As they ventured further along the narrow mountain path, Naoki noticed signs of other Pokémon ahead.
A group of Pokémon resembling small boulders with muscular arms were scattered along the trail.
"There are so many Geodudes!"
Naoki's gaze swept across the mountain road, which was dotted with numerous Geodude floating leisurely in the air.
Some of them had partially buried themselves underground, blending seamlessly with the rocky terrain. Only their eyes and the tops of their heads were visible, peeking out to observe Naoki and his companions.
It was an impressive sight. From what Naoki could see, there were at least fifty or sixty Geodude along the path.
Koraidon and Pawmot also noticed the Geodude.
Pawmot, fascinated by the floating Pokémon, pointed excitedly at one of them and turned to Naoki, seemingly asking how it managed to stay aloft.
Naoki thought for a moment, realizing Pawmot's question fell outside his expertise.
"Logically speaking, Geodude shouldn't have the ability to float," he said, scratching his head. "But somehow, they do. It's amazing!"
After a bit of consideration, he offered a guess. "Maybe it has something to do with gravity?"
"Pawmot…" Pawmot tilted its head, utterly confused by the concept of gravity.
As Naoki prepared to explain further, he noticed Koraidon was about to step on a Geodude partially hidden underground.
"Wait!" Naoki quickly reached out, stopping Koraidon just in time.
"Ah, gah?" Koraidon looked down, noticing the Geodude beneath its foot, and quickly backed away.
"Careful not to step on them," Naoki warned.
He remembered the Pokédex entry that described Geodude as having tough and irritable temperaments. Stepping on one could easily provoke its wrath.
And with so many Geodude around, a riot would be nothing short of chaos.
Choosing the safer route, Naoki led Pawmot and Koraidon around the group of Geodude, carefully avoiding any unnecessary conflict.
About thirty minutes later, they finally reached the halfway point of the mountain.
Naoki paused, sniffing the air. A faint sulfuric smell lingered, and the surrounding temperature had noticeably risen.
"All of this says we've reached Hell Valley!"
The realization reignited Naoki's excitement, and Pawmot mirrored his energy, eagerly bouncing forward.
As they continued deeper into the area, the heat became more intense, and clouds of milky-white steam periodically hissed from the ground.
Both Naoki and Pawmot were soon drenched in sweat. Koraidon, however, seemed unfazed; its rugged build handled the harsh environment with ease.
"This heat…" Naoki muttered, wiping his forehead. "No wonder trainers use this place for endurance training. It's perfect for toughening up."
Looking around, he began to notice the presence of Fire-type Pokémon.
Not far ahead, a group of Houndoom watched them warily. Some let out low, eerie howls, alerting their companions to the intruders' presence.
Naoki immediately understood the situation.
"This must be Houndoom territory," he said.
Suddenly, the sound of a battle echoed from deeper within the valley.
The Houndoom group turned in unison, their attention drawn to the commotion. Without hesitation, they sprinted toward the source of the noise.
Naoki and his companions continued cautiously in the same direction, navigating a rocky trail until they reached an open area.
The scene before them was captivating.
A young trainer stood confidently, commanding a powerful Infernape in battle against a wild Houndoom.
Infernape moved with astonishing speed and precision, its flames blazing brightly as it delivered a series of well-executed attacks.
Despite Houndoom's ferocity, the wild Pokémon couldn't keep up. Infernape overpowered it in just a few moves.
As Houndoom collapsed, weakened and unable to fight further, the trainer retrieved a Poké Ball from his belt and threw it. The ball struck Houndoom, opened, and drew the wild Pokémon inside with a flash of red light.
The surrounding Houndoom, who had gathered to observe the fight, dispersed swiftly upon seeing Houndoom captured.
The young trainer didn't seem overly concerned as he pocketed Houndoom's Poké Ball and turned to leave.
But then, his gaze met Naoki's.
The boy's eyes immediately locked onto Koraidon, the scarlet-colored, muscular Pokémon standing proudly nearby. His attention quickly shifted to Pawmot, with its fluffy pink fur, red cape fluttering behind it, and the small silver hammer it carried confidently in its paw.
The boy's expression lit up with interest, and his Infernape, sensing its trainer's excitement, flared up with a surge of fiery energy. The flames on its body burned even brighter.
Naoki, trying to remain polite, waved and greeted him. "Hi there, how's it going?"
The boy's voice brimmed with enthusiasm. "You're a trainer too, right? Here to train in Hell Valley? Since we've met, how about a Pokémon battle?"
Naoki sighed internally. Of course.
The age-old rule of trainers meeting eyes: a battle was inevitable.
But the heat was relentless, and Naoki had little patience for it. He only wanted to find the Slugmas and leave the valley as quickly as possible.
"No, I'm not here to train," Naoki replied, shaking his head. "I'm just looking for a specific Pokémon."
He turned to walk away, but the boy dashed after him.
"Looking for a Pokémon? What kind? Maybe I can help!"
Naoki glanced over his shoulder, skeptical.
The boy quickly added, "I've been training here for a month! I know all the Pokémon that live in this area. I can help you find it—if you agree to a Pokémon battle first!"
Naoki sighed deeply. "Aren't trainers a bit too obsessed with battles?" he muttered to himself.
Still, the sooner he found the Slugmas, the sooner he could leave this sweltering place. Reluctantly, he turned back. "Alright, do you know where I can find Slugmas?"
The boy brightened instantly. "Slugmas? Of course, I know where to find them!"
"Great," Naoki said with a sigh of resignation. "Let's battle, then."
"Eh?!" The boy blinked, momentarily thrown by Naoki's sudden change in tone.
But his surprise was short-lived. His fighting spirit reignited, and his eyes gleamed with determination. "Alright! Let's go, Infernape!"
The Flame Pokémon nodded fiercely and stepped forward, its fiery mane roaring with intensity.
Naoki gestured to Koraidon.
In the wild, Pokémon battles were free-form, without the formal restrictions of league rules. As the trainers prepared, the battle began without further ado.
The boy's gaze didn't waver as he called out his first move. "Infernape, use Flame Wheel!"
At his command, Infernape's flames surged to new heights, enveloping its body in a fiery vortex. The Pokémon charged toward Koraidon at full speed, spinning rapidly like a living wheel of fire.
Naoki, unfazed, wiped the sweat from his brow and called out calmly, "Koraidon, Collision Course!"
"Ah, gah!"
Koraidon roared in acknowledgment. Scarlet energy coursed through its body as it leapt forward with staggering speed. The air around it seemed to warp as it radiated an ancient, primal power.
In a matter of seconds, the two Pokémon collided with a resounding impact.
The resulting explosion was deafening. A shockwave rippled through the valley, and smoke billowed into the air.
When the dust settled, Infernape lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Its flames had fizzled out entirely.
Koraidon stood tall, its crimson form unscathed, exuding an air of triumph.
The boy stood frozen in disbelief, his jaw slightly agape.
"So… strong…" he whispered, too stunned to move.
What kind of Pokémon was that? How could it take down his Infernape with a single move?
Helian stared in disbelief. After all, he wasn't just any trainer—he had participated in the prestigious Lily of the Valley Conference and made it to the top eight!
But now, his Infernape had been defeated in an instant.
Helian's mind raced, piecing together the only plausible explanation.
'Could this person be… a Champion-level trainer?'
Naoki, sensing the boy's bewilderment, coughed lightly to break the awkward silence. "Well… the battle's over."
Still stunned, Helian finally snapped out of it. He stepped forward, pulled a potion from his bag, and carefully treated Infernape before returning it to its Poké Ball for some well-deserved rest.
"If I've lost, I'll honor my word," Helian said with a determined nod. "I'll take you to where the Slugmas live!"
"Thank you," Naoki said sincerely, relieved that this would save him time.
"You're not from Kitakami, are you?" Helian asked, his curiosity piqued. "By the way, my name's Helian. What's yours?"
"I'm Naoki," he replied. "I'm visiting from the Paldea region."
Helian's jaw dropped. "P-Paldea? That's on the other side of the world! You traveled all that way?"
Naoki nodded. "I'm here on a work trip."
Helian's eyes widened further. 'No wonder! It all made sense now—he didn't recognize the scarlet Pokémon or the pink one because they must be native to Paldea.'
Pulling out his Pokédex, Helian scanned Koraidon and Pawmot, hoping to learn more about them. However, the device returned the same frustrating message: 'No data available. This Pokémon has not been discovered yet.'
Helian's curiosity grew. "Your Pokémon are incredible! What are their names?"
Naoki smiled and gestured toward his companions. "This is Koraidon, and this one here is Pawmot. They're both from the Paldea region. Are you from Sinnoh?"
Helian's eyes widened in surprise. "How'd you guess that?"
Naoki chuckled softly "Because Infernape evolves from Chimchar, one of the three starter Pokémon given to new trainers by the Sinnoh League."
Helian scratched his head sheepishly. "Oh, right! I nearly forgot." He then looked at Naoki with a mix of admiration and awe. "Your Pokémon are incredibly strong. You must be a Champion-level trainer!"
Naoki waved the comment off. "I don't know about that," he admitted.
Helian tilted his head, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Naoki explained honestly, "I've never participated in any Champion assessments. My main job is being a rancher. I'm in Kitakami Township for an agricultural exchange with the local farmers."
Helian blinked, completely floored.
"A rancher?!" he exclaimed internally. 'How is this guy a rancher? He's nothing like any rancher I've ever seen!'
After a moment of silence, Helian said earnestly, "With your skills, I'm sure you'd dominate the Lily of the Valley Conference back in Sinnoh. I bet you'd walk away as the Champion!"
Naoki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The name Lily of the Valley Conference triggered a faint memory. He recalled it being a major event in the Sinnoh region, prominently featured in the anime.
"That's the grandest tournament we have in Sinnoh!" Helian said enthusiastically. "Only trainers who've collected all eight Gym Badges are allowed to compete!"
"If you win the tournament, not only will you gain fame and a large sum of money, but you'll also earn the chance to battle against the regional champion, Miss Cynthia!" Helian exclaimed excitedly.
Cynthia… The image of a tall, composed blonde woman with piercing eyes and an air of mystery flashed through Naoki's mind. Smiling to himself, he shook his head and replied,
"Everyone has their own ambitions. Instead of becoming a champion, I'd rather enjoy a peaceful life with the Pokémon I love."
Helian nodded in understanding. "Fair enough."
The heat around them became increasingly oppressive. The intense temperature made Helian, dressed in a lightweight short-sleeved shirt, visibly uncomfortable. He flushed red as he dramatically shed his shirt, fanning himself with his hands. "It's scorching! I can't take this anymore!"
Naoki, drenched in sweat, exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. The air around them shimmered with heat, and he silently prayed for some relief, though he doubted any was forthcoming.
Helian scanned the surroundings, his gaze sharp as if searching for something specific. Suddenly, he bolted towards a nearby hillside. After a brief moment of observation, he turned back, shouting with enthusiasm:
"Naoki! Over here! The Slugmas are here!"
Naoki rushed to join him, eager to see what lay ahead.
On a sun-bleached hillside scattered with jagged rocks, a vibrant gathering of Slugmas basked in the searing heat. Volcanic gases hissed and curled into the air from fissures among the rubble, creating a scene both dynamic and fiery. The red Slugmas crawled lazily, their movements reflecting the sluggish but lively ambiance of the area.
At last!
Naoki's eyes lit up with excitement as he spotted the Pokémon they had been searching for. But his excitement quickly turned to curiosity as his eyes fell upon one particular Slugma. It stood out from the rest, its body radiating a crystalline glow, refracting light into a spectrum of colors. On its head rested a peculiar red candlestick-like structure that pulsed faintly.
"Is that… Terastallization?" Naoki muttered, stunned.
Helian looked equally confused. "I have no idea what that is. But this isn't the first time I've seen Pokémon with strange appearances like that around here. Over the past month, I've come across several Pokémon that looked… unusual. After battling them, they'd return to normal."
Naoki turned to Helian, his expression thoughtful. "That's Terastallization."
"Terastallization?" Helian repeated, puzzled.
"It's a phenomenon unique to the Paldea region," Naoki explained. "When Pokémon undergo Terastallization, a crystalline energy envelops their bodies, temporarily changing their types and enhancing their abilities. It's a lot like…" He paused for a moment, recalling the broader Pokémon mechanics. Originally, he was about to compare it to Mega Evolution but at this time, Mega Evolution might not have been released yet, so he changed his words midway:
"It's similar to Dynamaxing in the Galar region."
"What's Dynamax?" Helian asked, looking even more confused.
Naoki: "…"
He couldn't help but ask, "Don't you keep up with news from other regions?"
Helian scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, those places are so far away… and I'm usually traveling, so I don't really get a chance to watch the news."
"Fair enough." Naoki sighed, thinking back to how Helian had used his Pokédex earlier. It must have been the regional Pokédex for Sinnoh, which lacked entries for Pokémon from other regions.
Considering the limited communication technologies and underdeveloped internet of this era, it made sense that many trainers had no way of learning about the happenings in distant regions.
"If you get the chance," Naoki said, "you should visit the Galar region and the Paldea region to see for yourself."
Helian nodded with determination. "I will!"
Turning his attention to the group of Slugmas, Naoki smiled at Pawmot. "Pawmot, I'll leave this to you!"
"Pawmot!"
Pawmot replied, brimming with enthusiasm.
The little Pokémon was practically vibrating with excitement at the sight of so many Slugmas. Holding a fruit in its paw, it flew toward the group, its voice carrying a nervous yet hopeful tone.
"Pawmot, Pawmot!" (Hi there! I'm Pawmot, and I'd really like to be friends with you!)
The Slugmas turned their glowing yellow eyes toward Pawmot, blinking curiously.
But after a moment, most of them seemed indifferent. They turned away, uninterested, and resumed their slow, crawling movements across the sunlit rocks.
Pawmot's hopeful expression fell.
"Pawmot…" It drooped, disappointment evident in its posture. Almost all the Slugmas had ignored its greeting and wandered off.
However, just as it was about to give up, one small Slugma slowly crawled closer, its movements deliberate.
Pawmot immediately perked up, turning toward the approaching Slugma with renewed energy.
The Slugma stopped in front of Pawmot, its yellow eyes fixated on the fruit in the little Pokémon's paw.
Pawmot looked at the fruit, then back at the Slugma, its face lighting up with a wide, hopeful grin. With a happy chirp, it extended its paw, offering the fruit: "Pawmot!"
The Slugma hesitated for a moment before leaning forward and taking the fruit in its mouth. It chewed slowly, savoring the snack as its crystalline body shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Seeing the Slugma accept its offering, Pawmot's eyes sparkled with joy. It extended a friendly paw toward the Pokémon.
"Pawmot?" (Would you like to be my friend?)
The Slugma finished the berry, licked its lips, and looked up at the eager little Pokémon. It blinked once, then twice, its expression difficult to read.
"Gooo?" it responded, tilting its head in a mix of curiosity and confusion.
Pawmot chirped enthusiastically, "Pawmot!" (Good friends are the best! I'll share lots of berries with you, we'll play together every day, and if any Pokémon tries to bully you, I'll teach them a lesson!)
The Slugma blinked, tilting its head as it processed Pawmot's words. The thought of having a friend who would protect it and bring berries every day seemed almost too good to be true. As it imagined this, white steam began to rise from its crystalline body, and a rhythmic popping sound—"bang, bang, bang"—echoed across the cliff.
Pawmot paused for a moment, surprised by the reaction. Then, remembering the animated film it realized what this meant.
The Slugma was overjoyed!
Pawmot's eyes sparkled with delight. It leaned closer and asked with even more enthusiasm, "Pawmot?" (Will you come with me and be my friend?)
The Slugma glanced at Pawmot, steam rising from its body once more as it thumped happily against the ground.
Seeing this, Pawmot spun around and eagerly flew back to Naoki, gesturing for something.
Naoki smiled, reached into his bag, and handed over a Poké Ball. With an encouraging nod, he watched as Pawmot darted back toward the Slugma.
Holding the Poké Ball in its tiny paws, Pawmot extended the invitation again, offering the Poké Ball to the Slugma. The small Pokémon looked at Pawmot, then at the Poké Ball, and finally thumped the ground one last time with excitement before tapping the Poké Ball.
In a flash of red light, the Slugma entered the ball, which clicked shut without any resistance.
"Pawmot!" Pawmot chirped, twirling happily in the air. It had made a new friend! Holding the Poké Ball triumphantly, it flew back to Naoki and placed the ball in his hand.
Naoki smiled, giving Pawmot a gentle pat. "Great job, Pawmot!"
Meanwhile, Helian stood frozen, his jaw practically on the ground.
What?!
This… this…
'Is it even possible to capture a Pokémon like that?'
'No, wait! That wasn't the strangest part—this Pawmot had actually managed to befriend and capture a Slugma on its own!'
Helian's thoughts raced as he tried to process what he had just witnessed. Finally, a new concern popped into his mind: 'Would a Slugma befriended by Pawmot even listen to Naoki's commands?'
...
Next Bonus Chapter@ 2500