"According to the latest reports, a massive storm of unknown origin has formed over the sea east of Slateport City. It is moving rapidly toward the city and is expected to make landfall within the next one to two days. Residents of Slateport and nearby areas are urged to take precautions to avoid potential casualties or property damage!"
Due to the importance of the breaking news, all television programs were interrupted as channels began broadcasting urgent warnings about the approaching storm.
At that moment, Rex and Yuli had just finished dinner and were watching a drama series on the couch. The sudden alert immediately made them tense.
Nearby, Bagon and Diancie were still playing around, unaware of the situation's gravity.
Since Rex had purchased Rex Farm, the weather had been generally favorable. Apart from a few heavy rains, the farm had never encountered any major natural disasters. As a result, his preparations for such emergencies were lacking.
The buildings needed reinforcement—especially Yuli's house, which was older and might not withstand such an intense storm.
The orchard was another concern. If swept through by the storm, it could suffer devastating losses.
"Yuli, contact Uncle Henry right away. Ask him to come help reinforce the buildings tomorrow, especially your place."
Rex spoke with a firm and serious tone.
"Okay, I'll call him now!"
Yuli also understood the urgency. She quickly picked up her phone and dialed Uncle Henry's number.
Once the storm news became widespread, many townsfolk would rush to ask Uncle Henry for help. They needed to secure a slot before that happened.
"Done! He said he'll come early tomorrow morning."
A moment later, Yuli sighed with some relief.
"Good. I'm heading back now. We'll need to harvest all the ripe berries tomorrow before the storm hits."
To minimize losses, Rex decided to harvest the berries as soon as possible—otherwise the wind might tear them all down.
He also needed to bring all the Pokémon indoors before the storm arrived.
Even though Pokémon had extraordinary powers, in the face of nature's fury, they were still vulnerable. Only a few powerful ones like Diancie and Shaymin might stand a chance.
The next day, before sunrise, Rex grabbed a quick breakfast and rushed straight to the artificial lake.
There was no way he could harvest everything alone, so the first group that came to mind was the Poliwhirl squad under Politoed.
Of course, Diancie, Machamp, and the others were also drafted into action.
Once everyone was gathered, Rex told them about the incoming superstorm.
The Pokémon exchanged glances, not really grasping the full danger. They had never experienced such a calamity.
Still, even if they didn't fully understand, they dutifully followed Rex's instructions.
By afternoon, most of the ripe berries had been gathered. Looking toward the horizon, the sky had turned pitch black, an ominous sign that felt like the end of the world approaching.
Only now did the Pokémon begin to take it seriously—they could sense an oppressive, monstrous energy building in the distance.
Back at Yuli's place, Rex noticed that while the exterior of the house looked unchanged, key areas inside had been reinforced with thick wooden boards.
Especially the roof, which had received a thorough upgrade from Uncle Henry, greatly improving its storm resistance.
"Yuli, when did Uncle Henry leave?"
Rex asked after inspecting the enhancements.
"He finished before noon but had to rush off to help others, so he left quickly."
Yuli handed Rex a glass of water as she spoke.
"We'll definitely have to thank him properly once this is over."
Rex nodded with appreciation, already planning to treat Uncle Henry to a good meal in thanks.
After a short rest, Rex began guiding the Mareep and Miltank back into their shelter and instructed them not to go outside for the next few days.
To ensure none of the mischievous Mareep wandered off, Rex gave special orders to the shiny Wooloo to manage the flock.
As for the greenhouse, Rex wasn't too worried. When it was built, he had made sure to use high-durability glass, in case of natural disasters like this.
Meanwhile, the townsfolk of Springdew were also bustling with preparations. No one dared to underestimate the threat.
Ever since the storm alert went out, everyone had sprung into action. Officer Jenny was patrolling on her Arcanine, ensuring no chaos or safety hazards arose in the town.
"Rex, I want to go check on the orphanage."
Once everything on the farm was secured, Yuli turned to Rex with concern in her eyes.
"You're worried about Grandma Nieno and the kids, right? I'll go with you."
Rex stood up immediately.
"No, it's fine. The farm still needs your attention. I just want to check on them quickly. I'll be back soon."
Yuli declined gently, not wanting to trouble him more—especially when he was already covered in mud from working all day.
"Alright… then at least let Swellow fly you there."
Rex offered, referring to his Alpha Swellow. With its protection, Yuli would be safe even if the storm arrived early.
"Okay. I'll be quick."
She smiled and nodded, accepting his kindness.
"Wait! The eggs!"
Rex had just sat down when he suddenly remembered—the Taillow eggs were still in the orchard!
Worried that the storm might endanger them, he slung his backpack on and ran toward the orchard without hesitation.
By then, a light drizzle had begun to fall, though the wind was still calm. By the time he reached the grove, he was already soaked.
He carefully packed the Taillow eggs into his spatial backpack. Above him, the sky had grown completely dark—thick clouds blanketed everything, weighing the world down with a silent, heavy pressure.
(End of Chapter)