I'm live-streaming Pokémon science popularization on New World.

The vast research institute gradually quieted down, with only the low hum of the instruments and the rustling of nocturnal animals in the distant mountains and forests.

Lin Dao, however, felt no sleepiness whatsoever. He stepped out of the building, and the cool night breeze invigorated him.

He pulled up his Arceus phone and checked the special marker he had set earlier—it indicated that the energy signal of the Salamence had briefly approached the vicinity of the research institute a few hours earlier, but had quickly returned to the direction of the cliff where it usually roosted.

"Are they waiting for me?" Lin Dao understood and turned to walk towards the mountain area deep in the ecological park where the mother and baby flying dragon lived.

The moonlight, as clear as water, spilled onto the winding path.

The Growlithe followed silently beside him, its steps light and agile.

Pikachu got tired of playing and went back to its place with Kangaskhan to rest. Basilisk had already been taken back by Salamence.

When Lin Dao arrived at the foot of that familiar cliff shrouded in the aura of Salamence's power, he indeed saw the figure he had expected.

The Salamence did not rest; its blood-red wings were slightly folded in the moonlight, like two majestic sculptures.

It was gazing at the open ground ahead—the baby dragon was conducting its final evening training, swinging its immature but already powerful claws at the cliff, each strike accompanied by a sharp, whistling sound as it cut through the air.

Sensing Lin Dao's arrival, the Salamence stopped moving and let out a gentle growl.

Baby Dragon also let out an excited "hiss," but seeing its mother's calm demeanor, it obediently quieted down.

The Flying Dragon slowly lowered its head, its eyes, still sharp in the night but now filled with deeper emotions, gazing intently at the child beside it who had grown strong and whose eyes were full of curiosity about the outside world.

Then he turned toward the forest path, uttering a series of low, slow, and clear syllables from his throat:

"Roar...woohoo...hooru..."

Lin Dao listened intently, clearly grasping the meaning and profound emotions conveyed.

The Salamence was saying: It has decided to stay.

"When I was brought to this world by the 'Green Guardian' with an unhatched egg, I promised to protect the creatures on this land until a new order is established and until it comes to take over this responsibility."

This is its responsibility as one of the earliest "anchor points" to arrive.

It must keep its promise and protect the land it has come to home and the Pokémon that trust it, until the promised "Guardian" arrives.

The Salamence's gaze was distant, as if piercing through the night, and it saw that small but indescribably majestic and powerful green figure from back then.

"This is my responsibility and my promise. Baby Dragon... it should go to a wider sky. Lin Dao, I believe in you. Take it with you, let it follow you to see the new world you spoke of, and let it walk its own path."

"I will come to Xinyuan City to find you once the agreement is fulfilled."

Lin Dao suddenly realized that a long-held suspicion had been confirmed.

He had long noticed that powerful pseudo-legendary Pokémon like Salamence and Garchomp, when they first arrived in this world, almost always appeared in their fully evolved, mature form, and often appeared in specific areas, quickly becoming the "guardians" or "lords" of those areas.

He also suspected that the enormous black shadow he glimpsed during the riots in the United States was another quasi-god—the three-headed dragon.

This is clearly not a random distribution; there seems to be an invisible hand orchestrating it, aiming to quickly establish a relatively stable regional order in the early stages of global upheaval and protect the weaker Pokémon.

Now that the existence of the "Green Guardian" has been confirmed by Salamence, a name is about to emerge.

He took a deep breath, picked up a relatively straight branch from the ground, and quickly sketched on the soft earth by the moonlight.

The image he drew was quite abstract: an irregular cellular structure magnified countless times, with a clear "head" and an extended "tail" outline, and the whole thing had an unnatural, geometric splicing feel, like a green planarian.

"Is this it?" Lin Dao asked, looking at the Flying Dragon after finishing the drawing.

The Salamence looked down at the pattern on the ground, a glint of confirmation flashing in its red eyes. It nodded and growled, indicating that this was the one.

Lin Dao put down the branch, understanding dawning on him.

Zygard, the guardian of order, has a cellular aggregate form (10%) and a complete form (50%, 100%).

If its core is coordinated behind the scenes, then it makes sense.

The core of the cygold is dispersed across various locations, monitoring the balance of the ecosystem and assembling cells to restore order when necessary.

At this crucial juncture of the collision and fusion of two worlds, having it coordinate the initial landing points of powerful Pokémon to stabilize the local ecosystems as quickly as possible is indeed the most reasonable choice.

"I understand." Lin Dao was filled with respect, both for Zygarde's foresight and for Salamence's commitment to keeping its promise.

He looked at Salamence and solemnly promised, "Salamence, I respect your choice. The gates of Newland City will always be open for you. My Pokémon and I will be waiting for you there."

Then, he looked at his precious dragon, whose eyes were already brimming with excitement for the unknown journey and reluctance to part with its mother, and smiled gently, "So, little one, would you like to officially become my partner and go see the world together?"

Baby Dragon looked at his mother.

Salamence lowered its head and gently nuzzled the top of Baby Dragon's head with its nose, letting out an encouraging growl.

The last trace of hesitation in Baby Dragon's eyes vanished, and it nodded vigorously, letting out a firm and expectant "hiss".

Lin Dao took out a Green Poké Ball that he had prepared beforehand from his waist—he always carried it with him in case of emergency.

He stepped forward and gently touched the Poké Ball to the hard armor on the Beast Dragon's forehead.

A flash of red light, and the baby dragon's body was absorbed into the ball.

The Poké Ball jumped up and spewed out steam. Soon, with a soft "thump," the steam disappeared and was caught steadily by Lin Dao.

Successfully subdued.

Under the moonlight, Lin Dao stood facing the enormous Salamence.

One is about to embark on a journey filled with hope and responsibility, while the other chooses to stay behind to uphold their vows and the past.

The Salamence raised its head and let out a clear, resonant roar towards the starry sky. The sound echoed through the valley, as if bidding farewell to its child, and as if declaring to the land it guarded.

Lin Dao carefully put away the Poké Ball that had captured the Beast Dragon, waved to Salamence, and, with Growlithe in tow, turned and disappeared into the night.

Behind them, on the cliff, the crimson-winged dragon shadow stood for a long time under the moonlight, like an ancient guardian, watching over loved ones and friends as they headed towards the dawn-filled distance.

When Lin Dao returned to his room, he stroked the Pokémon Ball a few times, his heart filled with unwavering trust.