"That was a good move—really powerful."
Paul gently stroked Torterra's lower chin, visibly pleased.
The added effect didn't offer much to the rest of his team, but its raw power was undeniable. At the very least, Torterra had become far more terrifying in battle than before.
Imagine it—after launching an attack, the opponent struggles to break free from the entangling storm, only to be struck by Torterra again.
Of course, the effect might not be as decisive if the opposing Pokémon was also Gigantamaxed.
After a brief moment of thought, Paul named the move:
"From now on, we'll call that Max Overgrowth Storm."
"Raaa~"
Torterra had no objections, nodding its massive head in simple agreement.
Whether it was because most of Paul's team didn't respond well to Dynamaxing, or because Torterra's Gigantamax form was uniquely suited to his strategy, one thing was certain—Torterra would become the team's go-to for Gigantamax battles from here on out.
"Oh, right. We're heading to another region tomorrow to start a new journey."
Paul turned to all of his Pokémon as he made the announcement.
The moment the words left his mouth, every single Pokémon straightened up and puffed out their chests, eyes fixed on Paul—each trying to look their best, as if to say:
Pick me! Pick me! I'm the most well-behaved one!
"Aggron. Garchomp."
Paul's gaze landed on the two.
Garchomp was still developing its special abilities and needed Paul's guidance to continue Mega Evolution training.
As for Aggron, Paul wanted Garchomp to pass down the technique for Bloodline Awakening Mode.
Bloodline Awakening Mode was never designed to be exclusive to Dragon-type Pokémon. The power of a bloodline was something any Pokémon—any living creature, really—could possess.
The problem was, methods to activate that power were extremely rare. So far, aside from the ambiguous Growth Training Method, the only confirmed way to trigger it involved using Outrage as a core component.
Theoretically, as long as a Pokémon could learn Outrage, and had enough natural talent and time, Garchomp could teach it the full Bloodline Awakening training.
As for the enhanced version of the mode—one that granted immunity to confusion—it required the Pokémon's lineage to contain dormant traits of ferocity and savagery.
And conveniently, Aggron had all three requirements: outstanding potential, the ability to learn Outrage, and a bloodline steeped in ferocity.
Even if it couldn't learn Dragon Dance, even if it took a lot of time and effort, Paul was convinced—it would all be worth it.
"Gaarrr!"
"Aggrrr!"
Garchomp and Aggron roared in delight upon hearing their names called.
Some were thrilled—others not so much.
With two spots on the team already taken, a sense of urgency rippled through the remaining Pokémon.
After scanning the group, Paul fixed his gaze on Hisuian Samurott and Froslass and said, "You two come with me."
There would definitely be battles on this journey—and it's a good opportunity for Hisuian Samurott to prove itself.
As for Froslass, her small size made her easy to travel with and train anywhere.
Besides, with Arc's Rotom Phone in hand, Paul could accelerate their growth using specialized data syncing.
"Chaaah~"
Hisuian Samurott gave a firm nod, silently running a claw along the edge of its foot blade.
"Eeno~"
Froslass smiled faintly and drifted silently to Paul's side.
"Wooo~"
Ninetales stepped forward enthusiastically, her eyes was full of anticipation.
"You want to come too?" Paul asked.
"Wooo!"
Ninetales nodded firmly.
"You did well during the League Tournament. As a reward…"
Under Ninetales' hopeful stare, Paul thought for a moment and said:
"I'll reward you with Torterra and Electivire as your sparring partners."
"...Woooo~~"
Why would you do that, Trainer!?
Ninetales' face immediately fell. When she caught the grateful looks from Torterra and Electivire—who got to stay behind because of her—she looked as if she were about to cry.
"And the last two… Ursaluna and Drapion."
With that, Paul finalized the rest of the lineup.
Drapion had been training intensively at the Pokemon Center, but rarely traveled with Paul directly. It was time to build their synergy.
Ursaluna, meanwhile, served as a powerful anchor for the team—ideal for dealing with unusual or high-pressure situations.
Drapion for the war of attrition. Ursaluna for overwhelming bursts of strength. With the rest supporting, even if the notorious Hunter J were to return, Paul was confident he could end her show once and for all.
And if it came to that, he'd still have a clean escape route.
"Ee-he~"
"Ah~"
Despite Ursaluna's calm, bear-like demeanor, and Drapion's ever-sinister vibe, both Pokémon bore subtle, menacing smiles—already eager to crush and dominate whatever Trainers got in their way.
As for the Pokémon who weren't chosen…
They would remain at the Pokemon facility, following the organized training plans Paul had laid out.
Their task? Grow stronger, and wait patiently.
In ten days or maybe half a month, when the team rotated, it would be their turn to travel again.
Besides, according to Paul, once this trip updated the Rotom Phone's Pokédex database, he'd be able to switch Pokémon directly via the device—no more needing to stop by a city.
A massive improvement over the old ways.
"All right—back to training."
After letting the excitement die down, Paul's calm command brought order once more.
Each Pokémon returned to their station, focused on growth, and training hard in their own way.
...
Time passed quietly.
Dawn broke across the sky, and the first light of morning spilled across the land.
Birdsong echoed from treetops, where fresh buds had begun to sprout with the coming spring.
It was early—very early. After finishing his morning routine, Reggie came down the stairs, as he did every day, ready to make breakfast for his younger brother, Paul.
But as soon as he stepped into the living room, he noticed a full breakfast already laid out on the dining table.
"Paul… did you make breakfast?"
"…Have you left?"
Reggie called out twice, but no response came.
Smiling, he shook his head and walked over to the table, sitting down to enjoy the quiet beauty of the morning.
Once he finished eating, he turned to gaze out the window toward the distant horizon, the corners of his lips curled into a soft smile—
"Good luck on your journey."
....
Endless blue sky and boundless sea—beyond the clouds, only ocean remained.
Paul soared high through the sky atop his Garchomp, with his trusted Froslass riding along with him.
For this journey, he had no intention of taking a plane. Instead, he chose to rely on Garchomp's strength and stamina, flying straight across the sea toward the Kanto region.
Though the distance from Sinnoh to Kanto spanned over a thousand kilometers, Paul had faith. With Garchomp's incredible speed and endurance, the berries in his bag to restore energy, and Froslass' Psychic powers minimizing air resistance, they wouldn't need much time to reach their destination.
Thanks to the absolute coordination between his Pokémon, it didn't take long at all.
Paul flew directly from Sinnoh to the Orange Islands, where he landed to rest and regain.
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