Naoki inhaled sharply.

  What did it mean to trol the effects of the grassy terrain, ensuring it only beed your side while ign the oppo?

  It meant that uhe opposing Pokémon had overwhelming strength, their attacks wouldn’t even outpace the Gogoats’ regeive abilities from the enhanced grassy terrain.

  More damage taken would simply be healed faster than it could accumute—an unshakable stalemate fav the Gogoats!

  Naoki’s shock deepened as he realized that his three Gogoats had silently achieved such mastery rass-type energy.

  'Could it be the World Tree’s influence, enhang their affinity frass-type energy? Or was it the cumutive effects of the Leaf Cakes and other specially prepared treats they’d ed? '

  Perhaps it was a bination of all these factors, magnified by their natural abilities and the nutrients they had absorbed.

  Regardless of the cause, the results were undeniable.

  These Gogoats were terrifyingly powerful.

  And there were three of them.

  Naoki’s gaze shifted to the other two Gogoats. “ you do it too?” he asked cautiously.

  “Mehhh~!”

  The two Gogoats nodded enthusiastically, firming his suspis.

  “That’s incredible!” Naoki excimed, his voice tinged with awe.

  If this level of power tio develop, could anyone even hope to pass the Green Grass Trial?

  With near-unlimited HP recovery from the grassy terrain, colossal Vine Whips that could attack or create obstacles, aating ultimate moves like Leaf Bde and Sor Beam, the Gogoats seemed invincible.

  Not to mention their ability to use moves like Synthesis for Self-Resovery and Growth to boost their attad special attack stats. Uhe current battle rules set by the Pokémon League, it was difficult to imagine a sario where these Gogoats could lose.

  Uhe challenger had a Pokémon of parable strength with a clear type advantage rass types, victory seemed impossible.

  For novice trainers, like those just entering Naranja or Uva Academy, this trial would be utterly insurmountable.

  What about ae or champion-level trainer?

  Naoki shook his head with a rueful smile.

  Geeta had only tested the trial briefly before leaving. As for Rika, she had shown little i in participating and had rushed back to work at the League headquarters instead.

  Of course, that might have beeo the overwhelming workload assigned by the Paldea Pokémon League.

  Meanwhile, Flutter Mane had exhausted itself pletely during training. O fell asleep, Naoki gently pced its Poké Ball ba its designated spot.

  As a Ghost-type Pokémon, Flutter Maurally thrived at night aed during the day. ging such deeply ingrained habits would take time.

  But it was only Flutter Mane’s sed day at the ranaoki smiled softly to himself. They had plenty of time to adapt to each other’s rhythms.

  Ba the living room, Calyrex—the King of Bountiful Harvests—was lounging fortably, watg television with great i.

  A gss of tree sap juid a small pte of desserts were pced oable in front of him. His regal yet rexed demeanor exuded a rare kind of peaceful satisfa.

  Naoki didn’t quite know what to say as he looked at the se before him.

  It felt like he was uionally transf Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, from a regal Pokémon into a id-back couch potato.

  But, whehought about it, Calyrex’s time wandering the frozen expanses of the Tundra must have been terribly lonely.

  Now, seeing Calyrex finding joy in new hobbies on the ranch—like watg television—filled Naoki with warmth. It ehe once-solitary Pokémon wouldn’t feel bored or isoted and could spend its days in peaceful te.

  "g for the elderly is everyone’s responsibility," Naoki thought with a smile, suppressing a chuckle.

  With that thought, he made his way to the farmnd to che the crops.

  To his delight, the effects of the Leaf Cakes weren’t exaggerated at all.

  In just half a month, the crops were already mature.

  The potato pnts, their stems and leaves beginning to yellow, had tiny tubers poking out of the soft soil as if eager to be harvested.

  Grinning, Naoki grabbed a cart and began the harvest.

  Notig the activity, Pawmot—its red cape fluttering heroically—flew over to lend a hand.

  It nded near a potato pnt, grasped the root with its small, cwed paws, and gave it ahusiastic tug.

  Unfortunately, its effort was a bit too enthusiastic. The exposed rhizomes snapped off in its grip.

  “Pawmot?” Pawmot blinked in fusion, tilting its head as it stared at the broken roots.

  “That’s not quite how you do it,” Naoki said, approag with a ugh.

  He picked up a hoe and demonstrated, loosening the soil around the potato pnt. With a careful tug, he uhed a whole clump of potatoes, their roots intact.

  He shook off the excess dirt and stems, revealing a bunch of healthy tubers in varying sizes.

  Watg ily, a metaphorical light bulb seemed to pop up over Pawmot’s head.

  “Pawmot!” It chirped, now fident it uood.

  Just as it raised its cws to dig up another pnt, Naoki gently stopped it.

  “I’ll hahis,” he said with a grin. “You should go py with G and the others.”

  Naoki goward the pasture and chuckled at the sight of Alcremie riding a Naclstack like it was some kind of steed.

  Nearby, G and Dolliv were squealing in delight as Naclstacks carefully hoisted them up onto their shoulders.

  “Go ahead!” Naoki gently patted Pawmot’s little head with the back of his hand, careful to avoid the mud smeared across its pink fur. ing it would be a hassle ter.

  “Pamo~!”

  Pawmot chirped, its voice filled with delight, as it dashed off to joiher Pokémon pying in the field.

  Naoki stood bad watched the Pokémon frolig on the grass, their joy iious. A soft smile tugged at his lips.

  Seeing everyone living so happily here filled his heart with motivation.

  “This is life,” Naoki thought to himself.

  No thrilling adventures, no ematients like when a Pokémon evolves in a dire situation to protect its trainer.

  But simplicity—this peaceful coexistence—was the ultimate truth. At this moment, Naoki wholeheartedly agreed with the philosophy of his mentor, Larry.

  However, as he squatted down to dig up the potato, something caught his eye.

  The potato in his hand looked different.

  Its texture and color had subtle, almost magical variations, unlike any potato he had ever seen.

  In an instant, Naoki realized this wasn’t an ordinary potato. It had mutated.

  [Good Boy Potatoes: A special ingredient. This crop has mutated after being cultivated by the Grass-type energy of Gogoat. Dishes made with it grant the effect of “Golden Right Hand.”]

  “Golden Right Hand?” Naoki murmured, staring at the potato in wonder. “What oh does that mean?”

  After a moment of thought, inspiration struck.

  “That’s it!” he excimed. “I’ll use these to make a potato stew for lunch today!”

  Determined, Naoki finished harvesting the remaining potatoes. By the time he was dohe sun was high in the sky.

  After washing his hands, he took the mutated potatoes to the kit and pulled out a fresh eat from the refrigerator, which he had bought just yesterday in Kosaji Town.

  He diced the potatoes a, then added various spices te pot. The ingredients simmered together as he carefully monitored the heat, ensuring a perfect blend of fvors.

  Miurned into an hour, and soo began bubbling with the unmistakable sound of something delicious in the making.

  Naoki lifted the lid, and a wave of rich, savory aroma filled the air.

  The stew erfect blend of soft, tender potato ks and suct meat, swimming in a thick, fvorful broth.

  Using a dle, Naoki scooped a small portion into a bowl, adding a piece of potato ao taste-test.

  As he took a bite, the fvors exploded in his mouth. The potatoes, infused with the juices of the stew, melted instantly, while the meat was tender and savory, requiring minimal chewing.

  “This… this is amazing!” Naoki said aloud, asto how far his cooking skills had e over the year.

  The aroma of the stew wafted out through the open kit window, drifting across the ranch like an invitation.

  Before long, several Pokémon known for their love of meat began to gather, drawn in by the irresistible st.

  “Ah, gah!”

  “Gah?”

  “Ooooooo?”

  Koraidon, Cyclizar, Dragohe w Dragonites, and several Dragonairs all flew in, their eyes wide with anticipation as they frantically swallowed their saliva, staring at Naoki with pleading expressions.

  Naoki couldn’t help but ugh at the sight. “Wait a minute!” he said with a chuckle.

  He had anticipated this, so he’d prepared a massive pot of stew from the start. With the ranch hosting so many Pokémon, Naoki always used specially ized, extra-rge stewing pots, ensuring there was enough for everyone.

  Paired with sandwiches and cookies for variety, every Pokémon would get a hearty, satisfying meal.

  The Indeedee siblings, ag as the ranch's butlers, brought out the Pokémon-specific bowls, eaiquely sized for its owner. Naoki filled the bowls one by one, dling generous portions of the steaming stew into each.

  He set the bowls out on long tables, allowing the Pokémon to dig in with enthusiasm. The air buzzed with excitement as the Pokémon lined up, their eager chatter filling the kit.

  Once every Pokémon had been served, Naoki finally had a moment to sit down and check the results of the potato stew.

  [Potato Stew (S-Rank): A hearty dish created by stewing freshly harvested potatoes and tender meat h heat. Eating it provides a f warmth that spreads through the body. Popur in cions for its nourishing qualities.

  Cooking Effect: Golden Right Hand. “Be good, Pokémon. The bad guys have been driven away!”

  After eating this stew, the user gains the temporary ability known as the Golden Right Hand. By pg their right hand on the forehead of an enraged or out-of-trol Pokémon and saying this phrase, the user instantly calm the Pokémon.

  his effect only be activated by humans.

  ent: Delicious potato stew, perfect choice for a chilly winter day.

  Naoki blinked, staring at the description in disbelief.

  “Golden Right Hand?” he murmured, raising an eyebrow. “What… what even is this?”

  The mental image of him pg his hand on an angry Pokémon’s forehead and uttering the prescribed phrase made his cheeks flush in embarrassment.

  “What kind of ability makes you say something so ridiculous?” Naoki muttered, running a hand through his hair.

  The idea of having to calm a raging Pokémon by saying, “Be good, the bad guys have been driven away!” felt unbearably awkward to him. Was he really supposed to say this out loud?

  Still, as Naoki thought about it further, he realized that this ability could be incredibly useful. bined with his ability to uand Pokémon through Transtor Seeds.

  From another perspective, it was almost like receiving a divine blessing from Arceus itself.

  In some sarios, the practicality of the Golden Right Hand even surpassed the utility of superpowers.

  However, there was a catch: the ability required direct physical tact with the target Pokémon.

  Naoki’s thoughts drifted to the movie Arceus and the Jewel of Life, particurly the se where an enraged Arceus desded, ready to punish humanity.

  'Would the Golden Right Hand work on Arceus?'

  Naoki wasn’t sure, but he had a strong feeling he wouldn’t eve close enough to find out. The sheer power and divine presence of the Pokémon God made the idea seem impossible.

  'But if not Arceus… what about Giratina?'

  His thoughts turo his unusual neighbor, the guardian of the Reverse World.

  After finishing his bowl of potato stew, Naoki decided to iigate. He packed some specially prepared treats for the Dragonites—extra-rge, honey-fvored Poffins—and made his way to the ranch’s tral ke.

  As he approached, the shimmering water began to ripple unnaturally. A purple vortex slowly formed, pulsating with energy.

  Taking a deep breath, Naoki stepped into the vortex, crossing into the Reverse World.

  The distorted, ethereal realm stretched before him, vast and alien. In the distaop a floating Flower Isnd, Giratina lounged peacefully amidst the vibrant blooms, its massive form basking in the golden light that filtered through cracks in the dimensional sky.

  Naoki approached cautiously. Giratina’s crimson eyes opened slightly, zily regarding him as he drew closer.

  “Hello again,” Naoki said with a nervous smile, setting down the piic basket he’d brought.

  He spread out a cloth on a patch of flowers that Giratina had unceremoniously fttened earlier. From the basket, he id out the assortment of Poffins and other delicacies.

  Giratina huffed softly, its breath ruffling Naoki’s hair, and begaing the s with casual indifference.

  Meanwhile, Naoki observed the Renegade Pokémon carefully. He how to test the Golden Right Hand without arming ering Giratina.

  'How do I eve close enough to touch its forehead without looking ridiculous?' he wondered.

  A wild idea crossed his mind. 'What if I preteo trip and “actally” touched it?'

  But even as he sidered it, Naoki shook his head. 'No, that’s just dumb. Giratina would see right through it.'

  As he debated his options, Giratina raised its head and fixed him with a sharp gre. Its voice was deep and gruff as it rumbled, “Human… what are you staring at?”

  Caught off guard, Naoki decided hoy was the best policy. “Well… I’ve retly discovered a new ability,” he admitted sheepishly. “It allows me to calm down Pokémon that have lost trol of themselves. I thought maybe… I could test it out with your help?”

  Giratina blinked slowly, its expression unreadable. Despite its reputation for being temperamental and imposing, the a dragon was no fool. Its sharp mind had survived tless eons.

  Giratina immediately uood Naoki’s iions. It felt an urge to sh out at him for daring to use it as an experiment subject. A fierce lesson would certainly put this human in his pce.

  But as it mulled over the situation, Giratina recalled the peace it now enjoyed in this serene, blooming dimension. It was all thanks to this human. Though known for its temper, Giratina was not an ungrateful dragon, nor would it ever stoop to repaying kindness with malice. Such behavior, whether from Pokémon or humans, disgusted it deeply. If it ever entered such treachery, it would not hesitate to shred the offeo pieces.

  With this in mind, Girati out a low snort and said gruffly, “Fine. I will mercifully allow you to try it.”

  “Thank you!” Naoki excimed, his face lighting up with genuiement.

  With Giratina’s cooperation, Naoki pced his right haly on the legendary Pokémon’s forehead. The dragon’s scales were cool and smooth beh his touch, radiating a faint hum of power.

  “Good boy, Giratina,” Naoki said with a sheepish expression, his cheeks slightly flushed. “The bad guys have been chased away!”

  Giratina blinked, its blood-red eyes locked onto Naoki. It didn’t respond for a long moment, its imposing face a perfect mask of stoicism.

  “Huh?” Naoki muttered, his fusion growing.

  Giratina didn’t appear dazed, angry, or even slightly amused. Its usual posure remained intact.

  ‘Maybe it’s because Giratina isn’t angry to begin with?’ Naoki wondered.

  If so, it seemed the Golden Right Hand only worked on Pokémon that were actively enraged or had lost trol of themselves. Pokémon in a calm or ral state were ued.

  “What a shame,” Naoki murmured to himself. This realizatio that the Golden Right Hand wouldn’t be effective on the wild and uable Paradox Pokémon. Their violent aorial nature stemmed from their instinctual behavior, not a loss of reason or emotional imbance.

  Paradox Pokémon’s lives revolved around primal instincts—hunting, battling, and seg territory. Their aggression wasn’t the result of aional outburst but a way of life. Thus, the Golden Right Hand couldn’t “teach” them modern Pokémon social norms or pacify them long-term.

  Still, Naoki thought, 'better than nothing'. The ability might e in handy when dealing with wild Pokémon fights iure, providing a way to de-escate teuations.

  Retrag his hand, Naoki gave Giratina a respectful nod. “Thank you for your help,” he said sincerely.

  Giratina: "..."

  Giratina remained silent, its expression unreadable as always.

  However, within, its thoughts were a maelstrom of fusion and disbelief.

  'This human… this human actually said that?'

  Giratina’s crimson eyes widened as it mulled over the absurdity of the situation.

  'Good boy Giratina, and say the bad guys have been driven away?' it thought. The realization struck like a jolt of lightning: 'Isn’t the biggest “bad guy” here… me?'

  The mighty dragon muttered inwardly, utterly bemused. 'What a strange human...'

  ---

  At the Paldea League Headquarters:

  A Charizard desded gracefully in front of the sprawling Paldea Alliance headquarters, its e scales gleaming uhe sun. Perched fidently on its back was Gar’s Champion, Leon.

  Leon gnced around, rubbing the back of his head nervously. “I really hope I didn’t mess up the dires again.”

  His eyes locked onto the rge sign above the building, which read in bold letters: Paldea League Headquarters.

  Relief washed over him as he heaved a sigh. “Finally! After being lost for half a month, I made it!”

  Ihe building, Paldea's Chief Champioa, had already been informed of the visitor’s arrival. She made her way to the entrao greet him personally.

  Seeing the tall, purple-haired man dismount his Charizard, Geeta approached with a polite smile. “Wele to the Paldea region, Mr. Leon. What brings you here today?”

  Leon chuckled nervously, his mind fshing back to the busiour he atte year. During the event, he had entered a mysterious trainer from Paldea—one who had dispyed extraordinary skill. It had been ages since Leon faced someone of that caliber. Unfortunately, the trainer withdrew midway, leaving their battle unresolved.

  Determio finish what they started, Leon had set out for Paldea right after the New Year.

  “I’m here to find a trainer,” Leon decred enthusiastically, his eyes brimming with excitement. “There’s an unfinished match I o settle!”

  Geeta raised a curious eyebrow, intrigued by his fervor. “Oh? What kind of trainer could pel the Champion of Gar to travel so far?”

  Leon nodded eagerly. “They’re as strong as a Champion—maybe even stronger! I’m certain they’re affiliated with the Paldea League.”

  Geeta’s curiosity deepened. A trainer capable of catg Leon’s attention had to be someone remarkable. Politely, she asked, “Do you happen to know their name? If they’re part of the League, I may be able to assist.”

  Leon’s grin widened as he replied, “His name is Naoki! He’s got a Pokémon called the King of Bountiful Harvests—Calryex!”