Sea voyages are usually exciting at first, but as time passes and the vast ocean stretches endlessly, the experience gradually becomes monotonous.
At least, that's the case for most passengers.
For Paul, however, there was no shortage of things to do—analyzing battle tactics, training his Pokémon, researching breeding strategies, and reviewing past tournament battles. These activities alone were enough to occupy most of his time.
As for his Pokémon, they certainly made their presence known aboard the ship.
In just two days, the entire cruise was abuzz with talk of Paul's Electabuzz, which had been swimming alongside the ship, discharging electricity as it trailed behind.
Meanwhile, Dewott found swimming relatively easy and spent its time circling the ship, refining its techniques.
Vulpix, on the other hand, had a completely different experience—it had been surrounded by a group of swimsuit-clad young women at the ship's pool. These enthusiastic ladies eagerly carried the adorable little fox around, playfully swimming with it.
Thanks to their relentless attention, Vulpix managed to overcome its natural aversion to water in just two days. However, in exchange, it had developed a mild fear of women—especially those in swimsuits.
Vulpix: Swimsuit ladies are terrifying!~
Luckily, this nightmare only lasted for two days.
When the ship finally docked at Canalave City's port, Paul disembarked, stepping onto solid ground.
Having endured two intense days, his three Pokémon were immediately recalled into their Poké Balls and entrusted to Nurse Joy to soothe their weary spirits.
The following day, Paul headed straight for Canalave Gym. After knocking on the door, he was greeted by a blue-haired man.
"Hello, I'm Paul from Veilstone City, I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader, Byron. Is he available?"
The man scratched his head awkwardly.
"Ah… sorry about that. The Gym Leader isn't here at the moment. He left for Iron Island a few days ago with Riley."
"I see. I'll come back another time, then."
With that, Paul turned and left without hesitation.
He hadn't even planned on switching up his team for this Gym battle—he was just going to challenge Byron with the three Pokémon he had on hand.
But since Byron wasn't around, he now had a few days to recall his other Pokémon and train them. By the time he eventually faced Byron, he might need an entirely different lineup.
At first, Paul considered contacting Reggie right away to arrange the Pokémon transfer. However, knowing that his brother had been busy lately, he decided to delay it a bit. Instead, he boarded a ship to Iron Island.
Arrival at Iron Island
Unlike in the games, the real Iron Island was much more populated, resembling the version depicted in the anime. The island's mineral deposits hadn't been fully excavated yet, and numerous Steel-type Pokémon resided there.
On the island, it wasn't unusual to see Pokémon like Steelix, Lairon, and Magnemite. Even rare species like Metang and Metagross weren't uncommon.
In reality, people in the Pokémon world don't strictly categorize Pokémon by power rankings, aside from Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. The idea of "pseudo-Legendaries" from the games didn't really exist in practice. Instead, such Pokémon were simply considered "late bloomers"—powerful, but requiring extensive training and development.
The main reason these Pokémon were so sought after wasn't just their strength but their rarity—and the fact that many elite trainers happened to have them.
By the time Paul reached Iron Island, it was already noon.
After having a meal, he contacted Reggie to arrange the Pokémon transfer.
"Alright, I've got the Pokémon ready. Which ones do you want?" Reggie asked, slightly out of breath.
"Send me Gabite, Ursaring, and Grotle." Paul replied as planned.
Reggie hesitated for a moment, which didn't go unnoticed by Paul.
"What's wrong, bro?"
"You're on Iron Island, right?"
"Yeah."
"That place is great for physical conditioning and endurance training. But honestly, Grotle is already pretty bulky, and it's been focusing on learning Natural Power and Secret Power, just like you requested. I don't think now's the right time to disrupt that training."
Paul frowned slightly, considering the point.
"Meanwhile, Drapion has been busy, and I haven't had much time to train Skorupi. Why not swap Grotle out for Skorupi instead? That little guy is on the verge of an important breakthrough—it needs some intense training."
Paul pondered for a moment.
"A critical moment, huh?"
After some thought, he nodded. "Alright. Send me Skorupi instead. Let Grotle keep training its moves."
The final stage of Grotle's energy-based training method revolved around mastering Natural Power and Secret Power.
Both moves could channel the power of nature, altering their effects based on the surrounding environment. In essence, they both harnessed natural forces.
Paul's goal was for Grotle to internalize that natural energy, using it to fuel its own growth.
When the sun, the earth, life energy, and nature itself fused into one unified force, Grotle's training method would reach its peak—unlocking a hidden potential deep within.
As for Skorupi, its training under Drapion had mostly focused on technique, battle experience, precision striking, and poisons. However, other aspects had been somewhat neglected.
Since Drapion was currently preoccupied, Paul decided it was the perfect time to personally oversee Skorupi's special training.
The Pokémon transfer was completed swiftly.
Paul held up his Poké Balls and confirmed, "Got them."
"Great. And don't slack off after training—make sure you're ready for your next Gym battle." Reggie reminded him.
Paul smirked. "Yeah. Hanging up now."
After exchanging a knowing look, the brothers ended the call.
With his six Pokémon in hand, Paul left the Pokémon Center and ventured deep into Iron Island's rugged terrain.
As its name implied, Iron Island was rich in metallic minerals, with both the surface and underground areas brimming with exposed ore.
Once he moved past the human settlement, the landscape transformed—iron-laced rocks jutted out from the ground, exuding an overwhelming sense of raw power and resilience.
Finding a suitable spot, Paul grabbed his Poké Balls.
"All of you, come out."
Poké Balls burst open, releasing his team onto the rocky terrain.
"Gaaaa!"
"Ursaa!"
"Buzz!"
"Vul!"
"Cha~Cha!"
"Kuu!"
Each Pokémon, varying in size and form, gathered before him, awaiting for instruction.
"This is Iron Island—your training grounds for the next few days. Here, you'll push your bodies to new limits."
His gaze then locked onto Vulpix.
"Before we begin, step forward, Vulpix."
"Vul?"
Vulpix hesitated. Had it done something wrong? Cautiously, it moved closer.
"You've met my standards." Paul said, retrieving a small object from his bag. "This is a Fire Stone. Touch it, and you'll evolve into Ninetales."
Paul placed the amber-colored stone, shimmering with an inner flame before Vulpix.
"Vul?"
Evolution?
The word stirred a mix of nervousness and excitement within Vulpix, though a hint of hesitation lingered as well.
Instinctively, Vulpix turned to glance at its companions behind it.
"Buzz~"
"Kuu~"
"Gaa~"
"Ursa~"
"Cha-cha~"
Each of them offered encouraging and approving gazes. Seeing this, Vulpix nodded and placed a paw onto the Fire Stone.
At that moment, both the Fire Stone and Vulpix's body radiated a brilliant white light. The process of evolution had begun.
Bathed in the glow of transformation, its once small frame expanded at a rapid pace. In less than five seconds, its height had grown to nearly 1.5 meters. Its tails stretched longer, and three new ones emerged, completing the set.
As the evolution light faded, the elegant and well-proportioned figure of Ninetales was revealed. Its sleek, golden-beige fur shimmered under the light, and its striking crimson eyes exuded an air of nobility and grace.
"Woo~"
Ninetales raised itself slightly, admiring its new form. The nine smooth, flowing tails swayed behind it, bringing an immense sense of satisfaction. A beautiful smile curled upon its lips.
It could feel it—its newfound beauty and power. The evolved Ninetales radiated confidence and allure unlike ever before.
With a poised and graceful stride, Ninetales approached Dewott. Its nine tails curled around the steel Pokémon, enveloping it in their soft embrace, sending a ripple through its usually composed heart.
"Cha-cha~"
Even the ever-calm Dewott found itself momentarily captivated. A faint trace of admiration flickered in its eyes. But in the next instant, Focus Energy activated, sharpening its mind and restoring its composure.
The Way of the Sword—Ruthless and Merciless!
A female… would only slow down the speed of its blade!
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