Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 424: Professor Oak’s shock

Chapter 424: Professor Oak’s shock

The official authorities in the Galar region remained silent. The only responses came from ordinary trainers and the occasional outburst from members of the royal family who had previously engaged in online arguments with netizens.

Some individuals in the Galar region expressed regret over Calyrex's departure, while others shifted their frustrations toward the Galar royal family, blaming them for the situation. Surprisingly, very few seemed to argue that Calyrex was an indispensable asset to the region, a reaction Naoki had not anticipated.

It was puzzling, considering that a legendary Pokémon of such significance would generally be regarded as a vital part of a region's identity. However, upon reflection, Naoki realized that not all legendary Pokémon bring prosperity to their regions.

For example, Groudon and Kyogre in the Hoenn region often clashed, causing widespread natural disasters during their battles. People in Hoenn likely wished these titanic Pokémon would remain dormant or far from their homeland.

Moreover, Pokémon are autonomous beings, free from the notion of belonging to any specific region or governing alliance. This broader perspective clarified the indifferent attitude some trainers in Galar displayed toward Calyrex's departure.

Naoki also recalled the industrial focus of Galar, led by President Rose. Rose had prioritized Dynamax battles and sought to harness the energy to power the region's economy. Under such priorities, the agrarian legacy represented by Calyrex might have seemed outdated or less critical to Galar's vision of progress.

With Naoki's invitation, Professor Oak decided to stay at the ranch to observe its Pokémon and conduct ecological research. After documenting Calyrex's story and logging its legendary status, Professor Oak turned his attention to the other fascinating Pokémon living on the ranch.

February 27, 200 of the Alliance Calendar

Early that morning, Professor Oak could be found crouched in the tall grass, telescope in hand. He was watching a particularly robust Farfetch'd wielding an enormous leek.

The leek, far taller than the Farfetch'd itself, was swung with remarkable ease, almost like a sword. What caught Professor Oak's attention most was the bird's imposing physique. This Farfetch'd was far bulkier than any he had seen before, its muscular chest rippling under its pristine white feathers.

The Pokémon's sharp gaze and pronounced V-shaped eyebrows gave it an air of determination. Professor Oak noted that this was no ordinary Farfetch'd; years of rigorous training had transformed it into something extraordinary.

Suddenly, with precision and strength, Farfetch'd swung its massive leek toward a wooden training dummy.

Accompanied by a rapid series of thwack, thwack, thwack sounds, Farfetch'd's attacks struck the wooden training dummy like a whirlwind.

"Wow! Is this some kind of special Farfetch'd? Could it be the Galarian form of Farfetch'd?" Professor Oak exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"No, it's just a regular Farfetch'd. But it's been training hard lately," came the reply from Naoki, who happened to overhear Professor Oak's comment as he walked by. Noticing Professor Oak crouching behind a bush in a rather conspicuous attempt to hide, Naoki couldn't help but speak up with mild exasperation.

"Professor Oak, you don't need to sneak around like that. You can stand right next to the Pokémon and observe. They won't mind."

Professor Oak laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Oh, it's not that! If I get too close, the Pokémon might not act naturally. This way, I can observe them in their most authentic state. Hahaha! Don't worry about me—go on and do what you need to. I'll just watch from here."

Naoki sighed but relented. "Alright then. If you have any questions later, feel free to ask."

"No problem!" Professor Oak grinned and gave a thumbs-up.

With that, Naoki took Koraidon and Cyclizar along to harvest apples in the orchard. Meanwhile, Professor Oak resumed observing the Pokémon's daily routines.

It was early morning, and the ranch was bursting with life and energy.

Dragonite and its partner Rotom were already hard at work organizing deliveries. The other Dragonite team members, each carrying sturdy backpacks, took to the skies one by one, flying off in various directions to fulfill their tasks.

Naoki's lead Dragonite stood at the edge of the fields, calling forth clouds to summon rain. The gentle drizzle fell precisely over the farmland, nourishing the crops.

In the fields, Dugtrio poked their heads up from the soft soil. As the rain fell and the fresh air surrounded them, the three heads shared a look of pure contentment.

Nearby, a swarm of Combee buzzed out of their hive. They flitted gracefully across the crops, spreading pollen to aid in pollination and collecting nectar to produce honey.

It was a seamless system—a harmonious farmland ecological cycle in perfect motion.

"Using Dugtrio to till the land, Dragonite to water the crops, and Combee to assist with pollination… Fascinating!" Professor Oak said, his enthusiasm bubbling over as he scribbled notes into his journal.

After finishing its irrigation duties, the lead Dragonite let the rainclouds dissipate into the morning sky. Taking a well-deserved breath, the Dugtrio quickly burrowed back into the earth with a synchronized shoop.

Just then, Professor Oak noticed three Gogoat emerging from the pen and slowly making their way toward the farmland. His curiosity was piqued.

"Huh? What are those Gogoat up to?" he muttered, watching closely.

Before he could finish the thought, the answer became evident.

The three Gogoat reached the edge of the farmland and stood still. A second later, vibrant Grass-type energy radiated from their sturdy forms, glowing with an intense emerald light. The entire area around the fields lit up, transformed into a stage of vivid green brilliance.

The Gogoat stood at the epicenter of this energy, channeling their strength to nurture the crops.

Professor Oak: !!!

"What… What's going on?" Professor Oak stammered, wide-eyed. "Is that Grassy Terrain?"

But something about this Grassy Terrain seemed vastly different from the one he knew!

Before he could make sense of it, something even more shocking unfolded before his eyes.

Under the surge of rich Grass-type energy radiating from the Gogoat trio, a carrot in the farmland began to grow at an astonishing speed—so quickly, it was visible to the naked eye. Within moments, the carrot broke free from the soil and expanded until it was a massive, nearly one-meter-wide giant!

"What, what, what is this?!" Professor Oak gasped, his voice trembling as he stared at the gigantic carrot.

Meanwhile, the three Gogoat appeared completely unfazed. With a calm glance at their handiwork, they turned away and leisurely strolled back to the pen. There, they began munching on grass dumplings thoughtfully prepared by Naoki, completely undisturbed by the miraculous display they had just performed.

Professor Oak, however, could no longer focus on observing Pokémon ecology. He rushed over to the farmland, eyes fixed on the enormous carrot sticking up out of the ground. Even the visible portion of the carrot—towering more than a meter high—was astonishing. He could only imagine how large the part still underground must be.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Professor Oak decided to ask Naoki about the phenomenon. He looked around and spotted Naoki on the far side of the river, busy with something in the orchard. Realizing the distance was too great to shout, Professor Oak whipped out his Rotom Phone and made a quick call.

The call connected, and Professor Oak immediately pointed the camera at the giant carrot. "Naoki, is this the power of the King of Bountiful Harvests?!" he asked in awe.

Naoki, noticing the gigantic carrot in the video feed, raised his eyebrows in surprise. 'Another mutated crop had appeared on the ranch?'

Smiling, Naoki responded, "No, Professor Oak. That's actually the power of the Gogoat. The Grass-type energy they release while working the fields occasionally causes crops to mutate. That giant carrot you're seeing is one of the results."

"This is simply incredible!" Professor Oak murmured, barely able to comprehend what he was witnessing.

Initially, he had assumed that aside from the King of Bountiful Harvests and Koraidon, the other Pokémon on Naoki's ranch were just ordinary Pokémon. But now, it was clear that every single Pokémon here was exceptional!

As he replayed the scene in his mind, Professor Oak realized something else. When the Gogoat unleashed their Grass-type energy, it was no ordinary display. It was powerful—bursting forth in an instant, like a concentrated storm of life force. These Gogoat weren't just any Pokémon. They were champion-level!

Three champion-level Gogoat, calmly working as dairy Pokémon to produce goat milk for the ranch… Professor Oak was speechless.

Adding to this revelation, he thought of Dragonite—the reliable delivery Pokémon, Koraidon the guardian of the ranch, and Calyrex who plays with his cell phone. This ranch was brimming with hidden talents!

Professor Oak shook his head in disbelief, muttering to himself, "I've never seen a rancher like this before…"

"The Paldea region really is full of incredible talents…" Professor Oak muttered to himself, still marveling at the performance of the Gogoat.

After witnessing the amazing display, his curiosity about the other Pokémon on the ranch only deepened. Hanging up his call with Naoki, he grabbed his telescope and began to survey the area, eager to observe the Pokémon ecology in greater detail.

Near the Gogoat's sheepfold, a massive Arboliva stood tall in the grass, stretching its limbs to absorb the warm sunlight. Its majestic form resembled a grand, ancient tree swaying peacefully in the breeze.

In front of the Pokémon House, a group of Miltank grazed leisurely on lush patches of grass. They looked entirely at ease, their tails swishing contentedly as they enjoyed their meal.

On the open lawn, a collection of Eevee were scattered about, engaging in various playful activities. Some bounced around energetically, chasing one another in a lively game of tag. Others reclined on the soft grass, basking in the sunlight with half-closed eyes. A few lay on their backs, exposing their bellies to the fresh air, radiating pure relaxation.

Nearby, five Garganacl were sitting together in a circle. Their sturdy, salt-covered bodies gleamed faintly under the sun as they listened intently to an Alcremie standing before them. The Alcremie appeared to be delivering an animated lecture, gesturing gracefully and punctuating her words with a cheerful "Mree!" every so often, while the Garganacl nodded along as though deep in thought.

"Well, these Pokémon look fairly ordinary," Professor Oak murmured, feeling a sense of relief. Compared to the champion-level Gogoat, these Pokémon seemed much more typical.

For a moment, the tranquil and harmonious atmosphere put Professor Oak at ease. "It seems not every Pokémon on this ranch is extraordinary," he thought.

Just then, a young girl wearing the uniform of the prestigious Naranja Academy appeared at the ranch gate. Her name was Leah, and she had come to the ranch after reading intriguing rumors on her school's forum. Determined to challenge this seemingly extraordinary ranch, she had traveled here specifically to test her mettle.

As soon as Leah arrived, she spotted Professor Oak. Mistaking him for Naoki, she approached with unshakable confidence and called out, "Mr. Naoki, I'm here to challenge you!"

"Huh?" Professor Oak blinked, startled by the sudden declaration.

A challenge? Professor Oak quickly realized the misunderstanding and chuckled. Pointing toward the river where Naoki was busy working, he kindly explained, "Oh, you've got the wrong person. Naoki is over there. I'll call him over for you!"

Leah blushed as she realized her mistake. Bowing politely, she said, "Thank you so much, sir! I appreciate it!"

Professor Oak smiled warmly. "You're very welcome," he said. Without missing a beat, he pulled out his Rotom Phone and dialed Naoki.

It didn't take long for Naoki to answer. After hearing about the situation, he immediately headed back to the ranch's entrance, accompanied by Koraidon and Cyclizar.

Naoki looked at the girl in her school uniform, his expression calm. He first washed his hands before asking, "So, you want to challenge one of the ranch's trials?"

Leah, brimming with determination, replied enthusiastically, "That's right!"

Naoki tilted his head slightly. "How many Gym Badges have you collected so far?"

Leah blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, I need Gym Badges to challenge the trial?"

Naoki nodded. "That's right. You need to have collected at least six badges to be eligible for the trials here. Whether or not you pass the trial depends on your own efforts."

"Six badges…" Leah's confidence wavered as embarrassment crept onto her face. "But I only have four badges right now. Mr. Naoki, could you make an exception? I came all the way from Mesagoza!"

Naoki gave her a helpless look. "The trials here are designed to be very challenging, especially for Trainers who haven't earned six badges yet. Even those who meet the requirement often struggle to pass."

He continued, "To be honest, I'd recommend these trials for Trainers who are either about to become Gym Leaders or already have Gym Leader-level strength. Early on, they were manageable for newer Trainers, starting with battles against Gogoat. But as the Pokémon in the trials grew stronger, the gap in power became too great. Now, the trials aren't suitable for beginners."

Leah sighed, her shoulders drooping. "I see… But is there really no trial here that I can attempt?" Her gaze remained hopeful. She had read on the forums that Naoki's ranch had several unique trials.

Naoki was about to deny her again when a thought struck him. He smiled faintly. "Actually, there is one trial you can try—but it's very different from the others."

Leah's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? What is it?"

"It's called the Metronome Trial," Naoki explained. "In this trial, Trainers can only use Pokémon that know the move Metronome. The battle rules are simple: both sides can only attack using Metronome. It's a test of pure luck—there are no strength requirements for this trial. If you have a Pokémon that knows the move, you're welcome to participate."

Hearing this, Leah lit up with enthusiasm. She quickly reached for a Poké Ball at her waist and said, "My Clefairy knows Metronome! I'd love to give it a try!"

With a flash of light, her Clefairy appeared, its soft pink form radiating cuteness as it waved at everyone with its tiny hands.

Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to participate in the Metronome Trial?" he asked, wanting to confirm her decision.

Leah nodded firmly. "That's right! Once I earn more Gym Badges, I'll come back to challenge the other trials too!"

"Alright then," Naoki said, a small smile playing on his lips. "I accept your challenge." Turning toward the ranch, he called out, "Alcremie, we've got a guest here to see you!"

A short while later, a cheerful Alcremie arrived riding atop a Garganacl. Her face lit up with excitement, and she greeted them with an eager "Mree!"

'It seemed Alcremie had been looking forward to hosting her own trial, just like the Gogoat.'

Professor Oak, who had been observing from nearby, chuckled with interest. It appeared Naoki had set up various trials on the ranch for passing Trainers to tackle. This wasn't a new concept—Professor Oak recalled how, in the past, people who organized such challenges were often referred to as Venue Leaders. 

"Fascinating," Professor Oak said to himself. A trial based entirely on luck? He had never encountered such a concept before.

Laughing heartily, he added, "In that case, I'll be your referee!"