Pokemon: A New Path-Miltank’s Strategy Trial[518]

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was March of the 201st year of the Alliance Calendar.

Life on the ranch continued as usual, running smoothly and efficiently.

Kubfu trained diligently, the Combee busily collected nectar, Farfetch’d guarded the onion patch, Dragonite handled deliveries, and Pawmot managed the chicken coop.

Notably, the four once-feared Pokémon—Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, and Chi-Yu—had settled into a peaceful routine, now spending up to eighteen hours a day lounging around the ranch, embracing a life of leisure.

That morning, after distributing the latest batch of goods to the Dragonite couriers, Naoki set off with Kubfu toward the World Tree for training, just as he always did.

When they arrived, Kyogre was already there, waiting.

As Naoki approached, Kyogre lifted its gaze toward him.

"Fu?" Kubfu also tilted its head, curious.

"It's nothing, nothing! You two go ahead and continue your training—I'll just watch from the side," Naoki reassured them, waving his hands.

Kyogre and Kubfu turned back to each other.

Kubfu’s expression grew serious as it looked up at Kyogre and called out, "Fuu!"

Kyogre gave a small nod of understanding. It had already grasped the young bear’s intentions.

The next moment, azure waves of energy pulsed outward from Kyogre’s massive form, transforming the ground beneath Kubfu into a vast, shimmering ocean. Gentle sunlight filtered through the water’s surface, casting brilliant patterns of light and shadow.

A bubble of water formed around Naoki, keeping him safely afloat and shielding him from the swirling tides Kyogre had conjured.

Kubfu sat quietly in the calm, crystal-clear waters.

The sea stretched infinitely, its surface smooth and still. The soft rhythm of flowing currents filled the air, creating a sense of tranquility.

However, this peace was short-lived.

Without warning, the ocean roared to life—waves surged, the currents twisted unpredictably, and the once-still water turned into an unstoppable force.

Kubfu’s gaze sharpened as it observed the sea’s transformation, feeling the immense energy hidden beneath its surface.

The sea was not simply a place of stillness.

Even in moments of quiet, powerful currents surged beneath, waiting for the right moment to unleash their strength.

And when the moment came, they would erupt into towering waves, crashing forward with relentless force—unstoppable, unwavering, and unyielding.

Was this the true essence of the sea?

At that moment, Kubfu’s eyes gleamed with understanding.

It clenched its small fists, channeling the movement of water into its strikes. The shifting tides took form, its attacks flowing like the ocean itself—calm yet unpredictable, patient yet devastating.

Watching this, Kyogre nodded approvingly.

Within Kubfu, the Mystery of the Sea had begun to take shape.

In time, this little bear would grow into a truly formidable Pokémon.

Standing by, Naoki observed the training session, deep in thought.

Would Kubfu eventually evolve into Urshifu?

As known from the games, Kubfu could only evolve into Urshifu by studying a special scroll. But was that the only way?

To evolve into a Single Strike Style Urshifu, Kubfu must study the Scroll of Darkness, which is said to contain the secrets of the Dark type.

If Kubfu wishes to evolve into a Rapid Strike Style Urshifu, it must study the Scroll of Waters, which similarly holds deep secrets—though instead of darkness, it embodies the mysteries of water.

This raised an intriguing question:

Were the water-based secrets recorded in the Scroll of Waters the same as the Secrets of the Sea, the legendary power associated with Kyogre?

Naoki didn’t have a definite answer.

For now, he decided to observe and see if Kubfu could evolve naturally.

If not, he would help it find one of the sacred scrolls to ensure it could evolve into a stronger fighting Pokémon—Urshifu.

Three Hours Later…

With Kyogre’s training complete, Naoki and Kubfu traveled to the volcanic area, where Groudon awaited.

The moment they arrived, Groudon’s intense gaze met Kubfu’s.

A surge of volcanic heat erupted around them, accompanied by a deep, rumbling sound. Massive stone blades—Precipice Blades—shot toward Kubfu at incredible speed.

Kubfu narrowed its eyes, focusing intently on their trajectory.

The instant before impact, it tensed its leg muscles and sprang high into the air.

At the same time, Kubfu clenched its right fist, gathering a swirling current of invisible water around it.

BOOM!

Kubfu’s fist struck Precipice Blades head-on.

Naoki watched in astonishment as Kubfu’s punch pierced through Groudon’s attack, leaving a clean, fist-sized hole in the massive stone sword.

A direct hit!

"Kubfu !"

Kubfu let out an exhilarated cry, its expression beaming with pride. It had finally managed to counter one of Groudon’s attacks!

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But then—

Naoki’s eyes widened as he sensed something off.

“Get back! Keep your distance!” he shouted urgently.

Too late.

A moment later, a devastating force erupted from the fractured Precipice Blades.

The impact unleashed a powerful shockwave, sending Kubfu flying backward.

That was the second wave of Precipice Blades!

Even if the attack didn’t directly hit its target, it would still detonate upon proximity, using the very pulse of the earth itself to deal massive damage.

In the Pokémon anime, Alain’s Charizard had once fallen victim to this same technique.

Naoki rushed forward, immediately activating Viridian Aura, his unique healing ability, to mend Kubfu’s injuries.

"Fu…"

Groudon, standing a short distance away, observed the scene intently.

Its gaze remained firm—not with hostility, but with the strictness of a mentor.

“Never underestimate your opponent.”

Groudon’s deep voice rumbled through the battlefield like thunder.

Kubfu stared at Groudon in a daze before nodding seriously. “Fu!”

With that, his training continued. Since he was making steady progress, Naoki left him at the World Tree, entrusting his training to Groudon and Kyogre.

Compared to before, Kubfu had shown noticeable improvement.

Now, it was time for Naoki to turn his attention to something else—tracking down Z-Moves and a Z-Ring in the Alola region.

March had already arrived, and it wouldn’t be long before Arceus awakened from its slumber. When that moment came, it would likely seek vengeance upon humanity.

Naoki had made a promise to Giratina that when the time came, he would help “teach Arceus a lesson.”

That was their agreement.

The Alola region wasn’t as far from Paldea as Sinnoh. Traveling through the Distortion World allowed him to take a more direct route, making the journey much faster.

His plan was to leave for Alola the next day. There, he would visit the ranch he had purchased near Paniola Town and get it cleaned up.

When winter arrived, he planned to take his Pokemon there for a well-earned vacation.

However, before his departure, several students from Naranja Academy arrived at his ranch.

"Mr. Naoki, we've come to challenge the trials!" one of the boys announced excitedly.

He had long heard the rumors about Naoki’s ranch. However, many of the trials were considered too difficult for new trainers, requiring a certain level of skill before they could participate.

But now, things were different!

After Mr. Naoki’s recent visit to Naranja Academy, news had spread that new trials had been introduced—trials that even beginner trainers could attempt.

So, they came running at the first opportunity!

"You're here to challenge the trials?" Naoki asked, scanning the three young trainers.

They all looked like they had just turned ten, having recently received their first Pokémon and officially becoming trainers.

"Yeah, that’s right!" one of the boys nodded eagerly.

Naoki crossed his arms. "How many Pokémon have you caught?"

"Three!" another boy immediately raised two fingers.

Naoki: “…”

Three Pokémon, huh? That likely meant one starter, one common Pokémon found along the route, and another Pokémon, which was probably just another early-game catch.

Naoki fell silent for a moment, mentally reviewing which trials on the ranch would be suitable for these rookies.

Koraidon and Fluttermane Ancient Duo Trial? No.

The Gogoat's Green Grass Trial? Also no.

Dragonite’s Storm Trial and Pawmot’s Thunder Trial? Definitely not.

Kubfu's Martial Arts Trial? Possible, but he was currently at a crucial point in his training at the World Tree and couldn’t leave just yet.

That left only one suitable option.

Naoki smirked as he made his decision.

A pink and sturdy Pokémon. One known for its endurance, its helpful nature, and its ability to produce plenty of fresh milk—Miltank!

For beginner trainers, facing Miltank would be a tough challenge but not an impossible one. Unlike Koraidon, Miltank wouldn’t completely overwhelm them.

That said, they would still need a solid strategy to overcome her most infamous move—Rollout.

If these trainers had done their research, they would know to use moves like Encore and Disable to prevent Miltank from continuously using Rollout.

By seizing that opportunity, they could go on the offensive, striking with all their might to take down Miltank before it could gain momentum.

For beginner trainers, this challenge wasn’t just a test of strength—it was a test of their knowledge of Pokémon moves, type matchups, and battle strategies.

Three minutes later, Naoki had gathered a few Miltank onto the battlefield. Standing at the opposite end, he smiled confidently and asked:

“Miltank’s Strategy Trial—Who’s up for the challenge?”