https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-496-Groudon-and-the-Bear-Apprentice-the-Ultimate-Secret-of-the-Ocean-/12538008/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-498-The-Reason-to-Become-Stronger/12538010/
Chapter 497: Xiao Hu's Two Teachers
Chapter 497: Xiao Hu's Two Teachers
A melodious song played in the car as Naoki drove, with Kishu and their Pokemon companions riding alongside him on this spacious country road. It felt like a pleasant family outing.
In the back seat, Growlithe sat excitedly, panting with his tongue hanging out, making a "huff huff" sound.
Meanwhile, Motorcycle Lizard and Gurerudon sat in the back cargo area, letting the wind blow through their fur as they gazed indifferently at the passing scenery.
"Life here is so relaxing!" Kishu exclaimed, relishing the breeze on her face. At that moment, she understood why Naoki preferred living in this place.
The serene wilderness, the beautiful fields, the joy of feeling the wind rushing through the fields, and the freedom to run across the rhythmic grasslands—just thinking about it all made her feel incredible!
"Don't you think so?" Naoki said with a smile. "The apartments in big cities feel like cages for Dodrio to me. So many people living in the same building, it's suffocating."
"And the living space is so limited; there's no way to accommodate so many Pokemon."
"Yeah!" Kishu nodded, suddenly thinking of the office workers in Niante City.
Those people led such hectic lives, always dressed in formal attire and rushing through the city streets with their briefcases. It seemed like they were always busy.
As they chatted, they arrived in Rustboro Town.
Naoki parked the car by the roadside and headed to the El Seed store.
The owner, El, was unloading goods at the entrance when a young girl with a Sun Eevee suddenly ran out of the store.
"Dad, I'm off!"
Hearing her voice, El turned and smiled, ruffling his daughter's hair affectionately. "All right, have fun with Sun Eevee! Remember to come home early!"
"I will!" The girl replied before dashing off.
El watched his daughter's figure disappear down the street. Just as he was about to resume work, he noticed Naoki approaching.
"Good morning, Naoki!" El greeted him with a beaming smile. But the next second, his eyes widened as he spotted the girl beside Naoki.
"Good morning, Mr. El," Naoki replied politely. "Do you have any bamboo shoots for sale? I want to buy some bamboo to take back."
El snapped out of his daze and nodded vigorously. "Bamboo shoots? Of course! How many do you need? I'll get them for you right away!"
Naoki thought for a moment before answering, "Fifty should be enough."
"Please wait a moment!" El returned to the store and soon emerged with batch after batch of bamboo shoots, aided by his helper Pokemon.
Naoki, along with Gurerudon and Motorcycle Lizard, lent a helping hand, loading the bamboo shoots into the back of the pickup truck.
"Was that Bell?" Naoki asked casually.
Bell was El's daughter. When she was younger, she had been attacked by a Pokemon, which left her fearful of Pokemon and the outside world. She had stayed hidden indoors ever since.
Two years ago, Naoki had made her a brave egg-fried rice dish and suggested that she get a friendly Eevee as a companion.
Now, that same girl had come out of her shell and transformed into a confident young lady.
"Yes!" El's face lit up as he spoke of his daughter. "Thanks to your help, she's become much more outgoing. Now she can go out on her own, and her Eevee has evolved into a Sun Eevee. Bell takes it to the beach every day to sunbathe!"
"That's wonderful," Naoki nodded.
After loading all the bamboo shoots into the car, he asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"Oh, that'll be 25,000 Pokedollars!" El replied.
Naoki paid the amount.
"Bamboo is quite popular this year!" El continued. "Mature bamboo can be made into furniture, and a single piece can sell for several thousand Pokedollars. Bamboo shoots can be eaten or sold as well."
"No, I don't plan to sell them," Naoki shook his head with a smile. "I just want to plant a bamboo grove in the ranch for the Pokemon to enjoy."
After bidding El farewell, Naoki drove to the Rustboro Market, where he bought some ingredients before returning to the ranch with Kishu.
Along the way, Kishu recalled how the townspeople had greeted Naoki, and her curiosity grew.
"It seems like everyone knows you," she remarked.
"Not at all," Naoki said proudly. "I'm quite popular around here."
Indeed, not a single person in Rustboro Town was unaware of the Naoki Ranch.
"Hmph, I could tell!" Kishu teased.
"The people here are very kind," Naoki reminisced, recalling his first days after arriving in this world. "When I first came to this town, they took good care of me."
For instance, they would give him extra seeds or offer discounts when he bought things.
Naoki glanced at Kishu and asked, "So, have you made up your mind?"
Kishu was perplexed. "About what?"
"About staying with me to run the ranch and living here," Naoki clarified.
Realization dawned on Kishu, and she burst into laughter. "Once I set my mind on something, I never give up! Don't underestimate me!"
Half an hour later, the two returned to the ranch.
Kishu grabbed a hoe and swung it vigorously at the ground.
"Now, witness the might of Kishu!"
Naoki fell silent as he watched the clump of turf fly through the air.
"..."
Kishu's face turned red as she tried to defend herself. "That was a mishap!"
Naoki couldn't hold back his laughter. "All right, I've seen enough. From now on, let's leave the professional work to the professionals."
With that, he whistled.
Soon, a large bump emerged from the ground, and three Diglett popped out, ready to get to work.
Kishu watched for a while before joining in. Perhaps the earlier incident had sparked her competitive spirit.
"Wait till I get back to Niante City. Next time, I'll definitely show you what I, Kishu, am capable of!" Kishu said determinedly.
"..." Naoki responded with a helpless expression. "Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Let's leave the farming to me and Diglett."
After planting the bamboo shoots, Naoki asked Gurerudon to call over the Apprentice Bear and the Riding Goat.
Soon, the Apprentice Bear came running over from the green onion field.
Kishu's attention was also drawn to this unfamiliar Pokemon.
"What kind of Pokemon is that?" she asked.
"It?" Naoki introduced with a smile, "This is Apprentice Bear, the Pokemon I brought back from the Wilding Canyon yesterday. You might not have heard of it, but it's quite common in the Galar region."
After all, the signature Pokemon of the former Galar Champion, Mustard, was an evolved form of Apprentice Bear, known as the Grapploct.
"Eh? A Pokemon from the Galar region? It looks so cute!"
"Beah!"
Apprentice Bear stood by Naoki's side, looking up at the humans before it.
Naoki introduced it to Kishu, "This is Kishu, she will be the lady of this place in the future!"
Hearing this, Apprentice Bear turned to look at Kishu a few more times.
Kishu waved at the Pokemon in greeting, "Hello there, Apprentice Bear!"
Apprentice Bear hesitated for a moment before responding softly, "Beah..."
"Alright, now it's time to get to work." Naoki turned to the three Riding Goats and said, "I'm entrusting these bamboo shoots to you!"
"Meeeh!"
This was a simple task for the Riding Goats.
With a slight stir of their intentions, they released a lush green grassy energy from their bodies.
In the blink of an eye, the energy enveloped the entire bamboo grove and flowed into the bamboo shoots.
The next second, the bamboo shoots began to grow at a visible rate, their stalks shooting up and sprouting vibrant green leaves.
Soon, a lush green bamboo grove stood before them.
Having spent a lot of time with Naoki, Kishu was already accustomed to such displays.
However, Apprentice Bear, witnessing this for the first time, wore an astonished expression. It couldn't believe its eyes as it stared at the bamboo grove: "Beah!"
Wow, so amazing!
"It should be quite similar to the bamboo forest in Wilding Canyon, right?" Naoki smiled. "From now on, this will be your new home!"
Hearing Naoki's words, Apprentice Bear immediately realized that this bamboo forest had been created especially for it.
Naoki had been so kind to it!
Never having experienced such treatment before, Apprentice Bear felt deeply touched.
But it wasn't very good at expressing its emotions, and it felt shy standing before Naoki.
Apprentice Bear was feeling a bit embarrassed!
Naoki understood the little bear Pokemon's thoughts, but he didn't say much. He simply smiled and patted its head gently.
In the afternoon, after sending Kishu back to Niante City, Naoki returned to the ranch and found Apprentice Bear in the bamboo forest.
"I've found two teachers for you, and they've agreed to help you train," he said.
Hearing this, Apprentice Bear was taken aback for a moment.
"Beah?" (Teachers?)
Naoki nodded and picked up Apprentice Bear, "Follow me, I'll take you to meet them!"
Apprentice Bear didn't struggle. Filled with curiosity, it allowed Naoki to lead it into a strange world.
There were floating islands everywhere, and Apprentice Bear was captivated by the peculiar sight, staring wide-eyed at the floating islands.
However, they soon passed through this area and arrived in a place filled with lush natural energy.
Green grass, dense forests, and various Pokemon...
Apprentice Bear even saw many Pokemon living in those strange buildings like humans!
"Beah?!" Apprentice Bear was astonished.
A few Pokemon came forward excitedly to greet Naoki.
"Ah, long time no see! Milirion and Wood Keeper, how have you been lately?"
Naoki patted their heads and then said to Apprentice Bear, "I haven't introduced you yet. This is the World Tree, a place I built especially for Pokemon."
"Those buildings ahead are the Explorer's Guild. As you can see, this is a place only for Pokemon."
"Beah..." Apprentice Bear murmured.
"Alright, Milirion, aren't you supposed to be working at the sushi shop? We still have some things to do, so we'll come by later to play with you guys!" Naoki said.
However, Milirion jumped excitedly.
It seemed that the sushi shop was currently being managed by a group of Bulbasaur, and they were going to go fishing in the sea with a group of Bidoof!
"Eh? That's perfect, I also need to make a trip to that place. Since it's like that, let's go together!"
"Mee!"
The group arrived at the next layer, and Naoki parted ways with Milirion on the Flygon Island.
The three Bidoof had been waiting there, and as soon as Milirion arrived, they opened their big mouths wide.
Milirion waved goodbye to Naoki before jumping into the Bidoof's mouths, and they all went off to fish in the sea together.
He sent a message to Groudon via his phone.
Soon, a massive shadow emerged beneath the calm sea, leaping out the next second and splashing water everywhere.
Amidst the splashing water was the figure of Primal Reversion Groudon, majestic and enormous.
Apprentice Bear felt a terrifying aura from this Pokemon, like an unfathomable abyss.
"Beah..."
"Don't be afraid," Naoki gently patted Apprentice Bear's small paw, "It's Groudon, the God of the Sea. It's one of the two teachers I found for you, and it masters the most powerful water arts in the world. Perhaps you can learn something from it."
Apprentice Bear bravely lifted its head, staring directly into the eyes of the formidable Pokemon before it.
Groudon lowered its body, its golden irises fixing upon the small Pokemon.
"From now on, I am your teacher. What you learn from me depends entirely on your efforts."
Aside from its rivalry with Kyogre, Groudon also wanted to repay Naoki's kindness for allowing it to reside in the World Tree.
Thus, it was willing to help Apprentice Bear train.
Hearing Groudon's words, Apprentice Bear shuddered and nodded seriously, "Beah!"
Groudon gave a slight nod.
The next second, a massive azure wave surged from the ocean.
Apprentice Bear closed its eyes instinctively, expecting a powerful impact.
But it waited and waited, and the anticipated collision never came.
"Beah?"
Apprentice Bear opened its eyes and found itself in a world of azure.
It was... in the ocean!
"Beah!"
Apprentice Bear held its breath to prevent drowning, but the next moment, it realized something astonishing.
It could breathe underwater?!
Upon this realization, Apprentice Bear turned its head in surprise, spotting Naoki and Groudon floating not far away.
Naoki, too, was astonished that he could breathe underwater.
Was this Groudon's doing? It seemed that Groudon was protecting them.
"Don't be nervous. Feel it with your heart," Naoki said to Apprentice Bear.
Hearing this, Apprentice Bear gradually calmed down.
Witnessing this, Groudon moved its thoughts.
The next second, the surrounding seawater began to churn violently.
Terrifying undercurrents and vortices swirled wildly, and rain poured from the sky as a towering wave rose from the once calm sea.
The wave raged and roared as if it could destroy everything in its path.
Apprentice Bear's body was caught in the undercurrents and swept up by the wave, lifting it into the air.
"Beah!"
Faced with this unprecedented situation, Apprentice Bear couldn't help but cry out in panic.
However, the wave soon vanished, and the rain ceased.
Everything returned to its initial tranquility.
The azure ocean exuded a gentle and serene aura, appearing so beautiful and soothing.
In a daze, one might even be tempted to drown themselves in its embrace.
Apprentice Bear panted, its eyes darting around as it turned to look at the calm waters, so peaceful that the previous events seemed like an illusion.
But the intense sensation lingering in its body told it that the wave and the storm had been very real.
"Beah..."
What was going on?
Just then, Groudon's ethereal voice reached them from a distance.
"Did you feel it? This is the sea, sometimes gentle and calm, sometimes fierce and violent. It can embrace all things, and it can also destroy everything."
Apprentice Bear paused, taken aback.
Groudon's words echoed in its ears, and Apprentice Bear closed its eyes, sitting cross-legged in the azure seawater, trying to feel the essence and intent of the water.
Groudon was surprised by this reaction.
It hadn't expected the little Pokemon to enter such a state so quickly. Was it trying to attain enlightenment?
Naoki also nodded in satisfaction.
For today, he planned to let Apprentice Bear have a simple experience, and later, he would explain to it in detail about the two different forms of the Martial Arts Bear and their respective strengths.
Apprentice Bear sat there for two whole hours.
After it was over, Naoki didn't leave the World Tree but instead descended further, arriving at the volcanic region where Kyogre resided.
Primal Reversion Kyogre stood in the lava, its golden eyes gazing down at Naoki and Apprentice Bear.
"I sense its aura on you. Did you just come from there?"
Apprentice Bear was perplexed. "Beah?"
"It's alright, don't worry," Naoki reassured, "Pay attention, Kyogre!"
Kyogre huffed, "Hmph, what did that guy teach you? Never mind, ignore its teachings. Come, learn from me. What I teach is more powerful than what it offers!"
"Beah..."
Hearing this, Apprentice Bear felt a strange sensation.
It suddenly realized that its two teachers didn't seem to get along very well...
(End of Chapter)
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