The m, after feeding the chis and watering the pnts, Naoki slung his backpack over his shoulder and stood in the pasture to bid farewell to Cyclizar, Smoliv, and Alcremie.

  "I've stocked the cupboard with food," Naoki expined. "The top shelf has Oran Berry juid Moomoo Milk, while sandwiches and Oran Berry sausages are otom. I might not be back by noon, so if you get hungry, help yourselves."

  Cyclizar, besides its riding mode, also possesses a battle mode where it stands upright on two legs. In this form, it has funal hands a, capable of perf tasks simir to humans. This makes Cyclizar a loyal and dependable panion to the people of the Paldea region. Naoki felt at ease leaving the ran its care.

  "Cyclizar."

  Cyclizar heard this, hen g Koraidon beside him. Although not the brightest, Cyclizar now betedly realized that whatever it could do, Koraidon could also do, and even more. This realization saddened Cyclizar, whose life goal had always been to carry its owner, as it felt less needed. It couldn't help but lower its head iion.

  "Cyclizar." Naoki patted its shoulder, soling it.

  "Hey, don't be sad. There are many dangerous Pokémon around Casseroya Lake, and Koraidon's flying ability will help me avoid them."

  Naoki paused, then tinued solemnly, "Besides, I have something even more important to entrust to you."

  "Cyclizar?"

  'Something more important'?

  Cyclizar quickly raised its head, looking over.

  Naoki expined, "I need you to take good care of Smoliv and Alcremie, protect our home, and prevent wild Pokémon from ing in and harming our crops and chis. you do that?"

  A strong sense of responsibility welled up in Cyclizar, and it nodded early, "Cyclizar!"

  Naoki smiled, "Very good."

  He turo Smoliv and Alcremie, saying, "See you ter!"

  Smoliv and Alcremie stood oher side of Cyclizar, gently waving their arms and bodies in farewell.

  "Smo~"

  "Alcremie~"

  Naoki climbed onto Koraidon's back. Koraidon leaped with its powerful legs, s into the sky with Naoki. The pasture below shrank, and Cyclizar's figure dwindled into a tiny bck dot, then vanished.

  Gazing at the vast Paldea region below, Naoki surveyed the ndscape and, after determining their dire, said to Koraidon, "Let's go!"

  "Koraidon!"

  Koraidon roared in response, leaning forward and speeding towards their destination.

  Ba the pasture, the one adult and two childre behind stood on the grass, staring at each other. Today, Cyclizar unusually refrained from chasing butterflies. It felt that sinaoki had entrusted it with su important task, it must take it seriously. So, Cyclizar went to the eaves of the wooden house, lying down to silently watch Smoliv and Alcremie chase butterflies and py on the wn, guarding their home.

  Above its head, a Metapod diligently stored nutrients, awaiting evolution. The warm spring breeze blew gently, and Cyclizar, along with the breeze, grew a little bigger.

  ...

  Koraidon's flying speed was quite fast, and they arrived at the Casseroya Lake area ihan an hour. This expansive area, located in the northwest of the Paldea region, is shaped like a cauldron. Misty isnds of various sizes dot the ke, resembling dumplings bobbing in a pot of boiling water.

  Looking down from the air, Casseroya Lake truly resembled a giant cauldron, with the isnds resembling ingredients floating on its surface.

  To the east, a massive waterfall cascaded down from Gseado Mountain. The water from the falls flowed along a river into the ke, merging with Casseroya Lake before eventually emptying into the Paldeao the west.

  The misty white clouds h over the ke gave it ahereal, fairynd-like appearahe clouds obscured the view, making it impossible to see the ke's full extent.

  To address this, Paldea officials had structed watchtowers in three different dires around Casseroya Lake to assist travelers and trainers in the ke's diverse ecosystem.

  The abundant water resources had fostered a thriving Pokémon ecosystem.

  tless wild Pokémon lived here.

  There were Deerling drinking water in the keside woods, Tropius feasting under heavy-branched fruit trees, a group of Slowpoke zily floating oer and basking in the sun, a fierd intimidating Gyarados patrolling the waters, and a deceptive Tatsugiri mimig sushi to lure in unsuspeg prey. Below the Tatsugiri, a plump Whiscash waited with its mouth agape.

  Naoki was certain that ohe prey took the bait and swooped down to eat the Tatsugiri, the Whiscash would leap out of the water, swallowing both the prey and the Tatsugiri whole.

  Of course, Whiscash wouldatsugiri. To Whiscash, Tatsugiri was a valuable hunting partner. Although Whiscash was a glutton, it wasn't very skilled at hunting and wasn't particurly intelligent.

  Therefore, Whiscash joins forces with Tatsugiri to capture prey, respeg Tatsugiri as its leader. Iurn, Tatsugiri resides within Whiscash's mouth, safe from external attacks.

  "Such a fasating Pokémon ecosystem."

  Naoki mused, withdrawing his gaze from the Gyarados and sing the surroundings for Pokémon that caught his i. This time, his primary goal was to capture a wild Dragonair or Dratini.

  One reason was their ess, and the other was their ability to use Rain Dance, which could be used for both watering crops and delivering mail.

  Unfortunately, even after flying over the ke for a siderable time, Naoki couldn't find any trace onair.

  "Strange, is the distribution of Pokémon iy different from that in the game?"

  Naoki woo himself. He distinctly remembered a Dragonair residing near Casseroya Lake in the game.

  Uo find Dragonair, Naoki shifted his attention to other Pokémon. Tropius, Skiddo.

  The Tropius' neck could produce fruit twice a year, known for its sweetness and deliciousness. It was said that children in southern regions would sna the fruit growing from the Tropius' neck, making it very popur among them. For this reason, many ranches in warmer areas bred Tropius.

  Skiddo, oher hand, could produce milk, respectively. While not as renowned as Moomoo Milk, it was still a valuable sourilk.

  What surprised Naoki the most was stumbling upon traces of salt stone on a hillside not far from the ke. Nacli sold for a hefty pri town. If he could capture a few here, wouldn't that mean saving a substantial amount of money for other endeavors?