The aura radiating from Metagross and Scizor was noticeably stronger than that of the other eight Pokémon standing nearby.
In other words, it was the aura of a truly powerful individual.
That was why Akari had compared them to Kings.
"If I ever get the chance, I'd like to feel the power of a King for myself," Steven said, chuckling lightly.
A Pokémon touched by Arceus's power should be at least Champion-level in strength, shouldn't it? Otherwise, why would anyone call it a King?
The moment his Pokémon were released, they began training on their own, without needing to be told.
Akari watched them train and asked, curious, "Steven, is this kind of training how your Pokémon became so powerful?"
"Yes," Steven said, nodding. "I believe in building up their bodies and endurance, so they're ready to face even the strongest opponents. Growing stronger is a gradual process."
By now, Akari and Steven had grown more comfortable around each other, and conversation between them came easily. So she asked him, with real sincerity, "Do you think Pikachu and I could ever become as strong as you, Steven?"
"Of course," Steven replied, smiling gently. "Every person and every Pokémon has limitless potential. But what matters most is the bond between Trainer and Pokémon."
"Bond…" Akari repeated the word softly, turning it over in her mind.
"The simplest way I can put it," Steven continued, "is that you say a single command, and your Pokémon already understands what you mean—and carries it out in the most effective way possible."
When Steven gave orders in battle, he only needed to call out the name of a move, and his Pokémon would respond exactly as he intended. That kind of understanding came from the bond between Trainer and Pokémon. Even so, Steven admitted that when he had first caught his Sandslash, he'd needed to give much more detailed instructions before it understood him.
Akari took out a roughly fashioned Poké Ball and called out her Pikachu.
"Pika?"
The instant Pikachu appeared and caught sight of the group of intimidating Pokémon around it, it yelped in fright and bolted behind Akari, clinging tightly to her leg.
"It's all right, Pikachu. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Steven crouched down, a soft green light swirling gently in his open palm. Pikachu's panic eased at once, and it blinked up at him curiously.
"So you have that gift too, Steven…" Akari murmured in surprise as she watched her Pikachu climb up Steven's outstretched arm and settle comfortably on his shoulder.
"Pika-pi?" Pikachu tilted its head, studying Steven's face with open curiosity.
Steven reached up and gave it a gentle pat on the head. "Hello there, Pikachu."
"Pika!" it chirped happily.
Akari was about to ask Steven another question when she noticed how late it had gotten.
"Oh! Steven, it's already so late—I should head back!" she said quickly. "I'll come find you again another day so you can teach me more."
Steven smiled. "Of course. Take care."
"Pikachu, let's go!" Akari called, and Pikachu hopped down from Steven's shoulder, scurrying after her as they left.
"Still full of energy," Steven said with a quiet chuckle, watching them go.
He turned his attention to Pupitar, who sat nearby with its eyes closed in meditation. Something about the energy stirring within its body felt slightly off—a little too restless, too eager. Steven understood what was happening: Pupitar wanted to burn through that energy quickly so it could evolve and grow stronger sooner. Ever since arriving in the Hisui Region, that hunger to evolve seemed to have intensified.
After several encounters with Legendary Pokémon, all of Steven's team had recognized their own limitations all too clearly—and in response, they trained with renewed determination.
"I really need to find time to let them rest," Steven said, smiling helplessly. "Still some daylight left before sunset, though. Might as well join them." He stretched his arms and walked over to train alongside his Pokémon.
After a hearty dinner at the Galaxy Hall, Steven returned to his room, having let his Pokémon eat their fill as well. He stretched out his limbs, only to realize—somewhat startled—that after just two days of this training, he could already feel real changes taking hold in his body.
This is almost too efficient…
Steven settled cross-legged onto the wooden floor, thinking it over. He'd barely arrived in this region before he already had a lead on Dialga's relic. It felt almost too easy, too convenient. Steven reminded himself silently not to let his guard down. Still, he needed to find that relic quickly, so he could move on to the next era—and finally see his mother again.
He lowered his gaze to the phone in his hand. The wallpaper was a photo of him and Cynthia on the Ferris wheel, taken in the very moment she'd closed her eyes and kissed his cheek.
Steven drew in a long breath, then let it out slowly. "Forgive my selfishness, Cynthia… and forgive me for breaking my promise."
He had known from the start that he would have to break it. His mother had been missing for over a decade now—there was no telling what hardships she might have endured in that time. Steven would rather Cynthia stay safe, living a peaceful life in the world they both knew. As long as Legendary Pokémon weren't involved, her own strength was more than enough to handle whatever came her way. If he'd brought her along, he would only have dragged her into the same danger he now faced. Once he found his mother, no matter how furious Cynthia might be with him, he was determined to make things right between them.
Born into two very different lives, and still, somehow, a foolish young man at heart.
Steven looked over the worn parchment map spread before him, hoping he wouldn't have to search every corner of the Hisui Region to find what he needed. According to Akari, when the time came, Dialga would send its messenger to guide travelers into the next era. And yet there was something strange about how time worked here in Hisui.
So why hadn't his mother been able to return, even once? Was it simply impossible for her? Or did it specifically have to be him?
So many questions, and no matter how long Steven turned them over in his mind, he couldn't find an answer. It felt like a high schooler trying to solve a university-level problem with nothing but a high school education—not impossible, but daunting.
"Well, I'll worry about that when the time comes," he murmured.
Steven made his way to the bathhouse, since he hadn't had the chance to bathe the day before during the long journey to Jubilife Village. After washing up, he returned to his room, ready for sleep, wondering what kind of assessment Akari would have in store for him tomorrow.
"Good night, everyone," he said softly.
Steven pulled the covers up over himself, comforted by the familiar silhouettes of his Pokémon scattered throughout the dim room. It had been a long while since they'd all settled down to sleep together like this. Lulled by the distant hum of Bug Buzz drifting through the night air, Steven slowly drifted off.
The darkness outside was thick as ink, swallowing every color and leaving nothing but silence stretching endlessly in every direction.
Then, without warning, a bolt of golden lightning split the darkness, shattering the stillness as it streaked down from the sky.
The sudden flash jolted Steven awake.
It seemed that something significant was about to unfold.