Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

The Mk Eagle's broad back glided smoothly through the clouds, the outline of Pallet Town long since disappearing from sight. Zhang Jianying sat atop it, experiencing the scene high in the sky.

He marveled at Cynthia's thoughtful arrangements. The unique and ingenious saddle neither hindered Starhawk's flight nor hindered the strong airflow with a faint energy barrier, making this journey a magnificent flying experience. This kind of cutting-edge technology is really impressive. He'll get one for his evolved Pokémon in the future.

Unlike Zhang Jianying, who has unique experiences and dreams for the future, a low-pressure atmosphere permeates the Trainer's Belt at this moment.

"I'm sorry to have you guys stay inside the ball for a while."

Zhang Jianying subconsciously touched the Poké Ball belt around his waist, his tone apologetic, unaware that a silent drama was unfolding inside.

The Poké Ball containing the Beast Dragon was getting slightly warm, and the ball's walls occasionally emitted muffled "thump-thump" sounds, clearly indicating that some stubborn little guy was venting his frustration at not being able to get out of the ball.

Moreover, this emotion was clearly directed at Kirlia's Poké Ball next door.

"Woohoo! I can't get out, and neither can you!"

Baby Dragon knew that Kirlia could sense its thoughts, and it gloated by gently bumping its head against the ball's wall inside the ball, keeping the force within a range that would prevent it from leaving the ball on its own, but the provocation was all too obvious.

Inside the neighboring sphere, Kirlia remained in a meditative state, its psychic powers fluctuating involuntarily. It was too lazy to even respond to Babydragon's obviously bittersweet idea with telepathy.

But whether it was just my imagination or not, Kirlia's Poké Ball on the belt seemed a little colder.

The other three Poké Balls remained completely still, clearly playing dead...

As the rugged silhouette of the Crown Mountains came into view beneath the clouds, the Mk Eagle let out a long, clear cry, began to descend, and finally landed smoothly on the edge of an ancient ruin surrounded by primeval forest.

With his feet firmly planted on solid ground, Zhang Jianying took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air. The atmosphere here was completely different from that of Zhenxin Town, carrying an indescribable sense of tension.

"Alright, everyone, come out now."

He threw out the Poké Ball, anticipating his friends' curiosity about the new environment.

A flash of blue light appeared, and Baby Dragon was the first to dart out, immediately sticking tightly to Zhang Jianying's leg. While baring its teeth at the unfamiliar environment, it didn't forget to give Kirlia a provocative glance.

Kirlia didn't bother to respond, hovering quietly in mid-air, her psychic field expanding as she scanned her surroundings, but... seemingly "inadvertently" planted her baby dragon in the ground.

However, what happened next left Zhang Jianying dumbfounded. Torterra, Haunter, and Shuckle looked at each other, then nodded silently, turned into a red light, and with a whoosh, disappeared back into their Poké Balls, slowly rolling to the trainer's feet.

"Huh? What are you three doing..." Zhang Jianying picked up the Poké Ball, both amused and exasperated. "Hiding like this?"

The three Poké Balls trembled slightly in his hand, conveying a clear sense of rejection. Clearly, they preferred to remain inside the balls for peace and quiet until the internal family conflict was resolved.

Helpless, Zhang Jianying could only struggle to pull out the precious dragon and, with the two still refusing to give in, walk along the moss-covered stone path into the depths of the ruins.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "What kind of situation is this? Everyone else's Pokémon are eager to come out and battle, but mine are all eager to hide in their Poké Balls."

The deeper you go into the mountains, the more secluded and mysterious the environment becomes.

Towering ancient trees blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only scattered patches of light dancing on the moss-covered stone slabs. The surroundings were eerily silent, even the wind seemed to be howling.

Kirlia's psychic field is like the most sophisticated radar, silently scanning every inch of land.

The baby dragon, no longer concerned with jealousy, became alert. Any slight movement would elicit a fierce growl from it, while simultaneously pushing Zhang Jianying closer to itself.

As they stepped into a ruin plaza paved with huge stone slabs, a strange thing happened!

An indescribable aura descended! It wasn't a physical impact, but a crushing force that directly affected the mental level!

"Whoa—!!"

As if provoked, the baby dragon let out an angry roar! The energy, which was still difficult to control, began to circulate slowly, and the Everstone in its arms began to flicker.

It stood stubbornly in place, its body trembling slightly from the pain of the energy blockage, but it ignored it and continued to protect its trainer.

Kirlia's psychic field distorted and fluctuated, and her levitation height suddenly decreased. Her usually aloof face turned serious, and a hint of horror flashed in her crimson eyes.

Zhang Jianying felt as if he were facing a raging Mewtwo! His breathing stopped, his heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, and the edges of his vision were swallowed by darkness.

"Bang! Bang!" Two beams of light shot out from his waist!

It was a Torterra and Haunter's Poké Ball. Their instinct to protect their trainer overwhelmed everything, and they forcefully broke free from the Poké Ball's confinement!

"Ugh!!!" The forest turtle's massive body appeared, letting out a deep roar.

Without hesitation, it stomped forward, like an insurmountable shield blocking Zhang Jianying's path! A halo of light flowed across its carapace, the bushes on its back swayed wildly, and the power of the grassy field was unleashed to its fullest extent!

"Heh—!! Which bastard dares to mess with my boss!?"

Gastly transformed into a violently churning mass of deep purple mist, swirling around Zhang Jianying! Although the mist continuously dissipated in the face of that unknown aura, it still stubbornly defended itself, refusing to yield an inch!

"Bang." Another soft sound.

Seeing his friend's reaction, the pot jumped out of the ball.

Although Huhu dislikes fighting, it still resolutely climbed onto the turtle shell in the forest. Its usually somewhat silly bean-like eyes narrowed into slits, and the shell began to glow with the light of the "Defense Shard" skill.

At this moment, all internal conflicts and comical daily occurrences vanished.

When their trainers face a crisis, their choices are remarkably consistent—protect them at all costs!

From the shadows at the far end of the square, Gustav's imposing figure slowly emerged. Beside him, the blue flames burning in the eyes of the aged Lucario slowly subsided, and the terrifying pressure receded like a tide.

"Um."

Gustav let out a soft, ambiguous snort, his sharp gaze sweeping over the determined Pokémon standing in front of Zhang Jianying, pausing for a moment on the three little ones that released their own Poké Balls.

"Your reaction is acceptable. The rules of the Poké Ball can't restrain your hearts, so this level of emotion... you barely pass."

Zhang Jianying exhaled, his back soaked with cold sweat.

But his gaze remained fixed on his comrades who stood in front of him, a surge of heat rising in his chest. He was not fighting alone.

"Master Gustav..." he began in a hoarse voice.

Gustav ignored him. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Enough nonsense. Kid, why do you think I'd even glance at a half-dead kid like you at the Pokémon Center?"

Zhang Jianying was taken aback, and some long-standing doubts welled up in his mind.

"Because of that faint 'light' within you."

Gustav pointed at him, his tone flat. "Like the last embers buried under thick ashes, almost extinguished, pitifully weak, but... it just won't go out completely. Especially when you're unconscious, but your subconscious is still struggling, still worried about your Pokémon's safety. That ember might even bounce a couple of times. Lucario and I saw it clearly, there's no mistake."

Beside him, the elderly Lucario calmly nodded slightly, his wise eyes silently confirming the trainer's words.

Its waveguide vision can penetrate all appearances and point directly to the essence of life and spirit.

From their first meeting in the hospital ward, it "saw" the dormant yet never-extinguished "spark" deep within Zhang Jianying's soul...