As soon as Calyrex finished speaking, a surge of Psychiergy, radiant and palpable, enveloped Pawmot standing on the grass.

  In an instant, a faint blue aura surrounded Pawmot. Its eyes gently closed as its body began to float upward, appearing serene, as though lost in a deep sleep.

  Watg this unfold, Naoki khat Calyrex's illusio had officially begun.

  "I wonder what kind of trial Pawmot is fag," Naoki thought to himself.

  But this awmot's test alone. Naoki could her see nor participate, leaving him to wait silently outside.

  Naoki didn't fully grasp the nature of the "Power of the King." However, he did know that this sacred power had transformed Za and Zamazenta—brave warriors who had fought tless battles—into the Sword and Shield Kings. Their legendary forms had their base stats increased from 670 to an impressive 720.

  For reference, even Arceus' total base stat was 720.

  Clearly, this blessing represented an immense boon for any Pokémon.

  "bining the effects of [Lightning Bun] with Calyrex's [Power of the King]... how far could Pawmot asd?" Naoki pondered excitedly.

  "Would it reach the level of a pseudo-legendary? A mythical Pokémon? Or even stand among legendary Pokémon?"

  Naoki's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He and Calyrex were, in essence, creating a god.

  ...

  The forest was alive with vibrancy. T trees stretched skyward, their leafy opies filtering sunlight into soft beams that danced on the forest floor. Moss bhe tree trunks, and the fertile earth sprouted lush grasses and ferns. The air carried the rich st of soil and flora.

  A lone Pawmot y atop a sun-warmed stoirring as the sunlight caressed its fur. Slowly, it opes eyes, blinking as it took in its surroundings.

  "Pamo?" it murmured, its voice tinged with fusion.

  'Is this... where I used to live?' it thought.

  'Wait—why did I think that? Used to live?'

  A peculiar sense of dise clouded Pawmot's mind. It gazed up at the sky, its thoughts muddled. Something about this pce seemed familiar, yet distant, as though it had woken from a long, strange dream.

  In that dream, Pawmot remembered being carried far away by a rge bird Pokémon with an oversized beak. It had been dropped off at a human’s ranch, where it was taken in and cared for. The human had trai, teag it how to harness its electricity and even crafting it a tiny hammer.

  Determio test this memory, Pawmot rubbed the electric sa its cheeks with its paws, hoping to unleash a powerful current like in the dream.

  "Pamo—!"

  A ark crackled from its cws.

  So feeble...

  'Was it all just a dream?'

  A pang of disappoi filled Pawmot's chest.

  "Pamo! Pamo?"

  The calls came from the distance, pulling Pawmot from its thoughts. Turning toward the sound, it saw two familiar figures emerge from the tall grass—its parents, looking at it with relieved expressions.

  "Pamo! Pamo!" (There you are! You scared us. It’s time to e bad eat!)

  Pawmot froze for a moment before emotion overwhelmed it. Tears welled in its eyes as it called back, "Pamo!" (Mom! Dad!)

  Its mother nuzzled Pawmot affeately, her voice soft. "Pamo~" (We’re here, little one. Let’s go home together.)

  Sniffling, Pawmot nodded. It hopped off the stone and followed its parents back to their deh an a, gree.

  The hollowed-out truo a cozy underground burrow. Iwo chambers branched off—a food ste area stocked with fruits and grains to st the winter and a spacious bedroom where the family snuggled together eaight.

  That evening, Pawmot led in its parents' warm embrace, drifting into a peaceful sleep.

  The following m, after bidding its parents farewell, Pawmot ventured into the forest to explore.

  The forest was home to a magnifit tree, one so tall that its seemed to scrape the clouds. The elder Pokémon often spoke of its a ins, g it had stood there for turies.

  Pawmot loved this tree. Sg its trunk and perg at its top gave it a sense of freedom as it gazed at the endless blue sky, the drifting white clouds, and the vast world beyond the forest.

  Today, Pawmot found itself once again at the edge of the t tree, gazing out at the world beyond the forest. The vast unknown filled it with both wonder and curiosity. What could it be like out there?

  Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the stillness of the forest. The sound jolted Pawmot from its thoughts.

  Looking down from its perch, it spotted the source of the otion. A small Rufflet rinting frantically through the dense undergrowth.

  Right behind it, a menag Pokémon pursued with relentless speed—a Mandibuzz, its pierg eyes locked on the panicked Rufflet.

  Pawmot froze. It reized Mandibuzz immediately. Its parents had war tless times about this predator.

  Every day, it circled the skies above the forest, sing the ground for vulnerable prey. When it found a target, it would swoop down, capture its victim with razor-sharp talons, and carry it back to its eerie bone-de.

  Mandibuzz was notorious, not just for its predatory instincts but also for its grim habit of ad its body a with the remains of its victims. To the Pokémon of the forest, it was a living nightmare.

  Pawmot’s ti raced as it watched the terrifying predator close in on Rufflet. Fear gripped it, paralyzing its small frame.

  'What should I do?' Pawmot thought desperately. 'Should I try to help?'

  But what could it possibly do? Its electricity was weak, a mere spark pared to what it had once dreamed of wielding.

  And if Mandibuzz noticed it, Pawmot k would share the same fate as Rufflet—snatched up and devoured, leaving behind nothing but bones.

  The very thought made Pawmot shudder. Its paws trembled, and its breathing quied as fear took hold. It stood frozen, uo move, while its mind spiraled in terror.

  Meanwhile, Mandibuzz finally caught up to Rufflet. With a cruel screech, it smmed the smaller Pokémon to the ground, pinning it with its powerful cws. Rufflet cried out in pain as Mandibuzz began peg at it with its sharp beak.

  The pitiful cries broke through Pawmot's haze of fear. It snapped back to reality, its eyes wide with arm.

  'I ’t just stand here and do nothing!' Pawmot thought.

  It took a deep breath, mustering all the ce it could find, and grabbed a small stone from beside its perch. With all its might, it hurled the sto Mandibuzz.

  “Pamo!” (Hey, over here!)

  The storuck Mandibuzz on the wing. Though it didn’t hurt the predator, it was enough to get its attention. Mandibuzz turs sharp gaze toawmot, its dark pupils narrowing in anger.

  Letting out an enraged screech, Mandibuzz released Rufflet and took to the air, its powerful wings fpping as it charged straight at Pawmot’s position.

  Pawmot's heart pounded as it realized what it had just done. Without thinking, it turned and bolted, leaping from branch to branch as it raced through the forest opy.

  Behind it, Mandibuzz gave chase, closing the distah frightening speed.

  Pawmot ran for what felt like ay, its tiny limbs ag and its breath ragged. But no matter how fast it ran, Mandibuzz remained on its tail, relentless in its pursuit.

  Finally, Pawmot skidded to a halt. A cliff loomed ahead, its edge dropping into a dizzying void. There was nowhere left to run.

  Desperate, Pawmot turo face Mandibuzz, which hovered in the air, its cruel eyes gleaming with triumph. The predator let out a mog screech as if to taunt its tiny prey.

  Pawmot trembled but ps paws firmly on the ground. It began rubbing its electric sacs vigorously, trying to summon any spark of power to defend itself.

  But its electricity was too weak.

  Mandibuzz swooped down in a blur, ramming into Pawmot with its full weight. The force sent Pawmot hurtling backward, over the edge of the cliff.

  As it plummeted, Pawmot let out a terrified scream. “Pamo—!”

  Pain wracked its tiny body as it tumbled through the air. The world around it seemed to fade away, repced by an endless void of darkness. Time and space felt frozen, and for a moment, Pawmot thought it had died.

  But then, a deep, resonant voice echoed from the shadows.

  "Are you afraid?"

  The voice was calm yet anding, filling the air with an almost divine presence.

  Pawmot’s eyes darted around in fusion, but all it could see was darkness. Its tiny voice quavered as it shouted back, trying to muster ce, "Pamo!" (Of course, I’m afraid!)

  The voice spoke again, this time with a curious tone. "If you are so afraid, why did you provoke the predator?"

  Pawmot hesitated, its small body trembling. "Pamo, Pamo Pamo!" (The Rufflet would’ve beeen! I couldn’t just stand by ahat happen!)

  The voice seemed to pohis. "Even if it meant sacrifig yourself?"

  Pawmot blinked, unsure how to respond. It looked down at its paws, notig how small and frail they seemed. For the first time, it realized it hadn’t thought about its own safety at all.

  Something was missing from its pink, tender pads. Something it hadn’t noticed until now.

  In a daze, fragments of memory began to resurfa Pawmot’s mind.

  It felt like someone had once ha a hammer and said, “From now on, you are a righteous superhero! Go, use this hammer to protect the okémon!”

  Recalling those words, a surge of ce welled up in Pawmot's heart. It ched its tiny fists and decred with determination, “Pamo!” (I am a righteous superhero!)

  The mysterious voice was silent for a moment, then spoke again, its tone ced with curiosity:

  “But you must uand, that Mandibuzz isn’t chasing you or Rufflet for sport. She hunts to provide for her children. To her, what you did is far from justice.”

  Pawmot froze, its resolve shaken.

  “Pamo…” (What…?)

  It stumbled over its thoughts. Could it be true? Was this "bad Pokémon" really hunting just to feed her young?

  If Pawmot stopped her from hunting, wouldn’t her children starve, waiting for their mother t food?

  Pawmot stood still, uain of what to do.

  The voice pressed on, patie probing. “What will you do now?”

  Pawmot’s heart felt heavy, and it lowered its head ihought.

  It thought of its own life—how much it cherished the warmth and care of its parents. How its parents searched tirelessly through the forest to e always had food. The idea of taking that away from someone else’s children was heartbreaking.

  But at the same time, it thought of Rufflet, terrified and helpless, about to be taken as prey.

  The voice remained silent, waiting for Pawmot to find its answer.

  After what felt like ay, Pawmot finally looked up. Its face was filled with a newfound crity aermination.

  “Pamo!” (I’ll share my food with her! I’ll give her fruits to feed her children so they won’t starve!)

  The voice paused, seemingly surprised.

  “Is that your final answer?”

  Pawmot nodded firmly, its small body brimming with resolve. “Pamo!” (That’s right!)

  The voiow tinged with approval, replied, “Then show me how you would do it.”

  With those words, everything around Pawmot blurred and shifted.

  When it opes eyes again, it was ba the forest, watg the same se py out: Mandibuzz chasing Rufflet through the dense underbrush.

  But this time, Pawmot wasn’t fused or afraid. It had found its answer and knew what it o do.

  A powerful surge of energy erupted from within its tiny body, crag like thunder. For a moment, Pawmot was stunned by the sensation, but then it embraced the newfound strength.

  Leaping down from the tree, it nded firmly between Rufflet and Mandibuzz, spreading its arms wide to shield the smaller Pokémon.

  “Pamo!” (Don’t hurt her!)

  Mandibuzz fpped her enormous wings, gring at the small Pokémon that dared to block her path. She let out a pierg cry, her sharp eyes filled with anger and disdain.

  But Pawmot stood its ground, unwavering.

  Mandibuzz, infuriated by the challenge, spread her wings and unched a Brave Bird attack.

  Pawmot ched its fists, ready to defend Rufflet with all its might. Lightning surged around its small frame, f an intense, crag aura.

  As Mandibuzz dove down with incredible speed, Pawmot charged forward, meeting her head-on. The forest lit up with a brilliant fsh of light as the two Pokémon collided in mid-air.

  The impact was deafening. Mandibuzz was flung backward, tumbling to the ground i.

  The predator struggled to her feet, her dark eyes now filled with fear as she stared at the tiny Pawmot.

  Just as Mandibuzz braced herself, thinking the Pokémon might strike her down, she saw the tiny Pawmot reato its poud pull out a handful of berries. Carefully, Pawmot piled the berries in front of her.

  “Pamo!” (Take these bad feed them to your children!)

  Mandibuzz froze, staring in disbelief at the little Pokémon. For a moment, her fierce, predataze softened as she hesitated.

  After a brief silence, Mandibuzz let out a quiet cry, picked up the berries with her talons, and flew off toward her , leaving the frightened Rufflet unharmed.

  As Mandibuzz's silhouette disappeared into the sky, Pawmot let out a deep sigh of relief.

  Just then, the mysterious voice spoke again, resonatily through the air:

  “It seems you have found your path.”

  “Pamo?!” Pawmot's eyes widened as it gnced around, searg for the source of the voice.

  The forest around it began to blur, fading into a haze of light.

  The voice tinued, firm yet passionate: “Even stripped of everything, reduced to the same small and powerless self as before, you still held the ce to stand against a greater foe and the passion to help even those who threatened you. I see your resolve.”

  “Your heart is pure, and your iions are true. Stay steadfast on your path, and tio find your answers. I reize your determination and your ce.”

  “You are worthy of being a hero. Now, Pawmot, accept the power of the king and use it to protect those in need!”

  The voice faded, and Pawmot blinked as it felt a surge of energy flood through its body.

  When it opes eyes again, the illusion was gone, and it was ba the real world.

  Naoki stood nearby, a warm smile on his face. Calyrex, regal and serene, watched from above, and Pawmot's friends looked on anxiously, their faces a mixture of and hope.

  Naoki approached slowly and crouched down to Pawmot's level. “Looks like you passed the test,” he said gently.

  Pawmot bli him, then burst into tears, rushing into Naoki’s arms. It g tightly to him, g untrolbly.

  “Pamo…” (It felt so real…)

  Naoki froze for a moment, fused, then gnced up at Calyrex. “What’s going on?” he asked.

  Calyrex’s soft, melodic voice responded, “Pawmot believed everything it experienced with you was merely a dream. It’s relieved to know it wasn’t.”

  Uanding dawned on Naoki. He smiled, gently patting Pawmot's head. “It’s not a dream. How could it be a dream?”

  Hearing this, Pawmot sniffled and wiped its tears, a little embarrassed. “Pamo.” (I’m so gd.)

  Naoki chuckled, his tone warm. “You’ve done amazingly well. Do you know how rare it is to pass the test of Calyrex? There are only two other Pokémon in the world who have succeeded, and they’ve bee legendary heroes in their ions.”

  Naoki leaned in spiratorially and added with a grin, “That makes Za and Zamazenta your senior brothers.”

  Pawmot's eyes sparkled with awe, and it gasped in disbelief. “Pamo?” (Really? I’m that strong?)

  Naoki nodded. “Absolutely. And now, it’s time for your ation.”

  Pawmotstood tall, its little face radiatiermination as it turo Calyrex.

  Calyrex desded gracefully, the soft glow of its psychiergy casting a serene light over the ranch. His gaze met Pawmot's, his regal presenwavering.

  “Raise your hammer.”

  Pawmot held its small silver hammer tightly in both hands and prese reverently to Calyrex.

  Calyrex gazed at the hammer with solemn dignity before extending one hand, resting it gently on the surface of the on.

  Suddenly, a radiant golden light burst forth from Calyrex’s body, flowing steadily into the hammer.

  The once-simple silver hammer began to ge before their eyes, its surface transf into a gleaming gold. Intricate, regal patterns appeared on the hammer, imbued with an aura of majesty and power.

  “Pamo!” Pawmotcried out in amazement, its eyes wide with wonder.

  Moments ter, the golden light enveloped Pawmotitself, spreading across its small frame.

  Pawmot felt an intense warmth c through its body, as if it were being immersed in a powerful, invigorating energy.

  A dazzling light radiated outward, and within it, Pawmot’s form began to shift and evolve.

  Golden energy materialized around its head, shaping itself into a King’s Helmet. The shimmering light tio coalesce, f sturdy, resple metal armor across its body.

  The armor seamlessly ected to a crimson cloak draped across Pawmot’s back, fluttering heroically in the energy-charged breeze.

  As the transformation pleted, Pawmot, now adorned in its armor, stood tall. With the radiant hammer ched firmly in its paw, it emanated a anding presence.

  The once-familiar Pokémon now carried the poise and power of a hero. The shining gold of its armor, the vibrant red of its flowing cape, and the firm grip on its transformed hammer made Pawmot look nothing short of majestic.

  Naoki and the assembled Pokémon watched in stunned sileheir eyes wide with awe at the incredible sight before them.

  Pawmot’s transformation into the Hammer King Form was plete.