Pokemon: A New Path
Embarking on the Path of a Brave Man [683]

That night, Naoki began packing his bags.

He planned to depart early the next morning, not by airplane, but by riding Koraidon through the Reverse World to Lacunosa Town, which would be much faster.

The journey was expected to take about a day. To prepare for any unexpected delays, Naoki packed thermal gear, warm meals, and a few other essentials.

That afternoon, he pulled out his Rotom Phone and looked up information about Lacunosa Town and the Giant Chasm online.

He discovered that the Giant Mountain Range surrounding the Giant Chasm was massive, comparable in size to Mt. Silver in the Kanto region.

He figured they wouldn't be returning to town for lunch, so they'd just eat in the wild.

With Koraidon and Mewtwo accompanying him, Naoki wasn't worried about safety in the slightest.

Even though Kyurem was known as the "strongest dragon," he believed that with Koraidon and Mewtwo, they wouldn't be in any real danger.

And if this Kyurem was like the one from the movies, Naoki believed that with enough sincerity, it would accept a formal battle challenge from Sylveon.

Besides food and a few recovery items, he didn't need to bring much else, they would be back by afternoon anyway.

After tucking everything neatly into his space backpack, Naoki turned to Sylveon, who stood beside him brimming with excitement.

"All packed! We can head out first thing tomorrow morning."

"Boo-ee~!" Sylveon nodded eagerly, eyes gleaming with determination.

Just then, Iono stepped out from the nursery room after putting Elara to bed. She looked at the scene in front of her and blinked in surprise.

"Huh? Don't you have classes tomorrow at Blueberry Academy?"

"Nope." Naoki chuckled, glancing over at Sylveon. "I'm taking Sylveon to Unova."

"Oh?" Iono tilted her head with interest. "Is this about defeating a legendary dragon to become a hero?"

She had heard Naoki mention Sylveon's dream before.

Naoki nodded. "Yeah. The time has come."

After consuming the rare seeds, Sylveon's strength had soared past the Elite-tier benchmark.

And after intense special training with both Articuno and Koraidon, Sylveon had become the strongest among all the Eeveelutions at the ranch.

It was finally time to face Kyurem.

Hearing all this, Iono was full of support. With her signature cheerful energy, she cheered Sylveon on:

"Go, Sylveon! You've got this!"

"Boo-ee~!"

The other Pokémon gathered around, sensing the excitement in the air, and also joined in to send their encouragement.

The next morning, carrying the hopes and blessings of everyone at the ranch, Sylveon and Naoki set off for the Unova region.

The distance from Paldea to Unova wasn't too far. With Koraidon's unmatched speed, they left the ranch at 7:30 AM and arrived in Lacunosa Town before 9 o'clock.

Thanks to modern map apps, even if you'd never visited before, you were never lost.

Naoki and Koraidon stood at the edge of town, looking over local information on Naoki's Rotom Phone.

"Lacunosa, named after the kagome lattice pattern used in traditional basket-weaving, also symbolizes the protective triangle used in ancient warding rituals."

Below that, there were notes about local customs and folklore:

"Long ago, a meteorite is said to have crashed near this town, bringing with it a terrifying beast. It was a creature born of freezing winds, appearing only at night, snatching away both people and Pokémon to devour them.

In fear, the townsfolk built a great wall around Lacunosa and passed down rules to never venture outside at night. Though many modern residents no longer believe the legend, the tradition remains strong."

Even recent visitors remarked that Lacunosa had a uniquely quiet way of life. People were active by day, but once night fell, every household locked its doors.

Even the local police rarely patrolled after sundown.

"Is it because of Kyurem?" Naoki raised an eyebrow.

He put his phone away and stared at the quiet town ahead. If Kyurem ever found out people built their entire nightly routine around it, that dragon would probably be left speechless.

Since he was short on time, Naoki didn't linger long in Lacunosa Town.

After taking in the real-world feel of the place, he climbed onto Koraidon and resumed his journey, heading north and deeper into the Giant Mountain Range.

Gradually, the town and nearby wilds faded into the distance, and the landscape below began to transform. The forest plains gave way to jagged peaks and endless stretches of rugged mountain terrain.

"Mewtwo."

Naoki called calmly. In response, Mewtwo materialized beside him in a shimmer of psychic light.

"This is the area," Naoki explained. "Try using your power to scan for it. It's a Dragon- and Ice-type Pokémon, so its presence should carry both draconic and freezing energy."

Mewtwo nodded wordlessly. It floated into the air, rising slightly to overlook the sprawling range of peaks and valleys.

A faint blue glow lit up its eyes. In the next moment, an immense wave of psychic energy erupted from its body, spreading outward like a giant invisible net blanketing the region.

With eyes closed, Mewtwo focused. Its mind moved rapidly along every thread of that vast mental web.

Trees, flowers, stone ridges, ravines, snowy cliffs... every detail of the terrain emerged in its consciousness. Even the smallest wild Pokémon hidden beneath thick brush or sleeping in caves couldn't escape its awareness.

Still, after a long silence, Mewtwo finally opened its eyes and shook its head slightly.

"No sign yet."

Naoki furrowed his brows, but before he could speak, Mewtwo was already transforming.

A white light enveloped its body as it Mega Evolved into Mewtwo Y—its sleeker, more psychic-focused form.

Though smaller in stature, Mega Mewtwo Y radiated unimaginable power. Its telekinetic strength was so refined that even a skyscraper could be crushed with minimal effort.

Its psychic reach now extended far wider.

Mewtwo Y closed its eyes again. This time, the landscape sharpened even further in its mind.

More mountains. More wilderness. More distant, hidden places.

Naoki didn't rush him. He simply sat atop Koraidon, quietly waiting.

Minutes ticked by.

Then, Mewtwo's eyes opened.

Without a word, it turned its gaze toward the distant north, piercing and resolute.

Naoki already knew what that meant.

"You found it," he said.

Mewtwo nodded. "Confirmed."

"Let's go."

That short phrase was enough.

Mewtwo surged ahead, soaring above the peaks like a guided arrow.

Naoki leaned forward. "Alright, Koraidon."

"Gaaah!" Koraidon roared excitedly and charged forward, leaping from cliff to cliff as it raced through the mountains with incredible speed.

As they closed the distance, the entrance to a shadowy cave gradually came into view.

It looked like the remains of an old mining tunnel, half-forgotten and carved directly into the mountain. Rusted tracks emerged from the cave, winding across the rocks before abruptly stopping at the edge of a sheer cliff. The rails had been torn away, ending in a twisted mess above a bottomless drop.

Across the cliff stood a row of crumbling mine shafts, abandoned long ago.

"This is the place," Mewtwo confirmed.

"Looks like Kyurem picked quite the spot for itself," Naoki murmured, a smile tugging at his lips.

He turned and offered Mewtwo a grateful nod. "Thanks for your help, Mewtwo."

"You're welcome," Mewtwo replied, its voice calm as ever.

"Let's move."

At Naoki's signal, Koraidon spread its wings and glided across the chasm, landing smoothly at the entrance of the mine on the opposite side.

Naoki dismounted, landing softly on the gravel just outside the cave. He paused for a moment, peering into the yawning darkness ahead. A faint, creeping chill drifted from within the cave's depths.

There was no mistaking it, Kyurem was here.

Even though they had reached their destination, Naoki didn't immediately summon Sylveon. Suddenly barging in for a battle would seem rude, especially to a legendary Pokémon like Kyurem. Such an approach could easily provoke hostility.

Instead, Naoki decided on a different path.

He would go in first and speak to Kyurem, explain the situation and ask for a favor. If it agreed, he'd offer something in return. Perhaps a few bottles of Life Goat Milk, something even legendary Pokémon had come to enjoy at the ranch.

Decision made, Naoki stepped inside the cave. He descended cautiously along the old, rusted steel stairs that spiraled deep into the earth.