At noon, Naoki invited Max to stay at the ranch for lunch. They spread a pink checkered tablecloth on the grass, arranging an assortment of food on it. There were sandwiches, milk, steamed eggs, and smoked sausages, all ready to be enjoyed.

  The two of them sat with a group of Pokémon gathered around, and as they ate, Naoki began to ask Max about other cities and Naranja Academy.

  Max eagerly shared what he knew. "Naranja Academy is a very old school, famous worldwide. It's said that the school was first founded eight hundred years ago."

  "The campus is always lively! Sihere's no age limit for admission, you find students of all ages there—from children to the elderly, and even trainers from ions."

  "In addition to taking csses with Pokémon, students also learn about the history of the Paldea region and various a legends. These legends have attracted many people who are eager to pursue them!"

  "Oh?" Naoki's i iqued. "What kind of legends?"

  Max was a little surprised by Naoki's curiosity. "Mr. Naoki, you're really ied in these legends?"

  Naoki smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "The pursuit of legends is a man's romance!"

  Max hesitated for a moment, then admitted, "Actually, I don't know too much! But I do know about the legend of the treasure in the Paldea Crater and the legend of the Treasures of Ruin ."

  He tinued, "It's said that during the Paldean Empire, about 2,000 years ago, the emperor heard of a mysterious treasure hidden at the bottom of the Paldea Crater. To find it, he sent many expeditions into the crater."

  "But the terrain ihe crater is incredibly plex, and there are many bizarre rumors about it. No one has ever reached the depths."

  "Even so, tless adventurers flocked there, driven by the stories of treasure. This enthusiasm sted nearly 1,000 years, and that period ter became known as the 'Age of Exploration.'"

  'The treasures buried deep in the Paldea Crater', Naoki thought to himself, intrigued. He khere were many mysteries shrouded within, and that they were likely ected to the mysterious Pokémon known as Terapagos.

  Naoki nodded and then asked, "And what about the Treasures of Ruin ?"

  Max expined, "This legend also es from the era of the Paldean Empire."

  "At that time, a mert from a distant nd brought four treasures to the king: a vessel, a sword, a tablet, and a set of beads."

  "The king was delighted and threw a grand ba, inviting all his mio celebrate in the pace. But that very night, the four treasures suddenly transformed into Pokémon and began wreaking havoc, destroying the entire royal city."

  "It's said that the true forms of these treasures were Pokémon that had traveled fes, abs many desires and curses. When they were given to the king, his greed awakehem."

  "Eventually, the king enlisted the help of a powerful Pokémon Trainer who mao subdue the four Pokémon ahem away in four a shrines, each with eight stakes. The legend goes that only someoh a pure heart and mind break the seals and allow the four Ruinous Pokémon to reemerge into the world."

  Naoki houghtfully. The history Max shared was familiar to him, firming much of what he already knew.

  The vessel, sword, tablet, and beads each correspond to four Pokémon in the Paldea region: the A Vessel Stag, A Sword Leopard, Aablet Snail, and A Jade Fish. These Pokémon held a status in the region akin to the sed-tier legendaries found in ions.

  But unlike Zapdos, Artio, and Moltres, these four Pokémon were harbingers of disaster.

  The Aablet Snail, in particur, could drain the life force from pnts and trees, leaving everything around it desote in an instant. If such a creature were to appear on his ranch, it would spell ruin.

  "What a pity," Naoki mused. He had inally eaihe idea of having Koraidon kidnap a few legendary Pokémon, especially the A Sword Leopard, which resembled a majestiow leopard.

  With its ice-type abilities and thick fur, it would be the perfepanion, providing both warmth and a cool breeze—a living, breathing A Sword Leopard-brand air ditioner for the summer. But now, it seemed that idea was out of reach.

  After finishing his story, Max g the Dragonite nearby and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Naoki, you must have been a really great trainer before, right?"

  "What?" Naoki blinked, slightly surprised by the question. He quickly shook his head, smiling modestly. "No, I'm just a rancher."

  But Max's face showed clear disbelief.

  'How could that be? Max thought. How could someone who isn't a trainer capture so many Pokémon'? Not to mentionite and Koraidon alone are not Pokémon that just anyone could trol.

  If Naoki wasn't a strong trainer, how could he have earheir loyalty?

  Naoki could only maintain a polite smile, not wanting to delve into the details of his past.

  Just then, a sudden movement on the grass caught Max's attention.

  Sinaoki had his back turned, he didn't notice it right away. But Max's eyes widened in shod disbelief at what he saw.

  Notig Max's rea, Naoki grew ed. "What's wrong?"

  Max poioward the field with a bnk expression. "What's going on?"

  Naoki turned around to see three Skiddos, to be exact—dang on the green grass. But something was unusual.

  Naoki: "…"

  Max excimed, "They're glowing!"

  Naoki: "…"

  For a moment, Naoki didn't know what to say.

  'The Skiddo should have already released their energy for the day. So why are they'?

  After a moment of p, Naoki decided to iigate. He stood up and walked over to the pen to che the situation.

  When Naoki saw the empty foh, the thought 'as expected' immediately came to his mind.

  The grass dumplings there had been devoured once again.

  'So that's it'. 'The energy they expehis m has already been replenished.'

  'These three gluttons!'

  Naoki gritted his teeth, already deg that he would o trol how much grass dumplings his Skiddo would eat iure.

  But before he could take any a, an incredibly powerful surge of Grass-type energy suddeed from the three Skiddo in front of him.

  "Baa..."

  Uhe puzzled gazes of the Skiddo, a dazzling light suddenly burst from their bodies.

  The energy that had been building up over several months was finally unleashed at this moment.

  "Buzz!"

  With a low humming sound, the Grass-type energy spread rapidly in all dires, moving too fast for the naked eye to follow. Waves of energy rippled through the air, and within seds, the entire ranch was enveloped in the glowing light.

  In the midst of the light, the bodies of the Skiddo began to ge rapidly.

  Their bodies grew rger, the horns on their heads extended and curved gracefully, the grass on their backs became lush and vibrant, and their oe eyes now shoh determination and strength.

  Naoki's eyes were glued to his evolving Skiddo, taking in every detail of the transformation.

  Max, standing nearby, stared up at the strange phenomenon unfolding above his head, watg the green light float through the air. Then he looked at the three Skiddo, now enveloped by the light, and his expression grew bewildered.

  "???"

  'What kind of power is this?' Max thought, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. 'Is this really the Skiddo I remember?'

  'Why do they seem... different?'

  At that moment, Max felt his entire worldview shatter.