Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

She had seen that Sylveon on the breeding platform before.

It can be said that the contractor who accepted the commission taught her a lot in training. If it weren't for the former's generous teaching, the Eevee dogs that accompany her now would probably have had difficulty evolving in such a good way. And based on what she has seen and heard now, Nan Yin is undoubtedly the breeder and friend who helped her in the past.

Despite this premise, the current invitation is still an interaction between students and teachers. Nan Yin probably hasn't realized her identity as a Cassiopeia, right?

Having exhausted her words, and seeing that Peony no longer denied it, the girl turned to the two waiting by and asked them questions.

"Then it's decided. Nemo, Pipa, which target do you plan to choose first?"

"Although there are many rumors circulating, there are still very few confirmed owners of the treasure. However, recently someone took an image in the desert."

Pipa pulled out a crumpled photograph from her bulging backpack and displayed it to everyone.

Its thick limbs were pressed into the soil, and its scales, which protruded from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail, were covered with protrusions. What was most astonishing was its incomparably majestic curved horns.

"It's a Pokémon I've never seen before!"

"...Judging from its appearance, it doesn't seem like a creature that could exist in the current environment."

They each offered their own insights. Nemo had already gripped the sphere at her waist, while Peony took out a tablet, seemingly recording something.

"Being in the desert yet wearing heavy armor without any heat dissipation organs seems out of place. Besides, doesn't its shape resemble a donkey?"

Upon first seeing this photo, Nan Yin felt a strong sense of unease.

This behemoth shouldn't be a Pokémon from this era, yet its appearance bears some resemblance to certain Pokémon.

Her thoughts were in turmoil, and she was filled with confusion, but in an instant, she remembered that this was not the first time she had seen such a case.

Once upon a time, a clever and adorable child leaned over the mirror and kissed his own forehead.

Deviating from reality and resembling a dream demon, its name is precisely what the girl has been painstakingly searching for—Winged Hair.

"Indeed, it seems so. And because of its enormous size and terrifying pressure, this figure is called the Earthquake Treasure Master by those who see it."

As described above, Pipa certainly didn't choose this giant beast blindly. There were traces of the owner in both Lake Dag and near Deepboil Town. But if we really talk about the relevance, the Pokémon in the photo is undoubtedly connected to Sector Zero.

In the past, in his search for his parents, he ventured alone into a giant pit, but due to his lack of strength, the Mastiff Godfather stepped in to save him, leaving him with a chronic illness.

Although his time there was brief, what he saw and heard in that short time was enough for the boy to confirm that this Pokémon, which resembled Donphan, was not a native creature of Padia, but rather a Paradox species unique to Sector Zero.

Even though he felt somewhat ashamed, he still wanted to take advantage of this hard-won opportunity, with the help of Nemo and Nanyin, to explore that unknown territory again and search for his relatives.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's set off!"

Making no attempt to conceal her excitement, upon hearing about the unknown entity, Nemo immediately summoned a lizard-like beast resembling a motorcycle and then waved for everyone to take their seats.

"I suppose Nanyin hasn't experienced riding a motorcycle lizard before. The Honghong Desert is too far from here, and it would be tiring to walk there. Why don't you sit on the back of my motorcycle!"

With a leap, the brown-skinned girl landed on the flat back of the lizard beast. She wanted to invite Nan Yin to repay the bitter fruit of her previous defeat, but the person she was referring to remained silent, only raising her arm and pointing to the sky.

"No need. On the contrary, if you don't mind, you can ride with me."

As the voice faded, thick clouds settled in the sky, white lightning pierced the eyelids, and a deafening roar resounded. The radiant sacred bird had already drooped its wings and landed peacefully in front of Nanyin.

"Hmm, Zapdos..."

Unlike Nemo and Pipa's excitement, Peony, upon first seeing this legendary being, slightly parted her pink lips, filled with astonishment.

"As expected, then Papa and I will respectfully comply."

With a bright smile, he explained that riding a motor lizard is a Padmaya tradition, but riding a sacred bird is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and few would refuse such a chance.

Leaping onto its broad shoulders, the two figures surveyed the surrounding landscape with unrestrained joy, thoroughly enjoying the novel experience. Meanwhile, the white-haired girl took a step and slowly walked to the side of the sacred bird.

Without saying a word, she gently hugged the bird's neck, then stood on tiptoe and whispered her thanks in its ear.

"I'm sorry to trouble you again this time."

"Howl~"

Having shed its former legendary arrogance, Zapdos lowered its beak and gently stroked Nan Yin's hair, making her feel slightly ticklish and smile.

The intimate conversation didn't last long. After a while, Nan Yin reached out her slender fingers again and pulled the girl who was standing there in a daze.

"Peony, come."

With a thought of bestowing power, he bent his shoulder and exerted force, lifting the stiff opponent onto the broad back of the bird. Accompanied by a burst of lightning, the calm airflow was split in two by the golden wings.

A gust of wind brushed against her face. Peony, who had never ridden a bird before, should have been nervous, but as Nan Yin held her hand tightly, the girl's worry gradually turned into peace of mind, and she began to fully enjoy the novelty brought by the high-speed ride.

The layout of Zhuotai City, with its maze-like structure of streets and alleys, makes finding the exit a real challenge if you enter without using navigation software.

However, Nan Yin had consulted a map before leaving the academy and even used an illustrated guide to confirm her location, so the area leading to the exit was not complicated as she followed the main road.

Following the resounding cry of wings parting the waves, a chilling figure glided close to the ground, swirling through the trees. Before passersby could even react, the sacred bird had already vanished, leaving only the hoarse, electric shock-like sound in their ears.

"What's the noise?"

The doubts were raised one after another, but Nan Yin was not trying to show off. The petition she had made with her friends yesterday was still fresh in her mind, so how could she ignore it?

Slow down, and when your eyes can catch a glimpse of the passing scenery, the blonde girl leaning against the side of the street, waiting patiently, comes into view.

She stretched out her arms, wrapped them around Korne's slender waist, and with a slight pull, drew her behind her.

"Cornee, hold me tight."

His voice, usually calm and even, rose as before, but what had changed was the smile on his friend's face.

Embracing the figure before her, the girl smiled sincerely, overjoyed by the person's concern and filled with sweetness at their response.

"Ah."

After that soft murmur, a dazzling bolt of lightning forced through the air currents, swept past the multi-story building, and pierced the sky like a sword cutting through the air.

The journey to Padiya has truly begun.

Chapter 164 Past and Future, The Destination of Happiness

Flying over rivers and traversing mountains, all that comes and goes fades like fleeting clouds, leaving only the cool breeze that brings the arrival of spring, announcing the special nature of this day.

Before she knew it, a year had passed since she began her journey.

Sitting upright on the broad back of the sacred bird, bathed in the morning light, the girls chatted and laughed with learned scholars, and then spoke about their own interests.

"I never expected Peony to be so proficient in the field of information, even able to deduce the exact locations of Pokémon!"

She shouted loudly, not stingy with her praise. Nemo was always straightforward and happy to praise her new friends.

"Just... some ordinary extracurricular interests."

With a slight blush, the blue-haired girl turned her head away, gripping the picture book tightly, causing her fingertips to turn white.

"It's impressive that you can dedicate your time to your hobbies and achieve something in them in addition to your studies."

With a slight movement of her lips, she let her gaze sweep over the mountains and rivers, taking in all the small things around her, and Nan Yin casually uttered her agreement.

Unlike simply making friends, she also wanted to act as a mentor to ease Peony's inherent shyness and help the child become a little more confident.

"Well......"

Unlike her predecessors, who were full of enthusiasm, the blonde girl simply wrapped her arms tightly around her friend's slender waist and pressed her cheek against his warm neck and back.

Her fear of heights had made this usually energetic girl widen her eyes and feel weak all over. Through the rubbing of her body, Nan Yin even felt a little unnatural trembling.

and so--

"Don't worry, I'm here."

Though her words were brief, they contained a deep sense of peace. She softened her voice and offered comfort as always.

There was no resistance to skin-to-skin contact. Ke'erni was naturally shy about being on high, while Nan Yin believed that hugging was just a normal thing between friends, so how could it be anything more than that?

It was just a simple act of comfort.

"Um...thank you."

She nodded slightly, still caught up in her emotions, but the delicate touch on her fingertips gave Korni more to dream about and less to fear.

Even though she didn't want to stay under her friend's wing forever, she had somehow come to like that feeling.

As the words faded, only the soft scratching of the pen on the paper remained. Unfazed by the momentary strangeness, Nan Yin allowed her mental energy to surge from between her brows, transforming it into a barrier against the cold wind.

The sacred bird's wings are quite wide, so it doesn't need to be wrapped around the neck for long periods of time. It can easily carry a group of young girls or have several children sitting around it.

I crossed my legs, cradled the adorable Eevee in my arms, and watched it twitch its ear tips, wrap its ribbons around itself, and fix its gaze on me without blinking. Its eyes and heart were filled with my image, and a sense of satisfaction welled up inside me.

"Buy~"

As the soft murmurs of the little animal reached my ears, the scene before me seemed to return to the chance encounter we first had.

—Outside the narrow house, in the not-so-wide field, she bent down to pick the herbs she needed. When she was done, she turned around, gathered her skirt and bent her waist, slowly moving closer to sit down next to Eevee.

With patience, emotional investment, and mutual care, everything ultimately yielded the best outcome.

The little devil swung its legs, curiously surveying the mountains. The Pink Diamond Princess gracefully took her seat, whispering with the mechanical puppet, discussing their secrets. Meanwhile, the Scorpion King carried the young dragon, bathing it in the air currents, helping it adapt to the varying speeds...

Although the scene before her eyes and ears was no different from usual, how could Nan Yin tire of looking at these children's faces? She slightly raised the corners of her lips; perhaps, happiness was the best word to describe her current mood.

The dazzling white lightning still roared through the clouds, traversing the snow-covered landscape of Frost-Smeared Mountain, passing through the long and winding Jinxue Mountain Road, and when the lush greenery of the Imprint Forest had all passed by, they saw the vast desert stretching as far as the eye could see.

“Nanyin, look, those are megaliths that only exist in the Parthian region. On a certain morning each year, they gather together in a circle to worship the sun.”

Pointing to the colossal object made entirely of rock, Nimo excitedly introduced Nanyin to the novelties rooted in this soil.

From the environment and climate to customs and spirits, the brown-skinned girl spoke eloquently and with great enthusiasm and focus. With this natural guide, Nan Yin gained a deeper understanding of the ecological environment of Padiya.

Calling for the sacred bird to descend, it spread its wings and glided slowly. The things that were originally blurry in its eyes gradually became clear, revealing the indistinct shadows of sand dunes and the sinking.

"Based on these images, the location of the Earthquake Treasure Master is roughly in the center of the Red Desert. Following this direction, we should be able to reach our destination soon."

Pipa pulled out photos from his backpack and, comparing them with the map in the encyclopedia, explained in detail any possible errors or omissions.

"If I were to speak of recent news, I believe I could offer some assistance."

He handed the tablet forward, presenting it to everyone's eyes, and the images and recorded text seemed vividly present.

"Peony, how did you do that? That's amazing!"

They leaned closer and spoke passionately, and not only Nemo, but even Pipa looked surprised and delighted.

"Well, these are information I copied from the phones of people in the vicinity. After combining them, I can deduce the general direction of the journey. The principle isn't too difficult; it just requires a few simple steps..."

Clenching her knuckles, she tucked them into her sleeves, revealing a glimpse of her fair skin. Her subsequent words, however, were beyond the comprehension of anyone but the peony itself.

"Alright, that's about it."

As the wings folded and the mental energy dissipated, scorching sandstorms rolled in, brushing against the face, blurring the vision and bringing a sharp, cutting sensation.

With a slight frown, Nan Yin leaped down from the sacred bird's back and reached out her fingertips to embrace Ke Erni, pulling the dazed girl below and letting her lean against her own body.

"peony."

She flattened her palms, stood up again, and helped the girl land smoothly on the soft sand.

"......Thanks."

Even though the other person was Nanyin, Peony was still not used to such close interaction, so much so that her ears turned slightly red and she wanted to avoid them.

Fortunately, at that moment, everyone's attention was focused on their surroundings, and few noticed this unusual change from usual.

"It seems difficult to determine the approximate location of the elves by identifying the footprints left by the sand and dust."

Scooping up a spoonful of dry, yellow sand, the warm breeze on her face instantly carried away the sand in Nemo's hand, turning it into a part of this wasteland.

"The hot desert is constantly swept by hot winds, and even if footprints are left, they will fade away in just a few quarters of an hour. Trying to find them by sight is simply a pipe dream."

Standing atop a sand dune, Pipa lowered his gaze, intending to find a nearby figure, but the swirling sand quickly limited his vision to an extremely small area.

In such harsh conditions, finding a way out becomes a challenge, let alone searching for it.

However, while ordinary people have limited vision, the power of thought can have boundless influence.

Walking to a nearby rock, Nan Yin spread her five fingers and placed them on its scorching surface. The invisible power of her mind replaced her senses and eyes, capturing the tiny traces of time passing by.

Through that endless information, several scenes spontaneously unfolded and appeared one after another in the girl's heart.

The armored behemoth lowers its head, using the rocky wall to hone its curved horns; the long serpent lying in the sand coils around its body, using its stone skin to shed its scales...

Discarding the irrelevant spirits and eliminating unnecessary details, she focused her thoughts on that enormous, paradoxical figure.

With its mountain-like shell, sturdy armor, and towering horns, it was undoubtedly the target of this journey: the majestic Fang.