At four o'clock in the afternoon, Naoki successfully arrived at the first observation station.
To his surprise, the journey had been peaceful. He hadn't encountered any danger along the way, nor had he seen any Paradox Pokémon roaming the area like they did in the games.
Instead, the upper level of the Great Crater of Paldea exuded an atmosphere of tranquility and beauty, not much different from the world outside the crater.
Pokémon such as Falinks, Girafarig, Floette, Flamigo, and Raichu roamed leisurely in the open fields.
The observation station itself stood at the foot of a hillside, covered in ivy. The area surrounding the station was peaceful, with almost no wild Pokémon nearby.
Perhaps, as Dr. Sada had said, these observatory locations were deliberately chosen for their safety after thorough research.
Naoki pushed open the door to the observatory. The interior was simple—the room had a hexagonal structure, with unused building materials stacked on both sides of the entrance. At the back of the room, a thick energy conduit ran through the walls, part of the crater's infrastructure.
On one wall, a work schedule for researchers was pinned, though it was clear no one had been here in quite some time. A single bed sat lonely in a corner, coated with a thin layer of dust.
Naoki wasn't surprised by the abandoned state of the observatory. He shrugged, set down his backpack, and decided to take a short rest before heading outside to observe the Pokémon in the area.
Just as Naoki was settling in, the communication device in the corner of the room began to ring. Curious, he walked over and answered the call. A familiar voice came through the speaker.
"Naoki? Is that you?"
"It's me, Doctor," Naoki replied.
Dr. Sada's voice held a warm tone. "I knew it was you when the observatory's system sent a notification that it was back in use. Looks like you made it safely into the crater! How was the journey? Smooth so far?"
"Yes, no trouble at all," Naoki said thoughtfully. "But… Doctor, I didn't see any Paradox Pokémon on the way. Are there none living near the first observation station?"
Dr. Sada chuckled. "I see—so you're here for the Paradox Pokémon! Turo and I thought you might be interested."
She paused briefly before adding: "It's possible those Pokémon are just hiding. Paradox Pokémon tend to have behaviors quite different from modern Pokémon. Some prefer to come out only at night. You might spot a few after sunset."
Naoki nodded, absorbing the information. "Got it. Thank you, Doctor."
Dr. Sada's voice softened. "You've had a long day, Naoki. Get some rest. I'm excited to see which Paradox Pokémon you encounter! Bring them back to the lab when you can."
"Will do," Naoki said with a smile.
The communication ended, leaving the room silent once more.
After ending the call, Naoki released Dragonite and Pawmot from their Poké Balls.
He crouched down and addressed them with a grin: "Alright, you two. Go explore a bit, but don't wander too far, okay?"
Both Pokémon's eyes sparkled with curiosity, eager to explore the new surroundings. The moment Naoki gave them permission, they rushed outside, brimming with excitement.
Seeing them dash off so eagerly, Naoki felt a twinge of concern.
Turning to Koraidon, Naoki gave him a gentle pat on the neck. "Hey, can you go with them? Just to keep an eye on things?"
Koraidon let out a soft growl of agreement—"Raao." It trotted after Dragonite and Pawmot, ready to keep them in line.
With his Pokémon out exploring, Naoki stayed behind to unpack and organize the supplies he had brought.
He reached into his travel backpack and carefully laid out the essentials—pots, cooking utensils, and ingredients for a simple dinner.
Next, Naoki unpacked some spare clothes, a few empty Poké Balls, and some basic observation tools—items he had carefully prepared for this journey.
These included a compass to determine direction and a telescope for viewing distant objects, essential for exploring the vast terrain of Area Zero.
Once everything was in order, Naoki began preparing dinner.
Since it wasn't convenient to cook anything elaborate away from home, he decided to make sandwiches—a quick, nutritious, and easy meal for the night.
Just as Naoki finished assembling the sandwiches, the three Pokémon—Pawmot, Dragonite, and Koraidon—returned, following the delicious scent back to the observation station.
Naoki looked up with a warm smile. "Did you find anything interesting?"
Pawmot bounced up excitedly, its eyes sparkling. "Pawmot! Pawmot pawmot!" (It's so beautiful here!)
Dragonite puffed out its chest, brimming with fighting spirit. It had sensed several powerful auras nearby, hinting that strong Pokémon were living close to the station.
Koraidon nodded in agreement, letting out a soft growl. "Raao." (I sensed them too.)
To ensure the group's safety, Koraidon had released its own aura, subtly warning any nearby Pokémon not to approach.
The three Pokémon eagerly shared their discoveries as Naoki handed out sandwiches.
They took the sandwiches in their paws, chomping down with happy, contented expressions. Their tails swayed, and soft noises of delight filled the room.
After dinner, the sky outside began to darken.
The enormous crater fell into silence at night, broken only by the occasional rustling sound from the surrounding wilderness.
Feeling restless, Naoki decided to make use of his telescope. Grabbing it from the station, he stepped outside to observe the night and search for the Paradox Pokémon that Dr. Sada mentioned might appear after dark.
The weather was perfect—even at night, visibility remained high.
A bright moon hung low in the sky, casting its soft, watery glow over the Great Crater of Paldea. The moonlight filtered through thin clouds, wrapping the landscape in a hazy silver veil.
Koraidon stood nearby, quietly guarding Naoki, ever alert for any threats.
Naoki brought the telescope to his eye and began scanning the cliffs across from the observation station. Slowly, the rugged landscape unfolded before him, as if unrolling a scroll of nature's beauty.
Naoki chuckled as the familiar shapes of Phanpy and Donphan came into view.
"Aw, look at that. They're curled up under the rocks, sound asleep."
As he adjusted the telescope, another figure caught his eye.
"A Corviknight!" Naoki whispered in excitement. "Seeing one in the wild is even more impressive. It looks so majestic in flight!.
Continuing his sweep, Naoki's gaze landed on a Pokémon he didn't expect to see.
"Huh? Is that… Deino?"
A Deino, the pseudo-legendary Pokémon from the Unova region, was wandering near the entrance of a cave.
Naoki watched with fascination as the little dragon lowered its head to sniff the ground. Occasionally, it nibbled on a clump of grass, only to spit it out with a disgusted snort.
"A herbivorous Deino?" Naoki laughed softly. "That's something you don't see every day."
The Deino was a rare Pokémon, and its final evolution, Hydreigon, was known to be powerful and fierce.
Naoki rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Should I raise one?"
Just as he was lost in thought, something unsettling appeared in his telescope's view.
The Donphan and Phanpy that had been peacefully napping nearby suddenly jolted awake, their senses alert. They turned and fled in every direction, panic evident in their hurried movements.
The Deino sniffed the air, and Naoki could see the little dragon's body tense. It had sensed something terrifying. The Pokémon spun around, ready to flee.
But before Deino could get far, a shadow fell over it, blotting out the moonlight.
Naoki's heart skipped a beat. His hands tightened around the telescope as he adjusted it upward.
A blood-red figure appeared, moving with terrifying speed through the night sky.
It was enormous, with scarlet eyes, wicked claws, and massive dragon-like wings spread wide—blotting out the stars like a broken blood moon.
Suddenly, a strange, bone-chilling roar echoed across the valley.
The monstrous Pokémon plunged from the sky, swooping down toward the helpless Deino below. With ruthless precision, it pinned the small dragon under its claws.
Naoki could only watch in horror as the creature began to prey on Deino, hunting it in the most primal and brutal way imaginable.
In the moonlight, the Pokémon's razor-sharp fangs, stained with blood, gleamed ominously—an unsettling reminder of the law of the wild.
"It's… hunting."
Naoki's pulse quickened, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. It was as if his entire worldview had been shattered in an instant.
He couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene. "Is this… a Paradox Pokémon?" he whispered in disbelief.
At that moment, Naoki understood what Dr. Sada had warned about—the terrifying vitality and power of Paradox Pokémon. They didn't belong in the modern world, and their presence could easily disrupt ecosystems beyond repair.
He now fully grasped the gravity of her words: "The overwhelming vitality of Paradox Pokémon could devastate the modern ecosystem."
As Naoki stared at the monstrous Pokémon, now clearly identifiable as Roaring Moon, a shiver ran down his spine.
"If something like Roaring Moon ever made it out of Area Zero..." Naoki whispered, the thought sending a chill through him. "...The consequences would be unimaginable."
Roaring Moon—a terrifying blend of savage power and primal instinct—was not just dangerous. It was a threat that could turn the outside world upside down if unleashed.
Naoki's grip on the telescope tightened as he watched the blood-red dragon continue its hunt. He knew then—the Paradox Pokémon were far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.