Chapter 1237

"Mildleton—Oldleton—"

"Babub—babub!"

The valley was filled with the anxious shouts of Nimo and Babub.

Since Baimu handed over the Poké Balls of the two giant lizards to the student council president, she had become their nanny.

Compared to her docility under the former, Nimo clearly struggled to control these two caped deities, as if a freshman just out of the countryside was forced to raise a milk cow cat and a husky.

All day she was either searching for the lizards or on her way to search for them.

Even her Pokémon were forced into labor, running around all day, exhausted and miserable beyond words.

"Babub!"

Babub advised Nimo to return the Poké Balls of the two giant lizards to Baimu.

It's truly not something they can handle!

Nimo shook her head in refusal, "No way! Everyone is a champion! If Baimu can do it, so can I!"

If even Mildleton and Oldleton can't be handled, how will she ever catch up to Baimu's footsteps in the future?

She firmly continued searching for the missing two giant lizards.

Babub sighed, sometimes encountering a stubborn trainer is just helpless.

Meanwhile.

The third observation station was somewhat lively.

In the open space outside the door, a group of researchers engaged in heated discussion, while Qingmu gazed ahead with calm eyes.

Standing there were Baimu, Mudan, and Paipa, along with numerous colossal beings.

The most eye-catching among them were three bizarrely shaped creatures.

They resembled the legendary Pokémon—Ho-Oh's guards—in appearance, yet were similar yet not quite, making one doubt whether they count as regional forms.

Of course, everyone present clearly knows the truth is not so.

In Zone Zero, there are normal wild Pokémon, but anything that looks abnormal belongs to the Paradox species!

Affected by Terastal energy and the time machine, beings that should not exist have mysteriously descended into this world!

"Paradox Pokémon: Shatter Flame, Ripple Wave, Thunder Drum."

Qingmu murmured with an expression of ancient calm, recalling the shocking scene when Baimu and the others returned yesterday.

Clearly they went out to visit the professor, but came back telling them they had caught all six.

Xinli nearly wanted to protest.

"With your efficiency so high, what was all my running around these two days for!?"

Though said in a joking tone, one could still hear Xinli's deep helplessness.

At that time it was already dusk, sunset.

However, the Paldea Alliance convened a small internal meeting via holographic projection.

Participants included Yeci, the Four Heavenly Kings, and Baimu and others serving on the capture team.

Regarding the entire process of capturing the Paradox species, Nimo and her companions claimed no credit, attributing all merit to Baimu's terrifyingly high efficiency.

The multifunctional phone generously displayed the recording, considering it was working for other alliances, it certainly needed to leave a trace.

The video is not long; it edited out most of the meaningless parts.

"Astonishing, as expected of a trainer with legendary Pokémon, what skilled capture techniques!"

Yeci grew increasingly envious of the unseen Shanyin, having such an excellent regional champion, what worry is there for the region not to prosper?

Fortunately, Nimo is not lacking either!

She firmly believes the student council president of Tangerine Academy will not disappoint her.

Regarding Baimu's capture of the ancient Ho-Oh guards and future Holy Swordsmen, completing the divine beast grand slam, she certainly feels a bit regretful, but also doesn't mind too much.

Whether a trainer is excellent needs no proof from legendary Pokémon.

Even if the current sole champion with legendary Pokémon, Baimu himself, his main Pokémon do not occupy the positions of the Divine Pillars.

In the several World Championship matches he previously fought, the Divine Pillars did not appear.

If you want to take them away, just take them away.

"—How do you plan to dispose of them?"

Hmm?

Facing Baimu's question, Yeci had a question mark flash above her head, she smiled and said: "You can take them away."

"No need."

Baimu firmly refused, "Please let them live in Zone Zero; this place is the most suitable environment for them."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at him.

"These are the Ho-Oh guards and Holy Swordsmen! Although not the real thing…… but they could also help you in battles, right? Think again."

Paipa whispered, advising her friend to accept this gift from nature.

Baimu shook his head.

Paipa knows too little about the outside world, unaware of what monster he is about to face.

Let alone the Paradox versions of the Ho-Oh guards and Holy Swordsmen, even if the real ones came, they might not be able to handle those few people.

What he can rely on forever are only his Bosukoduola.

Each one is infused with his painstaking effort.

At most, he would bring back the ancient Ho-Oh guards to keep them alive, but that would also have to wait until after encountering the true Ho-Oh guards.

Baxiao said: "If I remember correctly, the ancient Ho-Oh guards are dragons, right?"

He stared intently at Baimu, as if saying, as a dragon trainer, don't you want a dragon?

Appleu~ Are you serious?

Ye Ci recalled the call Xin Li had given her and smiled, "You needn't stand on ceremony; Paldia welcomes any Trainer to catch any wild Pokémon."

She thought Baimu was being considerate of her.

Baimu still refused, "I'm serious, Chairwoman Ye Ci. Perhaps you can try interacting with them; compared to ordinary Pokémon, Paradox Pokémon take more effort to raise."

Everyone in Paldia looked at Nemo; among everyone present, only Baimu and she had raised Paradox Pokémon.

The Student Council President nodded, "Indeed, compared to ordinary Pokémon, they're a tiny bit more troublesome in terms of communication, cognitive learning, and such……"

Everyone understood.

Don't be fooled by Nemo repeatedly getting the short end of the stick in battles against Baimu; in Paldia she is the strongest, near-invincible under the heavens.

Only Chief Champion Ye Ci can suppress her.

Aside from that, everyone else is small fry.

Baimu's words plus hers amount to iron law.

Xin Li said, "Since Champion Baimu puts it that way, Chairwoman, just leave them here; it'll be convenient for research too."

"……Alright."

Ye Ci gave a slight nod.

Baimu understood the two's meaning — leaving them in storage, in other words, they could come pick them up anytime.

"Troubling you all of the Paldia League."

He had to go along with it, "Before leaving I'll try my best to communicate with them, so their emotions stay stable."

Otherwise, even if they stay in Area Zero, most of the time they'd have to be kept in Poké Balls.

Just like in the games where Pokémon resist Trainers whose strength doesn't match theirs.

The anime has similar situations too.

Ash's Charizard was considered a result of his insufficient strength, unable to suppress it, giving rise to a rebellious heart.

Until the Orange Islands journey, when Charizard was beaten black and blue by a passerby's Poliwrath, and Ash stayed up all night nursing it, only then regaining its acknowledgment.

Given Paradox Pokémon's dispositions, they'd likely be even more unruly and intractable.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Ye Ci said with a beaming smile.

Two days remained before departure for Blueberry Academy.

——

Time rewinds to the second day.

Nemo chased Miron and Tiron all over the place, played around in circles by those two unruly fellows.

Outside the Observation Station.

Baimu released the Ancient Ho-Oh Guard first.

Aggron and other Pokémon surrounded the area, preventing the ferocious Paradox Pokémon from harming the Trainer.

"Roar!"

"Howl!"

"Woo!"

Tall and mighty Great Tusk, Raging Bolt, and Iron Treads appeared.

Scream Tail launched an attack without surprise, and Baimu, reacting faster, recalled it with a Poké Ball.

He then looked at Flutter Mane and Iron Jugulis.

Flutter Mane had little reaction; Iron Jugulis's neck surged with thunderclouds, pale blue lightning flickering.

Yet faced with the gaze of the small creature before it, it inexplicably canceled its gathering electricity.

Baimu was quite satisfied with its tact.

"Good, looks like we have a basis for calm communication."

"Roar……"

Iron Jugulis clearly didn't quite understand what he said, turning its head to look at Flutter Mane beside it.

Flutter Mane said nothing, staring at Baimu's palm.

"You react too?"

Seeing this, Baimu understood that yesterday's sensation wasn't unique to him, yet he still didn't casually use the Heart of God.

Right now is the most critical moment; can't recklessly court death.

He released Scream Tail again, seeing it still in a towering rage, and recalled it once more.

Flutter Mane and Iron Jugulis's attention couldn't help being drawn to that little ball, their gazes turning deep.

Baimu smiled and called Porygon-Z to translate.

"Tell them, if I can catch them once, I can catch them a second time; even if they find a chance to smash the Ball it's useless."

Pokémon destroying their own Poké Balls — such cases have appeared in the anime before.

Without a doubt, it's precisely plot from the journey.

Flutter Mane and Iron Jugulis harbored the same idea, but Baimu quickly made them understand doing so was meaningless.

He didn't catch them by fluke.

"Let's cut to the chase."

Baimu spoke frankly, "From now on you'll continue living here, but toward all man-made structures and humans, you must not take any aggressive action.

"At the same time, your conflict with the future Swords of Justice must stop, to avoid Area Zero falling into turmoil."

Porygon2 translated in detail.

The Thunder Drum showed no reaction, while the Void Flame slightly opened its mouth and let out a low growl, blowing out a scorching airflow.

"Roar—"

"It says it's them who are being troubled, and telling them this is useless."

The multi-function phone added: "Sure enough, it's almost exactly as Peony guessed—the future Holy Sword Knights proactively provoked the ancient Phoenix King Guard, trying to drive them away."

Baimu smiled.

The Phoenix King Guard is great!

Much better than the unwilling-to-communicate future Holy Sword Knights.

He said: "Ask it the reason—before the alliance came in, both sides were clearly safe and sound."

The multi-function phone quickly translated.

The Void Flame growled again, and the hot airflow made Baimu's cheek skin a bit dry.

"It says it doesn't know—it only knows those three guys kept provoking the most ill-tempered Ripple Water... Originally they lived scattered apart, but the future Holy Sword Knights' actions forced them to gather together."

The multi-function phone paused, then said: "Those two Thunder Moon beasts were defeated by them during this process and then followed them."

Baimu suddenly understood—the root cause was indeed with the future Holy Sword Knights.

He said: "Tell them I'll handle the future Holy Sword Knights' side; they just need to manage the Ripple Water."

Ripple Water is clearly water-type, yet its temper is even more violent than the fire-type Void Flame.

The Void Flame received a reply from the multi-function phone, its eyes fixed on Baimu, seeming somewhat curious.

"Roar..."

The multi-function phone: "It says it feels you're very familiar, as if you're like them."

"Like? How could that be! You're paradoxical Pokémon—theoretically impossible chimeric monsters—uh."

Baimu's words cut off abruptly.

Theoretically, he shouldn't exist either.

The anime world originally revolved around Ash, but his fusion with Lance caused many plotlines to go wildly off track.

Therefore, he and the ancient Phoenix King Guard are not much different.

In myth and legend, the Phoenix King Guard became what it is today after three unknown Pokémon were resurrected by the Phoenix King.

Unless the Phoenix King Guard originally looked exactly like Void Flame and the others, their existence must be questioned.

The key is, he never played Pokémon Scarlet/Violet.

Who knows if GF has clearly explained their origins.

After complex thinking, Baimu had the multi-function phone reveal partial information to Void Flame and Thunder Drum.

Ripple Water was released again.

"Roar—"

Whoosh.

Return.

Void Flame and Thunder Drum had no mind to pay attention to their companions, seemingly fallen into some kind of crash state.

Deep in their minds, a faint rainbow-colored giant bird indeed existed.

But who exactly is it?

Is what Baimu said related to it?

Big Head's mind is full of doubts; Void Flame and Thunder Drum likely need time to digest this.

Seizing the opportunity, Baimu played a trick on Ripple Water.

He made it go in and out of the ball repeatedly.

After what seemed like dozens of times, Ripple Water became obedient.

It gritted its teeth and glared at Baimu, its gaze strangely resembling the tail end of a roar, but it held back without speaking.

Ripple Water knew that if it roared again, it would have to go back into that little ball.

Baimu sighed: "You say you—why bother? Wouldn't it be better to just settle down early?"

He threw a rainbow-colored Pokémon block into Ripple Water.

"Pfft!"

Ripple Water didn't even think before spitting it out—something was shoved into its mouth—

Huh?

It quickly found the spat-out Pokémon block, bit it back into its mouth, and began to savor it carefully.

The part melted by its saliva truly activated a certain sense in its body, giving Ripple Water an intense stimulation it had never experienced before.

Unfortunately, a single rainbow-colored Pokémon block is too small.

It couldn't taste the flavor.

Give it another one!

Give it another one!

In Baimu's eyes, Ripple Water showed anticipation—it wanted to roar, but remembering what just happened, it forcibly held back.

Yet its eyes still brimmed with longing.

Baimu didn't hold back—confirming the rainbow-colored Pokémon block could open Ripple Water's taste buds, he launched a large-scale feeding mode.

Carrot and stick, the basic tactic for taming Pokémon rarely fails.

Ripple Water gladly accepted it all, its peripheral vision catching the two crashed companions, and it kindly nudged their heads with its nose, hinting that Baimu should give them some too.

"You eat first."

Baimu chuckled.

Food-loving Pokémon don't have bad luck, and they're easier to deal with.

But soon, he stopped feeding it any further.

The still-unsatisfied Poliwag tried to ask for more, and was directly refused.

"Your attitude is bad, so I can only give you this much."

Attitude?

What does that mean?

Poliwag couldn't understand, even with the Rotom Phone's translation it still couldn't understand.

Rotom Phone: "..."

Communicating with this group of primitives is so tiring.

It could only use simpler, easier-to-understand language — because you yelled at him, he's not willing to give you any more.

Poliwag instantly got mad, "Roar—"

Didn't finish the roar.

Its not-so-smart brain realized it couldn't roar; roaring still wouldn't get it food.

Poliwag could only hold it in its chest, looking stifled at the "little squirt" before it.