"Tooth General, end the battle, Outrage!"
On the summit of Mt. Coronet, Xu Li stood on the Spear Pillar, which had almost become a ruin, while beneath his feet lay the unconscious Spatial Pokémon—Palkia.
In front, a Haxorus, jet black and seemingly radiating a metallic sheen, unleashed a fierce surge of Dragon energy, charging forward with a powerful roar.
And the target of the Haxorus, the Temporal Pokémon of Sinnoh—Dialga, stared wide-eyed, terrified at the black beast charging towards him.
"Hahahaha, hahahahahaha!"
Xu Li laughed with his hands on his hips, completely oblivious to a figure appearing behind him.
"Why do you laugh?" a voice slowly sounded from behind Xu Li.
"I don't laugh at others, only at the Space-Time Duo's lack of strategy and Arceus's foolishness. If I were Arceus, ambushing them here on the Spear Pillar would be like... huh?"
Xu Li subconsciously replied, but then realized something, turning back sharply, only to see dozens of blinding white Plates of Judgment sweeping towards him.
————————
"A Li! Wake up!!!"
"Axew~ Axewaxew~ !"
The girl's voice was like the chirping of birds in the morning, clear and full of vitality. Following it, the warmth was pulled away from his body, and Xu Li woke up from his dream with a start.
Damn it, why is Arceus so insidious!
The girl who woke Xu Li up had bright eyes and was already fully dressed. Seeing Xu Li's consciousness still a bit blurry, she showed a mischievous smile, climbed onto the bed, and stretched out her cold hands to grab Xu Li's waist, continuing to shout:
"Get up quickly, you sleepyhead. Granny Kikuko doesn't have time this morning. We need to go buy Moomoo Milk for her."
"Whoa~"
Xu Li shivered from the cold, grabbed the girl's hand that was on his waist, and with a pull, enveloped her entire body in his embrace.
"Hoo~"
His cheek also felt the girl's soft, faintly fragrant hair, causing Xu Li to take a deep breath, letting the girl's faint scent fill his nostrils.
"Bad A Li, stinky Xu Li."
Feeling the abnormality in her abdomen, the girl on Xu Li was both shy and angry. Her mind went blank for a moment, then she quickly pushed Xu Li away and got up.
Looking at the girl in front of him, her beautiful golden long hair, accentuated by the dark green hair accessories on both sides, shone even brighter, and her flawless face was still radiant.
No matter how many hundreds of times he looked, she was still so beautiful.
"Good morning, beautiful Miss Zhu Lan."
Zhu Lan dared not meet Xu Li's gaze, her face flushed, and she turned her head away.
Thus, it was quiet for a while.
The third party present, seeing these two only focused on each other and ignoring it, angrily kicked its legs, jumped onto Xu Li's stomach, and squawked:
"Axewaxewaxewaxew~"
"Haha, I didn't forget you. Good morning, my Tooth General."
————
The Sinnoh Region is located northeast of Kanto, Chengdu, and Hoenn, far from other regions, causing the northern Sinnoh Region to experience year-round snow, with white snow even potentially covering entire roads.
The continuous Mt. Coronet mountain range runs north to south, dividing the Sinnoh Region into eastern and western parts. Xu Li is located in Celestic Town, east of Mt. Coronet, and since it is still winter, the climate is naturally quite cold.
This morning's task was to go to the Mountain Path Café to buy Moomoo Milk.
"We're leaving!"
Xu Li quickly got dressed, and before the white mist from his breath could dissipate, Zhu Lan eagerly pulled him out of the house, followed closely by Zhu Lan's Gible and Xu Li's Axew.
Walking on the way to buy Moomoo Milk, Xu Li remembered hearing the long-lost system prompt sound in his dream and opened the system to check.
[Congratulations, Master, you have achieved the accomplishment of surviving in the Pokémon world for 5 years!]
[Reward: Ability Patch x3]
[Already placed in the system backpack]
Seeing this task, Xu Li felt a bit emotional. He had been transmigrated to the Pokémon world for 5 years.
When he first transmigrated, the young Xu Li and the Axew egg beside him were adopted by Zhu Lan's family, avoiding forced survival in the wild.
Instead, he was fortunate enough to become Granny Kikuko's adopted grandson and Zhu Lan's childhood friend, leading a warm life with them.
This was already the stable life Xu Li, by nature, dreamed of. Afterwards, he probably would become a Pokémon Trainer with Zhu Lan, adventure together, reach the peak with Zhu Lan, and finally return to this small house to retire.
"Axew~"
Axew felt that Xu Li was in a good mood and became happy too. It ran to Xu Li's feet, then climbed onto Xu Li's shoulder, swaying left and right, and finally was held in Xu Li's arms.
Xu Li looked at the Axew in his arms, which had gotten fatter again, and opened Axew's system panel.
[Axew ♦ (Shinny) Tera Steel
Type: Dragon
Level: Lv24
Ability: Mold Breaker
Moves: False Swipe, Dragon Claw, Earthquake, Dragon Dance, Swords Dance, Tear, Outrage, Iron Head, Aqua Tail, First Impression, Aerial Ace, Poison Jab, X-Scissor, Giga Impact, Leafage, Dig, Reversal, Protect, Shadow Claw, Assurance, Foul Play, Draco Meteor, Pursuit, Focus Energy, Guillotine, Wide Guard...
Affection: Only has eyes for you
Commentary: Who dares to stand tall, only my Tooth General
※Special
It seems to have come from a distant land
Traveled through time and space
Arrived after a long journey]
Axew was also extraordinary. Axew was Xu Li's absolute Hero in conquering the league and becoming Champion in the game, and as a Pokémon egg, it came with Xu Li to this Pokémon world.
Its battle experience and moves were extremely rich, almost covering all the skills Axew could learn.
Pinching Axew's increasingly round belly, Zhu Lan spoke close to Xu Li, her warm breath caressing his ear.
"Today we're heading to Professor Sanari's place to study. Soon we'll be able to travel together!"
"Sister Natsume heard we're traveling and is begging to join."
"I heard Natsume's Psychic powers went berserk again recently. Why won't her father let Natsume live with us? She never went berserk when she was with us."
Xu Li sighed, thinking of the lively little girl in front of him, and said:
"Who knows? When we travel, we can go find Natsume."
"Good! Once we're strong, we'll just snatch Natsume away from her father."
"I'm counting on you. Our Zhu Lan has the makings of a Champion."
"What about you? I've never heard A Li talk about his goals."
That would be retiring with you, of course.
"I'll pin you down on the bed and spank you."
"You're going to die."
Zhu Lan raised her hand to swat Xu Li's backside, but Xu Li dodged it first.
————
Mountain Cabin Café.
Pushing the door open, warmth greeted them.
The warm yellow lights and cozy decor of the café dispelled the cold wind outside.
"Sister Xingna, six Moomoo Milks, put it on my grandma's tab."
"Okay."
Xu Li and Zhu Lan's grandmother, Granny Kikuko, particularly enjoyed drinking Moomoo Milk and frequently visited the Mountain Cabin Café to purchase it, even keeping a fund there for her consumption.
"Can I have ice cream?"
Xu Li asked Zhu Lan.
Zhu Lan's eyes lit up, and she nodded.
"Mhm, you can."
Xu Li then walked to the ice cream machine in the store, patted the Vanillish on top of the ice cream machine, reminding it that it was time to work.
For five years, Xu Li had figured out Zhu Lan's behavior patterns. Don't ask Zhu Lan what flavor she wants; just ask if she can have it. When Zhu Lan doesn't have a choice, she just eats it.
Handing the freshly made vanilla ice cream to Zhu Lan, Xu Li lowered his head to take a lick, then looked at Zhu Lan, who was examining the ice cream, a smile playing in his eyes.
Zhu Lan noticed, raised her eyes, and met Xu Li's gaze.
"What are you looking at?"
"Looking at you."
"..."
Zhu Lan looked away.
Eating ice cream on a cold winter morning is truly wonderful.
————
Back at the cabin in Celestic Town, Granny Kikuko had already finished her work and was sitting on the living room sofa. Hearing the sound of Xu Li and Zhu Lan opening the door, the Chingling hanging on Granny Kikuko's hair ornament bounced ahead to greet Xu Li, its bell vibrating in its throat, expressing its anticipation for the two little ones' return.
"Ding-ding~ Ding"
This little fellow had been with Granny Kikuko for a long time, and now it couldn't move when it saw Moomoo Milk.
"We're home."
He stroked the hair ties on both sides of Chingling, gave some Moomoo Milk to Chingling, and then handed a bottle to his grandma.
The television in the living room was broadcasting news. Professor Oak was being interviewed.
When Xu Li saw the television, Professor Oak was already halfway through his speech: "...due to the influence of unknown energy, large-bodied individuals have appeared among wild Pokémon, and their aggressiveness is relatively strong. At the same time, because of this, Pokémon Hunters are also particularly active, so Trainers on journeys should pay extra attention to safety."
Professor Oak continued: "Professor Oak and I are currently researching in Sinnoh. What we've confirmed is that the phenomenon started in the Sinnoh Region and is now gradually spreading to surrounding areas, but everyone doesn't need to worry; the danger is not as great as imagined."
Seeing this, Xu Li asked, "Grandma, did something happen in Sinnoh?"
"Oak and Professor Sanari discussed it with me this morning; it seems to be related to a legendary Pokémon."
But Granny Kikuko didn't want to reveal anything more and changed the subject:
"We are looking for a solution, so you need to go to Professor Sanari to study, and then it will be the trip you've been looking forward to!"
"A Li, Xiao Lan, a car will pick you up this afternoon and take you to Sandgem Town to study with Professor Sanari. Are you ready?"
"We're ready, Granny Kikuko. I'm ready for A Li too."
Zhu Lan understood Granny Kikuko's meaning and raised her hand, saying.
————
From Celestic Town to Sandgem Town, the journey spans half of the Sinnoh Region.
A blockage caused by an Onix suddenly occurred in Oreburgh City, resulting in severe road damage, necessitating a change in the route to Sandgem Town.
The changed route would pass through Mt. Coronet Cave, Eterna Forest, and other areas, making the journey much longer. Therefore, to reach Sandgem Town and rest by evening, Xu Li and Zhu Lan had to hastily finish lunch and take the car to Sandgem Town.
Outside the small path, the off-road vehicle that came to pick up Xu Li and Zhu Lan had already arrived early. Xu Li walked on the path, and through the frost-covered window of the small house, he could vaguely see the warm lamplight inside. The feeling of parting was spreading.
Zhu Lan embraced Granny Kikuko, and Granny Kikuko's hand gently rubbed Xu Li's hair, expressing her thoughts of farewell.
The moment of parting, no matter how reluctant, would arrive as scheduled. Granny Kikuko let go and pushed Zhu Lan and Xu Li towards the car door.
"Goodbye, Granny Kikuko. We'll come back to see you often during our journey."
Granny Kikuko stood there, saying no more words of instruction, her gaze full of satisfaction, vaguely showing her youthful appearance.
The gradually receding tire tracks silently carried away the hustle and bustle that belonged to this small house.