The battlefield was set as Iono's Electrode, a pyful yet formidable Pokémon with its red-and-white spherical body, rolled smoothly into position. Across from it stood Naoki's Pawmot, proud in its red cape and clutg a small hammer, its determined gaze locked on its oppo.

  Electrode, use Discharge!" Iono anded eically.

  Electricity surged through Electrode's body, glowing fiercely before bursting out in a dazzling radial pattern, scattering lightning across the battlefield.

  Naoki remained calm, silently . He didn't issue a and because Pawmot had the Volt Absorb ability, renderiric-type moves iive while allowing it to vert the energy into health.

  As the electric surge enveloped Pawmot, it didn't flinch. Instead, it boldly charged forward, hammer raised, as the current coursed harmlessly through its body.

  "Pamo!" cried Pawmot.

  The electricity, drawn to Pawmot like a mag, surged into its body and the hammer it carried. Both began to glow with a vivid blue current, resembling the power of a storm. Pawmot's eyes sparkled with the same energy, embodying a thunderous deity.

  Iono's jaw dropped in shock. "Is that… Volt Absorb?!" she excimed.

  But this was more than absorption—Pawmot was usirode's power to amplify its own strength.

  "How it turn my attato an advantage?" Iono thought, feeling the weight of the challenge.

  Electrode hovered cautiously, awaiting further instrus. Sensing the danger, Iono adjusted her strategy quickly.

  "Electrode, stay on guard! Dodge its attacks!"

  Meanwhile, Naoki issued a and. "Finish charging, Pawmot."

  Pawmot's hammer crackled with growing iy, its cape fluttering dramatically as it leapt high into the air.

  From above, it desded rapidly, bringing the hammer down in a crag arc of lightning that resembled a thunderbolt striking the battlefield.

  Iono's eyes widened. "What kind of move is that?!"

  The hammer smashed into the ground with a deafening explosion, leaving behind a smoking crater. Electrode, though injured, mao roll out of the impact zo was battered but still had some fight left.

  Electrode backed autting distaween itself and the electrified Pawmot.

  "Chase it down!" Naoki ordered. "Use Thunder wave!"

  Pawmot transformed into a blur of light, moving with incredible speed. It closed the gap in an instant, smming irode and sending it tumbling across the field.

  Iono ched her fists nervously. "Electrode! Are you okay?" she called out.

  The resilierode wobbled but maht itself, earning nods of respect from both trainers for its determination.

  Naoki observed quietly. "Impressive perseverance," he admitted.

  Iono saportunity and acted quickly. "Electrode, use Screech!"

  Electrode trembled aed a pierg, high-pitched sound that filled the air. The harsh noise echoed across the field, sharp enough to make spectators wince.

  Pawmot faltered, its sensitive ears overwhelmed by the sound. It instinctively raised its paws to cover its ears, leaving itself exposed.

  "Don't show any weaknesses!" Naoki warned. "Hammer attack!"

  Pawmot reacted swiftly, hurling its charged hammer toward Electrode. However, the disorienting sound caused its aim to falter. Electrode dodged the ining on with a nimble roll.

  As the screeg noise reached its peak, Pawmot closed its eyes and pressed both paws firmly over its ears, floating unsteadily in mid-air, pletely vulnerable.

  Iono's grin widened as she seized the moment. "Alright, Mr. Naoki, I'm not holding baymore! Electrode, use Foul Py!"

  The grating opped abruptly, arode's body radiated with dark energy. Its spherical form unched forward.

  Foul Py, a move that ohe target's strength against them, was aimed directly at Pawmot in its weakeate.

  Just when Iono thought she arode had secured victory, her eyes shifted to Naoki, standing calmly across the battlefield.

  There wasn't a hint of pani his face. Instead, a small, knowing smile pyed at the ers of his mouth, as if he were anticipating something.

  Something was wrong.

  Iono's chest tightened with a sense of foreboding.

  And then, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.

  Iono whipped her head around and saw Pawmot's hammer flying back toward it at an incredible speed, as if drawn by an invisible force.

  The problem? Electrode was directly in its path!

  "What?!" Iono's eyes widened in shock.

  "Dodge it!" she shouted, her voice ringing with urgency.

  She krode was already hanging by a thread, sustained only by sheer determination. One more hit, and it would surely faint.

  But it was too te.

  Before the words had fully left her lips, the hammer smmed irode with a deafening g, sending it crashing into the ground.

  The sphere-shaped Pokémon rolled to a stop, its eyes spiraling i. It had fainted.

  A sharp whistle blew, signaling the end of the trial.

  Iono froze for a moment, the out a dramatic sigh. "Mr. Naoki, you're incredible!"

  Naoki walked over to Pawmot, kneeling to rub its temples soothingly. "That Electrode wasn't your stro Pokémon, was it?" he asked, a teasing edge in his tone.

  Iono grinned sheepishly, brushing her hair back. "You got me! But it looks like you're holding back, too. I tell there's a lot of talent here."

  Her spirits didn't waver despite the loss. Instead, her eyes sparkled with renewed determination.

  "Oh, I 't stand losing, but now I know why the Chairwoma us here!"

  Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to tihere are plenty of other trials at the ranch besides the Lightning Trial."

  Iono waved her hands in mock surrender. "No way! I need a break first. I've got a feeling you'd knock out all my Pokémon without breaking a sweat!"

  Naoki simply smiled, not denying the cim.

  At that moment, Sister Indeedee walked onto the battlefield, holding a cup of Gogoat milk. She offered it to Electrode, who quickly recovered after drinking it.

  In an instant, the fainted Pokémon was back to its eic self, boung lightly on the ground.

  Iono blinked in astonishment. "What… What kind of medie is that?! It worked so fast!"

  Naoki chuckled. "It's not medie. This is Gogoat milk, a specialty of our ranch. It's great for helping Pokémon recover their energy."

  Iono's eyes lit up with curiosity. She g the herd onite lounging on the grass nearby. "Do the Dragonite deliver this to town every day?"

  She seemed to be struck with sudden inspiration. "Wait! Could people in Levincia order things like this from your ranch?"

  Naoki shook his head apologetically. "Not yet. We don't offer cross-city delivery services."

  "Ahat a shame…" Iono pouted, looking genuinely disappointed.

  Seeing her expression, Naoki seemed to sider something. "By the way, have you heard of the Rotom Phone?"

  "Rotom Phone?" Iono tilted her head, intrigued. "Is it like the Rote or Rotom Washing Mae?"

  "Something like that," Naoki replied with a nod. "Rotom Tech is supposedly developing it right now."

  Rotom Tech was a pany renowned for creating innovative gadgets powered by Rotom, such as refrigerators and washing maes.

  Iono frowhoughtfully. "Huh, I've never heard of it."

  Naoki didn't press further.

  He realized that, given the current stage of teology, Iono probably hadn't been exposed to cepts like live streaming or tent creation, which were closely tied to devices like the Rotom Phone. For now, it was better to leave it at that.

  Fortunately, Iono didn't take offense and was quickly captivated by the two majestic horse Pokemon.

  "Wow! Mr. Naoki, you have horse Pokémooo!" Iono excimed with excitement. "I've been to a few ranches with horse farms before, and riding across an open field on horseback is such a thrill!"

  Naoki: "…"

  "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this ranch doesn't operate as a horse farm. These two Pokémon are incredibly proud and don't allow themselves to be ridden. They're the personal mounts of the King of Bountiful Harvests."

  After all, Gstrier and Spectrier aren't ordinary Pokémon. They once ruled the Tundra as legendary steeds before being the exclusive mounts of Calyrex.

  At that moment, Gstrier snorted and cast an arrogant goward Iono, its expression full of icy disdain, exuding a regal and intimidating aura.

  "The king's personal steeds?" Iono said, astonished.

  "Calyrex," Naoki said, taking the opportunity to expin. "The legendary King of Bountiful Harvests. It's said that he once rode Gstrier and Spectrier across the nds, spreading abundance."

  "Wait, hold on!" Iono interrupted, her disbelief evident. "The King of Bountiful Harvests? Are you talking about the Calyrex that was featured on TV?"

  Naoki nodded, smiling slightly.

  Iono crified, "No, what I mean is… Calyrex is actually here, at your ranch?"

  Naoki poioward the living room. "The King of Bountiful Harvests is currently inside, watg TV."

  "What?!" Iono's eyes went wide in shock.

  Naoki proceeded to tell Iono about Calyrex iail, expining how the legendary Pokémon had made the ranch its home, how the two steeds had chosen to remain alongside their king, and how a shrine had been built on a nearby hill to honor Calyrex for its tributions to the region.

  By the time he finished, Iono was fully vinced—and utterly awed.

  Follower of the King of Bountiful Harvests +1.

  ...

  By four o'clo the afternoon, Iono had to leave. She mentiohat she only had a single day off and o return to Levincia to prepare for the batch of challengers at her gym.

  Before she left, Iono spent a hefty sum to buy ten bottles of Gogoat milk, praising its exceptional quality. She also expressed her hope that Naoki would someday offer cross-city Dragonite delivery services so that trainers in Levincia could enjoy the ranch's specialties without traveling so far.

  Naoki could only smile apologetically. "I'd love to, but I'm a bit worried about sending Dragonite on long-distance routes."

  The wasn't just about potential troublemakers—Naoki also worried that Dragonites might get distracted or lost along the way.

  Thus, all of this would have to wait until the Rotom Phone came ience.

  With this thought, Naoki returned home and g his modest savings.

  An idea suddenly struck him.

  What if he used his earnings to i in Nemona's father pany? He could even provide research dires to accelerate the development of a Rotom Phone!

  It was a brilliant idea, but there was one problem: Naoki was just a farmer in a small tryside town and had no way of meeting someone as wealthy and iial as Nemona's father.

  Still, the thought lingered, and Naoki found himself mulling over the potential funs of the Rotom Phone as depicted in the anime.

  As he pondered, his gaze drifted to Calyrex sitting on the sofa, engrossed in watg television. He suddenly recalled the "C-chi-chi" sound Calyrex had made when trying to unicate with him ba Kitakami Township.

  Telepathy, it seemed, didn't work over phone lines.

  Naoki had always assumed the Rotom Phone rimarily for navigation and positioning—a tool to assist Dragonite during deliveries. But now, it seemed its potential extended far beyond that.

  As everyone knew, Rotom okémon. Even when ied into appliances, it retaihe ability to unicate.

  If every Pokémon had access to a Rotom Phone, couldn't they unicate directly with him?

  Naoki's imagination soared. A Pokémon could speak into its Rotom Phone, and the Rotom would automatically transcode and trahe message for the recipient.

  Calyrex could watch TV and surf the i through such a devibsp;

  But it wouldn't stop there. He imagined Giratina, residing in the Distortion World, casually sunbathing on Flower Sky Isnd, using a Rotom Phoo stay ected.

  The thought sparked an even grander idea.

  With so many legendary Pokémon at the ranch—like Koraidon, Mew, and Giratina—why not create a chat group exclusively fendary Pokémon?

  Naoki pictured them chatting, sharing experiences, and f ued bonds. It was an amusing cept, but one loomed rge.

  What if Giratina, with its fiery temper, became an oroll? Would it crawl through the i cables to front anyone who disagreed with it?

  "I wonder how much it would cost to i in something like this..." Naoki muttered to himself.

  He decided it would be wise to gather more information before making any decisions.

  As dusk fell, Naoki po go outside and spend some time with the Pokémon. However, he suddenly remembered the Poké Ball and photo Zapdos had delivered earlier.

  "Oh no, I almost fot!" Naoki excimed, spping his forehead.

  He quickly retrieved the items from the Poké Ball rad ied the test friends Mew and Teddiursa had made.

  As always, the photo bore the paw prints of Mew and Teddiursa on the back. This time, however, there was a third mark—a distinctive Zapdos talon print.

  Naoki hadn't noticed it at first, but once he did, a smile crept across his fabsp;

  Turning the photo over, he saw a dense, verdant forest in the background. A winding river ss way through the trees, its surface shimmering under dappled sunlight.

  By the river stood a familiar group of figures. Mew and Teddiursa smiled brightly at the camera, fnked by a Zapdos carrying its signature red satchel, gazing defiantly into the lens.

  In the ter of the group stood a Pokémon Naoki had seen before—a Farfetch'd with a determined expression, pierg eyes, and a long, sturdy stalk resembling a swripped tightly in its wing.