Not Being a Trainer This Time

In the living room, Naoki sat on the sofa, looking at Leon and Sonia opposite him.

Noticing visitors had arrived, his sister Indeedee turned around and served two freshly brewed cups of tea to the guests.

Leon politely thanked his sister Indeedee, then turned to Naoki with a cheerful smile.

“Long time no see, Naoki! How have you been lately?”

“I’ve been quite well, though I can’t be as leisurely as before,” Naoki replied.

Leon had seen Naoki’s social media posts and knew he was helping at his wife’s Gym, welcoming challengers.

Upon hearing this, Leon laughed heartily: “It’s the blissful kind of trouble!”

Sonia chuckled softly on the side, she looked around, then asked: “Mr. Naoki, where is your wife?”

“She’s napping right now and can’t come to greet you both. Whatever it is, you can just speak with me,” Naoki said.

“Seems like you’re living a happy life!” Sonia smiled.

Naoki smiled, then asked, “Isn’t the Galar region busy? How come you suddenly found time to visit me?”

Hearing this, Leon and Sonia exchanged a glance, both thinking of their visit’s purpose.

“To be frank, we came today to learn about the legend of the King of Swords and the King of the Shield in the Galar region.” Leon said seriously.

Naoki turned his gaze to Sonia.

Seeing this, Leon promptly said, “There’s no problem, Sonia is trustworthy. She’s Professor Magnolia’s granddaughter, currently researching the legend of Sword and Shield. After hearing that more information could be found here, she came along with me, and also…”

While speaking, Leon looked at Sonia.

Immediately understanding, Sonia took out two items from her bag, a sword and a shield.

However, these two items were already rusted and marked by the passage of time.

Seeing these items, Naoki was slightly stunned.

Are these… a decayed sword and shield?

“Since leaving you last time, I started investigating this matter alone in the Galar region.”

Leon lowered his head to look at the decayed sword and shield, speaking slowly.

“I went to many places, following Calyrex’s guidance to the Slumbering Weald. I searched through the mist for a long time, yet never saw the shadows of the two heroes.”

“At that time, I heard a voice asking me why I had come there.”

“I said I wanted to find a way to solve the ‘Darkest Day’, to save the Galar region from this thousand-year-old crisis. Later, two blurry apparitions appeared in the mist.”

“They guided me to the forest’s deepest part, and this decayed sword and shield were found there.”

Naoki immediately understood what was going on.

The story of the Galar region had been altered!

Goh and Hop did not appear; Zacian and Zamazenta instead chose to work with Leon!

“Exactly, those are Zacian and Zamazenta.” Naoki said.

Upon hearing this, Leon and Sonia immediately focused their attention on him.

“If I’m correct, your desire to protect the Galar region and defeat the ‘Darkest Day’ gained their approval, which is why they led you to find these two items,” Naoki said. “These are the weapons Calyrex once forged for the two heroes to combat the Darkest Day.”

“But…” Sonia slightly furrowed her brows, showing a worried expression: “The sword and shield are both decayed, can they still be effective?”

Regarding this point, Naoki momentarily didn’t know how to explain.

In the game, the same decayed sword and shield were obtained by Goh and Hop, but later their courage rekindled the weapons’ glow.

This seemed quite idealistic.

If Naoki guessed correctly, the Sword and Shield aren’t truly swords and shields but manifestations of the “King’s Power,” enabling Zacian and Zamazenta to transform into the King of Swords and King of the Shield.

Realizing this, Naoki said to Leon: “Having the courage to defeat the Darkest Day and the heart to protect the Galar region will make these two items shine anew.”

“If I’m not mistaken, this is also a test from Zacian and Zamazenta.”

Leon was slightly taken aback and looked down at the sword and shield in his hands.

A test?

In fact, there was something he hadn’t told Naoki, and even Sonia didn’t know.

Since returning to the Galar region from the ranch, he began investigating Eternatus’s affair.

Eventually, he uncovered a startling discovery.

Eternatus was actually sealed beneath the Hammerlocke Stadium in the Energy Factory!

And that Energy Factory has inseparable ties to the Macro Cosmos Group.

After that, Leon investigated Chairman Rose and was shocked to find that Chairman Rose and Eternatus have a connection that cannot be severed.

He seemed to be planning to use Eternatus for something.

This matter is of great importance, implicating the entire Galar region. Even as the Champion, Leon dared not act recklessly.

Thinking of this, Leon asked again: “If defeated, how should Eternatus be handled?”

If left unchecked, the ‘Darkest Day’ might sweep across the entire Galar region again…

Geez, it’s really troublesome!

“I don’t know.” Naoki shook his head.

In the games, Eternatus was eventually captured by the protagonist Goh, while in the anime, Eternatus was captured by Goh but later entrusted to Leon.

Leon then sought Professor Magnolia’s help, who ultimately sealed Eternatus in a box and placed it in a safe.

But they still haven’t found a way to deal with Eternatus, so they continue to commission Sonia, who has now been promoted to Pokemon Doctor, to research strategies for when Eternatus awakens again.

“Enough, let’s not talk about this anymore!” Leon, having obtained the information he wanted, decided not to continue discussing this troubling topic.

He turned to Naoki, eyes filled with battle intent.

“It’s been a while since we had a Pokemon battle, let’s seize this opportunity to have a match!”

Since returning to Galar, he hasn’t lost a single Pokemon battle.

To encourage himself, hone his skills, and realize there’s always someone better, Leon decided to visit Naoki every year to train, battling with stronger Trainers and Pokemon!

Naoki: “…”

Seeing Leon’s demeanor, Naoki suddenly thought of Gogoat.

Last time, Gogoat was crushed by Leon’s Charizard, and now several years have passed, Gogoat is no longer the same, now empowered by Revival Herb.

Naoki felt curious.

He wanted to know, between the current Gogoat and Leon’s Charizard, whose strength was greater.

“Do you want to challenge the Grass Trial again?” Naoki asked.

Upon hearing this, Leon was slightly surprised: “Grass Trial?”

He originally wanted to battle Naoki’s Koraidon.

Naoki nodded: “To be honest, the strength of my Gogoat has improved compared to when you first challenged it.”

Hearing this, Leon also thought of those three special Gogoat.

Has Gogoat’s strength improved again?

Immediately filled with interest, Leon readily agreed.

“Alright! Then let me try the Grass Trial again!”