Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 420: Legendary Chat Group

Chapter 420: Legendary Chat Group

When it comes to hidden bosses in Pokémon games, the ultimate example has to be Red from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

In the game, after players collect all the Gym Badges and defeat the Pokémon League Champion, they unlock the path to Mt. Silver, where they can challenge a legendary trainer known as Red.

Red began his journey at the age of ten, and within a year, he became the Pokémon League Champion. Along the way, he single-handedly dismantled Team Rocket, defeating their leader Giovanni in the process.

After that, Red stepped down as Champion and retreated to the remote Mt. Silver to train in solitude. Years passed, and no one heard from him—until the players reach the summit to find him waiting.

Naoki recalled that in the game, all six of Red's Pokémon were over level 80, with his Pikachu being a staggering level 88, only 12 levels shy of the maximum.

Such a formidable lineup made him the true hidden boss of his era.

Thinking of this, Naoki glanced at Koraidon, who was napping peacefully at the foot of the bed, and then thought of Pawmot and Dragonite.

"If we were to calculate their strength in terms of levels from the games, what levels would my Pokémon be?" he wondered.

Calling himself a "hidden boss" felt like an exaggeration.

But then, he thought about the "special" traits of his ranch's Pokémon, and the term didn't seem so far-fetched.

"..."

Well, maybe he could consider himself a half-hidden boss.

At that moment, Raifort sent him another message.

[Raifort]: Did you see that post? You're really famous at our academy now. I even heard that some trainers are forming a team to challenge you!

[Naoki]: …

Was this turning into an MMORPG, where players had to team up to raid the boss?

[Naoki]: By the way, how's your research progressing?

[Raifort]: So far, so good! I've found a way to undo the seals, and I've pinpointed the general locations where they're hidden. Some areas might have shifted slightly due to earthquakes or other factors, but I'm confident we can finish this soon!

[Raifort]: When the time comes, I'll need your help again.

[Naoki]: Got it.

Ancient treasures like the Jade Fish, the Celestial Cauldron, and the mythical deer Pokémon were fascinating. Even if he couldn't capture or tame them, it would be worth it just to see them in person and take some photos.

After ending his conversation with Raifort, Naoki logged onto the Pokémon Forum. He immediately noticed that Giratina's fan count had surpassed 100,000, reaching six figures.

In this world, legendary Pokémon were exceptionally rare and often symbols of immense power.

Across cities and countrysides, countless people dedicated their lives to searching for these mythical creatures. Yet, aside from a fortunate few, most would never encounter a legendary Pokémon in their lifetime, leaving them with an unfulfilled dream.

But now, Giratina—a legendary Pokémon that not only revealed itself but also used a Rotom phone to surf the internet—had naturally captured the world's attention.

Naoki couldn't help but marvel at the sheer curiosity netizens had for legendary Pokémon.

But Giratina's popularity was utterly overwhelming!

Seeing the number surpassing 150,000 followers, Naoki felt a twinge of envy.

His cultural promotion account for the King of Bountiful Harvests only had a little over 200 followers.

"If only I could transfer Giratina's fan base to Calyrex!" Naoki mused with a sigh.

But then, a spark of determination lit in his eyes. "We can't let Giratina's popularity go to waste like this!"

The next morning, Naoki found Calyrex, relaxing in the garden with its phone. Naoki quickly helped the Pokémon register an account on the forum.

Afterward, Naoki used his Rotom Phone to capture a series of picturesque shots: Calyrex elegantly sipping afternoon tea amidst the blooming flowers of the ranch. Satisfied with the photos, Naoki uploaded them to the forum with the caption, "A tranquil moment with the King of Bountiful Harvests."

As Calyrex observed Naoki's actions with a mix of curiosity and confusion, it tilted its regal head slightly and asked, "What purpose does this serve?"

Naoki simply grinned, his tone teasingly cryptic. "You'll see soon enough."

Naoki then ventured into the Reverse World, where he found Giratina engrossed in online discussions. Without hesitation, he asked for its help in sharing Calyrex's post.

Giratina, intrigued, readily agreed. The powerful Pokémon remembered Calyrex from a past visit when it had come to the Reverse World with Naoki and assisted in planting flowers.

Giratina rumbled, "Rotom, repost the message for Calyrex."

"Right away, Rotom!" Rotom Phone responded promptly, albeit with a hint of nervousness. It quickly opened Giratina's account to forward the post.

Before finalizing, Rotom asked, "What caption should I attach, Rotom?"

Giratina turned its imposing gaze toward Naoki, clearly unsure.

Naoki thought for a moment before suggesting, "Hello everyone, meet my good friend, Calyrex

Rotom chirped, "Got it, Rotom!" and the post was forwarded successfully.

Watching the post go live, Giratina raised a metaphorical eyebrow and asked, "Since when am I friends with Calyrex?"

Naoki chuckled and replied, "You are now." He quickly opened the Forum's group chat function, creating a new group and adding Giratina and Calyrex to it.

[The Most Powerful Giratina has joined the group chat!]

[Farmer has joined the group chat!]

Naoki grinned. "There! From now on, if you want to say anything, you can just drop it in the group. Convenient, right?"

He turned toward Giratina. "Calyrex is a fellow legendary Pokémon like you, but its powers focus on granting abundance and prosperity to the land. I believe you've witnessed its abilities firsthand."

Giratina's crimson eyes glimmered as it recalled the lush fields Calyrex had nurtured during its previous visit to the Reverse World.

Naoki continued, his tone turning persuasive. "The more people know about Calyrex and revere it, the stronger its powers grow. Someday, its strength might even extend to restoring life to the barren lands of the Reverse World."

Giratina blinked in astonishment, its imposing presence slightly softening. "He can do that?"

Naoki smiled knowingly. "Perhaps. That's why I came to ask for your help today."

Giratina understood immediately. With its growing fanbase, this was the perfect moment for Calyrex, to step into the limelight. Calyrex could attract more attention from humans and become even stronger.

Realizing this, Giratina grinned mischievously. "You owe me a favor for this, Naoki."

Naoki blinked, caught off guard. "You keep track of favors?"

Giratina huffed proudly. "I am Giratina!"

Naoki couldn't help but laugh, realizing that Giratina had clearly learned such posturing from its time spent browsing the internet.

"Alright, how about this? I'll give you another massage using the power of the dragon," Naoki offered.

Giratina's eyes gleamed with interest. "One hundred thousand massages!"

Naoki froze, stunned by the absurd demand. "A hundred thousand? That's impossible! My dragon power takes all night to recover after one use. I've been using it for the Cyclizars lately—I don't have any extra for you!"

Giratina leaned closer, undeterred. "Ninety thousand, then!"

"Three massages!" Naoki countered.

"Fifty thousand!"

"Fifteen, and that's my final offer! You're already so powerful that dragon taming barely benefits you anymore. Meanwhile, the other dragon Pokémon at the ranch still need my help."

After a tense moment, Giratina grudgingly relented. "Fine. Fifteen massages it is, but don't you dare forget!"

.....

The post shared by Giratina sent shockwaves across the internet.

"The King of Bountiful Harvests? Giratina's friend? Another legendary Pokémon?"

Fans of legendary Pokémon flocked to Calyrex's profile in droves, marveling at the image of the elegant Pokémon enjoying afternoon tea amidst the garden's serene beauty. But their curiosity quickly turned into skepticism.

"Another legendary Pokémon that surfs the web?"

"Is this legit, or just a publicity stunt?"

"Who's behind this? Are they trying to boost traffic to the site?"

The rising suspicions also impacted Giratina's reputation. Faced with waves of doubt from humans, Giratina became visibly irritated.

Angered by the accusations, Giratina responded swiftly. It commanded Rotom, "Post another photo of me, and make it clear who I am!"

"Right away, Rotom!" Rotom chirped nervously.

The second photo showed Giratina in its majestic Origin Forme, surrounded by swirling shadows and a foreboding aura. The caption, written at Giratina's request, read:

"I am Giratina, ruler of the Reverse World. Believe it, or feel free to confirm it yourself."

With the release of Giratina's second photo, all doubts about its authenticity vanished.

The environment in the background was surreal, clearly not of this world. As legends stated, the God of Time and the God of Space resided in separate dimensions, and Giratina, being their counterpart, shared the same origins. This left little room for skepticism.

However, the story of Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, was different. Unlike Giratina, Calyrex's background was intertwined with the human world. The skepticism surrounding Calyrex began to diminish as netizens claiming to have encountered it shared their experiences online.

[Cherry Wine]: "Stop doubting the King of Bountiful Harvests!"

[Potato]: "Exactly! Calyrex saved the mountain near Kosaji Town after a devastating fire two years ago, restoring its ecosystem completely!"

[Aaron]: "I bought a souvenir in Kosaji Town that honors Calyrex! The shopkeeper told me that He can make crops grow instantly and rejuvenate soil fertility. It's a miraculous Pokémon!"

[PetalLover]: "So true! Last fall, I attended the Kosaji Town Harvest Festival where Calyrex appeared. I even have photos—take a look!"

These heartfelt testimonials and photos gradually silenced the doubters. The internet began buzzing with admiration for Calyrex.

As Calyrex observed the growing support, it responded humbly on its Rotom Phone:

"Those events are in the past. Now, I am just a simple farmer."

To reflect this shift, Calyrex changed the name of its profile to "Farmer."

Unlike Giratina, who seldom interacted with fans and had a fiery temper, Calyrex was gentle and approachable. It often responded to questions from netizens, further endearing itself to its growing fanbase.

For instance, when someone asked where Calyrex lived, it replied:

"I now live in a peaceful and beautiful place."

When questioned about its use of a Rotom Phone, Calyrex explained:

"A friend taught me. The little Rotom in the phone helps me use it. If I come across a word I don't know, Rotom translates it for me."

This candid explanation revealed how these legendary Pokémon managed to navigate modern technology, and it sparked admiration among fans.

With time, the number of Calyrex's followers increased rapidly. More and more people began to learn about the King of Bountiful Harvest.

The growth in popularity of Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, was astonishing, even showing signs of surpassing Giratina. The reason was simple: Calyrex's deeds and benevolence resonated deeply with humanity, earning it their respect and admiration.

Meanwhile, in Pallet Town...

Professor Oak sat in his laboratory, staring at the photo on his Rotom Phone. The image showed a regal Pokémon with a large crown-like head sitting gracefully in a vibrant garden, elegantly sipping black tea.

The esteemed professor's hands trembled with excitement.
"Incredible! Another legendary Pokémon in just a matter of days!"

Oak scrolled through the forum posts detailing the King of Bountiful Harvests.

"Calyrex truly lives up to its title," he murmured, eyes gleaming with admiration.

Professor Oak's enthusiasm boiled over as he formulated a plan. With trembling hands, he opened the private messaging feature on Rotom Phone. He began typing a heartfelt message to Calyrex.

[Professor Oak]:

"Greetings, Calyrex! My name is Professor Samuel Oak, a scholar devoted to studying Pokémon and their unique connections to nature and humanity. It would be an honor to meet you. If you have time, I would be delighted to invite you to my research lab here in Pallet Town in the Kanto region. I promise to serve you the finest black tea as we discuss your incredible abilities and history!"

The message was sent. Professor Oak leaned back, his heart pounding with anticipation. He recalled how his previous message to Giratina had gone unanswered, leaving him uncertain if Calyrex would respond. Still, he held onto hope.

Needing to distract himself, Oak decided to prepare a quick meal. With a sigh, he grabbed a pot of instant noodles and made his way to the kitchen. As he returned to the lab with his steaming cup, a familiar notification chime from the Rotom Phone caught his attention.

Professor Oak quickly set down his instant noodles and grabbed his Rotom Phone. His heart raced as he opened the message from Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests.

[Farmer]:

"Hello, Professor Oak. I have heard of you. I am sorry, but I cannot visit your research institute in Pallet Town."

Oak's excitement dimmed, replaced by a wave of disappointment.

"Ah…" he muttered, his shoulders slumping.

But before despair could fully set in, another message appeared on the screen.

[Farmer]:

"However, while I cannot travel there, you are welcome to visit me instead. My friend is also looking forward to meeting you."

Professor Oak froze in place, his mind swirling with possibilities.
Calyrex's friend? Could it be Giratina?

He quickly dismissed the thought. No way. Giratina didn't even acknowledge my previous message—it wouldn't be looking forward to meeting me.

Then who could it be? The human who taught Calyrex how to use a Rotom Phone? If that person also taught Giratina, were both legendary Pokémon connected to this mysterious trainer?

The thought boggled Oak's mind. Capturing a Pokémon like Giratina, a deity from another dimension, seemed impossible. If such a trainer existed, they must be someone truly extraordinary.

Looking back at the message, Oak turned to his assistant and declared, "Prepare my travel kit. I'm heading to the Paldea region!"

On February 24th of the Alliance Calendar, Professor Oak boarded a jet bound for the distant Paldea region, filled with anticipation for what lay ahead.

Paldea Region, Kosaji Town, Naoki Ranch

Calyrex placed the Rotom Phone down gently and looked to Naoki.

"Will this be sufficient?"

Naoki nodded with a grin. "Perfect. Professor Oak is one of the most respected Pokémon researchers in the world. If he acknowledges your greatness, your name will spread to every corner of the globe."

Feeling the surging energy that had been growing within, Calyrex smiled softly.

"To think this was unimaginable just a few years ago. Now, the world knows my name."

Naoki's expression turned resolute. "We've come this far, but we're not stopping here. One day, your name will echo in every part of this world!"

Meanwhile, in the Reverse World...

Rotom buzzed urgently in front of Giratina.

"Emergency, Rotom! The number of fans for Calyrex has surpassed yours!"

Giratina's crimson eyes snapped open, wide with shock and indignation.

"What?! Impossible!"

As the most powerful legendary Pokémon, Giratina believed it deserved the largest following. Anything less was an affront to its status.

It growled deeply, wings flaring with dark energy. "Rotom, start taking more photos of me immediately!"

"Copy that, Rotom!"