mythical, it was born on the farm. Maybe one day, it would follow Manaphy back to the ocean. But for now, it was his responsibility to take care of this child. Phi? Sitting on the cushion, Phione blinked at Natsume in confusion, as if it hadnt quite figured out the situation. This humans scent, the atmosphere around him it all felt familiar. Like it had sensed them back when it was still in the egg. That made Phione feel at ease. And this human had a warmth about him that was comforting. Sleep-inducing, even. Phi. Under Natsumes astonished gaze, Phione wobbled forward a couple of steps before flopping right into his arms, eyes half-closed. Like a sleepwalker, it reached out and hugged him, mumbling softly. Natsume instinctively held Phione gently, pausing for a moment before realizing what had just happened. Looking down at the tiny, sleeping Pokmon in his arms, he couldnt help but smile. It was both the joy of witnessing new life and the realization of Phiones affectionate nature. Finally, a well-behaved child on the farm. It had been a long time since theyd had one like thisever since Cinccino. For some reason, the farm hadnt seen a gentle, clingy Pokmon in ages. Hisuian Zorua? A socially withdrawn little girl. Always lurking in dark corners, whispering to Ogerpon. Togepi? A little troublemaker. Spends all day scheming, only to get chased around by Cinccino. Emolga? A little schemer. By now, the number of fish its been hoarding could probably field a full soccer team. With substitutes. And a coaching staff. Kirlia? A hardcore Corviknight fangirl. Enough said. Natsume just hoped the farm wouldnt end up with a delinquent Gardevoir. That would truly be a nightmare. Gazing at the adorable Phione, Natsume picked up a bottle of Moomoo Milk, fitted with a pacifier, and offered it to the little Pokmon. Phi? Half-asleep, Phione caught the sweet scent in the air and struggled to open its eyes. Not by much, but it was clearly trying. Like a student desperately trying to stay awake in class. Once it saw what was in front of it, Phione instinctively latched onto the bottle and started drinking. This was the highest-quality Moomoo Milk available on the market. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Specially formulated for newborn Pokmon. The price per bottle would be a financial gut punch to most families. If Natsume had any expertise in dairy farming, he wouldnt be giving his money away like this. Maybe I should get some Miltank in the future. Watching Phione drink contentedly, Natsume mused. He already had Ampharos and a herd of Woolooadding a Miltank herd wouldnt be a stretch. Raising a few was raising a few. Raising a lot was still just raising a few. Besides, with the Pokmon population on the farm growing, Natsume could already foresee the inevitable baby boom next spring. Hormones would kick in, instincts would take over, and before long, Pokmon eggs would be everywhere. There would be plenty of newborns to care for then. Audino? As Natsume was mulling over his plans for next year, a voice came from the doorway. It was Audino. Maybe it was an instinct etched into its very being. Or maybe it was the training it received back at the Pokmon Center. Either way, when it came to caring for newborn Pokmon, Audino had an unwavering sense of duty. Chapter 113: Successfully Captured and Preparing for the Tournament "Come in, Audino. Just make sure the other kids don''t follow." Hearing Audino''s voice outside, Natsume beckoned toward the door, where a small gap had been pulled open just enough for Audino to peek through. With Natsume''s permission, Audino quickly slipped inside, shutting the door behind iteffectively blocking a group of nosy Pokmon eager to barge in and watch the commotion. "Chaki! Chaki!" Togepi, who had been left outside, was visibly displeased. Come on! Let me see my little underling! In Togepis mind, both it and this newborn Pokmon were farm-born. Since it had hatched first, it was naturally the senior. And logically, that made the newcomer its underling! A simple, albeit flawed, equation took form inside Togepi''s little head. Which was why it was particularly upset about being shut out. It had made plenty of preparations to welcome its new underling, all set to impart its "senior wisdom." Unfortunately, objections were futile. Togepi, still bouncing up and down in protest, was swiftly scooped up by Chansey, who had appeared unnoticed. Looking at Chansey''s ever-so-gentle smile, Togepi suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease. Inside the room, Audino busied itself preparing for the newborn Pokmon. A soft, clean blanket. Warm Moomoo Milk. A fragrant incense that helped Pokmon relax. For the record, the blankets material came from the Wooloo on the farm. "Phi~" After drinking to its hearts content, Phione let out a tiny burp and shifted into a more comfortable position, curling up in Natsumes arms. They say newborn Pokmon tire easily, but Natsume had never seen one doze off immediately after hatching. A bit caught off guard, he turned to Audino for reassurance. In response to Natsumes unspoken concern, Audino softly explained: For newborn Pokmon, breaking out of their eggs consumes a significant amount of energy. Thats why many hatchlings tire out so quicklyits completely normal. Simply put, the effort spent breaking out left Phione exhausted. It just needed some rest. Hearing this, Natsume sighed in relief. Sure, he could always use his Viridian Power to help strengthen it if necessary, but who would want their child to be born with health issues in the first place? Looking down at the peacefully sleeping Phione in his arms, Natsume instinctively reached out and lightly tapped its little head with his fingertip. Even in its sleep, Phione instinctively reached up with its tiny hand, seemingly trying to swat away Natsumes finger. Unfortunately, it lacked the strength, so instead, its tiny hand simply rested atop his finger. Meanwhile, deep beneath the ocean, a small, elegant Pokmon stirred awake, a hint of confusion in its eyes. "Mana?" A small Pokmon stirred, a puzzled expression on its face. Just now it had felt something. What was that? A strangely familiar sensation. Should it go take a look? Still chewing on a mouthful of food, its round cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish. Decision madeit would go check it out. With that, the tiny Pokmon swam off in the direction of the sensation it had perceived. Perhaps, in the near future, the farm would be welcoming a new guest. But for now, Natsume was completely unaware of this. Because at this moment, he was busy roughhousing with Zorua. --- "This is the surprise you were talking about?" In the hallway, Natsume held Zorua in one arm, vigorously ruffling the little fox''s fur. Zorua, its face contorted from the relentless head rubs, protested in a muffled voice. You call this a surprise?! "This is a shock, okay? I mean, I''m just an ordinary farm owner, and somehow, I end up picking up a Legendary Pokmon egg?" "Isn''t that just way too weird?" Hearing this, Zorua immediately shot Natsume a look of utter disdain. What the hell? Ordinary farm owner? Do you even hear yourself? What part of you is ordinary? Your gender? With a disdainful snort, Zorua wriggled free from Natsumes grasp with a forceful twist. Leaving behind only a cool parting silhouette, it trotted off. No more talking. Time to grab some food first. "Alright, alright, everyone, head back for now." "I''ll bring Phione to meet you all once it wakes up." At Natsumes words, the Pokmon gathered in the hallway began to disperse. Even though they were all curious about their new friend, there would be plenty of chances to meet it later. No need to rush. "Meow." The last to leave was Persian, rubbing affectionately against Natsumes leg. As it turned to go, its long tail brushed lightly against his wrist before it walked off. "Wu-mah!" Call me if you need anything! At the top of the stairs, Ogerpon waved a tiny hand at Natsume before bouncing down the steps. It had made plans with Hisuian Zorua and Mightyena to head out today. During a previous outing, it had spotted traces of Ghost-type Pokmon activity in a certain area. At the time, it hadn''t paid much attention since the place was still quite far from the farm. It hadn''t even bothered to mention it to Natsume. After all, Ghost-type Pokmon usually didnt stray far from their territories. But now that the farm had expanded, that area was practically bordering their land. So Ogerpon figured it was time to check it out. Bringing Hisuian Zorua along made sensethey were both Ghost-types, so maybe they could talk things out first. And if that didn''t work well, theyd just fight their way through. Simple as that. Wild Pokmon followed a straightforward rulewhoever had the bigger fists made the rules. Even if the strong went easy, that was already considered mercy. Not that Ogerpon thought any of the Ghost-types there could actually beat it. Normally, anyone who made bold claims like this was just setting themselves up for failure. But Ogerpon wasnt worried. There was no way it would lose. "Something on your mind, Mudkip?" With the other Pokmon gone, only Audino and Mudkip remained. Audino stayed to look after Phione in case it woke up. As for Mudkip "Mud." After a moment of hesitation, Mudkip finally looked up at Natsume. It wanted to ask about the tournament he had mentioned before. Lately, with so much happening on the farm, the tournament had almost slipped Natsume''s mind. To be fair, this competition had never held much real significance for him. At best, it was just a way for the farms Pokmon to get out, relax, and experience a change of scenery. But to Mudkip, this competition seemed to mean a lot. "The tournament is in three days." "Ill take everyone to the venue a day in advance." "So, you can take it easy for the next couple of days." Crouching down, Natsume gently ruffled Mudkips smooth, round head. Somehow, at some point, he had grown quite fond of this head-patting gesture. Every Pokmon had a different texture when patted. Furrets head was fluffy and soft. Mudkips was smooth and sleek. Honestly, Natsume used to dislike this kind of sensation. Especially with snakes and lizardsanything covered in scales, with that cold, slippery texture, made his skin crawl just thinking about it. But now Mudkip had softened his view a little. Only Mudkip, though. As for snake Pokmon, unless it was the Serperior line, he still wasnt a fan. Seviper, Sandaconda, all of them Just no. "Mud!" Mudkip nodded vigorously, eyes gleaming with determination. Inside them was the anticipation and excitement for battle. It wanted to grow stronger. Natsume had once described to it the kind of strength it could achieve in the future A powerful body. Devastating strength. The ability to crush all enemies head-on. That was the future Mudkip wanted. At the very least, it had to be able to stand on equal footing with Slowking. They used to be just two friends lazing around by the lake. But now, Slowking had become one of the strongest Pokmon on the entire farm. That gave Mudkip a sense of urgency. It had to get stronger. It didnt expect to transform into some powerhouse overnight. That was unrealistic. After all, it was just an ordinary Mudkip. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, step by step, it would work hard. That was Natsumes expectation for it as well. First things firstevolution. At its current stage, any specialized training was meaningless. Based on Natsume and Rotoms analysis, the combat style of its final evolution would be vastly different from what it had now. Training like this wouldnt help. Natsume had also mentioned something about every Pokmon needing its own battle system, with a core aspect to focus on. But Mudkip couldnt remember the restit was too complicated. It didnt really get the technical details. All it needed to know was that it could become stronger. That was enough. Everything else? Mudkip didnt really care. "Mud." With a cheerful wag of its tail, Mudkip trotted off, its steps noticeably lighter. Watching it go, Natsume found himself reflecting. Had he been neglecting some of the farms older Pokmon lately? If he had paid a bit more attention, Mudkip might have already evolved by now. After a brief moment of self-reflection, Natsume turned to Audino. "Ill be counting on you for a while longer." For the time being, Natsume wouldnt be able to step away much. After all, newborn Pokmon needed care and attention. They might not be much different from human children in intelligence, but they were still babies. And if a newborn woke up with no one around, crying and fussing was inevitable. In that sense, they really were just like human kids. Theyre all the type that isnt great at verbal communication. Like a group of outlaws(scratch that). Audino. Waving a hand, Audino signaled that it had everything under control. Taking care of children? Thats my specialty! Compared to the patients I used to handle at the Pokmon Center, looking after a kid is a walk in the park. In fact, back at the Pokmon Center, babysitting was practically considered break time. Oh right, speaking of the competition, I should let Mei know. Suddenly, Natsume thought of Mei. Both of them had been busy with their own things over the past few days. Everyone was working hard in their own way. Even though it seemed like they hadnt been talking much, they were actually spending a lot of time together every day. They had even made plans beforeif there was a competition, they would go together. After all, having Corviknight around meant they could save on travel costs. Yep, thats how young people are these days. They scrimp and save in the oddest places, yet splurge recklessly in others. At this hour, Mei should still be in training, right? Recently, Meis training intensity had increased significantly. Probably because Natsume had unknowingly pushed her. She never said it out loud, but deep down, she had definitely felt the pressure. Her peer had already soloed a Legendary, while she had just been crushed by a Gym Leader not too long ago. The gap between them was so wide, it felt almost impossible to catch up. Fortunately, Mei had a strong mindset. Even now, she wasnt shaken. At most, she just felt that since Natsume had already come so far, she had to work even harder herself. Phi~. Just as Natsume was about to head out, the drowsy-looking Phione lying on the cushion slowly opened its eyes. The very first thing it did after waking up was search for Natsume. Whats wrong, Phione? Natsumes plans to leave were immediately put on hold as he quickly returned to Phiones side. Thats the trouble with having kids. No matter what you do, you have to take them into consideration. Sometimes, it feels like being bound by invisible chains. Phi? Tilting its head, Phione curiously stared at Natsume. Its gaze seemed to be asking: Are you my Master? Ahem. That mightve been a bit of a crossover. But to Phione, the first person it saw upon opening its eyes was naturally the closest. Hello, Phione. My name is Natsume. Do you want to be my partner? Even though Phione had been born for a while now, this was the first time Natsume had formally introduced himself. It couldnt be helpedthis kid had been sleeping since birth. Wake up, drink milk, then go right back to sleep. It was only now that it was truly awake. Phi! Phione didnt quite understand what partner meant, but it instinctively chose to trust Natsume. After all, his presence was just too comforting. Feeling his warmth, Phione squinted in contentment, as if it was about to doze off again. But this time, it gently patted its own cheeks, trying to stay awake. Seeing the light-blue Pok Ball Natsume offered, Phione instinctively gave it a little slap. The ball absorbed Phione, wobbled slightly, then stilled. Phione, captured! If this were an anime, Natsume mightve struck that classic pose. But unfortunately, this wasnt. He simply released Phione from the Pok Ball with a calm expression. Honestly, he felt pretty indifferent about capturing Phione. Whether it was a Mythical or not, it didnt make much of a difference to him. There was no overwhelming excitement. At most, he just held Phione for a while. Phi? Lying on the cushion, Phione tilted its head and yawned. It looked like it was getting sleepy again. Im heading out for a bit. Ill be back later. If you need anything, just ask Audino. Natsume spoke like a parent leaving instructions before heading out. Whats allowed, whats not. If something happens, call for helpblah, blah, blah. Phi. Phione waved a small hand, signaling that it understood. Then it shifted positions, burying half its face into the cushion, ready to sleep again. If nothing unexpected happened, this cushion would likely become Phiones dedicated sleep mat from now on. Just like how the blanket Togepi had been wrapped in at birth had now become its treasured possession, something it carried everywhere. Most of the time, Togepi would carefully fold it and tuck it inside its eggshell. Occasionally, it would drape it over its back like a cape, running around as if fantasizing about being a superhero. Closing the door quietly, Natsume put away the Pok Ball and left. At this point, the farm was nearly overflowing with Pok Balls. Which meant Natsume had to ask Cinccino to help organize and keep an eye on things. After all, Natsume was lazy. That was something he openly admitted. The moment he completed a goal, he would instantly enter a state of wanting to slack off. Wanting to slack off, not actually slacking off. Because Natsume was the type who couldnt fully laze around, yet also didnt want to push himself too hard. Checking the Pok Ball inventory once in a while? No problem. But making it a daily or weekly routine? Natsume felt like he might just drop dead on the spot. But hey, thats what Pokmon are for. Tasks like these were best left to them. No, this wasnt slackingit was making sure everyone had something to do. (Dubious logic detected.) On the training field, Mei was busy training with her Pokmon. Aside from the ones she already had, she had recently caught a Chingling. It was a Pokmon she encountered while battling outside the farm with her Serperior and the others. Since it had a good personality and Psychic-types helped expand her teams offensive coverage, she decided to capture it. But looking at Chinglings skill pool and its evolution into Chimecho, it would probably end up as a support Pokmon. One glance at Chimecho and you could tellit wasnt the battling type. Most likely, it would serve as a support role in double battles. But that was for the future. Right now, Chinglings abilities and skillset werent even enough to be considered support. At best, it could be the teams cheerleader. Dewott, hang in there a little longer. Dressed in sportswear, Mei jogged alongside Dewott. The Pokmon, equipped with weights, panted lightly as it tried to keep up its pace. Some Trainers liked to exercise alongside their Pokmon during training. They believed it helped strengthen their bond. Plus, it was a great way to stay in shapewho needed a gym membership? Of course, that was for academic Trainers. For traveling Trainers, gyms were pointless. Climbing mountains and trekking long distances wasnt enough exercise already? Mei. From a distance, Natsume called out. Although the weather was getting cooler, Meis clothes were already drenched in sweat from training. Her flushed cheeks made her look quite alluring. But Natsume only gave her a glance before looking away. Not because he wasnt interested in girls or anything. He just found it impolite to stare at someone like that. Some might call that fake propriety. But thats just who Natsume was. He never thought staring directly at a girl''s body was something worth praising. Even if one claimed to be appreciating beauty, it was still the same. Ah, Natsume! Upon seeing Natsume, Mei wiped the sweat from her forehead. Only after Natsumes reminder did she belatedly realize her current state. She casually grabbed the jacket beside her and draped it over her shoulders. The competition starts in two or three days. Are you ready? Of course! Im fired up and ready to challenge you, Natsume. The special training on the farm had been an unforgettable experience for Mei. She had encountered incredibly powerful and astonishing Pokmon. She had seen a real-life Psychic in action. She had even witnessed Natsume bring back a defeated Legendary Pokmon. Honestly, even though her time on the farm hadnt been long, she still felt as if her horizons had been inexplicably broadened. Her once somewhat narrow worldview had expanded continuously after meeting Natsumeso much so that now, it seemed to have taken on Natsumes shape (fog). Back then, failing a Gym Challenge had felt devastating to Mei. She had even felt like the sky was falling. She had gathered information in advance, analyzed it carefully, devised a battle strategy, and even started specialized training more than ten days ahead of time. And yet, she was still mercilessly defeated. Defeated swiftly and decisively. It would be a lie to say it didnt hurt. But now? A Gym Challenge? It didnt seem like such a big deal anymore. Of course, it was still importantafter all, she needed to keep challenging Gyms to earn a spot in the national tournament. But Mei no longer felt crushed by a single loss. Alright, Ill be looking forward to seeing how you perform, Mei. Seeing Mei so full of fighting spirit, Natsume couldnt help but smile. He had been watching Meis efforts all this time. Her determination even made him feel a bit ashamed. Thinking about it, he had never worked this seriously toward anything before. He always had a things will work themselves out attitude, only putting in effort at the last minute. When it came to training, his philosophy was to let Pokmon choose their own path. In shortfree-range training. Thanks to Mei, Natsume had started to change his lazy habitsat least to some extent. Lately, he had been paying much more attention to the training on the farm. For the Pokmon that enjoyed a leisurely life, he wouldnt force them to train. But if it was something like his Shiny Furret, then he would seriously analyze and create a training plan for it. Ill make sure you see our progress, Natsume! Hands on her hips, Mei declared confidently. And so, time passed. When one is focused on somethingor simply enjoying lifetime seems to fly. Though a long time had passed, it felt like only a brief moment. Before they knew it, it was time for the competitions check-in. According to the rules, all participants had to arrive at the venue in advance to register. The organizers would then conduct a preliminary grouping, which would determine the order of the upcoming match draws. All set. After packing up briefly in his room, Natsume was ready to head out. Since the tournament wasnt particularly large, the matches should conclude quickly. If things went smoothly, the results would likely be decided by the afternoon. Besides Corviknight, Shiny Furret, and Marshtomp, there are also some little troublemakers who just want to watch the show. Walking toward the room where he kept his Pok Balls, Natsume mentally went over his lineup. Thats rightwithin the past three days, his Mudkip had evolved. Now, it had become a Marshtomp with the same world-weary gaze as a Slowpoke. One of them looked at everyone as if they were idiots. The other stared at people like they were illusions conjured from the void. A perfect duo. Zorua, Togepi, Gardevoir, and Ogerpon. That was the cheer squad he was bringing to the tournament. Gardevoir and Ogerpon were there as a safety measure. Even in a city, he couldnt always rely on others to ensure his security. He trusted his own strength more. Zorua and Togepi, on the other hand, were just there to watch the chaos unfold. Those two were born troublemakers. Wherever there was mischief, they had to be part of it. Thanks to their shared love for chaos, they had hit it off instantlyalmost like long-lost brothers. According to Zorua, it had all started on a lazy afternoon. It had been lounging under a tree, getting ready for a nice nap before dinner. Suddenly, a fluffy little egg covered in a blanket had zoomed past. The turbulent air currents completely messed up the hairstyle Zorua had spent five whole minutes fixing before its nap. Perhaps realizing that it had disturbed someone, Togepi stopped and turned back to look at Zorua. The moment their eyes met, they both sensed a deep familiarity in each other. A resonance from the very core of their troublemaking souls! From that moment on, the two became the best of mischievous friends on the farm. Yesbest friends who specialized in pranking others. They had boundless energy and an endless supply of pranks. And as a result, they were frequently chased across the entire farm by their unfortunate victims. Judging from their reactions, they actually seemed to enjoy the whole being-chased part. According to Zorua, Getting caught and getting chased is part of the fun. Even if we get pranked in return, thats still fun. Anyone who can dish it out but cant take it isnt worthy of being called a true troublemaker. Honestly, Pokmon logic was hard to understand sometimes. After finding Ogerpons Pok Ball and the others, Natsume recalled all the little troublemakers into their Pok Balls. Time to go. Outside, Corviknight was already waitingready for takeoff at any moment. Chapter 114: A Certain Trainer—Wait, Am I Fighting Natsume?! In the clearing, the fully-armored Corviknight stood poised and ready, its eyes half-lidded, exuding an air of cold indifference. With its metallic body gleaming under the sunlight, it looked just like a grim and aloof knight of death. It was undeniably cool. But deep down, what was Corviknight really thinking? Damn, I look amazing. Tilting its head slightly, Corviknight admired its own reflection in the glass, once again marveling at its majestic form under the sunlight. It had lost count of how many times it had had this exact thought since evolving. Ever since its evolution, Corviknights narcissism had skyrocketed. To be fair, though, it was incredibly cool-looking. At leastuntil it opened its mouth. The moment it spoke, all its cold and imposing aura would vanish into thin air. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From Death Knight to Comic Relief in an instant. Fortunately, Corviknight still had some sense of dignity and maintained a certain level of self-awareness about its image. Most of the time, it was careful to keep up appearances. Like right nowdespite being completely lost in its own narcissism, it was making sure not to let anyone catch on. Corviknight, Ill be counting on you today. Just as Corviknight was subtly admiring itself, Natsume and Mei emerged from the house. Immediately, Corviknight straightened up, masking its vanity and striking the most aloof pose it could manage. If a stranger were to see it at this moment, they might even comment on what a majestic bird it was. Unfortunately, Natsume and Mei knew exactly what kind of Pokmon Corviknight truly was. Natsume aside, Mei had spent enough time around Corviknight to have an intimate understanding of its personality. Corviknights daily routine involved spouting an endless stream of trash talk and launching relentless psychological attacks on her Pokmon. At first, Servine had been easy to breakcompletely defenseless against Corviknights verbal assault. But now, as a Serperior, it had grown much more composed. At the very least, it no longer lost its cool as easily. The worst Corviknight could provoke these days was an irritated flick of Serperiors tail, smacking it in the face. In fact, Meis entire teamexcept for the newly recruited Chinglinghad built up a solid resistance to Corviknights relentless trash talk. Thanks for the hard work, Corviknight! Caw caw! Mei, who had been walking beside Natsume, grinned as she cheerfully greeted Corviknight. Over time, she had grown quite close to the steel-plated bird. And as far as Corviknight was concerned, Mei wasnt bad at all. She had even provided it with a few sparring dummiesPokmon it could insult freely as a form of stress relief. Not to mention, she often slipped it a few Pokblocks as treats. What a good person! On the farm, aside from Natsume, if anyone dared to speak ill of Mei, Corviknight would immediately rise to her defense. Even if it was Persian! Forget this whole "farm''s second-in-command" nonsenseCorviknight was the second-in-command! As it suffered its 800th defeat under Persians claws, Corviknight reaffirmed this belief. "Alright, time to head out!" Seated atop Corviknight''s broad back with Mei, Natsume lightly patted its feathers. With a powerful beat of its wings, Corviknight effortlessly stirred up a strong gust of wind. The grass below was swept into the air, and before it had even settled back down, Corviknight had already become a mere speck in the sky. "Lopuu." "Aiyi." At the farm''s entrance, Lopunny and Indeedee''s younger sister watched Natsume depart. Over the past few days, the newly arrived Pokmon had gradually adapted to farm life. Chansey had stationed itself near the training grounds, ready to heal any Pokmon engaged in training. Audino had taken on a role similar to that of a caretaker, spending its days looking after the farms troublemakers. When it came to those mischievous little Pokmon, Natsumes words might not always carry weight. But Audinos? Absolutely. Because Audino would pin a troublemaker down and spank them. Indeedees older brother now served as something of a farm steward, taking over some of Slowkings management duties. Every day, he was busier than ever. As for Indeedees younger sister, she mostly played the role of a maid, tending to Natsumes daily needs. Her responsibilities overlapped somewhat with Lopunnys. Yet, surprisingly, the two got along very well. For Lopunny, besides Cinccino, she now had another close friend. And for Cinccino? Well, it was another Pokmon on the farm that actually cared about cleanliness! No one could truly understand how deeply moved Cinccino was when the female Indeedee suggested they clean together. Right then and there, Cinccino grasped her hand and declared solemnly: "From now on, your problems are my problems. If anything happens, come to meI have some sway with Natsume!" Female Indeedee, being the expert conversationalist she was, naturally played along and attentively flattered Cinccino. A true top-tier hype partner. Back to Natsume Even though Corviknight was larger than the average of its kind, it was only just big enough for him and Mei to sit comfortably. As Corviknight took off, the sudden acceleration pushed their bodies backward. By the time they regained their balance, Mei had unconsciously grabbed onto Natsumes arm. The two sat very close together. Feeling the warmth beside them, both instinctively turned their heads away. A second or two passed. Just as Natsume was about to speak, Corviknight''s voice interrupted him. "Caw caw." [Sit tight. I''m speeding up.] Corviknight reveled in the joy of soaring freely through the sky. It completely failed to notice how the two passengers on its back had just been pressed even closer together. "Um..." Mei, who had nearly ended up in Natsumes lap, awkwardly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something But for a moment, she had no idea what to say. So, she changed the topic. "This time, Ive prepared a lot for the competition." "Ill definitely surprise you, Natsume." Her attempt at shifting the conversation was a bit clumsy, but given the current situation, Natsume was more than happy to go along with it. "Is that so? Then Ill look forward to it." After that, silence fell once more. Only the sound of the wind rushing past their ears remained. To be honest, Natsume had always considered himself fairly socially adept. Maybe not an expert, but certainly not clueless. Most of the time, he simply didnt speak because he didnt see the need to. But now? Yeah, he admitted ithis conversation skills might actually not be that great. At least, not when it came to finding the right words in situations like this. "Natsume, Natsume! Want me to turn on navigation, Roto?" Fortunately, just as the awkward silence was setting in, a hero arrived to save the moment. Rotom burst out of Natsumes pocket, still in its phone form. "Oh, rightRotom, turn on navigation, please." If Rotom hadnt reminded him, Natsume might have completely forgotten about navigation. At first, he had remembered to bring Rotom specifically for this reason. But after all the chaos with Corviknight, it had slipped his mind. "Roger, Roto!" With its ever-present grin, Rotom flew in front of Corviknight, projecting a map onto its screen. And then "Youre flying the wrong way, you dumb bird!" Thwack thwack thwack! "Caw!" [Stop hitting me, stop hitting me!] Natsume lightly smacked Corviknights head with his fist. If it werent for the risk of a Black Hawk Down scenario, he honestly wouldve given this bird a real wake-up call. With Rotoms help, Corviknight finally got back on the right course. "Alright, start descending up ahead." As the outlines of buildings became visible in the distance, Natsume patted Corviknights head to signal the landing. Cities had strict regulations for flying Pokmon. To fly within city limits, one needed both a permit and special authorization. It was a hassle, really. Without the proper paperwork, getting chased down was entirely normal. Getting shot out of the sky wasnt unheard of either. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Natsume would rather walk a little extra. "Caw!" Following the command, Corviknight swiftly descended. Having once lived in the city with Natsume, it was already well aware of the rules. "Should we grab a bite first?" "Or head straight to registration?" After landing and returning Corviknight to its Pok Ball, Natsume turned to Mei. "Lets go register first." After thinking it over, Mei decided to take care of registration first. Judging by the schedule, the tournament wouldnt last too long. Dinner could waitafter all, itd make for a good victory celebration. Yes. Even before the competition started, Mei was already planning the victory dinner. It couldnt be helped. If she were competing alone, shed be focused on strategies and tactics. But with Natsume here? The championship was practically guaranteed. A small-time tournament having even one competitor of Natsumes caliber was already unusual. Having two? The chances were close to zero. Lower than the odds of a Legendary Pokmon attacking a city. At least, in Jadeleaf, that was the case. "Alright then." "Lets get going." Tapping a Pok Ball, Natsume released Zorua and Togepi. "Suo!" A midair flip with a 360 spin! "Chagi!" A flawless landingno splash! The two little Pokmon dramatically leaped onto the ground, each striking an elaborate pose. And, of course, they provided their own sound effects. "Clap clap clap!" Zorua struck a dramatic pose, bowing to the empty air around them as if graciously accepting the roaring applause of an invisible audience. Togepi, ever the perfect partner, clapped enthusiastically in response, showering Zorua with praise. Truly, classic Zorua! "Alright, you two, that''s enough showing off." Natsume scooped them up, one in each arm, securing the restless duo in place. "Suosuo!" "Chagi chagi!" Even in his arms, Zorua and Togepi wriggled in protest, unwilling to stay still. Natsume''s Pokmon may have wanted to break free from his arms, but having experienced firsthand the chaos of mischievous Pokmon, he had no intention of letting these two troublemakers run wild. He had always disliked trainers who let their Pokmon roam unchecked, causing trouble wherever they went. And he certainly didn''t want to become one of them. That would be kind of ironic, wouldn''t it? Becoming the kind of person you once despised. "It feels like it''s been forever since I''ve been in such a bustling place." The unique energy of the city hit him all at once. Ever since inheriting the farm, Natsume had spent most of his time there. Even when he left, it was usually just a short trip to the nearby town for supplies. The noise and liveliness of a city like thisyeah, it had been a while. "Feels like I''ve suddenly aged quite a bit." Scratching his head, Natsume wondered aloud. He was only nineteen. Wasn''t it a little dramatic to call himself old? Then again, even kids around fifteen or sixteenheck, even some ten-year-oldswere out there complaining about feeling old. So maybe it wasn''t that big of a stretch? Besides, his mental age probably wasn''t that young to begin with. "Natsume, you''re still young! You''re even younger than me by half a year," Mei chimed in, lightly poking him. At first, she''d always seen Natsume as a reliable senior figure. Even though they were the same age, his presence just didnt feel like that of a recent high school graduate. Then she found out not only were they peershe was actually younger than her by six months. That realization gave her well, a rather interesting feeling. The dependable senior had suddenly turned into a younger little brother. And strangely enough, that was kind of exciting. "Oh? Should I start calling you big sis then?" "Of course! If Natsume calls me big sis, Ill be full of energy for the entire day!" "Alright then. I wont." "Wait, no! Just say it once!" "Denied." "Come on, I beg you! This is my one and only request in life!" "You said the same thing last time when you wanted extra food at dinner." Laughing and teasing each other along the way, they made their way to the tournament venue. But as they walked, Natsume started to feel like a lot of people were looking at him. Hmm... Probably just his imagination. It''s not like he was famous or anything. Maybe they were just admiring how cute Zorua and Togepi were? "You two sure are attracting a lot of attention, huh?" Looking down at the little Pokmon in his arms, Natsume smiled. "Suo?" [What?] Zorua tilted its head in confusion. What are you talking about? I dont see anyone looking at me. They''re all looking at you. Zorua couldnt understand Natsumes mistake. That misunderstanding lasted all the way until they arrived at the registration desk. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Natsume?" The woman handling sign-ups hesitated slightly as she asked after he finished signing in. "Hm?" "Yeah, thats my name." Natsume paused for a moment. There were plenty of people with the surname Natsu. And he wasn''t the only person named Natsume in the world. Maybe she was asking about someone else with the same name? Thankfully, the receptionist quickly clarified. "Are you the same Natsume who defeated the Legendary Pokmon?" "The one who took down Ting-Lu?" Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. And for the first time in his lifeboth his past one and his current oneNatsume had the distinct experience of being recognized by a stranger. "So it really is you!" "When I saw your name on the registration list, I thought it was just someone with the same name." "But when you came to sign in, you looked really familiar, and I just had to confirm!" Now certain of his identity, the woman excitedly rambled on about his battle with Ting-Lu. For most people, encountering a Legendary Pokmon was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Let alone actually defeating one. And yet, the person standing in front of hera guy who had just barely reached adulthoodhad done it alone. That was why Natsume had been trending online for a while. Though he had gone quiet recently, his name hadn''t completely faded from the spotlight. Behind him, another tournament participant stood frozen, staring at Natsumes back in shock. Wait a minute Wasnt this the guy who had been all over the internet recently? His name was Natsume, right? The one who took down Ting-Lu? No way Am I supposed to battle that Natsume?! Chapter 115: The Two in the Elimination Rounds—Will They Win? Whatever was going through the mind of that dazed Trainer behind them was a matter for another time. For now, Mei''s feelings were complicated. Seeing Natsume being recognized? That made her happy. Knowing that Natsume was talented? Very happy. Finding out that Natsume had fans? Also happy. Watching Natsume get surrounded by female fans? Not happy. Okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration. But looking at the scene unfolding before her, Mei couldnt quite bring herself to smile. Why did this seem so familiar? Was this about to fast-forward to "Please sign my shirt" in the next second? "Sorry, I have to head to the arena now." Seizing the moment, Natsume swiftly executed a flawless triple-move comboapologizing, excusing himself, and making a quick getaway. With Mei in tow, he left the check-in desk in a hurry. The moment their hands connected, Mei felt her heartbeat skip. Ah, that was sudden. Before she even had time to process it, she was already being led away by Natsume. "Ah!" Watching him disappear into the distance, the young woman at the check-in desk instinctively reached out, as if to stop him. "I was hoping to get an autograph" With a slightly disappointed sigh, she slumped back into her chair, finally remembering her actual job. Well that wasnt quite right either. She wasnt originally in charge of check-insshed just been pulled over to help out because they were short-staffed. Shaking off the distraction, she got back to work. However "Um, sir? Trainer? The sign-in sheet is here." She waved her hand in front of the next person in line, a middle-aged Trainer with a serious expression plastered across his face. Whats up with him? After two seconds of silence, the Trainer finally muttered: "Sorry, I need to step out for a moment." Then, without another word, he turned and left. It wasnt that he wanted to drop out of the competition entirely. He just needed to step outside, light a cigarette, and take a moment to process what hed just witnessed. Seriouslywhy are you even here, man? Go enter the National Championships and make a name for yourself! This wasnt just a case of "stomping rookies" anymore. This was a full-blown "fishing with a net" operation. "Haaah" A long exhale sent a stream of smoke into the air. The middle-aged Trainers face was etched with melancholy. Beyond speechless. Beyond helpless. "Forget it. As long as I dont get swept 3-0, thats a win in itself." He stubbed out his cigarette and tossed it into a nearby trash can, then slapped his face a couple of times as if preparing himself for battle. With the look of a man marching to his doom, he turned and stepped back into the arena. Yet, from behind, his figure carried a distinct air of desolation. He had arrived full of enthusiasm, expecting this small-time tournament to be an easy payday. Sure, people might call it stomping rookies, but so what? If the organizers had left loopholes in the registration requirements, that was on them. As long as he was eligible, he had every right to participate. Prize money in hand was prize money earned. It wasnt much, but it was enough to enjoy life for a couple of days. At least, that was the plan. He thought he was a piranha entering a pond full of farm-raised fish. Hed bite down on whoever he pleased. But after arriving, he realizedthere was a shark in these waters. Unaware of the existential crisis he had just caused, Natsume sat in the waiting room, holding his numbered entry card. The organizers had been mindful of potential conflicts and had not grouped all Trainers into a single waiting area. Instead, they had arranged them separately. It wasnt quite one room per person, but at least it prevented large clusters of Trainers from gathering in one space. Perhaps by chanceor perhaps by designNatsume and Mei had been placed in the same waiting room. A considerate decision, all things considered. After all, Trainers werent like ordinary people. If a fight were to break out between them, things could get messy fast. No one in their right mind would put two people armed with loaded weapons in the same room if they were enemies. That was just asking for trouble. As for whether Natsume and Mei being together was truly luck Who knew? Knock, knock. "I''m coming in~" Pushing open the door, Mei peeked inside like a curious little squirrel before stepping in. At her feet, Chingling bounced along cheerfully, the jingling of its bell-like body filling the room with a pleasant, calming chime. "Natsume, when''s your match?" "I''m in the second group." Since the tournament was relatively small and the prizes werent exactly thrilling, the number of participants wasnt very high. Most of them were rookies, hoping to gain some experience in a low-stakes environment. It wouldnt be surprising if they saw a Metapod vs. Kakuna match at some point. Which, honestly, would probably be more entertaining if the Trainers themselves started whacking each other with their Pokmon. The organizers must have anticipated this as well. They had opted for a three-round elimination format to determine the Top 16, with each round proceeding in the order of a random group draw. Again, the competition wasnt that big. But that was only "small" in the context of the Jadeleaf League. Here, even an old man on the street might be a formidable Trainer. "I''m in the third group," Mei announced as she plopped down beside Natsume, clearly in a good mood. A sharp contrast to her earlier grumpiness outside. Natsume shifted slightly, adjusting his clothes out of habitbut ultimately decided not to scoot away. He had to admit he wasnt very good at dealing with girls. Casual conversation? Fine. Playing games together? No problem. Anything beyond that? Completely out of his depth. "This is your first tournament, right? Are you nervous?" Mei picked up Chingling and placed it on her lap, tilting her head as she looked at Natsume curiously. To be honest, she saw no trace of nervousness on his face. From the moment she met him, he had always been like thiscalm, composed, steady. "Nervous? Not really." "At least, not about the battles themselves." "If anything, standing in front of that many people makes me more nervous." Natsume had complete confidence in Corviknight and the rest of his team. He wasnt worried about losing. That was one reason he wasnt anxious. The other reason? He simply didnt care much about this tournament. Win or lose, it didnt really matter. Well, thats what he told himself, knowing full well he wasnt going to lose. Maybe that was what they called the composure of the strong. Still, he did feel uneasy about competing in such a public setting. He had never liked crowds. Having all those eyes on him felt unsettling. Unlike those born to thrive under the spotlight, Natsume had always felt he was far from that kind of person. Sometimes, he even joked to himself "Maybe I was never cut out to be a Trainer." What kind of Trainer had social anxiety? "I see. Well, I was super nervous during my first tournament." "It was in my last year of high schoola beginners tournament, like a Rookie Cup." Mei started reminiscing about her past experienceshow nervous she had been, how excited she had felt during the battles. It had only been a year ago, yet it somehow felt so distant. Natsume simply listened, nodding every now and then to show he was paying attention. Some people said that when someone willingly shares their past with you, it meant you held a place in their heart. Well, except for Batman and the Joker. The elimination rounds soon began. "Alright, I''m heading out, Mei." Natsume casually deposited Zorua and Togepi into Meis arms before standing up and stretching. He had maintained an unnaturally stiff posture the entire conversation, and now, every muscle in his body ached. "Good luck, good luck!" Mei cheered him on, waving her little fists in encouragement. --- Down the dimly lit player tunnel, Natsume walked forward. The moment he stepped into the arena, blinding lights flooded his vision. No cheers. No roars of excitement. The stands were occupied, but the spectators didnt seem particularly invested. More like people just filling seats for the sake of appearances. Which, honestly, wouldnt surprise Natsume if they were just hired actors. It reminded him of those mandatory school assembly screeningsjust people sitting there because they had to be. "The first round of eliminations will now begin!" "The match format is 1v1. Each Trainer may use one Pokmon. Victory is decided when one Pokmon is unable to continue battling or loses the will to fight." The referee announced the rules. Elimination rounds were usually 1v1, shifting to 3v3 only in the main bracket. The upside? No need for complex strategiesjust send out your strongest Pokmon. The downside? No room for hiding techniques. Every year, there were always Trainers who held back to conceal their strengthonly to get eliminated early. Natsume had nothing to hide. On the opposite side of the field, a nervous-looking boy clutched a Pok Ball tightly, his expression tense. Like Natsume, this seemed to be his first tournament. Except, unlike Natsume, he wasnt calm at all. "Battle start!" Both Trainers threw their Pok Balls. "Go, Jumpluff!" "Corviknight, time to fight." Jumpluff emerged with determined eyes, brimming with fighting spirit. Once, it had been a weak Hoppip. But nowit had evolved. It was stronger. This time, it would win. It would reclaim Before it could even finish its internal monologue, a massive shadow loomed over it. Jumpluff blinked. It looked up And saw a monster. Glowing red eyes stared down coldly. Jumpluff, tiny and fragile, suddenly felt very, very small. "Hua?" Jumpluff turned its head blankly, looking at its equally dumbfounded trainer. You want me to fight that thing? Are you serious? "Come on, Jumpluff! Dont give up!" "Think about all the effort weve put in!" "As long as we dont give up, we can definitelywin... right?" As the boy spoke, even his own confidence wavered. Jumpluff was the strongest Pokmon on his team. And yet, he saw no hope of victory. Aura was a strange thing And at this moment, the aura radiating from the Corviknight before them was overwhelming, suffocating even. "Hua?" Win? Youre asking ME?! Youre the trainer here, dammit! Get it together! The battle wasnt over yet! Jumpluff shook its head, steeling itself. It had come too far to back down now! Forget the panicking trainer behind itthis was its fight! The flower atop its head quivered slightly, stirring up a sudden swirl of pink energyFairy Wind! A shimmering, pink current surged toward Corviknight. At the same time, Jumpluff leaped into the air, floating upwards. Well, flying might be an exaggerationit was more of a drift. But the moment Jumpluff made its move, the Corviknight, which had been motionless since the battle began, finally reacted. Its tightly folded wings suddenly flared open, and with a single powerful flap A violent gust erupted from between them. The pink winds of Fairy Wind? Gone in an instantswept away like a tiny stream merging into a roaring river. "Hua!" Jumpluff, still airborne, was caught in the vortex, the world spinning uncontrollably around it. And before it could stabilize itself A massive shadow loomed overhead. Two iron-forged wings gleamed as they slashed through the air. "CAW!" Aerial Ace! With razor-sharp precision, Corviknight''s wings slammed into Jumpluff. Or, more accuratelystruck it square in the face. BOOM! Jumpluff was sent flying like a volleyball, spiraling out of the battlefield. It barely twitched upon landing before completely losing consciousness. Meanwhile, Corviknight landed lightly on the battlefield once more, its head held high in an almost arrogant posture. It was not the kind of Pokmon to fight an even match with some random roadside opponent. If it could end a fight with overwhelming force, it would. That was the persona Corviknight had decided to maintain for this tournament. Why? One reasonstyle. To Corviknight, a battle = an audience = the perfect chance to become famous! Nothing was more important than looking cool. As long as it didnt open its beak, it was the epitome of style. Corviknight had complete confidence in its appearance. And, at the same time, complete confidence that if it spoke, it would completely ruin its cool persona. So, for now, it decided to keep its beak shut. "The winner is Corviknight! Jumpluff is unable to battle!" After a quick check, the referee announced the result. "Trainer Kiamas Pokmon are all unable to battle. Trainer Natsume advances to the next round!" "Nice work." Natsume patted Corviknights neck in approval. The battle had ended swiftly. As had his opponents enthusiasm for battling. The kid across from him wasnt completely shattered, but he probably wouldnt be eager for another battle anytime soon. Hed likely sulk for a few days. But Natsume didnt dwell on his opponents feelings. This was the life of a trainer. Wins and losses were part of the journey. If he had to console every single opponent he defeated, trainers would spend more time comforting their rivals than actually training. At the end of the day, if a single loss could break someones spirit, then they were never cut out to be a trainer. So, Natsume didnt waste time offering words of comfort. "Come back, Corviknight." He recalled Corviknight into its Pokball and shifted his focus to his next battle. Since he had promised to give all of his Pokmon a chance to fight, he planned to rotate them. Scanning the area, Natsume realized He was probably the first one to finish his match. Well, him and his opponent. On another note, the ridiculous Metapod vs. Kakuna matchup he had imagined earlier never happened. Most participants had at least three Pokmon. Of course, their strength was another matter. Many rookie trainers made the same mistakecatching Pokmon indiscriminately but failing to train them properly. As a result, they quickly filled out a team, but their Pokmon remained weak and unpolished. Getting completely swept in battles like this was common. --- When Natsume returned to the waiting area, Mei was sitting on the couch, playing with Zorua, Togepi, and Chingling. That little troublemaker Zorua was even using its strength to snatch Chinglings toy away. Truly shameless. "You really act like some kind of senior figure, huh?" With an exasperated sigh, Natsume flicked Zoruas forehead and casually tossed it onto the nearby couch. Zorua, ever the opportunist, simply sprawled out lazily where it landed. "Suo~" Ehehe~ Lying on its back, tongue sticking out just a bit, Zorua struck a cute pose. It had learned this from watching anime. Apparently, it was supposed to make it look adorable. Zorua wasnt sure if it worked for humans, but it knew it was definitely cute. Because, wellit just was. Zorua had confidence. "That was fast! Natsume, were you the first one to finish?" Still holding Chingling, Mei handed Natsume a cup of warm water. "Yeah, I was the first to finish in Group Two." Accepting the drink, Natsume sat beside Mei. Not long ago, sitting this close wouldve made him self-conscious. But now, it felt completely natural. As soon as he sat down, Zorua shuffled closer, rubbing against him expectantly. You won, right? Doesnt that mean I should get a little celebration treat? "And you" Ignoring Zorua, Natsume turned to Togepi, who immediately averted its gaze in guilt. Reaching out, he gently turned Togepis head back And, just as expected, found crumbs of a Pokblock at the corner of its mouth. This little troublemaker. Aside from eating and causing mischief, it barely did anything else. Recently, Natsume had even noticed something alarming Togepis weight had increased slightly. It wasnt overweight yet, but if this continued it was only a matter of time. So, he had started limiting its snacks. Unfortunately, Togepi always managed to hide extra treats somewhere and sneak them when he wasnt looking. "If this keeps up, Ill have Shiny Furret take you along for training." "Chagi!" NOOOO! Togepis expression instantly turned to horror. It would rather go a whole week without snacks than train with that monster. The intensity of Furrets training sessions Togepi was convinced it would be bedridden for a month afterward. "Then behave and stop sneaking food." Natsume sighed, poking Togepis forehead lightly. "By the way, where the hell do you even hide these snacks?" Togepi shifted uncomfortably. Well the gaps in its eggshell were quite handy for storage But logically speaking theres no way Togepi could hide that much, right? Just where was it stashing all this food? "Suo..." Yeah where, indeed? Zorua, who had been rubbing against Natsume affectionately just moments ago, suddenly froze. Its eyes darted away, looking extremely guilty. Me? Helping Togepi stash snacks in exchange for a "small" commission? Thats ridiculous! Unthinkable! No way Id do something like that! Right? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Right. "Yeah, you better not be." Natsume grabbed the mischievous fox and ruffled its fur vigorously. He had already figured it out. He had almost forgottenthis little troublemaker wasnt exactly the honest type. These twoTogepi and Zoruawere basically a scheming mastermind and a reckless executioner. One came up with ideas, the other carried them out. Neither could sit still for even a moment. "Its almost my turn." Mei glanced at the time, then handed Chingling over to Natsume. Unlike him, she was actually a bit nervous. She didnt have much experience in official battles. And sitting next to her was the biggest final boss of the entire tournament. Mei had no doubtif Natsume used his full strength, he could single-handedly wipe out every single competitor here. Hell, even his Persian alone could steamroll most of them. Even now, with his current lineup, he could probably go through a gauntlet-style challenge and still come out on top. That was how much Mei trusted his strength. In her mind, Natsume was already in a league of super-strong trainers. She firmly believed that no matter who he faced, hed always stand a fighting chance. "Good luck, Mei." "You too, Serperior." He didnt need to askhe already knew shed be using Serperior. For Mei, Serperior wasnt just her first Pokmon; it was her most trusted ace. "Of course." Adjusting her sun hat slightly, Mei exhaled slowly. Her lips pressed together, her eyelashes trembled faintly. Her usually soft gaze sharpened, becoming focused and resolute. "Im off." With a confident smile curling at the corners of her lips, she pushed open the door and stepped out of the waiting room. Following the same corridor Natsume had walked down earlier, she headed toward the battlefield. Strangely, she felt calm. Much calmer than she had in previous battles. Was it because, for the first time, she had a clear goal in mind? She wasnt sure if it was okay to admit this, but In all her previous matches, winning the championship had never really been her priority. At the end of the day, she was just a naturally talented trainer from an ordinary family. She couldnt compare to those who had been training for battles since childhood. But now She had a clear target. She had someone she wanted to defeat. She had trusted companions and the confidence that her hard work would pay off. Right now, Mei could say with certainty "I feel fired up." --- "When a Pokmon loses its will to battle, the match is over." By the time Mei snapped back to reality, she was already standing at the edge of the battlefield. "Begin!" The referees voice echoed, pulling Meis mind fully into the present. She took a deep breath, her grip tightening around the Pokball in her hand. Then, with a smooth toss "Come on, Serperior." "Bring me victory." A dazzling light flooded the battlefield. As the glow faded, an elegant Serperior slowly emerged. Its crimson eyes gleamed with pride and confidence. Its tail swayed ever so slightly, radiating a mysterious charm. The very next second A surge of green energy erupted as Leaf Storm burst forth! Razor-sharp leaves sliced through the air, roaring toward the opponent like a violent tempest. The opposing Pokmon barely had time to say a single word before being completely swallowed by the attack. "Stay focused! Keep going!" Meis voice was calm and steady. Now that she was in the heat of battle, she had completely entered her zone. Her mind held only one thought Finish the fight quickly. Then return to Natsume. There was no special reason for it. That thought had just naturally surfaced in her mind. "Serperior." "Sssuo!" Without needing a direct command, Serperior understood Meis intent immediately. Another Leaf Storm surged forth, completely engulfing the battlefield. For a Serperior with the Contrary ability, its battle strategy was simple Just keep spamming Leaf Storm. At this level of competition, there was no counterplay. Her opponent lasted about as long as the Jumpluff Natsume had faced earlier Which is to say, not long at all. When the power gap was this wide, holding out only meant prolonging a meaningless beating. --- "Mei advances to the next round!" The referee raised his flag, announcing her victory. "We did it, Serperior!" "Sssuo!" As the match ended, Mei leapt forward, wrapping her arms around Serperiors neck. The proud Pokmon lowered its head, gently nuzzling Meis cheek. To Mei, Serperior was her most trusted companion. And to Serperior, Mei was the reason it fought. Whatever Mei wished for, Serperior would strive to achieve it. "Trainer Mei, please exit the battlefield promptly." The referee politely reminded her. "Oh, rightsorry!" With an apologetic smile, Mei quickly withdrew Serperior and left the battlefield. Following the familiar player corridor, Mei quickened her pace. Her hand rested over her heart. She could feel it. The pounding in her chest. Without even realizing it, she was walking faster and faster. "Natsume, Im back!" "Good job." Waiting for her in the lounge was the familiar sight of Natsumes smiling face. And just like she had done for him earlier, he handed her a cup of warm water. "It wasnt that bad." "It was pretty easy, actually. Not tiring at all." Accepting the cup, Mei sank into the sofa beside him. If nothing else This couch is really comfy. She could feel herself sinking into it. Ah Wait, no She was getting sleepy. Her body completely relaxed, a stark contrast to the intense focus she had during the battle. "Next up is the main tournament." "Yeah" Mei murmured, her voice drowsy. "And at some point well probably end up facing each other." Chapter 116: Shiny Furret: Am I Adorable? After several rounds of elimination matches that werent particularly intense or nerve-wracking, the final 16 spots had finally been decided. According to the tournament schedule, all the matches would conclude by tonight. Though it might not be the most polite way to put it, the kind of exhilarating battles seen on TV were unlikely to happen here. Whether it was rookies clumsily pecking at each other or one-sided stomps, most matches would wrap up quickly. In the waiting room for competitors, Mei was flipping through the documents in her hands. Even though this wasnt a large-scale tournament and the participant list hadnt been released beforehand, she had still taken the time to gather information on some of the competitors. Gathering intel on opponents and formulating sound strategies was, after all, an essential part of being a Trainer. Its said that some battle masters can predict their opponents lineup and battle order before the match even begins, simply by analyzing both teams Pokmon. Mei wasnt quite at that level yet, but she at least understood the basic logic. Simply put, it involved anticipating the opponents coverage optionspredicting what Pokmon they might bring to counter weaknesses in their team composition. For a trainer, the battle begins the moment they step onto the battlefield. "So far, nothing too concerning." "As expected, Natsume is completely overqualified for this kind of tournament." Strictly speaking, Mei herself was also a top contender in this small-scale competition. Barring any unexpected circumstances, winning the championship wouldnt be too difficult. Butthere just had to be Natsume in this tournament. Which meant "Alright, everyone, lets have fun competing for second place!" Honestly, Mei had only signed up because of Natsume. If not for him, shed probably be preparing to challenge a Gym Leader she had previously lost to, working on a rematch strategy. Her team had grown much stronger. She was confident that none of them would be fazed by some simple trash talk anymore. Compared to Corviknights brutal verbal assaults, regular battle taunts were nothing. By the end of a match, Corviknight didnt just use trash talkit went straight for personal attacks that cut deep. "The trainer has won and advanced to the quarterfinals." "Looks like its almost Natsumes turn." Turning off her tablet screen, Mei stretched her neck to relieve the stiffness. Now that they had reached the main tournament, the organizers had assigned individual waiting rooms for the Top 16 trainers. Compared to the earlier, cramped spaces, the biggest improvement was the TV screen in front of her, broadcasting the matches. Sitting beside Mei, Chingling, along with a few of Natsumes Pokmon, were watching the screen with great interest. Natsume had left the waiting room earlier, but before heading out, he had casually dropped off his "spectators" and "cheer squad" in Meis care. The "spectators" were Togepi and Zoruapure troublemakers. The "cheer squad" consisted of Gardevoir and Ogerpon. The latter two had barely interacted with anyone since arriving. Ogerpon was curious about everything in the city, but no matter how much it wanted to explore, it had to wait until after Natsumes match. As for Gardevoir It had zero interest in the city. If anything, it would rather just take a nap. Speaking of the cheer squad Meis gaze unconsciously drifted toward Gardevoir, who was sitting quietly nearby. She couldnt help but wonder What would Gardevoir look like in a cheerleader outfit? Sure, it wasnt human But it probably wouldnt look bad. After all, Gardevoir had consistently ranked No.1 in "Top Pokmon People Want to Marry" polls. There were even actual trainers overseas who had married Gardevoir. Well Not surprising. This was just another case of humanitys unique tastes at play. "And now, lets give a warm round of applause for the fourth match of the Top 16!" "Natsume!" "Tei Akira!" The hosts voice rang out from the TV. To be honest, Mei didnt like this host very much. They felt more like a streamer who had been randomly recruited for the event. Their phrasing was awkward, their ability to control the flow of the match was weak, and sometimes, they seemed too focused on drawing attention to themselves. As a host, they werent very professional. But surprisingly, during Natsumes match, they didnt say anything unnecessary. Guess someone told them to shut up. The thought passed through Meis mind as she fixed her gaze on the person emerging from the hallway. Soft lights from either side of the tunnel illuminated the path forward. Tei Akira, 31 years old, walked out in silence. In the audience seats, the spectators eyes burned with curiosity and excitement. The commentators chattered nonstop, analyzing both trainers lineups and potential battle strategies. As Tei Akira stepped onto the battlefield, bursts of confetti cannons fired from the sides, and distant celebratory sounds echoed. The cheers in the arena swelled, hyping up the crowd. Yet, none of it was for him. His gaze lifted, looking at the person standing across from him. Still young, with a faint hint of inexperience in his features. If he had to put it into wordsyouthful energy. His steps were steady. His bright eyes held no trace of nervousness or anxiety. Only calm confidence. As if this match wasnt even something he needed to worry about. "Must be nice." Tei Akira, who had graduated years ago, found himself lost in thought. He should be strategizing and preparing for battle. And yet His mind wandered to his university days. Back then, he was neither exceptional nor special. But he had been young, driven, and full of enthusiasm. Surrounded by friends, free from politics and power struggles. They had simply enjoyed each others company. Eating, drinking, slacking off Back then, everything had been so easy. Even after graduation, he had stayed on the path of a Pokmon Trainer. But after all these years nothing had really changed. Maybe he just wasnt that talented after all. "Hah" Exhaling softly, Tei Akira stepped onto the battlefield, pressing his foot down firmly Almost like he was trying to vent his emotions. Maybe being suppressed by veterans and surpassed by the younger generation Was just his fate as an average middle-aged trainer. He didnt expect to win. He knew exactly who he was up against. Someone who had defeated Legendary Pokmoneven if Natsume only brought one main team member, Tei Akira still wouldnt stand a chance. If nothing else, at least he had self-awareness. "Guess Im just a stepping stone, huh?" Yeah, probably. "Now, let the fourth match of the Top 16 begin!" "The battle format is 3v3. The battlefield is a standard arena. The match ends when one sides three Pokmon are all unable to battle!" The referees voice snapped Tei Akira back to reality. His fingers instinctively reached for a slightly worn Pokball. "Now, let the battle begin!" "Pinsir!" "Come out and stretch a little, Shiny Furret." A flash of white light And standing in the arena was a pink, fluffy Pokmon. Adorable vs. Terrifying. The contrast couldnt be more extreme. "Furr!" Standing tall, Shiny Furret flexed, trying to look intimidating But in reality, it was still nothing but pure cuteness. Even with all its muscles, it remained a fluffy pink marshmallow. And the moment it appeared The crowd went wild. "SO CUTE! It looks like a giant plushie!" "Right?! It looks so soft! Imagine sleeping with it!" "God, I wanna sit on it." "Uh." "Compared to that, Pinsir suddenly feels kinda" "Like the unwanted side character?" "Pinsir." Standing at the edge of the battlefield, Tei Akira called out softly. "Ke?" Pinsir tilted its head slightly, looking at Tei Akira with a hint of confusion. "Do your best." Tei Akira opened his mouth but, in the end, said nothing more. What was there to say? Should he talk about the bond he had built with Pinsir over the years? Should he confess how desperately he wanted to win? Or should he admit that, after this battle, he planned to quit being a full-time trainer? That he had finally recognized the gap between dreams and reality? None of it mattered. "Ke..." Pinsir watched Akira closely, sensing something in his demeanor. They had been partners for thirteen yearsever since Tei Akira was eighteen. By now, even without words, Pinsir could understand what he was thinking. Turning back toward its opponent, Pinsir didn''t say anything sentimental. Right now, there was only one thing to do Battle. The enemy before it was strongthere was no time for distractions. The tension in the air was palpable. Shiny Furrets long tail swayed rhythmically, as if preparing for an attack. Not to be outdone, Pinsir''s massive horns clicked together, producing a sharp, metallic sound A display meant to intimidate weaker-willed opponents. And then, in an instant Shiny Furret moved. Its body, wrapped in a brilliant white aura, exploded forward like a streak of lightning. Pinsir barely had time to react. From above, Furret looked like a falling star, cutting through the air with streaks of faint embers trailing behind. "Furr!" By the time Pinsir got a clear look Furret was already in front of it. And its fists were wreathed in flames. Fire Punch! Like a meteor shower, the burning fists came crashing down. The intense heat warped Pinsirs exoskeleton, wisps of smoke rising from its shell. "Ke!" Pinsir instinctively raised its arms, shielding its face from the flames, while trying to observe Furrets movements through the gaps in its guard. Then An opening. As Furret pulled back its fist, Pinsir lunged forward, its massive horns snapping shut A move meant to seize victory in an instant. "Got you!" Pinsirs heart pounded. It had already planned its next sequence: First, lock down Furret with its grip. Then, immediately follow up with Seismic Toss to break its offense. With its strength, one powerful slam should be enough to end this fight. However Just before Pinsir''s horns could clamp shut, Furret vanished from its grasp. The flames around its fists dissipated Replaced by frost. A chilling cold spread rapidly, covering Furrets arms in a layer of icy mist. "BAM! BAM! BAM!" A rapid series of Ice Punches shattered Pinsirs defenses. The frigid cold seeped into its exoskeleton, making its movements sluggish. The repeated shock of extreme heat and freezing cold caused small cracks to appear along its shell. Pinsir had no chance to counterattack. Furret swiftly retreated, putting distance between them. Then It started running. Circling rapidly around Pinsir. "Ke..." The only good news was that Pinsir had a moment to breathe. The battle had just begun, yet it felt like an eternity had passed. The crowd finally snapped out of their shock. That series of attacks had not only shattered Pinsirs defenses It had also shattered their previous perception of Furret. Within moments, the arena erupted into a chaotic storm of excited discussions. Pinsirs head throbbed from the noise. "What the hell is up with this Furret?" This was not normal. Pinsir had seen many Furret in the wild before But none were this fast or this strong. This was completely absurd. "Pinsir, dont panic." "Stay calm." Akiras voice cut through the noise, grounding Pinsir''s thoughts. Yet, no matter how calm it tried to be It simply couldnt keep up with Furrets speed. That meant It could only take the hits. "Ignore it. Stick to our plan." "Yes, its fastbut our offense is stronger." "If we land just one solid attack, we win." Perhaps because Tei Akira had already anticipated Natsumes overwhelming strength, He was actually much calmer than before. His words helped stabilize Pinsirs mindset. "Ke." Lowering its stance, Pinsir focused all its attention on tracking Furrets movements. Akira had already prepared a counter-strategy for situations like this. Though, at the time, the example he had used was for fighting a Persian. But in this caseit was close enough. Step oneBuff. "Ke!" A set of spectral swords materialized around Pinsir. Without hesitation, it activated Swords Dance. At the same time, Pinsir kept a sharp eye on its surroundings. No competent Pokmon would sit still and allow an opponent to freely use a buffing move. If they did, they were either extremely confident Or just plain stupid. And there was no way Furret was stupid. "Furr!" Sure enough As Swords Dance reached its peak, Furret rushed in from a blind spot A devastating impact ready to crash into Pinsir. "Ke!" Despite the incoming attack, Pinsir remained calm. Just a little more... almost there... Then, just before Furrets attack landed Pinsir abruptly canceled Swords Dance. A green glow erupted around its body A protective barrier formed instantly. Protect. A move that could block most attacks. Though its effectiveness weakened with repeated use, it was still an invaluable skill. Almost every serious trainer made sure their Pokmon knew it. "Ke!" This is it! Pinsirs eyes gleamed with triumph. At this close range, Furret had no way to change course. All it could do was crash into the barrier And once it bounced off, Pinsir would seize its chance. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However Once again, something unexpected happened. Just before colliding with the barrier Furret kicked off the ground. Its sleek body arced gracefully through the air, clearing the Protect barrier entirely. "Ke...?" Pinsir could only watch helplessly as its Protect faded away. The moment Furret landed It charged again. This time There was no Protect left to block it. "BOOM!" The collision sent Pinsir flying like it had been hit by a speeding truck. It had zero chance to resist. "Pinsir is unable to battle! Furret wins!" The referee raised his flag, signaling the end of the match. The referee didnt really expect Pinsir to remain standing after taking such a relentless beating. But it was always best to double-checkjust in case. Any oversight in handling injuries could affect their future career. "Come back, Pinsir." Tei Akira calmly recalled Pinsir into its Pokball. He didnt feel disappointed. Instead, his mind remained steady as he tossed out his second Pokball. "Get ready for battleCubone." "Cubo!" Gripping its bone club, Cubone adjusted the skull on its head, eyes locked onto its opponent with unwavering focus. Even while inside a Pokball, Pokmon could still sense their surroundings to some extent. And it was clear The enemy before it was incredibly strong. There was no holding back. Cubone raised its bone club, fully prepared to fight. However "Come back, Shiny Furret." "You''re up, Marshtomp." Withdrawing Furret, Natsume sent out Marshtomp. Before the match, he had already decided that each of his Pokmon would fight one battle each. Switching to Marshtomp now was a strategic choice. After such a dominating first battle, the opponent''s mentality had undoubtedly been shaken. Sending in Marshtomp at this moment would test its resolvea good chance for it to gain experience. If he left it until the last round, though Natsume doubted that any opponentafter being steamrolled by both Furret and Corviknightwould have any fighting spirit left. That wouldnt help Marshtomp improve. Better to save Corviknight for last. Besides, that arrogant bird always enjoyed crushing weaker opponents anyway. "Marsh." Marshtomp appeared on the battlefield, its face expressionless Wearing the same blank stare as a Magikarp. It was the look of someone who had seen everything, A gaze that held everything and nothing at the same time. Chapter 117: The Two Who Meet in the Semifinals On the standard rocky battlefield, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Cubones forehead. To be fair, it was already very close to evolving. Under Tei Akiras training, it could confidently pat its chest and swear that its combat strength was no worse than an average Marowaks. Maybe it could even win against one. But the reality wasit hadnt evolved yet. Honestly, this fight seemed unwinnable. For Pokmon, keen perception was an extremely important ability. Especially for those living in the wild. Only by sharply sensing an opponents strength could they avoid getting into a fight they couldnt win. The moment it laid eyes on Marshtomp, Cubone felt as if it were staring at the vast, unshakable earth itself. Were both Ground-types, so why does its Ground-typing feel... different from mine? If it could evolve during the battle, then maybe there was a chance. After all, it was already so close. Alright! Ill just wait for a miracle! Raising its bone club, Cubone looked expectantly toward Tei Akira, hoping for his command. Marshtomp, huh? This is going to be a problem. Seeing Cubones eager expression, Akira felt a pang of guilt. He was worried that this battle might break its confidence. As one of the officially recognized starter Pokmon of the League, Tei Akira had, of course, done his research on Marshtomp. All starter Pokmon shared common traits: a three-stage evolution line, a relatively short growth cycle, and a final evolution form that was at least within the top tier of non-Legendary Pokmon. They were also generally gentle in temperament, making them ideal for beginner Trainers. Among them, Marshtompand by extension, Swampertwas one of the most popular. A Water/Ground typing meant it only had one weakness: Grass. Plus, it could even Mega Evolve. With Swift Swim as its Mega Ability, it became a fast, tanky, hard-hitting monster. This wasnt just a battlethis was a hammer smashing down. Even without evolving, Marshtomp was already strong enough. Honestly, Tei Akira had no idea how Cubone was supposed to fight this matchup. Ground-type moves would only do neutral damage, and considering Marshtomps bulk, theyd barely make a dent. Meanwhile, a single Water Pulse from Marshtomp could teach Cubone the harsh lessons of reality. Cubone, this fight is going to be tough. Prepare for a battle of endurance. Avoid direct confrontations as much as possible. Even though he could already see how this was going to end, Tei Akira still gave Cubone a serious analysis. So what if he knew he was going to lose? Was he supposed to just give up and shout, We cant win!? That would be way too embarrassing. And it would completely betray Cubones trust in him. No matter what, he was still the senior Trainer here. Even if he was just a stepping stone for the next generation, he had to at least lose with dignity. If nothing else, he needed to be more graceful in defeat than the younger Trainers. That was probably the only thing he could win in this match. Marshtomp, use Rain Dance and close the distance. Dont give it any space to maneuver. Once youre close, use Ice Punch on its head. On the other side, Natsume was uncharacteristically giving direct commands during battle. Unlike Corviknight and the others, who had been through countless struggles, Marshtomp was more like a typical greenhouse-grown Pokmon. It had practiced move combos, studied battle strategies But its actual combat experience? Not much. It only thought about training and getting stronger. The result was that it lacked its own initiative. Most of the time, it could only perform at its best when following Natsumes guidance. In simple terms: strong abilities, but no independent decision-making. That was something that definitely needed to be fixed in the future. Though Natsume occasionally joked about being a super Hisuian Trainer, No humans reaction timelet alone their speechcould keep up with the fast-paced battles of Pokmon. The last match was proof of that. Tei Akira had noticed the moment Shiny Furret attacked But before he could even finish speaking, Shiny Furret had already pummeled Pinsir with a Fire Punch. In this match, Natsume would give Marshtomp a general direction, But he absolutely wouldnt treat this like some turn-based game, issuing one command at a time. Marsh! The detached, world-weary look in Marshtomps eyes shattered in an instant, replaced by a burning desire to win. This was the first step on its true path to strength! Dark clouds gathered in the sky at incredible speed. In just two or three seconds, the sparse raindrops turned into a relentless downpour. The two Pokmon reacted very differently to the rain. Cubone looked extremely uncomfortable. If it werent for the fact that it was in the middle of a battle, it wouldve already fled from this hated rain. Meanwhile, Marshtomp seemed completely unbothered. If anything, it looked like it was enjoying itself. With a powerful stomp, Marshtomp shot forward at incredible speed. In just a few steps, it was already closing in on Cubone. The wet ground and rainwater didnt slow it down at all. Cubone! With a flick of its toes, Cubone kicked up several clumps of mud and hurled them toward Marshtomps face. Using Mud-Slap, Cubone quickly retreated. It didnt know how to win this fight. So all it could do was trust in its Trainer. As it darted backward, it let out a piercing Growl. Mud-Slap lowered the opponents accuracy and served as a minor distraction. Meanwhile, Growl weakened the opponents attack power. Cubones strategy for this battle was simple. Keep its distance, use status moves to chip away at the opponent And wait for the perfect moment to strike! However Marshtomp didnt even flinch. It raised its arms to shield its face and bulldozed right through the mud clumps, charging forward even faster than before. "Use Water Gun to disrupt it. Keep going." "Marsh!" Even after being hit by mud, Marshtomp''s smooth, water-coated skin showed no signs of slowing down. A jet of water shot out from between its arms. It wasnt the most accurate shot, but it was enough to break Cubones rhythm. Dodging awkwardly to the side, Cubone barely avoided getting hit in the face. The rain was already slowing it down, and running backward instead of turning to flee made it even less mobile. The distance it had managed to put between them was instantly closed again. For Marshtomp, this wasnt a chase It was just a few steps. "Stealth Rock." "Marsh!" Marshtomp slammed its palms into the ground, sending dozens of jagged rocks into the air. The sharp stones glowed for a moment before vanishing from sight. In the games, Stealth Rock only dealt damage to Pokmon switching in. But in real battles, any Pokmon that touched them would get hurt. This effectively trapped Cubone, cutting off its escape routes. Natsume had always preferred stable, reliable victories. No risky plays. No reckless gambles. No unnecessary mercy. As long as he secured the win, that was all that mattered. Because in the end, a lossno matter the excusewas still a loss. "Cub!" Cubone stumbled back Right into a Stealth Rock trap. The sharp explosion sent it flying straight toward Marshtomp. And Marshtomp was already waiting. Its fists were coated in ice, radiating an intense chill. Raindrops froze midair before hitting the ground, turning into a fine layer of frost before melting back into the earth. "Marsh!" ORA! Both of Marshtomps frost-coated fists slammed into Cubone. The one-two strike sent Cubone spinning into the air. Marshtomp pulled back its fists and adjusted its stance, angling its shoulder toward its airborne opponent. "Marsh!" Iron Mountain Crash (Wait, no.) Take Down! With a burst of raw strength, Marshtomp launched itself forward. Cubone, already knocked back, was sent hurtling even faster in the opposite direction. "Marsh!" Marshtomp snapped its fingers together, forming a blade-like strike, infused with a brownish energy Brick Break! With a powerful leap, it soared into the air And brought its palm crashing down. "BOOM!" "Cubone!" From the trainers box, Tei Akira anxiously looked toward the battlefield. Cubone, now completely unconscious, lay motionless on the ground. Its bone club had rolled to the side. Marshtomps Brick Break never landed. Or rather It had struck the empty ground beside Cubone. "Marsh." Marshtomp retracted its hand and struck a bodybuilder pose. This was something it had learned from the Machoke construction crew it used to watch. According to them, it was a victory celebration pose. "As expected, no miracle happened." After giving Natsume and Marshtomp a grateful nod, Tei Akira recalled Cubone. A miracle hadnt come. If it were that easy to achieve, it wouldnt be called a miracle. With a sigh, Tei Akira sent out his final Pokmon. "Dodrio, prepare for battle." This was his last option. Dodrio had only recently evolved, and its personality was still somewhat rebellious. Ever since evolving, it had entered its teenage rebellion phase. During both training and battles, it had a habit of ignoring commands. As a middle-aged trainer, Tei Akira knew this was a serious issue for Pokmon. But there wasnt much he could do. At the end of the day, it was strong. So he just had to make do while trying to fix the problem over time. But for now? Screw it. Dodrio landed on the field And immediately turned all three heads away from Akira, bickering among themselves. Akira felt nothing. Absolute silence. He even had the urge to laugh at his own misfortune. Go ahead, act all smug while you can. Lets see how tough you look after this fight. "Tei Akira is down to his final Pokmon! Will he be able to pull off an incredible comeback?!" The hosts overexcited voice blared through the speakers. Tei Akira had only one response "Comeback my ass!" If this host was so confident, they should get down here and pull off a comeback themselves! Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He hadnt even been able to handle that ridiculous Shiny Furret And now there was Marshtomp on the field. And judging by how Natsume had been playing so far Next up was probably that one. Sure enough, in the most predictable outcome of the day, Natsume recalled Marshtomp. He really wants to give all his Pokmon a chance to shine, huh? What an arrogant way of thinking. As a former academy-trained trainer, Tei Akira had long forgotten most of what he learned in school. But years of battle experience had taught him at least one important lesson Never recall a Pokmon that just secured a victory. That momentum, that rising battle spirit It was an actual, tangible force that could impact the flow of battle. But for Natsume It probably didnt matter. Because Akira knew exactly who was coming next. And there it was Soaring into the battlefield, the massive Corviknight appeared. That ridiculously large bird No matter how many times Akira saw it in real life, it never failed to be absurdly impressive. The moment Corviknight arrived, a blazing orb of light shot from its body, rising into the sky. Within seconds, the dense rainclouds vanished. The humid air dried out almost instantly. For Corviknightor rather, for all birds Rain was never a pleasant weather condition. "GAAAH! GAAAH! GAAAH!!" Your dad is here! Its my favorite part of the battlepicking todays special! Lets see whos getting beat up this time. Its sharp eyes scanned the field. And then They landed on Dodrio. Ah. A flightless bird. With Corviknights limited brain capacity, it couldnt comprehend the existence of flightless birds. To Corviknight, Dodrio was nothing more than A useless, grounded, bad-tempered excuse for a bird. Feeling Corviknights condescending gaze, Dodrio let out a piercing screech. With its three heads, it could attack in three directions at once A genuine advantage in battle. But against Corviknight That advantage meant nothing. At leastnot enough to win. Of all three battles, Corviknights match lasted the longest. Maybe because it just didnt like Dodrio. Or maybe for some other reason. But Corviknight took its time, thoroughly displaying its strength. By the time the fight was over Dodrio collapsed onto the ground, its six eyes staring blankly, filled with nothing but rage and despair. There had never been a chance to win. It had been completely toyed with. Completely dominated. "Good job, Corviknight." "Come back." As Tei Akira recalled Dodrio, He calmly accepted his defeat. And that was that. From now on, it was time to settle down and live a normal life. The whole professional trainer thing That could be left to the young and talented. As he left, Tei Akira seemed remarkably carefree. No sadness. No disappointment. No regret. Maybe this was just the resignation of middle age Or perhaps, the freedom that came with it. In the Top 8 match, Natsume once again breezed through his opponent. This one was even weaker than Tei Akira Barely giving Corviknight and the others any challenge at all. Mei''s match was just as one-sided. And so In the semifinals, the two finally met. "I''ve finally made it this far." Sitting in the waiting room, Mei quietly gathered her thoughts. In her arms, Chingling chimed softly As if cheering her on, trying to boost her confidence. Chapter 118: If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them At the farm, after a long day of work, Slowking sat under the shade of a tree. It took a moment to reflect on todays tasks. Hmm Patrolled the farm? Check. Trained some of the younger Pokmon? Check. Completed its own routine training? Check. Work was basically done. "Yadon" After reviewing its day, Slowkings gaze returned to the tablet in front of it. Or ratherthe tablet resting on its belly. Since the farm had plenty of electronic devices, Slowking had claimed one for itself. On the screen was a livestreamone that, until recently, hadnt attracted much attention. But over the past few minutes, the number of viewers had skyrocketed. The reason? Natsume was about to battle. It might sound strange, but recently, Natsumes presence online had been growing stronger. A high school graduate who didnt pursue higher education, instead inheriting a farm all on his own A Pokblock maker, a trainer who defeated a Legendary Stacking all these buffs together, well Lets just say it perfectly fueled the internets curiosity and love for drama. Especially in online arguments, Natsume had become the go-to example. "Oh, your brother is talented and hardworking?" "You think Tei Akira is the rising star of this generation?" Yeah? Check this guy out. (Referring to Natsume.) Of course, most of these people didnt actually like Natsume. They just enjoyed arguing. Or they were just pure internet trolls. Hmm thanks to Corviknights personal live demonstrations, Slowking had actually developed some insight into online meme culture. Out of pure entertainment, Slowking had even joined a Natsume fan group that had just been created. The group leader was currently rallying members to boost Natsumes popularity on social media. "And now! Lets give a warm round of applause to our two semifinalists!" "Natsume! Mei!" The hosts voice was filled with over-the-top excitement. But Slowking found it obnoxious. After some thought, it muted the livestream. It didnt need commentary to understand the match. In factSlowkings battle analysis was better than most professional trainers. --- "Hoo" Inside the waiting room, Mei rocked onto her toes, then steadied herself. So farSerperior had never won against Corviknight. Not even once. Not even close. Natsumes training direction for Corviknight had always been clear Bigger. Heavier. Tougher. Everything else was secondary. Speed? Not important. Attack? Not the priority. Because even if you dodged dozens of times Corviknight only needed to hit you once. And even if Serperior somehow took down Corviknight, Shiny Furret would still be a massive hurdle. Neither Pignite, Dewott, nor Steenee had a real chance of victory. Especially Tsareena She outright refused to fight Shiny Furret. Because living at the farm, she knew exactly how ridiculous that thing was. In Meis mind, Shiny Furret was at least as strong as any of the Pokmon Natsume had used against Ting-Lu. "You got this, Mei." Mei lightly patted her own cheeks, trying to reset her mindset. Sure, she couldnt see a path to victory But so what? A trainer is supposed to face challenges head-on. If you only fought battles you were sure to win, Youd never truly grow. Yeah. That was some motivational nonsense she had read in a third-rate magazine once. At the time, she had rolled her eyes at it. But now? Now she was using it to comfort herself. Wellif nothing else, it was helping a little. "Both trainers, please enter the field." Hearing the hosts announcement, Mei hurriedly left the waiting room. She moved a little too quickly at first, her steps almost awkwardly uncoordinated. But just before stepping out, she regained her composure. "The suns a little blinding" Shielding her eyes with her cap, Mei squinted slightly. Directly across from her Was a familiar figure. Looking at Natsume, Mei suddenly felt like she had a lot to say. Her thoughts on everything that had happened recently Her gratitude toward Natsume And so much more. But at this distance Those feelings wouldnt reach him. So in the end, Mei pressed them all down And decided to save them until after the battle. "Begin!" The referee swung down the flag, signaling the start of the match. "Go, Corviknight." "Serperior!" A flash of white light And the two longtime rivals appeared on the battlefield. "Serp!" Serperiors regal green body slithered gracefully, its sleek scales shimmering under the sunlight Like ripples across an emerald lake. Its gem-like red eyes locked onto Corviknights form. Meanwhile Corviknight flapped its wings, completely at ease. The gleaming steel-gray feathers covering its body made it look like a knight in full armor. Their appearance alone sent the crowds excitement soaring. "I heard a rumor that these two are friends off the battlefield." "Wonder whos gonna win the championship?" One spectator asked their friend with eager anticipation. At first, they hadnt expected much from this tournament. They had only come because their workplace was involved in organizing it And they got some free tickets. They figured itd be something to kill time Something to chat about over lunch later. But surprisingly The battles had been insanely high quality. Especially Natsume and Mei Their skills were far beyond what this tournament level should have. "Oh, thats easyNatsume. No question." A voice, slightly rough with age, suddenly cut in. The two spectators instinctively turned their heads And were met with a very familiar face. "Wait arent you Tei Akira?" One of them hesitantly asked. They recognized his face well enough After all, Tei Akira''s match against Natsume had been one of the best fights in the tournament. But this outfit Made them doubt themselves. A headband, sloppily scrawled with NATSUME VICTORY. A handmade sign, featuring a full-body photo and chibi drawing of Natsume. And a life-sized cutout strapped to his leg. He looked like a die-hard fan at a concert. "Yeah, thats me." Seeing the puzzled looks around him, Akira took the initiative to explain: "I asked the event organizers for a ticket." "They were pretty generousgave me a front-row seat, even." "As for my outfitwell, isnt it obvious? Im a Natsume fan now." "In fact, Ive been a Natsume fan since birth. I came here to see my idol." Tei Akira spoke with absolute sincerity. If someone didnt know any better, they might have actually believed him. Unfortunately The last guy who said, "Im your biggest fan," in a world tournament ended up kicking his so-called idol around like a football. And Tei Akira? He got utterly destroyed by his idol, had his confidence shattered, and was now ready to quit pro battling altogether. "Ahaha I see" "Tei Akira, youre pretty enthusiastic, huh?" The spectators next to him let out awkward laughs. They werent sure whether to admire his shamelessnessor just be speechless. Even the people nearby were giving Akira some interesting looks. This guy was really something else. But for a veteran trainer, a few weird looks were nothing. In factTei Akira had done far more than this. If he was going to be a fan, he was going to do it right. Not only was he calling himself a Natsume fan, But he had just now rushed to set up ?? A Natsume fan group ?? A social media super-topic ?? A dedicated forum If things took off, he even considered forming a full-on fan club. Akira was sureNatsumes future wouldnt stop here. Even if Natsume really just wanted to run a farm, That reclusive master image was still marketable. Besideslife doesnt always go the way you expect. Tei Akira had already seen plenty of people online trying to visit Natsumes farm just for the hype. "Tsk. What the hell? You guys are just making trouble for him." Scratching his head, Akira figured he should do something about it. Not because he was overly devoted to Natsume or anything. He wasnt that kind of fanboyhe wasnt some love-starved kid. From beginning to end, his real reason was simple If he moved faster than others, he might be able to profit from it. Making money wasnt shameful. Since he was retiring from pro battling, he had to think about the future. Of coursehe still had professional integrity. If he was going to call himself a fan, he had to do it right. "BOOM!" The thunderous crash of battle snapped Tei Akira back to reality. Refocusing on the battlefield, he saw The fight between Corviknight and Serperior had begun. And for some reason Serperior, usually the epitome of calm arrogance, Now looked visibly irritated. "Serp!" You damn feathered freak! "GAAAH!" Weak! Weak! Weak! Absolutely no offensive power! Didnt I teach you anything?! On the ground, Serperior had completely abandoned its usual composure. And in the air, Corviknight was openly gloating Hurling insults as fast as it was hurling attacks at Serperiors face. Despite all its effort to manage its emotions, The moment it saw this stupid snake Corviknight couldnt hold back anymore. "Serp!" Im going to rip your head off and shove it down your stupid throat! Serperiors muscles tensed, its entire body coiling with power. Then With a massive whip of its tail, A storm of razor-sharp leaves came roaring forward. For a Contrary-ability Serperior, strategy didnt matter. Just keep spamming Leaf Storm. Of courseSerperior wasnt dumb. It knew Leaf Storm alone wasnt enough to defeat Corviknight. That much was obvious. Which was why it had been thinking hard Watching Corviknights every move. Studying its personality, its battle habits. Figuring out how to bring this oversized bird down. "Serp!" Suddenly Serperior opened its mouth, gathering a deep green energy sphere. After a barely noticeable charge time, The energy ball rocketed straight toward Corviknight. Then came the second. The third. A barrage of energy spheres Like surface-to-air missiles targeting their prey. This was Serperiors latest specialized training. By reducing the energy cost and charge time, It had achieved rapid-fire energy blasts Like a Seed Machine Gun. A clunky, unrefined technique But highly effective against Corviknight. Because Serperior knew Corviknight had a bad habit. If an attack seemed weak, It would take the hit on purpose, Just to mentally crush its opponent. But If an attack even remotely threatened it, It would dodge Even if the actual damage was negligible. Sure enough Faced with the barrage of energy balls, Corviknight chose to evade. With a powerful wingbeat, its speed spiked The attacks all missed. But Serperior hadnt expected them to land. The very next second A whirlwind of razor leaves engulfed the sky. This timeLeaf Storm completely surrounded Corviknight. "GAAAH!" Weak! Weak! Weak! Useless! Useless! Useless! A metallic glow flickered over Corviknights body A solid steel barrier forming around it. The leaf blades clashed against its body A flurry of sharp, ringing sounds echoing through the air. Tch. That actually hurt a little. Corviknights eyes flickered with surprise. Serperiors attacks were definitely stronger than before. This fight might actually be a little interesting. "Serperior!" "Serp!" Seeing Leaf Storm land successfully, Meis eyes lit up She clenched her fist in excitement. Everything was going according to plan! While Corviknights vision was blocked, Serperior steadied its breathing Forcing itself to remain calm. This was already expected. Before the match, Mei had told it "Be ready with Leech Seed. The moment that dumb bird rushes outhit it!" Serperior stared intensely into the Leaf Storm, Watching for that towering silhouette within. Up in the stands, Mei was just as focused. All their follow-up strategies relied on not getting one-shot. "GAAAH!" A steel-clad shadow burst from the storm A force too overwhelming to resist. Corviknight spread its wings wide, Expanding its presence as much as possible. "GAAAH! GAAAH!" Brave Bird. Like a falling meteor, Its body plummeted at full force, The friction igniting the air, Giving its black feathers a streak of glowing orange-red light. White streaks of air currents sliced through the battlefield. No... I can''t dodge this. With that impact force, the Leech Seed would be blown away before even making contact. A moments hesitationjust a fraction of a secondwas enough for Serperior to miss its best chance to evade. The move didn''t activate in time. And in that fleeting moment of indecision, the scales of victory seemed to tilt ever so slightly. At least, thats how it looked. "Serp!" A crisp cry echoed as a faint green light flickered into existence. A half-spherical protective barrier swiftly formed around Serperior. "Boom!" From above, Corviknight came crashing down with full force onto Protect. A mere Protect move? Watch me break through it! Corviknight was brimming with confidence. "Crack!" The protective barrier, which normally brought a sense of security, was now covered in fractures almost instantly. It looked fragile, on the verge of collapsefar from reassuring. If anything, it was more worrisome. "Serp!" Serperior''s gem-like eyes reflected Corviknights form. Ah... what a familiar sight. Its always like this. Once, twice Every time, its this move that defeats me. You stupid bird, dont you have anything else? ...Then again, if I keep falling to the same move, maybe I have no right to complain. In the next second, Serperior''s eyes cleared with renewed focus. "Crack!" Under Corviknights overwhelming pressure, Protect shattered. Emerald shards scattered through the air. But Corviknight didnt slow downit crashed directly into Serperior. A thick cloud of dust exploded into the air, obscuring both Pokmon from view. To the audience, it seemed like a decisive blowCorviknight''s overwhelming victory. However... "Gaah?" ...What the hell? A sudden gust of wind swept through, dispersing the dust. The scene that emerged was almost comical. Serperior, utilizing its natural snake-like flexibility, had wrapped itself tightly around Corviknight. Vine Whips extended from both sides, coiling around Corviknights neck and pulling its head backward. And Serperior? Face-to-face with Corviknight, mouth slightly open. A dark green energy orb began forming between its fangs. This time, it wasnt a weakened feint. This was a fully powered Energy Ball. Thanks to its specialized training, Serperior had dramatically reduced the charge time needed. In the blink of an eye, the move was ready. "Boom!" The Energy Ball detonated right against Corviknights face. A burst of fiery explosion engulfed its head. "Serperior! Don''t stop!" From the trainer''s platform, Mei shouted, her voice filled with urgency. Maybe it was the harsh sunlight, but sweat was starting to bead on her forehead. "Serp!" Die, you damn bird! Slam! Serperior tightened its coiled body, executing a textbook over-the-shoulder slam, sending Corviknight crashing into the ground. And without hesitation, Serperior immediately flung it away. A Giga Drain followed. Green energy particles rose from Corviknights body, as if drawn by an invisible force, flowing directly into Serperior. The once-exhausted Serperior, panting heavily, now visibly regained some strength. "Corviknight." "GAAAH!" At the sound of Natsumes voice, Corviknights eyes snapped open. With a powerful beat of its wings, it stabilized itself midair. Then, it quickly ascended, climbing to an even higher altitude. Its piercing red eyes locked onto Serperior. There was a flicker of surprise in its gaze. This damn snake "Still not enough, huh?" Meis hands clenched the railing so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her gaze never left Corviknight. That last series of perfectly chained attacksoriginally, the plan included planting Leech Seed as well. The idea was to disrupt Corviknights rhythm with Slam, subtly slipping in Leech Seed, then following up with Giga Drain to extend the fight. But in the heat of battle, things didn''t go exactly as planned. Corviknights sheer strength exceeded both Serperiors and Meis expectations. In truth, Serperior had barely managed to keep Corviknight restrained during the Slam. Had they forced the original plan, Corviknight likely would have broken free and slammed Serperior into the ground instead. "Serp!" Refocusing itself, Serperior took a defensive stance. Even though it had caught Corviknight off guard earlier The gap in raw power was undeniable. This dumb bird It may be an idiot in every way Except when it comes to its physical abilities. Its defense was impenetrable, its stamina near-endless. Even after all those attacks, all Serperior had managed to do was chip away some damage. Meanwhile, Serperior itself was barely hanging on. That last attack from Corviknight, combined with earlier hits, had pushed it to the brink. Even with Giga Drain, it had only bought a few extra seconds. ...No matter. Fight until the very end. The battle dragged onthis was the longest fight Natsume had in this tournament so far. Serperior turned into a relentless turret, continuously unleashing attacks. Meanwhile, Corviknight became the embodiment of an indomitable heavy-armored warrior. It faced every attack head-on, enduring them allonly to return even greater force with each counter. "Serperior! One more Leaf Storm!" On the trainers stand, Mei called out her final command. If nothing unexpected happenedthis would be the last Leaf Storm. Honestly, she was stunned Serperior had lasted this long. Based on her calculations, Serperior should have collapsed several hits ago. "Corviknight, Brave Bird." "Gaaah!" With a powerful cry, Corviknight acknowledged Natsumes command. Even it was feeling the strain of battle now. Rapidly gaining altitude, Corviknight hovered briefly at its peak. Then, it dovea falling meteor streaking down from the sky. At the same time, a storm of emerald-green blades roared to life. Just like at the start of the fight. This time, Corviknight dove straight into the storm. The swirling leaves and chaotic air currentstorn apart in an instant. Bursting through the storm, Corviknight spread its wings wide and crashed toward Serperior. No escape Serperior had never felt so drained before. Its once-fluid movements felt foreign, disconnected. Even as its mind screamed commands, its body refused to obey. Every cell in its body was begging Just let go. Stop fighting. Its over. "Serp" Serperior mustered the last traces of its energy, barely managing to activate Protect once more. But after multiple uses, the success rate of Protect had plummeted. And so, the classic scene of "Protect failing to protect" played out. "Boom!" This time, Serperior could hold on no longer. Its proud head slowly drooped. It tried desperately to keep its eyes open, but its heavy eyelids refused to listen, gradually closing bit by bit. "Serperior, you did great." Faintly, it seemed to hear Meis voice. Was she praising me? Then I guess I can rest now. Maybe "Serperior is unable to battle! Corviknight wins!" "Ohhh!" As the referee announced the outcome, the audience erupted into a frenzy of discussion. At first, everyone thought this was just a beginners tournament. Then they saw Natsume, and thought it was going to be a stomp fest. And now, watching Natsume and his supposed easy opponents go at itwell, this was turning out to be a real show. "Mei, please send out your next Pokmon." "Come back, Serperior." "You did really well." Recalling Serperior, Mei softly whispered to its Pok Ball. She took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, and refocused on the battle before her. She had trained specifically to counter Corviknight before this match. But as for Shiny Furret and Marshtomp? She didnt have much of a plan. With Marshtomp, it was simply lack of intel. With Shiny Furret well, it was a straightforward problem. There was no real weakness to exploit. It fought in the most direct, unrelenting way possible, crushing opponents head-on. Since that was the case "Come out, Dewott!" "Shiny Furret, its your turn." sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as before, Natsume recalled Corviknight and sent out Shiny Furret instead. "Furr!" "Dewo!" The moment it appeared, Dewott took a deep breath, retrieving the shells from its sides and gripping them tightly. Like a wandering samurai preparing for battle. It had been waiting for this fight for a long time. Before today, it hadn''t known who its opponent would be. But that didnt matter. It had trained diligently and relentlessly, step by step. Just as its stoic personality dictatedserious, disciplined, and always striving for improvement. It was prepared to face any challenger. "Furr!" Shiny Furrets eyes sparkled with excitement as it faced Dewott. Ah, it''s that kid from the training sessions. Shiny Furret vaguely remembered Dewott. Among all of Meis Pokmon, it was the only one that could keep up with the training regiment from start to finish. As an opponent, it was definitely qualified. This would be a properly intense fight. "Furr!" Come on! Show me how much youve improved! Shiny Furret struck a bodybuilders pose and flashed a bright, confident grin at Dewott. For a momentjust for an instantDewott thought it saw a blinding light reflecting off something. ...Was that its teeth? Must have been a trick of the light. "Dewo!" Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, Dewott took its battle stance. The left shell was held in front as a guard, while the right shell extended outward, ready to strike. Its center of gravity lowered slightly, and it took a deep breath, sharpening its focus. A pale aura flickered around its form before sinking into its blades. Focus Energyenhancing the precision of its attacks, making critical strikes more likely. "Furr?" Oi. Thats foul play! Shiny Furret was stunned. It was in the middle of pumping itself up, and this guy was sneaking in a buff move? Damn, this dude was serious about battling. "Shiny Furret, watch out for its shells." "Dewott has higher special attack." "Its speed is moderatejust think of it as a Water-type Scizor." After giving a few brief pointers, Natsume fell silent. Many rookie trainers liked to micromanage their Pokmon during battle, giving orders for every little move. But that approach often backfired. A Pokmon sees and senses far more than its trainer during a fight. If a trainer issues the wrong command, it could lead to more than just losing a matchit could damage the trust between trainer and Pokmon. "Furr!" Originally standing upright, Shiny Furret dropped to all foursand in the next instant, it shot forward like a pink meteor. That was always Shiny Furrets preferred battle style. Its vast move pool allowed for complex strategies, sure. But why bother? If you can knock out your opponent with brute force, why waste time with fancy tactics? "Dewo!" Dewott''s eyes glinted. Suddenly, a gentle stream of water coiled around its body. A moment later, the water surged violently, acting like a thruster, propelling Dewott at high speed toward its foe. From a birds-eye view, it was like two meteors colliding head-on. As they were about to clash, Dewott angled its body slightly, swinging its shell upward toward Shiny Furrets abdomen. "Thud!" The fierce slash was intercepted by a frost-coated fist. The thin layer of ice was as hard as steel. They passed each other like two streaks of light in the night sky. "Shhhh" Barely managing to stop itself, Dewott quickly turned back toward Shiny Furret. For the past few weeks, it had been training under Gallade, studying sword techniques and battle strategy. Its mind was free of distractions. Water surged around its form once again. It knew full wellif they traded blows normally, it had no chance of winning. A battle of endurance? A defensive counterplay? Unnecessary. This fight would be quick. Either it landed a decisive blow and took control of the battle Or it got completely overpowered. There was no in-between. All it needed to do was pull Shiny Furret into its tempo. That was its one chance to win. The blades glowed fiercely, energy surging through them. The two Pokmon clashed repeatedly, moving like streaks of light across the battlefield. Each collision of steel and ice sent sparks flying. Dewott continuously searched for an opening, its two swords weaving a web of sharp, cold slashes. And in response Shiny Furret met every attack head-on, fighting blow-for-blow. Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Thunder Punchcycling between them seamlessly. Burn marks and frostbite slowly appeared across Dewott''s form. As the fight raged on, their clashes grew even more intense. Shiny Furret''s relentless attacks were taking their toll. Dewott desperately wanted to find an opportunity to use a status move to boost itself. Unfortunately, in such an intense exchange of attacks, there was no chance at all. Shhh! Its feet scraped against the ground, leaving a long trail behind. After another collision, the two Pokmon swapped positions, with Dewott now standing right in front of Natsume. At this moment, Dewott felt its breathing burn, as if every breath was scorching its windpipe. Was it lucky that it had trained so hard before? If not, forget about winningjust staying in the fight wouldnt have been possible. Adjusting its breath, Dewott crossed its shells and charged forward once more. However... Swish A sudden wave of weakness in its legs shattered its focus. The sharp glow around its shells flickered unsteadily. Its stamina... had hit its limit. The sounds around it suddenly became distant. Its vision stretched and distorted, pulling everything away. The pink silhouette of its opponent, rushing toward it at full speed, seemed to move in slow motionmoving forward yet somehow getting farther and farther away. Ah, this feeling... not good at all. The edges of its vision darkened. This must be the precursor to fainting, huh? It wasnt exactly unfamiliar. But still it left a lingering sense of unwillingness. "Dewott!" Was that Meis voice? Straining to shift its gaze, Dewott caught sight of Mei in the distance. Her face was filled with worry, clearly visible even from afar. Suddenly, the noise of the stadium returnedthe roaring wind, the clamor of the crowd. With that, its fading focus snapped back, along with the remnants of its techniques glow. Swish! A surge of raging water exploded from behind Dewott like an out-of-control jet engine, recklessly propelling it straight at Shiny Furret. It was a full-on, do-or-die attack. The gleam on its shells flared, then rapidly condensed into solid, visible light-blades. Through breeding, Oshawott had the potential to inherit Sacred Sword. Dewott wasnt sure if it had that innate ability. But after training with Gallade for so long, it felt like it had grasped something. Swish! Furr! After the clash, both Pokmon maintained their forward-charging stances, frozen in place. A few seconds later, Dewott''s body slackened. Its shells slipped from its grasp as it collapsed onto the ground. Shiny Furret remained standing, its tail raised high in triumphant declaration. "Return, Dewott." Seeing that, Mei let out a quiet sigh as she recalled her Pokmon. Though Furret bore a few scratches, it still looked full of energy. The gap is massive. But Mei quickly refocused, her gaze sharp as she threw her final Pok Ball. "Come on out, Steenee!" As the light faded, a small, elegant, humanoid Pokmon materialized onto the battlefield. Hand on its hip, Steenee exuded the grace of a refined young lady. During registration, after much consideration, Mei had chosen Steenee for battle. Compared to Pignite, the Grass-type Steenee had a natural advantage against Marshtomp''s Ground-Water typing. Maybe just maybe, she could pull off an upset. Taking a deep breath, Mei called out: "Steenee, dont feel pressured." "Just follow the battle plan we discussed." Of course, there wasnt much of a plan. Given the current situation, there wasnt a strategy that could truly turn the tide. The gap was simply too large. It was like sending a master tactician to fight an invincible warrior. This isnt a strategy issueits a pure power gap. "Marsh." With its usual indifferent expression, Marshtomp sized up its opponent. Hmmm. Doesnt look too strong. Not in aura, not in anything. It vaguely remembered this onewasnt Steenee the weakest Pokmon in Meis team during training? It had also heard that she came from the same farm as him, but Marshtomp didnt quite recall. One thing was certain, though. This match was in the bag. The moment the battle began, Steenee swiftly launched an attack, using its agility to its advantage. Countless Magical Leaves shot out from behind her. In the games, Magical Leaf always hits its target. But in reality, it was more like a homing attack that could be partially guidedbut not with absolute accuracy. "Marsh" As the incoming leaves flew toward him, Marshtomp''s eyes momentarily sharpened. Frost encased its fists as it activated Ice Punch, smashing the leaves apart one by one as it steadily advanced Like an unstoppable armored soldier. The moment the enchanted leaves were tainted by frost, they grew brittle and crumbled into dust under Marshtomp''s relentless blows. Steenee wasnt surprised by this outcome. She quickly alternated between Razor Leaf and Seed Machine Gun, trying to suppress Marshtomp and buy herself time for a setup move. But despite the relentless onslaught, Marshtomp displayed absolute dominance. Raising its arms in front of itself, water began swirling in its mouth, steadily gathering power. The next second, a Hydro Cannon blasted forth. The water shot toward Steenee like an artillery shell, its impact force overwhelming. Using this opening, Marshtomp rushed in. "Marsh!" Brick Break! A powerful chop slammed into Steenee. She was forced back, barely managing to stay upright. But Marshtomp showed no mercy. It kept attacking, one relentless strike after another. As the battle raged on, Steenee struggled to keep up. Under Marshtomp continuous pressure, her defenses weakened, her counterattacks growing feebler. Finally, in a desperate attempt to plug a gap in her defense, Steenee panicked And made a crucial mistake. A miscalculation in the heat of battle rarely ends well. Whether she overcompensated or hesitated, the result was the same: an opening too big to ignore. Seizing the moment, Marshtomp lunged forward. "Marsh!" Take thisFocus Punch! Gripping its left fist with its right hand, Marshtomp took a brief moment to gather its strength. Then, with a transparent energy wave coating its knuckles It delivered a devastating blow straight into Steenee. "Marsh" It was over. Retracting its fist, Marshtomp''s expression returned to its usual look of enlightened detachment. No worldly desires. Mercy? Compassion? Steelix once said, "Only fools hold back in battle. If they do, they deserve to be taken out." Why waste time? There were naps to take. Marshtomp wasnt about to waste energy where it wasnt needed. "Steenee is unable to battle!" "Meis Pokmon are all unable to battleNatsume wins and advances!" The referee swung down the flag, signaling the battles conclusion. Chapter 119: Zorua – A Hopeless Case Standing dazed at the edge of the battlefield, Meis thoughts drifted far away. The moment the match ended, a wave of disappointment surged over her like a rising tide. The once-deafening cheers, applause, and shouts from the crowd now felt distant and muffled, as if separated by an invisible barrier. All around her, the audience remained as lively as ever. Laughter, conversations, and celebrations blended into a sea of joy. But none of it had anything to do with her. She felt like an isolated island, floating alone in the middle of this roaring ocean. "Mei? Are you okay?" "Mei?" Someone was calling her name. Who was it? The buzzing noise in her ears gradually faded. The blurry scenery before her eyes slowly came into focus. "...Ah, I''m fine." Snapping out of her daze, Mei quickly wiped her face, pretending everything was normal. Ah, that was such an intense and exhausting match. I must''ve been sweating. Taking a deep breath, she returned Steenee to her Pok Ball and, at the referee''s signal, turned to walk into the tunnel. At the moment she stepped into the dim passageway, the cheers and excitement from outside seemed to grow even louder. A part of her felt a little... sad. Looking back on the match, was there anything she could have done better? Probably... not. She had prepared as much as she could. She had trained, strategized, and given her all. There should be no regrets. Rightshe had done everything she could. Serperior and the others had fought their hardest, too. Everyone had given their all, from training to the final battle itself. There was nothing to regret. Thats how it should be. So why do my footsteps feel so heavy? "Plop." Back in the waiting room, Mei collapsed onto the couch, as if all the energy had been drained from her body. She let the soft cushions swallow her whole. "...Ah, I''m so tired." Tilting her head back, she blankly stared at the bright ceiling lights. She wasn''t sure what she was thinking. The distant sounds of the tournament still echoed faintly in the background. Were they discussing the last match? Or had the next round already begun? She didnt know. And she didnt really feel like thinking about it. "Knock, knock." "Come in." Hearing the knock, Mei quickly sat up, straightened herself, and called out. "Are you okay?" Pushing open the door, Natsume walked in. His expression carried a trace of concern. He had once said that a Trainer should have a strong mentality. That they shouldnt need comfort from others. ...Of course, that was previous Natsume speaking. What did that have to do with this Natsume? "I''m fine." "It''s really not that bad." "After all, both I and my Pokmon gave it our all." "So there''s nothing to regret." Taking the drink Natsume handed her, Mei took a small sip and spoke with feigned lightheartedness. Her slender fingers wrapped around the bottle, seemingly at ease. "Is that so?" Natsume studied her for a moment. Then, instead of pressing the topic, he casually shifted the conversation. "Slowking told me that ever since I left the farm, things have been pretty chaotic. No idea what''s going on." Comforting others wasnt his strong suit. That was something Natsume had always been aware of. If there were gaps in his knowledge, this was a full-on black hole. Not just cluelesscompletely clueless. So, instead of saying anything unnecessary, he just kept talking about the farm. "Hmm." Mei quietly listened, occasionally responding with soft murmurs. Then suddenly, she pointed to the slightly ajar door. "Natsume, can you close the door?" "I have zero energy left." She never liked leaving doors open during private conversations. Even if no one was eavesdropping, it still felt... uncomfortable. Like something personal could be overheard. "Oh, sure." Natsume got up, walked over, and shut the door. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly felt a gentle breeze behind him. Two arms wrapped around his waist from behind. "...Just let me borrow your back for a moment." Mei pressed her face against his back, her voice muffled. "I gave it everything I had." "I shouldn''t feel this way." "There shouldn''t be anything to be upset about." "But it still hurts a little." "I feel like I could''ve done more... that I still had so much I wanted to show." She turned her head slightly, murmuring softly. Sometimes, emotions were unreasonable. They didn''t listen to logic. Mei knew she had done her best. But she still wanted to do more. Natsume stood still for a moment, his hands hovering awkwardly in the air. After a brief hesitation, he gently placed them over Meis arms. "...Yeah." No unnecessary comfort. No analysis. Because no matter what the victor said, it would always feel like salt in the wound. The room fell into silence. Time seemed to stretch on and on. --- During the finals, Natsume abandoned his usual strategy of rotating Pokmon. Instead, he sent out Shiny Furret and obliterated his opponents entire team in a crushing sweep. One-hit knockouts. All of them. The total battle time didnt even last as long as Meis Steenee versus Marshtomp match. Honestly, he looked more like a tired office worker rushing home than a tournament finalist. To be frank, Natsume thought his opponent had just been lucky to get this far. Skill-wise well, it was complicated. There were no signs of any pre-match training or strategizing. The guy just winged it, playing completely by instinct. And his battle commands? A mess. Constantly barking orders, forcing his Pokmon to follow his every move. No adaptability. No solid tactics. If it had been Tei Akira instead, he probably wouldve won this whole thing without breaking a sweat. "Lets give a round of applause for our championNatsume!" Standing on the podium, expressionless, Natsumes thoughts had already drifted far away. ...When I get home, I should ask female Indeedee to help make something good for dinner. Even though Natsume usually cooked for himself, his skills were just... average. Passable. Enough to fill his stomach, but not enough to call it delicious. But female Indeedee? Now she was a true superhuman. In just the few days she had been at the farm, Natsume had yet to find anything she wasnt good at. Whether it was housework, combat, or even artshe had effortlessly displayed talent in everything. Even in drawing, something Natsume himself had been struggling to improve. Lost in thought, Natsume was suddenly pulled back to reality by the hosts voice. "Natsume? Natsume?" "...Ah, Im here." Snapping back to the present, he turned to the host, who was holding a microphone near his mouth. Taking two seconds to process the question It was probably about his thoughts on winning. Was that it? "Natsume, any thoughts? Any comments?" The host subtly reminded him, sensing Natsumes hesitation. If it were someone else, the host might not have been this accommodating. But right now, this guy was the golden goose of the entire event. The online livestream was practically riding on his presence. Of course, most of the audience watching the stream were just here for the entertainment. But hey, engagement was engagement! A speech... Once again, this was outside his realm of expertise. After a brief two-second pause, Natsume recalled something he had overheard when Corviknight was watching videos out loud. Since he didnt know what to say, why not borrow from someone else? "Well, first of all, winning this championship makes me very happy." The host glanced at Natsumes completely expressionless face. "I also want to thank all the opponents I encountered along the way. They are all strong and skilled trainers." The trainers who had been completely shut out by Natsume silently covered their faces. "This has been an unforgettable journey, one that has left a deep impression on me." Feeling a bit guilty, Natsume hesitated for a moment. "I also want to thank all the spectators who traveled from afar to watch the competition." The audience members, who had been forced to attend after their workplaces gave them free tickets to fill seats, looked around awkwardly. "And then..." Uh-oh. Forgot the next part. Midway through his speech, Natsume suddenly blanked. Well, not much he could do about it. He never liked playing sounds out loud in public. So when Corviknight did it, he immediately put a stop to it. Which meant he never actually heard the rest of the speech. Whatever. If he didnt know, he didnt know. Time to wrap it up. "I also want to thank my partners." "Thats all." Shoving the microphone back into the hosts hands, Natsume drifted off into his own thoughts. Huh, it''s not over yet? He was starting to feel a little hungry. "What a wonderful speech." Having seen it all, the host remained unfazed. This was nothing. The fact that Natsume could string a full sentence together was already impressive. Trainers were a troublesome bunch. The host knew this very well. The inexperienced ones could barely squeeze out a word and avoided eye contact. The veterans, on the other hand, would say anythingand often, way too much. Both were potential disasters for a live broadcast. Compared to that, Natsumes speech, while odd, was actually pretty great. Soon, the event moved on to the final prize-giving segment. "Natsume, here are your winnings and prizes." "Prizes?" Taking the briefcase from the host, Natsume was slightly puzzled. He distinctly remembered that this tournament originally had no prizes. "This is an additional reward from our sponsor, XXX brand, after witnessing your outstanding performance in the competition." The host explained it like that. Ah. Got it. Just riding the hype train. "The prizes include a Soothe Bell and a Silk Scarf." Huh, not bad. Alright, hed take them. Happily accepting the gifts, Natsume didnt comment on the organizers actions. As long as the prize money was in place, everything made sense. But if it wasnt in place... well, then hed have no choice but to get a little passive-aggressive. With the event quickly wrapping up, Natsume headed back to the farm with his winnings and prizes, completely satisfied. The organizers, meanwhile, took his championship photo and happily started their promotions. The audience had new topics to discuss and gossip about. Everyone was satisfied. Except for the trainers who had been steamrolled by Natsume. Wellexcept for one particular exception. Tei Akira, the moderator of the Natsume super-topic, the admin of the Natsume fan forum, and the president of the Natsume fan club. After being eliminated by Natsume, he had placed a bet on him winning the entire tournament undefeated. The odds werent high, but he still made a small profit. --- When Natsume and Mei returned to the farm, they were met with an enthusiastic welcome from the Pokmon. Persian led a group of Pokmon, waiting at the farm entrance to greet Natsumes return. Meanwhile, Slowking and Gallade rushed forward to lodge a complaint. "Galla!" "Yadon!" The two spoke over each other, leaving Natsume struggling to understand them for a while. Eventually, he managed to piece together the situation. Basically, while Natsume was away, the Pokmon at the farm had been busy with their own affairs. Hisuian Zorua had taken the Mightyena family on a scouting mission nearby and stumbled upon a group of Ghost-type Pokmon. It nearly escalated into an all-out battle. In the end, Persian and Gallade had to step in to put a stop to it. Additionally, it seemed that many of the Pokmon on the farm had been inspired by Corviknight and its group. They had voluntarily joined Furret''s training sessions. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Which had thrown the whole farm into chaos. Maybe that doesnt sound too bad. But to put it into perspective Imagine a bunch of Might Guy clones shouting about youth and passion, training outside your window. And occasionally, they handstand their way up to your window to say hello. That should give you a clearer picture. Besides that, there were a bunch of other small, annoying incidents. Not major, but definitely frustrating. Given the situation, Natsume could only instruct Slowking and Persian to take charge for now. Hed deal with everything tomorrow. It was already late, after all. Whatever needed handling could wait until morning. "Yadon." "Meow." Slowking and Persian nodded in understanding. Why not Gallade, though? Well, he just wasnt assertive enough for the job. On the second floor, in Natsumes room, Togepiwho had rushed home ahead of everyonewas scurrying around under the bed. "Finally home." Just then, the door creaked open. Seemed like Natsume had come in. "Chagi?" Tilting its head, Togepi prepared to jump out and surprise him. But in the next second, a furry little paw pressed it down. "Suosuo!" Hisuian Zorua, who had followed them back unnoticed, held Togepi in place, signaling it to stay quiet. Confused, Togepi followed Zoruas gaze. A few seconds later, another pair of shoes stepped into the room. "You worked hard today, Natsume." Meis voice drifted over as the two casually chatted. Then suddenly, her shoes quickly shifted closer. For a brief moment, she lightly stood on her tiptoes. "Goodnight, Natsume." For some reason, Togepi felt like Meis voice sounded a little shy. Then, she hurriedly left the room. What just happened? Togepi didnt quite understand. Turning its head, it saw Zorua looking at it with an expression of utter exasperation, as if staring at a hopeless case. "Chagi?" Now Togepi was even more confused. Chapter 120: Where Did This Manaphy Come From?! In Meis room, she leaned against the door, pressing a hand firmly against her chest. She could feel her heart pounding wildly, as if it were about to leap out of her chest. A faint pink blush spread across her fair face, and her clear, autumn-water-like eyes shimmered slightly. Huff huff Taking small, steady breaths, Mei tried to calm herself down. Its nothing. Its not a big deal. Im an adult now. This is nothing. But Her heartbeat refused to slow down. The moment she recalled what she had just done, an indescribable sense of embarrassment surged through her. And with itthough barely noticeable, even to herselfcame a hint of joy. What am I even doing Her voice trembled slightly. Mei felt as if all the strength had drained from her body. She slid down, leaning helplessly against the door, until she finally sat on the floor. The soft texture beneath her reminded her that it was the rug she had picked out with Natsume last month while shopping together. Life on the farm was relaxing and enjoyable, but every now and then, Natsume liked to return to the city to experience a taste of modern life. Burying her burning face into her knees, Mei felt as though the heat on her skin might scorch her pale complexion. Mei possessed a talent that many female Trainers enviedshe rarely tanned, and her skin remained in great condition with little care. Statistics showed that most female Trainers followed the academic route. Not because academia gave them any advantages But simply because exposure to the elements was a mortal enemy to their skin. No matter how refined a girl might be, a trek through Tibet could turn her into someone who looked like she had just walked off a construction site. The same applied to Trainers. It took a long while for Mei to finally regain her composure. She lifted her head and gazed at the warm yellow glow of her desk lamp. Stretching out her tired limbs, Mei sighed. Although Corviknight was called the Airborne Bus, the one in Natsumes household was clearly an unlicensed black-market transport. To call the ride bumpy would be an understatement. Had she been alone, Corviknight might have taken the opportunity to show off its expert flying skills. What fancy fighter jet maneuvers? Theyre nothing compared to me, Corviknight! Bang! A Pok Ball on her waist popped open, and Serperior appeared in the room. Seerp. Emerging from the ball, Serperior had already shaken off its earlier defeat and now stared at Mei with intrigue. If that gaze could be translated, it would probably say: You little rascal, huh. All grown up and flirting with boys now. It was the kind of look that said: Ive watched you grow up for years, and now you''re finding your own pig to take my precious cabbage away. Seeerp [Come on, tell me how it felt, every juicy detail!] Serperior! Seeeerp! [Hey, Im a girl too! Gossiping is in my nature!] Under Serperiors inquisitive gaze, the calm Mei had painstakingly regained was once again thrown into disarray. A deep red blush crept up from her neck, spreading across her cheeks. After wrestling around with Serperior for a while, the two finally settled down. Knock, knock. Ah, come in. Hearing a knock on the door, Mei quickly tidied her slightly messy hair. When she was little, Snivy loved nibbling on her scalp during playtime. She thought it would stop once it grew up. Yet now, even as a fully evolved Serperior, it still hadnt kicked the habit. Just earlier, Mei had felt as if her whole head was about to be swallowed. Indee~ Pushing the door open, the female Indeedee walked in, carrying a large cup of fruit juice. It was a freshly squeezed juice made from berriessomething Natsume had asked her to deliver. Ever since arriving at the farm, the female Indeedee had felt like her culinary talents had finally been set free. Every day, she experimented with new ways to create small surprisesnew dishes, fresh juices, and the like. And Natsume was always kind enough to provide her with plenty of berries to experiment with. She had completely fallen in love with this place. Thank you, Indeedee sister. Mei took a moment to confirm that it was the female Indeedee. The Indeedee siblings were actually easy to tell apart. The one who always looked like he didnt want to work was the male Indeedee. The one who always had a gentle smile was the female Indeedee. In truth, both siblings were warm-hearted and kind Pokmon. It was just that their species traits made the male Indeedee look like he always had a sour expression. Something he, himself, was quite troubled by. Indee [Get some rest, Mei.] The female Indeedee waved before skipping out of the room. She needed to prepare ingredients for tomorrows dessert. Although eating sweets in the morning wasnt exactly a great habit, many Pokmon had an undeniable sweet tooth. After sharing the juice with her partners, Mei took a quick shower. Then, hugging Serperior, she lay down on her soft bed. Her thoughts began to wander. Natsume What is he doing right now? I wonder what he was thinking at that moment. I shouldve observed him more carefully. Tossing and turning, Mei found herself unable to sleep. She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling Only to notice that Serperior, too, was awake. Serperior, you cant sleep either? Propping herself up on one arm, Mei looked at Serperior curiously. This Pokmon had always been a deep sleeper since childhood. It was rare to see it lying awake like this. Serp Serp! [Im thinking about that stupid bird! Its mouth is so annoyingI swear, one day, Ill beat it so badly even its mother wont recognize it!] Serperior fumed, recalling the humiliation it had suffered. Uh Mei might not understand Serperiors words, but judging by its tone, she could guess the general idea. Alright, alright, dont be mad, Serperior. Turning over, she gently patted Serperior in comfort. At first, Mei had been at a loss when dealing with her sulking Snivy. She was just a little girl herselfwhy was she suddenly the one who had to console others? But over time, she learned how to do it. Sometimes, Mei wondered if being a Pokmon Trainer was, in some ways, similar to raising children. Serp! Mhm, lets do our best next time. Seerp. Goodnight, Serperior. Serp. The desk lamp flicked off with a soft jingle as Chimecho pressed the switch with its tail. Like a pillow, Mei hugged Serperior close and drifted into slumber. On the floor beside the bed lay Pignite and Dewott. On the cushioned windowsill, Steenee dozed peacefully. Atop the desk, blending in as a mere decoration, Chimecho closed its eyes, a faint smile playing on its lips. Goodnight, everyone. The only sounds left in the room were soft, steady breaths. The next morning, a golden sliver of sunlight peeked through the curtains, gently illuminating the room. The warmth of the light wrapped around Mei like a thin golden veil. Perhaps nature truly had its own unique fragrance. As Mei opened her eyes, the earthy scent of grass and soil filled her lungs, invigorating her senses. The fatigue from yesterday seemed to melt away. Morning, everyone. Stretching lazily, Mei sat up and greeted her partners. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After yesterdays battle, she had decided to give everyone a break today. Even Serperior and Dewott, who usually trained the hardest, had slept in until they naturally woke up. In reality, Dewott had already been awake for a while due to its biological clock. But seeing that everyone else was still asleep, it simply chose to keep lying down. "Seems a bit noisy outside, huh?" After changing out of her pajamas, Mei curiously looked out the window. The farm was usually bustling at this hour, but it was an orderly kind of livelyeveryone busy with their own things. Today, though, something felt different. Pulling back the curtains, Mei saw Persian and Slowking leading a few Pokmon toward Natsume. From the looks of it, this was about to be a trial. And indeed, it was. "Alright, you first. Tell me what you did yesterday." Seated on a little folding stool he''d bought online, Natsume turned his gaze toward the visibly guilty Hisuian Zorua. Previously, this little rascal and Ogerpon had planned to team up later to investigate the group of Ghost-type Pokmon near the farm. But yesterday, unable to sit still, it went ahead with its Mightyena father. It was a miracle they werent sent straight to another world via isekai reincarnation. "Suo" [Uh, I went on an adventure] Sitting obediently on the ground, Hisuian Zorua looked extremely guilty. Even a complete stranger could tell it was lying. As a Ghost-type Pokmon, it clearly had no talent for mischief or deception. "Oh, really?" "Suo!" [Really!] "But Slowking and the others told me something different." "Suo" [Uh well] In the end, under Natsumes severe (ruthless) interrogation (threat of no snacks), Hisuian Zorua confessed everything. Originally, it had wanted to do something big while Natsume was away. And, well we all saw how that turned out. "Alright, next." Grabbing the little troublemaker by the scruff, Natsume tossed it over to the other Zorua watching from the sidelines. "It''s your little brother. You teach him properly." "Suo?!" [Me?!] The original Zorua, who had been watching the spectacle with glee, instinctively caught its tossed counterpart. Wait a minutewho on this farm isnt technically your underling?! How did this suddenly become my problem? Shouldnt the responsibility be split 50/50 at least? Ignoring the protests as Zorua gnawed on his sleeve, Natsume turned his attention to Ursaring and the Shiny Pidgeotto. "And you two? Whats your deal?" According to Persian, the two had led their respective groups into an all-out ground vs. air battle yesterday. It was pure chaos. Most of the Pokmon on the farm had gathered to watch, figuring they might as well enjoy the show. Even Persian and Slowking had been spectators at first. In the end, the battle was cut short by an enraged Blisseywho ended it with a single punch for each of them. Even among Pokmon, doctors commanded a certain level of authority. Faced with an angry Blissey, no one had dared to make a sound. Everyone just shivered in silence, too scared that even breathing wrong might earn them a knockout punch. "Good job, Blissey." Natsume praised approvingly. The farm definitely needed someone to keep things in check when he wasnt around. Persian could do it, but its personality meant it often didnt want to. In the past, it only stepped in to help Natsume. But now, with Blissey, he could rest easy. "Lucky~" Receiving the praise, Blissey raised its fist in a strongman pose. Never underestimate the combat skills of a medical professional, you fools. "So, what do you two have to say for yourselves?" "Bi?" [Just a friendly sparring match?] "Ursaring." Ursaring nodded in agreement. "You two, huh" In truth, neither of themor their respective groupshad any deep grudges. They had just been around each other for too long. There was a mutual, unspoken competitiveness. Every now and then, they just felt like having a go at each other. Technically speaking, it really was just a spar. Looking at the two who had come to an agreement, Natsume felt something harden. That would be his fist. For Pokmon who repeatedly offered the same excuse, Natsume had a simple solution: If you have this much energy to cause trouble, then clearly youre not training hard enough. "Shiny Furret, Ive got a job for you." "Furr!" [On it!] [Second Lieutenant Shiny Furret, reporting for duty!] Shiny Furret leaped out from the group of Pokmon, making a stylish spin before coming to a smooth stop in front of Natsume. "In three days, I want this dumb bird evolved." "Also, theres a pile of construction materials in the north side of the farmleftovers from before. Have Ursaring and the others clear it up." "Furr!" [Got it! No problem!] Raising its paw to its forehead in a salute, Shiny Furret accepted the mission with enthusiasm. Evolution? Easy! Just train like crazy! That stupid mud-colored bird was close to evolving anyway. Yeah, in Shiny Furrets eyes, Shiny Pidgeottos color wasnt anything specialjust a dull, mud-like yellow. Not attractive at all. Natsume had said its own pink fur was beautiful. As for this dumb bird? Well, different people had different tastes. Shiny Furret didnt get it, but it respected it. "Bi?!" Shiny Pidgeotto was horrified. What?! Evolve in three days?! Why dont you just kill me instead? That would honestly be easier. Since birth, Shiny Pidgeotto had never suffered much. On one hand, it had great natural talent and picked things up quickly. On the other, it was really good at giving up. Whenever it encountered something difficult, it would immediately abandon it. No effort, no frustration. Couldnt master a skill? Just try another one! Hit a bottleneck in strength? Just give up and take it easy! Strength was like rowing against the currentif you dont advance, you fall behind. So technically if I fall behind, isnt that just reverse progress? Thats still progress! As long as I can convince myself, I wont feel bad about it. Shiny Pidgeotto had always lived by that mindset. Even when it said it would train seriously a while ago Most of the time, it still found excuses for itself. Ah, todays training was enoughIll do more tomorrow. I worked really hard todayI deserve a break. I survived another daythats already a win. And because it always told itself "this is good enough," it ended up way behind where it actually wanted to be. It had met the conditions for evolution a long time ago. But every time, it always felt like it was just one step awayonly to be kicked back at the last moment. This time, with the perfect opportunity at hand, all it needed was for Shiny Furret to give it a good shove from behindstraight through the door of evolution. If this went on any longer, even its juniors, the Shiny Joltiks, might evolve before it. Speaking of which, Natsume actually had high hopes for those two Joltiks. Once they evolved, in a wild battle scenario, he could just release them bothone floating on each side. At that point, hed have himself a pair of mobile laser cannons. With a few more of them, he might even be able to pull off a Strike Freedom cosplay. "Objections overruled. Shiny Furret, take it away!" "Furr!" Following orders, Shiny Furret put on its best "fast-food worker dragging out the fryer" look, grabbed Shiny Pidgeotto by the talons, and walked off without a second glance. Kid, your youth just isn''t burning bright enough. Come with us and feel the heat of passion! "Furr!" A whole group of Sentret and Furret gazed at Shiny Furret in admiration. Whoa! This is our big bro! Sometimes, it was really hard to tell what path these kids were heading down. Maybe this was Crows fault after all. --- After spending some time dealing with various farm affairs, Natsume stretched lazily. Life was like thissmall, trivial tasks were just that when handled promptly. But if left unattended for too long, they would pile up and explode at the worst possible moment, making an already stressful situation even more unbearable. "Good morning, Natsume." Just as Natsume finished his round of "disciplinary talks," Mei approached from the side. In fact, she had been standing nearby for quite a while. She just didnt want to interrupt while he was in the middle of scolding everyone. "Morning, Mei. Have you had breakfast yet?" Noticing the unfamiliar Pokmon in Meis arms, Natsume smiled as he asked. Recently, breakfast at the farm had been entirely taken over by female Indeedee. To be precise, both Mei and Natsumes meals were now prepared by her. They only cooked for themselves on special occasions. "Wait a minute" "Mei, the one in your arms?" Turning his head abruptly, Natsume suddenly realized that the Pokmon Mei was holding might be a big deal. "Huh? Isnt this one of your farms Pokmon, Natsume?" Blinking in confusion, Mei lifted the small, completely blue Pokmon in her arms. That was definitely not one of his. Natsume felt like he had something stuck in his throat. "Mana!" The Pokmon in Meis arms waved its tiny hands, as if greeting Natsume. "Where the hell did this Manaphy come from?!" Chapter 121: Zorua – Should I Entertain Manaphy? In Meis arms, a tiny Pokmon, bearing a striking resemblance to Phioneroughly 70% similarwaved at Natsume, as if greeting him. At the same time, it casually popped a few Pokblocks into its mouth. Munch, munch... this stuff... munch... is actually pretty tasty. Manaphythe mythical Water-type Pokmon known as the "Prince of the Sea." It had two long, antenna-like appendages on its head, ending in small round spheres. Above its large, expressive eyes, two dark markings connected to a yellow dot, and a red gem was embedded in the center of its chest. Its arms were longer than its body, while its legs were quite short. According to legend, Manaphy''s body was composed of 80% water, making it highly susceptible to environmental changes. At first glance, Manaphy and Phione both appeared as small, adorable Pokmon. However, unlike Phionewho could arguably be nominated for the title of Weakest Mythical PokmonManaphy was the real deal, a genuine Prince of the Sea. With a perfectly balanced stat distribution of 100 across all six attributes, Manaphy was a textbook example of a well-rounded fighter. Some Pokmon were called "balanced" because they lacked standout strengths. Others were called "balanced" because they had no weaknesses. Additionally, Manaphy possessed an innate, mysterious ability that allowed it to connect with any Pokmon on a deep, emotional level. Legend had it that in ancient times, whenever the wrathful god of the sea was enraged, it was always Manaphy who managed to calm its fury. Perhaps it was this very power that made Manaphy so special. "Mana!" Realizing that the Pokmon in her arms wasnt actually one of the farms residents, Mei gently set Manaphy down on the ground. Unbothered, Manaphy stretched out its tiny hand toward Natsume. Im adorable. Now, give me food. Though it didnt speak, its intentions were crystal clear. "Here." Natsume reached into his pocket and pulled out a sealed bag of Pokblocks, handing it to Manaphy while observing the mythical Pokmon with curiosity. Some Pokmon ruled over life. Some Pokmon governed time and space. And this one? It might just be the god of freeloading. (Cross that out.) "Mana!" Accepting the Pokblocks, Manaphy gave Natsumes arm a friendly pat. Kid, youve got potential. It was acting like a seasoned elder. Well, considering how long it had probably lived, that wasnt too far from the truth. "Suo." What are you eating? Give me some! Just as Manaphy was happily snacking away, a fluffy little head suddenly pushed its way into the scene. Manaphy nearly dropped its Pokblocks in surprise. Turning its head, it found itself face-to-face with Zorua. Or ratherZorua''s true nature. Plop. Dazed, Manaphy let the Pokblock in its hand fall to the ground. It looked as if it had just seen something incredibly unexpected. "Mana!" "Suo suo." "Mana?" "Suo." The two tiny Pokmon stared at each other with wide, mischievous grins, their eyes shining with excitement. With a sly smile, Zorua leaned in close and began whispering something to Manaphy. "Do they... know each other?" Still recovering from the shock of identifying Manaphy with her Pokdex, Mei now found herself watching the two as they chatted like old friends. They stuffed their faces with Pokblocks. They chugged juice made from freshly picked berries. The scene was oddly surreal. "I guess they do." Natsume had suspected they might be acquainted, but he hadnt expected them to be... drinking buddies? Forgive him for using that phrase, but thats exactly what they looked like right now. Honestly, if someone told him these two had once roamed the streets together as a mischievous phantom thief duo, hed probably believe it. The energy was exactly like those classic anime duos who reunite after years apart. "Suo suo." After polishing off an entire bag of Pokblocks, Zorua trotted over to Natsume, its tail wagging happily. Following behind was Manaphy, staring at Natsume with a look of mild suspicionalmost as if it were evaluating him. "Suo suo." According to Zorua, Manaphy had simply left its Sea Temple to wander around out of boredom. Coincidentally, it had been born around that time, so it had instinctively followed a familiar feeling all the way here. No hidden motives or grand reasonsjust a casual post-nap stroll. It planned to hang around the farm for a while. And, of course, it would pay for its room and board. "Mana!" Manaphy nodded firmly in agreement. Though it still harbored some doubts about Zoruas story, it was an old friendso it chose to trust first, and question later. "I see..." Looking at Manaphy, Natsume found himself feeling a little dazed. "What exactly did you just say to it?" Nothing at all! Zorua tilted its head, eyes filled with an innocent and blissfully ignorant look, as if saying, "I''m just a little fox, I dont understand what youre talking about." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Truth be told, Manaphys sudden arrival left Natsume feeling a bit at a loss. After a moment of thought, he turned his gaze back to Zorua. Now that it was confirmed Manaphy had no ill intentions, the solution was quite simple. "Zorua, you''re in charge of looking after Manaphy." "Suo?!" Me? Are you serious, my friend? Zorua''s face was a perfect display of disbelief. You want me, a baby who still needs help with meals, to take care of someone else? You must be joking. "Dont worry, I believe in you, Zorua." Natsume patted Zoruas furry little head, signaling his confidence, before turning away to handle other matters. That left Zorua and Manaphy standing there, staring at each other. "Suo?" How about I show you your kids? Zorua tentatively suggested. "Mana." No thanks, what''s so interesting about that? Manaphy flatly refused. It had far too many childrenso many that it couldn''t even keep count. After all, this was the Pokmon responsible for turning Phione into an entire species. Once again, someone really needs to investigate Manaphys personal life. (Redacted.) So, technically speaking, despite its small and cute appearance, was Manaphy actually a... seasoned mother? Cough cough. Best to skip that topic. --- After preparing a nutrient-rich meal for the Ampharos and Flaaffy herds and promising to shear their wool in the evening, Natsume led Mei toward the farms entrance. As for the group of Ghost-type Pokmon that Hisuian Zorua had mentioned earlier, Natsume figured it was worth checking out. People often say that all Pokmon are inherently kind. But when it comes to Ghost-types, that sentiment might not always apply. Many Pokdex entries for Ghost-type Pokmon contain words like grudges, death, revenge, and other ominous terms. The origins of most Ghost Pokmon werent exactly pleasant. To be blunt, they were often downright tragic. Legend has it that in the beginning, Ghost Pokmon were extremely rare. Most of them were once powerful Pokmon who, upon death, became Ghost-types due to lingering regrets. Because of their formidable strength in life, these reborn Ghost-types were equally powerful in death. This is what we call Pokmon reincarnation. But over time, ordinary Ghost Pokmon started appearing. They werent as powerful as their ancient counterparts, but their fighting style was unpredictable and eerie. Many inexperienced trainers found themselves tormented by them. Even veteran trainers had to be on high alert when facing Ghost-types. By the modern era, however, the overall power level of Ghost Pokmon had skyrocketed. According to some researchers, this was due to modern humans carrying more resentment and negative emotions than any other era in history. As a result, Ghost Pokmon no longer needed to scare people to grow stronger. Just hanging around an office building was enough to make them level up. This is the natural advantage of being a Ghost Pokmon. "Absol, Mightyena, and Ogerpon." "You three, come with me." After searching the farm, Natsume realized that among the Pokmon with decent strength and relatively reliable personalities, the only real option was Mightyenathe older brother of the pack. As for Absol? Sure, its strength was solid. But its personality was... questionable. This guy was gradually turning into a full-fledged husky. If Corviknight was the husky of the skies, then Absol was just a straight-up husky. Most of the time, its frustrating antics were masked by its cool and aloof exterior. It looked dignified and serious, but its brain? A total mess. "Absol!" Leaping gracefully from the bushes, Absol shook off the leaves clinging to its fur and gazed at the fallen autumn leaves on the ground. "Ah, autumn is here." "Which means winter isnt far behind." Everyone knows that out of the four seasons, summer and winter feel the longest, while spring and autumn pass by in a blink. For most wild Pokmon, winter was an incredibly tough season. The cold was one problem. The scarcity of food leading to intense territorial conflicts was another. But now? That has nothing to do with me anymore. Im a trainers Pokmon now! And I secured this gig all on my own! (Proud face.) "Woof!" Following closely behind was Mightyena, a red scarf tied around its neck. Unlike most Pokmon, it carried itself with a calm and steady demeanor. Strange, considering its father had completely devolved into a brainless goofball who spent his days rolling around the farm and chasing butterflies. Even Natsume found it baffling. Mightyenas mother? Utterly disappointed. But the older brother? Completely different. It hadnt inherited any of its dads dumb genes. Perhaps this was what people meant by "filtering out the bad and keeping the good." Looking at Mightyenas commanding presence, Natsume couldnt help but feel a little nostalgic. Originally, he had given Mightyena the red scarf just as a simple rewarda way to recognize the smartest and most obedient pup of the litter. But after a while, he realized something. This scarf-wearing Mightyena looked very familiar. Then it hit him. Back in the day, one of his favorite games featured a pet called "Guardian Hound." It had the exact same look. Damn, time flies. One moment, youre a kid playing games. The next, youre standing here reminiscing about it. Finally, the last one to arriveOgerpon. It hopped excitedly onto the scene, still wearing the mask Natsume had given it. Over time, Natsume had bought many different masks for Ogerpon. Partly as gifts. Partly to satisfy his own shopping addiction. Sometimes, Natsume just got an overwhelming urge to buy things. Coins, quirky toys, fancy tea sets hed never use, random desk decorations He wanted all of them. But if it was for himself? Hed find every excuse not to buy it. And if he did buy something, itd be the cheapest option possible. But if it was for someone else? Now that was a different story. Like recently, when he bought Mei a ton of things. Shoes, clothesyou name it. Basically, anything he had seen before and thought "Mei might need this someday," he bought. And Mei? She did the same for him. Lately, everything Natsume wore was something Mei had bought. Shirt, jacket, pants, shoes His entire outfit today? Mei-picked. Neither of them minded this arrangement. For both of them, it was the first time receiving thoughtful gifts from someone of the opposite gender. It felt... kinda nice. When Natsume first bought Mei a gift, there was an indescribable feeling in his chest. Something stirring inside him. But lets not dwell on that. Lifting Ogerpon up by its tiny armpits, like picking up a baby, Natsume grinned mischievously. Sometimes, cute things just make you want to mess with them. Especially when their little legs flailed helplessly in the air. It was hilarious. "Uhmah! Uhmah!" Ogerpon flailed its stubby arms at Natsume in protest. "Alright, alright. Im counting on you today." "Uhmah!" Once set back on the ground, Ogerpon patted Natsumes leg in reassurance. Pfft. A bunch of Ghost Pokmon? Ill wreck them myself! "Mei, do you want to come along and take a look?" Natsume was a rather reserved person who often preferred quietly doing things on his own. Meanwhile, whenever Mei saw him engrossed in something, she would simply stay by his side, quietly accompanying him. She never asked too many questions, nor did she interfere or give unsolicited advice. And whenever Natsume needed to vent or share his thoughts, she always listened with patience. "Ah, I dont have any issues with that," Mei resp onded after thinking for a moment. Her current team didnt include any Pokmon particularly adept at dealing with Ghost-types, but if it came to a regular battle, she figured shed be able to hold her own just fine. "Alright then, lets head out." "Im counting on you to keep me safe, smart, handsome, and incredibly strong Natsume!" "But of course, my gentle, beautiful, and ever-so-understanding Mei. Chapter 122: The Rampaging Ogerpon and the Glowing Feather The afternoon sun slanted down upon the countryside path, its golden light dancing across the road like mischievous children playing hide-and-seek. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers. Two Butterfree fluttered lazily out of the flower bushes, seemingly enchanted by the serene afternoon atmosphere. Walking side by side, Mei and Natsume strolled along the path, their elongated shadows intertwining, much like the quiet joy they shared at this moment. Beside them, Mightyena followed closely at Natsumes heels, ever watchful of their surroundings. Further ahead, Ogerpon and Absol frolicked about like children on a field trip, chasing each other playfully along the trail. Mei and Natsume chatted as they walked, their conversation meandering without any particular direction. It seemed as though they could talk endlessly, never running out of things to say. Natsume had a habit of gesturing unconsciously as he spoke, as if he couldnt quite express himself properly without moving his hands. Whenever he let his hands fall back to his sides, their fingers would brush against each otheronly for both to instinctively pull away again. Each fleeting touch sent an electric current through their bodies. Someone once said that the period before a relationship is defined, when two people linger in that delicate ambiguity, is the most intoxicating time of all. The cautious probing, the hesitant yet hopeful responses, the nervous excitement of every outing together. If a reply took too long, the mind would race with overthinking; yet, the simplest of cute emojis could bring a rush of warmth. Some things lose their charm the moment the veil is lifted, but before that, when everything remains hazy and uncertainthat is when emotions run the strongest. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting flickering shadows on Natsume. As he moved forward, the light swiftly retreated, falling away behind him. ...I was half-asleep, and then that little bastard Zorua suddenly stood up and gave me two good punches. As they walked, Natsume brought up Zoruas antics. At the farm, his earliest Pokmon partners had always shared a close bond with him. Even Butterfree, who had recently settled into retirement, still maintained a strong connection with him. But the Pokmon that had joined later tended to be more distant. Some were friendly enough, but most had a relationship with him that was more akin to tenants and a landlord. It was inevitable. As the farm grew, such things were bound to happen. It wasnt a matter of seniority among the Pokmon but simply a fact of reality. Natsumes attention and affections were limitedthere was no way to share them equally with everyone. Sometimes, he wondered if he should do something to change that. But after thinking it through, he realized there was probably no need. Zorua really likes you, doesnt it? Mei chuckled at the thought of Zoruas usual behavior. Rather than calling Zorua Natsumes Pokmon, it would be more accurate to say they were friends. Their interactions were based on equality rather than a typical trainer-and-Pokmon dynamic. Its stomach likes me more than anything. Natsume waved a hand dismissively. He had no illusions about Zoruas so-called loyaltyit was clearly food-driven. Every time he saw Zorua happily munching away, he always had the urge to give it a kick. And, well, sometimes he didnt resist the urge. It had cost him a great deal of treats and desserts to make peace afterward. At this point, the Alcremie from the local bakery already recognized him on sight. Their conversation soon drifted to other topics. From the Pokmon on the farm, they moved on to childhood memories, then to thoughts and dreams about the future. Its funny how real feelings often slip out in casual conversation, hidden in jokes and passing remarks. Fortunately, so far, their perspectives aligned well. They had different interests, but nothing that clashed. If this were a matchmaking interview, theyd be considered exceptionally compatible. After all, one could never be sure what kind of strange characters might show up at a matchmaking event. Having someone normal already felt like a blessing. Is this the place? Stopping at the edge of a desolate field, Natsume turned to Mightyena. Yesterday, the Pokmon had been here with Hisuian Zorua. Not to fool around, but to keep an eye on things in case trouble arose. If Mightyena had joined in on the mischief, it would have been punished by now. Thankfully, Natsume could always count on its responsible nature. Woof! Mightyenas ears perked up, its body tense as it surveyed the seemingly empty wasteland. Pawing at the ground uneasily, it positioned itself protectively in front of Natsume. It clearly rememberedthis barren field was teeming with Ghost-type Pokmon. Especially in those abandoned brick houses up ahead, long devoid of human presence. I see. Scratching his chin, Natsume considered how to approach the situation. According to Hisuian Zorua and Mightyena, the Ghost-types here had already claimed this area as their territory and were looking to expand. And their first encounter had not gone well. To put it bluntly, both sides had bad tempers. It didnt take more than three exchanges before they were hurling insults at each other. Who started it? Hard to say. But based on Mightyenas account, the argument had escalated quickly. Trained by Corviknight itself, Hisuian Zorua had taken on a whole group single-handedly, verbally roasting them until they snapped. The wild Ghost-types, lacking exposure to the world, were outmatched in both vocabulary and verbal combat techniques. Meanwhile, Hisuian Zorua, raised under Corviknights influence, had been shaped into a master troll. The difference in skill was like night and day. Having reached their breaking point, the enraged Pokmon had charged at Zorua in a full-blown brawl. If not for the timely intervention of the farms Pokmon, Zorua would probably be in the middle of a reincarnation process by now. This was a real headache. By all rights, this land was practically an extension of the farm. If Natsume hadnt been preoccupied with other matters, the fences would have been expanded to this area already. If negotiations didnt go well theyd have to resort to force. Ah so in the end, it would still come down to a fight. But that was just how it was. For wild Pokmon, strength was the ultimate rule. Only the strong had the right to speak. The weak didnt even have the right to make a sound. Ogerpon, Absolcut it out for a moment. Glancing at the two Pokmon still roughhousing nearby, Natsume called them over with a sigh. There were other strong Dark-types on the farm, of course. In fact, there was one in particularTing-Lu. While it listened to Natsume, it preferred to stay in its quiet little corner rather than get involved. Still, it was good to have as a backup. If things went sideways, he could always call it in. Sol! Wooma! Hearing their names, Ogerpon and Absol skidded to a halt in front of Natsume, eager and expectant like children awaiting instructions. Absol aside, Ogerpon had always been extremely attached to Natsume. It would never take action without first checking in with him. At mealtime, Ogerpon would always say, "I''m eating now," to Natsume. Before training, it would announce, "I''m going to train now." Even before bed, it had to run over and say, "I''m going to sleep now," and only after receiving Natsume''s "Good night" would it obediently return to its resting spot. "Alright, let''s try talking to them first." "If that doesn''t work, we''ll just fight. Once we beat them up, proper communication will follow." Pokmon are adorable creatures, but that doesnt mean harmony and kindness are the only ways to communicate. Sometimes, violence is the shortcut to mutual understanding. "Wooma!" Got it! Ogerpon saluted energetically, signaling its readiness. Absol, standing beside it, attempted to salute as well. But after multiple tries, it just couldnt get it right. In the end, it awkwardly placed a paw on its foreheadlooking more like it was mimicking Sun Wukongs classic pose than saluting. After a few more failed attempts, Absol gave up. Fine, better to maintain its signature aloof demeanor. With a stoic expression, Absol regained the cold and enigmatic aura characteristic of its species. Some beings naturally exude an air of mystery, while others, no matter how hard they try, only come across as the quiet, socially awkward kid in class. Then there are those who do absolutely nothing, yet simply standing there makes them look like they have a deep, untold story. "During the battle, don''t worry about me. Focus on taking down the enemy first." "Ogerpon, you can charge ahead, but Mightyena and Absol, dont go too deep into enemy lines." "Mei, release Serperior and Pignite." After instructing Ogerpon and the others, Natsume turned to Mei. Serperior and Pignite were strongnot enough to wipe out all the enemies, but definitely capable of holding their own. And right now, his side lacked a defensive unit. Maybe he should look for a Pokmon with a solid defensive role in the future. After all, Corviknight was primarily an aerial combatant, which sometimes had its limitations. "Alright." "Come out, Serperior, Pignite." With a flick of Meis hand, two Pok Balls burst open, releasing Serperior and Pignite in flashes of light. Serperior didnt wait for Meis command. Its elegant, snake-like body slithered across the grass before curling into a protective coil around Mei and Natsume. That was the advantage of snake-like Pokmonthey made excellent bodyguards. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With preparations complete, Natsume turned toward the seemingly empty field behind them. "Greetings." The afternoon sunlight was shrouded by a faint mist. Silhouettes flickered in the distance, and hushed whispers filled the air. Within the swirling black fog, pairs of crimson eyes glared at Natsume Or rather, at Mightyena. They still remembered. Yesterday, it was this Pokmon that had shown up with that shaggy little fox. Recognizing this, the Ghost-type Pokmon grew restless. Had it not been for the intimidating presence of Ogerpon, they probably would have attacked already. Even so, the standoff was barely being maintained. The hostility of the Ghost-types was evident. Then A Shadow Ball suddenly shot out from the mist! Ogerpon had been ready. With a swift leap, Grass-type energy surged through its body. Thorn-covered vines rapidly entwined into a formidable club. And then BANG! Home run! Instead of deflecting it back, Ogerpon smashed the Shadow Ball apart entirely. Dark energy scattered into the air, dissipating into nothingness. As it landed, Ogerpon glared at the figures hiding within the mist. So you wanna die that badly? Fine, I''ll grant your wish. If Ogerpon''s feelings could be summed up in a sentence, it would be: "Not only do they refuse to surrender, but they actually dare to fight back?" Taking a deep breath, Ogerpon planted its feet. A surge of energy radiated outward, forming an invisible aura. Focus Energy. Then, vibrant green light spread across the ground. The once withered grass suddenly sprang to life, turning lush and verdant. Grassy Terrain. A rare battlefield moveit not only restored Pokmons HP but also boosted the power of Grass-type moves. "Wooma!" To hell with you all! With a mighty stomp, Ogerpon lunged forward, shattering the revitalized grass beneath it. Dirt and grass clippings scattered into the air. "Ssshh..." "Kiehh!" The Ghost-types, once brimming with aggression, suddenly panicked. What the hell is this thing?! Small body, massive attitude, terrifying strength Where did this living grenade come from?! "Wooma wooma!" Go to hell, all of you! Wielding its thorny club, Ogerpon charged into the mist, unleashing its pent-up frustration. Every move was executed with ruthless precision Power Whip! Phantom Force! Solar Blade! Giga Impact! I WILL SET THE OCEAN ABLAZE (crossed out) Meanwhile, Absol, following behind, did not rush in. Instead, it took a position on the flanks, ready to provide support. If there was one thing Absol had learned after getting wrecked by Ting-Lu, it was that its strength still had a long way to go. This time, it wouldnt blindly rush into battle! Probably. Watching Absol, clearly itching to jump in and start slashing, Natsume wasnt so sure. Mightyena, however, remained steady, positioned not far from Natsume. It had no intention of charging into battle. Its role was to intercept any enemies that got too close to Natsume. It was the second line of defense. Within moments of Ogerpon''s assault, the dense fog began to thin. One after another, Ghost-type Pokmon were sent flying out of the mist. Judging by the bruises on their bodies, Ogerpon had not held back. "Shuppet, Duskull, Drifloon, Phantump, Gourgeist, and Trevenant..." "Quite a mix of Ghost-types gathered here." Scanning the fainted Pokmon strewn across the ground, Natsume was slightly surprised. "What''s wrong?" Mei followed his gaze, noting that they all seemed to be "common" Ghost-types. Well, common compared to other Ghost-types. Most Ghost Pokmon were elusive by natureencountering them was rare. Take Gastly, for instance. While it appeared frequently in anime and stories, finding a floating gas cloud that could pass through walls in real life was no easy feat. "Ghost Pokmon do tend to congregate." "But theres nothing around here that would attract them. No abandoned amusement park, no eerie forest." For Ghost-types, environment and energy sources were crucial. Take a certain infamous forest in Japan, for example It was said to be the worlds largest gathering ground for Ghost Pokmon. Not just due to the lingering resentment of the departed, but also because the fear of the living constantly nourished the Pokmon within. Both in numbers and strength, it was unmatched. In a way, that was a resource advantage. But this empty field, located in the middle of nowhere, had no legend attached to it and saw little human activity. A few stray ghosts might be expected, but such a large gathering? It didnt add up. "Something must be drawing them here." That was the only explanation. And aside from logical deduction Natsume could feel the warmth emanating from his chest. Natsume took out the pendant hanging from his chest. The feather attached to it began to glow faintly, as if reacting to something. Chapter 123: The Nightmare God and the Dream God "Kaah!" A Trevenant that had just been sent flying by Ogerpon''s thorny club struggled on the ground for a while before barely managing to get up. Looking at its cracked body, Trevenant''s heart burned with rage. Damn it, I have to get back at them! Turning its head, it spotted Natsume and Mei, who were being protected by Serperior. An evil idea suddenly emerged. I may not be able to beat you, but I can definitely take down your trainer! After all, humans are such fragile creatures. A single attack could shatter them completely. Compared to Pokmon, humans were pathetically weak. Dark waves of energy began radiating from Trevenants eerie red eye. As a Ghost-type Pokmon, casting a Curse didnt even require learningit was an innate ability. However, just as Trevenant was about to strike, a gray-black figure lunged from the side. A surge of force sent Trevenant crashing to the ground. Crunch! With its front paw pressing down on Trevenants body, Mightyena glared fiercely at its fallen opponent. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dark energy flickered between its razor-sharp fangs. "Kaah! Kaah!" Wait! I think we can talk this out! This could be beneficial for both of us! Ignoring Trevenant''s plea, Mightyena bit down hard. Crunch! Dark energy exploded, ravaging Trevenants body. For a Ghost-type Pokmon, Dark-type and other Ghost-type moves were the greatest threats. Crack, crack The excruciating pain made Trevenant open its mouth, but it couldnt make a sound. The Dark energy from Crunch drained the last of Trevenants strength. Its raised arm fell limply to the ground as it lost consciousness. Mightyena let go, spitting out bits of bark in distaste. A rotten, decayed flavor. Truly disgusting. Casually tossing Trevenant aside, Mightyena remained close to Natsume, guarding him unwaveringly. There was no hesitation, no sympathy. Mightyena didnt care about the intentions, grievances, or struggles of these Ghost Pokmon. What did any of that have to do with it? They were strangers, completely unrelated. Mightyena had no excess compassion or pity to spare. That was for Natsume to decide. If Natsume felt they were pitiful, Mightyena would hold back. But since Natsume had ordered them to fight, it would fightto defeat every enemy. Its entire family lived on Natsumes farm, eating his food, sleeping in the shelter he provided. When it rained or stormed, Natsume would call them inside to stay warm. He had always treated them well. Mightyena didn''t know concepts like loyalty to ones lord. That was too distant and abstract. Some time ago, Corviknight had dragged it along to watch a moviesome clich and dull film. The story followed a Pokmon protagonist who, during battle, discovered that the wild Pokmon attacking them had some tragic backstory. The protagonist refused to fight, even defying its trainer to protect the enemy. What followed was a series of forced, melodramatic plot twists. In the end, the protagonist and the wild Pokmon became good friends. Mightyena didnt get it at all. It only knew one thing: if Natsume was willing to take them in and care for them, then it should repay him with action. Simply putif Natsume said bite, it would bite. No hesitation. Even its unreliable father understood that. Shaking its head to clear unnecessary thoughts, Mightyena turned its gaze back to the battlefield. Though... calling it a battlefield might not be accurate. It was more like Ogerpon''s solo performance. With overwhelming strength, it crushed every opponent in its path, not holding back in the slightest. Negotiation? You can explain yourself once you''re beaten into submission. "Good job, Mightyena." "Woof!" Feeling the warmth of Natsumes hand, Mightyena closed its eyes in contentment. Its tail almost wagged on instinct. But at the last second, it restrained itself. No! I must not wag my tail! Mightyena repeatedly reminded itself. It wasnt that it had any concerns It was just that every time its father wagged his tail, he looked ridiculously silly. Like a certified graduate from the lunatic asylum, with eyes full of pure, untainted foolishness. Mightyenas father had never helped it figure out what kind of Pokmon it wanted to be. But he had shown it exactly what kind of Pokmon it didnt want to become. That was enough. "Woof!" Using its thorny club, Ogerpon smacked down the final opponent. Standing atop the pile of defeated Ghost Pokmon, it looked every bit like a triumphant general. A warrior who had conquered the battlefield. Shouldering its club, Ogerpon turned excitedly toward Natsume. "Whooma whoma!" Natsume, Natsume! Did I look cool?! "You looked great, Ogerpon." "Like a victorious general returning from war." Natsume never hesitated to praise his companions. Why not give them a little encouragement? Would it kill people to say something nice? "Whooma!" Hearing the praise, Ogerpon lifted its head proudly. After basking in the moment, it hopped down from its "throne" of unconscious Pokmon and scurried over to Natsume. Leaping into his arms, it snuggled against him. "Whoma!" "Alright, alright." Patting the affectionate Ogerpon, Natsume looked toward Absol, who was strolling over. This guy had spent the entire battle hanging back, sneakily attacking from the sidelines. With Ogerpon absorbing most of the enemys aggression, Absol had been free to snipe from the shadows. Having someone else charge ahead was surprisingly nice! Absol felt like it had just discovered a whole new world. It had decided From now on, it would let others charge first. And it would continue to secretly deal damage. "Absol, help me ask these Pokmon why theyve gathered here." "What exactly are they guarding?" Waving at Absol, Natsume got straight to the point. If something was drawing these Pokmon together, it had to be important. Otherwise, there was no reason for so many Ghost-types to congregate here, displaying such aggression. Take Trevenant, for example According to the Pokdex, Trevenant was generally a gentle species. It was friendly to Pokmon living in the forest and even let others use its leaves as shelter without complaint. For humans, Trevenant typically maintained a neutral stance. As long as no one harmed the forest, it wouldnt interfere. For kind-hearted people, it would even show a gentle side. Natsume didnt think of himself as especially kind, But at the very least, he was just an ordinary human, right? The result? A direct attack. What happened to the promised affinity bonus against Pokmon? Was it... eaten?! "Absol." Originally planning to take a moment to act reserved, Absol stopped in its tracks, nodded slightly, and then, feeling a bit frustrated, turned to interrogate the Ghost-type Pokmon. Damn it. That dumb Corviknight''s way of acting cool didn''t work at all. With its mood soured, Absol''s interrogation of the Ghost-types became a little rougher. Well, Absol never had any fondness for this group of Pokmon anyway. If you tried explaining their goals and plans to it, it wouldn''t really understand. But if you told it that these Pokmon might pose a threat to the farm, then Absol would get it immediately. It had dragged its heavily injured body through hell and back to find this peaceful place to retire. And now, before it could even enjoy a good life, these guys wanted to cause trouble?! This wasn''t just any ordinary troubleit had to be crushed with overwhelming force! "Absol!" Standing atop a pile of fallen Trevenant, Absol interrogated the Ghost-types one by one. Under the triple protection of Serperior, Mightyena, and Ogerpon, Natsume listened from a distance as the Ghost-type Pokmon babbled out their confessions. Or rather, they threw each other under the bus, shifting blame and avoiding responsibility. After listening for a while, Natsume pieced together the situation. Simply put, these Pokmon had originally been a group of aimless wanderers. Drifting around without any fixed home. Until a few months ago, when they suddenly sensed a strange energy nearby. After searching for a while, they discovered a mysterious black mist in this place. The mist emitted strange waves, allowing them to understand its power. It granted them a trace of the power of nightmares. With it, they could drag other Pokmon into nightmares, forcing them to confront their deepest fears. And for Ghost-type Pokmon, fear was the ultimate feast. After all, plenty of Ghost-types even worked in haunted houses just to get by. At first, the Ghost-types who had gathered here went through a cycle of excitement, worry, doubt, and experimentation. Eventually, they ended up as they were now. A group of Ghost-type Pokmon, clustering around this black mist, drawing power from the fear and resentment it induced. They even planned to recruit more Pokmon once they had grown stronger. Expanding their influence, becoming bigger and more powerful. And their first target for conquest? The nearby farm. After all, every growing faction needed a place to test its strength. At first, they had actually wanted to recruit Hisuian Zorua. Unfortunately, their theatrics had backfiredZorua found them ridiculous. And it had hit them right in their sore spot: "a bunch of useless losers huddling together, thinking they''re strong." And, well... the rest was history. "Nightmares, huh..." After hearing the Ghost-types'' testimony, Natsume suddenly felt that things were getting out of hand. In the Pokmon world, Pokmon associated with nightmares were extremely rare. The only one that came to mind immediately was the Nightmare PokmonDarkrai. Considering the glowing feather and the presence of the black mist... If Natsume still couldn''t put the pieces together, he might as well go find a wall to bash his head against. "Mei, you and Serperior head back first." "Help me inform Zorua" Before Natsume could finish speaking, a surge of black energy suddenly erupted from the ruins left behind by the battle. A wild, inky-black current swept across the surroundings in an instant. Cold, eerie blue eyes lit up within the darkness, and a fog as pale as bone billowed forth. "Ugh..." ''How irritating.'' The Nightmare Pokmon stirred from its slumber, and in that moment, the once-clear sky was swallowed by the encroaching darknessnightfall arriving in the blink of an eye. At the moment the black mist erupted, all of the Ghost-type Pokmon instantly collapsed into a deep sleep. Their brows furrowed as if trapped in inescapable nightmares. Even Absol, standing at a distance, succumbed. "Buzz!" As the black mist surged forward, the feather on Natsume''s chest suddenly radiated a brilliant light. A pale, pristine moonlight formed a barrier, enveloping both him and Mei. "Return, Absol." The moment Absol fell, Natsume swiftly recalled it. That position was simply too dangerous. No one knew what kind of Darkrai they were dealing with. After all, while Darkrai were rare, there were still a few of them out there. And judging from the current situation, this one did not seem particularly friendly. ''This aura... it''s that thing.'' The radiant glow in the darkness was glaringly conspicuous, causing Darkrais expression to twist with clear disdain. Raising its hand, it gathered swirling tendrils of dark purple energy. A miniature "black hole" took shape within its claws. With a casual flick, it hurled the vortex toward Natsume and Mei. Dark VoidDarkrais signature move. A technique that forcibly dragged opponents into a world of darkness, plunging them into sleep. Paired with its natural abilities and Dream Eater, it was an almost inescapable combo. "Buzz!" However, as the Dark Void approached, the moon-white feather once again shone with a sacred light. It firmly blocked the swirling darkness outside the barrier. "Ogerpon!" Ogerpon leapt from Natsumes arms, landing on the ground. The thorny club that had just dissipated in its hand reformed instantly. To Ogerpon, attacking Natsume was utterly unforgivable. This bastard had chosen the path of death. Tch. Darkrai spared Ogerpon a brief glance before scoffing in disdain. If this Ogerpon were at full strength, it might have been troublesome. But in its current state? It wasnt much of a threat. Better to deal with these nuisances quickly and leave. Before that thing found it again. With this thought, Darkrai gathered another swirling mass of Dark Void in its palm. How long could a single leftover feather hold out? "Howl!" Perhaps the most predictable thing about this world was its unpredictability. A beam of pure moonlight suddenly pierced through the darkness, illuminating the land below. A sacred figure raced forward from the distance. Opposing the Nightmare PokmonCresselia, the Lunar Guardian, had arrived. Chapter 124: I’m Waiting for Someone—What Are You Waiting For? The cold moonlight pierced through the black mist shrouding the sky, cascading gently onto the earth. The "silver moon" in the sky grew larger and closer, and it was only when it was about to reach the ground that its true form could barely be discerned. Cresseliathe Lunar Pokmon, a Psychic-type Legendary Pokmon. It is said to soar across the heavens, radiating a luminous glow from its veil-like feathers, and is known as the embodiment of the crescent moon. Its very form seems to define the word "crescent." The yellow ornaments on the sides of its head resemble a waxing moon, while the pink ring-like wings extending from its sides and back form the shape of a half-moon. Glowing particles shimmered and swirled around its wings, adding an air of mystery to its presence. Unlike Darkrais eerie and chilling appearance, merely looking at Cresselia evokes thoughts of warmth and tranquility. As the Pokmon that dispels nightmares, Cresselia has always pursued Darkrais trail, using its powers to soothe those tormented by nightmares, gently mending the wounds etched into their hearts. "Woo!" A clear, melodious cry echoed through the air. The ominous black mist instantly dissipated, vanishing like spring snow under the morning sun. As its radiance gradually withdrew, Cresselia turned its gaze toward Natsume, whom it had shielded, eyes filled with concern. To Cresselia, all kind-hearted humans and Pokmon deserved its protection. Several months ago, while tracking Darkrai, it had passed by Natsumes farm and caught sight of the young man who had just taken over the land. From Natsume and the Pokmon at the farm, it had sensed a warmtha goodness that resonated deeply. And so, it had left behind a single feather as a gesture of trust. In truth, Cresselia did not scatter its feathers lightly. On one hand, it worried about being plucked bald; on the other, if too many people activated the Lunar Feather at once, it simply wouldnt be able to respond to all of them. "Were fine, Cresselia." Raising the now-dimly glowing Lunar Feather, Natsume signaled to Cresselia with a reassuring nod. If it werent for this feather this time, things might have gotten troublesome. Tsk. Seeing the sudden appearance of Cresselia, Darkrai already felt the urge to retreat. The God of Nightmares and the God of Pleasant Dreamsjust their titles alone made it obvious that they were natural enemies. Strictly speaking, Darkrai''s power leaned toward nightmares, while that guys power was actually tied to the crescent moon. Dispelling nightmares and bringing pleasant dreams was merely a derivative effect of its abilities. And why do you think its hiding in this tiny place? Because it got beaten up by that bastard! Darkrai had no idea what was wrong with that lunatic. There were plenty of Darkrai in the world, yet Cresselia just had to chase after him. Claiming that tormenting other Pokmon with nightmares was wrong. But nightmares are my innate abilityhow is that my fault?! As Cresselia focused its attention on Natsume and Mei, Darkrai quietly backed away. Thick fog swiftly filled the space behind it, preparing to shroud its retreat. Umpah! However, Ogerpon, who had been watching Darkrai the entire time, immediately noticed its intention. The weeds on the ground behind Darkrai suddenly grew wildly, intertwining like living vines. They formed a long, green whip and lashed toward Darkrai with tremendous force. This wasnt a moveat least, it was just a simple application of Grass-type energy. Boom! The thorn-covered green whip struck the ground, exactly as expected. But the attack had already served its purpose. Darkrai, forced to dodge, had lost its best chance to escape. It could feel a powerful psychic force locking onto it. Looks like running is no longer an option. After confirming that Natsume and Mei werent affected by Darkrais nightmare powers, Cresselia turned its sharp gaze on its adversary. Indeed, making Pokmon fall into nightmares was Darkrais natural ability. Though Cresselia was known as the God of Pleasant Dreams, it never had the intention of hunting down every single Darkrai. But this one was different. This Darkrai deliberately used its powers to plunge othersboth humans and Pokmoninto nightmare-ridden torment, feeding off their suffering to strengthen itself. There was a clear distinction between passive and active malice. You sure are hard to find. Like some rabid dog, always sniffing around to scavenge my leftovers? Should I start leaving some scraps for you next time? Darkrai sneered, clearly unimpressed by Cresselia. In its eyes, Cresselia was just a fool. To put it bluntly, with their lifespans, they had all the time in the world ahead of them. As for those Pokmon? In a few decades, theyd be nothing but dust. Was it really worth it? It was like a full-time employee siding with a temp worker in a workplace conflict. Would you really back someone whos leaving next month over a colleague youd be working with for decades? Even if you didnt pick a side, you could at least just stand back and watch. To Darkrai, Cresselia was just stirring up trouble for no reason. It took issue with Darkrai and simply found an excuse to act on it. No point talking anymore. Ive got nothing to say to you. Cresselia remained calm in the face of Darkrais taunts. It had tried, countless times, to reason with Darkrai. But at this point, words were useless. Woo! Lustrous moonlight radiated from Cresselias body as its overwhelming psychic energy surged. Some say Psychic-type Pokmon arent inherently strongit''s just that theyre ridiculously overpowered. Which, in turn, keeps raising the Psychic-types perceived strength. Like the Cresselia before them. In an instant, the surrounding black fog was forcibly dispelled, leaving behind a battlefield bathed solely in moonlight. At the same time, Cresselias immense psychic power locked firmly onto Darkrai. Where do you think youre running off to, kid? The gentle glow of the moonlight suddenly turned cold and merciless. Like a serene moon goddess unveiling her crueler side. In mythology, the moon symbolizes not only beauty but also cold indifference and untouchable authority. And in that moment, Cresselia transformed into a relentless bomber. A barrage of attacks rained down on Darkrai, while Cresselia itself rapidly closed the distance. At first glance, Cresselia seemed like the type to remain stationary and fire attacks from a distance. And Darkrai? It looked more suited for close combat. But in reality, it was the opposite. Cresselia was a tank, boasting high physical and special defense. Its strategy? If I cant die, Ill just beat you to death first. Meanwhile, Darkrai funneled most of its stats into special attack and speedspecializing in kiting tactics. For Cresselia, the best way to deal with Darkrai was to crash right into it. It wasnt much of an attacker anyway. So, it would just go in headfirst and trade blows. With its endurance and defenses, it was only a matter of time before Darkrai went down first. Tch. What a damn mad dog. Watching Cresselia charge toward it like an out-of-control semi-truck, even Darkrai found itself at a disadvantage. Wasnt this thing supposed to be a deity of peace?! Why the hell was it chasing him so relentlessly?! Go to hell. Darkrai clapped its hands together, then spread them apartcountless Shadow Balls shot forth from its palms. Unlike Serperiors earlier strategy of using minimized energy orbs to restrict movement, each of these Shadow Balls was fired at full power. Cresselia made a show of dodging a couple of thembefore surging forward unfazed. Letting the Shadow Balls explode upon impact, flames briefly engulfing its form. And then, the next second, Cresselia emerged from the smoke. With a single-minded determination in its gaze. A look that screamedOne of us isnt walking away from this. This thing kinda reckless, huh? Watching the battle unfold, Natsume couldnt help but find it familiar. Wasnt this exactly how Corviknight fought? The only difference was their reasoning. Cresselia was ignoring the attacks to close the gap and dominate the battle. Corviknight, on the other hand, was just being an ass. It could dodgeeasily. But it chose not to. Just to make a pointYour attacks mean nothing to me. Natsume, what do we do now? At some point, Mei had latched onto Natsumes arm, looking up at him worriedly. Initially, it might have been an unconscious action. But now that shed noticed it, she had no intention of letting go. In this cold, indifferent world, only blankets and Natsume could bring her warmth. "Wait a moment." "Ogerpon, help out Cresselia." "Just make sure Darkrai doesnt escapestay safe." After instructing Ogerpon, Natsume pulled out his phone. In ancient times or places with no signal, this mightve been a problem. But here? This was human territory, kid. Unlocking his phone, he quickly dialed a number. "Corviknight, get Zorua, Slowking, and the others over here. I need to talk to them." "Dont argue, or youre losing your extra meal tonight." At the mention of losing its extra meal, Corviknight immediately went scrambling off to call the others. Once, it had thoughtI am a warrior. Skipping one meal wouldnt kill it. And then, about two hours past dinnertime, it was clinging to Natsumes leg, wailing like its soul had been shattered. The sound was truly heartbreaking. After a few seconds, a puzzled voice came through the phone. Suo? Tilting its head, Zorua sounded confused. Wasnt it supposed to be entertaining guests? Why was it being called over? "Zorua, heres the deal" As Natsume briefly explained the situation, Zoruas eyes gradually lit up. At first, it had found it a bit dulljust showing off pokblocks and Natsumes desserts. But now? Oh, this was getting interesting. "Suo!" Natsume! Wait for me! After hurriedly shouting toward Natsume, Zorua quickly ran off to notify the others. Brothers! Something fun is happening! "Done." Putting away his phone, Natsume remained as calm as ever. For a long time, Natsume had been wonderingjust how strong was he really? After all, he didn''t get many opportunities to truly test his combat abilities. Even though he felt he was quite capable, he worried that it might just be an illusion. A lot of people think they can fighteven against a professional boxeruntil they get knocked out with a single punch. Its only then that they realize their true limits. Natsume was concerned he might be one of those people. Sure, he could push around Houndooms and Fearows on the farm, but what if he ran into a truly powerful Pokmon? Would he be completely outmatched? But now, looking at the situation, it didnt seem like a big problem. If nothing else, this Darkrai didnt give him a sense of imminent danger. It was more like"this would be a hassle if I didnt have the Lunar Wing." Just a hassle, nothing more. Ah before he knew it, he had been sprinting down the path of someone who didnt quite act human anymore. "Ah." Mei blinked, feeling as if she wanted to say something But for a moment, she didnt know how to put it into words. That frustrating feeling of having something on the tip of your tongue but not knowing where to start. Using a phone to give orders to his Pokmon... only Natsume could pull off something like that. After all, he could understand what Pokmon were saying. And just nowdid Corviknight immediately pick up the call? Was that little guy browsing forums online again? Before meeting Corviknight, Mei couldnt even imagine how a bird Pokmon could use the internet. But Corviknight had definitely broadened her horizons. While Natsume was on the phone, the battle within the black mist had reached a fever pitch. Darkrai and Cresselia were both unquestionably legendary-tier combatants. Though Darkrai had been injured from Cresselias sneak attack and had spent some time recovering, its battle strength was still intact. Fights between legends were measured in days. Each legendary Pokmon might have its own specialties, but their immense stamina and powerful regeneration were universal traits. Unless something unexpected happened, this battle would drag on for a long time, and with Darkrais agility, there was a good chance it could escape. However, once Ogerpon joined the fray, the scales of victory tilted sharply against Darkrai. Even though it couldnt fly, Ogerpons agility was beyond question. Every time Darkrai dodged or attacked, Ogerpon would charge forward, exploiting the brief moment when Darkrai''s previous strength had just waned, but new strength had yet to surge forth. Under the relentless barrage of Cresselia and Ogerpon, Darkrai was quickly pushed into a dire situation. "Enough!" After another desperate dodge, Darkrai could no longer suppress its rage. A storm of darkness erupted from its body, sending both Cresselia and Ogerpon flying. Seizing the opportunity, Darkrai finally caught its breath. "You will all die." With a sudden swing of its arm, the Ghost-type Pokmon that had collapsed on the ground, seemingly incapacitated, abruptly opened their eyes. As if drawn by some unseen force, they slowly floated into the air. Then, visible tendrils of purple-black malice seeped from their seven orifices, converging toward Darkrai. "What are you doing?!" Cresselia, both shocked and furious, rushed at Darkrai recklessly, but a violent gust of energy kept it at bay. Even Ogerpon, who had leaped into the air, planning to smack Darkrai right on the rear with its thorny club, was sent flying. "Ugh!" Landing hard, Ogerpon shot Darkrai a resentful glare. Damn it! The sneak attack failed! As the malevolent energy was drained away, the Ghost-type Pokmons eyes slowly closed again, slipping back into unconsciousness. But compared to before, they now looked utterly drained, as if severely malnourished. For months, these Ghost-types had worked diligently for Darkrai Wandering without its direct command, luring Pokmon into nightmares, and harvesting their negative emotions. But in the end, all of it was nothing more than a setup for Darkrais own gain. "Hah, what a bunch of fools." Casually tossing aside a drained Shuppet, Darkrai closed its eyes, spreading its arms as it relished the surging power within. Yes, some legendary Pokmon were kind-hearted and willing to share their strength But it was absolutely not one of them. Darkrai would never give its power away for free. The reason it had shared a portion of its power was simple A mad dog was chasing it. If it used its full power recklessly, that lunatic would surely sense it and come after it. But if it gave a fraction of its strength to these Ghost-types and let them spread nightmares in its place, the risk of being discovered was significantly lower. Many legendary Pokmon blessed ordinary Pokmonlike how Fire-types blessed by Ho-Oh or Entei could sometimes learn Sacred Fire. Darkrais method was similar. Except its "blessing" had always been intended for reclamation. Like a loan shark, it lent them power But after some time, it didnt just demand the principal back. It wanted exorbitant interest. Darkrai opened its eyes and curled a single finger. Ripples of darkness radiated from its body, swiftly engulfing the entire battlefield. Ogerpon and Cresselia both grimaced in pain as the wave of energy hit them. The next moment, Darkrai melted into the ground like a shadow. Before anyone could react, it reappeared behind Ogerpon, its claws wreathed in shadow energy as it slashed down mercilessly. Shadow Claw. A move commonly seen But in Darkrais hands, it displayed terrifying power. The sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves through the earth, carving out a massive crater riddled with web-like fractures. Ignoring the battered Ogerpon, Darkrai lifted its gaze to the sky where Cresselia hovered. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Spreading its arms wide, a tide of darkness, thick as mercury, poured forth from its body. If the previous black mist had merely blocked out the sun Then now, this all-consuming darkness sought to swallow everything, light included. Nothing remained but an abyss of shadows. "This... is my power." Savoring the overwhelming strength coursing through its body, Darkrai paid no heed to Cresselias desperate struggle to shine through the darkness. Instead, its gaze fell upon Natsumewho, from beginning to end, had shown not even the slightest hint of fear. "Human you dont seem afraid of me at all." Its raspy, eerie voice echoed directly into Natsumes mind, carrying an amused undertone. It seemed most legendary Pokmon possessed some form of telepathy. "Why should I be afraid?" Natsumes response was remarkably calm. Answering a question with a questioninfuriating when you received it, yet deeply satisfying when you gave it. Back when Natsume used to argue with people online, this was one of his favorite tactics. Corviknight had learned it from him. "Why? Because your time is up." "Hows that for a reason?" Darkrais glowing blue eyes narrowed, its jagged red collar partially obscuring its expression. But from those slitted eyes, it was clearly laughing A mocking, merciless sneer directed at someone who was about to die. At least, thats what it thought. "Times up youre right." Natsume nodded, a knowing smirk appearing on his face. A smirk filled with scorn But directed at Darkrai. "Exceptit''s your time thats up." Darkrais brow furrowed. Before it could react, an overwhelming sense of dread surged within it. And then A towering shadow loomed before it. A pair of crimson eyes bore down on it. Ting-Lu lowered its massive head, shielding Natsume behind it. From within the ancient bronze cauldron, steeped in the weight of history, two small figures emerged. "Suosuo!" Natsume! I''m here to back you up! "Mana!" Me too! Perched on the edge of the cauldron, Zorua and Manaphy excitedly waved their little arms at Natsume. Zorua had been told that if it helped Natsume handle this situation, there would be a grand feast waiting tonight! And not just Pokblocksthere would be all sorts of desserts, cakes, and Pokpuffs. Natsume could make them all. This was the perfect chance to squeeze a big meal out of him! Standing beside Natsume, Slowking clasped its hands behind its back. So this was the Nightmare Pokmon? Didnt seem like much. Shaking its head slightly, Slowking felt a little disappointed. Its strength was fine, but something was off. It didnt seem like this guy had anything to do with Uxie. "Alright, alright. Ill make you a feast when we get back." Natsume chuckled, nodding as he accepted Zoruas request for a banquet. Then, turning his gaze toward Darkrai, his smile deepened. "Im waiting for someone. What about you?" Chapter 125: Zorua—Darkrai, Your Power Is Too Dangerous In Darkrai''s relatively long life, it had seen its fair share of eventsbig and small. All those so-called "grand occasions"? They were nothing special. And truth be told, it had always been rather lucky. Take the legendary Pokmon battles, for instanceit had come out of them unscathed. Aside from being hunted down by a certain lunatic for a while, things had actually been going pretty well. It had just found a new hideout when a bunch of fools voluntarily showed up to work for it. To be fair, Darkrai had considered luring some Pokmon to help spread nightmares, aiding in its recovery. But that was just a thought. Before it even made a move, these idiots had already gotten to work on their own. Ah, how fortunate. Its life had certainly seen many obstacles, yet it had always managed to get through them unscathed. This time would surely be no different. Darkrai thought so. Sure, there had been a little unexpected twistsome human had found its hiding place. But no matter. A problem easily solved. Just a small show of force, and a swift resolution. Sure, that lunatic would notice if it used too much power. But as long as it changed locations immediately, it wouldn''t be an issue. Then, Natsume pulled out a Lunar Feather. The situation took an unexpected turn, but it was still manageable. After all, it had been secretly accumulating power for a while now. It might not win, but it could at least put on a show before making its escape. Darkrai thought so. It had been chased by that damned Cresselia for so long. A little venting was only fair, right?! And then, a big guy descended from the sky. At that moment, Darkrai realized something terrifying. Right in front of it stood Cresselia and that little grass-type pest. Behind it loomed the mighty Ting-Lu and Manaphy. As for Zorua? Darkrai outright ignored it. Just a little fox. Without these other Pokmon around, it could crush that thing with one hand. At least, that''s what Darkrai thought. "....." Staring at the absolute nightmare of a scene before it, Darkrai fell silent. In its long and mostly fortunate life, it had never been truly cornered before. And this time, surely Surely what?! To be honest, Darkrai was a little shaken. But at this point, what else could it do? Lifting its gaze slightly, Darkrai''s eyes locked onto Natsume, who was shielded by Ting-Lu. That burning stare was intense enough that even Serperior beside him could feel it. Right now, that human was its only way out. If it could just take him hostage, it might still have a chance... Darkrai wasted no time. It gathered its power in secret, waiting for the perfect moment Then, suddenly, it erupted. A tidal wave of shadowy energy surged, like a raging sea threatening to swallow everything. And with that, Darkrai transformed into a shadow and Ran for its life. Only an idiot would try to take that human hostage. Forget that strange Slowking standing beside him. It wouldnt even make it past Ting-Lu. Darkrai, a master of nightmares, had at least heard of those cursed treasures. If it were the strongest Darkrai, maybe it could win. But it certainly wasn''t, and it definitely wouldn''t. If not now, then when? This was its true escape route! Darkrai was practically laughing internally as it planned its next steps. I hear Neon has a lot of overworked office workers, full of stress and negative energy. And that forest of death or whatever? Sounds like the perfect place for an evil villain like me. Set up shop there, gather some power, maybe even create a Hyakki Yagya parade of a hundred demons. While those other big-name legendaries were still recovering, it could finally build itself up. Darkrai had its future planned out. And then, inevitablysomething unexpected happened. "Woo!" A sacred moonlight burst forth, forming a crescent high in the sky. Countless beams rained down, bombarding the fleeing Darkrai from above. "Woo!" Dont let it get away! Attack together! Theres no need to hold back against something like this! Cresselias gaze was ice-coldclearly intent on taking this bastard out. It knew exactly what kind of Pokmon this Darkrai was. Some Pokmon, when cornered, would choose to fight to the bitter end. But not this one. ''You damned lunatic, why do you love barking and biting at me so much?!'' Darkrai was this close to losing its temper completely. Did it have some deep grudge against it or something?! Cresselia: Do you need a reason? I can make one up right now. "Woomah!" Holding its thorny club, Ogerpon dashed forward. Small-bodied Pokmon had a clear advantage in agility during battles like this. And Ogerpon''s goal was very clear. Today, I am opening that third eye. Don''t ask which eye. ''This little runt is so annoying!'' A Shadow Ball gathered in Darkrais palm, which it immediately flung forward. With that, it could Freeze. A strange, suffocating pressure descended upon Darkrai. For a split second, its entire world turned black. A pair of massive, blood-red eyes stared at it, utterly still. From where Natsume stood, Ting-Lu''s eyes shimmered with black mist. The same move, in the hands of different Pokmon, could have vastly different effects. A regular Pokmon learning Precipice Blades might not be much stronger than a simple Hyper Beam. Just another strong attack. But in Groudons hands? Precipice Blades became an apocalyptic force. And under Ting-Lu''s command, Mean Look didnt just paralyze Darkrais body It froze its very power, locking it in place. "BOOM!" Frozen mid-motion, Darkrai could do nothing as Ogerpon''s club smashed into it A full home run straight into Cresselias path. Floating high above, Cresselias eyes lit up. Fairy-type energy surged around it. Then, without hesitation It bulldozed straight into Darkrai like a runaway dump truck. Cresselia may have been primarily Psychic-type, making it weak against Darkrai But no worries. It had plenty of Fairy-type moves. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it was adorable. And adorable Pokmon always had a little Fairy in them. Fairy-type Pokmon are, for the most part, quite adorable. Well, Granbull and Impidimp are exceptions. Maybe some people who aren''t all about appearances would find them cute, though. "Woo!" The cool, silvery moonlight seemed to take on a tangible form, enveloping Cresselia as it dove toward the ground. Darkrai, still unable to fully recover, could only watch helplessly as Cresselia charged straight at it. Just before impact, it barely managed to cast Protect. A faint green glow flickered to life But before it could even stabilize, Cresselia was already upon it. In that instant, Darkrai could clearly see the exhilaration on its opponents face. And then "" A mushroom cloud slowly rose into the sky, an earth-shattering explosion engulfing the entire wasteland. The shockwave nearly sent Natsume and Mei flying. Fortunately, Serperior reacted in time, using Vine Whip to anchor them down. The surrounding Pokmon felt as if their ears had suddenly gone deaf. Everything before their eyes turned into a blinding white void, their hearing completely drowned out. It took a long while before their senses gradually returned. Natsume was no exception. Even though he had prepared by shutting his eyes beforehand, all he could see now was pure white. The brightness of that explosion was far beyond what simply closing his eyes could protect him from. His vision was like an old, flickering television screenstatic snowstorming across it, making everything impossible to discern. On the ground, the unconscious Darkrai lay beneath Ting-Lu''s heavy hoof. Meanwhile, Zorua and Manaphy had somehow managed to find two sticks and were poking Darkrais face with them. The moment the explosion erupted, Darkrai had barely managed to buy itself a second of breathing room with Protect before turning into a shadow and trying to escape underground. And then it got slapped right out of the ground by Zorua. Followed immediately by Ting-Lu''s big foot. Seeing Darkrai in this pitiful state, Ting-Lu couldnt help but feel relieved. Theres an old saying in JadeleafHe who laughs last Ahem. If it hadnt wised up after a timely wake-up call, if it hadnt abandoned its past and turned toward a better path It might have ended up exactly like this. Sometimes, choosing the right path matters more than sheer ability. Ting-Lu understood that now. Then again, at this point, choices didnt really matter for Darkrai anymore. Glancing at Cresselia, who had landed beside Natsume, Ting-Lu figured that Natsume would surely choose to take in this friendly Pokmon. And when that happened? Well, Darkraiwho had been hunted worldwide by Cresseliawas definitely in for a bad time. It would probably end up sealed away somewhere. Just like Ting-Lu and those other three unfortunate souls had been. Being sealed away was not a fun experience. And that thought alone infuriated Ting-Lu. They were born from human emotionspure, unfiltered reflections of humanitys true nature. In a way, werent they more representative of humans than those lofty, righteous legendary Pokmon? And yet They were labeled calamities and sealed away? That part, Ting-Lu just couldnt accept. Though, in hindsight, maybe it wasnt all bad. At the very least, it did manage to sit out that last war of the gods thanks to being sealed. Guess luck plays a role, too. "Suo." Once Ting-Lu finally lifted its foot, Zorua leaped down from the bronze cauldron. It executed a perfect aerial somersault, followed by a 360-degree spin, before landing squarely on Darkrais head. After stepping on Darkrais face a few times to test for the most comfortable spot, Zorua plopped down and got cozy. Darkraisealed. Manaphy, watching from the side, decided to jump down too. Todays entertainment had been satisfactory. To be honest, life under the sea was too boring. If it wasnt staring at seaweed, it was watching fish bare their teeth at each other. Not interesting at all. Most of the time, it just spaced out, contemplating life. This whole going-on-land thing? Pretty refreshing. Huh? Oh, youre asking if Manaphy sneaking away from its Sea Temple was a problem? At this point, who even remembered it existed? It could slip away for some fun, no problem at all. And even if something did happen Wasnt that what all those Phione were for? You raise kids so that they can handle responsibilities when you dont want to. Sure, Manaphy had never actually raised those Phione. But that wasnt going to stop it from shoving all its responsibilities onto them. My dear children, you must work hard. So that I can keep goofing off. "Cresselia, what do you plan to do now?" After releasing Absol from its Pok Ball and smacking it awake a couple of times, Natsume turned to Cresselia, who seemed deep in thought. Hearing the question, Cresselia turned its pink eyes toward him. Just now, while everyone was focused on Darkrai, Ting-Lu had whispered something to it. To be honest, it hadnt really understood much. A lot of it sounded vague and cryptic. Part of it was that there wasnt enough time to explain properly. And part of it was that even Ting-Lu itself wasnt entirely sureit had only learned these things from Zorua. As a result, Cresselia only understood the message in the most cryptic way possible: "If you get it, you get it. If you dont, well I cant explain it to you either. But just knowthis is how things are." Completely useless. Still, Cresselia grasped the general idea. Basically, this human named Natsume was no ordinary human. And sticking with him might lead to something good. On this point, Cresselia remained skeptical. It had always believed that as long as one kept living, good things would happen eventually. Especially for long-lived legendary Pokmon like itself. If you live long enough, you see a lot. And eventually, you grow indifferent to most things. Perhaps thats why gods, after witnessing too much, become cold and distant. But that was a concern for the distant future. Right now, Cresselia was still young and full of energy. It had no intention of turning into some old, jaded deity. That being said This human, Natsume, did feel rather nice to be around. Being near him was comforting, like soaking in a hot spring. Not that Cresselia had ever been in a hot spring. It had just heard that hot springs were relaxing. So maybe this was what it felt like? "Woo!" Is there space on your farm? After some brief consideration, Cresselia made its decision. It had already visited Natsumes farm months ago. And it had left behind a Lunar Feather simply because of the good impression it had. Given everything that had happened, staying there for a while didnt seem like a bad idea. Besides, it had been planning to rest for a bit anyway. And if it was going to rest, why not pick a beautiful place with free food and board? Rather than hide away in some dark, damp forest, constantly worrying about trainers popping up from nowhere Why wouldnt it choose the better option? "Of course. Would you like to come, Cresselia?" Natsume extended a hand, his voice sincere. "Woo." Absolutely. Extending its tiny, pink handsyes, Cresselia had hands It placed them lightly on Natsumes palm. "Suo!" Yay! A new friend! Seeing Cresselia accept Natsumes invitation, Zorua was thrilled. Now I finally have someone to play mahjong with! Zorua had been longing to find a partner for mahjong. However, most Pokmon on the farm didnt seem interested in the game. Take a certain steel-plated bird, for exampleCorviknight. That guy was obsessed with electronic devices, but mahjong? Corviknight outright admitted it didnt have the brainpower for that. After several failed attempts, Zorua decided to target the "young and naive" Pokmon. Like the newly born Phione, the visiting Manaphy, and now, Cresselia. At last, a legendary-tier mahjong session could begin! If you want a seat at this table, theres only one requirement: No legendary status, no entry! This was Zoruas way of getting back at all the Pokmon who had refused to play mahjong before! As for whether Cresselia would be interested? Zorua wasnt too worried. It had absolute confidence in its ability to trickahemconvince others. Though technically, Cresselia wasnt a child, its lack of frequent interaction with humans meant it had a rather pure mindset. Simply put, it was easy to deceive. Like a fresh college graduate entering the most complex workplace environment, believing everything they hear, and ending up suffering more losses than theyve eaten meals. Yadon? Natsume, what do we do with all these Pokmon? Slowking, who had been standing with its hands behind its back, spoke up. At first, it hadnt fully grasped the situation, but now, it had more or less pieced everything together. It was hard to say whether these Ghost-type Pokmon were truly deceived by Darkrai, or if they had willingly dragged others into nightmares. If it was the former, they could at least argue: "Sure, I committed some crimes, but deep down, I''m still a good kid!" If it was the latter Slowking had no words. It had never been through a phase where it chased power at all costs. Back when it was just a Slowpoke, such concepts never even crossed its mind. Life was simpleeat, sleep, bask in the sun, then find a new spot and repeat. Then it met Uxie and had a great time for a while. After that, it evolved. And the moment it became a Slowking, the Psychic energy it had accumulated exploded. That one evolution launched it straight into the farms top-tier power rankings. Yes, the same ranking that included Ogerpon. If anything, there was a brief period where Slowking actually trained hard. But calling it "training to grow stronger" wasnt quite right it was more like physical therapy after an energy overload. And unlike those Pokmon tormented by nightmares, Slowking wasnt about to just forgive these guys out of nowhere. Shaking its head, Slowking decided not to dwell on the philosophical questions. Any problem tied to philosophy would inevitably spiral into a headache. You could think about it forever and still get nowhere. So instead, Slowking did the simplest thing. It lifted Shellder off its head. Hugging the Shellder in its arms, Slowking felt its IQ instantly drop to its former Slowpoke state. Ahh the bliss of an empty mind. No worries, no burdens. It could almost feel its intelligence leaking out from the corners of its mouth. A tiny bit of drool even trickled down. A true picture of blissful idiocy. These Ghost-types really are a problem. Looking at the unconscious, visibly drained Ghost Pokmon before him, Natsume couldnt help but feel troubled. Sure, his farm was big, capable of housing many Pokmon. But that didnt mean he wanted to bring in a bunch of unstable elements. These Ghost-types had already gotten a taste of shortcuts and power. Even if they were allowed into the farm, they probably wouldnt settle down peacefully. And while Natsume wasnt too worried about major incidents breaking out after all, Persian and the others were there he had no intention of letting his peaceful farm descend into chaos. "Woo." Ill handle it. Just as Natsume was feeling stuck, Cresselia stepped forward on her own. In her eyes, the fact that these Pokmon were tempted into this situation was partly her own responsibility. If she had discovered Darkrais presence here sooner, maybe none of this would have happened. Of course, many of these Ghost-types had acted out of their own desires, not just Darkrais influence. But most beings were like that. Neither entirely good nor entirely evil. Under good influences, they could become kind. But if they strayed even slightly, they could quickly fall into corruption. "Mm." The ones who were coerced or reluctant can stay. But those whose hearts are full of greed I will send them elsewhere. Since she had already decided to stay at the farm for a while, Cresselia figured she should start considering things from the farms perspective. She certainly didnt want neighbors who were greedy troublemakers constantly eyeing the place. That would be disgusting. Mana! Mana! I want in! Count me in too! From the sidelines, where it had been lazily watching the drama unfold, Manaphys eyes suddenly lit up. It eagerly shot up its little arms and yelled out. As the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy naturally had the ability to communicate telepathically with humans and Pokmon. Reading another Pokmons true thoughts? Telling whether they were lying? Childs play! No one could deceive Manaphy! It was the master detective! All right, Ill leave it to you two. "Woo." "Mana!" Cresselia remained calm and composed, while Manaphy was visibly excited. Despite being older than Cresselia, Manaphy truly had the energy of an overgrown child. After a thorough screening Natsume found himself staring at the two remaining Ghost Pokmon, deep in thought. The ones left were a Misdreavus and a Duskull. Misdreavus was a mischievous little Pokmon. It had a dark green body, ghostly flame-like hair, and red pearl-like ornaments around its neckquite a cute appearance overall. It loved to startle people, often showing up at night to let out eerie cries and watch travelers panic. It also had a habit of tugging on peoples hair or nipping at them, just to see their startled reactions for fun. Duskull, on the other hand, looked like a hunchbacked little old man. It wore a skull-like mask, but had only one eye. Yes, from the side, it seemed like it had two eye sockets with one eye in each. But in truth, Duskull only had a single, centered eye. Compared to Misdreavus, Duskulls descriptions were far less friendly: It is incredibly persistent and will endlessly chase its target. A chill runs down your spine when its glowing red eye locks onto you. Yet, the Duskull before Natsume was a special case. According to Manaphys telepathic scan, most of the Ghost-types had initially been hesitant about Darkrais offer. But once they saw others rapidly growing stronger, they chose to join in. Only this Misdreavus and Duskull had refused to use Darkrais power to torment others. Misdreavus had held back, worried about possible negative consequences. As for Duskull? Its reasoning was much simpler It was just lazy. Why bother? There were no real threats around here anyway. A life of coasting along and doing nothing sounded way better. Others could handle the fighting while it relaxed in the back. It had no craving for energy, no hunger for fear. Life was already comfortable enough. All it really wanted was a good nap. Then, as usual, it found a place to take a nap. That last energy drain from Darkrai had nearly turned it into a dried-up husk. So, after seeing the miserable state Darkrai was in, it didn''t hesitate to follow Natsume. A certain drifting wanderer Cough. Compared to that, Misdreavus was having a bit of a dilemma. On one hand, it felt that Natsume was a good person, and his presence was incredibly soothingsomething it wanted to be near. But on the other hand, it remembered something it had once seen in a human TV drama: "Men dont cherish things once they have them, so make it a little challenging for him." That sounded reasonable, but how exactly was it supposed to increase the difficulty? A battle? Misdreavus glanced at the fallen Ogerpon and Ting-Lu. Forget it. It didnt want to become Misdreavus-chan. That would be way too ugly. Food? The pokblocks Natsume gave it (chomp chomp) were actually pretty tasty (chomp chomp). Other trials? Wouldnt that be a bit too much? What if Natsume thought it was a bad kid? What then? Caught in its own overthinking, Misdreavus eventually gave up and let itself be captured. Whatever. Future problems could be dealt with in the future. It wasnt about lacking foresight. It was just the pokblocks in its mouth were too good. There was no way it could stop eating now! As for Duskull? Same logic as beforewhy not slack off somewhere else? It was just changing locations, after all. And Natsume had said he wouldnt force them to do anything they didnt want to do. What was there to hesitate about? Only an idiot would hesitate. Without a word, Duskull cast a sidelong glance of disdain at the struggling Misdreavus, already planning how to butter up the seniors at the farmincluding Natsume himself. After all, the more favor it earned, the easier it would be to keep slacking off. "Woo" Then Ill take care of sending them away. After tossing the now-conscious ghost Pokmon aside, Cresselia turned her gaze toward Darkrai. That guy was definitely a headache. Should she just finish him off? It wasnt like she couldnt. But she''d never done that kind of thing before. So, she turned to the others for input. Natsume? Looked like a sunny, wholesome boydefinitely no experience in this area. Pass. Ogerpon? A cheerful, simple-minded little thingprobably clueless. Slowking? Cresselia glanced over at him, drooling in a vacant daze. Yeah, no. Instant pass. Mei? Same deal. Such clear, innocent eyes. Definitely a newbie. That left three candidates: Ting-Lu, Zorua, and Manaphy. Manaphy didnt even need mentioning. It had lived a long timesurely it had encountered these situations before. At least, thats what Cresselia assumed. Zorua? It seemed a little tricky. Worth considering. And Ting-Lu "Roar!" This is my specialty! For Ting-Lu, this was practically a professional gig. Who was it? A calamity Pokmon born from human fear itself! Executing someone? Childs play. But just then, Zorua spoke up with its own suggestion. "Suosuo!" Natsume! Have you considered becoming Darkrais jinchriki? Recently, after stumbling across a certain "X-Shadow Ninja" series, Zorua had developed a keen interest in trying it out. Unfortunately, Natsume immediately rejected the idea. There was absolutely no way he was going to let another conscious being live inside his body. "Suo." Fine, then lets just seal it away. Zorua, slightly deflated after its proposal was shot down, went straight for the simplest solution. If killing wasnt an option, then just lock it up and let it cool off for a while. Ting-Lu had been sealed before, so Darkrai would just have to deal with it. "Suo!" With that, Zorua looked down at the now-awake Darkrai from above. Darkrai, your power is far too dangerous. I will seal you away. ? Darkrai slowly typed out a question mark in its mind. Kid, do you even hear the nonsense coming out of your mouth? Chapter 126: Kirlia’s Apprenticeship and the Retired Mayor At the farm, standing atop a hastily built platform, Zorua was enthusiastically addressing the Pokmon gathered below. Ah, this feeling was simply amazing. Looking at the crowd of Pokmon gazing up at it with admiration, Zorua felt an immense sense of fulfillment. Back in its old home, besides those dull, rock-like companions, it was either stuck with its own kindwho were even better at bragging than it wasor left to listen to the elders spin their tales. As the youngest in the group, it was no match for those old-timers in terms of knowledge or storytelling. Bragging with them? No fun at all. But now, things were different. It had a loyal audience! In its story, Zorua emphasized how it had heroically saved Natsume and Mei from danger and how it had sealed away the great demon lord Darkrai with an incredibly stylish move. Getting caught up in the excitement, Zorua even balanced on its hind legs, gesturing dramatically as it spoke. Then, it was promptly lifted off the ground by the scruff of its neck. "Suosuo!" Let me go! Let me go! I contributed to the farm! Suspended in midair, Zorua wriggled like a piece of lively pork belly, vividly expressing its resistance to fate (or so it seemed). "Calm down," Natsume said, giving Zorua a few firm shakes until it finally settled down. Once Zorua stopped squirming, Natsume sighed and scolded, "If they''re your friends, then take care of them properly!" "Throwing them off to babysit? What kind of host does that make you?!" After returning to the farm, Natsume had barely finished arranging accommodations for Misdreavus and Duskull when he turned around to find that Zorua had dumped Manaphy with the baby Phione. And then, instead of helping, it had climbed up onto a stage to start giving a grand speech. If he hadnt stopped it, Zorua would have probably started narrating from the dawn of the universe next. "Suosuo!" But its its own kid! Whats wrong with making it take care of it?! Besides, Im just a kid too! I want to go play! Let me go! Let me play O! "You, shut up." Meanwhile, in a room on the second floor, Manaphy and its never-before-seen offspring were staring at each other. Locking eyes with the well-cared-for Phione, Manaphy nodded in satisfaction. The child seemed to be growing well. As expected, Natsume was a trustworthy human. Seeing the clarity in its childs gaze, Manaphy cleared its throat, preparing to formally introduce itself. But before it could speak, Phione beat it to the punch. "Phi?" Who are you? Phione looked up at this stranger, who shared over seventy percent of its features, with a puzzled expression. Phiones clear eyes showed a hint of confusion. Activating its nearly unused, nine-tenths-new brain, Phione quickly recalled what its teacher, Audino, had taught over the past few days. A few seconds later, it had an epiphany. You must be my long-lost younger sibling! With that realization, Phione excitedly hugged Manaphy and shouted. Manaphy, meanwhile, slowly typed out a mental question mark. What on earth was this kid talking about? Just as Manaphy was about to awaken this first-time-meeting child with a motherly fist of loveto ensure its childhood was complete and without regretthe door was pushed open from the outside. Before Manaphy could react, a grayish-purple blur zoomed in at full speed. Zorua tackled Manaphy from behind, sending both of them rolling into a tangled mess. The once-quiet room instantly turned chaotic. Manaphy and Zorua bickered, Phione laughed heartily as if it had known them forever, and it even added fuel to the fire. "Lucky!" Suddenly, with a loud thud, a round, pink figure walked in from outside. Blissey entered, eyes blazing with fury as it looked down at the scuffling Zorua and Manaphy. Its gaze lingered on Manaphy for a couple of extra seconds. Hmm, an unfamiliar childit must be a guest. Having made that judgment, Blissey shifted its gaze to Zorua. "Lucky." I believe I mentioned that newborns need a quiet environment, didnt I? Its tone was calm, but there was an undeniable chill in the air. "Suo?" Uhh maybe, probably? Shrinking its neck, Zorua tentatively responded. At the same time, it cast a pleading look toward Natsume. "Ah, I have something to do. Gotta go." Checking his phone, Natsume decisively took his leave. He still needed to handle the Cresselia situation. Oh, and the farms expansionhe had to start utilizing that land soon. So much space just sitting idle? Unacceptable. Ignoring Zoruas desperate gaze behind him, Natsume gently closed the door. Phione was a child, and Manaphy was a guest for the day. Yes, this was a world where only Zorua would suffer. Hed give Zorua an extra drumstick tonight as compensation. That should be enough, right? With that thought settled, Natsume made his way out. Meanwhile, Cresselia was leisurely strolling around the farm. Even it was a bit amazed at how much the place had changed. It could still recall when it first noticed Natsumeback then, the farm had been desolate, full of untapped potential. High EQ interpretation: This place had great potential for growth. Low EQ interpretation: It was a barren wasteland with absolutely nothing. And yet, in just a few short months, it had transformed into a thriving paradise. The human world was truly fascinating. Landing on a small hill, Cresselia gazed at the scenery below. Among the lush berry trees, a group of Bounsweet followed a Tsareena in training. A gleaming Pidgeotto soared through the sky. On the ground, a pink Furret dashed across the open space, a group of Sentret and Furret trailing behind in what looked like an intense training session. Mixed among them were a few different PokmonDewott, Pignite, and Tingling. What a wonderful place this farm was. A gentle breeze blew past, and Cresselia closed its eyes slightly. It had been a long time since it had felt such a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Natsumes farm almost seemed to have a certain magic to it. Just breathing in the air here made it feel lighterboth physically and mentally. "Chiru?" A small figure peeked out from the bushes behind it. Cresselia turned its head to see a Kirlia, holding a notebook tightly. Its red eyes reflected Cresselias form, filled with awe and admiration. As a Psychic-type, Kirlia possessed keen perception. It could clearly sense the immense power radiating from Cresselia. This had to be a Legendary Pokmon! Is there something you need? A gentle voice echoed in Kirlias mind, as warm and kind as an older sister from next door. "Chiru" Um, um Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After hesitating for a moment, Kirlia suddenly bowed at a dramatic 120-degree angle and shouted: "Chiru!" I want to become stronger! Please teach me! ... Staring at the little Kirlia, who was nearly burying its head in the dirt, Cresselia felt a hint of distress. This was a bit outside of its expertise. Wasnt strength something that just developed naturally over time? As far as it could remember, it had never trained seriously. It played happily as a child. And then, one day, it just became strong. Pouting slightly, Cresselia was a little troubled. Seeing how anxious Kirlia looked, though, it could only respond: My methods might not be very useful for you. "Chiru!" Thats okay! Just let me follow you! Straightening up, Kirlia declared firmly. Corviknight-senpais anime had said that simply being around strong individuals was a great way to learn. Kirlia wasnt sure why that was, but if Corviknight-senpai believed it, then it had to be true! Yesthis was the same Kirlia that had once tried to master Corviknights trash-talking techniques. After some time practicing, Kirlia had realized its trash talk didnt have the desired effect. After some careful study, it reached a conclusion: It wasnt strong enough. If a weakling talked trash, it just looked like they were throwing a tantrum. Completely ineffective. At best, it made people laugh. But if someone who could utterly dominate an opponent talked trash? The damage would multiply exponentially! And so, Kirlia decided to temporarily set aside its trash-talk training and focus on real strength. Which led it to Cresselia. As for Gardevoir, its older sister? She was beyond caring at this point. As long as Kirlia didnt go off learning actual bad thingslike the true depths of trash talkthen it could do whatever it wanted. She was too tired to stop it anymore. And their actual big brother, Gallade? Gardevoir didnt even want to talk about him. You couldnt expect a hardcore fisherman to care about anything other than fishing. O-Okay Seeing Kirlias unwavering determination, Cresselia could only agree. Truthfully, it had always been a bit soft-hearted and not very good at turning others down. The last time it had firmly rejected someone Darkrai: Can you leave me alone? Cresselia: No. Yes, on that matter, its stance was absolutely firm. No room for negotiation. "Chiru!" Thank you so much! Kirlias eyes sparkled. It had braced itself for rejection, but it actually succeeded! Its nervous heart finally settled a little. What Kirlia didnt know was that, at this very moment, Cresselia was feeling just as nervous. Both the newly acquainted master and apprentice were feeling a bit nervous about their first lessonone about teaching, the other about learning. "Cresselia!" From a distance, Natsumes voice rang out. Previously caught in an awkward silence, unsure of what to say, Cresselia sighed in relief. Natsume! A true lifesaver! In every possible sense of the word! What is it, Natsume? "I came to check if you need anything," Natsume said as he approached. "That includes accommodations, meal preferences, and anything else you can think of. Just let me know, and Ill do my best to provide it." Setting down the large box he was carrying, Natsume looked up at Cresselia. Even under the bright daylight, its feathers shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow. Now, bathed in the golden hues of dusk, Cresselia looked like a mythical being draped in radiant silk. Natsume thought that Cresselia had every right to compete for the title of the most beautiful Pokmon in the world. At the very least, it was on par with the Milotic he had seen before. As for Dianciehe hadn''t encountered one yet, so hed reserve judgment for now. "Hmm..." Requests? None for now. Cresselia thought for a moment but couldnt come up with anything it particularly needed. Housing? As long as it had a place to rest, that was fine. Food? Those pokblocks were just average. Over the years, Cresselia had encountered many humans, some of whom had gifted it pokblocks in gratitude for its help. The taste? Completely forgettable. Many pokblocks prioritized nutrition and efficiency over flavor. Not exactly bad, but about as exciting as chewing on wax. "Alright then, Ill just make some decisions on your behalf." "Ill contact the construction team that worked on the farm before. Tomorrow morning, theyll start building you a proper home nearby." "For food, Gardevoirs family will prepare and deliver meals every day." "And for now, this box should last you a while. If you have any requests later, just let me know." Natsume patted the box reassuringly. He wasnt trying to overwhelm Cresselia with hospitalityit had just arrived, after all. Overeager enthusiasm could be off-putting. People who acted overly familiar upon first meeting usually didnt leave the best impression. Still, some level of intervention was necessary. It wouldnt be right to let Cresselia sleep out in the open, exposed to the elements, surviving on random berries. "Mm." Alright then. After a brief hesitation, Cresselia accepted Natsumes offer. If nothing unexpected happened, it would likely be staying here long-term. Having a proper resting place wouldnt be a bad thing. --- Meanwhile, something significant was unfolding in town. "Sigh Time flies, doesnt it?" Inside the town mayors office, the elderly mayor rubbed his lower back. He still remembered when he first arrived in this tiny, underdeveloped town as a fresh graduate. Back then, he had been filled with resentment and frustration. The thought of spending years stuck in a place like this had been unbearable. He had spent a long time looking for a way out. And yet, after all these years, he had ended up staying. It was almost funny how things turned out. Even now, a part of him still felt a tinge of regret. But that regret was mostly about the dreams of his youth that had gone unfulfilled. At this point, after all these years, it didnt really matter anymore. Beside him, Mr. Mime patted the old mayors back in a comforting gesture. Knock, knock. "Come in." The door opened, and the same man who had previously delivered Natsumes commendation stepped inside. Chapter 127: The Reason Behind the Legendary Battle and the Pink Kitten "Youre retiring?" Under the gazebo at the farms entrance, Natsume looked at the elderly man in surprise. This was the very same person who had provided him with significant help when he first started building the farm. At the beginning, the old town mayor had only helped Natsume out of his personal ties with his uncle, whom Natsume barely knew. Later on, as the farm gradually flourished, the old mayor began to see potential in this young man and felt he was worth supporting. Even if it wasnt for his own sake, at the very least, it would make the towns statistics and reports look better when submitted to higher-ups. But who wouldve thought that this young man would suddenly accomplish something so major? That had caught the old mayor off guard. "Its not exactly retirement, more like a reassignment," the mayor chuckled. "From now on, Ill just be coasting in a more relaxed position." Originally, he had assumed he would stay in this role until the very end. Never did he expect that he would actually get a chance to enjoy some peace and quiet. This job transferwhether it technically counted as a promotion was debatablebut at the very least, his workload was going to be significantly reduced. If he felt like working, he could head to the office, clock in, drink tea, and chat. If he didnt, he could simply go to the park and bask in the sun. For the old mayor, shedding this position, which had drained his energy for over a decade, was truly a blessing. For a man approaching retirement age, what more could he ask for? If not for Natsume, he probably wouldve just kept working indefinitely. But because of Natsumes unique situation, a whole chain of adjustments had been set in motion. "Ill still be living in town most of the time," the old mayor continued. "If you ever need anything, you can still come find me." He took a small sip of the tea Natsume had offered before discreetly placing the cup back on the table. One thing was certainNatsume had no idea how to make a decent cup of tea. The taste... lets just say, if it cost more than five dollars per can, it wasnt worth it. After setting his cup down, the old mayor went on to give Natsume a few words of advicesome insights he had gained over the years. Most young people would have no patience for this sort of thing. But every time the old mayor started talking, Natsume would always listen intently. So, the old mayor never hesitated to share his experiences. Whether they would be useful or notthat didnt matter. At worst, he was just talking to himself. People tend to reminisce and get chatty as they age. "Understood. If anything comes up, Ill still come to you for advice," Natsume replied with a smile, remaining patient as he listened to the elderly mans long-winded stories and life lessons. Regardless of his original intentions, this man had shown genuine goodwill toward him and had helped him a great deal. When Natsume first took over the farm, he quickly realized that, despite all the research he had done, he was still scrambling when it came to practical matters. Where to buy fruit tree saplings, which renovation companies wouldnt scam him, how to handle the distribution channels for his harvested berriesthere was so much to figure out. The mayors guidance had saved him a lot of trouble. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For Natsume, it wasnt about making more or less money, nor was he overly concerned about the cost of renovations. What he truly hated was wasting mental energy on trivial disputes over minor details. If money alone could solve a problem, he was more than willing to spend it. But in reality, you could throw down a fortune and still end up getting ripped off. "Well then, Ill be off." Standing up, the old mayor waved goodbye. At his side, his trusty Mr. Mime, who had been amusing itself by mimicking a walking Oddish at the doorway, immediately got up to help support him. After sending off the mayor, Natsume tidied up the table a little. Then, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found a familiar name. [AlarmRangStillEarly]: You there, my dear friend? Time to wake up and get to work. [AA Machamp Construction & Renovation]: On my way, boss! Be there soon! In a three-story building in town, a certain familiar construction forewoman jolted awake like a startled Magikarp Only to immediately flop back down onto the bed. Damn it, she had been eating too well lately. Her abs were gone. "Brothers! The boss has another job for us!" Throwing open the window, the girl shouted down to the Machamp and the seasoned construction workers below. Thanks to Natsume, her construction team, which had been on the brink of bankruptcy, not only made a miraculous comeback but also earned quite a fortune. Now, she could proudly call herself a young and wealthy woman. Although she had no idea what Natsume was planning this time, the Machamp girl immediately rallied her team, preparing to head out for an on-site inspection at the farm. Damn, when a VIP client makes a request, you don''t sit around waiting for them to come to youyou move first! What kind of business still expects the customer to show up in person to negotiate these days? Ill just head there straight away! Clients as understanding as Natsume are rare these days He accepts high quotes, pays quickly, doesnt micromanage, and doesnt have a million weird requests. That alone puts him ahead of 99% of people. And more importantly he pays well. Because of that, every time she took on one of his projects, she poured in 120% of her effort, using the best materials and craftsmanship, afraid of losing her only VIP client. "Bring all the equipment!" "If anyone screws up, dinner is canceled tonight!" At this moment, the gentle, literature-loving persona she carefully maintained on social media was nowhere to be seen. Right now, she looked like she could tear apart any Pokmon present As long as they underperformed. "Oh!!!" A chorus of muscular, vein-popping Pokmon shouted in unison. This was the client who had helped them upgrade their meals and provided all sorts of high-quality training equipment. If someone messed up, they wouldnt even need the boss to step intheyd just beat them up themselves. Settling into the passenger seat of the truck, the girl patted the Machamp in the drivers seat, who was already wearing a construction helmet, signaling him to start driving. This was their best and most experienced driver. Yes, he had a license. "By the way, doesnt Natsume seem way more cheerful than before?" She glanced at the chat interface, where Natsume had just sent a sticker of a tiny cat clenching its fist. That got her thinking. When it comes to major changes in a guys personality in a short period, there are only a few possibilities Family issues, getting chosen by the M87 Nebulas light, acquiring a Kamen Rider belt, becoming a Gundam pilot, being picked as a DigiDestined Or Falling in love? Maybe women are just naturally sensitive to this kind of thing. Once the idea popped into her head, she immediately started looking for clues. Hmm first off, his Moments (social media posts) were still locked. But his profile background had changed It used to be a meme that said, "Comrade, Ive noticed your faith is wavering." Now it was a picture of a shiny Furret. His stickers had also shifted from the old-fashioned ones to more cutesy ones over the past two months. If someone just looked at the stickers, theyd probably assume he was an adorable girl. But the most crucial part His profile picture and username had changed. His username, once an impossibly long string of characters, was now something she couldnt quite decipher. And his profile picture? A cartoon puppy getting sprayed with water. Matching profile pictures confirmed. Yep, definitely dating. Case closed. Mascular girl nodded in satisfaction. So, everyone else is out there enjoying sweet, youthful love And Im stuck here, covered in dust, surrounded by buff guys. Closing her eyes, she felt her soul drifting away. "Close your eyes, and you dont know if youre sleeping or just gone." --- Meanwhile, after sending the message, Natsume put away his phone. Before the screen turned off, Zorua, who had been lying on his head, caught a glimpse of the pinned contact at the top of the chat list. A small cartoon cat getting sprayed with a water gun. The username? "Turn Off the Alarm and Youll Be Late." It had to be Mei. Using his tiny paw, Zorua stepped on Natsumes head, trying to find a comfortable position to lie down. He had just survived a brutal scolding from Blissey and genuinely thought he might not make it out alive. Finally, he had escaped. As for Manaphy? Eh, whatever. Its a big Pokmon. Its not like itll get lost. No worries. "Get off my head." Natsume grabbed Zorua, exasperated. After a moments thought, he placed him on his shoulder instead. Fine, hed let the little guy have his way. "Suosuo." Another house? You humans sure love building things. Zorua lazily sprawled on Natsumes shoulder. Taking a deep breath of Natsumes scent, his entire body relaxed. Ah, Natsume''s aura is getting more and more soothing. At this rate, will he turn into some kind of legendary tonic? "Yeah, were building a house for Cresselia," Natsume replied. "And expanding the farms territory. Since the land has already been designated as part of the farm, we should put it to good use." He patted Zoruas head while thinking about what needed to be done next. The farm mostly had minor tasks Trimming the wool of the Ampharos and Dubwool herds. Placing an order for Miltanks, which he had been researching online. And most importantly, helping Ogerpon find her masks. Ah, first he needed to track down those three jerks The ones who stole all four of Ogerpons masks. When she arrived, she didnt even have the Teal Mask, let alone the Wellspring, Hearthflame, or Cornerstone Masks. This needed serious preparation. As for battle strength, though, he wasnt worried. Persian, Slowking, Corviknight, shiny Furret, Gardevoir, Gallade, and Ogerpon. When the time came, theyd overwhelm the enemy one by one. "Suosuo." Got it. Zorua still sounded completely uninterested. "By the way, I wonder if Cresselia liked the Pokblocks from last night." After jotting down his plans in a notebook, Natsume suddenly remembered. When he left last night, Cresselia had seemed indifferent Like she didnt really care for Pokblocks. But in reality "Woo" Cresselia stared solemnly at the empty box before her. Uh-oh. She accidentally ate everything. Last night, she had dismissed Pokblocks as all being the same, so she hadn''t thought much of them. But after one biteshe was stunned. "Is this really a Pokblock?" "Why does it taste completely different from what Ive had before?!" One bite led to another. Then another. And before she knew it, she had polished off the entire box. Now she was left staring at an empty container, feeling a bit unsatisfied. Wouldnt it be embarrassing to go ask Natsume for more? But it was really delicious. Cresselia fell into deep contemplation. After some hesitation, she made up her mind. Shed go find Natsume right before dinner. Natsume did say she could come to him if she needed anything. Yes, that sounded reasonable. With that justification in place, she felt much more at ease. --- "By the way, Zorua." As he waited for the construction team at the farms entrance, Natsume suddenly turned to the Pokmon on his shoulder. "Suosuo?" What''s up? "That battle between the legendary Pokmon you mentioned earlierwhat was that about?" Natsume was still quite curious about it. When Darkrai had been pinned under Zoruas butt, it had brought up the topic. Back then, Natsume had wanted to ask but didnt think the situation was right, so he let it go. "Suo." Its nothing much. Zorua lazily jumped off Natsumes shoulder and stretched. "Suo." Just that His plates got lost again. And those guys started fighting over them. Though some just got caught up in it by accident. "...Oh, I see..." Wait. Hold on. Somethings not right here. "What do you mean the plates got lost again?" Zorua had just casually dropped a bombshell like it was no big deal. Normally, Arceus plates wouldnt go missing. But considering His track record, it almost seemed like a hobby. Across multiple worlds, His plates kept somehow getting misplaced. Rather than calling them "lost," it might be more accurate to say He just couldnt be bothered to pick them up. "This... doesnt feel right." Scratching his head, Natsume had a bad feeling about this. Technically, this had nothing to do with him. As long as he stayed on his farm, everything should be fine. But things in life rarely go as planned. Somehow, he had a strong hunch that hed get dragged into this mess. And before he knew it, hed probably end up as the latest unpaid intern helping a certain fluffy deity gather His missing plates. "Suosuo." Relax, relax, its fine. Zorua, now sprawled lazily on the small table, wagged its tail before flipping onto its back. "Suosuo!" Natsume! You promised me a massage! His train of thought interrupted, Natsume wasnt even mad. Zorua was rightthis wasnt something he needed to worry about right now. For now, he should just focus on being a farm owner. The world always had its chosen heroes to save it. Unless a certain alpaca god showed up at his doorstep, it wasnt his problem. With that in mind, Natsume started massaging Zorua. The technique he used was one he had picked up from a generic tutorial online. Though everyone seemed to enjoy it, he figured they were just being polite. After all, he knew his own skills best. He wasnt exactly a professionalmore like he was just randomly pressing around. "Suo~" So good~ Zorua squinted its eyes in satisfaction. But something still didnt feel quite right. This posture... A bright white light flashed. Zoruas form began to shift and transform. Within the glowing light, a long-tailed pink kitten appeared. Flipping over, it continued enjoying Natsumes massage. "Stay still and stop fidgeting." Seeing "Zorua" in its new form, Natsume lightly flicked its forehead. "Mew~" Okay~ A childlike, crisp voice rang out directly in Natsumes mind. About ten minutes later Just as the Mascular girls truck pulled up to the farms entrance, she spotted Natsume waiting outside With a pink Pokmon curled up at his feet. "Boss! Were here!" Chapter 128: Corviknight’s Shock and Sheep Shearing The Machamp driving the vehicle instinctively wanted to pull off a flashy drift at the entrance, but upon spotting Natsume, it quickly reconsidered. Instead, it carefully eased on the brakes and came to a smooth stop. No choicewhen facing a VIP client, maintaining a bit of respect was necessary, regardless of whether the other party cared. Thats just how life worked. Boss! Were here! Jumping out of the vehicle, the Machamp girl hurried over to Natsume. Breathing in the fresh air, she felt all the grogginess from her midday nap and the discomfort of the ride vanish. There was something about Natsumes farm, almost like magic. Simply being here, just taking a breath, felt rejuvenating. Ill have to trouble you again. Natsume nodded, leading the construction team into the farm. By now, the team was extremely familiar with the farm. After all, they had personally built most of the structures here, one step at a time. No trouble at all. The Machamp girl quickly waved her hand dismissively. Compared to dealing with middle-aged clients, she much preferred working with young people. Sure, young folks these days had moods that fluctuated more wildly than the stock market, but overall, their professionalism was still solid. As long as you communicated properly, most young people would reciprocate with the same level of respectunless the other side was being unreasonable. Whether it was negotiation or general interaction, working with young people was simply more pleasant. This time, the construction will be over there After briefly explaining the project to the Machamp girl, Natsume called over the diligent Butler Ogerpon. Since they had worked together for a long time, Natsume trusted the team completely. Likewise, Ogerpon also had complete confidence in them. With Ogerpon supervising, Natsume didnt plan to stand around watching over the construction. Watching people work was just too boring. He figured he wasnt old enough to appreciate the joy of standing by a construction site, observing the progress like a retiree. No, right now, he was still a young man with energy to spare. Suo. So, what are we doing now? Trailing alongside Natsume, Zorua trotted in tiny, delicate steps. This posture was still kind of uncomfortable. Even though it had maintained this form for a while now, it still didnt feel like moving much. With that thought, Zorua leaped into the air. A soft, glowing light enveloped its small frame, and as the glow faded, a pink, long-tailed feline emerged once more. You done with role-playing for now? Glancing at the pink feline beside him, Natsume instinctively reached out and scratched under its chin. Mew~ I still feel like playing sometimes. Mew narrowed its eyes in pleasure. Hmm this expert-level cat-petting technique Natsume, youve definitely petted a lot of cats before, havent you? Mew swished its long tail across Natsumes face, pretending to interrogate him. Confess! How many cats have you been petting behind my back?! Didnt you say I was your one and only cat?! I never said that. Natsume casually grabbed Mews tail and gave it a gentle tug. Mew, playing along, allowed itself to be reeled in and curled up comfortably in Natsumes arms. Ah, this familiar sensation. As for how many cats Ive petted Natsume thought for a moment. Well, theres Purugly, Glameow, the neighbors Skitty from when I was a kid, Purrloin, a classmates Delcatty, Shinx Mew. Alright, you can stop talking now. Mew pressed the tip of its tail against Natsumes lips, forcing him into silence. I cant believe youre this kind of person, Natsume. Playing around with so many cats "Well, theres nothing I can do about it." Shrugging, Natsume acknowledged it as an unavoidable reality. His physique naturally attracted many Pokmonor rather, he was destined to be endlessly petted by them. As for how many cats he had petted? Would you remember how many slices of bread youve eaten in your life? "Mew" You still havent said what youre up to right now. A slender tail brushed back and forth against Natsumes chin. Mew, however, remained unfazed even as Natsume grabbed it in one swift motion. Still nestled comfortably in his arms. "Im heading back to grab some tools and give Ampharos and the others a trim." Walking beneath the shade of the trees with Mew in his arms, Natsume felt a slight chill against his skin. It was at this moment that he truly realizedsummer had completely ended. Among the Ampharos evolutionary line, only Ampharos itself lacked wool. Mareep, Flaaffy, and even Mega Ampharos were all covered in fleece. It was said that many farms deliberately controlled Mareeps growth to maintain wool production. Of course, they didnt use an Everstonethat would be far too expensive. Instead, it was supposedly regulated through dietary methods. Natsume hadnt delved too deeply into the specifics. With a herd of Dubwool around, wool production was never a concern. If they wanted to evolve, they could evolve. After all, he could afford it. Perhaps it was because he frequently used the power of Viridian Forest to accelerate growth, but the air quality across the entire farmland had become astonishingly pure. There even seemed to be... something extra in the air. If this were a cultivation novel, itd be a land rich in spiritual energyan earthly paradise. Forget just fruit treesat this rate, even the weeds on the ground were going to turn into premium pasture grass. Gotta say, this is a pretty ideal superpower for a farming simulator enthusiast. "Mew!" I wanna play too! I wanna play! The Zorua lying in Natsumes arms immediately perked up. Shearing wool? That sounded super fun! Count me in! "Mew!" Lets go! Lets go! A blue glow enveloped Natsume, and in the next moment, Teleport activated. In an instant, Natsume and Mew arrived homejust in time to stumble upon an ongoing tea party. Ever since Indeedee had arrived, the Pokmon in Natsumes house had been steadily gaining weight. There was no helping itshe seemed to have awakened some deep-seated passion for feeding others. And the food she made? Gotta admit, it tasted pretty good. Thus, everyones weight well "Meow?" Perched on the sofa, an Emolga who had been play-fighting with a Purrloin suddenly froze as it caught sight of Mew floating beside Natsume. Waitwhy is there another cat here?! Sure, it could fly, and it wasnt exactly like a normal cat But this was still absolutely, definitely a cat! Damn it. Its time for the farms rodents to unite! We cant let the cats steal all of Natsumes attention! Unaware of Emolgas internal turmoil, Natsume called out to all the Pokmon in the house, gathering them to introduce Mew. The once spacious living room instantly became crowded, and Natsumes black pants were quickly covered in various colors of floating fur. "Everyone, look over here." Clapping his hands, Natsume drew the attention of all the Pokmon. The soft murmuring noises immediately fell silent as countless eyes locked onto him. "The one beside me is Zoruathis is its true form. From now on, everyone should call it Mew." Ruffling Mews head, Natsume spoke loudly. Led by Persian, the Pokmon present remained surprisingly calm. Wasnt this normal? Everyone had already known that this Zorua wasnt exactly normal. Its just that since Mew never brought it up, and Natsume never said anything, they simply went along with it. They got along just fine, so what was the point of digging deeper? What, were they supposed to interrogate it just for fun? No thankswhat a waste of energy. So, most Pokmon in the room remained unfazed. "Caw?!" At the entrance, Corviknight looked utterly dumbfoundedhis entire worldview shattered. Well, there was one particularly shocked audience member. Though Corviknights reason for being stunned was different from everyone elses. He vaguely recalled a certain moonless night, shrouded in darkness. That night, he and "Zorua" had secretly stayed up all night watching movies behind Natsumes back. One of those movies briefly mentioned an ancient mural depicting the legendary Pokmon Mew. Though it was just a passing reference, Corviknight had taken note of it. After all, some experts claimed Mew was the ancestor of all Pokmon. At the time, Corviknight thought, Wait Ive got such an incredible ancestor?! Determined to do some research, he scoured the internetonly to find a lot of repetitive nonsense. Not very satisfying. So, his ever-so-"knowledgeable" friend, "Zorua," had generously offered to give him a full, detailed lecture. Describing in grand detail the mythical existence of Mewthe apex of mirage Pokmon, the master of all known moves, second only to the god of creation itself. That night, neither Corviknight nor Zorua got any sleep. Corviknight couldnt sleep because someone wouldnt stop talking. Meanwhile, Zorua was simply too energeticdragging Corviknight into an all-nighter against his will. For the first time ever, the night owl Corviknight tasted his own medicine. By morning, Corviknight felt like he had unlocked the ability to astral projectready to leave this world behind. And now youre telling me This punk right here is actually Mew?! So you were just hyping yourself up all along, huh? No wonder this guy, who usually doesnt respect anyone, treated that mythical Pokmon with such reverence. Quietly squatting at the doorway, Corviknight stared at Mew with an incredibly complicated expression. We were supposed to struggle together as nobodies, and now youve turned into a legendary Pokmon overnight? This feeling it hurts, man. "Mew~" Sensing Corviknights resentful gaze, Mew turned around and flashed a playful smile. And thenhe gave Corviknight a look. 9 PM. Same spot. "Caw!" Got it! Corviknight nodded in relief. This familiar vibe Yep, still the same ol buddy who stays up all night browsing forums with me! Aside from Corviknight, the most shocked ones were Hisuian Zorua and Togepi. Wait, wait, waityoure telling me that my big bro, a totally ordinary little fox (or egg-shaped fairy), is actually a legendary Pokmon? And not just any legendary Pokmonthe strongest one?! Wow. Thats kinda insane. This totally justifies pulling off even bigger pranks now, right? The two mischievous ones exchanged glances, immediately seeing excitement and shared mischief brewing in each others eyes. "Alright, alright. Im heading off to shear Ampharos and the others." "If youre interested, feel free to tag along and help out." Digging through the storage room, Natsume retrieved the shearing tools before turning back to address the Pokmon still chattering in the living room. Looking at the pile of highly professional and intricate tools in his hands Natsume scratched his head in frustration. He had no idea how to use them. Wasnt there some Pokmon move that could handle shearing? "Natsume, Natsume! I wanna come tooRoto!" A Rotom in its smartphone form zipped in excitedly from outside. Its first video was almost readyjust a bit more polishing, and it would be good to go! Rotom had already planned out the intro. By then, it would have Natsume introduce himself and post some platform-specific content accordingly. For example, on site A-b (YouTube), hed say he really liked the atmosphere here. Then, fast-forward to a "Try Not to Laugh Challenge" (crossed out). When it came to the internet, Rotom considered itself quite knowledgeable. ''No one understands the internet better than I do.'' "Alright, Rotom, you can come along too," Natsume agreed. "But be carefulthere are some things you''re not allowed to record." Of course, Natsume was aware of Rotom''s recent habit of filming everything around the farm. Many of the Pokmon at the farm had their own aspirations and goals. For example, Shiny Furret was determined to train hard and become stronger. Rotom wanted to stir things up on the internet. Everyone was searching for something they wanted to do. "Alright, Roto." Rotom spun around in the air excitedly. It already knew what could and couldnt be filmed. For example, Cresselia and Mew were strictly off-limits. Ting-Lu could be filmed, but Rotom chose not tounless, of course, people really wanted to see it later. Natsume and Gardevoirs Pokblock workshop was also off-limits. These were sensitive topics. For now, Rotom was mostly focusing on filming the farm, revealing bits and pieces to build anticipation. "Alright, lets head out." Grabbing some tools, Natsume casually summoned a Gogoat to ride. Trailing behind him were Rotom, Persian, Butterfree, and Audino carrying Phione. Rotoms goal had already been made cleargathering video material. Butterfree, on the other hand, had just been passing by when Natsume roped it into helping out. Since the farm had stabilized, Butterfree had finally been able to enjoy the peaceful life it had always longed foressentially, retirement. No battles, no work, no stress about the future. Wake up, find something to do if you feel like it, scroll through your phone if you dont. Eat when youre hungry, sleep when youre tired. This kind of peaceful life could dull ones ambition, but for Butterfree, it was exactly what it had always wanted. If you could live comfortably without struggling, why force yourself to strive for more? Butterfree didnt get it. It had only gotten caught by Natsume this time; otherwise, it would have been taking an afternoon nap by the lake with Gallade. The two had become quite good friends, united in their shared pursuit of relaxation. Persian, meanwhile, had just woken up and was looking for something to do. Two nights ago, Corviknight had issued its 811th challenge against Persian... and lost again. It probably wouldnt be showing up for a few days. Ah, the warm sunshine Lately, Persian had been feeling something strange happening to its body. It couldnt quite put it into words, but it could feel itself getting stronger. Its muscles were subtly reshaping, optimizing for battle. Its physique was becoming more streamlined. Its sense of smell and vision had sharpened significantly. Even its tailwhen it struck the ground, it hit with the force of a steel whip. If an ordinary person got smacked by it, broken bones would be inevitable. At this point, the only one still treating Persian like a plush toy was Natsume. In fact, he could still pin Persian down with one hand. Since it was a kitten, Persian had never been able to defy Natsume. And then there was Audino, leisurely bringing up the rear. Unlike the others, Audino was genuinely just taking Phione out for a walk and some fresh air. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Audino believed that children shouldnt stay cooped up indoors all the time. Most Pokmonunless they had particularly unique personalitieswere naturally energetic and curious about the outside world. Technically, Phione was fully capable of exploring on its own at this point. But Audino insisted on watching over it for another couple of days. This was the first newborn Pokmon it had cared for since graduating from the Pokmon Nurse Academy! It had to give it 100% effort! Manaphy, meanwhile, was perfectly fine with that. If someone else was willing to watch over its kid, what was there to complain about? That just meant more time for fun and relaxation! "Ampharos, time for a trim!" Standing by the fence, Natsume called out to the group of Ampharos lazily munching on berries. A noticeably larger Ampharos stepped forward from the flock. Since arriving at the farm, the Ampharos clan had gone through a leadership change. The new leader was younger, stronger, and had more stamina. After a peaceful challenge, the leadership had been passed down. The new Ampharos chief got along well with Natsume and never once demanded extra privileges just for being the leader. "Amph!" The chief nuzzled Natsumes head affectionately before stepping aside and calling out to the Mareep and Flaaffy, urging them to line up for their shearing. For them, shearing was like shedding a heavy burden. They always felt much lighter and freer afterward. "Baa." "Baa baa baa." The air filled with the sound of bleating as the flock lined up obediently. The first Flaaffy plopped down on its rear, back facing Natsume, patiently awaiting its turn. If it had been someone else, it might have been annoyed at the lack of skill. But Natsume was different. For one, his presence was incredibly soothing. And secondly "Alright, here you go." "Baa~" Once fully shorn, the Flaaffy stood up and eagerly accepted a Pokblock from Natsume. It happily popped the treat into its mouth before trotting off, feeling refreshed. Ah, Natsume really does hand out treats freely. Sure, his presence was comforting, but what really won Pokmon over was his generosity. "Wooloo!" As soon as one Flaaffy left, the next stepped up. Meanwhile, Butterfree used Psychic to carefully gather and organize the wool to keep it from getting in the way. The line moved slowly but steadily. At this pace, Natsume would still be working by nightfall. Thankfully, he had already called in reinforcements. "Gardevoir, Galladeplease help out." With a flash of Teleport, the sibling duo appeared beside him. Natsume let out a relieved sigh. With their help, this would go much faster. Gallade and Butterfree exchanged a look of shared suffering. Brother, you got dragged into overtime too? Yeah, man lets get through this together. Silently accepting the tools, Gallade squatted down and begrudgingly started shearing a nearby Flaaffy. Unlike Gardevoir, who worked skillfully and efficiently, Gallades technique looked more like an interrogation session. Especially when it felt the judgmental gaze of the Flaaffy it was shearing Why am I here? I should be at the lake, peacefully fishing right now. "Mew!" Nearby, Mew joyfully chased after a freshly shorn Flaaffy, playfully swinging a brush. Both Mew and the Flaaffy seemed to be having the time of their lives. Unaware of Mews true identity, the Flaaffy was completely at ease. "Woof woof!" In the distance, a series of excited barks rang out. A streak of electric light zipped across the field. Finally, it skidded to a halt in front of Natsume. The newly evolved Boltund had arrived. Ever since evolving, it had finally gained the strength to herd the flock alone. As an Yamper, it had zero authoritythe sheep saw it as a harmless mascot. Some Mareep and Dubwool even used to tease it for fun. After all, watching a tiny ball of electricity get flustered was hilarious. But after evolving, Boltund had become strong enough to command respect. It was now a proper sheepdog. "Woof!" Boltund slid to a stop, bracing its hind legs as it eagerly placed its paws on Natsumes knees. It wagged its tail like a propeller, panting excitedly as it nuzzled against Natsumes face. It really wanted to lick him. But it knew Natsume hated getting covered in drool, so it held back. Rubbing up against him was just as good. "Alright, Boltund, take a break for now." "I''ll play with you after I finish shearing the wool." Blocking the overly affectionate Boltund from rubbing all over him, Natsume patted its head. "Woof!" With a bark, Boltund obediently sat at Natsume''s feet. Now, with Persian on one side and Boltund on the other, they looked like his personal bodyguards. As the sky darkened, Natsume finally finished today''s work. "That''s a wrap." Having already taken off his jacket, Natsume wiped the sweat from his forehead. This kind of repetitive task was pretty dull. "I''m all done too, Roto!" Rotom, which had been filming the whole time, buzzed around excitedly. Its video was finally ready! Time to blow everyone''s minds a little. "Alright, time for dinner." Natsume patted the drowsy Persian curled up at his feet and called out to the Pokmon who had worked alongside him all afternoon. "Gallade!" Gallade was the first to toss aside his shearing tool. Finally! Fishing time! Only to receive a sharp elbow to the ribs from his own sister. A righteous abdomen strike! Back at home... A few minutes before Natsume''s return, Meihaving received his messagewas already in the kitchen, helping female Indeedee set up dinner. Chapter 129: A Completely Satisfied Mew "Alright, just leave it here." Directing Butterfree and the Gardevoir siblings to use their psychic power to stack the massive piles of wool neatly in the storage room, Natsume casually picked up Mew, who had been lounging atop the wool. "Mew~" The wool is so comfy... Dragged away, Mew went limp, looking completely relaxed. The large piles of wool stacked together resembled clouds drifting in the skysoft, fluffy, and incredibly cozy to lie on. "Alright, time to head back for dinner." Giving the now-fluid-like Mew a shake, Natsume casually tossed it into the air. A blue glow flashed, and Mew''s body came to a stable hover in midair. Then, like a fish swimming through water, it glided effortlessly, following behind Natsume. "Thanks for the hard work, Butterfree, Gardevoir, and Gallade." "Brii..." Perched on the eaves, Butterfree let out a long yawn. After working all afternoon, its mind felt completely drained. It had been a long time since it felt this mentally exhausted. Flapping its wings twice, it responded briefly to Natsume. "Garr" Compared to Butterfree, Gallade and Gardevoir were in much better shape. Being Psychic-types, their mastery of psychic energy was far superior to Butterfrees. With a casual wave, Gallade greeted Natsume before disappearing with Teleport. It was time to go catch up on some sleep. Originally, it had planned to spend the afternoon relaxing, but that was completely derailed, leaving Gallade feeling a bit disappointed. As for Gardevoir, it no longer carried the same nervousness and constant need to prove its value as it once did. Nowadays, it would even joke around with Natsume occasionallythough, given its serious nature, its jokes werent particularly funny. After tidying up the storage area and putting away the shearing tools, Natsume grabbed a basket of berries and headed home. By the time he returned, the sky had fully darkened. Just a few weeks ago, around 7 or 8 p.m., there would still be some lingering daylight on the horizon. But now, just past 6 p.m., the sun had already sunk completely below the horizon. "You''re back." As Natsume pushed open the door, the warm yellow glow of the lights illuminated his face. The dining room lights had an adjustable setting. Natsume preferred pure white lighting, so he usually kept them that way. However, female Indeedee and Mei preferred the softer, warm yellow glow, especially during dinner. "Dinners ready!" "I made some of the dishes together with Indeedee sister. Shes really amazing." Mei, wearing an apron, looked completely different from her usual sporty and energetic self. Her long, silky black hair was casually draped behind her, and even under the soft, warm lighting, her facewithout any makeupshowed no flaws. Her sleeves were rolled up, and she wore pink house slippers. It really seemed like she had made herself at home here. "Thanks for the hard work, Mei." Setting down what he was carrying, Natsume smiled as he spoke. Upon hearing his words, Mei''s long lashes fluttered slightly, and she tilted her head, gazing at Natsume in silence. "...What is it?" Feeling slightly unnerved under Mei''s gaze, Natsume asked hesitantly. Was there something off about him? He did a quick glance down at his clothesnothing seemed out of place. And he didnt think there was any weird smell, either. "Natsume, youre always so polite and formal." "Its not a bad thing, but it feels like you always keep a bit of distance when you talk to people." Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Mei searched for the right words. Natsume was always incredibly polite, no matter who he was talking to. Never flustered, never impatientalways calm and collected. It made him easy to like, but at the same time, it could also make him feel distant. Like now. Even though they''d known each other for quite a while, there were moments when Mei still felt like Natsume was far away. It was a strange, subtle feeling. "...I guess its just a habit." Being called out on it, Natsume instinctively tried to brush it off. He really did treat everyone in the same wayalways weighing his words before speaking. Back in high school, he had two fairly close friends. But even with them, his way of talking wasnt much different from how he spoke to regular classmates. Though he had occasionally thought about trying to be more casual and open, in the end, he always stuck to this distant yet polite way of speaking. Mei was no exception. "Alright, if you say so." Mei studied him for a moment, then broke into a bright smile and pulled him over to the dining table. Natsume might not have answered directly, but she knew hed at least think about it. Just like when she once pointed out that he always furrowed his brows when he was alone, making him look like he was in a bad mood. At the time, she had asked if something was wrong out of concern. And after that, she noticed that Natsume had consciously tried to change that habit. Just like how she took his advice seriously and worked on improving herself. Both of them were making efforts to adjust and understand each other better. From their first meeting to now, months had passed in the blink of an eye. Living together had become something completely natural, and sometimes, they didnt even need words to understand each others thoughts. After settling Natsume into his seat, Mei excitedly started introducing all the dishes on the table. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She pointed out which ones she made and which ones the female Indeedee was responsible for. She shared little cooking mishaps and what had been on her mind while making each dish. Mei seemed to have an endless desire to share her thoughts with Natsume. Then, as she leaned in close to tell him about something funny that had happened, her eyes accidentally caught sight of Natsumes profile. A sudden impulse surged within her. Already leaning in, she bent a little closer, tilting up slightly on her toes. One hand rested on his shoulder, the other on the table. More than half of her upper body pressed against Natsumes shoulder and back. She tried to keep her voice steady as she continued talking, but the soft pink hue of her earlobes completely betrayed her emotions. Maybe because of her nervousness, Mei didnt notice Natsumes reaction. But just like her, Natsume was feeling a little tense too. The clear, gentle voice beside his ear, the faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose, and the warmth pressing against his backhe was keenly aware of all of it. All of this was stimulating Natsumes nerves. He never considered himself the type to get flustered just because a girl got close or touched him. After all, he was a modern-day otaku, well-versed in the internethe had seen things, learned things. We otakus always end up knowing all sorts of weird knowledge from weird places. If it had been someone else, Natsume would have simply glanced at them, found an excuse, and subtly distanced himself. Back in high school, there were girls who had deliberately said some rather bold things to him, but he had only smiled and given no particular reaction. His indifference had left one of those girls slightly disappointed. No deeper reasonit just didnt cross his mind to care. In a way, Natsume was quite conservative. Both in his views on relationships and marriage. But this time, he didnt feel indifferent. Turning his head slightly, Natsume suddenly found himself unsure what to do with his hand resting on the table. Yet, as he felt the warmth radiating from the smaller, delicate hand beside his, he finally lifted his own hand And gently covered it. Meis hands werent as soft and smooth as one might expect. She was, after all, a traveling Pokmon Trainer. Constantly trekking through forests and mountains, her efforts at skincare could only do so much. At best, it was more for peace of mind than actual effect. Under the harsh sun, even with protective clothing, getting tanned was inevitable. Perched on the windowsill, Mew giggled quietly, covering its mouth as it watched the scene unfold. Floating beside it, a phone screen recorded everything. Within the album, there was now a timelinefrom the first hints of something between them to this moment of real progress. Seeing the latest photo, Mew nodded in satisfaction. This felt like watching a long-awaited romance finally come to fruition. Mew was so pleased that it felt like it could now go feast on a big meal and take a nap without regrets. Yep, this kid never lets me down. "Inde?" Carrying the last plate out of the kitchen, female Indeedee stopped in her tracks, blinking curiously at the two who were now much closer than usual. Whats going on here? Just as she made a sound, her brother swiftly covered her mouth and pulled her aside. Not now! Dont interrupt them! Despite being a newcomer to the household, Indeedee brother was already invested in shipping this couple. Mew: Hello, friend, do you enjoy shipping? I can provide a detailed analysis for you. Slowking: Greetings, sir. As the vice-president of the Natsume Fan Club and the true power behind the presidents throne, allow me to introduce you to our great master, our unwavering pillar, the handsome and gentle Natsume. Under their relentless indoctrination, even the newer Pokmon had quickly joined the Cult of Natsume. If such a thing actually existed. "Mm?" Female Indeedee, whose mouth was still covered, instinctively raised the plate in her hands to keep it from spilling. Although her brother had acted quickly, the slightly ambiguous atmosphere had already been broken. Snapping back to reality, Mei jolted upright as if spring-loaded, standing stiff as a board. Meanwhile, Natsume, who had been held down in his seat, coughed awkwardly twice. "Ahem. Lets eat." Letting out a forced chuckle, Natsume swiftly moved on. Mei also sat back down obediently. Her fingers fidgeted anxiously, twisting together as her gaze darted around the room. She couldnt keep her eyes on anything for more than five seconds. Not even on Natsume. In fact, the moment she looked at him, her eyes darted away even faster. "Indee?" Setting down the last dish on the table, female Indeedee sat hesitantly in her seat, visibly nervous. Ah did I just mess things up? "Its fine, its fine." Noticing her unease, Natsume reached out and gently ruffled her hair. Soft. His reassuring touch made Indeedee relax a little. Just a little. Mostly, she just felt secondhand embarrassment. And so, dinner proceeded in an awkward, quiet atmosphere. That night, both Natsume and Mei found themselves struggling with insomnia. The Next Morning For the first time in ages, Natsume slept until noon. "Shit, I overslept." Seeing the time on his phone, Natsume instinctively sat up. But then, he remembered The farm was running smoothly now. Even if he stayed in bed all day, nothing would go wrong. So, after a brief moment of hesitationhe laid back down. Curled up with his newly acquired pillow, Mew, Natsume let the cool midday breeze drift in through the open window. Originally, he had been sleeping alone. But around five in the morning, a certain pink feline had started softly whining beside his bed. It was just enough noise to wake him up, but not enough to be outright annoying. Youd think it was being considerate Except it literally hummed him awake. And yet, Mew had remained dutifully on the floor until Natsume, half-asleep, finally gave permission. Only then did it gleefully pounce onto the bed and snuggle into his arms, purring contentedly. A mischievous little rascal with a keen sense of timing. "Mew~" Flung off the bed by Natsumes sudden movement, Mew now hovered in the air, looking utterly confused. Huh? What was that for? Ignoring its bewildered expression, Natsume stretched his slightly stiff limbs and got up to wash up. Even though he had slept until noon, he couldnt just stay in bed all day. Especially not when there was someone else in the house. "Lopuu~" As Natsume was brushing his teeth, Lopunny walked past, carrying a stack of freshly laundered clothes. It had a clear purposepassing by him just to nuzzle him twice before continuing on its way. Most of the Pokmon on the farm seemed to enjoy doing that. "Yadon." As soon as Natsume finished washing up, Slowking appeared in front of him. "Yadon." Someones here to see you. Hands clasped behind its back, Slowking maintained its usual wise and mysterious expression. But the faint dark circles under its eyes revealed that it hadnt slept well last night, either. Last night, Slowking had secretly gone to find Mew To ask about some lingering philosophical questions it had been pondering. They ended up talking for a long, long time. So long that, by the time Slowking finally ran out of things to say, Mew happily trotted off to bed, leaving Slowking alone to stare at the starry sky in deep contemplation. "Someones looking for me? Who?" Natsume found it a bit strange. His social circle was practically nonexistent. Most of the townspeople knew of him but rarely ever visited him directly. "Yadon." Its the guy who brought the Indeedee Pokmon before. After thinking for a moment, Slowking confirmed that it had seen this person before. The same one who had delivered the prize for defeating Ting-Lu. "Really? Give me a sec." Grabbing a jacket from the sofa, Natsume casually draped it over his shoulders and followed Slowking to the farms entrance. There, waiting patiently, was the same man who had come to the farm once before. Chapter 130: The New Mayor and Pidgeotto’s Evolution Fu Gakuji, dressed in formal attire, waited at the entrance of the farm. As the newly appointed mayor, he had a lot on his plate. Yet, at this moment, he showed no impatience, simply standing there quietly. In this world, strength ultimately dictated everything. A person capable of defeating a Legendary Pokmonsetting aside agewas akin to those powerful, reclusive masters often depicted in novels. Though Natsume usually carried himself with an easygoing demeanor, that didnt mean he was genuinely mild-tempered. Having taken over as mayor at his age, Fu Gakuji prided himself on his sharp instincts. Even disregarding matters of strength, who in their right mind would go around making unnecessary enemies? Mayor Gakuji, good morning. A flash of blue light signaled Natsumes arrival at the farms entrance, accompanied by Slowking. Dont ask how Slowking learned Teleport. Mew taught it. Seeing Natsumes youthful face, Fu Gakuji couldn''t help but feel a surge of emotion. Young and handsome. Incredibly powerful. Single-handedly reviving an abandoned farm. Even after defeating a Legendary Pokmon, he showed no hint of arroganceremaining as steady and composed as ever. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A young successif that phrase applied to anyone, it was undoubtedly someone like him. Compared to Natsume, Gakuji couldnt help but feel a bit unaccomplished. As Fu Gakuji sized up Natsume, Natsume was also observing him. A mayor under thirty? Promotions really move this fast nowadays. Natsume vaguely remembered that the title "mayor" often sounded down-to-earth. In many anime, mayors were usually depicted as laid-back neighborhood elders with nothing much to do. But in reality, mayors werent like that. For most ordinary people, becoming a mayor was already the highest rank they could reach. And most of them were middle-aged. This was the first time Natsume had ever seen a mayor as young as Fu Gakuji. Another young success. If it were him he probably wouldnt be able to pull it off. Both Natsume and Fu Gakuji shared a silent moment of admiration for each other. Natsume, we meet again. This time, I have some matters Id like to discuss with you. Gathering his thoughts, Fu Gakuji smiled as he spoke. The real purpose of his visit was to further strengthen his ties with Natsume. Just having someone of this caliber living in town was a source of security. Anyone with half a brain would try to keep him around. Gakuji knew full well that Natsumes stage would never be limited to this small town. Someday, he would step onto a far greater stage and showcase his strength to the world. For now, all Fu Gakuji could do was leave a good impression. Thats more or less the situation. Gakuji briefly explained his purpose. In short, the town planned to improve the roads and enhance transportation infrastructure. A few wider roads would be built leading to Natsumes farm, so he came in advance to inform him. It would be troublesome if the construction accidentally disturbed the Pokmon living on the farm. Fu Gakuji didnt think the construction crewsthose rowdy types who liked to throw their weight aroundwould stand a chance against Natsumes Pokmon. In fact, deep down, he wouldnt mind seeing those troublemakers get a lesson. But it was best to avoid unnecessary incidents. Another thingplans were in place to build a new battle facility. It might be located not far from the farm. Strictly speaking, it wouldnt just be a battle facilitymany new public projects were already in the works. They just hadnt been finalized yet. Gakuji also wanted to hear Natsumes thoughts on it. For some reason, this felt a bit humbling. Scratching his head, Fu Gakuji quickly dismissed the thought. What a jokethese would all be his accomplishments in the future. During his tenure, he would significantly improve road infrastructure and construct numerous public facilities. If the higher-ups had money to give, why not take it? And if they didnt? Well, they could always try negotiating with Natsumethe guy who defeated a Legendary Pokmon. These days, even getting things done required checking whether the town had the budget. Finally, a good reason to get some fundingbetter make the most of it. I have no objections. Natsume wasnt too familiar with these matters. But since Fu Gakuji had it figured out, he had no reason to disagree. Let the professionals handle professional matters. No need for him to give unnecessary opinions. That was how Natsume saw it. The real reason he agreed so readily, though, was because Slowking had been nodding approvingly the whole time. Compared to Slowking, Natsume sometimes felt like his own brain was a cheap toy camera from twenty years ago, while Slowkings was the most advanced, cutting-edge model. It worked, but it was nowhere near as good. Since Slowking saw no issues, Natsume naturally had no objections. From today onward, Slowking is officially my external brain. Stealing a glance at Slowking, Natsume made up his mind. And at that moment, Slowking... Yadon. Todays brain activity had reached its limit. Time for a break. With that, Slowking silently removed the Shellder from its head and entered a complete mental shutdown. In this state, Slowkings IQ could probably rival an empty soda can on the street. Yadon~ Its gaze grew unfocused, each eye looking in a different direction. Droolsymbolizing its immense wisdombegan to trickle from the corner of its mouth. Ah, what a nice day~ Natsume quickly looked away. Yeah he should probably rely on his own brain a bit more. Whoever heard of an external brain that just goes on strike? And finally, theres one last thing As Fu Gakuji spoke, his voice gradually faded. It was like a duck getting its neck squeezed. His expression turned blankmirroring Slowkings. Whats wrong, Mayor Gakuji? Natsume looked at him in confusion. The next second, he understood why. Woo! I told you not to follow me! A very irritated Cresselia flew ahead. Phi, Phi! A curious Phione trailed closely behind. Chansey had mentioned that Cresselia could grant beautiful dreams and that its feathers possessed mysterious abilities. Phione was very curious about this. Manaa~ Behind Phione, a Manaphy with a smug grin followed leisurely. Thats what you get for stealing my snacks today. Annoying, isnt it? Just like that, three Legendary Pokmon casually strolled past Natsume. As they passed, they even greeted him one by one. Manaphy, ever the mischievous one, even rummaged through Natsumes pocket in search of snacks. Unfortunately, he hadnt brought any today. All that was in his coat was cat fur. It was from Purrloin. For some reason, that little rascal loved his clothes. It didnt like sleeping with him, but it loved napping on his clothespreferably the ones he had already worn, still carrying his scent. So sometimes, Natsume would leave his clothes on the couch. After a while, he would find them covered in fur. Purrloin liked to show him all the bizarre sleeping positions a soft cat could manage. Much cuter than Persian. Ever since evolving, Persian always looked grumpylike someone owed it money. Some cats just had a naturally grumpy-looking face. Mayor Gakuji? After seeing off the three restless troublemakers, Natsume turned back to Fu Gakujionly to find his brain completely fried. Right now, his mind was like a warzone after a bomb had gone off. All he could think about wasThree Legendaries?! Because school textbooks covered some of the more human-friendly Legendary Pokmon, it hadnt taken him long to recognize Cresselia and the others. Wait no, it was five. Suddenly, Fu Gakuji remembered the small green Pokmon from Natsumes battle with Ting-Lu. That was a Mythical Pokmon. And then there was Ting-Lu itself, which Natsume had already captured. So all of a sudden Natsume had five Legendary Pokmon?! Sir are you the Legendary Pokmon Guy?! Gakuji opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But his throat was too dryhis voice caught in his throat. Even though Cresselia and the others seemed friendly, even gentle He knew what Legendary Pokmon were. No exaggerationany Legendary Pokmon with ill intent toward humans was a walking catastrophe. Even the three dumb birds that people often joked about online werent an exception. That was precisely why schools taught about Legendary Pokmonto prevent some clueless fool from accidentally offending one and triggering disaster. And history had proven it had happened before. You alright? Ahem Im fine. Just a little shocked. His voice was hoarse as he let out an awkward chuckle. He had already tried to set his expectations high for Natsume. But now, Fu Gakuji realizedhe had still underestimated him. This this was completely beyond the scope of what a town mayor should even be dealing with. Of course, Gakuji understood that not all of these Legendary Pokmon were necessarily captured by Natsume. Some might simply be friends. But when it came to Legendary Pokmon, was there really a difference between gaining their friendship and capturing them? Even if they werent officially caught, that didnt stop Natsume from asking them to battle or assist him when needed. No matter how he looked at it, having the friendship of five Legendary Pokmon meant that Natsume effectively had the power of five Legendary Pokmon. About that last thing you wanted to discuss Seeing that Gakuji had finally snapped out of his daze, Natsume tactfully steered the conversation back on track. He had no interest in lingering on the previous topic. Something about it just felt off. Ah, right. Heres the situation. Given Lienshan Towns location and its relationship with neighboring towns The county is considering setting up a new site for distributing starter Pokmon to rookie trainers. Typically, these matters were handled directly by government-affiliated breeding facilities. Or, at the very least, by established partner organizations. But Natsumes farm was a unique case. For one, this area was fairly remote, making trips to the county rather inconvenient. And secondlythough it wasnt explicitly statedNatsumes presence played a major role in this decision. I see. Natsume nodded in understanding. This wasnt something that particularly interested him. It sounded like a lot of effort with little reward. At least, that was how Natsume saw it. He already had his hands full managing the little troublemakers on his farm. And now they expected him to take care of an additional batch of excited rookie trainers every year? What a joke. After some polite conversation, Fu Gakuji finally left the farmhis steps a little stiff as he walked away. Arceus only knew what was going through his mind right now. Initially, Fu Gakuji had even considered suggesting that Natsume become a Gym Leader or something similar. But now? Yeah no. Forget it. Every other Gym out there had normal Pokmon. Meanwhile, at Natsumes Gym "Since youve chosen the path of a trainer, its time for you to challenge a Legendary Pokmon!" Then, hed throw out a row of Pok Balls. This is Ting-Lu, this is Cresselia, this is Manaphy, this is Ogerpon. "Come on, kid, pick your opponent." That was an image too wild to even imagine. As he silently got into his car, Fu Gakuji felt his already battered worldview shatter just a little more. At first, he had thought that defeating a Legendary Pokmon at 19 was already absurd enough. But now, Natsume had somehow become The Legendary Pokmon Guy?! At this point, it wasnt even about strength anymore. Many people could go their entire lives without ever encountering a Legendary Pokmon. Even those who did might only catch a glimpseno chance for actual interaction. And even if they did interact, what, did they think all Legendary Pokmon were friendly? Just making it out alive was considered lucky. Well this isnt so bad. Suddenly, Gakuji chuckled to himself. In a way, this was actually a good thing. There was no conflict here. Natsume had a calm and steady personality, and Fu Gakuji had no intention of ever being on bad terms with him. Yeah this was just fine. That being said Glancing at his phone, Gakuji noticed a message from Natsume. Before leaving, they had exchanged contact information. He had assumed it was just a courtesy, but unexpectedly, Natsume actually messaged him for a brief chat. One topic stood outNatsume mentioned a Legendary Pokmon in his farm, a certain Ogerpon. The way he phrased it suggested that something was coming up soon. That was something to keep an eye on. Previously, Natsume had said that Ogerpon was a kind-hearted Pokmon, completely different from the folklore surrounding it. Gakuji wasnt sure about the details just yet. But it wasnt hard to imagine that myths and reality wouldnt always align. That kind of thing happened all the time. Back at the Farm After Fu Gakuji left, Natsume dragged a still-brain-dead Slowking back toward the farm. This guy was like a giant lump of solid meatheavy as hell. If it werent for the fact that Natsume was physically stronger than most Pokmon, he might not have been able to drag Slowking at all. Youput this back on already! Snatching the Shellder out of Slowkings hands, Natsume shoved it back onto the Pokmons head. Yadon. With the Shellder back in place, Slowkings eyes immediately regained their clarity. Clearly, he was back to normal. Seeing Natsume walking ahead, he quickly caught up. Just as he was about to say something, a sharp cry rang out from above. Piiiiiidge! A massive golden bird shot into the sky like an arrow. Its shimmering feathers gleamed under the sunlight, as if sculpted from pure gold. Then, at its highest point, Pidgeottos entire body was engulfed in a dazzling white light. Its evolving. Slowking, take me over there. Seeing Pidgeotto begin its evolution, Natsumes face lit up with excitement. Finallythis guy was finally evolving. Yadon. Hands clasped behind its back, Slowking nodded. With a flash of blue light, both of them vanished from sight. High above the farm, the glow of evolution slowly faded. And a magnificent golden Pidgeot soared across the sky. Chapter 131: The One and Only Boss – Natsume and Mei Set Off on Their Journey Again Up in the sky, the Shiny Pidgeotto, enveloped in a radiant white light, felt as if it had returned to the warmth of its eggshell. Its body instinctively curled up, eyes tightly shut, wings wrapping around itself. Within the glow, the Shiny Pidgeotto felt a comforting warmth, like soaking in a hot spring. It was the same sensation it had experienced just before hatching from its egga tingling, almost itchy feeling spreading through its entire body. To be honest, it wasnt exactly pleasant. It felt like tiny insects were crawling all over, even through its muscles. Especially in its wings. It was as if its wings had suddenly lost their bones, turning into a soft, boneless mass that was being stretched and reshaped by an invisible force. It didnt hurt. But it definitely felt strange. Before long, the sensation gradually faded away. Half-conscious, the Shiny Pidgeotto felt an inexplicable pull, as if something was summoning it. Its tightly shut eyes slowly opened. Brilliant sunlight flooded its vision, yet it didn''t feel the least bit dazzling. What lay before it was a vast expanse of blue sky and the distant horizon. At some point, it had soared to an incredible height. A surge of exhilaration suddenly welled up in its chest. It was the same feeling as a martial artist stepping into the world after mastering their craftan uncontrollable urge to let out a triumphant cry to the heavens. At that moment, the Shiny Pidgeottono, the Shiny Pidgeotstretched its body slightly. Due to its perspective, it couldnt fully see itself. But as it glanced at its wings, still shimmering in golden brilliance, the Shiny Pidgeot breathed a sigh of relief. Good. It hadnt turned into some weird color. It had heard stories of certain Pokmon with dazzling Shiny forms before evolving, only to end up turning an unfortunate shade of green afterward. Either a dull, sludge-like green or an overly vibrant, grassy green. The Shiny Pidgeot didnt like either. Its radiant golden feathers were a treasureif they were lost, it would be a tragedy for the entire world. The Shiny Pidgeot firmly believed this. Besides, Zorua-senpai had said so too. Ah, waitnow it should be "Mew-senpai." Mew-senpai once said that in the human world, golden shinies are highly sought after. In the future, there might be many humans bringing their Pokmon over, hoping for it to pass on its genes. In other words, it could select partners just like ancient emperors flipping through their harem roster! Ahem, though as the leader of its flock, it already had such privileges. But this was different! The former was clearly much more exciting (crossed out). After briefly testing its newfound speed, Shiny Pidgeot swiftly descended back to the farm. Speed could be tested anytime. But right now, there was something far more important at hand. Natsume had said that if it evolved within a month, it would get a feast! Though it had evolved on the very last day, that still counted as within a month. A feast! Wait for me, I''m coming! Fueled by the thought of a grand meal, Shiny Pidgeot unleashed the fastest speed of its life. In the blink of an eye, it landed on the groundalmost too fast, nearly skidding and faceplanting into the dirt. "Congratulations, Shiny Pidgeot." Before it had even steadied itself, Natsume''s voice reached its ears. Already overwhelmed with excitement, Shiny Pidgeot felt as if it had been injected with adrenaline. Unable to wait, it stumbled and hopped over in excitement. Yes, hopped. It genuinely hopped and skipped like a little sparrow. Despite its imposing appearance, Shiny Pidgeot''s behavior right now was... rather comical. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon reaching Natsume, it eagerly rubbed its head against him, its expression downright flattering. You wouldn''t think a bird could look so obsequious, yet here it was. "Pidge!" "I know, I know. I''ll prepare your feast tonight." Stroking Shiny Pidgeots sleek feathers, Natsume suddenly had a playful idea. He began pressing down on the crest atop its head, letting it pop back up, then pressing it down again. Shiny Pidgeot let Natsume do as he pleased. After all, this was its golden meal ticket! As long as it got its feast, who cared if its crest got played with? If necessary, it could even attempt a full-on aerial backflip. For food, dignity was irrelevant. Natsumes feasts were unlike anything else. Indescribably delicious. "Pidge." Having secured the promise of a feast, Shiny Pidgeot finally lifted its head proudly. With a high and mighty air, it strutted around, flaunting its golden plumage to the gathered Pokmon. This was its greatest source of pride. Sure, it was naturally talented, exceptionally gifted, outstanding, brilliant, quick-witted, wise beyond its years, and an all-around prodigy... But those were just some of its shining qualities. Its most outstanding feature was, without a doubt, its golden feathers. "You''ve gotten pretty big, huh?" Patting Shiny Pidgeots neck, Natsume was slightly impressed. A normal Pidgeot wasnt usually taller than an average adult human. Even one that reached 1.7 meters was considered quite large. But his Shiny Pidgeot was taller than he was by a whole head. By estimate, it was around two meters. Not as tall as Corviknight, but definitely a giant among Pidgeot. "Pidge!" Of course! Hearing Natsumes praise, Shiny Pidgeot lifted its head proudly. Who was it? Wasnt it only natural for it to be superior to those common birds?! Just as it was basking in its own greatness, a massive shadow loomed over it from above. A large figure descended from the sky, casting a shadow that completely engulfed Shiny Pidgeot. Blinking in confusion, it looked uponly to see Corviknight tilting its head curiously. "Pidge." Ah It''s Corviknight-boss. Instantly, all the pride drained from Shiny Pidgeots posture. Once upon a time, it had been an arrogant little bird. Then Corviknight had beaten it senseless. That trauma was still deeply engraved in its heart. It didn''t even consider resisting. Unlike the hotheaded, brainless fighters out there, Corviknight was the real deal. Sure, evolving made it stronger, but not that much stronger. An opponent it couldnt beat before was still an opponent it couldn''t beat now. At most, it could struggle a little longer before getting whooped. Only fools repeatedly seek out beatings. "Caw-caw." Not bad, not bad. Observing the newly evolved Shiny Pidgeot, Corviknight nodded in satisfaction. Yes, this was indeed its little brother. Extending one massive wing, it pulled Shiny Pidgeot into a half-embrace, looking absolutely pleased with itself. "Caw-caw-caw!" From now on, you handle deliveries, Ill do transport services. We''ve got a bright future ahead. Known as the "Sky Bus," Corviknight was now imparting career advice to the most commonly employed courier Pokmon, Pidgeot. ...Huh? Shiny Pidgeot was taken aback. What do you mean deliveries? Was this really its destinyevolving through countless hardships just to become a courier?! Seeing the disbelief in its eyes, Corviknight sympathetically patted its shoulder. Truth hurt, but most Pidgeot ultimately ended up as either delivery flyers or transport rides. After all, the only exceptional thing about Pidgeot was its speed. Everything else? Just average. As for Mega Pidgeot... Not everyone could afford high-end evolution stones. "Caw-caw!" But hey, youre luckyNatsume isn''t short on money. If you suck up to him well enough, he might actually get you one. Then you''ll finally glimpse a higher realm. Patting Shiny Pidgeot''s shoulder, Corviknight spoke with deep sincerity. As a responsible big brother (Shiny Pidgeot) and little brother (to Natsume), Corviknight felt it had a duty to set Shiny Pidgeot straight. After all, nobody understood Shiny Pidgeots personality better than Corviknight. It had a bit of a puffed-up ego. It was the type to get carried away. A little reality check was necessary. Corviknight didnt want to see it getting out of hand. ...Though, honestly, it didn''t need to worry. After witnessing Ting-Lu, Cresselia, and a series of Legendary Pokmon, Shiny Pidgeot knew its place. Even if it somehow became the strongest Pokmon in the world There were still a bunch of god-tier beings above it. If it was the strongest on earth, then those Legendaries were heavens enforcers who could smack it down effortlessly. "Alright, Corviknight, stop scaring it." Patting Corviknights wing, Natsume motioned for it to step aside. Corviknight obediently did so. "Ill prepare your feast tonight," Natsume said. "For now, just get used to your evolved body." For Pokmon, evolution was a miracle of life. A transformation that should take ages to occur happened in an instant. But skipping that natural growth phase had its downsides. Many Pokmon needed time to adjust to their new bodies and develop new battle strategies. It''s like Charmeleon and Charizard. Before evolving, Charmeleon had decent mobility, with all its attacks based on standing on the ground with its two feet. But after evolving, Charizard gained a pair of wings. This meant its battle strategy had to be adjusted. It wouldn''t make sense to keep running on the ground after evolving wings, right? That would be ridiculous. The same applied to Shiny Pidgeot. In its Pidgeotto form, it was fast, but only at a moderate level. Speed was an advantage in battle, of course, but after evolving, speed became Pidgeot''s defining attribute. All battle strategies had to revolve around its extreme speed. "Pidgeot!" Nodding, Shiny Pidgeot signaled its understanding. Although it was eager to feast right away, since Boss Natsume had spoken, it had to obey. Yes, Shiny Pidgeot had Corviknight as its big brother, but it also had Natsume as its boss. On the farm, you could have other big brothers. But you could only have one boss. And that was Boss Natsume. This was something Slowking, the newly elected head of the Natsume Fan Club and former vice president, had taught everyone after winning the recent election in the Natsume Forum. Since it had been acknowledged by the original Pokmon of the farm, everyone naturally followed the rule. At this rate, Natsume was becoming the boss of a Pokmon gang. In a way, he had already become someone who could rally countless Pokmon with a single call. If Natsume raised his arm, a massive group of Pokmon would instantly swarm in from all directions of the farm to deliver a righteous beatdown to his enemies. Don''t ask why a beatdown is righteous. When it comes to protecting someone important, any means are just and honorable. Even if you fling something unspeakable at your opponent at supersonic speed, even if you stab them in the back like a sneaky Swellow It is still a righteous act. This was the philosophy Corviknight had developed after reading a series of dark apocalypse novels. Returning to the present After calling out to Natsume, Shiny Pidgeot flapped its wings, turning into an arrow shooting toward the sky, disappearing into the horizon as a tiny black dot. The powerful gusts from its takeoff made it hard for Natsume to keep his eyes open. Corviknight was called the "sky bus" because of its steady flight and broad frame. But in terms of speed, it was no match for Pidgeot. "Alright, time to go home." Patting Corviknight, Natsume spoke to Slowking beside him. From behind him, Mew floated out from wherever it had been hiding. Its large tail gently hooked around Natsumes wrist. It tickled a little. Natsume instinctively scratched Mew''s chin in response. Like a real cat, Mew squinted its eyes and rolled in the air, purring in delight. Meanwhile, Mei was packing her luggage. "Serp?" Are we heading out? Lazily sprawled on the bed, Serperior gazed at Mei. Damn, next time we come back, I''m going to give that stupid bird a good beating. "Yeah, we''ve stayed long enough. It''s time to set off again." Stuffing her clothes into her backpack, Mei nodded firmly. Looking at the wardrobe, she hesitated briefly but didnt take everything. She left behind the clothes that werent suitable for the current season. Her presence was evident throughout the room A plush toy by the bed, won from a claw machine with Natsume. A framed photo on the desk, taken during a barbecue party with Natsume. All these traces showed that Mei had been here. She didnt pack everything away to make it seem like she had never been here. She genuinely loved life on the farm. She loved everything and everyone here. This place gave her a sense of contentment, making her think Maybe she could stay here forever. Cuddling with Serperior on a soft, fragrant bed every night. Seeing Natsume in the morning, chatting with female Indeedee. Lazing in the open fields, basking in the sun. Everything here was wonderful. But it was time to go. I, Mei, am a Pokmon Trainer. One day, I might stop. But that day is not today. "But I should at least say goodbye to Natsume before I leave." Placing her packed backpack on the bed, Mei opened the window, letting the fresh breeze into the room. Since she wasn''t leaving forever, she didnt intend to make it a sad farewell. "Hey!" "I''m back!" "Miiru~" Natsume''s voice echoed from downstairs. Recalling Serperior, Mei slipped into her slippers and hurried downstairs. "Ah, you''re heading out?" Just as Natsume was about to say something, he noticed Mei had changed back into her traveling outfit. During her time on the farm, Mei had dressed more casually. After all, she didnt need to worry about comfort while traveling. She only had to think about looking good. She had mentioned before that she would set out again soon First, to challenge the Gym where she had previously suffered defeat. Then, to capture a Ghost-type Pokmon to improve her team''s battle coverage. If possible, she also wanted to catch a Dragon-type Pokmon. Most Dragon-types symbolized strength. But they were also rare. Even Tatsugiri had Dondozo''s protection. An average person would have little chance of catching one. "Yep!" "I''m much stronger now!" Mei raised a fist, striking a pose to show off her strength. But instead of looking strong, she just looked adorable. Mei had always lacked an intimidating presence. Her face had a naturally sweet and cute look. Once, she had tried dressing in a cool, mature style. The result? Well Without looking at her face, the outfit was indeed stylish and imposing. But once you saw her face, the cool aura collapsed. Only cuteness remained. It wasnt a bad lookjust not her style. "Alright, then I wish you a smooth journey, Champion Mei." "Thank you, Leader Natsume! Once I become a Champion, I''ll appoint you as my first generalto fetch my deliveries." "Looking forward to it." The two bantered as usual. There was no sorrow or reluctance in their farewell. After all, it was the modern era. If they missed each other, they could just video call. It wasnt like ancient times, where separation meant never seeing each other again. "Make sure to visit often!" At the farm''s entrance, Natsume smiled at Mei, who was ready to go. "Sheesh, you sound like a lonely old man." Sticking out her tongue, Mei teased him. Was his next line going to be: "Being busy is good, staying busy is best"? "Don''t worry, I''ll probably hit a wall at some point." "When that happens, Ill come running back to cry to you." With her hands behind her back, Mei hopped playfully like a little deer. "Great! I''ll record it as your blac***** material." "Then I''ll hijack your phone and read your browsing history out loud." "Sorry, I always use incognito mode." Chuckling, Natsume pulled out a necklace from inside his collar. Hanging from it was a Lunar Wing he had been wearing for some time. Taking it off, he placed it around Meis neck. "I dont have a special gift for you, so let this serve as a stand-in." "Ill have a proper one ready for when you return." Feeling the warmth spreading from her chest, Mei gently pressed her lips together. "Natsume, come here for a second." "Lower your head." She beckoned with her hand, motioning for Natsume to come closer. "Hmm? What is it?" Already having a vague idea of what was coming, Natsume lowered his head. The next second, a soft, warm sensation landed on his lips. Time seemed to slow to a crawl in that moment. "I''m off now! Don''t miss me!" After what felt like an eternity, Mei, who had been standing on her tiptoes, quickly steadied herself before dashing away. Without looking back, she ran far into the distance, waving a hand behind her. Her clear, lively voice carried over from afar. She absolutely didnt have the courage to turn around right now! "Take care on the road." Standing at the farm gate, Natsume watched Mei''s figure until it completely disappeared from sight before finally turning to head back. And then "Mew~" "Meow." "Umma umma~" A group of Pokmon that had been secretly peeking from behind the trees entered Natsumes field of vision. Among them, Corviknights large frame stood out the most. You little punk, your entire body is practically out in the open. Your stealth skills get a solid zero from me. "What are you all staring at? Keep gawking, and no one''s getting dinner tonight!" Natsume feigned a fierce expression. The Pokmon who had been sneaking a look immediately scattered in all directions. Before leaving, Emolga even stuck out a foot to trip Persian, attempting a sneaky one-on-one takedown of the "green tea cat." "Seriously" The fierce expression on Natsumes face barely lasted a few seconds before completely falling apart. Feeling the lingering warmth still on his lips, Natsume couldn''t help but notice His heart was beating just a little bit faster. Chapter 132: Farm Life and the Topic of Gyms The morning after Meis departure, Natsume lazily got out of bed and began his morning routine. Accepting a towel from Lopunny, he casually rubbed it over his face. Since there were only Pokmon on the farm, Natsume wasnt too concerned about his personal appearance. As long as he was clean and tidy, that was enough. As for whether he looked good or not? Who cares? There was no one around to admire him anyway. On this point, a certain unnamed Mew strongly objected. According to Mew, Natsumes face was handsome, and just looking at him lifted a Pokmons moodit was practically a public treasure of the farm! Natsume had a duty to maintain it! Naturally, this argument was immediately rejected by Natsume. Im not using my face for anything weirdI just dont feel like dressing up, thats all. "Ah, another lazy day..." Standing on the balcony, Natsume stretched under the morning sun. For some reason, maybe because Mei wasnt around anymore, the day felt strangely unmotivating. Though honestly, it wasnt that bad. After all, he could communicate with Pokmon, so it wasnt like he lacked people to talk to. But for those who truly lived alone on a farm, they would be stuck talking to themselves all dayjust speaking their thoughts aloud with no one to respond. Returning to his room, Natsume pulled a notebook from the shelf. Flipping to the latest page, he marked the date in the top right corner and scribbled down a few quick thoughts. "October 19th" "Sunny. Feeling a bit sluggish today." "Maybe I didnt sleep well last night. Lately, Purrloin has been whining next to my bed at five in the morning." "Once I let it up, it wont stop rubbing against me." After jotting down a few lines, Natsume closed the notebook and returned it to his desk. Just to clarifythis is not a diary. It was simply a place to jot down random thoughts. Come on, who writes a diary these days? Although, to be fair, Natsume didnt always consider himself a normal person. But he also didnt want to be seen as not normal. Humans are complicated. "Yimo!" Just as Natsume was about to leave the room, Emolga suddenly darted out from somewhere and sprinted over. With three quick hops, it reached Natsumes side, grabbed onto his clothes, and scurried up onto his shoulder. Pressing its tiny paws against his shoulder, Emolga adjusted itself until it found a comfortable spot. "Yimo!" Natsume, Natsume! I wanna go outside with you! Raising one paw excitedly, Emolga chirped happily. Lately, it had noticed something disturbingthat wretched, scheming cat was sneakily winning over Natsumes affection. Whenever Natsume had a free moment, hed be petting that shameless feline. Was Emolga being ignored?! But Emolga knewthis wasnt Natsumes fault! Natsume was innocent! The real villain was that sneaky, shameless, thick-skinned, manipulative little green-tea cat! Emolga clenched its tiny paws. I have to reclaim Natsumes attention! Ill work hard to win back his favor, and then Ill **** in that conniving cats bed! And dance on its food bowl! Truly a vengeful and cunning plan. "Sure, but no running wild, okay?" Natsume tapped Emolga lightly on the head, smiling. Emolga, in turn, put on a well-behaved expression. Truthfully, Natsume had a pretty good idea of what was going on in Emolgas mind. But he wasnt too concerned. For one, while Emolga and Purrloin werent exactly friends, their rivalry hadnt escalated into all-out war. Natsume didnt believe in forcing every Pokmon to get along. It wasnt necessary, and frankly, it wasnt realistic. That would be more tyrannical than any historical despot. And besides A little scheming can be amusing, especially when two devious Pokmon are competing for his favor. Honestly, it felt pretty nice. As Emolga sat obediently on his shoulder, it occasionally nuzzled against his face. But its well-behaved act didnt last long. The moment Natsume stepped outside, Emolgas network activated. A steady stream of friends approached, greeting Emolga warmly and showering it with gifts. Emolga graciously accepted everything, offering a few polite words before swiftly dismissing them. By the time Natsume had barely walked a few steps, he was already carrying an armful of stuff. Luckily, he had a small satchel with him, or he mightve been buried under all the offerings Emolga had received. Along the way, they also passed the Joltik family that had arrived with Emolga back when it first came to the farm. Nowadays, they lived in the orchard, helping to guard the fruit trees. Every now and then, some opportunistic bird Pokmon would try to sneak in and steal fruit. Those thieves usually got a good beating before being tossed out. "Shan shan." Over by the farmland, a Sandslash dressed like an old-time farmer stood surveying its fields, nodding with satisfaction. This this is my kingdom. At first, this land had been nothing but barren wilderness. Though once upon a time, it had been farmland, it had long since been abandoned. Back then, Sandslash used to roll around in the dirt for fun. But after being taken in by Natsume, it had started its farming life. And little by little, Sandslash felt something awakening inside it. Something deep, something primal. A hidden farming instinct. Seed after seed was planted. Harvest after harvest was gathered. A true Sandslash of the Soil was emerging. After planting new seeds, the cycle continued. Sometimes, Natsume would come over to lend a hand. Like right now. Standing at the edge of the farmland, he stretched out his hand over a section specifically designated for planting Wangwang Valley crops. A vibrant green glow, representing the power of life, shimmered into existence. At first, it flickered around Natsumes palm like fireflies, but in the blink of an eye, it expanded rapidlylike an emerald curtain unfurling over the land, blanketing the entire field. Raindrops of glowing green light descended, nourishing every inch of the soil. The once-young Sunnyhill Farm crops began to grow at a speed visible to the naked eye. By the time Natsume withdrew his hand, the field was nearly ready for harvest. Beside him, Sandslash watched the spectacle with pure envy. Damn it! I want that power too! Why wasnt I born a Grass-type Pokmon?! "This field is all yours now, Sandslash." Retracting his power, Natsume smiled at Sandslash. He was only responsible for accelerating growththe rest of the work? That was none of his concern. That was just how Natsume operated. At his core, he had a lazy streak. Before leaving, he glanced back at the field. Perhaps because he frequently used the Viridian Force here, guiding the plants growth, this area had developed a distinct atmosphere. The plants flourished far more vibrantly than those elsewhere, and even the air quality was noticeably superior. Compared to land outside the farm, the difference was even more extreme. Who knew? Maybe, years down the line, this farm would become some kind of sacred land. After checking on the farmland, Natsume wandered around the farm for a while before heading to the lake where Slowking often stayed. Technically, it was no longer just a small lake. Ever since Manaphy arrived, it had used its power to expand the lakes size significantly. Originally, it had been a simple pond. But after various efforts, it had transformed into a thriving ecosystem. Now, it was home to a stable population of Pokmon. "Marsh!" With a splash, Marshtomp leaped out of the water. A dopey-looking Magikarp dangled from its mouth. Casually spitting the fish back into the lake, Marshtomp shook itself dry before eagerly sprinting toward Natsumethrowing itself into his arms. "Marsh marsh!" Maybe because Natsume had been busy lately and hadnt visited much, Marshtomp was especially excited to see him. It chattered nonstop, eagerly showing off its progress and hard work from the past few weeks. Marshtomp had a feelingit was so close to evolving. Soon, it would become a super behemoth. Natsume had promised as much. Then, finally, it could stand proudly before Slowking! Marshtomp daydreamed about its glorious future. To Marshtomp, becoming stronger was everything. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only did it determine whether it could hold its own against Slowking, but it also decided whether it could outcompete other Pokmon for food in the lake. Natsume had mentioned that, eventually, this lake would need a leader. Once it evolved, Marshtomp figured it might vie for the position. "Alright, alright, I get it," Natsume chuckled as Marshtomp hugged him. Feeling the dampness seeping into his clothes, he sighed inwardly. It had shaken off the excess water, but not completely. Still, seeing Marshtomp so thrilled, he didnt have the heart to scold it. After Marshtomp calmed down, Natsume casually asked about the lakes recent situation. "Marsh." Nothing much has changed. Though there are a lot more residents now. Marshtomp thought about it and realized things were pretty much the sameexcept the lake was getting more crowded. In the past, there had been a hidden passage at the lakes bottom that connected to the outside world. Occasionally, wild Pokmon would wander in before quickly leaving again. Even some of the original lake dwellers had moved away. After all, back then, this lake had nothing to offer. Why stay? To starve? But now, things were different. Natsume regularly tossed Pokblocks into the lake as feed. And whenever Gardevoir practiced making Pokblocks, any failed attempts or leftovers were also dumped into the lakefeeding the fish. The Pokmon living here were well-fed, and the water quality had mysteriously improved. Now, no one wanted to leave. Even visiting wild Pokmon often chose to settle here. For example, a group of Clawitzer had arrived a few days ago. Initially, they rampaged through the lake, overwhelming opponents with coordinated barrage attacks. They acted like they were about to take over the entire lake. Then, one by one, they got yoinked out of the water by Slowkings psychic powers and hung from the trees for an entire afternoon. Only after signing a series of agreements with Natsume and Slowking were they allowed to stay. The conditions included: 1. No randomly attacking other Pokmon. 2. Any claws shed naturally or lost during fights within their group must be collected. 3. Natsume and Slowking would periodically come to retrieve them. Yes, Clawitzer claws naturally fall off sometimes. And their taste? As popular as Slowkings tail. If it werent for legal protections, Clawitzer would probably have a very grim fate. Just look at a certain duck with a leek. Because its meat was delicious and it conveniently came with its own seasoning, it was once nearly hunted to extinction. Even today, there were still people who, after defeating a Farfetchd, would steal its leek to make soup. Because, well it tasted amazing. "Ill leave things to you, then." "If anything happens, let me or Slowking know." "Marsh." After nuzzling against Natsume, Marshtomp flipped backward and plunged back into the water. Recently, a newcomer had arrived in the lakea promising young talent, but a bit too cocky. Marshtomp had beaten him up a few times, yet the kid still wasnt convinced. Once it fully convinced him, Marshtomp planned to introduce him to Natsume. By the time Natsume finished his patrol around the farm, the morning was already over. Even with Gogoat as a ride, covering the entire farm took quite a bit of time. And he still wanted to expand further, adding more zones. For example, there was that garden project he had meant to set up for ages but never got around to finishing. Hed wanted a Lilligant or Bellossom to manage it, but he hadnt found the right one yet. Maybe hed just buy a Sun Stone online and evolve a Bellossom himself. Most Grass-types had some gardening talent. But compared to Lilligant, their skills were just a hobby level. After all, Lilligants entire Pokdex entry revolved around tending to gardens. The gap between them was like an amateur table tennis player vs. a world champion. "Alright, home sweet home." After wandering around for a while, Natsume decisively headed back. A farm this size would always have something that needed attention. But that was exactly why he had Slowking and the Gallade-Gardevoir sibling duoso he wouldnt have to deal with everything himself. They were so reliable that he trusted them more than himself. Now, they were essential to the farms operation. Finally settling down, Natsume casually pulled out his phonejust to pass the time. He wasnt expecting much But then "Huh?" "Damn, Rotom actually made a great video." Seeing the unexpectedly high view count, Natsume was genuinely surprised. A while ago, after getting Natsumes approval, Rotom helped him set up accounts on various online platforms and complete personal verification. Soon after, it even started filming videos of the farm. Natsume wasnt exactly sure what type of content these videos fell under. A lifestyle vlog? Honestly, Natsume wasnt too familiar with internet video categories. In fact, that term was one of the few he actually knew And even then, it was only because hed seen certain creators start posting nothing but daily vlogs and sponsored ads once they got enough followers. In the video, Rotom gave a simple tour of the farm. It captured a day in Natsumes life, showing things from his perspective Along with introductions to many of the farms Pokmon, each with their own distinct personalities. For example, one of the farms daily routines: The Shiny Furret leading an entire stampede of Pokmon across the fields. Overall, the video was pretty entertaining. After watching, Natsume casually scrolled through the comments section. Most were expressions of shock and amazement. Many people envied him Young, wealthy, and incredibly strong. How could they not be jealous? Of course, there were plenty of bitter comments as well. And, naturally, some were filled with passive-aggressive sarcasm and veiled insults. That was just the nature of the internet. No matter how much good you do, someone will always find something to criticize. Even if you saved the world, thered still be someone demanding Why didnt you also protect the flowers and grass on the ground? Some people exist solely to remind you how diverse life on Earth truly is. As for those bitter comments? Natsume remained completely unfazed. He wasnt trying to make money from videos, nor did he feel the need to prove himself to anyone. "Say whatever you want." "Its not like I owe you an explanation." There were even a few people trying to ride the hype by challenging him to battles. Natsumes thoughts on that? "Alright. Come get your beating." "Please, choose your opponent." Mightyenacapable of stunning a Legendary Pokmon with a single blow. Corviknightthe farms top-tier air defense unit, trained to perfection. Slowkingpossessing Psychic powers on par with Legendary Pokmon. "Go ahead, pick one." After idly scrolling for a while, Natsume noticed something interesting A lot of people seemed genuinely interested in his farm. He wasnt sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. But one thing was certain: His farm was about to get a lot more attention. In fact, ever since he defeated Ting-Lu, people had already started visiting the farm just to take pictures. Some tried getting artsy shots, while others even attempted to sneak in. Those people usually ended up chased down and bitten by the Mightyena pack. But it was still annoying to deal with. The reason was simple: Some people had this twisted mentality "If Im weaker than you, I must be right." "Even if Im in the wrong, I still have a valid excuse." "Yes, I trespassed on your farm but your Pokmon chasing me? Thats unfair!" Although things never escalated into major trouble, it was still frustrating. After thinking it over, Natsume decided to make a phone call. Ring "Hello, Mayor Gakuji." "Are you available right now?" "Id like to talk about the gym project you mentioned earlier." Chapter 133: Setting Off to Find Ogerpon’s Mask (6k words) On the other end of the call, Fu Gakuji was visibly surprised. The topic of establishing a gym had originally been a casual remarkhe had merely mentioned to Natsume that if he was interested, the process could be expedited. Many complex procedures and assessments could be fast-tracked. It might seem like the League was giving Natsume special treatment, but in reality, they were. Looking at all the information collected so far, along with Natsumes actions, the conclusion was obvious. Natsume wasnt necessarily a paragon of virtue. But at the very least, he was a normal, well-adjusted person who had undergone nine years of compulsory education. Strong, capable, and mentally stablewhat was there to nitpick? Some League Champions from smaller regions were nothing more than raw strength. Their character? Utterly deplorable. But since they had the power, the League had no choice but to tolerate them. Natsume, are you really considering opening a gym? Gakuji stood up, rummaged through a cabinet behind him, and pulled out a document regarding gym establishments. He had printed this before his visit to the farm. There were additional notes in the appendixhis own personal annotations. Originally, his plan had been to hand this to Natsume if he managed to persuade him. When he had visited Natsumes farm, he had brought this document with him. Fu Gakujis ambitions were straightforward. Get results early. Move up the ranks quickly. And Natsume could help him achieve that. Whether it was renovating public infrastructure around Natsumes farm or setting up a gym, it all aligned with his goals. He wasnt ashamed to admit he had personal motives. But he also knew he wasnt doing anything wronghe was getting things done. For now, its just an idea. Im interested, but I also worry it might become a hassle. On the other end of the call, Natsume admitted openly that he might lose interest later. After all, just maintaining the farm was already consuming a lot of his energy. If it came down to a choice, he would always prioritize the farm over a gym. At the end of the day, Natsume still saw himself as a farm owner first. At least, for now. I see. Well, let me explain some key details about gym establishment. Flipping through the document, Gakuji didnt bother with any bureaucratic posturing. Instead, he straightforwardly laid out the key pointswhat to expect, what to be cautious of, and what benefits or perks came with running a gym. He understood young people these days werent fond of empty rhetoric. He wasnt fond of it himself. He still considered himself youngafter all, he had only graduated from university a few years ago. Sometimes, he felt like adulthood was just a role-playing game. Imitating how adults spoke and acted to blend in. There were times when he saw his own reports being sent to various departments, and even he found it amusing. But since the people around him all operated this way, he played along. Being unique and standing out might seem cool and rebellious. But in a system, such individuals often found themselves isolated. However, Natsume wasnt the type to play mind games, so there was no need for pretenses. The call went by quickly. After a brief explanation, Fu Gakuji sent Natsume the document. Since it was a publicly available document, there wasnt anything sensitive about itjust an extra appendix with his personal notes. After hanging up, Gakuji stretched lazily. Looking around his slightly outdated office, he sighed and returned to his work. These days, who has time to slack off? Sure, coasting through work was fun, but it only got you so far. Getting results and moving upthat was the real game. He wasnt planning to spend his entire life stuck in this office. Meanwhile, on the farm, Natsume had received the document and started reading through it. As he read, his expression gradually became more serious. Slowking, I have an urgent task for you. Calling over Slowking, Natsume held up his phone. Help me go through this document. With Slowkings intelligence, it should be easy to grasp the key points. If he had such a convenient external brain, why not use it? Slowking, hands clasped behind its back, silently observed Natsume. Its already wise gaze now carried an additional hint of exasperation. Kid, could you at least try to think for yourself? After staring at Natsumes thick head of black hair for a moment, Slowking began pondering whether it should brew him some brain-boosting supplements. One idiot on the farmCorviknightwas already enough. Another would be too much. With a resigned sigh, Slowking began reviewing the public document. The requirements were fairly standard. At the very least, a gym leader needed strong abilities, a decent character, and financial stability. After all, a gym leader couldn''t be lacking in either skill or integrity. To keep a gym running, you needed a decent amount of funds. The League could reimburse certain expenses. But for day-to-day costs, you''d have to cover them yourself. After reading through the entire document, Slowking returned the phone to Natsume. "Yadon." Are you planning to open the gym now? Hands folded behind its back, Slowking gave Natsume a questioning look. It distinctly remembered Natsume mentioning that he had a lot on his plate. Like finding Ogerpons mask. "Of course not. Ill consider it after I deal with other things first." Waving a hand dismissively, Natsume had no intention of rushing into gym ownership. Right now, his priority was helping Ogerpon recover its mask. Truth be told, Natsume had considered this from the moment Ogerpon arrived. But he had hesitated, not just because of concerns about his strength or managing the farm. A major obstacle was that even Ogerpon itself had no idea Where exactly had it come from? When it first set out, it had just picked a random direction and run. Whenever it got tired, it would rest. Then it would wake up and continue aimlessly. How many times had it changed directions? Even it wasnt sure. So for the past while, Natsume had been trying to pinpoint Ogerpons original home. Fortunately, he had finally found a lead in recent days. Although Ogerpon wasnt entirely certain, it said the place sounded familiar. And that was enough for Natsume to take a look. "Yadon." Slowking nodded, indicating its understanding. Then, with the leisurely gait of an old man taking a stroll, it turned to leave. Only to be stopped by Natsume pressing down on its shoulder. "Hold on. Help me distribute todays lunch pokblocks first." "Then, come with me to Queen Vespiquens hive to collect honey." "Yadon..." With a sigh, Slowking suddenly understood how Gallade felt. So this was what it meant to be forced into overtime? How terrifying. And to think, humans did this dailywithout even getting paid? Humans were truly fearsome creatures. Slowking couldn''t imagine living like that. Trailing behind Natsume, Slowking headed for Gardevoirs little "workshop." Though it was called a "workshop," that was just a habit Long ago, Natsume had purchased a large batch of equipment and stored it in a nearby warehouse. These machines were used to process and produce low-grade energy cubes. They were primarily operated by Gardevoir and its sisters. The cubes produced were used to supplement meals for Pokmon living on the farm. Like Queen Vespiquen. Though the Combee colony resided on the farm, they werent exactly close to Natsume. Their interactions were mostly limited to honey collection. Otherwise, they kept to themselves. Sure, pokblocks were provided, but not with the same priority as Natsumes Pokmon. After all, humans naturally played favorites. Slowking understood this. What it didnt understand was Why did it have to carry everything? With a bag of pokblocks in one hand and glass jars for collecting honey in the other, Slowking felt like a grandpa coming home from grocery shopping. The whole situation felt oddly... humiliating. Like wearing pajamas in public while people whispered and pointed. "Long time no see, Queen Vespiquen." Standing before the massive hive, Natsume greeted the Queen with a smile. At the same time, his gaze curiously observed the structure. Although he had studied Combee colonies in textbooks, seeing one in reality was an entirely different experience. Some things just hit differently in person. Like a math test. From within the hive, Queen Vespiquen emerged, flapping her wings to welcome Natsume. Her feelings toward him? Complete and utter goodwill. Undoubtedly, Natsume was a kind and generous human. He provided a home, exchanged delicious energy cubes for honey, and never overstepped. To Combee, honey was invaluable But if there were alternative food sources, they werent completely reliant on it. The pokblocks Natsume provided werent just tasty They were also beneficial to the colonys young. Even Queen Vespiquen herself appreciated them. After years of eating honey, it was nice to switch things up. Given the choice, who would want to eat honey every single day? Sure, it was sweet, but there was no texture, no bite to it. Even in the wild, Queen Vespiquen occasionally gnawed on berries for variety. Now, thanks to Natsume, there were even better options. Shifting aside, she allowed Natsume a clear view of the hive. She even summoned the Combee to assist in gathering honey. "You dont want to run out of pokblocks, do you?" (Combee: nervous buzzing intensifies) "Here, this is for you." Taking the pokblocks from Slowking, Natsume handed them to Queen Vespiquen while collecting honey. Golden, viscous honey flowed into the glass jars. Sunlight streamed through the hives entrance, illuminating the honey like liquid amber A shimmering essence, as if solidified sunlight had been captured within. "Slowking, this ones for you." After filling a jar, Natsume handed it to Slowking. Though it despised overtime, Slowking always accompanied Natsume when needed. Partly because it was a request. Partly because Natsume always offered something in return. "Yadon." Accepting the jar, Slowking carefully examined the famed Honey Syrup that had glowing reviews online. Holding the glass container up to the sunlight, light refracted through the thick golden liquid Scattering into dazzling rays, making the jar resemble an enchanted crystal orb. Bringing it closer, the aroma was unmistakable A rich, untainted sweetness, the purest gift from nature. Slowking tilted its head, dipped a finger in, and tasted it. The honeys sweetness unfurled on its tongue Silky smooth, lingering and delicate, like velvet. Slowkings eyes slowly widened. So this was why humans raved about this honey. It was good. Licking its fingers clean, it then smeared a bit onto Shellders mouth. Then, ever so carefully, it resealed the jar and tucked it away. It would savor this later. Perhaps in the future, it could trade more items with Queen Vespiquen for honey. After all, they werent eating much of it themselves these days. "Yadon." Ill help too, Natsume. "Alright, lets do it together." With Slowking assisting, they quickly filled an entire batch of honey jars. Just looking at them was enough to make ones heart feel warm and satisfied. Was this the joy of a bountiful harvest? Throughout the process, Queen Vespiquen remained utterly unbothered She simply nibbled on an pokblock while chatting with Natsume. Had this been in the wild, Natsume would have been swarmed by now. But here, it was a normal exchange. Natsume never took everything He always left enough honey for the colony. What he took could be considered surplus. Or perhaps, reserves. As for concerns? Queen Vespiquen didnt have many. She was quite content with farm life. If she had to nitpick There werent enough flowers on the farm. Sure, Berry Trees bloomed, but their flowering periods were short. Her Combee had to travel far beyond the farm to gather nectar. So, she hoped Natsume could plant more flowers around the farm. That way, her children wouldnt have to fly so far to collect nectar. "No ProblemI''ll Start the Garden Once the Sun Stone Arrives." Queen Vespiquens request wasnt difficult for Natsume to fulfill. Since coming to the farm, he had learned many things. But gardening? Yeah... he definitely lacked talent in that area. It was only after living independently that he truly realized He had quite a few shortcomings. "Alright then, Ill be heading back now." "Yadon." With a casual wave, Natsume bid farewell to Vespiquen. Beside him, Slowking used Psychic to levitate an array of honey jars, floating alongside him. Clutching the pokblocks Natsume had gifted her, Vespiquen waved back. Then "Bzzzt!" What are you looking at? Get back to collecting nectar! She barked at the Combee, who had been watching the exchange. The more honey they gathered, the more pokblocks she could trade for. And the more she got to eat. A simple equation formed in Vespiquens mind. As for the Combee? Shed let them taste just a littleenough to keep them working. Lounging atop her throne of syrupy sweetness, Queen Vespiquen sighed contentedly. At her command, the Combee buzzed off in all directions, continuing their tireless labor So that their beloved Queen could eat more energy cubes. In some strange way, they truly adored her. --- Back at the farm, Natsume and Slowking first delivered part of the honey to Gardevoirs workshop. The rest was carefully stored away. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmm aside from Fire-types, I should also get some Ice-types." Placing the last jar into the fridge, Natsume realized His farm lacked certain elemental types. Perhaps because Lianshan Town was just a small countryside village It had no particular regional specialties or rare Pokmon populations. Most Pokmon in the area were the kind you could find anywhere. Like Mightyena and Oddish. You could see those species all over the world. "Yadon." Ill be heading back now. Seeing that Natsume had finished, Slowking announced its departure. It planned to return to the lake. Though a Water-type Pokmon, Slowking rarely lounged in the water. It preferred the lakeshore. The air was humid, the sunlight warm This was Slowkings ideal environment. "You worked hard today, Slowking." Digging through his supplies, Natsume retrieved a bag of custom-made pokblocks. He handed them to Slowking, urging it to try them. It was said that Champions and Elite Four members had specialized breeder teams Managing everything from training regimens to meal plans and relaxation therapy. Each Pokmon had a professional team analyzing their training data and tailoring their nutrition accordingly. So, Natsume had started making custom energy cubes for his Pokmon, too. Of course, lacking the professional equipment, he couldnt perform detailed analyses. But he had confidence in his craftsmanship. "Yadon." Under Natsumes encouragement, Slowking pinched one of the cubes. Visually, it was already a work of art. At the core was a deep rose-pink Not a light peach hue, but a rich, vivid shade of crimson. Encircling this core was a deep, oceanic blue A color so rich it seemed to shift like flowing water, forming rippling patterns along the cubes surface. Embedded within the blue were flecks of starlight Tiny glowing specks, pulsing in and out like fireflies caught in an eternal dance. It resembled a jewel, meticulously sculpted from the purest crystal. A masterpiece so exquisite that if a human girl saw it, she might hesitate to eat it. Slowking, however, was utterly unfazed. Without hesitation, it popped the cube into its mouth. It was pretty. And probably tasted good, too. At the very moment it touched Slowkings tongue, the cube melted into a wave of pure, nourishing energy. A soothing warmth coursed through its body Enveloping every cell, invigorating every fiber of its being. Any lingering fatigue vanished, replaced by a deep, refreshing clarity. Even its thoughts felt sharper. Since Slowking was a Water/Psychic-type, Natsume had specially blended water- and psychic-based ingredients to create this cube. He hadnt named it yet. For now, hed call it Slowking No. 1. Opening its eyes, Slowking gave Natsume a thumbs-up. "Yadon." This is incredible. The best pokblocks Ive ever eaten. The flavor was perfectly to its liking. Slowking had never encountered an energy cube superior to this. After all, it had been crafted specifically for it. Not only in terms of ingredients Even the texture had been adjusted to match Slowkings preferences. Even if it wasnt custom-made, it would still be classified as a top-tier product. If sold, it would be priced per piece. Even if buyers provided their own ingredients, theyd still have to pay a ridiculous processing fee. A significant portion of the farms profits each month was funneled into pokblocks production. The Pokmon here had huge appetites. Two of the biggest offenders? A certain raven and a certain pink feline. Corviknight and Mew were the farms top consumers. Especially Mew That thing even transformed into a Snorlax just to binge-eat. Then, after stuffing itself silly, itd revert to its normal form and lie around all day, unable to move. This had happened more than once. At first, Natsume worried that eating too much as Snorlax might rupture Mews stomach upon transforming back. But clearly, he had overthought it. Legendary Pokmon defied common logic Even when it came to eating. Right, Ting-Lu? Despite its massive size, Ting-Lu hardly ate much. Maybe it preferred feeding on fear instead. Unfortunately, Natsume hadnt yet figured out how to convert something abstract like fear into an pokblock. Just collecting and storing it was already a challenge. Sure, Ting-Lus bronze cauldron could absorb and hold fear But taking that off its head to experiment? Yeah probably not a good idea. "Here, take this batch with you. Ill make more later." "But I wont be mass-producing these." "Theyre not meant to replace your regular mealsjust an occasional supplement." "If you start getting picky and skipping meals, thats on you." Natsume laid down the rules early, knowing some Pokmon cough Corviknight cough had a history of being problematic. Corviknight was basically a walking cautionary tale. "Yadon." Hearing this, Slowking hesitated. Ah it really wanted to eat more. The taste wasnt the main draw It was the effects. Long-term consumption would steadily improve its Psychic power. Even boosting its Special Attack. After some thought, Slowking devised a plan Whenever it ate these special pokblocks, it would remove Shellder from its head first. This way, it could enjoy the entire cube by itself. What? It was a Pokmon. Eating alone was perfectly normal. Satisfied with its own brilliance, Slowking once again admired its own wisdom. As expected of me. I actually came up with such a brilliant idea. Slowking left, fully satisfied with its specially crafted Slowking No.1 pokblocks. Before it left, Natsume specifically reminded Slowking to keep it a secret. Although he had been researching customized pokblocks for his close Pokmon, so far, only Slowking''s and Persian''s were completed. The rest were still in the research phase. Slowking''s was finished first because Natsume happened to have the right materials on hand. Plus, when he was making a Psychic-type pokblocks tailored for Gardevoir and the others, he had already done some relevant studies. As for Persian, it was simply because they had lived together since childhood. It had long since had its own exclusive pokblocks. Usually, all Natsume had to do was tweak the formula every so often to better suit Persians current needs. But for the other Pokmon, they would have to wait a bit longer. Both the materials and the formula were still being refined. Especially the ingredient ratios. If Mew hadnt brought back some local specialties last time, the research on Slowking''s exclusive pokblocks might not have progressed this quickly. After sending Slowking off, Natsume returned to his room. He was about to flop straight onto the bed, but then he remembered that he had been out all day. So he took off his jacket first. If he lay down like this, he might dirty the bedsheets that Lopunny had just changed this morning. Natsume cared a lot about the efforts of his Pokmon. He used to live like a stereotypical bachelor. Dirty clothes piled up in a corner until he had time to wash them all at once. Sometimes, hed wear the same outfit for several days, just swapping between slightly cleaner clothes. His home wasnt exactly filthy, but it was definitely messy. He had a habit of leaving things wherever he last used themthen promptly forgetting where he put them. Like his phone. Natsume often left his phone somewhere and then had to rummage through the entire house to find it again. But that was the old Natsume. Now, he was working on changing. Since the household chores were usually handled by Cinccino. Whether it was out of cleanliness or a sense of responsibility, Cinccino was always tidying up. Not just the house they lived in now, Even the old house, which had been converted into a storage and pokblock production room, was still regularly cleaned by Cinccino. But sometimes, even it felt a bit overwhelmed. So Cinccino had occasionally considered finding a helper. Indeedee''s younger sister did pitch in with the cleaning, But she had her own tasks to handle as well. So for the most part, Cinccino took care of the housework alone. To lighten its load, Natsume made sure to keep things tidy himself. He also set some ground rules for the little troublemakers in the house Like Togepi and Hisuian Zorua. Pop quiz! Who makes the best target for pranks? The carefree jokester? The indifferent nihilist? Wrong. Its the serious, no-nonsense type. For those two little rascals, Cinccino was the perfect target for their antics. Though, of course, if it caught them, theyd get a proper beating. But that was fine! As long as they ran faster than Togepi (or Hisuian Zorua) next time, theyd be fine! Natsume had already put his foot down on this matter. They were absolutely forbidden from messing up the areas Cinccino had just cleaned. If they dared, dinner would be canceled that night. And theyd be assigned to housecleaning duty the next day. Under Natsumes strict orders, Togepi and Hisuian Zorua finally behaved a little better. Raising Pokmon was a lot like raising children. They needed encouragement, praise, and patience. But they also needed discipline and consequences. Especially when they misbehaved. Spoiling them without limits would only turn them into brainless, unruly brats. Sometimes, being strict was absolutely necessary. Natsume took this responsibility seriously. Though he wasnt naturally good at being strict with childlike Pokmon, He understood the importance of setting boundaries. Persian used to be the enforcer, keeping the new Pokmon in check. Now, Natsume was taking on that role himself. After unlocking his phone, a few messages popped up on his screen. [Mei: That tiny gym? Easy win~] [Mei: Another fun and happy day!] Below was a selfie of Mei holding up a Gym Badge. In the background, the Gyms entrance stood tall, with Serperior beside her, proudly raising its head. Its expression was practically glowing with joy. For Mei, whats the first thing to do after getting stronger? Revenge! Sweet, sweet revenge! Mei still remembered exactly why she had ended up at Natsumes farm in the first place. If it werent for that trash-talking Gym Leader crushing her and Serperiors confidence, She wouldnt have needed to retreat and rebuild her mindset. But now that she was strong? Time to settle the score! Mei never forgets a grudge! The moment she left the farm, she booked the earliest high-speed train ticket and scheduled a Gym Battle online. Enough time had passed since her last defeat, so her cooldown period was over. Her appointment was accepted without issue. When she stepped onto the battlefield, she didnt waste time with trash talk. She didnt say, "This time, Ill definitely win." Actions speak louder than words. Last time, she got crushed. This time, she would be the one crushing. It wasnt just MeiSerperior felt the same way. According to Mei, this time, Serperior was going all out. That trash-talking Toxicroak from last time? Absolutely demolished. And it didnt stop thereSerperior unleashed a verbal onslaught too. A full-on physical and psychological beatdown. It felt amazing!!! So this is the power of trash talk! Serperior finally understood why Corviknight loved throwing jabs mid-battle. The night before they left, Serperior secretly went to Corviknight. It wanted a crash course in trash talk. Nothing too complicatedjust enough to handle the next battle. And Corviknight didnt disappoint. It compiled a whole list of counterattacks specifically targeting that Toxicroak. Now, Serperior could proudly say: Its trash-talking skills were Corviknight-certified. "Caw caw!" Serperior, my friend, youre ready for the internet now. That was Corviknights official evaluation. [AlarmClockRingsButStillTooEarly: Congrats, future Eastern Champion Mei!] [Mei: Shhh, keep it lowkey. You knowing is enough.] After Mei left, she had asked Natsume to update her contact name. She did the same for him. But while Natsumes was just a simple name tag, Meis note had a touch of playful mischief. What was it? She wouldnt say. She only told him that she had changed iton purposejust to make him guess. Natsume, of course, had absolutely no clue. If there was anything in the world he truly couldnt understand, It was mathematical equations, physics formulas, chemistry reactions And the minds of girls. And so, his vast knowledge gap expanded once more. The two chatted for a bit, sharing their recent experiences. After her Gym victory, Meis luck seemed to skyrocket. On her way back to the Pokmon Center, she ran into an adorable Solosis. Just like the Purrloin she had caught before, it was a city-dwelling stray. It was out looking for food when it locked eyes with Mei. A brief exchange later, they clicked instantly. Join me, and Ill take care of food and shelter! Though she hadnt checked its full potential yet, At a glance, Solosis seemed to have excellent talent. During their video call, Mei couldnt stop showing off her new partner. Looking at the dazed expression on Solosiss face, Natsume couldnt help but feel like this little guy was quite similar to the Slowpoke from before. Even now, when Slowking entered its zoning-out mode, it would wear the exact same look. Maybe Slowking would take an interest in this kid. Slowkings taste was... peculiar. It wasnt fond of smart Pokmon. It wasnt impressed by powerful ones. It looked down on fools and ignored the weak. But when it came to the weird and inexplicable, it was oddly fascinated. And this Solosis was just as clueless as Slowpoke had been back then. Natsume had a feeling Slowking might find it interesting. After chatting for a bit, Mei ended the video call. Or rather, Serperior did. From the other side of the call, Serperior was nagging Mei to go take a bath. She had promised to shower early and go to bed. But the moment she got back to her room, she flopped onto her bed and started chatting with Natsume instead. Go shower already! If you wait any longer, youre gonna stink! Clamping onto the back of Meis collar with its mouth, Serperior yanked her off the bed and tossed her straight into the bathroom. Ugh, the stench of love is about to suffocate the whole room! After forcing Mei into the bathroom, Serperior let out a long sigh. It turned to the screen, gave Natsume a few quick calls, then used Vine Whip to end the call. With a flick of its tail against its Pok Ball, it returned inside. The Pokmon Centers rooms were well-equipped, But their size was just... average. Small Pokmon had no problem. But for Serperior, the space was a bit cramped. Might as well rest inside its Pok Ball instead. On the other end, after the call ended, Natsume casually tossed his phone onto the bedside table. Lying quietly on the bed, he started thinking about tomorrows plans. Earlier today, he had already gone over things with the Indeedee siblings and Chansey. If he wasnt at the farm, what needed to be done, how to keep things running smoothly He had laid it all out for them. He even gave them each a phone. That way, they could contact him anytime while he was away. Even though he wouldnt be gone for long, Natsume still wanted to be fully prepared. Luckily, he had a game-breaking cheat on his side. As long as Mew was around, Natsume didnt have to worry about anything major happening. Even if something did go wrong, Mew could just Teleport back in an instant. Then, there was the question of which Pokmon to bring along. Rolling over, Natsume began planning his lineup. Yep, he was planning to leave either tomorrow or the day after. Ogerpon, while already quite strong now, Still wasnt at its peak. In the games, Ogerpon had at least retained one of its original masksthe Verdant Maskdespite losing the other three. But the one at Natsumes farm? It didnt even have that. The masks it wore now were just ones Natsume had bought for it. They looked nice, and Ogerpon liked them But they had no real effect. Let alone altering its typing. That kind of transformation wasnt something an ordinary mask could achieve. Only special items with unique properties could make it happen. Speaking of special items, Natsume suddenly recalled an amusing debate he had seen online. People often discussed items like Dragon Fang or Poison Barb Things that naturally existed in the world and had special properties. It made sense for them to be categorized as held items. But what about things like Black Glasses, Scope Lens, or Destiny Knot? Those were clearly human-made! Why did they count as special items too? Many people couldnt wrap their heads around it. But to Natsume, the answer seemed pretty simple. It was probably just Hisuis Almighty Creator cutting corners. "Come on, Ive worked so hard creating all these worldscant I take a little shortcut?" Just as Natsume was lost in thought "Yimo." The door creaked open slightly. A little electric mouse slipped in through the gap. Spotting Natsume lying on the bed, Emolga climbed up the sheets. It found a cozy spot, fluffed up the blanket with its tiny paws, and snuggled in comfortably. As for a certain green-tea cat? Tied up and tossed into the litter box. A mere little cat And you think you can compete with me?! Thinking about its victory, Emolga drifted off to sleep, feeling immensely satisfied. It would let that cat out tomorrow morning. That was the plan. However "Whoosh!" The next second, Emolga felt itself being teleported somewhere unfamiliar. Natsumes scent was gone. Blinking in confusion, Emolga looked up And saw a blue-and-white, bipedal feline. Its body was mainly white, with blue limbs and tail. Under the moonlight, the felines expression was ice-cold, its pupils glowing with an eerie blue light. Like a reaper, here to claim its prey. "Yimo!" Youre that green-tea cat?! Even though the form had changed, Emolga recognized it immediately. MeowsticPurrloins evolved form. It wasnt as cute as before. But its power had definitely taken a leap. And, more importantly This Meowstic was female. The Pokdex had a very clear description. Female Meowstic were more assertive, more dominant And if you pissed one off, it would not go easy on you. And right now? She was absolutely pissed. Raising a paw, a surge of psychic energy erupted. "YIMO!" That night, Emolgas screams echoed far into the distance. A while later, the newly evolved Meowstic strolled gracefully into Natsumes room. With a light leap, she landed on his bed. Settling into the cozy little nest Emolga had made in the blankets, she stretched out comfortably. Mmm, quite nice. As for that scheming little rat? It was now buried in the litter box. With a psychic barrier ensuring it wouldnt escape anytime soon. Of course, Meowstic was thoughtful enough to leave its head exposed. She was, after all, a kind and compassionate Pokmon. At the foot of the bed, Persian lifted its head, glancing at Meowstic. After confirming she wasnt causing any further trouble, it lowered its head back down. A bit of squabbling among the Pokmon was no big deal. Pokmon werent exactly known for being peaceful creatures. But if anyone dared to stir up chaos in the middle of the night Thats when Persian would step in. And at that point, itd be one paw per little troublemaker. Lets be realMeowstic, Emolga, these kinds of Pokmon? They wouldnt last more than a single round against Persian. Even evolved, they were no match. One hit from Persian, and theyd be the ones owing it HP. Thats the power of the farms undisputed No.2 (crossed out) second-in-command. Kneading the blankets with its paws, Persian let out a yawn and drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. Even though Natsume hadnt said it outright, Persian already knew When they set out to find that mask, Natsume was definitely bringing it along. So it had to be well-rested. Because knowing Natsume, this trip wouldnt just be about the mask. Hed probably treat it like an excuse to experience the thrill of a Pokmon Trainers journey. Buy a ticket, depart, find the mask, fight, retrieve the mask. Then go home. That was Natsumes plan. Persian could already see right through him. After so many years together, it could practically read Natsumes mind. Right now, he was probably overthinking, debating whether to get up and check if he had forgotten anything. If he didnt check, hed feel uneasy. If he did check, hed feel like he was being paranoid and overthinking things. He was most likely stuck in that mental tug-of-war right now. Persian lazily cracked one eye open and glanced at him. Yep. Eyes open. Called it. With that, Persian shut its eyes again and went back to resting. The Next Morning Natsume got up early. He had spent half the night agonizing over whether to get out of bed. In the end, he didnt. But first thing in the morning, he decided he had to check. "Okay, potions, first-aid kit, food, Pokblocks, Pok Balls..." He stuffed all sorts of things into his space backpack. Since he had never been on a proper journey before, he wasnt sure what was absolutely necessary. So the solution? Just bring everything. Better safe than sorry. Besides, it was a space backpack. Even if it still had weight, his superhuman Hisuian physique could handle it, no problem. A heavy backpack was just physical strain. But forgetting something crucial? That was mental torture. If he didnt pack enough supplies, no matter how far he got, hed be stuck feeling uneasy. Hell, he might even turn around after just a few steps out of the farm to grab something he forgot. "Alright, that should be everything." Placing the bag onto the couch, Natsume clapped his hands in satisfaction. Fully stocked upnow he could relax. Now, the only question was who to bring along. "Hmm, let me think..." Ignoring the Mew floating around, trying to get his attention, Natsume reached up and snatched the pink cat right out of the air, pulling it into a relentless cuddle session. Then, with a casual toss, he flung Mew onto the couch. Mew landed, utterly bewildered. It felt like it had just gotten sucked into something. But also... like it hadnt? Everything had happened too fast. Its brain hadnt even processed it yet. "Persian, Gardevoir, Gallade, Shiny Furret, Absol, Corviknight." After a moment of thought, Natsume listed off a few names. The selected Pokmon lined up before him, standing at attention as they were recalled into their Pok Balls one by one. "Muu-ma!" The unselected Ogerpon pranced anxiously in front of Natsume, hopping up and down. Why am I not going?! I want in too! "Relax, of course youre coming." Ruffling the top of Ogerpon''s head, Natsume reassured it with a smile. This whole trip was to help Ogerpon retrieve its masks. There was no way he wouldnt bring it. He had just skipped mentioning it because... "Mew, Ting-Luyoure coming too." Grabbing the still-dazed Mew from the couch, Natsume called out to Ting-Lu, who had been watching from the doorway. Technically, Manaphy and Cresselia were still at the farm too. He could bring them along. But in the end, he decided to take only Mew and Ting-Lu. For one, his teams combat strength was already overkill. Way more than necessary. He wasnt sure if Ogerpon''s masks were still in the hands of those three. If they were, greathed beat them up to help Ogerpon let off some steam. If they werent? Didnt matter. He was determined to retrieve those masks, no matter what. Even if they were in Giratinas hands, hed still go and try. This is the confidence Mew has given me. Just kidding. Giratina deserved some respect. That was not a Pokmon he was ready to mess with. The other reason for leaving Manaphy and Cresselia behind was simple Technically, they were guests at the farm. And you dont make your guests run errands for you. "Mew~" Dangling from Natsumes hand, Mew wriggled like a spinning top, trying to break free. Too bad. Its scruff had been grabbed. Pink kitty protests! Unlike the squirming Mew, Ting-Lu remained calm. It was a former opponent, now a captured Pokmon. Nothing to say about that. And to be fair, Natsume had treated it well at the farm. The food was good, the drinks were good Even though its personal Pokblock recipe wasnt finished yet, At least it could see that Natsume was putting in the effort. That was enough. Whether due to combat prowess or other factors, Ting-Lu was now more than happy to lend its strength to Natsume. It wasnt great at much. But fighting? That was the one thing it excelled at. Alright, boss, who are we wrecking today? How many? In the past, every battle it fought had been seen as a harbinger of disaster. But now? It was a Trainers Pokmon. No matter who it fought, it was all perfectly justified. During the last video shoot, Rotom had wanted to film a segment on it. Too bad Natsume shut that down. He didnt want to attract that much attention Yet. Rotom had promised to give it more screen time in the future, though. Ting-Lu was looking forward to it. After recalling Ting-Lu and Ogerpon, Natsume dangled Mew in front of him. Taking the hint, Mew transformed into a Flabb. One without a flower. Flabb was one of the smallest Pokmon in the world. Its average height was only ten centimeters. And that was with a flower. Without one, it was even tinier. In its new form, Mew clung onto Natsumes hair and sprawled across his head. Ah, the view from up here is great. "You..." Natsume poked the tiny Flabb-Mew but said nothing more. Before heading out, he gave a final briefing to the Indeedee siblings and Slowking. With those three in charge, he was confident the farm would be fine. Between their strength and intelligence, everything was covered. "Lets go!" "B-b!" Perched atop Natsumes head, Mew let out a perfect Flabb cry. As the worlds oldest and most experienced cosplayer, Mew understood that cosplay must be flawless. From appearance to voice to behavior Everything had to be meticulously accurate. Half-hearted cosplays? Absolutely unacceptable. Riding atop Gogoat, Natsume soon reached the farms entrance. Gazing down the now well-trodden dirt road, he stepped forward into the sunlight. This journey would likely be filled with challenges. But risk and opportunity always went hand in hand. The path to success was paved with "Can you not narrate in my head?" Natsume firmly flicked the Mew on his head. This little gremlin was up to something again. Suddenly, a voice echoed in Natsumes mind Mental narration mode activated. "Mew~" Ehehe~ Tilting its head in a playful manner, Mew struck an innocent pose before obediently settling down atop Natsumes head, ceasing its antics. What? The road ahead looked a bit boring, so I thought Id give you something to do. "Yeah, yeah, sure." Rolling his eyes, Natsume casually tossed a Pok Ball. A burst of starlight scattered as golden feathers gleamed in the sunlight The majestic figure of a Shiny Pidgeot emerged. "Piiiii!" Spreading its wings wide, the Shiny Pidgeot let out a triumphant cry. This is it! My first official assignment from Boss Natsume! Excitement surged through Pidgeots heart. Sure, it was being used as a means of transport rather than a front-line fighter like Corviknight. But this was still progress! A huge step forward! It had to seize this chance and continue proving itself! Pidgeot clenched its beak in determination. Ill do my best! Take me to this location. Natsume patted his pocket, prompting his Rotom Phone to automatically float out and activate its navigation mode. With a flicker of light, the screen displayed the designated coordinates. "Pii!" Glancing at the map, Pidgeot let out a sharp cry and flapped its wings powerfully. In the blink of an eye, it shot into the sky like a golden streak, disappearing from the grounds view, leaving only a distant speck in the horizon. This was the culmination of its tireless training. When it came to raw speed, Pidgeot was confident No Pokmon could surpass it. Well At least not within the farm. Chapter 134: The Missing Verdant Mask Riding on Shiny Pidgeot felt completely different from riding on Corviknight. Flying with Corviknight was like taking a scenic tour The landscape stretched out in all directions, unobstructed. The breathtaking view stirred emotions deep in ones chest, making it hard not to wax poetic. Unfortunately, Natsume wasnt exactly the poetic type. Composing verses? That was a bit too much to ask of him. Sometimes, Natsume would sigh and thinkyep, he was just an average, ordinary guy. Totally unremarkable in every way. (Alright, lets all just pretend thats true.) Now, riding on Shiny Pidgeot? Two words Pure adrenaline. The chaotic turbulence made it impossible to keep his eyes open. The wind roaring past his ears drowned out every other sound. In that moment, the world blurred into nothing but streaks of color and the deafening howls of the wind. Clutching tightly onto Shiny Pidgeots feathers, Natsume felt as if he were on a rollercoaster ride Only a hundred times wilder. And Shiny Pidgeot? It was absolutely loving this. A rare chance to fly at full speed, with an actual destination in mind It was nothing like those casual flights around the farm. Now, it could truly feel it This was what it was born for. This was its sky! Flapping its wings with renewed vigor, Shiny Pidgeot accelerated once more. A series of sonic booms burst behind it as it tore through the air. "Alright, lets land up ahead," Natsume called out, struggling to keep his eyes open. But by the time he finished his sentence, they had almost overshot the spot he was pointing to. Pidgeot! Shiny Pidgeot quickly adjusted, pulling into a steep dive. It plummeted like a bomber before stabilizing at the last second, landing smoothly on the ground. For it, this was childs play. Flying? That was its expertise. Some believed that Shiny Pokmon, aside from their unusual coloration, also possessed unique innate talents. So far, Shiny Pidgeot hadnt quite figured out what its own special gift was. Maybe it was just this An absolute mastery of flight. And that was fine by it. One day, it would replace Corviknight as Natsumes number one flying ride. That was its goal. "To be born as a mighty warrior!" (cue dramatic manga panel pose) It was a long way from making that dream a reality But that didnt stop it from daydreaming about its future. It could already picture it The day when Natsume only called for it when traveling. Corviknight? Left to sulk in the shadows. Ah, just imagining it felt so, so satisfying. And then... "Return." A flash of red light. And Shiny Pidgeot was sucked back into its Pok Ball. Natsume adjusted his wind-ruffled clothes, tucked his Rotom Phone into his pocket, and stepped into the city. Most cities had strict regulations against trainers flying in on Pokmon without the proper licenses. Even small towns had rules to prevent people from just riding their Pokmon straight in. Unless you wanted to spend some quality time in a holding cell, it was best to follow the rules. Pokmon really are incredible creatures Taking in the distinct architecture around him, Natsume couldnt help but marvel. Even after all these years, this world still amazed him. Originally, he had thought about taking the bullet train here. But then he realized Shiny Pidgeot was way faster. So, halfway through his journey, he just had it fly him the rest of the way. That was the Super Hisui Human? experience for you. Sure, Shiny Pidgeots speed was absurdly fast. But the height and velocity? No normal human could withstand it. Even trained fighter pilots would struggle. Yet, Natsume? It was just another slightly thrilling experience. At most, hed describe it as an exciting ride. Nothing a Super Hisuian Human couldnt handle. Sweeping his gaze around, Natsume confirmed Yep, this was the place. Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti These three werent widely known in folklore. Even in the age of the internet, they remained obscure. Kind of like those niche local deities Famous only within their tiny villages. It had taken Rotom a while to narrow this location down. But now, here he was. "Lets see..." Ignoring the curious stares of passersby, Natsume pulled up the compiled information on his phone. In the original games version of the story, those three Pokmon were celebrated as heroes of Kitakami Village Even worshipped by the locals. The mask-maker had tried to tell them the truth That they were thieves, not heroes. But instead of listening, the villagers branded him a heretic and persecuted him. Yep. Classic Kitakami Villagers behavior. Sure, it was "understandable" from their perspective But also? Sar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Screw that. A misunderstanding didnt change the fact that the guy had been hunted down and punished for simply telling the truth. Just those words"persecuted as a heretic"were enough to paint a clear picture. In the real world, the situation had played out somewhat similarly. Ogrepon was labeled a fearsome demon While Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti were hailed as heroes. The difference? Unlike the game, those three Pokmon were still alive. Which meant They were still holding on to the stolen masks. "The Well Mask, the Hearth Mask, and the Cornerstone Mask should all be with them." "But the Verdant Mask its location is still unknown." When Ogrepon fled, it had somehow lost its last remaining mask along the way. It had no idea where it had dropped it. Its mind had been in a complete haze Lost in grief and despair. It didnt even remember how it lost the mask. Compared to that mystery, the other three masks were easy to retrieve. It was just like a video game. Find the boss. Defeat the boss. Collect the loot. Rubbing his chin (which had zero facial hair), Natsume thought for a moment. Step onetalk to the locals. People whod lived here long enough might know something about old village legends. Unfortunately, his external brain wasnt with him this time. That wouldve made things way easier. For now, hed just have to make do. If he ran into trouble, he could always call for backup. Tapping a Pok Ball twice, Natsume released Gallade. "Alright, youre filling in as my external brain today." Patting Gallade on the shoulder, he entrusted it with a very serious task. Gallade let out a long sigh. Buddy, my own brain barely works. And now you want me to be yours too? ...Well, if thats what the boss wanted. As for Ogrepon? Natsume decided not to release it just yet. Returning to the place where everything had fallen apart That wasnt something he wanted to spring on it immediately. Not until he had beaten down those three thieves and set the record straight. Once that was done Then hed let Ogrepon step forward. Chapter 135: Hello, Thief Gathering information turned out to be much easier than Natsume had anticipated. At first, he was treated like a walking half-million in cash, but conversing with the younger crowd was surprisingly smooth. After all, these were people who had grown up in the modern world, immersed in the internet. Nothing really surprised them anymore. A Trainer exploring the area? That was nothing. Even if someone decided to do a handstand in the middle of the street while suffering from an upset stomach, the most people would do was casually record the spectacle and send it to their friendsjust to gross them out. "No way I''m suffering through this alone!" "So far, it seems like those three have been sticking around this area without straying too far." "But they also never appear before humans." Based on the information Natsume had gathered and the scarce eyewitness accounts, he was fairly certain those three Pokmon were still nearby. For some reason, they hadn''t left yet. Maybe they were waiting for Ogerpon to return so they could snatch its last mask. Or perhaps they were keeping an eye on each others masks. Who knew? Natsume could hardly understand human motives, let alone those of Pokmon. "Gallade, what do you think?" Closing his notebook, Natsume turned to the Pokmon beside him. As a Psychic-type, Gallade possessed a certain level of insight into human emotions. Especially its evolutionary line, which included Gardevoir. Gallade was no exception. While it couldn''t analyze and strategize like a Slowking, it could at least help Natsume discern truth from lies. "Gallade." Standing half a step behind Natsume, arms crossed, Gallade contemplated for a moment before concluding Enough talk. Time for action. So far, those three thieves showed no intention of revealing themselves. If they had the Teal Mask, maybe they could try using it as bait. But unfortunately, they didnt. Strictly speaking, Ogerpon itself would make even better bait than the mask. If Natsume let Ogerpon out, word would spread across the town in an instant. It probably wouldnt take long before those three showed up on their own. But that idea was quickly dismissed as soon as it formed in Gallades mind. On normal days, Ogerpon got along well with those three. It even helped babysit Gallade and Gardevoirs younger siblings from time to time, giving them a rare chance to relax. Though, to be fair, Ogerpon mostly just wanted to play. Still, their friendship was real. They had all been forced to leave their homes, wandering from place to place until they finally found somewhere to belong. In some ways, Gallade could understand the sadness in Ogerpons heart. Forcing it to stand in the place it was driven from, surrounded by hostile gazes from all sides That was just cruel. Strength and emotional resilience didnt always go hand in hand. Ogerpon might be strong, but deep down, it was still just a child. And for sensitive children, even an unintentional glance could be unsettling. "Yeah, just wandering around like this isnt getting us anywhere." After thinking it over, Natsume had to agree. If not for his goal of clearing Ogerpons name, he wouldnt have wasted time probing the townsfolks opinions about it and those three thieves in the first place. After all, in the games, those three were nothing more than punching bags for Ogerpon. Natsume figured even Corviknight could take them in a one-on-one fight. "Wait these guys are supposed to be legendary?" Tapping his fingers against his notebook, Natsume hesitated. According to the games, theyd be classified as Mythical Pokmon at best. But their story? Stealing things, getting absolutely wrecked by Ogerpon, and then being given a grand burial by the locals? Yeah. Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti got completely obliterated by Ogerpon. Thats quite the reputation. Or ratherwhat reputation? This was almost as bad as Phione, the so-called "Sea Drifter" that had been relegated to nothing more than a common species due to its numbers and poor in-game performance. Actually, no. In some ways, Phione was better. At least it was cute. Phione had them beat in terms of looksthree to one. Yeah. That made it even more embarrassing. Now that he thought about it, Natsume kind of hoped those three were classified as Legendary or Mythical Pokmon. That way, Suicune could finally shed its title as the most disgraceful Legendary. Sure, Suicune might have had some embarrassing moments, but back in the day, the Legendary Beasts still carried an air of dignity and elegance. What changed? Pokmon used to have so much personalitycool ones, cute ones, terrifying ones. Even the ugly ones had their own distinct charm. But these days? A lot of them just looked weird. Forgettable, even. Well, except for Basculegion. That one was awesome. It had the kind of powerful beauty that made an impression. "Rotom, bring up the map." "Got it, Roto!" Still dizzy from its motion sickness, Rotom had been resting in Natsumes pocket. It floated out, and the phone screen lit up automatically, displaying a map with a chibi avatar of Natsume in the center. That was something Rotom had designed a few days ago when it was bored. It had been quite a challenge. Unlike those characters who wore a single outfit throughout an entire story, Natsumes appearance changed too often for one distinct look to stand out. Rotom had put in a lot of effort to create this design. "Lets start with Munkidori." "If I remember correctly, the last sighting was around" Holding his phone, Natsume studied the map. Generally speaking, monkey-like charactersor monkey Pokmon, for that mattertended to have a few common traits. Cunning. Sneaky. The moment they sensed trouble, theyd immediately hide or escape. Which inevitably led to drawn-out chase scenes. A complete waste of time. Munkidori was a Poison/Psychic-type. Just looking at that typing, Natsume could already tell it was going to be an annoying opponent. Hed probably have to deal with some headaches. To prevent it from hiding, he decided to deal with it first. Take down the most slippery one first, then move on to the other two. After that, he could gather the evidence needed to clear Ogerpons name. Natsume wasnt planning to convince the townsfolk of anything. Changing a belief that had been ingrained for years wasnt easy. In the past, this kind of situation would have required a crisisone where Ogerpon had to step in, prove itself through countless trials, and finally, finally resolve the misunderstanding. But now? This was the internet age. Once he had proof, all he had to do was reach out to some media outlets, throw some money around, and flood the web with reports. Slap it on the trending list for a few days. Done. People loved drama. If anything, watching idols fall from grace was an instinctual, almost primal form of entertainment. Warlords defeated. Saints exposed as frauds. Wealthy tycoons bankrupt. People never got tired of that kind of story. Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti had once been revered as noble companions And now? They were about to be exposed as nothing more than common thieves. Natsume could already picture the chaos online. Would people believe it? The answer is: absolutely. And a lot of them, too. Because stories about a dramatic downfall and reversal are exactly the kind of narratives people love to see. Once they latch onto it, theyll cling to it as truth. "Gallade." Natsume, fix your expression. Walking half a step behind, Gallade gently poked Natsumes arm. Natsumes current expression looked questionable, to say the least. Like one of those scheming anime villains plotting against the protagonist. In short, not the face of a good guy. "Ah, right." Natsume rubbed his face and returned to his usual expression. This is what you call changing faces (strike that). "Come on out, Gardevoir, Absol." After leaving the town, Natsume tossed two Pok Balls. With a flash of white light, two figures emerged. Gardevoir, a Psychic-type, was perfect for locating the hiding Munkidori. Even if the target tried to escape, Gardevoir could lock onto them with psychic powers a trick Natsume had learned from Mew. As for Absol, a Dark-type, it had the advantage against the Poison/Psychic Munkidori. And it could also double as a tracking hound. Four-legged stance, canine features, keen senses. Thats basically a search dog, right? If anything, even better. "Absol?" Just as Absol landed on the ground, a sudden chill ran down its spine. It lifted its head, scanning its surroundings. Weird. Why does it feel like someones badmouthing me? Ill remember this. Even if I dont know whos talking smack about me, Ill just keep a grudge anyway! "Gardevoir, I need your help finding a certain Pokmon." A towns outskirts might not sound like a large area, but trying to locate a small, conscious Pokmon that was actively hiding was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsume could only let Gardevoir try first, expanding its psychic field to see if anything stood out. If that didnt work, well Plan B: Mew, fetch me that monkey. Oh, mighty Mew, please deliver this Munkidori unto me. Cough cough, kidding. Natsume didnt want to rely on Mew for everything unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, he might develop a bad habit of dependence, which wasnt good in the long run. Its just like those martial artists in anime. At first, they master techniques and strategies. Then, once supernatural elements come into play, the once-brilliant fighters devolve into mindless brutes. If a problem can be solved with a punch, why overthink it? Sure, brute force was quick and effective. But if you keep relying on it, you end up like a certain superhero Wise before transformation, brain-dead after. "Garde." Gardevoir nodded and, mimicking Slowking, unleashed its psychic energy. A shimmering blue aura spread outward, forming a visible dome that expanded from Gardevoirs position, enveloping the surroundings. Even the town itself was included. The townspeople panicked. Some followed the lights source, trying to see what was going on. But by the time they got there, Natsume and his Pokmon were already gone, leaving nothing behind. "?" Deep in the forest, Munkidori, who had been casually toying with a blue heart-shaped mask, suddenly froze. Its cunning eyes flickered with doubt. What was that immense psychic wave just now? Did the town have a Pokmon that powerful? It absentmindedly fiddled with the Well Mask, then instinctively concealed itself. The reason it lingered here all this time Was to get the last missing mask. Originally, it planned to keep pressuring Ogerpon. After all, Ogerpon was undoubtedly stronger than them. But then, one dark and stormy night Ogerpon ran away. And that threw them off completely. Dude, youre strong. Why the hell did you run when we were playing with you?! Munkidori had considered searching for Ogerpon. But it had no leads. So, it stayed here, hoping Ogerpon would return. Strictly speaking, Munkidori wasnt actually that interested in the mask itself. It only tried to steal it because a certain Pokmon told it to. Still, the mask was kinda cool, so it figured why not hold onto it a little longer before handing it over? But instead of Ogerpon, something even more troublesome had come knocking. Whoever that was, they werent just here for sightseeing. "Tch." Munkidori scratched its head, annoyed. Better lay low for now. At all times, priority number one was self-preservation. It didnt understand phrases like "live to fight another day," But it did know one thing: Those two idiots? If they died, whatever. They were replaceable. But if I die? Thats game over. What, someone will avenge me? Pfft. Like Id even be around to see it. With that thought, Munkidori grabbed the Well Mask and the small stash of treasures it had collected over time and prepared to escape. Only to find its path blocked. "Ah, hello there, thief." Natsume raised a hand and gave a friendly wave to the startled Munkidori. If he remembered correctly, in the game, Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti had only managed to steal the masks from a human by working together. Then they got absolutely wrecked by Ogerpon. Embarrassing. In the game, they stole from a person. In real life? They waited until Ogerpon wasnt around and stole it. Because, lets be real With their strength, trying to take something from Ogerpon was about as feasible as making Aqua from Konosuba pass a calculus exam. Aqua could maybe write her name. They could maybe stand in front of Ogerpon. And then? Nothing. Just stand there and wait for the end. "Tchik!" Upon hearing the word thief, Munkidori instantly realized what was happening. Ogerpon had brought backup! "Gallade!" Standing behind Natsume, Gallade wasnt in the mood for chit-chat. His arms gleamed with energy, transforming into sharp, crossed blades. In the blink of an eye, he teleported behind Munkidori And slashed. "Tchik!!" Munkidori, who had just thrown out a Psychic attack in an attempt to flee, took the X-shaped slash straight to the face. With a pained scream, it was sent flying. The attack left a deep, glaring wound across its face. "Gardevoir." Gardevoir, watching Munkidori hurtling through the air, had nothing but pure disdain in its gaze. It had zero sympathy for creatures like this. Raising a hand, it summoned an overwhelming psychic force, slamming Munkidori into the ground. Boom! The impact shattered the ground, sending cracks spider-webbing outward. Absol, who had been gearing up for a finishing move, was just about to bring its scythe-like horn down when "Oma!" A familiar voice rang from behind. And in the next second Something leaped off Absols back. It caught a glimpse of a small, shadowy figure soaring overhead Ogerpon. Wielding its thorned club. And it brought it down hard on Munkidori''s skull. Even after landing a successful hit, Ogerpon still didnt feel satisfied. The thorned club in its hands seemed to become an illusion, striking Munkidori''s head dozens of times in a single second. At that moment, Absol felt as if it had heard something shatter. Though its angle of view was limited, Absol was certainOgerpon was absolutely furious. It wanted nothing more than to tear this guy apart. After hesitating slightly, Absol dissipated the Dark-type energy it had gathered. Well, it might as well let Ogerpon have this revenge first. Like Gallade, Absol could understand Ogerpon quite welljust in a different way. Gallade sympathized with the pain of being displaced from home. Absol, on the other hand, understood Ogerpon''s desire to understand. Even now, Absol still remembered the embarrassing history of nearly being crushed to death by Ting-Lu. Even though Ting-Lu was now a companion on the farm, that didnt stop Absol from always being ready to settle the score. Just you waitone day, Ill make sure you get whats coming to you! Absol, three years old this year, holds grudges very strongly. Under the relentless assault, the well-crafted Water Well Mask slipped from Munkidoris tightly clenched hands, tumbling to the side. At this moment, the exquisite mask was treated like a mere roadside pebble, left unnoticed. Gardevoir pressed Munkidori down with one hand while extending the other, using Psychic to lift the mask into its grasp. This was the very reason they came herelosing it due to some accident would be unacceptable. Screech. Munkidori planted its hands on the ground, struggling to lift itself. But the intense pain and dizziness from the blows to its head caused its arms to buckle, and it was once again pinned down by Psychic. Strictly speaking, Munkidori was actually a very powerful Pokmon. A total base stat of 555, with 130 in Special Attack and 105 in Speed. Moreover, its signature ability, Toxic Chain, granted a 30% chance to badly poison its target with every attack. With its high Special Attack, impressive Speed, and an annoyingly persistent ability, Munkidori should have been an absolute menace in most battles. Unfortunately, Natsume had no interest in playing fair. What fair fight? What nonsense. Winning was the only thing that mattered. Besides, base stats were only a referencea measure of potential, nothing more. And this particular Munkidori clearly hadnt tapped into its full potential. It was weak. Uhma! As soon as it hit the ground, Ogerpon, still fuming, lifted its thorny club to give Munkidori another brutal strike. The more it looked at this pathetic figure, the angrier it became. Why had it ever been bullied by this kind of opponent? Back then, I shouldve just beaten them all senseless and hung them from a streetlamp for three days! After coming to the farm, Ogerpon had experienced many things. It had made many important friends, met people who were kind to it. Every day on the farm had been healing the wounds in its heart. The timid and somewhat self-doubting Ogerpon from before no longer existed. All right, all right, Ogerpon, calm down first. I have some questions to ask. Natsume spent some effort soothing Ogerpon, barely preventing it from smashing Munkidoris skull open. And make no mistakeOgerpon could absolutely do it. For Pokmon, losing the ability to battle typically triggered a self-protective state. As long as they werent struck again, they wouldnt be in life-threatening danger and would gradually recover over time. But on the flip side, if they sustained severe damage after already losing their ability to fight, things could turn deadly. Pokmon were resilient, but not immortal. Even legendary Pokmon were no exception. Uhma. Hearing Natsumes words, Ogerpon, who had been puffing with anger, obediently lowered its club. At some point, it had come to realize that all those flashy moves were far less effective than its thorny club. That so-called ultimate attack strengthened through endless buffs? For Ogerpon, it was just a matter of one good strike. If one hit wasnt enough, then two would do. After this epiphany, Ogerpon had abandoned all the flashy techniques. In battles, it now relied solely on its thorned club and a few support moveslike Protect. Ill ask youdid someone instruct you to steal the mask? A human or another Pokmon? Crouching down, Natsume looked at the heavily restrained Munkidori and asked. Persian and the Shiny Furret jumped out of their Pok Balls on their own, positioning themselves in front of Natsume. They had seen plenty of sneaky Pokmon that pretended to submit, only to launch a surprise attack at the right moment. After asking, Natsume locked eyes with Munkidori. In the game, they had been ordered by Pecharunt to steal the mask. To be precise, after consuming Pecharunts Chain Mochi, they had become completely addicted, rendering them utterly obedient to him. But in reality, Natsume wasnt sure if Pecharunt even existed. So far, he had never heard any mention of this figure. Not even in the towns legends was there any sign of him. Even among the various unknown, mysterious figures, there was no indication that Pecharunt was one of them. That left Natsume uncertain. If he did exist, then Natsume could deal with him too and check if the Verdant Mask was in his possession. If he didnt, then the Verdant Mask would have to be found some other way. Scraa Pinned to the ground, Munkidoris vision was starting to blur with stars. Ogerpons attacks just now had been completely merciless. If it didnt get treatment soon, Munkidori had a feeling it might actually die here today. It needed to answer quickly and hope this human would heal it. Just as it was about to speak A sudden crashing noise echoed from the forest, like trees being toppled. Something was rampaging toward them. Chapter 136: Persian—What Do You Mean by “Farm Hierarchy”?! In the depths of the forest, a hulking humanoid figure charged forward like a wild beast, recklessly crashing through the underbrush toward Natsume. Each step sent tremors rippling through the ground. Its eyes gleamed with an eerie light, like two ghostly flames flickering in the dim forest. Thick branches snapped effortlessly beneath its onslaught, leaves scattered in all directions, as if an unexpected storm had swept through the woods. It was as though some ancient, primeval beast was about to emerge from the shadows at any moment. Yet, faced with a scene that would have made most trainers nervous, Natsume merely cast a calm glance in its direction. "Persian." At the sound of Natsume''s voice, the Persian standing protectively in front of him shot forward like a comet. The shift from complete stillness to explosive motion took less than a heartbeat. Its razor-sharp claws extended from between its paw pads, momentarily wreathed in a white gleam before the light was absorbed back into them. To the untrained eye, it seemed as if nothing had changed. But the faint glint of cold steel along its claws made its lethality unmistakable. Just seconds after Persian dove into the thicket, a thunderous impact rang out. "Boom!" The sound was like a giant drum being struck, or perhaps the toll of a massive bell. Standing before Persian was a bipedal canine Pokmon. Though described as a "canine," it looked more like a burly man covered in thick fur, with the head of a dog. Its upper body was robust and powerful, while its lower half appeared slightly short and stocky. "Grugh" Gouging out a trench in the earth as it tumbled back, the Okidogi clutched its head, disbelief flashing in its eyes. It had intended to make a dramatic entrance, delivering a shocking first strike to these intruders who had suddenly appeared. Yet, in the blink of an eye, that Persians slap had nearly sent its skull flying off its shoulders. Slowly, Okidogi pulled itself upright, spreading its arms slightly and lowering its center of gravity into a defensive stance as it locked eyes with Persian. A searing pain throbbed at its forehead. Warm droplets of blood trickled out. Yet Okidogi dared not lift a hand to wipe them away. Instead, it furrowed its brow, tensing its muscles to prevent the blood from running into its eyes. There was no doubt about itthis opponent was dangerous. If it let its guard down even for a moment, the battle could be over in an instant. Persian, meanwhile, remained utterly calm as it gazed at the recovering Okidogi. Natsume said this guy might be a Legendary Pokmona mythical beast. So, not being able to take it down with a single slap was understandable. But its strength was so weak. Recalling the sensation from earlier, Persian felt that this guy hardly lived up to the title of a Legendary Pokmon. So far, this was the second weakest Legendary Persian had ever encountered, tied with that monkey from earlier. The weakest? That would be the newborn Phione. And Persian suspected that once the Phione on the farm grew up, it could probably smack this guy around too. Paws stepping lightly over the tangled grass, Persian strolled leisurely around Okidogi, like taking a casual walk after a meal. Its expression was utterly relaxed. But for Okidogi, this was anything but a pleasant experience. Right now, the pressure weighing down on it was immense. For wild Pokmon, battles were never easy or fun. Pokmon caught by trainers could fight until a certain point, then be taken back for rest and recovery. But wild Pokmon? Their battles were always a matter of life and death. Even if they barely managed to win, heavily injured Pokmon wouldnt survive long in the wild. "Rrraaaahhh!!" At a certain moment, Okidogis nerves finally snapped. A barely audible snap echoed in its mind. Then came the enormous roar. Dark-type energy surged through its voice, forming a tangible shockwave as it blasted toward Persian. Snarl. An attack that also lowered the opponents Special Attack. But against Persian, it meant nothing. Special Attack? It barely used that stat anyway. Lowering it was pointless. Even without moves, it could still slap you into next week. Use moves to fight you? Who do you think you are, kid? "Grah!" Lowering its stance like a charging linebacker, Okidogi burst forward, energy surrounding it like a blazing comet. Its momentum screamed confidenceunstoppable, dominant. Okidogi knew its strengths well. The opponent looked like a Normal-type. If it could land a hit, there was a good chance of poisoning this guy. Then, it could drag the fight out, relying on its durability to wear the opponent down. In the end, victory would be certain. That was the ideal scenario. Facing this supposedly fearsome charge, Persian suddenly shifted from its relaxed state. In an instant, an overwhelming burst of speed erupted. Okidogi only saw a blurthen Persian vanished from sight. At that moment, Okidogi instinctively tried to halt its charge. Thats when it realized Against an opponent this much faster, attacking head-on was a mistake. Especially when it had no means to restrict the opponents movement. Damn. That thought had just formed whenbam! A massive force struck from behind. Instead of stopping, its body acceleratedno, it was sent flying. Mid-air, Okidogi barely managed to turn its head. Just in time to see Persian casually retract its paw, landing lightly on the ground. It even had time to leisurely lick its claws. Persian lowered its front pawthen vanished again. This time, it reappeared in front of Okidogi. Same force. Same angle. Another clean hit. Then Persian moved again. Repeatedly, Okidogi was struck mid-air, bouncing back and forth like a pinball in a video game, unable to touch the ground. And Persian? By now, it had completely disappeared from sight. Okidogi had never felt such agony. If this were a game, its status screen would probably just say "Launched." Finally Like a cat losing interest in its toy, Persian casually swiped one last time, sending Okidogi crashing into the ground. A loud boom! followed. Amidst the dust cloud, Okidogi twitched once, then went limp. Its expression was neither peaceful nor relieved Only pain. Pure, unfiltered pain. Every single attack from Persian had been aimed squarely at its head. If Persian had gone just a little harder, Okidogis skull might have flown off like a volleyball. Just the head. Even with restraint, it was too much for Okidogi to endure. Wait Did I just smack this guy into a coma? Staring at the twitching Okidogi lying in a crater, Persian suddenly wondered if it had overdone it. If this guy was brain-damaged, what then? It was Natsumes loot, after all. Whether or not Natsume would catch it was one thing, but he still needed to interrogate it. If it got knocked dumb, how was that supposed to work? He couldnt exactly ask, "Hey, do you know where the mask is?" while staring at a drooling idiot. That would be... bizarre. After a few moments of hesitation, Persian decided not to hit Okidogi again. Some Pokmon just look like troublemakers at first glance. Okidogi was definitely one of those. Not ugly, per se. Definitely better-looking than the shifty-looking Munkidori. But still far from handsome or cool. That said, some people liked this "bad boy" aesthetic. Some trainers preferred Pokmon that looked tough and intimidating. They called it "presence." Strictly speaking, that was true. No matter how stern and imposing an old businessman looked The moment he tossed out a Sylveon, Alcremie, or Skitty His whole serious image would instantly collapse. On the flip side, if a cute little girl sent out a Metagross, Aggron, or Hydreigon Nobody would treat her like just another kid. Strength and battle style mattered. So did resources. Those three Pokmon? They were resource hogs. Only the wealthiest trainers could afford to raise them properly. Back to the present Just as Persian was lost in thought, a streak of pink light zipped toward it. With a dramatic tail flick, the figure skidded to a stop in front of Persian. Kicking up a bit of dirt right into Okidogis unconscious face. "Furr!" Natsume sent me to haul this guy back! Standing up on its hind legs, the shiny Furret struck a heroic pose. Cute, right? Pink, fluffy, long like a body pillow. But beneath that soft fur? Pure muscle. The kind that could punch through walls. Natsume hadnt hugged the shiny Furret in a long timehonestly, the texture was just too peculiar. "Meow." After glancing at the shiny Furret, Persian silently stepped aside, giving up its spot. This idiot At some point, this guy had started heading straight down the path of a hot-blooded fool. And Persian had always made sure to keep its distance. Every single time they crossed paths, this overly enthusiastic idiot would eagerly invite Persian to join its special training sessions. Damn it, do you not understand that cats need their sleep?! You think everyone has the same endless energy as you?! Internally grumbling, Persian simply watched as the shiny Furret hoisted Okidogi onto its shoulder like a sack of potatoes. After hyping itself up with a motivational flex, it began dragging Okidogi toward Natsumes direction. Persian followed closely behind, keeping a sharp eye on Okidogi. The moment that guy showed even the slightest sign of waking up Persian would slap it back into unconsciousness. Physical sleep induction, kid. "Furr!" Natsume, Natsume! I''m back! Without hesitation, the shiny Furret tossed Okidogi aside, then launched itself at Natsume with a headlong charge, ramming straight into his arms with a headbutt of love. Once securely nestled against Natsume, it wasted no time rubbing against him, pushing its head under his hand to ensure it got head pats. This was self-service petting. Pokmon needed to learn to fight for what they wanted. "Alright, alright. You worked hard, shiny Furret." "And you too, Persian." Natsume steadied himself from the impact, taking a step back as he chuckled and rubbed the shiny Furrets ears. Off to the side, Persian merely rolled its eyes. All these years, and you still only say the same few lines? How about something practical for once? A special meal tonight would be much more useful. Besides, Ive been with you for over a decade. Your weak, uninspired attempts at persuasionwho else even entertains them besides me? Despite all these thoughts running through its head, Persian maintained its cool and dignified demeanor. After all, in the hierarchy of the farm, it ranked just below Natsume. The true second-in-command. A proud cat had to keep its pride. With an aloof tilt of its head, Persian strutted over and lay down beside Natsume, letting out a long yawn. It remained completely unfazed by the shiny Furrets affectionate antics. The farm was always filled with Pokmon vying for Natsumes attention. Like that cat-and-mouse duo that had been fighting fiercely over his affection lately. Pokmon that got to sleep beside Natsume changed all the time But Persian? It had always been the one curled up at his feet. Thats real status. Even as it told itself to stay cool, the tip of its tail still flicked unconsciously. Its gaze briefly swept over the unconscious Okidogi and the Munkidori, who was currently being used as a chair by Mew. Yet, Persian felt no tension. This was its second time facing a Legendary. The first was against Ting-Luback then, it had actually felt some nerves. Over the years, Persian had realized it was different from most Pokmon. But exactly how strong it was? What its true limits were? It had no idea. After all, spending its days blasting fish out of ponds wasnt exactly a real test of strength. Back in its early days, Persian had climbed the ranks, taking down every opponent from kindergarten to high school. Forget studentseven the teachers Pokmon had been defeated. But that never gave it a true sense of challenge. Never let it see its own limits. Only after fighting Ting-Lu did Persian feel like it had glimpsed something deeper. The stagnation in its growth had finally started moving again. And nowlooking at these so-called Legendaries, who were shockingly weak Something inside Persian stirred. So what if theyre Legends? Titles dont decide battles. Power does. Legends? Hah. I almost smacked this ones skull off with two slaps. Even weaker than shiny Furret. At that momentPersian took a step forward in its growth. That newfound clarity fueled its progression, pushing it to evolve. Though still lying on the ground, its muscles instinctively adjusted, growing, shifting Evolving into a form even better suited for battle. When its growth finally slowed again Its strength might just shock everyone. -- "Alright, lets see what our little thief has to say." "Gallade, wake it up." Natsume clapped his hands and looked toward Gallade. Without hesitation, Gallade raised a handblue energy surged forth. A Psychic Shock blasted straight into Okidogis mind. It wasnt even a move. Just a small application of psychic force Like cramming an overwhelming flood of thoughts directly into its brain. The throbbing pain jolted Okidogi awake. "Woof!" Clutching its head, Okidogi let out its first-ever actual dog-like bark. That mustve really hurt. Overwhelmed by pain, it instinctively reached out, grasping at empty air Thud! A foot slammed down on Okidogis head. Gallades expression was utterly cold. Its eyes flashed with a chilling light, arm blades gleaming menacingly. From its perspectiveOkidogis reaching hand was resistance. Whether intentional or notGallade didnt care. The only thing that mattered? Okidogi had reached close enough to touch Natsume. Even setting aside emotionsGallade wouldnt let anyone harm Natsume. Where else would they ever find a better trainer than him? "Gallade, relax." "I still have some questions for it." At Natsumes words, Gallade pulled its foot away, though its sharp gaze remained fixed on Okidogi. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Okidogi lay on the ground, looking utterly miserable But Natsume didnt seem concerned in the slightest. He trusted his Pokmon. And honestly Three-on-one, and they barely managed to steal something from a human? Who exactly do you think you can fight, little guy? If not for the surprise attack, and the fact that Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti had all rushed him at once Natsume was pretty sure that Hisuian trainer from the games could have taken them out one by one. Three versus one, and you still couldnt finish the job? Thats just embarrassing. "Guh" Holding its head, Okidogi shuddered, terror filling its eyes as it looked at Natsume. For a moment It had almost seen the other side. A river. A small boat drifting along it. And a Pokmon on the far shore, waving at it. A chill ran down its spine. Sitting up obediently, Okidogi waited for Natsumes questions. It didnt think escape was possible Not after getting slapped half to death by Persian. Then its eyes drifted toward Munkidori, who was still being sat on by a tiny Flabb. For a brief second, Okidogi lookedconfused. Bro How did you end up like this? Getting completely overpowered by such a harmless-looking Pokmon? Please never tell anyone we were on the same team. Wait, I got beat up by a cat? Never mind, were all equally disgraced. "Were you acting under the orders of another Pokmon?" Natsume cut straight to the point. While Persian was beating the daylights out of Okidogi, Natsume had already interrogated Munkidori. Between the relevant game knowledge and what Munkidori spilled, Natsume felt pretty confident he had the truth. But this was the real world It never hurt to double-check. The last thing he wanted was a dumb mistake caused by bias. "!" Okidogi stiffened. Its gaze darted nervously. Clearlyit didnt know how to answer. Then, in that brief hesitation Its eyes met Munkidori''s. And in that instant It understood something. Chapter 137: Selling Out Teammates and the Venomous Chains In that brief moment when their eyes met, Okidogi seemed to glimpse something in Munkidori''s gaze. It was a flame called rebellion. Though it was reluctant to admit it, they had indeed known each other for a long time. Technically speaking, they were companionsthough, in reality, they could barely stand each other. Okidogi saw the other two as weaklingsone always scheming and plotting, the other overly flashy. Meanwhile, Munkidori considered both of them complete idiots. One had nothing but muscles in its head, and the other was obsessed with grooming its feathers. For the longest time, Munkidori had looked down on Okidogi and Fezandipiti, believing they lacked the intelligence necessary for meaningful communication. Simply putnot worth discussing matters with fools. Okidogi was well aware of this. But now, they were all prisoners. None of them were better off than the other. Like it or not, they had to work together. Okidogi wasnt sure if it was just its imagination, but it felt as if Munkidori''s eyes were saying: "Brother, you charge in first and draw their attention. Ill take down the human from behind. We coordinate, and together well take them all down." Hmm... Was that really what Munkidori was thinking? Well, thats how Okidogi interpreted it. Feeling the urgency and encouragement in Munkidori''s gaze, Okidogi hesitated for a moment before making a decision Screw it. Lets do this! No matter how you looked at it, death was inevitable. Might as well take a gamble. Maybejust maybeit could escape. With its not-so-developed brain, which was mostly taken up by muscle, Okidogi thought Munkidori''s plan seemed somewhat feasible. And honestly, it couldnt come up with a better one anyway. So, it waited for the perfect momentwhen Persian and the Shiny Furret both looked awaythen slammed a paw against the ground, ready to leap toward Natsume. But before it could act A sharp, all-too-familiar shriek rang out. "Screeeeeech!!" Big brother! Hes rebelling!! Munkidori, now pinned helplessly to the ground in an utterly humiliating position, let out an ear-piercing cry. One hand shot out, pointing directly at the half-upright Okidogi. Its face was a bizarre mix of fury and flattery Fury directed at Okidogi, flattery aimed at Natsume and Gardevoir. At that moment, Okidogi''s emotions could only be summed up in one word CNM. Ah, wait, thats three words. Whatever. Close enough. In mere seconds, Okidogi''s emotions went from shock to confusion to disbelief, and then straight to rage. It finally understood. That damn monkey had just sacrificed it. Thrown it under the bus. Sold it out in exchange for better treatment. You son of a! Are you even a Pokmon?! Okidogi was furious. But Gallade was even angrier. Youre getting bold, arent you? With a swift motion, Gallades arm blades extended, golden light gathering around them. What should have been a sacred radiance now cast an eerie, menacing glow over its face. The scene that followed was... well, lets just skip the gory details. A few minutes later, Okidogi lay completely motionless, sprawled out on the ground, unconscious. Its bodyand the surrounding areawere covered in deep cuts from Gallades relentless slashes. Gallade hadnt held back at all. It went all out. Back when it first arrived at the farm, Gallade had just been an ordinary Psychic-type Pokmon. A strong individual within its species, surebut nothing compared to what it was now. Yet, during its time at the farm, Gallade had undergone countless eye-opening experiences. It sounded strange, but despite staying in such a small place, its worldview had expanded tremendously. At the same time, its strength had grown beyond recognition. Now, Gallade could confidently say It could take on at least a dozen of its past self. Back to the present Munkidori, having successfully betrayed Okidogi, was now crouching submissively on the ground, looking up at Mew and Natsume with an ingratiating expression. It even rubbed its hands together like a scheming little fly. It looked utterly pathetic. A Pokmonyet where the hell did it even learn that gesture? "You sure know how to go with the flow, huh?" Mew and Gardevoir had seen through Munkidori''s little act from the start. But they didnt bother commenting on its betrayal. "Screeech." Munkidori gave an awkward, sycophantic laugh. It felt no guilt whatsoever for setting Okidogi up. Because, in its mind, it was different from those two idiots. Those two genuinely believed they were fighting for some purple peach or whatever. But it? It was only in this for the Venomous Chain Mochi. That alone made it far superior to those brainless fools. At least, thats what it believed. Not only did it not feel guilty for selling Okidogi out It was already preparing to throw its other teammate under the bus too. Forgive me, my friend. But if sacrificing you gives me a chance to survive... then I have no choice. Sure, I usually call you two brainless morons. Say youre bootlicking idiots. Trash among trash. A dumb muscle-head and a showoff feather-brain. But To sell you off at a good price Im willing to admit that were best friends. Just for today. With that thought, Munkidori''s expression became even more obsequious. "Screech screech!" Its voice, already shrill, now sounded disturbingly close to a rats squeal. "Mew~" Natsume, it says it can help you find the last Pokmon. Mewwho had transformed into a Flabb and was swinging from Natsumes hairwhispered into his ear. Munkidori had just said a lot of nonsense to prove its sincerity. But in summary? "Sir, this way." If possible, Munkidori wouldve tied Fezandipiti up and delivered it to Natsume on a silver platter. It had figured things out. This human wasnt here to capture them. He was here for revenge. That meant its fate could only go one of two ways One, get beaten to a pulp and let go. Two, get killed and buried on the spot. If it didnt resist, then option two was inevitable. If it did resist, then itd just be skipping straight to option two. Munkidori didnt want to die. The world was still so beautifulit hadnt lived enough. So if betraying its teammates meant survival Then so be it. This was simply its struggle to stay alive! Not only did it sell out Okidogi and Fezandipiti completely After handing over the mask, it even spilled everything it knew about Pecharunt to Natsume. "Hmm. Mew, what do you think?" After hearing Munkidori''s "confession," Natsume finally pulled the little Mew off his hair. If this continued, he was pretty sure his scalp would get ripped off. That little guy was really going all out. "Mew~" Lets go check it out. Floating lazily in Natsumes hand, Mew spoke. As for Munkidori''s actions? Mew felt nothing but contempt. This guy was an embarrassment to all Legendary Pokmon. Not even ordinary Pokmon would stoop this low. It should be expelled immediately! As for Fezandipiti? Mew couldnt care less. At the moment Okidogi attempted to resist, Mew had already locked onto Fezandipitis position. Even if that guy wanted to run, it was useless. If a target was marked by this cat, even if they fled to the ends of the earth, Id drag them back! "Let me think" Natsume hesitated. Should he go directly to find Fezandipiti, or just have Persian or another Pokmon beat it up and bring it back? After all, he still had two captives in hand. To be honest, Natsume had no interest in capturing these three losers. He had never seen such disgraceful creatures before. Catching them would just be a waste of Pok Balls. "Furr!!" "Caw caw!" Just as Natsume was deliberating, Shiny Furret and Corviknight eagerly volunteered. They assured him theyd bring that bird back for him. Sure, their confidence might be a bit much. But after witnessing Okidogi and Munkidoris performance, they figured a two-on-one was already being cautious. At this moment, Shiny Furret and Corviknight were both fired up. Shiny Furret was excited because it had missed out on a worthy opponent. Spending every day training at the farm, it felt like it had hit a plateau. Right now, it was in a very awkward position. It couldnt win against the top-tier Pokmon. But it could effortlessly crush the lower-tier ones. Too weak, and it wasnt worth its time. Too strong, and it got beaten senseless. It felt like it was stuck as some kind of gatekeeper for the top tier or a quality-checker for strong Pokmon. If you could defeat Shiny Furret, congratulationsyou were in the top tier. This pissed it off. It craved more opponents! Meanwhile, Corviknights reasoning was simpler. As Natsumes designated flying mount, its status had been stolen. If it couldnt even prove itself in battle, it was headed straight for the discard pile! Sure, logically, Corviknight didnt think Natsume was that kind of person. But after watching a bunch of palace drama shows with Emolga lately, its head was filled with hundreds of dramatic betrayal plots. Well, in reality, this had nothing to do with those palace dramas. It was just that after finishing those, Corviknight had moved on to binge-reading thousands of those short drama-filled NovelFires. Titles like "I Was Reborn to the Time They Still Loved Me," "My Husband''s First Love Returned," "I Lost My Memory..." Yeah, that kind of melodramatic stuff. Corviknight had read a lot of them. The result? Now its head was filled with ridiculous soap-opera plots. Super dramatic. Super addicting. It had spent countless nights tossing and turning, unable to sleep. It even considered writing its own story. Unfortunately, bird claws could barely use a phone, let alone type out a novel. That left Corviknight depressed for a long time. But it was fine. Because an even bigger crisis snapped it right out of that slump Its status as Natsumes top flying mount had been stolen! That realization hit like a truck, and now it was determined to work harder. It couldnt afford to slack off any longer. If it did, it would really turn into a worthless pile of sediment at the bottom of a beaker! Step onewin back Natsumes favor! With that thought, Corviknights eyes sharpened. "I will launch at full strength and take down that feathered freakuh, whatever their name is." ...Actually, it still had no idea who they were fighting. But that didnt matter. It trusted that Natsume wouldnt send it against an opponent it couldnt handle. If anything, Natsume was overly cautious. He always worried about this and that. What if things went sideways? What if another Pokmon intervened? The guy was like an overprotective mom. If he could, hed personally clear out every possible threat before letting his Pokmon make a move. He avoided unnecessary risks at all costs. Honestly, if he could, Natsume would probably just beat Fezandipiti himself. But seeing the eager looks from his Pokmon, he gave up on that idea. Just like he worried about his Pokmon, his Pokmon worried about him. Except for Persian. Persian was the one Pokmon on the farm who knew exactly how strong Natsume was. No one else came close. "Be careful. If anything happens, retreat immediately." For Natsume, this was the first time he was sending his Pokmon off alone for battle. And the opponent was still a Legendary. Even if it was a total disgrace of a Legendary. The Toxic Chain ability wasnt much of an issue for Corviknight, but for Shiny Furret, it wasnt exactly friendly. "Caw caw!" With Natsumes permission, Corviknight was instantly fired up. As for Natsumes warning? It heard him. Would it actually listen? That was a different story. Corviknight had a bit of a rebellious streak. Not that it was disobedientit was just stubborn. Even if it knew it might lose, it had to try first. It had absolute faith in its own defense. Still, with Shiny Furret there, it probably wouldnt be reckless. Compared to Corviknight, whose brain had been rotted by melodramatic novels, Shiny Furretwhose head was mostly musclewas actually a bit more rational. Probably. Watching the two hype themselves up, promising to crush their target, Natsume suddenly felt a bit uncertain. But with Flebebe-form Mew still climbing all over him, he relaxed. This was his greatest insurance policy. "Caw caw!" All aboard the Corviknight Express! Were taking off! "Furr!" Lets go, lets go! Perched on Corviknights back, Shiny Furret waved its little paw like a captain setting sail. The Corviknight Express was now departing! --- Meanwhile Hidden deep within the forest, Fezandipiti hesitated as it looked in the direction of Natsumes group. The sounds of battle had been echoing from there for a while. That location... was where those two were, right? Just as Munkidori and Okidogi looked down on each other, Fezandipiti looked down on both of them. One was a scheming little rat. The other was just a brainless brute. Neither had any elegance. No style. No grace. They were an embarrassment. Shaking its head, Fezandipiti focused on the present. The situation was unclear. Should it flee? Running away at the first sign of trouble would be humiliating. After all, it was a Legendary. But staying? That felt risky. Something about this whole situation felt wrong. It sounded like one side of the battle had completely dominated the other. Could those two idiots already be defeated? Fezandipiti hesitated. Should it run? Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as it deliberated, it had already missed its chance to escape. By the time Fezandipiti realized it, the sunlight above had been completely blotted out. A massive shadow descended from the sky. Like a falling meteor, it crashed down. "BOOM!" Trees, obstaclesnothing could stop Corviknights descent. It came down with overwhelming force, straight toward Fezandipiti. "Caw!" Fezandipiti reacted in time, but even grazing the impact sent it spiraling through the air like a kite snapped from its string. After tumbling several times, Fezandipiti barely managed to steady itself. As it lifted its head, just about to question Corviknight, a pink blur suddenly shot out from behind it. "Furr!" Thunder rumbled. The raw power of nature, a force of heaven and earth, was tightly condensed into a small fist. Sparks of stray electricity crackled, leaving scorched pits across the ground. Shiny Furret, wielding a Thunder Punch, turned into a streak of light, closing in on Fezandipiti at lightning speed. Without hesitation, its electrified fist came crashing down. Maybe it was a case of being influenced by one''s environment, but most of the Pokmon at the farm had developed a preference for this quick and decisive style of combat. Get in fast, strike first, and deal massive damage in a short periodsecuring victory before the opponent even had a chance to react. The lightning-infused punch slammed directly into Fezandipitis head. In that instant, the pent-up electricity erupted violently. A brilliant cage of lightning engulfed Fezandipiti entirely. Right on cue, Corviknight launched its own attack. Although the two didnt often get the chance to coordinate, in this moment, they had reached an unspoken agreement End this battle quickly and return to Natsumes side. Though their reasons differed, their goal was the same. As the electric glow dissipated, Fezandipiti, now covered in burns and smoke, scrambled away in a panic. A cloud of purple smoke burst from its beak Toxic Gas, a move that could inflict poison on opponents. Immediately after, several bursts of dark green Acid Spray were launched, hurtling toward Corviknight. Toxic Gas to block Shiny Furret. Acid Spray to keep Corviknight at bay. Only with this maneuver did Fezandipiti finally buy itself a moment to breathe and widen the distance between itself and these lunatics. Otherwise, it was convinced that it wouldve been beaten to death on the spot. Panting heavily, Fezandipitis face was full of lingering fear. It was this close to becoming fried chicken. Looking down at its charred, singed feathers, a pang of distress flashed in Fezandipitis eyes. As a bird Pokmon, it took great pride in preening its feathers daily. But now, its most prized feathers were in ruins. Fezandipiti was furious. But there was nothing it could do. Because standing before it were two opponents who were clearly here to kill it. No need for words. Shiny Furret and Corviknight closed in once more. The sooner they finished this fight, the sooner they could go home. Fezandipiti barely managed to hold out against their relentless attacks, dodging by the skin of its beak. But throughout the battle, its eyes kept glancing toward a particular direction. Finally, after enduring yet another devastating hit, Fezandipiti shouted toward the depths of the forest. "Caww!" Do something already! The moment its cry rang out Two chains of venomous liquid shot out from the shadows of the forest. Chapter 138: Pecharunt and Mega Gardevoir A chain radiating a purple glow shot out from the forest like a serpent, aiming straight for Corviknight and the Shiny Furret. Seeing the chains source, Fezandipiti''s expression instantly lit up with excitement. If you had come any later, Id be done for! Faced with the sudden attack, both Corviknight and the Shiny Furret instinctively chose to dodge. It was best not to take a direct hit from an unfamiliar attack like this. Those who thought themselves invincible usually ended up with tragic fates. At some point, "invincible" had become more of a debuff than a perk. Anyone who claimed to be invincible usually didn''t last long. Clank! The chain, missing its targets, wavered in confusion for a moment before dissipating into pure energy, vanishing into the air. A small figure quietly emerged from the shadows. Pecharunta Mythical Pokmon of the Poison/Ghost type. The true culprit behind the attempt to steal Ogerpons mask. Its appearance resembled a split-open peach. The sides of its body were exposed peach flesh, while the core served as its torsoexcept this was a peach laced with deadly poison. It secreted a toxic paste from its shell, shaping it into "chain mochi" for humans and Pokmon to consume. Once they ate it, the chains would allow Pecharunt to control them. On top of that, it often used fake crying and other deceptive tactics to gain sympathy, making itself seem like a weak, helpless baby. It fit the classic image of a villain perfectly. Cunning, manipulative, and insatiably greedy. ..... Pecharunt emerged from the darkness, its expression grim. The usual pitiful look on its face had completely vanished. Fezandipiti, Okidogi, and Munkidori all had traces of its chain mochi on them. Because of that, Pecharunt could sense their condition to some extent. Otherwise, it wouldnt have arrived so quickly. From what it could tell, Okidogi''s energy was critically low. Like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment. Fezandipiti might still be jumping around, but it wasnt much better off. It was purely its will to survive that kept it fighting. Munkidori was in slightly better shape. At least it still had some strength left to battle. Well, that was sort of good news. At least there was still someone on its side who could fight. Pecharunt''s eyes darkened as it looked at Corviknight and the Shiny Furret blocking its path. From its perspective, these two had barged into its territory for no reason, beaten up its companions, and were now coming after it. Were outsiders always this rude?! Opening its mouth, Pecharunt was about to question Corviknight But Corviknight didnt give it the chance. "Caw! Caw! Caw!" This damn thing is about to ambush me! With a powerful flap of its wings, countless Air Slash blades erupted from its steel feathers, forming a visible storm of razor-sharp wind that tore toward Pecharunt. At the same time, Shiny Furrets fists ignited with blazing flames. In the blink of an eye, it closed the distance and unleashed a rapid one-two punch without hesitation. Unfortunately, the attack was only moderately effective. Pecharunt''s response was simple. It closed its peach-like shell around its core, protecting itself like a shelled Pokmon. Pecharunt''s defenses were incredibly high. If it focused purely on defense, most Pokmon wouldnt be able to do much against it. As its shell snapped shut, it quickly secreted a layer of poison over its surface. Although this hastily produced toxin wasnt strong enough to manipulate Pokmon, that wasnt necessary. All it needed was for the opponent to be poisoned. However, the moment the poison appeared, the fire on Shiny Furrets fists evaporated it, turning it into wisps of blue smoke that dispersed into the air. Holding its breath, Shiny Furret unleashed another rapid barrage of over ten punches before quickly retreating from the poisonous Pokmon. Looking at the scorched impact marks left on Pecharunt''s shell, Shiny Furret frowned. Most of its attacks werent particularly effective against this opponent. Either they were weakened due to type disadvantages or they played right into Pecharunt''s strongest defensive traits. A bit frustrating. When I get back, Im definitely going to train harder and develop more moves. Shiny Furret silently made up its mind. Strictly speaking, among Natsumes main team, Shiny Furret was relatively unremarkable. Aside from being a Shiny Pokmon, its biggest achievement was becoming the leader of the farms Sentret and Furret, showing a faint potential for growing into a Totem Pokmon. In the wild, it would probably be considered a rare and gifted Pokmon. But compared to the rest of Natsumes team Persian, whose power had clearly surpassed the norm. Slowking, whose Psychic abilities had reached Legendary levels. Corviknight, whose massive body and sheer durability had yet to be properly challenged, despite not being a Totem Pokmon. Ogerpon, who had lost its mask and was no longer at full strength but was still a Mythical Pokmon. Ting-Lu, a Legendary Pokmon in its own right. And finally, the Gallade siblings, who were at least on par with Shiny Furret. From this perspective, the Shiny Furret didnt seem particularly outstanding. But that didnt matter! It was determined to work even harder to catch up with everyone. Effort didnt always guarantee success, and it wasnt sure if its talent alone would allow it to reach the others through sheer hard work. But effort was the one thing it was absolutely sure it could control. If it gave up on that, it didnt know what else it had left. Boom Scorching flames roared to life once again. Even without a type advantage, Fire Punch still unleashed impressive power in the hands of the Shiny Furret. It was one of its best moves. Compared to other techniques, the tangible impact of each strike gave it a sense of reassurance. A white light gradually enveloped its body, glowing ever brighter before shattering into fragments of stardust that merged into its form. The next second, the Shiny Furrets speed skyrocketed. It moved so fast it was almost impossible to track with the naked eye. When it first arrived at the farm, it could only chase after Persians shadow. Even when it pushed itself to the limit, all it managed was getting slightly closer. But now, when it went all out, its speed surpassed Persians. Of course, Persian still held an overwhelming advantage in short-distance sprints or instantaneous bursts of speed. However, if the race stretched over a longer distance, the Shiny Furret was confident it could overtake Persian before the finish line. Ugh Curled up inside its shell, Pecharunt cautiously cracked open a tiny gap to peek outside. What it saw was a blazing fist coming straight at its face. Startled, Pecharunt immediately snapped its shell shut. After the earlier exchange, it was now certainthese two opponents were at least as strong as itself. And it wasnt the type suited for direct combat. Fighting them head-on would be nothing but trouble. Forget it. Might as well drag this out. Sooner or later, these two would tire themselves out. With that in mind, Pecharunt committed to its stall tactic. Or more accurately, the turtle-up strategy. It stayed completely hidden within its tough shell while continuously secreting and spreading toxic fluids. Occasionally, it would peek out in between Corviknight and the Shiny Furrets attacks Tossing out a Shadow Ball or a cloud of Toxic Gas before immediately withdrawing again. At this rate, the battlefield would soon be drowned in a sea of poison. Unfortunately, the unexpected had a way of showing up just when one least expected it. Just as Pecharunt was about to poke its head out for another sneak attack, a new voice rang out Gardevoir, use Psychic. Garde. The next moment, Pecharunt felt as if it had been plunged into the depths of a dark, suffocating ocean. An immense pressure surrounded it from all sides. It was as if two invisible hands had reached into its shell and were now prying it open with force. Momo Struggling to twist its head, Pecharunt caught sight of a new figure stepping into the battlefield. The very spot it had emerged from was now occupied by a human and a Pokmon. A humanoid Pokmon slowly walked out from the darkness. It was a Gardevoir But something was different. The most striking change was its lower body, which now resembled the flowing fabric of a gown. Like an elegant evening dress befitting a princess. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its red chest structure had also opened, resembling a tangible, beating heart. This was the true Psychic EmpressMega Gardevoir. Upon Mega Evolution, Gardevoirs base stats soared from 518 to 618. Its Special Attack saw a dramatic boost. Well done, Gardevoir. Stepping forward from the shadows behind Gardevoir, Natsume smiled as he praised it. His rolled-up sleeve revealed a bracelet, inlaid with a gleaming Key Stone that shimmered under the sunlight. When Fu Gakuji had brought him supplies earlier, two Mega Stones and a Key Stone had been among the items. It hadnt taken Natsume long to master Mega Evolution after obtaining them. Given his natural ability to understand Pokmon speech, forming a deep bond with his Pokmon wasnt a challenge at all. Not to mention, one of the Mega Stones had been Gardevoirs. Between his ability to understand Pokmon and Gardevoirs telepathy, the two had achieved Mega Evolution on the very day the Key Stone arrived. Two days later, their Mega Evolution had already stabilized, making it reliable for actual combat. Many trainers spent a long time just learning to trigger Mega Evolution. Even if they succeeded, their control often remained unstable. The slightest misstep could disrupt the transformation, forcing them back to their normal form. In the heat of battle, such instability wasnt just uselessit was a liability. It led trainers to gamble on miracles. To think, maybe Ill get lucky this time. Maybe itll work. But what was a struggle for most trainers was no issue for Natsume. Even the other Mega Stone, the one for Absol, had been mastered in no time. Unfortunately, Absols overall strength was still a bit lacking. Even with Natsumes Mega Evolution support, it barely scraped the bottom of the top ranks. Basically, it could just about manage to jump up and bite the Shiny Furrets tail Before immediately getting beaten down. Power borrowed from external forces could never compare to strength earned through steady training. Even Gardevoir had undergone rigorous practice before reaching this point. Though it usually kept a low profile, its effort was second only to the Shiny Furrets. The Gallade, who once easily outclassed its little sister, had been forced to step up its game as well. No way. Itd be embarrassing if my little sister surpassed me. Gallade had slacked off, sure, but that was only because it was confident in being stronger than Gardevoir. If Gardevoir actually pulled ahead Then that wasnt just slacking off anymore. That was truly falling behind. There was a difference between choosing not to work and not being capable of working. Laziness was fine. Incompetence wasnt. Garde. Lifting its hand, Gardevoirs crimson eyes remained calm and unshaken. With a wave of its arm, Pecharunt''s body was hoisted into the air. A pink flame ignited out of nowhere, rapidly consuming its form. Then, an overwhelming psychic force gathered in front of Gardevoir, solidifying into a pale-blue spear of energy. With a sharp whoosh, it shot straight into Pecharunt''s forehead. For a moment, there was silence. Then came an ear-piercing scream. A shrill, agonizing wail that sent chills down the spine. Yet, Gardevoirs expression remained unchanged. If anything, it simply noted, Huh, that worked pretty well. By concentrating its psychic energy into a single point, it hadnt necessarily increased the attacks power But it had definitely amplified the pain. Perhaps this was worth refining further in the future. Between the flames and the relentless psychic torment, Pecharunt''s will was rapidly crumbling. At its core, it was nothing more than an overgrown child who had never faced true hardship. As long as things went smoothly, it looked powerfullike it was invincible. But the moment it hit an insurmountable obstacle, its spirit shattered instantly. Gardevoir, extinguish the flames. Garde. At Natsumes command, Gardevoir withdrew its mystical fire. In just that short span of time, Pecharunt had been reduced to a soot-covered lump, still faintly smoking. I wont waste time asking unnecessary questions. You have Ogerpons mask, dont you? Standing before Pecharunt, Natsume got straight to the point. According to Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, after they stole Ogerpons mask, they had handed it over to Pecharunt. Okidogi hadnt cared for the mask at all. Fezandipiti found it ugly and unworthy of its aesthetic, so it simply tossed it to Pecharunt. Only Munkidori had held onto one out of curiosity. Mo Barely able to open its eyes, Pecharunt''s head spun with dizziness. Natsumes words reached its ears in fragmented pieces, but it grasped the main point. So this human had come to settle the score? Pecharunt''s mood plummeted. Chapter 139: Capture and the Clue to the Verdant Mask Watching as Gardevoir effortlessly gathered the lingering poison in the air with its psychic power, compressing it into a small orb held in its hand Only then did Corviknight finally feel reassured enough to land on the ground, glaring indignantly at the toxic creature before it. Normally, Steel-types are immune to Poison-types. But as previously mentioned, absolute immunity is something that only exists in games. In reality, its almost nonexistent. First of all, while Corviknight is both Flying and Steel-type, it is still a creature of flesh and bloodunlike Magnemite or Beldum, which possess purely metallic bodies. A body of flesh and blood cannot achieve complete immunity to poison. And in the Pokmon world, discussing type advantages without considering strength is also meaningless. If we were to follow the games mechanics, then a Venoshock from Eternatus shouldn''t do anything to Magnemite. Magnemite should even be able to counter with a Tackle. But in reality, thats impossible. Even if the poison itself has no effect, the sheer impact of the attack alone would be enough to knock Magnemite out of the fight. As for Corviknight It wasnt actually worried that Pecharunt''s attacks would cause it harm. What truly annoyed it was this little pests constant habit of spitting venom everywhere. The poison on the ground, it could ignore. But the toxic gas and the airborne poison that had evaporated into a gaseous state were a real headache for Corviknight. Blowing the poison away would have been simple But Corviknight was also wary of affecting the surroundings. In the forest, setting fires was a serious crime. Poisoning the environment wasnt much better. This battle had left Corviknight thoroughly frustrated. If they had been fighting somewhere elselike an open field with no other Pokmon around, or even inside a proper battle arena Then Corviknight could have gone all out and utterly crushed this cowardly little pest. Pechaa Pinned down with one hand by Gardevoir, Pecharunt glared at Natsume with resentment. From its perspective, this human was completely unreasonable. It had been minding its own business in its own territory Then out of nowhere, this guy barged in and started attacking. The mask? Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yeah, I took it. So what? Go ahead, fight me then Oh. He actually did. But so what if I took the mask?! Cant we just talk this out?! That was what Pecharunt thought as it directed other Pokmon to steal the mask on its behalf. Humans are hypocritical creatures. And Pokmon are no different. When theyre the stronger side, theyll say, The strong should crush the weak mercilessly. But the moment theyre on the weaker side, theyll start preaching about sportsmanship, morality, and fairness. Pechaa! Fine, I took it! Gritting its teeth, Pecharunt admitted it without hesitation. Denying it wouldnt change anything now. Owning up to it might at least end things fasterif it denied it, it would just get beaten up more. Whats the point in that? Besides, it was just two masks. Pecharunt had plenty of other treasures in its collection. Losing them was unfortunate, but as long as it survived, it could always gather more in the future. Seeing how readily Pecharunt confessed, Natsume wasnt surprised. Before coming here, to show his determination to sever ties with Pecharunt, Okidogi had given Natsume a detailed analysis of its personality. High EQ interpretation: Arrogant but quick to fold under pressure. Low EQ interpretation: A giant baby. Trying to reason with it was pointless. Only by using sheer strength to make it acknowledge the gap in power could any kind of normal conversation take place. Sounded logical. But it was also completely useless information. Because, seriously, who would still insist on fighting after realizing the gap in power? Sure, there are people who would rather break than bend. But Pecharunt definitely wasnt one of them. Most creatures, as long as it didnt involve their core principles, were extremely pragmatic. Under Gardevoirs death stare, Pecharunt spilled everything. Including how it had ordered Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti to steal the masks. It also revealed that the Hearthflame Mask and the Cornerstone Mask were currently in its lair. But as for the Wellspring Mask and Verdant Mask It didnt have those. Pecharunt tried desperately to emphasize this point. After all, if it got beaten up over something it didnt even have, that would be utterly unfair. It could feel it That iron bird next to Natsume was itching to take a swing at it. Like hell Ill give you that chance! Well then, well have to trouble you to lead the way. Cross-referencing this with the information Okidogi had provided, everything seemed to match. There shouldnt be any discrepancies. Pecharunt''s dead-fish eyes twitched. It had a lot it wanted to say. But none of it was fit for broadcast. You already had your Pokmon beat me up, and now youre being all polite? Whats the point?! Pecharunt simply couldnt understand. But feeling the psychic energy restraining it, it wisely kept silent. Obediently, it led Natsume and Gardevoir to its dwelling. Most wild Pokmon werent particularly skilled at building shelters. Pecharunt was no exceptionit had simply taken over an abandoned ranger cabin in the woods. And on the walls of that abandoned cabin Natsume saw them. The Hearthflame Mask and the Cornerstone Maskboth belonging to Ogerpon. Uhmah! With the Wellspring Mask on its face, Ogerpon leapt out from behind Natsume, its eyes shining with excitement. The joy of recovering something precious after losing it It was enough to make anyone momentarily lose themselves in emotion. And right now, on top of that joy, Ogerpon was also seeing its enemy beaten to a pulp. Double the happiness. It felt like this was the second happiest moment of its life. The happiest, of course, was the moment it had been officially captured by Natsume. After giving Natsume a tight hug, Ogerpon eagerly leapt up to reclaim its masks. One after another, it switched between the three masks. With each change, its typing shifted accordingly. Ogerpons greatest trait was its ability to change its type by wearing different masks. The Verdant Mask was pure Grass. The Wellspring Mask added Water, the Hearthflame Mask added Fire, and the Cornerstone Mask added Rock. Theoretically, with different masks, Ogerpon could learn moves corresponding to those attributes. And given its overall strength, this made it quite formidable. The last Pokmon capable of changing its typing like this was Arceusat least in fan theories. But Ogerpon could do it too. Although it only had three additional typings, its strength was undeniable. Unfortunately, the games didnt quite do it justice. Perhaps because its movepool lacked enough of those corresponding type moves. It only had Spiky Shield, which changed typing along with the mask. But that didnt matter. After all, there was always Teacher Mew. pechaa. I gave you the masks. Can I go now? Glancing warily at the floating Mew behind Natsume, Pecharunt cautiously asked. To make travel easier and to keep them contained, Natsume had temporarily captured Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti in three Luxury Balls. And to prevent them from struggling once they woke up He handed the Pok Balls over to Mew, who had reverted to its true form. At this moment, Mew was floating in the air, juggling three balls like a circus performer. Inside the Luxury Ball, Okidogi was suffering in silence. Oh, great Lord Mew. I truly, sincerely submit to you. But could you please stop playing with me like this? I feel like Im about to throw up. Covering its mouth, Okidogi was in agony. Compared to its situation, it even envied the still-unconscious Fezandipiti and the fainted Munkidoricourtesy of a punch from Natsume before he left. If possible, it wished Natsume had punched it too. It wouldnt dare ask anything of either Natsume or Mew. Neither of them were the type to be reasoned with. Natsume was at least somewhat reasonable. But Mew? Mew was just plain willful. The kind of willful that was impossible to talk down. At this point, Okidogi could only hope that Pecharunt would finish up soon so that Natsume would remember it and let it out. Let you go? Faced with Pecharunts request, Natsume didnt respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Ogerpon. He intended to leave the decision to Ogerpon. If Ogerpon was willing to forgive these guys, then Natsume had no objections. But Natsume thought that was unlikely. In the original game, Ogerpon had mercilessly crushed Fezandipiti, Okidogi, and Munkidori. It even beat Pecharunt itself into hiding inside its shell, refusing to come out. In a way, the people of Kitakami calling Ogerpon a demon wasnt entirely wrong. Imagine thison a dark, moonless night, you see a blood-covered figure standing over three lifeless bodies. Wouldnt you also think they were a serial killer? Even if someone told you they were actually a good person, itd be hard to believe. Hmmaa Hugging its long-lost mask, Ogerpon hesitated. Should it just finish this guy off? It wasnt like that wasnt an option. It would definitely be satisfying, but only temporarily. For Natsume, this whole trip wouldve been a waste of time and effort. So, should it suggest to Natsume to capture them instead? These guys were weak and nasty, but at least they could count as spoils of war. Maybe Natsume could find some use for them. Probably. Ogerpon wavered slightly. It had already decided what to do with these four. But just letting them off the hook so easily felt a bit unsatisfying. You dont need to overthink it. Just choose what you truly want. A familiar hand rested on Ogerpon''s head. Natsumes voice was as gentle as ever. Feeling that familiar warmth, Ogerpon''s gaze gradually became resolute. Hmmaa, hmma! It had decidedNatsume should capture them. That way, the farm would have a few more errand runners. In Ogerpon''s mind, adding these guys meant more combat power for the farm. And theyd make great punching bags for training. A win-win situation. If it ever got angry again, it could just go beat them up. As for whether it worried that Natsume might favor them? Ogerpon could pat its chest and say with confidencenot a chance. It might not be Natsumes absolute favorite, but its position in Natsumes heart was far beyond these poison-laced idiots. Its place was solid. No need to worry. Thinking that, it felt much more at ease. You sure? Hearing Ogerpon''s decision, Natsume was a bit surprised. After all, these guys had hurt Ogerpon before. To be honest, if Natsume were in Ogerpon''s shoes, he wouldnt have let them go. He wouldve cremated them on the spot and scattered their ashes. If this were some urban fantasy protagonist, forget the perpetrators themselvestheir entire bloodline would be wiped out. Family, friends, the whole lotsend them off together. That way, theyd have company in the afterlife. These days, being decisive was a fundamental skill for protagonists. Your protagonist might not know how to breathe properly, but they damn well better be decisive. If they spent all their time mumbling nonsense, readers might barely tolerate it. But if they werent decisive enough? Sorry, nobodys putting up with that. Even the famously gentle Wolf from a certain game never hesitated when he had to strike. No need for talk-no-jutsuIll cut your head off first, then we can chat. Hmmaa! Ogerpon nodded firmly, showing it had thought this through. Eliminating them would be simple. But that would mean Natsume walked away empty-handed. If they were captured instead, Ogerpon could go beat them up whenever it felt like it. It was all about the long game. Alright. Natsume ruffled Ogerpon''s head twice, then pulled an empty Luxury Ball from his belt. A while back, he had transferred all his closer Pokmon into Luxury Balls. They didnt see much use, but in situations like this, theyd at least be more comfortable. Different types of Pok Balls werent just about price and appearance. Their capture efficiency and how Pokmon felt inside them also differed. A regular Pok Ball compared to a Luxury Ball? That was like the difference between a tiny studio apartment and a mansion. Natsume had also been thinking about customizing Pok Balls for his Pokmon. At first, he considered capturing a Tinkaton. Just by name, it seemed perfect as a Pok Ball craftsman. But then he learned that Tinkaton only cared about making its own hammer. Plus, it had a habit of launching boulders at Corviknight just to collect their feathers for hammer-making. Even as a Tinkatuff, it would attack groups of Bisharp to collect metal. For the sake of his Corviknights well-being, Natsume decided against catching one. Caw? Somewhere, Corviknight suddenly shivered. It felt like something sinister had its eyes on it. This didnt feel right. Maybe it should ask Slowking to ward off evil spirits later. Lately, that scholar of a Slowking had been studying exorcism techniques. PPecha?! Hearing Ogerpon''s words, Pecharunt itself was stunned. Huh?! Didnt we agree that if I handed over the mask, youd let me go?! Wait You never actually promised that? Okay, fair enough. Wait, no! Theres a problem here! I never agreed to this! I dont want to be captured! Pecharunt immediately began struggling with all its might. Sure, it had heard many Pokmon say that getting captured by humans wasnt a bad thing. No need to worry about food, constant pampering, and even a personalized training plan to get stronger. Who wouldnt want that?! Many Pokmon tribe leaders deliberately push their most outstanding young ones toward human Trainers, entrusting them to be trained. To them, its more of an equal exchangehumans help train their successors, and in return, those successors bring honor to their Trainers. Then, once that Trainer either passes away or retires, the now-stronger Pokmon can return to their tribe and lead the next generation forward. It all sounds great in theory. But Pecharunt wanted no part of it! All it wanted was to live a carefree life in the wild jungles. With its abilities, if it really wanted to, it could have controlled the entire forests Pokmon. The only reason it hadnt done so before was simply because it didnt see the needplus, it was lazy. And even if it ever got a craving for something tasty, it could just send Okidogi and the others into human towns to find those who worshipped them and have them "borrow" some offered Pokblocks. There was absolutely no need to be captured by a human Trainer! Why should it have to give up its freedom?! Even as it was being restrained by Mega Gardevoirs Psychic, Pecharunt struggled fiercely. It even considered attacking Natsume. It knew full well that most Pokmon in a Trainers team werent really that closethey only stuck together because they had the same Trainer. If it could just succeed, it might still have a chance to escape! As for Okidogi and the others? Friends exist to be sacrificed, dont they? Everyone knows that friends are disposable resources. And now was the perfect time to cash them in! However, just as Pecharunt was about to make its move, its gaze unintentionally drifted toward the Mew behind Natsume. Well, "unintentionally" wasnt quite right. For just a brief moment, it felt as if something was pulling its vision in that direction, as if something important was there. And then it locked eyes with Mews calm, ocean-blue gaze. Those sky-like pupils held no excess emotionjust a silent, unwavering stare. "What do you think youre doing?" Mew didnt speak, but Pecharunt could see the words in its eyes. In that instant, Pecharunt gave up entirely. It stopped struggling and let Natsume toss a Luxury Ball straight at its head. The red light enveloped it instantly, pulling it in. No resistance. Just like that, Pecharunt was captured. The Luxury Ball landed back in Natsumes hand, shook once, then fell still. Capture completePecharunt was now his. Huh, that worked. That was surprisingly easy. Given how Pecharunt had been actinglike it would rather die than surrenderNatsume had expected to try at least a couple more times. Hed even considered roughing it up again if it put up too much of a fight. After all, this guy did look like it could take a serious beating. "Now, onto the Teal Mask." Securing Pecharunt''s Luxury Ball, Natsume turned his attention to the Ogerpon at his feet. Cradling its three recovered masks, Ogerpon already looked pretty satisfied. If they really couldnt find the last one, honestly, it wouldnt mind too much. After all, Natsume had gifted it plenty of masks back home. And Ogerpon loved every single one of them. Gardevoir? Garde. They had a lead. The Gardevoir silently following behind Natsume lifted its head. It had been telepathically communicating with the wild Pokmon in the area the entire way here. And now, it had finally gathered some clues. Chapter 140: The Underlings of Ting-Lu According to some Pokmon in the forest, they had seen a similar mask at a small, somewhat dilapidated shrine on the outskirts of town. It closely resembled the one Gardevoir had described. Though they couldnt be certain, Gardevoir figured it was at least a lead. Even if the mask being worshipped wasnt the real Verdant Mask, the people there must have seen it before. After all, to the locals, the ones being worshipped at the shrine were Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Munkidori. In their eyes, the masks belonged to these three. If they found a similar-looking mask, it wasnt surprising they mistook it for a lost relic and placed it in the shrine. As absurd as it sounded, the locals truly believed that offering tributes to these three would bring them blessings. Worshiping Fezandipiti was said to bring good fortune and smooth success in all endeavors. Worshiping Okidogi was believed to grant talent and financial prosperity. And worshiping Munkidori supposedly nurtured kindness and improved ones relationships with others. The first two were debatable. But that last one? Seriously? Just look at that brutebuilt like a tank, all muscle, no grace. What part of it screams kindness? A short-tempered, impulsive Pokmon with terrible social skills, and you think worshiping it will help your relationships? Well. Wishful thinking, I suppose. But theyre praying to the wrong one. If they really wanted a proper deity, they might as well put up a statue of Arceus. At least that one, after patching things up, actually exudes divine authority. That was my avatar getting wreckedwhats it got to do with me, the real Arceus? Alright, lets go take a look. Recalling the Pokmon following him, Natsume turned to Mega Gardevoir at his side. Before leaving, he made sure to give a few words of encouragement to Corviknight and the Shiny Furret. That reassured Corviknight quite a bit. As expected, Natsume still values me. Hed reward himself later with a short binge of light novels. Lately, hed been so hooked on them that he was slacking on his trash-talking training. That wouldnt do. He needed to stay diligent. As Corviknight was recalled, he made a mental note: time to go lurk on the forums and refuel his vocabulary. There was something undeniably satisfying about browsing flame wars. At least, for those who enjoyed the spectacle. As long as he wasnt the one being flamed, every argument was just another source of entertainment. Gardevoir? Garde. Still in its Mega Evolution form, Gardevoir gently placed a hand on Natsumes shoulder. Perhaps because Mega Evolution required perfect synchronization between Trainer and Pokmon, a deeper connection had formed between them. Using Teleport while maintaining Mega Evolution barely drained any energy at all. It felt almost no different from using Teleport alone. Most Trainers wouldnt keep their Pokmon in a Mega state for longit was too exhausting, even for them. But for Natsume? Exhaustion? What exhaustion? Who do you think youre underestimating? I could Mega Evolve two more times! With its heightened power and vastly increased psychic energy, Mega Gardevoir easily locked onto their destination. In an instant, the scenery shifted before Natsumes eyes. A small, worn-down shrine, clearly still in use despite its age, appeared before him. The shrines roof was covered in faded blue tiles, many of which were cracked or missing, exposing the rotting wooden beams beneath. When the wind passed through, faint creaking sounds could be heard as the tiles shifted slightly. Faint traces of murals remained on the walls, their colors long faded, leaving only barely discernible outlines of deities. Perhaps, many years ago, this place had been a flourishing temple, its incense burning day and night. But now, it had been left behind, a forgotten relic in the corner of the world. Only a few nearby families might occasionally visit. They would light incense, offering silent prayers, seeking the protection of some unknown deity. Stepping inside, where one would normally expect to see a statue or sacred relic Instead, a vibrant green mask sat in quiet reverence. Just from its appearance alone, it looked like a fearsome demon. "Ah, found it." Seeing the Verdant Mask enshrined before him, Natsume''s expression lit up with satisfaction. With this, all of Ogerpon''s masks had finally been recovered. Another promise fulfilled. Back when Ogerpon first arrived at the farm, Natsume had promised to help it retrieve its lost masks. "Uhma!" Ogerpon leapt out of its Pok Ball, practically radiating excitementtoday was undeniably its lucky day. Not only had it reclaimed all its masks, but it had also acquired a trove of new treasures. Yes, before leaving Pecharunt''s hut, Ogerpon had, with a grand gesture Completely ignoring Pecharunt''s wailsstuffed all of its collections into Natsumes backpack. From now on, they were Ogerpons treasures! What a great day! Its collection had expanded once again. "Uhma!" Leaping forward, it eagerly pressed its face against the mask, rubbing against it like an affectionate reunion. Back then, it had left in such a rush, its mood in shambles. Somehow, in all the chaos, it had lost track of its mask. Even Ogerpon itself had no idea where it had gone. But now, it was finally home. "Should we leave a replica or something?" Looking at the now-empty altar, Natsume inspected the shrine. It seemed that people did come to pay their respects here, albeit infrequently. But still, taking the mask outright might lead to unnecessary trouble. And Natsume wasnt fond of trouble. Would it be better to explain things, or just leave a replica behind? "Well see how it goes." With a clap of his hands, he prepared to leave the shrine with Ogerpon. Only to find himself blocked at the door. "Excuse me, but who are you?" A teenager in sportswear stood before him, eyeing him warily. The town wasnt exactly big, but it wasnt so small that he knew everyone. Still, this shrine was so remote that only a handful of people ever came here And he knew all of them. Mostly elderly folks. Certainly no one like Natsume. Strictly speaking, he wouldnt have come either If not for his grandmother constantly dragging him here. Frankly, he couldnt care less about all these myths and legends. At the end of the day, they were just particularly strong Pokmon. The younger generations attitude toward these stories was always complicated. "I scoff at superstition, yet I kneel before the God of Wealth"such was modern pragmatism. "Im just a passing Trainer," Natsume decided to explain, though he altered the story slightly. "I came to retrieve the Verdant Mask from the shrine." "That mask originally belonged to my Pokmonit was just lost here by accident." As he spoke, he released Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Munkidori. Then, after a brief pause, he released Pecharunt as well. At a glance, it was obvious that these four Pokmon shared some kind of connection. After all, in local folklore, the masks were said to belong to the "Loyal Three." That belief was deeply ingrained in the community. If he tried to explain that the masks actually belonged to Ogerpon, things would get messy. And nearly impossible to clarify. Like trying to explain to certain people that a festival or tradition they thought was theirs actually wasnt Youd have to start with historical evidence, trace origins, and even then, they might still refuse to accept it. It just wasnt worth the effort. A little deception made conversations go much smoother. And strictly speaking, Natsume hadnt lied. He had only said the Verdant Mask belonged to his Pokmon. He never specified which one. The others were simply enjoying some fresh air. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Okidogi and Fezandipiti, meanwhile, wore expressions like they had just eaten dirt. This was miserable. They had been living perfectly fine in the forest Only to get mercilessly beaten up, captured, and packed away by this human. It was unacceptable. But there was nothing they could do about it. Because they simply couldnt win. Not against any of Natsumes Pokmon. Not even against Natsume himself. Okidogi had tested that firsthand And its forehead had suffered three direct blows in a single day as a result. If not for its naturally tough physique and the emergency healing afterward, It might have already reincarnated into another world by now. So even if they were unhappy, they dared not show it. Otherwise, there would be consequences. Even now, Okidogi could feel something watching it from behind. Mega Gardevoirs cold, unwavering stare. (Mega Gardevoirs gaze.) Thus, the four Pokmon Natsume released all looked increasingly miserable. Pecharunt, whose entire collection had been plundered. Fezandipiti, whose once-pristine feathers were now singed black. Okidogi, whose forehead had barely survived three near-shattering blows. And Munkidori, who had been tossed around so violently it still felt like it was on a roller coaster. But the teenager hadnt noticed any of that. His focus was on something else entirely The legends had come to life. Right before his eyes. Just moments ago, he had been skeptical, dismissing them as just strong Pokmon. But now? Seeing them in person, he couldnt bring himself to say those words again. Legends were legends, after all. Even if their combat ability was disappointing. "Holy" "A-actually, um" Faced with the overwhelming reality of the moment, the teenager hesitated. Then, after a few seconds of internal struggle, he asked timidly "Can I take a picture with them?" Natsume agreed without hesitation. After the photo, he also asked the teen for a favor If anyone came to worship and found the mask missing, just tell them the "Loyal Three" had taken it back. Otherwise, it would cause unnecessary trouble. People who visited these shrines often tended to have a certain level of devotionsometimes bordering on fanaticism. With that settled, Natsume stretched lazily as he watched the boy leave. "All done. Time to head back." This whole affair had wrapped up neatly. Not only had he recovered Ogerpons mask, but hed also walked away with four "legendary" Pokmon. Their battle power was debatable. But at the very least, they were usable. As for their feelings? They were tools. There was no need to consider that. At least, for now. "Come out, Pidgeot." Throwing a Pok Ball, a dazzling, golden Shiny Pidgeot emerged into the clearing. Stretching its wings, the Pidgeots gaze was tinged with disappointment. It had hoped for a chance to fight. So, in the end, it was just about being a mount. Oh well, this was still a huge step forward. Once upon a time, the Shiny Pidgeots goal in life was simply to be the boss of its flock, gather a harem, and enjoy its bird life to the fullest. Then, it started thinking about getting more delicious food from Natsume. But now, the Shiny Pidgeot felt like it might have more to strive for. Like fighting for Natsume, perhaps? Not long ago, Slowking had privately held a small meeting with some of the Pokmon on the farm. Given the way the farm was developing, there was a good chance many challengers would come knocking in the future. After all, Natsume was already considering the idea of running a Gym. That meant they needed more battle-ready Pokmon. They couldnt just send out Persian, Corviknight, or GardevoirPokmon that were already beyond the normal level rangeagainst every challenger, right? Wouldnt that be a bit too cruel for the visiting trainers? Shiny Pidgeot wasnt sure if the other Pokmon had really taken Slowkings words to heart. But it had. And it was genuinely working toward that goal. "Let''s go." After recalling the other Pokmon into their Pok Balls, Natsume stepped onto Shiny Pidgeots back. Once he adjusted his posture, he patted its neck lightly. The Rotom Phone, which had been tucked inside Natsumes pocket, flew out on its own and switched to navigation mode to guide Shiny Pidgeot. Okidogi had once assumed it stood no chance against any of Natsumes Pokmon, but upon further thought, it realized that wasnt quite true. At the very least, it could probably take down the Rotom Phone. Not that it really mattered. Once Natsume was securely seated, Shiny Pidgeot flapped its wings. In an instant, it shot into the sky, becoming a tiny black speck that was nearly invisible from the ground. Mew, which had transformed back into a Flabb, perched on Natsumes head. Feeling the strong gusts of wind, Mew stretched out a tiny paw and used Psychic to create a wind barrier around Natsume. Inside the barrier, there wasnt even the slightest breeze. It felt as calm as if he were still standing on solid ground. "Thanks, Mew." Natsume gently tapped Mew on the head with a finger. Then, he pulled out another phone from his pocket. The phone inhabited by Rotom was one Natsume had specifically prepared for it. His personal phone, of course, was off-limits to Rotom. After all, in this day and age, a phone was a highly private possession. Even close friends wouldnt casually go through each others phones. I mean, would you be okay with your Pokmon checking your search history? Unless you always used incognito mode. For Natsume, it was an absolute no-go. "Mew~" Noticing Natsumes actions, Mew squinted slightly, its expression carrying a hint of amusement. Just from that one move, it already knew what Natsume was about to do. Yep, this was what love-struck humans were like. Wait, had they even made their relationship official yet? Natsume sure was slow. A real man should be decisive! Charge forward and confess already! Establish the relationship, fall head over heels in love! Complete the transition from a boy to a man! That was how a mature man should act! As if trying to cheer Natsume on, Mewstill in its Flabb formstarted punching his head excitedly. Then, Natsume grabbed it and stuffed it back into his pocket. After all, from that angle, the contents of his phone screen would be completely visible. Letting a Pokmon see his chat history that was kind of embarrassing. If Pokmon couldnt understand human language, maybe it wouldnt be such a big deal. But the problem was that Natsume could communicate with Pokmon effortlessly. No matter what they said, he could understand it perfectly. It was just like talking to another human. In fact, sometimes it was even easier than talking to actual people. And because they could communicate, the embarrassment of having his messages exposed was amplified. "Mew!" Mew protested from inside the pocket. But it was soon pacified with the promise of a feast. When it came to Natsumes cooking, Mew had complete faith. Thinking happily about tomorrows meal, the Flabb-formed Mew lay snugly in Natsumes pocket. This was the life. Compared to this, staying inside a tree all day what kind of existence was that? Boring and uneventful. Nothing to do at all. The human world was way more fun. Natsume sent a photo of Ogerpon hugging its masks to Mei. Meanwhile, in her Pokmon Center room, Mei suddenly sat upright. The abrupt movement sent Chimecho, which had been resting on her stomach, flying off. "Chime?" Chimecho stared at Mei in confusion. Whats going on? Why the sudden excitement? But after seeing Meis expression, Chimecho understood. It must be a message from Natsume. Ah, this was the look of a woman in love. Rubbing its head, Chimecho quietly floated off to rest elsewhere. Today was a rest day. Mei had planned to take it easy and give her Pokmon a break too. She hadnt expected Natsume to message her out of the blue. And it was a photo of Ogerpon hugging its masks. Mei knew what Natsume had gone out to do today. That was why she hadnt texted himshe didnt want to disturb him while he was focused. Mei didnt like the idea of constantly messaging someone when they were busy. It felt selfish. Not only was it impolite, but it was also disrespectful. Especially when the other person had already told you they were occupied. [Mei: So, all of Ogerpons masks have been recovered?] [Natsume: Yep. And I even caught a few of the culprits while I was at it.] [Natsume: Originally, I was just going to send them straight off for reincarnation, but Ogerpon actually decided to let them go.] [Mei: I see. Ogerpon really is such a kind-hearted kid.] Mhm. The same Ogerpon that planned to go beat up Pecharunt and its gang every week felt that it was, indeed, very kind-hearted. At the very least, it had spared their lives. As Natsume sat on Shiny Pidgeots back, he and Mei continued their casual conversation. There was no specific topic. They just talked about whatever came to mind. It had started with the masks, but by the time Shiny Pidgeot reached the farms airspace, their conversation had drifted to ancient mythology. "Pidg!" After circling the sky once, Shiny Pidgeot began its descent. As it lowered in altitude, its wingbeats became slower and more controlled, its movements more graceful. It adjusted its posture, head tilting slightly forward, talons reaching out gently. Gliding down, it made a smooth landing, its wings folding neatly at its sides. The whole process looked elegant and effortless. Under the sunlight, Shiny Pidgeot gleamed like a golden statue. Hah, with landings this smooth, it was sure to win over a whole flock of admirers. Except no one was looking. Not the humans. Not the Pokmon. After touching down, Natsume jumped off and waved his hand, releasing his Pokmon. Aside from a few special ones, most of them were dismissed to go about their own business. But Ogerpon, who had just reclaimed its masks, wasnt ready to leave yet. It wanted to stay by Natsumes side a little longer. To make things easier for Ogerpon, Natsume had even prepared a small storage bag so it could carry its masks around. Right now, Ogerpon was wearing its Teal Mask, while the remaining masks were safely stored in the pouch at its waist. After recalling the other Pokmon, Natsume tossed out the trio known as the Loyal Three, along with Pecharunt. Speaking of which, the title Loyal Three felt somewhat ironic. After all, the treasures werent theirs. And to be honest, these three werent exactly strong. Any group of Pokmon with Three in their name usually had some prestige behind it The Three Legendary Beasts, the Three Legendary Birds, the Lake Guardians, the Swords of Justice But these three? Not so much. Chit! The moment it was released, Munkidori dashed forward at lightning speed. With a textbook-perfect slide, it skidded to a stop right in front of Natsume, rubbing its hands together like a scheming fly, its eyes filled with flattery. It knew exactly who the boss was now. Pecharunt? That weakling? Just a pushover from some far-off region where Natsume-sama didnt reside. But I, Munkidori, have found my new big boss! And in a situation like this, the first one to pledge allegiance always gets rewarded! Maybe, just maybe, I would be the one to lead Pecharunt and the others! Munkidori was rather pleased with itself. Strictly speaking, it wasnt the type of Pokmon to just obey orders. Smart creatures always had their own thoughts. That applied to Pokmon too. Plenty of intelligent Pokmon looked down on their Trainers, thinking they werent bright enough. But Munkidori? It had no right to look down on anyone. When it came down to it, a strong fist was far more useful than a sharp mind. As long as Natsume could beat it into submission, Munkidori would remain his most loyal underling. Not that Natsume cared. Whether this thing was loyal or not was irrelevant. Because he already had a place in mind for them. Ting-Lu, these guys are yours. With a casual tap on his Pok Ball, the sphere burst open, releasing a blinding white light. A massive figure emerged on the open ground. A heavy, ancient aura instantly filled the air. Grrrr Ting-Lus crimson eyes swept over Pecharunt and the others, who were trembling in fear, practically huddled together. Then, its gaze shifted to Natsume, nodding slightly. For the first time, the fury that once constantly burned in its eyes was tinged with amusement. Before, Ting-Lu had always felt like it was trapped in darkness. Its rage and destructive impulses had grown unchecked, feeding on the endless stream of fear being absorbed into the massive vessel atop its head. But after arriving at the farm, Ting-Lu felt cleansed, somehow. For the first time, its mind wasnt entirely consumed by angerthere was space for other thoughts. It didnt quite understand why, but it knew this was a good thing. And this change was brought about by Natsume. Ting-Lu was certain of it. Which was why it was more than willing to lend him its strength. A flicker of warmth crossed its eyes, but only for a brief moment. Then, it turned back to Pecharunt and the others, now trembling so hard they were about to collapse into a pile. Warmth? What warmth? That didnt exist. Before them stood the mighty vessel of calamityTing-Lu, the embodiment of fear itself. Whether in battle or sheer presence, it completely outclassed these fools. As for whatever rebellious thoughts they still harbored Natsume had no interest in wasting time winning their trust or gradually training them. A simple Pok Ball capture wasnt enoughhe wanted them to submit from the depths of their hearts, to fight for him willingly. That took time and effort. But frankly, Natsume wasnt interested in going through all that trouble. It was much easier to just leave them with Ting-Lu. Got doubts? Just beat them down. Keep beating them until they get it. Once they finally learn their place, then well talk. Kwee?! Munkidori let out a startled squawk, sounding more like a startled bird than a monkey. H-Hold on a second, boss! I am obedient! Please spare me! I swear Ive already pledged my loyalty! Boss! Boss, listen to me! It instinctively reached out, wanting to plead its case. But Ting-Lu had already stepped between Munkidori and Natsume. Its crimson eyes bore down on the monkey, silent and unyielding. Oh? You had something to say? Ch-chit Under Ting-Lus merciless stare, Munkidoris face froze. Then, it forced an ingratiating grin. Ahaha H-Hello, Big Brother. You can just call me Little Monkey! Behind it, Fezandipiti, Okidogi, and Pecharunt all cast scornful glances its way. No shame. No dignity. But in this situation, none of them dared to voice their disapproval. They could only follow obediently as Ting-Lu led the way. Munkidori, reluctant to leave the more approachable Natsume, kept looking back every few steps. It was practically radiating regret. Until GRAAAAH! A deafening roar blasted straight into its face. Drenched in a full-on spit shower, Munkidori finally accepted its fate. Forget everything elsesurvival came first. With its assigned subordinates in tow, Ting-Lu marched toward its usual territory. Ever since the farm had expanded, it had moved its dwelling to the farms outermost edge. Even with its mind freed up a bit, Ting-Lu still didnt like noisy, crowded places. It preferred solitude. All that warmth and camaraderie just wasnt for it. On the way back, it passed by Cresselia and Manaphy, who were out for a stroll. These two had originally said theyd just be staying on the farm for a little while. But judging by the way things were going, they didnt seem in any hurry to leave. Especially Cresselia. Was it just his imagination? Ever since it arrived, that otherworldly, untouchable aura it once had was completely gone. To put it bluntly, these days, Cresselia was gorging itself on Pokblocks and Natsumes homemade desserts every single meal. If this kept up, Natsume was pretty sure Cresselia was going to get noticeably rounder. Watching Ting-Lu and its new followers disappear into the distance, Natsume chuckled. Now, it was time to start planning his next move. After thinking it over, he figured Opening a Gym didnt sound like such a bad idea. Chapter 141: Gym Matters and Preparations for Setting the Record Straight At first, Natsume had no intention of establishing a gym. Just thinking about it felt like a hassle. In the games, Gym Leaders spent most of the year holed up in their gyms, waiting to accept challengers. If they stepped out even occasionally, theyd get criticized. Well he wasnt sure if others complained, but back when he watched the anime, he definitely did. Hed be sitting there grumbling, Youre a Gym Leaderwhy are you always wandering around instead of staying put? But looking at it now, from his current perspective Well, Gym Leaders have their own lives too. Going out every now and then was perfectly reasonable. After taking a deeper look into how things worked in the real world, Natsume realized that gyms werent quite what he had imagined. In reality, gyms werent like the ones in the games, where challengers could walk in at any time and demand a battle. Appointments had to be made in advance. Challengers had to show up on a designated date, and higher-ranked gyms even had entry requirements. As for gym battles themselves Most Gym Leaders didnt personally take on challengers. It was usually their apprentices or disciples who handled the fights. If a challenger could defeat them or at least prove their strength, theyd earn the gym badge. After all, while Gym Leaders werent necessarily the strongest trainers in the country, they were at least among the elites. Throwing a fresh rookie straight into battle against a Gym Leader? That was a bit much. Not only would the fight be meaningless, but it also wouldnt serve the purpose of honing and guiding the challengers. If they got taken down in one move, what could they possibly learn from that? Besides managing their gyms, most Gym Leaders had side jobs. There were quite a few like Natsume, who ran farms. Some owned breeding centers, some sold Pokblocks, some ran gyms in the fitness sense, others taught classes online, became influencers If you could think of it, a Gym Leader somewhere was probably doing it. In fact, for many, the gym was the side job. For Natsume, running a gym as a side gig wasnt out of the question. And honestly, he already met most of the requirements to become a Gym Leader. First, strength. If Natsume wasnt considered strong, then there was no such thing as a strong trainer in this world. Even without his Pokmon, he could take on most of them with his fists alone. Next, space. He had that too. A huge chunk of his farm was still unusedso much so that he barely even wandered into those areas. Might as well use that space to build a gym. Then, money. Aside from government funding, a Gym Leader needed their own financial resources to cover gym expenses. Lastly, the gym needed a theme. The simplest approach was to focus on a specific Pokmon type. A more advanced one was to have a unique battle stylelike Double Battles or aquatic battles. The key was to make sure trainers had a clear impression of the gym. And if all else failed, he could just design it with an anime aesthetic. But for Natsume, as for what his gyms theme would be Come! Choose your challenge team! Shiny Squad: Shiny Pidgeot, Shiny Furret, Shiny Vikavolt. Powerhouse Squad: A massive Corviknight, a muscular Shiny Furret, and a Persian that could smack Ting-Lu unconscious with a single swipe. Psychic Squad: Gardevoir, Gallade, and Slowking. Trash-Talker Squad: Corviknight, Kirlia, and an apprentice Cresselia who had mastered the art of smack talk. Newborn Squad: Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Munkidori. Weak? Maybe. But strong enough for beginners. Legendary Squad: Pecharunt, Ting-Lu, and Fezandipiti. "Come forth, young trainer just beginning your journey! Choose your opponent!" (laughs~) And that was just the startNatsume had even more lineups in mind. The Pink Devil Squad, the Cute Squad, the Dirty Tactics Squad, the Bark Bark Squad Plenty of variety. That was a theme in itself, right? After all, a lot of the Pokmon on his farm wanted to battle. Fighting the same opponents over and over got stale. A gym would be a great way to help them burn off some energy. Even if it was just a post-meal workout. Whether they wanted to battle or just watch the fights, Natsume wasnt going to stop them. Hed just have Ting-Lu keep things in order. Why let Ting-Lu take Pecharunt and the others with him? Partly to keep an eye on them. And partly because he wanted Ting-Lu to train them up properly. They were legendaries after allsurely they had some potential. Once they got stronger, theyd be useful in the gym too. At that point, youll be the gyms ultimate boss fight. Natsume scooped up Mew, who had transformed into an Alcremie, and poked the swirl of cream on its head. Ordinarily, an Alcremies cream was edibledelicious, nutritious, and supposedly didnt even cause weight gain. Most competitive bakeries and dessert shops had to have an Alcremie on staff. But the cream from a Mew-turned-Alcremie? Natsume wasnt so sure about that. After thinking it over, he decided to abandon the idea of tasting it. Mew? Mew tilted its head, staring at him like he was an idiot. At that point? Im already the strongest fighter here, okay? Like you could actually beat me. And where exactly is this gym youre talking about? In your dreams? Still, the idea of a gym sounded fun. Mew could play the role of a temporary Gym Leader. Not as itself, of courseit wasnt about to reveal its true form or turn into a human. But maybe as a Slowking or a Gardevoir? After all, Psychic-type gyms sometimes let their Pokmon act as stand-ins. Mew! Include me in the gyms design! Excited, Mew instantly shifted back to its original form, its tail swaying. Clearly, it saw this as a new game to play. As for whether the gym application would actually get approved? Neither Natsume nor Mew gave it much thought. At the end of the day, this world was all about strength. The strong always got special treatment. Given Natsumes track recordand the fact that Phione and Cresselia had been seen on his farm If he wanted to apply for a gym, a lot of the usual red tape would just disappear. Someone would handle the paperwork for him. All hed need to do was sign a few things. "Alright, alright. We also need a gym badge design." "Everyone, be sure to give me some ideas!" Natsume had absolute confidence in his artistic skills. By which he meant he was absolutely confident that he had no artistic talent. Other people had artistic talent. What he had was artistic bacteria. Hed been practicing sketching ever since he arrived at the farm. But the results werent great. At best, his drawings werent offensive to the eyes. He was still sticking with it, but he didnt expect to improve much. It was just a casual hobby at this point. Whew~ Back home, Natsume flopped into a beanbag chair with Mew in his arms. Ah, that post-work relaxation. Like surfacing after a dive and sipping on some oolong tea. Even Mew, nestled in his arms, seemed to have shifted into chibi mode Its already cute appearance somehow becoming even more adorable. Natsume, Natsume! You forgot something, Roto! But peace never lasted long for a working man. Just as Natsume settled in, before he could even let out a full breath His Rotom Phone flew out of his pocket. Pecharunts situation still isnt resolved, Roto! The phones notepad opened automatically, displaying the reminder he had left: [Help clear Pecharunts name.] He had meant to start working on it as soon as he got back. But he just couldnt resist taking a break first. Alright, let me think. Sitting up, Natsume rubbed his temples. This seemed easy at first. But putting it into practice was another matter entirely. After all, the internet was filled with all sorts of oddballs and trolls. Some people had no real hobbies or interestsjust a sheer love for arguing and stirring up trouble. No other reason, really. They just enjoyed the chaos. If anything, what Natsume should be doing now was writing a groundbreaking academic paper, publishing it, and making a name for himself as a prodigious scholar. Unfortunately, after all these years, his experience with academic writing was still limited to the time in college when he cobbled together a "thesis" for graduation by scavenging paragraphs off research databases. In the end, he barely scraped together a paper that had no real significance whatsoever. He still remembered his thesis defenseone of the professors had looked over the English section of his introduction and meticulously pointed out grammar mistakes and incorrect word choices. Halfway through, though, the professor suddenly seemed to realize something. He looked up at Natsume, gave a knowing nod, and stopped correcting his grammar altogether. After all, the syntax of that translation engine had always been questionable. But back to the main pointwhether it was writing papers or anything else, Natsume was completely clueless. Writing a well-researched, thoroughly supported, and rigorously examined academic paper was about as far out of reach as a scholarly Slowking. And his own Slowking, while undoubtedly intelligent, clearly hadnt invested its talents in academia. Ever since he discovered that Slowking had been going around online, arguing with people under the username "Corviknight Is the Strongest", Natsume realized his Pokmon might be heading down a rather... abstract path in life. Well, as long as it was happy. For now, he set aside the whole paper-writing idea. Since that was the case "Hey, Mayor Gakuji?" Natsume decisively dialed the phone. This kind of troublesome issue was best left to the professionals. No matter how much gossip was spreading online, nothing was as convincing as an official update in the Pokdex. "Mr. Natsume? Whats the matter?" Fu Gakuji, who had been organizing reports for his superiors, sounded pleasantly surprised. Could it be that Natsume was finally planning to open a Gym?! That would be huge! For both the town and for him personally. This town was originally nothing specialjust another dot on the map. His role as mayor wasnt particularly significant, either. But with Natsume in the picture, things had become... delicate. At the very least, they couldnt afford to let someone with Legendary-tier strength develop a grudge against the League. At the same time, whoever managed this town had to be competentthis wasnt a position just anyone could fill. Taking all that into account, Fu Gakuji, who had originally planned to climb further up the ranks, had instead been sent here. To say he had no complaints wouldnt be entirely honest. But he also understood that if he handled things well here, the benefits could far exceed his original career trajectory. So, he was more than happy to help Natsume deal with problems. Besides, given Natsumes status, Fu Gakuji had a certain level of influence in various matters. "I see..." After Natsume briefly explained his situation with Pecharunt, he quietly waited for a response. Rather than running around blindly, it was better to ask someone who knew the proper procedures and key points to watch out for. "I see," Gakuji murmured. "Mr. Natsume, give me a moment." He was genuinely surprised. Though Natsume had skimmed over the details, Fu Gakuji had keenly picked up on some key information. Pecharunta Legendary Pokmon. And the four that stole its mask? Also Legendaries. They might not be well-known, but they were still Legendary Pokmon. In his mind, that meant Okidogi and the others shouldnt be much weaker than Pecharunt. If that was the case, then factoring in Ting-Lu, Pecharunt, and the other three Legendaries he had already seen Natsume was this close to having two full teams of Legendary Pokmon! For most people, even catching a glimpse of a Legendary was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Yet for Natsume, they seemed almost... commonplace? Before he knew it, Mr. Natsume had become a true "Legendary Collector." Shaking his head in amazement, Fu Gakuji continued, "I havent personally handled this type of case before, so Im not entirely sure of the procedure." "Ill check with the relevant department and get back to you." Fu Gakuji had never been particularly talented as a Trainer. At best, he was average. The three Pokmon he had were all fairly ordinary, strength-wise. But he didnt mindhe treated them as family rather than partners for battle, and he had no ambitions to advance in that area. Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After joining the League, he hadnt interacted much with departments that dealt with Legendary Pokmon. He had spent some time working in one such office before, but only in administrative roles. So while he had a general idea, he didnt want to risk providing incorrect information. Better to ask and be sure. "Oh, got it!" "Thanks, Mayor Gakuji." "No problem at all." On the other end, Fu Gakuji chuckled and waved it off. This was part of his job, after all. Even setting aside politics and career considerations This was genuinely interesting. "Oh, right. One more thingabout the Gym." "I wanted to ask you about that, too." "Mr. Natsume, are you planning to officially open a Gym?" "Yeah, I think I might give it a shot." Natsume smiled as he looked down at Lopunny, who was sprawled on the floor, sketching badge designs on a sheet of paper. Since the kids on the farm were so excited about it, he couldnt let them down, could he? Chapter 142: Gym Construction and Information Registration A week after Natsume returned to the farm, the construction of the gym was slowly getting underway. As expected, the necessary paperwork was approved at an exceptionally fast pace. A lot of the tedious bureaucratic steps were completely bypassedNatsume barely had to do anything, and the approval went through effortlessly. Now, his priority was to establish the gyms site, set up the basic facilities, and prepare for inspection. Once it passed the inspection, the gym would be officially open for business. For Natsume, this inspection was more of a formality than anything. The strength assessment that made most rookie Gym Leaders nervous was something he didnt even need to worry about. What truly mattered were other aspects For example, whether the gym could properly guide its challengers and whether it could provide training and mentorship for rookie Trainers. Then there was the ability to handle unexpected situations. After all, Gym Leaders often had to cooperate with the League to deal with emergency incidents. Enjoying the benefits of the position naturally came with responsibilities. Caw, caw! Corviknight, wearing a safety helmet that Natsume had placed on its head, was chattering away, enthusiastically sharing its thoughts on the farm. Compared to the extravagant ideas others had Like Musharnas vision of a massive grand stadium, the Shiny Furrets hardboiled fight club arena, and Slowkings elaborate puzzle labyrinth Corviknights request was fairly simple. It wanted the gym to play music. For instance, whenever a challenger lost, it wanted Hope Blooms to play in the background. It thought that would be hilarious. However, Natsume immediately rejected the idea. New Trainers already had a hard enough time getting beaten down. If he added insult to injury by playing a song that rubbed salt in the wound, their morale would completely shatter. For the sake of their mental healthand the safety of any future gym apprenticesNatsume decisively shut it down. This left Corviknight sulking for quite a while. Damn it. It had really wanted to beat up little kids while listening to some cute, cheerful music. That would have been so fun. However, Natsume didnt have the time to entertain its antics right now. The interior setup of the gym and the design of the gym badge were giving him a headache. Boss! All the materials are in place! A strong, energetic girl ran over and gave Natsume a quick update on the construction progress. As soon as you give the word, we can start working immediately! As the farms only designated construction team, she took this job very seriously. She knew exactly why she kept getting contracts from the farm Because she was diligent and, more importantly, didnt play any underhanded tricks. While it was unfair to generalize, many construction crews were notorious for their shady practices. If you didnt keep a close watch, theyd find ways to cut corners and squeeze out extra money. If you treated them too kindly, theyd just push their luck even further. These are real problems. Some workers would even(redacted)relieve themselves wherever they pleased. Even Pokmon werent completely immune to the industrys negative influences once they got involved. If she werent such a stickler for cleanliness and discipline, constantly enforcing strict standards on her Pokmon The girl felt that she wouldnt have been able to keep getting major contracts like this. Alright, got it. Hold on for now. I need to double-check a few things. Nodding, Natsume waved over Slowking and Indeedee to make one final confirmation, ensuring nothing had been overlooked. Standing off to the side, the strong, energetic girl gazed at the scenery, unable to stop herself from sighing inwardly. Seriously, when she first saw the news of Natsume defeating a Legendary Pokmon on TV, she was utterly stunned. She had only just managed to process that, and now he was becoming a Gym Leader? Youre only nineteen, kid. By comparison, she felt like she had wasted her years away like an old Arcanine. A little bitter, maybe. But that was fine! At least she was doing well financially now. A few more years of hard work, and she could finally go on that hiking trip to Mount Fuji! Clenching her fists in silent determination, she reaffirmed her long-held dream. Back in university, she had always wanted to go. Since she wasnt particularly gifted as a Trainer, she had enrolled in an average college. For four years, she and her friends had simply enjoyed their youth, traveling whenever they could. They had originally planned a trip to Mount Fuji together, but by the second half of their senior year, everyone was too busy job-hunting. Before she knew it, they had all gone their separate ways. Add financial struggles to the mix, and the dream had been shelved indefinitely. But now? Now she had money! And it was all thanks to Natsumes trust. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She silently wished him a long, healthy life and hoped hed continue to be a generous employer. While the girls thoughts were starting to drift, Natsume had nearly finished his checks. Well, technically, it was Slowking and Indeedee who confirmed everything was in order. As for Natsume? He was barely a step above a mascot. At least he could give orders. But when it came to actual technical knowledge? Not completely clueless, but close enough. Yadon. Slowking nodded, signaling to Natsume that they were good to go. Beside him, Indeedee stood in a formal butlers postureone hand in front, the other behind its back. Indeedee were just like that. Rather than excelling in battle, they were naturally inclined to serve humans. Males took on the role of butlers, while females resembled maids. And they werent just for showevery one of them was highly capable and attentive to detail. No wonder they were the Pokmon of choice for the British Royal Family. Even setting aside their skills as caretakers, Pokmon were often far more reliable than humans. Alright, Ill leave it to you all, then. Now that Slowking had given the green light, Natsume turned to the construction girl and spoke politely. Got it, Boss! Instantly energized, the girl promised to complete the job with the highest quality, working overtime if necessary. To her, Natsume wasnt just a clienthe was practically divine. No, even more important than a god. After all, gods were only useful when you didnt need them. The moment you had a real need or desire, they vanished without a trace. But Natsume? He actually paid. And he was generous. A boss who paid well and didnt cause troublewhat more could she ask for? With his command, the Machamps and seasoned construction veterans waiting nearby sprang into action. To them, the heavy building materials might as well have been cotton, effortlessly lifted and maneuvered into place. Many tasks that would normally require machinery were handled purely with their physical strength. And they enjoyed it. For the Machamps, this was just another form of training. In fact, you could find free labor from Machops at almost any construction site To them, it was nothing more than a free gym to build their muscles. Leaving Indeedee behind to oversee the work, Natsume and Slowking headed for the farms entrance. After learning about Natsumes findings, Fu Gakuji had wasted no time reporting the existence of Pecharunt to the League. Now, researchers were already en route. On a small scale, this was just Natsume doing someone a favor. On a larger scale, this was an invaluable contribution to Jadeleaf''s understanding of legendary Pokmon. Five legendary Pokmon, no less. And ones that humans had previously known very little about. Especially Pecharunt. At least Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, and Ting-Lu had some level of folklore surrounding them. Even if there wasnt much, scraps of information could be found online. But Pecharunt? There was nothing. The discovery of a new legendary Pokmon had sent shockwaves through the research community. For many researchers, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even the smallest findingbasic data, a new behavior Could end up in textbooks. What researcher could resist that temptation? When the news first broke, a flood of researchers had personally offered to fund their own trips just to meet Natsume. It had taken significant effort for the League to rein them in, ultimately deciding to send a single senior researcher instead. Hello, hello! You must be Mr. Natsume? At the farms entrance, an elderly man with a cheerful smile stepped out of a black government-issued vehicle. His hair was streaked with white, but he still seemed in good health. Im Sha Keisho. The kindly old man introduced himself briefly, though he didnt say much about his background. Just a passing mention that he worked at the research institute. He left out any details about his position. But even without an introduction, Natsume felt like he had seen this man before. On a textbook cover? Or maybe during an academic conference livestream? Dont ask why Natsume had watched academic conferences before. There was a time when he had dreamed of writing groundbreaking research papers that would shake the academic world. Now, in hindsight Well, he could shake people. Just in a how-can-someone-write-this-terribly kind of way. Whose student was this?! Professor Keisho, its an honor. I really appreciate you coming all this way. No, no, its my pleasure. This is a rare opportunity for me as well. Sha Keisho waved a hand dismissively, his smile never fading. To him, any chance to study legendary Pokmon was a privilege. Even just gathering basic information was invaluable. Most past research on legendaries was limited to things like A feather from Articuno But now? He had a living, breathing legend right in front of him. How could he not be excited? After a bit of small talk, Sha Keisho got straight to the point. I read your report, Mr. Natsume. You mentioned five legendary Pokmon? Thats right. Leading the professor inside, Natsume prepared to summon two Gogoats for him to ride. After all, the man wasnt young anymore. Keisho didnt refuse. People often thought researchers were frail, bookish types. But in reality, if you werent physically capable, you wouldnt even be able to subdue your own research subjects. For him, wrestling with mischievous Pokmon running amok in the lab was daily routine. His exercise level probably surpassed most gym-goers. Still, why turn down a kindness? Besides, he was eager to meet the legendary Pokmon. Woomah! Woomah! In the distance, Ogerponwearing its signature furnace maskcame barreling toward them. As it got closer, it took a few quick steps before leaping into Natsumes arms. Ugh! With a grunt, Natsume instinctively caught it. His ribs throbbed slightly from the impact, but he could only smile wryly as he patted the excited Pokmon. "Ogerpon, you must never do that to anyone else." That could kill someone. Even with Natsumes incredibly resilient Hisui-born body, he barely managed to withstand it. For a brief moment just now, Natsume felt like his ribs were about to snap. Ogerpon clearly had some misconceptions about its own strength. "Uhma!" I would never do that to anyone but Natsume. Nestled in Natsumes arms, Ogerpon lifted its head slightly, wearing a faintly haughty expression. To Ogerpon, Natsume was special. Other humans? They were all lumped into the same categoryjust "others." Ogerpon had no intention of being affectionate with them. "Alright, alright." Natsume ruffled Ogerpons head, unable to suppress an amused smile at the masked Pokmon. The Furnace Mask made Ogerpon look far less cute than usual, but for some reason, that only made Natsume want to laugh. Maybe it was the same kind of amusement that came from watching a kid he knew try to scare people with a Halloween mask. "This... is Ogerpon?" Standing nearby, Sha Keisho had been watching the scene in silence, carefully choosing his words before finally speaking. When dealing with Legendary Pokmon, their intelligence was on par with humans. And most of them were quite proud. Sure, Ogerpon looked adorable in Natsumes arms right now, but if it had been any other human standing here, it probably wouldnt have even spared them a glance. Keisho didnt want to offend it over something as trivial as a form of address. At the end of the day, it was just a title. No big deal. Back when he had just graduated, he had to call his idiotic boss "Sir" out of politeness. Showing a bit of respect to a Legendary now? That was nothing. Besides, how many people would kill for the chance to even meet one? "Uhma?" Ogerpon tilted its head, looking at Sha Keisho with a puzzled expression. Whos this old man? Never seen him before. With the Furnace Mask on, Ogerpon didnt look cute at all. If anything, it looked far more fitting for the "ogre" part of its name. "Yes, this is Ogerpon." Still holding Ogerpon, Natsume gave a brief rundown of the situation, including how its masks had been stolen. As for the fact that wearing different masks could change Ogerpons type, Natsume hesitated for a moment before deciding to be upfront about it. Ogerpons ability to change types was bound to be discovered sooner or later. Rather than trying to hide it and waiting for someone else to expose it, it was better to be straightforward from the start. If Natsume and Ogerpon were weak, then maybe they would have to be more cautiouskeeping secrets, navigating conflicts carefully, and finding ways to grow in the shadows. But Natsume had no need for that now. Whether it was Ogerpons unique ability or the Legendary Pokmon residing on the farm, there was nothing to hide. Constantly suppressing oneself would only dull one''s edge. Endlessly yielding would only turn one into a cowardly pushover. If you had the ability, why should you have to hide it and shrink yourself? Natsume wasnt at the level of rewriting the rules of the world. But at the very least, he had the right to refuse to play by them. "Ogerpon has four masks." "The Wellspring Mask, the Hearthflame Mask, the Cornerstone Mask, and the Teal Mask." "Wearing different masks allows it to change its type." "The Teal Mask represents its base Grass type, while the others grant it an additional corresponding type." Seated on his Gogoat, Natsume patted his Rotom Phone, signaling it to help locate Ting-Lu. Normally, this kind of task would be left to Mew. But early this morning, Mew had taken off on an adventure, saying it had found something interesting and wanted to check it out. It might watch a show somewhere and come back late in the evening. Before it left, Natsume reminded Mew to bring his phone in case he needed to contact it. Mew obediently hung the phone around its neck and flew out through the window. Flying Pokmon never used the front door. With Gogoat picking up speed, Natsume and Sha Keisho soon arrived at the area where Ting-Lu usually stayed. Or rather, where Ting-Lu and the Loyal Three lived now. Compared to the lively center of the farm, this place was far quieter. Looking around, the only things visible in the vast open space were Ting-Lus massive form and The Loyal Three, who were nearly passed out from exhaustion. Ting-Lu had taken Natsumes previous instruction"Train these useless guys properly"very seriously. For the past few days, it had been putting them through a training regimen equivalent to what the Shiny Furret followed. Worried that they might not survive the intensity, Ting-Lu had even invited Slowking and Mew to oversee their progress. Both of them had more experience when it came to training Pokmon. After reviewing the training schedule, Slowking had simply given its assessment: "Yadon." They wont die from this. Then it had leisurely walked away. Mew had stayed behind, cheering them on. "You can do it! I believe in you!" That was the general sentiment. Unlike with other Pokmon, Mew didnt particularly dislike the Loyal Three. It was simply watching them as if they were amusing new playthings. Strictly speaking, Mew had a rather mischievous personality. "Natsume, this is" Sha Keisho pointed at Okidogi, who was sprawled out on the ground like a panting dog, tongue hanging out, gasping for air. A trace of doubt flickered across his face. This is the Legendary you told me about? Doesnt quite look the part "Okidogi, a Poison/Fighting-type Pokmon." "Its an aggressive brute that easily loses control." "Just look at its build. Its obviously a warrior." Keeping his expression neutral, Natsume proceeded to introduce the rest of the group. When Sha Keisho heard about Fezandipitis ability to secrete a toxin that could be used to craft hypnotic, mind-controlling syrup mochi, his eyes flickered. Pois on, mind control, delicious food. Any person from Jadeleaf would instinctively be on alert hearing those words together. But Sha Keisho didnt say anything. After all, many Pokmon possessed similar abilities. Most Psychic-types, for instance, could use hypnosis. There was no need to be overly wary. As long as the Pokmons trainer wasnt a criminal, that was what really mattered. Adjusting his mindset, Sha Keisho swiftly got to work, beginning to record the data on the Pokmon. Chapter 143: Records and the Pokémon That Wandered In For a seasoned researcher like Sha Keisho, who had spent years delving into Pokmon studies, it only took a single glance to grasp the key information about most Pokmonbasic attributes, habits, and the like. Take Okidogi, for example. Ever since Natsume arrived, it had been scowling, clearly not the friendliest Pokmon to interact with. Munkidori, on the other hand, was grinning obsequiously at Natsume, as if trying to say something. However, one sharp glare from Ting-Lu shut it up, forcing it to glance at Natsume every so often in hopes of being noticed. Just from that behavior, it was obvious that this one was the cunning, opportunistic typeone that beat the weak and feared the strong. As for Fezandipiti, the moment Natsume and Keisho arrived and Ting-Lu temporarily halted training, it had been preoccupied with preening its feathers, seemingly indifferent to everything else. And then there was Pecharunt The moment it shut its shell, it completely withdrew into itself. It had no desire to see either Natsume or Ogerpon. It hated both of them. These legendary Pokmon They certainly have unique personalities. After a few seconds of thought, Sha Keisho finally settled on a suitable description. To be honest, these Pokmon didnt really feel like legendary Pokmon. There wasnt even a hint of grandeur about them. Even the trio often mocked online as the "Three Foolish Birds" would at least arrive with some kind of dramatic weather changesnowfall, thunderstorms, that sort of thing. But these guys? They froze in place from a single glare from Ting-Lu. Sha Keisho had a lot of questions, but he refrained from commenting further. Leaving aside their strength for the moment, the information gathered so far did seem to confirm that they were indeed legendary Pokmon. It was natural for legends to vary in power. After all, Pokmon like Land Forme Shaymin or Meltan werent exactly known for their strength. As for these ones Well, their future potential remained to be seenthey were, in a way, warriors of the future. "Ill be staying for the next two days. Hope I wont be a bother." Closing his notebook, Keisho patted his pocket. A Rotom Phone floated out, immediately switching to recording mode to document Pecharunt and the others from every angle. Observing and documenting Pokmon wasnt something that could be done in a single day. It was a long-term task. Even though Natsume had already shared a fairly comprehensive report with Fu Gakuji, the information still needed to be verified. After all, this concerned updates to the Trainers Pokdex, and something of this scale couldnt be decided based solely on Natsumes account. In truth, Keishos visit wasnt so much for research as it was for verification. Once the data was confirmed, the updates would be added to the Trainers Pokdex. And, naturally, this would also serve as a promotional opportunity. Discovering a new Mythical Pokmon was always a major event. Natsume needed to establish Ogerpons legitimacy. The League needed publicity. A win-win situation for everyone. "No problem at all, Professor Keisho." "There are still rooms available in the farms guesthouse, so for the next two days, you can" "No need, no need. The town has already arranged a place for me to stay." Keisho waved off the offer. In fact, it wasnt just accommodations that had been arranged The League had also assigned him bodyguards. He simply hadnt let them follow him inside. While the two of them chatted, his Rotom Phone had already circled Okidogi several times. As a researcher, Sha Keisho had a habitwhen dealing with related Pokmon, he preferred to start his research with the ones that looked the most physically robust. Because, in his experience, those types couldnt hide much. Their traits were obvious, and they were the easiest subjects to study. By using them as a foundation, he could then move on to analyzing the others. Of course, this was just the excuse he gave himself. Whether others believed it or not was irrelevant. Most researchers ended up imitating his methods anyway. And his Rotom Phone, having followed him for years, knew his habits well. So today, its focus was on Okidogi. Unfortunately, Okidogi wasnt exactly thrilled about it. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. First, this human had been staring at it for half the day, scribbling notes all the while That alone felt unsettling, as if it were some kind of lab specimen. Then, this little floating thing kept buzzing around, taking pictures from every angle. Very annoying. Extremely annoying. "Grrr" Instinctively, Okidogi opened its mouth, ready to let out a roar. Despite its humanoid form, it still retained many canine instincts. Unfortunately for it, Ting-Lu was already watching. A deep, ominous aura radiated from its eyes. Okidogis entire body stiffened, as if an unseen, malicious gaze was pressing down on it from behind. After two seconds of silence, it forcefully swallowed its impending roar. Quietly, it turned around and obediently sat on the ground, allowing Rotom Phone to continue its work. It was frustrated, but there was nothing it could do. Because if it dared to make a scene, the next second it would be flying through the air A phenomenon it had already experienced multiple times over the past two days. Originally, Okidogi was both stubborn and proud. Even after being thoroughly beaten by Natsume, it refused to submit. There was no reason behind it It simply refused to back down. It, too, had its dignity as a Pokmon! However, dignity meant nothing in the face of overwhelming strength. Over the past few days, Okidogi had been utterly crushed by Ting-Lu, over and over again. Hard-headed, huh? Well, I''m here to hammer that head of yours. Sure, Okidogi had a tough skull But clearly, Ting-Lus hooves were even tougher. Okidogi was stubborn, no doubt. But being stubborn wasnt the same as being reckless. And even the most obstinate Pokmon would learn after repeated beatings. At this point, it only took a single glance from Ting-Lu for Okidogi to understand It was about to get beaten again. So instead of resisting, it would quietly walk off to the side and prepare itself for the inevitable. "Ting-Lu, Ill be counting on you to keep an eye on them." As Keisho checked his notes, Natsume patted Ting-Lu on the head. "Grrr" Ting-Lu let out a low growl, eyes narrowing slightly. Not because it was particularly enjoying this Honestly, given the size of Natsumes hand, his pats were barely noticeable. But! Enjoyment was one thing. Attitude was another. Ever since arriving at the farm, Mew had taken it upon itself to treat Ting-Lu as its underling. And to make sure its "underling" understood its place, Mew had imparted all kinds of useful knowledge All sourced from the internet. "A Hundred Ways to Please Your Rich Benefactor," "The Science of Dog Training," "The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a PlayerFrom Beginner to Disaster." Ting-Lu had studied them all. And it had carefully applied these techniques in its interactions with Natsume. This moment was one such example. More than anything else, emotional value had to be delivered properly. After a few more exchanges with Ting-Lu, Natsume returned to chatting with Keisho. Most of their conversation revolved around Ogerpon and Pecharunt Their abilities, preferences, and natural behaviors. All details that would later be recorded in the Pokdex. Natsume didnt hold anything back. He shared everything he deemed necessary. What he didnt mention, however, were the more personal quirks Like Ogerpons little hobbies or its embarrassing moments from the past. Natsume had always disliked the kind of parents who would bring up their childs most embarrassing moments at family gatherings just to amuse others Even when the child was visibly uncomfortable, theyd keep going. It was irritating. And the same principle applied to Pokmon. Most Pokmon were like children Sensitive, easily influenced by their Trainers. If something wasnt necessary to say, then there was no point in bringing it up. "Toxic Chain is quite an interesting ability." "It could be extremely useful in battle." "Pecharunt seems to be a highly defense-oriented Pokmon." "And it has to be outstanding." Once Keisho got into work mode, he was completely immersed in his own world. He only surfaced briefly to chat with Natsume when he encountered a problem, hoping to get some answers to his doubts. Natsume, for his part, didnt find it annoying and patiently answered his questions. If Natsume had to describe how he had changed, it would undoubtedly be that running the farm had greatly trained his patience. Between the endless workload, the never-ending tasks, and the little troublemakers running around the farm, exhaustion was inevitable. For someone with a weaker mindset, they might have given up entirely. The idyllic countryside life seen online was certainly beautiful. But that was just online. Reality wasnt exactly a complete mess, but it was a constant cycle of worry from morning till night. The fact that he had managed to last this long on the farm showed that Natsumes patience had indeed been honed. Strictly speaking, it wasnt just his patience. His entire mentality had been tempered to be as steady as an old dog. Even if, in the very next second, a Pokmon that wasnt supposed to fly suddenly appeared in front of him and declared its intent to destroy the world, Natsume felt he wouldnt be too surprised. At most, hed just sigh and say "So the world really has gone mad." Then hed summon Mew. Looking at it this way, Mew had become an indispensable presence on the farm. As for Natsume? Just a mascot. He vaguely remembered how time seemed to crawl when he was younger. Every single day felt long. But now, two or three days seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Keisho had finished his work and was preparing to return to the capital. His research institute still had a mountain of tasks waiting for him. This trip had been, in part, an excuse to take a short break. Unfortunately, good vacations were always fleeting. "Professor Keisho, thanks for all your hard work these past few days." Standing at the farms entrance, Natsume waved at him. "It wasnt hard, not at all." Even as Natsume forcefully stuffed two bags of Pokblocks into his hands, Keisho maintained his usual friendly, good-natured smile. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Keisho promised that once he returned, he would compile the information on Pecharunt and the others and report it as soon as possible. At the latest, by Monday, the Trainers Pokdex should be updated. Hearing this, Natsume was finally satisfied enough to let him leave. Did people really think he was such a hospitable host? If he werent eager to get this matter settled quickly, he wouldnt have gone through all this effort. With Sha Keishos assurance, half of Natsumes worries were put to rest. The other half would only disappear once the Pokdex was officially updated. But even if there was a delay, it wouldnt be a big deal. Yesterday, under the guise of future communication about Okidogi and the others, Natsume had already gotten Keishos contact information. If any issues arose, he could just call directly. "Natsume, no need to see me off. Well be heading back now." Smiling, Sha Keisho waved before getting into the black business car he had arrived in. Besides his own vehicle, two additional cars flanked it in front and behind as escorts. The Jadeleaf League had always placed great importance on the safety of its researchers. At Keisho''s level, solo travel was practically out of the question. After seeing him off, Mewwho had spent the past few days lounging on Natsumes head disguised as a Flabbsuddenly pounced, shifting back into its true form in an adorable, cat-like manner. At this point, Natsume was fine with letting people know about some of the legendary Pokmon on his farm. For example, Ting-Lu or Okidogi. But Mew? For now, he wasnt ready to reveal its existence to the world. After all, there were levels even among legends. Mew had long been believed to contain the genetic code of every Pokmon in existence and was capable of learning all their moves. Its status and significance were on a completely different scale compared to Okidogi and the others. Or rather, there was simply no comparison. The gap between Okidogi and Mew was bigger than the gap between a Rattata and a Dragonite. "Mew~" Natsume, Natsume! The basic framework of the gym is already in place! Lets go check it out! Still perched on Natsumes head, Mew excitedly ruffled the hair he had neatly styled that morning. It was absolutely thrilled about the gyms construction. When it was finished, Mew wanted to play the role of Gym Leaderbeating up trainers! To give those fresh-faced trainers just starting their journey a bit of a shock. The mere thought of it ignited a fire within Mew! Well, more likeit ignited other peoples fire. "Sure." After a moments thought, Natsume agreed to Mews proposal. He had nothing pressing to do for now, anyway. Might as well check out the gym. As for sharing the good news with Pecharunt? That could wait. Natsume wasnt the type to celebrate too early. Until everything was officially settled, there would always be a hint of unease in his heart. "Mew!" Yay! Hearing Natsumes answer, Mew leaped into the air, tiny pink paws resting on his shoulder. The next moment, Natsume vanished from the farms entrance. Whoosh In front of the partially constructed gym, Natsume and Mews figures appeared out of nowhere. The gym was being built to meet the standards of a city-level gym. Both the battle arena and training facilities were designed to meet the necessary requirements. As for something higher, like a provincial-level gym? Strictly speaking, that was already beyond the scope of a regular gym. There were usually additional responsibilities tied to it, making operations more complicated. A provincial-level gym wasnt just a gymit was practically a small company. "This looks pretty good." Surveying the gyms framework, Natsume nodded in satisfaction. At this rate, it wouldnt be long before it was ready for use. "Mew?" Tilting its head, Mew looked at Natsume with a puzzled expression. Natsume, do you know about the two unfamiliar Pokmon inside the gym? "Hmm?" Hearing Mews words, Natsume paused, then quickly realized It must be a couple of Pokmon that had accidentally wandered in. Chapter 144: Capturing Charcadet! In the dimly lit building, two small humanoid Pokmon cautiously peeked out from the shadows of a dark corner, their eyes filled with curiosity and wariness. Earlier this morning, they had noticed a group of Machamp carrying strange-looking materials while chanting in unison as they marched toward this place. Out of curiosity, the two Pokmon had decided to follow along. After all, they had nowhere else to go. Wandering around a bit seemed like a good way to pass the time. That was their initial thought. But then, they saw that group of seemingly powerful Machamp start constructing a building using those materials. They didnt understand why, but their curiosity compelled them to keep watching. Maybe that was all there was to itjust simple curiosity. After all, many Pokmon in their early stages of life possessed an abundant sense of curiosity. Just like Phione from some time ago. Not long after its birth, Phione had been given permission by Audino to move around freely. With that newfound freedom, it became fascinated by everything in the world. Forget about just trying different kinds of Pokblockswhen Natsume had recently brought back some nutrient-rich soil to plant flowers at home, he turned around for just a moment and caught Phione about to stuff a handful of dirt into its mouth. Fortunately, Natsume had managed to stop it just in time. Char... Tilting its head, the smaller of the two Pokmon gazed curiously at the empty room before them. Where did all those Machamp go? Where did they disappear to in the blink of an eye? Wait a second had they accidentally wandered into human territory? The tiny Pokmon suddenly realized the severity of the situation. According to the elder Pokmon of the forest, humans were a fearsome species. They would invade Pokmon homes, beat their families, steal their food and treasures, and even take away their parents, mates, and children. And before leaving, they would make sure their victims were awakeforcing them to watch helplessly as their loved ones were taken away. They were truly terrifying beings. If possible, one should avoid humans for an entire lifetimeabsolutely avoid them. That was the warning passed down by the elders. The two Pokmon still vividly remembered the expression on that old Nidokings face when he spoke of this. His features were filled with sorrow and pain, as if he were mourning his own failure to protect his child. From that perspective, humans were indeed terrifying. After whispering its thoughts to its companion, the other Pokmon also became aware of the danger. This was bad! The two tiny Pokmon began anxiously pacing in circles, completely flustered. They wanted to leave immediately. But the door to the room was closed. Char... Char. After a brief huddled discussion, they decided to use teamwork. One Pokmon crouched down and braced its hands firmly against the ground. The other stepped onto its back, carefully balancing on tiptoes as it reached for the doorknob. After much effort, they finally managed to turn the handle and open the door. Char! The Pokmon that had jumped down let out a triumphant cheer. But before it could pull its companion up, a human voice suddenly came from outside. Looks like some Pokmon accidentally wandered in. Natsumes voice echoed through the hallway. The two tiny Pokmon instantly froze. That voice... It was a human! In a panic, the pair scrambled back into their hiding spot in the corner. This room was intended to be Natsumes storage room. It was cluttered with all sorts of miscellaneous items. Perhaps because Natsume had grown up in a house where there was always a storage roomfilled with things not frequently used, including his childhood toyshe had developed a strange attachment to the idea. It didnt matter what kind of house it was. It had to have a storage room. Every building on the farm had one. Char... Hiding in the shadows, the two Pokmon cautiously peeked out. Through the crack in the open door, they saw a figure pass by. Trailing behind him was a fearsome-looking black hound. Its neck and back were adorned with gray, bone-like structures. Its large, curved horns gave it the appearance of a demon that had descended from the underworld. Even its mere footsteps radiated waves of heat. Houndooma Dark- and Fire-type Pokmon. In many films and TV shows, Houndoom often played the role of a villains Pokmon. It was strong in battle, and its appearance perfectly fit the part. However, there were no Houndoom on Natsumes farm. The only dog-like Pokmon here were Mightyena and Manectric. Which meant... This Houndoom must belong to someone else. Miu... woof? As it passed the doorway, the Houndoom seemed to notice something. It instinctively let out a sound as it glanced into the room. Strangely, its first sound was somewhat odd before it returned to a normal bark. Tilting its head, the Houndoom scanned the room with its ominous, piercing gaze. Whats wrong? The humans voice came again. The Houndoom hesitated for a moment, then shook its head and followed after the human. As they watched the Houndoom leave, the two tiny Pokmon let out a long sigh of relief. That was close! Holding its chest, one Pokmon protectively shielded its companion, lightly patting its own chest as it calmed down. They had narrowly avoided disaster. Now, they just had to wait for the human and the Houndoom to leave. But wasnt Houndoom a canine Pokmon? How had it failed to notice them at such close range? Was this fate...? Puzzled, the tiny Pokmon slowly lifted its head And found itself staring into the massive face of a dog. Its bloodshot eyes gleamed with a sinister red glow. Drool dripped from its open jaws. At that moment, its heart stopped. To my parentswherever you may be. And to my long-lost friends, if you are still alive. My short and uneventful life might be ending today. Please dont grieve for me. Please dont mourn me. On the road to reincarnation, I wont be alone. Because my little sister is probably coming with me. At least... we wont be lonely. Ah, what a short life. Closing its eyes, the tiny Pokmon braced itself for the inevitable. The one behind it curled up into a defensive position, instinctively trying to squeeze itself into a crack in the floor. If only there was one. All right, Mew, stop scaring them. Does messing with little ones really make you that happy? The tiny Pokmon waited and waited but death never came. Instead, the humans voice rang out again. Waitwhat was he saying? Scaring little ones... Was he talking about them? Mew~ Mew! No way! I just thought they were really cute! Dont you ever get the urge to snuggle adorable little kittens and puppies?! Well, sure, but not as much as you do. Mew! Thats so mean! Im just an innocent, kind-hearted soul! Peeking through one eye, the tiny Pokmon saw a pink, feline Pokmon floating in the air. It waved its little paws around in protest, looking utterly adorable. A stark contrast to the menacing black dog from before. Wait where was that big dog? The tiny Pokmon hesitantly looked toward Natsume and Mew, its eyes filled with confusion and worry. Oh no. They had been discovered by a human. In just a few short breaths, the Pokmon had already imagined dozens of tragic fates. The mere thought of them made the future seem bleak and hopeless. You step aside for now. Dont make this harder. Natsume pressed a finger against Mews forehead, gently pushing it away before turning his gaze to the two tiny Pokmon hiding behind a cardboard box. Hello there, Charcadet. He crouched down, making sure his eyes were level with theirs. Extending his hand, he spoke softly. Yes, these two Pokmon were none other than Charcadetthe pre-evolutions of Armarouge and Ceruledge, two incredibly popular Pokmon from Pokmon Scarlet and Violet. Charcadets body was primarily red and black, with its upper half being a vibrant shade of red. A distinctive helmet adorned its head, featuring three small openings. The flames burning fiercely at the back of their heads and around their necks looked like flowing helmet plumes and scarves. Rather than "attendants," they seemed more like knights still in training. Natsume had anticipated that some Pokmon might accidentally wander into the newly constructed Gymafter all, for convenience, it was built right on the farms edge, at the opposite end from where Ting-Lu resided. But he hadnt expected the intruders to be these two little ones. If he remembered correctly, Charcadet was an exceptionally rare Pokmon. There werent many of them in Jadeleaf''s territory. The Jadeleaf League was home to a large number of Dragon-type Pokmonone could find most Dragon-types in the world distributed somewhere within its borders, including pseudo-legendaries. "Char?" The bolder of the two Charcadet, the one who had been shielding its younger sister, cautiously spoke up. As an older sister, she was certainly fulfilling her duty well. Yes, both of them seemed to be female. Natsume wasnt sure why they had ended up here, but since they had come, they might as well stay. It had been a while since the farm had welcomed any new residents. Okidogi and the others didnt countthose guys were more like spoils of war. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cresselia had mentioned yesterday morning that she had sensed something and needed to head out for a bit. After Natsume packed half a month''s worth of Pokblocks into a small bag for her, she left the farm. Manaphy had also departed a couple of days priorafter all, as the Prince of the Sea, he couldnt keep skipping work. He had responsibilities to attend to. Of course, before leaving, he had pilfered a portion of Natsume''s Pokblock stock from the storage room. This nearly led to a fight between him and Mew. In the end, Manaphy had to hand over half of the Pokblocks and some snacks as "protection fees" before being allowed to leave. As for what happened to that "protection fee" afterward? Don''t ask. When it comes to Legendary Pokmon, some things are better left unquestioned. "Char?" Um hello? After a brief hesitation, the older Charcadet tentatively greeted Natsume. This human didnt seem that bad? But the Nidoking elder had warned themhumans were incredibly good at deception. What if he was just pretending? Though it did feel oddly comforting. Different from other humans. He gave off a presence that made Pokmon instinctively want to get closer. As she watched Natsume extend his hand toward her, the older Charcadet reflexively reached outonly to suddenly realize what she was doing and pull back at the last second. This guy! Too dangerous! Snapping back to her senses, the Charcadet stared at Natsume in horror. This human was terrifying. Without realizing it, he had already made her lower her guard. That was even scarier than Psychic-type Pokmon. "Huh?" Natsume was confused by the sudden look of fear on her face. What just happened? "Mew~" You seriously have no self-awareness, do you? Mew, who had been shoved aside earlier, flew over with a look of utter disdain. That ridiculous charm of yoursif you dont learn to control it, things like this will keep happening. And yet, you remain completely oblivious. Clearly, it was time for an intervention. Shoving Natsume aside, Mew flicked his long tail, brushing it lightly against Natsume''s facelike a playful act of "revenge" for being pushed away earlier. Now he could get back at Natsume properly! "Mew-mew~" "Char?" Mew swiftly put his social skills to work, draping his arms around the two Charcadet like old friends catching up. Every now and then, he would glance back at Natsume, as if discussing something with them. After a brief exchange "Char!" Big bro Natsume! With her little sister in tow, the elder Charcadet solemnly approached Natsume and bowed deeply. It looked just like those old gangster initiation scenes from the last century. "Wait, wait! Get up first!" "Mew, what the hell did you tell them?!" Flustered, Natsume quickly helped the two Charcadet to their feet, then turned to glare at Mew. What kind of nonsense did you fill their heads with?! At this rate, Im going to end up looking like some crime syndicate boss! Im supposed to be a model citizen of the new era! "Mew?" What? Nothing special. Tilting his head, Mew feigned innocence. All he did was summarize how everyone on the farm viewed Natsume. Nothing strange about that, right? "You" Natsume opened his mouth to argue but ultimately sighed instead. Looking over at the two nervous Charcadet sisters, he saw them flinch slightly under his gaze. Letting out a barely audible sigh, he put on a gentle smile and said: "Since Mew has already told you everything" "Whats your decision?" "Char!" We want to join! The elder Charcadet responded immediately, afraid Natsume would change his mind. Beside her, the younger Charcadet nodded vigorously. She seemed like a very introverted childthroughout the entire conversation, it had been her older sister speaking on their behalf. "Alright, then come in." Reaching behind him, Natsume pulled out two Pok Balls and held them in front of the Charcadet sisters. After exchanging a glance, the two of them earnestly pressed the buttons on the Pok Balls. "Pooff~" The Pok Balls shook gently twice before falling still. "Alright, Charcadet has been caught." Picking up the Pok Balls, Natsume felt a strong urge to strike Ash Ketchums signature pose. But upon sensing Mews judgmental stare from the side, he decided against it. Chapter 145: Mew’s New Little Brothers and a Pokédex Update Once they were released, the two Charcadet ran up to Natsume and bowed deeply, as if thanking him for taking them in. For wild Pokmon, having someone willing to take them inproviding food and shelterwas nothing short of a dream. No, scratch that. Even in their wildest dreams, they wouldnt have imagined such a thing happening. After all, back in the wild, their seniors had repeatedly emphasized that if they ever encountered a human, their best course of action was to run as far away as possible. They had also warned them about the dangers humans posed. But now, looking at Natsume, he didnt seem scary at all. At the very least, Boss Natsume wasnt frightening. After bowing to Natsume, the two Charcadet turned one after the other and bowed to Mew as well, expressing their gratitude to Big Brother Mew for showing them the way. Natsume was the boss. Mew was the big bro. Yep, that made perfect sense. As the two Charcadet gazed up at him with admiration, Mew nodded in satisfaction. Very well! From now on, you two are my direct subordinates! On the farm, Mew was practically the designated skills tutor. However, strictly speaking, Mew only had one true little brotherHisui Zorua. But ever since Hisui Zorua discovered that Mew had been hiding its true identity all along, it had been sulking and deliberately avoiding Mew. It wasnt that it didnt want to see Mew. It was just waiting. As long as Mew came looking for it, Hisui Zorua would immediately forgive it. Youll still be my big bro. Unfortunately, Mew seemed completely unaware of Hisui Zoruas little tantrum. For a long time after arriving at the farm, Mew had been too busy entertaining itself to pay attention to its little brother. Feeling hurt, Hisui Zorua decided that it would never play with Mew again. It would become a child who never smiled. Then it joined forces with Togepi to form a troublemaker duo. As time went on, Hisui Zorua made new friends and didnt care about Mew anymore. Dont ask. It once loved. But that was all in the past. By the time Mew realized it hadnt seen its little brother in ages, the little brother had already abandoned it. Mew sulked about it for quite a while. But that didnt matter anymore. Now I have new little brothers. Mews eyes sparkled as it looked at the two Charcadet. Mew! Work hard! Ill train you well! Clenching its tiny fists, Mew spoke with great determination. As a Legendary Pokmon, Mew was quite confident in its ability to train others. After all, every time it watched online videos of trainers training their Pokmon, it had only one thought: "I could totally do that. And way better!" The two Charcadet exchanged a glance. Char! Please take care of us, Big Bro Mew! They seemed eager and full of energy. Mew! Call me Big Sis! Char! Big Sis Mew! Alright, enough messing around, you lot. Arent you supposed to be touring the Gym, Mew? Whats with this sudden interest in raising minions? Natsume pinched the scruff of Mews neck and lifted it up, tapping its head twice. This little guy was just like a seven- or eight-year-old childcurious about everything, but also easily distracted by new things. Mew! Because this is way more fun! Who cares about a Gym? Hanging from Natsumes grip, Mew declared its stance with confidence, staring at Natsume with wide, innocent eyes. Not a trace of guilt. Not a hint of embarrassment. No excuses. You wanted to see the Gym, so now youre coming with me. Giving the pink cat a light shake, Natsume motioned for the two Charcadet to follow, then walked out of the roomstill holding Mew by the scruff. Mew wiggled a couple of times before giving up. If someones willing to carry me, why should I fly myself? Mew, being the genius it was, firmly believed that it should be carried. Even if this position was slightly uncomfortable. But that was fine. Less effort was better. The two Charcadet, following behind, blinked at the sight of their newly appointed Big Sis being casually carried off. She didnt seem all that intimidating. Noticing that the two little ones had to practically jog to keep up, Natsume slowed his pace. For their tiny legs, keeping up with him was no easy task. Char Realizing that Natsume had adjusted his pace, the Charcadet sighed in relief. They almost couldnt keep up. Glancing at the blueprint on his phone, Natsume continued his Gym tour. He still hadnt decided on a name for the Gym, the design of the badge, or the battle format. But that didnt dampen his excitement. Back when he first took over the farm, excitement had been mixed with deep anxiety. That anxiety stemmed from his lack of confidence in his own strengthand his full awareness of his financial situation. Because he knew his financial situation all too well, it made him anxious. Now, though, Natsume was confident in both his strength and his wallet. So he wasnt particularly worried about this Gym. With enough strength to back it up, he wasnt afraid of any problems that might arise. As long as no fragile trainers broke down after losing a match and died in the Gym, things should be fine. It sounded ridiculous. But reality was often even more absurd. At the end of the day, novels needed logic. Real life didnt. If someone compiled all the bizarre news stories from the internet, theyd probably create the longest comedy film in history. This will be the battle arena. At the center of the Gym, a large open space was piled with construction materials. The battlefields in Gyms werent just simple dirt floors. More well-funded Gyms built professional battle arenasthe kind that could automatically switch terrain types after a match, just like in the anime. They looked impressive. And they cost a fortune. Not just in construction, but in maintenance as well. But Natsume figured that if he was going to build a Gym, he might as well do it properly. He had no grand ambition of creating the worlds best Gym. But he also didnt want to be at the bottom. Something solidly mid-tier. Maybe slightly above average. That was his goal. And to achieve it, some investment was necessary. Beyond the battle arena, there were plenty of other expenses. Even Natsume felt the pain of spending so much money. Thankfully, once the Gym was up and running, things would stabilize. Besides, Slowking handled the farms finances. Natsume only checked them occasionally. Slowking, on the other hand, monitored them daily. If anyone should be feeling the financial pain, it was definitely Slowking. That thought alone made Natsume feel a lot better. Once the battle arena is finished, the Gyms construction will be more or less complete. Aside from the arena, the rest of the Gym was just standard buildings. Some of the reserved spaces might later be converted into training rooms. But for now, there was no rush. Trying to perfect everything before getting started often meant nothing got started at all. Mew. Perched on Natsumes shoulder, Mew tilted its head in anticipation. Being carried around had its own unique charm. But it was a little embarrassing. So Mew preferred sitting on Natsumes shoulder. That way, it wasnt just convenientit also made it look adorable. Presentation mattered, okay? Mew. Natsume, Natsume! Can they come to the Gym in the future too? Tugging gently at Natsumes hair, Mew gestured toward its two little brothers. Mew had great confidence in its training skills. And in its new protgs. After all, it was a Legendary Pokmon. It could see a Pokmons potential. These two Charcadetwhile not destined to be legendary figureswere at least solid by human trainer standards. With Mews guidance, they would become the Gyms star battlers. The kind that takes down every challenger that walks through the door. "That depends on what they want." "What if they dont want to fight?" Natsume had no objections to this. His initial idea was to let the Pokmon on the farm occasionally step in as guest participants. If these two Charcadet were willing to join in, he certainly had no problem with it. But forcing them to fight? That was out of the question. "Char!" Hearing Natsume and Mews conversation, the older sister of the two Charcadet quickly spoke up, saying that she and her younger sister were willing to battle. They had heard from the older Pokmon in the wild Humans captured Pokmon for the purpose of battling. So if they were unlucky enough to get caught, they had to obey. Though they didnt quite understand what a Gym was, As the elder sister, she immediately agreed. Its just battling, right? We wild Pokmon are best at that. No big deal. Leave it to us. Watching the older sister Charcadet pat her chest confidently while the younger sister hid behind her, cheering herself on, Natsume couldnt help but find the situation amusing. On one hand, their behavior was kind of cute. On the other, he felt a little helpless. This place isnt some exploitative sweatshop or a scam center. Theres no need to be this tense. But he had gotten used to it. Every time a new Pokmon arrived, it seemed to be the same story. Wild Pokmon always had some kind of misconception about humans Either they idealized them too much, or they demonized them. After all, they had never actually interacted with humans. Everything they knew came from other Pokmon. Those abandoned by humans would assume the worst about their every move. While those who had returned to the wild after their Trainers passed away would nostalgically reminisce about their past lives, often painting an even rosier picture. Even if there were some unpleasant memories, they would unconsciously gloss over them. It was just the way things were. "Alright, no need to be so nervous." "No one here will ever force you to do something you dont want to do." "If anyone does, just tell me." "Ill cut off their Pokblock supply for a month." "And then call them up for a beating." Squatting down, Natsume gently rubbed both Charcadet on their heads. His words were clearly meant for a certain someone. Sure enough, Mew, perched on his shoulder, immediately looked horrified. Are you a demon, my friend? Using its tiny paws to press against Natsumes face, Mew made it clearplease, for the sake of our friendship, never say such terrifying things again. To this, Natsume replied that it would depend on the situation. And withholding Pokblocks? That wasnt just an empty threat. But more importantly Mews gaze subtly shifted to Natsumes hand. Everyone knew that Charcadet had something like a fiery plume on their heads, Which fluttered constantly even when there was no wind. It looked quite nice. But that thing was literally fire. How was he petting them so casually? Wasnt it hot? Did this guy train in iron palm techniques or something? Natsumes response You dont need to know the secrets of a Hisuian superhuman. After ruffling the Charcadets heads a little longer, Natsume reached into his pocket and pulled out several translucent, ruby-red Pokblocks. Inside each one, a tiny flame seemed to flicker. Holding them in his hand, he could feel their warmth. Natsume had been thinkinghis farm had never really had a proper Fire-type Pokmon before. Now, finally, that had changed. To mark the occasion, he took out some specially prepared Fire-type Pokblocks. They were among the higher-quality ones, even for general-use Fire-type Pokblocks. Something he had made while practicing to keep his skills sharp. But their quality was top-notch, no doubt about that. "Char..." Taking the Pokblocks, the two Charcadet looked up at him, eyes brimming with emotion. No one had ever been this nice to them before. And he was even giving them food. The Pokblocks Natsume took out didnt have any strong scent. They looked more like decorative rubber trinkets. But as they held them in their hands, the Charcadet could feel the Fire-type energy within. Normally, Fire-type energy was fierce and volatile. But the energy in these Pokblocks It was warm. Gentle. Like the golden sunlight of an autumn afternoon, spreading a comfortable warmth through their bodies. The sisters exchanged a glance. Then, at the same time, they wolfed down the Pokblocks. As the Pokblocks crumbled in their mouths, an explosion of flavors unlike anything they had ever tasted before surged forth, Melting into a warmth that spread through their entire bodies. Every single cell seemed to be cheering in joy. Like parched travelers in a desert finally stumbling upon an oasis. It was a joy beyond words. "Char!" The older sisters eyes lit up as she stared at Natsume expectantly. Delicious! Love it! Want more! She didnt say a word, but her gaze said it all. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Not for now." "You have to digest it first before you can eat more." Seeing those eager eyes, Natsume rejected her request without hesitation. "Char..." A little disappointed, the older Charcadet quickly perked up again. Being able to taste something so incredible was already more than she could have asked for. She was just being greedy. Adjusting her mindset, she glanced at her little sister. Good. Her eyes were as clear and dumb as ever. No issues there. When it came to her sister, the older Charcadet knew her well. High emotional intelligence: Always happy, never worries. Low emotional intelligence: No brain, forgets things easily, cant pick up on sarcasm. In some ways, that was a good thing. At least she was always cheerful. Sometimes, the older Charcadet even envied her for it. "Alright, lets head back." After a brief stroll, Natsume clapped his hands and said. Before leaving, he called over the Ursaring family and asked them to keep an eye on things for him for the time being. Since the Gym wasnt fully built yet, its security measures were basically nonexistent. Or rather, they were about as useful as the ones in the Land of Light. More symbolic than functional. "Mew~" I want something tasty when we get back. Raising its tiny paw, Mew made its daily demand. Lately, it had been saying this at least twice a day. "No." And just like that, Natsume shut it down. Not until you finish eating the protection fees you extorted from Manaphy. To this, Mew responded with utter denial What protection fees? I dont know what youre talking about! Dont slander me! The two Charcadet blinked their big, clueless eyes, watching their new boss and the legendary Pokmon bicker. They had no idea what was going on, but it seemed really impressive. After returning home, Natsume introduced the two Charcadet to his Pokmon. Mew, puffing up with pride, declared that from now on, they were its underlings. In response, everyone remained calm and unbothered. Well, it was Mew, after all. Even though it always liked to present itself as a wise and mature Pokmon, Everyone knew the truth This guy was just a brat. And not just any brat, but the ultimate kind. Most troublemakers, no matter how unruly, would behave after getting smacked around a bit. But Mew? Not only did it love causing chaos If you tried to smack it, Youd be looking at an instant game-over. No alternatives. No second chances. Mew! Starting today, youll train under me! Ill lead you to the top of the world, to sights no one else has ever seen! Somehow, Mew had fished out a pair of black-rimmed glasses, crossing its arms as it solemnly addressed the two Charcadet. It had picked up this line from a Trainers video online. Specifically, it was something an uncrowned middle-aged Trainer had once said to his newly captured Mightyena. How should one put it? It was... quite aspirational. And in a way, there was potential for a bright future... probably? "Char!" As ridiculous as it sounded, to the two Charcadet, it was surprisingly convincing. Not only because they had little knowledge of the world, But more importantly It was Mew saying it. That alone sent the credibility of the statement skyrocketing. And so, from that day onward, the two Charcadet began following Mew around for training. At one point, Natsume asked about their progress. But Mew, acting all mysterious, insisted that it would be a huge surprise when the time came. In response, Natsume could only wait with mild anticipation. A few days later, as he lazily scrolled through his phone while eating breakfast, a news notification suddenly popped up. "The Pokdex has been updated?" The news featured Sha Keisho, now dressed in full researcher attire, explaining the newly documented information on Pecharunt and the Loyal Three. At the same time, he also officially clarified Pecharunts classification. Something Natsume had been following for a while now had finally come to a conclusion. Chapter 146: Mew’s Accomplishment At noon, after finishing its training, Corviknight habitually opened its favorite forum, Anti-Bar. As a loyal supporter of Anti-Bar, Corviknight made it a daily mission to browse the forum and express its opinions. Despite being a bird Pokmon without dexterous hands, it relied on sheer determination and unyielding spirit to engage in verbal duels with the seasoned forum veterans. Though it wasnt exactly a fair fight, Corviknight could still manage a 40-60 win ratio. The main issue was its typing speedit was simply too slow. And if your hand speed isnt up to par, then on the internet, youre undoubtedly at the bottom of the food chain. Forget about protecting your loved ones You wouldnt even be able to protect Konoha. After opening Anti-Bar, Corviknight was originally planning to check out its favorite ranking threads, where it would sharply critique the Pokmon choices of various Elite Four members and Champions. This was the spiritual sustenance that fueled Corviknight''s daily training. But then Wait a minute Why was it in a ranking thread?! A panicked Corviknight quickly searched for the origins of this post. After some digging, it finally understood the situation. Simply put, after the Trainer''s Pokdex update, many people noticed that five new Mythical Pokmon had been added to the database. And from the descriptions, these five Pokmon seemed to share a connected story. At first, people just casually commented on how the conflicts between Mythical Pokmon were just as messy as human drama. But then someone suddenly noticed Wait a second, doesnt this Pecharunt look kind of familiar? After some comparisons, all eyes turned toward an old video clip circulating onlineone from Natsumes battle against Ting-Lu. In that video, Pecharunt made a fleeting appearance. Even though it was only on screen for a brief moment and wasnt wearing a mask at the time, the keen-eyed internet sleuths still managed to identify it. Thats when people had a shocking realization So, Natsume had already gained the recognition of a Legendary Pokmon even before his battle with Ting-Lu?! The jealousy skyrocketed. Of course, this was the internet. Diversity of opinions was the name of the game. Once it was confirmed that Natsume had captured Pecharunt, people quickly jumped in with different takes. Some dismissed it as pure luck, saying Natsume only won because he got the blessing of a Legendary Pokmon. If it were me, I couldve done it too! And then, the comments section truly showcased the beauty of internet diversity: Who are you again?The Confused Crowd. So you must be pretty strong, huh?The Sarcastic Skeptics. I fully support OP meeting Natsume for a battle in real life.The Chaos Enjoyers. You can you ****, you **** like ****, if you **** then I ****The Telegram Messenger. No matter what kind of thread it was, as long as Natsume was involved, chaos was guaranteed. After all, work was already exhausting enoughwho had time to maintain an online persona? And now that this involved a Legendary Pokmon? Yeah, no one was hiding their jealousy anymore. Meanwhile, a Watson appeared and pointed out a critical detail: Hold on, if Pecharunt''s data was only added after Natsume caught it, what about the other four? Could they also belong to Natsume? I mean, if were talking pure battle power, he definitely has the strength to do it. The thread fell into silence. Then, an even wilder frenzy erupted. Some were in shock. Some refused to believe it. Some skipped the first few stages and went straight to denial. Others immediately declared themselves ten-year veteran fans of Natsume. And some were already contemplating a remake of reality. At this point, the internet had evolved from chaos incarnate to hells artistic masterpiece. The skeptics mostly doubted whether Natsume truly had the strength to pull it off. After all, for those unaware of the full picture, a battle of four Mythicals versus two Legendaries (Pecharunt and Ting-Lu) would naturally seem unfair in favor of the larger group. But then, the footage of Natsumes battle with Ting-Lu resurfaced Complete with a detailed breakdown. Long story short, based on the Pokdex descriptions, Fezandipiti and the others shouldnt be much stronger than Pecharunt. At best, they were evenly matched. And from that battle footage, it was clear sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All of Natsumes Pokmon held their own against Pecharunt. And together, they managed to take down Ting-Lu. After watching that, the internet collectively wondered: How exactly was Natsume supposed to lose? To the veterans of Anti-Bar, whether Natsume had actually captured the remaining Loyal Three didnt really matter. It wasnt like it affected them personally. But what did matter was That battle footage was making the rounds again. And that meant only one thing Time for the traditional Anti-Bar ranking threads. Unlike the other threads, Corviknight wasnt particularly interested in those. It immediately clicked into its own ranking thread. And there, it saw a comment from an account named Corviknight #1 in the World: "Feels like its still not as good as Persian." Fnmdp! Where exactly am I inferior to that cat?! Corviknight was absolutely fuming. It wanted nothing more than to challenge Persian to a battlefor the 815th time. Sure, it had lost the previous 814 battles. But this timeCorviknight had a feeling that this was its best chance yet! Just then What the hell are you doing? Natsumes annoyed voice rang out as he pushed open the door. It was the middle of the day, and this bird was already losing its mind. Corviknight, still in a fit of rage, shot him a sharp, dagger-like glare. Then, without hesitation, it opened its beak and Caw! Caw! Caw! Im researching the hundredth way to praise and worship my most respected and admired boss, Natsume! ...Psycho. Natsume shut the door, deciding he had no interest in dealing with this utterly deranged bird. Right now, Corviknight had firmly secured its place at the very bottom of the farms hierarchy of contempt. It had gotten to the point where even passing Phione would give it a casual kick. Utterly devoid of dignity. After closing the door, Natsume threw on his coat and headed outside. At the same time, he scrolled through the Trainer forums, browsing trade posts. Ever since Mew decided to train two Charcadet, Natsume had been looking to purchase an Auspicious Armor and a Malicious Armor, posting a buy request online. So far, no one had offered to sell. After all, these special items werent just evolution tools for Pokmon. They often held significant collectible value as well. Take Dragon Fang or Prism Scale, for example. Or in the case of Malicious Armor, it was essentially a cursed antique suit of armor in Natsumes eyes. In other wordsan ancient artifact, a well-preserved suit of armor, a piece of history, and authentic to boot. That alone skyrocketed its value as a collectible. This left Natsume a little troubled. Mew~ A small pink feline suddenly floated in through the window, excitedly gesturing in front of Natsume. Natsume, Natsume! I started a training camp, and a bunch of Pokmon signed up! You wanna come see? That was what Mew meant. Huh? Sure, I guess. Snapped out of his thoughts, Natsume blinked in surprise, then nodded and followed after Mew. He had never minded the Pokmon on the farm organizing their own activities. Wellexcept for that King of Endurance Crashes tournament Corviknight once tried to hold. Mew~ Look! This is the result of my hard work these past few days! Bringing Natsume to an old, rarely used storage barn on the farm, Mew proudly slid the doors open, eager to show off its masterpiece. Chapter 147: Gimmighoul’s Evolution and the Sealed Forest As the warehouse doors swung open, Natsumes eyes landed on a group of Ghost-type Pokmon hard at work training, along with the two Charcadet. There werent many Ghost-types on the farmGimmighoul, Duskull, Misdreavus, and Hisuian Zorua. All four of them were gathered here. According to Mew, these Ghost Pokmon tended to stick together, likely because of their shared typing. This time, while training the two Charcadet, Mew had figured it might as well bring along its little bro. But when it went looking, it found that its little bro had already made some new friends. Well, if youre going to herd one sheep, might as well herd the whole flock. Without hesitation, Mew roped the whole group of mostly inconspicuous Ghost-types into its special training squad. As for whether they actually wanted to be here? Mew was convinced they were eager to get stronger. Yep, definitely. Except for the mischievous Hisuian Zorua, the rest of the Ghost-types were practically invisible on the farm most days. Gimmighoul spent its days clinging to the coins Natsume had given it, huddled in its treasure chest, polishing them over and over. A monotonous life, perhaps, but to Gimmighoul, it was fulfilling. Why waste time running around making a ruckus? Gimmighoul didnt understand, nor did it care. Duskulls activities were exactly what youd expect from its appearance. A little old man with hands behind his back, wandering aimlessly. Life on the farm suited it just fine. Sure, it wasnt growing stronger quickly. But it had food, water, and shelter. No harsh winters, no blistering summers. Whats the point of striving for power? What a meaningless pursuit. And so, Duskull swiftly evolved into a professional slacker. Its closest companion was Gallade. The two loved spending afternoons basking in the sun by the lake, lost in thought. Wasting time? Dragging yourself through a job you hate, forcing yourself into dull routines Thats wasting time. Thats squandering your life. This? This was leisure. Lastly, there was Misdreavus. It had thought about getting stronger or blending in more with the others. But only thought about it. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Misdreavus found itself in a constant paradox. It hated being alone but disliked crowds. Loneliness ate at it, but too much noise made it wish for the world to just end already. It yearned for friendship but avoided maintaining relationships. It admired bonds yet remained passive, waiting for others to make the first move. It wanted to talk but feared being misunderstood. It often thought about dying only to decide it would be kind of a waste. So contradictory. So frustrating. Misdreavus figured it would probably always be like this. If no one reached out to pull it from the shadows, it would stay there forever, lurking at the edges of lively crowds, silently drawing from their energy just to keep itself afloat. In short, the textbook definition of a depressed little gremlin. Then, Mew showed up. And completely ignored its reluctance, dragging it straight into this so-called special training squad. This was, without a doubt, the most exhausting time in Misdreavuss entire existence. I never wanted to get stronger! I just wanted to hide in my dark little corner! I have absolutely no interest in this! Too badMew didnt care. The world''s most stubborn pink cat simply declared: Youre just being tsundere! No worries! Your beautiful and kind big sis Mew will help you! And in a way, Mew really did help. At the very least, thanks to their shared suffering, Misdreavus had bonded with the other Ghost-types and the two Charcadet. Their favorite pastime? Gossiping about Mew behind its back. Because really, the fastest way to make friends was to talk smack about the same person. Unethical? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. Mew~ Floating in midair, Mew tilted its head up, placing its paws on its hips, puffing out its chest with pride. It was practically demanding praise. It had worked so hard training these little guys! Whether it was battle techniques or daily drills, Mew had meticulously supervised them all. It had even tailored specific regimens based on their individual traits. Sure, it was a Pokmon itself, but training rookies was no big deal. Under Mews watchful eye, both Duskull and Misdreavus were on the verge of evolution. As for Hisuian ZoruaMew hadnt focused too much on its battle strength lately. Instead, it had been drilling it specifically in illusion techniques. Youre supposed to be a master of illusions! And yet, you only know a handful of cheap prank tricksunacceptable! Having spent a long time disguised as a Zorua itself, Mew was deeply disappointed. It was determined to mold this kid into an illusionary genius. If its training didnt meet the standard? Well, guess Ill be having your midnight snacks instead! Mew had declared this with a self-satisfied grin. Meanwhile, Hisuian Zorua had long since given up on resisting. Why, though? It had made new friends. Its boss had even come back to find it. It should have been twice as happy. And yet Why do I feel so dead inside? Hisuian Zorua had no answer. Maybe this was just life. Alright, alright, you did great. Seeing Mews smug little expression, Natsume chuckled and patted its head. As he continued rubbing, though, his smile gradually faded. Wait Why did it feel like Mews head had gotten bigger? No, not just bigger This thing had gained weight. Natsume gave Mew a closer look. Yeah, no doubt about it. This pink menace had definitely gotten chubbier. Mews body used to be described as small and slender. Now, it could only be called small. It wasnt exactly fat, but "slender" was definitely out of the question. Who would use "slender" to describe such a chubby body?! After confirming the tragic truth that Mew had gained weight, Natsume chose not to comment. Instead, he smoothly changed the subject. After all, Mew was now a leader with underlings. If he were to say it outright, it might ruin Mews image as a reliable big sister figure. Gaining weight... That was something to be addressed privately later. "By the way, Gimmighoul, this is for you." After scanning the area, Natsume suddenly waved at Gimmighoul. Previously, under Mews tyrannical rule, Gimmighoul had been forced to diligently train its skill proficiency. Now, upon hearing Natsumes call, it eagerly scampered over to him. The coins inside its treasure chest clinked melodiously with each movement. "Gim?" Its tiny hands wrapped protectively around the coins in its chest, ensuring they wouldnt fly out due to sudden movements. Gimmighoul curiously looked up at Natsume. As if realizing something, its golden, coin-like eyes immediately sparkled with excitement, filled with anticipation. "This is for you." Natsume rummaged in his pocket before pulling out two Gimmighoul Coins. Unlike most Pokmon, Gimmighoul had an extremely unique evolution requirement. It needed a total of 999 Gimmighoul Coinscombined with the single one it possessedto evolve. For some time now, Natsume had been collecting Gimmighoul Coins, and finally, just two days ago, he had acquired the last two needed. "Gim!" Under Gimmighouls burning gaze, Natsume handed over the two coins. The moment it received them, Gimmighoul eagerly stuffed them into its treasure chest. In the next second, the light of evolution burst forth. A white radiance shone through the gaps between the overlapping coins, rapidly expanding to envelop both Gimmighoul and its chest. Excited cries echoed from within the glowing sphere. Perhaps due to overwhelming excitement, its voice sounded somewhat distorteddifferent from its usual clarity. As the light intensified, Gimmighouls body began to elongate and morph within the glow. Its once-treasured coins transformed into pure energy, merging seamlessly into its evolving form. Like an engine injected with fuel, the slow evolution process suddenly accelerated. Gimmighoul, now bathed in light, had become a second sun. As the radiance reached its peak, it gradually began to contract. When the light finally dissipated, a golden, dazzling Pokmon stood before Natsume. "Wohoo!" The newly evolved Pokmon shimmered with the glow of wealth. Its silhouette reminded Natsume somewhat of Sudowoodo. Four braid-like structures adorned its head, and a belt was slung diagonally across its waist. The treasure chest that had once contained its entire body and coins had now transformed into a small ornament, hanging at its lower back. Looking down at its new form, Gholdengo clenched its fists and let out a joyous cheer. It had finally evolved! Gholdengo was extremely satisfied with its flashy, golden appearancethough it did carry a bit of a nouveau riche vibe. "Congratulations." Natsume approached with a rare smile. He, too, was pleased with Gholdengos evolution. Gholdengo was one of the few Pokmon whose Shiny form barely differed from its regular appearance. The standard Gholdengo had intricate, faint circular patterns across its body. These barely noticeable patterns were orange. Meanwhile, the Shiny Gholdengo retained its golden hue, but the circular patterns turned green. To be honest, the Shiny version wasnt particularly attractive. Those green circles stood out a bit too much. With a wide grin, the newly evolved Gholdengo gave Natsume a grateful nod before eagerly dashing off to test its newfound power. Pre-evolution, Gimmighoul wasnt particularly suited for battle. Its base stat distribution was decent, but the heavy, coin-filled chest was a hindrance in combat. However, post-evolution, Gholdengo no longer had this issue. Moreover, its base stats skyrocketed to 550. Its highest stat was Special Attack, reaching 133, with Defense and Special Defense at 95 and 91, respectively. In simple terms, it had transformed into a tanky cannon. Furthermore, its Steel/Ghost typing provided excellent resistance against most unfavorable conditions. Against opponents, it could now bulldoze through them with sheer firepower. The difference between Gimmighoul and Gholdengo was like night and dayone was weak in combat, and the other could demolish opponents without hesitation. "Mew~" Oh, wow, so shiny! Mew swam through the air like a fish, playfully floating around Gholdengo. It was quite curious about Gholdengos gleaming body. It looked... expensive. "Hoho~" Being admired, Gholdengo proudly displayed itself. It thoroughly enjoyed the attention. Before evolving, Gimmighoul had been a timid, reclusive Pokmon, always hiding in the shadows, avoiding notice. But now, Gholdengo basked in the spotlight, relishing the admiration. "Sou." Following Gholdengos display, Hisuian Zorua, Duskull, and Misdreavus also showcased their recent progress. Their improvements were almost visible to the naked eye. If nothing unexpected happened, Duskull and Misdreavus were just one step away from evolving. It could happen at any time in the near future. As for the two Charcadet, since their future evolution paths hadnt been decided yet, Mew hadnt given them any targeted training. Instead, it simply helped them learn more moves to expand their movepools. Learning additional moves was always beneficial. Many trainers online believed that Pokmon didnt need to learn too many moves. They argued that it was inefficient and a waste of effort. As long as a Pokmon mastered a few key moves that fit its battle style, honing them to perfection would be enough. But Mew disagreed. It believed that learning a variety of moves was essential for adapting to different combat scenarios. Having specialized moves was fine, but limiting oneself to only a handful was unwise. In shortyou might not need them, but you should still know them. Following this philosophy, the Pokmon that were close to Mew had all learned a variety of moves. After all, knowledge never hurt. If someone was willing to teach, why not learn? "Char!" The elder Charcadet dashed up to Natsume, waving its tiny arms excitedly, eager to show off its progress. It had worked hard to learn many moves! In just a short time, it had already mastered Fire Spin, Heat Wave, and Flamethrower. It seemed to have a particular talent for Fire-type moves. And by "mastered," it didnt mean barely managing to use them with unstable power. It meant being able to execute them flawlessly, with full power, and even incorporating some personal techniques. Each Pokmon had its own battle instincts and preferences, which subtly influenced how they executed their moves. Trailing behind, the younger Charcadet timidly looked up at Natsume, seemingly worried about disappointing him. Unlike its talented older sibling, it had only learned Confuse Ray over the past few days. It had also reviewed and refined its previous moves. But compared to its sister, its progress felt... lacking. A bit disheartened, but not too much. Noticing her siblings mood, the elder Charcadet gently patted her shoulder, murmuring words of encouragement. To be honest, she wasnt very good at comforting others. She didnt know how to give long speeches or crack jokes. But still, as the older sister, she had to try. Seeing this, the younger Charcadet reached out and lightly patted her sisters hand. She was actually finenot sad, just a little down. Rather than her sister comforting her, it was more like helping ease her own mental burden. "You both did great." "Dont rush it. Take your time." "As long as you put in the effort, you''ll see the rewards." Natsume crouched down and gently patted the heads of the two Charcadet. Just like the older Charcadet sister, Natsume wasnt exactly good at comforting others. In every sense of the word. Rather than saying Natsume wasnt good at comforting people, it would be more accurate to say that when it came to human interaction, he was better at being sarcastic. Some people preferred silence. Some people had a knack for being passive-aggressive. And Natsume? He was the type to stay silent most of the time, but when he did speak, it was laced with sarcasm. That was one of the reasons why he preferred talking to Pokmon rather than people. "Char!" Nodding vigorously, the older Charcadet clenched her fist, psyching herself up. She clearly agreed with Natsumes words. The younger Charcadet, who was half-hiding behind her sister, glanced at Natsume, then at her fired-up sibling. In the end, she, too, quietly raised her tiny fist in solidarity. Seeing the two like this, Natsume smiled. Without waiting for their reaction, he extended his own fist and bumped it against theirs in quick succession. Standing up, he patted his kneesdespite there being no dustand said with a grin, "Alright, keep working hard." "That goes for you too, Hisuian Zorua." "Marshtomp arrived at the farm around the same time as you, and now it''s about to reach its final evolution." "You better not fall behind." "Suo..." Off in the corner, Hisuian Zorua, who had been trying to make himself as unnoticeable as possible, winced. Damn it, why am I getting called out again?! Do I look like I have control over my evolution?! Damn it! When I evolve, I swear Im going to give that overachieving dog a good beating. The singled-out Hisuian Zorua made a silent vow in his heart. From now on, he would make sure to fairly punish every single Pokmon that tried to push the competition. Why couldn''t everyone just take it easy?! Why all this pointless struggle?! Damn it all!!! Seething with frustration, Hisuian Zorua unconsciously increased the speed at which he was casting his illusions. In the blink of an eye, a small section of the scenery around him shifted into an illusionary landscape. "Mew?" Watching as Hisuian Zoruas illusionary constructs grew faster in his indignation, Mew stroked its smooth chin thoughtfully. Hisuian Zorua was classified as the "Grudge Fox Pokmon." It was said that a Zoruas lingering soul, fueled by resentment toward humans and Pokmon, had transformed into this form. In other words, for Hisuian Zorua, resentment worked the same way fire did for Fire-type Pokmonit made him stronger. Mew seemed to have stumbled upon an effective training method for Hisuian Zorua. Hmm, might as well test it out tomorrow. Unknowingly, a hint of amusement flickered in Mews gaze as it looked at the little fox. After a quick glance around, Natsume left the warehouse with Mew. There was still plenty to do on the farm these days. Natsume wasnt sure what daily life was like on other farms. But for his farm, it was a cycle of busy periods followed by stretches of downtime. Right now just happened to be one of those busy times. The Gym was nearly complete. Over the next few days, Natsume would need to inspect and approve the construction, as well as take care of the interior setup. After that, he had to prepare for the Gym evaluation. At the same time, he needed to select a few Pokmon who were willing to stay on the farm andwellbeat up little kids. Thinking about it like this, there really was a lot to do. "Grrr..." At the farms edge, Ting-Luwho had been overseeing the training of Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, and Pecharuntsuddenly lifted its head. Just now, it had sensed a very familiar presence approaching. Deep within the forest, an abandoned shrine pulsed with an eerie, crimson glow. Something... was about to descend. Chapter 148: Scorching Heat and the Completion of the Gym Deep within what was once a lush, thriving forest, time seemed to freeze at the moment the temperature spiked. The once vibrant greenery had largely withered, now cloaked in hues of dry yellow. The ground was cracked, the water sources had run dry. A deathly silence hung over the forest paths. The Pokmon that once called this place home had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only faint remnants of their past existence. Most had long since disappearedsome likely migrated far away in search of a new habitat. Others had permanently fallen into slumber beneath this very land. Only a few heat-resistant Fire-type Pokmon occasionally flickered into view before quickly vanishing again. The closer one got to the forest''s center, the higher the temperature rose. The searing heat distorted the very air. Charred tree trunks stood as grim reminders, as if they had endured an unimaginable inferno. A glance around revealed nothing but a landscape scarred with chilling devastation. At the heart of the forestor rather, the very source of this heatstood a small, dilapidated shrine, its original form barely discernible. Every so often, a crackling sound would echo through the air. At the shrine''s center rested a statue, its features melted beyond recognition under the relentless heat. The statue''s pose suggested it was meant to suppress something. The ground beneath bore intricate, mysterious symbols forming what seemed to be a sealing array. A sinister crimson glow pulsed intermittently from the arcane markings. For a fleeting moment, a scarlet shadow flickered through the air. The already deteriorating seal weakened further. The patterns on the ground had almost completely faded. Perhaps, before long, whatever lay beneath this seal would once again return to the world. --- Meanwhile, at Natsume''s farm, the supposedly diligent Okidogicurrently forced into trainingnoticed that Ting-Lu seemed to be spacing out. Seizing the opportunity, it quietly paused its movements and began slacking off. Seems like it didn''t notice? Throwing a couple of half-hearted punches at the training dummy, Okidogi sneakily turned its head to check on Ting-Lu. Hmm, still not looking at me. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Excellent! Another two fake punches for good measure, then continue observing. Beside it, Fezandipiti shot a look of disdain at the slacking mutt. That guy always thought it was clever, constantly trying to cut corners in training. But in truth, aside from Okidogi Everyone elseFezandipiti, Okidogi, and Munkidoriwas giving it their all, sweating and grinding with full dedication. Okidogi''s mindset was simple. Since Boss Natsume had said they''d be useful someday, it needed to grow stronger now to avoid being discarded like trash. Loyalty? Not really. But when it came to matters concerning its own survival, it knew how to prioritize. It was a captive, after all. What right did it have to think about anything else? Survival came first. As for Munkidori, it simply wanted to get strongerso that the next time Ogerpon got bored and decided to use them as punching bags, it would finally have the power to fight back. Being relentlessly beaten one-sidedly had long since ignited a fury within it. Train. Train. I must grow stronger! With a burning determination in its eyes, Munkidori pushed itself harder. And Fezandipiti? That one had completely defected. Ever since the day Natsume showed up and fed it Pokblocks that enhanced beauty and made its feathers silky and radiant It had shamelessly kneeled before Natsume on the spot, crying and begging to be accepted as his follower. It had originally eaten Mochi Rice Cakes for the sake of looking beautiful. But now, there was an even better alternative. Fezandipiti made its decision instantly. Thus, the original four-member squad had entered a rather strange phase. Fezandipiti had thrown itself wholeheartedly into Natsume''s ranks. Munkidori was figuring out ways to curry favor, hoping to be officially accepted as well. Okidogi Didn''t Care Too Much It only wanted to grow stronger for now. And so, Okidogi became a lone wolf. Now, the only one still harboring hostility toward Natsume was Pecharunt. But holding a grudge against Natsume while living on his farm? The outcome was obvious. A sharp, piercing screech suddenly rang out. Fezandipiti executed a flawless slide across the ground, prostrating itself dramatically before Ting-Lu, its face full of righteous indignation as it accused Okidogi of wasting Boss Natsume''s and Big Brother Ting-Lu''s goodwill. Natsume and Ting-Lu were trying to help everyone get stronger, yet this guy not only showed no gratitude but even had the audacity to slack off! A paragon of justice like Fezandipiti simply couldn''t stand by and watch! This wasn''t just a minor issue anymorethis called for swift and decisive action! As Fezandipiti pulled this stunt, Okidogi was left utterly dumbfounded. Wait you can''t be serious. Aren''t we supposed to be on the same side? Sure, you backstabbed me before But I didn''t even hold it against you! And now you act like you want me dead or something? Fezandipiti let out a disdainful snort. Who''s "we"? Who wants to be lumped together with an idiot like you? Still can''t see the situation clearly? The days of running wild in some backwater village were long over. They had just been frogs at the bottom of a well, living in a world without Boss Natsume. If necessary, Fezandipiti was more than willing to beat Okidogi to a pulp right now just to prove its loyalty to Natsume. Ting-Lu, who had been snapped out of its thoughts by Fezandipiti''s screeching, turned around to see Okidogi''s panicked and angry expression. Slowly, it got to its feet. Then, under Okidogi''s terrified, pleading gaze, it raised a massive hoof. Heavy Stomp! Centered around Ting-Lu''s hoof, waves of powerful Ground-type energy surged outward, kicking up dirt and dust. Okidogi, caught beneath the massive hoof, struggled briefly Then promptly passed out. To be fair, Okidogi''s endurance wasn''t so weak that it couldn''t take a single hit. But it was smart enough to know that if it resisted, more hits would follow. Might as well just pass out and skip the extra beatings. Right before losing consciousness, it cast one final glance at Fezandipiti. You just wait. Once I wake up, I''m gonna teach you a lesson. Fezandipiti, unimpressed by Okidogi''s glare, let out a scoff. Dumb mutt. Still stuck in the past? At this point, it was nothing more than the weakest one here. Even Fezandipiti could land a couple of hits on it. Ting-Lu retracted its hoof and let out a deep roar. ''Keep training.'' With that, it turned and began walking offheading toward Natsume. Or rather, it was just stretching its legs, taking a casual stroll in Natsume''s direction. With its sheer size, it didn''t need to go far. Before long, some Pokmon would surely notice and alert Natsume, who would come find it instead. This was much better. If it went to find Natsume itself, it would have to be careful not to trample the orchard or accidentally step on the smaller Pokmon. That would make Natsume angry. And sure enough, moments later, Gardevoir appeared with Natsume, teleporting directly in front of Ting-Lu. "What''s up, Ting-Lu?" Natsume let go of Gardevoir''s shoulder and looked at Ting-Lu curiously. Ever since coming to the farm, Ting-Lu had become increasingly lazy. If it didn''t have to move, it wouldn''t. Most of the time, it just lay around at the farm''s edge, basking in the sun and watching the clouds. It had developed a strangely zen-like attitude over time. Sometimes, Natsume even thought Ting-Lu could spend some time meditating at a temple. With its level of tranquility, Natsume himself could never hope to match it. Any young person exposed to modern internet culture would struggle to achieve such a state of pure detachment. There was always too much on their mind, too much useless noise cluttering their thoughts. Ting-Lu let out a low growl and lowered its head, explaining the situation to Natsume. Not long ago, it had sensed a familiar presence Chien-Pao. As one of the Treasures of Ruin, Ting-Lu shared a certain connection with the other three. Previously, it could tell that Wo-Chien and Chi-Yu were still sealed. Chien-Pao, on the other hand, had already been set free. But Ting-Lu had little interest in that brainless leopard, whose only thoughts revolved around rolling around in the snow. As for the other two? Hopeless. Let them rot. If they couldn''t even break out of a seal, what good were they? When Ting-Lu had broken free, it hadn''t cared at all about the other three. It had been consumed by a singular urge to destroy. Now, though? The only thing on its mind was its next meal. In a way, it seemed Mew had been a bad influence on it. "I see." Natsume patted Ting-Lu''s massive head in understanding. From what he recalled, Chi-Yu''s appearance wasn''t too bad At least, compared to Ting-Lu and Wo-Chien. Those big, watery eyes had a certain charm to them. As for Chien-Pao? Honestly, Natsume never quite got its appeal. Its fangs as swords and its snow-white fur were cool on their own But put together, something about it just felt off. He just couldn''t get into it. But everything was relative. Compared to Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao was undoubtedly handsome. Ting-Lu tilted its head slightly. For some reason, it felt like Natsume had just insulted it. As a Treasure of Ruin, Ting-Lu could vaguely perceive human malice. If someone harbored ill intent, it would notice right away. But after thinking about how well Natsume treated it And after remembering tonight''s dinner Ting-Lu decided it must have been mistaken. No way. No way Natsume would think bad things about it. Absolutely impossible. Meanwhile, Natsume was considering whether Chi-Yu''s emergence would affect the farm. Strictly speaking, he already knew where Chi-Yu was. After all, the increased temperatures in the forest had forced Pokmon like Emolga to migrate. Naturally, Natsume had investigated the cause. The distance wasn''t close enough to pose an immediate threat to the farm. But the real problem was What if the first thing Chi-Yu did after breaking free was come looking for an old friend? That would be a problem. Unlike Ting-Lu, whose destruction is straightforward, Chi-Yu is the very embodiment of setting mountains ablaze. If that thing gets too close never mind anything else, the Wooloo on the farm would be dropping from heatstroke left and right. That would be a massive loss. So, Natsume figuredif Chi-Yu did break free and started heading this way, he''d just give it a good beating first. Everyone knows that we Jadeleaf people have farming in our bones. Most of the time, all we think about is farming. But occasionally, unexpected things happen. Like, "I reckon that land of yours is perfect for farming." Or, "I''m out of landguess I need to get some." Or even, "You''re messing with my farming? Yeah, I''m gonna have to deal with you." Very simple and straightforward thoughts. And the actions tend to be just as straightforward. Of course, for the one being targeted, it''s probably not so pleasant. "Alright, got it." "If there''s a chance later, I might take you to see your old friends." Natsume patted the bronze cauldron on Ting-Lu''s head, smiling. Ting-Lu shook its head. It had no particular thoughts on those so-called old friends. Honestly, it wasn''t too interested in meeting them again. One by one, they were all dull and brainless. Nowhere near as fun as the Pokmon on the farm. Corviknight, for example, would invite it to watch movies sometimes. Whenever it gathered with those old acquaintances, they''d just sit there for ages, barely saying a word. Everyone putting on airs, acting all high and mighty. One snorting, another grunting. Sounded like they were talking out of their backsides. They''d just stare at each other. Back and forth, year after yearnothing ever changed. Every time, they barely exchanged a few words before things fell apart. And when Ting-Lu thought back on it later, it''d realize that they hadn''t actually talked about anything at all. Just listened to those fools blabbering nonsense. Shaking its head, Ting-Lu got up and started heading back to its territory. Might as well check on how those guys were doing with their training. Before leaving, Ting-Lu briefly mentioned the training situation of Peach-Thief and the others. "Got it." "I''ll leave it to you to keep an eye on them." Nodding, Natsume acknowledged the update. In fact, he already had a good grasp of what was going on over there. For one, there was the Slowking who was slowly evolving into a full-blown street punk, roaming over every day just to take a look. Then it would return in the evening to report back to Natsume. And let''s not forget those two traitorsMunkidori and Fezandipitiwho would snitch on every little thing their teammates did. One wanted to get on Natsume''s good side, the other was in it for extra beauty-enhancing Pokblocks. When it came to selling out their teammates, they never hesitated for even a second. Poor Boltund still had no clue that there was more than one traitor among them. Not that its brain was capable of figuring that out. After Ting-Lu left, Natsume started making preparations. Some supplieslike potionswere still in stock from last time and hadn''t been used much, so there was no need to buy more. He''d just take what he already had. Then there was the matter of crafting Pokblocks. Pokblocks had a shelf life. Over time, the energy within them would gradually dissipate. So every now and then, Natsume would do a full clear-out of the farm''s warehouse stock. Consider it a little welfare bonus for the residents. As Natsume busied himself with preparations, time slowly passed. There was still no movement from Chi-Yu''s side. But on Natsume''s end, the Gym was finally completed. Chapter 149: The Gym is Ready At the very edge of the farm, the yet-to-be-named gym was finally complete. Even now, Natsume still hadnt decided on a name for the gym or designed a distinct and recognizable badge. The badges of those long-established gymsjust randomly pick one, and youd find people who could explain its design in detail. Things like what the symbol represents, what a single line across it signifies Whether those meanings were genuinely intended by the original designers or forcibly added later was unclear. But at the very least, the explanations sounded reasonable, so most people just went along with them. As for Natsume, he still hadnt come up with a solid idea yet. When it came to design, to be honest, he wasnt very good at it. So, he decided to leave the task to his Indeedee''s younger sister and Rotom. Just kidding. It was his gym, after all. There was no way Natsume would really just dump all the work on his Pokmon. After a long discussion with Indeedee''s sister and Rotom, they finally settled on a general design direction. Only then did he hand over the finer details to them for refinement. When Natsume left that day, Rotom was zipping back and forth in the air, declaring with great enthusiasm that it would create a badge hed be satisfied with. Natsume planned to check in later to see how things were coming along. As for the gyms interior design, that was primarily Slowkings responsibility. Lately, Slowking had developed an interest in home design. That old house, which no one really lived in anymore, had been entirely remodeled by Slowking into something with a clean, minimalist aestheticvery much the kind of style modern young people liked. Since Slowking seemed to enjoy it so much, Natsume simply handed this job over to it. Slowking: Life is harder than when I was wandering in the wild. Grumbling aside, Slowking still put serious thought into the layout. And in the end, it arrived at one conclusion Overly flashy setups usually end in a beatdown. A straightforward, no-nonsense gym was the way to go. If a Gym Leader spent more time on theatrics than on actual strength, theyd just end up like the Cerulean Sisters, running a water ballet act on the side. Rather than putting effort into fancy tricks, it was better to focus on crushing newcomersthat was the mark of a proper Gym Leader. Mew~ Right on cue, the ever-enthusiastic Mew, who had originally insisted on helping with the gyms construction, floated out of nowhere. This little guy had the classic attention span of a child Three days of enthusiasm, two days of slacking off. At first, Mew had been bursting with ideas, eagerly throwing out suggestions. But over time, its interest waned. Nowadays, it treated gym work like a miserable desk job, arriving each day with the expression of a salaryman who hated his life. Eventually, Natsume simply grabbed it by the scruff and tossed it out. Since it wasnt doing anything useful here, it might as well go train Hisuian Zorua and the others instead. In the past two days, Natsume had also been working on The Armor of Reverence and The Armor of Curses. If things went smoothly, he might even obtain them soon. As for Misdreavous evolution? The Dusk Stone had been prepared long ago. The moment Misdreavous was ready, it could evolve anytime. And here I thought youd run off. Catching the floating Mew in his arms, Natsume ruffled its fur before flicking its forehead twice. Mew mew! Trapped in his arms, Mew flailed around, protesting with tooth and claw. This is all your fault, Natsume! You were the one who threw me out! Im completely innocent here! I made a lot of Berry Jelly tonight. Mew!! I take it back! This is all on me! Mew immediately switched gears, clutching onto Natsumes shirt with tiny paws, its gaze filled with unwavering determination. I am Mew, the legendary wanderer of the worldwho could ever make me bow? But snacks are a different matter. Everything else was non-negotiable, but snacks? Now that was something worth discussing. Mew shamelessly rolled around in Natsumes arms, acting cute and sucking up to him. As flashes of white light flickered, Mews shape constantly changed One moment it was an adorable Jigglypuff. The next, it had transformed into a tsundere Alolan Vulpix. As Natsume was given a flirtatious wink, it almost felt like little pink hearts were floating in the air. He shamelessly enjoyed it for a moment. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the little fox by its armpits, lifted it up, and suddenly let go. Mew, still floating mid-air where Natsume had lifted it, tilted its head in confusion. Alright, alright. Ill give you something to eat when we get back. After patting Mews head, Natsume pushed open the gyms doors. At the same time, he pulled out a small notebook from his pocket, filled with notes on things that needed checking. There was quite a list. Compared to last time, the gym was already looking much more complete. The battle arena, the resting area, the healing machineseverything necessary for battles was fully equipped. Mew, like a child at an amusement park, zipped around the gym, darting from one spot to another in excitement. Yadon. With its hands behind its back and a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on its face, Slowking strolled over. Slowking was quite satisfied with the gym it had helped design and renovate. Aesthetic appeal aside, it had definitely maximized practicality. Oh, and Slowking had also taken the chance to buy something it had been curious about for a whilea smart toilet. Ever since seeing one online, it had been itching to try it out. But before, there was never an opportunity. Natsume didnt really care about smart toilets, so Slowking never had a reason to get oneuntil now. After finally buying one, Slowkings verdict: Thats it? It was kind of cool at first. But then, that was all. A bit of a letdown. Youve worked hard, Slowking. Ill make you a big meal when we get back. Natsume raised his hand, instinctively reaching out to pat Slowkings head. Ever since coming to the farm, this had become a habit. Whenever he saw a Pokmon, he had the urge to give it a couple of pats. But just as he was about to, he noticed Slowkings Shellder companion glaring at him from atop its head. After thinking for a second, Natsume decided to lower his hand. Yadon. Slowking nodded, accepting Natsumes words. Honestly, it hadnt been that hard. For Slowking, the amount of work was barely more than a post-meal stroll. More like a little warm-up for its brain than anything else. But since Natsume had said so, it might as well go along with it. Yes, these past days had been so exhausting. Glancing at Natsume, Slowking nodded again, looking rather pleased. In some ways, raising a Slowking was a lot like raising a Border Collie. That isboth tend to look down on their trainers intelligence. Though, for the most part, Slowking didnt actually judge Natsume. Just sometimes, it felt like his brain short-circuited a little. Mew~ After finishing its little tour, Mew returned to Natsumes side. It could barely wait to see the gym in action. Once everything was up and running, it was bound to be exciting every day! It could even play a special role in the gym itself! Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up! Its big, fluffy tail brushed against Natsumes face, urging him forward. Alright, alright, I got it. Ill get this done in the next couple of days. Giving Mews tail a light smack, Natsume responded with a bit of exasperation. He had to admitsometimes, he had a bit of a procrastination problem. He kept thinking, Theres no rush. Theres still time. I can handle it later. Unless someone lit a fire under him, he never felt a sense of urgency. Mew~ Good~ Hearing Natsumes definite response, Mews big eyes squinted happily. It looked quite pleased. After double-checking all the facilities in the gym and confirming everything was in order, Natsume started checking off items in his notebook. The battle arenas fine too. Standing at the edge of the battlefield, he tested the mechanics a few times. Everything switched smoothly. No noticeable issues. But whether it would still function properly after a battle remained to be seen. On paper, it was supposed to work just fine. But as everyone knew Paper specs existed to get slapped in the face. Every year, there were supposedly unbeatable Galactic Battleships in competitive play. And every year, theyd take off only to immediately crash like a Black Hawk Down scenario. Slowking. Yadon. Hit the battlefield with some full-power moves. Yadon. Tilting its head, Slowking took a moment to process Natsumes request. Then, powerful psychic energy surged forward. Various Psychic-type moves burst from Slowkings hands. Compared to Water-type techniques, Slowking seemed far more gifted in Psychic abilities. It wielded them with effortless precision. Before long, the battlefield was full of craters from Slowkings relentless barrage. Even though it had been reinforced, the rocky terrain didnt last long under the onslaught. Yadon. Is this enough? Retracting its hand, Slowking glanced at Natsume. If this continued, the battlefield would be completely wrecked. And make no mistakeSlowking could do that. After all, this battlefield was mainly designed for beginner trainers. If a high-level trainer came in for a challenge, there was a more advanced arena in the back. It might not be necessary, but Natsume had prepared one anyway. At worst, it could just serve as an extra play area for his Pokmon. Alright, looks good. After switching between the grassy and volcanic terrains a few times, Natsume was satisfied and checked off the battlefield test. Returning the rocky terrain to its default setting, he looked at the crater-filled groundthen turned to Mew. Mew~ Noticing Natsumes gaze, Mew rolled its eyes before lazily floating to the edge of the battlefield. Its eyes gleamed, and a surge of Ground-type energy rippled outward. The solid ground moved like flowing water. The uneven craters quickly smoothed out, restoring the field to pristine condition. An alternative use for Earth Power. Also known asan excellent tool for construction work (scratch that). For Mew, the form and function of a move had long ceased to be rigid concepts. If it wanted, it could create entirely new techniques no one had ever seen before. Like shaping flames into a cats paw to scratch someone. For Mew, that wasnt difficult at all. Those preset moves? Boring. Tricky, flashy tricks? Much more interesting. Under Mews influence, a lot of Pokmon on the farm had started thinking the same way. They no longer used moves in the standard, predictable manner. Even something as straightforward as Flamethrower could be played around with. Mew~ After smoothing out the battlefield, Mew floated back to Natsumes side. Pouting slightly, it pulled an pokeblock out of nowhere and popped it into its mouth. Then, sneaking a glance at Natsumeseeing that he hadnt noticedit stuffed another one in. It had gotten these from Manaphy. Sure, Natsume knew it had them. But as long as it insisted it didntwell, that settled that. Before leaving, Natsume made sure to securely lock all doors and windows. He also gave the Ursaring family another reminder to keep up their patrols. He really didnt want to return to the Gym next time only to find another Pokmon hiding inside. Natsume welcomed Pokmon to live on his farmhe really did. But he wasnt too fond of them sneaking in without permission. Especially when he was seriously focused on something. --- Back home, Natsume sought out his Indeedee sister. Rotom, noticing that the previous videos had gained decent traction, had been busy making more content in recent days. Its account was finally seeing some success. At the very least, given Natsumes current level of popularity, the views and revenue were quite promising. Of course, the income itself didnt really matter. Neither Natsume nor Rotom particularly cared about that. Natsume had no plans to make a living off it. And as for Rotom, that went without saying. If it ever wanted something, it could just ask Natsume directly. Im Natsumes Pokmonwhats wrong with asking him for money? Absolutely nothing. "Ai-yi." Upon seeing Natsume, Indeedee sister greeted him with a gentle smile. Then, she pulled out a few design drafts from behind her back. It was clear she had been working on them seriously. In the trash can, Natsume also spotted numerous crumpled-up sheets of paper Apparently, all the drafts she had discarded for not meeting her standards. And Rotom? That guy had been kicked out for being more of a hindrance than a help Always getting in the way and coming up with a bunch of impractical ideas. Indeedee sister had been polite about it. But the same couldnt be said for Chansey, who had already started treating her like a little sister. At this rate, Chansey was showing signs of becoming a second Persian. After all, it was a doctor. A battlefield doctor, no less. One of those kill all the enemies so there arent any wounded types. That was pretty much the definition of a pink demon. Of course, Rotom wasnt completely useless. It had found numerous badge design drafts online, along with some classic design principles and techniques. All of which were incredibly helpful for Indeedee sisters work. If not for Rotoms habit of coming up with outlandish ideas, she wouldnt have minded working with it. Provided it stopped trying to turn the badge into a hologram or sketching a giant aerial view of the farm on it. "Ai-yi." Spreading out the design sheets, Indeedee sister began explaining her concepts and thought process to Natsume. After some discussion, Natsume made his choice. The selected design featured a round badge with a small, pointed protrusion at the top. The colors were primarily red and blue, depicting both vast wilderness and the ocean. At the center, a small Pok Ball symbol was embedded. The color scheme bore a slight resemblance to Rotom. Was this her way of thanking Rotom for its help? That said, Indeedee sister hadnt considered adding any elements representing herself. She even refused to include anything related to her in the badges design. To her, this was simply part of her job. Nothing more, nothing less. The only headache left was "What should we name the Gym?" Sitting on a floor covered with design sketches Natsume, Indeedee sister, Mew, and Slowking exchanged glances. Did anyone here actually have a knack for naming things? "Gaaw-gaaw-gaaw!!" I have an idea! Let me say it! Let me say it! Suddenly, a loud, grating voice rang out. Corviknights large head squeezed in through the window Its face brimming with excitement, as if overflowing with ideas. However "Slowking, shove this guy back out." Without hesitation, Natsume pointed a finger. And Slowking, sitting beside him, obediently used Psychic to push Corviknights head right back out the window. "Gaa-gaa!" I object! I object! Corviknight protested indignantly. But with a crisp snap, the window was shut Completely cutting off its voice. To prevent further disturbances, Slowking even reinforced the rooms soundproofing with its psychic abilities. Ensuring that Corviknights protests wouldnt reach them. It wasnt discrimination or anything. It was just that Corviknights taste in names was... lets say, unconventional. Natsume had asked for its input before. And the results? Either cringey anime references, outdated trendy names from the early 2000s Or the kind of over-the-top edgy names straight out of a chuunis diary. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Honestly, as long as Corviknight didnt blurt out something like Fairy Tail, Natsume would already be satisfied. Like they always saideveryone had their own unique talents. Sometimes in peculiar areas. Slowking, for instance, had more talent in Psychic abilities than Water-type moves. And Corviknight? Well, its strongest talent seemed to be abstract thinking. "This is such a headache." Scratching his head, Natsume realized he had just uncovered yet another area where he lacked skill. Great. His already vast knowledge gaps had expanded once again. "Ai-yi?" How about just using the place name? Indeedee sister, sitting obediently beside Natsume, raised a small hand. Many Gyms simply used their location as their name. Though sometimes, special Gyms would pick unique names to highlight their identity. As for what made Natsumes Gym special You could challenge either a Gloom or a Ting-Lu. Whether you were a prodigy trainer or an average one There was a well-deserved beating waiting for you. "That works too." After some thought, Natsume found the idea reasonable. Following a bit more discussion, the Gym was temporarily named Sunnyhill Gym. It sounded decent enough, and both Natsume and his Pokmon found it acceptable. Except for the exiled Corviknight. "Gaaw-gaaw-gaaw!" Damn it! How is that better than my Peerless Gym?! Corviknight sulked in frustration. As for that name? Natsume found it a little embarrassing. Rejected. And with that, the Gyms preparations were nearly complete. Chapter 150: Slowking – Lacking Strength, Full of Woes~ "Alright, a little higher." In front of the gym, Natsume directed Slowking as it used Psychic to suspend the gym''s emblem over the entrance. After some thought, he had decided to use the logo designed by his Indeedee sister as the official symbol of the gym. However, the gym badge itself had been slightly simplified, with some of the more intricate patterns removed. Originally, gym badges were mostly simple geometric shapes, but over time, their designs became more elaborate. Some gym badges were no longer even symmetrical or strictly geometric in form. "Yadon." Under Natsume''s instructions, the emblem was carefully positioned above the main entrance. A few screws, guided by Slowkings psychic power, twisted tightly into place. If it had simply been hung there, Natsume couldn''t help but worry that the sign might randomly fall one day and knock out an unlucky traveler passing by. Many gyms end up becoming popular local landmarks. Some even go the extra mile to decorate themselves in trendy, social media-friendly styles to attract more visitors. Well, what can you do? Gotta make a living somehow. If a gym goes too long without challengers, itll get inspected. Of course, considering Jadeleaf''s massive population, there have never been enough gyms to meet the demand. Most of them are packed with challengers, so the issue of having no visitors rarely arises. Thats why Natsume wasnt too concerned about whether his gym would get challengers or how things would go afterward. Worst case? Hed just bring out Okidogi and the others to draw in tourists. For just ten Pokdollars, you could take a photo with a Legendary Pokmon. Plenty of people would gladly pay for that. "Yadon." Retracting his hand, Slowking nodded in satisfaction as it looked at the newly placed gym emblem. For the time being, it would be staying at the gym to assist Natsume. Early on, a Gym Leader would inevitably need to be on-site, managing everything. Once things ran smoothly, he could start recruiting apprentices to handle beginner trainers. Removing the Shellder from its head, Slowking reached into its shell and pulled out a thermos bottle with the distinct vibe of an old-timer. Twisting it open, it took a small sip. The thermos contained a health-boosting herbal drink that Indeedee sister had been experimenting with lately. The taste was... mediocre. But Slowking liked it well enough. By now, it had reached a state of inner peace, utterly unfazed by lifes ups and downs. Life was full of setbacks and unexpected twists, after all. Given enough time, everyone would come to understand this. As for searching for Uxie, Slowking wasnt in a hurry anymore. At first, it had been restless and anxious, completely clueless about where to begin. But after hearing from Ting-Lu and Mew about Uxies current state and its mission, Slowking had instead found itself calming down. Uxie was fine. But it wasnt strong enough yet. If it went looking for Uxie now, it would only be a burden. Feeling the steady growth of its psychic energy, Slowking nodded to itself. More effort was needed. Tonight, it would spar with Corviknight again. (Corviknight, who hadnt had a good nights sleep for a whole week: Hello? Can we talk about this?) So far, Slowkings win rate against Corviknight was around 40C60, or close to 50C50. Well, Slowking was the 40 in that equation. At first, it had assumed that despite its type disadvantage against Corviknight, it should still have a solid edgenot a guaranteed win, but at least a favorable matchup. After all, Psychic-types excelled in battle through versatility, intelligence, and unpredictable attacks. They werent like Dragon-types, who relied on raw power to crush their foes head-on. Nor like Ghost-types, whose eerie abilities made them tricky to fight properly. Psychic-types had their own way of battling. In many matches, youd see Psychic Pokmon using their immense psychic power to toy with their opponents. Slowking figured it should have the upper hand against Corviknight. After all, Corviknight was bulky and predictable, with a battle strategy it had seen a hundred times before. It knew how Corviknight fought. So, Slowking went in full of confidence. And then it got completely walled. Corviknight was ridiculously tanky. Whether it was natural talent or the result of Natsumes constant feeding of energy cubes and Viridian Force-infused training, the birds defenses, stamina, and even recovery were all maxed out. After what felt like an eternity of attacking, Slowking wasnt even sure if it had actually broken through Corviknights defenses. And as for willpower? Corviknight had challenged Persian 816 times. And lost every single one. Yet it still kept challenging. That level of persistence was beyond sheer determination. Slowking even started wondering if Corviknight had some kind of... hidden masochistic tendencies. Otherwise, how did this make any sense?! Stubborn resolve, combined with a physique that was slowly evolving in the Persian direction... Slowkings first battle ended with it voluntarily forfeiting. It just couldnt break through Corviknights defenses. There was no point in dragging it out. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Whats wrong, Slowking?" Noticing Slowking spacing out mid-sip, Natsume raised an eyebrow. "Yadon." Nothing. Shaking itself out of its thoughts, Slowking screwed the lid back onto its thermos and stashed it inside Shellders shell. Once the Shellder was back on its head, that wise and enigmatic aura returned. With hands clasped behind its back, Slowking now looked exactly like an old government official taking a post-dinner stroll. Its whole demeanor radiated a sense of deep contemplation and melancholy. So frustrating. Corviknight was getting stronger at such an unnatural pace. When would it be his turn to grow like that? Clearly, it needed to start sucking up to Natsume more. If this went on, it wouldnt even be able to keep up with Corviknights dust trail. And if that happened, how could it ever help Uxie? Mew had mentioned that the other Legendaries were either asleep, sealed away, or still digesting their previous victories. But this fragile peace wouldnt last forever. Slowking needed to get stronger fast. Thinking this, it turned to Natsume. "What?" "Yadon." I need to get stronger. Give me extra dinner. "Bet." Natsume had no idea what was suddenly going on with Slowking. But if it just wanted more food? That was easy. Coincidentally, hed been working on a new energy cube formula. Might as well let Slowking try it later. "Lopuu~" Hopping over with a small metal box in hand, Lopunny landed beside Natsume. "Ah, thanks, Lopunny." Opening the box, Natsume found several gym badges inside. These were the finalized, simplified versions. Now, they looked just right as gym badges. And hey, a simpler design meant cheaper production costs. (laughs) After handing over the box, Lopunny rubbed against Natsume, leaving stray fur all over his clothes. Luckily, Natsume mostly wore light-colored clothing these days, so it wasnt too obvious. Back then, his wardrobe had been nothing but black, black, black, black, and dark blue. But after constantly finding his clothes covered in an assortment of yellow, gray, white, and pink fur Cleaning them off only for them to be covered again soon after was exhausting. So, he slowly started switching to lighter colors. Was it actually cleaner? Who knew. But at least it looked cleaner, which made him feel better. "Lopuu." Satisfied that her fur blended in this time, Lopunny nodded approvingly. Recently, those two dumb cats and that mouse had been fighting over who Natsume favored more. What a joke. Before her, they were all just little brothers. Maybe Natsumes favorite wasnt her, but she was definitely ahead of those three! Humming happily, Lopunny skipped back home, pondering what to eat for dinner. The farm had gained a lot of new friends lately. And Natsume was often busy running around handling various matters. But Lopunny still liked him. Humming a cheerful tune, she began thinking about tonights meal. As the former caretaker of the farm, she wasnt exactly a master at household skills, but she was competent enough. And that included cooking. "Alright, time to get ready for the assessment." Clapping his hands, Natsume turned to Slowking and Mew. Aside from the Pokmon just here for the spectacle, these two were the most invested in the gym. Slowking saw it as a personal challenge. And Mew? Well, it was just here for the fun. To be honest, it wasnt much different from the other onlookers. Unlike other Pokmon that just show up for fun and occasionally act as a stand-in for the Gym Leaders team Mew is here to stand in as the Gym Leader. If Natsume is too busy, Mew will take over. If Mew is unavailable, Slowking will step in. And if Slowking doesnt have time either Well, then the gym will close for three days. What can you do? Gym Leaders are people too. Having a personal life is perfectly reasonable. Ding-dong~ A message notification popped up on Natsumes phone. He picked it up and glanced at the screenit was from Mei. [Mei: Congrats! From now on, you''re officially Gym Leader Natsume.] [Mei: Cat blowing a trumpet (sticker)] Attached was one of Meis favorite cat reaction stickers. Her phone was practically a treasure trove of cute cat and dog stickers. Actually, to be precise, she loved any cute sticker. Thanks to her, Natsumes own sticker collection was now overflowing with all sorts of adorable reaction images, most of which he had "stolen" from their chats. With practiced ease, he long-pressed on the sticker and saved it to his collection. Then he sent it right back to Mei. [Natsume: Cat blowing a trumpet (sticker)] [Natsume: Trainer, you have a beatdown delivery waiting for you. Please sign here~] [Mei: You wouldnt actually do that to me, right?] [Mei: Sad cat (sticker)] [Natsume: Of course I would!] [Natsume: Seal blowing a trumpet (sticker)] The two of them casually chatted back and forth, not really talking about anything serious. When his gym application was approved, Natsume had messaged Mei that very night to share the good news. And Mei had promised that shed be the first challenger to show up and storm his gym. She even said she had a huge surprise in store for him. She wasnt confident she could beat Natsume just yet, but at the rate she was improving, she was certain she could at least give him a shock. "Serperior! Training time!" "Sssso?" Didnt I just get a break?! Serperior lifted its head from where it was sprawled on the ground, looking utterly baffled. Then, catching sight of Meis phone in her hand, it immediately understood. So shed been chatting with Natsume again. Damn it. Every time she talked to Natsume, she would get into this weirdly hyped-up state. To be honest, Serperior was almost used to it by now. At this point, all it could do was spoil its trainer a little. Even if that meant some unavoidable suffering. "Chingling! Solosis!" "You two are joining in too!" "Ching~!" Here we go! This was an energetic little Chingling, endlessly curious about everything. And since Mei had never asked it to train before, it was absolutely thrilled. Having never experienced the misery of high-intensity training, Chingling was still full of excitement. "Mmm?" Meanwhile, Solosis, who had just finished its previous training session, looked utterly lost. Wait a second. Didn''t you just say I could rest for a while? But then it glanced at Serperior, who had already started extra training, and Dewott, who had never even stopped training in the first place. Gritting its teeth, Solosis pushed itself forward for another round. Maybe this was just part of the road to becoming stronger. At least, thats what it told itself. Watching Mei practically radiate enthusiasm and determination, Solosis suddenly wondered Had it come to the wrong place? This kind of blood-pumping, high-energy atmosphere Really didnt suit a little psychic blob like itself. Back at the farm. After wrapping up his conversation with Mei, Natsume dialed Fu Gakuji''s number to inform him that his gym was officially complete. Honestly, having a town mayor like Fu Gakuji had helped him avoid a ton of unnecessary trouble. "Got it, got it! Ill contact them for you right away!" Gakuji was practically beaming over the phone. From an outside perspective, it might just seem like the town had gained a gym. But on his own political record? This was a massive achievement. One worth putting at the very top of his resume. Under his leadership, Lianshan Town now had its very own gym, and not just any gymthis one was starting at the city-level. That was definitive proof of his capabilities! To help trainers find the right level of challenge, gyms were ranked by tiers. At the top were the eighteen national-level gyms. Below that, there were provincial, city, and county-level gyms. Higher-tier gyms awarded badges with more weight. After all, you couldnt expect a badge from a national-level gym to carry the same prestige as one from some backwater county gym, right? Most tournaments had strict badge requirements to prevent abuse. Otherwise, the line for sign-ups would probably stretch all the way to the next town. Fu Gakuji wasted no time in filing the necessary reports. By the next day, the examiners responsible for gym evaluations had already arrived at the farm. "So, this is where Lianshan Gym is supposed to be?" Glancing at the GPS navigation and then at the gigantic Ting-Lu standing in front of them The driver fell into deep thought. Did did I take a wrong turn somewhere? Chapter 151: I’m Here to Assess Natsume? Seriously? Theres a sayinglife is full of surprises. Right now, the driver deeply resonated with that sentiment. Staring at the massive Ting-Lu before him, his mind raced with countless thoughts, all of which eventually condensed into a single word: Doomed. Although he was just a middle-aged man with a passion for fishing and never really kept up with internet forums, message boards, or social media, he had at least heard a little about the recent hype surrounding Ting-Lu. The gist of it? This was an incredibly powerful and ferocious Legendary Pokmon. Sure, someone had apparently managed to capture it. But that didnt change its nature. Back then, all this fishing enthusiast could think waswhy do I keep pulling up Magikarp? Where are the other fish? Do I just bring out a water pump at this point? So he never really paid much attention to the details. But now, standing face-to-face with the legendary Pokmon, those scattered fragments of information slowly pieced themselves together in his mind. Uh, sir are we here already? From the back seat, the lead examiner slowly opened his eyes, looking toward the driver with curiosity. But as he spoke, his initially strong and confident voice gradually weakened. Because the moment he laid eyes on Ting-Lu He, too, fell silent. This doesnt seem right. Whats wrong, leader? We Another voice chimed in from the backa petite young girl poked her head forward. Yet before she could even finish her sentence, her words got stuck in her throat. What the hell is going on here? For a brief moment, all three passengers in the car sat frozen in stunned silence. Meanwhile, the Ting-Lu sprawled in front of their vehicle also seemed lost in thought. Whats up with these three humans? No one told me anyone was coming to visit. Are they here to cause trouble? Doesnt seem like it. Knock knock. Yadong~ Just as the atmosphere plunged into an eerie silence, a gentle tapping sounded against the car window. It was followed by a slow, drawn-out cry. Turning toward the source of the sound, they saw a Slowking standing outside, one hand tucked behind its back, casually poking at the window with the other. "Yadong~" Hello, are you here to inspect the gym? A steady voice echoed directly in their minds. The Slowking was using telepathy to communicate with them. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Compared to Natsume, who was practically a human-shaped Pokmon interpreter, normal humans still found it a bit challenging to understand Pokmon through telepathic projections. After all, telepathy wasnt actual speechit was more of a direct transmission of thoughts, which could sometimes lead to misunderstandings. "Yes! Are you one of Mr. Natsume''s Pokmon?" The lead examiner was the first to snap back to his senses, nodding repeatedly in response. Saved! That was the only thought in his mind right now. Yes, Ting-Lu had already been captured by Natsume But that didn''t change the fact that it was a Legendary Pokmon once infamous for massive destruction. It had always displayed an indifferent attitude toward both humans and Pokmon alike. To be honest, compared to those malevolent Legendary Pokmon, these aloof ones were even harder to deal with. For malevolent ones, at least you could prepare your last words. If you had enough determination, you might even try to fight backeither escape with your life or go out in a blaze of glory. But when facing an unpredictable Legendary Pokmon You couldnt show hostility first. You couldnt release your own Pokmon as a precaution. You couldnt even entertain thoughts of escape. Any of those could make the Pokmon perceive you as a threat and attack. If he got attacked, that was one thing. But the bigger concern was that his actions might push a neutral Legendary to develop hostility toward humans, possibly leading to large-scale destruction as retaliation. Yet, if he didnt remain cautious, what if Ting-Lu just happened to be in a bad mood today and decided to lash out anyway? With Pokmon like this, there was no such thing as being too careful. Now, with a Slowking stepping in to mediate, the examiner finally felt like he could breathe again. Thank goodness. He got to keep his life. The young girl beside him, who had been responsible for record-keeping, also snapped back to realityonly to realize that cold sweat had soaked the back of her uniform. She knew Natsume had captured a Legendary Pokmon. But she never imagined hed let Ting-Lu roam freely on his farm like this. And she definitely didnt expect the driver, who had been blindly following the GPS, to drive them straight into Ting-Lus face. What a spectacular surprise. "Yadong." Alright, Ill take you to Natsume. With that, the Slowking casually opened the car door and climbed into the passenger seat. It fastened its seatbelt with practiced ease, adjusted its seating position, then glanced at the driver, who was still staring at it in shock. Slowking raised its chin slightly, gesturing. "Yadong." Drive. The roads wide open, isnt it? "Ohoh! Right!" Snapping out of his daze, the driver, looking as if he had just seen a ghost, hurriedly turned the car around. He had seen plenty of Psychic-type Pokmon before. But one acting this naturallyso human-likewas definitely a first. It was eye-opening. Meanwhile, in the backseat, the examiner and the girl watched in silence as Slowking lowered the car window and greeted Ting-Lu outside. "Yadong." Dumb Bird said were all watching a movie together tonight. Same place as usual. "Hoo~" Alright. Ting-Lu responded simply. Sometimes, you just had to admitthose who were a little off in the head had an easier time getting along with others. They didnt care about awkwardness or when to back down. And thanks to its relentless evangelizing, Corviknight had managed to get along with most of the Pokmon on the farm. After all, they were all close buddies who had stayed up late together, watching anime and movies. "Yadong." Just go straight ahead. Under Slowkings guidance, the driver spent quite a while navigating through the farm before finally arriving at the gyms entrance. They had practically driven across the entire farm. If it werent for the recent road construction in the area, they would have taken even longer. For the entire drive, the atmosphere inside the car remained heavy with silence. By protocol, as members of the inspection team, they werent supposed to engage in casual conversation with the person being assessed. That was the standard procedure. Normally, an assessment team consisted of a lead examiner, two deputy examiners for oversight, and a record-keeping team of four to five members. The examiners were temporarily assigned from different departments to ensure impartiality. They wouldnt even meet each other before the assignment to prevent bias. But for Natsumes case, this was mostly a formality. All they needed was some video documentation, and that would be enough. So, a little small talk during the drive was fine As long as no sensitive information was shared. That said There were no rules against talking to the Pokmon of the person being assessed. Glancing at the Slowking, who was leisurely enjoying the passing scenery, the girl fell into deep thought. She had always been curious about Slowking. She had seen plenty of Slowpoke. She had seen plenty of Slowbro. But Slowking? Not so much. For one, Slowking required a Kings Rock to evolve. That special item wasnt cheap. It not only helped Pokmon evolve but was also a collectors item, keeping its market price constantly high. And even if you had a Kings Rock, evolving a Slowking wasnt easy. In the wild, Slowbro evolved because Slowpokes tail secreted a fluid that Shellder liked, prompting it to bite down. But Slowpoke didnt have anything on its head. So getting a Shellder to bite its head was a whole different challenge. Unless you caught a Shellder separately and forced it to do the job without bonding first Which was kind of messed up. The girl wanted to ask Slowking about this. She really wanted to. There werent any rules saying she couldnt. For most people, if something wasnt explicitly forbidden, it was allowed. But for someone in her position it was better not to. So, she chose silence. It was best not to say anything unnecessary. No point in causing trouble. As for her curiosity She could ask after Natsumes assessment was over. Because in her mind, Natsume passing the test was already a given. In fact, not just herthe entire league, from top to bottom, had pretty much assumed this outcome. The higher-ups of the Jadeleaf League were incredibly optimistic about Natsumes future. Some had even suggested that he should start preparing for an Elite Four challenge right now. Eighteen years old. Defeated Ting-Lu head-on. Has a team of Legendaries: Ting-Lu, Pecharunt, Cresselia, Okidogi, Fezandipiti, Munkidori, and more. This was practically a Legendary-tier lineup, strong enough to compete in national tournaments And give all those so-called "geniuses" a reality check. In the past, the term "genius" was reserved for the rarest prodigies. But now? Everyone and their Meowth was a self-proclaimed genius. The internet was flooded with news about these so-called "prodigies." Somebody beat their teacher a month after getting their first Pokmon? Genius. Somebody bred Pokmon well? Genius. Somebody won a tournament after just a year? Genius. Somebody turned pro right after college? Genius. Some of these were actually respectable. But others were just nonsense. And these "geniuses" loved fighting over who was superior. Like some never-ending contest. It was like how "singer kings" used to be rare and legendary But now, anyone could claim the title, backed by hordes of fans. Honestly, the league wanted a real genius to come along Someone to put all these posers in their place. And Natsume was perfect for the job. Maybe even too perfect. "Mr. Natsume." As soon as he got out of the car, the examiner quickly stepped forward to stand in front of Natsume. This was the rising star the League had placed such high hopes on. No, scratch thathe wasnt just some promising talent waiting for his potential to be realized. He was already strong. The girl behind him, clutching a notepad, hurried to catch up. After flashing Natsume a polite smile, she stood silently behind the examiner, simply nodding respectfully when Natsumes gaze met hers. "Hello, and thank you for coming all this way." Seeing the middle-aged man in formal attire and the girl behind him, Natsume returned their courtesy with a smile. After all, they had traveled quite a distance to get here. As long as they werent deliberately here to make trouble, there was no reason for him to act all cold and aloofthat would just be trying too hard to look cool. That kind of attitude wasnt exactly unpleasant, but still. "Yadong." I brought them here. Slowking strolled out of the car at a leisurely pace, stopping for a brief, unnatural moment as he stepped down. That dumb bird really hit hard. Even after being treated by Chansey, Slowking could still feel a faint achelike the kind that lingers after getting jumped by a group of people. Even if the bruises are gone, you just dont feel quite right. "Thanks for your help, Slowking." Natsume chuckled, patting Slowking on the shoulder. It wasnt that he couldnt reach Slowkings headhe just found Shellders side-eyed stare a bit unsettling. Every time he reached out, it felt like Shellder was this close to snapping at him. "Alright, shall we get straight to business?" After exchanging a few pleasantries, the examiner tentatively looked at Natsume. This young man might very well become his superior in the future. It wouldnt do to offend him. "Sounds good. Ill leave it to you two, then." With a nod, Natsume led them into the gym. Slowking followed along behind them. "Mr. Natsume, the first part of our evaluation will be an assessment of the gyms facilities." "Well need you to guide us through an inspection." The girl who had been standing behind the examiner stepped forward, and a Rotom Phone floated out of her pocket, automatically beginning to record. This Rotom wasnt her personal Pokmonit was an official League-registered staff member. "Understood." Natsume nodded and led them on a brief tour of the gym, ensuring they checked all the necessary facilities. As they walked, the girl busily took notes in her notepad, occasionally marking items off on the assessment checklist. "And now, for the final part of the evaluationthe practical battle assessment." Standing at the edge of the battlefield, the girl spoke with a serious expression. At first glance, she seemed completely stern and professional. But if you looked closely, you could catch the faintest hint of amusement in her eyes. That amusement? It was directed at her fellow examiner. The examiner, in turn, shot back a helpless look. Me? Evaluating Natsume? Are you kidding me? When he first received this assignment, he had felt like the sky was falling. At his level? Forget about Ting-Lu. Even that Corviknight alone might be too much for him to handle. That was the same Corviknight that had tanked a relentless onslaught from Ting-Lu and still had the energy to charge forward and taunt it afterward. A literal indestructible wall of steel. But there was no getting out of it. The battle had to happen. At least Natsume probably wouldnt use his main team right? "Now then, we will begin the official Gym Evaluation Battle!" "The battle format will be 3v3 on a standard battlefield. The first trainer to have all three Pokmon unable to battle loses!" Standing at the edge of the battlefield, the girl raised a small flag, temporarily taking on the role of referee. Later, Natsume would have to hire a proper gym referee himself. As the flag waved, Natsume released his first Pokmon. The moment his choice appeared, the examiners face turned pale. Waitbro, are you serious?! On the battlefield, a Pecharunt silently observed its opponent. Chapter 152: Examiner: Are You Sure This Isn’t Just an Excuse to Beat Me Up? As the white light faded, Pecharunt appeared on the battlefield. Compared to before, there was now an air of silent brooding about it, as if it always had a lot on its mind but never spoke a word. Simply put, it looked... socially withdrawn. And truthfully, that wasnt far from reality. For a while now, Pecharunt felt like it had been living in hell. Every day, from the moment it opened its eyes, it had to face Ting-Lus perpetually grumpy face, looming over it, pushing it through relentless training. It wasnt like Pecharunt didnt want to get stronger, but every other sentence from Ting-Lus mouth revolved around Natsume. That alone was enough to annoy it. And when training wasnt exhausting enough, there was always Ogerpon waiting to give it a thorough beating. After that? It had to sit through so-called "early childhood education" videos with Rotom. Apparently, that pink dead-eyed Slowking had come up with the idea of "educating" them. Pecharunt''s response? Screw. That. Life sucked. It let out a deep sigh, frustration boiling within. Then its gaze fell on the opposing Kangaskhan. "Sorry about this," Pecharunt thought to itself. We dont know each other, but unfortunately, youre about to become my stress relief. On the other side of the battlefield, Kangaskhan suddenly shivered for no apparent reason. Generally speaking, Kangaskhan were known for being gentle Pokmon. As long as you didnt mess with the baby in their pouch. But as everyone knewthose who rarely fought were usually the scariest when they did. And Kangaskhan was no exception. Despite its massive frame, it was a skilled boxerlight on its feet, unpredictable in movement, and deadly with its rapid jabs. "Pecharunt, huh..." Snapping back to reality, the examiner quickly recalled the little information he had about this Pokmon. Since he was assigned this evaluation, he had at least gone through some relevant data. Including potential Pokmon Natsume might use. Pecharunt''s entry was short Just the standard Pokdex notes. "Ability: Poison Puppeteer." "When Pecharunt''s attacks cause poison, the opponent also falls into confusion." "A real pain to deal with." After a brief moment of thought, the examiner gave his instructions in a serious tone: "Kangaskhan, finish this quicklydont drag it out." "Avoid its attacks as much as possible" He stopped mid-sentence. Because even he knew that was wishful thinking. Ideally, youd perfectly dodge every attack, find the opponents weak spot, and land every hit cleanly. That was the dream of every Trainer. But reality rarely worked that way. The opponent was a living, breathing Pokmon, not a stationary target. That kind of strategy? Pure fantasy. Pecharunt''s ability and moveset were already a nightmare to deal with. Add in its absurdly high defense, and honestly, the examiner had no clue how he was supposed to win this. Thankfully, this was just a formalityan evaluation, not a real test of strength. So he didnt need to rack his brain over how to win. With a small nod, Kangaskhan acknowledged the command. Even the baby in its pouch excitedly swung its tiny fists. Kangaskhanor rather, the mother Kangaskhanwas a quiet Pokmon by nature. But when it came to fighting for its child that was a different story. She always silently watches over her children. Only when her child grows up and leaves does the mother let out a loud cry. The horn of battle has sounded. Without hesitation, Pecharunt immediately unleashed its signature move"Malignant Chains." Chains forged from deep purple venom shot toward Kangaskhan. Kangaskhan, well-prepared, immediately took off running. Despite its massive size, its speed on the battlefield was anything but slow. The chains, writhing like venomous serpents, lashed through the air. Hiss A sound, like a gas leak, filled the arena. A faint purple mist began seeping from within Pecharunts shell, drifting lazily toward Kangaskhan. Smog. A filthy, noxious fog that attacks opponents. Sometimes, it even leaves them poisoned. Under Slowkings careful guidance, Pecharunt had solidified its core battle strategy: Use Malignant Chains to keep the opponent constantly on the move, preventing them from having the opportunity to launch direct attacks. Meanwhile, supplement it with Smog, Poison Gas, and Sludge Bomb to further restrict the opponents movements. Once theyre poisoned, all thats left is to slowly wear them down. As that pink hippo once put it: "You''re tough. Even if you take a hit, you''ll be fine. Suck it up. Don''t whine like a baby." That was what Slowking said after using the guise of "training" to beat Pecharunt and the others senseless. Whoo A deep breath, and cold air billowed from Kangaskhans lungs. Icy Wind! Wherever the frigid gust passed, a thin layer of frost formed. The encroaching Smog was quickly swept away and frozen under the chilling breeze. Kangaskhan wasnt particularly skilled with this move, and its power was mediocre at best. But at least it was one of the few attacks it could use while moving without slowing down. Most of its other moveslike Hyper Beam and Solar Beameither had charge-up times or left it momentarily stiff afterward. Not ideal. But as long as it could buy time, that was enough. Kangaskhan kept moving across the battlefield, alternating between Icy Wind and Surf to continuously slow the spread of the poison. Meanwhile, Pecharunt remained steadfast, executing its pre-planned battle strategy. Smog and Poison Gas never ceased. Sludge Bomb and Venoshock lashed out from tricky angles, forcing Kangaskhan into a frantic scramble. This cant go on. From the sidelines, the examiner watching the battle couldnt help but feel anxious. Even though this was meant to be a formality, Trainers were inherently competitive creatures. Even in a practice match, they couldnt help but think about how to win. It applied to both the mentor and the trainee. Kangaskhan, dont get dragged into their rhythm. Wait for an opening and charge in! In simple termsgo all in. That was the examiners answer. Dragging this out was a guaranteed loss. Kangaskhans stamina wasnt infinite; sooner or later, it would slip up and be caught by those chains. If stalling wasnt an option, then the only choice was to risk everything on one decisive strike. After all, Trainers are just a bunch of high-stakes gamblers! In the midst of battle, Kangaskhan silently nodded in understanding. It wasnt sure if this strategy would work, but the examiners voice gave it renewed resolve. Staring at the swirling chains, Kangaskhan spotted its moment. Whoosh A fiercer gust than before suddenly erupted. Snow-laden winds surged around Kangaskhan, forming what looked like a swirling blizzard. Blizzard! The violent currents created an invisible but unyielding barrier, repelling every incoming chain. Voom. A translucent energy flared violently around Kangaskhan, blazing like an inferno. Its legs bent as it gathered power And in the next instant, it shot forward like a cannonball. Giga Impact! With terrifying force, Kangaskhan charged at Pecharunt, arms raised at its sides, surging with unstoppable momentum. For a moment, it resembled an unstoppable tank, determined to crush anything in its path. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Kangaskhan charging straight for it, Pecharunts expression changed. Caught off guard, it could only shut its shell in an attempt to brace for the devastating impact. Boom!! Under the sheer force of the attack, Pecharunt was sent flying, unable to put up much resistance. Yet before Kangaskhan could celebrate its successful hit, deep purple chains quietly coiled around its limbs. Kangaskhan struggled, but the chains clung to it like living creatures, tightening with every movement. Poison seeped into its body, wave after wave. Pain twisted Kangaskhans face. Its vision blurredeverything around it distorted and fragmented into chaotic images. Sounds, once comprehensible, stretched into distant, incomprehensible murmurs. Under the influence of Poison Puppeteer, Kangaskhan had fallen into confusion. Staggering, it stumbled across the battlefield, completely losing control of its actions. Desperate, it stomped the ground in an attempt to steady itself. Having undergone specialized training, it fought to regain clarity. It flailed wildly, launching unfocused punches, attempting a Double Hit. But in its confused state, its strikes were aimless, unable to land a clean hit on Pecharunt. In contrast, despite taking the brunt of the previous attack, Pecharunt remained eerily calm. It stood at a distance, sidestepping Kangaskhans frenzied blows while continuously spreading more poison, deepening its opponents agony. As time passed, Kangaskhans stamina drained rapidly, and its attacks grew feebler. The examiner on the sidelines kept shouting its name, hoping to snap it out of confusion. This was a test of bonds In the Pokmon world, bonds could truly create miracles. But if miracles happened too easily, they wouldnt be called miracles. Still trapped in confusion, Kangaskhan failed to register any commands, helplessly floundering about the battlefield. And then A direct hit from a Venoshock to the face sent Kangaskhan tumbling to the ground. It had lost the ability to battle. Return, Kangaskhan. With a sigh, the examiner recalled the Pokmon, its body sprawled in a pool of violet poison. The toxins, once carried away by Surf, had now mixed with the water, creating a battlefield where every step Kangaskhan had taken was atop poison. Honestly, the battle had been brutal. The examiner had half a mind to forfeit then and therethere was no visible path to victory. Kangaskhan is unable to battle. Confirming Kangaskhans defeat, the girl on the sidelines raised her small flag, signaling the examiner to retrieve their Pokmon. With a metallic clatter, Pecharunt retracted its chains, its expression as composed as ever. It turned to Natsume, awaiting further orders. The battle was over. Now what? Should I fight the next opponent? It had no objections. The once pitifully aggrieved look it used to wear was now one of cold composure. Return, Pecharunt. You did well. Smiling, Natsume withdrew Pecharunt. Sure, sweeping three or four opponents felt great. But up until now, hed never actually done it. After all, the farm kids needed experience too. Now, though? Their opponent had come all this way. Wiping them out immediately seemed a bit excessive. Could he do it? Yes. Was it necessary? Not really. Natsume, you really know how to treat me kindly. The examiner let out a weary smile. Using a legendary to beat up a poor, weak, and helpless examiner. You really had the heart for that, huh? Starting off with a Legendary. So this is the confidence of a man who commands Mythicals? Jealous. Truly. What Trainer wouldnt want to raise their hand and send out a Legendary Pokmon? Well, it is an evaluation, after all. Naturally, I have to take it seriously. Besides, the examiners strength is quite formidable. There was absolutely no need for you to say that. Not just the examinereven the girl on the sidelines silently voiced her own thoughts. Strong? To be honest, she couldnt see it at all. All she saw was a poor Kangaskhan being toyed with like it was nothing. By all rights, as the referee, she should have been urging both sides to send out their next Pokmon. But she glanced at the examiner, then at Natsume. Yeah Both of them were people she couldnt afford to offend. There were some things they might not mind, but she couldnt just blurt them out carelessly. So, she chose to quietly lower her head and stare at the floor. Wow This floor is really floor. Alright, lets continue. Adjusting his collar slightly, the examiner released his next Pokmon. As the light faded, a vibrant Yanmega appeared on the field. It immediately took a lap around the battlefield. Unlike the gentle Kangaskhan, this Yanmega exuded pure aggression. Go, Fezandipiti. Natsumes smile remained unchanged as he sent out his own Pokmon. He countered with Unfezant. Yanmegas greatest strengths were its special attack and speed. Fezandipiti''s strengths? Special defense and speed. Faster than Yanmega, and with high special defense. So how was he supposed to fight this? The moment Fezandipiti appeared, the examiner already had that thought. And sure enough, the battle went as expected. Yanmega barely landed any effective hits before being ruthlessly outmaneuvered. Under Fezandipiti''s sharp talons, it soon crashed to the ground, sent off with a rather enthusiastic Hyper Beam straight to the face. The entire battle looked more like an elegant, dazzling performancelike Fezandipiti was putting on a solo dance showcase. Even after the fight, Fezandipiti took its time preening its feathers before turning gracefully to Natsume, lowering its head ever so slightly. As if presenting its own charm. Without hesitation, the examiner sent out his third Pokmon. He was tired. He just wanted this to be over. At this point, he could already guess who Natsume would send out next. Let me guess Munkidori or Okidogi? Ah. Munkidori, huh. Great. Now hed get to be tortured a little longer. Expressionless, he watched as his Hariyama got completely played with on the battlefield. At this point, the examiners heart had settled into complete resignation. Theres no winning this. Not a chance. What was even the point of this evaluation? Were they testing Natsume or torturing him? Its over. As Hariyama collapsed, the examiner let out a long sigh. Finally. Its over. Chapter 153: Togepi and the Mew Guard Squad? The fallen Hariyama stared blankly at the ceiling. Ah what a nightmare of a battle. At this moment, the battlefield was in complete disarray. Its entire body was covered in a mixture of sticky fluids, and the ground beneath it was soaked in an unidentifiable viscous substance. All courtesy of Munkidori''s relentless attacks. It couldnt land a hit, nor could it escape. That was the truest feeling Hariyama had. If it tried to get close, it would be smacked in the face with a flurry of attacks before being pushed away. If it tried to back off, that guy would just stalk it from behind like walking a dog, sneaking in ambushes. Every attempt to power up was interrupted. Every move it tried to land ended in failure. Throughout the entire battle, it hadnt even managed to touch Munkidori once. Even Kangaskhan had done betterat least it had managed a single hit. Meanwhile, Hariyama was just getting tormented for sport. Silently closing its eyes, Hariyama had never wanted to leave this miserable world more than it did now. It had once thought that, as its Trainer grew stronger, they Pokmon would follow along and step into a bright new world. Well, they did step into a new world. A world of getting beaten up. Who knew how strong these Gym Leader candidates were? But one thing was certainthey were all ridiculously tough. Each one had their own unique fighting style. Whether or not it could win was uncertain, but one thing was for sure: it was never going to be an easy time. For these poor Pokmon, getting beaten up had just become routine. At this point, it was almost second nature. "Return, Hariyama." Hearing its Trainer''s voice, Hariyama made a silent resolution. To make up for this psychological trauma When they got back, it was going to eat its heart out. Eight meals a day. And each meal would be big enough for three. Its Trainer got travel stipends anywayno need to feel bad for him. Having made up its mind, Hariyama was already pondering what to eat first. "Since the examiner''s Pokmon have all been defeated, the victory goes to Natsume." The young girl at the sidelines waved her small flag, officially declaring the battle''s end. Meanwhile, the Rotom Phone dutifully recorded everything. It only stopped once the battle concluded. After saving the footage under the title Battle Assessment, it immediately began a new recording. These would all be valuable archives in the future. "The assessment is more or less over." "There are a few things that still need to be explained to Mr. Natsume." sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The examiner, stepping off the battlefield, quickly adjusted his mood. What came next were some key matters to keep in mind. For example, Natsume needed to prepare one or two specialized teams specifically for handling challenger battles. Starting off every match with Pecharunt? Yeah, that would be a bit much for most Trainers. They needed to consider balancemovesets, synergy, and overall strength. As a Gym Leader, Natsume didnt necessarily have to battle personally, but someone needed to be present to ensure battles proceeded normally. As long as the Gym functioned properly, even letting Pokmon command Pokmon was technically acceptable. After all, plenty of Psychic-type Pokmon were more intelligent than humans. Then there was the matter of badge distribution. Aside from those who won through sheer strength, Gym Leaders could, in theory, also award badges to Trainers they personally recognized as worthy. But that was a tricky area. If two challengers both lost, yet only one of them received a badge Why him and not me? What made him more deserving? It was the kind of decision that could easily spark public controversy, which was why most Gym Leaders only awarded badges to those who won outright. The girl responsible for documentation read aloud the regulations while taking notes. The examiner occasionally chimed in with additional detailsmostly unspoken rules or common practices among Gym Leaders. Compared to the formality at the beginning, the atmosphere had now relaxed significantly. "Alright, that wraps up the assessment." "Natsume, you''ll need to set up the necessary facilities and personnel as soon as possible. If you cant find suitable candidates quickly, you can submit a request for the League to send temporary staff." "Though accommodations and other arrangements will be up to you, Gym Leader Natsume." Closing her notebook, the girl took out a handbook from her bag and handed it to Natsume. At this point, she had stopped calling him Mr. Natsume and had switched to Gym Leader Natsume. "This contains important notes for new Gym Leaders. You might find it useful." "But make sure not to let this leak out." "I''ll be counting on you." Taking the booklet, Natsume flipped through it briefly. There was indeed a lot of useful information inside, but he would still need to study it carefully when he got back. This was one of those tricky things. Many so-called manuals or instruction guides could only be understood once you had already grasped the content within. Otherwise, these so-called manualsor rather, textbookswere truly incomprehensible. This was where the ever-reliable Slowking came in handy. Having a smart Pokmon was really great. It saved him a lot of brainpower. But with that in mind, there werent quite enough hands to go around. A normal Pokmon farm would usually hire some workers to help out. But Natsumes farm was mostly a solo operation. Many of the tasks were handled directly by the Pokmon on the farm. For example, Gardevoir and Butterfree helped make Pokblocks. The older Indeedee brother managed day-to-day operations. The younger Indeedee sister and Lopunny took care of various domestic matters. And Slowking... went wherever he was needed. The farm had plenty of strong Pokmon. But when it came to sharing the workload, there was still a shortage. If only Slowking knew how to clone himself... Natsume couldn''t help but sigh. A highly capable employee, who demanded no salary, only food and shelter... Ah, he had to stop thinking about it. If he kept going down this road, he was going to end up hanging from a streetlamp. He was still younghe didnt want to become a human ornament just yet. "Yadon?" Squatting on a rock, Slowking, who had been deep in thought about how to turn five Pokdollars into a billion, suddenly shivered. Something was off. Why did it feel like someone was scheming against him? Rubbing his chin, Slowking began to ponder. Slowking started compiling a suspect list. Slowking initiated a target search. Slowking... had no leads. Slowking abandoned the thought process. Quietly removing the Shellder from his head, Slowking once again entered idle mode. Wisdom dribbled from the corner of his mouth. Slowking stared up at the sky in silence. Ah, those clouds sure were cloud-like. With his mind empty, life suddenly seemed free of worries. Staying like this forever... didnt seem like such a bad idea. "Take care on the way." Clutching the autograph she had just gotten from Natsume, the girl boarded the car, turning back longingly every few steps. Such a shameI really wanted to chat with that smart-looking Slowking. I wonder what he''s doing right now. "Alright, get in." Maybe it was because the assessment was over and the job was successfully completed, but the once-serious examiner had now relaxed a little. After all, they were colleagues. There might come a time when theyd need each other''s help. No one wanted to be pointlessly standoffish and end up making random enemies. Well, except for the occasional fool lacking in social awareness. Some people existed solely to remind you of the vast diversity of life. Especially after entering the workforce. You really would encounter all sorts of inexplicable creatures. Natsume considered himself lucky. He had yet to meet such people. Partly because he lived in a semi-reclusive state. Most of his interactions were with Pokmon. The other reason? His strength. When he encountered such people, he had plenty of ways to make them shut up. Like physics. Physics. And more physics. If a problem couldnt be solved, then solving the person who raised it was always the quickest method. After seeing off the assessment team, Natsume returned to the now-empty gym. At the moment, only Natsume, Slowking, and Mew were allowed inside. All other Pokmon were currently banned from entering. Like a certain Corviknight. There were plenty of reasonsjust imagine what would happen if a large, Husky-like bird got loose on a construction site. Either it would get itself trapped in some bizarre way, or it would turn the place into a disaster zone. The sheer chaos would be physically and emotionally overwhelming. Mew~ A small, pink feline suddenly darted out from Natsumes pocket. Dont ask how it managed to fit in there. Some things about Pokmon were best left unexamined. "Mew!" Looking at the now spotlessly clean battle arena, Mews eyes narrowed with delight. With this, soon enough, Ill be the Gym Leader! This was a first for Mew. It was kind of exciting. "Well then, Ill be counting on you, Gym Leader Mew." Seeing Mews excitement, Natsume chuckled and patted its small head. Mews head was incredibly smooth to the touch. Smoother than any silk Natsume had ever felt. Mew, long accustomed to being petted by Natsume, even rubbed against his hand affectionately. "Mew!" Leave it to me! Puffing out its tiny chest, Mew declared with confidence. "Then go ahead and pick out the team that will handle challengers at the gym." "Let me know when youve made your choice." Right now, Natsume resembled a certain kind of supervisorthe kind that delegated work to subordinates. Heres an important task. You handle it. When its done, report back to me. But since Mew had never experienced the human workplace, it didnt find anything odd about this arrangement. Receiving its assignment, Mew gave a comically serious salute before darting off to recruit its very own Mew Guard. In Mews eyes, as the acting Gym Leader, those challengers were basically invaders. If they wanted to fight Mew, then those battling for Mew were its personal guard. If other Legendary Pokmon had elite squads, why shouldnt Mew? And they had to be cool! Brimming with anticipation, Mew zipped out through the window. It already had a few candidates in mind. "Toki?" Just as Mew flew out the window, Togepi, who had just entered the gym, tilted its head in confusion. What was Mew up to, looking so excited? Togepi wasnt happy. Back in the day, the Mischief Squad ruled the farm. It, Zorua, and Hisuian Zorua were the undisputed troublemakers. Even passing Mightyena wouldnt escape their pranks. But over time, everyone got busy with their own things. The so-called squad naturally fell apart. Now, Togepi was the only one still committed to mischief. Maybe this was what growing up meantpeople quietly slipping out of your life. Maybe every farewell was the last time youd see someone. Everyone had their own circles, their own lives. They were doing well, just... no longer meeting. This was normal for adults. But for the still-young Togepi, it was a little sad and hard to understand. Watching Mew disappear without looking back, Togepi pouted, looking dejected. The usually cheerful little face showed no sign of its usual joy. "Whats wrong, Togepi?" Noticing its gloom, Natsume scooped Togepi up from the ground. Like soothing a child, he gently cradled it in his arms, murmuring softly. "Toki..." The Togepi in Natsumes embrace looked utterly dejected, muttering in a low voice as it complained to him about the mischief of Mew and the Hisuian Zorua. To a child, this was nothing short of betrayal. But at the same time, for Mew and Hisuian Zorua, who still had the temperament of children, they probably didnt understand why Togepi was upset. They hadnt done anything wrong, had they? Gently rubbing the tiny spike on Togepis head, Natsume pondered how to console it. This, too, was part of a trainers responsibility. For Pokmon, their lives changed completely after being captured by a human trainer. Their entire existence became tied to that trainer. And a trainers duty wasnt just about commanding Pokmon in battle. Daily interactions, emotional supportthese were all things a trainer had to consider. In some ways, it was a bit like being a parent. Many children of powerful trainers grew up to be outstanding individuals. Was it because of genetics? Maybe. But Natsume believed it was more because they were naturally experienced in "raising kids." You get better at it with practice. And if youve raised so many Pokmon, well... "Alright, alright, dont be sad." "To Mew and the others, youre still their good friend." "Its just that lately, everyone has been busy with their own things." "Hisuian Zorua is working hard to get stronger." "Mew has been eagerly anticipating the new Gym." "Now that the Gym is finally completed, of course, its going to be on Mews mind. It wasnt ignoring you on purpose." "Toki Toki!" "Mm... This is actually pretty normal." "A lot of childhood friends drift apart as they grow up, sometimes not seeing each other for a long, long time. But that doesnt mean their friendship disappears." "Its like how a Kangaskhan baby eventually leaves its mothers pouch." "Its something unavoidableseparation and reunion are always happening." Natsume believed that when comforting a child, just offering reassurance wasnt enough. Children wouldnt really listen. The only way was to throw some grand, profound truth at themsomething vague and lofty enough to impress them. That way, their attention would shift to something else. "Toki..." Sure enough, after hearing Natsumes words, Togepi lowered its head in thought. Children werent stupid. They just didnt have a deep or comprehensive understanding of the world yet. After a moment of contemplation, Togepi lifted its head to look at Natsume. "Toki?" Will I have to part ways with you too? Togepis big eyes stared up at Natsume. "Ah, well..." Caught off guard by the sudden question, Natsume hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Thats how it was when talking to children. Sometimes, theyd come up with a question that was incredibly difficult to answer. Seeing Togepis curious gaze, Natsume didnt answer directly. "Do you want to be separated from me?" "Toki." No. To Togepi, the first thing it saw upon hatching was Natsume. The Pokmon on the farm were its friends. And since it had never left the farm, to Togepi, this farm was its entire world. It believed that everyone would always be here, that they would always play together like this. But... maybe that wasnt the case. A childs heart is sensitive and perceptive. They often notice things that adults overlook. Maybe its because adults become numb to these things, or maybe its just that children have an endless curiosity about the world. "Then we wont be separated." Smiling, Natsume gently patted Togepis head. Honestly, the little spikes made it feel a bit ticklish. Togepi tilted its head, as if contemplating Natsumes words. It glanced up at him, then over at the window. As if suddenly realizing something, it threw itself into Natsumes arms and rubbed against him excitedly. "Toki Toki!" Like a cat being affectionate, Togepi burrowed against him. "That tickles, Togepi." Natsume pretended to struggle against it. Kidssometimes you just had to play along. But just as he spoke, a sudden white light enveloped Togepi. Within the glow, its small body gradually stretched and grew. "Wait, is it evolving?" Holding Togepi in his hands, Natsume was momentarily stunned. That was... a bit sudden. But on second thought, Togepi didnt require any special items to evolve. All it needed was enough friendship and affection. And from the moment it hatched, it had been with Natsume. They were always together. So its friendship level must have been maxed out long ago. Evolving now wasnt strange at all. Some Pokmon could evolve but delayed doing sonot because they lacked strength or conditions, but simply because there was something in their heart they hadnt figured out yet. Togepi had loved its current liferunning around with its friends every day, playing without a care. It had seemed like things would always stay the same. That nothing would change, and that it didnt want them to change. But watching its friends, one by one, find their own paths... The little mischief squad was down to just one member. Togepi realized that life wasnt static. Things changedwhether it was friends, or something else. Even Natsume would go out to take care of his own affairs. "Toki..." Inside the glow, Togepi could feel its heart pounding wildly. Its once soft, childlike voice became clear and melodious. Like the difference between a child and a young girl. When the light faded, the one standing there was no longer Togepi. It was now Togetic. Gone was the tiny yellow figure wrapped in an eggshell. Togetics body was now white, adorned with red and blue triangular markings. Its neck and legs were longer, and a pair of small wings had sprouted from its back. Those wings seemed more decorative than functional. They were just too smallit was hard to imagine them supporting Togetic in flight. But in reality, Togetic could float effortlessly without even flapping them. It was said that Togetic brought happiness, traveling the world in search of kindhearted souls to bless. "Toki!" Its first call as a Togetic rang out joyfully As if announcing its arrival to the world. And the first thing it did after evolving was throw its tiny arms around Natsume and start rubbing against him again. Despite evolving, Togetic hadnt changed all that much. At least, not in personality. "Congratulations on evolving, Togetic." Feeling the affectionate nuzzling, Natsume couldnt help but smile. No matter how many times he saw it, evolution was always exciting. As if remembering something, Togetic stopped rubbing against him and started rummaging through its feathers. Then, it pulled out a pristine, gleaming white feather and offered it to Natsume. "This is for me?" Surprised, Natsume took the feather. A lot of Pokmon seemed to have a habit of giving trainers something from their own bodies as a gift. Like Togetic. According to what he remembered, Togetic would scatter shimmering "Happiness Dust" over those with pure hearts and gentle souls. Togetic nodded enthusiastically, then promptly dove back into Natsumes arms, rubbing against him all over again. "Alright, alright." Looking at the shimmering feather in his hand, Natsume couldnt help but let out a wry smile. Hed had this question for a long time. For a Pokmon like Togetic, which had a habit of plucking its own feathers, it was fine if it only met one or two kindhearted people. But if it met too many wouldnt it end up bald? Natsume was genuinely curious about this. His gaze shifted to the Togetic in his arms, whose expression was teetering on the edge of losing controlalmost like a cat high on catnip. Natsume silently reached under its arms, lifted it up, and set it down on the ground. Toki? Togetic tilted its head in confusion. Why wasnt Natsume cuddling with it? Did the feather only buy it a limited amount of cuddle time? Feeling like it had figured things out, Togetic turned its head and was about to pluck a few more feathers from itself. It couldnt be helpedNatsume was just too comfortable. Before evolving, it never really noticed, but ever since evolving, being near Natsume felt as soothing as soaking in a hot spring. Maybe it was because evolution had enhanced its ability to perceive things it couldnt sense before. Either way, Togetic had become extremely clingy toward Natsume. Hey, no, no, nostop that, Togetic. You already gave me one. Natsume hurriedly stopped Togetic, who was in the middle of selecting a suitable feather. This kids thought process was a little strange, wasnt it? Why was it acting just like Mei? Toki? Stopped mid-action, Togetic obediently froze, staring at Natsume with pure, expectant eyes. It looked like it was waiting for something. Under Togetics hopeful gaze, Natsume finally gave in with a sigh. Alright, fine. Spreading his arms open, he signaled, Go ahead. Togetics eyes lit up instantly, and without hesitation, it dove headfirst into Natsumes arms, initiating its grand "Absorb-Natsume" operation. If things got any more intense, this scene might not even be suitable for broadcast. After some tussling, Togetic finally calmed down. It now floated quietly beside Natsume. At times like this, it still looked adorable. Probably. Natsume suddenly recalled that just a few minutes ago, he had been thinking Even though Togetic had evolved, its personality hadnt changed much. Now, looking at it he mightve been wrong. Alright, lets head home first. Then later, well prepare dinner. Toki. You want to help too? Sure, but dont cause trouble, okay? Toki Toki!! Yes, yes, our Togetic is a big kid now, it wont make a mess. Toki~ Floating beside Natsume, Togetic lifted its head proudly. It looked absolutely delighted. Seeing Togetics adorable expression, Natsume couldnt resist reaching out and ruffling its head. You were the one clinging to me earlier, now its my turn! With playful banter, the trainer and Pokmon made their way home. Elsewhere, Slowking, who had been spacing out, slowly turned its gaze toward the small booklet nestled in the dip of its crown. A minute ago, Mew had zipped through the air at high speed, dropping a booklet into Slowkings bowl before disappearing without a trace. It had only left behind one messageNatsume said to have you look this over. Slowking, deeply unsettled, took a full minute to process the situation before reacting. Silently, it picked up the booklet and placed its crown back onto its head. Feeling its intelligence return to normal levels, Slowking took a deep breath and opened the booklet. After flipping through a few pages, it snapped the so-called Beginner Gym Leader Guidelines shut with a loud smack. Its face was filled with pain. I seriously cant handle this kind of stuff. Im just an ordinary Pokmon. This is way too cruel for me. I need to report thisthis is Pokmon abuse!! Holding its face in its hands, Slowking was seriously contemplating what it would need to prepare if it decided to run away. If worst came to worst, maybe it should just go back to being a wild Pokmon. At least then, it wouldnt have to deal with all these human-written manuals. There was once a time when Slowking had been supremely confident in its intelligencemaybe not the worlds smartest, but certainly not too far off. But ever since Natsume started throwing stacks of documents and booklets at it, Slowking had begun to question whether it was actually an idiot. It was painful. It was pure suffering. With a long sigh, Slowking flipped open the booklet and began reading it properly. As it did, it reached into Shellder and pulled out a pencil, preparing to take notes. Meanwhile, Mew had already started assembling its Mew Guard Squad. Without much hesitation, it turned to its little buddyHisuian Zorua. Suo? Hisuian Zorua, who had been in the middle of training, looked utterly confused. Huh? Go guard the gym? Me? Chapter 154: It’s Common Knowledge That Cats Hate Baths All this time, Hisuian Zorua had always considered itself a child. It had no intention of taking on any responsibilities, nor did it have any grand ambitions. One by one, its friends evolved, grew stronger, and matured. But for Hisuian Zorua? There was no real need to rush, was there? Life only happens oncewouldn''t it be better to just enjoy the carefree joys of childhood? Whether in terms of mindset or self-awareness, Hisuian Zorua never saw itself as a mature Pokmon. In any aspect. And now, here comes Mew telling it "Kid, you''re not so little anymore. It''s time to become a Gym Guardian." ...Wait, are you joking? Hisuian Zorua stared at Mew, its face full of disbelief. It turned to look behind itself. Nope. No other Pokmon around. So Mew wasn''t talking to someone else. Which meant... Had Mew, the big boss, created an imaginary friend in its own mind? How pitiful. I should tell Boss Natsume about this. With that thought, Hisuian Zorua decided to make a quick escape. Only a fool would take this job. Life on the farm was already perfectplenty to eat and drink, training whenever it felt like it, slacking off whenever it didnt. Why on earth would it sign up for extra work? Was it bored out of its mind? Hisuian Zorua simply couldn''t understand. However, just as it took two steps, it suddenly felt a tight grip at the back of its neck. In the next moment, an overwhelming force lifted it into the air. Its four little legs flailed helplessly. What... What just happened? Turning its head, it saw Mew staring back at it with a look of utter dissatisfaction. "Meew!" So this is how you treat your big boss?! Mew looked deeply hurt. After everything I''ve done for you, you cant even do me this one favor? How heartbreaking. ...Seems like I''ll have to double tonights training session. Mew made up its mind. At the same time, it also realized somethinggrabbing a Pokmon by the scruff of its neck felt incredibly satisfying! No wonder Natsume always liked picking it up that way. Decision made: from now on, it would start grabbing other Pokmon like this too. Ignoring Mews threats behind it, Hisuian Zorua began to complain. It wasnt that it didnt want to helpit was that it simply couldn''t! Hisuian Zorua had a very clear understanding of its own combat ability. Right now, let alone standing up to Persian or Corviknight, it couldnt even beat that burly Marshtomp by the pond! That guy was practically all muscle at this pointjust looking at it, you''d think it was about to evolve into a Machamp instead. Hisuian Zorua didnt know why, but its illusions never seemed to work well on the Pokmon at the farm. For a while, it even doubted its own skills, wondering if it simply wasnt suited for illusion-based combat. Then one day, it snuck off to test its illusions on some wild Rattata and Oddish nearby. Thats when it finally confirmed The problem wasnt with its illusions. The Pokmon on the farm were just completely ridiculous! Especially Persian. Its illusions had virtually no effect on Persian at allnot even enough to make it hesitate. With its strongest ability rendered useless, Hisuian Zorua had long since placed itself at the bottom of the farms food chain. Meew~ I see now. After hearing out Hisuian Zoruas grievances, Mew nodded in understanding. Then, it began to persuade Zorua. Simply put, becoming a Gym Guardian didnt mean anything too seriousit just had to deal with the occasional Trainer coming to challenge the Gym. Most of them probably wouldnt be very strong. Besides, Pokmon from the outside definitely werent as absurdly powerful as the ones on the farm. Wouldnt this be the perfect opportunity to play to its strengths? "Suo!" Hisuian Zoruas eyes lit up after hearing Mews explanation. It grabbed Mews paw, looking as if it had just attained enlightenment. Boss Mew, I see now. I was being immature before. Now, I truly wish to improve! If you would be so kind as to Before it could finish, Mew unceremoniously tossed it to the ground. Nice try, kid. You think I dont watch TV? With Hisuian Zorua sorted out, Mew continued recruiting for its so-called Mew Guard. By the lake, it found the Marshtomp gathering energy for its next evolution. In the berry grove, it located the Vikavolt duoone of them even being a Shiny Vikavoltalongside the Tsareena leader of the farms grass-type Pokmon. Strictly speaking, these Pokmon were all early members of the farm. They had just been too focused on their own training for a long time, so they didnt interact with Natsume as much. Take the Tsareena leader, for example. When Meis Steenee had returned last time, even though it still got thoroughly beaten, its progress was evident enough to pose a slight threat. Since then, the Tsareena had been training diligently. In terms of a web novel analogy The three-year promise has arrived. (crossed out) The dragon king returns. (crossed out) Well, something along those lines. Honestly, Mew really wanted to recruit Persian, Corviknight, and that Shiny Furret for its Mew Guard Squad. But that seemed pretty unlikely. So it decided to just let that idea go. Instead, it opted for Pokmon that were strong enough and ones it got along with. Why the two Vikavolt? That came from a casual conversation Mew once had with Natsume after a meal. Natsume had mentioned that some Trainers followed a philosophy of "wild battles." That meant Trainers would fight alongside their Pokmon in combat, claiming it to be the truest form of battle. Natsume occasionally wondered If someone challenged him to a wild battle, he would just bring the two Vikavolt along. One on the left, one on the righttwo floating cannons. And if anyone actually managed to break through their defenses and reach him? They''d be rewarded with a punch to the face. Mew remembered that conversation well. Someday, it wanted to try it too. Two floating cannons sounded incredibly cool. Finally, Mew found its two little rookies For now, the twin Charcadet were still in the "full of potential" phase. As for their combat ability... better not think too much about that. They might be able to hold their own against newbie Trainers. But against seasoned Trainers, theyd just be a minor inconvenience at best. No helping ittraining time had been short, and they hadn''t evolved yet. Taking down a fully evolved Pokmon as a base form was near impossible unless it was naturally strong to begin with or the opponent had been poorly trained. That said, the two Charcadet agreed to Mews plan without hesitation. They had no idea what being a Gym Guardian entailed. But if Boss Mew said to do it, then theyd do it. After finalizing the lineup for its Mew Guard, Mew swiftly went to find Natsume and report its selections. Ah, Mew? Give me a second. At that moment, Natsume was busy giving Togetic a bath. This was proving to be quite the challenge. Ever since it was a Togepi, it had hated bathing. The feeling of water washing over it made it deeply uncomfortable. Every bath session had been a struggle. And now that it had evolved into Togetic... nothing had changed. Natsume sighed as he watched Togetic stubbornly cling to the water hose, refusing to let go. It had been an entire month since its last bath! The realization hit Natsume just after getting home. This thing had been rubbing against him constantly, but it hadnt been washed in a month! Every time bath time rolled around, Togetic found some way to escape. It hadnt been like this when it was younger, but at some point, that changed. Maybe this was its rebellious phase? Alright, alright, Togetic, relax. Its just a bath, nothing to worry about. Holding the showerhead in one hand and gently rubbing Togetics head with the other, Natsume tried to calm it down. Toki! Still clinging to the hose, Togetic puffed up like a balloon. It looked like an angry little pufferfishso round it was practically begging to be poked. That thought crossed Natsumes mind as he watched it pout. After some coaxing, Togetic finally accepted its fate and turned its back to Natsume, signaling its reluctant surrender. Good, good, Togetic is a brave Pokmon. Brave Pokmon get rewards after bath time. Testing the water temperature, Natsume gently poured some over Togetics back. Once it got used to it, he aimed the showerhead directly at it while keeping up the soothing talk. Sometimes, Natsume wondered if he had a double standard. For cute Pokmon like Togetic, he would coax them into bathing. But Corviknight? One bucket of water over the head. Wash or fight. Under Natsumes "mortal threat," every PokmonCorviknight includedhad no choice but to bathe. Otherwise, what awaits them is Persians slap. Dont ask why its not Natsume doing it. Natsume insists he doesnt usually get his hands dirty. (Persian: Ordering me to do it doesnt count as doing it yourself, huh?) The warm water quickly soaked into Togetics body. That sensation of water pouring down from above always made Togetic feel a little short of breath, instinctively holding it in. After scrubbing a little, Natsume reached to the side and picked up a Pokmon-specific body wash. It was a special formula, too. It contained many ingredients beneficial for Flying-type Pokmon, helping them maintain their feathers and keep them smooth and glossy. Besides that, there were other componentsone specifically for cleaning dirt and another for making fur look shinier. Natsume squeezed all of them into a single bottle, added some water, and shook it vigorously. Once the mixture was fully blended and foaming, he poured it over Togetic. In no time, Togetic was completely wrapped in a thick layer of bubbles, with only its head and tiny feet sticking out. "Toki!" Togetic instinctively wanted to shake itself off. But seeing how seriously Natsume was washing it, it held back the urge. "Alright, close your eyes. Im rinsing now." After giving Togetic a heads-up, Natsume washed the foam off its body. Wash, apply conditioner, rinse, towel dry, and then "Mew, hit me with some hot air." "Slow and controlled, okay?" Turning his head, Natsume called out to Mew, who had shown up at some point to watch. "Mew~" Perched on a shelf, Mew rolled its eyes. Natsume always managed to find it, without fail. Even though most humans wouldnt notice even if it followed them around all day. And he always treated it like some handy, all-purpose machine. UnbelievableMew was a Legendary, for crying out loud! One day, he would know its true power! ...But for now, Mew obediently took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. A stream of warm air flowed from Mews mouth, swirling around Togetic like a vortex. The heat swiftly whisked away the excess moisture from its body, leaving a lingering warmth that gently dried it off. "Tokki~" Feeling the cozy warmth, Togetic couldnt help but squint its eyes in contentment. This was so nice. For Togetic, the brief comfort of being dried after a bath was one of the few reasons it could convince itself to go through with bathing at all. It quietly gave Mews hot air technique a thumbs-up in its mind. Maybe it could get other Pokmon to learn this too. That way, they could help dry each other off. Today, you help me. Tomorrow, I help you. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yep, just drying. "Alright, go play." With the bathroom cleaned up, Natsume smiled at the now fresh and clean Togetic. "Toki!" Togetic gave itself a strong shake and then joyfully flitted away. There was no trace of its earlier misery. Well, kids'' moods change fast. Sometimes, just a small Ultraman card was enough to keep them happy for hours. "Mew!" My turn! The moment Togetic left, Mew immediately flew up to Natsume. Now it was time to talk about its matters! It had things to report too! Waving its tiny paws, Mew nearly blocked all of Natsumes vision. "Alright, alright, calm down." Reaching out, Natsume instinctively tried to grab Mews waist and pull it down. But with a smooth twist, Mew effortlessly dodged his hand. "Mew!" Dry your hands before touching me. Eyeing Natsumes damp handsstill wet from washing TogeticMews face showed obvious disdain. Did he even realize how uncomfortable it was for a cat to get wet?! "Ah, my bad." Grabbing a towel from the side, Natsume started to dry his hands. But just as he touched the towel, a thought struck him. "Hey, Mew." "Mew?" "Whens the last time you took a bath?" "...Mew!" "Get back here!" Just as Mew tried to dart out of the bathroom, Natsume snatched it out of the air and yanked it back inside. With a loud slam, the bathroom door shut, and Mews wails echoed through the house. No matter the world, cats never really liked taking baths. Chapter 155: The Farm’s Kindergarten The freshly washed Mew glared at Natsume with an intense expression, looking extremely upset. Unfortunately, even when Mew put on its angriest face, it still looked absolutely adorable. "Alright, alright, stay still like a good kitty." Natsume had plenty of experience dealing with Pokmon that hated baths. He cranked up his Viridian Power to the maximumletting Pokmon sink into that warm, comforting ocean of energy until they became dazed. Then, while they were in this relaxed state, he would swiftly finish the bath. That was Natsumes secret technique for washing Pokmon. "Mew, Heat Wave." After giving Mew a quick rubdown with a towel, Natsume placed it on the counter. Mew rolled its eyes in silent protest. Forcing me to take a bath and then making me dry myself off? Where did this scumbag behavior come from? Mew really wanted to hold its head high and declare that it was a cat with dignity! But as much as it cared about dignity, it hated the feeling of wet fur even more. So, begrudgingly, it used Heat Wave. Heat Wave was a move that many Pokmon could learn. Unfortunately, on the farm, only Mew could use it proficiently at the moment. Well, technically, the two Charcadet siblings could use it too But their control over the move was still abysmal. Especially the older sistersure, her Heat Wave had plenty of firepower, but her precision was an absolute disaster. Fine movements? Nonexistent. Alright, it''s decided. Those two need extra training to properly master Heat Wave. As Mew used Heat Wave to dry itself off, it clenched its tiny fists with determinationthose two sisters were going to get special lessons. At the very least, they needed to learn the move properly! Mew simply couldnt stand Pokmon who had plenty of potential to learn skills but just didnt bother. That was nothing short of a waste of talent! "By the way, you came looking for me earlierwhat was it about?" Watching Mew efficiently dry itself off, Natsume was quite satisfied. Then, he suddenly rememberedMew had originally come to him with something to say. But back then, Natsume had been busy giving the newly evolved Togetic a bath, so he had gotten sidetracked. "Meew!" Oh, so you do remember! Rolling its eyes at Natsume again, Mew started explaining about its Mew Squad. If possible, Mew would have loved to form an All-Shiny Squad and take turns showing up for battles. That would look absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, the Shiny Furret had its own things to do most of the time and wasnt particularly interested in crushing weaklings. The Corviknight, on the other hand, was very eager to participate. But neither Natsume nor Mew had any intention of letting that guy into the lineup. At least, not for regular challengers. Natsume had already made an agreement with Mew As long as the challenger wasnt some arrogant, self-important guy who acted like the antagonist or protagonist from some early-era urban web novel, they wouldnt interfere. A Gym Challenge should be a fair match. If the challenger won, great. If they lost, oh well. But if someone showed up acting all high and mighty, treating everyone else like background characters Then the entire squad would join in. What was supposed to be a standard 3v3 match? It would immediately turn into an all-out 6v6 battle. The first to go up would be Persian, followed by Corviknight, then Slowking, with Ting-Lu in fourth, Cresselia in fifth, and finally, Mew itself as the last challenger! A little "reality check" for those who had never tasted true defeat. "As long as they have no objections, I have no issues either." Natsume thought it over carefullyMews choices were actually quite reasonable. Strong enough to make challengers struggle but not so overwhelming that theyd feel utterly hopeless. After all, Natsume didnt want to one day find his Gym labeled online as just press buttons and win. That would be way too embarrassing. "Mew!" Then it''s settled! After fully drying itself off, Mew gave a little shake and locked eyes with Natsume. No take-backs! "Yeah, yeah, Ill hold the front line for a bit first." "After that, I''ll leave the rest to you, Gym Leader Mew." Natsume grinned as he patted Mew on the head. Earlier this morning, he had actually asked if Pokmon could stand in for him to accept challenges. The examiner had replied that they needed to consult their superiors before giving an answer. And just now, they had responded. While their words were polite, the underlying meaning was basicallydo whatever you want. As long as you dont mind potential public backlash, it''s fine. In short, if youre strong enough that public opinion wont affect you, or if there wont even be negative discourse in the first place, then go ahead. After all, Gym Leaders had always been a unique bunch. Most of them tended to tone down their eccentricities after officially taking the position. Strictly speaking, Natsume was no exception. Damn it, this means he couldnt sell Pokblocks recklessly anymore. Previously, all Pokblocks produced on the farm were sold on an order-by-order basis. Even those sold via food delivery apps had more structure than his sales. At least those had actual storefronts. But here on Natsumes farm? Just a manual workshop with unpaid Pokmon workers. What kind of shady Palworld sweatshop was this? (crossed out) "Alright, Ive decidedI''ll open a shop next to the Gym." "One that specializes in selling Pokblocks." Natsume smacked his palm, having made up his mind. He had always been selling Pokblocks, but most of the time, he fed them to his own Pokmon first. Only the surplus was sold externally. It was all a bit too informal. "Mew?" Tilting its head, Mew looked at Natsume in confusion. Whats he thinking about now? He looks kind of happy. Mew might not know what was going through Natsumes mind, but it did know that Slowking was about to be very unhappy. Because every time Natsume had a new idea, Slowking would have to worry about it. Afraid that Natsume might mess something up. Strictly speaking, Slowking had put as much effort into running the farm as Natsume had. After all, a lot of the daily operations were handled by Slowking. Sometimes, Mew thoughtgood thing Slowking was bald and had a crown. Otherwise, itd definitely have developed a receding hairline from all the stress. Just imagining it was hilarious. "Mew!" Hey, we''re talking about me right now! Mew patted Natsumes arm with its tiny paw, looking dissatisfied. Feeling that this wasnt enough to get his attention, it floated right up to Natsumes face And pressed its little paws directly against his cheeks. Now I have your full attention, right? "Okay, okay, lets get back to talking about the Gym." Laughing, Natsume hugged Mew and continued discussing Gym-related details with it. For example, all Gym battles needed to be recorded and submitted to the League Headquarters. This was to prevent any misconduct Not just to protect the challengers, but also the Gym Leaders. In recent years, there had been some utterly deranged people, including clout-chasing streamers, who had pulled ridiculous stunts. "Gym Leaders and challengers must remain within monitored areas throughout the entire battle." This rule might seem absurd, but absurd rules always had even more absurd incidents behind them. You might not understand why some places had laws like no donkeys in bathtubs after 10 PM, But rest assured, there was a reason for it. "Mew~" Im going out for a bit. Ill be back later. After discussing the details, Mew flicked its tail and zipped out the window. Flying Pokmon never used doors! "Phii?" Just as Mew flew out, a water-blue figure floated into the room. Tilting its head, Phione watched Mew disappear through the window and instinctively reached out a little But before it could say anything, Mew was already gone without a trace. Leaving Phione standing there, frozen. I was going to ask if you wanted to have snacks together Looking at the empty space where Mew had been, Phione felt a bit disappointed. It had always considered Mew a very close friend. Because they had similar interests. And, more importantly, their snack preferences were almost identical. So, they often played together. YesMew played happily with a newborn child. And it wasnt in the way an adult plays with a child. It was genuinely two kids playing together. Honestly, it was hard to say whose mental age was actually higher. "Phii" Retracting its hand, Phione awkwardly scratched its backside. It was said that when humans felt awkward, they pretended to be busy. The same was true for Pokmon. If there was anything more embarrassing than being ignored It was being ignored while someone else watched it happen. "Emo?" At that moment, a Emolga in a miniature janitor outfit happened to walk by and glanced at Phione curiously. What the heck is this idiot doing? Some kind of performance art? Under Emolga''s look at this fool gaze, Phione felt so embarrassed it could probably dig itself a three-bedroom apartment with just its toes. Desperate to diffuse the situation, Phione began pretending to evaluate the rooms decor. ''Wow, this floor is so floor-like.'' ''Nice vase. Itd be even better with a selfie stick in it.'' "Phione, come here." Noticing Phione sneaking glances at him, Natsume chuckled and beckoned it over. Given an escape route, Phione instantly relaxed and flew into Natsumes arms, settling in comfortably. The outside world is too dangerous. Natsumes arms are much safer. For young ones, being ignored even once felt like a world-ending crisis. Like how, as a kid, being late to class, failing a test, or getting scolded by a teacher felt catastrophic. Then, a little olderskipping class and getting caught, messing up at workthose became the new "end-of-the-world" moments. Every age seemed to have its own apocalyptic problems. But in hindsight, none of them were really that important. And most people didnt even care. Just like Phione now, convinced that Emolga would mock it for this humiliating moment But Emolga had already forgotten about it the moment it left the room. Probably wouldnt even remember in five minutes. "Phione, did you eat properly today?" Gently patting Phiones head bubble, Natsume changed the topic to distract it. Heres the translated passage, preserving the original "Phi!" As expected, Phiones attention quickly shifted. It proudly began telling Natsume all about its time at the "kindergarten." The so-called kindergarten was, more accurately, an area on the farm where the younger Pokmon played. With the number of residents on the farm increasing, more and more mischievous little troublemakers were running around. So, Natsume simply asked Chansey to help look after them. For Pokmon that already had others watching over them, it wasnt a big deal. But for ones like Togepi or Phionewho had arrived alone and were still mentally quite immatureNatsume relied on Chansey to take care of them. After all, he was barely an adult himself. He hadnt even figured out how to properly take care of himself, let alone others. Chansey gladly accepted the job. For a Pokmon like Chansey, this was right within its wheelhousedoing what it was naturally best at. Wild Chansey instinctively cared for injured Pokmon, overflowing with kindness and compassion. But the Chansey trained at academies? On top of their boundless kindness and gentle hearts They also had iron fists tough enough to keep any unruly brats in check. No matter how much of a troublemaker a Pokmon was, it would behave under those fists. For these Chansey, "hospital disputes" simply didnt exist. Because any troublemakers would quickly realize they couldnt win. Strengthening the doctors combat abilitiesit was, in a way, just another form of ensuring their protection. Natsume turned his attention back to Phione. In its version of events, it was the big brother of the kindergarten. Champion of the weak, protector of justice. It even helped elderly grandmothers cross the street. Wait where on the farm were there any elderly grandmothers? Natsume couldnt quite make sense of that part. After chatting with Phione for a little while longer, Natsume stood up, ready to leave. Lately, Phione had been deemed "mature enough" by Audino to go out and play on its own. Now that it had its "freedom," Phione was like an unbridled Husky. Impossible to rein in. If it wasnt playing outside, it was on its way to go play outside. If Togepi hadnt evolved yet, the two of them would have probably become best friends. Unfortunately, ever since Togepi evolved into Togetic, it had started acting a little more composed. At least, it seemed that way. Whether that was truly the case would need further observation. Many Pokmon seemed normal right after evolving But over time, something just started to feel off. Take Marshtomp, for example. Lately, for some reason, it kept zoning out like it was contemplating the meaning of life. It was starting to give off serious Slowking vibes. "Caw-caw!" Standing in the open yard, Natsume cupped his hands around his mouth and called out. In the very next second, a massive figure rushed toward him at high speed. Thats rightrushed. Corviknight moved like a high-performance motorcycle, dragging a long trail across the ground as it skidded to a stop right in front of Natsume. "Caw caw caw!" Second Lieutenant Corviknight! Reporting for duty! "Stop messing around and take me to go shopping." Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Caw caw!" Roger that! Snapping to attention, Corviknight responded with impeccable discipline. Chapter 156: Buying Berries and the Café Was it just an illusion, or had Corviknights size grown again recently? Caw. Stand up straight and puff out your chestI want to see how tall youve gotten. Natsume patted Corviknights neck before stepping back a couple of paces to measure. He didnt have a ruler, but he clearly remembered that when he stood upright before, he could reach Corviknights mid-neck. Now, he barely reached its chest. As expected, this big dumb bird had gone through another growth spurt. No wonder it had been eating so much lately. Caw? Corviknights eyes shone with an innocent kind of stupidity. Whats up with Natsume? Is he complaining that Ive been eating too much lately? The thought made Corviknight a little guilty. To be fair, it had been eating a lot these past few weeks. Even at night, while watching anime, it munched away on snacks nonstop. In the dead of night, the attic would often be filled with rustling sounds. New Pokmon arriving at the farm would often get spooked by these strange nocturnal noiseslike Emolga, for example. One night, it had been woken up by the odd crunching sounds and got so nervous that it could barely sleep. Later, it turned out that it was just Corviknight mindlessly snacking away. And just like that, Corviknight gained a midnight snacking buddy. Emolga didnt care much for the anime Corviknight watched, but it was very interested in where Corviknight got all its snacks from. Thus, on many sleepless nights, Emolga accompanied Corviknight, both of them munching away on snacks. Corviknight was well aware that Emolga didnt care about the shows it watched. But why point that out? Everything was fine as it was. Corviknight provided the snacks, and Emolga played the role of a midnight snacking buddy. As long as no one brought it up, they could remain good friends. And so, with a partner-in-crime, Corviknights late-night eating habits escalated. It could finish in one night what Slowking would take days to get through. Only recently did Corviknight begin to realizewait, I mightve gained some weight. Its belly felt rounder than before. Afraid that Natsume might notice and cut off its snacks, Corviknight had been keeping a low profile these past few days, trying its best to stay out of sight. If Natsume doesnt notice me, then he wont realize Ive put on weight! That was Corviknights plan. But had it been found out anyway? Under Corviknights nervous gaze, Natsume finally spoke: Not bad, youve gotten a lot taller lately. Oh, so thats what he meant. Corviknight kept its expression neutral, but deep down, it let out a long sigh of relief. Phew! He didnt notice. See? Maybe I didnt gain that much weight after all. And then But youve also put on a lot of weight. Youre practically growing sideways at this point. Your belly is almost bigger than your head. For the next few days, no more snacks. Youll be training with the shiny Furret instead. You can have snacks again once you lose the belly. Caaaw! Nooooooo! Corviknight let out a soul-wrenching wail of despair. But Natsume showed no mercy. With how much of a shut-in Corviknight was, if he let it continue, soon enough, hed be looking at a full-blown Corviknight ball. Forget about moves like Pluck or Air Slash. At that point, it might as well just use Body Slam. That would fit its current vibe much better. All right, time to head out. After double-checking his things, Natsume climbed onto Corviknights back. He gave Corviknights neck a pat before adjusting into a comfortable sitting position. Although Corviknight was known as the skybus Pokmon And supposedly, no other Pokmon could match its flight comfort levels If he didnt secure himself properly, there was still a risk of falling off. You ask whats dangerous? What do you think happens when you dance around on an airplane wing? Its just an impromptu bungee jump. Without a cord. Life and death are up to fate; wealth and honor are determined by the heavens. Survive, and all is well. Fail, and you become the subject of a ridiculous news story. Caw! Steeling its little injured heart, Corviknight made sure Natsume was seated properly before flapping its wings with force. In the next second, it became an arrow shooting straight into the sky, vanishing beyond the horizon. Whoosh In midair, the wind was so strong that Natsume could barely keep his eyes open. The only sound in his ears was the continuous rush of air. He peeked down slightly. Below him, the endless expanse of green forest receded rapidly into the distance. Looking up, he saw a vast white land. Layer upon layer of clouds stretched infinitely, forming a continent with no borders. Every time he saw this view, Natsume would recall a manga he had read in an old magazine long ago. Something about an ocean of clouds. He had liked that name so much that he had remembered it for years. While Natsume was lost in thought, Corviknight had already reached its destination. Lianshan Town wasnt exactly close to the county district. Natsume always had to fly there on Corviknight. And why was that? Because he didnt have a licenseneither for vehicles nor for Pokmon. Not much he could do about ithe was only nineteen. After graduating high school at eighteen, he moved straight to the farm. For a long time, he lived alone, barely interacting with the outside world. Driving had never been necessary. Riding Pokmon around the farm? No one cared. So, he never had any intention of getting a license. But now, he was reconsidering. Most of the city was a no-fly zone. Even in areas where flight was permitted, a Flying Pokmon license was required. The Jadeleaf League was strict about this. Every year, there were always reckless idiots who fell off their Flying Pokmon mid-air. If they only hurt themselves, finesome people were just destined to suffer. But the problem was that sometimes, when they fell, they landed on other people. Talk about a disaster! To protect these self-proclaimed geniusesand more importantly, to protect innocent bystandersthe Jadeleaf League invested massive resources into enforcing safety regulations every year. Especially during the period from one month to six months after high school graduation. By then, some Flying-type Pokmon had evolved just enough to barely carry a person. Take Pidgeotto, for example. While it couldnt carry someone outright, with the help of certain devices, it could tow a human along Kind of like a hot air balloon. The Pidgeotto flies above while a rope ties the person below. And then, all over the place, youd see 18- and 19-year-olds dangling from trees, buildings, or in all sorts of ridiculous positions. Followed by the inevitable public humiliation. Caw! Caw! Corviknight, incoming for landing! With a loud call, Corviknight located its usual landing spot and began to slow down. Upon touchdown, it instinctively extended a wing to the ground, forming what looked like a sleek black carpet. Heave-ho. But Natsume simply placed a hand on Corviknights neck and leaped down, completely ignoring the offered wing. Like trainer, like Pokmon. Its hard to say whether Mew and the other Pokmon on the farm developed their habit of avoiding doors because of Natsume or if it was just in their nature. Same with Corviknights initial love for sarcastic quipswas that Natsumes influence, or had it simply found its true self? Return, Corviknight. Once he landed, Natsume casually recalled Corviknight into its Pok Ball. Large Pokmon like this werent allowed in public spaces within the city. Their sheer presence alone was intimidating, making people feel uneasy. After securing Corviknights minimized Pok Ball to his belt, Natsume adjusted the strap. Trainer belts were essential gear, designed to hold Pok Balls securely and prevent theft. Not that anyone would be dumb enough to steal a Pok Ball nowadays. Apparently, back in the day, pickpockets used to snatch Pok Balls off peoples belts. Only to get beaten senseless by the Pokmon inside. Those were some brutal sights. As Natsume lifted the hem of his jacket, a neat row of six shrunken Pok Balls gleamed at his waist. He could totally pass for a traveling trainer now. Why traveling and not academic? Because he didnt have the brains for academia. Since time immemorial, researchers and high-IQ scholars had been analyzing Pokmon battles in ways far beyond anything from his past lifes games and anime. In this world, so-called game strategy masters were just rookies. After all, how could a four-move game compare to real, unrestricted Pokmon battles? The power of moves, the timing of execution, how to interrupt an opponents attacks, how to raise a Pokmon from scratch Even the mind games between trainers: gathering intel before a match, predicting the opponents Pokmon choices, and strategizing accordingly. Just reading about all this made his head spin. Originally, Natsume had been confident he could excel, but after flipping through a few pages of a textbook, he slumped over in defeat. Forget it. Too exhausting. This wasnt his path. His old college-educated brain wasnt built for this level of study. Remembering to eat on time was already his limit. ...Lansat Berries, Jaboca Berries, Tamato Berries, and Salac Berries. Scrolling through his notes, Natsume casually headed for the berry wholesale market. Even though his farm produced enough berries to sustain operations and satisfy the Pokmons cravings, some rare varieties still had to be purchased. Particularly those that only grew in desert regions. These berries played an irreplaceable role in making high-quality Pokblocks. So, Natsume regularly stocked up. Hey, boss, got any Tamato Berries? Ah, Natsume! Sure, sure, come take a look. The berry vendor, who had been sorting his goods, immediately brightened up upon seeing Natsume. He was a well-known regular at the wholesale marketbig orders, low maintenance, easygoing, and fair with pricing. What vendor wouldnt love a customer like that? Of course, that didnt mean the shopkeeper would try to rip him off. Originally, Natsumes go-to store had been a different one, but the owner there had tried to scam him, assuming he was just another gullible young guy. Unfortunately for her, Natsume wasnt the type to stay silent. He had walked out immediately and filed a complaint, reporting her for short-changing customers and violating hygiene and fire safety regulations. And he never went back. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These just came in today, take a look. And these Passho Berries arrived this morning too. After wiping his hands on his apron, the vendor eagerly showcased his stock. Natsume hadnt come at the best time. To get the highest-quality berries, he wouldve had to arrive at dawn when the good stock was snatched up by breeding houses and trainers. Luckily, as a trusted regular, he still had access to decent selections. After picking what he needed, Natsume also grabbed a few uncommon berries. He planned to experiment with the recipes in his head when he got back. Ah, another thanks to Hisuis almighty ancestor for this knowledge. Even now, he hadnt fully sorted through all the Pokblock formulas in his mind. He had a sneaking suspicion that Arceus had just dumped every single recipe into his brain to save time. Otherwise, theres no way to explain why some of those so-called pokeblock recipes are so crude they can barely even be called recipes. Woo-ma! At some point, without him noticing, Ogerpon had slipped out of its Pok Ball and was now poking around the berry shop, curiously inspecting everything in sight. After a bit of exploration, it scampered over to Natsumes side, raised both hands, and gave a French military salute (scratch that) before lifting its arms to help carry the large box of berries. Despite being packed to the brim, the crate looked almost weightless in Natsumes hands, as if it were made of foam. The shopkeeper had long since grown used to this sight. Well, the world was a big placethere were always people with abilities beyond the ordinary. Like Natsume. If the shopkeeper had to describe it, he would call it the Innate Brick-Moving Physique. [Ding! Your Pokepay payment has been received] Boss, Ive sent the money. After settling the bill, Natsume placed the crate down and gave the shopkeeper a nod before getting ready to leave. A delivery Delibird would handle the transport to the farm later. Woo-ma. Just as he stepped outside, Ogerpon tugged lightly at Natsumes sleeve, pointing in a certain direction. Following Ogerpon''s gaze, Natsume spotted a small caf. The storefront wasnt big, but through the glass, he could see that the interior was warmly decorated, exuding a cozy charm. Ogerpon, are you curious? Woo-ma! Alright, lets take a look. With a smile, Natsume took Ogerpon''s tiny hand, leading it toward the caf like a parent taking their child out for a stroll. Chapter 157: Little Cakes and Trending News "Ding-ling~" "Welcome!" As the door swung open, the Chingling perched on the shelf by the entrance was startled awake from its half-asleep state. It turned its head and let out a soft chime towards the counter. Behind the counter, a young female clerk, who had been busy with something, suddenly fumbled in a slight panic before straightening up and flashing Natsume a polite but slightly embarrassed smile. Natsume figured the embarrassment was either due to the dollop of cream on her face or the fact that she had just been slacking off on her phone. On the bar counter, a tiny Emolga was struggling to hold up a piping bag that was much larger than its own body. Perhaps startled by the girls sudden movements, the little Pokmon wobbled precariously, struggling to keep its balance. "Yimo!" "Ah!" Just as the unsteady Emolga teetered at the edge of the counter, about to fall, it was caught mid-air by a large hand. "Careful now." The Emolga, now resting safely in Natsumes palm, blinked blankly at the unfamiliar man. Even though it had never seen him before It felt so warm and comforting, like soaking in a hot spring. Snapping out of its daze, the Emolga quickly leaped back onto the counter. "Yimo!" Thank you! It swiftly shoved the oversized piping bag into the girls hands before turning to Natsume and giving him a full 90-degree bow, its tiny paws clasped behind its backan undeniably adorable sight. "Ah, thank you so much, sir!" The girl, a beat slow in reacting, finally processed what had happened and hurriedly expressed her gratitude. After all, this little Emolga was one of the key employees responsible for making the shops cakes! If anything had happened to it, the cafs entire dessert production would have come to a screeching halt. From a nearby shelf, a bewildered Rowlet groggily opened its eyes. Huh? What just happened? "No worries." Now that he had a moment, Natsume took the opportunity to properly look around the caf. The interior was decorated in warm tones, featuring wooden furniture paired with soft, fabric-covered sofas. Each table had a small vase of fresh flowers or an elegant little potted plant. Gentle lighting cascaded from vintage hanging lamps, creating a cozy and nostalgic atmosphere. Every little corner showcased thoughtful and unique design choices. It was evident that the owner had put a lot of heart into decorating the place. Well, it made sensethis was her dream, after all. Apart from the girl, the caf was entirely run by Pokmon. The curious Chingling peeking in from the entrance, the Emolga on the counter complaining softly to the girl, the Rowlet just waking up from its nap on a shelf And a Quaxwell dressed in a work uniform emerging from the storage room. "Quaa?" Whats going on here? Scratching its head, the Quaxwell cast a glance at its rather unreliable human. Originally, the girl had aspired to become a top-tier Pokmon Trainer. However, after repeated defeats and setbacks, she eventually gave up on that dream and chose to return home to open this little caf. She never abandoned her Pokmon partners, though. Instead, she recruited them as her cafs staff. Well, "recruited" might not be the best wordit was more like giving them free food and lodging in exchange for their help. And just like that, the girl had transitioned from being a Trainer to becoming the dedicated caretaker of her Pokmon. Her daily routine now revolved around running the caf and looking after her team. Strictly speaking, business was slow. Other than the occasional curious visitor like Natsume, the caf didnt see many customers. To keep things afloat, the girl had long abandoned the idea of running a traditional caf. Now, as long as you paid, she was willing to make just about anything. Cakes, pastriesheck, even a simple glass of lemonade if the price was right. The variety of cakes displayed in the glass case was proof of that. "How much is this cake?" Natsume asked, pointing at a small, round cake. There was nothing particularly special about it at first glance. The top was covered in colorful patterns, resembling the messy doodles of a child just learning to draw. But Ogerpon liked it. Ever since they had stepped into the caf, Ogerpons gaze had been fixed on that little cake. Maybe its frequency just matched that of the cakes creator? Sometimes, kids have these inexplicable connections. In Natsumes eyes, Ogerpon was no different from a child. Curious, playful, and full of wonder. Even their sizes were about the same. Taking care of it felt just like looking after a kid. The only difference? If Ogerpon ever threw a tantrum, its destructive power would make a pack of rampaging Arcanine look tame in comparison. "That one? Its fifteen yen," the girl replied. "It was handmade by our head chef." Seeing Natsumes curiosity, she quickly explained. At the same time, she gestured toward the Emolga beside her. Puffing out its chest proudly, the tiny Pokmon met Natsumes gaze head-on. Thats right! I made it! Its confidence was undeniable. Well Natsume had no comment on that. Looking at the entire row of cakes, he couldnt say they were particularly appealing by his standards. But perhaps they suited a Pokmons taste? After all, Ogerpon seemed to love them. "Alright, Ill take one." Hearing the price, Natsume made the decision without hesitation. Since Ogerpon was interested, why not give it a try? The taste was a mystery, and there was a chance Ogerpon might find it unappetizing. But that didnt really matter to Natsume. At the end of the day, it was just a small cake. Buying one wouldnt break the bank. Natsume never liked denying his Pokmons small, reasonable requests. Nor did he believe in so-called "tough love" or "strict discipline" methods. If youre not going to buy it, then just say no. But if you do buy it, dont make a fuss about it. "Got it! Ill wrap it up for you. Would you like to eat it here or take it to go?" "Well eat it here. And" Natsumes eyes scanned the menu behind the girl. After a brief moment of deliberation "Two cups of hot milk, please." Drinking hot milk in a caf. In a way, that took a certain kind of courage. But neither Natsume nor the girl found it strange. Natsume didnt drink coffee. It just wasnt his thing. "How about drinking something you actually like?" Previously, Natsume had ordered hot milk from a caf''s takeout menu. He had to admithe rather liked the smooth, velvety texture of warmed milk. As for the girl... Now''s really not the time to overthink things. As long as you pay up, shed probably even praise a customers "innovative taste" if they crumbled up cake and soaked it in coffee. She might even ask if they wanted some side dishes to go with it. Business was rough these daysthere was no room to be picky. If only she had some actual talent for making cakes. She had considered tapping into the otaku market with some anime-themed pastries. Like, a round, pastel-pink cake with white whipped cream ribbons, branding it as a "Magical Girl Madoka-style" cake. Switch the caf''s music playlist to pure animeeverything from Hana no T to Devils Child. That would definitely draw in a swarm of nerdy customers! Unfortunately, while she had plenty of ideas, she lacked both the ability and the courage to execute them. For now, it was best to focus on simply keeping the shop running. At least she wouldnt starveat least, not yet. Probably. "Heres your cake. The hot milk will be ready in just a moment." "Mm-ma!" Taking the small cake, Ogerpon''s eyes sparkled as it gazed at the rather flamboyantly decorated dessert. Natsume had almost forgottenOgerpon had a habit of collecting shiny things. Ever since Natsume had set up a personal storage room for it, Ogerpons collection had rarely been on display. Natsume didnt check it often, either. He only ever went in when invited, listening as Ogerpon proudly showcased its latest acquisitions. "Mmm" Using a tiny fork, Ogerpon carefully picked up a bite-sized piece and placed it into its mouth. Its eyes immediately narrowed in delight. Seems like the cake was very much to Ogerpon''s liking. "Mm-ma?" Holding up the plate, Ogerpon gestured toward Natsume, offering to share. Natsume politely declined. Ogerpon didnt seem too bothered and continued happily munching on its cake, its little feet swinging back and forth in the air. Natsumes Pokblocks and treats were delicious, but once in a while, it was nice to have something different. "Quaxwell, come here for a sec." Taking advantage of the moment while the girl was busy at the counter, Natsume gestured for Quaxwell to come over. "Quaa?" What''s up? "Listen to me..." Leaning in close, Natsume whispered a few words into Quaxwells ear. After glancing at the girl and nodding in understanding, Quaxwell quickly made its way over to where she was preparing the hot milk. A moment later, from behind the counter, Natsume heard a small yelp. Two minutes later "Here you go, two cups of hot milk." Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The girl, now freshly cleaned up after realizing she had cream on her face, placed two mugs on a wooden tray. Instead of the tiny, decorative teacups some cafs used, these were full-sized drinking mugs. Not bad. At least it was better than those places that prioritized aesthetics over actual portion sizes. Maybe it was just his practical mindset, but Natsume never bothered taking photos of his food. So, presentation and ambiance werent exactly high on his list of priorities. "Here, Ogerpon." "Whoom-ma!" Accepting the warm milk from Natsume, Ogerpon eagerly took a big gulp. Delicious! Sure, it wasnt the usual Moomoo Milk, but it still tasted pretty good. What? Youre saying the nutritional value isnt even close? Come onwho eats junk food for health benefits? If you''re already indulging in instant noodles and fried chicken, dont start talking to me about nutrition now. "Tastes good?" "Mm-ma, mm-ma!" Judging by Ogerpons reaction, it was thoroughly enjoying both the cake and the milk. As Natsume watched Ogerpon savoring its treat, his thoughts began drifting elsewhere. Right now, the farm had berries, Wooloo, and Mareep herds. It was probably time to start thinking about something else. Like the garden he had been planning for a while now. A while back, he had started raising an Oddish on the farm, which had since evolved into a Gloom. Before long, he could evolve it into a Bellossom. That way, it could help manage the garden for the time being. And then there were the Pokmon that could actually produce crops. Like Arboliva, Garganacl, and Alcremie. Theyd all be worth considering. Not that he necessarily needed thembut Natsume liked them. He figured having more Pokmon like that would make the farm feel more complete. Oh, rightTropius, too. Tropius grew rings of fruit around its neck. That was another one to keep in mind. "Whoom-ma!" Finishing off the cake, Ogerpon patted its belly in satisfaction. That hit the spot. "Boss, pack up a few more of those cakes." Seeing Ogerpons happy expression, Natsume chuckled and turned toward the girl behind the counter. "Got it!" Hearing those words, the girl immediately perked up. Finally! A paying customer! Lately, business had been slow for reasons she couldnt quite figure out. She had been so worried. Sure, this one customer wasnt going to make her rich, but it was still a good start. Gotta stay motivated! Things would definitely start improving from here! But first, she needed to focus on providing the best service to her current customer... "Ill take all of them." "c(? ?)?" What?! All of them?! For a moment, the girl just stood there, staring blankly at Natsume. "Whats wrong?" "N-Nothing! Ill pack them up right away!" Snapping back to reality, she quickly called over Quaxwell and Emolga to help with the packing. This was the biggest sale since shed opened the shop! "Yimo!" Standing proudly atop the counter, Emolga puffed out its chest. See? I knew my cakes were amazing! "Um, let me help you with that..." "No need, Ive got it." Carefully loading the packed cakes into his backpack, Natsume took Ogerpon by the hand and left the caf. So far, the place had left a pretty good impression on him. Hed probably come back regularly. Once Natsume found a place he liked, he tended to frequent it for a long timesometimes ordering the exact same thing every time. Simply because he had no idea what else to try. "Take care~" "By the way... that guy seemed kinda familiar." After Natsume left, the girl furrowed her brows in thought. To be honest, the moment he walked in, she had felt like shed seen him somewhere before. Same with that slightly unfamiliar Pokmon. But she just couldnt quite place where shed seen them before. "Could he be some kind of celebrity?" Tilting her head, the girl pondered. Setting everything else aside, she had to admitshe was quite fond of Natsumes looks. He wasnt the kind of stunningly handsome guy that turned heads everywhere he went, but he had a certain charm. The kind of appearance that grew on you, becoming more and more appealing the longer you looked. "Yimo!" Beside her, the Emolga lifted its phone, displaying something on the screen for the girl to see. "Hmm? Whats this?" She took the phone, finally getting a proper look at the news article she had only skimmed earlier. As she read, her expression slowly froze. "Wait that guy just now is the new Gym Leader?!" On the screen was a photo of Natsume, the headline boldly declaring: "A 19-Year-Old Prodigy Passes Gym AssessmentOfficially Becomes a Gym Leader!" And beneath it, the subheading read: "No Need to Look to the FutureHe''s Already Here!" In just the short time she had been zoning out, the news had already climbed the trending charts. Chapter 158: Pokéblock Feedback and Evolution People have often said that the threshold for being considered a genius keeps getting lower. Take esports, for example. In the past, a 16-year-old dominating the pro scene was considered a genius. Winning a world championship within a year of debuting was also a mark of genius. But nowadays Reaching the top rank of a server at 19? Genius. Making it onto a pro team at 20? A promising talent with a bright future. Destroying scrims? Genius. Always full of potential, always on the brink of greatness. Even if that breakthrough never actually comes. Its weird. But no matter how low the bar gets, there will always be true prodigies who emerge to reset people''s standards back to their original level. Natsume was one of them. While others were busy touting their championship wins, flexing their talent, and clashing over who''s the real genius, Natsume skipped past all that. He didnt even bother competing with his peershe jumped straight into the ranks of their seniors. To the point where those so-called young prodigies never even registered on his radar. Online discussions about Natsume had begun to quiet down, but with this latest news, they exploded once again. Like a powder keg going off. Everywhere you looked, it was all about Natsume. Nineteen years old. Owner of his own farm. Powerful enough to have captured multiple Legendary Pokmon. And now, officially a Gym Leader. Less than a year out of high school! Many people''s first reaction to the news was that it had to be fake. Their second thought? Probably some clickbait article twisting the truthstuff like that happened all the time. Just recently, some small-town Baby Cup champion was hyped up as if they had won the World Championships. But then, the official league announcement dropped. Nineteen-year-old Natsume had become the youngest Gym Leader in the history of the Jadeleaf Leaguewithout exception. And even among Gym Leaders worldwide, his strength placed him among the top ranks. Sometimes, the gap between people is wider than the gap between people and dogs. Was I born just to be a background character for these legends? Ive said Im jealous so many times, Im sick of it. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Excuse me, sir, would you be interested in learning more about our Natsume Fan Club? This is the kind of story I wouldnt even dare to dream of. Among the countless discussions online, a rather peculiar sentiment had slipped in. A certain pink Pokmon quietly put down its phone. Today was a great day to expand the fan club. Natsumes entire trajectory was simply beyond most people''s comprehension. To put it another way Imagine a high school graduate dropping out. Taking over a rundown, nearly bankrupt family diner. And within a year, not only reviving it, but turning it into a nationwide chain and skyrocketing their net worth. Casually trending on social media every now and then. The sheer absurdity of it. That was essentially Natsumes story. Actually, it was even crazier. Though perhaps even more ridiculous was how the internet was talking about him. What started as admiration for a genius had somehow evolved into calling him a Born Supreme Trainer. According to netizens, we had now entered an era of grand competition. The Innate Earth-and-Wood Physique, the Innate Drawing Talent Physique, the Innate Bricklaying Physique all kinds of absurd nicknames were popping up. And Natsume was hailed as the leader of this new era. An unstoppable force who would crush all obstacles in his path. All of this, of course, was the result of internet users collective brainstorming. If it were a novel, the first five hundred chapters practically wrote themselves. Why does this feel more and more ridiculous? Reading the online discussions, Natsume couldn''t help but feel a little embarrassed. Sure, being admired was every guys dream. Most guys had, at least once, imagined themselves being revered by others. But when it actually happened? Natsume found it a little overwhelming. Ya-don? You dont like it? Slowking put down its phone and lazily turned to Natsume. Come on, dont all you humans love showing off? You just pulled off the biggest flex possible, and now youre not happy? Well I guess I do feel a little happy. It would be a lie to say he wasnt. No one dislikes being admired by thousands. Natsume was no exception. But some of the online chatter was just over the top. And as everyone knew No matter the topic, online discussions would inevitably devolve into arguments and personal attacks. Even something as simple as whether tomato and egg stir-fry should have sugar in it could spark a war. At first, things would start out as a peaceful discussion. Then, at some point, differing opinions would surface, leading to people citing examples and evidence to try to persuade each other. That phase never lasted long. Sometimes, it would jump straight into the next stage The all-out flame war. One moment, youre attending their funeral; the next, theyre using your ashes as seasoning. And in the midst of this chaos Flexing battle records and showing off achievements was inevitable. Especially among Trainers. As the youngest Gym Leader, Natsume naturally attracted a huge following of younger Trainers. Many young Trainers believed that even among the monster-filled ranks of Jadeleaf''s Gym Leaders, Natsume stood among the top. Meanwhile, some older Trainers argued that while he was talented, he was still young, with a long way to go. Of course, opinions werent strictly divided by age. There were veteran Trainers who supported Natsume and younger ones who didnt. Thus, an argument broke out. And apart from the two main factions, there were always the so-called neutral analysts and pure bystanders fanning the flames from the sidelines. Natsume was very familiar with this game. He used to enjoy stirring the pot like this himself. Forget it, I wont think about it anymore. We still have a few days left, so lets make a final push. Putting his phone away, Natsume smiled at Slowking. By final push, he meant gathering up the Pokmon that were close to evolving for an intense round of training. This way, the Gym would have more candidates to choose from. Mew and Slowking would feel much less pressure. Though, strictly speaking, it wasnt like they ever felt pressured to begin with. At most, it was just a little pastime after meals. Yadon. As long as youre happy. Putting away his phone and clasping his hands behind his back, Slowking leisurely hopped down from a tree stump. That tree stump was actually evidence left behind by a certain dumb bird during one of its skill experiments. When Natsume caught it red-handed, it tried to resist and argue its way out. In the end, Natsume single-handedly subdued it. Now, at this point, many people might assume were talking about Corviknight. But in reality The dumb bird also included the shiny Pidgeot. Even back when it was just a shiny Pidgeotto, there were already signs that it wasnt the brightest. Its thought process was a bit off. And ever since it started looking up to Corviknight as its big brother, this trait became even more pronounced. In a way, the dumb bird x dumb bird duo had become a rather distinctive feature of the farm. Deli! A familiar cry rang out from the sky. A clearly plumper-than-average Delibird descended from above. Landing directly in front of Natsume, it naturally waved in greeting. Long time no see, Mr. Natsume. Though, honestly, it had only been a week. Indeed, Delibird. Natsume pulled a few Pokblocks from his pocket and placed them in Delibirds hands with a smile. This particular Delibird was responsible for most of the logistics and deliveries in the Lianshan Town area. And since Natsume often purchased things online Rather than browsing in physical stores, he preferred shopping online. Even if there was a chance of items not matching their descriptions, he found it acceptable in most cases. After all, it wasnt like he was buying clothes or anything. Most of his purchases were specialized tools or Pokmon-related items. And the League had extremely strict regulations on those. Ever since last year, this Delibirdtrained by the League to handle deliverieshad been making frequent trips to Natsumes place. Always delivering packages. Normally, no matter how diligent a Delibird was, at most, it would just become a familiar face. No one would pay too much attention. But this was different Natsume was simply too generous. Every time Delibird came, it got to eat well and even take some treats back. With such a generous human How could it not like him? Delibird thought, I love this guy! Deli. Please sign here, along with your personal identification. After pulling a large package from its satchel and setting it on the ground, Delibird flipped through the order slip and slapped it onto the box. Then, it placed a black pen in front of Natsume. Familiarity aside, work was work. It had to maintain professional conduct. After all, it was a highly ethical Delibird. It was even aiming to win Employee of the Year this time and secure that year-end bonus and vacation! All right, all right. How was the Pokblock I gave you last time? As he signed, Natsume glanced at Delibird. He had countless Pokblock recipes in his head But he rarely got the chance to verify their effects. Let alone conduct proper user experience surveys. After all, many Pokblocks were tailored for specific types or even specific Pokmon. He couldnt exactly have Persian scarf down a Pokblock meant for Water-types and then give a fair review. Thatd be like making someone from Kyoto eat Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Whether theyd end up at the proctology clinic was one thing, but theyd probably find it hard to get used to. Once in a while might be fine, but if they had to eat it every day Theyd probably spend a fortune at the proctologist. Deli. Let me think. Reaching behind, Delibird pulled out a small notebook and flipped through past notes. It was filled with detailed feedback on the Pokblocks it had received from Natsume. This was exactly what Natsume wanted. Most Pokblock recipes were somewhat compromised or simplified for general use. If he wanted to refine them further, he couldnt just follow formulas blindlyhe needed to conduct his own research and improvements. Deli. That last one? Tasted great! But it felt a little hard to digest afterward. My stomach felt kind of bloated. I see. Ill have to tweak it, reduce the amount of berries. After signing, Natsume returned the order slip and pen to Delibird. Deli. Good luck, big bro Pokblock Maker! Carefully stowing away the paperwork, Delibird enthusiastically echoed a phrase it had picked up somewhere. When it came to Natsumes craftsmanship, Delibird had absolute confidence. In its eyes, Natsume was the worlds best breeder! At least when it came to Pokblocks. Bye-bye~ Delii~ Waving as Delibird departed, Natsume turned to the large box in front of him. Inside were the special items he had ordered. Slowking, could you call over the two Charcadet, Misdreavus, and Gloom? Yadon. Nodding, Slowking vanished instantly. Generally speaking, Slowking as a species wasnt known for learning Teleport. But for the Slowking on Natsumes farm If it was theoretically possible, then it was a given that they could master it. Especially with Mew as their super mentor. Before long, the two Charcadet, Misdreavus, and a very dazed-looking Gloom appeared before Natsume. Compared to the other three, Gloom seemed to be in a perpetual state of confusion. Natsume, the farm owner, had expressed a desire to help it evolve into Bellossom. That sounded pretty nice? But was Bellossom even an evolution it could take? Not quite sure. Still, if Natsume said it was possible, then it must be possible. Maybe it was due to its species traits Back when it was an Oddish, it had been quick-witted, but now, post-evolution, it seemed a bit dopey. Its reactions were always a beat slow. Kind of like how Slakoth, the ultimate lazy Pokmon, suddenly turned hyperactive after evolving. Maybe things would change once it became a Bellossom. This time, I called you all here to help you evolve. You each need specific items to evolve, and until now, I hadnt been able to get the right ones. But now, I have them all. Opening the box, Natsume nodded in satisfaction at the four evolutionary items inside. The first thing that caught his eye was two sets of armor steeped in history. One was ornately engraved, radiating a noble and gallant auralike the battle armor of a loyal, righteous knight from ancient times. Just looking at it brought forth images of heroic tales. The other was similarly grand, but unlike the first, it bore the scars of countless battlesslashes and punctures marred its surface, and a faint, ominous mist coiled around it. As if the souls of fallen warriors lingered on. In the corner of the box were two evolution stones. A Dusk Stone and a Sun Stone. For Misdreavus and Gloom, respectively. All right, Charcadet, you two first. Are you ready? Calming the restless Misdreavus and Gloom, Natsume looked toward the two Charcadet sisters, who had been staring at him with burning anticipation. Char! The ever-energetic elder Charcadet eagerly raised her hand first. Report, Boss Natsume! We''re ready! Always prepared! Following closely behind her sister, the younger Charcadet timidly raised her hand and let out a soft cry. "Char" Me too. "Alright, then let''s get started." Seeing the stark contrast in reactions between the Charcadet sisters, Natsume chuckled before taking out the two sets of armor from the box. Chapter 159: Consecutive Evolutions and a Newly Hatched Egg The Auspicious Armor, steeped in history and tradition, was placed on the ground. Compared to the flashy, newer armors, this one carried a more restrained presence. Like a seasoned warrior who had seen countless battles, silent yet imposing. Even if it were placed among a pile of objects, it would still be the first to catch ones eye. On the other side, the Malicious Armor, faintly wrapped in an eerie, cursed aura, lay quietly. Unlike the Auspicious Armor, the Malicious Armor had a significantly weaker presence. Whenever ones gaze swept across it, an inexplicable discomfort would arise, compelling them to look away instinctively. Char! First up was the energetic and impatient elder Charcadet. Without much hesitation, her gaze immediately locked onto the Auspicious Armor. As expected, an always high-spirited child like her was best suited to evolve into the exuberant Armarouge. For a fleeting moment, Natsume had a rather mischievous thought What if the lively elder sister evolved into the brooding Ceruledge, and the quiet younger sister evolved into the radiant Armarouge? That contrast would certainly be amusing. But such things were best left as mere thoughts. The most suitable path was always the best one. An arbitrary swap for the sake of amusement would only leave both sisters dissatisfied with their evolutions. With eyes filled with excitement and anticipation, the elder Charcadet struggled to tear her gaze away from the mesmerizing armor and looked up at Natsume. That look seemed to ask: Really? I can really have this amazing armor? Go ahead. Seeing her expectant eyes, Natsume gently gave her a push. It wasnt a strong push, but it was enough to give her courage. Under Natsumes watchful gaze, the elder Charcadet clenched her tiny fists, as if cheering herself on. Char! After mentally preparing herself, she took a deep breath and firmly slapped her palm onto the Auspicious Armor. In the very next second, a radiant glow erupted from where her palm met the armor. Almost instantly, she was engulfed in the dazzling light of evolution. Her small frame elongated and expanded within the glow. When the light faded, a humanoid Pokmon radiating intense heat stood before Natsume. Restless flames flowed around her like ribbons. A Fire/Psychic-type PokmonArmarouge had made her grand debut! Hm? The newly evolved Armarouge excitedly examined her own body. The once-dulled armor had regained its brilliance. Perhaps due to being refined by Fire and Psychic energies during evolution, it had transcended its original form. The golden armor shimmered as if sunlight danced across its surface. A red V-shaped pattern on her chest seemed to contain a burning flame within. Behind her, a plume of fire formed a crested helm, swaying with the wind. That fiery crest, waving proudly, seemed to announce its bearers indomitable spirit. It was said that an Armarouge adhered to the creed of honorable combat, bravely challenging even formidable foes head-on. A righteous and chivalrous warrior. Grinning, Armarouge turned toward her younger sister. From this height, her former self looked so small. Examining her little sister with curiosity, Armarouges eyes shone with excitement that had yet to subside. All right, step aside now. Its the next ones turn. Pulling Armarouge away from her spot, Natsume turned to the younger Charcadet, who had remained silent all this time. Truthfully, Natsume found the younger sister far more intriguing than her elder counterpart. At first, he had assumed their relationship was a simple contrast of an energetic older sister and a timid, introverted younger sister. But over time, he realized that while the younger sister was indeed reserved, she wasnt necessarily timid. Her elder sister always believed she was the fragile one who needed protection. If Natsume hadnt personally witnessed her calmly knocking out a Raticate, he might have believed that too. This child might not enjoy socializing, but she was definitely not someone to be bullied. She might even be a bit vengeful and petty. Ironically, it was the strong-willed elder sister who occasionally ended up as the one being pushed around. Stepping forward in silence, the younger Charcadet calmly placed her hand on the Malicious Armor. No mental preparation, no deep breaths, no hesitation. Just quiet acceptance of her evolution. Unlike her carefree elder sister, who lived in the moment, the younger Charcadet had always been a thinker. Lying awake at night, she would ponder many things. She had thought long and hard about evolution, even secretly consulting Mew for information. So, she had long since made peace with her decision. Once more, the light of evolution flared. Perhaps it was just an illusion, but this time, the glow seemed steadier and more restrained. Not as flamboyant, simply fulfilling its purpose. In the blink of an eye, the light faded. Draped in armor steeped with grudges, wielding swords forged from spectral flames. A warrior cloaked in ghostly blue flamesCeruledge quietly examined her reflection in her blades. It was said that the fiery swords extending from Ceruledges arms burned with the resentment of fallen swordsmen. Once battle commenced, those flames would intensify, turning into great swords. A Fire/Ghost-type Pokmon, willing to use any means necessary to secure victory. Even its crest of flames differed from Armarouges. Instead of the latters free-spirited red blaze, Ceruledges was a quiet, unwavering blue-purple flame. After a few seconds of staring at her reflection, Ceruledge silently lowered her swords. She nodded slightly toward Natsume in thanks, then wordlessly moved to stand behind her sister. The evolution seemed to have made her even more silent. A solitary, aloof aura emanated from her, repelling all but one beingher elder sister. Watching as Armarouge boldly ran up to her, laughing and poking at her armor without restraint, Ceruledge almost lost her composure. What the hell was this! But this was her sister, after all. What else could she do? Turning her head away, Ceruledge begrudgingly tolerated her sisters antics. Sometimes, it was hard to tell who was the real elder sibling. Observing the contrast between the childlike Armarouge and the taciturn Ceruledge, Natsume found himself wondering the same thing. Compared to the overly exuberant Armarouge, Ceruledge certainly seemed more like the composed and reliable older sister. All right, now its your turn. After offering a few words of encouragement, Natsume turned his attention to the waiting Gloom and Misdreavus. By now, they were both eager to embrace their own evolutions. The stark transformation of the Charcadet sisters had only intensified their anticipation. Before evolution, Charcadet looked rather cute and not particularly threatening. Even in battle stances, they resembled little kids playing pretend. But after evolving into Armarouge and Ceruledge... One had become a valiant flame knight. The other, a cool and aloof spectral swordsman. The difference was just too overwhelming! ''I want to evolve too!'' ''I want to become super cool too!'' Misdreavus gazed at Natsume with its big, watery eyes, silently watching him. It was as if it was expecting Natsume to press the Dusk Stone against its forehead at any moment, ushering in its grand evolution. Faced with Misdreavuss anticipation, Natsume felt a little conflicted. In his opinion, Misdreavus was already extremely cute before evolvingone of the most adorable Pokmon in the entire Pokmon world. But after evolution into Mismagius Well, it wasnt exactly cute anymore, but it wasnt particularly cool either. It also lacked any real sense of mystery. It just became kind of ordinary. Still, Natsume wasnt going to dampen its enthusiasm, so he silently extended the Dusk Stone toward Misdreavus. The long-awaited moment had finally arrived. Misdreavus eagerly pressed its forehead against the stone. A familiar light of evolution radiated once more. In no time, a brand-new Pokmon emerged. Mismagiuss design was clearly inspired by a witchs appearance. Its head resembled a sorcerers hat, with four pointed extensions trailing behind. Three red gems were embedded in its body, and its form flowed like a draping cloak. Mismagius was known as a mischievous and elusive Pokmon. Feared for spreading curses and playing pranks, it was often avoided. However, it was also said to chant incantations that warded off evil, leading some people to welcome it into their homes for protection. So it wasnt entirely the image of an evil witch, after all. "Miiis~" The newly evolved Mismagius cheered, muttering an incantation that Natsume couldnt quite make out. Was it excitedly casting a blessing upon itself? Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After rubbing affectionately against Natsume, Mismagius couldnt wait to dash off and test its newfound abilities. Just a couple of days ago, its training partner, Duskull, had evolved into Dusclops. In their recent sparring sessions, Dusclops, with its now fully developed form, had been able to defeat Misdreavus with ease every single time. That had frustrated Misdreavus greatly. ''I trained just as hard, so why did you evolve before me?'' ''I want to evolve too!'' ''I want to be stronger!'' Now, Misdreavus had finally gotten its wish. Strictly speaking, evolution didnt instantly make a Pokmon overwhelmingly stronger. Sure, a newly evolved body was undeniably more powerful than its pre-evolution formstronger physique, greater energy reserves, and a more combat-ready posture. But to achieve a true qualitative leap in strength required years of accumulated experience and training. The idea that a Pokmon could go from losing a battle to completely dominating its opponent just because it evolved was mostly unrealistic. Well, unless it was something like Metapod turning into Beedrillan extreme case of rapid transformation. Natsume then turned his gaze toward Gloom, who looked utterly bewildered, as if it had only just realized what was happening. "Gloom, its your turn." As the Sun Stone in Natsumes hand gleamed under the sunlight, Gloom finally grasped the situation. Overcome with excitement, the flower on its head accidentally released a large burst of its signature stench. Realizing what it had just done, Glooms face, which had been lit up with joy, froze in place as it cautiously looked up at Natsume. Gloom was highly valued in the perfume and pharmaceutical industries, but its smell was something most people couldnt tolerate. Getting too close could even cause someone to pass out from the sheer potency of the stench. Fortunately, Natsume had built up quite a bit of resistance. Even in this situation, his expression remained largely unchanged. After all, he had to be considerate of his Pokmons feelings. Natsume felt that his ability to maintain a straight face had reached an impressive level. If he ever entered the acting industry, he might even win a small award or two. Seeing that Natsume hadnt reacted negatively, Gloom let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank goodness. It wasnt being shunned. Gloom still remembered how, back when it was an Oddish, it had many friends. But after evolving into Gloom, those friends had gradually drifted away. Whenever they saw it, they always had a look of distaste mixed with helplessness. That left Gloom feeling rather helpless as well. Even though it tried hard to control its emotions, staying calm so as not to release any smell, emotions werent exactly easy to regulate. "Come on, Gloom. Once you evolve, this wont be a problem anymore." Noticing Glooms concerns, Natsume chuckled, offering it an encouraging smile. Once Gloom evolved, its past troubles would disappear. What had been a difficult experience would become nothing more than a distant memory. Encouraged by Natsumes words, Gloom hesitated no further. It reached out and slapped its palm against the Sun Stone. Once again, the radiant light of evolution burst forth. To be honest, at this point, Natsume was starting to feel a little numb to it. He had just seen too many Pokmon evolve. Ever since coming to the farm, there had been new evolutions happening almost daily. Especially among the Bug-type Pokmon They reproduced quickly and evolved even faster. Particularly in such a safe environment. The Berry Groves Bug Pokmon population was nearing a tipping point. Natsume was already considering what to do about the growing swarm. If necessary, he might have to relocate them to the outskirts of the farm. Maybe even organize them into a security patrol, guarding the farms borders and keeping intruders away. In a way, that would be quite helpful. As Natsume was lost in thought, Glooms evolution had already finished. Or rather, it was no longer Gloomit was now Bellossom. Bellossoms body was green, with round blue eyes and red markings on its cheeksmore like blush than anything else. On its head bloomed two bright red flowers, while its wide yellow-green leaves formed a small skirt, giving it an incredibly adorable appearance. A stark contrast to its former self. Many people compared Feebas and Milotic as the most extreme transformation in evolution. But looking at Gloom and Bellossom, Natsume felt like they were just as much of a drastic shift. "All done." Clapping his hands in satisfaction, Natsume looked at the newly evolved Pokmon. Now that their evolutions were complete, it was time to assign them their new roles. His plans were crystal clear. Ceruledge and Armarouge would continue training with Mew, preparing to step up once the gym opened. Mismagius could oversee its teammates training and even collaborate with Hisuian Zorua to refine their illusion techniques. As for Bellossom, it would be working with Natsume on a long-awaited projectthe garden. He had wanted to create a beautiful garden for ages, but technical difficulties had always held him back. Now that he had an expertwell, an amateur specialiston board, Natsume finally felt hopeful about his gardens success. Recalling his well-organized plan, Natsume couldnt help but give himself a mental pat on the back. Even without a Slowking, my thought process is still razor-sharp. Not bad, not bad. Just as he was basking in his own brilliance Far away, in the depths of the ocean, Manaphy sat in silence. Inside its dark, submerged temple, it stared for a long time at a Pokmon egg that had mysteriously appeared beside its bed. Finally, it let out a long sigh. What a disaster. Looks like I have to raise another kid Wait! A sudden thought flashed through Manaphys mind, and its eyes lit up. It swiftly grabbed a silk ribbon from under its bed, wrapped the egg securely, and hurriedly swam out of its temple in a rush. Chapter 160: The Farm Nursery and the Scheduled Challenger Hmph-hmph~ With a little dirt-covered trowel in hand, Bellossom cheerfully hummed a light-hearted tune as she dug along the riverside, scooping soil into a small flowerpot nearby, one shovel at a time. It wasnt a popular song, nor was it some age-old melody. Just a casual tune she hummed when feeling happy. Even without structure or musical theory, the joy in her heart was unmistakably conveyed through the simplest of melodies. Natsume had asked Bellossom to help out with the garden. And she had gladly accepted. Maybe it was because, after evolving, she no longer emitted a stench when excited, and her appearance had changed from a clumsy, silly look to something cute and dainty. Now, Bellossom seemed much more cheerful than before. It had to be saidimproved appearance really does bring a person the simplest kind of confidence. That wasnt meant in a negative way. Just a fundamental sense of confidence in oneself. Hmm Setting the trowel down, Bellossom wiped away the nonexistent sweat on her forehead. Though she wasnt exactly an expert in gardening She felt like she might have some natural talent for it. So she borrowed a phone from Corviknight and watched a few videos online to learn more. She didnt quite understand why everyone insisted on planting things in flowerpots or why they had to dig up dirt from outside, but she followed the instructions anyway. Online videos must have their reasons. Naive as she was, Bellossom still had blind trust in the information she found online. If she ever got into online forums or social media... She might end up posting some legendary comments. Unfortunately, she wasnt interested in those things. For now, all Bellossom wanted was to quietly tend to her flowers. Maybe she should ask Sandslash for advice later? Even if Sandslash didnt grow flowers... Surely planting flowers and growing crops or fruit trees had something in common? Just as Bellossom was wondering if she should go dig up more soil, the once calm surface of the lake suddenly rippled. She glanced at it but didnt think much of it. There were plenty of Pokmon living in the farms lakeseeing a few pop up for air now and then was nothing unusual. At least, thats what she thought Until a huge bulge swelled up on the lakes surface, looking like it was about to erupt. Thats when Bellossom suddenly realizedmaybe she should get out of the way? She had only taken two steps with her short little legs BOOM! A loud splash erupted behind her, sending water flying everywhere like a torrential downpour. Caught off guard, Bellossom was soaked from head to toe, standing there in stunned silence. She looked at the little bucket in her hand, now overflowing with water. Then she looked up at the Manaphy hovering in mid-air, glancing around curiously after leaping from the lake. A fog of emotion began to form in Bellossoms eyes. But before her feelings could boil over A Pokblock wrapped in psychic energy floated right into her mouth. The sweet flavor hit instantly, making her eyes go wide. This familiar taste It was just like the ones Natsume used to give her! She instinctively chewed a few timesand then everything around her seemed to blur. Manaphy, glowing blue all over, appeared right in front of her. Maana! You ate my treatso no getting mad, okay? After leaving those words behind, Manaphy darted off in a hurry. Judging by the direction she went Was that toward the center of the farm? Wait a second ! Realizing the situation a beat too late, Bellossom dropped her little bucket and rushed off in a panic to find Slowking. Slowking had told her: if you ever see a Pokmon you dont recognize showing up on the farm, let me know. And for Bellossom, Manaphy was definitely a Pokmon she had never seen before. One or two minutes later Inside the second-floor nursery of the house, Natsume sat at a square table, arms crossed. To his left, Mew was sulking with a very annoyed look. To his right, Slowking looked completely spaced out, lost in who-knew-what thoughts. And directly across from Natsume sat Manaphy, perched upright in her seat, her face the picture of obedient innocence. Behind Natsume, Chanseywearing an apronwas happily humming a tune while preparing supplies to care for a Pokmon egg. That very egg, brought here by Manaphy, was now resting quietly on a soft cushion. So what youre saying is you want me to help you babysit? Maana. Manaphy nodded enthusiastically, eyes full of hope. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She might not have the strongest sense of maternal or paternal instinct, but she did take care of her newly born Phione for a few daysat least until they made it past their most fragile stage. Once they reached the noisy toddler phase, shed kick them out with zero hesitation. Youre not newborns anymoreits time to venture out! Go now, you Pokmon whove been alive for over ten days! Forge your own legend in the boundless sea! Manaphy had said those exact words to every single Phione shed kicked out. Shed done it so many times the speech had become automatic, to the point she wondered if she had unknowingly become some kind of tutorial NPC. It was a weird feeling. Manaphy still felt like a kid herself! And yet here she was, having to raise kids of her own. No matter how many times it happened, it always left her scrambling. Tch You Rubbing his forehead, Natsume suddenly didnt know what to say. He had no doubtif he agreed this time, every one of Manaphys future kids would end up here too. As for how a legendary sea-dwelling shut-in like Manaphy even had kidsthat wasnt something Natsume particularly cared to understand. You didnt need to know everything about legendaries. Maana? You really wont help? Manaphys eyes began to mist over as she watched Natsume hesitate, looking as though shed burst into tears at any moment. I didnt say I wouldnt Maana! Yay! Thank you, Natsume! Youre the best! Before he could even finish, Manaphy let out a gleeful cheer. Absolutely over the moon. Truly, a Water-type Pokmon through and through The control she had over her waterworks (tears) was nothing short of expert. At least Bellossom hadnt mastered that skill. Mew! Hold it right there! Suddenly, Mew slammed her paw on the table. Im a member of this household too! Dont I get a say? Clearly, she was very displeased. At the very least, ask for her opinion! Maana! Ten percent! Manaphy leaned in and whispered to Mew. Mew! Twenty! She raised her little paw, holding up four chubby pink fingers right in Manaphys face. Manaphy hesitated for a momentbut finally gave in. Between babysitting and losing a few snacks, shed rather just eat less for a few days. After all, the snacks were Natsumes. Not like it hurt to cut back a little. And besides, as a legendary Pokmon, Manaphy had her own ways of trading for snacks with Natsume. Unlike Mew, who was scatterbrained and could never save anything. Manaphy had tons of collectibles back in her ocean shrine. Shed even brought quite a few with her this time. Mew! No objections here! With the dirty deal struck, Mew turned to Natsume and made her declaration. You know how it isManaphys my good friend! Im sure well have great chemistry together! Maana. Having settled things with Mew, Manaphy turned to face Slowking, who still sat with hands folded, staring blankly at nothing. He was right therebut his thoughts seemed miles away. His gaze locked on the void. It looked as if it were contemplating some profound philosophical question. In reality, Slowking was simply trying to figure out how to survive safely if the world ever came to an end. Mana? Yadon. After a bit of hushed whispering, Manaphy and Slowking reached an agreement. Slowking expressed his warm welcome to Manaphy joining their big farm family. From now on, they were family. To be honest, Slowking had never had any real objections. If Manaphy wanted to come, then so be it. More playmates sounded fun anyway. But Manaphy, determined to strike first, had laid out its conditions upfront and made it clear it was open to negotiations. To satisfy Manaphys desire to indulge, Slowking naturally haggled a little in return. Manaphy gained a sense of security, and Slowking got something out of it, too. A win-win situation, really. At last, three Pokmon turned their gazes in perfect unison toward Natsume. No, waitfour. There was also Audino, hugging its little blanket. At that moment, something in Audinos genetic memory for caregiving might have been activated. It was growing increasingly fond of that Pokmon egg. Just look at that eggits patterns, its luster, all top-notch. I really want to take care of this child. Faced with all those eyes looking his way, Natsume let out a sigh. Alright, Ill leave this child in your care then, Audino. Adunee! Clenching its little fists, Audino signaled confidently: Leave it to me! Fighting might not be its thing, but when it came to caring for little ones, it was a pro. Trust me! Watching Audino seemingly fired up with motivation, Natsume could only cheer it on. Phi? Phione popped out from who knows where, and curiously poked at the egg with its tiny hand, as if it felt oddly familiar. Was it just an illusion? There was definitely something familiar about this egg. Had it seen it somewhere before? Phione fell into deep thought. While pondering, a familiar figure caught the edge of its vision. It turned its headand there was Manaphy, now in sight. Manaphy, who had just been discussing the evenings plans with Mew, froze completely. Heres a question: is there anything more awkward than being caught by your own kid while youre out partying? Because thats exactly how Manaphy felt right now. Manaphy usually kept to itselfnot only because of its personality, but also to avoid being spotted by those Phione. After all, it had booted them all out of the nest. Every time they crossed paths, it got painfully awkward. Especially when some of them werent doing too wellManaphy couldnt help but feel guilty. Its brain running at full speed, Manaphy quickly dug up a whole set of pre-prepared apology-and-comfort lines from memory. But then Phi~ Good afternoon~ Waving casually, Phione greeted Manaphy before turning right back to study the egg. Having lived on the farm since birth, Phione was perfectly content with its life here. There was Audino-neechan to take care of it, Chansey-neechan who was always stern but truly cared about them, and Boss Natsume, who constantly brought delicious snacks. Everything about this place, Phione loved. As for Manaphy? Whos that? Doesnt ring a bell. There just wasnt enough brain space to remember unnecessary people. Phew Watching the calm, indifferent expression on Phiones face, Manaphy quietly let out a sigh of relief. Greatdidnt get roped into anything. Looked like the kid was doing really well here. This only strengthened Manaphys resolve to send its own child to Natsume. That way, it wouldnt be burdened anymore. Phione could have a joyful childhood, and it could live freely, wander the world Everyone gets their happy ending! Before long, the news of Manaphy moving into the farm almost hit the trending charts (scratch that). In any case, Manaphy was now officially part of the farm. Though truth be told, neither Natsume nor Manaphy took it that seriously. To Natsume, Manaphy was just a visiting friend. Who cared about formalities? And to put it a bit harshly The human lifespan is just too short in the eyes of a legendary Pokmon. Take Xerneas, for example. It might just be dozing off, and by the time it wakes, three generations of humans have come and gone. All those people it once called friends or companions? Reduced to nothing but dust, long vanished from the world. Only a stone marker with a name carved on it would remain, proof they ever existed. Even the Aura Guardians and psychic elitesat best, they live a little longer. But in the end, they too fade from the world entirely. So Manaphy joining the farmit was just a small game, really. Just like those legendary Pokmon who make contracts with humans. Decades or centuries pass, the human dies, the legendary leaves. And everything returns to how it began. That tale of humans and legendaries fighting side-by-side becomes nothing more than another hazy legend. Watching Manaphy frolicking with Mew, Natsume couldnt help but space out a little. Someday, hed die too. Death was something all humans had to face. Natsume was no exception. And frankly, he didnt want to face itdeath or even aging. The thought of himself growing old and decrepit it was just too depressing. If Mew and the others saw that side of him, they might be really disheartened. Yadon? "Its nothing, just happened to think of something," Natsume returned to his senses, smiled, and waved off Slowkings worried gaze. Oh right, lets do one final check tonight. Our first challenger will be arriving at the gym the day after tomorrow. Forcing a change of subject, Natsume turned to Slowking. Slowking stared at him for a few secondsas if confirming somethingthen responded in that same leisurely, unhurried tone as always. Yadon~ Already checked it over~ By the way, do you know who the first challenger is? Times had changed. Gym challenges werent walk-ins anymore. After all, even with many gyms around, there were still far more trainers wanting to challenge them. If it were all walk-ins, some of the more introverted kids might never get a chance their entire lives. Thered always be some entitled jerk cutting in line wherever they went. And those kinds loved to pick on the quiet ones. So, for the sake of order and fairness, the League now promoted an online appointment system for gym battles. Natsume had even downloaded the internal app made just for gym leaders. It had a ton of features From communication platforms to trading hubs for gym leaders. Naturally, it also showed which trainers had booked their challenges. I do know, actually. More than that, I know them very well. Seeing the smile on Natsumes face, Slowking nodded in understanding. Chapter 161: The First Battle of the Gym Very soon, the gym welcomed its grand opening battle. Over the past few days, in preparation for the match, Mew had been dragging Slowking into non-stop crash training sessions. Dont ask why Slowking, of all Pokmonif Natsume can use him as an external brain, why cant Mew? And then, to its surprise, Mew discovered Slowking is incredibly useful! Sure, most of the things Slowking could come up with, Mew could usually figure out as well. And a lot of the things Slowking couldnt do, Mew could handle just fine on its own. Ah, the joy of solving problems without having to think for yourselfwhat a blissful feeling! It felt absolutely amazing! Mew could already see itself getting a little too attached to this "external brain" in the future. Though Slowking probably wouldnt be too thrilled about that. Why is there another brainless one now? Life was really getting harder by the day. Slowking could proudly say that every single Pokblock it had eaten since arriving at the farm had been well earned. Trying to hustle for some food was seriously tough. Sitting quietly on the big rock at the entrance of the farm, Slowking basked in the warm sunlight. Ah these brief moments were the only times it could truly relax. Silently removing the Shellder from its head, Slowking calmly enjoyed this rare moment of peace. --- Meanwhile, the grand opening of the gym was finally underway. No dull speeches, no tedious segments. Just like that, Natsumes gym quietly and officially opened its doors to challengers. Not a bad turnout. Peeking out from backstage at the crowd in the stands, Natsume was surprised to see quite a few spectators gathered. Perhaps some were simply here for the spectacleor maybe to gather intel. Typically, gyms were allowed to have spectator areas. But whether to open them was up to the gym leader. If open, people might show up daily just to gawk. After all, in this world, one thing in abundance was People with way too much time on their hands. So it wasnt strange at all to have an audience for the occasional gym battle. And when it came to a new gyms very first battle, it was almost guaranteed to draw a crowdespecially the locals. After all, for most trainers, the first gym they challenged was usually the one closest to home. Watch enough matches, and you naturally got a sense of the usual strategies or the gym leaders combat style and preferences. In the blink of an eye, the gyms already completely built At the back corner of the stands, Fu Gakuji looked out over the scene, overwhelmed with emotion. Something inside him stirredan unexplainable sense of excitement. Even though the gym belonged to Natsume, and he had merely helped with a few odds and ends and cut through some red tape, this moment still stirred something in him. From the moment he met Natsume, Fu Gakuji had been certainthis guy was never going to be just a farm owner. And now, he was even more convinced. Natsumes journey was far from over. He was still young. He wouldnt stop here. There was something legendary about watching his rise. Fu Gakuji felt like one of those background characters in a heros partylike a bard or something. Usually not very useful, sometimes even better off not being there at all. But being able to witness the hero grow, overcome obstacles, and charge forwardthat was a rare and precious experience. And when the adventure was over, he could still go brag in some tavern about how he used to adventure with the hero back in the day. Might even land a decent job with that experience. Hey, gotta make a living somehow. Lost in his thoughts for a while, Gakuji finally turned his attention back to the battlefield. By then, the League-appointed referee had already taken his place and begun the pre-battle explanation. This match will be a 3-on-3 battle. During the battle, the challenger is allowed to switch Pokmon. The match ends when all Pokmon on one side are unable to battle. After a brief pause, the referee gave a short introduction of the two participants. Nothing particularly noteworthy, but it was only now that Fu Gakuji noticedunder that spotlight, the girl looked oddly familiar. Where had he seen her before? Both sides, please get ready. The battle begins. The gym leader will send out their Pokmon first. This was done to give the challenger a better chance to show their skillsand to offer a bit of an advantage. Most gyms had the gym leader go first. Some had both send out at the same time. But almost none let the challenger go first. Only those poorly-run gyms with underwhelming successors resorted to that to hang on a little longer. Go, Swampert! Under the blazing lights, Natsume tossed out a Pok Ball, meeting the gazes of everyone watching. A flash of white burst midair, and a massive figure landed in the arena. Swampert paused for a moment, then slowly began stretching out its body. It straightened up inch by inch from the waist up, ending with its head. The motion wasnt fast, but it radiated a powerful sense of intimidation. Its broad palms gently patted its own neck, like it had just awoken from a deep slumber. Your turn, Mei. Withdrawing his hand, Natsume smiled softly at his opponent across the field. The gyms opening match would be Natsume versus Mei. Ive been looking forward to this day for so long. Dressed in her favorite battle outfit, Mei was brimming with fighting spirit. Her adorable, round face was full of passion for battle and a burning desire to win. In this moment, she wasnt anything elsejust the trainer Mei, standing proudly here. To test how much she had grownand to win. She was going to fight with everything she had, and take this gym badge home! Lets go, Tsareena! Say hello to your old friend! Hmph. Tsareena landed gracefully, raising her chin with a soft snort. As a Bounsweet, she had been a cute little girl. But after evolving into Tsareena, shed become a proud queen. Her name alone was enough to show it. Facing the Swampert, whose sheer presence loomed like a small mountain, Tsareenas eyes showed a rare flicker of unease. Back then, they had come to the farm together. She vaguely remembered that this guy used to be a dumb little fish who followed behind Slowpoke whining and whimpering. Who wouldve thoughtblink once and look at him now. Good thing Swampert couldnt read minds. Otherwise, hed probably snap back with a few jabs of his own. And who was the baby Bounsweet crying on the ground because she didnt get enough to eat? Didnt I take pity and give you a berry just so youd stop bawling? You really have the nerve to judge me now? Maybe thats why childhood friends rarely ended up together. They just knew way too many embarrassing stories about each other. Hard to imagine the other being coolor beautifulafter all that. Tsareena, dont go for a head-on clash. Poke at him and wait for an opening. When you land a hit, dont get greedy. Use your moves and abilities to find the right timing and position to strike. Mei rattled off her instructions in rapid-fire succession. Swampert was a Water/Ground-typea combo that made it highly resistant to most attacks, with only one glaring weakness: a quadruple weakness to Grass. And Tsareena was pure Grass-type. So she had a bit of a type advantage. But their base stats? A whole different story. The moment Swampert landed, Meis heart sank. Just looking at it, you could feel the raw power radiating from Natsumes Swampert. She hadnt known in advance which Pokmon Natsume would use. So all she could do now was adjust her strategy on the fly. Once the battle started, there was no way shed be able to keep up with both sides'' lightning-fast actions. She could only offer key commands at critical momentsserve as an anchor of sorts. After all, no human could react faster than a Pokmon move. In fact, Mei had hesitated slightly when choosing her lead Pokmon. Should she have gone with Serperior? That question nagged at her. Tsareenas specialty was elegant, powerful kicks. But her options were mostly either low sweeps from Fighting-type moves, or Triple Axel from the Ice-type pool. Neither would be super effective. If she had picked Serperior maybe she couldve taken Swampert down. But from here on out, the battle was looking bleak. If she sent in Tsareena, the best-case scenario would still be her forcing a win against Swampert at a steep cost in stamina. And that was assuming everything went smoothly, with no mistakes. Even so, Mei ultimately chose to send in Tsareena. It was both an act of trust and a calculated decisionif Tsareena lost, she could at least wear down Swampert enough for Serperior to clean up afterward. A Swampert at full strength wouldn''t let Serperior set up with Leaf Storm that easily. But if its stamina was low... there was still hope. Mei kept her cool as she weighed her options. Sorry, Tsareena. Once this is over, Ill treat you to something delicious. With a silent apology in her heart, Mei began thinking about how to maximize Tsareenas impact in this battle. On the other side, Natsume simply exchanged a few brief words with Swampert. Just fight like we practiced. No need to rush the win. Play it safe, play it steady. Stat-wise, youve got the upper hand. He didnt actually have detailed data on handbut hey, no harm in saying it confidently. At the very least, Swampert absolutely dominated in strength, defense, and stamina. The only stat where it might lag behind was speed. But once Natsume got his hands on Swamperts Mega Stone, even that one shortcoming would be a thing of the past. Swampert listened quietly to Natsumes instructions, nodding wordlessly. When Natsume finished, it let out a low growl to show it understood. Since evolving, Swamperts temperament had become noticeably more composed. In fact, even back when it had evolved from Mudkip to Marshtomp, it had already started to mellow out. Compared to the way it used to bounce around wildly as a baby, it now resembled one of those calm, dependable senpai from a novel. The kind who rarely smiles, but always steps up when it counts. The battle begins! The referee waved a small flag as he declared the start of the match. The moment the battle began, Tsareenas eyes widened sharply. An invisible aura of pressure burst forth from her petite frame. Her AbilityQueenly Majesty. It prevented opponents from using priority moves. When used well, it could interrupt the opponents rhythm in fast-paced battles. But if overused, the opponent might adapt to it. So timing and pacing were crucial. Swampert, however, remained completely unfazed by the aura. It was like a gentle breeze brushing across a hilltop utterly inconsequential. Tsareena sprang lightly into the air, slicing her elegant leaf-blades as she launched a Leaf Blade attack. Sharp green leaves, gleaming like blades, shot toward Swampert. Mixed in among them were a few glowing, oversized seeds, hurtling forwardSeed Bombs. Ever since training Serperior, Mei had grown fond of layering one move within another during battle. It didnt always work, but when it did, it could really throw the opponent off mentally. Yet despite the onslaught, Swampert showed no fear. It calmly raised one thick arm, gently blocking the incoming barrage. The razor-sharp leaves, despite their speed, simply bounced off its tough skin, leaving behind nothing but faint white marks. The embedded Seed Bombs detonated violently on contact. Dark gray smoke and dust erupted, engulfing Swamperts upper body. Tsareena landed and broke into a run. From her mouth, seed-shaped energy bullets fired out like a machine gun, rapidly pelting Swamperts position. One by one, the seeds pierced through the lingering smoke, detonating again and again on impact. The opening combo unleashed a relentless barrage, shifting the crowds impression of the sweet-looking girl on the field. They had assumed she was the soft and cutesy type. But her combat style? Ruthlessly aggressive. It wasnt prejudiceit was just that many female Trainers tended to prefer a more strategic, gradual approach. Building up advantages step-by-step to claim victory. Charging in with this kind of all-out assault right from the start? That was far more common among male Trainers. If it didnt work this time, theyd just try again next roundand again after that. The important thing was to keep fighting. Hoo As if bored of the ineffective attacks, Swampert gave a grunt and swung its arm forcefully. The billowing smoke was blown away in an instant by the gust. Taking a deep breath, Swamperts muscles tightened all at once. Then with a thunderous stomp, its whole body shot forward like a cannonball aimed directly at Tsareena. As it launched, the ground beneath it began to tremble. Earthquake. A massive shockwave rippled outward with each step Swampert took, shaking the entire battlefield. Tsareena tried her best to keep her footing, but the overwhelming force left her struggling. Her blinding speed, once difficult to track with the naked eye, was now noticeably slowed. That gave Swampert a clear lock on its target. With the momentum of a charging football linebacker, Swampert surged forward, a juggernaut of force headed straight for Tsareena. The next second a colossal blast of dust and debris filled the air. It swallowed the entire battlefield. Spectators craned their necks, trying to peer through the cloud, as if they could somehow see what was happening inside. Then, out from the smoke a small figure burst forth. Sliding across the ground and carving deep marks with her feet, Tsareena finally skidded to a halt. Clutching her arm, scraped and bruised, she wore a look of lingering fear on her face. That was close. Way too close. If that charge had landed clean Tsareena didnt doubt for a second she would''ve been sent flying straight into the stands. Forget finishing the battle she might not have even stayed conscious. First the Earthquake, then the full-force tackle that followed. If she hadnt delayed it slightly with a last-minute move, shed have taken the full brunt. As the dust slowly cleared, Swampert yanked its embedded arm free from the ground. When its charge had narrowly missed, it had followed up with a Hammer Arm. A brutal move where the user slams the target with a heavy limb or pincerthe higher the opponent''s remaining HP, the stronger the damage. So even though it hadnt hit clean, the glancing blow had still done significant harm. According to Natsumes strategy, Hammer Arm was designed to be Swamperts opening move. It was most effective when the opponent still had plenty of health. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, Tsareenas arm was burning with pain. Gritting her teeth, she widened the distance between them while continuing to chip away at Swamperts stamina with ranged attacks. But Swampert remained calm throughout the barrage. It raised its arms to shield its face, guarding its vulnerable spots. At the same time, it used Growl and Earthquake intermittently to disrupt Tsareenas tempo. Then, whenever it found an opening in her assault, it would counterattack. After several exchanges, both sides were clearly wearing down. But Tsareenas stamina was depleting faster. She had to keep moving at high speed to dodge attacks, all while staying mentally locked inher nerves stretched thin. Finally, after one of her evasive moves was interrupted by Earthquake, a flash of light flickered in Swamperts eyes. It gave her no time to recover. With practiced precision, it shifted its stance, opened its jaws, and unleashed a massive torrent of water Its signature move from training: Hydro Cannon. The overwhelming force of the blast slammed into Tsareena, engulfing her entirely. Struggling against the rushing current, Tsareena barely managed to lift her head above the water. Only to see a massive shadow looming over her. As she forced her eyes open, she saw Swampert standing directly before her, arm raised high. There was a flicker of crimson in its eyes. The next moment BOOM Chapter 162: Mei: “Hold the Line, Fight for Second, Last All Rounds and It’s a Win!” The raised hammer-like arm came crashing down with a thunderous impact. The sheer force of the blow sent shards of stone scattering, flung into the air alongside a cloud of dust before rapidly falling back to the ground. Retracting its arm, Swampert exhaled slowly. The scalding air from its lungs was expelled as a visible white mist, trailing from its mouth like vapor. What the ancients once described as a breath sharp as an arrowthis must be what they meant. If Swampert had existed in the martial world of old, it would surely have been a famed and formidable warrior, the kind whose name alone would send tremors through rivers and lakes. Of course, there was also the possibility of being seen as a monster that needed to be taken down. Lowering its head, Swampert raised its broad, heavy hand and gave it a powerful swing. Even such a simple gesture was enough to stir up a violent gust of wind. The swirling dust in the air was blown away, revealing Tsareena lying unconscious on the ground, her expression still faintly tinged with unwillingness. After checking on Tsareena''s condition, the referee at the edge of the field waved a small triangular flag and declared: "Tsareena is unable to battle!" The role of a referee often seemed limited to stating the obvious. But in certain situations, they played a crucial role in ensuring safety. For example, when one side had already lost the ability to battle but the other insisted on continuing their attack, the referees call served as a line of protection. When I say it''s down, you cant keep attacking. If the offense was serious enough, the referee had the authority to declare an automatic loss for that side. Though, to be fair, such cases were rare. Sure, there were those arrogant, thoughtless typesbut most people would go their entire lives without ever actually encountering one. Especially in Pokmon battles. It was said that there was once a ruthless trainer who claimed that Pokmon battles were nothing but survival of the fittestand that the strong were supposed to humiliate the weak. And then he got publicly thrashed for several days straight by a whole lineup of trainers stronger than him, each of whom took his words to heart and gave him a real taste of the strong crushing the weak. In the end, the trainer, whose spirit was utterly broken, disappeared from the public eye. Say what you will about other placesbut in the Jadeleaf League, there''s never a shortage of warm-hearted volunteers for that kind of justice. If youre yearning for a good beating, youll get one far beyond your wildest expectations. You did great, Tsareena. Recalling the unconscious Tsareena into her Pok Ball, Mei spoke softly. She looked at Swampert, who was still in decent condition, and took a deep breath. Although Natsume always said he didnt have a knack for being a trainerhis memory wasn''t good, and he couldnt keep up with all the complex tactics and skill combinations but from Meis perspective, Natsumes talent as a trainer was already off the charts. There wasnt a single Pokmon raised by him that could be considered ordinary. Honestly, Mei couldnt understand how Natsume did it. Take the Swampert in front of her, for instance. The first time she saw it, she was sure it was just an unremarkable little Mudkip. Mild temperament, energetic, maybe a bit mischievous. And that was it. Those were standard traits for any average Mudkip. No special talent, no miraculous stroke of luck. And yet, this utterly ordinary Mudkip somehow grew into a powerhouse under Natsumes care. Trick moves meant to harass did little more than serve as distractions. Moves like Trop Kick and Petal Blizzard were decent if they landed cleanly, but never achieved the kind of impact Mei had hoped for. Solar Blade and Solar Beam worked better, but the charge-up time was too longthey only managed to land one during the entire match. The one move that did real damage was Leaf Storm, which Tsareena used without defending, sacrificing her guard for a final strike. But after taking a direct hit right after, Tsareena was completely done. It was a textbook case of: I can make multiple mistakes, but you only get to mess up once. Damn it, what is this, some hardcore soulslike game? Mei groaned internally. No matter the path a Pokmon took under Natsumes training, no matter their preferred battle style they all had one thing in common: not a single one of them was a glass cannon that would fall after a single hit. Every one of them was like a tanky, high-resistance super-soldier. Every time Mei battled Natsumes Pokmon, she felt like she was up against a raid boss in a game. Lets go! Serperior! After taking a moment to adjust her breathing and steady her nerves, Mei threw out her second Pokmon. Her ace. Her most trusted partnerSerperior. Meis thinking was simple. Even if this was just a Gym battle, she didnt really expect to beat Natsume. Who knew how many absurdly overpowered Pokmon were still waiting on that ridiculous farm of his? Her goal was to win at least one match. Maybe two if she could push it. Ideally, take it to a full three rounds. As long as she didnt get swept 3-0, shed consider it a win. Unlike previous matcheswhere Natsume would usually rotate Pokmon after one round for various reasonsthis time, if he decided to go all out, forget just sweeping a team Mei suspected he could sweep the entire school. Even a rotation battle wouldnt help much. Hsssss. Serperior entered the field with a proud lift of its head, its long body covered in deep green scales etched with leaf-like veins. As it slithered, the friction between its sleek body and the ground produced a soft, menacing rustle. Swampert closed its eyes slightly, steadying its breath. That last fight had drained a fair bit of staminabattling these nimble types was truly exhausting. Swampert had never been good at handling opponents like that. Sure, as a Water-type, it had plenty of area-of-effect attacks. And it could limit Tsareenas movement well enough in battlebut being bad at something is still being bad at it. Every time it faced an enemy like that, it felt thoroughly annoyed. Tsareena, for her part, had clearly understood her role: she didnt aim for a knockout blowshe just focused on relentless attrition. Like a flea, constantly buzzing around and harassing Swampert, chipping away at its composure. So now, as Swampert calmed its breathing, it was also calming its heart. Clearly, its training still had a long way to go. Opening its eyes, Swamperts gaze was clear. It remembered this Serperior. Last time, it had battled Corviknight fiercelydefinitely a worthy opponent. Even if Serperior hadnt improved at all since then, Swampert knew that defeating it in its current condition would be hard enough. Let alone after being worn down already. Yeah this one was going to be tough. But that was finethere was no need to overthink it. It just had to focus on the battle. Spreading its arms to the sides, it lowered its stance slightly. Its swaying body looked like a fighter poised inside an octagonal cage, ready to explode with devastating power at any moment. Its eyes locked onto Serperior, tracking every tiny movement. To Swampert, charging in recklessly at the start of a match was nothing but foolish. That would only expose your intentions and leave you wide open. The goal wasnt to rush the offenseit was to advance steadily. To wait for the enemy to slip up, then strike decisively. For now, the battle entered an eerie state of equilibrium. Perhaps due to its serpentine instincts, Serperior didnt attack right away either. Instead, it observed, biding its time. And Swampert, on the surface, didnt seem too concerned about its opponent. It seemed both sides were waiting for the right moment. This strange balance lasted until Boom As if on cue. Both Serperior and Swampert moved simultaneously. Serperior twisted its body, flicking its tail like a scheming tactician flourishing a folding fan. A second later, a vivid green storm erupted. It surged forward like a tidal wave, bearing down on Swampert with overwhelming force. Like a raging sea determined to consume all life in its path. At the very same instant Serperiors tail twitched, Swampert launched into motion. Its body wrapped in churning water, it charged straight at Serperior. Hydro Vortexa move that traps the opponent in a whirlpool and deals ongoing damage. Not just a solid attackit was also a highly effective control skill. But Swampert had altered it slightlyusing it on itself. Encased in swirling water, it shielded its entire body. Serperiors signature Leaf Storm, for all its power, couldnt penetrate the swirling barrier. Braving the fierce wind, Swampert stepped closer, one foot at a time, until it stood right before Serperior. It raised a mighty arm, ready to repeat what it had done beforeslam this Grass Snake with everything it had. This was just the appetizer! But Serperior had no interest in accepting Swamperts fiery invitation. With a subtle twitch of its tail, the raging green storm vanished in an instant. Swampert, still pressing forward against what it thought was wind resistance, stumbled forward a few stepsits balance completely thrown. Just then, a tail charged with Dark-type energy flashed into its vision. Smack! A crisp snap rang out. Serperiors tail landed cleanly against Swamperts flank. That already-precarious balanceteetering on the edgewas gently nudged by Serperiors strike, and crumbled completely. The Swampert, having missed its mark while lunging at Serperior, was dragged forward by its own force, taking another unsteady step. Bzzz! A familiar buzzing sound rang out behind it. The very next second, a green tempest surged forth from behind. A whirlwind laced with bladed leaves engulfed Swampert, lifting it off the ground and flinging it through the air. Its thick skin was carved with countless shallow cuts. This was the kind of result Tsareena had managed only after a great deal of effort Yet Serperior achieved it instantly upon entering the field. Of course, a large part of that was thanks to Tsareena already exhausting much of Swamperts stamina beforehand. With a flick of her tail, Serperior raised her head proudly. Grr Swampert hit the ground and propped itself up with a grunt. But then, a sharp pain suddenly flared across its body. Looking down, it noticed thorny vines coiled tightly around itsomehow, without it realizing, they''d already latched on. Right at its lower back, a sprouting seed was quietly embedded in its flesh. Leech Seed. It must have been hidden in that earlier Leaf Storm Huh? Suddenly, Swamperts eyes glazed over. As if its mind blanked out, forgetting something entirely. A brief shimmer of light rippled across its body. Amnesia. Empty the mind. Forget the paintemporarily boost special defense to the extreme. When Swampert returned to its senses, it seemed to have forgotten the sting in its flesh. With a casual swipe, it ripped the thorns off its body. Its fierce aura reignited, and it charged once more at Serperior. Even after using Amnesia, it couldnt afford to drag this out. If this kept up, it wouldnt stand a chance at all. And then Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bzzz! Another Leaf Storm. Swamperts previously thunderous charge slowed drastically under the lashing winds. Maybe someday, it could charge headlong through a Leaf Storm and deck Serperior with a crushing punch. But not today. It hadnt been long since its evolution, and being able to handle its new power this well was already impressive. In the end, Swampert collapsed beneath the flurry of leaves. Even as the battle ended, it had only barely managed to stagger up to Serperior and land two solid Ice Punches. A respectable effort, at least. Serperior, despite the sting crawling over her body, kept her expression composed. Please. She could take on that dumb bird head-on and win. And this Swampert? Newly evolved, barely familiar with its moveset, already worn downthis one wanted to take her out? Try again after a few more rounds of training. To Serperior, Swampert was just a larger-than-average moving target. Nowhere near as dangerous as Corviknight. Still. The pain in her body wasnt exactly negligible. Wait a minute, she thought. Didnt this guy seem way weaker the last time we fought? That growth rates a bit scary, no? You''re sure this guy isnt on performance enhancers? And that dumb bird too In the time they hadnt seen each other, Serperior had already braced herself for how much stronger Corviknight would become. Tch. Just the thought annoyed her. She narrowed her eyes, gaze shifting toward Natsume across the field. To be honest, she was nervous. Sure, Leaf Storm had already stacked up its boosts. Sure, Mei had said Natsume usually didnt send out his main team during Gym Challenges. Sure, hed probably go a little easy on her, for Meis sake. But Serperior couldnt relax even a bit. Getting beat down without being able to fight back, or putting up a fight and still getting beat down Was there really that much of a difference? Probably not. Either way, she was getting smacked around. Whether she resisted or not didnt really matter. Return, Swampert. Natsume called Swampert back and turned his gaze toward Mei. If it werent for the ongoing battle, he honestly wouldve liked to chat with her a bit. But seeing the fire in Meis eyes, he figured that could wait. After all, Mei was probably going to stay at the farm for a while after this Gym Challenge. Plenty of time to catch up later. He tapped a Pok Ball at his belt, paused in thought, then made his choice. Lets go, Ceruledge. A flash of white light And the flame swordsman stepped into the field, clad in purple, grief-tainted armor. He stood still, and in that moment, the air around him seemed to freeze. All sound vanished. The ghostly fire behind his head flickered silently. Just like Ceruledge himselfcalm, but burning with intensity. He lifted his head slightly, fixing his gaze on the opponent ahead. So thats my opponent today? Looks pretty strong. Ceruledge vaguely recalled someone mentioning that Corviknight had a rival? Or was it more of a fangirl? Is it this one? Eh. Doesnt matter. He didnt know Corviknight all that well. His sisterthe one constantly running around trying to make friends with everyonegot along fine with Corviknight. But Ceruledge? He wasnt into that. Didnt have the energy. Didnt care for it. He was perfectly content doing his own thing quietly, or zoning out somewhere. That was good enough for him. Maybe it was the evolution itemthis old armor infused with resentment occasionally made him hear things. He didnt know if they were the whispers of the dead or just his imagination. But he had a strong sensitivity to malice and lingering emotions. Not that it was a bad thingit didnt bother him much. It just made him prefer solitude even more. At least he had space to do what he wanted. And right now, what he wanted Was to defeat the enemy standing before him. Whoever they may be. Flames danced along his bladesthen, in an instant, purple fire surged up and wrapped around both swords. No hesitation. No words. The moment the battle began, Ceruledge shot forward like a blazing comet. Embers scattered in his wake. Serperior blinkedjust onceand the unfamiliar Pokmon was already right in front of her. ! Instinctively, Serperior unleashed a Leaf Storm. In her hands, that move had long surpassed being just a basic attack. She could manipulate the force and shape of the storm, crafting different effects. Right now, she sacrificed damage for speed and raw wind force. No need to take the opponent downjust slow them enough to gain distance. But the moment the storm began to swirl Ceruledge vanished from her vision. A flash of pain erupted in her abdomen. Gritting through it, Serperior expanded the radius of her Leaf Storm Centering it on herself and blasting it outward in every direction. The idea had just come to her during the fight with Swampert. It was rough and rushedbarely a prototypebut for now, it would have to do. Shrrkk! Ceruledge was blown back, his twin blades dragging lines in the dirt as he skidded to a halt. Serperior! Meis anxious voice finally reached her. Serperior hadnt clearly seen what happened, but Mei had a full view from the sidelines: The moment Serperior raised her tail, Ceruledge had suddenly dropped low, skimming just above the ground in a near-glide And without hesitation, struck her squarely with two flaming blades wrapped in ghostly fire. Serperior had reacted fast, but Meis worry didnt lessen one bit. She could clearly see the spot where Ceruledge had slashedviolet flames quietly burned there, steadily inflicting damage on Serperior. Will-o-Wisp? This is bad. Why do Natsumes Pokmon always know so many of these annoying moves? And its not just that they know themtheyre ridiculously good at using them in battle. But Natsume doesnt even seem like the kind of trainer who enjoys tormenting his opponents... On that point, Mei had truly misunderstood Natsume. He actually does enjoy messing with his opponents (strikethrough). Ceruledge didnt even learn these moves from him. If you want answers, go ask Mew and Slowking. Ask them how exactly they raised this Ceruledge. And to be fair, Ceruledge is naturally the type to use any means necessary to win. As long as victory is assured, any method is fair game. Ambushes? Deception? No problem at all. Put simply, if the conditions allow it, Ceruledge would probably run over its opponent with a truck the day before the battle even started. A necessary sacrifice. Things like the dignity of the strong or respect for ones opponent? Doesnt exist. Now that it had regained its footing, Ceruledge didnt give Serperior a single chance to respond. Without hesitation, it launched another offensive. Each blade strike, wreathed in violet flames, left a deep, visible wound on Serperiors body. With a combo of Phantom Force to close the distance and Night Slash to strike weak points, it delivered devastating bursts of damage. And every time Serperior tried to retaliate, Shadow Sneak struck from behind before it could act. Shadow Sneakextend ones shadow and ambush from behind. Guaranteed to strike first. Under this relentless assault, Serperior was clearly in agony. Then, suddenly, Mei felt a sense of dj vu. Just minutes ago, Tsareena had fought against Swampert in a similar fashion. Except Tsareena had barely been able to scratch Swampert. Even when she landed a hit, it was like tickling him. But Ceruledges attacks on Serperior? Every blow was a critical hit. Same setup, completely different result. Serperior, dont panic! Watch their attack patterns carefully! In this situation, Meis first instinct was to get Serperior movinganything to avoid staying in place. That might just open a gap in Ceruledges offense. But considering how hard it already was for Serperior to dodge, moving now would only make it a more obvious target. Better to stick to the current strategy. Besides, Mei trusted that after all this fighting, Serperior had picked up on Ceruledges attack rhythm by now. Sure enough, as Ceruledge dashed in again, Serperior successfully predicted the approach. Hngh! With a roar of rage, it unleashed its strongest Leaf Storm, blasting toward Ceruledge. Ceruledge, who had just poised its twin blades to strike, was forced to cross them in front of its body to block the searing attack. Hiss Landing with a skid, Ceruledge tilted its head at Serperior, as though pondering something. It vaguely remembered that when Big Sis Mew explained move strategies, she had mentioned something about a particular move... She even used a contrary Serperior as an example. Was this that Contrary Serperior? Ceruledge wasnt sure. After all, it was just an ordinary Pokmon. But what it did know, was the list of moves it had at its disposal. Eerie Spella strange clump of mud appeared, and under Ceruledges command, it hurled it straight at Serperior with blinding speed. Serperior didnt know what it was, but every instinct screamed not to take that head-on. When facing the unknown, evasion is always the best strategy. However, the moment Serperior began to move, the violet fire still flickering on its body suddenly surged to life. What had been just scattered sparks became a visible wave of flame. It only lasted a second, but the burning pain disrupted Serperiors movements. And then, that weird mud ball slammed right into its head. A burst of white light engulfed Serperior And just like that, it looked like nothing had happened. But Serperior knew deep downit was over. Clear Smoga strange clump of mud flung at the opponent to reset all stat changes. Dont ask why Clear Smog is mud. Thats what the Pokdex says. Thats how Big Sis Mew taught it, too! Serperior! Mei cried out in concern, but for a moment, she couldnt figure out what command to give next. Victory or defeat in a trainer battle often came down to intel and strategy. Facing an unknown opponent with zero information almost always led to disaster. And this wasnt just about Ceruledges moves or tacticsit was about not even knowing what Ceruledge was. Mei had heard of this Pokmon before, but shed never actually seen one. It wasnt in any of the school textbooks either. So right now, Mei could only fall back on the most basic fire- and ghost-type strategies to provide support from the sidelines. And even that was purely theoretical. Shed had to guess at those typings. Judging by appearances, Ceruledge was almost certainly a Fire-type. As for Ghostits eerie presence and masterful use of powerful ghost-type moves in battle made that seem just as likely. Still, Mei didnt dare jump to conclusions. Judging a Pokmons type by looks alone could easily blow up in your face. Everyone knew the classics: Charizard and Gyarados werent Dragon-types despite appearances. Sudowoodo? Definitely looked like a Grass-type. But it was actually Rock. ...Its stamina definitely isnt its strong suit. Time your Giga Drain carefully. That was the best Mei could come up with for now. Serperior had already tried using Leech Seed to set up a long-term drain. Then Ceruledges entire body erupted in flame, completely engulfing itself. When the fire faded, the seeds were gonenothing left but ash scattered in the air. It was time to end this. Lowering its gaze slightly, Ceruledge felt a wave of boredom. This Serperior was strong, no doubt about thatbut totally flustered when facing Ceruledge. Probably because it had no intel. Still, Ceruledge could tell Serperior had undergone extensive training. But the training seemed targeteddesigned to counter someone in particular. There were a lot of unnecessary movements and overly cautious reactions during the battle. Occasionally, it pulled off flashy-looking moves, but they had little actual effect against Ceruledge. Could this be one of those showcase trainers Big Sis Mew talked about? The type that focused on dramatic performances and special effects? Ceruledge didnt get it. But what it did know was that this battle needed to end. The flames coiled around its body suddenly began to gather, drawn to the tip of its blade. The flickering fire seemed to carry a wistful longing for all things beautiful in the world. A vortex of flame formed, and thenvanished in an instant. Only a single ember remained, burning quietly at the swords tip. Ceruledge raised its blade slowly, leveling it at Serperior. There was no unbearable heat, no chilling gleam of steel. And yet at that moment, Serperior felt every cell in its body scream in alarm. They wanted to flee. Suppressing its fear, Serperior once again unleashed its most familiar, most reliable move Leaf Storm. To be honest, Serperior was sick of using this move. Every time it did, it felt like, Ugh, this again. One or two more uses and I win. How boring. Thats how it used to be. But today, whatever pride or confidence it had was shattered. It watched helplessly as Ceruledge took its stance Like a knight charging into battle. Energy surged across the sword, flickering with razor-sharp gleam, while the once-small flames exploded into a roaring blaze. In an instant, they became a wildfire capable of consuming all. Guided by its blade, the flames traced a scorching arc through the air. With that momentum, Ceruledge dove straight into the heart of the Leaf Storm. The emerald-green vortex filled Serperiors entire field of vision. And thenwithin the storma streak of violet appeared. It flared, expanded. Like a newspaper catching fire on the street. Like a slab of soft butter melting under a torch. Her own Leaf Storm was sliced apartjust like that. That was the final image Serperior saw before losing consciousness. Ceruledge, wreathed in violet flames, raised its longsword and drove it toward her. There wasnt a shred of emotion in those cold eyes. No joy in victory, no satisfaction in defeating an opponent. As if it were merely carrying out a routine taskmundane, unworthy of even the faintest emotional ripple. Not even worth mentioning. "Return, Serperior." With a wry smile on her face, Mei recalled her fallen Pokmon. Serperior had truly given it her all in this battle. But it couldnt be helpedMei simply knew too little about Ceruledge. So little, in fact, that she barely knew its name. And that was her failure as a Trainer. "You did great." She murmured softly, then looked up at Ceruledge, who had already returned to stand silently by Natsumes side. If Armarouge was the sunlit knight guarding the king from the frontlines, Then Ceruledge was the shadowy assassin lurking behind the kings back. A cold blade hidden in darkness. Well, if its swordplay were dealing withthen youre up! Samurott! A quadrupedal Pokmon appeared, a towering horn jutting from its head. Its imposing presence alone made one believe it could carry its Trainer to victory. And yet, this battle would end far quicker than anyone expected. Chapter 163: Mei, Little Cakes, and Natsume (8,000 words) The moment Hisuian Samurott entered the battlefield, its eyes locked onto Ceruledge with a gleam of excitement. Perhaps it was the intuition of a swordsmanHisuian Samurott was utterly convinced that the opponent before it was a master of the blade. A worthy rival. Rrr Letting out an eager challenge, Hisuian Samurotts gaze burned as it stared down Ceruledge. Yet Ceruledge merely gave it a passing glance, saying nothing. The aura that had been slightly disturbed from its earlier clash with Serperior had already calmed again. Idiot. Even though Ceruledge didnt speak, the disdain in its eyes was more than clear. Who told you I was some kind of swordsman? Just because I carry swords, that makes me a swordmaster? Why cant I be an assassin? Ceruledge never considered itself a swordsman. It didnt have that kind of skill, honestly. It was just an ordinary Pokmon. No lofty pride, no honor to uphold as a swordsman. As long as it could win, that was enough. Standing with its weapons raised, Ceruledge began to rethink its battle strategy. Since this guys going on about the dignity of a swordsman, maybe that could be used against him? Like challenging him to a pure duel of swordsmanship in the name of honor, then launching a sneak attack or something. Thatd probably be pretty effective. But Ceruledge slightly tilted its head and glanced back at Natsume and the crowd watching from the sidelines. Right now, it was representing the image of the gymthis was only the first, no, the second match of the grand opening. Its fighting style could be cunning, could be unpredictablebut it absolutely couldnt be too underhanded. Otherwise, the gyms reputation online might become: Oh, thats the gym that loves cheap tricks. That wouldnt be good for the gyms long-term future. Thats what Big Sis Mew had said. What else did she say again? Something like: Make sure you look cool while you fightshow off a little if you can. Yeah, not that it fully understood what that meant. But if Big Sis Mew said so, she must have had her reasons. As the little brother, all Ceruledge had to do was listen and obey. So, it adjusted its stance and battle plan slightly. A cold, bluish-violet flame suddenly ignited, enveloping the twin translucent blades formed from pure energy. The soft, flickering firelight danced across Ceruledges face, casting large, shifting shadows over its calm expression. Already aloof and imposing by appearance, Ceruledge now seemed like a dark warrior straight out of a fantasy tale. If someone captured this moment on camera and uploaded it online, it might just become a classic profile pic. The kind middle schoolers lovededgy anime characters with a brooding, tortured aura. And in fact, someone did take a photo. Who knows? Ceruledges face might soon be trending online. Clang! Seeing Ceruledge enter its battle stance, Hisuian Samurottwho had been sulking from that earlier look of contemptsuddenly perked up again. Then, a beat later, it realized it had gotten too excited and quickly tried to regain its composure. It gave a slight cough and straightened its posture, putting on a prideful front. Yeah, this kid had always looked up to those lone wandering swordsmen from a young age. It constantly tried to mimic them. The way it fought, the way it livedeven the little habits in how it spoke. Anything it could imitate, it did. It even insisted on sleeping sitting upright in a corner like some penitent warrior monk. It had fully leaned into its chniby swordsman persona. Even after evolving, though it looked more stately and reliable on the outside, Mei and the others knew better. This guy only looked reliable. In truth, he wasnt even as steady as Corviknight. You could say his appearance was very misleading. Shing! Thrilled, Hisuian Samurott gripped the hard, armor-like sheath on its foreleg and drew it with a flourish. That was the Razor Shella sword made from its own body. The lower half of the gauntlet formed the scabbard, while the upper section and the horn acted as hilt and blade. The Pokdex had once described how the armor of Samurotts forelegs evolved into massive swords. It had mastered the art of drawing them with lightning speed, striking before the enemy could even blink. Every Samurott held a near-fanatical obsession with swordsmanship. They were like the royal sword saints youd often see in anime or fantasy novelsnoble and proud, always fighting with honor. Which made them a stark contrast to Ceruledge. One fought fair and square; the other would do anything to win. Maybe if it were a Hisuian Samurott from Hisui, it and Ceruledge would have had more in common. The moment Samurott unsheathed its blades, the battle began. Neither of them was especially fast. But when two fighters rushed toward each other, it only took an instant for their swords to clash. Blades wreathed in pale flame collided with the Razor Shell, exploding into a burst of blinding sparks. Through their crossed swords, the two Pokmon silently locked eyes. Then, in the blink of an eye, all four blades tore apart and clashed again midair in a dazzling flurry. Samurotts attacks flowed like waterendless, fluid. Then suddenly shifted into a ferocious storm of strikes. It fought like a grandmastereffortlessly unleashing its years of sword training. Ceruledge, meanwhile, responded with icy calm, always finding that one opening amidst the relentless onslaught to slip in a cut. In terms of swordsmanship, Ceruledge was clearly inferior. That couldnt be helped. Samurott had practiced swordplay since it was just an Oshawott, fighting with its shells since the very beginning. Ceruledge, on the other hand, had only started using blades after evolving. It never had much interest in swords, had never even touched them before. Now it wielded them only because, well its arms had become swords. That it could hold its own at all against Samurottit figuredwas thanks to its slightly faster speed and the teachings itd received from all the veterans on the farm. Yes, the many, many veterans. On the farm, Ceruledge felt like a child raised by a whole village. Officially, Big Sis Mew was its teacher. But everyone knew how Mew wasshe never stuck to one task for too long. So more often than not, the two little Charcadets were passed around to train with whoever was free. Slowking, shiny Furret, Cursola even those senior Pokmon helped out. After evolving, maybe because of its new twin blades, even Galladewho usually lazed aroundtook an interest and trained it for a while. That period really helped Ceruledge grow. In terms of offensive tempo, Samurott was nowhere near as sharp as Gallade. Seizing another brief opening, Ceruledge slashed across Samurotts body and quickly pulled back. Still, it had to admitSamurott was putting serious pressure on it. Aqua Cutter. Razor Shell. Sacred Sword. Shell Blade. Every blade-based move seemed second nature in Samurotts hands, all woven into its seamless battle style. In that respect, it had come much farther than Ceruledge. And as it fought, Ceruledge began to glimpse a possible path for its own growth. It shook its head slightly, brushing away the flood of thoughts. Then raised its twin blades once more. Rushing to blindly imitate someone elses tactics just because they seemed effective is a foolish move. Today you see someone using pure swordsmanship to overwhelm their opponent. Tomorrow, someone else blends sword techniques with skills to secure victory. The day after, its someone blasting their way to the top with a barrage of abilities. Are you going to try to copy them all? Youll end up a jumbled mess, good at nothing. What you should do isn''t rushing to imitate them, but rather going back and seriously thinking about where your own battle style should head. Only then can you decide the right direction for your growth. Boom! An intense blaze erupted, no longer the calm, steady flames from beforeit now boiled like a pot of scalding water. Just looking at it stirred a sense of blazing determination. As if this fire was the very embodiment of its inner fighting spirit. Staring into the roaring flames ahead, Samurotts eyes blazed even hotter than the fire itself. It lowered its head slightly, a blinding white light gathering at the tip of its horn. For a moment, firelight and the stark glow of its skill divided the battlefield into two burning halves. Fwoosh! At a certain moment, the flames surrounding Ceruledge vanished abruptly, leaving only a few flickering embers trembling in the wind atop its blades. And in the very next second, a slash wreathed in flames and a meteor-like horn strike exploded against each other. The moment they realized it, the two had already collided. A massive shockwave burst forth, spiderweb cracks sprawling across the ground. Both sides locked eyes, neither giving an inch. Neither Sacred Sword nor Megahorn could break through the others assault to leave a solid hit. This stalemate dragged on for four or five seconds, until Shhk! Samurotts previously fired-up expression froze, its head drooping slightly. Its shadow, which shouldve been formless and flat, stretched out unnaturally behind it and struck at the crucial moment. A moment later, violet-blue flames surged forth, engulfing Samurott entirely. A storm of ghostly fire raged across the battlefield, only gradually fading after several seconds. Ceruledge sheathed its dual blades, tilting its head to look at the scorched and motionless Samurott lying on the ground. I told youIm not a swordsman. Did you really think Id get all fired up and play along with your little sword duel? With a small, bored shake of its head, Ceruledge turned and walked back toward Natsume. Not a bad fight just a shame the opponent wasnt exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. You did great, Ceruledge. Natsume smiled as he spoke to the fire/ghost-type who looked just as calm and indifferent as if the battle had never happened. Maybe Ceruledge was well-suited to handling gym challengers over the long run. It didnt have any real enthusiasm for the taskbut it didnt hate it either. It just treated it like another day at the office. People who throw themselves into something just because theyre briefly passionate about it usually end up giving up once that excitement fades. Ceruledge shook its head: I wasnt tired at all. A grass snake that got knocked out with two punches from a Swampert and a sword-cosplaying simpleton with no brain? This wasnt even close to the intensity of training with that shiny Furret. It all comes down to discipline. Back when it was still a humble Charcadet, it didnt learn many powerful moves, nor did it suddenly become strong. But consistent training had definitely hardened its will. That was why, now that it had evolved, it wasnt getting carried away or losing control of its power from the thrill of it all. That wouldve been downright stupid. Samurott is unable to battle! With all three of the challengers Pokmon unable to continue, the winner of this gym battle is Gym Leader Natsume! After checking on Samurott and confirming it had well and truly passed outwith no surprise comebacks via dramatic sit-upsthe referee waved his little flag and made the official call. In a world where love and bonds between trainers and Pokmon are deeply valued Miracles do happen. There are always some Pokmon who push past their limits, who stand up again and again no matter how many times theyre knocked down, all because of that bond. And if you call the match too early, only for a Pokmon in the middle of a comeback moment to be unjustly declared the loser Oh, the internet will have your head. Thats an express elevator to public shamingwith a side of tasers. By then, you can forget about your career. Youd better worry about whether the online crowd is going to revoke your human status. Might even have some emotionally-charged netizens manually boot you out of the biosphere. Thanks for your hard work, Samurott. You did great. As she recalled her Samurott, Mei gave a faint, wry smile. Ah, lost again. As expected, Natsume was just too strong. He always says hes not suited to being a trainer, but seriouslyif hes not qualified, then who is? After the battle, the fierce fighting spirit Mei had carried faded, and her usual adorable self returned. To be honest, when she first lost to Natsume, shed felt a bit indignant. She thought that if she worked hard enough, she could catch up. But the more they battled, the more she lostuntil eventually she just accepted reality and gave up resisting. At this point, losing to Natsume just felt natural. Mei couldnt even imagine herself beating him anymore. Which was kind of a bummer, honestly. Mei. Having returned Ceruledge to its ball, Natsume walked over from the side of the battlefield. Seeing that Mei hadnt fallen into a slump after her loss, he smiled faintly. She used to dwell on her defeats for a long time. This was a kind of progress, too, wasnt it? After all, no one wins every single battle. Wellexcept for Natsume. So far, hed only lost once. That was in the farms eating contest, where he bombed spectacularly. Eliminated early, he could only sit and watch as Corviknight and a transformed Mew (posing as a Snorlax) went at it, devouring everything in sight. Natsume had a sneaking suspicion that the two of them werent even competing for first place. They were just showing off their eating skills. As if they were trying to tell him hed been starving them all this time. You did well. As a Gym Leader, I acknowledge your strength. Heres your badge. He pulled a small box from his pocket, and inside it lay a gleaming gym badge. Even though Mei technically lost the battle, Natsume still recognized her strength. If he really only gave out badges to those who beat him, his gyms difficulty rating would shoot straight into the stratosphere. Of course, Meis strength wasnt the only reason he awarded her the badge. To be honest, Natsume wasnt the strict and impartial type of person. At least, thats how he saw himself. And none of the spectators had any objections to Mei receiving a badge despite her loss. Theyd seen her performance. They knew how strong she was. For someone so young, achieving this level was already incredible. Granted, she still wasnt in Natsumes league. He had long since surpassed his peers. While others were still comparing how many gyms theyd cleared or how many badges they had, Natsume had skipped right past all of that and become a Gym Leader himself. Thats a goal many people would never reach even in their entire lives. In fact, the Jadeleaf League had extremely strict standards for Gym Leaders. Both strength and character were non-negotiable. If you lacked strength, you''d just become a badge dispensernothing more than a mascot for others to step on. And if you had power but no character, you''d turn into the kind of jerk who bullied rookie trainers for fun. Both outcomes would tarnish the Leagues reputation. Of course, that didnt mean Gym Leaders were expected to be punching bags who never fought back or talked back. When necessary, they had to show backbone. And when questioned, they had to prove themselves with results. Thats why every Gym Leader in the Jadeleaf League met at least the baseline for both strength and integrity. Granted, that was by Jadeleaf standards. Everyone knows: aside from its vast land and abundant resources, Jadeleaf is also famous for having an absurd number of trainers. And lets not forget its enthusiastic martial spirit. Some might think, But isnt Jadeleaf known for its love of peace? Sure, but heres a question: If you had to battle either a team of Trainers from Kanto or one from Unova who would you pick? Most people would seriously consider it before answering. And a few would ask, Cant I take on both? The truth is, the spirit of combat runs deep in the bones here. Most just keep it under control. And now that theres Pokmon battling, that inner desire for combat has found the perfect outlet. In a place this brimming with martial energy, being a Gym Leader takes more than just strength. Youve gotta be really good at fighting if you want the people to respect you. Some say that Gym Leaders from the Jadeleaf League could easily qualify as Elite Four membersor even Championsin other countries. And among the Gym Leaders of the Jadeleaf League, Natsume was already in a league of his own, far surpassing his peers. There are always some geniuses who defy age as a metric. Thank you, Leader Natsume! Ill keep working hard from here! Mei took the hard-earned badge with both hands, speaking with heartfelt sincerity. To her, this badge had been harder to win than any of her previous ones. There had been no visible hope of victoryeverything relied purely on theory. In theory, as long as you dodged every attack perfectly, you could win. In theory, if you kept the right distance, you could take down your opponent. In theory... It was all in theory. As everyone knows, anything that only works in theory might as well not work at all. Just like how things that shouldnt work in principle somehow always end up working. Keep at it. Natsume murmured softly, before shifting into the usual scripted remarks expected after a gym match. Then came the routine press Q&A session with a few on-site reporters, as customary after the first gym battle of the day. These were all arranged by the Jadeleaf Leagues PR teamno tough or tricky questions. All Natsume had to do was stick to the prepared script and give some generic, repeatable answers. Nothing groundbreaking, but nothing risky either. Sometimes, not screwing up is already a major accomplishment. Watching Natsumes figure as he turned away, Mei gently held the badge in her hand. Shed even seen the design drafts for this badgehad offered her own suggestions, too. Strictly speaking, that made her one of the badges designers, didnt it? Now that she held the real thing, she couldnt help feeling a little excited. Look! I helped design this badge! Mei had the urge to brag in the class group chat. But after thinking it over, she decided against it. After all, she''d only made a few minor suggestionsit wasnt really anything worth showing off. This badge was the result of Natsume and female Indeedees hard work. She had no right to steal their thunder. (Natsume: Honestly, if you just said it was Indeedees work, thats fine too.) Still, Mei snapped a photo of the badge and casually sent it to the high school class group chat. At that moment, a bunch of classmates were busy bragging about their travel adventures. One of themidentity still unclearwas already going off about their mysterious connections to an Elite Four member. The moment Meis photo dropped, it stirred up a whole new wave of discussion. Clearly, everyone was already fed up with that poser. Come on, we all went to the same school, same class. Who are you trying to fool? If youre really that good, why are you even in the same classroom as us? And still copying my homework? Kinda ridiculous, honestly. Mei responded briefly to a few friends she was close to, then stopped paying attention to the chat. Carefully storing the badge in her badge case, she gave her little bag a satisfied pat. This was, after all, the very first badge awarded by the youngest Gym Leader. It had to be worth something somedaymaybe even a collectors item. Who knows? If she ever fell on hard times, she might be able to sell it for a hefty price. She chuckled inwardly at her own joke. The loss in todays battle hadnt upset Mei much. Like shed told herself beforeaim to win one, push for two, and survive the full match. That was enough. And shed met her goal. After taking down the Swampert, shed forced out the Ceruledge. Even though the Ceruledge went on to beat two of her Pokmon, it wasnt a one-sided slaughter. It was more that she lacked the right intel to fight effectively. Still, Mei was content. If anything, she felt a little regretfulher knowledge base clearly needed expanding. Shed have to put in more time studying later. Being a Trainer meant being a lifelong learner. New Pokmon were discovered every year. New tactics and techniques emerged all the time. You didnt have to be a scholar, but any top-tier Trainer needed to be able to read a research paper or two. The old-school, brainless brawler types still existedbut barely. They were basically extinct. Because if you didnt have the smarts to properly care for and train your Pokmon, how could you create a scientific and effective training plan for them? What, leave it all to someone else? Then whats the point of being a Trainer? Before long, Natsume had wrapped up the reporter Q&A. As expected, all the questions had been pre-approved, and that was a relief. The last thing he wanted was to slip up and say something that could blow up later. After that, Natsume faced two more challengers. Unlike earlier, this time he fought with noticeably more aggression. Right from the start, he led with Armarouge and unleashed brutal offense. Due to his childhood love for a certain red knight from a show, Natsume had a soft spot for Armarouge. That red-armored knight had just looked so cool back then. And honestly, he liked the name Armarouge more than Gallantmon. Natsumes training plan for Armarouge was simple: More firepower. More stamina. More defense. No need for fancy tricksjust keep stacking the core stats. All the resources it needed, it would get. Its job was just to get stronger. Higher flame temperature. Faster, sharper execution. Perfect skill mastery. With the Fire/Psychic typing, Armarouge not only hit hard, it could protect itself too. Moves like Reflect and Psychic could offer strong support, helping Armarouge handle various opponents with ease. Trick Room kept sneaky assassins like Weavile from rushing it down. That said, Armarouges defenses were solid already. It wasnt a glass cannon. You could tell just by looking at its heavy armor. If some squishy assassin-type tried a face dive, theyd probably end up realizing too late that they couldnt even scratch Armarouge. Watching Armarouge in battle, the only word that came to mind was smooth. There was no hesitationevery move was seamless. At the start of the battle, its shoulder guards slid down to its wrists, transforming its arms into cannon-like weapons. Then came the performance. If Ceruledge fought with water-tight swordsmanship and tricky techniques... Armarouges battles were a dazzling bullet hell. It opened with a Scorching Sands to burn any Berries off the opponent. Then came Mystical Fire, Fire Spin, Flamethrower, Fire Blastone after another. Occasionally spiced up with Acid Bombs and Shadow Balls. Armarouges movepool was frankly excellent. It had strong coverage and solid moves across multiple types. Perfectly in tune with its base stats. Even the so-called One and Only King nearby would be crying in envytears of jealousy pouring from his mouth. After the barrage, the battle ended with a massive Armor Cannon. Armor Cannon was Armarouges signature movejust like Bitter Blade was for Ceruledge. Armor Cannon had a base power of 120, but lowered the users Defense and Sp. Def after use. Bitter Blade was weaker at 90 power, but healed half the damage dealt. Basically, it was a lifesteal sword. Sure, Armor Cannon had drawbacksbut with that kind of power, who cared? It was meant to finish the fight anyway. Once the opponent was down, what did it matter if your defenses dropped? After defeating two of the challengers Pokmon with Armarouge, Natsume sent out his shiny Furret for the last rounda more even fight. It gave the challenger a bit of dignity, and helped them calm down after the crushing first round. Maybe its not that Im bad... Its that Leader Natsume is just way too strong. Watching the flashy back-and-forth between their partner and the shiny Furret, the challenger let out a quiet sigh and focused back on the match. At the very least, I should finish this battle properly. My Pokmon are still fightingI, as their Trainer, cant give up early. Afterward, with gratitude in the second challengers eyes, Natsume welcomed the third challenger of the day. Earlier, Natsume had been wondering if hed run into any brainless types today. And, wellturns out he had. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This guy hadnt openly insulted anyone, but the passive-aggressive attitude was undeniableand annoying. This middle-aged Trainer clearly thought Natsume was too young to be taken seriously. Forget his strengthcould a kid like that even handle the responsibilities of a Trainer? Probably hadnt been through much either. Definitely not someone you could count on. In short, he was bitter. Staring at the sour-faced challenger before him, Natsume thought for a moment, then replied: Challenging this gym is the only time you and I will ever cross paths in life. I dont have anything else to say to you. After this match, go home and find yourself a proper job. Being a Trainer isnt for you. Natsume had already read the guys file. And frankly, persistent was the best thing he could say about him. High EQ: persistent. Low EQ: middle-aged loser with no results, weak but still clinging to dreams. Before the other Trainer could retort, Natsume released his first Pokmon onto the field. Lets go, Corviknight. At the moment the white light exploded, a strong gust of wind suddenly swept across the battlefield. Under the dazzling white lights, a hulking figure with a metallic sheen descended onto the arena. Before the battle even began, Natsume had anticipated the possibility of something unexpected happeningso he made sure to bring his main force along. Like the one currently stepping forward to fightCorviknight. Tilting its head, the Corviknight, cloaked in dark metallic feathers, stared at the opposing trainer with its dark red eyes. It was almost like it was silently urging the opponent to hurry up and send out their Pokmon. Normally carefree and a bit goofy, Corviknight showed no signs of playfulness at this moment. It simply stared quietly at its target. Standing on the opposite end of the battlefield, the middle-aged challenger froze. Hed been so focused on the fact that his opponent was just a youngster that hed completely overlooked Natsumes actual strength. He opened his mouth, seemingly trying to say something. But it no longer mattered. Pidgeot is unable to battle! Challenger, please send out your next Pokmon! Poliwrath is unable to battle! Challenger, please send out your next Pokmon! Jumpluff is unable to battle! As all three of the challengers Pokmon have lost the ability to battle, the winner of this Gym battle is Gym Leader Natsume! It was a quick battle, without much suspense or spectacle. Compared to earlier matches, Corviknightfighting at full forcewas downright simple and straightforward. From the opponents point of view, it could be summed up in one sentence: I showed up, I one-shotted you, what are you gonna do about it?! Good luck. Tossing out that line casually, Natsume left the battlefield without another glance. Originally, Natsume had considered sending out Ting-Lu, Pecharunt, and Okidogi to give the challenger a little legendary shock and awe. But on second thought, it just wasnt necessary. Not worth it. So instead, he sent out Corviknightwho had clearly gotten a bit chubbier recently. Yep, the fact that Corviknight had been gaining weight hadnt escaped Natsumes notice. It all started one night when Natsume was cleaning Corviknight and got jabbed by its round belly. Seeing the guilty look in its eyes, Natsume felt like he suddenly understood everything. And thus began Corviknights nightmare. Its regular meals were cut down, and snacks were basically nonexistent. Watching a show without snacks? Thats soulless! At first, Corviknight thought this kind of life would last until it slimmed down. But earlier, Natsume had said that if Corviknight gave a strong enough performance today, the snack ban would be liftedfor tonight only. Just tonight. One chance. But for Corviknight, that promise was pure heaven. So the moment it entered the field, it went all in. Holding back? Taking things slow? Doesnt exist. Natsume said go all outso Corviknight didnt hold anything back. It went for the kill! In the first match, it took a bit of time to set up. But once the setup was done, it only took one wing strike. Next. The second Pokmon didnt even know what hit it before getting clocked straight in the face. Then came the third onethis one at least lasted a little longer. Corviknight gave it two solid smacks. The first blow flattened it to the ground. And since it hadnt technically lost the ability to battle yet, Corviknight finished it off with one more hit. Come on, the goal this round was crystal clear. If that guy managed to hold on, then what about Corviknights pride? What about its snacks? Pride? Whatever. Corviknight never had much pride anywayon the farm, it was always at the bottom of both the food chain and the pecking order. But snacks? Thats a different story. That, it had to fight for. And just like that, the mornings Gym challenge came to an end. The results and battle footage were soon circulating online. In the internet age, there are barely any secrets that can stay hidden. Besides, Natsume never intended to keep his Gyms situation under wraps. A bit of publicity is good for the Gyms future development. It helps people understand the actual difficulty of challenging the Gym. Otherwise, if rookie trainers keep showing up with just a freshly caught Rattata or Bellsprout, itd be more of a headache than anything. Some people, no matter how clear you make the challenge requirements, will still stubbornly try their luck. Only when they realize theyre completely outmatched will they finally back down. The afternoons Gym challenge was fairly standard. The only noteworthy thing was that the first challenger originally scheduled for the afternoon canceled at the last minute, saying something had come up at home. Maybe it really was something urgent. But that had nothing to do with Natsume anymore. Once the afternoon session ended and the Gym closed for the day, Natsume headed straight back to the farm. Wellheaded back was just walking through the back door of the Gym. After all, the Gym itself had been built on the edge of the farm. By the time Natsume got home, night had fully fallen. Since it was the Gyms opening day, there were a lot of things he had double-checked after everything ended. Making sure the doors and windows were properly locked, making sure the system was in sleep mode. Even though there were staff watching over the place Natsume still felt he hadnt fully adjusted his mindset yet. From laid-back farm boss to laid-back Gym Leader. At the moment, Natsume figured he could still act like a responsible, hands-on Gym Leader for a little while longer. Ah, its almost winter already. Looking up at the dim moon in the sky, Natsume belatedly realized that autumn had come and gone. Thats just how Lianshan Town wasawkwardly situated. People from the south thought it belonged to the north. People from the north thought it belonged to the south. It had all four seasons. But spring and autumn were so short, you could basically ignore them. Blink and youd miss the mild weatherbefore you knew it, scorching summer or bitter winter had arrived. Some places are hot in summer but mild in winter. Others are freezing in winter but cool in summer. And then there are unlucky placeslike Lianshan Townhot in summer and freezing in winter. No shortage of hardships. Maybe thats just fate. Whatever. Not thinking about it anymore. Shaking his head, Natsume quickened his pace to the door. As soon as he opened it, a warm yellow light spilled through the doorway. Just from the light alone, Natsume could tell Mei was here. When he was home by himself, he always used the white ceiling lights in the living room. Only Mei would turn on the warm-colored lamp in the cornerthe one originally meant as a decorative touch. Natsume, youre back! Sure enough, hearing the door open, Mei peeked out from the kitchen excitedly. The moment she saw it was Natsume, she skipped over to greet him. She had taken off her classic Trainer outfit from earliersun hat, sportswear, and sneakersand changed into the clothes theyd bought together on their last shopping trip. The oversized outfit nicely concealed her figure. When she was home or just relaxing, Mei preferred wearing loose, comfortable clothes. During their travels, she always had to wear something practical and easy to move inwhich could feel a bit restrictive after a while. Thats why she liked the relaxed feel of these home clothes. Right now, she had a pale pink apron tied around her front and thick oven mitts on her hands. Looked like she was about to cook something. Meis cooking skills werent top-tier, but she had a lot of enthusiasm for trying new recipes. Whenever she had free time, shed follow those viral online recipes. Problem was, a lot of those recipes ended in disaster. To the point where Mei almost gave up trying new ones. Mostly because she and Natsume had to finish all the failed dishes together. Wasting food is shameful. Even if it turns out badly, youve got to eat what you madetears and all. Of course, anything that might actually cause food poisoning was a different story. That wasnt frugalitythat was asking for trouble. Im back. Natsume smiled at Mei as he took off his coat and set it aside. At that moment, Natsume suddenly had a strange feeling. It was as if theyd already been like this for a long time. Like a couple who had been married for years? No way. The thought barely surfaced before Natsume quickly pushed it aside. Yeah, that was definitely overthinking it. He was only nineteen this year, and Mei was a few months youngernot even nineteen yet. They were just eighteen. Calling them an old married couple was more than a little absurd. What are you up to, dressed like that? Looking at Meis outfit, Natsume feigned curiosity. Even if he already had a good idea, sometimes it was better to play along and pretend he didnt know. It gave the girl a little chance to show off, just a bit. When she first came to the farm, Mei had never mentioned liking to cook or anything like that. Some thingswell, they only become meaningful when done with certain people. Im going to bake some little cakes. This afternoon, Indeedee''s little sister spent ages going through recipes before we finally settled on this one. She lifted her phone and showed Natsume the mini cakes shed picked out earlier. Visually speaking, they actually looked pretty decent. But Natsume had a feeling Mei might end up giving up on making them look like that. Couldnt be helpedgetting the look, the aroma, and the flavor all right was still a bit out of reach for her at this stage. As long as they smelled good and tasted good, thatd be enough. And sure enough, just as Natsume expected. After a few tries, Mei decisively gave up on the aesthetic part of the mini cakes. That level of detail was just a bit beyond her for now. If they tasted fine, that was already great in her book. Ding~ Ah! Theyre done! At the sound of the timer, Mei dashed off toward the kitchen in a flurry. This was her first time trying to make mini cakes. She couldnt afford to mess it up! Not this time! Watching her bustling about in the kitchen, Natsumes lips curved into a small, involuntary smile. For Natsume, living alone had never really been a big deal. With his Pokmon around, hed never felt lonely. Even back when he was sleeping in a nearly abandoned old house with Persian and the others, he hadnt felt lonely. But after Mei had come and gone again, sometimes Natsume felt like something was missing. When making Pokblocks. When brushing his Pokmons fur. No fixed timing to itjust during some quiet moment, when his hands happened to stop moving. Hed always feel like something was missing. Missing the voice that used to keep him company in idle chatter. And when that feeling hit, Natsume would often grab whatever fuzzy Pokmon was passing by and give it a good, chaotic scritch. The most frequent victimMewhad since learned to closely watch Natsumes body language. It would sit quietly nearby when he was busy, but the second he showed signs of taking a break, itd bolt. I have dignity too! Mew protested in its heart. Im not some plush toy you can just squish whenever you want! At least offer me snacks first! But sadly, protests fell on deaf ears. Poor Mew still ended up repeatedly in the clutches of the Great Demon King Natsume. At least, thats how Mew told it to the other Pokmon. And of course, those stories always ended up circling back to Natsume somehow. Whenever he heard them, hed find Mew again for another round of aggressive scritching. So youre the one badmouthing me, huh? Guess Ill have to teach you a lesson! Sometimes Natsume even suspected that Mew was doing it on purpose. How else could he explain its behavior? It knew itd get caught and squished again, but it kept spreading rumors anyway. Could it be a bit of an M? Emmmmm Best not to think too hard about that. If he kept going down that road, hed start thinking about those Pokmon that enjoy battling. After all, getting hurt and taking hits are part of battle too. If you enjoy battle, arent you kind of enjoying Nope. Cant say it. Not going there. This book is not shifting genres into the adult-only category. Mew~ Right on cue, just as he was thinking about it, the pink rascal popped out from a corner of the living room. It was holding a phone nearly the size of its own head. The mischievous grin on its face made it obvious: it had just pulled another prank. Well, maybe not a prank, per se. But definitely something it found amusing. Mew definitely had a bit of that chaotic trickster energy in its blood. Natsume eyed the phone in its hands but didnt reach out to take it. Since hed given it to Mew, it belonged to Mew now. Natsume didnt like it when people casually took his things without asking, so he tried not to do that to others either. Mei had once asked him, during a casual conversation, what kind of person he wanted to become. At the time, Natsume couldnt come up with a clear answer. But he did know what kind of person he didnt want to becomeand he worked hard to avoid doing things he himself would find distasteful. Enough playing. Mei made mini cakes tonight. Youre eating with us later. Mew The mischievous grin vanished from Mews face, replaced by visible dread. Can I still escape if I run now? It wasnt that it didnt trust Meis cooking. But whenever Mei tried something new, there was always a chance it would go horribly wrong. And being dragged in to taste test meant suffering in silence. After every bite, Mew would immediately dash off to rinse its mouth with juice and Pokblocks. Nope. Natsumes merciless reply crushed Mews last hope. Cursed Natsume, I hope you cant sleep tonight! Fuming, Mew planted a vicious curse on him in its heart. Shhhhhuuuua A dragging sound against the floor signaled another arrival. Turning his head, Natsume saw a visibly annoyed Serperior slithering over. It began to complain about Corviknights awful behavior. After not seeing each other for so long, it had thought theyd have a warm reunion. But instead of a welcome, it got a cold, guarded starelike Corviknight was worried it had come to steal its snacks. What do you take me for?! Am I that kind of snake?! Okay, fine, Natsumes snacks were pretty tasty. And yes, they were hard to find outside. And sure, Pokblocks out there really werent all that great. And also Sluuuurp But I, Serperior, would never stoop to craving your snacks! (wipes mouth) Ah, yeah. That is pretty insulting. Looking at the flustered Serperior, Natsume couldnt help but feel a little amused. This kid always managed to be unintentionally hilarious. Normally, it gave off this aloof, dignified airbut the second Corviknight entered the scene, it turned into the straight man in a comedy routine. That contrast was what made it so fun to watch. Alright, alright. Dont be mad. That dumb Corviknight really was out of line. Ill teach it a lesson later. Cut its snack allowance for a month, take away its phone and laptop. And then have Shiny Furret put it through a week of intense training. As he gently patted Serperiors head like one would calm a child, Natsume spoke soothingly. Serperiors eyes flickered oddly at his words. It turned away, its expression a little awkward. "Ser" Its not that serious, really. I wasnt that mad. Seeing the bashful Serperior, Natsume exchanged a glance with Mew, and both could see the amusement in each other''s eyes. This kids thoughts were pretty easy to read. To put it plainly, it had just been ticked off by Corviknight and wanted a little revenge. But when it came to really going too far, Serperior couldnt quite bring itself to do it. It just didnt feel like the situation called for such extremes. As long as Natsume grasped Serperiors current mindset, this was an easy issue to resolve. Alright, fine. For your sake, I wont confiscate its phone. But training is non-negotiable. You have no idea how much that guys been putting on weight lately. The last time I gave it a bath, its belly was sticking out more than its beak. At this rate, its going to turn into a super fat bird. Hearing Natsumes words, Serperior pictured a bloated, oversized Corviknight in its mind And couldnt help but shiver. That image was just too disgusting. Absolutely not! Serr! Please! You have to make it lose weight! Serperior looked at Natsume with utmost sincerity. In its memory, while Corviknight had a sharp tongue, it was still undeniably cool-looking. If even that cool appearance were lost Serperior felt it might not even be able to look Corviknight in the eye anymore. What can it sayhumans are visual creatures. And so are Pokmon. Especially Serperior, the very embodiment of elegance and mystery. Alright, starting tomorrow, Ill have Shiny Furret drag it into training. That guy really has been slacking off lately. Clapping his hands, Natsume finalized Corviknights new schedule. In fact, he had been planning this for a whilehe just hadnt made it official until today. First thing in the morning, Corviknight would have a cup of energy drink specially crafted by the younger Butler. Then the torment would begin. First stop: high-intensity physical training with Shiny Furret. At some point, Shiny Furret had become obsessed with achieving the ultimate physique. All those flashy moves were just auxiliary tools now. With a body strong enough, there was no enemy it couldnt defeat! And if it lost, it just meant its muscle purity wasnt high enough! Second stop: move training with Mew-sensei. No need for long lecturesjust cycle through every move it knows five times. Then Mew would assign the rest of the training plan. Lunchtime was rest and food. Meals were handled by Indeedee, who brought nutritious meals specially prepared. Afternoon training consisted of a mixed doubles match featuring Slowking and Ogerpon. That duo was hand-picked by Natsume with care. Slowking had recently taken to challenging Corviknight whenever it was free. It could fight, but its attacks were too softlike a tickleso it needed a hard-hitting partner. And Ogerpon, ever since reclaiming its mask, had been itching for a chance to let loose. It knew its own strength well and understood that only by pushing its limits could it wield its power better in battle. Problem was, there werent many on the farm who could tank Ogerpon''s full power head-on. The likes of Tauros and company? Just glorified bouncing ballsOgerpon swatted them around for fun. Nowhere near punching-bag level. This was where the farms reigning "King of Endurance," Corviknight, stepped in. Corviknight could hone its tankiness, Ogerpon could explore its full potential, and Slowking could figure out what support moves were actually worth using in double battles. More practice with underused support moves wouldnt hurt. A triple win! Wait, noNatsume wins too. Quadruple win! So yeah, Corviknight was definitely getting beat up. As for the evening, Natsume figured hed let Corviknight do whatever it wanted. Watch shows, scroll its phonewhatever it fancied. Youve got to give the kid some downtime, after all. Natsume wasnt planning to take that little leisure time away. Of course, that was assuming Corviknight behaved. If it didnt well, then things might not be so nice. Natsume was sure Corviknight understood that perfectly well. Cakes are ready! Meis voice rang out from the kitchen. Mew, who had been gleefully watching the drama, suddenly froze. It instinctively turned its head toward Natsume. I just remembered I have something to do. Im heading out. You try the cakes for me. If theyre good, bring some to me. If not forget it. Natsume didnt know how Mew did it, but somehow, he could understand all of that just from one look. Maybe thats the power of a mythical Pokmon. Natsume himself wasnt as skilledhe could only reply with a simple message: No. Mew Mews tail drooped pathetically, and its face took on a deeply sorrowful expression. It looked pitiful. But Natsume remained unmoved. At first, he used to feel bad for itbut over time, he realized: This little guys a total actor. What a waste it wasnt born for the stage. Yes, this whole performance was just an act. Dont be fooled by that pitiful expressionit was probably snickering inside. Realizing Natsume wasnt falling for it, Mew puffed out its cheeks angrily. It looked like an angry little pufferfish. Honestly, appearance-wise, Mew was pretty cute. If Diancie was the most beautiful Pokmon in the world, then in Natsumes opinion, Mew could definitely compete for the title of cutest. And thats just its natural form. If you factored in its transformation ability Then Natsume figured Mew could win any titlecutest, most beautiful, coolest, or whatever else. What can he saybeing able to transform means you can do whatever you want. Beside them, Serperiors tail swayed slightly. No reaction. It was used to this. Ever since Mei met Natsume, she had started cooking. You think all those early cooking disasters were eaten by Mei alone? Nopeit was Serperior! Back then, Meis cooking was well, catastrophic would be putting it lightly. Serperior suspected that if Mei hadnt improved, it might have developed poison resistance by now. Which, in a way, was a kind of talent too. Heave-ho! Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Mei brought out a steaming tray of mini cakes. The kitchen had been sweltering. Even though Mei was only wearing a loose, oversized shirt, she was drenched in sweat. She looked at the cakes with satisfaction and nodded. Fresh from the oven, the golden surface of the mini cakes glistened slightly with oil, looking both tempting and delicious. They were topped with powdered sugar Mei had just dusted on. To be honest, Mei had wanted to make those fancy little cakes you see all over social media. But her skills werent quite there yetthis was the best she could do for now. Smells amazing. Mew! Ser! One human and two Pokmon gathered around the table, eyes fixed curiously on the mini cakes Mei had just brought out. None of them had expected her to nail the cake on her first tryand it turned out pretty great. Not just the aromaeven the appearance was solid. Honestly, not too far off from what youd find in a shop. Mew stole a glance at Serperior beside it. Are you sure shes never made these cakes before? Serperior rolled its eyes silently. Positive. Back when Mei was still traveling, she usually stayed in rooms provided by Pokmon Centers. While they were fine for sleeping, they werent exactly suited for cooking. There hadnt really been much opportunity to develop any cooking skills. Frankly, the fact that her cooking hadnt regressed during that time was impressive in itself. Tilting its head slightly, Mew glanced at the kitchen with a suspicious look. Hmm. The younger Butler wasnt there either. So it really was Mei who made these. Was this what they called the power of love? Wait a minutehad things between them really progressed that far? Mew fell into a deep, contemplative silence. Question: What should one do when the couple youre shipping shows absolutely no romantic development? Logically, this was the time to start playing matchmaker. But Mew felt that any small moves on its part would probably be picked up by Natsume, so maybe better not. That guys intuition sometimes bordered on the absurdmore accurate than some Psychic-type legendaries. Sometimes Mew honestly wasnt sure who was the real Psychic-type Pokmon here. Still watching the warm little cakes steaming in front of him, Natsume reached out to pinch a pieceonly to predictably jerk back, scalded by the heat. Mew, cool this for me, will you? Retracting his hand, Natsume looked over at Mew. Mew glanced at the hand hed just pulled back, then remembered the time Natsume had subdued a raging, fire-spewing Houndoom barehanded. Mew said nothing in the end. Instead, it gently blew a puff of cold air over the small cake hed touched. The chill instantly pulled the heat away, leaving the little cake at just the right temperature. That should do itshouldnt be too hot now. Ill try it. Natsume picked up the now-warm piece of cake and popped it in his mouth. The moment he bit down, he first felt the slight crisp of the outer layer. Then the soft, fluffy interior began to melt in his mouth like clouds. The sweetness was just rightnot cloying, but with a hint of natural fragrance that made it subtly addictive Okay, Natsume couldnt keep bullshitting. Yes, the cake really was good. But not that exaggerated. Besides, Natsumes literary skills weren''t nearly up to crafting that kind of gourmet-level description. Hed seen that kind of copy on a food delivery app once. Probably a paid review. In the end, Natsume offered the most honest reaction he could: Delicious. Coming from Natsume, that was about as high praise as it got. Any more than that, and he really wouldve been forcing it. Mew! I wanna try too! Lifting a small cake with telekinesis, Mew cooled it down using the same trick. But just as it was about to take a bite, another piecethis one lifted by vinesfloated right up in front of it. Mew locked eyes with Serperior for a few seconds. And then gave in. Mew! Fine! With a grumble, it cooled down that cake as well before returning to its own and taking a grumpy bite. Ugh, why does everyone think Im easygoing?! Im supposed to be a proud and majestic legendary, you know! How is it? Having taken off her apron and gloves, Mei looked eagerly at Mew and Serperior. As expected, she was met with enthusiastic approval from both. Seeing her little cakes receive unanimous praise, Mei couldnt hold back a grin. These took me over half a month to perfect. Its my first time actually making them, but Ive memorized every single step by heart. Lifting her chin proudly, Mei beamed. For someone who wasnt exactly a pro in the kitchen, pulling this off was no small feat. You really had to give it to hershed put in the work. This cake With pride practically bubbling over, Mei launched into a full explanation of the ingredients and steps involved. However Hey! Save some for me! Mew! Ser! Under the night sky, warm light spilled through the glass, casting shadows of their laughter and play across the ground. Chapter 164: How to Answer a Death Question Early the next morning, Mei, dressed in an oversized pajama shirt, slid open the glass door and took a deep breath of the chilly breeze laced with late-autumn frost. As if she wanted to savor the cold air properly. Cough cough! The next second, the knife-sharp wind had her coughing uncontrollably. Unlike the hot, humid air of summer, the autumn wind was bitinglike tiny blades slicing into the skin. The weather had fully shifted into late autumn by now. If not for the warmth inside the room, Mei shouldve been wearing something a lot thicker. Serp? Feeling the cold draft drifting in through the window, Serperior lifted its head in confusion. Is it my turn to hibernate already? Being a snakeno, a grass snakewinter was far from Serperiors favorite season. Every day felt like a lazy Sunday. It just didnt want to move. Weather definitely had an impact on Pokmon. Take Ice-types for exampleif you threw one into a 40-degree heatwave, theyd be lucky just to avoid melting on the spot. Literally. And as a cold-blooded reptile, Serperior wasnt exactly built for the cold either. As a plant, this late-autumn chill wasnt doing it any favors, either. Morning, Serperior. Looking at the groggy, confused snake, Mei couldnt help but laugh. She wrapped her arms around its head and gave it a vigorous, chaotic rub. Force-rebooted by her affection, Serperior slowly came back to life. Staring at Meis excited face, its eyes were filled with pure disdain. Look at you, all giddy just because youre back to see Natsume. Hmph. Love really does drop peoples IQ, huh? But waitare they even technically in love yet? Neither of thems ever confessed, have they? Serperior drifted into thought. Based on everything it had seen about human relationships, by this point, a confession shouldve definitely happened. But neither Natsume nor Mei seemed to be thinking about that at all. Could it be theyre playing hard to get? No, that cant be it either. Theyre both the type to go all inno ones pulling punches here. Humans really were bizarre creatures. Now lying flat, Serperior just let Mei mess with it. All it wanted was to chill and be a useless snake for a while. Yesterdays battle had been a real blow. It had thought all this time itd been training hard toonot necessarily to catch up to Corviknight, but at least to keep the gap from widening. But this time, before it even had a chance to face that stupid bird, it got wrecked. Kinda embarrassing, honestly. It sucked. I mean, reallywhats the point of a snakes life anyway? Serperiors gaze turned distant and melancholic, as if it had transcended worldly concerns. Come on, cheer up. Natsume told me last nighthe thinks youve made a lot of progress. If it werent for your off form and the fact that Ceruledge had a type advantage, you might not have lost. Letting go of Serperiors head, Mei started to comfort it. This was a lie. The truth was, the Ceruledge personally trained by Mew was slowly but surely walking the same wild, unhinged path as the other seniors on the team. It was picking up speed on that absurdist road, ready to take off at any moment. At least from what Mei had seen online, no one elses Ceruledge looked this cracked. Both its swordplay and its flames had reached a level many Pokmon wouldnt attain even with years of training. Honestly, Mei didnt quite get it either. Ceruledge hadnt even been evolved that long. From what she remembered, Natsume only evolved them not long agoand now, in the blink of an eye, it was already this strong. Dont ask how Mei knows when Ceruledge evolved. Smartphones are a wonderful thing. Especially for young couples living apartthey make it easy to share every little moment of excitement right away. Serp. Touched. Serperior, with its head tucked into Meis arms, gave a deadpan monotone response. Not a hint of being comforted showed on its face. It knew itself too well. During the heat of battle, sureit might have told itself it was just a single move short of winning. But in the post-match analysis, Serperior was fully aware of how far it still had to go. That one move short stuff? Just empty self-comfort. Hm-hmm~ Humming some unknown tune, Mei quickly freshened up for the day. She glanced at the makeup on her desk, hesitated for a moment, and decided to skip it. Partly because she didnt usually wear much makeup to begin with. And even when she did, it was never heavyjust a bit of light touch-up at most. Besides, Natsume seemed to prefer her natural look. Hed once casually said over dinner: You kind of have that first love kind of beauty when youre barefaced. Like, that stunning-at-first-sight kind of vibe. That line had stuck with Mei for a long time. Since then, her makeup had mostly sat untouched. And honestly, skipping it gave her a lot more time in the morning. What should I wear today She stood in front of the wardrobe, thinking. Shed come here during summer, so most of the clothes in the closet were summer outfits. Short sleeves, gym shortsthat kind of stuff. Fall and winter wear? Yeah, not really in stock. Shed definitely need to stock up soon. I guess this will do for now. She pulled out a couple pieces she rarely wore and threw together a simple outfit with a kind of artsy-girl aesthetic. Mei really liked that kind of style. But truth be told, a persons vibe is hard to change. Even dressed like this, Mei didnt come across as a quiet, literary girl so much as an energetic, sporty one. Part of it was her sunny personality and her sometimes clumsy, carefree actions. And the other part That goofy grin when she smiledit just didnt scream well-read poetry lover. That was one of Meis little regrets. Morning, Natsume! Morning, Mei. After heading downstairs, the first thing Mei did was scan the room for Natsume. The moment she spotted him, she bounced her way over and greeted him with a big smile. Then looked at him with a slightly expectant gaze. Girls who put effort into how they look always hope for a certain someones compliment. When a girl gets dressed up, shes always hoping for a bit of approval. And Natsume didnt let her down. He gave Meis outfit a serious once-over, then offered his praise. That outfit looks really nice. It gives off a kind of artsy and fresh vibe. Now, Natsumes fashion sense when it came to his own clothing had always been a certified disaster. But when it came to judging others outfits, he could actually be pretty articulate. Besides, Mei really did look great today. He wasnt just saying ithe meant every word. Really? I dont know I feel like it doesnt suit me that much. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She twirled in place, tugging lightly at the hem of her outfit, a little uncertain. She liked these kinds of clothes, but maybe they just didnt quite fit her vibe. I think it looks great. Theres nothing you cant pull off. When it came to these kinds of danger zone questions, the strategy was always simple: complete denial. Think you look fat? Must be the lightingor the clothes. Think this outfit doesnt suit you? Nope, just your imagination. Not happy with your makeup? ImpossibleI think it looks amazing. Answering these deathtrap questions well often required a few harmless little white lies. Truth was, girls usually already knew the answer in their hearts. They just wanted to hear you say it. Natsume, I was thinking of going clothes shopping later. Will you come with me? Sitting down at the breakfast table, Mei accepted her meal from the younger Indeedee sister and turned to look at Natsume. Sure, Im free today. Also a lie. There was still a lot to handle as a Gym Leader. But Natsume figured hed just wrap up things in the afternoon if he stayed focusedthen the rest of the day would be his to use however he liked. Once they got the Gym apprentices sorted out, he could fully offload the day-to-day responsibilities. Natsume had a clear idea of his future. He was never going to be a full-time Gym Leader. He hadnt even sorted out his own stuff yet. Yay! Mei cheered, her face lighting up like a kid about to head off on a school field trip. Chapter 165: Hisuian Zoroark: How Do You Even Walk Again? "Vikavolt, finish it." A brilliant beam of light burst forth, instantly followed by a fiery explosion that engulfed the battlefield. "Lotad is unable to battle!" "Since all three of the challengers Pokmon are unable to continue, the winner of this Gym Battle is Gym Leader Natsume!" Theres a saying: when your world is peaceful and calm, someone else is shouldering the burdens behind the scenes. In order to free up more time for the afternoon, Natsume had decided to pull fewer punches todaythe battles wrapped up rather quickly. Maybe because the Sunnyhill Gym had only just opened, there wasnt yet a clear consensus online about its level of difficulty. As a result, the strength of the Trainers showing up to challenge it varied wildly. Some were solid contenders and some were clearly still new to the path, full of potential, yes, but very much works in progress. Still, this surge probably wouldnt last long. Once the gyms difficulty level became more widely known online, the number of challengers would likely drop off significantly. Come back, Vikavolt. Recalling Vikavolt, Natsume lightly wiped at the non-existent sweat on his brow. What a thrilling battle. That said, he had to admit he didnt exactly have a natural gift for battling. More often than not, even if he grasped the situation mentally, he had no idea what command to give. And even if he did, his mouth couldnt keep up. Not like those so-called experts online, whoaccording to their own humble bragscould predict the entire flow of a battle from the opening move and issue lightning-fast instructions like it was nothing. Yeah, sure. Natsume just took those stories at face value for the sake of fun. Out in the real world, your identity is whatever you make it. Natsume had always introduced himself online as nothing more than an ordinary farmer who never even bothered to get a Trainer license. Technically speaking that wasnt exactly a lie. "Guess I should start screening those resumes and bring on an apprentice or two." Originally, Natsume had thought of just grabbing a couple of warm bodies to help run the Gym, keep things running on the surface. But on second thought, the Gym was tied to his name. If it kept losing horribly, thatd be kind of embarrassing. And besides, if he just brought in someone to stand around and look busy, that wouldnt really be fair to the apprentice either. So why not just hand the job over to Slowking? The whole point of getting apprentices in the first place was to take some pressure off of Slowking and Mew, wasnt it? At least for Slowking, that was the case. As for Mew Lets put it this way: even though Mew kept saying it wanted to be a Gym Leader, Natsume knew perfectly well how that would go. Itd burn with passion one moment and vanish without a trace the next. So there still needed to be someone dependable around to hold down the fort. That way, Slowking could take it easy too. Truly, Natsume thought, Im such a kind and considerate person. Yadon? Currently balancing the farms monthly expenses, Slowking looked up in confusion. Why did it feel like someone was talking about him? Was it just his imagination? After pondering for a bit, Slowking figured it was probably Natsume assigning him more work again. That damn slacker of a boss. One day, I swear, Ill pin you to your desk and make you work overtime. Pushing up his non-prescription glasses, Slowking went back to calculating this months expenses. The glasses were a personal tool hed chosen for himself. They acted as a quiet signal to shift gearswhenever he put them on, it meant it was time to get serious and focus. No matter the problem, he approached it with clarity and precision. But Something wasnt right. Why No matter how he ran the numbers, they just wouldnt add up. It wasnt like a huge chunk was missingjust one Pokedollar. Staring at the results, a cold sweat began to form on Slowkings forehead. It seemed hed run into a serious accounting issue. Meanwhile, as Natsume was busy fending off a challenger, Mei decided to tidy up the house a bit. Not knowing what else to do, she figured shed choose something safe and foolproof. At the very least, it wouldnt backfire. Morning, Cinccino. Cinuuuo. Seeing Mei tidying up, Cinccino happily waved its tiny paw. Cinccino really liked Mei. She helped clean up and always paid attention to hygiene. Unlike those chaotic troublemakers on the farm. Forget cleaningjust not making a mess would be a blessing. Even Natsume often ran around in clothes covered in stray fur. Every time, Cinccino had to spend ages cleaning up the drifting hair. Sometimes it would go on furious rants at Natsume. Sure, I like things clean, and I cant help wanting to tidy up But cant you at least try to be a little neater?! Im working hard here, you know! Unfortunately, even though most Pokmon tried to be mindful The end result still always seemed to create more mess for Cinccino, leaving it in a perpetual state of flustered exasperation. Morning, Emolga. Emooo~ After helping Cinccino put away the cleaning tools, Mei greeted the Emolga who was dangling from the window frame. Suspended midair, Emolga casually waved back. Ever since Espurr evolved into Meowstic, the cat and mouse had entered a daily love-hate cycle. Today, Emolga zapped her while she was eating. Tomorrow, Meowstic would hang Emolga up in the house. It all started with fighting over who got to sleep with Natsume at night. But now, neither of them had set paw in Natsumes room for agesbecause the moment night fell, theyd start bickering again. Their motto? If I cant get in, then youre definitely staying out too. Unfortunately, they were so wrapped up in their squabbles that they didnt notice someone sneaking into the house. (Phione: Ehehe~) Turns out the old saying never forget your original intention really holds true. Howd you end up hanging up there again? Got ambushed? Seeing Emolga swinging lazily by the window, enjoying the breeze, Mei released her Duosion to bring it down and asked curiously. Whenever Meowstic strung Emolga up, shed throw in a few psychic seals to prevent escape. So Emolga could only dangle obediently until the spell wore off. Thats why Mei had to get her psychic-type Duosion to help. At first, shed been surprised every time she had to do this. Now? She was used to it. Duosion extended the little hand it had grown after evolving and pointed at the bindings. A flash of light later, the psychic string came undone. Emolga, hung like a weather charm from the window, was finally free. Emo! I got ambushed while sleeping. Damn that green tea cat! Tonight, Im gonna slap that litter box right on her face! Emolga grumbled furiously as it was lowered to the ground. At first, it had been embarrassed whenever this happened, covering its face in shame. But now? Hello, dear passerby. And you too, little Oddish over there. Emolga had gotten totally used to it. Being strung up was just a little spice to its daily routine. A bit of extra flair in life. Stretching its stiff limbs, it waved a paw at Mei to thank her. Then, hopping off the windowsill, it rummaged through its little box and pulled out a crystal ball to give to her. Inside was a tiny snowmansomething youd expect around Christmas. A friend had given this to Emolga. At least, thats how Emolga explained it. ''They keep giving me gifts and stuff, but were just friends. Just friends, okay?'' Honestly, it gave off a bit of that villainous second female lead vibe from a novel. Whereas Meowstic Maybe more of a cold and aloof third female lead? Who knew. Emo. Here you go. After stuffing the crystal ball into Meis hands, Emolga zipped off in a blur. It had planning to dotonights revenge scheme on that stupid cat. Sure, it was used to this whole routine, but that didnt mean it was gonna let that jerk off the hook! Just you wait, green tea cat! Tonight, that litter box is going straight on your forehead! Thus thought the farms No.1 Little Green Tea. (Tl/N: green tea refers to someone who pretends to be sweet and innocent while actually being manipulative. Here, its jokingly used to describe Meowstic.) Watching Emolga dart off, Mei exchanged a helpless glance with the Twin Egg Pokmon. It really was Quite the character. Racking her brain, Mei finally pulled out that phrase from her vocabulary. It doesnt mind being hung from a window. Kind of carefree, in a way. Duosion''s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Before coming here, both Serperior-senpai and Tsareena-senpai had told it stories about the farm. In their words, Mr. Natsumes farm was a wondrous place. The Pokmon there were strong, and the environment was beautifulperfect for settling down long-term. There werent simulated regions like volcanoes or glaciers, but the farm seemed to have a unique energy. Just being here felt good. Even better than staying in the territory it originally came from. It was a mysterious, cozy feeling. When Serperior-senpai talked about it, her eyes shimmered with fond memories and longing. Clearly reminiscing about her days living here. But right now Duosion had to admit the environment was nice and comfortable. Though maybe because it was indoors, it didnt quite have that soaking in a hot spring kind of feeling yet. As for the Pokmon here Didnt seem all that powerful? That Emolga from just now didnt feel strong. Just your average Emolga. Maybe it just hadnt encountered the truly powerful Pokmon yet. That was probably it. During the last gym battle, Mei hadnt used Duosion. It was just too fragile. Its offense had grown, but its squishy body would be one-hit KOd by any of Natsumes Pokmon. One hit, and game over. Plus, Mei had wanted to show how much shed grown, so shed sent out the three Pokmon Natsume was most familiar with: Serperior, Hisuian Samurott, and Tsareena. Serperior was her starter. Samurott used to follow Gallade around on the farm all day. Tsareena had literally walked out of the farm and into the world. Of course Natsume would be familiar with them. By the way, wheres Samurott gone off to? Do you know, Duosion? Early this morning, Samurott went out on its own, saying it had something to take care of. No one really knew where it had gone. Shaking its head, Duosion signaled that it had no clue either. Strictly speaking, it wasnt particularly concerned about the other Pokmon on the team. It had chosen to become Meis Pokmon of its own accord after acknowledging herbut the rest of the Pokmon in the team? To it, they were more like coworkers. They got along decently enough on a daily basis. But it wasnt going to bother investing too much in those guys. In the end, they were just working under the same Trainer by coincidence. No need to get too friendly in private. Alright, maybe it went to find Gallade. Its always liked following Gallade around, ever since a long time ago. Thinking about it, Mei didnt give it much thought. Samurott wasnt the kind to get into trouble, so Mei wasnt worried itd cause any problems while out and about. In fact, by the lake where Gallade liked to nap most afternoons Samurott was currently staring at Gallade and Ceruledge with a look of sheer disbelief. Just moments ago, it had heard a thunderclap of a revelation. The idol it had admired for so longthe one it had always dreamed of apprenticing under, only to be refused time and time againGallade Had taken on a student. And not just any student, but that shameless Pokmon whod used dirty tricks during their battleCeruledge. Samurott couldnt accept it. In its eyes, the way of the sword should be pure and untainted by outside interference. And Ceruledge? That Pokmon had utterly betrayed that principle. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pulling cheap shots during a duel between swordsmen! A Pokmon like that didnt deserve to be called a true swordsman! Yet it was that very Pokmon who had easily achieved the dream Samurott had yearned for. What was supposed to be a moment of pridecoming to show Gallade how far it had come in its trainingturned into a harsh lesson in the cruelty of the world. Why? It had evolved. It had finally met Gallade again. This shouldve been twice the joy. So why did it feel like this? Samurott fell into a spiral of depression. Looks like the season of pale snow is arriving early this year. ? Seeing Samurott sulking like that, Ceruledge turned to Gallade with a puzzled look. You know this guy? Sort of. After digging through the recesses of his memory, Gallade finally fished out the identity of Samurott from his mental recycle bin. Oh right, the little Dewott who used to daydream about becoming a wandering swordsman. Gallade didnt really have any strong opinions about Samurotts dream. Everyone had their own goals. Wanting to become a hero or a swordmastersure, why not? Gallade wasnt the type to mock such ambitions. But when it came to the so-called pure sword duels Samurott cherished so much, Gallade and Ceruledge were on the same page. Winning is what matters. Everything else? Doesnt. If it meant winning, Gallade would even go straight for the enemy Trainer. Dignity? Restraint? Please. Thats something to worry about after youve won. In the philosophy that any tactic is fair game so long as it wins the battle, Gallade and Ceruledge were completely aligned. It was that shared mindset that had made Gallade willing to take Ceruledge under his wing in the first place. As for Samurott Gallade could only offer an internal apology. Watching Samurott walk away as if carrying the weight of falling snow, Gallade sighed inwardly. Elsewhere, after finishing her last challenge of the day, Natsume was getting ready to recall the visibly excited Hisuian Zorua. This had been its first formal battle against a Pokmon from outside the farm. There was a strange and unfamiliar thrill bubbling up inside it. So this is what victory feels like! Turns out Im not half bad either. Using illusions the entire time to toy with its opponent and clearing the battle without a scratch, Hisuian Zorua was feeling a surge of emotion it couldnt quite put into words. It wantedno, neededto do something. Come back, now Huh? Just as Natsume aimed the Pok Ball to recall it, Hisuian Zorua suddenly leapt to the side in a flailing flop, dodging the beam of red light. Spinning in place restlessly and brimming with energy, Hisuian Zoruas behavior left Natsume stunned for a moment. Then, she quickly caught on and gently guided it: Dont rush. Take it slow. Try to really feel the power welling up inside you. Dont resist it. Let it guide youlean into that instinct and channel your strength. Though caught off guard at first, Natsume quickly realized: this little one was about to evolve. After watching so many Pokmon evolve, she liked to think she had at least a beginners grasp on the process An amateur evolution researcher, so to speak. Yep, just an amateur. Dont ask her about scientific terms or numerical statsshe couldnt explain any of those. Just putting her thoughts into words clearly was already enough of a challenge. Hearing Natsumes calm voice, Hisuian Zorua slowly began to settle down. Truth was, it had already met the conditions for evolution long ago. It was just the nagging self-doubt that held it back. After all, the Pokmon it usually encountered were way beyond the norm. Mewa Mythical Pokmon, able to transform at will, said to possess the power of every move. Manaphythe Prince of the Sea, another Mythical Pokmon. Overqwil, the legendary Ting-Lu Even those like Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, though dubbed the disgrace of the legends by Natsume, were still legends. And the rest of the non-legendary bunch on the farm? Persian, Corviknight, Slowking Each more outrageous than the last. And itself? Just a little fox with a few illusion tricks up its sleeve. Tricks that didnt even work that well. No wonder it had started doubting its own strength. But now, after proving itself in battle, Hisuian Zorua finally crossed that threshold. Rrhh A brilliant light flared to life, and a long, drawn-out howl echoed through the air. It sounded like a wolfs cryor maybe the eerie call of a fox in the night. The white light surged and expanded, swelling like a balloonuntil, all at once, it popped. And from within emerged a new form. Now standing upright on two legs, Hisuian Zoroarks flowing mane resembled ethereal tendrils, swaying like living shadows. There was an uncanny majesty to ita strange, dignified wickedness that was difficult to put into words. They say a Hisuian Zoroark will fight its enemies with the resolve to perish together if need be. Looking down at its new hands, the newly-evolved Zoroarks eyes sparkled with excitementthough a flicker of confusion lingered. Wait how do I walk now? Taking its first steps on two feet, Hisuian Zoroark paused, lost in thought. Chapter 166: Unusual Weather and the Awkward Hisuian Zoroark As a Pokmon who had just experienced the most important evolution of its life, Hisuian Zoroark didnt seem particularly excited. Its aura after evolving had undergone a drastic shift. Before, Hisuian Zorua had been a pitiful little creature steeped in resentmentadorable, even. But now, as a Hisuian Zoroark, it exuded an eerie, otherworldly vibe, like the kind of monster in old legends that would silently appear and swiftly eliminate its enemies. It stood silently on the field, its gaze indifferent as it stared at the ground. As if it were deep in thought. In reality... ''How does walking on two legs even work again?'' ''Do I move my left foot first? Or the right?'' Tentatively, it stretched out its left leg and gave the ground a cautious tap. Hisuian Zoroark still felt like something was off. Was it like this? Something just didnt feel quite right. Maybe the right leg? That didnt seem right either. And so, having reached this pivotal moment in its life, Hisuian Zoroark now faced a new dilemma: It had no idea how to walk on two legs. This was a completely unfamiliar domain. So, it turned its gaze to the sidelinestoward Natsume. Natsume, boss! I need backup! It didnt speak, of course, but its eyes conveyed the message loud and clear. It had never needed Natsumes help more than now. Feeling the silent plea in Hisuian Zoroarks eyes, Natsume didnt expose its awkward predicament. Instead, he casually walked halfway around the battlefield before coming to stand in front of it. How does it feel to evolve? Wuuurgh A low, gruff growl rumbled out of its throat. To be honest, the first thing it felt after evolving wasnt powerbut discomfort. It wasnt used to this new posture at all. It shifted uneasily. Hisuian Zoroark realized it would need quite a bit of time to get used to this new form. Forget about battling for the next few days. First, it needed to figure out how to walk properly. All right, you can come back now. Natsume raised his hand and pressed the Pok Balls button. This time, Hisuian Zoroark didnt resist. It obediently returned to its ball. It was a huge relief not to have to embarrass itself in front of all those human spectatorsand the opponent it had just defeatedby showing off its stiff, clumsy walking. Back inside the ball, Hisuian Zoroark quietly sighed in relief. Keep it up, Natsume said, offering a brief word of encouragement to the challenger who had just been swiftly demolished by Hisuian Zoroark. With that, he cheerfully wrapped up his work for the day. Ah, the joy of clocking out. Natsume now felt that there were two moments in his day that brought him the most happiness. One was those final few minutes before the end of the workday The other, lying in bed at night, scrolling on his phone in peaceful solitude. Those few minutes before clocking out were full of promise and anticipation. And that short time before bed? It was entirely his own. No need to think about anyone elses opinions or needs. All that mattered was managing his own emotions. Short as it was, that little slice of time was his and his alone. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Well that only applied if you werent married. Once you got married, the only personal time you had was that brief moment in the car after work. Not at work, not at home. Just sitting in your car, alone. Even if it only lasted as long as one cigarette, at least it was your own little enclosed space. Thank you, Gym Leader Natsume! Ill keep working hard! The boy who had just been encouraged nodded enthusiastically. He looked quite inspired. To be honest, Natsume had no idea what exactly he had said that was so motivating. And come to think of it, that guy looked like he might actually be older than him. It was a bit ridiculous, reallya 19-year-old like him standing here encouraging Trainers who might be older, telling them to keep it up. It gave him this absurd, vaguely comical feeling. Like he was just pretending to be an adult at work. Even though, technically, he was one. Still, Natsume didnt really see himself that way. In his mind, he was still more of a student. He didnt feel like a proper, dependable adult yet. When he was a kid, all the adults seemed so mature and steady. But now that it was his turn, he felt like his own mental state was shakier than a grade schoolers. Honestly, wasnt it great to go a little unhinged now and then? And yet, here he wasputting on a mature front, comforting the Trainers hed just thoroughly crushed. It left a strange, indescribable feeling in his heart. Whatever. No need to dwell on it. Shaking off those messy thoughts, Natsume brushed through a few pleasantries, then left the gym. As usual, he did a quick check before leaving. Hed come in empty-handed and left holding a squirming pink cat. Mew! Put me down! Mew flailed in protest as it dangled from Natsumes grip by the scruff of its neck. I have my pride too, you know! Quiet down. Natsume flicked Mew lightly on the forehead, then tossed it out like he was taking out the trash. Somehow, this scene felt all too familiar. Mew had a habit of getting interested in weird things at weird times. This time, it had decided it wanted to stay overnight in the gym. It was planning to spend the night redecorating the place. What kind of style? It hadnt thought that far yet. But it swore it would be more explosive than the current decor. Yes, those were Mews exact words. It wanted a blow-your-mind kind of makeover. Natsume had a strong suspicion Mew meant that literally. If he didnt stop it, there was a good chance hed show up tomorrow morning to find the gym battlefield had been blasted into pieces. So without hesitation, Natsume had dragged it out. Mew! Spinning midair, Mew righted itself gracefully and glared back at him. Why did you throw me!? Okay, okay. Ill give you something tasty later tonight, Natsume said casually. But forget about the gym. No way Im letting you mess around in there. He could tell easily now when Mew was genuinely mad. And this wasnt it. This was just a little pout. At this point, someone might ask, Mr. Natsume, when does Mew actually get angry? Great question. The last time Mew truly lost its temper was when Manaphy found and scarfed down its entire hidden snack stashand left a note afterward. Natsume hadnt seen Mew for days after that. For a Legendary Pokmon of Mews caliber Things like legendary dignity or how others see it were completely irrelevant. But snacks? That was the line it wouldnt cross. Mew! Still pouting, Mew floated behind Natsume with a smug glint in its eye. Hmph. Natsume, youre just a human. Youll never fully grasp how we Psychic-types operate. Lock the door? Ill just teleport! We never use the front entrance anyway! Meanwhile, Natsume was also thinking Maybe he could trade some leftover Pokblocks with Manaphy tonight. Have it keep an eye on Mew for the next few nights. Make sure that super explosive renovation plan in its head didnt actually happen. Honestly, when Mew had first pitched that absurd design, Natsume had wondered if it was really Mew or just some green imp in disguise. It was just weird. On top of that, he also needed to check in on Slowking and the overly responsible butler brother. Not to push them to work Actually, the opposite. He wanted to make sure those two borderline workaholics didnt burn themselves out with some overnight productivity spree. In many ways, Slowking and the butler had something in common An unshakable confidence in their own intelligence. Which meant that when faced with difficult problems, they were prone to overthinking everything. Natsume, youre back! Youre a bit early today, arent you? A cheerful voice cut through his thoughts. Standing at the doorway with a bright smile was Mei, waiting for his response. Natsume paused for a second, then smiled back and said, Yeah, Im back. Todays battles wrapped up pretty quickly. Maybe it was from having lived alone for so long He didnt talk to people much on a daily basis. So it took his brain a second to switch back into social mode. Simply put, it had been a while since Natsume had held a proper conversation. So now, suddenly faced with social interaction, he found himself momentarily unsure how to respond. Thankfully, Natsume wasnt some truly socially withdrawn shut-in. It only took him a moment of thought to switch back into his usual self. What? Youre asking about the Pokmon? Well, Pokmon werent going to be dating Natsume anytime soon. At least, not that Natsume had any such ideas. Certain more open-minded fellows might be exceptions, but Natsume was definitely not one of them. Mei, now walking briskly up to his side, naturally clasped her hands behind her back and leaned close to press against his arm. Their relationship had gradually become more defined over time. They were basically just one step away from breaking through that final emotional barrier. Natsume would worry whether Mei might face difficulties on her travels. And whenever Mei sent him a photo or a casual little "status update," hed feel a subtle warmth in his chest. Mei, in turn, had started caring more about what Natsume was up to. When she woke up and saw him in the news, she couldnt help but feel a vague sense of pride. But then, shed also feel a twinge of irritation seeing the flood of overly affectionate comments from guys and girls alikeor the occasional meme about Walmart plastic bags. Natsume is mine! That thought had suddenly popped into Meis mind at one point. Though shed quickly pushed it down, telling herself that she and Natsume were just friends. Overly possessive friends were the kind that got pushed away, after all. But deep down, Mei knew the truth. Because, honestly, the word possessive wasnt something that should ever exist between just friends. Oh rightZorua evolved during battle today. Come on out. Chatting casually with Mei, Natsume released Hisuian Zoroark with a flick of his wrist. White light flashed, and the newly evolved Hisuian Zoroark landed gracefully, lifting its chin slightly in a cool, aloof pose. It was giving off that whole stoic and prideful vibe. A bit like how Corvisquire had been right after evolving into Corviknight. Too bad Corviknight had now fully embraced its role as a comedic sidekick. Natsume sometimes thought it was a real loss to the comedy world that Corviknight hadnt reincarnated as a human. Who knew what path Hisuian Zoroark would take from here? Natsume wasnt quite sure. Judging by its personality, Zoroark probably wouldnt become a comedian right? But then again, with the kind of weirdos hanging out with Mew, could anyone really stay normal? Well, except for himself, of course. He was just your average, totally unremarkable farm owner. Go get used to that new body of yours. And dont forget to come back for dinner tonight! Natsume waved and called out loudly to Hisuian Zoroark. This guy had a habit of disappearing right at mealtime. Every day, it found some new excuse to vanish during lunch or dinner Only to show up again during nap time, looking for food. Natsume used to be pretty diligent about taking afternoon naps. Wasnt that what study hall was really for, back in school? Zoroark gave a small nod, indicating it understood. Its top priority right now was to get comfortable in this new body. So cool Mei murmured, eyes wide with admiration as she stared at the silent Hisuian Zoroark. There was no denying itZoroarks looks were top-tier. Even if it was probably feeling a little anxious on the inside right now. As the sound of footsteps grew distant, Hisuian Zoroark finally exhaled a quiet breath of relief. Theyre gone. Thank Arceus. It glanced back to make sure Natsume and Mei had gone inside and shut the door. Then Zoroark took a deep breath And finally took its first step. Its paw landed on the ground, and it adjusted its posture slightly. Then came the second step the third. Soon enough, Hisuian Zoroark was striding along with long, confident strides. Or at least, it was trying to. Unfortunately, possibly due to this being its first time walking upright, it looked A bit like a weasel sneaking into a farm to steal chickens. Yeah, it was a weird comparison. But unfortunately, it was the exact thought both Mew and Manaphy had as they peered down from the second-floor window. Mew. Whats this guy even doing? Why does he look so sketchy? Mews eyes held a clear hint of disdain. Next to it, Manaphythe ever-loyal friendwas Mana. Pfft, is this your little protg? The vibes unique, Ill give him that. Loads of potential. Manaphy wasted no time delivering its signature sarcasm. Did you think Manaphy would hold back just to protect Zoroarks pride? Absolutely not. Manaphy was a true connoisseur of chaos. Its instinctive response was to laugh, mock, and mentally record this precious moment for future teasing. Meanwhile, downstairs, Natsume and Mei had changed clothes and were getting ready to head into town to do some shopping. Natsume wanted to stock up on snacks and such for the house. Mei was planning to pick up a few changes of clothes to leave at the farmhouse. So hot Mei muttered, fanning herself beneath her wide-brimmed sun hat. She glanced up at the sun, which was half-hidden by a thick layer of clouds. It was already deep into autumn, and yet the temperature these past few days had spiked unexpectedly. So much so that Mei was starting to feel like it was summer all over again. This weather is seriously strange Chapter 167: Showing Off Is Etched Into a Man’s DNA Natsume had more or less gotten used to the seasons being out of whack. This past summer, the heat had just kept climbingand it never really let up. Every time the temperature dropped just a little, giving the illusion that autumn was finally on its way, it would spike back up again before he could even sigh in relief. After going through that cycle a few times, Natsume felt like he was starting to accept it. Or to put it more accurately, he was just completely speechless at this point. But still, for this time of year... it really is unusually hot As he said that, Natsume suddenly fell silent, as if something had just come to mind. He remembered that Ting-Lu had mentioned something to him not long agoabout an old friend who seemed to be stirring lately. Back then, Natsume had kept an eye on the situation for a while. But with everything going on recently, and with no real signs of movement from that side, the matter had nearly slipped his mind. Whats wrong? Seeing Natsume fall quiet and thoughtful, Mei tilted forward slightly, her hands clasped behind her back. She leaned in, sticking her face right into Natsumes line of sight, forcing him to acknowledge her presence. Looking at Natsumes expression, she couldnt help but feel a bit uneasy. This strange heat, and Natsume suddenly going all thoughtful It sparked a certain suspicion in Meis heart. Could it be a Legendary? The moment the thought popped into her head, even Mei startled herself. Back in the day, that idea wouldnt have even crossed her mind. To most regular Trainers, Legendary Pokmon were just thatlegends, distant and untouchable. Sure, there were a lot of them in the lore, but most Trainers could go their entire lives without seeing even one in person. But ever since shed met Natsume It felt like she was running into Legendary Pokmon every other day. Back on the farm, shed gotten pretty chummy with Ogerpon and even Phione. Shed fed Phione so much that the poor thing had started putting on weight. If it werent for Natsumes restrictions, Mei was pretty sure she couldve turned Phione into a big ol Tepig. Even when they were traveling, Natsume would randomly send her picturessometimes just to complain. One day itd be Mew teasing some poor Pokmon until it ran off in frustration. The next, Ogerpon would be locking herself in her room trying to figure out how to wear two masks at once. Then maybe Cresselia would randomly show up again out of nowhere. After stuffing her face like she hadnt eaten in centuries, shed just lazily float off again. The whole air of mystery and reverence that surrounded these Legendaries? Yeah, that didnt really apply when it came to Natsume. Whenever he talked about them, it was always with the same tone people used to talk about their pet dogs. Not even particularly smart dogs, either. Hed once confided in Mei: In his eyes, Cresselia wasnt really all that different from Corviknight. It was hard to tell if that was a compliment to Corviknight or an insult to Cresselia. Its nothing, Natsume finally said with a smile, pulling himself back from his thoughts. Just something that crossed my mind. Seeing the concern on Meis face, he started explaining: Ting-Lu mentioned it to me before, so Ive been keeping it in the back of my mind. Unusual heat, tied to someone Ting-Lu knowstheres really only one likely culprit: Chi-Yu. If it were back then, I mightve been more worried. But now, a Chi-Yu on its own probably isnt much of a threat to me. Still, out of caution, Natsume didnt say it with absolute certainty. Hed only said probably. Because you never knowwhat if that Chi-Yu had stumbled across some massive power-up? What if it traded the ability to fly for raw strength, and pulled off a Primal Reversion-style comeback mid-battle? Unlikely, sure. But not impossible. Even if that did happen, Natsume wasnt too concerned. If it was a normal Chi-Yu, hed deal with it normally. If it wasnt Then it was time to bring out the big gunsnamely, Grandpa Mew. Hed just give a grand welcome, summon the ancient ancestor, and let Mew deliver a modest but memorable shock-and-awe performance. Honestly, you could really tell the difference once someone had that kind of backing. For most people, confidence came from money or status. And when you had both, well thats usually when people started thinking about going bigfinding aliens, building robots, that kind of thing. (Cross that out.) But in the world of Pokmon? Confidence came from strength. With enough power, even a god wasnt all that scary. You might even get the itch to challenge one just for the thrill of it. Like: Come on! Lets battle! I see Mei nodded, a look of sudden realization on her face. In reality She didnt quite get it. Shed heard a bit about Chi-Yu, sure. But just the basics. Most of what she knew about Legendaries came from official sites and online speculation. The official sources were always vague, never giving a clear picture of just how strong a Legendary really was. They just said that they were powerfuland that a regular team of Pokmon would likely get steamrolled one by one. As for the stuff online That was more entertainment than actual information. Every fandom had its power-scaling wars, and once those started, personal attacks werent far behind. It always began with people seriously debating who was strongerChi-Yu or Ting-Lu And ended with stuff like: [CHI-YU CASTS INFERNO AND BURNS YOUR X INTO A NON-STICK PAN]. Not exactly a useful metric. Even in slightly calmer discussions, things often veered into looks. People were naturally biased toward good-looking Pokmon. If a Pokmon didnt exactly win the genetic lottery, fans tended to lump it in with the villains and mentally level it up a few notches. Meanwhile, the cute and elegant ones got underestimated. There were even people who thought Mew would get destroyed by something like Glimmora, just because it looked soft and harmless. But the truth? Mew could probably tear Glimmora apart and use it as fertilizer for a flower bed. All these biases made online discussions about Legendary power levels wildly inconsistent. Not to mention the crowd of hot-take bros and meme-lords. So as it stood, Mei didnt really have a solid grasp on what these Legendaries were truly capable of. Still, if Natsume said it was fine, then shed believe him. Thinking about it again, with so many Legendaries hanging out on Natsumes farm, even just sheer numbers gave him an edge. That thought alone gave Mei a sense of peace. Its truemost people just instinctively assumed that the side with more people had the advantage. Even if the one being surrounded was someone like Uchiha Madara. Corviknight! Caw! At Natsumes call, Corviknightwho had been eavesdropping behind the housespread its wings wide. Its massive body arced through the air in one elegant sweep and landed gracefully in front of them. From takeoff to landing, it took less than two seconds. Not particularly usefulbut it looked cool. Just imagine it: you say the word, and a giant, majestic beast swoops down from the sky. Tell me thats not cool. Now picture this alternative: you call out, and a pigeon waddles out from behind the house, taking tiny awkward steps. Which would you pick? Especially if the girl you likewho also happens to like youis standing right there, watching. Yeah. Most guys are going to go with the cool entrance. Because lets face it: showing off is wired into the male genome. Doesnt matter if youre five or fiftyits baked into your DNA. At five, you show off your toys. At fifteen, your game scores. At twenty or thirty, maybe its the fish you caught. At fifty, your kids. Thousands of years ago? Your hunt. A lifetime of trying to look impressive. Honestly, guys probably keep bragging even after theyre dead. Check out my ultra-lit, anime-singing, glow-in-the-dark urn! Good afternoon, Corviknight. Mei walked up and gently patted the proud-looking Corviknight. Just like Natsume had saidits belly really had gotten noticeably rounder lately. If she didnt already know Corviknight was maleand therefore definitely not expecting chicksshe mightve started wondering what kind of dramatic phase he was going through. But sadly, Corviknight was just plain getting fat. That once awe-inspiring, majestic bird of steel Still looked pretty cool, honestly. Just in a slightly different way. Corviknight gave off the vibe of a steel sculpturemeticulously crafted, every line elegant and precise. Now? Now he looked more like a legendary war general from ancient times. Big-bellied, maybebut the moment he moved, he radiated power. It wasnt the sleek kind of handsome anymore. There was something almost honest and solid about it. Of course, that impression usually only lasted until the fight started. Before battle, Corviknight was all cold pride, acting like no opponent was worth his time. But during battle? He turned into a one-bird quote machine. If you translated his speech into human language, itd read like a book of one-liners. And not just regular onesfull-on edgy anime quotes. He constantly insisted hed grown out of his chuuni phase, that he didnt say those cool-sounding-but-ineffective lines anymore. But as the saying goes: old habits die hard. Come battle time, Corviknight would still blurt out things like: Kneel before me. Gaze upon your doom. Youre already dead. Every time, Kirlia would watch on in agony. She even tried to ask Corviknight for guidance once. His response? He just recommended an anime. No one told her that mastering snarky one-liners required watching shows. Poor Kirlia nearly gave up on trash talk altogether. But then again, when it came to mind makeover, Psychic-types were naturals. Amnesia. Courage Boost. Self-Motivation. You name it. Whats that? Youre saying half of those arent even Psychic-type moves? Its fine. I can learn it. For us Psychic-types, we have to master the moves we want. Unless I really cant learn it. After a bout of self-inflicted motivational talk, Kirlia finally steadied her mental resolve. ''I cant even get past a few lines of trash talk? And I dare call myself the Queen of Snark?'' ''I carry on the will of Number 7! I wont lose!'' At last, Kirlias trash talk earned Corviknights approval. A foul-mouthed little girl, huh? Youve passed. How did Corviknight decide Kirlia was ready to graduate? Simple. That mouth of hers spewed so much filth that Corviknight nearly couldnt resist smacking her with a wing on the spot. If thats not graduation material, what is? Once they landed smoothly, Corviknight extended a wing across the ground. It resembled a long, black carpet. This was a little habit Corviknight had developed after serving as Natsumes ride for so long. Flashy shiny Pidgeots may be fast But I, Corviknight, am still Boss Natsumes favorite. Youre still too green to be a proper mount. Driving the boss isnt just about flying. This was a lesson Corviknight had learned after watching hundreds of high emotional intelligence videos. He didnt know if the people in those videos had ever driven VIPs, but their advice had proven surprisingly useful. To sum it all up The core mindset is to treat your trainer like a billionaire client ready to tip a million at any moment. Thinking that way made the job much easierand revealed many areas for improvement. Come on, Standing beside Corviknight, Natsume extended his hand toward Mei. Ladies firstexcept when racing to the cafeteria. Okay~ Mei looked at Natsumes outstretched hand, then at Corviknights poker-faced stance. She suddenly smiled and placed her hand in his. So, todays schedule is all up to our dear Gym Leader Natsume? Tell me, did you actually plan anything? Of course! Natsume answered firmly but even as he spoke, his hand was quietly reaching for his phone. Was it still possible to find a guide on that app? Hmm... Maybe he could get Slowking to help figure out an itinerary... Just as Slowking was stuck in a loop of self-inflicted overthinking, his head snapped up. That feeling... Natsumes thinking about me! A bad omen, for sure. Luckily, whenever Natsume went out, he always brought his phone-Rotom along. Taking advantage of Meis momentary distraction, he stealthily grabbed Rotom in phone form and typed a few quick words, then just as naturally slipped it back into his pocket. This was when having an AI companion really paid off. NaCtsume... Phone Rotom, whod just been yanked out and shoved back in, felt the world spinning around him. Just as he came to his senses, he noticed the message Natsume had left him. Without another word, he quietly began searching for the perfect date plan. As a genderless Ghost-type Pokmon, Rotom didnt quite understand what human dates were supposed to be like. But as a pseudo-artificial-intelligence being, he could at least put together a perfectly average and safe date plan. Nothing fancybut nothing disastrous, either. And when it came to dinner recommendations, Rotom actually had some good suggestions. Yeahtonight, Natsume and Mei had decided not to eat at the farm. Even though both of them could cook, sometimes you just want to eat out once... twice... maybe three times... Okay fine, cooking skills aside, both of them actually preferred eating out. After all, cooking wasnt the annoying partit was the prep work before and the dishwashing after that were truly painful. You seated? All set. Sitting in front of Natsume, Mei adjusted her posture slightly. Truth be told, it felt a bit like she was sitting in Natsumes lap. It made her a little self-conscious. Even though their relationship had already reached a tacit understanding, they hadnt explicitly spelled it out yet. There was still a certain... delicate atmosphere between them. That liminal space between friendship and romance. Once that unspoken boundary was crossed, the mystery and charm of it would vanish. Being too direct could sometimes kill the mood. Yaya, Natsume called. Caw! Once Mei was settled, Natsume gave Corviknight a light pat on the back. Given Corviknights size, carrying two people was no issue at all. Both his strength and width were more than enough for the job. At Natsumes signal, Corviknight spread his wings wide and in the next instant, shot into the sky like an arrow. The sudden burst of speed made Mei instinctively lean backward. Before she could react or adjust herself, she was already cradled in a warm embrace. Feeling the heat radiating from behind, Meis body tensed then gradually relaxed. Neither of them said a word. They simply adjusted their positions. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sitting alone and sitting while holding someone were two entirely different postures. Mei quietly shifted in sync with Natsume to rebalance their shared center of gravity. Na Phone Rotom, hiding in Natsumes pocket, had just finished crafting the date guide and was about to report only to witness a scene that would emotionally damage any single Pokmon. The words stuck in his throat. Without a sound, he withdrew into the darkness and started editing his own videos instead. Any Pokmon with half a brain would know better than to interrupt their trainer at a moment like this. Rotom had always considered himself lucky. Hed ended up with a young, easygoing trainer like Natsume. Older trainers often treated newly added Pokmon as just extra pieces for utilitymaybe for support, or to counter specific types. Emotionally, the bond was never as strong as with their original partners. Later team members had to be extra cautious around their trainers. Back at the Rotom Academy, a senior once said Some trainer-Pokmon relationships are like those between football players and their coaches. If youre talented, been there since the beginning, and the coach likes youyou start the game. If youre average, came later, or just not favoredyou sit on the bench, wave towels, maybe even get traded. For Pokmon, that often meant being released back into the wildor "entrusted" to someone else. Many Pokmon would go to humiliating lengths just to stay on the team. Especially those like Rotomfunctional and intelligent Pokmon. But with Natsume, Rotom felt completely at ease. He could do what he wanted. He didnt have to tiptoe around their interactions. Still That didnt mean he could be brainless and ruin his trainers romantic moment. Pokmon like that might seem cute and innocent at first... But they got annoying real fast. Rotom was a mature Pokmon. Hed never make that mistake. Soon enough, Corviknight began to lower his altitude. Chapter 168: Making Up for That Confession Right Now Lets check out this shop too, Natsume said, pointing to a clothing store under the shade of a roadside tree. A sign hanging in the window read: Now Open~ Todays outing with Mei had two goals: to pick up a few things for himself, and more importantly, to go shopping for clothes with her. With that mission in mind, the two had already been browsing for a while now. So far, the number of outfits theyd actually bought? Zero. Maybe it was a matter of differing perspectives. Every time Natsume saw something that looked decent, he was ready to pay and pack it up on the spot. Clothes, after all, just needed to be wearable. As long as they werent ugly and were reasonably comfortable, they were good enough. And if they happened to be cheap? Then that was a top-tier find. Thats why Natsume usually shopped quickly. His process was simple: spot a decent-looking store, head in, try something on, pay, and go. He rarely ever visited more than three stores in one outing. Because even before he left the house, he already had a clear idea of what he needed. Once out, it was straight to the pointget what he came for and leave. He absolutely would not spend an extra second lingering outside. But in this regard, Mei had a different opinion. For Meiand for most girls, reallywhether or not they actually bought something wasnt the point. The whole purpose of going shopping was, well shopping. Wandering around, browsing here and there, walking with a friend or boyfriendthat experience was the whole point. The process mattered much more than the outcome. And more often than not, the most important part of that process was the person you were with. Coming, coming! Mei, who had been squatting by the roadside playing with a Pidove, suddenly sprang to her feet and rushed to Natsumes side in a few quick strides. Then Ugh, my heads spinning Maybe it was from standing up too fast after squatting for too long. Mei felt like someone had pulled the plug on her visionlike an old TV with a loose cable, everything suddenly went dark. It was like her soul had been locked away from her body. Sounds, visualsall of it felt distant and muffled. Thump. She instinctively stumbled back, about to collapse. Thankfully, Natsume reacted quickly and caught her just in time. Otherwise, Mei mightve ended up sitting on the sidewalk right in the middle of the street. Careful, he said. Youre always like this when were traveling too As Mei slowly regained her senses, she heard Natsume muttering under his breath. Logically, as a Pokmon trainer who trained regularly, she thought her physical condition was decent. But things like this still happened now and then. Alright, alright, I get it, she cut him off. Lets just go look at clothes already. She pushed Natsume toward the shop, deliberately steering the conversation away. She knew he was only worried, and she didnt mind the nagging too much. But stillwas now really the time? They were still out shopping. Couldnt he save the lecture for later tonight? So Natsumes well-intentioned nagging was left hanging in the air as he followed Mei into the store to continue browsing. How about this one? Mei asked, holding up two outfits and posing in front of the full-length mirror. For some reason, she felt like the mirror made her look a bit taller. Maybe it was a trick of the store''s design? To make the clothes look more appealing? Hm I think it works, Natsume said after a few seconds of thoughtful silence, arms folded across his chest. It gives off a kind of intellectual vibe. Apparently, when picking out clothes with a girl, you shouldnt respond immediately. Taking a few seconds to pause before giving your opinion was supposed to make it sound more sincere. Natsume didnt know who came up with that rule, but he figured it made sense. At the very least, it made it seem like he was seriously considering it. Truthfully though, Natsumes fashion sense was still firmly rooted in practicality. Fabric type? Cut? Weight per square meter? Yeah, none of that really registered for him. His judgment was based entirely on first impressions. If it looked fine at first glance, then it was fine. If not, then it wasnt. So far, everything Mei tried on had looked good. Probably because Mei herself was already so striking. Attractive people could pull off almost anything. Even a potato sack would look runway-ready on her. Especially considering how avant-garde some fashion shows were these days. Oh yeah? Mei said, glancing at him through the mirror. You seem to really like this intellectual look. Natsume responded casually, like it was no big deal. Its fine. I just think if you tried that kind of style now and then, youd look amazing. Really eye-catching, you know? Mmhmm. Mei gave a cryptic hum and dropped the topic. She never saw herself as the quiet, bookish type. The whole intellectual thing didnt really match her personality. But if Natsume thought itd look good on her maybe she could try it sometime? This outfit does look great on you, the sales clerk chimed in, seizing the opportunity to launch into a sales pitch. She explained how the cut was on trend, the craftsmanship, the feel of the fabricnone of which Mei was really paying attention to. What caught her ear was just one phrase: your boyfriend. She instinctively turned her head to look at Natsume And their eyes met. They were standing quite close. In that moment, time seemed to stretch. Even the clerks enthusiastic voice faded into the background. So, what do you think, miss? Ah its nice. Ill keep looking around, Mei replied, quickly snapping out of it. She broke eye contact and began examining herself in the mirror again. For some reason, her earlobes felt warm. The outfit in the mirror also suddenly looked kind of ordinary. Let me check out something else. She straightened the clothes and hung them back on the rack. Then, almost on impulse, she grabbed Natsumes hand and headed for the door. Alright, come again anytime, miss! the sales clerk called out cheerily. Oh, and were having a promotionwhy not take another look with your boyfriend? She was clearly eager to make a sale. But Meis mind wasnt really on clothes anymore. Outside the store, she walked with her head slightly down. The warmth of Natsumes hand made her instinctively want to pull away. But the steady pressure holding her hand made her attempts to let go unsuccessful. So she gave up. And just kept holding his hand as they continued their stroll. Back on that one night, when shed acted on impulse and crossed a line, it had only been once. After that, Mei had spent the next few days avoiding Natsume out of sheer embarrassment. When the adrenaline faded, all that was left behind was regret and shyness. Didnt like the outfit? Mm, didnt quite suit me. Got it. Alright then. And just like that, the conversation stalled again. Neither of them really knew what to say next. There was so much he wanted to say, but he didnt know where to begin. Natsume felt a strange flutter in his chest. A feeling he couldnt quite describe. A feeling he had never experienced before. Not even when he was staring at that half-human-sized Strike Freedom Gundam model equipped with a DCD belt. And those 2D waifus? Dont even mention them. The gap between 2D and 3D was just too wide. You couldnt even feel their warmth, let alone talk about something as elusive as a racing heartbeat. Of course, maybe it was because Natsumes cultivation wasnt strong enough yet. He still couldnt break through the dimensional wall to communicate with his 2D wife. Which is why Natsume decided to enter the 2D world himself. (Strikethrough.) Holding Meis hand, Natsume could no longer tell whose sweat it was that made their palms damp. He walked just half a step behind her. From that angle, he could clearly see the blush on the side of her face. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And her earsso red they could rival the ripest peaches on a summer tree. He didnt say a word, only adjusted his pace so he could walk side by side with Mei. Meanwhile, in his pocket, Rotom was practically bursting to jump out and teach Natsume how to speak. Come on, man, say something! Arent you usually pretty talkative? Ive seen you roast people online without pausing for breath! Why so shy now? Keyboard warrior online, tongue-tied introvert in real life? No way. Ive gotta help Natsume find something to say in a moment like this. Theres gotta be a million dating one-liners online... Click. After a brief search, Rotom silently closed the browser tab. Its already the year 4202. Why are the internets dating lines still stuck in 2010? Whats with all the ancient Martian text slang? Argh. Have you people really not found a new way to flirt in all these years?! Rotom was so frustrated, it started cursing in foreign languages. Swearing in other languagessomething it picked up from Natsume. Natsume always believed swearing was bad. It ruined your image and put others in a bad mood if they overheard. So when Natsume got mad, he usually cursed in foreign languages. Ask him to hold a conversation in a second language? Hed stumble, stutter, and barely squeeze out a sentence. But ask him to cuss in one? Hed switch between languages like a pro. Who do you think taught Corviknight all its colorful vocabulary in the first place? Ahem. Lets skip over that rather elegant and refined topic. At this very moment, Rotom felt like it was facing the biggest professional challenge of its entire existence. As a Pokmon devoted to making a Trainers life easierhandling the little things so they could focus on trainingRotom saw itself as Natsumes personal butler. Always ready to dig up whatever info he needed, help build the best plans. But now? Rotoms virtual brain was practically overheating. The so-called dating tips online were useless. Either they were fairy-tale scripts written by people whod never been in a relationship Or they were tips shared by serial players. None of it was anything Natsume could actually use. Was honest, simple love really that hard to come by on the modern internet? With a weary sigh, Rotom realized it might not be much help in this department after all. It wasnt like it had ever been in love either. Luckily, while Natsume was still single, he wasnt a complete blockhead. Soon, he found something to say to break the awkward silence. And just like that, things slipped back into their usual rhythm Except for the hands they were still holding. Night had fallen, but the crowd on the streets hadnt thinned one bit. In fact, with the evening stalls opening along the pedestrian street, it had gotten even more packed. Didnt even notice it got this late, Mei said. Standing by the manmade lake, she raised her hand to the breeze, trying to catch and hold on to a wisp of that carefree wind. Sometimes, people just want to hold onto things that cant be held. Like time. Like youth. Yeah, Natsume replied. Sitting on the grass, he discreetly rubbed his ankle. It was sore. For the first time since becoming an adult, Natsume was starting to feel like his stamina might not be what it used to be. If he hadnt found an excuse to sit down for a bit at that milk tea shop earlier... His ankle wouldnt just be soreitd probably be throbbing by now. Seriously, how do girls go shopping for hours and feel nothing? One by one, the lakeside lights flickered on. Natsume glanced at the now fully dark sky, then at the lamps just coming to life. He didnt feel like commenting. Every neighborhood probably had a few of those streetlightsno one knew why they were there. They always turned on late, constantly broke for no reason, and no one ever came to fix them. Just stayed broken forever. Heave-ho. Plopping down beside him, Mei even made a cute sound effect for herself. The fall grasses were dry and brittle, and sitting down, you could feel them poking through your pants. Even thick fabric couldnt block them entirely. These weeds seemed to have a way of getting everywhere. A few decorative lotus lanterns floated quietly on the lakes surface. Natsume. Whats up? Mei sat quietly for a moment beside him, then suddenly spoke, breaking the stillness. What exactly are we now? With her elbows on her knees and her hand propping up her chin, she tilted her head slightly to look at him. A few strands of hair fell by her ear, dancing lightly in the breeze. For a girl, asking that question took some courage. As of now Natsume didnt answer right away, like he was intentionally teasing her. Finally, under Meis expectant gaze, he said the words. Were dating, right? But you havent even confessed yet. Then let me fix that now. He stood up and shifted his posture, looking at Mei seriously. Mei, will you be my girlfriend? Most of the time, yes. And the rest of the time? Absolutely yes. No flowers, no candles, no big dramatic declarations. But sometimes, things are just that simple. Chapter 169: Mew Falls into Thought Under the night sky, a massive steel bird soared silently through the air. Each flap of its wings barely made a sound, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. Throughout the entire flight, Natsume and Mei, seated atop the Corviknight, hardly felt a single jolt of turbulence. One had to admitthere was good reason Corviknight was nicknamed the "Airborne Bus." Huge frame, smooth ride. For Corviknight, stable flight wasn''t just a skillit was an instinct etched into its very bones. It hardly needed any training to master it. Just like how, for a Pidgeot, speed was a drive rooted deep in its DNA. Having once taken the Shiny Pidgeot Express, Natsume could personally attest Shiny Pidgeot was fast. If you were in a hurry, it was definitely the ride to catch. That was all there was to it, really. You could say speed was Shiny Pidgeots greatest strengthalso the only thing worth praising about its flying. There wasnt much else to commend. Just that blinding speed and reckless flying posture of Shiny Pidgeot... Even Natsume, someone capable of knocking out Pokmon barehanded, found it hard to endure. Let alone the average Trainer. Any regular Trainer hoping to ride a Pidgeot Aside from prepping all safety measures and bracing themselves mentally They also had to strike a deal with Pidgeot beforehand: under no circumstances was it to fly at top speed. Normal humans simply couldnt handle that kind of velocity. Back to the present, on the Corviknights back Natsume and Mei sat just like they did when they first set out. Only now, the space between them had shrunk, to the point where they were practically leaning against one another. Theres a term for thatsocial distance. The closer people are emotionally, the more they unconsciously reduce that distance. And people who arent as close? Even when unaware, theyll instinctively keep some space between them. Natsume and Mei were now well past the distance typical between friends. Their relationship was now that of a couple. It still feels a little unreal, Mei murmured. Feeling the cool night breeze, she instinctively leaned toward the warmth beside her. Seeing her resting against him, Natsume subtly adjusted his posture so Mei could lean on him more comfortably, with less effort. Maybe because weve already been living like this for a while now. For most couples, things start with tentative steps, teasing flirtation, drawn-out ambiguity before finally breaking through that invisible wall and freely indulging in each other. After that sweet, sticky phase passes, it eventually settles into calm routine. You grow used to having someone beside you. Living out each uneventful day together. Thats how it usually goes. But Natsume and Mei? Theyd skipped all the preamble. And jumped straight to the married couple living together phase. Though they didnt always wake up to each others face in the morning, the first thing theyd do was look for signs of the other. If Natsume had business early in the day, hed tell the overly responsible Indeedee where he was going So Mei could know his whereabouts. Mei did the same. On the farm, that poor female Indeedee had basically become their live-in messenger. Any little secret, any random tidbit, usually passed through her first. It got to the point where female Indeedee started giving them these oddly maternal looks. Hard to describe, really. If you had to label it, maybe like a stan mom watching her favorite ship become canon? Yeah, Natsume didnt really get any of that stuff. He knew just enough to recognize the general vibe. And that was the closest comparison he could come up with for the way Indeedee now looked at them. To her, this mustve felt like watching her OTP finally go official. Well, not quite. Romance is just the beginning. You could say the ship had finally found its racetrack and was now properly off to the races. At last, Mei whispered. Maybe that really is the reason, she added, snuggled against Natsumes chest, seamlessly stepping into her new role. Exceptcalling it a new role didnt feel quite right. Because shed long been used to Natsume being part of her everyday life. The chill of the evening wind brushed past. And with it, Mei felt a strange drowsiness settle in. Like a weight inside her had finally dropped. At the start of this journey, shed been a rookie Trainer just setting out. Natsume was a newly minted farm owner, not much more experienced. They were close in age, each chasing their own dream. But not long after, before Mei could even fully grow into a skilled Trainer Natsume rocketed ahead at a pace she simply couldnt fathom. Beating Legendaries. Capturing them. Becoming the youngest Gym Leader in Jadeleaf history. Just a few lines on paper But Mei had only ever seen stuff like that in textbooks. To her, people like that were distant, unreachablelegends she could only read about and admire. And now, one such legend stood before her. Not just someone she knew But a boy she liked. The quiet, gentle youth in her memories, always smiling as he patted Pokmon on the head, had suddenly become someone remarkable. It was like that awkward, mumbly weirdo from your class suddenly turning into a nationwide heartthrob overnight. The sheer contrast had made Mei question if she still had a place in Natsumes world. Different standings meant seeing different horizons. Mei had been terrified of losing common ground, of running out of things to say, of quietly slipping out of his life. That fear had led her to go off training for a long time. Running from place to place, exhausting herself just to stay in motion. Then She found herself once again at the farms gate. Familiar, yet tinged with strangeness, the sight no longer filled her with dread. Natsume. What is it? Nothing. Just wanted to say your name. She nuzzled further into his embrace, voice muffled and sleepy. She was exhausted. Didnt feel it while walking around earlier, but now that theyd stopped, everything ached. Her ankles, her shoulders, even the muscles in her back. She really shouldve rested properly last night. She winced at the thought. Trying to catch Natsumes first Gym challenge, shed rushed back the moment her own training ended. Didnt even pause for proper rest. Tonighthot bath, good sleep. She was tired, yes, but skipping a shower was not an option. She had to be squeaky clean before bed... Slowly, Meis eyes drifted shut. Let me nap for a few minutes, she murmured. Mm. Ill wake you when we get to the farm. Natsumes arms naturally wrapped around her waist, turning him into a human safety harness. Dozing mid-flight was way riskier than sleepy driving, after all. You could be nodding off one second and free-falling through the sky the next. Mei rubbed her head against his chest, finding a cozy spot to rest. Her body turned slightlyher casually tied ponytail brushing against Natsumes chin. She wrapped her arms around his torso like a sloth clinging to a tree, letting herself doze. Hearing the soft sounds from his passengers, Corviknight quietly reduced altitude and speed. Hmph. Natsume didnt even need to say a wordI already knew what he wanted. This kind of teamwork? No other Pokmon could match it! Clearly, I am Natsumes most important steed. With a proud lift of its head, Corviknights eyes gleamed with smug confidence. Sometimes, Corviknight felt like a corporate drone. When there was no work, it felt like it was wasting away. When there was work, it wished it could disappear. But just as it was about to be let go? Suddenly life didnt seem so bad anymore. Even with the slower pace, their destination finally came into view. Mei, were here. Natsume probably didnt even realize it But his voice was much gentler than usual. Corviknight turned its head, its expression like it had just seen a ghost. Excuse me? Boss Natsume? Thats how you talk to people now? Pretty sure thats not your usual tone with me. What, did they swap out your voice actor or something? Mm Rubbing her eyes, Mei felt like all the strength had drained from her body. She had that all-too-familiar feeling of not wanting to move. Her gaze instinctively lingered for a few seconds on the Pok Balls clipped to her waist. Then, she looked toward Natsume, who was getting ready to dismount from Corviknight. Spreading her arms out, she spoke in a tone that was practically a whine: Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Carry me back. I dont wanna move. Too lazy. Yep. That was very cute. Natsume paused for a moment, considering the sight before him as he hopped off Corviknight. Caw caw. He gave Corviknight a few pats on the neck. Without needing any further instructions, Corviknight immediately lowered itself. Its whole body pressed to the ground, the bird made every effort to resemble a perfectly respectable stepping stool. I am a step, I am a step, I am a step Corviknight repeated the mantra to itself like self-convincing. Lets see After giving Mei a quick once-over, Natsume suddenly reached out. His arm slid under the crook of her knees and, with a swift motion, he lifted her up. In a princess carry. W-Wait, hold on! Wait a sec!! Mei, who had been drowsy just a second ago, was instantly wide awake. A sudden surge of energy filled her exhausted body. Like a cat being dragged into the bathroom for a bath, she started struggling wildly. Stop squirming. Youre making it hard for me to get a good grip. A lie, of course. For Natsume, carrying Mei was no effort at all. With her weight, forget the princess carryhe could probably lift her with one hand. Ah, the physique of a Super Hisuian (crossed out). You dont like this position? Feeling Mei squirming frantically in his arms, Natsume asked with some confusion. Hed read online that most girls actually dreamed of being carried like this, didnt they? Its not that I dont like it! Thats not the issue at all! Mei wanted to say it wasnt the pose she had a problem with. She was just embarrassed. She didnt want the Pokmon on the farm to see this. Natsume, princess-carrying her in broad daylight, in front of everyone. So mortifying! It was like getting caught doing something indecent at homeby your cat. And Pokmon were way smarter than cats. Which just made the embarrassment that much worse. Then its not a problem. Ignoring her protests entirely, Natsume remained utterly composed. Surprisingly assertive at this moment, too. Indeedee, open the door for me, please. Since both of his hands were full, he called for his trusty assistant. On the farm, Natsume had two major helpers. The external brain who helped with planning and logisticsSlowking. And the one who handled household tasks and general choreshis little sister-like Indeedee. Indeedees abilities were beyond question. And she had a great personality too. Way better than that annoying Slowking, who always looked at people like they were idiots. Yes, Natsume had the honor of being one of the many whod been judged lacking by Slowkings standards. After all, whenever Slowking was around, Natsume had long since given up thinking for himself. It was only natural to be looked down on. At this point, he could accept those condescending eyes with total peace of mind. Ee? When she opened the door, Indeedee froze for a moment at the scene before her. Bathed in the warm light spilling from the house, Natsume stood there holding Mei in a princess carry. Meanwhile, Mei had both hands clamped tightly over her face, unwilling to let anyone see her expression. But from the flush spreading all the way to her neck, it wasnt hard to guess how she felt. Ee~ Welcome home~ Collecting herself quickly, Indeedee stepped aside and welcomed Natsume and Mei back inside. Though that auntie-like grin on her face was utterly impossible to hide. Ah, youth really is something. Wait, wasnt she technically still a kid too? With a tiny hand propped under her chin, Indeedee pondered the thought. But the question was soon forgotten. Wearing a smile that could only be described as full of mysterious implications, she quietly watched the interaction between Natsume and Mei. Im going to my room! Dont forget to shower first. I know, I know. Wanna join me, Natsume? Like shed just remembered something, Mei turned her head with a mischievous smirk. She read online that guys usually get all flustered when girls said this kind of thing Sure, Ill grab some towels. Natsume looked at her with perfect calm. Not even the faintest trace of embarrassment. He even started to move as if to fetch the towels. My apologies. Excuse me. Ill see myself out. Good night. Four quick and polite phrases later, Mei vanished from the room in a flash. Damn it! Why isnt this like what the internet said!? She was sure it said boys always get super shy in moments like this! Unfortunately, Natsume was not the kind of sweet, innocent boy whod blush at a little teasing. He was a grade-A, world-class smooth talker. All right, bedtime. Natsume smiled as he addressed the Indeedee girl, who was still happily spectating by the sofa like a front-row audience at a drama. Ee~ Okay~ Get some good rest, Natsume. Waving a hand, she kept her usual gentle tone. Good night. With that, Natsume headed straight upstairs. Since a lot of the Pokmon on the farm stayed up late or liked to wander around at night, he usually didnt turn off the lights. Mew? Not long after Natsume left, Mew floated in from outside, tilting its head at the sight of Indeedee grinning from ear to ear. Whats up with that grin? Ee~ Oh, nothing. Just that Natsume and Mei finally got together. Mew? Huh? What the heck happened while I was gone for a few hours!? Mew fell into deep thought. Chapter 170: Natu the Master of Not Giving a Damn Late at night, atop the farmhouse roof, Mew sat alone, lost deep in thought. Something wasnt right. Based on what it knew of Natsume, things werent supposed to be progressing this fast. With Natsumes personality, the pace shouldve been slow and steadycalm daily interactions, warm and wholesome momentsthen gradually, naturally, theyd grow closer. But this? This felt like a sudden leap in development. It didnt make sense. Mew concluded, once again, that humans were far too complicated. As expected, it still preferred the simplicity of Pokmon. It liked having the upper hand when it came to intelligencebut unfortunately, with its own intellect not being all that high, Mew could only hang around and mess with the gullible and sweet ones. That was the kind of Pokmon it liked tricking: innocent, clueless, easy to bamboozle. It also had a bad habit of doing slightly wicked things, like pulling fast ones on kids for fun. But the truth wasMew itself wasnt much more mature. Its personality was just as childish, and its IQ werent exactly through the roof either. As a result, Mew usually ended up only being able to trick little Pokemons. Because anyone a bit older and a bit smarter generally wouldnt fall for it. Those who actually got fooled by Mew Either they were just-hatched Togepi, or that Hisuian Zorua that had been tagging along behind Mew since forever. Oh, and Corviknight too. Those were pretty much Mews usual hunting grounds. Mew Scratching its little paw behind its back, Mew somehow pulled out a smartphone from who-knows-where. It unlocked the screen with practiced ease and opened a hidden album in the gallery. The album was marked with a note in Mews handwriting: Treat Jar Funds. Inside were hundreds of photos. They dated back to shortly after Natsume and Mei first met. Judging by the angles, most were clearly candid shots. Some, however, were openly sneakyas in, Mew transformed into Latias, went invisible, floated right up to Natsumes face, and took pictures point-blank. As for the content If Natsume and Mei ever decided to make a photo album of how they met or some kind of anniversary montage of their relationship Most of the key moments up to now could be found in that gallery. Up until tonight, it had been the perfect love log. But tonight, that perfection got a little smudge. Staring at the camera in its paw, Mew seriously considered transforming into some dumb oversized dragon. Maybe do a little time travel to go back and capture that important moment. Or maybe turning into that green onion-headed time traveler would work too. Damn it, I got careless. I shouldve gone out with Natsume tonight! Curse you, Manaphy, this is all your fault! Mew!! On the rooftop in the dead of night, Mew let out a tragic wail. Not far off, Corviknight, who was watching a horror movie alone in the dark, stiffened all over. It instinctively gulped and scanned its surroundings. Everything was pitch black, and it felt like something might jump out and do a surprise face-to-face jump scare at any moment. Glancing behind itself, then at the rooftop, it hesitated a few seconds, then pulled out a big blanket from the corner and wrapped itself up. Alright, now Im totally safe. Snug inside its blanket cocoon, Corviknight happily resumed watching its show. But what Corviknight didnt notice Was that Mismagius was watching it from a shadowy corner with great curiosity. As if struck with inspiration, Mismagius flashed a wicked grin, faded into the darkness, and began slowly creeping toward Corviknight. Bit by bit, inch by inch Once it got close, Mismagius extended a ghostly tentacle-like cloak and slipped it through a gap in the blanket. Then Its ghost-type chilly tendril grabbed Corviknights talon in a death grip. KraaKRAAA!! A blood-curdling scream followed a second later. Echoing eerily with Mews own anguished cry up on the rooftop. In a twisted way, the two seemed to be kindred spirits tonight. Though Corviknight was clearly worse off. Because Click! The light in Natsumes room snapped on, followed by the sound of clothes rustling, then the door creaking open. Looks like Corviknights night was about to be cut short. Good luck to it, I guess. As for Mew? That little thing had already transformed into a tiny bat and slipped away unnoticed. Stupid bird, if you dont run now, when will you? Mew, now a Crobat fleeing the scene at high speed, was silently judging Corviknight from a safe distance. Tonight was going to be a long one for Corviknight. Because while Natsume looked calm, on the inside he was anything but. For a guy whos only an expert in theory, romance was a pretty intense subject. And so, for the rest of the night, Corviknight got roped into listening to Natsume ramble about love and life. Im just not into romance, okay? cried Corviknight silently, maintaining a serious listening face. Downstairs, Persian lay sprawled out, eyes closed, quietly listening to the noise from upstairs. It let out a long, lazy yawn. Stupid bird. Serves you right. If you asked who hated Corviknight most on the farm, itd undoubtedly be Persian. According to Persian, that guy was basically a honey badger in bird feathers. Stubborn, vengeful, and completely unaware of its own limits. Even when it was still just a little fledgling, it constantly challenged Persian to fights. Its never won a single time, but it always looked like it was having the time of its life. Persian had long suspected the bird had certain peculiar interests. So seeing Corviknight suffering now? Persian was absolutely thrilled. Stupid bird. Now you know what it feels like to be kept up all night. Stretching out lazily, Persian leapt lightly out the window. Every night, it would patrol the farms territory, checking for any unwelcome guests. As a result, sometimes Natsume would find trophies Persian left for him in the morning. Some of those trophies became new residents of the farm. Others got a second beatdown and were thrown back out. Possibly because of this, Persians reputationboth on the farm and in the surrounding areahad become rather delicate. Local Pokmon would sometimes chat and realize: Huh? You got beat up by that cat too? Were basically war buddies now. The next morning, Natsumewhod barely slept a winkdragged himself out of bed. Leaving the warm comfort of his blanket was a test of sheer willpower every single day. So tired Rubbing his eyes, he just felt overwhelmingly sleepy. Strangely though, he didnt have the usual grogginess that came from pulling an all-nighter. More like the mental fatigue of poor rest. Ah, youth. Gotta love how resilient the body still is. Heheh. Lopunny. Lopunny handed Natsume a towel as he washed up. Seeing the faint shadows under his eyes, it looked deeply concerned. This was the first time it had ever seen Natsume with dark circles. Thanks, Lopunny. Taking the towel, Natsume gave a small, helpless smile. Hed actually told Lopunny beforenot to fuss over these little details so much. If this kept up, he was seriously going to turn into one of those hopeless freeloaders who couldnt lift a finger for themselves. Sure, maybe his Pokmon didnt mind. But he minded! Just imagining that lifestyle gave Natsume the creeps. Unfortunately, Lopunny had flatly refused his request. Ever since more and more shameless hussies had moved into the farm, all Lopunnys former responsibilities were getting stolen away. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It could do less and less. So this morning routine? Was non-negotiable. After washing up, Natsume changed into a clean outfit and stepped outside. Ah another beautiful day. Basking in the morning sunlight, he took a deep breath. And immediately got a mouthful of kicked-up dust. Cough cough. He watched as a whole squad of Pokmon stampeded past the front door on their morning runled by a shiny Furret. Natsume let out a quiet sigh. Sometimes, having too much energy wasnt a good thing either. But all in all, it was a good morning. Until he saw Persian returning with a green bird in its mouth. Persian what is that He stared at the green-feathered bird dangling from its jaws. If he remembered correctly, that was a Natu. And Natu evolved into Xatu. They were said to be able to see both the past and the future. Because what they saw often didnt match what they wanted, they tended to sit motionless all day. In some regions, Xatu were even revered as totems. Online, Natu and Xatus future-seeing ability was often ranked among the best in all of Pokmon. As the pre-evolved form of Xatu, it was only natural that Natu possessed a portion of the same talents and abilities. To be honest, Natsume had a hard time understanding just how Persian had managed to catch such a rare Pokmonone renowned for its top-tier danger sense and knack for avoiding misfortune. Suddenly, Natsume remembered something the Pokdex had mentioned. Natu might have the ability to foresee the futurebut not the power to change it. So maybe... it saw a future where it got captured and simply chose to give up? Under Natsumes suspicious gaze, the Natu dangling from Persians mouth opened one eye and glanced at him. Then, it silently shut its eye again and tilted its head back. Go ahead. I''m already lying down. Do your worst. It was the very picture of "take me, Im yours." Case closedthis little guy was clearly the embodiment of giving up on life. When you thought about it like that, it wasnt so hard to understand. Before Natsume could ask anything, Persian casually spit Natu onto the ground. Then, it started to explain. Basically, early this morning, Persian had been doing its usual rounds of what it considered its ultimate litter box. Yepin Persians eyes, the huge patch of land behind the house was all its personal toilet. And thats when it spotted this unfamiliar Pokmon silently watching the house. To be precise, staring at Natsumes room. Persian had gone on high alert immediately. What the hell was this guy up to? Even though Natsume himself wasnt aware, Persian certainly was. Among the wild Pokmon in the area, Natsumes name was legendary. In their eyes, Natsume was the local lordan overwhelming force of absolute dominance. His underlings were many, and every single one of them could throw down. Everyone on the streets called him "Boss Natsume." Most of the Pokmon who went to challenge Boss Natsume had ended up getting utterly brutalized and tossed out like trash. And you could bet some of them harbored deep grudges afterward. Sure, it would be nice to say that all Pokmon in this world were gentle and kind-hearted. But thats just not the casemany Pokmon simply arent wired that way. Its in their species nature. You wouldnt expect a Weavile or a GrimmsnarlPokmon literally called vicious assassins and menacing trickstersto be sweet and innocent, would you? Even imagining it feels ridiculous. Sure, there are plenty of kind-hearted Pokmon. But there are just as many who dont give a damn about being pure or good. And because it wasnt clear what this Natus intentions were, Persian had decided to test it out first. And then Got completely ignored. When Persian blocked its path, Natu had barely spared it a glance before looking away like it didnt exist. Its hollow eyes seemed to gaze right through Persian and into the void. Who knows what it was even looking at. In the end, after what couldnt even be called a proper exchange, Persian decided to just take down this dumb-looking bird that kinda resembled Corviknight. Which led to the current situation. As it finished explaining, Persian gave Natu a disdainful side-eye. Was the farm really about to welcome a second dumb bird? What a nightmare. Quite possibly the worst news Persian had heard in a long time. Meanwhile, the Natu in question lay peacefully on the ground, looking utterly serene. Its face showed no displeasure, no emotion at all. Persians disdain and Natsumes curiosity seemed to mean absolutely nothing to it. The bird didnt react at all. Its entire vibe was: lifes fine, but if death comes, thats fine too. Hey there, Natu. Wanna talk? Natsume crouched down and gently poked its heador maybe its bodywith a twig hed picked up from the ground. Honestly, it was hard to say where one ended and the other began. Natu was basically just a sphere with some attachments. When Natsume poked it, the whole bird wobbled. Feeling the nudge, Natu opened its eyes and looked at him. But those eyes were still and lifeless, not a ripple of emotion within them. It stared at Natsume for a moment, then quietly closed its eyes again. Didnt seem interested in chatting. This one... has quite the personality, huh? For the first time, Natsume used has personality to describe a bird that did literally nothing. And in a way, he wasnt wrong. As Natsume pondered how to deal with this featherball who used silence as a weapon, the Natu finally opened its eyes. It stood up and shook off the drool Persian had left on its wings. Then it gave Natsume a once-over. And suddenly launched itself straight at Natsumes waist. More preciselyat the Pok Balls hanging from his belt. However, perhaps because all its stats had been dumped into the wrong attributes, Natus speed couldnt exactly be described as lightning-fast. At best, it was... slow and steady. Smack! After watching Natus dash for a few seconds, Persian casually raised a paw and slapped it down onto the bird. The whole move radiated nonchalance. If I couldnt pin down something moving that slow, Persian thought, I might as well go find Corviknight and let that dumb bird run me over. You look kind of anxious, Natsume said gently. Wanna talk about it? He let go of the twig and softly placed his hand on Natus head. Where did that come from? Persian looked down at the Natu that hadnt reacted even a little after getting pinned and silently raised a question in its heart. But it was smart enough not to say a word. No expression betrayed its thoughts. Years of living with Natsume had taught Persian one thing: when it came to Pokmon, never argue with Natsume. Lose the argument, and its embarrassing. Win it, and you get beat up. Ah, the wisdom carved from blood and tears. You say Natsume has changed and grown up? Yeah, right. Persian scoffed. In its eyes, Natsume hadnt changed a bit. What people call changes in habits or style were just surface-level. At his core, Natsume had always been the same. Even as a child, he was unlike any kid Persian had ever seen. He had a fully-formed worldview of his own, one that couldnt be shaken by a few careless remarks. He didnt care about petty gossip or mean rumors. Persian had realized early on that Natsume was no ordinary child. But so what? As long as the food kept coming, Persian didnt care. Natsume fed it, and in return, Persian beat people up for himjust point and smash. Lifting its paw ever so slightly, Persian let Natu breathe freely. It stared idly at this little bird that had come from who-knows-where, waiting for Natsume to pass judgment. ...Natu. Physically letting out a sigh of relief, Natu stared silently at Natsume. After a long pause, it finally made its first soundand began to explain. In short, as a future seer-in-training, Natu occasionally had fits of foresight. These visions were random, uncontrollable, without any discernible triggers. Yesterday, one such vision had hit it suddenly. In it, a raging inferno devoured the forest. Trapped Pokmon waited in despair for death to come. Thick black smoke, roaring flames. It looked like the end of the world. And in the final moments of the vision, just before it faded Natu saw a human. That human arrived with their Pokmon, and in an instant, swept away the out-of-control blaze and fought a shadowy, unidentifiable Pokmon. After the vision ended, Natu thought long and hard, then followed the scenery it had glimpsed until it arrived here. Its goal: to find Natsume. So youre hoping I can save those Pokmon the ones who might otherwise be consumed by fire? After hearing Natu out, Natsume spoke thoughtfully. When you really thought about it, putting aside how Chi-Yu''s strength measured up to Ting-lu''s.... But when it comes to sheer destructive potential, the fire-spreading Chi-Yu definitely has the edge. Most likely, the moment it breaks free from its seal, the flames laced with resentment will erupt all at once. "Natu." Nope, I just want to run for my life. Now freed from under the cats paw, Natu responded with a blank expression. ...Huh? Saving those poor Pokmon about to be swallowed by flames? Whats that got to do with me? Im just looking for someone strong enough to cover my back, thats all. That was Natus honest take. I see. Looking at Natus deadpan face, Natsume didnt call him out on it. He simply pulled an empty Pok Ball from his belt and held it out. Before Natsume could say a word, Natu headbutted it on his own. Ding~ With a flash of light, Natu had willingly joined Natsumes team. Chapter 171: Out in the World, Your Online Identity Is Yours to Make When Mei came down the stairs, freshly dressed and ready for the day, her eyes landed on a Natu perched nearbyone with a strangely distinct aura. At first glance, the Natu looked utterly unremarkable. It even seemed... a bit dim. But if you looked closely, there was something ineffably calm about it. The kind of calm that made you believe even if a demon from the abyss showed up in the next second, this little bird would just yawn and quietly accept its fate. Life was nice, sure. But if it ended? Eh, so be it. No one tries to kill me? Ill live. Someone tries? Guess Ill die. Hello there, are you one of the new kids on the farm? Mei walked up and waved a hand in front of Natus face. After spending so much time with Natsume, Mei had unconsciously started calling the Pokmon on the farm kids. Which was kind of hilarious, considering she was still a bright and beautiful teenage girl herself. The whole elder speaking to juniors vibe had slipped into her vocabulary, and she was low-key troubled by it. Stare~ Faced with this random woman whod suddenly appeared Natu, perched on the stand by the door pretending to be a decorative item, didnt even blink. Its vacant eyes seemed to be gazing past Mei into some far-off future Or maybe its soul had simply returned to the cosmic plane. Hello? Mei waved her hand harder, to the point it was practically spinning like a helicopter blade. Still no response. This kids just like Samurott, she mumbled, rubbing her sore wrist. Ever since that trip a few days ago, Samurott had been in a state of deep gloom. It had clearly suffered some devastating blow. It wouldnt leave its corner, curled up in misery. Mei had tried everything to cheer it up, but nothing worked. At first, she was really worried. But once she figured out what was going on, she decided to just let it have some space. Im an 18-year-old girl, Mei had reasoned. I havent even figured out my own love life. How the hell am I supposed to sort out someone elses emotional mess? Honestly, the whole situation was way too complicated. Mei had simply stopped trying to understand it. Worst case scenario, shed go with the usual fallback: send em off for a few days of bootcamp with Shiny Furret. Now promoted to Drill Sergeant of the farm, Shiny Furret had a 100% success rate in setting angsty Pokmon youths ablaze with passion and purpose. Well, theyre a little different, came a familiar voice from the door. Mei turned to see Natsume, balancing a big metal box in his arms and trying to close the door behind him using only his heel. He failed. Repeatedly. And also managed to pinch his foot in the process. Watching this embarrassing display, Persian gave an exasperated sigh, then gave Natsume a firm nudge with its head, shoving him a few steps forward. With graceful poise, it followed behind him, its tail curling up and neatly wrapping around the doorknob. With a twist and a click, the door shut. Persian shot Natsume a look that said, Seriously? and promptly bailed before it could get roped into anything else. It knew exactly what was coming next. Whoosh! A sudden breeze whipped past its rear as Natsume tried to launch a sneak attack. Persian dodged it effortlessly and sauntered upstairs. It had been wandering around the farm all night. Time to hit the hay! Upstairs, Ogerpon had just finished getting up for the day, only to see its roommate plop face-first into its favorite beanbag chair and instantly pass out. One second flat. A sleep record better than 99% of users. Sometimes, Ogerpon did wonder if maybe their sleep cycles were just slightly out of sync. Mmwaah. Cup and toothbrush in hand, towel perched on its head, Ogerpon padded into the bathroom. A beautiful day begins with a good morning bath! The sound of running water filled the air, but outside, Persian just rolled over in its sleep, not even flinching. Everyone knows cats are hyper-alert when sleeping. Natsume, youre back! Mei ran over, her cheerful footsteps practically skipping. Judging by her energy, she was clearly in a good mood. After Natsume set down the heavy metal box, Mei hesitated a moment, then shyly slipped her hand around his arm. It was the first time shed ever done something like this. So far, all her experience and knowledge about romance came from online posts and fluffy romance novels. As for flashy stuff like kabedon acrobatics or doing the splits against a wall? Yeah, Mei couldnt pull that off. This was as much as she could manage. But even that small gesture wasnt easy for her. Feeling Meis stiff, awkward movement Natsume stiffened too. Right now, he desperately wanted to pause time and Google a guide. Q: A girl suddenly grabs my arm. Whats the best way to react? If it were a high-level, flirty kind of girl, Natsume figured it wouldnt matter what he did. But for someone like Meiso earnest and innocenthe knew he had to take things seriously. All of it. Whats this? Mei asked, eyeing the large box hed brought in. Inside were big, glossy, jewel-like blocks that looked a lot like Pok Puffs or Pokblocks. They even smelled like it. But shed never seen energy cubes this huge before. Oh, these? Theyre fresh out of the pot, Natsume replied. Corviknight and the others have pretty big appetites, so I didnt bother slicing them up. I figured Id just hand them the whole block and let them go to town. He lifted a whole uncut cube from the box and passed it to the side. Indeedee''s little sister, whod been waiting nearby, reached out her handthough it was really her psychic powers doing the work. The cube floated smoothly into the air. With a flick of her fingers, the giant cube levitated toward Ogerpon, who had just come downstairs. As the food from the heavens descended into its arms, stars practically exploded in Ogerpon''s eyes. Waking up to a full meal already prepared? Best. Life. Ever. Of course, Ogerpon knew exactly where this gift from above came from. It gave Natsume a little wave of thanks before happily toddling off with its oversized snack. Dont let its tiny frame fool you. Its appetite ranked near the top of the entire farm. Small body, massive stomach! Eiii~ Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More blocks lifted from the box, floating in midair under the steady control of Indeedee''s psychic power. Now it was time to distribute the goods. At first, shed been nervous when given the job. Shed heard rumors before coming hereabout how insanely strong the Pokmon at Natsumes farm were. Strong enough to take down Legendary Pokmon. Even though shed always been pretty confident in her own strength, she was seriously anxious at first. After all, a proper maid should be able to do more than just wave a feather duster. The well-known maids out there werent just cutethey could really fight. Take, for example, the maid from a certain Scarlet Devil Mansion. This maid Pokmon, Indeedee, wasnt exactly powerful, but her strength was enough for most ordinary trainers. Unfortunately, this wasnt your average trainers place. Indeedee''s strength here was, frankly, a bit lacking. Thankfully, the Pokmon on this farm all had pretty good tempers. They didnt make things difficult for this poor little delivery girl. Over time, once they got used to each other, that initial anxiety faded away. Im counting on you, Indeedee. Eiii~! Waving her little paw, Indeedee gave a gesture that said, This is my duty. No matter how many times I see it, Im always impressed by how beautiful the Pokblocks Natsume makes are. Mei spoke with a touch of awe as she looked at the large, shimmering cube floating in the air. For various reasons, Natsumes Pokblocks had an aesthetic appeal that really stood out. Compared to the mass-market kind that prioritized nutrition and absorption efficiency at the expense of taste and appearance, these were on a whole different level. Most of the Pokblocks you could buy these days were basically just glorified energy bars. Apart from being nutritious and efficient to absorb, there was nothing worth praising about them. Theyre not that special. Natsume was a bit awkward in the face of Meis praise. He wasnt someone who had received much praise growing up. And honestly, that was true for a lot of guys. Back in school, at work, even after getting married Doing well was expected. Messing up was unforgivable. Praise was rare. And gifts? Even rarer. It seemed like a lot of people lived like this. Quietly going about their business, processing every success and failure on their own. Making Pokblocks really isnt all that hard. If you want to learn, Mei, I can teach you. We can start with some of the more basic recipes. That way, if youre traveling, youll have something in case of emergencies. This was a lie. Maybe it wasnt at first, but now that their relationship was official, Natsume had pretty much taken over all responsibility for Meis Pokblocks. There wasnt going to be any running out while on the road. Even if Mei caught a Snorlax and her Pokblock consumption skyrocketed, all shed have to do was call and Natsume would have a Delibird courier deliver them right away. Sure, express delivery for wandering trainers was expensive. But Natsume didnt care about that at all. It was a cost he could easily afford. The point of saying all this was really just to create a reasonable excuse for them to spend more time together. Even in a relationship, you had to put in the effort to keep it going. Just being a couple didnt mean everything would be smooth sailing from then on. You still had to take the relationship seriously. Learning how to make Pokblocks gave them a shared activity, something they could do together. Sure! Id love that! Mei nodded enthusiastically, agreeing without hesitation. Even in this internet age, the art of Pokblock-making wasnt exactly a secret anymore. With the help of those user-friendly Pokblock machines, even total beginners could produce some basic ones. But the top-tier Pokblocks still came with sky-high price tags. And mastering the craft? Still incredibly hard. Machines couldnt replace human skillnot yet, anyway. But Im not very confident about making Pokblocks... You cant call me dumb, okay? Mei didnt think she had any natural talent for this. Shed tried learning online before. After wasting a bunch of ingredients and breaking several tools, she had decisively given up. Maybe she had just allocated her talent points elsewhere. Thats how Mei had comforted herself at the time. But now, with Natsumethe undisputed Pokblock masterpersonally teaching her, Mei figured she could give it another shot. She hadnt taken any official certification exams or anything, but in her mind, Natsume was without a doubt a master of Pokblocks. Way more legit than any so-called experts shed seen online. Of course I wont. Really? I might mess up a bunch, you know. Thats fine. Just take your time. Everyone starts out that way. But Ive seen a lot of one-and-done genius videos online... Theyre fake. Natsume answered without hesitation. Out in the world, identity is whatever you say it is. Post a video saying you succeeded on your first try? Boom, instant genius. Natsumes alt account on the forums claimed to be a hardcore otaku from another dimension, after all. And when he got into arguments with people, hed even claim to be an orphan. Activate 3D Defense Mode! Full firepower, no mercy! Ahem. Anyway, dont take everything online too seriously. Ever since Natsume became famous, a whole crowd of former classmates, old friends, and neighbors started popping up online. He didnt know any of them. All that stuff? Just enjoy it for the laughs. Dont take it to heart. No matter how legit it sounds, its still fake. Like that meme It''s in the chat logs now, guess we have to believe it. Fair enough. Mei didnt dwell on it any further. It had nothing to do with her anyway. She wasnt planning to make a living off Pokblocks or get certified. Later, Ill take you to see my old workshop. Nowadays, Gardevoirs the one using it the most. Mew~ Just as Natsume was speaking, a pink feline figure flew in through the window. Mew Natsume, Natsume, the thing you asked me to prepare With a loud smack!, Natsume swiftly lunged forward and clamped a hand over Mews mouth. Whats going on? Mei looked at him curiously. What was that all about? Did Mew do something again? Its nothing, nothing. Just some stuff with the Gym. Natsume laughed awkwardly. Mew, now muffled in his arms, began to squirm with great effort. Didnt you tell me to prepare something as a gift for Mei?! Now you''re pretending it never happened?! Still in his arms, Mew sneakily kicked Natsume in the stomach with its little feet. Last night, Natsume had come to Mew and admitted that his confession had been too abrupt, and he hadnt prepared anything. He said he wanted to make it up to Mei with something more formal later. And so Mew had been dispatched to take care of it, because apparently there werent many reliable Pokmon on the farm. Mew had cheerfully accepted the task. But now, back from its mission, it got silenced at the doorutter betrayal! So Mew began a stealthy flurry of kicks to Natsumes waist and stomach with its tiny black feet. Meanwhile, a forest ranger on assignment arrived at the edge of a sweltering forest aboard a Pidgeot. What a mess... Staring at the scene before him, the ranger muttered reflexively. Chapter 172 – Challenger: Is This Some Kind of Nightmare? Because of a certain superpowered green caterpillar, satellites that can be successfully launched and function in this world are few and far between. Maps and basic navigation are fine, but when it comes to software that offers aerial surveillance or satellite imagery? Yeah, dont even bother. Theyre either overpriced scams or utterly useless junk. The consensus? Worse than Zygarde. Even though all sorts of futuristic tech keeps popping up, development in certain areas of science has always lagged behind. Maybe that''s just one of the drawbacks of living in a world with Pokmon. Even though there had been powerful Trainers in the past who managed to communicate with the Rayquaza species, the results were minimal at best. Rayquaza are extremely territorial. The fact that they occasionally allow a few satellites to be launched into their skies is already an immense act of mercy. Yes, Rayquaza have a species. Which sounds completely absurd for a being this powerfulone capable of Mega Evolution no less. Even Mew has mocked this more than once. But its true. No one knows where the second Rayquaza came from. But everyone knows that if you dare lay a hand on any of themeven a juvenile Rayquazayoull have an entire swarm descending on you in no time. Thats the power of unity (strike that). Pidgeot, dont get too close. Patting the bird he was riding, the ranger covered his nose and mouth and muttered under his breath. Even from this distance, he could feel how hard it was to breathe. There were no visible flames, but the waves of heat rolling out from ahead were suffocating. Even covering his face didnt help much. It felt like he could pass out any second. One could easily imagine how the wild Pokmon in the forest were faring. Actuallywas there even anything left in this forest? After a moment of silence, the ranger pulled a hummingbird-shaped drone from the backpack slung over his shoulder. Rotom Unit 1333, reporting for duty! A silly grinning face popped up on the remotes screen, accompanied by an exaggerated, cartoonish voice. Cut the crap. Get in there and check it out. The ranger gave the controller a quick shake and said flatly. Sensing that the ranger wasnt in the mood, Rotom wisely dropped the act and focused on piloting the drone. Times are changingand so is the equipment of forest rangers. Lately, all sorts of robots had been integrated into their operations, assisting in everything from reconnaissance to rescue. And so far? Theyd been a huge help. A serious load off their shoulders. Bzzzz The rather unsustainable-looking drone flapped its wings rapidly and, after a short charge-up, darted into the forest. Its speed could easily rival that of many Pokmon. Just as I thought. Nothing left. The feed from the drone confirmed what the ranger had already suspected. Still, it made his heart sink. He felt sorrownot just for the forest, but for the Pokmon whod been forced to flee their home or worse, died on their own land. Back when he first became a ranger, he didnt really care about stuff like the environment or Pokmon safety. To him, it was just a jobone that kept food on the table. Decent pay, good benefits, respectable position, solid access to resources. He was more than willing to put in the effort to enjoy those perks. But as time passed... He realized he might have genuinely come to care about all this. The coworkers he used to bicker with every day. The forests that all looked the same. Even the weak little roadside Pokmon he wouldve ignored back when he was a Trainer. Somehow, they all started to feel... alive. He couldnt say he loved the job, but at least he liked it. And seeing someone wreck the forest? That pissed him off now. Was that progress? Perhaps. But now, right before his eyes, was a forest on the brink of death. Angry? Maybe. But the ranger calmly documented everything he saw and submitted his report. An objective report. Personal bias could lead to misjudgments from the higher-ups. So, he had to stay calm. All right, come on back for now. The operators voice came through his earpiece. The ranger nodded without hesitation and tapped Pidgeots neck, signaling it to turn back. This wasnt the time to make a fuss. Throwing a tantrum at the operator or charging in on his own would only cause more problems. With a small sigh, the ranger quietly packed up his gear. This stuff was government-issued. Not his own. If he broke anything, the logistics guy would chew him out from the front door to the directors office. Just the thought of that scene made his scalp tingle. Leader Natsume of the Sunnyhill Gym has been briefed and said hell be arriving soon. Maybe the operator sensed his mood, so they added a little extra. Got it. Understood. The ranger nodded, relief flooding his heart. If he remembered right, Natsume was the one who defeated Ting-Lu. He had the strength to take down that ancient deerand then went on to capture several other Legendary Pokmon afterward. If hes coming, then this mess might actually get sorted out. Glancing back at the scorched forest, the anxiety and tension hed carried on arrival finally began to fade. The next time he came here, hed either be leading the way for Gym Leader Natsumejust a quick Sir, this way, and his job would be done or part of the cleanup crew sweeping the battlefield after hed dealt with everything. It didnt really sound like something a ranger was supposed to do. But he didnt mind. He wasnt aiming for promotion, didnt care about merit or prestige. As long as the problem got solved, that was enough for him. Elsewhere, Natsume was watching the information relayed from the rangers side. Mmm... So it really couldnt be avoided, huh. He scratched his head, visibly troubled. Hed only wanted to live a quiet life running a farmhow had things spiraled into this? First Ting-Lu came charging at his farm. Then the ancient fish sealed not far from his land was about to break loose. Whats next? Was he supposed to challenge Arceus or something? Or maybe travel across dimensions and become some multiverse destroyer? Ugh. Maybe fate was just this ridiculous. Sighing, Natsume reached out and vigorously rubbed Mews head. Still as soft and nice to touch as ever. Feeling satisfied, his mood improved. Mews mood, however, plummeted. It stared at the failed screen of its tower-climbing mobile gamethanks to Natsumes manhandling. YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO REACH THIS LEVEL?! Now it had to start over from scratch! Enraged, Mew sprang up and unleashed a barrage of wild punches at Natsume. ''Damn you, Natsume! Youll pay for this!'' ''Witness my Mew-style boxing technique!'' After a flurry of self-invented, turtle-fist strikes, Mew inflicted untold damage on Natsume by wrinkling his jacket. Aside from that, zero damage. Okay, okay, Ill make it up to you later. Go play for now. Natsume grabbed Mew and tossed it like a cat. And like any feline, it landed perfectly fine. Well, actuallyMew floated midair. No need to worry about it falling. Hearing Natsumes promise, Mew happily floated off. Natsume was generouswhen he said Ill make it up to you, he meant it. Never stingy. So whenever he mentioned compensation, Mew always accepted immediately. At most, it would haggle a little. Chi-Yu, huh... Natsume rubbed his temples, trying to recall what he remembered about this disaster beast. He vaguely remembered paying extra attention to itmainly because, among the four disaster Pokmon, it was actually kind of cute. So the impression stuck. Chi-Yu was a Dark- and Fire-type Legendary Pokmon, one of the Treasures of Ruin. Legend says it was born from a collection of jealous emotions that gathered within ancient jade magatamabecoming a Pokmon when those emotions fused with fire. It can control flames at 3000C. It melts rock and gravel into seas of lava, where it swims around leisurely. The Pokdex entry is obviously absurd. Best taken with a grain of salt. Chi-Yu''s Ability is Beads of Ruin, which lowers the Special Defense of all other Pokmon on the field. Its base stats boast high Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Especially that Special Attack135 base stat. Just looking at the numbers, you know this thing hits like a truck. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its Defense and Attack, though, are only average. So for this battle, I need Pokmon that excel in physical offense and special defense. And theyll need speed too, or they wont be able to keep up with that thing. Persian, and the shiny FurretI''ll bring them along first. Who else Natsume fell into thought. Corviknight was fine as a flying mount. But in this case, it wasnt exactly the best fit for the job. Strictly speaking, the same could be said for the shiny Furret and Mew. But their sheer power made up for it. Not the best match for the job, but overqualified regardless. NextGardevoir and Gallade. Gardevoir would be there primarily for utility. It could Teleport and whisk Natsume out of danger in an instant. And with its arsenal of support moves, it could assist allies in various ways. Under Mews tutelage, Gardevoir had mastered most of the moves it could possibly learn. Things like Helping Hand, Skill Swap, Trick Roomjust the kind of toolkit youd want for messing with your opponent. As for Gallade? Same as always. High physical attack, strong mobility. Even a single surprise hit would be enough to give Chi-Yu a hard time. And speaking of Chi-Yuits old nemesis, Ting-Lu, was a must-have. And Ill bring Ogerpon too. After a long round of deliberation, Natsume ended up assembling a team not too different from the one he used against Ting-Lu before. The main changes: Corviknight was swapped out for Ting-Lu, and Slowking had been replaced by Ogerpon. While Slowking had excellent special defense, Natsume wasnt planning to send it out as a tank. Itd never been trained for that. It had always functioned as a cannon. No helping itits Psychic-type potential was just too overwhelming. Besides, someone needed to stay back and keep the farm under control. And Natsume knew all too wellonce he left, the Pokmon at the farm were anything but well-behaved. Thered even been Pokmon tattling to him beforereporting that while he was gone, a bunch of Furret and Wooloo had gotten into a full-on brawl. Why? Apparently, they''d always had it out for each other and just waited for Natsume, the boss, to leave so they could settle things once and for all. Of course, that was probably an exaggeration. Thanks to Slowking''s suppression, no one actually got seriously hurt. Just a few bruised and swollen Pokmon getting dragged away by Chansey, whod grabbed them by the feet. Didnt end too well for those guys. But hey, after a proper lecture from Chansey, they all turned into pacifists for a long while. Mew? You want me to go? Sprawled lazily across the armrest of the sofa, Mew asked in a drawling voice. When it came to Chi-Yu, Mews attitude hadnt changed. Didnt really care. Same difference as Ting-Luas far as Mew was concerned, it could smack that thing down with one paw. Refine it in an instant! Imagining the dramatic scene of itself striking down Chi-Yu in all its glory, Mew giggled softly into its paw. This cat''s still got it, huh? No need. Mew, youre on house duty. And just like that, Natsume''s words mercilessly shattered Mews little fantasy. Mews eyes went wide. Are you joking right now?! This time, Im thinking of bringing Manaphy. Its part of the farm tooits only fair it helps out once in a while. As he scratched the top of the pink cats head, Natsume gently tried to soothe its wounded pride. Listening to the explanation, Mew got the picture. That lazy Manaphy mightve joined the farm, sure, always stuffing its face and even leaving the kid with Natsume to raise. But lets be realit barely did a thing to help out. Even the Rain Dance was usually Slowkings doing. That thing was a textbook freeloader. Getting it to do something for once was probably for the best. When he put it that way, Mew had no objections at all. Absolutely right! Lazy slackers like that should be worked to the bone! Mew waved its tiny fists with righteous indignation. Well, Ill leave the gym to you while Im gone. And this afternoon tootonight I need to brief Persian and the others. Lifting Mew up by the armpits like a toddler, Natsume cooed as if comforting a child. Mew! Thumping its little chest with pride, Mew declared, Leave it to me! Then it tossed Natsumes hand aside and zipped off to find Slowking. There was something itd been wanting to try for ages! Now that Natsume had officially given it permission to fill in as gym leaderit was time to give it a shot. So when that afternoons challenger stepped onto the battlefield... Uh, ref? ...Yes, challenger? Isnt there some kind of mistake here? ...Nope. After a long, awkward silence, the referee finally muttered those words into his palm, covering his face. Before the challengers eyes was a scene that defied description. A Slowpoke was sprawled out on the command platform... ...giving orders to a Slowking in battle. A Slowpoke commanding a Slowking. Why am I having a nightmare like this? Chapter 173: The CawCaw Airbus Takes Off! Not long ago, Natsume, the Gym Leader, issued a notice. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The content was simple: basically, "I''m off to prep for a showdown with a Legendary." He wouldn''t have time to handle Gym matters for a while, so he was leaving it in the hands of his own Pokmon to hold down the fort. Letting Pokmon act as substitute Gym Trainers It sounded absurd, but in Jadeleaf, it wasnt unprecedented. Many high-IQ Pokmon were no less capable than humans; some Psychic-types with telepathy were arguably even better at the job than human Trainers. In fact, in a certain foreign continent with the motto "You may die, but you must never be idle," there was a Gym perpetually run by an Oranguru. And setting aside the fact that it was a Pokmon Because it was so reliable and competent, it actually stood out like a sore thumb in that land of madness. So when Natsume made his announcement, after a brief wave of surprise, most people didnt think too much of it. After all, Gyms generally have official referees and League staff stationed there year-round. Even if a Pokmon wanted to mess around, there wasnt much room for chaos. As for which Pokmon Natsume had sent to sub in, everyone had their guesses. Either that Slowking who always looked like it was pondering the fate of the universe, or that Gardevoir with the barely-there presence. And in a way, they were right. Natsume did send out Slowking. Its justSlowking wasnt the one acting as Gym Leader. Yadon~ *2 The slow, synchronized cry echoed. On the battlefield, the Slowking with its hands behind its back and the Slowpoke up on the command platform both let out a call at the same time. The sight was... a little comical. And just a bit cursed. A Slowpoke directing a Slowking in battlewhy was this playing out like one of his nightmares? Looking at the scene in front of him, the challenger Trainer suddenly felt an immense pressure descend. When Natsume had first released the announcement, the Trainer had thought, Well, since Im here already... and chose to go through with the challenge. Losing wasnt a big deal anyway. Those Psychic-types were all smart as hell. It wasnt like human Trainers being outwitted was anything new. Losing to a high-IQ monster? Totally understandable. Whether it was Gardevoir or Slowking, no problem. But! No one told him thered be a damn Slowpoke involved! If he lost now, hed be nailed to the pillar of shame for life. From then on, whenever anyone mentioned him, theyd say: Oh, thats the guy who got wrecked by a Slowpoke. He might even become an internet meme. The loser who got beaten by a Slowking... directed by a Slowpoke. Everyone would know the Slowpoke didnt actually do anythingthe outcome of the battle depended entirely on the Slowkings performance. But that wouldnt stop people from making jokes. As for how the Trainer himself felt about this? Does that even matter? The people making memes online certainly didnt care. And why was he so sure this battle would blow up online? Well, just look at the audience. All those people whod already whipped out their phones and started recording. They were filming and typing. Theres no way they were doing that just to keep the footage for personal enjoyment. Every video ever taken shares the same fate: it gets posted, spreads, and is seen by the masses. No matter what kind of video it is. Pelipper, we absolutely cannot lose this match! Clenching his fists, the Trainer spoke to his partner. High in the sky, Pelipper gave a resolute nod. It didnt quite understand why, but if its Trainer was this serious Then it had to give it 120%! Its wings flapped hard, sending a glowing blue orb into the sky. The orb burst, and dark clouds gathered at a speed visible to the naked eye. Raindrops began to fallslow at first, but steadily gaining force. Under the thickening clouds, Pelippers gaze was firm. But Slowking... was already smiling. Rain Dance? I can do that too. And not just Rain Dancehe had more tricks up his sleeve. One hand slipped out from behind his back. A casual wave, and a miniature sun blazed into life overhead. The dark clouds that had blanketed the battlefield dispersed in an instant. In their place, a scorching sun blazed down, its heat oppressive and downright hostile to Water-types. Squawk! Pelippers battle cry, poised to sound off with confidence, got stuck halfway in its throat. Wait, bro... arent you a Water-type? How are you using that move?! Panicking slightly, Pelipper tried to regroup. As the lead-off Pokmon in a Rain Team, it had dealt with worse. It had mentally prepared for this. Its job now was to wear down the opponents resources. As a designated weather-setter, it wasnt built for direct combat. Instead, it had trained hard in other areas Like Screech, or Supersonicannoying moves you could spam from a distance to slowly chip away at the enemys will to live. And when it felt like it was close to fainting? U-Turn and bail. Leave the cleanup to its teammates. The Trainer had the same idea. Pelippers new mission was to stall and burn Slowkings stamina. Cast Rain Dance again if neededforce the opponent to waste energy fighting for weather control. If they did? Great, more of their power down the drain. If they didnt? Then the Rain Team setup rolled forward unchallenged. Pelipper, Supersonic into Rain Dance. And dont get caught. The order was short and to the point. The Trainer trusted Pelipper could understand. Now! This was the time to test all their hard work! The greater the challenge, the more you must rise to meet itthat was the only truth a Trainer believed in! And then Yadon~ LUDCOLOOOOOO!!! Boom! Ludicolo is unable to battle! Since all three of the challengers Pokmon are unable to battle This match goes to the acting Gym Leader The referee waved a small flag, announcing the result. When it came time to say acting Gym Leader, he glanced at the Slowpoke on the platformits face oozing sagely wisdomand hesitated. In the end, he decided not to utter those three words. In a way, it was a mercy. The Trainer silently returned his fallen Ludicolo. His expression had lost all emotion long ago. More accurately, it vanished halfway through the battle Because he realized, at some point, that he had no path to victory. Deep down, hed known from the start whether he could win. Maybe miracles existedbut not for him. Hed never been lucky. If he broke even on a scratchcard, that was peak fortune. As for Get one more bottlenever once in his life. Guess he just had to accept it. The inevitable fate of being humiliated online for losing to a Slowpokehe was ready for it. Maybe he just wasnt cut out to be a Trainer. But as he stared blankly, numb to it all, something flickered in the Slowpokes eye on the command platform. The next second, the Slowpoke that had been lying flat on the ground suddenly sprang up with the agility of a salted fish resurrecting. Mid-air, its form twistedand transformed into a small, shadowy fox with purple-black fur and a nasty grin. Zorua. Staring at the newly-revealed Zorua, the Trainers dulled eyes sparked back to life. Maybe... his journey as a Trainer wasnt over after all? Sure, people might still say he lost to a Slowpoke. But there would also be plenty of folks whod point out the truth: that Slowpoke was a Zorua. Hell yes! With that in mind, the Trainer actually looked at Zorua with a hint of gratitude. Nice. +1 Gym fan. Watching the Trainers expression, Zoruano, Mewfelt quite satisfied. Wonder what Natsumes doing right now. If its this time of day, hes probably just about to set off, right? Transforming back into a Slowpoke and plopping back on the ground, Mews thoughts began to wanderits attention drifting far away from the Gym battle. Just like Natsume said Theres no way this guy would obediently stay put and work at the Gym for long. After a brief period of play, it would lose interest and start chasing after something new. Then eventually, itd get obsessed with the Gym again. A never-ending cycle. Nothing could hold its focus long enough to keep it grounded. This thing would even skip out on its actual job! Lying on the ground, Mew glanced at Slowking, who was covering for it by handling the Gym battles. Its psychic energy drifted out silently. That vast mental force immediately caught Slowkings attention. It turned back to glance at Mew, a flicker of helplessness in its eyes. Then it turned back around and continued doing the job that shouldve belonged to the acting Gym Leader. A blue glow lit up in Mews eyes. Its perspective shiftedbecoming godlike, floating high above the farm. Its gaze panned and zoomed, quickly locking onto Natsume and Corviknight at the farm gate, preparing for takeoff. The moment it locked on, the view zoomed in, cutting to a dramatic close-up panning around Natsume. Be careful out there. Standing beside him, Mei couldnt help but speak. Shed already said a lot earlier. But at a time like this, she just couldnt help but want to say more. Maybe she was worried about Natsume. Or maybe... she just didnt want to be apart. For a girl who had only just confirmed their relationship, even a moment of separation felt unbearable. But Mei also understood If she insisted on tagging along now, shed only be getting in the way. Demanding he stay behind? Thatd just be selfish and spoiled. If she ever actually did something like that, shed have to blame it on a Pokmon illusion messing with her mind! Okay. Got it. He really wanted to say things like "Ill be back soon," or "Once Im back, well..." But everyone who says that kind of stuff dies horribly, dont they? Natsume figured it was probably better to not say things like that right now. Otherwise it felt a little too much like tempting fate. No need to slap on this kind of pointless buff for myself. Safe travels. Mei took a couple of steps back after straightening Natsumes clothes and looked at him seriously as she spoke. Goodbyes really dont feel great, after all. But then again, if she thought about it carefullyNatsume should be back pretty soon. So it probably wasnt a big deal. Right? Mei wasnt too sure herself. He was a Legendary Pokmon, after all. That kind of existence probably deserved a little respect right? Alright, Corviknight, lets get going. Climbing onto Corviknights back, Natsume adjusted his posture before patting the birds neck. At the same time, he glanced back and smiled at Mei, who was still standing where she was. This feeling of someone seeing you offit was kind of nice. Like someone was actually waiting for him to come home. It felt good, knowing someone cared. Natsume didnt mind it at all. Come to think of it, this wouldve totally made his old middle-school self cringe. There was a time in his peak chuunibyou phase when Natsume believed he didnt need any bonds. That he could live just fine on his own. That ties and emotions were just dead weight, things that held him back. Messy baggage, hard to deal with. But looking back now that kind of thinking really was immature. Mew? Head tilted, Mew was debating whether it should tag along too. But Natsume had told it to stay here and look after things Got it! Suddenly perking up, Mew seemed to have found a solution! It looked around cautiously, and just before the next challenger came through, it used its psychic powers to quietly mask its presence. Dont ask how psychic powers made that possible. Mew just felt it could do it, so it did. With its presence hidden, Mews form shimmered for a moment and in the next second, another Mew appeared in its place. Move: Substitute. Normally, this technique consumes a bit of the users stamina to create a decoy that can confuse enemies and take damage on their behalf. Some highly skilled Pokmon could even sync with their substitutes for coordinated attacks. But in Mews hands, Substitute had become something more like Shadow Clone Jutsu. Mew. You watch the place for me. Yadon. Can I say no? Mew. Objection denied. Giving its stand-in no chance to talk back, Mews real body vanished from sight. And the next second, a tiny Flabbone without a flowersneaked its way into Natsumes pocket. Even Natsume didnt notice that hed gained a little stowaway. Only the Rotom Phone, also tucked into that same pocket, realized that a passenger had just slipped in. But under Mews deadly glare, it wisely chose to keep its mouth shut. That familiar lookit could only belong to the boss himself. Sorry, Boss Natsume. Its not that I dont want to let you know Its just that Mew is way too scary. The Rotom Phone quietly mourned in its heart. Caw-caw! With wings spread wide, the Corviknight Air Bus was ready for departure! After its usual shout, Corviknight took off into the sky. Last time they went to fight Ting-Lu. This time it was Chi-Yu. Maybe next time itd be one of the other two. Wonder if itd get its own turn to shine by then. Corviknight pondered in silence. Corviknight wants to show off too, you know. Chapter 174: The Jade of Calamity Emerges from the Flames "The temperature heres off the chartseven from far away, I could already feel the heat. Now that were closer, its like standing in the middle of a volcano." High above the scorched earth, several hundred meters up in the sky, Corviknight circled steadily like a patrol drone, giving Natsume a clear aerial view of the land below. Even at this altitude, the searing waves of heat were unmistakable. To be honest, for a fleeting moment, a rather inappropriate thought popped into Natsume''s head: With the way things looked, it kind of felt like they were being smoked like meat. The burning charcoal below, and up here? Him and Corviknightthe ingredients. If this were some xianxia novel, someone like him, brimming with life force and gifted with special abilities, would be top-tier material for alchemic medicine. Letting his mind wander a little, Natsume quickly refocused. Gardevoir. Behind him, Gardevoir looked on with concern. Her left hand held up a psychic barrier, shielding Natsume from the high-altitude winds and filtering out a portion of the oppressive heat. Her other hand radiated cool air like a portable AC unit, sending a steady stream of relief toward him. Thisthis was one of the reasons Natsume never left home without Gardevoir. The Psychic Queen wasnt just a powerhouseshe was incredibly useful. In the new era of Pokmon training, being able to fight wasnt the only virtue anymore. The most popular partners werent just those who could take a hit or dish one out, but ones like Gardevoirwho could help their Trainers in all sorts of ways. Utility-focused Pokmon like Rotom, Porygon-Z, and the ones Natsume was planning to bring inArboliva and Garganaclwere all gaining popularity. Simply being a brute-force battler just didnt cut it anymore. Like those high-attack, no-effect vanilla monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh!strong on paper, but obsolete in practice. Well... unless they were really strong. Like a certain someone who couldnt even fly. Gardevoir, do you sense anything? More out of curiosity than expectation, Natsume turned back and asked. After all, Psychic-types could pick up on things humans couldnt. Garde Gardevoir didnt respond right away. She closed her eyes for a moment, silently extending her psychic field outward from the forests edge, inching toward the center. She was being cautiousunderstandably so. They were dealing with a Legendary Pokmon, and not just any kind, but one tied to negative emotions. Just like when facing Ting-Lu, Gardevoir didnt dare probe recklessly. These Pokmon born from the Treasures of Ruin each represented a darker facet of humanity. Ting-Lu stood for fear. And Chi-Yuenvy. Those with weak wills could be influenced by Chi-Yus mere presence. Just like with Ting-Lu, even without lifting a finger, most Pokmon would lose their will to fight, swallowed up by fear and driven to flee in panic. Well except for that one headstrong little guy. Yes, we''re calling out that Absol who nearly got himself killed. Sometimes, being a stubborn fool really does counter high-level threats. Luckily, Chi-Yu hadnt fully broken free yet. Otherwise, what lay before them wouldnt be just a scorched forest, but a full-blown massacre. Envy twisted mindsmade people and Pokmon alike compare themselves to others. Then came resentment. Longing. Jealous hatred. An endless cycle of envy brought only disaster. Envying others happier lives, their fuller plates, their advantages... Until all of it boiled over into the most primitive, direct outlet: violence. And once violence began, the only thing that could stop it was even greater violence. With eyes shut tight, Gardevoir watched the scenes playing out in her minds eye through psychic perception: Charred trees, cracked riverbeds... And Pokmonthose that had somehow survived. Gardevoir ignored them. She had more pressing matters right now. Honestly, if this forest was already in such a state and they were still sticking around, those Pokmon were either unbelievably stubborn or just plain dumb. Trying to persuade them to leave probably wouldnt work anyway. Still, shed let Natsume know about them later. Shed wanted to pretend they werent there, but after a brief hesitation, Gardevoir decided it was better to bring it up. Finallywhen her probing psychic feelers reached the forests centersomething different stirred. It was like someone had just forced open the door to a blazing inferno. In an instant, the flames surged and roared to life, as if ready to consume everything in their path. Within the fire, a streak of orange light zipped by. It weaved through the blaze like a living thing, dancing joyfully in the flames. Then, from within the fire, a pair of warm, lustrous jade pendants slowly emerged. Though engulfed by the raging fire, they remained completely untouched. In fact, nourished by the flames, their luster grew even more radiant. Even someone with no knowledge of gemstones could tellthis was an exceptional set of priceless jade. Then the flames around it began to waver and twist. A Pokmon in the shape of a goldfish appeared. It was Natsume''s target for this expeditionChi-Yu, a cursed relic symbolizing the calamity of envy. Bathed in fire, Chi-Yu appeared crystal-clear, like a masterfully carved work of art. The flames swirling around it didnt scorch it in the slightest. Instead, they made it look even more mysterious and alluring. Its eyes, surrounded by magatama-shaped markings, seemed to conceal something unfathomableinviting anyone who looked to delve deeper. Some buried emotion stirred faintly in the heart, a subtle ripple across still waters. Like a seed on the verge of sproutingjust one push past the thin layer of soil, and it would grow wildly, devouring every nutrient in the land to feed itself. Gardevoir? Natsumes voice suddenly rang out. Gardevoir jolted, eyes snapping open, like someone waking from a nightmare. There was a dazed look in her eyes, coupled with a lingering sense of panic and inexplicable relief. Just now, that was... She cautiously reached out with her psychic powers to probe the area again. But all she found was nothing. Just a barely-standing, half-burnt structure crackling weakly in the flames. Gardevoir, are you okay? Seeing her in that state, Natsume reached out in concern. A gentle green light glowed from his palm. It wasnt cold, yet to Gardevoir it felt like the touch of an oasis to a wanderer lost in the desert. A soothing chill ran through her entire body, and the strange restlessness in her heart vanished as if it had never been there at all. Garde. With a telepathic link, she directly sent what she had just witnessed to Natsume. It was too abstract, too bizarre for wordsbetter to show than explain. I see. Natsume nodded after receiving the mental image, as if something had clicked. Though in reality he didnt understand a damn thing. (crossed out) He had no idea how to deal with this situation either. After all, he was just an ordinary farmerwell, one who could fight a little. When it came to things like sealed evil beasts about to break free, he was utterly out of his depth. Sealing techniques? Yeah, those werent part of his skillset. Great. Yet another gaping hole in Natsumes knowledge just got exposed. The vast wasteland of his ignorance had expanded once more. Let me think He crossed his arms, fingers tapping thoughtfully. Looking at the completely trashed forest below, an idea suddenly popped into Natsumes head. Ill make a call. Corviknight, fly up higher. He patted Corviknights neck and pulled out his phone. It was a number hed jotted down before setting off. After all, Natsume was now technically a Gym Leader. Which meant he was technically on the official payrollthough he hadnt really looked into the details himself. Might be worth asking about that later. Anyway, the number belonged to someone from the ranger divisionone of the higher-ups assigned to this operation, if he remembered correctly? He didnt really remember. He had tried to pay attention at the briefing, but nothing had really stuck. As everyone knows, the human brain is great at forgetting anything it doesnt understand. Like your coworkers nonsense. Or your math teachers alien language. Hello? This is Natsume speaking. Quick question: if things get out of hand in a bit and we accidentally level this forest is that going to be a problem? Just a hypothetical. Sure, hypotheticalbut really he was just giving them a heads-up. The guy on the other end of the call understood right away. Under normal circumstances, this mightve been a bit of a headache. After all, you''re supposed to solve problems, not bulldoze through them and call it a win. But this? This wasnt a normal situation. Natsume wasnt a ranger. He wasnt even acting of his own accordthey were the ones who had contacted him first. And looking at the state of the forest now Rebuilding from scratch was going to be way easier than trying to patch it up. Everywhere you looked, the trees were either dead or dying. Some spots were already on fire. What was there to repair? Level it. Replant. Get some Grass-type Pokmon to help, and the forests framework would reappear in no time. Call in a few Pokmon clansthose who can grow plants go wild, those who cant water and nurture the saplings. Sure, it would still be a lot of workbut at least it was straightforward. Trying to restore this mess, though? Thatd be a nightmare. Youd spend years just to see a sliver of progress. With that in mind, the voice on the other end didnt hesitate: No problem at all, Gym Leader Natsume. No matter what happens to the forest, we fully support your actions. Truth be told, unless there were some Legendary Pokmon involved, most of the rangers were already leaning toward rebuilding over repairs. In the world of Pokmon, its hard to say whether famous landscapes formed naturally or were just the aftermath of some overpowered Pokmon brawl. Unless its the territory of some top-tier Pokmon, most forests have been trashed by battling Pokmon at some point. Rebuilds happen all the time. That ancient-looking tree you saw? Mightve been planted last nightright after a Venusaur and a Rillaboom beat the hell out of each other. As long as theres no irreversible damage, rangers usually dont mind. Because their main job isnt protecting treesits maintaining the Pokmon ecosystem. A few trees getting wrecked? Meh. After all, every time a rookie Trainer gets their starter, a tree or a rock somewhere gets clobbered. And when stronger Pokmon break through its entire groves that pay the price. The people who freak out over one tree getting smashed arent rangers. Theyre from some overzealous environmental NGOprobably the kind that charges fees. But right now? Forget preserving Pokmon habitats. Survival was the priority. Got it, Natsume replied, nodding. That was all he needed to hear. With the call over, he ran a finger along his belt, stopping at an ancient-looking Pok Ball. Lets say hello, old friendTing-Lu. He tossed the Pok Ball. A massive shadow blotted out the sky as the towering form of Ting-Lu appeared in mid-air. After a brief pause, gravity took overand it crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact. BOOM! The force of its landing sent out a visible shockwave, kicking up a storm of dust and debris. Even the wildfires nearby were snuffed out by the blast. Any stubborn flames were buried under the falling ash and earth, extinguished completely. After what felt like an eternity scorched by heat, the forest was finally given a moment of cool relief. Ting-Lu shook its massive head, still a little groggy. But it knew what it needed to do. After orienting itself, it started walking toward where Chi-Yu was sealed. Question. You have a sealed monster thats about to break loose. What do you do? Reinforce the seal? Natsume''s choice: let it outand beat it senseless. He couldnt seal it anyway. So he might as well skip the formalities. Those seals always get broken eventually. Manaphy, I need you to look for any survivors and get them to safety. Once Ting-Lu began moving, Natsume released Manaphy. Gardevoir had said earlier that she thought she saw a few survivors who hadnt escaped yet. If it didnt interfere with the fight, Natsume figured he might as well try to help them. Mana. Manaphy nodded. No problem. Before they set off, Natsume had already made a deal with Manaphy. Help out today, and there would be a grand feast waiting at the end. Manaphy agreed without the slightest hesitation. A good meal in exchange for a fight? What a sweet deal. If all it took to earn one of Natsumes special feasts was to throw down in battle, Manaphy figured it might just consider moonlighting as a battle junkie. As for possibly having to fight against Chi-YuManaphy honestly didnt care. A battles a battle, no matter who its against. "Youve seen how things are here. Any Pokmon still hanging around probably has its own reasons." "But when the fighting starts, we wont be able to look after them." "So" Natsume didnt finish the sentence, but Manaphy got the message. It patted its little chest with a look of understanding, its small body rising slowly into the air before darting off in a flash. Beneath a scorched crater, a soot-streaked Numel cautiously poked its head out. What just happened? Numel only remembered the ground shaking like crazy, and now... it felt cooler out? Before it could wrap its head around what was going on, a stream of cool water silently coiled around its body. In the next instant, the stream erupted into a whirlpool, wrapping around Numel completely. There was no time to struggle. The swirling current swept Numel out of the crater and off toward the edge of the forest. As it flailed, Numel noticed plenty of other Pokmon in the skyjust like itself, caught up in watery currents. What the heck is going on?! By the time Numel snapped out of it, it was already on the ground, a good distance away from the forest. It sat there in a daze for a moment, then scrambled up, anxious to rush back in. Its mom had told it to wait there until she came back. So thats where it needed to be. Many other Pokmon had similar thoughts. They got up one by one, determined to return to the land that, in truth, no longer existed. But then a towering wall of surging water suddenly rose up, cutting off their path. Mana~ No way through~ A small figure appeared within the flowing waterManaphy, hovering before the group of Pokmon. Maybe they all had their reasons for going back, but Manaphy didnt care. In that ruined wasteland once called a forest, no life remainedsave for Ting-Lu and Chi-Yu. Natsume had asked it to evacuate the Pokmon. So Manaphy would evacuate all of them. No exceptions. No negotiations. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In its long life, Manaphy had heard too many stories. So many, in fact, that it had gone numb. Yes, your storys touching. Your backgrounds unique. Your situations tragic. But what does any of that have to do with a shut-in from the deep sea like me? You want me to help solve your problems? Manaphy didnt care, and didnt want to listen. Because it knew that even if it did listen, it would still choose to stop them. And that would hurt. It would take a long time to even start putting those feelings back in order. So Manaphy would rather not know. Rather not hear. It silently shut out the pleas of those Pokmon and turned to look at Ting-Lu. Even from this distance, that massive body was impossible to miss. Boom! As Ting-Lu stepped forward, the earth shook beneath its hooves. It felt, for a moment, that maybe it had become what Natsume once called itthe Defier of the Earth. It didnt really understand the phrase, but it seemed fitting enough. And besides, it was a Ground-type, so the title kind of made sense? Its gaze locked onto the small shrine before it, already collapsing under the heat and tremors. Ting-Lu brought its foot down and crushed the rest of it to dust. In the next instant, searing flames erupted from the cracks beneath its hooves. The explosion was so forceful that even Ting-Lu was forced back a step. Within the blaze, orange light shimmered like a stream. From the flames of envy, the Beads of Ruin emerged. Chapter 175 – Kamen Rider Ogerpon, Ready to Strike! The moment Chi-Yu emerged from the flames, it gleefully stretched out its body, letting blazing fire scatter like fireworks. It was a celebrationa wild, fiery outburst to mark its long-awaited escape from that damned seal. To Chi-Yu, that seal had been nothing short of cruel. It had been able to perceive the outside worldvaguely, but enough to know. Enough to sense Pokmon passing by the edge of the seal''s formation day after day. Sometimes, even human Trainers would come to rest nearby. And all Chi-Yu could do was watch those fools light campfires and cook meals right over its "head." It could sense them, but the images were blurry and indistinct, just barely giving it a sense of what was happening. The whole experience had been pure torment. If it had to put the sensation into human terms, it would be like someone used to watching high-definition flat-screen TVs suddenly being locked in a pitch-black room. The only light? A grainy, black-and-white television from a bygone erafuzzy and static-filled, like someone had thrown a censorship mosaic over the entire picture. Too annoying to watch, but too bored to look away. After venting its pent-up joy for a bit, Chi-Yu turned its gaze toward its "old friend" with visible wariness. Humans lumped them all together as Treasures of Ruin, but truth be told, their relationship wasnt exactly warm. After all, they were beings born from negative emotions. What kind of harmony could you possibly expect among them? Getting along? Not a chance. The only reason they didnt fight on sight was because no one wanted to be the first one ganged up on. So no, Chi-Yu wasnt thrilled to see Ting-Lu. Not for a second did it believe that this guy had come to break the seal out of the kindness of his heart. It was more willing to believe a meteor would fall from the sky and hit it square on the head than to believe Ting-Lu had done this as a favor. And so, after a brief moment of silence, Chi-Yu let out a sharp warning. Wuuu~ The ethereal cry echoednot the high-pitched squeal of a goldfish, but the deep, haunting call of a creature from the ocean depths. A sound full of menace, a sound that said loud and clear: Get lost, or Ill attack. Help? Favors? Kindness? Forget it. At most, it might go easy on him when they fought. Sure, the matchup wasn''t in Chi-Yus favortype-wise, it was at a disadvantage. Ting-Lus insane stamina was also a pain to deal with. But in a battle, none of that mattered unless you could land a solid hit. And when it came to toying with this big, slow brute Chi-Yu had some confidence. Maybe it was because Ting-Lu always had that giant cauldron stuck on its head, but its brain had never been particularly sharp. At least, not before. This time, though, faced with Chi-Yus hostility, Ting-Lu didnt flinch. Its time living on Natsumes farm had slowly cleansed its mind. The violent urges and destructive impulses that once consumed it had started to fade, giving way to something elsesomething quieter. After all, the cauldron it had been born from was forged from countless human negative emotionsnot just fear, but greed, desire, wrath... all tangled together. Of course that would mess with its head. But that was then. Now, Ting-Lu felt calmer. At least, most of the time. It tilted its massive head upward, gaze rising toward the sky. Above, Natsume peeked out from the back of the Corviknight and made a subtle gesture. Go time. Ting-Lu gave the tiniest nod. Got it. It straightened its head and slowly turned to face the ever-agitated Chi-Yu. In the blink of an eye, its crimson eyes were once again filled with fury. A terrifying sandstorm erupted out of nowhere, swallowing Chi-Yu whole. From within the swirling chaos, Ting-Lu radiated a wild, primal aura as it charged in. ''The hell, you little punkacting all high and mighty in front of me?'' ''I let you out, and this is how you repay me?!'' Sure, its motives werent exactly pure, but that didnt stop Ting-Lu from climbing up onto the moral high ground and looking down its nose at the situation. With a mighty stomp of its forelimb, a web of cracks split across the earth. Countless chunks of rock burst skywardsome sharpened midair like arrows, hurtling straight toward Chi-Yu. The rest? They hung unnaturally in the air, defying gravity, then slowly vanished into thin air, as if becoming one with the surrounding elements. ROAAAAR!!! Dark-type energy exploded outward, carried by a thunderous soundwave. The omnidirectional sonic assault left Chi-Yu no choice but to take the hit head-on. The flurry of attacks felt like someone was venting their inner fury. Didnt someone just say their heart was calm and peaceful now? Corviknight, soaring in the sky, turned its head back toward Natsume in slight confusion Only to get a slap square on its bird face. Focus on flying. Eyes forward. Everyone who takes their eyes off the road while driving in movies ends up in a wreck. Caaarwk! But Im flying, not driving! Same thing. Talk back again and youre having lunch with Mew. Corviknights face turned pale as it hastily snapped its gaze forward, flying straight and true. No way was it eating at the same table as that creature. That thing had no sense of shame whatsoever. It would probably just levitate Corviknight and pin it to a wall with Psychic, making it watch helplessly as it devoured its Pok Puffs. As for whether the Pok Puffs were the right flavor for Mew? Mew would just shapeshift into a matching type and gobble them down anyway. In Natsumes pocket, a pink floral Flabb-form kitty puffed up her cheeks in outrage. ''How dare you slander my name like that.'' ''Corviknight, was it?'' ''Just wait until we get back. Im eating all your snacks.'' Lower our altitude a bit. Natsume gave Corviknights neck a pat and pointed toward the edge of the battlefield where Ting-Lu and Chi-Yu were still going at it. Corviknight dipped like a diving fighter jet, descending rapidly. Moments later, it landed smoothly on the ground at the battlefields edge. Alright, everyone, get ready to fight. Natsume tapped each of the Pok Balls at his waist with a light touch as he spoke quietly. These modified Pok Balls had one major difference: the Pokmon inside could come and go at will. Most standard Pok Balls are locked by default. Only the trainer can unlock them from the outside to release the Pokmon. A rare few special Pokmon could break the lock with sheer force of will and emerge on their own. For convenience, Natsume had removed all those locks himself. Dont ask how. Just blame the all-purpose Mew. Ive been around a long time, Mew would say. Knowing a thing or two about Pok Ball mechanics is totally reasonable, right? A burst of white light erupted. Natsumes main team assembled in full. Persian, Shiny Furret, Gallade, and Ogerpon. Corviknight, as the airborne ride, and Gardevoir, as support, wouldnt be directly participating this time. Same routinebuff up before we go in. He grabbed the eager Ogerpon, who had already switched into its Cornerstone Mask form, and quickly assigned everyone their roles. Buff yourselves up first, throw out a few helpful support moves. Doesnt matter how long they lasteven one effective hit could turn the tide. Persian would go in first as the vanguard. Ogerpon and Shiny Furret were there to support it. Gallade wouldnt rush in immediately but hang back in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And as for Ting-Lu? Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Natsume was treating it like a walking tank this time. He didnt expect it to actually defeat Chi-Yu on its own. It was just a slow, heavy-hitting wallexactly the wrong matchup against a mobile artillery type like Chi-Yu. It would either get kited to death by hit-and-runs, or both sides would just back off after a drawn-out stalemate. A swift, clean takedown? Unlikely. Sure, Natsume had said he was ready to flatten the entire forest if needed. But that was only this already half-destroyed stretch of woods. The clash between two Legends would definitely affect more than just this relatively small forest. Especially against something like Chi-Yu, a Pokmon that practically lived to destroy. Even the shockwaves of a Legendary clash could ripple out for miles. (Except for that one dog. The one that barks all day and barely knocks over trees.) Compared to that, the others were serious disasters. Licking its paw, Persian gave a slow nod. Simple mission: take out the fish. A brawl, huh? Say no more. Anything elselike chores, helping around the house like Lopunny and the others? Persian couldnt care less. But a fight? That, it was built for. With elegant feline steps, Persians form shimmeredand vanished entirely from Natsumes view. For a feline, stealth followed by sudden strike was just instinct. A skill coded into their very bones. After Persian slipped away, Gallade turned to Natsume and gave a small nod. Unlike its usual calm demeanor, Gallades face was tense now. This was a Legendary, after all. Some respect was in order. In Gallades mind, Natsume was its big boss. And now the boss had handed it a difficult team assignment. A little nervousness? Totally natural. Its form waveredand disappeared just like Persian. Wooma! Furr! Ogerpon and Shiny Furret locked eyesand saw a shared glint of madness. Theyd had a certain idea in the past. Never found the right time to use it. But now? Now seemed perfect. What are you two up to? Natsume eyed the spark of mischief gleaming in both their eyes. These two Theyre cooking something up, arent they? Just as the thought struck, he saw Ogerpon stretch out its hand. Thorns sprouted from its palm, curling and weaving together into a thorny club. Then, with a smooth motion, it nudged its mask into place, mounted the crouched, spring-loaded Furret like a rider about to launch. Wooma! Kamen Rider Ogerponready for action! It swung the thorny club with joy. Furr?! Waitwhy Ogerpon as the Kamen Rider? Why not Furret? Furret protested the naming choice. Wooma. Because youre the ride, duh. Name one Kamen Rider that is the ride. Ogerpon''s logic was shaky, but its confidence made it sound legit. Fur Fair point, actually Furret wasnt sure if it made sense, but also couldnt argue. Shaking its head, it decided not to think about it too hard. Whenever faced with something it couldnt understand, its usual response was Stop thinking. No thoughts = no stress. Deal with problems after they show up. And if its a problem it cant solve Natsume!! Help!! Wooma! Partner! Lets ride! Furr! You got it! With its muscular limbs coiled and ready, Shiny Furret blasted forward like a pink comet skimming the ground. The speed rivaled that of pro-level racecars. To the naked human eye, it was practically invisible. At the battlefields edge, Persian, poised to ambush, caught a flash of pink zipping past in the corner of its eye. Followed by a gust of wind. ''What thewhat are you two even doing?!'' ''Wasnt I the vanguard?!'' Persians brain blue-screened for a second before sprinting after them. ''Damn it.'' ''Why are the weirdos on the farm multiplying?'' ''Could it be that this whole unreliable personality thing is contagious?'' Persian seriously wondered if it should start considering self-isolation. It really didnt want to catch that. Just as it was pondering its life choices, Shiny Furret rocketed forward, streaking across the battlefield like a pink comet, and launched itself straight at Chi-Yu. Its front paws were wreathed in brown, Fighting-type energyBrick Break! Out of all the Fighting-type moves, this was the one Shiny Furret had mastered best. It required almost no wind-up. No matter the situation or condition, as long as it wanted to, it could unleash the move instantly and with full force. Mwaah! Perched on Shiny Furrets back just a second earlier, Ogerpon (in its Hearthflame Mask form) took advantage of the momentum to leap into the air as well. Gripping its Thorny Club with both hands, it swung down in a mighty overhead smash, aiming straight for Chi-Yus headlike it was trying to split a mountain in two. Ogerpon''s exclusive move, Ivy Cudgel, was special in that its type changed depending on the mask it wore. Now, equipped with the Hearthflame Mask, the whip became Rock-type. Perfect against Chi-Yu, who was Dark and Firedouble the damage. ! Chi-Yu, currently locked in a fierce tug-of-war with the berserk Ting-Lu, suddenly jolted with surprise. ''What?! That thing had backup?!'' Chi-Yu had considered the possibility that Ting-Lu hadnt come alone. But in its rather simplistic little fish-brain, it had only pictured Ting-Lu arriving alongside the other twoChien-Pao and Wo-Chien. So when it had probed earlier and found those two absent, it had let its guard down. As for the human? Irrelevant. Deal with Ting-Lu first, then worry about the rest. But nowTing-Lu was actually cooperating with a human?! That... that shook Chi-Yu. Just a little. And then came the incoming combo of Ogerpon and Shiny Furret, attacking with ferocity. Chi-Yu instinctively whipped its tail around, conjuring up a burst of flame as it tried to dodge to the side. But in that instant, a slender silhouette materialized right behind it. Glowing with a golden light, Gallades arm-blade raised highblocking off its escape route. Chapter 176: Chi-Yu – The Unshakable Dark History Returns From the shadows, Gallade suddenly emerged, slashing down with his gleaming golden Sacred Sword toward the flame-wreathed Chi-Yu. The scene looked like something straight out of a fairy talelike a valiant hero smiting an evil foe. And in a sense, that wasnt entirely wrong. To the Pokmon whose homes had been destroyed, Chi-Yu was undoubtedly the villain. And the one who came to strike down evil must, by definition, be justice. No matter the reason, the one who hunts evil will always be seen as righteous. Even if that justice eventually gives birth to a greater evil. Mmgh! The sudden appearance of Gallade did startle Chi-Yu for a moment. But only for a moment. After all, in its long life, this wasnt the first time it had been ganged up on. It had seen even bloodier, more brutal battlefields. This was just one more sneak attack in a long line of them. From the very first moment the battle began, Chi-Yu had used its fearsome flames to create a battlefield suited to its style. And in this sea of fire, landing a direct hit on it wouldnt be easy. All it had to do was flick its tail like a fish in water and Wait, what? Just as it was about to dodge, Chi-Yu was shocked to realize that some fragments of stealth rock had somehow latched onto its bodypiercing it like nails into joints. Its body felt rigid, movements that were once effortless now incredibly difficult. Although it broke free in just a split second Gallades strike had already arrived. The razor-sharp Sacred Sword tore through the wall of fire, honing in on Chi-Yu''s hiding spot and slashing down with precision. The gleaming blade left a glaring wound on Chi-Yu''s body. Last time, when Gallade fought Ting-Lu, his attacks barely left a scratch. This time, though, Chi-Yu''s defenses were clearly far inferior to Ting-Lus. Not to mention Gallade had been training hard lately. Dont underestimate us peaceful fishing enthusiasts! If you interrupt my relaxing lifestyleI wont show mercy! Chi-Yu hadnt even recovered from the blow, still plummeting toward the ground, when a massive thorned club entered its field of vision. With a howling gust, the clublarger than Ogerpon himselfsmashed into Chi-Yu''s skull. For a brief moment, Chi-Yu''s world just... shut down. Picture? Gone. Sound? Gone. Everything? Gone. If this were a video game, the player would be cursing out the dev team right now. Unfortunately for Chi-Yu, its brain was mid-crash. This was only the second time it had ever been beaten this badly. The first time? The day it was sealed away. For a legendary Pokmon born powerful, Chi-Yu''s combat experience was... well, lets just say sparse. It had spent its life steamrolling weaklingsso mind-numbingly boring, so oppressively easythat it couldnt breathe. So Chi-Yu decided to step out of its comfort zone. Try something new. Challenge itself. And it got sealed away for its troubles. What can you say? Sometimes, self-awareness is a virtue. Staying in your comfort zone isnt always a bad thing. Trailing a tail of flame like a mobile suit re-entering the atmosphere, Chi-Yu crashed to the ground. It barely managed to crack open its eyes after landing. The throbbing pain across its face made it nearly impossible to think. Most creatures, when a blow comes straight at their face, instinctively shut their eyes. They just freeze and brace for impact. Chi-Yu was a bit better than that. It kept its eyes openand watched itself get smacked in the face. Better than most. But only just. You bastards Ill burn you all to ashes! Flames flickered wildly around Chi-Yu''s body, ready to erupt like a volcano. And thena shadow silently loomed overhead. A heavy foot, coated in dense, earthy energy, came crashing down. Stomping Tantrum. Die! Scarlet fury surged through Chi-Yu''s pupils. Ting-Lu showed no mercy as he stomped Chi-Yu into the ground. No one likes being played with like a toy. Its like every top-lane main in a MOBA who dreams of punching the idiot who picked a marksman top. The kind you fight in person. Furr! As they landed, Shiny Furret let out an indignant cry at Ogerpon, whod come down beside him. Didnt we agree to charge in together?! You used me as a stepping stone! I didnt even get a hit in! Furret was not happy that his debut attack had whiffed completely. sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mmmah! Dont worry about the details. Just tell mewasnt that move cool as hell? Swinging his thorned club with flair, Ogerpon was still relishing the impact of the strike. That feel... yeah, that felt right. Way better than smacking Ting-Lu. Gotta find another chance to whack him a couple more times later. To that end, Ogerpon began trying to calm Shiny Furret down. He was decently fast, sure. But just looking at those stubby little legs, it was clear that hitting a flying, fire-wreathed Chi-Yu wasnt going to be easy. Thats why he needed a partner. And Shiny Furret was the one Ogerpon had chosen. He wasnt great at handling other peoples emotions, but this time, he didnt have a choice. In this moment, Ogerpon felt like he finally understood how Natsume must feel all the time. This kids a nightmare to deal with. While softly coaxing Shiny Furret, Ogerpon quietly complained in his head. Sometimes, the best way to make a brat realize how annoying they are is to let them experience it firsthandfrom someone else. But right now, the one suffering the most wasnt Ogerpon. It wasnt even Shiny Furret. It was Persian, squatting silently at the edge of the battlefield. Silently watching the scene unfold on the field, Persian stood still, expressionless and silent. If its memory served correctly, wasnt it supposed to be the one leading the charge? It glanced at Gallade, who had vanished the moment its strike landed, then at Ogerponrevving beside its rider, the twitchy Kamen Rider Ogerpon. And at Ting-Lu, stomping the ground furiously in an effort to vent its rage. Persian considered saying something, but ultimately kept its mouth shut. Forget it. As long as theyre happy. Sometimes Persian really didnt understand why others were so eager to steal its job. Were they... seriously that into working? Persian truly couldnt wrap its head around that kind of grindset. Could it be they were just a bunch of violence junkies? It glanced at Ogerpon and the soft pink fur of the shiny Furret. Persian silently confirmed its own theory. Yep. All of themabsolute maniacs. There really werent many normal ones on the farm. Aside from itself, maybe Butterfree was halfway decent. That guy had already entered his comfy retirement phaseso enviable. Persian openly admitted its jealousy toward Butterfrees current role as the farms honorary security detail. All he had to do every day was stroll around, eat, drink, and chill. And when bored, he could use his dirty little movepool to smack around the newbies. Wooo Suddenly, a furious roar erupted. A searing red glow flared beneath Ting-Lus feet. With the glow came intense flameslike a volcano on the brink of eruption. In the blink of an eye, the explosion arrived. Inferno. An actual sea of fire surged across the field. Trees turned to ash. The ground melted. The sky itself seemed to redden under the blistering heat. From the ground, even the Pokmon couldnt make out what the sky originally looked like. The air distorted in the heat, twisting into bizarre, nauseating mirages. "Furr! The shiny Furret, having whisked Ogerpon away from the blast zone just in time, stared back at the sea of flames with lingering dread, watching as Chi-Yu emerged from the inferno. That was close. Nearly got my tail barbecued. Though it always chased bulkier muscles, Furret was still pretty fond of its pink, fluffy fur. Losing a patch to burns? Thatd be heartbreaking. Even as they retreated, Ogerpon and Shiny Furret kept flinging random moves back toward Chi-Yu, disrupting it. Not that it made much difference. It was more like saying, Im still here, punk. Come at me! Wooo! Chi-Yu emerged from beneath Ting-Lus feet, its body wreathed in flame. Perhaps fueled by anger, the flames were burning hotter than ever. For Pokmon, emotion could be a quantifiable source of power. A passionate state could even allow one to overcome opponents with stronger base stats. Even bondsintangible as they soundedfunctioned the same. Just look at Return and Frustration. Both moves scaled with friendship levels. One hit harder the closer the bond. The other, the more distant the bond, the more pain it brought. As long as you didnt hover somewhere awkwardly in the middle. Fueled by rage, Chi-Yu felt more powerful than ever before. It had never imagined it could unleash something so overwhelmingly destructive. The first time it went all-out, Chi-Yu felt a strange, almost euphoric joy. Every cell in its body was singing. Like a machine finally able to go full throttle, every part, every bolt trembled in anticipation. But as the raging flames surged, Ting-Lu slowly lowered its head. The ancient bronze cauldron atop its back pulsed with energy. In the next moment, a black shockwave exploded outward in every direction. Ruination! A signature moveexclusive to the Treasures of Ruin. Only those four could use it. At least, thats how the games framed it. If you really wanted to get technical... Mew and Arceus could probably pull it off too. In theory, Mew could use every move. Though even Mew itself probably didnt know half the moves it could learn. And Arceus... Lets not even get started. Lets just take a moment to worship Hisuis great deity. Had he not seen that majestic being with his own eyes, Natsume mightve joked about it being a glorified llama. But ever since arriving in this world and witnessing that indescribably grand figure Yeah, not funny anymore. Like how people trash talk their teachers or bosses behind their backs... But the second theyre standing face-to-face? Nothing but obedient smiles. Thats life, after all. Wooo! Chi-Yu cried out in pain as it took the full brunt of Ruination. It wasnt exactly a tank. After the barrage it had just endured, its condition was far from greatand now it took a direct hit from that? It was in rough shape, no question. But so what? A savage glint flashed in its eyes as it fired back with a Ruination of its own, aimed straight at Ting-Lu. Even Ogerpon and Shiny Furret were caught in the blast radius. This kind of move was completely unbalancedpure chaos. Sure, in the real world there were limits like too big a gap in strength means it fails. But those who could truly outclass Chi-Yu? They were at the very tophandfuls at most. Even most Legendaries would take some kind of hit. Its fiery tail swept behind it like a burning banner. An all-consuming wave of fire burst forth, forcing Gallade to teleport away in retreat. The searing light and heat condensed into a blazing fireball and launched at Ogerpon and shiny Furret. Flare Blitz! Chi-Yu was going full kamikaze now. Didnt matter if it got hurt in the process. It wasnt that it didnt careit was just too far gone in its fury to think straight. Only one thought echoed in its mind: Take one down with me. Anyone. Doesnt matter who. Old friend? Childhood buddy? Ant or elephant? If it was in Chi-Yus sights, it would get scorched. Fwoosh! A sharp wind tore through the air. Out of nowhere, Persianthe one originally supposed to leadburst from some unknown corner. Its speed was so great that Chi-Yu couldnt even react. Gleaming claws shot from its paws. In the next instant, they slashed through the flames and struck Chi-Yus head. Boom Time seemed to freeze. Through gaps in the fire, Gallade clearly saw Persians paw press into Chi-Yus skullvisibly warping it. To be precise, Chi-Yus skull started to dent inward, bit by bit. Then came a shockwave so strong it could be seen with the naked eye. Staring at Chi-Yuits eyes bulging like some oversized aquarium petGallade felt a sudden, absurd urge to laugh. This guy didnt look like a Treasure of Ruin anymore. More like a clown from a circus. But the humor faded as Gallades gaze shifted to the molten earth below. No matter how pitiful or ridiculous Chi-Yu looked now... The things it had done were real. Even if this was some kind of reincarnation, the sins of the past hadnt just vanished. Those who had died were still dead. Those still alive were left broken, their homes shattered. Gallade didnt know whether Natsume would choose to capture this one. But if he did Would it end up being another case like with Ting-Lu, where theyd have to put in a lot of effort helping rebuild everything? Who knew. Natsume just had those oddly awkward moments sometimes. Likeeven knowing that it wasnt really his responsibility, hed still think, Maybe I should go see if theres anything I can do. Not because anyone asked him to. Just because he wanted to. Because he thought it was the right thing to do. Boom! The struck Chi-Yu once again turned into a shooting star, crashing straight into the ground. Nothis time, it was more like a flaming tennis ball being slammed with everything they had. Its misshapen body wobbled back into the air a few seconds after impact. That hit clearly did some real damage. But Persian didnt look like it planned to stop. The moment it landed lightly, it launched itself again without pauselike a white arrow, it shot straight toward Chi-Yu. Dodging? Kiting? Not necessary! Persians plan was simple: if I beat you down before you get the chance to kite me, then dodging doesnt even matter! But Chi-Yus reflexes were fast too. Even though its head was a mess, in that instant, it acted on pure instinct and made the right call. The dull flames cloaking its body suddenly contractedand then erupted outward all at once. At the same time, it shot straight up into the sky. Strictly speaking, Chi-Yu couldnt fly. It could only float. But with the flames boosting it, its speed didnt lose out to any of the true flying Pokmon. Chi-Yu Rocket successfully blasted out of the encirclement and soared into the sky. It shook its head hard, trying to clear its mind. But no matter what it did, its vision stayed blurry. Was it just blurry? Or had the blow to the head made it start hallucinating? Why was there a bird? In its foggy state, Chi-Yu stared at the figure in front of itwide-eyed, face-to-face with a Corviknightand thought blankly. Wait a second. A bird? Chi-Yu blinked and snapped back just a bit. There was a bird here, out of nowhere. That couldnt be good! But before it could react A sharp voice rang out from behind the Corviknight. Garde! Get it down here! The next second, that all-too-familiar wave of gravity hit it. Just minutes ago, Chi-Yu had experienced this exact same force. That sneak attack from earlierit was that bastard again! On reflex, the fiery energy within it surged out again. For a Legendary of Chi-Yus level, standard moves and abilities didnt hold much meaning anymore. If it wanted, it could probably use its flames to put on a Waterfall show for everyone. And in this unexpected ambush, it instinctively fell back on what came most naturally: flood the field with fire. In the past, that was more than enough to deal with countless pests who overestimated themselves. Cleaning up small fry? Chi-Yu was a pro at it. Maybe it could roast that dumb-looking bird, too? As it plummeted downward, Chi-Yu barely managed to glance toward the Corviknight. But its hopeful fantasy was immediately shattered by a glowing green barrier. And thenright there, peeking out from behind the birds backa human waved at it. That guy! It was that guy stirring everything up! In that instant, Chi-Yu knew exactly who was behind this ambush. It had to be that humanhim, and all these annoying Pokmon he brought with him! It looks pretty pissed off, Natsume said, sitting on the Corviknights back as he glanced toward the Gardevoir beside him. There was a touch of regret in his voice. So young and already so hot-tempered. Wait, what? This ones a millennia-old Legend? Never mind then. These ancient geezersno one really knew what went on in their heads. For all we knew, it could be plotting a rebellion against Arceus or something. Back on the ground, Chi-Yu slammed into the earth again, and this time, it was truly enraged. It burned to incinerate every enemy in sight. From high above, Natsume had a perfect view of the battlefield below. Ting-Lu mightve been huge and a bit slow, not a great matchup in a one-on-one. But in the chaos of a brawl like this, Ting-Lu had become something Chi-Yu couldnt afford to ignore. If it did, that big guy would just walk straight through the explosions and flames and land a massive hit right in its face. As for the rest of the team Persian had completely ditched its usual assassin-like combat style. Faced with roaring flames, it didnt back down even a bit. Even when the fire blocked its path, it just charged straight inlike a berserker, as if to say: either you kill me here, or Im taking you with me. Meanwhile, Gallade stuck to the real assassins creed. Land a strike, vanish without a trace. Even if the hit didnt connect, there was no hesitation in making a clean getaway. Their fighting styles? Lets just say Ones a classic assassin. The others more like an internet assassin. Yeah. Something like that. As for Ogerpon, riding on that shiny Furret of his? Honestly looked more like a kid out on a field trip. Finally, after wave after wave of attacks, Chi-Yualready worn out from breaking free earliercollapsed in defeat. Its eyes were filled with unwilling rage. Losing was painful enough. But the worst part? The final blow had come from that dumbass kid riding a donkey. Chi-Yu had the sinking feeling this would go down as one of the most humiliating moments of its entire life. Chapter 177: The Forest Restored and the Capture of Chi-Yu The moment Chi-Yu fell, countless thoughts raced through its mind. Back when it was first born, it rampaged freely, until that fateful day when some damn mushroom led a mob to gang up on it. And now, again, it found itself surrounded and beaten down by a group of Pokmon brought in by a human. Chi-Yu seemed to finally realizemaybe it really wasnt cut out for fighting outnumbered. In the end, all those chaotic thoughts condensed into one simple sentence: ''That brat riding the donkeydamn you!'' Honestly, getting defeated by Ting-Lu wasnt that humiliating. Sure, it stung, but not unbearably so. After all, they were both Treasures of Ruindisasters incarnate. Their strength was fairly equal, and it made sense that it hadnt fully recovered after just being unsealed. Even being seriously wounded by that Persian and Gallade combo was still within reason. One fought head-on, the other struck from the shadows. Pretty solid teamwork, honestly. That Persian was absurdChi-Yus flames didnt even seem to faze it. As for that Gallade, well teleporting all over the place like a damn mosquito. Couldnt hit it, couldnt catch it. Annoying, but not enough to break its spirit. But! That idiot kid riding a donkeywhat the hell was his deal?! Everyone else was fighting seriously. This lunatic, on the other hand, was charging at it yelling things like: ''Just a passing Kamen Riderremember it well!'' ''Lets tally up your sins!'' ''Time for you to witness the power of our bond!'' Chi-Yu couldnt make heads or tails of what he was saying. Then he just charged in, waving some spiky thorned club, aiming it right at Chi-Yus rear. ''Where did this nutjob even come from?!'' ''Arent lunatics like this supposed to be locked up in the human world?!'' Up in the sky, Corviknight nodded in deep satisfaction. ''Not bad. This kids showing a bit of my old flair.'' He decided hed give the kid some pointers latermake sure he becomes the flashiest star on the battlefield. Yep, Ogerpon was now, more or less, Corviknights disciple. At least when it came to trash talk and general absurdity. You see, ever since Gallade picked up a student of his own, Corviknight had been burning with envy. ''How come that lazy fish Gallade gets to have an apprentice?!'' ''What does he have that I dont?!'' ''No wayIm getting one too!'' Corviknight conveniently ignored his old underling, the Shiny Pidgeot. That one was currently enjoying the blissful life of leading its flockincidentally, the only male in the group. Its status was exactly what youd expect. Couple that with this guys top-tier looks. Corviknight could only hope that the next time he saw his little bro, it wouldnt be as a shriveled corpse. After skipping over his dear little brother, Corviknight searched high and low, but couldnt find a suitable disciple. ''Damn it. That bastard Persian refusing to be my apprentice is one thingbut hitting me too?'' ''No way. Ill have to teach him a lesson later!'' With his cunning plan foiled, Corviknight eventually stumbled upon Ogerpon, who was currently deep in his chuunibyou phase, binging anime. The moment their eyes met, both sides instantly knewthis was fate. And so, the deal was struck. ''You call me Master, I call you Bro.'' ''Lets keep our roles separate.'' And just like that, we arrived at the scene now unfolding before everyones eyes. Having barely graduated from his so-called training, Ogerpon found his perfect partner. And then, riding atop his partner, he joined the fray. Following the sacred principle of a good attack should deal both physical and psychological damage, Ogerpon''s battle style was unorthodox. It was either aimed straight at the enemys faceor their butt. By the later stages of the fight, Chi-Yu had completely cracked. Lying sprawled on the ground, Chi-Yu glared at Ogerpon with blazing eyes. An invisible force began to seep out. If it were any other Pokmon, theyd have already lost themselves in the raging fires of jealousy. Too badit didnt seem to be working. Under Chi-Yu''s influence, a faint purple glow began to rise in the eyes of both Ogerpon and the shiny Furret. But the very next moment, Natsume placed a hand on each of their heads. He gave both Pokmon a good, firm rub. A flash of verdant green light shimmered between his fingers. The next second, both Ogerpon and shiny Furrets eyes turned crystal clearmaybe even a little dim-witted. Like college students who just finished a big meal. Totally spaced out. Brain wiped clean. Chi-Yu''s little trick? Total fail. Sensing Chi-Yus sneaky maneuver, Ting-Lu lowered his massive head. Those crimson eyes locked onto Chi-Yu. ''Whats up, little bro?'' ''Feeling rowdy, are we?'' Ting-Lus gaze held a hint of disdain for the restless, defeated Chi-Yu. ''Cant read the room, huh, little bro?'' Completely forgetting that, once upon a time, he had the exact same reaction as Chi-Yu. In fact, if Ting-Lu hadnt been beaten down and knocked out cold back then, he probably wouldnt have handled it any better than Chi-Yu. Not that this stopped him from mocking Chi-Yu now. After all, Chi-Yu hadnt seen his humiliating defeat with his own eyes. Even if hed heard about it later, he could only toss in a couple of sarcastic remarks. But Ting-Lu had witnessed Chi-Yu''s defeat firsthand. He even played a part in it. Sure, it was a group beatdown. Sure, Chi-Yu had just woken up and wasnt in great shape. Sure, hed been dodging Ting-Lu like a pro at the start. But! Who cares! Ting-Lu was going to ride this victory for years, using it to endlessly roast Chi-Yu. The truth didnt matter anymore. Mocking the fish was the whole point. That about summed up the relationships among the Treasures of Ruin. Though humans lumped them all together under one name, with similar origins and signature moves They never really got along. You throw a bunch of surly weirdos togetherdoes that suddenly make them friends? The only reason they hadnt torn each other apart was because they knew if they went too far, theyd all go down together. They tolerated each other. Barely. Ting-Lu thought the others were too scrawny, their resentment too watered-down. Chi-Yu thought none of them were normal. Some were dumb, some looked downright freaky. Each had their own reason to dislike the rest. So what do we do with this guy now? Natsume landed from Corviknights back and looked at Chi-Yu, currently pinned under Persians bulk, with a mild headache coming on. Clearly, this one wasnt the obedient typeexactly like Ting-Lu before him. If they just hauled him back like this, hed probably torch everything along the way. Rrr? How about knocking him out? Ting-Lu suggested helpfully from the side. Wouldnt that make him easier to transport? He was easy to knock out anyway, and once he was, hed be in the same boat Ting-Lu had been. And if they shared that particular black mark on their records, Chi-Yu would lose any right to laugh at him for it. Mah! I think thats a great idea! Ogerpon raised a paw in support. The way that fish was looking at him gave him the creeps. Might as well knock him out and drag him back. That was right up his alley. Wielding his thorny club, Ogerpon looked eager to get started. ! Chi-Yu flinched under Persians weight. ''What the hell?! I already lost, and now you wanna finish me off?'' ''You ruthless bastards! One day, Ill burn you all!'' Honestly, thats not a bad idea. Natsume rubbed his chin thoughtfully. When you looked at it that way, it didnt seem unreasonable. Chi-Yu was still in that I lost but I refuse to admit it stage. No need to coddle him. As the saying goes: "The loud one gets the attention. The stubborn one gets the discipline." "The gentle one gets the love. The strong one gets the burden." And Chi-Yu was definitely the stubborn, suffering kind. Faced with Natsume and Persians threat, Chi-Yu shut his eyes tight and turned his head away. A clear Do what you want, I give up pose. Watching him lie there in full surrender mode, Natsume patted his pocket. Stop hiding. Get out here and help. Mew~ Heehee. Busted. A tiny Floette crawled out of Natsumes pocket with a completely unapologetic grin. Some people get upset when they mess up because they realize they were wrong. Others because they know theyre screwed. But Mew? Mew never thought it did anything wrong in the first place. Even if it accidentally broke something, it was lightning-fast with the blame game. That vase was already cracked, Manaphy did it, Corviknight was distracting me, all equally valid excuses in Mews book. ''Cmon, Im just a cute little kitten. You think I could possibly be responsible? This clearly isnt my fault.'' Wrong and strong. Natsume sometimes found Mews shamelessness a little exasperating. Thankfully, Mew wasnt completely incorrigible. Through all its time on the farm, it had started to slowly change. Itd become a better eater (crossed out). Do we still have any of those special Pok Balls left? Natsume reached out and poked the now-revealed Mew. When it came to Legendaries, regular Pok Balls might as well be wildflowers by the roadside. At least flowers had a chance to catch their attention. Normal Pok Balls? The second a Legendary wanted out, snaptheyd burst open like wet paper. That includes so-called Great Balls and Ultra Balls. Mass-produced goods might someday hit new heights of quality. But the best products of every generation? Still made by hand. At least for now. Mew? What Pok Balls? Scratching its head, Mew''s little face was full of confusion. ''Was there really such a thing?'' Mew dug through its memory as hard as it could. Yesterdays breakfast? Nope. The Pokblocks from last night? Still no. The snacks it swiped from Manaphy the day before? Wrong again. Tapping its own little forehead, Mew realized its brain seemed to be filled with nothing but things it had eatenor hadn''t eaten yet. Mana! The thing you used to catch me last time! At some point, Manaphy had appeared behind Mew and gave it a firm kick in the butt, shouting in frustration. It hadnt really thought much of it at first, but once it remembered it had been stuffed into a Pok Ball pulled out from that place... it couldnt stay calm. Manaphy was mad. Dont ask whyit just was. Mew! The kick mustve jogged its memory, because Mew finally remembered the Pok Ball it brought from its hometown. But remembering was one thingMew had more important matters to deal with right now. Executing a dazzling 260 aerial spin followed by a backflip, Mew dove at Manaphy like a mad dog, grabbing the tendrils on Manaphys head in a ridiculously twisted and difficult pose. Like a game of tug-of-war, it yanked with all its might. Mew! How dare you kick me! Mana! Natsume, help! Watching the two tiny legends wrestle and shout, Natsume stepped forward with a resigned sigh to separate them. They just couldn''t sit still for even a minute. Where did these little troublemakers even come from? While Natsume worked as the reluctant peacemaker, the ancient fish Pokmon, Chi-Yu, lay pinned beneath the others, silent. Being a fellow legend, it had at least some knowledge of these other mythical Pokmon. Even if it didnt know exactly what they looked like, any legendary who stood at the top had an aura you couldnt ignoreand these two? Off the charts. There was an old human saying, wasnt there? Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pinker the hair, the harder the punch. This thing was all pink. Chi-Yu didnt know who these two were exactly, but it could tell either one of them could easily mop the floor with it. Didnt you see how that Ting-Lu guy changed the moment Mew showed up? When facing Chi-Yu, Ting-Lu was like: Hey, kid, show some respect to your elders. But facing Mew, Ting-Lu was like: Maam, is this lunch to your liking? If not, Ill throw in dinner too. All about knowing your place. Ting-Lu would argue it wasnt beating the weak and fearing the strongno, no. This was adapting your tone depending on your conversation partner. Right, little brother Chi-Yu? Mew. After their scuffle, Mew explained to Natsume that it did have one of those Pok Balls, just not on hand at the moment. And with that, it vanished in a blink. Before Natsume could react, Mew reappearedthis time holding a Pok Ball that looked quite old-fashioned. It casually shoved the ball into Natsumes arms, then immediately turned back to resume wrestling with Manaphy. ''You punch me in the face, I bite you on the butt.'' ''Come on!'' ''Lets hurt each other!'' ''See who fights dirtier!'' The outcome was clear. Like a five-year rebel cant beat a decades-old troublemaker, Manaphy was ultimately defeated by Mew. Its eyes blank, it collapsed to the ground. No, dont get the wrong ideathis isnt that kind of furry fanservice. Mew had just taken advantage of Manaphys moment of relaxation to unleash a point-blank burst of blinding Flash and a powerful Supersonic. Wiping imaginary sweat from its forehead, Mew looked quite pleased with itself. That was closeit nearly got bit. Good thing its skills were just that much better. To Mew, all these little tricks of Manaphys were old news. As it turned around, Mew caught sight of Natsume capturing Chi-Yu. Thunk! The Pok Ball landed square on Chi-Yus head, cracking open with a loud pop. A beam of white light shot out, enveloping Chi-Yu and pulling it inside. The Pok Ball hit the ground and shook gently Then settled into stillness. Huh? That was it? Natsume was visibly surprised as he looked at the motionless Pok Ball. Chi-Yu had just been all Id rather die than surrender, and now it had gone quietly? Couldnt it have at least pretended to resist a little? Grr. Exactly! Ting-Lu grunted in disdain from the side. And they say this things on the same level as me? What a joke. Ting-Lu had conveniently forgotten how it acted when it was captured and took the chance to internally roast Chi-Yu. Maybe it was the sight of an old friend getting wrecked, but Ting-Lu seemed unusually lively today. Inside the Pok Ball, Chi-Yu silently rolled its eyes. ''If I dont cooperate now, when would be a good time?'' ''Should I wait until I struggle, break free, and get the stuffing beaten out of me before finally giving in?'' ''You think Im dumb?'' Well, that settles the Chi-Yu issue. Next is Picking up the Pok Ball from the ground, Natsume looked around. The entire area was a mess. Lava was still cooling, the ground was cracked and scorched, and pieces of something charred and unidentifiable littered the field. Wisps of black smoke slowly rose into the sky. You could tell at a glancethis place was not healthy to live in. No doubt about it. Even Fire-type Pokmon wouldnt be thrilled about making this place their home. Surrounding areas were plains and foreststhis scorched land was the only spot remotely appealing to Fire-types. Even if some Fire Pokmon were brought in, the environment created by battle wouldnt last long. At least not the kind caused by a legendary like Chi-Yuthe aftershocks of its fight werent going to sustain a suitable climate. In short, this place would eventually become uninhabitable for Fire-types again. Maybe, in a few decades, a new ecosystem would emerge, with new Pokmon tribes settling here. But that was a long time away. So Natsume began considering whether he should take action. Mana! As agreed beforehand, Manaphy soared into the sky the moment Chi-Yu was captured. Waving its tiny arms, it summoned a mass of clouds, darkened from the lingering smoke and ash, which quickly transformed into heavy rainclouds. The scale of the transformation was massiveit covered not just this area but stretched far beyond the forests edge. A single cool raindrop fell from the high sky, hitting the cracked ground with a sharp splat, disappearing immediately into the thirsty earth. This land had long yearned for rain. As the first drop hit, then came the second, then the third Soon, a steady downpour blanketed the area. A full-blown storm had arrived. The sweltering air was instantly replaced by the damp breath of rain. The first raindrops vanished the moment they touched the parched earth, absorbed in the blink of an eye. But as the rain continued to fall, the cracked ground slowly grew moist. A long-dried riverbed began to trickle with water once more. The torrential downpour went on for quite some time. For an ordinary Pokmon, this kind of rain would be enough to drain their stamina dozens of times overbut for Manaphy, this was barely a post-meal workout. In the rain, Gardevoir held up a barrier with its psychic power, shielding Natsume from the downpour. Inside the barrier, Natsume sat quietly on the ground, gazing at the rain that was purifying the land. Beside him, Persian lay silently. Persian loved rainy days. Because on rainy days, it could lie quietly by the bedside and watch the rainfall outside. Gallade stood calmly behind Natsume. At that moment, it looked just like a composed bodyguard. Silently watching over him. Meanwhile, the temporary duo of Ogerpon and the shiny Furret had already dashed out of the barrier, gleefully playing in the rain. Theyd definitely need a bath afterward. Watching the shiny Furret roll in the mud, completely ruining its soft pink fur, Natsumes eye twitched involuntarily. ''Tch.'' His fists were getting itchy. Really felt like punching something. Forget it. Let them enjoy themselves for now. Once it seemed like enough, Manaphy waved its hand, dispersing the rainclouds. The sun broke through the clouds once more. A rainbow seemed to arc across the sky. Following behind Manaphy, Mew finally moved. Chin resting in its paw, it floated up into the air with a contemplative expression. Hmm, Natsume had tasked it with reforestation, hadnt he? So who should it transform into? Even though Mew possessed every move there was It could use them even without transforming. But it was obvious that using the matching moves after transforming was far more intuitive. Mew! Got it! With a smack of its tiny paw into the other, Mew lit up. Its body spun midair, and a soft white glow surrounded it. When the light faded, a different Pokmon appeared. Its form was unusual. A massive, muscular body composed only of armsits form bore distinct traits of a bull. A nose ring, hooves, and large hornsall unmistakably bovine. Atop its head rested a red wooden object, resembling a crown or helmet. Tapu Bulu, guardian deity of the islands. A Legendary Pokmon of Grass and Fairy types. It possessed the power to command plant life, nurturing growth. Now transformed into Tapu Bulu, Mew closed its eyes and focused on the energy within its body. Emerald green lights slowly shimmered into being and sank into the surrounding soil. Soon after, tender green grass began sprouting from the moist earth. In any ordinary world, such a sight would be nothing short of a miracle. Not to mention After the scorching hellscape this place had endured, there shouldnt have been a single seed left capable of sprouting! But thats just Pokmon for you. Normal science simply didnt apply. With the first blade of grass, greenery began spreading rapidly across the land. Each stalk looked full of vitality. Once the meadow took shape, Mew transformed once again. This time into a small green hedgehog. Well, hedgehog in silhouette only. Its quills were made of soft plant matter, totally lacking in menace. The whole creature looked squishy and adorably round. Shaymin, Land Forme. Said to possess the power to purify toxins and cover barren land in blooming flowers. With eyes tightly shut, Shaymin looked like it was concentrating on something. Soon, something in the air seemed to stir. Centered on Shaymin, an invisible breath began to converge, drawing in the unseen miasma from the air and transforming it into clean oxygen. Then, amidst the sea of green, other colors began to bloom. Bright, vibrant flowers quietly emerged between the blades of grass. Before long, those nascent blooms unfurled boldly in the sunlight. A gentle breeze swept through, scattering petals into the sky. Small four-legged beastssharing a resemblance with Shaymindanced through the air, eyes sparkling with joy at the returning bounty of nature. Perhaps Mew, after transforming, instinctively took on the feelings of those forms. At that moment, Mew felt nothing but pure elation. Finally, it descended to the ground. Now for the last part. A glow of white enveloped Mew, and its silhouette grew larger. When the light faded, a majestic presence took its place. Its body was small, but its head was enormous. Almost like an ornate crown. Theres a sayingsome are born to be kings, and when they stand tall, people simply feel it in their bones. Thats exactly what this Pokmon evoked. Calyrexthe Pokmon of benevolence and bounty, known also as the King of Harvests. In ancient times, it once ruled over the Galar region. Now transformed into Calyrex, Mew slowly raised its left hand. In an instant, a miracle occurred. Vegetation surged from the earth in uncountable masses. Juicy berries burst forth from leafy branches; tiny fruits peeked out from shrubs, quietly waiting for Pokmon to find them. In moments, the entire area was transformed into a lush, habitable paradise for Pokmon. No trace of the previous disaster remained. Nounder the combined power of these three forms, this place was more than healed. It had become a veritable Pokmon paradise. Hm? Somewhere in a distant snow-covered mountain, the real Calyrex turned its gaze curiously. Then gave a knowing smile. ''Ah, so it was them.'' Chuckling softly, Calyrex continued its solitary walk through the snowy peaks, its tiny figure soon disappearing into the blizzard. Mew~ Im wiped out Returning to its true form, Mew plopped down on the ground. Wiping nonexistent sweat from its forehead with a tiny paw, it began grumbling loudly. Peeking between its arms to sneak a look at Natsumes reaction. When it saw that he didnt respond, it complained even louder. Putting on the perfect performance of a poor, mistreated child. Alright, alright. I get it. Ill give you an extra treat tonight. Mana! Me too, me too! Chapter 178: The Unfazed, Meddling Indeedee Brother This is just Staring at the lush, serene forest before himwhere greenery flourished and time seemed to stand stillthe ranger who had come to handle the aftermath was struck speechless. He was in awe, yes, but also a little confused. So, uh, what exactly am I here for again? Did I rush over just to marvel at how amazing Gym Leader Natsume is? Why does this feel like one of those nameless background characters in a novel, the kind who show up just to be impressed? The ranger stood there, quietly questioning his life choices. The site supervisor on the other side was equally bewildered. He glanced down at the paperwork Natsume had filled out when he was first appointed as a Gym Leader. There definitely wasnt any mention of a Pokmon that could just wave its hand and summon an entire forest from nothing. Which Legendary did Gym Leader Natsume capture this time? No one could figure it out. Why are we so sure its a Legendary? Because no ordinary Pokmon could pull off something like thisthe sheer scale and speed at which this forest appeared are simply beyond their capabilities. Let alone recreating an entire ecosystem suitable for Pokmon habitation during the rebuilding process. Water, foodeverything was accounted for. This had clearly surpassed what any regular Pokmon could achieve. Only a Legendary Pokmon could manage something like this. Well, perhaps some ancient Pokmon, those that have lived for centuries and steeped themselves in such powers, might barely be capable. But those kinds of Pokmon are rarer than most Legendaries. You could say that each one is unique, one of a kind. Even if you stumbled upon one by sheer luck, theres no way it would willingly leave its territory. So the coordinator preferred to believe that Gym Leader Natsume, who had already subdued several Legendary Pokmon, had simply added another one to her collection. Somehow that just felt more believable. Scratching his head, the coordinator couldnt help but feel the massive disparity between people in this world. Some folks might never even lay eyes on a Legendary in their entire lifetime. Some might only catch a fleeting glimpse, a silhouette on the horizon. Some might meet one just before dying. Why just before dying? Because theyre about to be flattened. Not every Legendary is friendly. And then there are people like Gym Leader Natsume who can bring a Legendary to gang up on other Legendaries. As for himself? His only victory over a Legendary was in a mobile minigame and even then, he had to spend real money to beat it. Maybe thats just life. Setting down the reports in his hands, the coordinator sighed quietly. As for the possible Grass-type or life-related Legendary involved? Well, if Gym Leader Natsume wasnt talking about it, it meant she didnt want it known. Whos bored enough to go digging for answers anyway? Would you only be satisfied if she beat you into the ground and made you admit that she didnt have that Legendary after all? In this world, unsolicited interviews and moral grandstanding will literally get you hammered. At that moment, Natsume was already on his way home, riding on Corviknights back. He hadnt paid any attention to what kind of shock that forest might bring to others. Mew? By the way, Natsume, when did you notice me? Mew, now back in its original form, laid sprawled across Natsumes head, curiosity sparkling in its voice. It thought it had been pretty well hidden, after all. It had even planned to sneak up and give Natsume a little surprise while he wasnt looking. But so much for thatsurprise ruined. Now the kitty was heartbroken. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maybe happiness would never return again. Only a grand feast could mend this broken heart. Patting its tiny belly, Mew flopped over dramatically, lounging flat on top of Natsumes head. Its long tail flicked lazily in the wind. To an outside observer, it actually looked quite pleased. For Mew, every day was a joyful one. Nothing could keep it down for long. With strength to back it up, if something annoyed it, it could just flip the table. In a good mood? Sure, itd play along. In a bad mood? Screw the rules. The cats flipping the table! Nobodys playing anymore! Straight back to good ol primal violence. Though Mew didnt particularly enjoy fighting, it was confident in its own power. With that kind of self-assurance, Mew could go about its days cheerfully, free from worry. I noticed you shortly after Corviknight took off. Now that Chi-Yu issue had been dealt with, Natsume finally felt at ease. Some problems arent catastrophic, but if left unresolved, they linger in the back of your mind, gnawing at your peace. Shifting into a more comfortable position on Corviknights back, he pointed to his pocket. When Rotom came out to navigate and started shaking like a leaf, I knew something was off. The smartphone-Rotom, currently doing the navigation, said nothing, quietly switching into smart-nav mode. Though Corviknight had insisted over and over that its genius brain didnt need navigationonce it flew a route once, it could remember it forever Natsume, who got lost five steps outside the farm, wasnt taking chances. He still made Rotom turn on navigation. Even if Corviknight didnt need it, at least he could feel better. Mew! You traitor! Clutching its tiny chest, Mew looked utterly betrayed. Shock gave way to disbelief, disbelief to sorrow, sorrow with just a hint of clarity. That expression alone could be used in film school acting textbooks. It wasnt me, Roto! Im innocent, Big Sis! The previously silent Rotom stiffened, then dramatically slid across the air and clung to Natsumes leg, bawling. Why his leg, specifically? Because if it had clung to Mews leg, the picky Legendary wouldve curb-stomped it on the spot. On the farm, the only one who could ever change Mews mind was Boss Natsume. Anyone else? Mew wouldnt even listen. Unless they came bearing tribute. (Snacks.) Alright, alright, stop scaring Rotom. And you, Rotom, no need to worry. Mew wont give you a hard time. Get back to navigating. Natsume gently rubbed Mews head, bringing the conversation to a close. To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing Back when he first suspected that Zorua might actually be Mew in disguise, Natsume had gotten pretty nervous. No matter how cute Mew looked It was still a Legendary. And not just any Legendary, but one at the very top. In front of a being like that, Natsume had felt it only right to maintain the bare minimum of respect. In any world, respect for the strong is a lesson all weaker beings must learn. Eventually, after a series of unspoken interactions, Natsume and Mew had formed a kind of silent understanding. Which brings us to now What do you want for dinner tonight? Mew! Feast! With tons of snacks! Then dont forget to brush your teeth. Mew~ Kitties dont get cavities~ Still gotta brush. Mew~ Fine. Only because its you, Natsume. Lying across Corviknights back, Natsume chatted casually with the Mew lounging on his stomach. Sometimes, theyd run out of things to say halfway through. After a long silence, one of them would bring up something else, and the conversation would just naturally pick up from there. Neither found it odd. For Natsume and Mew, this rhythm of interaction felt just right. Before long, Corviknight returned to the farm, carrying Natsume home. Caaw! Im back, baby! With wings spread wide and claws extended forward, Corviknight showed off its new landing technique. Its claws scraped along the ground for a few meters before it came to a smooth stop. Glancing sheepishly at the long skid marks it left behind, Corviknight looked away, pretending it saw nothing. Sure, the landing caused a few tiny scratches But it was such a cool landing that it totally made up for it. Ah-ye. Standing at the ready like a proper butler, Indeedee Brother clasped one hand over the other and waited patiently beside Corviknight for Natsume to dismount. Compared to the younger Indeedee sibling who always wore a gentle smile, the older Indeedee brother was consistently calm and composed. Even when he once came face-to-face with a Hisuian Zorua that leapt out from the shadows to startle him, his expression hadnt changed in the slightest. That deadpan reaction left the Hisuian Zorua sulking for quite a while. Im back. Jumping down from the back of her Corviknight, Natsume looked curiously at Indeedee brother and asked: How did you know I was coming back? He hadnt told anyone he was returning. It just wasnt his habit to inform others ahead of time. This time, he hadnt even told Mei. Hed been a little too absorbed in Mews performance showcase. Before he knew it, hed completely forgotten to send a message. It wasnt until he was already halfway back that he suddenly remembered he hadnt updated Mei. But after some thought, he decided not to message her at all. Doing so now would just make it obvious that hed forgotten about her because he was caught up in something else. If he sent the message now, it might give a sensitive girl the impression that she was being ignored. Better to just come straight back. That way, it could even count as a surprise. Ah-yi. The Indeedee brother explained. Hed just been going over the books at home when the Natu that had been pretending to be a decorative ornament by the door suddenly lit up with a piercing blue glow in its eyes. Even in broad daylight, the light coalesced into a visible beam. It left Indeedee brother completely stunned. When the light faded, the Natu delivered a prophecy: Natsume would return to the farm riding on her Corviknight in ten minutes, bearing spoils of battleand it even pinpointed her exact landing spot. After delivering the prophecy, the Natu promptly shut its eyes and resumed its dead bird routine. No matter how Indeedee brother prodded or poked it, it remained in a limp, indifferent state, like it was saying, Whatever, do what you want. It just wouldnt respond. So, holding onto a shred of hope, Indeedee brother quietly waited at the spot the Natu had named. And if Natsume didnt show up? Well, he was fully prepared to go back and bury that Natu in the litter box. That particular punishment methodoriginally devised by Emolga to deal with Meowstic, and later reversed by Psychic Meowstic for use on Emolgahad proven to be quite effective. Low in physical harm, high in psychological damage. In the end, though, he really did see Natsume show up. He glanced at the pocket watch in his hand. Eight minutes and some changefactoring in the time hed wasted hesitating, it was just about ten minutes. So that bird actually has some talent? The Indeedee brother was genuinely surprised. Sure, a lot of Pokmon could use moves like Future Sight, but it was generally limited to battle contexts. You rarely saw one actually using it as a proper prophetic ability. He quietly tucked the pocket watch away, making a mental note to pay more attention to that deadweight Natu in the future. As for whether that prophecy was normal or not? Well, on this farm, normal Pokmon were few and far between. You got used to it. Just the other day, he saw that Swampert by the lake doing frog jumps while carrying a decorative boulder on its back. Around here, no matter what happens, Indeedee brother considers it totally within the realm of normal. Even if Natsume suddenly pulled a mysterious stick out of his pocket, shouted Shafurin! and blasted off into space to fight alien crawfish, hed just nod and think, Ah, so thats why hes so strong. I see. Natsume nodded in understanding. He knew Natu had the ability to foresee the future, but this was the first time it had actually made a prediction since arriving at the farm. And the first thing it prophesied... was his return? And the spoils of war Why did it feel like the prophecy was more about Chi-Yu, and he was just the delivery person? Shaking his head, Natsume shoved those thoughts aside. He pulled out his phone and messaged Mei to let her know he was back. As for the Pokmon in his PokeBalls, he didnt release them right away. First, he needed to get that Chi-Yu settled in. Even though it had acted all Ive learned my lesson when captured... Who knew if that was just an act? That Okidogi had played the submissive role too, only to try and launch a sneak attack later. Even after getting thoroughly beaten by Natsume, it hadnt fully given up on the idea. Natsume! Right after receiving Natsumes message, Mei came running overwith Duosion trailing behind her. Since its special training assignment had been completed, Duosion was now in a state of idle boredom and had simply tagged along. Mei always said Natsumes Pokmon were strong. But thanks to various twists of fate, Duosion hadnt had a chance to see them in action until now. It wasnt skeptical per sejust hard to form a clear picture without firsthand experience. It was hard to feel the strength just through words. Maybe this time? Duosion cast a few glances at the Corviknight behind Natsume, who was curiously peering around. It then calmly looked away. That bird seemed decently strong but way too goofy. Zero intimidating presence. ...Ill release it now. Duosion blinked and looked toward Natsume in curiosity. Release what? A newly captured Pokmon? Mei had mentioned that this human named Natsume had gone out for a battle. So is it flex time? But before Duosion could finish grumbling in its head A beam of red light flashed across its face. A fiery blossom of heat exploded into existence. And in that instant, Duosion thought it had caught a glimpse of heaven. Chapter 179: The Natsume Family’s Victory Feast In its past life In its past Pokmon life, Duosion had always believed that no matter the differences in strength between Pokmon, the gap would never be so vast that it felt insurmountablelike a chasm that could never be crossed. Maybe it was due to its natural talent, but Duosion had never encountered an opponent that felt overwhelmingly powerful. Even the top dog from its old territorysupposedly the strongesthad seemed just alright in Duosions eyes. Certainly not anything transcendent. Its own power had always been steadily climbing. The kind of opponent it couldnt beat today? Given time, Duosion was confident it could turn the tables and go fifty-fifty in a rematch. So, deep down, Duosion held a quiet confidencesome might even call it pride. Even though it hadnt evolved into its final form yet, its current strength wasnt anything to scoff at. Compared to the older members in the team, it didnt feel like it was lagging that far behind. At the very least, not hopelessly so. As long as it could see the gap, that was enough. Duosion firmly believed it would eventually catch up to, and even surpass, its seniors. As for what Mei had said beforesomething along the lines of Natsumes Pokmon are all really strong Well, Duosion had just kind of brushed it off. Probably nothing special, it thought. With that carefree mindset, Duosion watched as Natsume tossed a rather weathered Pok Ball. ''Where did he even find that relic?'' Duosion mused, unimpressed. Thenfire bloomed. A scarlet blaze burst forth, painting the entire sky in crimson. Orange trails of light danced within the flames, like joyful fish weaving through water. For that brief moment, time seemed to stretch into eternity. The heat was suffocating. The air felt thick and heavy. Even vision itself seemed to blur, as though it were melting under the searing pressure. For the first time in what felt like forever, Duosions mind went blank. It couldnt think. Thena familiar voice called out: Mew. Duosions few still-functioning brain cells began to process the situation. Mew? What was that? A Pokmon? Before Duosions nearly crashing brain could fully make sense of it, the scene before its eyes shifted again. With a soft poof, the raging inferno vanished in an instant. Only a few flickers of embers drifted in the sky, fading completely before they even touched the ground, leaving no trace behind. As if the whole thing had been nothing more than a strange, fleeting dream. Uuuu That majestic, blazing Pokmon from just moments ago was now circling obediently around the human named Natsume, like a wronged child. Staring blankly at the scene, Duosion felt its brainjust beginning to recoverstarting to crash all over again. I just casually called out Mews name, thats all. You didnt have to get so worked up, Chi-Yu. Cradling Mew in his arms, Natsume glanced at Chi-Yu with a smile. Though, to be honest, that smile didnt look very friendly. Nyuu~ Yes, feel free to be even more outrageous next time. Curled up lazily in Natsumes arms like a real cat, Mew let out a slow hum. It half-lifted its eyelids and casually gestured with its little handmaking a "tiny" sign with its fingers. And within that gap between its fingers it felt like a whole universe was hidden there. Chi-Yu didnt dare respond. Head hung low, it remained perfectly docile. It already had a taste of what the pink demon was capable of before coming back. It never wanted to see the view from the stratosphere ever again. Nor did it want to be gawked at by a horde of green dragons. It was just a weak, helpless little goldfish, okay? Its poor heart simply couldnt handle that kind of trauma. Watching Chi-Yu behave so meekly, Mew gave a soft hmph. This one, like that Good Doggo, was another restless troublemaker. If its sharp edges werent filed down early, it was bound to stir up trouble in the future. And that was something Mew absolutely could not allow. The last thing it wanted was to be taking a nap one day, only to wake up and find the house had burned down. If that happened, Mew knew it would truly lose it. Angry kitty is no joke. You wouldnt like it when kittys mad. Watching the unusually obedient Chi-Yu, Duosion hesitantly reached out a jelly-like hand, as if trying to gesture something. Waitthis feels kind of off, doesnt it? This was the first time Duosion had ever seen such a powerful Pokmon. Also the first time it had directly felt what legendary power really meant. Even if it didnt fully grasp what a Legendary Pokmon was That sheer forcewas no illusion. In that moment, Duosion had genuinely felt like it was about to be reduced to ashes. But that same terrifyingly powerful Pokmon had been subdued by just one word from Natsume? And now it was being so tame? Duosion wasnt sure if it was imagining things, but it couldve sworn it saw flattery on Chi-Yus face. Was it just a hallucination? Watching Chi-Yu fawn around like some kind of sycophant, Duosion fell into deep thought. Thats the enemy Natsume dealt with on his last outing. A Legendary Pokmon known as one of the Treasures of Ruin, also called the Beads of Ruin. In simple termsyeah, a god-tier monster. Natsume told me that even while it was sealed, a mere trace of Chi-Yus leaking power managed to burn down an entire forest. Mei chimed in casually from the side. She was well aware of the problems her own Pokmon had. Serperior was still doing alrightobsessed, yes, but that obsession helped drive it forward. Samurott, on the other hand, was in a slump. Mei needed to find a way to get it back on track. Pignite was just one step away from evolving, but was stuck due to some lingering emotional baggage. Shed have to help with that, too. Tsareena was currently the least worrisome. No clear target to defeat, but still striving to grow stronger. Chingling was mostly treated as support, so Mei hadnt pushed it too hard with training. That would come after evolution. But Duosionthe latest addition to her teamhad the most serious issues. To put it plainly: it was prideful. Confident to the point of arrogance in its own strength and talent. Even when facing formidable opponents, it showed no fear. It lacked respect for the strong and had way too much faith in its own futurebordering on delusional. Around its teammates, it maintained a detached, indifferent attitude. And that wasnt a good thing. Theres nothing wrong with pride. But arrogance? Thats dangerous. And Pokmon were no exception. Right now, Duosion was only showing early signs of this, but Mei would never allow her Pokmon to turn into a brainless, arrogant mess. Bringing Duosion along today was partially to take that edge off it. At the very least, it needed to understand that its current power meant nothing in front of the truly strong. Respect for the powerful wasnt optional. It wasnt fearit was about having a clear understanding of oneself. Like in that other showDigimon, wasnt it?there was a Digimon called Gotsumon. Endless potential, but very rare. One major reason? Despite being weak, it would always charge into battle against stronger foes without hesitation. In other wordsloved to throw itself at death. So Mei brought Duosion here. She had actually considered letting it watch those intense battles on TV first. But ultimately scrapped the idea. After all, a lot of people think, I could do that too, when watching someone fight on screen. And Mei worried Duosion would be no different. Besides, the impact wouldnt be the same. Far less shocking. Seeing real strength up close? Now that hits differently. All right, everyonehome sweet home. Natsume paid no attention to the overly eager Chi-Yu or the silently brooding Duosion. He unclipped all his Pok Balls from his belt and tossed them into the air in one motion. A chain of white flashes exploded onto the grass. Duosion, whose brain had just barely rebooted, immediately crashed again. Maybe it was the lighting but the scene before Duosion now looked like something straight out of hell. Backlit by the sun, Ting-Lus massive body cast a long shadow across the ground. Its face, slightly lowered, was swallowed in the darkness of the great vessel it carried. Two scarlet pupils glowed faintly in the gloom. Gardevoir stood silently behind Natsume, elegantly brushing back her hair. Her slender frame was nearly trembling with the sheer volume of psychic energy boiling within, barely restrained. Beside her, Gallade stood the same. They both radiated terrifying levels of psychic power, but the difference between the two was clear. Gardevoirs energy felt like a calm sea. Smooth and unruffled on the surfacebut beneath it, hidden currents surged violently. Gallades was the oppositerazor-sharp, like a blade unsheathed and poised to strike. In front of Natsume, the lazy Persian stretched with a crack crack crack of its joints. There were no flashy effects, but the sheer predatory pressure made Duosions body scream at it to run. And standing before the Persian was a a Furret? Caked in mud from head to toe? Because of the mud, Duosion had to squint and guess what species it even was. And that fur color Pink? Was it a Shiny? sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unclear. A lot of people these days dyed their Pokmon different colors for style or trendiness. Kind of a fashion thing, really. Like how rich folks loved customizing their Cyclizar to look cooler. Huh? Youre wondering why rich folks? Come on. Cyclizar may look dopey and harmless but its still a legit Dragon-type. Base stat total: 501. Its not only battle-capable, but also doubles as a ride. Average Trainers? They dont even get to touch one. Anyway, for reasons best not to get into, the mud-covered (possibly Shiny) Furret that was currently being scolded was temporarily ignored. And finallythere was the Ogerpon, wearing its menacing demon mask. Completely different from its usual playful self. Right now, Ogerpon was probably still radiating a faint killing intent, likely due to just having finished a battle. Though it had faded to a mere trace, it was still a bit much for Duosion to handle. So this... is the world of the strong? Staring blankly at the scene before it, Duosion felt like its mind was racing with thoughts Or maybe it was completely blank, thinking nothing at all. An inexplicable mix of sadness and shame washed over it. The sadness came from realizing just how weak it truly was, how far removed it was from anything resembling strength. The shame came from its earlier thoughts. It had dared to think of itself as strongputting on the airs of a powerhouse, when in truth, it was anything but. Honestly, it was downright mortifying. Just the thought made its metaphorical scalp tingle. People lost in their chniby phase rarely realize how ridiculous they look. They just think they''re incredibly cool. Only when they snap out of it and look back do they wish they could throttle their past self. That''s pretty much where Duosion was right now. Nearby, Mei silently observed the little blob. After sensing its current mood, she gave a satisfied nod. Goodthis kid was just momentarily lost, not inherently arrogant. Every Trainer has their own philosophy. For Mei, her baseline was simple: at the very least, her team had to get along on the surface. If even that couldnt be managed, then forget about traveling or training. Youd spend every day mediating petty squabbles between Pokmon. Thered be no time for anything else. Thankfully, Duosion wasnt the kind to go that far. And Mei wasnt yet at the point where she had to make any tough calls. Alright, thats enough for now. Everyone head backdont forget to come for dinner tonight. Clapping his hands, Natsume signaled to Persian and the others to go rest. He had a big dinner to prep with Ellegance and Lopunny, which would take some time. As soon as he finished speaking, the Pokmon dispersed in all directions. Except for one that he stopped in its tracks. Not so fast. Natsume reached out and held back the shiny Furret, a faint smile creeping onto his face. Where do you think youre going? Staring at the mud-caked body of the shiny Furret, Natsumes grip subconsciously tightened. It was like watching your dog roll around in the mud right after you gave it a bath. No pet owner would be thrilled in that moment. Some would even be on the verge of breakdown. Furr... The shiny Furret, now pinned down, turned its head stiffly and tried to flash a charming grin in return. Ehehe~ And then... Shrrrk Dragged away by Natsume, the shiny Furret left two long skid marks on the ground with its hind paws. Clearly not thrilled about bath time. That resistance continued all the way until Natsume hauled it into the bathroom. Furr~ After getting a quick rinse from Natsume, the shiny Furret dove into the petal-sprinkled bath tub. Well, "quick rinse" might not be entirely accurateit was more like Natsume gave it a good whack with the showerhead? Not that it actually hurtFurret mostly saw it as playtime. With a rubber duck perched on its head, its tiny paws flopped lazily over the edge of the tub. The shiny Furret was the textbook example of a Pokmon who hated baths before they started, but never wanted to leave once they began. It would soak for ages. Only when the water turned completely cold would Natsume forcibly fish it out and towel it off. Dont stay in too long. Weve got a feast tonight. With that parting line, Natsume headed downstairs to the kitchen. Furr~ Got it~ Waving lazily, the shiny Furret signaled its acknowledgment. Natsume, knowing how this always went, decided hed come back in an hour to drag the little rascal out. There was no way itd scrub itself clean without supervision. More likely, itd try to reheat the water with a Fire Punch. As dusk settled and the sky darkened, warm golden lights flickered on in the living room. The celebration feast at the Natsume household had officially begun. Chapter 180: Notes from the Dinner Party Under the night sky, Natsume and Indeedee''s little sister were busy working in the kitchen. Strictly speaking, it was Indeedee''s sister who was preparing the grand feast for the gathering, while Natsume was just there to lend a hand. Through his actions, Natsume once again proved a simple truth: Being skilled at making Pokblocks didnt necessarily mean you could cook. When it came to crafting Pokblocks, Natsume figured he was among the best in the world. If you included the sweet treats and little snacks he made for Pokmon, he could easily call himself a master breeder in the Pokmon field. Unfortunately, when it came to actual cooking... Natsume could only be described as average. No real flair to speak ofjust your standard home-cooked level. Definitely no comparison to Indeedee''s little sister. She actually had a professional chefs license. If she were in a food-themed anime, she could probably even compete for the title of Special-Grade Chef. Since there was a top-tier chef at home, naturally, Natsume was more than happy to hand over the real cooking duties to Indeedee''s sister. He himself stuck to making desserts and small snacks. When it came to shirking work, Natsume had always been quite talented. Normally, Natsume would hand out Pokblocks to some of the farm residents, even to those he wasnt particularly close with. Most of these Pokblocks were made by Pokmon who were just starting to learn the craft Like the little sisters of the Gardevoir on the farm. Maybe influenced by their big sister, they had taken an interest in making Pokblocks too. And these newbie creations ended up being gifted by Natsume to various farm dwellers. Mei was also learning how to make Pokblocks under Natsumes guidance. But her creations were always exclusively given to the Serperior and its group. Every time, the Serperior and the others had to force down Meis highly questionable Pokblocks, wearing the grim determination of soldiers heading into battle. First eating Natsumes perfectly crafted Pokblocks, and then eating Meis The contrast was like living in a luxury mansion one day and being crammed into a 12-person, non-air-conditioned school dormitory the next. Every time, Serperior would steel its nerves as if preparing for death, swallow the Pokblock, and then immediately rinse its mouth out with the ones made by Natsume. It wasnt that Serperior didnt love Mei. It was just... Meis skill level at this stage was simply beyond saving. Meis contributions to the field of Pokblock creation were about on par with Corviknights attempts at scientific research. You couldnt exactly call it groundbreaking. It was more like causing grievous harm to nature itself. Lopunny, can you go pull Shiny Furret out of the bath? Glancing at the time, Natsume called out to Lopunny, who was helping serve dishes. Natsume had already predicted that Shiny Furret would refuse to leave the bath. That little guy was always like this. Lopu! Putting down the plate she was carrying, Lopunny nodded firmly and struck a strongman pose. Leave it to me! When it came to dragging Shiny Furret out of the bath, Lopunny was pretty confident. She had teamed up with Natsume for this operation many times before. Even though she was going alone this time, all she had to do was mention Natsumes name, and Shiny Furret would obediently follow. Ironically, when Natsume himself went, Shiny Furret would clutch onto the wooden tub for dear life, and theyd end up in a tug-of-war. Not that Natsume minded He actually enjoyed this little game with the pink muscle demon who loved bathing a little too much. In the early days, Shiny Furret was all soft and squishy, super comfy to hug. Now? Now Shiny Furret was packed with muscle, and hugging him felt... hard to describe. It was like being tackled by a jacked-up bodybuilder. At this point, Natsume honestly didnt really feel like hugging Shiny Furret anymore. The contrast between that adorable face and that rock-solid body was just too... unsettling. After a while, Shiny Furret, still slightly damp and trailing a faint mist of water, followed Lopunny into the kitchen. His face was still showing a distinct look of reluctant defeat. Taking a bath was really comfortable. "Alright, time to get ready for dinner." Natsume reached out, grabbed the shiny Furrets head, and gave it a vigorous, messy rub. The shiny Furrets face twisted into a fierce grimace. "Furr!" Struggling free from Natsumes clutches, the shiny Furret quickly scurried away. It wagged its big tail and went off to find the Indeedee sisters, hoping to see if there was anything it could help with. "Yadon." The living room door creaked open, and in walked Slowking, looking absolutely exhausted. Its already sour mood somehow worsened even more at the sight of the lively, bustling scene before it. Only Arceus knew what it had gone through today. At first, it had been agreed that Mew would help it handle the gym duties. But somehow, things had spiraled, and Slowking ended up handling everything alone. That sneaky Mew left behind a decoyone that couldnt think, only occasionally going "Yadon"and then snuck off to play. And by the afternoon, the decoy simply vanished?! Right there, in front of the referee and the challenger, it popped like a soap bubblepoofgone. Its hard to describe what Slowking felt at that moment. Maybe... a desperate longing to go back to the simpler days of being just a Slowpoke. No worries, no stress. But now... It really felt like it had become a model corporate drone. Not only did it have to battle, it also had to mind its strengthcouldnt shatter the challengers spirit or ruin their mindset. And yet these young Trainers had worse mental resilience by the day. Before the battle, theyd boast about sweeping the gym. After the battle, theyd just mentally collapse on the spot. Then Slowking had to figure out how to comfort them. Seriously nowwere these people really cut out to be Trainers? Did they really think they were invincible or something? Sigh. Life was so hard. Maybe being a stray Pokmon wasnt such a bad idea after all. Slumping onto the couch, Slowking felt like all its brain cells had been wrung dry. "You worked hard today, Slowking," Natsume said warmly. "Ill make it up to you tonightyour favorite Pokblocks ready." Patting the tired Slowking on the head, Natsume handed it a handful of specially made energy blocks. These were the ones he had temporarily named "Slowking No. 1," a name that would probably stick forever. At the mention of its favorite food, a spark of life suddenly flickered back into Slowkings blank eyes. It adjusted its sitting posture, trying to look just a tiny bit proud as it perched on the couch. Ahem, well... maybe farm life isnt so bad after all. Sure, it was tiring, a bit heartbreaking, and sometimes downright exhausting... But still, wasn''t it pretty nice? Taking advantage of the other Pokmon not paying attention, Slowking quickly stuffed the pokeblocks into its mouth, savoring them carefully. Mm, not bad at all. It seemed like Natsumes cooking skills had improved again. This... this is the meaning of my life here, Slowking thought fondly. Then, deliberately leaving one block aside, it held it up to the Shellder clamped onto its head. Normally silent and just playing the part of the crown, the Shellder stuck out its tongue and slurped the block into its mouth, slowly savoring it. Even though Slowking was technically the main body and Shellder absorbed nutrients secondhand when Slowking ate, it still felt good to treat the little guy directly now and then. Im such a great guy, Slowking thought proudly. Patting its belly, it stretched out contentedly on the couch. All its earlier resentment had melted away completely. Truly, Slowking had become the perfect corporate drone. No matter how much he wanted the world to explode during work hours, once he was off the clock and had a good meal, the world didnt seem so bad anymore. Being alive wasnt so bad either. "Caaw-caaw!" Outside the door, Corviknight squatted and watched the warm scene inside with envy. Its body had grown so large that it couldnt fit through the door anymore. All it could do was stare longingly inside. So Corviknight turned and waddled into the backyard, opening the glass door and quietly waiting to be served. Caaw-chan is just a bird, okay? No nimble little hands. Gotta rely on others to bring me food. Watching the busy Lopunny bustling around, Corviknight couldnt help but let out a few delighted caws. Initially, the house had only one main entrance. But later, Natsume realized that most of his Pokmon werent too keen on using doorsand Pokmon like Corviknight couldnt even fitso he had a little garden set up in the back, complete with a second entrance. And it turned out, they really loved it. Persian had even made the backyard its go-to sunbathing spot. This was all thanks to Bellossoms hard work. After Natsume handed over the responsibility of gardening, Bellossom had put a lot of thought into it. At the time, Natsume had also been thinking about sprucing up the backyard, so Bellossom took it as a chance to practice. Maybe it had some natural artistic flair, because after Bellossoms careful tending, the little garden turned out incredibly cozy. A winding pebble path led out of the garden. Flowers of various easy-to-grow types lined both sides. It wasnt dazzling or extravagant, but it had its own special charm. Near the exit, there was a swing woven from vines, next to a big fruit tree. Bellossom didnt even know what kind of tree it was. Mew had dropped it off one day, so they just went ahead and planted it. "Move over a bit." Carrying dishes out, Natsume didnt hesitate to give Corviknights feathery butt a swift kick when he saw the mischievous grin on its beak. Seriously, what was going through that birds mind? Day in, day out, it never acted proper. Sometimes, Natsume really wondered: Where did this childs upbringing go wrong? "Meow~" Trailing behind, Persian imitated Natsume by giving Corviknights butt a disdainful little kick of its own, then shot it a look full of contempt. Afterward, it gracefully trotted back to Natsumes side. "Caaw?" Corviknights brain spun furiously. ''Okay, Natsume kicking me? Fine. He feeds me, houses meheck, kick me more if you want.'' ''But YOU, you little furball?!'' Glaring at Persians retreating back, Corviknights eyes narrowed dangerously. Looks like its time to challenge you for the thousandth time once were back. Corviknight was filled with confidence. Just ten more wins, and it would finally rack up ten victories against Persian. Which, rounded up, was practically a hundred wins! Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meaningit totally dominated Persian! Heh heh, you puny little kitty Just you wait! After fantasizing about a hundred different ways to defeat Persian, Corviknight felt much better. It even hummed happily to itself. "Alright, thats about everything." Setting down the desserts, Natsume gave the room a final inspection. He wasnt worried about muchmainly, he needed to check the snacks and sweets. Because lets be honest, thats what this gang was really here for. Normally, Natsume didnt let them have too many sweets or snacks. Because once they started, they had zero self-control. Natsume had no doubt: if he locked Corviknight and Mew in a warehouse full of desserts... By nightfall, hed have two bloated balls and a floor covered in crumbs. And yes, Pokmon can get fat. Right, little chonky bird? And you too, the pink kitty who recently realized she was putting on weight. Yepthanks to Natsumes generous feeding, quite a few Pokmon on the farm were starting to look a little rounder these days. Those guys all ended up being thrown to Shiny Furret by Natsume for some serious drilling. At this rate, Natsume suspected his farm would soon be crawling with a bunch of pot-bellied Pokmon. Who knows, they might even develop a special regional form. CorviknightFarm Form. Its defining trait: legs so absurdly strong from being too fat to fly, while its once-broad wings gradually shriveled away. Wait a second, isn''t that just a dodo bird?! Ahem, anyway, back on topic. Normally, Natsume kept a tight rein on how much snacks and sweets the Pokmon could have. But once in a while was fine. Just think of it as a cheat meal. "Alright, time to eat!" Cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, Natsume shouted toward the house. The moment his voice echoed out, the whole building came alive with excitement. First on the scene was the flying squad. Mew, riding on Togetic''s back, burst through the window and landed in a full superhero pose, sparkling with flair. Hot on its heels, Mismagius and Dusknoir phased right through the walls. That''s the advantage of being a Ghost-type Pokmon! Then Hisuian Zoroark casually vaulted over the windowsill with one hand, pulling off a stylish hurdle jump. Even though it jumped down from the second floor, it landed light as a feather. It was clear it had practiced that move countless times. After Hisuian Zoroark, the rest of the Pokmon poured out of the house one after another. Even Minccino, who had been tidying up clothes, tossed Natsumes laundry onto the bed and bolted out. Clothes could wait until after the feast. Besides, it''s that lazy mutt Natsumes clothes, not mine. If anyone in the world had the right to call Natsume a lazy mutt, without question, it was Minccino. The cleaning of all the farms buildings, big and small, was handled by Minccino, even the warehouse that Natsume barely visited. Sometimes Minccino would even drag out the little Pokmon hiding and playing in the warehouse, give them a good scrubbing, then stuff them back inside. This is the unshakable resolve of me, Minccinothe self-proclaimed Minister of Hygiene! Soon, the little garden was packed with Pokmon. Fortunately, the garden was fairly spacious, so it wasnt too crowded... yet. Plus, larger Pokmon like Ting-Lu had the sense to wait outside the garden. They were getting their share anyway, so standing wherever didnt matter. "Alright, let''s get started." Feeling the eager stares from all directions, Natsume didnt drag things out and directly announced the start of tonights feast. Mainly because Natsume''s public speaking skills had always been... pretty tragic. Those inspirational speeches before a gathering? Yeah, not his thing. "...Wait, hold on." Suddenly, Natsume froze in thought. Looking at himself now, his "knowledge blind spots" seemed... dangerously vast. Poor language skills, average cooking, no particular hobbies, and no real talents to show off. Was he basically just a human Pokblock production machine? He thought about it for a moment but decided not to dwell on it too much. Hey, having even one specialized skill was already better than most! These days, plenty of people spend more than a decade in school and still come out knowing nothing but studying. Not particularly great at academics, no life skills, no social experience, and absolutely no practical talents. They felt like they were somehow unique, yet couldnt explain how they were different from anyone else. Just an instinctive sense of dissatisfaction. Of course, it wasnt entirely their fault. It was just that they had given up a lot for the sake of studying. "Caw-caw!" Outside the garden, Corviknight was scarfing down snacks by the beakful. Its previous stash of binge-watching snacks had been stolen by a certain pink cat. Leaving it feeling oddly empty and incomplete during its recent TV sessions. It had been suffering, man. But no more! Tonight, every lost Pokblock would be avenged! Battle! Mid-bite, Corviknight suddenly entered a fiery fighting spirit mode. Which made Ting-Lu standing nearby look dead serious. ''Wait... were the snacks tampered with?'' Suspiciously eyeing its own bowl of snacks, Ting-Lu contemplated for a moment And then kept eating without a care in the world. ''Whatever. Im a Legendary Pokmon. I can handle this.'' ''I mean, come on, you cant just stop eating because you''re scared the food''s been tempered with, right?'' ''Plus, that dumb bird''s already eaten a bunch and seems fine, so Ill be fine too!'' Reassuring itself, Ting-Lu unconsciously started eating even faster. For this feast, Natsume had made things easier by setting it up buffet-style. Help yourself if you want to eat. But if you dawdled, you might not even get crumbs. There were plenty of shameless guys around, after all. "Yimo!" Jumping up onto the table brought over by Indeedee, Emolga grabbed a giant Pokpuff nearly the size of its own body and started gnawing away. After a few bites, it casually shoved the rest into the hands of a passing Pokmon. At least, to Emolga, it was a stranger. Holding the forcibly gifted Pokpuff, Dusknoir looked at Emolga posing cutely atop the table, a bit puzzled. But it didnt mind. It casually wiped the Pokpuff clean and swallowed it in one gulp. "Yimo!" Many thanks! Seeing Dusknoirs reaction, Emolga chirped in gratitude. Small Pokmon really were at a disadvantage at times like this. If it tried to finish everything it picked up, it would fill up after just a little. But wasting food would get it seriously scolded by Natsume. And that was not something Emolga wanted to experience. So it had to rely on the help of other Pokmon~ For wild Pokmon, there werent really any taboos about this. If its edible, its fair game. Some wild Pokmon would even eat leftovers without a second thought. Thus, Dusknoir had zero psychological burden devouring the Pokpuff. It even promised Emolga that if Emolga couldn''t finish more food, it could hand it over anytime. Emolga: Wait, someone actually wants to eat leftovers?! Dusknoir: Wait, someones seriously leaving behind this delicious food?! Neither could understand the others logic, yet both felt like they''d scored a major win. Maybe this was just a difference in worldview? "Meow~" Trailing close behind Emolga, Meowstic gave a soft hum. Then, eyes sparkling, it stared at the banquet before it. So much good food! Meow''s happy! Although its heart was pounding with excitement, Meowstic kept a straight face. Only, the speed at which it was stuffing food into its mouth quietly accelerated. It had been locked in a daily mental battle with that dumb teacher lately. It had been ages since it had a proper meal. Seizing tonights rare opportunity, Meowstic and Emolga made a pact: a mutual non-aggression treaty. Just for tonight, no pranks, no tricks. Everyone would eat in peace. If they caused a commotion and knocked over any food, Natsumes wrath would be immediate and merciless. And if that happened, Meowstic had no doubt that life would get very hard for a while. Natsume had nearly zero tolerance for food waste. Anyone who dared waste food... would be sent out to forage for themselves afterward. "How does it taste?" "This is a recipe I learned online. Not sure if it turned out okay." "I personally think its decent, but I don''t know if its to your liking." Aside from the Pokmon, Mei and Natsume were also enjoying their dinner. They had both searched online for ideas and thrown together a lavish feast. To keep it a surprise, neither of them had told the other what they were cooking. They whipped everything up separately and only now brought it out. Natsume had picked a mix of homestyle dishes and a few trending internet recipes. Things like sizzling shrimp patties and gooey cheese-stuffed mushrooms. Mei had chosen a more refined selection of dishes. She placed a greater emphasis on nutritional balance when picking the menu. After all, for many girls, there are two things that are absolutely non-negotiable: one, letting their figure go; and two, going full glam with makeup only for no one to even notice. Determined to satisfy her cravings without compromising her figure, Mei had seriously put in the effort to study it. ...Though, to be fair, the results werent exactly stellar. "This is amazing!" "Your cooking is incredible, Natsume!" After tasting the dishes Natsume brought out, Mei gave him a big thumbs-up with an expression of pure admiration. Although Natsume often liked to joke that he was nothing more than a production machine whose only skill was making Pokblocks, in Meis eyes, he was an incredibly capable person. It felt like there was nothing Natsume couldn''t do. Mew~ Atop Natsumes head, Mew, cradling a huge apple in its little arms, was scanning the table intently. Eventually, it somehow found a chunk of cheese. A small flame ignited in its paw, melting the cheese into a gooey mess, and it spread it generously over the apple before taking a huge bite. Immediately, its tiny face scrunched up in distaste. The flavor was weird. Still, holding its breath, Mew quickly chomped through the rest of the apple in just a few bites. Then, without missing a beat, it resumed wandering around the gathering. Was there anything else delicious around? How exciting~ Chapter 181: Mei Chooses to Temporarily Believe It Was Just Drunken Nonsense Early the next morning, Natsume groggily climbed out of bed, feeling a little dazed. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His head throbbed, as if he had blacked out at some point. But did he even drink last night? Natsume tried hard to recall what had happened. If memory served, he hadnt prepared any alcohol. But somehow, that little rascal Mew had fished out two bottles of red wine from who-knows-where and had poured glasses for both him and Mei without giving them a chance to refuse. Something about not wasting foodred wine was made from food, therefore it was liquid food and couldn''t be wasted. Natsume didnt know much about winemaking, so he just went along with it. They were adults, after all. Even if he wasnt in the habit of drinking, there were still times when the temptation to have a taste would sneak up on him. Mei, for her part, happily agreed. One glass after another, the sharp clarity of the world around him began to blur. His brain started running slower and slower. And after that what happened again? Natsume couldn''t remember at all. He just vaguely recalled hugging Mei tightly. And his lips they felt a little swollen? Propping up his chin, Natsume sank deep into thought. After checking himself over, he was relieved to find that nothing further seemed to have happened. He let out a sigh of relief. It wasnt that Natsume had any strange hang-ups. He simply didnt want their relationship to cross that invisible line in a muddled, unclear way. Somehow, it just didnt feel fair to Mei. Fine, Natsume admitted he might have a bit of a compulsion, maybe even a kind of mental cleanliness when it came to these things. A stubbornness that didnt always make sense. Whether that was good or bad, he couldn''t say. "Mew~" At some point, Mew had appeared in the room, striking a ridiculously dramatic pose, arms crossed as it leaned against the windowsill. Its face was full of grave sorrow, and whenever it glanced at Natsume, it was with the expression of a parent watching their kid get single-digit scores on basic math problems: heartbroken and disappointed beyond words. You idiot, that was such a golden opportunity last night, and you still managed to miss it. Couldnt you be impulsive just this once?! Mew was deeply troubled. At this rate, when would Natsume finally take that crucial step toward becoming a proper adult? Sad cat sigh. "Save it for later. Let me freshen up first," Natsume muttered, exhaling a breathand immediately wrinkling his nose. The taste in his mouth was awful. The kind of awful that could probably knock someone out if you kissed them. Honestly, even Natsume himself couldn''t stand it. There was plenty he wanted to say to Mew, but first things first: he needed to clean up. Glancing down at his clothes Good. He was still in his pajamas. It looked like the Lopunny and the others had helped change him last night. Another sigh of relief. At least he hadn''t woken up in some horribly embarrassing, hungover state. He knew himself well enough. Even though he didnt drink much, Natsume was painfully aware of his poor alcohol tolerance. He wasnt the worst lightweight around, maybe, but he was definitely one of the first to fold at any drinking party. Basically just there to make up the numbers and keep the atmosphere lively. "Mew." Still lounging on the windowsill, Mew shifted its position, now hanging its head over the edge, looking for all the world like a puddle of liquid cat. The morning sunlight bathed Mew''s small body, filling it with a deep, lazy warmth. Sunlight it had been around for hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of years. For every living thing, sunlight had always been there since the very beginning. Scorching. Bright. And somehow, beside certain people, even sunlight could take on a new feeling. It didnt just warm the skinit loosened every fiber of tension inside you. Made you want to just lie there, floppy and useless, and melt into a lazy puddle of nothingness. "Fuuuh" Natsume emerged from the bathroom, toweling the droplets of water from his hair. At first, he had only intended to wash his face. But in the end, he couldn''t resisthe ended up taking a full shower. There had been a faint, unpleasant smell clinging to his body. If he didnt wash it off, he felt like he wouldnt be able to function properly for the rest of the day. "Mew~" I took a lot of cute pictures last night, Natsume! Wanna see? The moment Natsume stepped out, the drowsy Mew instantly perked up, springing into the air. It fished a phone out from somewhere behind its back and waved it in front of him. "What kind of pictures?" Natsume asked casually as he took the phone from Mew. It was a bit of a redundant questionhe could already see the photos on the screen. "Mew~" Pictures of you and everyone else! Mew said with a giggle, floating lazily to Natsume''s side. Seeing Natsume''s damp hair, Mew thought for a moment, then puffed out its cheeks and inhaled deeply, ballooning up like a little drum. The next second, a blast of dry, hot air shot from its mouth. Under Mews precise control, the air was violent but harmless Well, aside from making Natsumes hair stick out in every possible direction. Satisfied with its handiwork, Mew gave an approving nod and then flopped onto Natsume''s head. Its long tail curled loosely around Natsumes neck, occasionally giving little affectionate rubs. "Quit it." Natsume lightly patted Mew''s tail and started flipping through the photos. The first batch of photos were mostly funny. Like Phiona being robbed of her donut by Manaphy. Or the shiny Furret stuffing its cheeks until its face puffed out like a balloon. Or Corviknight and Ting-Lu drunkenly bonding over "juice" From the looks of it, the two were just one step away from becoming blood brothers. In the background, you could even see a pitiful-looking Chi-Yu and Pecharunt watching them longingly from afar. Gradually, Natsumes own pictures started showing up. Photos of him making desserts. Bathing the shiny Furret. And the dinner he shared with Mei last night. Surrounded by all the Pokmon, the whole scene felt incredibly warm and homey. It looked just like the kind of heartwarming, family-style montage youd see roll during a movie''s end credits. Just an ordinary meal yet somehow, it carried the soft, glowing feeling of a candlelit dinner. He wasnt sure if Mew had ever studied photography. But whether it was the composition or the lighting, the photos it took were truly outstanding. Some even had the feel of shots taken by a professional photographer. The atmosphere was spot-on. Mew? How is it? Perched atop Natsumes head, Mew admired its own work and asked proudly. It couldnt wait to hear Natsume''s praise! Praise me, praise me, praise me! They turned out great. You can be the new Ho-Oh from now on. Natsume reached up and ruffled Mews head as he "praised" it. He genuinely thought Mew''s photography skills were impressive. No problem at all if it wanted to moonlight as a professional photographer. Mew? The heck? Mew tilted its head in confusion. Be the new Ho-Oh? Whats that supposed to mean? Well, whatever. I''ll just take it as a compliment. Mew poked at Natsumes hair a couple of times, then settled back down contentedly. Natsume was so comfortable to lie on. Twitching its little nose, Mew felt like it could catch the faintest whiff of something pleasant. It smelled a bit like nature itself. Mew had actually asked Natsume about it once, and Natsume had immediately replied that it was just the scent of shampoo. Which made Mew a little upset. Mew? Suddenly, Mew seemed to have thought of something. It leaned in close and sniffed at Natsumes hair. After pondering for a moment Mew! WhaHey! Mew buried its face into Natsumes hair and started rubbing around wildly, making a series of incomprehensible noises. What are you doing?! Natsume, who had been flipping through the photos, was startled by Mews sudden antics. He instinctively reached up, trying to grab the pink cat that had gone completely berserk. Mew~ Im imitating humans when they snuggle cats! Mew, still perched atop Natsumes head, declared righteously. As if to prove its point, it once again plunged into Natsumes hair, nuzzling and inhaling like crazy. And to be fair, Mews imitation was... weirdly spot-on. At least the strange noises and the borderline creep-level expression were perfectly accurate. Get down from there! Feeling the chaos going on above his head, Natsumes face darkened. Without hesitation, he grabbed Mew and yanked it off. Dont you go crazy on me here! Mew, dangling from Natsumes hand, stared up at him with big, wet, innocent eyes. What? Natsume didnt like it? Its pitiful little face looked as if the next second it might burst into tears from being so wronged. Unfortunately for Mew, Natsume wasnt falling for it. You think I''d still get tricked by that look at this point? Not happening! Without hesitation, Natsume opened the window and tossed Mew out like he was taking out the trash. This little troublemaker always tried to get away with things by looking all pitiful. At first, Natsume had fallen for it a few times. But over time, he''d built up complete immunity. Now when Natsume saw that look, his heart didnt even twitchif anything, he just wanted to smack someone. Mew! Outside the window, Mew abandoned its pitiful act and glared at Natsume in a huff. It made a funny face, flicked its tail, and zipped off into the sky. Hmph! Rotten Natsume! Refusing to play with me! Fine, the cat will go find Ceruledge and the others to play with! Mew was actually quite satisfied with its two little apprentices. They were obedient, smart, and quick learners. Whatever skill it taught, they picked up almost instantly. At first, Mew had only been teaching them for fun, but now it had started passing down real techniques. It was the start of two completely broken prodigies setting sail! You ask where the "broken" part comes from? Let me introduce you to Mewsaid to be the ancestor of all Pokmon, capable of learning every move. If that doesnt qualify as broken, then there arent many things in the Pokmon world that do. (Not counting Arceus. That''s more like the GM secretly messing with the code. Calling it "broken" would just be disrespectful.) Clapping the dust off his hands, Natsume shut the window. Morning, Natsume! Outside the door, Mei, freshly washed and ready, waved at him with a bright smile. The moment she saw him, though, Mei felt her earlobes heat up uncontrollably. Truth was, she''d woken up really early that morning. She had just stayed in bed, hugging her Serperior, refusing to get up. At first, when her mind was still foggy from sleep, it wasnt so bad. But as she woke up fully and recalled what had happened last night, Mei was completely mortified. Sitting in Natsumes lap and clinging to him like that... That wasnt like her at all! What was I even doing?! Mei had always looked down on things like blaming bad behavior on being drunk. Getting drunk doesnt make you do thingsyou just stop hiding the things you wanted to do anyway. She''d never seen anyone get drunk and go punch their boss. Clearly, you could still control yourself if you wanted to. And as for drunk rambling? Please. Drunk words are sober thoughts! Most heartfelt confessions were just people using alcohol as an excuse to say what was already in their hearts. So normally, Mei scoffed at excuses like "I said it because I was drunk." But right now... she kind of wanted to believe it. Because otherwise, she really couldnt explain her behavior last night! Yes, it mustve been the alcohol. Face slightly flushed, Mei stubbornly pushed all the blame onto the drinks. It was the alcohols fault! Otherwise, theres no way I wouldve acted like that! Clutching Serperior even tighter, Mei failed to notice her poor Pokmon was already rolling its eyes in distress. Back to the present Even if her emotions were a little shaky, Mei thought it over and realized: Wait, we''re officially a couple now. A little intimacy between a couple should be totally normal, right? So last night... Nothing to freak out about! Mei nodded vigorously to herself, as if affirming her conclusion. Morning, Mei, Natsume said with a warm smile. He walked over to her, and their hands naturally found each other. Neither brought up last night''s incident. And honestly, it wasnt a big deal. They probably just werent fully used to the idea of having a boyfriend (or girlfriend) yet, which was why it felt a little awkward. Whats the plan for today, Natsume? I was thinking of checking on Chi-Yu, he said. And making sure that Pecharunt and the others are actually training properly. Natsume figured it was about time he checked in on Chi-Yu that had arrived last night and immediately been... left to fend for itself. Well, technically, it had been thrown to the edge of the farm by Mew, where it had been locked in a stare-off with Pecharunt and the rest. Natsume thought it might be good to offer the poor thing some "humanitarian care." At the very least, he needed to crush any dangerous thoughts before they could formmake sure it settled down properly and didnt cause trouble. (Chi-Yu, who had already been given a very physical "warning" by Mew: Huh? Cause trouble? Me?) And as for Pecharunt and the others... Even now, Natsume couldnt exactly say he was fully at ease about them either. Especially Munkidori. This guy might have pledged his loyalty quickly and eagerly enough, but on the flip side, it meant he didnt really have any firm convictions. If it ever came to harming the farms interests, he wouldnt even blink. No guilt, no second thoughts. If he wanted to do it, hed just do it. Honestly, even the ever-unruly Okidogi probably scored higher in Natsumes book than Munkidori did. Meanwhile, over at the edge of the farm... Chi-Yu was quietly zoning out, staring into the distance. Ahh, so this is what peace feels like? How nice. Maybe there was something in the air around here Chi-Yu could feel the turmoil inside him settling down almost without realizing it. Hows it feel? A familiar voice drifted over. Chi-Yu turned his head to look. There stood that humanthe one who had led an entire gang to beat him up alone, not a single Pokmon by his side. This human... was actually facing me by himself? For a moment, Chi-Yu couldnt help but find the whole situation absurd. Chapter 182: Chi-Yu: Are Human Trainers All Doing Charity Work or What?! Narrowing its eyes, Chi-Yu stared at the human before it, brimming with confusion and doubt. It really couldnt understand why this human would dare to show up alone in front of it. To a Pokmon, the human body was just too fragile. Out in the wild, even a weak Weedle could, with a single poisoned sting, send a careless Trainer straight back to the respawn point. Let alone something like Chi-Yu. Every year, the number of Trainers who went missing well, "missing" in the wild stayed frighteningly high. They called it "missing," but in truth, it wasnt much different from death. It was just a way to leave the family a shred of hope, that was all. As for the whole "miraculous encounter leading to overnight success" fantasy... Well, lets just say: young people should stop daydreaming and focus more on what they''re having for their next meal. Wu~ Tilting its head, Chi-Yu gave a tentative cry toward Natsume. The general meaning was clear: What are you doing here? Chi-Yu had already noticed something earlier. This human seemed to be able to understand Pokmon speech. That had genuinely startled Chi-Yu a little. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had never seen a human who could communicate with Pokmon without barriers. Normally, only Pokmon who had mastered telepathy could manage that kind of exchange. And even then, telepathy wasnt true conversation it was more like projecting emotions and thoughts directly into the mind of another, letting them feel your intentions. Not quite the same as real dialogue. I came to check on you, Natsume said casually. Now that youve been officially captured, youre part of the farm too. If you have any requests, you can bring them up. If theyre reasonable and I can manage it, Ill do my best to fulfill them. Oh, and one more thing no fighting with other Pokmon on the farm. It''s kind of an unwritten rule. Hands on his hips, Natsume was sizing up Chi-Yu even as Chi-Yu studied him in return. Strictly speaking, this was the first time he was properly taking a good look at it. If you ignored the overly watery big eyes and the two inexplicable magatama patterns, Chi-Yu''s design was actually pretty decent. ...Well, that was a completely useless observation. Like saying, "Hey, if that guy wasnt ugly, hed actually be pretty handsome." Still, Natsume genuinely liked Chi-Yu''s design. At the very least, it was way better than Chien-Paos. Among the four Treasures of Ruin, deciding who was the best-looking was tough. They all had their own... abstract aesthetics. But if you had to pick the one with the worst looks? No doubt about it that title belonged to Chien-Pao. Honestly, there was zero beauty to it. And not just the traditional sense of "good-looking" beauty either even terrifying, monstrous creatures could sometimes have a unique kind of aesthetic charm. But Chien-Pao? Yeah, no. It absolutely looked like a Pokmon born out of pure, ugly resentment just as the lore said. No way that thing was ever playing the role of a good guy. Natsumes gaze shifted from appreciation to mild pity, and finally to resignation. His expression changed several times before he finally nodded as if reluctantly convincing himself: Well... its fine, I guess. ? Tilting its head, Chi-Yu slowly produced a giant question mark over its head. Hold up you little punk! There were just too many points to complain about, and it didnt even know where to start. Sure, it admitted there were a few big shots on the farm it couldnt beat. But still! Just because it couldnt beat Mew, Manaphy, or Cresselia... Didnt mean it couldnt crush a random human! How dare a mere human act so cocky in front of me? Glaring fiercely, Chi-Yu flared up the air around it subtly shimmering with heat. It was planning to give this human a little scare. Just to see if he was genuinely calm or just pretending. If he turned out to be truly unshakable... Well, staying here quietly for a few decades might not be so bad. It would count as a proper vacation. After all, a human who could face it so calmly deserved a little recognition. If, however, he was just putting on a brave front... Then Chi-Yu would still hold back it wasnt planning to actually hurt anyone. There were way too many bosses around it couldnt beat anyway. But its attitude toward Natsume might turn a whole lot colder... Huh? Just as it was contemplating the best way to intimidate him, Chi-Yu was caught completely off guard. Natsume casually reached out, pressed his hand against Chi-Yu''s tilted head, and with an effortless movement straightened it. Dont tilt your head so much. If you get used to it, itll look weird later. Satisfied, Natsume withdrew his hand and nodded approvingly at the dumbfounded Chi-Yu. Sure, it was undeniably cute when girls tilted their heads while acting playful. But after making Pokblocks for over a decade, Natsumes heart had long since grown cold. All he could think about was: Bad for the spine. Bad habit. Looks stupid later. Watching Chi-Yu tilt its head like that the whole conversation, Natsume finally couldnt resist and reached out to correct it a bit. Completely unaware of the stunned Chi-Yu in front of him. Because in that instant when Natsume reached out, Chi-Yu knew something terrible was about to happen! Its body heat had already risen dramatically not quite the full scorching 3000 degrees it could achieve, but definitely at a level a normal human couldnt survive. Sure, it had only intended to scare the guy a little, not actually hurt him. If it accidentally burned this human... Chi-Yu could already imagine a pink meteor namely, a very angry Mew crash-landing right in front of it. And yet... This human just calmly reached out and touched it?? Hes not scared of pain? Chi-Yu was utterly baffled. Even more incredible when it looked closely, Natsumes hand was still perfectly fine. Smooth, fair, completely unharmed by the intense heat. And that wasnt even the biggest shock. The strength he had shown just now, the casual way he had corrected Chi-Yu''s posture That was definitely not normal. Sure, Chi-Yu wasnt exactly a powerhouse among Pokmon, but it was still a whole different league compared to regular creatures. And yet, Natsume had easily, effortlessly turned its head straight without even seeming to exert any strength. What the heck?! Youre not secretly a Legendary disguised as a human, are you?! Chi-Yu fell into deep contemplation. Originally, it had been planning to show off a bit maybe cover the entire sky in fire, give this human a taste of its legendary might. But now? It was the one getting completely shaken up. What kind of freak superhuman is this guy...?! At that moment, Chi-Yu''s gaze toward Natsume grew more and more complicated. Those eyes werent looking at a human. They were looking at a kindred spirit. Chi-Yu was certainthis guy in front of him was definitely not human. At least, not a pure human. Who knew, maybe he was some kind of Pokmon that just looked like a human. What had initially carried a hint of tension now turned surprisingly harmonious. When Chi-Yu spoke to Natsume, there was even a trace of flattery in his voice. No helping ithe was the guest under someone elses roof now. Just that little trick Natsume pulled earlier was enough for Chi-Yu to mentally bump him from the "easy-to-handle human Trainer" category straight into the "troublesome guy" list. "Alright then, if anything happens, remember to let me know, okay?" "Wuu." Chi-Yu lowered his altitude, quietly floating in front of Natsume. He didnt even drift around. Dont ask why. If you must know, its because Natsume had won Chi-Yu over with sheer sincerity. No helping ithe gave way too much. Natsume had simply shown Chi-Yu a sample of his custom-made Pokblocks and demonstrated his Viridian Power. Chi-Yu immediately declared, "If you dont mind taking me in" Yeah, Natsume cut him off after that. It was better not to say things like thatfor both Natsume and Chi-Yu. Still, that didnt mean he had no requests. "Wooo!" I report! Someones plotting rebellion! Thinking of that sneaky mutt from last night, Chi-Yu perked up immediately. "Rebellion?" "Is it Munkidori or Okidogi?" Natsume wasnt actually surprised by Chi-Yu''s report. Those two were never the well-behaved types. Munkidori didnt even need mentioning. And Okidogihe never stopped stirring up trouble. Even though every time he made a move, hed get mercilessly beaten down. But somehow, that just seemed to make him even more determined? Was this guy developing... some kind of special kink? "Wuu." Yeah, it was the dog-headed one. Chi-Yu''s words confirmed Natsumes guess. No surprises there. "What did he say?" "Wuu." Chi-Yu paused to recall, then began recounting the details to Natsume. There wasnt much to it. Just some nonsense about the humiliation of being defeated by Natsume, the disgrace of being captured by humans, the rage of getting beaten up by random unknown Pokmonstuff Chi-Yu honestly couldnt really understand. At first, Chi-Yu mightve somewhat sympathized. After all, in the eyes of legendary Pokmon, humans had always seemed far too fragile. The aftershocks of a true battle were enough to bring disaster to them. But that was before. Now? Chi-Yu was pretty sure Natsume could solo Okidogi without breaking a sweat. And honestly, if poison wasnt a factor, Natsume could probably take down the others one by one with just his fists. Chi-Yu just wasnt sure if Viridian Power could neutralize poison. If it couldeven just easing the symptoms a bitthen Chi-Yu had no doubt that Natsume could wipe the floor with all four of them. After all, these so-called legends... were honestly a bit pathetic. Chi-Yu even wondered if they could beat the big Mightyena guarding the farm gatethe one with the red scarf around its neck. Judging by strength alone, Chi-Yu thought that Mightyena was more worthy of the title of "legendary." "Got it. I have a rough idea now." "You dont need to worry about thisIll handle it later." "Usually, its Ting-Lu whos in charge of drilling them." "Looks like the training wasnt nearly enough." Natsume smiled at Chi-Yu after he finished listening. Kids causing trouble? It could only mean one thingtheir homework load was too light. No other explanation possible. Give them enough homework, pile on enough training pressure... Where would they even find the time or energy to mess around? Definitely needed to crank up their training from here on. Munkidori had already proven with his own performance that while they were all kind of pathetic right now, they did have the potential of true legends. Even the lamest legend... is still a legend. As long as they worked hard enough, a bright future wasnt out of reach. (Meanwhile, Okidogi, regularly beaten to a pulp: "Huh? Future? Mine???") Chi-Yu had been half-listening absentmindedlybut the moment he heard Ting-Lus name, his eyes sharpened. Wait a minutewasnt that a familiar name? After confirming with Natsume, Chi-Yu dug up his memories of Ting-Lus strength... and then compared it to the frankly comedic battle prowess of Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti. This guy might be strong, surebut as a teacher? Absolutely terrible! Thinking "I may not be great, but I can at least make things harder for you," Chi-Yu decisively volunteered himself. He proposed to Natsume that he should help out with training too, joining Ting-Lu to form a coaching team to really put pressure on those troublemakers! If the training went well, he could take credit. Which meant an easier, cushier life down the road. After all, slacking off could come in different flavors. Slacking off under a bosss nose? Bad. Slacking off when the boss thought you were hardworking? Perfect. If the training didnt go well? Well, then he could just blame Ting-Lu. "Look what a lousy teacher you are! Now theyre hopeless! You should go find a wall and smash your head into it!" As for Ting-Lu, who had stomped him underfoot the day beforeChi-Yu was still furious. If he could, hed gut that bastard right here, right now. Unfortunately... he couldnt. There were higher powers keeping them in check. "Sure, thats fine. Ill talk to Ting-Lu when he gets back." After thinking it over, Natsume agreed to Chi-Yu''s request. Honestly, he could more or less guess what was going through Chi-Yu''s mind. But it didnt matter. Natsume had always saidno matter how harmonious a farm might seem, a bit of internal friction was inevitable. A world where everyone loved and cared for each other unconditionally... only existed in artificial, programmed simulations. Reality? Far messier. Still, if there was a shared enemy to hate, it would unite everyone else beautifully. As for Ting-Lu and Chi-Yu Sure, theyd clash and bicker and fight. But as long as they had someone to vent their frustrations on, it would be manageable. Right, Okidogi? Natsume felt a little bad about always picking on the honest ones... But right now, Okidogi was the only one who could shoulder this noble burden. Later, hed bring Okidogi some tasty treats to make up for it. "Woooh!" Hearing that he was allowed to help, Chi-Yu''s eyes lit up with joy. At first, hed been pretty resentful. But after accepting that hed been captured and shifting his mindset, he suddenly felt much more relaxed. He didnt have to worry about anything. He could just hang around and play all day, and delicious food would magically show up. As expectedhuman Trainers were basically running a charity! Meanwhile, on the other side of the farm Ting-Lu, who was in the middle of discussing Pokmon brotherhood ceremonies with Corviknight, suddenly shivered. Something wasnt right. Why did he feel like some filthy thing had its eyes locked onto him? Chapter 183: The Shame of Ralts After a round of discussion with Chi-Yu, they finally reached a mutually satisfying agreement. Chi-Yu would obediently follow Natsumes commands and arrangements, and try to treat the other Pokmon on the farm as its own companions. In return, Natsume would customize Pokblocks suited specifically to Chi-Yu''s tastes. Yes, that part was non-negotiableChi-Yu insisted on it. Aside from the fact that it couldnt beat Natsume anyway, this was a major reason why Chi-Yu was willing to follow orders. Besides, with so many Legendary Pokmon on the farm, its not like it would be called on often. Most of the time, it could just laze around, enjoy good food and drinkwho wouldnt be tempted by that kind of lifestyle? Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chi-Yu made it clear: it had firmly and decisively let go of its so-called pride as a Legendary. All those trivial details could be reconsidered after a good meal. Im counting on you to take care of things here. Natsume waved to Chi-Yu, who was busily reshaping the terrain, and turned to leave. While Chi-Yu could appreciate the fresh air and flat grasslands, it still preferred the heatafter all, it was a Fire-type Pokmon. For a Legendary, reshaping its surroundings to match its preferences was less about ability and more about desire. Once it found a suitable spot, Chi-Yu began working without hesitation. It had already cleared this with Natsume, so it was working confidently. Under Chi-Yu''s transformation, a blazing basin of fire emerged at the outermost edge of the farm. From above, it looked like an eye of the abyss suddenly erupting in the middle of the prairie, exuding heat and sulfurous fumes from every cracked line in the scorched earth. Though technically still part of the farm, Natsume hadnt built a fence around this area. Usually, wild Pokmon would roam nearby. But now, upon sensing Chi-Yu''s presence, they all wisely kept their distance. Big boss spotted! Nope, not messing with that. Even though Chi-Yu had taken the initiative to renovate the area, the surrounding climate hadnt changed. (Cue silent thumbs-up from the pink kitty and the ocean prince whod rather not babysit.) After circling lazily above the now-empty basin, Chi-Yu dove headfirst into the lava below. Natsume had mentioned possibly bringing over some other Fire-types in the future. It wasnt sure when exactly that would be. Still, it held a vague hopenot too optimistic, but not dismissive either. To Chi-Yu, it didnt really matter whether other Pokmon joined or not. If they did, maybe things would be livelier? Possibly. It had no experience taking care of kids anyway. Of course, that only worked if the kids werent chaotic little gremlins. Aside from a few overly compassionate types, who could honestly tolerate a hyperactive Chimchar that might explode into ear-piercing screeches at any moment? Honestly, even staying here alone wouldnt be bad. One word: peace. The freedom to move around was already a luxury. Far better than the old days, sealed away in isolation. Maybe life had worn away its edges, but Chi-Yu had adopted a very zen, go-with-the-flow attitude. And honestly, it found that pretty comfortable. It closed its eyes and fell asleep quietly in the lava stream it had created. Dont ask how a goldfish has eyelids. Its a Pokmon thingdont overthink it. Elsewhere on the farm, Mei was busy with the days feeding rounds. Come on, hold out your hand. Raaalts~ Pinching a pink Pokblock between her fingers, Mei dangled it playfully in front of the Ralts like she was teasing a kitten. Ralts, sitting obediently on the ground, clearly longed for the treatbut still waited patiently for Meis cue before reaching out to accept it, making sure to express gratitude afterward. So cute! Mei plopped down, resting her chin in her hands, eyes brimming with affection for Ralts. She had no intention of capturing it, but that didnt stop her from loving it. Kind of like how people cant resist petting adorable animals on the street. And Mei? Well, she basically had access to a massive, free cat caf. Lets just go with that. Food, drinks, and all sorts of lovable personalities with wildly different temperaments. For those who love petting animals but are too lazy to care for one, this place was heaven. With such a big farm, you were bound to find Pokmon that liked you. Out of all the Pokmon here, Meis favorites were this Raltsand one particular Boltund. She loved Boltund for its goofy charm and sunny personality. But Ralts? That was just pure aesthetic appeal. So obedient, so cutewith that little watermelon head, how could anyone not adore it? Mei certainly did. By the way, Raltswhere are your big sisters? She poked Ralts tiny hand with her finger, tilting her head curiously. Raaal... The blissful look on Ralts face froze mid-bite. Its expression shifted to what could only be described as Embarrassment? Mei blinked. Why embarrassed? She got her answer quickly. Kirlia! A clear voice rang out from nearby. Mei turned toward the sound. There, perched on a tree branch, was a Kirliaone arm tucked under a notebook. With a single glance backward, it vanished on the spot. PIII! Right after Kirlia disappeared, a dazzling golden Pidgeot came soaring in, screeching with rage. Its sharp gaze scanned the area before locking onto a target, and with one powerful flap of its wings, it shot off like an arrow from a bow. Alright, Mei was starting to piece things together. That Kirliayep, the one with the notebookwas something of a minor celebrity on the farm. Though more infamous than famous. It was trained by Corviknight and wielded a wickedly sharp tongue. Every time it battled, it infuriated opponents to the brink of madness. Its style differed a bit from Corviknights, too. If Corviknight was the gruff, sarcastic internet uncle Kirlia was more like a bratty, mean-girl internet princess. It had memorized an alarming number of snarky catchphrases that made your skin crawl. Now, that alone wouldnt be a problem But heres the kickeryou couldnt beat it. Kirlia never claimed to have just one mentor. In battle, it was trained by none other than the Mew, Cresselia. Which meant most Pokmon on the farm genuinely couldnt take it in a fight. And when you cant beat it and cant out-snark ityou end up bottling that frustration. Every battle left opponents fuming silently, dead set on flattening it before arguing back. But things usually didnt go well. Sure, Kirlia would apologize sincerely afterward, but the psychological damage was done. Right. I get it now. Mei retracted her gaze, nodding in understanding. Ralts, meanwhile, had both hands over its face, utterly unwilling to face the world. Honestly? It had zero desire to evolve right now. It was terrified of ending up like its sisters. That would be just too humiliating. There you are, Mei. Whats going on? Natsume arrived, trailing behind the shiny Pidgeot, eyeing Mei and the dejected Ralts with mild curiosity. Especially Ralts. It was rare to see the little one like this. Did something happen? Ralts! Ralts, still hiding its face, let out a muffled wail, venting all its pent-up frustration in one go. Kirlia had apparently lost a few screws and gone full-on sarcastic modeeverything it said now sounded vaguely mocking. And then there was Gardevoirwho seemed to have a compulsive need to stay busy, always finding something to do, like resting was illegal. Just because youre a workaholic doesnt mean we are! And then there was Gallade brother. Every day, he was either sunbathing on the little hill or fishing by the lake. Occasionally, hed even get scolded by his own little sister. ''You''re the big brother!'' ''Can you at least act like it? Show some authority!'' Emmmm You''ve got it tough, huh. After Natsume finished translating, Mei looked at Ralts with a faintly sympathetic, subtly amused expression. How to put it It felt wrong to say, but this whole thing was kind of hilarious. Not a single one of them seemed like a normal sibling. Except for the Ralts right in front of them. But considering what its older siblings were like Natsume couldn''t help but wonder: was this child really the straight-laced one, or just playing the part? Ralts Covering its face, Ralts gave off an unmistakable dont talk to me aura. It honestly didnt know what to say anymore. Right now, it just wanted to find a quiet, empty place to bury itself in. Let its head cool off a bit. As for anything else? Later, maybe. It was exhausted. Kirlia! Before Natsume could think of something comforting to say, Kirlia suddenly teleported in front of Ralts, notebook clutched proudly in hand. Throwing both arms up in victory, she triumphantly announced the success of her latest operation. That shiny golden guy? Left him totally in the dust! Holding up a feather shed plucked from the shiny Pidgeot, Kirlia proudly showed it off to her little sister. ''Look! This is your big sis''s strength!'' ''The farms top trickstarbattle record available upon request!'' Her victims were spread across the entire farm. Whether it was a random Oddish by the roadside or a Pidgey perched on a tree, shed tricked them all at least once! Stuffing the golden feather into Ralts hand, Kirlia flipped open her notebook and solemnly recorded this glorious battle. This marked the end of her days picking only the weak. Now, she was ready to start tempting fate! Yes, thats what her esteemed mentor, Corviknight, had said. And Kirlia had a decent amount of respect for the one whod shown her this path. Generally speaking, if Corviknight said something, Kirlia would listen. Except when it came to Corviknights opinions on Persian, or that time he tried to convince her to team up and challenge the so-called Boss Cat. Everything else? Fine. But Persian? Absolutely not. She was just a fragile and pitiful little psychic girl! There was no way she could challenge that monster who didnt even flinch when hit by her big siss psychic attacks. Ralts Looking at the feather now forced into her hand, Ralts looked a little helpless. Even though she didnt exactly love her sisters antics There was no doubt about itthey were family. And her small grievances were just that: little squabbles between siblings. Carefully tucking away the spoils of war Kirlia had given her, Ralts gave her sister a big hug. Ralts. Keep it up. Kirlia! Ill train even harder! Whether its trash talk or dirty tricks! Ralts Yeah, maybe dont. The smile that had just started to appear on Ralts face vanished instantly. She even gave Kirlia a light push, expression full of quiet disdain. Stay away from me. Im afraid whatever youve got might be contagious. Kirlia, however, didnt mind her little sisters rejection at all. Not even a ripple in her mood. After chatting with Ralts for a bit and greeting Natsume, Kirlia teleported away again. No one knew where she went. Maybe to test out the results of her training? Who knew? Ralts certainly didnt care. Compared to her workaholic Gardevoir sister and her chaos-brained Kirlia sister Ralts had a very clear understanding of who Natsume was in the human world. And to put it bluntly If Natsume assembled a proper team, walked out the door, and declared that he was going to become an Elite Four member, a horde of people would back him without hesitation. Why? Simplepeople gravitate toward strength. Setting aside politics and outside factors, a powerful Elite Four member always inspired confidence. Even other leagues would start plotting how to poach him. In fact, some were already trying to make contact with Natsume. They just hadnt succeeded. Otherwise, this peaceful little farm of his wouldnt be so peaceful. Ralts? Natsume, do you need an assistant? After staring at Natsume for a few seconds, Ralts suddenly asked. Hm? What brought that on? Natsume blinked, looking at Ralts curiously. An assistant? It wasnt like he lacked assistants. He had Gardevoir and Butterfree for making Pokblocks. He had Indeedees little sister for cooking and desserts. Lopunny helped with daily chores. The garden currently under construction was being managed by Bellossom and a whole squad of Grass-types. The farms operations were overseen by Indeedees big brother. And Slowkings external brain was practically everywhere. Natsumes concern wasnt that he didnt have enough assistants It was that some Pokmon were starting to overlap in roles. Managing them all was becoming a bit of a challenge. Ralts! I want to do something. I want to get stronger. With tiny fists clenched, the red pupils beneath Ralts bangs gleamed with determination. She still didnt know exactly what kind of Pokmon she wanted to become Didnt know what kind of goals shed eventually set, or what she wanted to look like in the future. But Ralts knew one thing for suregetting stronger could never be the wrong choice. No matter what situation she ended up in, strength would always be her firmest foundation. Alright then. You can stick with me for now. Natsume met her gaze for a few seconds before smiling and patting her gently on the head. Off to the side, Mei looked on enviously. She was so jealous of Natsumes ability to understand Pokmon speech! Chapter 184: The Two Who Got Past the Awkward Phase "Pass me the scissors." "Ral." "There should still be some Dragonfire Berries up there, right?" "Ral." Inside the storage shed, Natsume was sorting through a batch of newly delivered supplies. Though he usually picked up most things at the local market, there were still items he preferred to order onlineregional specialties that werent available locally, or common goods that he needed in bulk. Frankly, Natsume just really didnt like running all over town. Life on the farm hadnt completely cured his lazy streak. It had simply transformed it from a constant condition into an occasional relapse. Most of the time, he was fairly diligent. But then again, given how things were when the farm first started If he didnt work hard, everyone wouldve been left chewing on air. Not quite right. Going by the scenarios Natsume used to imagine when he couldnt sleep at night If he hadnt inherited the farm, odds were he wouldve become a traveling Trainer. Then again, maybe not. Back then, Natsume wasnt really into Gym Challenges or anything like that. Maybe he wouldve become an explorer of sortsstreaming his way through remote mountains and deep forests. And why stream it, you ask? Well, obviously so someone could come recover his corpse if he went missing, my friend. Being a Trainer was one of those high-risk professions with a consistently worrying death and disappearance rate. When youre out in the wild, it pays to keep a little paranoia on hand. Most Pokmon are pure-heartedbut most people arent. Especially when it comes to Trainers who head deep into the wilderness. Disappearing without a trace? Thats practically routine. No one can say for sure if the guys just wandered into a signal dead zone or straight-up kicked the bucket. A livestream at least gives folks a clue whether youve officially logged off. Might even be able to phone a friend to come collect your remains. Ahem. Getting off topic. Natsume did once consider the idea of becoming a popular streamer. But after watching the current big names in the field He realized that maybe he just wasnt cut out for it. He couldnt pull off wild antics, and he definitely couldnt do abstract comedy. Natsume was absolutely certain hed never be able to laugh maniacally with his tongue out while making a neck-slitting gesture. That just felt like too much. Not to mention spouting those infamous, cryptic one-liners. Some people spend their entire lives as poor imitators of their predecessors. Some people sound surreal the moment you hear their name. Thats not something you reach just by trying harder. [crossed out] "Good work, Ralts." Natsume reached out and caught the floating Ralts as it drifted down from above, gently ruffling the top of its bowl-cut head. Ralts squinted with joy under his touch. Yup. Natsume really did give off that warm, comfy feeling. Just like Gardevoir-sis said. Getting close to Natsume had its perksboth mentally and physically. "Ralu?" What''s next? Hopping down from Natsumes arms, Ralts looked up and asked. Ralts used to complain that Gardevoir was a total workaholicbut now it was starting to understand her perspective, just a little. There were so many impressive Pokmon around Natsume. If it didnt keep up, Natsumes gaze would shift away sooner or later. Not just NatsumeRalts itself would find its attention drifting to those powerful seniors. Sometimes it couldnt help but feel the gap between them was too wide to ever close. But even so it wasnt willing to give up. Even if not for Natsumes sakejust to prove its own worthRalts wanted to do its best and keep his attention. "Were heading over to Vespiquen and Tsareenas area next." Natsume pulled out his notebook and checked the list before replying. Many of the ingredients used in Pokblock recipes came from rare or unusual sourceslike Combee honey or the fluid secreted by Bounsweet. Besides their inherent value, these sweet ingredients made Pokblocks more palatable to Pokmon. While Pokblocks were designed to be nutritious and portable for Trainers, they were still food in the end. And food should taste good. Talking only about value, process, and refinement when it comes to food is nonsense. Foods primary purpose is to fill your belly and give your taste buds a reason to be happy. If all you care about is nutrition, then why not just chug supplements and hook yourself to an IV? "Ralu!" Ralts nodded vigorously, promising to give Natsume its full support! Relax, relax. Vespiquen and Tsareena are both easy to talk to. Seeing Ralts all tensed up and serious, Natsume chuckled and tried to ease its nerves. Vespiquen, for instance Well, their relationship wasnt exactly warm. To put it bluntly, it was mutually beneficial. Natsume offered them a safe place to settle and an alternative food supply to honey, and in return, Vespiquen commanded her Combee squad to be diligent little honey-harvesters for the farm. Every time Natsume showed up with freshly made Pokblocks from his practice sessions with Gardevoir, Vespiquen would immediately roll out the finest honey theyd been saving. They were sick of eating it themselves, after all. Years of honey every day? No thanks. As for Tsareenashe didnt even need to be mentioned. Back when the farm was still getting off the ground, she and her tribe had come to Natsume seeking refuge. Now the place had grown into a proper Pokmon farmmaybe even a ranch. Her tribe had clawed their way out of hard times. Tsareena had evolved, and many of the younger Bounsweet had shown real promise. Some even joined from who-knows-where. Today, there were at least fifty Bounsweet living among the berry groves. Not a massive group, but compared to the dozen or so they started with, it was a huge improvement. Natsume, package for you! Just as he was locking the storage shed, Natsume turned to see Mei approaching with a large box in her arms. The box looked heavy, but Meis steps were steady. She was a Trainer capable of crossing mountains solo, after all. One box? Childs play. Even two boxesno problem. Even five? Meis solution was simple: Serperior, give me a hand. Very Trainer-like logic. If a Pokmon can handle it, why force yourself to act tough? Hadnt you already done enough bravado back in school, scribbling random junk on math problems you didnt understand? Thanks, Mei. Natsume quickly stepped up and took the box from her. A glance at the label, and he said: The Applin Fruit and Yache Berries I ordered online finally arrived. Ill make you guys some cake tonight. Hed been wanting to try out one of those fruity mini cake recipes he saw online. They looked simple enough. Gave him a real I could totally do that kind of vibe. Living alone with a healthy savings account, Natsume had no hesitation. The moment the idea struck him, he acted on it. Ordered all the ingredients and baking gear he needed online. This was peak single-guy energy: Action Mode Activated. Then Im definitely looking forward to it. Once Natsume had set the box down, Mei snuck up from behind and hugged him. She rubbed her cheek against his arm with a playful grin. Just like Ralts, Mei was thinking the same thing Natsume really was comfy. So soft, so cozy. The thought made Mei unconsciously take a little sniff. Realizing what shed just done, she quickly covered her mouth and nose in embarrassment. A bit shameful, yes! But Catching sight of Natsumes smiling lips, Mei couldnt help but grin too. If Natsume didnt mind, then there was no problem. So she confidently hooked her arms around his neck and, with a bounce, leapt onto his back. Hey hey, Natsumeguess what Im about to say? Pigsy carrying his bride, right? Bingo! Too bad theres no reward. Then can I give you a reward? Nope, not allowed. Youll have to wait until tonight. Mei crossed her index fingers in front of Natsumes face to make an X, signaling her disapprovalthen couldnt help but burst into laughter. But, she added, you can get a little preview of your reward right now. I thought you said there was no reward? A last-minute gift. And before Natsume could reply, Mei leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek with a loud smooch. Then, without warning, she nuzzled into the crook of his neck. And again, she started giggling. No particular reason. She was just really, genuinely happy. When someone likes you, its not about what you do or how hard you tryjust being together is enough to make them feel joy. That was too quick. Can I get a replay? Nope! Then Im tossing you down. Still holding her in his arms, Natsume made his threat. Unfortunately, Mei was completely immune. Instead of backing down, she hooked her leg around his even tighter. Nearby, Ralts quietly looked up at the sky. Ah, esteemed Slowking-senpai I think Im starting to understand how tough your life is. Meanwhile, Slowkingwho was busy scratching his head and going over ledgerssuddenly sneezed. Why does it feel like Im slowly becoming a full-blown office worker? Staring at the mountain of office supplies before him, Slowking fell into deep thought. After a long silence, he let out a sigh. Yeah I should probably stretch my legs every now and then. Time to go smack that Absol around a bit. Perfect timing toohed just come up with a new move. It was going to look awesome. Though maybe not quite so awesome for Absol, whod be on the receiving end of the experiment. After a bit more fooling around, Mei finally hopped off of Natsume. Their relationship had long since moved past that awkward phase right after theyd first gotten together. Now, both Mei and Natsume could naturally accept the fact thatyesthey were boyfriend and girlfriend. And it made them happy. Yeah this is what its like when two people are dating for the first time. They just want to be around each other all the time. Doesnt matter where theyre goingthey want to go together. Which is why, when Natsume went off to bring some Pokblocks to Vespiquen, it wasnt just Ralts by his sideMei and Chingling tagged along, too. Ral. Ling~ Mei was distracted, but Ralts and Chingling were locked in an intense stare-offbig eyes meeting big eyes. Due to certain reasons, Ralts usually followed at Natsumes feet instead of hanging out in his arms. Shoulder rides? Forget it. That certain reason was the pink kitty. Natsumes shoulder was basically Mews personal throne. Aside from Manaphy, no other Pokmon dared try to claim it. Ralts was even more cautious about that. So, for now, it figured staying by Natsumes feet was safest. Ralts was the type who cared a lot about boundaries. Meis side, though? No such rules. After a moment of staring, it was Ralts who finally reached out to break the strange tension. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chingling responded almost instantlytypical of a childlike personality. Within minutes, the two were chatting away with their heads practically pressed together, whispering secrets back and forth. Every now and then, they''d sneak glances at Natsume or Mei. It gave off a distinct were gossiping kind of vibe. And maybe it wasnt just a vibe. But Mei and Natsume were too wrapped up in each other to notice. Gradually, the once-sparse sightings of Combee became more and more frequent. Every few seconds, one would fly by, headed toward the hive, the berry grove, or the flower garden. If someone took a picture of this scene, itd be perfect for an elementary school textbook. Good afternoon, Vespiquen! Once they reached the hive, Natsume didnt get too close right away. Instead, he called out loudly. Combee, in general, were a lot gentler than Beedrill. And way weaker, too. At least Beedrill had some potential for training. Male Combee? Not so much. Their base stats were awful, their movepools were narrow, and they couldnt even evolve. They really were just honey-gathering worker bees for Vespiquen. Nothing more. Bzzzz A low buzz echoed as Vespiquen emerged from the hive. Shed grown noticeably plumper since last time. Maybe it was the weight gain, but she actually looked kind of gentle. Maybe even cute. Her aggression had dropped quite a bit. It was easy to see, just from her expression, how the peaceful farm life had dulled her old wild instincts. At the very least, she no longer looked like she was constantly on edge, ready to flee at the first sign of trouble. When she saw Natsume, her compound eyes brightened. She immediately barked out orders to the nearby Combee to bring out the freshly harvested honey. YepNatsume didnt even have to jar the stuff himself anymore. Vespiquen handled it all, directing the Combee like a forewoman at a honey factory. While they worked, she buzzed over to the side and began enjoying her own meal of Pokblocks. Only a few of them were made by Natsumemost were practice batches by Gardevoir and Mei. They werent perfect, but for a Pokmon who once lived in the wild, it was still a gourmet feast. Nearby, Ralts was using psychic power to move the jars of Sweet Honey one by one to Natsumes side. Compared to Gardevoir or Slowking, who had followed Natsume here before, Raltss powers still werent strong enough to levitate all the jars at once. So it was much slower. But that only made it feel more like a peaceful, ordinary day. Like this was just how life was supposed to be. Chapter 185: The Small Uses of Hypnosis Lalu~ Retracting her tiny hand, Ralts wiped the sweat from her forehead. For her current abilities, this was still a bit of a heavy workload. But it was still within acceptable limits. You got this! Clenching her little fists, Ralts gave herself a silent pep talk before levitating over to Mei using psychic power. Mei reached out and caught her with ease. Maybe it was because they shared a few things in common, but Ralts and Mei got along surprisingly well. What do they have in common, you ask? Well, they both like Natsume, obviously. Is there a single creature on this farm that doesn''t like Natsume? Anyone who doesn''t has already been thrown out. Even if Natsume doesnt lift a finger, Boss Persian will personally deal with those kinds. You little punk. Eating the farms food, living on the farms land, and you still have complaints about the farms owner? Where do you get the nerve? Theres no place here for freeloaders with attitude problems. If Natsume steps in, its not so badhes usually pretty tolerant of most Pokmon. His attitudes generally kind and gentle. But if Boss Persian steps in? Forget any friendly negotiation. Natsume might feel awkward about beating you up, but Boss Persian sure doesnt. When Persian handles things, theres no discussionfirst comes the beatdown, then comes the talk once youre obedient enough to listen. Negotiation? Please. Im here to deliver a message! You worked hard. Cradling the drowsy little Ralts in her arms, Mei looked down at Ralts and couldn''t resist rubbing her cheek against hers. Such a precious little thing. Cute girls are like Stand Usersthey always attract each other. Lalu. After enduring the cheek rubs for a bit, Ralts gently pushed Meis face away with her tiny hand to say, Thats enough. If this keeps up, my hairs gonna get all messed up! Turning her head toward Natsume, Ralts looked up at him, asking if it was time to head over to Tsareenas side next. Truth be told, Ralts hadnt really seen much of Tsareena until now. Unlike her fisherman older brother, her workaholic eldest sister, or her rough-and-tumble delinquent second sister, Ralts was more of a homebody. She had zero interest in wandering around. Making friends? Pass. If she had the energy, she might take a stroll nearby. If not, she was perfectly content to lie at home all day. Why run around wasting stamina when you could be lying down? She never really understood her second sisters chaotic lifestyle. Just like Kirlia couldnt understand why Ralts was so lazyshe didnt even want to walk a few steps. But that was fine. Now, Ralts had something she genuinely wanted to do. And Kirlia had nothing left to say about it. Four siblings, and three of them were working for Natsume. Only she was still loafing around. Oh noIm the slacker of the family! Mm, Im counting on you again, Ralts. Natsume bent down slightly, smiling at Ralts, whose face was all serious business. Her tiny face paired with that dead-serious expression There was something inexplicably adorable about it. Maybe it was the contrast? Sure, Natsume couldve handled all this by himself, but if one of the kids on the farm wanted to help, of course he wouldnt say no. When someone wants to help you, why reject their kindness? Its not like he was some dark and brooding antihero with a tragic backstory. No need to play the whole lone wolf against the world card. Lalu! Leave it to me! Raising her delicate arm and waving it, Ralts tried to strike a strong pose. But the utter lack of any visible muscle made her lower her arm in slight frustration. Darn iteven that shiny Furret senpai is super cute but also super jacked! Looks like Ralts might secretly prefer real muscles over psychic powers? Alright thenlets head out! Maybe because Ralts looked so much like a child, Natsume raised his hand and shouted like he was playing with a kid. Ohh! Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lalu! Mei and Ralts immediately raised their arms and echoed the call. Only the sleepy Ralts in Meis arms looked around in confusion at the scene unfolding in front of her. I just closed my eyes for a quick nap... When did we switch from the agriculture channel to a parenting variety show? If theyre the featured parent-child duo, then what am I? The evil heiress from some fake-daughter drama? Should I be saying something dramatic and in character right now? Having read a few dramatic micro-novels lately, Ralts fell into deep thought. -- In the Berry Forest, Tsareena was in the middle of scolding her tribe. As the poor soul whod been pushed into the role of chieftain, Tsareena had long been stressed about whether she could actually lead her kind. She had zero experience or knowledge in this area! But being a studious girl, the moment she realized her shortcomings, she immediately went to Natsume for help. Unfortunately, Natsume, who had almost no management experience himself, could only offer to buy her some books online and gather whatever resources he could find. Tsareena gladly accepted. And after a period of study, she felt like things were finally clicking! At least, in theory. Excited, she rushed back to put her newfound knowledge into practice. And then She realized theory and practice were two completely different beasts. After a string of frustrating and chaotic attempts, Tsareena once again humbly returned to Natsume for help. Through repeated trial and error, Tsareena finally came to a key realization: Her tribe wasnt a human company. There was no need for complicated corporate structure. Just assign the work, keep everyone calm and happy And for the troublemakers, beat them into submission. If they refused to listen? Toss em out. Human companies need complex management because humans arent strong, and their ultimate goal is profit. But for a Pokmon tribe, theres only one goal: Survival. Once she understood that, Tsareenas management style grew increasingly streamlined But oddly effective. For most Pokmon, a good punch was more persuasive than any lecture. Chu-wa! Hands on her hips, Tsareena was giving a stern lecture to a few unruly Bounsweet. Every group has a few problem children. And the Bounsweet tribe was no exception. In theory, Bounsweet were supposed to be low-key, cautious Pokmon. They were weak and literally secreted a sweet, syrupy liquid. To some Pokmon, thats basically being born pre-marinated. But maybe it was the overly peaceful environment of the farm These freshly hatched Bounsweet were bolder than ever. Some even dared to mess around in the shiny Pidgeots territory. Tsareena was done. Seriously, do you all have a death wish? Honestly, the farms peaceful atmosphere had saved their lives. With brains like that, theyd never survive a single night in the wild. Good afternoon, Tsareena. From afar, Natsume called out to the lecturing Tsareena. Hearing his voice, she paused mid-sentence and waved her hand, signaling the troublemakers to scram. Dont loiter in front of me! Annoying! The Bounsweet, seeing a chance for escape, immediately bolted. Two of them were running so fast they crashed into each other and rolled into a heap. Chu-wa! Walking gracefully over, Tsareena arrived at Natsumes side, gave Mei a quick curious glance, then paid her no mind. She instinctively went in to rub up against Natsume Only to be stopped by his hand. ? Tilting her head, Tsareena looked confused. Following Natsumes gaze, she noticed the little troublemakers still hadnt leftthey were hiding behind a tree, spying. This made her angry again. Those little punks. She was definitely going to teach them a lesson later. Alright, alright, dont get mad. Natsume pulled his hand back, soothing Tsareena''s mood. Normally, he wouldnt touch a tribe leaders head in front of others. Especially with other Pokmon around. Itd damage their authority. Just imaginea usually stern leader suddenly does a backflip and slides on their knees in front of someone. What would you think? Other than what the heck and that was hilarious, Youd probably lose all respect for them. Once or twice is fine. But if it happens a lot, and more Pokmon see it Thats no good for a tribe leaders image. So Natsume tended to hold back in moments like these. Of course, if no other Pokmon were around, hed never stop Tsareena from showing affection. Unlike Vespiquen, Tsareena had always been especially close with Natsume. Even though she spent most of her time in the Berry Forest because of her tribe, there was no doubt about her fondness for Natsume. Chuwa? Was Natsume here to collect Bounsweets sweat? Withdrawing her gaze, Tsundere Tsareena turned to Natsume and asked. Bounsweet is the kind of Pokmon that gives off a delicious, fruity aroma from its body. In the wild, it often gets swallowed whole by Bombirdier, which is drawn to the scent. When attacked, Bounsweet secretes a sweet-smelling sweat. Strictly speaking, this only happens when it''s startled or stimulated. But ironically, this sweat ends up attracting even more enemies. One Pokdex entry even describes it like this: If a human were to eat it directly, it would be far too sweet. However, if you dilute Bounsweets sweat with water, it becomes a juice with just the right amount of sweetness. You could say Bounsweet, as a Pokmon, is not unlike Farfetchd. Rather than for its combat prowess, its more famous for being a food ingredient. Yes Natsume nodded with a smile, but before he could finish his sentence, Tsundere Tsareenas eyes lit up. Chuwa! Wait right here! With a powerful stomp, she darted into the forest like a flash of lightning. Chu! The next moment, a chaotic commotion erupted from the forestsquawks, rustling leaves, and several Bounsweet crying out in distress. Before long, Tsundere Tsareena returned, holding a few Bounsweet with miserable expressions written all over their faces. These were the troublemakers of the group. They were always giving her grief. But since they were still kids, she never punished them too harshly. After all, back when she was still a Bounsweet, she was a little rascal herself. Chuwa. Lets start with these ones. She took a step back and motioned for Natsume to begin. Buthow was he planning to do it this time? Tsundere Tsareena looked at Natsume curiously. In the past, to better collect Bounsweets sweat, Natsume would usually bring along Mew or Persian. Occasionally, hed bring Hisuian Zorua (before it evolved) or Misdreavus. The purpose? Purely to scare the little ones. This wasnt Natsumes strong suithe had to rely on his Pokmon to help. So, was this his assistant for the day? Tsundere Tsareena glanced at the Ralts nestled obediently in Meis arms. Just by appearances, Ralts seemed just as easy to bully as the Bounsweet. Might even get picked on by the troublemakers. Of course, you should never judge a book by its cover. Some might look plain on the outside, but have something far nastier underneath. Ralts, Ill be counting on you. With a set of small collection bottles and a custom-made scraper in hand, Natsume turned to the Ralts in Meis arms. The scraper was specially designedblunt-edged, perfect for safely gathering the liquid secreted when Bounsweet is startled. To be honest, Natsume had always been curious about this. Normally, when animals are threatened, dont they secrete something foul to deter predators? Why did Bounsweet secrete something sweet instead? It really did seem like it was born to be food. Ral! Ralts nodded earnestly, levitating itself out of Meis arms with a soft glow of psychic power and gently floating down in front of the Bounsweet. It reached out a hand toward one Bounsweet, whose expression said it couldnt care less. A faint, invisible wave rippled from Ralts outstretched palm. Beneath its bangs, the red eyes were laser-focused. Ralts had never been particularly skilled with this move. Though it had been practicing lately, it still wasnt anywhere near the level of that Slowking senior. Still, it should be enough for these guys. The Bounsweets indifferent expression gradually turned blank. Its pupils filled with an eerie light. Hypnosis. The moves description: puts the target to sleep. But with just a slight tweak in application, Hypnosis could do much more. For instanceinduce a vivid illusion. Whatever it was seeing, the Bounsweet began trembling ever so slightly. Glistening sweat beaded on its surface, releasing a syrupy-sweet aroma that filled the air. With a light tap of his finger, Natsume signaled Ralts to stop. Cradling the Bounsweet gently, he began collecting the sweat. Hed give them a little reward afterward to make up for this. Watching the now-frantic Bounsweet, Natsume made a note of it in his mind. Elsewhere, with nothing much to do today, Ceruledge was dragging her little sister around on a lazy stroll. By pure chance, they wandered into the territory that Chi-Yu had recently claimed. Gazing at the fiery basin before her, Ceruledge tilted her head. When did this place come into existence? Chapter 186 – The Misguided Adventures of Armarouge and Ceruledge As the backbone of the farms street-roaming gang, Armarouge prided herself on having explored nearly every corner of the land. At least, when it came to the broader layout, she was sure she''d covered most of it. But this place didnt ring a bell? Waitno, she had been here before. Armarouge squinted at the landscape, searching it carefully until a flicker of familiarity sparked in her mind. It looked vaguely familiar? Could it be the spot where Ting-Lu was once suppressed? Everyone knew Mew had a mouth bigger than her body could justifyshe just couldnt keep secrets. While training the two Charcadet rookies, Mew had bragged about her past exploits more than once. Enemies that required a whole army to subdue? Mew claimed she wiped the floor with them in three moves. With a flick of her tail, she had effortlessly sealed one in a crater behind the farm. And to make it all the more convincing, shed personally led the kids on a field trip to go see it. Armarouge still remembered Mew standing at the rim of the basin, recounting her so-called glorious past with no trace of humility. For Mew, the story boiled down to this: Ting-Lu didnt know her place, tried to resist, and got smashed. But by the time Mew finished spinning her tale, the whole scene had taken on a different flavor entirely. In her retelling, she was the main character in some red-haired protagonist''s power fantasy novel, effortlessly crushing ignorant challengers with a flick of her paw and a cold flick of her eyes. After a short, noble speech meant to enlighten her enemy, she had no choice but to sigh, defeat them, and seal them away for their own good. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Honestly, the only thing missing was a dramatic line like, As though even fate had turned to dust. Sure, it sounded cool and allbut lets not kid ourselves. Ting-Lu stood up. Then got bodied. End of story. At the time, Ting-Lu had been crouched silently in a corner, praying for the world to explode then and there. Please. Just end it all. Ive had enough humiliation for one lifetime. Hmm Chin propped on her gauntlet, Armarouge sank into deep thought. She didnt know what had happened here recently, or what was causing it. But one thing was clearsomething was off. Ive got to check it out! Her eyes gleamed as she turned to her little sister, her intention practically written across her armor. Im going on an adventurecome with me, yeah? Armarouge had always been bubbling with enthusiasm for the world around her. But Ceruledgewell... ?_? She just stared back, eyes as dead as a Magikarps. Ceruledge felt like there were about fifty things she could say right now. But she kept them all to herself. Forget it. Fine. She sighed softly. In the end, she couldnt say no to her sister. For some reason, she felt like Armarouge had grown even more childlike since evolving. She mulled it over and dug out what she felt was a polite-enough term from her vocabulary: High EQ: Innocent. Low EQ: Childish and mischievous. Instead of telling someone when she noticed something was off, her first instinct was to go off on an adventure herself. What is this, some kind of junior detective club? Compared to his sisters curiosity and faint worry, Ceruledge was the picture of calm. He was confident that Natsume definitely knew what was going on here. Whats that saying again? Nothing new under the sun? Doesnt matter. Ceruledge knew very wellon this farm, there was no such thing as some Pokmon scheming in the shadows. Especially not with the terrain shifting so drastically across such a wide area. Even if Natsume hadnt noticed it himself Surely Big Sis Mew and the others wouldve picked up on it. Are you telling me a bunch of Legendary Pokmon didnt realize a part of their home turned into a volcanic zone? Come on, thats just comedy. Even a third-rate joke wouldnt go that far. Thats why Ceruledge, trailing behind his sister, remained perfectly composed. But the moment they stepped into the flaming basin, both Ceruledge and Armarouge immediately sensed the difference. The scorching air, unbearable for most Pokmon, felt like water to a fish for them. Their bodies came alive with energy. Strange. Just a few steps apart, and yet the environment had completely changed. Ceruledge glanced back thoughtfully. Just a moment ago, they had been standing on lush, green grass. Now, only a few paces forward, the ground had turned into cracked, scorched red earth. Two entirely different climates, coexisting side by side without interfering with each other. Like distinct zones on a game map. This power was far beyond what an ordinary Pokmon could achieve. No doubtit was the power of a Legendary. Was this the ancient "Chi-Yu" Natsume mentioned he was going to handle? Cant remember. At this point, whenever Ceruledge ran into something he couldnt explain, he just chalked it up to being the work of a Legendary. Anywhere else, that might sound ridiculous. But not here. Only Arceus knows what it feels like to wake up, grab breakfast, and see five Legendary Pokmon saunter by to steal your food. Its complicated. On one hand, it makes Legendaries feel not so distant after all. On the other, theres a subtle sense of pressure. Legendaries dont even stand out here. Let alone regular Pokmon. For all he knew, maybe Natsume saw him no differently than an Oddish. Hmm~ As Ceruledge let his thoughts wander, a long, melodious call rang out. It sounded like a deep-sea whales song, but lightermore ethereal. Suddenly, the lava at the center of the basin began to boil. Yeah, weird as it sounds, it really was boiling. Seconds later, a surge of crimson magma erupted skyward. And from within, an orange glow began to emerge. Eyes slowly opening, Chi-Yu rose, peering down imperiously at the two intruders on its turf. The majesty of legend radiated from it without restraint. For a moment, Ceruledge and Armarouge went completely blank. Meanwhile, elsewhere All right, go have fun. Natsume gently patted Bounsweets head after placing a pink pokeblock into her hand, freshly collected with her post-training sweat. Bounsweet leaned in and took a deep sniff. The rich, sugary aroma made her face light up with joy. So sweet! Clutching the pokeblock, Bounsweet cheerfully ran off to play. Of course, she had to eat it quickly. Nibbling off a small piece, her face bloomed with happiness at the thought. This batch is getting good feedback. Watching her reaction, Natsume smiled. This pokeblock''s defining feature was its sweetness. Everything else about it was basically just a bonus. He had even sacrificed some other performance aspects just to enhance the flavor. For a Pokmon just finishing a hard training session, one of these made it all worth it. Sweetness has the power to lift the moodeven for Pokmon. Even those with pickier palates wouldnt turn down a cube like this. As a side note, one of the core ingredients in this pokeblock was Bounsweets own sweat. Collected, processed, and turned into pokeblock. Then fed back to Bounsweet as a reward. A perfect self-sustaining loop. Thats what they call shearing the sheep to knit the sweater, right? Neither Natsume nor the Bounsweet tribe had any issues with it. Natsume got his raw material. Bounsweet got her treat. Win-win! Staaare... As Natsume shook out his hand to give his wrist a break, he sensed a faintly sulky gaze on him. Turning around, he caught the back of Tsareena''s head. Clearly, shed been watching him just now. The moment he looked, she whipped her head away. Tsareena, herethis is for you. Thanks for your help today. Natsume understood immediately. She wanted an pokeblock too. But she couldnt bring herself to go ask like the kids from the tribe. So she was holding it in. Since Tsareena was too shy to ask, Natsume would just take the initiative. He pulled out a small box with a Bounsweet design on it. Inside, it was packed with those same sweet pokeblocks. All of them were that same flavor. For now, Natsume had dubbed this variety Bounsweet No. 1. Well, for now might as well be forever. Like that Slowking No. 1 from before. Hed said hed come up with a better name eventually but so far, nothing. Forgive Natsumehes hopeless at naming things. If he had to name stuff, hed have to go look it up online. So lets just stick with calling it Bounsweet No. 1. Its easy to remember, at least. Chyu-wa! Tsareena''s eyes lit up as she saw the pokeblocks in Natsumes hand. Still, she put on a cool, collected front as she calmly accepted it. Then immediately popped a piece into her mouth. The moment it touched her fingers, the fruity sweetness snuck into her nose. And the instant the pokeblock met her tongue, a delicate, rich sweetness bloomed in her mouth. The outer layer melted quickly, leaving a thin, sticky-sweet film. It gently wrapped around her whole mouth, bringing a joy that words couldnt quite express. It wasnt just an emotional delightTsareena swore she could feel it physically. For a moment, all her worries melted into that sweetness, leaving only pure bliss. She closed her eyes, quietly savoring that perfect moment. Natsume sat lazily on the grass, watching her with a slight smile. His eyes were full of the purest affection for Pokmon. Even though Tsareena had evolved long ago, going from an oblivious airhead who couldnt even recognize new tribe members, to a competent leader In Natsumes eyes, she was still that Tsareena who used to sneak over for cuddles and beg for pokeblocks. When she liked a pokeblock, shed show it without reservation. When she didnt, shed stuff the leftovers back into Natsumes arms and throw a tiny tantrum until he soothed her. Whenever she had a problem, shed cling to him and ask endless questions, hoping hed solve it. Even when making decisions, shed first come to check if her plan made sense. And while Natsume thought things over, shed just sit there, staring up at him with those big eyes. As if all of that had just happened yesterday. But somehow, it felt like a long time had passed. So long, in fact, that the little one from back then had already grown into a capable leader of her tribe. ? As she opened her eyes, Tsareena was just about to offer some customer feedback when she noticed Natsume staring at her with a rather peculiar expression. There was something complicated behind that looktoo complex for Tsareena to fully comprehend for now. Casting a suspicious glance at the pokeblock in her hand, she started to wonder if Natsume had just handed her a box of experimental pokeblocks to test out. ...Surely not, right? After all, wasnt Corviknight still around? No matter how you looked at it, it didnt seem like it was her turn. Frowning, Tsareena couldnt make sense of it. Watching her puzzled expression, Natsume could more or less guess what was running through her mind. He found it a little exasperating, a little amusingbut didnt bother to explain. It was nothing more than a tiny misunderstanding, barely even worth calling a misunderstanding. In a little while, Tsareena would forget all about it. Without dwelling on it any further, she carefully stashed away the pokeblock Natsume handed her and resumed chasing after the Steenee in her tribe. Every tribes had its share of little rebels. Take the ones Tsareena had just rounded up, for example. Some of them were simply defiant. Others were just scared. To be fair, the illusion created by Ralts was pretty terrifying. As Natsume continued collecting data, the first few Bounsweet who had experienced the illusion had already run back and spread word of what they saw. One of them had been thrown into a forest swarming with bird Pokmon. How was that any different from being dumped onto Cannibal Island? At least that scary Persian from earlier was just a quick frightit came, it went. But Ralts illusion? That had to be feltyou had to go through the whole thing. And when it ended? Well, that was up to Ralts. Tsareena had made a special request: for the particularly unruly ones, let them enjoy the experience a little longer. One after another, these overconfident rookies thought they were ready to soarwhen really, they had no clue what they were doing. Better to face the facts sooner than later. Garde. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. Ralts, who had just been preparing to cast Hypnosis, froze mid-spell. Turning around, she saw her eldest sisterGardevoirhad somehow appeared beside Natsume without anyone noticing. She was leaning close, speaking to him in a low voice. I see Ill go take a look, then. While calming the restless Bounsweet on his lap, Natsume responded gently. Garde. With a nod, Gardevoir quietly stepped behind Natsume. At the same time, she cast a subtle glance toward Ralts. There was a touch of warmth in her eyes. In the beginning, Gardevoir had worried a lot about her little sister. She didnt know what she wanted. Didnt know what she should be doing. Every day, she just trailed aimlessly behind Gardevoir or Gallade. Theyd been to plenty of places, surebut when you thought about it, shed never done anything. But now, shed finally found something she wanted to doand that was a good thing. Gardevoir wasnt the type who expected every Pokmon to hustle all day or be some kind of workaholic. She just didnt want her little sister to drift through life with no direction, not even a hobby. Even if all she wanted was to go mess around with Mew and the others playing pranksthat wouldve been fine too! All right, go play. Mei, Im heading out for a bit. Can you and Ralts keep an eye on things here for me? He let the Bounsweet hop off his lap, then turned to Mei beside him with a smile. OK, OK. She raised a hand and flashed an OK gesture, indicating no problem. The Ralts in her arms nodded as well. After flashing a smile at Mei and Tsareena, Natsume placed his hand on Gardevoirs shoulder. In the next instant, a blue aura enveloped them bothand just like that, Natsume and Gardevoir vanished into thin air. Chapter 187 – Chi-Yu: I knew it was trying to beat me up! At the edge of the basin, a flash of blue light eruptedNatsume and Gardevoir appeared abruptly from thin air. Whats this? Natsume, now used to being teleported without warning, took a second or two to steady himself. Looking closely, he saw a figure engulfed in scorching flames at the center of the basin, clutching their head in apparent agony. Beside the figure stood an anxious-looking Armarouge and an unfazed Chi-Yu. The moment Chi-Yu noticed Natsumes arrival, its composed expression immediately crumbled. It rushed over in a panic, clearly trying to explain somethingso frantic, in fact, that it nearly slammed straight into Natsume. Calm down, Chi-Yu. Natsume casually sidestepped the incoming freight train and placed a hand on Chi-Yus head. Feeling the soft pressure of that hand, Chi-Yu seemed to settle down a bit. Whether it was truly reassured or just terrified that Natsume might crack its skull open, no one could say. After all, that first night it arrived, Chi-Yu had seen it with its own eyes: A Steel-type Corviknight, going completely wild with excitement, had been pinned to the ground by Natsume with a single takedown maneuver. The birds arrogance had vanished in an instant. Chi-Yu might think that dumb bird wasnt very bright But it had to admitCorviknight was built like a tank. And Natsume still slammed it straight into the dirt. Is this guy even human? Chi-Yu had its doubts. Now calmer, Chi-Yu began explaining what had happened. Lets rewind the clock ten minutes. Armarouge and Ceruledge had wandered into this sweltering terrainonly to find themselves staring blankly as Chi-Yu descended dramatically from the flames. Unlike the usual friendly demeanor of many Legendaries, Chi-Yu didnt hold anything back. It unleashed its full presence without restraint. In that moment, Armarouge and Ceruledge felt like tiny rowboats tossed about in a raging seamere moments away from being swallowed by a furious ocean. Seeing their dazed, stunned expressions, a flicker of boredom crossed Chi-Yus eyes. Just regular Pokmon, huh. Well, makes sense. If this farm were entirely made up of weird, broken monsters, Chi-Yu figured it might have to compete with Corviknight for the lowest rung on the food chain. And it was at least supposed to be a mascot. Losing interest, Chi-Yu withdrew its overwhelming aura, spun lazily in the air, and was ready to head back to sleep. Sure, these two were fellow Fire-types But Chi-Yu wasnt the needy type who went chasing every spark of attention. Just because someone showed up didnt mean it had to wag its metaphorical tail and start making friends. That would be pathetic. Surely no Legendary was that desperate for affection, right? Chi-Yu simply couldnt relate. But then a flash of violet followed. Ceruledge, eyes still haunted from the earlier experience, instinctively gave chase, as if trying to say something. It didnt quite understand why it movedonly that something important felt within reach. Noticing this, Chi-Yus interest was piqued. It recalled something from the Pokdex: Ceruledges flames were fueled by the grudges of a fallen swordsman who once tasted glory before dying in exile. That kind of power now that was intriguing. And then So, you tried to guide it a bit? After listening to Chi-Yus half-hearted, muddled explanation, Natsume more or less pieced it together. It was Well, not quite the classic tale of a battle junkie seeking strength and a chaotic gremlin offering it. Ceruledge wanted to grow stronger, yes, but not obsessively so. More than anything, it had stumbled upon a new patha way to harness deeper power. Chi-Yus flames, besides scorching, could stir intense emotions in its opponents. A sort of flame of envy, perhaps? Ceruledge thought, If I can channel all my lingering regrets and attachments into a single sword strike couldnt I learn that trick too? Not to the same degree as Chi-Yu, but enough to sway a crucial moment. Chi-Yu, having nothing better to do, decided to entertain the idea. In theory, provoking jealousy or emotional turmoil was an innate giftpart of its identity as a Treasures of Ruin Pokmon. And what is a gift? Something youre born with. A natural talent, a built-in instinct. Everything learned after birth is simply called a skill. For Chi-Yu, wielding that corruptive fire was as effortless as breathing. But as a Ghost-type Pokmon It could naturally stir up fear in human hearts and feed off it to some extent. Just probably not as dramatically as Chi-Yu. Stillshould it give it a try? That was what Chi-Yu had thought at the time. Then, it went all in and unleashed its power. And then things turned into what they are now. To be honest, when the Ceruledge turned into a walking bonfire, the most panicked one wasnt the elder sister Armarouge Nor was it Ceruledge herself, who was actually on fire. It was Chi-Yu, the one who had lit the flame. Bro, no! I was just kidding! Watching Ceruledge engulfed in flames, Chi-Yu broke into a cold sweat. No, buddy!!! Take it easy!! The thing was, Chi-Yu had only supplied a tiny spark, something barely flammable. But whether Ceruledge got too worked up or there was some weird chemical reaction The fire quickly got out of Chi-Yus control. If Natsume saw this scene? No doubt Chi-Yu was getting a beating. Because no matter how you looked at it, this screamed newcomer troublemaker picking on a local resident! And the worst part? Chi-Yu didnt have any way to immediately stop the blaze it had sparked. And the even worse part? A Gardevoir was quietly watching everything unfold not far from the scene. Then, she vanished with a Teleport. Oh no. In that moment, Chi-Yu felt like a death omen star was flashing ominously above its head. It finally understood what paranoia really meant. It felt like a pink kitty could jump out from anywhere the next second and give it a savage beating, straight from the heart of society. Or maybe the prince of the great seas. Both of them harbored serious hostile intent toward it. Not out of some life-or-death hatred. They just wanted to teach it a lesson. And really, Chi-Yu could understand that. A bunch of Pokmon on this farm had been forced to leave their homes because of the fallout from its power leaking out. If they wanted to stand up for their friends, that was fair enough. Chi-Yu got it. Even if, when it came to its own friendslike Ting-Lu and the othersgetting beaten up, it would probably just clap enthusiastically on the sidelines and cheer: That all you got? Hit harder! Ehhh... Well, maybe thats just the kind of bond the Treasures of Ruin share. Those few short minutes felt like decades to Chi-Yu. When it saw Gardevoir return with Natsume Chi-Yus vision went dark. It rushed over in a panic, trying to explain everything to Natsume. Thankfully, Natsume stayed calm, and there was no messy misunderstanding. Chi-Yu let out a long sigh of relief. That was closealmost became tonights dinner (scratch that). Okay, maybe it wouldnt have been that dramatic. But if something had gone wrong, life wouldve been pretty miserable afterward. Probably a beating every three days, and a big one every five. Once Chi-Yu calmed down a bit, Natsume turned his attention to the Ceruledge wrapped in flames. Ceruledge was now lying prone on the ground, writhing in pain as fire poured out from inside her body. Armarouge stood nearby, looking on with deep worry etched into her face. From the start, she had strongly opposed her sister trying out something that sounded so utterly unreliable. If you were really going to do it, at least call Natsume over! Its always better to have someone dependable watching over things than to rush in blindly. To put it another way Ceruledge was like a student at a fancy private schoolcustom training regimen, top-notch mentors, and probably a personal chef. Meanwhile, the rest of the Pokmon world was out here grinding in the wild, eating berries off the ground and hoping not to get KOd by a stray Hyper Beam. To keep up with the elites, you needed grit, brains, luck, and probably a signed waiver because you were definitely risking your life. But Ceruledge? Ceruledge just had to follow the lesson plan and not trip over its own sword. And if things ever got dicey? No worriessome overpowered elder would swoop in like, Dont worry, kid. I got this. Ceruledge couldve just called on Mew and Natsume. Maybe they wouldnt have directly helped But at the very least, nothing dangerous wouldve happened. As she stared at her sister suffering in the flames, Armarouges anxiety surged. She had always known her little sister had a strong will. Though she usually listened to her elder sister, there were times she would become unbelievably stubborn. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And every time that happened, it left Armarouge completely helpless. This time was no different. Dont worry, shes going to be okay. Natsume comforted Armarouge gently. He stretched out his hand, and a green glow gathered in his palm. After a brief charge, the light turned into sparkling rain and gently fell onto Ceruledge. The green light melted into her body upon contact. Her pained expression eased slightly. Bathed in the steady healing power of the Viridian aura, Ceruledge finally managed to catch her breath. She forced open her eyes to look at Natsume and her worried sister. A faint regret stirred in her heart. But the next second, it was drowned out by a wave of raging jealousy. That overwhelming envy clouded her thoughts, making it nearly impossible to think clearly. Her body was on the verge of being overtaken by instinct. All Ceruledge could do was barely suppress herself, resisting the urge to do something shed regret. Fortunately, she could feel the frenzythe flame of envy and that wild force stoking her emotionsstarting to fade. At least that was good news. Ceruledge thought she could probably hold on until it was over. Hmm in that case Natsume pulled his hand back, looking around thoughtfully before cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting: Mew! I need your help! Mew~! Not long after Natsumes voice echoed out, a pink cat leapt out of the forest. It zipped to Natsumes side, wrapped its long tail around his neck, and flopped lazily on his head, playing with his hair. Alright, alright. I called you for something important. Come help out first. Ill play with you later. Natsume reached up to pull Mew off his head so it could take a look at Ceruledge. But as he grabbed it, Mew yanked a handful of Natsumes hair. Natsume winced in pain. Mew, still hanging by the neck, bared its teeth. ''Could you be more gentle?!'' ''You almost yanked all the fur off my neck!'' Man and cat nearly came to blows on the spot. Meanwhile, Chi-Yu, who had already been hanging its head low, buried it even lower. ''What did I say!'' ''That cat was right there!'' ''It never even left!'' ''That things definitely just waiting to beat me up!'' Chi-Yu was absolutely certainMew wanted to smack it around. No deep reason. It just had a feeling. Mew~! Fuming, Mew jumped off Natsume, its big tail swiping across Natsumes face in a mock-punishment gesture. Though it looked like vengeance, it was more like it was acting spoiled. After taking a careful look at Ceruledge, Mew scratched its chin in frustration. You guys... always trying to pull new stunts. In Mew''s long, long life, there had always been Pokmon who liked to try something new. Like that Gyarados who wanted to become a true dragon, or the Infernape who aimed to master the power of thunder. Every time one of these oddballs popped up, the Legendary Pokmon would gather around to watch the show. Under the watchful eye of a certain alpaca, Pokmon truly had limitless potential. But successful cases? Those were rare. And by successful, it meant they actually achieved their goal without any major side effects, and could wield their newfound power with easeno life-draining costs, no power going berserk. After a moment of thought, Mew slapped its paw into its palm. Ive got it! It spun once in the air, and with a flash of white light, Mew transformed again. A small, gray-blue Pokmon appeared in its place. It had two gray tails, each ending in a red gem. Part of its face was teal, with a red gem embedded in its forehead. Its head was cone-shaped, and on either side protruded structures like little elf ears. Azelf, one of the Lake Trio. The embodiment of willpower. It was said that Azelfs soul could leave and re-enter its body at will, and it could influence or even possess the minds of humans and Pokmon alike. Usually, it resided in a parallel dimension within Lake Valor, able to create illusions and use a wide range of psychic abilities that matched common perceptions of superpowers. Eyes tightly shut, Azelfs expression was solemn and composed. And then Mew! Look! Big mushroom! Transformed into Azelf, Mew pointed excitedly at its own forehead gem and cheerfully called out to Natsume. The air of solemn dignity vanished instantly. Its face lit up with a goofy, childlike grin. Nearby, Chi-Yu practically buried its face into the ground. Crap! Its a lake guardian! Maybe not the one from beforethe one that completely shut it down by controlling emotionsbut still a lake guardian, and still bad news. Chi-Yu could vaguely recall the time when both lake guardians led a mob of Pokmon in a beatdown against it. With a quiet sigh, it curled up and lay flat on the ground. The worlds gone completely bonkers. Best to go to sleep early and hope for the best. After a bit of playful banter with Natsume, Mew floated leisurely over to the struggling Ceruledge. It studied the situation for a moment, then suddenly dove into Ceruledges body. A radiant blue light burst forth, instantly enveloping Ceruledges entire frame.