After ending his call with Reggie, Paul began anizing his journey.

  Unlike in the games, the distaweehome City aerna City is vast. Fortunately, a bike route nearly ects the two cities, making it possible to cross the distance less than a day with a bicycle.

  However, while traveliweeies is ve, challenging the Hearthome Gym isn't so simple.

  Hearthome Gym's leader, Fantina, is a stylish woman who adores traveling and tests far more than staying in her gym. Many trainers who make their way to Hearthome to challenge her often find the gym empty and are told to return aime.

  Paul checked Fantina's schedule online and made a reservation for a battle. Acc to the site, Fantina wouldn't return to the gym for awo weeks.

  Beihodical as always, Paul ensured he had a solid pn before setting off. Unlike some trainers such as Barry, who would rush blindly to Hearthome only to be turned aaul wasn't oo waste time.

  After finalizing his pn, Paul realized he couldn't leave Eterna immediately. Traveling slowly and unprepared along the bike route would be troublesome, as there were few supply points betweeies. Even Pokémoers along the route had fallen into disuse due to the bike route's dee.

  Paul decided, "I'll train arouerna for a few days, theo Hearthome. Once Fantiurns, I'll challenge her immediately."

  Eterna City, a hub eg the past and future, offered diverse terrains including forests, grassnds, rivers, and mountains. Finding suitable training grounds nearby wouldn't be difficult.

  The Day – Outside Eterna City.

  The se was beautiful: shimmering waves, a rushing river, and Pokémon darting through the water.

  Paul hovered mysteriously in the air, apanied by a group of Pokémon heading toward an isoted area.

  "Keep going, pick up the pace." Paul urged, hands in his pockets, gng at his Pokémon before fixing his gaze ahead.

  "Elek~"

  "Turt~"

  "Vuul~"

  The three Pokémon responded with difficulty.

  Turtwig carried Vulpix on its back, while Elekid floated on Vulpix's back, struggling against an unusual force.

  Paul led his Pokémon to explore training grounds arouerna while giving them a “warm-up.” Vulpix used Psychibsp;to levitate Paul while emitting Gravity to increase the difficulty.

  Elekid relied on Mag Rise to hover above Vulpix, but the increased gravity made staying afloat challenging. Occasionally, Elekid would crash bato Vulpix's back.

  Meanwhile, Turtwig bore the weight of both Vulpix and the enhanced gravity, trudging forward with a special training harness strapped to its body.

  Under Paul's relentless instrus, the three Pokémon trained hard.

  —both human and Pokémons—gazed at the peculiar sight, their eyes wide with astonishment.

  Some trainers even fronted Paul, acg him of abusing his Pokémon. Paul either ighem or dismissed them curtly. Those who insisted on battling him often found themselves defeated, lying on the ground uhe sun.

  Paul's group eventually reached a rge waterfall upstream. The waterfall was massive, over 100 meters wide with water casg down forcefully. Even a Pokémon as strong as Ursaring would struggle to ehe pressure at its base.

  "This'll do. Take five mio rest." Paul ordered, surveying the surroundings.

  "Vuul~"

  At Paul's words, Vulpix immediately released its Gravity and Psychic, colpsing ont's back.

  "Elek~"

  Elekid, exhausted from maintaining Mag Rise, plopped onto the ground, breathing heavily.

  "Turt~"

  Turtwig, also drained, ignored Vulpix on its bad began using Ingrain, Synthesis, and Growth simultaneously to recover quickly.

  The area offered natural training opportunities with its waterfall, river, cliffs, rocks, and trees. Unfortunately, Paul's current team wasn't yet equipped to utilize the enviroo its fullest.

  Paul turned his attention to his Pokémon, his gaze lingering on Vulpix.

  Vulpix, normally small in size, had grown noticeably rger, surpassing both Turtwig and Elekid. Paul s potential for further growth before it reached its final size.

  "When it's fully grown—or when its training goals are met—I'll sider evolving it." Paul mused.

  Evolution with a Fire Stone allowed for precise timing, as long as the Pokémon was fully matured. Premature evolution could lead to plications, but at the right time, it had no adverse effects.

  "Elek~"

  Elekid g Vulpix, eyes filled with hope.

  "Vulpix, do you think you could learn Heal Pulse ?"

  Vulpix missed the gentle care of a Blissey, whose soothing Heal Pulse once mes injuries aored its energy.

  But now…

  Vulpix blinked drowsily and shook its head.

  Though it had long been exposed to both Gravity and Heal Pulse, mastering the tter remained out of reach.

  Using Gravity was like solving a tough problem—it took effort, but it was manageable. Heal Pulse, however, felt like an advanced college-level puzzle frade-schooler.

  "Elek~"

  Elekid’s enthusiasm faltered for a moment before it obediently trudged to the shallow waters beh the falls and began practig its puhe powerful current made maintaining bance a challenge, adding to the difficulty.

  Among Paul’s Pokémon, Elekid had always been diligent in learning new moves. During their travels, it tirelessly studied teiques from other Pokémon. It had even mastered Ice Punch, pleting its repertoire of “farmer’s punches”: Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, and Ice Punch.

  Thunder Punch was Elekid’s ove as aric-type, while Ice Punch provided valuable ce against Ground-types. Practig Ice Pun water not only enhas trol but also helped it refine simir moves like Thunder Pund Fire Punch.

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