Approximately three days later, Metagross returned. It had taken three full days to explore the Grandtree Arena even with Teleport, suggesting the area was even larger than Julian had estimated.
Fifteen million square kilometers—that was the answer Metagross provided.
"It really is massive."
Julian's eyes widened slightly.
As expected of a King's domain, the Grandtree Arena far exceeded the size of other areas.
Moreover, Metagross also brought back crucial information: at the edge of the Grandtree Arena lay a plain. Inquiring with the local Pokémon revealed that this plain was called the Golden Lowlands.
It belonged to one of the regions within the Crimson Mirelands, while the King's domain there was the Brava Arena.
And the area where Kleavor resided was known as the Obsidian Fieldlands, with the Grandtree Arena as its King's domain.
The information Metagross obtained likely referred to the second Pokémon possessing a "King" form, though what Pokémon it was remained unknown.
Unless they continued exploring the second major region, the Crimson Mirelands, but Julian had already decided against that for now.
He had Metagross transfer the map data of the Grandtree Arena to the laptop.
With this, the exploration of the entire Obsidian Fieldlands region was now complete.
The map documented over a dozen areas within the Obsidian Fieldlands, including information on the strongest Pokémon in each region, as well as the strength and population distribution of major Pokémon tribes.
It also included some dangerous locations in each area.
With this map in hand, even an Elite-level trainer could have about a 70% chance of surviving in the Obsidian Fieldlands—provided they didn't actively seek danger.
"We'll rest here tonight and leave the secret realm tomorrow," Julian announced.
"Yay! We're finally leaving!"
Celebi exclaimed excitedly, breaking into a little head-spinning dance on Julian's head.
These past months without internet, food delivery, or bubble tea had been pure torture.
Although Gengar's stomach dimension was stocked with fried chicken, fries, and bubble tea, Celebi always felt the taste was off.
Upon reflection, it realized the issue was the environment. Enjoying fried chicken, fries, and bubble tea just wasn't the same unless you were lounging on a couch or in an air-conditioned room. The flavor only felt right in those settings.
But here? Surrounded by the natural energy of the secret realm.
As a spirit of nature, Celebi was now thoroughly corrupted—it had even begun to dislike nature itself.
Celebi clarified that it didn't dislike nature itself—it disliked nature without internet.
"Julian, why are we leaving?"
Though tempted, Jirachi still asked curiously.
"If we stay here any longer, the unique energy of the Primal Secret Realm will cause irreversible damage to my body. So, we have to leave," Julian explained. "We'll come back after some time."
Moreover, the Primal Secret Realm was simply too vast. Exploring just the Obsidian Fieldlands had taken more than half a year, and four more regions remained.
There was plenty of time ahead. Even if his body could resist the realm's energy, exploring nonstop for several years would likely make him sick of it.
"Ah, we're coming back again?"
Celebi grumbled a little.
Glancing at it, Julian said flatly, "You don't have to come. You can wait for me at home. Whether you're here or not makes no difference anyway."
"Julian, I will follow you!"
Before Celebi could even reply, Jirachi immediately expressed its stance.
"Good kid." Julian smiled and pinched Jirachi's cheek. "When we get out, I'll buy a skin for your Beedrill."
"Yay! Julian, you're the best!" Jirachi cheered happily.
Seeing this, Celebi grew anxious and immediately asked, "What about me? My Heracross needs a skin too! The official website announced its new skin just before we entered the secret realm."
"That was limited edition. Once the time's up, it's gone," Julian said indifferently.
"Then what about Blastoise's? I've always wanted its Epic skin."
"I don't think it looks good."
"How about Lucario's then?"
"Just average."
"What about Rhyperior's?"
"That one's decent."
"Then buy it for me when we get out!" Celebi exclaimed excitedly.
"Nope."
Julian shook his head calmly.
"Ahhh! You blockhead, you were never going to buy it for me!"
Celebi went into a frenzy. It finally realized Julian had been toying with it all along—he never intended to buy skins for its Pokémon Glory avatars.
Furious, it sat on Julian's head and started tugging at his hair.
"If you speak nicely, I might consider it," Julian said.
Celebi paused its hair-pulling and asked softly, "Really?"
"Nope."
"Ahhh! Blockhead, I'm going all out against you!"
After being stunned for a few seconds, Celebi reacted. Instead of pulling Julian's hair, it opened its mouth and bit down on his head.
With a slight force—
Julian felt a sharp pain on his scalp.
"Ah! Celebi, you bit Julian until he's bleeding!" Jirachi cried out when it saw blood trickling from Julian's forehead. "Oh, you're in trouble now! You're done for!"
"You little brat, you actually bit me!"
Feeling the lingering pain on his head, Julian realized this damn thing had genuinely broken his skin. Furious, he grabbed Celebi and lifted it off his head.
"Dad, I didn't mean to! It was an accident!"
Celebi quickly surrendered. Its personal creed was flexibility—knowing when to bend and when to yield.
It had also mastered calling Julian "Dad" with remarkable familiarity.
"Today I'm definitely going to teach you a lesson, you unfilial brat!"
Julian held Celebi and smacked its bottom several times, leaving bright red marks before finally stopping.
Fortunately, he possessed the Mega Pallet Town physique, granting him terrifying strength. Otherwise, an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to injure a Pseudo-Champion Pokémon even with all their might—they wouldn't even scratch a single hair.
Compared to the physical resilience of Pokémon, the human body was as fragile as tofu.
Meanwhile, the wound on his head had already been healed by Jirachi's Heal Pulse.
"Why can't you learn from Jirachi?"
Julian looked at Celebi with disappointment. The little thing always claimed to be Jirachi's big brother, but it wasn't exactly setting a great example.
In contrast, although Jirachi had picked up plenty of bad habits from its "big brother," it still retained its own good qualities.
For instance, its sensible nature—something Celebi couldn't match even if it rode a Rapidash.
"Hmph! I am who I am—a unique spark in the world!" Celebi declared proudly, lifting its head as if to say, 'I'll always be myself.'
'What kind of nonsense are you spouting?'
Julian's face darkened.
"Celebi, you're amazing!" Jirachi looked at Celebi with admiration.
Celebi had the guts to defy Julian, something Jirachi never dared to do. Even if it did join in, it would only be from the sidelines, cheering Celebi on.
"Amazing my ass!"
Julian flicked Jirachi's forehead and gave Celebi's bottom another slap. "Believe it or not, I'll turn your backside into a unique display of colorful spark."
*****
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