"I'll be staying here with my Pokémon for a while. Thanks for having us."
Ignoring Electivire's antics, Paul gave a respectful nod to Mew as he spoke.
"Mii~"
With a lazy yawn, Mew casually transferred a mental map of the Tree of Beginning and some key notes into Paul's mind via psychic power before teleporting away.
"Not bad. That's an improvement from last time."
Paul noted to himself.
The last time he came here, Mew barely acknowledged him and only let him stay for two days. This time, not only was he given permission to linger, but Mew had also granted him a map—implying that he now had future access to this sacred ground.
Paul reviewed the mental map embedded in his mind. It was fairly detailed, outlining the Tree of Beginning and the surrounding regions, with rough terrain markers and native Pokémon. With this, at least he wouldn't risk getting hopelessly lost.
There were two particularly noteworthy things:
First, capturing any of the Regi guardians within the Tree's domain was forbidden. While regular Pokémon could be caught, doing so through battle was strictly prohibited.
Second, a certain area of the map was marked as a forbidden zone by Mew, indicating no one, not even Mew itself was to set foot inside.
Paul reasoned this must be the true core of the Tree of Beginning, sacred beyond compare.
But that wasn't his primary concern. Paul's main reason for visiting this place wasn't just training or retrieving Pokémon.
"Rotom, how much longer until world-travel energy is fully charged?"
He pulled out his Arc Phone.
"Trainer, two more days to go—Roto!"
Rotom's smiling face popped up, followed by a glowing energy bar resembling a battery.
"Two days, huh? Then I'll wait."
Yes, Paul had returned to the Tree to rapidly recharge the energy needed for interdimensional travel.
His target wasn't an unexplored new world, but rather one he had visited just before entering the League—Hisui.
Back then, he had met Akari, a fellow time-traveler also armed with an Arc Phone. They exchanged items and knowledge.
Thanks to Akari's help, Paul's Ursaring and Dewott evolved into their Hisuian forms, and he captured several Hisuian Pokémon to bring back to Sinnoh, reviving evolution method within the region.
Now, Paul wanted to return to Hisui for one simple reason: to get more of Hisui's unique Poké Balls.
Unlike standard Poké Balls, Hisui's versions weren't limited by the six-Pokémon party restriction, and they could be integrated with the PC transfer system. It was the perfect solution to Paul's desire to carry all his Pokémon at once.
Sure, he had thought about finding a loophole to get a special license that let him carry more than six Pokémon. But that's all it ever was—a thought.
He was certain others had similar ambitions. Yet if even Champions, Elite Four, or Masters like Red or Leon only carried six Pokémon, what right did he have to break the rule?
So instead, he aimed to adapt the Poké Balls themselves.
And as for fairness or others' opinions? Paul didn't care.
His sights were set beyond this world, and he had the power to transcend it. Why should he limit himself?
Sometimes, using your privileges decisively was the correct choice.
With his plan set, Paul began a quiet yet rigorous training routine with his Pokémon.
—
Roars echoed through the Tree's fortified battle arena, enhanced by Mew for durability.
Three Pokémon surrounded a Garchomp radiating the form of a great dragon at the center of the field.
The four Pokémon were deep in combat.
Unlike Electivire, Garchomp hadn't gained any new abilities upon surpassing the Champion level. Instead, it had mastered and integrated all its existing powers:
Sandstorm Field
Bloodline Mode
Dragon Mode
These three modes could now be activated simultaneously, producing terrifying strength.
Its Rough Skin ability had also been fully developed. Whether attacking or being attacked, any physical contact would cause recoil damage to its opponent. Even non-contact energy moves like Dragon Claw or strikes in Dragon Mode inflicted counter-damage.
This made melee combat against Garchomp extremely risky. The other three—Aggron, Drapion, and Ursaluna opted for distance and tactical spacing.
Aggron used Rock Polish and screeching maneuvers to disrupt; Drapion relied on pressure point strikes; and Ursaluna served as the primary tank.
Against a regular Champion-level Pokémon, such a formation would dominate within minutes.
But with Garchomp? The reverse happened.
Within five minutes, it had overwhelmed all three with raw force and raging sandstorms.
"Gaaaar!"
Victorious, the dragon form dissolved into particles, revealing a bloodthirsty, battle-hardened Garchomp.
"Gaaaar!"
It hurled the three groaning Pokémon into a pile, then turned toward a Torterra meditating on the arena's edge and barked.
"Raaa…"
With a sigh, Torterra opened its eyes and cast a beam of healing light, restoring them all.
Not out of kindness, but out of necessity. These beatdowns were disrupting its communion with the Tree.
Garchomp didn't care. It pushed the trio back up for another round.
Currently, Garchomp was training to chain Swords Dance in its full-power mode. Torterra's grievances would have to wait.
If it got mad? Well, Garchomp figured it could just go easy on Torterra in a future spar. No big deal.
Torterra: "???"
Garchomp's indifference was deeply felt.
Torterra wasn't afraid of a fight, nor did it think Garchomp could dominate it like Electivire.
It just found this whole exercise… extremely annoying.
It needed a new strategy: bring in more sparring partners to reduce healing duty.
Looking around, it ignored the unmoving Regi guardians.
Metagross and Froslass were training their psychic powers with Mewtwo and Paul. Electivire hovered nearby, practicing psychic tricks and electromagnetic force manipulation.
Ninetales was working on solar amplification, converting Drought and Nasty Plot boosts into internal fuel—researching solar-powered fire enhancement under Mew, Mewtwo, and Electivire's guidance.
Samurott was slicing the air in a corner, mixing up every strike.
It was exploring two paths: Thousand Waves and Dual Blade.
Thousand Waves Route: Inspired by Sacred Sword and Fury Cutter, it sought to layer increasingly powerful strikes with each move—a path for post-Champion training.
Dual Blade Route:
One blade flowed with water: Torrent and wavebreakers.
The other struck from shadows: Dark-type stealth and surprise.
The water blade merged Aqua Cutter, Razor Shell, and Liquidation into a supreme slicing technique.
The dark blade, built around Sucker Punch and Night Slash, was augmented by Pursuit and Feint.
"Raaaa~"
Torterra summoned both Ninetales and Samurott.
"Wooo?"
"Chaaah?"
The two came over, curious.
Torterra proposed a deal: help with the Garchomp beatdown sessions, and it would assist in their future training.
"Wooo~"
Ninetales agreed without hesitation. Solar absorption was Torterra's domain, it would greatly benefit.
"Chaaah."
Samurott didn't expect huge gains from Torterra, but saw Garchomp as an excellent whetstone for honing its blades.
Getting beaten up? Just part of resilience training.
Torterra didn't ask for much, just less frequent interruptions to its peace.
"Wooo~"
"Chaaah~"
One fire, one water. With a nod, they disappeared into the sandstorm battlefield like phantoms.
Instantly, the pressure on Garchomp multiplied. Its offense faltered.
Torterra, satisfied, resumed its communion with the Tree—its aura growing serene and vast.
In a corner, Mew lay atop a pink bubble, idly scrolling on a phone. Watching this scene, it felt… moved.
It admired these trainers and Pokémon who struggled and strove.
Too bad it was born so far ahead. A bit of effort went a long way for it, so the charm of struggle never quite clicked.
With a sigh, Mew rolled over, found a comfier pose, and kept playing.
—
Time flew. Two days passed.
Time-space energy was fully charged. Dimensional travel to Hisui was now possible.
However, only Pokémon inside Poké Balls could cross safely—free-roaming partners couldn't come.
After consideration, Paul selected his best-suited team: Electivire, Torterra, Garchomp, Samurott, Drapion, Ursaluna, and Mewtwo.
Usually, returning to a previously visited world especially one like the anime world—didn't call for peak strength unless you were fighting a Legendary.
But Hisui was different.
This world, steeped in legends of the great Sinnoh deity, required caution.
And besides… there was the timeline issue.
Last time, Akari was already exploring Mt. Coronet. Who knew how long had passed this time?
Maybe Akari had become a godlike being—ascended, even crushed Arceus and taken its fragment?
After a bit of brainstorming, Paul released his grip on the Rotom Arc Phone.
"Let's begin."
"Roger, Roto! Beginning world transfer. Destination: Hisui. Departing now!"
The phone glowed gold, forming a shield around Paul. A rift tore through space-time, stunning the watching Pokémon as he vanished into the breach.
The journey was surreal, chaos beyond description. No colors, no voices, only silence and shifting shadows.
Yet Paul, stronger now, didn't fall asleep like last time. He watched it all like a soundless film—until he finally dozed off.
"Mii~"
From afar, Mew watched the closed rift and sensed an unforgettable divine aura.
It finally realized, the Rotom Phone had been blessed by a god.
—
Hisui Region — Fogbound Ruins
On a desolate plain amidst scattered stone pillars, a worn monument stood as several figures conversed.
Merchant Volo: "They say the fog here blurs the world's boundaries. Perhaps this is the stage where humanity, Pokémon, and myth collide… but how do we even begin?"
Pearl Clan Leader Irida: "We've gathered the three materials… but how do we create the Red Chain?"
Cogita: "I know nothing. That chain connects worlds, how could mere mortals make it?"
Akari: "Do we have to start from scratch to find a way to make it?"
As soon as the voice fell, a space-time distortion appeared before them.
(End of Chapter)
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