Digital Pokemon - 91 - 100

Digital Pokemon - 91

--+--

Chapter 91: Traveling Shaymin

--+--

[Shaymin (Land Forme)]

[Classification: Gratitude Pokémon]

[Level: 30]

[Gender: Unknown]

[Type: Grass]

[Terastal Type: Grass]

[Ability: Natural Cure]

[Nature: Shy]

[Known Moves: Growth, Magical Leaf, Leech Seed, Synthesis]

[Affection: 1]

[Current Status: Active]

--+--

Sera brought up the attribute panel for Shaymin.

"Is the nature shy?"

The little white hedgehog curled into a ball on the screen blinked its eyes, still looking a bit clueless.

It seemed to be able to sense her presence, which made it feel a bit bashful after being touched, but at least it didn't suddenly bolt like Ogerpon had in the beginning.

Still, a simple stroke was enough to earn 1 point of affection.

—It looks like this raising journey is going to go smoothly.

Sera nodded continuously, then shifted her gaze to the other sections on Shaymin's attribute panel.

"Level 30, but the only offensive move is Magical Leaf..."

However, this was within the realm of reason.

Sera carefully searched her memory; in her impression, Shaymin in Land Forme really couldn't learn a large variety of offensive moves naturally.

Normally, Shaymin would remain in its Land Forme, only temporarily shifting into Sky Forme upon catching the scent of a Gracidea flower.

Such a form change was similar to Ogerpon donning her mask; once Shaymin shifted into Sky Forme, it would likewise gain new stats and an ability, becoming a Grass and Flying dual-type Pokémon.

Strictly speaking, Shaymin was only in its combat stance while in Sky Forme. While the ordinary white hedgehog Land Forme was cute, its combat prowess was admittedly lacking.

Sera looked at the shy little creature on the screen; it didn't look like much of a fighter regardless of how she looked at it.

—But that doesn't matter.

Starting from a low point just meant there was plenty of room to grow and rack up Effort Value, right?

Sera enjoyed this type of raising mode, and combined with Shaymin's slightly timid demeanor, it instantly reminded her of when she first encountered Ogerpon.

"Let me see where you are."

Hiding within a flowerbed teeming with blossoms, Shaymin’s trail would be nearly impossible for an outsider to track, but Sera could use the simulator to pinpoint the exact location of the Pokémon she was cultivating.

"Floaroma Meadow..."

So, it was in Floaroma Town in the Sinnoh region.

The location of the Pokémon she had just pulled seemed easy enough to reach.

Sera suddenly realized something.

If she hopped on a plane to Floaroma Town now, wouldn't she have a chance to capture this Shaymin?

But after further thought, Sera temporarily abandoned the idea.

Back then, the mutual attraction between her and Ogerpon happened in a flash, but besides the accumulation of affection during the cultivation process, Ogerpon's own circumstances were also a key factor.

Although catching Shaymin in reality was tempting, its affection level currently sat at a lonely 1 point.

The cultivation hadn't even officially begun yet; thinking about catching it in reality was far too premature.

Acting rashly and heading to the Sinnoh region would only disrupt the rhythm of her travels. Rather than indulging in fantasies, it was better to first look into Shaymin's cultivation mode.

Sera noticed that ever since she activated the cultivation slot for Shaymin, an exclamation mark had been blinking incessantly in the top right corner of the system, beckoning her to click it.

[Ding—]

[You have received a system message.]

[To celebrate the Trainer successfully obtaining a new cultivation slot, the system has undergone an update. The update details are as follows:]

[The cultivation mode has been adjusted once more to better align with the traits of the Pokémon being cultivated.]

[Restrictions have been added to the purchase of TM.]

[In correspondence with the TM purchase restrictions, a compensatory mechanism for cumulative game duration has been added.]

[These are the contents of this system update. Please explore the adjustments yourself. Have a pleasant game!]

Sera scanned the message, focusing primarily on the clause regarding the new purchase restrictions for TM, and attempted to open the system shop.

[Purchase of TM Air Slash failed. Reason: The TM has not yet been unlocked.]

I see.

Sera roughly understood the new limitations placed on TM.

After the system update, the TMs that were previously available for unrestricted exchange now required players to unlock them before they could be purchased.

There were many ways to unlock a TM; Pokémon could master moves on their own through cultivation, or one could defeat an opponent who had mastered certain moves—both were potential ways to unlock a TM.

Thinking about it for a while longer, Sera even managed to guess the reason for this system update.

The system would not add restrictions for no reason, and the crux of this change likely stemmed from the fact that she had been frequently redeeming TMs lately.

Not only had she boosted the strength of Slither Wing and Flutter Mane significantly in a short period, but she had even gifted one TM to Koraidon.

"A TM that allows a Legendary Pokémon to learn new moves quickly really was too game-breaking, wasn't it?"

Fortunately, the TMs Sera had previously purchased had already been unlocked, and just before the system update, she had managed to buy quite a few for Ogerpon as well.

Swords Dance, Stomping Tantrum, Baby-Doll Eyes...

Practicing to master them slowly would have taken at least a month for each.

Sera didn't need to worry about TMs for the time being, so she didn't dwell on it, instead turning her attention to the other newly added feature: the cumulative game duration mechanism.

[Playtime Points: Based on the time spent using the Electronic Pokémon Raising System, calculated at 1 point per hour. Any duration less than an hour will be rounded up and settled as 1 hour. Points are issued at a set time daily and can be used to redeem Effort Value, Raising Points, rare items, etc.]

"Hmm..."

Sera skimmed through the shop for Playtime Points.

The moment she opened the list, the Silver Feather and Rainbow Feather, highlighted in gold text, lit up her eyes.

These legendary-grade materials, which had taken such great effort to obtain before, could now be redeemed for a mere 1000 Playtime Points.

"If I spend all my time playing the game every day, I should be able to redeem one in about three or four months."

That was certainly a long time, but considering these were legendary-grade materials, there was at least something to look forward to.

Moreover, in addition to the feathers Sera already possessed, she saw even more rare materials.

Compared to these items, Sera forcibly ignored the exchange rate for Effort Value—even though 10 Playtime Points could be traded for 1 Effort Point, which might have seemed tempting otherwise.

"Effort Values are important, but my three cultivation slots are already enough to guarantee a steady income. Legendary-grade materials, on the other hand, are impossible to get my hands on in daily life."

Silver Feather and Rainbow Feather, DNA Splicers, Soul Dew, Griseous Core...

Every one of them looked incredibly tempting, yet Sera had no way to get her hands on them right now.

Seeing this, Sera finally understood completely: the system was blatantly telling her:

—Stop worrying about your reality, hurry up and put all your energy back into the game; playing the game is the proper path for you to grow stronger!

It looked like she was destined to become a gaming addict.

Playing for 10 hours a day meant it would take 100 days to get a Silver Feather, but if she switched to materials of a lower rank, she could probably get something in a month or two.

Sera was still thinking about the two feathers currently in her possession. She had originally been considering how to handle them, but now that she had more options, she could perfectly combine those two feathers with high-grade materials produced by the system.

However, as good as the items were, the points had to be accumulated slowly. The girl reluctantly tore her gaze away from the Origin Ore in the shop and looked back at Shaymin.

Even if she was playing a game right now, she was also preparing for the refinement of her path as a craftsman!

After finishing the update notice, Sera understood that Shaymin's cultivation mode had also changed.

The screen interface, which originally only contained Shaymin and environmental objects, now had buttons appearing one after another after the update. Sera stared at the new keys, and the more she looked, the more familiar they felt.

"...Isn't this just Travel Frog?"

Sera tentatively clicked on the newly appeared button, and it turned out exactly as she had thought.

But since it was a cultivation mode that fit Shaymin's traits, this gameplay should really be named Travel Shaymin.

"Shaymin's traits... I suppose it doesn't like or excel at battling."

Sera made further analysis.

Shaymin was different from Ogerpon. Although Ogerpon wasn't good at battling in the beginning, it had only forgotten the feeling of battle; after Sera encouraged it to regain its experience, it quickly adapted to fighting other Pokémon.

The Shaymin she had drawn looked very shy.

Putting aside the fact that Sera didn't want to force it, even if she did compel Shaymin to battle, it would surely just be beaten by other Pokémon until it curled into a ball and cried.

Travel while leisurely growing stronger.

That was the cultivation plan provided by the system.

With the Travel Shaymin gameplay, Sera could not control Shaymin's movements or direction; although she could engage in friendly interactions through taps and touches, that was the extent of it.

Correspondingly, as long as she purchased custom items from the shop and made the necessary preparations, she could choose to send Shaymin off on a journey.

Shaymin would randomly depart for new locations to embark on adventures during its travels, and the nature of these adventures depended on the charms Sera prepared for it.

If she chose the Warding Charm, Shaymin would travel to a safe area for a leisurely adventure.

If she chose the Sturdy Charm, Shaymin's journey would become slightly more thrilling; even without combat, it might encounter danger.

Regardless, Shaymin would never fall into a crisis. It was guaranteed to return safely and gain growth through its travels.

After fully grasping the new raising mode, Sera became interested and tapped the screen with great enthusiasm.

Once the journey began, Sera could only receive the visuals of Shaymin and could not provide any assistance.

Therefore, she had to make preparations from the start.

"Lunch, charms, strengthening items..."

Buying a sandwich, a Warding Charm, and floral incense separately, Sera made full preparations and chose to make her first attempt.

The journey, set off!

--+--

"Shaymin?"

Shaymin shrunk back, looking around.

It still remembered feeling someone touching it just a moment ago, with an aura lingering nearby.

For some reason, after that touch, the other party had vanished.

Although it was startled at first, the way the other party stroked it was very gentle, and even the stinging sensation from the earlier Cutiefly faded away.

"Shaymin..."

Where did they go...

Shaymin could not get an answer and lowered its head in disappointment.

However, its mood came and went quickly. Shaymin soon cheered up, sniffing the surrounding floral scent, and prepared to set off to find some food.

Just by smelling the scent of flowers, even with Natural Cure, it couldn't fully replenish its nutrients, Shaymin.

However, just as it took a step, Shaymin was startled to find an ice-blue glow lighting up in front of it.

The light condensed, burst forth, and then rapidly expanded, engulfing Shaymin.

It was not until it was completely wrapped in the light that Shaymin cried out in panic.

"Shaymin—!"

--+--

[Shaymin has set off on its journey.]

[The Warding Charm was used for this trip. Shaymin is heading to the destination...]

[Arrived.]

[The destination for this trip is Alabaster Icelands. Please wait for Shaymin's return.]

Sera couldn’t see what was happening on Shaymin's side.

On her end, she only saw the screen flash for a moment, and then she saw the white hedgehog fall from mid-air, dropping into a thick pile of snow.

Because it was so small, Shaymin was swallowed up as soon as it hit the snow, and for a moment, Sera couldn't even see it.

'Shaymin!'

[Having just arrived in a new environment, Shaymin is a bit scared. It looks around, preparing to observe the situation further.]

The system was diligent and even helped Sera live-stream Shaymin's inner thoughts.

[After a while, having found no danger, Shaymin tentatively takes a step. Protected by the Warding Charm, Shaymin finds that it does not feel the chill.]

[Shaymin decides to rest in place first. Although this action is conservative, because it gets enough rest, Shaymin's journey ahead will surely be more stable.]

...How did it start providing commentary?

Sera was full of the urge to complain.

[Suddenly, Shaymin notices movement nearby. Just as it is about to stand up to observe the situation, a figure suddenly pounces!]

[The attacking Pokémon is actually the legendary, extremely vicious Spiteful Fox Pokémon, Zorua!]

Looking like a fox cub, its pure white body blending into the snow, the Pokémon with crimson misty energy swaying from its head, neck, and tail pinned Shaymin to the ground.

Caught off guard, Shaymin had no defenses. The two Pokémon tumbled into a ball, kicking up snow as they flopped about for a few meters.

By the time Sera caught sight of them again, the system started its commentary once more.

[Shaymin is a bit panicked at first, but it immediately realizes that Zorua's strength is simply no match for its own. After a little resistance, Shaymin quickly reverses the position, pinning Zorua down. The green grass on its body tickles the Spiteful Fox, causing Zorua to laugh.]

[Zorua has begged for mercy!]

[Shaymin decides to let Zorua go. Zorua, having stood up, does not hurry to run away and stands in place, exchanging friendly gestures with Shaymin...]

[Shaymin has made a new friend, the Spiteful Fox Pokémon Zorua!]

"This really feels like watching a survival reality show..."

Although compared to a live stream in reality, Shaymin seemed much cuter and would not face any danger in the wild.

However, watching the footage on the screen accompanied by the system's text commentary—even though she had no way to intervene—the young girl was quite intrigued.

As she watched, Sera suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Spiteful Fox Pokémon, Zorua?"

Shouldn't Zorua be the Tricky Fox Pokémon?

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 92

--+--

Chapter 92: The Spiteful Fox and the Sky Tumblestone

--+--

The Spiteful Fox Pokémon, Zorua.

Sera watched the snow-white little fox jump and frolic on the screen, playing along with Shaymin, and fell into deep thought.

As everyone knew, Zorua was a Dark-type Pokémon. Their personalities were both timid and mischievous, which was why they were classified as the Tricky Fox Pokémon.

Yet, through the information provided by the simulator, Sera learned that the Zorua Shaymin encountered during its journey was classified as the Spiteful Fox Pokémon.

Tricky Fox and Spiteful Fox—the difference between the two was vast.

Moreover, Sera was able to click directly on the Zorua to view its information.

"A Normal and Ghost dual-type Pokémon..."

The young girl reviewed the data provided by the simulator repeatedly. After confirming she wasn't seeing things, she couldn't help but gasp.

A Normal and Ghost type combination—didn't that make it immune to three types, resistant to two, and weak only to the Dark type?

"Could such an outrageous type combination even exist?"

If she hadn't known its name and had only looked at the types, Sera would have almost assumed Shaymin had run into some kind of Legendary or Mythical Pokémon.

But since the system had explicitly given the name Zorua, there was likely only one conclusion.

—Sure enough, this must be a regional form.

Once her surprise subsided, Sera calmed down and began to analyze from the start.

Pokémon of the same name could have vastly different appearances and ecologies; this was likely a morphological change resulting from Pokémon adapting to the unique natural environments of different regions.

The Tricky Fox Pokémon Zorua was indeed a Dark-type Pokémon under normal circumstances, but the location where Shaymin was traveling, the Alabaster Icelands, looked like a very cold place.

If it were to adapt to the snowy scenery of the Alabaster Icelands, it was only natural for the Zorua's appearance to turn white.

But Sera still felt that something was off.

The change in appearance was certainly logical; however, at the same time the Zorua's appearance turned white, a rising aura of resentment had appeared around its body.

It had gained the Ghost type, and its classification had changed to the Spiteful Fox Pokémon.

A Pokémon's classification was a description of its biological characteristics, allowing people to intuitively understand its traits.

The sense of unease lingering in Sera's heart stemmed precisely from that "spite" in Spiteful Fox.

Why did it possess the Ghost type, and what was it holding a grudge against?

But looking at the Zorua playing on the screen, Sera's confusion slowly faded, and finally, she wore a helpless smile.

Resentful or not, it was impossible to tell from the little fox's behavior on screen. The girl's hesitation, in the end, was just her own desire to find an answer.

[Zorua thanked Shaymin for the feelings of fear it had drawn from it. Suddenly, pink flowers bloomed on Shaymin, the fragrance overflowing, which in turn startled Zorua.]

[However, it was getting late. Zorua prepared to go home and said goodbye to Shaymin. As a reward for earlier, Zorua gifted Shaymin a Sky Tumblestone that it had treasured for a long time.]

[Shaymin watched its new friend head off into the distance. Although it still had many questions in its heart, it also prepared to depart, wishing to find a warmer environment.]

After the small interlude at the start, Shaymin continued its journey.

Shaymin left a series of footprints on the pristine snow-covered ground; moments later, light snow covered the tracks.

This journey would likely continue for quite a long time.

Sera could not intervene, and seeing that there were no anomalies on the screen for the moment, she turned her attention to the system notification that had just chimed.

[You have obtained Sky Tumblestone +1]

In the air, a sky-blue piece of Tumblestone fell from mid-air and landed in Sera's palm.

"Pon?"

Ogerpon, having finished her training, moved to Sera's side, staring curiously at the suddenly appearing Sky Tumblestone.

Even Ogerpon could tell that this Sky Tumblestone was very similar to the Tumblestone materials Sera usually used to make Poké Balls.

Sera rubbed the Sky Tumblestone with her fingertips, feeling its texture, and reached a direct conclusion.

"This Sky Tumblestone is definitely a material for crafting Poké Balls."

How could Sera not recognize the very object she had touched for countless days and nights? Being a Poké Ball artisan was an achievement Sera was incredibly proud of.

Although she currently divided half of her energy toward her career as a Pokémon Trainer, Sera hadn't forgotten about her path as a master artisan in the slightest.

But then again, to think that Shaymin could obtain such a good item during its travels.

Sera checked the Sky Tumblestone again and again, even activating her Aura Vision to observe the energy pathways within it.

This Sky Tumblestone was quite similar to the other Tumblestones she had encountered thus far.

The common Tumblestones native to Sinnoh could be broadly categorized into Red Sphere, Blue Sphere, and Green Sphere.

These Tumblestones were named for their ability to emit a fire-like red glow, an ice-like blue glow, and a green glow reminiscent of sunlight filtering through leaves.

Although Sera had heard that the Sinnoh region also held the rarest Prism Sphere and Pale Sphere, she had never been able to outbid other Tumblestone collectors, so she had to settle for examining the Sky Tumblestone using only the types of Tumblestone she already knew.

Judging by appearance alone, the Sky Tumblestone did not actually resemble the three types of Sinnoh Tumblestones, as it did not emit any obvious luster.

When held in the palm of her hand, it felt cool and smooth to the touch, more like a collector's item.

But once she used her Aura Vision, Sera could 'see' the sky-blue energy pathways within the Tumblestone; it wasn't that the Tumblestone lacked luster, but rather that it kept its brilliance contained within.

Such energy pathways could certainly be used for Poké Ball crafting.

Sera was unsure what kind of effects a Poké Ball made from the Sky Tumblestone would possess, but there was no doubt it was worth the attempt and necessary to try.

However, before actually trying to craft a Poké Ball with the Sky Tumblestone, Sera had to face a problem.

—She only had this one piece of material.

This wasn't just some Red Sphere, Blue Sphere, or Green Sphere; Sera only had one piece of this Sky Tumblestone. If she didn't first figure out its properties before diving into the crafting process, and if she happened to fail, who knew when she would be able to get her hands on another one.

Sera did not know if Shaymin would be able to acquire more Tumblestone during its travels, so after thinking for a while, the young girl came up with a new idea.

--+--

"A special Zorua?"

Upon hearing Sera's question, Blue first looked surprised.

Recently, Blue had been focusing his energy on the Crystal Pool, as the Milotic lurking within was stronger than he had anticipated.

Unable to easily break through the Milotic's defenses, Blue had ended up becoming obsessed with it, going over to try every single day.

And today, having returned to the Community Center, Blue was greeted by this strange question from Sera.

"That's right. I learned from a friend that there might be a special kind of Zorua in this world…"

Sera began to describe the appearance of the Spiteful Fox Pokémon. Because she appropriately blurred certain details, the girl sounded very convincing and solemn, so much so that Blue subconsciously believed her, never suspecting for a moment that the "friend" Sera mentioned was actually herself.

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 93

--+--

Chapter 93: Envisioning a Brand New Poké Ball

--+--

"A snow-white Zorua with the Ghost type?"

After hearing what Sera had to say, Blue laughed heartily.

"If you asked anyone else that question, they might not necessarily have the answer, but I, Blue, just so happen to know it!"

Faced with a junior as young, promising, and exceptionally talented in other areas as Sera, Blue was never one to shy away from showing off his knowledge whenever the opportunity arose.

It wasn't that Blue was vain.

It was just that recently, he had been hitting one dead end after another at the Crystal Pool, and he felt that the look Sera gave him was becoming increasingly strange.

Now that he finally heard a question that stumped her, he had to take the chance to rebuild his image.

"The Ghost-type Zorua your friend mentioned should refer to the Hisuian form of Zorua. By the way, are you aware that some time ago, someone discovered records of the Hisui region deep within the Canalave Library in the Sinnoh region?"

Sera shook her head. But she honestly didn't know about the matter Blue was referring to. There was too much news in the world; how could she possibly know it all?

"That information was a trending topic for a while, but as for the follow-up, only the academic community was truly concerned. It's no wonder you didn't know about it."

Blue continued his explanation and gestured for Sera to take out her phone to search for the news from that time.

"My grandfather was also following this news back then. As soon as the footage was restored, he checked it immediately and confirmed the content."

"Try searching using the keywords 'Hisui' and 'footage'."

Following the keywords, Sera found two videos online.

"Recording footage of the Hisui region..."

The first video was filled with interference and static; it seemed the original file was damaged, making it almost impossible to see anything clearly.

In the other video, however, Sera saw the restored recording.

In the video, someone was holding a camera—calling it a machine—narrating while using the device to film Pokémon.

The cameraman was walking through a snowy area at night until, at the very end of the video, he filmed a never-before-seen Pokémon and was forced to drop the camera and flee after being attacked the moment he captured it.

The camera, which had fallen into the snow, caught a glimpse of two Pokémon.

"Incredible, isn't it?"

Blue watched the video alongside Sera and sighed.

"According to dating tests, the video material truly comes from the era when Sinnoh was still known as Hisui. Yet, even now, we still don't understand how a camera capable of capturing color footage existed in that era."

"But it is precisely because of such an incredible situation that we were able to see these special Pokémon from the Hisui region."

"The Spiteful Fox Pokémon Zorua, and the Baneful Fox Pokémon Zoroark."

According to Blue, it seemed that it was only after the Hisuian footage was discovered that many records passed down from the Hisui era within the Sinnoh region finally received an explanation.

The snow-white Spiteful Fox Pokémon Zorua, and its evolved form, the Baneful Fox Pokémon Zoroark.

The classification of these two Pokémon had been known to people in this world far earlier than Sera had anticipated.

Spiteful Fox and Baneful Fox...

In an era when humans had not yet come to understand Pokémon and conflict occurred frequently.

Zorua was shunned by humans and driven out of its habitat, eventually perishing in the harsh snow. Its soul, filled with resentment, drifted upward from its head and was eventually reborn as a Ghost-type Pokémon.

Its grudge was endless; even after evolving into Zoroark, it continued to curse all living things, showing compassion only when facing its family and companions.

The Hisuian forms of Zorua and Zoroark were a microcosm of that era.

As time passed and humans reconciled with Pokémon, their connections deepening, humans never again encountered that version of Zorua and Zoroark.

"...Truly incredible."

Sera sighed.

At that moment, she truly understood the feelings the scholars must have had when they first laid eyes on the Hisuian footage in the Canalave Library.

This feeling of having transcended time and space to witness something marvelous could indeed only be described as incredible.

"Yeah."

Blue felt the same way. Seeing the young girl fall into silence, he assumed it was because she had heard such a depressing story.

In reality, however, Sera was thinking about the scene she had seen in the simulator just a short while ago.

The Hisuian form of Zorua had truly appeared before Shaymin.

And so, the question arose.

Was it the case that the Spiteful Fox Pokémon still existed in this world, or could Shaymin’s travels transcend even time itself, reaching as far back as the ancient Hisui region?

Upon returning to her room, Sera finally puzzled out the answer.

"Alabaster Icelands... such a harsh environment with year-round snow, it actually perfectly matches the theories scholars have regarding the origins of Hisuian Zoroark."

The scholars of the Pokémon world were far more capable than Sera had anticipated; even for Pokémon they had never laid eyes on, they could distill intelligence from the thinnest of records.

It was thanks to the diligent analysis of these scholars that Sera now had some grasp of where Shaymin had been traveling.

The Hisui Region, the Alabaster Icelands.

Shaymin’s travels were actually capable of spanning time and space; the zones it visited were part of the Sinnoh region from goodness knows how long ago.

How many things existed on the land of that era that would strike a modern person as incredible? Sera felt a surge of longing, and looking at the Sky Tumblestone in her hand, she felt its weight all the more.

—This was a material from the Hisui region!

For Sera, the Sky Tumblestone represented something even more extraordinary.

As one of the origins of modern handmade Poké Ball technology, while most of the craftsmanship of the Hisui region had been lost, the people of that era had already begun using Tumblestone to forge handmade Poké Balls.

This meant that the Sky Tumblestone could indeed be used to craft Poké Balls, and what’s more, the method for using it was likely even simpler than Sera had anticipated.

A craftsman’s skill only improves with the passage of time; there was no logic behind the idea that modern technology would be inferior to ancient techniques.

Sera did not believe she would lose to any ancient craftsman. If the people of Hisui could use Sky Tumblestone to make Poké Balls, could it be that she would lose to them?

"I have already peered into the essence of the Sky Tumblestone..."

The young girl touched the Sky Tumblestone with her fingertips, closed her eyes slightly, and used her Aura Vision to observe the veins within it with all her might.

"Next, I must turn this into a Poké Ball."

How to make it, what to make.

Once the thought arose, Sera could not stop herself from pondering it. Before long, she had mapped out a complete plan in her mind.

But before that, Sera needed to go out and select and purchase fresh Apricorns for making the Poké Ball.

--+--

According to Sera’s understanding, the Apricorns used by craftsmen during the Hisui period were different from any modern variety.

Folks commonly referred to the Apricorns of that era as just "Apricorns," while the official formal name now was "Brown Apricorns."

Because the flesh of the Brown Apricorn was far more prone to rot from worms compared to other varieties, over time, the Brown Apricorn had vanished from the market.

If she really were to use the Sky Tumblestone to craft a Poké Ball, the Brown Apricorn could be considered the "correct answer," but since there were none, Sera had a few ideas of her own.

Regardless of the type of Tumblestone, the ultimate effect was the same: stimulating the properties of the Apricorn.

The Hisui region used the same type of Apricorn to create Poké Balls, yet the Poké Balls of that time also had a great many differences.

Considering this point, the reason was likely that the design philosophy for Poké Balls in the Hisui region was the exact opposite of the modern approach.

Whether the Apricorn was more important than the Tumblestone, or the Tumblestone more important than the Apricorn—there was merit to both arguments. If one were to earnestly analyze the differences in principles involved, it might even trigger a revolution in handmade Poké Ball technology.

But in reality, Sera was the only one who would encounter this kind of dilemma.

The ancient people of Hisui did not have a large variety of different Apricorns to choose from, and modern Poké Ball craftsmen used the same monotonous tumblestone to make their balls.

Sera was walking a path that no one had traveled before, and she did not know if anyone would follow.

She was going to craft a Poké Ball using Hisuian Tumblestone paired with a modern variety of selected Apricorn.

What kind of performance would such a Poké Ball display?

She had not even begun the crafting process, yet Sera was already feeling exhilarated. But when she arrived at Peachy’s , a grocery store in Mossui Town, she heard the grim news.

"...You don't have any?"

"That’s right. There aren't that many people in our town who want to buy Apricorns."

Sera confirmed it repeatedly, but the shopkeeper, Granny Momozawa, gave the same answer every time.

"The only Apricorns in the store are White Apricorns and Black Apricorns."

In Sera’s view, she needed to pick through as many Apricorns as possible, repeatedly checking their veins until she found the variety best suited for the Sky Tumblestone.

But in this small shop in the village of Kitakami, not only were only two of the seven types of Apricorns available, but there were only a few of each left.

Moreover, just looking at the appearance of the Apricorns, Sera could tell they were not very fresh.

How could such Apricorns ever be used to craft a Poké Ball?!

The young artisan was deeply disappointed.

Granny Momozawa clearly sensed the sense of loss radiating from Sera, but unfortunately, if she didn't have the stock, she didn't have it. In the end, Sera could only shake her head and sigh before walking away.

It had been a long time since Sera had crafted any Poké Balls.

Before she had acquired the Sky Tumblestone, it would have been fine, but Sera had been tied up with all sorts of matters and couldn't spare the time.

Now that she finally had both the free time and plenty of rare materials, she found herself lacking the most basic component: Apricorns.

Sera could not bear to let this frustration fester within her. Once she returned to the Community Center, she immediately made up her mind.

"You're going back to the Johto region?"

Blue was surprised when he suddenly heard of Sera’s decision; his confusion was plain to see on his face.

"The Festival of Masks is starting soon. Aren't you planning to take a look at the festivities?"

"The things I intended to do are already finished. As for the Festival of Masks, I didn't have much interest in it to begin with."

Sera offered her reasoning.

"Besides, I feel that I have reached a breakthrough in my craft. The resources in Kitakami are too scarce; they don't even have the most basic Apricorns."

"I am going to return to Azalea Town in the Johto region to attempt the creation of a new kind of Poké Ball, unlike any currently used in the modern era."

"Oh?"

If he had only been curious before, Blue perked up instantly upon hearing Sera's words.

—A new Poké Ball unlike any used in the modern era.

As a trainer, he couldn't simply brush off a claim like that.

"A new Poké Ball? Could it be a new variety similar to the Heavy Ball you made before?"

Blue still remembered the moment he and Sera had forged their connection—that special Poké Ball that allowed him to synchronize his heart with his Rhyperior.

Although Sera had called it a Heavy Ball, to Blue, that Poké Ball was a completely different breed from the standard Heavy Ball; the latter couldn't even be mentioned in the same breath.

"That's not quite it."

Sera shook her head, her expression casual.

"That level of Poké Ball takes some effort, but I can produce them consistently now. I can achieve that same effect with any type of Apricorn Ball."

"The Poké Ball I intend to make, though I'm not entirely sure of the specifics until I actually start working on it, should have an even more unique effect."

"That is truly incredible."

Even the original special Apricorn Balls had felt exceptionally powerful to Blue.

A new type of Poké Ball even more special than those?

Blue became increasingly intrigued by what sort of remarkable creation Sera was planning. He felt a sudden urge to abandon the Milotic at the Crystal Pool just to witness the young woman’s breakthrough in her craft with his own eyes.

Regrettably, at the very last moment, he remembered his primary role as a researcher.

He was no longer just a trainer. If he were younger, he would have done anything to see this moment for himself.

Blue looked conflicted, eventually scratching his head and sighing with frustration.

"Ugh, it’s a shame I don't have the time. Otherwise, I would insist on watching you craft it. How about this? Once you finish the Poké Ball, would you be willing to sell it to me?"

Artisans generally crafted Poké Balls to sell them, after all.

Sera hadn't yet decided what to do with the new Poké Ball once it was completed, but Blue's words gave her an idea.

"Selling it... that wouldn't be impossible."

The young woman thought for a moment before offering an alternative proposal.

"But this Poké Ball will be a prototype, and I can't even guarantee its effects yet. It wouldn't be fair to you, Mr. Blue, to place a preorder under these conditions."

"Why don't you wait until I’ve finished it, and I’ll decide then? As a form of compensation, you can commission other Apricorn Balls from me in the meantime."

"It's a deal, then."

Without a second of hesitation, Blue agreed immediately.

The more seasoned a trainer was, the more they understood the importance of a heart-to-heart connection with their Pokémon.

Though Blue was confident that his relationship with his team was second to none, who would say no to understanding their Pokémon even better?

Forget about just one Apricorn Ball—if Sera ever opened for orders, Blue wanted to commission one for every single Pokémon on his team!

As for whether it would cost a fortune, Blue didn't care in the slightest; he certainly wasn't short on money.

Too bad it looked like Sera wasn't short on money either.

"In that case, make me a Moon Ball when the time comes."

After much deliberation, Blue settled on the variety.

"Just mail it to the lab in Pallet Town for now. Once my grandfather receives it, I'll transfer the payment to you."

During his time in Kitakami, Blue had provided Sera with quite a bit of help, so this custom Moon Ball order felt like a fitting return.

This was, in its own way, the unique romance of a Poké Ball artisan.

After bidding Blue farewell, Sera couldn't help but ponder how her master must have frequently engaged in similar exchanges when he first met Professor Oak.

As memories of the old craftsman’s younger days surfaced, a smile played on the girl's lips, and a sudden, playful thought crossed her mind.

—If she were to suddenly bring Ogerpon back to the workshop, what kind of reaction would Master Kurt have?

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 94

--+--

Chapter 94: Koraidon, Baneful Fox, Homecoming.

--+--

Two days later, Sera boarded the high-speed train bound for Azalea Town.

Outside the window, the scenery retreated at a rapid pace. Having never witnessed such a sight before, Ogerpon opened her eyes wide, staring outward, her starry pupils unblinking and full of curiosity.

"Be careful not to get motion sick from looking at that."

"Pon~"

Sera cautioned, and received a chirping reply from Ogerpon.

That child was surely going to end up dizzy in a moment.

Sera imagined Ogerpon with her eyes swirling in circles, and a smile couldn't help but tug at the corners of her mouth.

The train had several more hours to travel, so Sera didn't sit there zoning out. She took out her simulator and began to focus intently on the screen.

Although Sera had spent most of the past two days on the move, the other Pokémon—who were on the other side of the world, or even in a past timeline—had not been wasting their time.

--+--

First was the second slot.

During this period, Koraidon would leave the group from time to time.

Koraidon possessed potential that was difficult for ordinary Paradox Pokémon to compare to; it could jump hundreds of meters high with just a single step. Beyond that, it could even glide over short distances.

Relying on this high-speed mobility, Koraidon shuttled alone between the lowest and middle levels of Area Zero, stubbornly determined to challenge the Guardian of Paradise.

—And it was constantly defeated by its opponent.

Koraidon understood very well that it was no match for the Guardian of Paradise. Although it could be bribed with a small sandwich, its pride remained intact.

Wanting to become stronger was the main reason Koraidon had joined the Pokémon team.

Whenever it failed to challenge the Guardian of Paradise and returned to the team covered in wounds, it could always receive the medicine Sera provided, and occasionally even a sandwich to soothe it.

Someday, I will be able to defeat the Guardian of Paradise.

Koraidon had a strong premonition of this.

Although it couldn't see that scenario yet, Koraidon felt a sense of satisfaction; it had made up its mind.

If this had been in the past, Koraidon would never have made the move to retreat, unless it had suffered unprecedented, devastating damage that shattered its self-confidence completely against the Guardian of Paradise.

That presence that occasionally cast its gaze upon it—she had never spoken aloud, but mentally, she had already encouraged it.

Following her would make it stronger!

A brief retreat did not mean cowardice.

To repay this kindness, even if it meant having to briefly leave Area Zero, Koraidon was more than happy to do so.

On the other hand, after Sera set a plan for Slither Wing to head toward the upper reaches of Area Zero, the two-Pokémon team officially began its ascent.

Previously, Sera had considered that there might be other unexplored content within Area Zero. Thinking that once she left, returning might be restricted, she had lingered for a while.

The wait during that period had paid off.

Koraidon joining the team was a result that far exceeded Sera's greatest expectations, making her stop hesitating and prepare to use the most powerful force she had on hand to break directly through the barrier of Area Zero.

That said, Sera still didn't know the specifics of what the barrier of Area Zero actually was.

According to publicly available information in the Paldea region, the Great Crater of Paldea—or rather, the interior of Area Zero—was full of mystery to everyone, and officials had kept related information hidden.

The existence of Paradox Pokémon was unknown to the public.

However, Sera was somewhat suspicious; the officials of the Paldea League must have known some of the truth.

The Terastal phenomenon itself was highly suspicious, and the Paldea League promoted Terastal Orbs while conducting various studies on Terastallization.

If someone said the Paldea League wasn't aware of the existence of Paradox Pokémon, Sera would be the first not to believe it.

Therefore, the barrier of Area Zero mentioned by the system might also involve the Paldea League; they had jointly deployed certain means to prevent the Paradox Pokémon within Area Zero from rushing out into the outside world.

As for what the specific situation was, she would know the answer once the Pokémon team advanced to the upper area of Area Zero.

This time would likely be within a day or two.

After confirming the efficiency of the team's automatic progress within the screen, Sera felt reassured after doing the math, and switched gears again.

--+--

Shaymin's journey was becoming easier day by day.

When it first landed in the Alabaster Icelands, because it couldn't sense Sera's presence, Shaymin had briefly fallen into a state of panic.

The influence of the simulator was reciprocal.

Whenever Sera operated the simulator, the Pokémon being raised would feel her presence.

Sera could exert no influence within the simulator mode of Travel Shaymin, and naturally, Shaymin had no way of sensing that Sera was watching it.

However, once Shaymin discovered that it would come to no harm regardless of what happened, its movements gradually grew bolder.

That said, as a shy little creature, it was impossible for it to take the initiative to provoke other Pokémon.

The extent of Shaymin’s boldness was merely walking swaggeringly across the snowy plains, passing right by other Pokémon in plain sight.

In the vast, white landscape, the grass-green ball of fur was exceptionally conspicuous; as long as their eyes were in working order, every Pokémon could notice Shaymin’s movements.

The Pokémon of Hisui seemed fiercer in temperament than those in the modern era where Sera lived.

The Spiteful Fox Zorua it encountered first appeared cute, but in reality, it attacked Shaymin without a moment's hesitation. It was only because it was too weak that it ended up pinned beneath Shaymin, forced in the end to hand over the treasures it had kept in its possession.

Throughout this journey, Shaymin had suffered many such attacks.

Yet, before those attacks could ever land, the aggressing Pokémon would inexplicably suffer a counterstrike, become utterly terrified, and scramble away in a hurry.

Shaymin could not make sense of the situation, and as it slowly grew accustomed to it, it stopped trying to investigate the cause—but Sera, watching, saw it with perfect clarity.

[Garchomp launched an attack on Shaymin!]

[The sudden arrival of the Mach Pokémon was swift and its demeanor brutal; it saw Shaymin only as prey, with no desire to communicate whatsoever.]

[At this critical moment, Garchomp, having just unleashed a Dragon Claw move, looked as if it had seen something terrifying.]

[In the distance, an incredibly dense miasma of resentment manifested into a hideous phantom. It skillfully bypassed Shaymin’s line of sight and lunged at Garchomp, forcing it to halt its movements before driving it back!]

[After weighing its options, Garchomp finally abandoned the attack.]

[Seeing Garchomp retreat in cowardice, the Pokémon guarding Shaymin revealed its form; it was the existence feared most by the local people: the Baneful Fox Pokémon, Zoroark.]

[Zoroark gazed from afar at Shaymin, who remained oblivious to the situation, and nodded toward the Zorua beneath it.]

[Zorua cheered and bounded toward Shaymin. Overjoyed to see its friend again, Shaymin took out a bento to share together!]

For Shaymin’s bento, Sera had chosen a sandwich at the time.

Perhaps because Koraidon had shown such a marked preference for them, Sera had also swapped for a sandwich at the Ogerpon shop to taste; it was indeed delicious.

The flavors of modern food could conquer even a Legendary Pokémon, let alone a little Spiteful Fox from the Hisui region that had never seen the world.

Though the sandwich, having fallen from the air in front of Shaymin onto the snow, had grown somewhat cold, Zorua did not mind in the slightest. With one bite, its eyes practically shimmered with starlight.

[Shaymin shared the sandwich; Zorua's affection for Shaymin has increased significantly!]

"Mmhmm."

Watching the system notification, Sera nodded repeatedly.

They were both system-based raising modes, but the visual style of this Shaymin journey compared to Area Zero was like the difference between a cute, healing game and a traditional RPG.

Although Sera had yet to see any sign of Shaymin growing up, the young girl felt healed just by seeing these rare scenes.

—Sometimes, one couldn't just think about Effort Value alone.

Regardless, the system had added Playtime Points, and Sera didn't have to do a thing—she would get a guaranteed return just by watching Shaymin travel, so why complain?

Moreover, the system had mentioned that Shaymin would certainly gain something from its journey.

Sera just needed to watch on in peace.

[Zoroark watched quietly as Zorua and Shaymin tasted their food together. Once they had finished their lunch, it stepped forward and made a sound that only Zorua could hear.]

[Zorua's ears twitched; it stood up and called out toward Shaymin. Guided by Zorua, Shaymin looked toward the snowy mountain in the distance.]

'Shaymin?'

[Shaymin was perplexed, but Zorua encouraged it to set off toward that region.]

[Although it didn't get a definitive answer from Zorua, Shaymin, after some consideration, walked toward the snowy mountain.]

A ripple appeared in the otherwise tranquil scene.

Sera heard the two little Pokémon calling back and forth to each other. Although she could not understand what they were chatting about, with the system’s diligent commentary, she understood the situation.

On the surface, it appeared that the new friend Shaymin had made, Zorua, was extending an invitation, wanting Shaymin to head to the snowy mountain in the Alabaster Icelands.

After reading the system's explanation, Sera clearly understood that the situation was actually that Zoroark had guided Shaymin.

—I suppose some kind of event is bound to happen over there.

Sera had a hunch.

If she were in Shaymin's position, she certainly would have directed it toward the snowy mountains to investigate; it was indeed impressive that Shaymin could make that decision on its own.

Sera was not worried about Shaymin encountering any danger; after all, as long as an event occurred, she would always be able to reap some rewards from it.

For instance, thanks to this second meeting between Shaymin and Zorua, Sera had obtained a new item.

[Zorua prepared to leave, and to repay Shaymin for sharing its lunchbox, it specifically took out a herb it had received from an elder and gifted it to Shaymin.]

[You have obtained King's Leaf +1]

A mysterious item.

On the high-speed train, it was inconvenient for Sera to take items out of the system directly, but in the simulator's storage interface, she could see the information for the newly acquired item.

[King's Leaf: The king of herbs, radiating with brilliance. When combined with medicinal materials, it can enhance their restorative effects.]

“…”

Had the setting been different, Sera surely would have exclaimed in surprise.

—The value of this item must far exceed the sandwich Shaymin shared.

The system prompt clearly highlighted the difference.

Zorua surely could not have obtained a King's Leaf easily; it must have received it from Zoroark before passing it on to Shaymin.

For Shaymin, the King's Leaf might not have much utility, as it never got injured anyway.

But Sera happened to need it.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t prepared a gift for Master since I got back.”

The young girl calculated in her heart.

Her master was advanced in age; although his body remained robust, his mental state could no longer maintain long periods of focus like in his youth.

Sera decided immediately that this King's Leaf she had stumbled upon would be the perfect gift for Kurt.

“…I hope Master won't mind it when the time comes.”

As Sera imagined Kurt frowning and complaining about her wasting money, the announcement in the carriage sounded, indicating that the high-speed train was about to arrive at the Azalea Town station.

Sera snapped back to reality and turned to look at Ogerpon.

“Pon Poni…”

Ogerpon had slumped over on the seat at some point, looking dizzy and unable to keep its spirits up.

“I told you not to keep looking outside.”

The girl chuckled, and seeing that Ogerpon wouldn't be recovering its senses anytime soon, she took out a Friend Ball and returned it to the Poké Ball first.

After putting the Poké Ball in her pocket, Sera pulled her suitcase down from the overhead rack.

She had dragged the same suitcase when she left Azalea Town, and now that she was back, its weight remained virtually unchanged.

Though she would soon be seeing her master again, the girl felt no anxiety in her heart.

It had been less than a month since she last left Azalea Town, yet Sera’s mindset had shifted significantly.

When she first walked out of town, Sera still did not know that the Pokémon in the simulator were real; she had been nervous, constantly fantasizing about what her first captured Pokémon would be.

Now, as she returned, a Friend Ball was already resting in her pocket.

—I am already quite different from how I used to be.

The white-haired girl patted her pocket and dragged her suitcase toward the exit with a look of pure confidence.

--+--

“I’m back~”

Sera stood at the door of the workshop, waiting for Maizie to come out and greet her.

Before returning, Sera had already touched base with Maizie, asking her to let Master Kurt know that she would be returning to Azalea Town for a while.

When the master’s granddaughter stepped outside, however, Sera noticed a strange expression on the little girl’s face.

“Big Sister Sera……”

Despite the long-awaited reunion, Maizie looked quite nervous. She let out a breath of relief upon seeing Sera, but she still didn't seem fully at ease.

“Grandpa left this morning and hasn't returned yet.”

“Master isn't here?”

Sera found this very strange.

Kurt was an upright man of character, precise in all his dealings, and he was never one to stand someone up.

Since she had said she was coming back, Kurt would certainly have been waiting at home. Unless there was an emergency, why would he be out?

“It’s like this: recently, a group of bad guys calling themselves Team Rocket suddenly arrived in town.”

Maizie stumbled through her explanation of the situation.

“They’ve been occupying Slowpoke Well for the past few days. Grandpa was furious, so he went out this morning to try and reason with them, but he hasn't returned since…”

“…I see.”

The white-haired girl fell silent.

To be honest, Sera had almost forgotten herself that public safety in the Johto region was not as secure as one might imagine.

Even in the National Park near Goldenrod City, members of Team Rocket would openly engage in poaching, so it was perfectly normal for Team Rocket to be active in a rural place like Azalea Town.

Her master, by nature, could not stand such things; theoretically, even Team Rocket would not dare to lay a hand on such a renowned craftsman in the Johto region.

—But it was hard to say if the old craftsman himself lacked the discretion to avoid trouble.

Sera recalled a plotline from the original game that was eerily similar to the current situation. The corners of her mouth twitched, and she felt a strong urge to heave a deep sigh.

"I understand. Why don't you put my luggage away for me, and I'll go look for Master."

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 95

--+--

Chapter 95: Kurt: What haven't I seen?

--+--

The Slowpoke Well in Azalea Town, also known as the Rainmaker Well, was located on the east side of the town.

A large number of wild Pokémon lived inside the Slowpoke Well, the most numerous of which were Slowpoke.

In the history of Azalea Town, the town once faced a prolonged drought 400 years ago. The residents at the time saw a Slowpoke yawn, which caused heavy rain to fall from the sky and end the drought.

Because of this, the people of Azalea Town held a special reverence for Slowpoke. Over time, even the Slowpoke Well became a famous scenic spot in the Johto region.

This well was open to the public, and trainers were allowed to enter to catch Pokémon other than Slowpoke.

Sera was naturally very familiar with the Slowpoke Well.

She was not a local resident, but she had lived in Azalea Town for three years. Moreover, with the experiences from her previous life's games, she understood even better why a group like Team Rocket would remain obsessed with the Slowpoke Well.

The source still lay with those Slowpoke.

Although the residents of Azalea Town had special feelings for Slowpoke, in reality, Slowpoke wasn’t a particularly rare Pokémon.

This pink, soft and chubby Pokémon, with its vacant gaze and tendency to spend every day in a daze, didn’t possess strong abilities, and its brain was notoriously slow-witted.

Unless it was a trainer who specifically wanted to raise a Slowpoke to evolve it into a Slowbro or Slowking, the biggest impression ordinary people had of Slowpoke was, instead, its tail, which was said to be very delicious.

Slowpoke would secrete a peculiar sweet scent from its tail, and they used their tails as lures to fish for food in rivers and lakes.

Furthermore, because Slowpoke had a very dull sense of pain, they would not even notice when their tails were bitten off by prey.

In the Alola region, Slowpoke tails were a common delicacy.

People there farmed Slowpoke, and during the farming process, the tails would naturally break off and fall away, eventually being collected and processed as food.

Sera was also very concerned about the practice of eating parts of a Pokémon's body at first.

But in any situation, it is only extremism that one should fear.

Although the people in the Alola region ate Slowpoke tails, they would provide food to the Slowpoke in return.

The tail parts that Slowpoke evolved in their natural environment were essentially a consumable, and such a practice was not fundamentally different from humans drinking Miltank milk.

Humans raise Pokémon, and Pokémon respond with support for humans.

As long as mutual respect is maintained, specific practices will not lead to intervention by the League, provided they do not cross the line.

And now, what Team Rocket was doing had crossed that line.

When Sera entered the interior of the Slowpoke Well, she only saw the old artisan leaning against the well wall, his expression one of deep contemplation.

The girl could not help but sigh deeply.

"Master, what are you doing here again?"

Hearing the unexpectedly crisp tone, Kurt was equally astonished.

"Sera? How did you get here?"

"Because I didn't find you at the workshop, and Maizie was starting to worry."

Sera stood in front of Kurt, her gaze making the old man feel terribly guilty.

But thinking of the dangerous situation at hand, Kurt tensed up and couldn't help but try to stand up.

"Ouch!"

The old artisan let out a cry of pain, clutching his lower back as he sat back down shakily.

"Ah... Sera, as you can see, I twisted my back and won't be able to leave for a while."

"So, you go back first and report this to Officer Jenny. Tell her that Team Rocket is here stealing Slowpoke tails, and let her bring people over to handle it."

Kurt's expression was a bit tense.

Before Sera arrived, the old artisan hadn't been flustered in the slightest. He only felt indignant and wanted to sternly lecture Team Rocket for their unscrupulous behavior.

But the safety of his own apprentice was equally important.

Kurt didn't care about himself, but dragging Sera into this mess was absolutely out of the question.

Therefore, Kurt urged her repeatedly, only wanting Sera to get out of the well quickly and not stay in this dangerous place.

But then again, how could Sera possibly listen obediently to her master?

"Master, I'm not the same person I was a short time ago."

The white-haired girl shook her head incessantly, and while she spoke, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a green Friend Ball.

"I have partners, I've gone through quite a bit of training, and I've even obtained a gym badge."

Sera's words were not surprising to an old man who had weathered many storms.

—Although, if it had been a while ago, Kurt would indeed have been shocked for a moment.

But while Sera was enjoying the festival in Ecruteak City, Kurt had seen her performance through the live television broadcast.

The young girl remained unaware that Master had seen her dressed in shrine maiden robes, accompanied by a mysterious Pokémon.

No matter how silver-tongued Sera was, under normal circumstances, Kurt would never have agreed to let her stay.

The stubborn old artisan had made up his mind, and that was not something Sera could change with a few words.

However.

Kurt had just opened his mouth, preparing to speak, when he suddenly spotted the Friend Ball in Sera’s hand. The words that had reached the tip of his tongue simply could not come out.

"Wait."

The old artisan’s expression turned incomparably serious.

"Let me see that Friend Ball of yours."

Kurt even dropped the hand he was holding to his waist, his expression frantic, as if he had seen something extraordinary.

Hmm—it truly was extraordinary.

Kurt had crafted and handled more Poké Balls in his lifetime than perhaps anyone else in the world.

No one understood handcrafted Poké Balls better than Kurt. Back in his youth, he had even shared life-and-death bonds with some of the strongest trainers of the era, and had engaged in deep discussions with them about the future of the Poké Ball.

Yet, despite such profound experience, when Kurt saw the Friend Ball in Sera’s hand, the old man forgot the crisis at hand—that criminal syndicates from the Johto region were still lurking nearby.

A sudden brilliance erupted in his eyes, bright enough to illuminate even the dim depths of the well.

Even Sera had not expected Kurt to be able to discern the unique qualities of the Friend Ball at a glance. She had intended to say something more, but Kurt’s expression was so intense he looked like he might just swallow the Poké Ball whole.

"Alright."

With a helpless look on her face, the girl swallowed the words she had meant to say and handed the Friend Ball over to Kurt.

No sooner had the old man taken the Friend Ball into his palm than the green-and-white sphere shuddered and snapped open.

"Pon-oh?!"

Having rested enough, Ogerpon sensed the situation around her and hurried out of the Poké Ball. Seeing Sera waving at her, she remained confused.

Kurt glanced at Ogerpon but didn't rush to ask questions; he kept his full attention on the Friend Ball.

"This texture, this luster..."

Kurt had initially wanted to open the Poké Ball, but after Ogerpon appeared, he began to inspect the inner wall of the Friend Ball carefully. He discovered that the techniques Sera had used to treat the inner wall were exactly the ones he had taught her, with nothing else special about them.

"This isn't right."

The old artisan furrowed his brow, realizing things were not that simple.

"How could the inner wall of this Apricorn Ball be so smooth?"

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 96

--+--

Chapter 96: Sera’s Murderous Intent

--+--

As a veteran Poké Ball artisan, Kurt didn’t notice the unique quality of the Friend Ball at first glance, but once he officially handled it, he immediately realized that the veins on the inner wall of the Friend Ball were unexpectedly smooth.

—This should have been an impossible feat.

The inner wall of an Apricorn—the raw material for a Poké Ball—contains a multitude of natural veins.

It is precisely by using Tumblestone thread to fill and level these veins that artisans transform Apricorns into Poké Balls with various effects.

But there is always a limit to what an artificial product can achieve.

It already requires an artisan's full effort just to keep the inner wall of an Apricorn from being damaged; most apprentices waste a large quantity of Apricorns before they ever finish their training.

Even a veteran artisan like Kurt could only go so far as to fill in all the tiny veins visible to the naked eye, and with some meticulous external finishing, he could finally craft an Apricorn Ball with standard effects that looked like a work of art.

As his fingertips touched the outer shell, Kurt naturally understood that Sera had not yet focused her energy on the exterior of the Poké Ball.

Like most young artisans who had just finished their apprenticeship, she only cared about making the Apricorn Ball itself, not realizing there was still room for further refinement.

But precisely because of that, Sera had accomplished something Kurt dared not even imagine.

"You filled every possible vein on the inner wall of this Apricorn with Tumblestone powder."

Using the faint light falling from the mouth of the well, Kurt held the Friend Ball up, finally seeing clearly through the reflection what the young girl had done.

"Incredible. An act like this should have caused a multitude of tiny scratches on the inner wall of the Apricorn."

The Tumblestone used to stimulate the properties of an Apricorn was not fragile; artisans still had to be extremely cautious when cutting it into thread and filling the inner wall, fearing they might damage the natural veins.

It was not as if no one had ever thought of using Tumblestone powder to fill the tiny lines invisible to the naked eye before.

However, when the Tumblestone powder fell into the interior of the Apricorn, no matter how gently one tried to coat it by hand, the friction of the large amount of powder against the inner wall would inevitably cause countless abrasions.

In the end, not only would the artisans fail to make the Poké Ball they desired, but they would also end up wasting both the Apricorn and the jade.

The more Kurt thought about it, the less he could understand how Sera had crafted the Friend Ball.

"…Master, now is really not the time for this."

Sera was utterly helpless.

She understood Kurt’s obsession with handmade Poké Balls.

Before she had even returned to Azalea Town, the girl had imagined how shocked the old artisan would be when she presented the Friend Ball to him.

—But there is a time and place for everything.

Right now, the situation was critical. There was Team Rocket activity in the dark of the underground river, and the old artisan had twisted his back, making it impossible for him to leave Slowpoke Well for the time being.

Kurt could immerse his entire soul into the Friend Ball, but Sera couldn't afford to be as self-willed as her master, especially seeing as Kurt wouldn't take his eyes off the ball no matter what.

Sera let out a long sigh.

"Master, this is a Poké Ball I prepared for my Pokémon. If you really want to study it, let me trade you an empty one first."

"Oh?"

Kurt felt a jolt of energy as he saw Sera pull another green-and-white Friend Ball from her pocket.

Sera’s words washed over the old artisan, but he didn't pay any mind to anything else she mentioned.

Seeing another brand-new Friend Ball, Kurt finally concluded that Sera hadn't made this special Apricorn Ball by mere chance.

—She had mastered the technique to reproduce the finished product.

Kurt had assumed that one day his apprentice would surpass him, but he never expected that in just one month, Sera would have grown to the level of establishing her own school of thought.

While the old artisan felt a sense of gratification, he also felt a wave of urgency. He had never been one to admit he was getting old; how could he let his apprentice leave him in the dust so easily?

What kind of difference in effect did this special Apricorn Ball have compared to an ordinary one?

Kurt’s mind was filled with questions. Without waiting for Sera to explain, the old artisan wanted to study it firsthand, to get a rough idea of the situation for himself.

With his head completely full of Poké Balls, Kurt didn't even notice that Sera had said a few more words to him.

--+--

Ogerpon clutched her precious Friend Ball tightly.

Just a moment ago, the way Kurt had asked Sera for the Friend Ball without a second thought had left a sense of unease in Ogerpon’s heart.

—This Friend Ball was made by Sera’s own hands and symbolizes the bond between the two of them; how could she just let a stranger touch it?

But because Sera could never be wrong, Ogerpon directed all of her resentment toward the old artisan instead.

She looked back frequently, and seeing the old eccentric still squatting at the well opening, frowning in thought, she couldn't help but ask Sera.

"Poni?"

"You don't have to worry about Master for now."

Sera misunderstood, thinking Ogerpon was worried about whether Kurt was alright.

"Once he focuses his attention on a Poké Ball that interests him, he absolutely won't let go until he’s figured out the gist of it."

"So, let's take this time to clear up all the trouble inside the well."

"Pon..."

Ogerpon felt regretful for a moment, but when she thought about having to see that eccentric old man again later, her tone couldn't help but take on a hint of disdain.

But immediately, Ogerpon turned her gaze toward the darkness, her small mouth slightly parted, revealing her fangs.

"Puniao!"

Seeing that Ogerpon had discovered them, the person hiding in the shadows no longer continued to conceal himself and walked out openly.

"Little girl, I couldn't just easily ignore what you said just now."

The man wearing a jet-black hat emerged from the darkness with a smile. Behind him, several Team Rocket members in identical uniforms glared at Sera.

Like his subordinates, the young man leading them had a large 'R' emblem on his chest, proving he was also a member of Team Rocket.

But judging by his demeanor, he clearly held the status of an executive.

"Who are you?"

Sera wasn’t the least bit panicked by Team Rocket's obstruction.

She truly didn’t recognize the man in front of her.

Although Sera knew about the division between executives and rank-and-file members within Team Rocket, and even knew the organization's biggest secret—that its boss was Giovanni, the Gym Leader of the Viridian City Gym in the Kanto region—she couldn't be expected to remember every single NPC from the games with crystal clarity.

The white-haired girl looked at the man, her blunt question catching him by surprise.

"I am Proton. As you can see, I am a member of Team Rocket."

The man's identity was actually not so simple; the name he gave was listed high on the wanted lists published by the police in both the Johto and Kanto regions.

Team Rocket Executive, Proton.

As the person in charge of this incident, Proton's job was to eliminate any interference and do his utmost to ensure the boss's orders were carried out.

In truth, this wasn't the first time Team Rocket had invaded the Slowpoke Well. Long before this, they had frequently snuck in to harvest and cut off the tails of the Slowpoke inside.

Slowpoke were so slow to react that they couldn't even detect someone removing their tails, nor could they notice that Team Rocket were a group of strangers.

The people of Azalea Town revered the Slowpoke and provided them with a space to live in peace, but in the eyes of Team Rocket, this deep well was nothing more than a natural farm.

They harvested the tails on a regular basis, then transported them out to sell for money.

Slowpoke tails fetched a high price, and such operations helped supplement Team Rocket's funds. They had pulled off similar stunts countless times across the Johto and Kanto regions.

The only reason Kurt had discovered them this time was that a rookie in the squad had been throwing his weight around, subconsciously trying to intimidate the old craftsman.

But Master Kurt was no stranger to the world, and there was no way he would be cowed by Team Rocket. When he realized they were going after the Slowpoke, he became absolutely furious.

"You said earlier that the old man is your master?"

Proton, having overheard Sera from the shadows, looked intrigued.

"That's impressive. To become an apprentice to the most renowned Poké Ball craftsman in the Johto region—little girl, you seem quite capable."

"Why don't you consider joining us in Team Rocket? As far as financial compensation goes, Team Rocket is nothing like a backwater workshop; I can guarantee you'll make a fortune."

Recruiting talent for the organization was a duty every member of Team Rocket had to fulfill.

That said, Proton usually couldn't be bothered with such trivial matters, but the girl's interesting background caught his fancy, and he had a sudden whim to try and recruit her.

Hearing Proton's words, Sera couldn't help but narrow her eyes.

"Is your brain broken? It's your own business if you want to be mud in a swamp, but to randomly emanate a stench and think you're attractive—that’s just nauseating."

She spoke directly, her tone so provocative that the members behind Proton all took a step forward.

Proton raised a hand to stop his subordinates from shouting. Although his own temple was throbbing, he managed to hold his tongue for the moment.

"You little girl, why is your tongue so sharp?"

Proton shook his head.

"However, your uncle here has a good temper and is easygoing. As long as you apologize, I can pretend I didn't hear those words just now and let you off the hook."

Hearing Proton’s words, even the grunts behind him couldn't help but curl their lips in disdain.

Everyone in Team Rocket knew that Proton’s penchant for using honorifics was merely a facade.

Among the four Executives, Proton’s methods were the most cruel and terrifying, yet within Team Rocket, such a modus operandi commanded even greater respect.

The reason Proton did not strike directly at Sera at that moment was because of the old craftsman in the distance.

Kurt was the most renowned Poké Ball craftsman in the Johto region. He had befriended many Trainers in his youth, and now that he was older, his network of connections spanned the entire Indigo League.

Great figures whom even Team Rocket dared not provoke without cause—such as Agatha of the Elite Four and the authoritative Professor Oak—were all friends of Kurt.

If he made too much of a scene, Proton would have to account for it when questioned by the organization.

Therefore, Proton only wanted to force an apology out of Sera; as for other matters, they were temporarily off the table.

However, the things Proton dared not do were not even a consideration for Sera.

This world wasn’t filled with light; criminal gangs existed in every region, and there were even international police agencies established specifically to deal with various illegal acts.

Even so, everyone still hoped to make the world a better place.

Throughout her travels, apart from a small minority of people and Pokémon, the people Sera had encountered were all doing their best to maintain this peaceful environment.

And the actions of Team Rocket were destroying all of that.

No amount of whitewashing could cover up Team Rocket’s selfishness—the way they infringed upon the rights of others solely to pursue their own interests.

—That was why Sera despised Team Rocket.

The girl could not suppress the anger in her heart, so when she finally spoke, she could not help but mock Team Rocket.

But Sera did not consider herself someone gifted with words.

Compared to verbal abuse, she preferred taking direct action.

"Ogerpon."

The white-haired girl spoke abruptly.

Neither the Team Rocket grunts nor Proton reacted in time to realize whom Sera was addressing.

Ogerpon, however, sensed Sera’s intent in an instant. It reached into its robes, and the moment the girl finished speaking, it placed a mask onto its face.

"Hearthflame Mask, Ivy Cudgel!"

Light illuminated the bottom of the well, and flames burned fiercely.

"Pon-o-o-o!"

Proton’s expression changed drastically.

He never expected Sera to make a move so suddenly. Facing the incoming Ivy Cudgel, the man scrambled to the ground and rolled away in a panic, covering himself in filth and mud.

But once the Ivy Cudgel slammed into the ground and the resulting heat wave kicked up a scorching intensity, the damp, foul-smelling mud on Proton’s body quickly turned dry and crusty.

BOOM!

One disaster followed another.

Before he could even wipe the sweat from his brow, Proton rolled again to dodge a blast of pressurized air that erupted in the space above him, using the momentum to throw a Poké Ball.

"Weezing!"

The Weezing that appeared on the scene did not hesitate to spray a massive amount of toxic gas, forcibly driving back Ogerpon as it prepared to close the distance.

Only after buying himself a moment of respite could Proton stand up. He hurried to bark orders at the grunts behind him, telling them to release their Pokémon, before glaring back at Sera.

"…I remember now."

Proton looked at Ogerpon, who wore the Hearthflame Mask and looked like a vengeful demon, with lingering fear.

"I heard a while back that a captain hit a snag at the National Park, having been subdued by a white-haired psychic girl accompanied by an unfamiliar Pokémon."

If he had been even a second slower, Sera’s unhesitating psychic power would have slammed into him.

Thinking of that outcome, Proton couldn't help but swallow hard.

—Damn it.

She clearly looks like a teenage girl, so why is she so much more decisive than the useless grunts in our Team Rocket?

Team Rocket was viewed by outsiders as a criminal syndicate, but within the organization, even newly joined recruits had to go through a series of training sessions to develop the resolve necessary to strike at humans.

Yet, Sera’s approach was even more swift and ruthless than those rookies.

"Little girl… has anyone ever suggested that you should perhaps see a psychiatrist?"

"Heh."

The girl sneered.

The toxic gas spewed by Weezing could hold off Ogerpon, but it could not stop Sera’s psychic powers in the slightest.

After the trials Sera underwent in Kitakami, the Psychic power she could now exert was far beyond anything her former self back at the National Park could have compared to.

Bam—!

The young girl, who found any extra words to be a tedious nuisance, swung her fist once more. Psychic energy condensed in the air and roared, engulfing Weezing entirely.

The immense Psychic force swirled the toxic gas into a single mass, as if trying to force that very energy down Weezing's throat. Meanwhile, standing watch on the side, Ogerpon did not miss the opportunity that Sera had secured for her.

“Puni-o!”

The Ivy Cudgel, imbued with raging fire, was raised once again.

This strike targeted Weezing directly. When Proton saw the flames about to make contact with the gas, his eyes widened in agony, and he was on the verge of crying out.

“—You're insane...”

Before the words could even fade, an even greater, wide-reaching roar of an explosion swallowed him whole.

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 97

--+--

Chapter 97 Kurt: That's right, that's exactly what I was thinking!

--+--

Sera had issued those instructions on purpose.

The toxic gas spewed by Weezing was already thick, and after she wrapped it into a dense ball with her Confusion, she ordered Ogerpon to strike Weezing with Ivy Cudgel.

The end result was a physical explosion.

The blinding flash lasted for only a split second. Sera, having prepared in advance, was able to shield herself and Ogerpon with her psychic energy, but the Team Rocket members were not so lucky.

The shockwave generated by the instantaneous blast blew everyone nearby away.

But Proton was not among them.

If Proton could be so easily taken down by Sera, he wouldn't be worthy of being a Team Rocket Executive, especially since he was wanted by the leagues of two different regions.

At the critical moment, Proton whipped out another Poké Ball. As the sphere opened, a Golbat appeared before him.

"Golbat, Supersonic!"

Proton hid behind the Golbat, using his Pokémon’s body to block the turbulent air. The Pokémon struggled to hold its ground, then opened its massive maw.

A piercing sound wave cut through the barrier. Even though Sera had guarded herself with psychic energy, the sound still seeped through, leaving her momentarily dazed.

Within a few seconds, Sera regained her composure, intending to refocus her attention on Proton, only to find that he had vanished without a trace.

"...He escaped?"

Sera furrowed her brows as she recalled the moment; she thought she had heard the sound of splashing water.

It seemed Proton had chosen to flee through the underground waterways.

"I got careless."

Ogerpon, also hampered by the Supersonic, looked worried, so Sera patted its head.

"I didn't expect the opponent to be so decisive."

That said, Sera’s mood wasn't all that bad.

The fact that Proton could abandon so many of his subordinates to escape showed he was indeed ruthless and resolute.

But after fleeing, he would inevitably face an internal inquiry. There was no way he could shrug that off easily. Meanwhile, Sera had successfully subdued the group of Team Rocket grunts, protecting the peace around Azalea Town.

She had indeed won, even if it wasn't a total, crushing victory.

Sera wasn't arrogant enough to think she was omnipotent. The methods Proton had just displayed gave her plenty of food for thought.

Up until now, Sera had used her psychic powers in a way that leaned heavily toward physical applications. While that was enough for small fry like the Loyal Three, the moment she faced a real counterattack, she immediately realized her shortcomings.

"Although the barrier formed by psychic energy can withstand physical impact, it doesn't seem to work well against sound-based moves."

The girl sighed.

"...But generally speaking, I won't run into these situations every day. I'll just pay more attention to it in the future."

Sera didn't have to fight Team Rocket on a daily basis. Besides, the one who had fled was Proton. Even if he wanted revenge, the speed at which Sera improved was far beyond what he could contend with.

With 38 points of Effort Value still in reserve, Sera felt inspired about how to strengthen herself after reviewing the gains from this battle.

However, this was no place to ponder in peace.

"So, what should I do with you lot?"

The Team Rocket grunts collapsed on the ground, some unconscious, others wailing in pain. A few younger ones who managed to keep their wits about them were staring at her with terrified eyes.

The silver-haired girl’s expression was indifferent. She glanced over them, not giving them a second thought, and took out her phone.

"Hello, is this Officer Jenny?"

"I'd like to report a crime."

--+--

At Kurt's house, Maizie had been waiting for a long time. The sky outside had already turned a dusky twilight by the time she saw Sera following Kurt back home.

"Grandpa!"

The little girl greeted him happily, but to her surprise, before she could even reach her grandfather, the old artisan ignored her entirely. He just clutched a Friend Ball in his hand, muttering to himself as he walked into the house.

"The flawless interior of the ball... what kind of special effect could this possibly represent?"

Maizie stood there, stunned, long after Kurt had passed through the doorway.

"Good evening."

Sera gave a helpless smile and reached out to pat the little girl’s head in place of her master.

"We're home."

"Big Sister Sera..."

Maizie snapped out of it, looking worried as she tugged on the girl’s sleeve and asked directly.

"How did things turn out?"

Although the fact that her grandfather returned home safely suggested the outcome was likely good, Kurt's strange behavior was unsettling.

Maizie couldn't wait to get an answer from Sera.

"It's a long story... but basically, everything is over now."

Sera considered for a moment, then decided she was ready to tell Maizie the whole sequence of events.

"Let’s head inside first, and I’ll explain."

"Okay!"

This incident at the Slowpoke Well had stemmed from Team Rocket’s attempt to harvest Slowpoke tails for themselves. The ins and outs of the matter had been clarified once Officer Jenny arrived, arrested the still-conscious Team Rocket members, and began her interrogation.

As for the rest—including how Sera had defeated Team Rocket and why Kurt was so obsessed with his Friend Ball projects—the young girl felt it was better not to dwell on the details, and she spoke vaguely. Maizie was a sensible girl and did not press her for more.

In response, the little girl’s eyes fixed on the creature beside Sera: Ogerpon, who had swapped out her Hearthflame Mask and was now sporting a coat of grass-green. Ogerpon tilted her head and met Maizie’s gaze.

"Poni?"

"Sera..."

Maizie leaned in close to Sera’s ear and whispered her question.

"Is this the Pokémon you had with you when you were in Ecruteak City?"

The moment the words left her lips, it was Sera who looked startled.

"...How did you know I had Ogerpon with me when I was in Ecruteak City?"

"It was on the television."

Innocent and guileless, Maizie answered straightaway.

"I watched the live broadcast of the Ecruteak City festival with Grandpa back then. You looked so pretty in your shrine maiden outfit, Sera. Even Grandpa was so stunned he couldn't even speak."

Oh dear, oh dear.

Learning the cause and effect of the situation, Sera shook her head in silence.

Although she had harbored dreams of becoming a Trainer the moment she left Azalea Town, the fact that her master had caught her "slacking off" on live TV while dressed as a shrine maiden in Ecruteak City—

Sera’s current mood could only be described as subtle.

Fortunately, Kurt didn’t have the spare energy to worry about Sera’s part-time job from a while back. Once the old craftsman returned home, he dove straight into his room and refused to come out for anything.

Even when Maizie prepared dinner and asked if her grandfather wanted to eat, the old man simply shouted at the top of his lungs that she should leave it on the table and he would eat when he found the time.

"Grandpa is truly something else..."

Maizie complained to Sera, deciding to ignore her grandfather for the time being.

"Sera, how many days are you staying back in Azalea Town this time?"

"At least a week, I think."

Since she was already back, there was no way Sera would rush off in a hurry.

"I haven't decided exactly when I'm leaving yet. I’ll let you know in advance before I head out, so don't you worry."

"Yay!"

Ever since Sera had set off on her journey, the little girl had been left alone at home, bored to tears.

She was cheering now, thinking of all the many, many things she wanted to share with Sera; she could finally chat to her heart's content.

Ogerpon sat on the wooden chair beside Sera. Her tiny feet couldn't reach the floor, so they dangled, swinging back and forth as she quietly listened and observed Sera and Maizie.

Sera looked gentle and smiling now, completely unlike the person she had been while facing Team Rocket at the Slowpoke Well.

Ogerpon had always felt that Sera’s aura was incredibly soft; as long as she was by Sera’s side, she felt a sense of calm and warmth in her heart.

But it wasn't as if Sera never got angry.

—Just like she had moments ago, or back when they faced the Loyal Three.

When Sera got angry, even Ogerpon felt a bit of fear.

But that fear wasn't caused by the girl’s outward expression of rage, but rather by the boiling, overflowing fury surging within her heart.

What Ogerpon feared most was her own inability to soothe those emotions buried inside Sera.

"Poni..."

Ogerpon let out a soft, quiet cry, feeling grateful that they had once again succeeded in defeating their opponent, allowing Sera to vent that anger.

Although Ogerpon loved both versions of Sera, she still preferred to see her maintain that gentleness at all times, rather than seeing her angry.

Therefore, the targets she really needed to try her hardest to eliminate were those guys who made Sera angry!

"Pon-ao!"

Ogerpon chirped again, making a secret resolution.

She wasn't strong enough yet. To defeat any opponent, anytime, anywhere, she would need to work even harder from now on.

—Mastering the Ivy Cudgel move was the next goal!

--+--

At the same moment.

Outside Azalea Town, Ilex Forest.

Splash!

Proton crawled out of the river. The noise startled a Hoothoot in the distance, but he didn't have the luxury of caring. He just grumbled, his face dark with fury.

"Damn it... that brat!"

With no one else around, the man stopped putting on a front, cursing with resentment.

"To be so ruthless as to leave the scene in such an irreparable mess!"

Even now, Proton could not understand why Sera had detonated the Weezing's toxic gas without a single thought for the consequences.

Did she not realize that even if she could ensure her own safety after a gas explosion, she would be in deep trouble if any Team Rocket members were injured?

Even in a case of self-defense, once the right is exercised, one must still be held accountable for their actions and find a way to prove that they were truly in a dangerous situation.

Although Team Rocket was secretly and generally recognized as a criminal organization, they were still a multinational corporation on the surface.

Since there wasn't even a security camera inside the Slowpoke Well and neither side could clearly explain what happened, it was shocking that Sera could act with such decisiveness.

Every time he recalled the sneer on the white-haired girl's face, Proton shivered; the chill of the late-night river water could not compare to the trembling he felt in his heart.

A battle between trainers and physically attacking a human were two entirely different concepts.

Even the grunts of Team Rocket needed to undergo thorough education and training before they could tremble their way into working as enforcers.

When Proton had suggested to Sera back at the bottom of the well that she go see a psychiatrist, it wasn't just a psychological tactic—it was an instinctive warning born from his own unease.

"...Damn it!"

But it was useless to say anything now.

The man cursed under his breath again. After a moment of hesitation, he pulled a communicator from the inner pocket of his coat and attempted to contact the organization.

His mission had failed, and hiding it was pointless; the organization would inevitably find out.

Rather than waiting to be held accountable, it was better to prepare his story first, think about how to deal with his colleagues, and shift all the blame onto that brat.

Yes!

It was all the fault of the internal intelligence department for failing to collect data on Sera's abilities!

Proton narrowed his eyes, a cold sneer tugging at the corners of his mouth.

If he ever found out who said Sera was just an ordinary Psychic-type user, he decided he would shove their head into the exhaust vent of a Weezing to help them clear their mind.

When Psychic-type Pokémon used their powers, they were usually just subconsciously executing moves; only after meticulous training could they separate the effects of various moves and apply them flexibly.

Sera, however, had already reached the point of manipulating telekinesis at will. Beyond the fact that her output level was still shallow, Proton even had a chilling hunch.

...Perhaps he should tell the Boss about the hunch he felt in his gut.

Proton only hesitated for a moment before making up his mind. Just then, a prompt signaled that the line had connected.

"Hello."

Proton spoke immediately.

"This is Proton. The situation is urgent. I have information to report to Boss Giovanni."

--+--

Sera was unaware of the psychological turmoil Proton went through after escaping death.

After returning home that evening, even though Maizie had helped clean the dust in the house while she was away, Sera still spent time organizing the souvenirs she had brought back from her trip.

The festival yukata she bought in Ecruteak City, the shrine maiden outfit she wore during her part-time job...

She spent half the day just organizing her clothes, and then there was the matter of giving Ogerpon a bath to clean off the faint, lingering odor from the battle.

By the time she went to bed, it was nearly midnight. Ogerpon was still full of energy and insisted on sleeping with her. The next morning, Sera still rubbed the corners of her eyes periodically, only feeling somewhat alert when she reached the door of the workshop.

"Sera!"

Kurt had studied the Friend Ball all night. It wasn't until dawn that he finally understood why this particular Friend Ball felt so unique to him.

Once he grasped the underlying principle, Kurt's spirit overrode his physical fatigue. Even with dark circles under his eyes, he stood at his front door with his arms crossed, waiting for Sera to arrive.

"Why do you look so listless today? Perk up!"

Kurt even turned the tables and began lecturing Sera on why she looked so downcast.

"Yes..."

The girl remained speechless for a moment before eventually pulling herself together and following Kurt into the workshop.

As soon as they stepped inside, Kurt couldn't wait any longer; he walked over to the workbench and grabbed the Friend Ball.

"I have already grasped the wonders of this Friend Ball of yours!"

The old craftsman rattled on, pouring out a series of words.

"You certainly used the old methods, but compared to the little bit I taught you, you have mastered a technique of your own!"

"There are fine, invisible veins on the shell of the Apricorn. This is a proven fact. Some of the older craftsmen are aware of it, but because these veins are impossible to utilize, they never mention it to you young ones."

"But you discovered a way to utilize these veins!"

The old craftsman bore dark circles under his eyes, yet he remained full of vigor.

No matter how tired he was, whenever the topic turned to handcrafted Poké Balls, Kurt would burst with enthusiasm—especially now, with a discovery that was truly unprecedented, and the inventor being his own apprentice no less.

"Look, the way the veins formed by the Tumblestone are running along the wall of this Friend Ball, they look as if they're alive!"

Kurt opened the Friend Ball that Sera had crafted and touched the inner wall with his fingertips.

The more he touched it, the more he could feel its unique quality.

"A Poké Ball like this will surely allow a Trainer and their Pokémon to be in perfect harmony, with no barriers between them!"

The old man stated firmly, reaching his conclusion.

"To be able to craft such a Poké Ball, Sera, you have already completed your apprenticeship. You could even establish your own style and call all the Poké Balls you make the Sera Style Poké Ball!"

Kurt's words rang out with resonance, and as they reached her ears, Sera felt a surge of emotion.

But after digesting what Kurt had said, the young girl gave a wry smile.

"Master, I simply applied a newly discovered technique and happened to make a new kind of Poké Ball."

Sera shook her head persistently.

"Besides, since no one else can likely use the same technique, I can't really call it a school of thought."

"Hmm."

Kurt nodded.

Though the tone of his previous words had been incredibly excited, it was truly only because the subject was Poké Balls.

After a night of reflection, how could Kurt not have figured it out?

Sera had been on her journey for less than a month, and her methods had remained unchanged, yet she had suddenly grasped a way to fill the subtle veins on the inner walls of the Apricorn.

This must have been a unique discovery of Sera's own, and because these findings were things other Poké Ball artisans couldn't utilize, she had returned to Azalea Town to ask him.

Kurt had misunderstood the reason Sera returned to Azalea Town, but his underlying logic was not wrong.

Even after personally touching the Sera Style Friend Ball and studying it for an entire night, though the old craftsman understood its special nature, he still could not fathom how Sera had achieved it.

If he couldn't understand it, let alone replicate it, then there was no need to even mention other Poké Ball artisans.

Sera’s pride in the craft of Poké Ball making was inherited almost entirely from Kurt.

How could Kurt be willing to admit that he had lost to someone else? Even with his own apprentice presenting results capable of starting a whole new movement, the old craftsman merely nodded slightly, waiting for the girl to reveal the details.

"I awakened psychic powers."

Sera's first sentence made Kurt start slightly.

"Just a few days before I finished my apprenticeship, I discovered that I could suddenly sense the presence of psychic energy. So, I tried applying that psychic energy to the production of a Poké Ball, and to my surprise, it succeeded on the first try."

"That Fast Ball I made for my graduation test was finished in just that way."

—No wonder the efficiency with which Sera had made the Fast Ball back then had far exceeded his expectations.

Kurt realized it belatedly, a flash of insight hitting him.

He had been wondering why it took Sera two or three days to meticulously craft an ordinary Apricorn Ball, only for her to finish this one in a single day. It turned out to be because of her psychic powers.

Kurt didn’t mind what kind of talent Sera possessed.

Regardless, Sera was his apprentice; the more outstanding she was, the more he should, in fact, feel happy.

So, even when Sera said she had psychic powers, Kurt merely clenched the fist he held beneath him.

If it was psychic power, then that fell outside the scope of his knowledge.

Moreover, up until now, no artisan had ever tried using psychic powers to craft Poké Balls. If it required psychic powers, then there was no way around it...

—But surely, he couldn't just leave it at that!

Since he had glimpsed a new possibility, he had to ask about it in detail.

Whatever psychic powers could do, these hands of his, which had been touching Apricorns, gems, and tools for over sixty years, could surely do as well!

"Then, in the process of making this Friend Ball, did you also use psychic powers?"

The artisan who refused to feel old, who believed in learning until one's dying day, was determined to get all the answers from his apprentice.

"No, that shouldn't just be ordinary psychic power."

Sera recalled the process of attempting to craft the new type of Poké Ball and couldn't help but nod quickly, pulling a Heavy Ball that Kurt found very familiar from her pocket.

"Speaking of which, it was thanks to the set of Apricorn Balls you gave me that I had this realization."

Kurt only just realized that the Heavy Ball Sera had brought out was the exact set he had given her before she finished her apprenticeship.

At the time, he had only thought that Sera still had plenty of room for improvement, but perhaps she hadn't yet been able to see her path clearly; it would be better for her to take his own finest finished products as a reference and try to improve upon them.

He hadn't expected that less than a month later, Sera would return with new Poké Balls.

The old craftsman's cheeks burned, but fortunately, Sera didn't notice, as she was still speaking with great enthusiasm.

"When I looked at the Apricorn Balls you gave me, Master, I realized that I had never actually tried to understand the fruit itself."

"So, I commissioned a Trainer to take me to the National Park, where I could witness the maturation process of an Apricorn with my own eyes. Through that process, I slowly came to understand the 'heart' of the fruit!"

"?"

Suddenly, Kurt couldn't understand what Sera was talking about.

Although many Poké Ball craftsmen scolded their apprentices to pay close attention to their technique and to pour their hearts into their craftsmanship, urging them to try and understand the hearts of the fruit and the Tumblestone, Kurt had never mentioned anything so mystical.

If you could do it, you could do it; if you couldn't, you couldn't. If the work was poor, you practiced; if it was good, you were praised.

The old craftsman was exceptionally straightforward, which was why Sera had been able to finish her apprenticeship in just three years.

Yet, now that she had finished, why was Sera suddenly bringing up all that metaphysical nonsense?

Kurt only felt that something was starting to go wrong.

"I tried touching the fruit, and then I could see the subtle veins that were invisible to the naked eye."

"Since the veins existed, I had to try to fill them."

"So, I cut the Tumblestone into threads, then chopped the threads into dust, until the Tumblestone powder was ground down to a level also invisible to the naked eye. Then, I used my psychic powers to slowly fill them into the veins one by one."

"During this process, my own heart became connected with the fruit, and in the end, I created a special Apricorn Ball."

Sera also felt that what she was saying was a jumble, nothing like the methodical way Kurt had taught her. She felt a little embarrassed and quickly added:

"However, I imagine this still hasn't reached the ideal level you intended to teach me, Master."

"—The kind of Apricorn Ball with a shell as hard as steel must be your greatest masterpiece. I want to be able to make that kind of ball, so my current level is still far from sufficient; there is still a great deal of room for improvement."

"..."

But, the kind of Apricorn Ball I made is just polished more thoroughly on the outer shell; the only effect is that it makes it easier for Trainers to maintain, that's all.

Kurt recalled his original intention. He had only meant to remind Sera not to focus too much on just the technique, but to concentrate on the Poké Ball as a whole.

Could this be a case of "planting a willow in the shade, but letting it grow into a forest"?

"Ahem."

The old craftsman coughed twice to cover up his guilty conscience.

At this point, it seemed too late to say that he hadn't meant anything of the sort.

"Yes."

Kurt pretended to be calm and followed along with Sera's words.

"—You do indeed still have plenty of room for improvement. Keep following your line of thought and continue to refine your craft."

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 98

--+--

Chapter 98: Self-Reflection, Skill Allocation, and the Mystery of the GS Ball.

--+--

In Sera’s heart, she always considered Kurt the finest Poké Ball artisan in the world. So, whenever she heard Kurt speak in his understated tone about how far she still had to go, Sera always felt inspired.

"Yes!"

The young girl answered readily. Hearing Sera so easily accept his lesson, Kurt felt a twinge of unease in his heart.

But Sera did not leave Kurt time to dwell on it; she changed the subject, bringing up the reason she had returned to Azalea Town.

"Master, I recently obtained a piece of Tumblestone. From what I understand, this Tumblestone likely comes from the Hisui region of the past, and it was a material used by artisans at the time to craft Poké Balls."

As she spoke, Sera placed the Sky Tumblestone on the table.

"Tumblestone material from the Hisui region?"

The old artisan immediately leaned in, scrutinizing the Tumblestone he had never seen before. He reached out, using his fingertips to feel the texture of the sky-blue stone.

"...Indeed. Although its appearance is unique, it is truly very close in nature to Sinnoh Tumblestone."

Kurt reached his conclusion.

Having already been stimulated by the Sera-style Poké Balls, although the ancient Hisui Tumblestone was equally astonishing, it was not enough to make Kurt lose his composure.

Moreover, the moment he saw the Sky Tumblestone, Kurt guessed Sera’s intention.

"Do you want to try using this Tumblestone to craft a Poké Ball?"

Both of them were Poké Ball artisans; when Sera had first obtained the Sky Tumblestone, she had been overcome with excitement for a long time. Kurt could well understand that feeling.

With a precious, rare material laid out before him, knowing it could be used to make a Poké Ball, how could one resist the urge to try?

"Yes. I’m currently looking for all kinds of Apricorns, trying to test one by one which type might best adapt to the Sky Tumblestone."

"In that case, why not follow the method you mentioned earlier and use the Apricorn tree by the workshop entrance?"

Kurt still could not forget those words of hers.

The old artisan had been involved in the craft of handmade Poké Balls for over sixty years and had never felt the 'heart' of an Apricorn. Yet, Sera claimed she could grasp it, and had used that ability to create her Sera-style Poké Balls.

With the results standing right before him, Kurt trusted Sera implicitly.

But if he could witness with his own eyes how the current Sera crafted a Poké Ball, perhaps his own long-stagnant path as an artisan might see some new progress.

Sera did not realize the private thoughts her master was harboring; hearing Kurt’s suggestion, she pondered for a moment.

There was an Apricorn tree growing right outside Kurt’s house. The white Apricorns that tree produced were certainly of more guaranteed quality than those bought at street-side shops.

"Then let’s try with a white Apricorn first!"

After determining the use for the Sky Tumblestone, Sera was in no rush to go outside to check the status of the Apricorns. She had one last question she wanted to confirm with Kurt.

"By the way, Master."

The young girl asked, appearing as if it were a casual thought.

"—Have you ever heard of the GS Ball?"

When Sera brought up the GS Ball, only confusion appeared on the old artisan's face. After confirming that her master truly did not know about the GS Ball, the young girl brushed it off with a laugh, letting the question slide.

"Although the use of the Sky Tumblestone is basically determined, I still have no clue about the GS Ball..."

"How on earth is one supposed to craft a GS Ball?"

It was not the first time Sera had considered this question.

Returning to her apartment, Sera took the Silver Feather out of her system space.

The silvery feather glowed quietly between her fingers. Just looking at the Silver Feather made Sera feel a sense of tranquility.

—At the end of the day, why was she so obsessed with wanting to create a GS Ball?

Sera engaged in a calm moment of self-reflection.

The GS Ball had three different settings across the games, the anime, and the special manga.

Familiar with the game mechanics, Sera knew very well that the GS Ball was significantly different from an ordinary Poké Ball, and there was a high probability it could not be used to catch Pokémon.

So, the true reason she wanted the GS Ball must, indeed, stem from the game's lore.

The GS Ball could be used to summon Celebi.

The moment she realized this key, Sera quickly understood and accepted her own desire.

That was it.

Although, up until now, she already possessed Ogerpon, and in the future, she might even catch Pokémon like Slither Wing.

Sera the Poké Ball artisan always hoped to craft better Poké Balls.

And Sera the trainer, no matter how much she had already gained, would always yearn for new encounters.

To put it bluntly, she was trying to catch Celebi.

The forest spirit, the Pokémon capable of traveling through time: Celebi.

Even if she couldn't catch Celebi, just catching a glimpse of it would satisfy Sera's desire.

"Although I don't have a GS Ball, the system probably gives me a chance to pull Celebi anyway."

Sera studied the Silver Feather for a moment longer, then stopped hesitating and took out the Rainbow Feather, placing both feathers side by side in front of her.

"But my total raising slots are limited, and I can't rely on the system to pull Pokémon forever. I have to try and catch Pokémon in reality."

Not counting Slither Wing and Shaymin, which she hadn't encountered in the real world yet, Sera only had Ogerpon.

Although Ogerpon was strong, cute, and had a great personality—not to mention potential that didn't pale in comparison to any other Pokémon—Sera couldn't keep dumping all her problems onto her.

That didn't align with the philosophy of a trainer, and it placed too much pressure on Ogerpon.

Besides.

"...If I don't catch new Pokémon soon, Ogerpon will eventually have to face Slither Wing and Shaymin suddenly."

In her heart, Sera already considered Slither Wing and Shaymin her own Pokémon, and she knew they would meet in the real world one day.

When that time came, if Sera still only had Ogerpon in her party, Ogerpon would have to deal with the sudden arrival of new companions.

The girl looked toward the bedroom.

After returning home, Ogerpon had crawled into her bedding and hadn't come out yet, so Sera had no way to ask for her thoughts.

But regardless of the answer, Sera still needed to consider all sorts of things in advance, including whether Ogerpon might harbor any resistance toward new companions.

By the time that moment arrived, if Sera still only had Ogerpon in her party and had to face the sudden arrival of new companions, things would only become trickier.

Sera couldn't wait for hidden concerns to accumulate until they erupted.

GS Ball, Celebi, the hidden issues within the team...

The premise for connecting all of this was that Sera needed to craft a GS Ball.

"Then let's do it."

Having made up her mind, Sera closed her eyes slightly and opened them again. A golden glimmer emanated from the girl's eyes; her Aura Vision was now active.

[You consumed 14 Effort Value points, and your Aura sensing ability has been significantly enhanced.]

[You sensed a shift in the aura.]

In her Aura Vision, the feathers that were emitting a faint silver glow in reality appeared as if thousands of air currents had been compressed into a single point.

The silver radiance, so intense it was nearly palpable, stung Sera's eyes until they ached sharply.

Lugia was a legendary Pokémon known as the "Guardian of the Seas," and even the feathers that fell from its body could only reveal a fraction of its power.

Yet, it was this tiny fraction of power from Lugia that caused tears to stream uncontrollably down Sera's face. The girl stubbornly kept her eyes open, attempting to decipher the hidden information within the Silver Feather.

Lugia was a dual-type Psychic and Flying Pokémon.

Her physical discomfort did not prevent Sera from thinking.

Although legendary as the "Guardian of the Seas," Lugia did not have the Water typing. Rather than controlling the ocean, its capabilities were inclined more toward controlling air currents or ocean currents.

Whenever Lugia flapped its wings, it would trigger a storm lasting forty days; this immense power was the manifestation of Aeroblast, a move unique to Lugia.

On the other side, the Rainbow Feather, which radiated seven-colored light in her Aura Vision, its streamers burning like flames, left Sera lost in thought.

Both possessed powerful and unique abilities. After leaving humanity in disappointment, Lugia could only curl up quietly in the depths of a trench to sleep, whereas Ho-Oh could soar across the skies of the entire world.

The reason was that Ho-Oh's abilities were more complex than Lugia's.

Ho-Oh's unique ability was called Sacred Fire.

In terms of offensive power, it was actually superior to Lugia, but according to the legends of Ecruteak City, it was Ho-Oh that eventually resurrected the three Pokémon that perished inside the Burned Tower, bestowing power upon them and making them its guardians.

Sacred Fire was such a mysterious flame—it could be used for attack, yet also to grant life and strength.

Whether it was Lugia or Ho-Oh, Sera had a certain understanding of them through her game Pokédex, but thinking about it carefully, there were far more things she didn't understand than things she did.

However, for the time being, Sera forced herself to analyze the abilities of Lugia and Ho-Oh using the two feathers, which could be considered a success in obtaining the intelligence she wanted.

"Poni-o?!"

At this moment, Ogerpon, finally willing to crawl out from the bedding that was still redolent with the scent of a young girl, stepped out of the bedroom and happened to see Sera with tears streaming down her face.

Ogerpon let out a startled gasp immediately. Flustered and frantic, it scrambled to Sera’s side, having absolutely no idea what had happened.

"I’m fine..."

Sera managed to speak, trying to reassure it, but no matter how one looked at it, her demeanor was the complete opposite of her words.

"Alright, alright, go fetch me some tissues."

After a flurry of activity, Sera, sporting eyes that were still somewhat red and swollen, kept stroking Ogerpon’s head, holding it in her arms while continuing to insist that she was indeed perfectly fine.

Although she had nearly frightened Ogerpon, the girl looked at the two feathers and found a sense of bitter joy.

Sera had always been reluctant to use Aura Vision to observe the two feathers before, the reason being that overusing one's aura could cause self-harm.

Normally, even just maintaining Aura Vision consumed a massive amount of physical strength, to say nothing of using it to observe the feathers of legendary Pokémon; a single mistake could potentially lead to serious consequences.

But Sera had just come to a realization.

Since she had to fully study the two feathers before she could attempt to craft the GS Ball, if she had to look eventually, she might as well try sooner rather than later.

And so, Sera invested 14 Effort Value points into her Aura sensing ability, elevating this skill to a level that could rival psychic powers.

With a cumulative 20 Effort Value points, the Aura sensing ability allowed Sera to use Aura Vision to observe the auras of living things directly; now, Sera could even perceive the true essence of a creature through her aura.

For example, Ogerpon beside her was emitting a lush, green, misty aura, and within that aura, a gem-like brilliance flowed—a sign that Ogerpon was channeling the power of the Terastal crystal on its Teal Mask.

"Pon... Pon-o..."

Ogerpon kept nuzzling its head against Sera’s embrace, wanting the girl to continue holding it and comforting it.

The physical pressure was quite intense...

The sensitive Ogerpon could detect that Sera was using her psychic powers.

To show sincerity, Sera didn't even feel right using the psychic powers that she had been getting increasingly adept at lately; she could only continue to hold the nearly hundred-pound little demon.

—Is it about time to allocate some Effort Value to physical stamina, too?

Sera thought, distracted.

Her psychic power was clearly strong enough for the time being, and if she continued to increase her aura, she would have to start from scratch in directions other than sensing.

Since she still had some Effort Value left, she might as well use a bit more.

She acted on the thought.

While Ogerpon wasn't looking, Sera quietly opened the simulator and went through a series of operations.

[You consumed 7 Effort Value points, your physical stamina has been improved.]

[You consumed 5 Effort Value points, your strength has been improved.]

[You consumed 2 Effort Value points, your psychic power has been improved.]

[You feel like you are full of strength.]

By bringing all her current stats to multiples of 5, Sera’s obsessive-compulsive nature was slightly satisfied.

Although the increase in other stats wasn't as particularly dramatic as the 14 points poured into Aura sensing, when taken together, Sera felt her physical condition was better than ever before.

Even her eyes, which had felt red, swollen, and painful just moments ago, now felt much cooler, and the pain had eased significantly.

Huh?

Sera was greatly astonished.

Could it be that the stamina bonus in the simulator wasn't just about endurance, but actually functioned like an HP bar?

When she used Aura Vision, she would feel physically unwell due to the massive expenditure of stamina, but after consuming Effort Value to raise her maximum stamina, the previous drain had been mitigated quite a bit.

"Incredible..."

Since her eyes were no longer uncomfortable, Sera didn't stay curled up on the sofa; she placed her hands under Ogerpon's arms and lifted her up as she stood.

"Pon-o?"

Ogerpon only then realized with a start that Sera had actually lifted her up.

"Heh heh~"

The girl laughed softly and spun in a circle before setting Ogerpon down.

Ogerpon weighed about 40 kilograms. If this were the old Sera, while she might have been able to do something similar, she certainly wouldn't have done it with such ease.

The current her was very strong!

Although she only had 10 Effort Value points left in reserve, Sera was once again filled with satisfaction as she looked over the two feathers on the table again.

"Next, it’s time to start crafting!"

Sera grabbed both feathers, her expression confident.

Before a secret is discovered, it always appears shrouded in mystery, but Sera now completely understood the aura composition within the feather. She cleared the fog from this path; even if loose gravel pricked her feet as she walked further, the finish line had already manifested before her eyes.

The mysteries of the GS Ball, I have seen through them all!

"Pon... Pon-oh?"

Ogerpon looked left and right, still reeling from Sera's astonishing performance just moments ago. Seeing the girl's current, incredibly spirited exclamation, she could only weakly extend a hand to echo the sentiment.

"Alright! Let's go out and have a big feast to celebrate tonight!"

Ogerpon understood that sentence, at least.

Although she still didn't quite grasp what had just happened, a big feast sounded great!

"Pon-oh~!"

The little demon forgot about the previous situation, hopping with excitement as she took the lead and ran toward the door.

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 99

--+--

Chapter 99: The Distress Call from Area Zero

--+--

The next morning, Sera headed to the workshop first to check the status of the white Apricorns on the tree outside the front door of Kurt’s house.

The fruits on the Apricorn tree in front of the Poké Ball craftsman’s home were naturally plucked as soon as they ripened. Sera touched the remaining white Apricorns; most still needed another day or two before they would be ready.

A day or two was a wait Kurt could afford, but the old craftsman was keen to see Sera’s skill in crafting handmade Poké Balls using her psychic abilities.

And so, Sera demonstrated to her mentor how to complete a single Apricorn Ball in one hour, from processing the Apricorn to filling it with the Tumblestone thread.

After the work was finished, the old craftsman looked at the brand-new Fast Ball in front of him and, in the end, simply remained silent.

Seeing that Kurt’s expression remained as plain as ever, Sera figured there really wasn't much to say about a standard Apricorn Ball. She left the ball for her mentor to study at his leisure and headed home, planning to return and check the Apricorns again tomorrow.

The use of the Sky Tumblestone required waiting for the white Apricorns. Although the GS Ball was not, strictly speaking, a Poké Ball, the materials required for its construction also needed Apricorns to contain the power of the feather.

—Since these two days were free, and waiting was all she could do, she might as well turn her attention to the game.

Sera and Ogerpon each lay comfortably on the sofa.

"Pon!"

This was Ogerpon’s first time watching a video program on a large liquid-crystal screen, and she was exceptionally engrossed.

Sera listened to the little oni occasionally exclaim in a low voice; with the background noise of the program buzzing in her ears, she felt a wave of sentimentality upon returning to such a comfortable environment.

Days without the need to go out and travel — staying at home really had a flavor all its own.

The young girl leaned against the sofa back, holding the simulator up and watching the scenery from the other side of the world.

"Shaymin is... still in the Alabaster Icelands."

The little hedgehog was crawling across the snow, its speed best described as tragic.

Although Shaymin was trying its best to move, it had only finished half of its journey since Zoroark pointed out the goal on the snowy mountain.

Zorua would come to find Shaymin from time to time, though it didn't bring a gift every time.

"I hope I can get some new items soon..."

Sera made a wish, but seeing that there was really no new progress on Shaymin’s side, she could only set it aside for now and look toward the other end of the screen.

The Pokémon squad, deep in Paldea’s Area Zero, had finally arrived at the upper levels of Area Zero today.

—Only the final stretch remained.

For this last bit of the journey, Sera prepared to watch Slither Wing move forward. As soon as she focused her attention on the screen, Slither Wing seemed to sense something.

[Slither Wing has sensed your presence.]

--+--

"Puni!"

Slither Wing had just extended its forefoot when it suddenly paused in mid-air, letting out a spirited cry.

Flutter Mane had been floating in mid-air, surveying the surroundings and checking the situation; upon hearing Slither Wing’s cry, which was different from usual, it instantly grasped the situation.

"Habu?"

—What kind of ideas has your brain cooked up this time?

Slither Wing couldn't detect the mockery in Flutter Mane’s tone; it simply nodded seriously, explaining its opinion.

"Puni puni!"

I feel like we’re almost at the destination; we should pick up the pace, just in case.

On this final leg of the journey, it wasn't just Slither Wing and Flutter Mane moving together; Koraidon, who was preparing to leave Area Zero, was also following along to the side.

Having spent the previous period constantly battling the Guardian of Paradise, leaving the bottom floor in complete disarray, the culprit who had sent the other Pokémon scurrying for cover heard Slither Wing’s words and expressed firm agreement.

"Gaa-shhh!"

Clearly, Koraidon also hadn't picked up on the subtext in Flutter Mane’s words.

Seeing the two Pokémon beneath it both looking at it with innocent eyes, Flutter Mane couldn't help but shake its head.

"Habu."

To think that at first, it had felt Koraidon was brimming with might, both powerful and unapproachable. But after getting to know it, wasn't this guy just a second Slither Wing?

In this little squad, was it the only one who actually considered the situation seriously?

Moving toward the upper area, Flutter Mane could already see the thick cloud layer above, and the faint exit visible near those clouds.

That was the outside world.

Although Flutter Mane had not the slightest understanding of the outside world, it hadn't originally felt it needed to head out there either.

But after that personage pointed out the goal, Flutter Mane found itself feeling a glimmer of interest.

The outside... what was it really like?

In an unfamiliar environment, the only thing one could rely on was their companions. Flutter Mane looked around; Slither Wing and Koraidon had rushed ahead with all their might—the two of them were actually competing for speed.

This Slither Wing was clearly panting and couldn't keep up with Koraidon at all, yet it insisted on pushing itself against the other.

Koraidon was the same; its muscles were incredibly well-developed, and a single leap could propel it a hundred meters forward, yet it would stop every so often while running to wait for Slither Wing.

"…Habu-habu."

Flutter Mane sighed in wonder.

It was hard to believe there were two such similar Pokémon in the world.

But if it hadn't been for the intervention of that person, Slither Wing and Koraidon likely would never have met.

It was the same for itself; without that accident, it wouldn't have even spared a glance at Slither Wing, let alone spent time with it or embarked on an adventure together like this.

Seeing the two of them ahead and already quite a distance away, Flutter Mane prepared to pick up its pace, floating along to catch up.

However, as the distance closed, a strange sound suddenly caught Flutter Mane's ear.

"…Is anyone there!"

"Please, I beg you!"

"Someone, save me!"

In Flutter Mane's memory, it had only heard a human voice once, long ago, and it was utterly bewildered by the noise.

It didn't know what was happening, but in Area Zero, the more one shouted, the more likely they were to be attacked.

The exit was right before its eyes, and Flutter Mane had no desire to involve itself in trivial matters.

However, Slither Wing, far ahead, came to a halt.

"Habu…"

Damn it…

Flutter Mane had a bad feeling about this.

--+--

"A human?"

Sera furrowed her brow.

Although the training model for Slither Wing was similar to that of a Pokémon rescue team, she was usually able to hear the exchange between Pokémon through Slither Wing in her daily life.

Regardless of how one listened, the way humans and Pokémon spoke was certainly not the same thing.

Once she captured the sound of those cries for help, even though the exit of Area Zero was right in front of them, Sera still maneuvered Slither Wing toward the source of the sound.

--+--

"Help…"

After a continuous string of hoarse, desperate cries for help, Arven knelt on the ground, staring at his blood-stained hands. Mabosstiff, lying before him, was covered in blood, and Arven felt only despair.

"Wait… right!"

The young man suddenly remembered.

"Flying…… Flying Taxi!"

"If I ask for help, maybe someone can save us!"

"Mabosstiff, just hold on…… a little longer……"

Arven’s desperate attempt to comfort Mabosstiff was cut short.

He had just pulled out his Rotom Phone, intending to call the Flying Taxi, when suddenly, he heard heavy, rhythmic footsteps.

—The footsteps were drawing closer.

--+--

Digital Pokemon - 100

--+--

Chapter 100: Boar-Rush Slither Wing

--+--

The figure of Koraidon was the first to catch Arven’s eyes.

The crimson giant strode on its two legs; with every step it took, a heavy thud echoed out into the distance.

Koraidon considered itself a powerhouse and made no attempt to conceal its presence. The moment Arven saw it, Koraidon likewise spotted the young man.

“...Gaoooosh?”

“Ah!”

Arven’s hands trembled as he raised them to point at Koraidon. Far away in her apartment in Ecruteak City, Sera heard his tone of utter disbelief through the simulator.

“You... Koraidon?!”

This boy who had inexplicably appeared in Area Zero actually recognized Koraidon.

The girl knitted her delicate brows, focusing her attention once more on the character on the screen.

Unfortunately, the pixelated display made it impossible for Sera to see the boy’s features clearly. In the system notes, the name displayed above the head of this boy who knew Koraidon was simply labeled as ‘Student.’

—How could he possibly be an ordinary student? He’s not an NPC!

Recalling the past, when Ogerpon had bumped into someone searching for her, the tag the system gave the other party was similarly generic: ‘Villager.’

The most important thing for the Electronic Pokémon Raising System was, naturally, the Pokémon; humans were, for the most part, entirely insignificant.

Sera grumbled inwardly, though she could do nothing about the system. She could only pout and return her gaze to the screen.

--+--

The Pokémon that arrived after hearing the boy’s cries for help were not limited to Koraidon. Just as Arven was distracted upon his first sight of Koraidon, another massive yellow-and-white figure stepped out from behind the beast.

Arven had originally been preoccupied with wondering why Koraidon would be near the entrance to Area Zero, but upon seeing Slither Wing appear before him, his face went deathly pale.

“Volcarona... No! How could there be a Volcarona this big!”

Slither Wing’s appearance was nearly identical to a Volcarona; however, a typical Volcarona reached a height of, at most, around 1.6 meters.

Slither Wing’s body was not as sturdy as Koraidon’s, but once it dropped to its four limbs, the height of its golden insect wings reached nearly four meters—it was even more imposing than Koraidon.

The moment those insectoid eyes, which betrayed no emotion, locked onto him, goosebumps broke out across Arven’s skin. He couldn’t help but tremble and retreat, only to stumble and fall to the ground from exhaustion.

Arven landed hard on his backside, but he didn’t dare look away from Slither Wing. Just then, another figure lurking above Slither Wing’s head caught the boy’s eye.

Long, flowing feathers swayed as a dark green phantom drifted lazily in the air. It curled its lips into a smirk, its crimson-yellow eyes fixed intently on Arven, clearly signaling that it had already marked him as its target.

“What... what is this now?!”

Arven was on the verge of a breakdown, babbling incoherently. The Pokémon appearing before him left him unable to distinguish dream from reality.

A massive Volcarona, similar in appearance but different in color, crawling upon the ground.

A strange, haunting phantom that resembled a Misdreavus, yet twice the size, its head-feathers swaying like a ghost’s, possessing a gaze so vicious that the mere sight of it was enough to chill him to the bone.

And then...

Arven couldn't help but shift his gaze back to Koraidon.

—Koraidon.

A Pokémon he had seen as a child, one that had lived with him and his mother for a time.

Arven could no longer remember exactly what had happened during that period; he only recalled that a terrible situation had occurred, forcing his mother to take Koraidon back into the heart of the Great Crater of Paldea.

The lingering resentment of having his mother taken away remained unforgettable to this day, which was why Arven remembered Koraidon so clearly.

Arven had enrolled in Naranja Academy this year, and, inspired by the school’s treasure-hunting activities, he had acted on a whim.

He had secretly slipped into Area Zero—a place where entry was strictly forbidden—in hopes of finding his mother.

He never expected that, just after crossing the entrance to Area Zero, he would be subjected to an inexplicable attack. He hadn't even seen the assailant clearly before Mabosstiff, who had accompanied him since childhood in his mother’s stead, was gravely wounded.

...Right!

Mabosstiff was still injured!

Arven’s face drained of color. The relentless barrage of shocks left him unable to process the situation, but the thought of Mabosstiff’s condition forced him to steel himself. He slowly climbed to his feet, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a Poké Ball.

Although his impression of Koraidon was hazy, he didn’t recall the creature having a friendly temperament; it must have done something terrible to force his mother to leave him.

And that was to say nothing of the two unidentified Pokémon currently standing alongside it.

Arven’s hands and feet trembled; he fumbled for a Poké Ball in his pocket and then pointed it sharply toward Mabosstiff.

Ding—

A beam of light shot from the Poké Ball, engulfed Mabosstiff, and whisked him away.

Flutter Mane watched this scene with keen interest.

She didn't particularly care what was going through the mind of this small, seemingly weak creature she had never seen before, but the tool used to recall Mabosstiff was somewhat intriguing.

Since she hadn't wanted to come here in the first place, Flutter Mane was silently observing the situation. As for Slither Wing, his mind was as still as stagnant water, completely blank, waiting for Sera to direct him.

Now was the time!

Arven scrambled to his feet and bolted!

When one feels danger, one should not hesitate to flee—this was a lesson summarized by generations of trainers.

Though Arven’s thoughts were in a chaotic mess and he had no idea what he would do once he escaped.

Still, anything was better than staying in front of these things!

--+--

[The passing student has fled!]

Sera looked at the image on the screen and fell silent.

How to put it...

Although she could roughly guess how Paradox Pokémon were perceived by ordinary people, the fact that someone would be so terrified just by a single glance that they felt compelled to run away confirmed that, in terms of appearance, these ancient Pokémon were indeed unusually fierce and terrifying.

But sighs were just sighs; Sera couldn't just let the NPC go.

Setting aside his inexplicable familiarity with Koraidon, the most important reason was the quest the system had just refreshed.

[You have received a new limited-time quest.]

--+--

[Emergency Event: Assistance]

[The student you encountered is in crisis; please help the student leave Area Zero.]

[Quest Goal: Leave Area Zero together with the student]

[Quest Reward: Effort Value +1, Raising Point +10]

--+--

Even the legs of a mosquito are still meat.

Sera had wanted her Pokémon team to leave Area Zero anyway, so bringing the NPC along wouldn't be an inconvenience, but if he were to run away and interfere with her completing the mission, that just wouldn't do.

"Go, bring him along."

The heartless girl manipulated Slither Wing and issued the command.

--+--

"Puni."

A spark of inspiration finally stirred in Slither Wing’s mind.

He raised his foreleg and pointed at the boy who had only run a hundred meters away.

Without the need for further communication, Koraidon immediately understood the intent behind the aura lurking behind Slither Wing.

"Gaa-ash—!"

The red lizard, possessing both Fighting and Dragon types, kicked off the ground with his hind legs. A massive burst of strength exploded forth, and his heavy silhouette surged forward, whipping up a gale.

The thunderous boom of rushing air reached Arven's ears just as he turned his head, only to see Koraidon already appearing at his side. The beast opened its maw, snapping at him with a mouth full of fangs.

"...Eek?!"

The terrifying sight made Arven’s eyes widen to their limit. He couldn't help but squeeze them shut, dreading what might happen next.

In reality, Koraidon simply snapped at him and caught Arven by the back of his collar.

Although Koraidon could stand and move, and in daily combat preferred his two-legged form, his body wasn't as dexterous as a human's.

Koraidon wanted to grab Arven without hurting him, so he had no choice but to use his mouth.

When Arven felt a tremendous force lift him up by his collar and the irresistible momentum took hold, a whistling wind echoed in his ears.

The boy couldn't help but open his eyes, feeling the world spin. By the time he regained his senses, he had already landed on Koraidon’s back.

And next came...

"Gash!"

With Arven on his back, Koraidon lifted his head.

Though he had no idea what was happening, Arven followed Koraidon’s gaze, looking far into the thick clouds in the sky, and suddenly realized what was about to occur.

"Wait... wait a second?"

The boy’s face drained of color in an instant.

Koraidon ignored Arven's opinion entirely. Once he locked onto a direction, he slowly lowered his body, his immense power concentrating in that moment. The ground beneath his feet cracked open.

Then, Koraidon leaped high!

Unprecedented force, unprecedented speed!

Not only that.

The feathers on both sides of Koraidon’s head flared open at that moment, and even the airflow was forced to submit to his strength.

The wingless dragon soared into the air, and amidst the boy's ceaseless wailing on his back, they vanished into the clouds in an instant.

"I already told you to wait a second, aaaaaah!!!!"

--+--

"Haa-bu..."

Watching Koraidon and Arven disappear into the distance, Flutter Mane sighed with endless wonder.

—That big guy actually possessed power like that.

Although Flutter Mane saw Koraidon leap nearly a hundred meters in a single bound on a daily basis, and often saw it shatter giant boulders with its fists, it had never imagined that those feats weren't Koraidon's limits.

To be able to fly using nothing but its physical body—Flutter Mane couldn't even fathom what level of power that required, only feeling a sense of awe after witnessing the scene.

Could it be that I've been underestimating Koraidon?

Flutter Mane reflected on the recent period of time since Koraidon joined the team, feeling a sense of internal alarm at the dismissiveness it had shown.

Just because a guy seems simple-minded, it doesn't necessarily mean it is weak. It must never be underestimated.

Even the one beneath it—who was not only simple-minded but, in all likelihood, didn't even have a brain to speak of—was secretly being looked after by some mysterious existence.

"Puni?"

Slither Wing, feeling itself being repeatedly scrutinized by Flutter Mane for no reason, asked straightforwardly.

Do you need something?

"Haa-bu."

—You just stay right there and wait, kid.

Flutter Mane brushed it off as it ordered Slither Wing around, and Slither Wing truly just stopped and stood motionless.

The outside world might be even more treacherous, after all.

The more Flutter Mane saw Slither Wing’s senseless, brainless demeanor, the more it felt the weight of its own responsibility.

Koraidon had already taken someone and left; the commotion it caused in breaking out of Area Zero might attract further changes.

Flutter Mane felt it could no longer afford to delay. Since it was prepared to leave Area Zero, it had to seize the time and take action.

Having seen the power Koraidon displayed just now, Flutter Mane had also come to a realization.

Within this team, Koraidon undoubtedly possessed the ability to come and go from Area Zero as it pleased. It hadn't tried doing so itself yet, but perhaps it could float its way out.

However, what about Slither Wing?

"Haa-bu?"

We’re already standing here, have you figured out how you’re getting out, kid?

Slither Wing had no way to fly, and its heavy build made it impossible for it to be carried by Koraidon like Arven was.

While Flutter Mane's psychic power was strong, it was only skilled at using telekinesis for attacks; it couldn't be nimble enough to lift and float Slither Wing all the way up.

Things had come to this, and Flutter Mane still hadn't figured out exactly how Slither Wing was supposed to leave Area Zero.

Hearing Flutter Mane’s question, Slither Wing tilted its head, then looked up at the structures on the cliff wall.

In and out of the Great Crater of Paldea, the only normal entrance or exit point was the facility leading straight through the mountain wall: the Area Zero Gate.

"Puni."

I’m going to climb out.

Slither Wing spoke quite matter-of-factly, saying something that made Flutter Mane feel as if it had misheard.

"...Haa-bu?"

...You, kid, you said you were going to climb out?

The walls of the Great Crater of Paldea were so steep they were nearly vertical; under normal circumstances, no one would ever expect a Pokémon to be able to climb out along the rock face.

From the bottom to the top, a height of nearly several thousand meters—how could it possibly climb its way out?

But Slither Wing had its own perspective.

As for climbing rock walls, it was true that it couldn't sustain it for long on its own; it would likely exhaust all its stamina and fall after climbing only a few hundred meters.

But if its stamina was easy to drain, wouldn't it just be a matter of continuously replenishing it?

From Slither Wing’s straightforward line of thinking, the simplest and most direct solution was born.

The road was right there in front of it. Since there was a path, even if it were a bit difficult, it was still a path that could be walked.

Actions that other Pokémon wouldn't think of, and would likely never attempt, Slither Wing could execute through pure intuition and aggressive persistence.

The essential reason for this method of action was that Slither Wing had the support of Sera.

Although it couldn't charge out directly with domineering power like Koraidon, nor could it float easily into the high sky like Flutter Mane.

But as long as the bull-headed Slither Wing could maintain its pace and not fall, it could force its way up to that only exit leading out of Area Zero.

--+--

[Slither Wing is full of motivation!]

[Slither Wing can't wait to leave Area Zero by climbing the rock wall!]

[Please note: During this time, Slither Wing's actions will consume stamina significantly; you must be vigilant in replenishing it at all times.]

[Would you like to initiate the trial challenge for Slither Wing to leave Area Zero?]

Sera’s hand rested on the buttons of the handheld simulation device.

To this day, the girl still felt that her impression of Slither Wing was remarkably ordinary.

It possessed neither a sharp mind nor overwhelming power.

Even with its status as a Paradox Pokémon, and belonging to a rare shiny variant within the Slither Wing population at that, when compared to the charismatic Flutter Mane and Koraidon, the Slither Wing that Sera had pulled truly seemed too mundane.

Yet, even so, Slither Wing had never once let Sera down.

Although it stumbled and crawled in a disheveled mess, initially facing an ambush from Scream Tail and later a careless encounter with Walking Wake after falling to the deepest level of Area Zero, it struggled to survive throughout.

Regardless of the circumstances, Slither Wing was always able to hold on, using its slow but persistent actions to gradually grow stronger.

—There was never any trace of suffering from the process in its eyes; all it saw was the goal.

Through the eyes of Slither Wing, Sera gazed up at the rocky cliff face that stretched upward for thousands of meters.

"How many Raising Points will I have to spend on items to get through this stretch of road..."

A wry smile tugged at the corners of the girl's mouth, but her hands did not stop their work.

[Yes.]

'Puni!'

Slither Wing extended its foreleg and took the first step.

--+--

Overhaul Rebirth Batch 3/3.