Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 235: Tera Orb



At the research institute, Naoki noticed that the food options were rather limited. It was clear that the researchers here didn't have strong appetites or demands when it came to meals.

Under Dr. Sada's guidance, Naoki and Koraidon made their way to the institute's dining hall. It was lunchtime, and the room buzzed with activity. Researchers, both men and women, gathered with lunch trays in hand. When they saw Dr. Sada, they greeted her warmly, their admiration evident in their expressions.

'It seems that Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo are highly respected here-and rightly so,' Naoki thought as he followed along.

Dr. Sada, walking confidently through the room, exchanged polite greetings with the researchers while addressing Naoki:

"Due to our limited supplies, the food here may not be as impressive as what you're used to outside. I hope you can manage with what we have."

Naoki smiled and glanced at Koraidon, saying, "That's no problem at all. We aren't picky eaters."

Dr. Sada gave him a faint smile in return. "After dinner, one of the researchers will show you to your accommodation. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you on a tour of the institute."

Naoki responded politely, "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."

Dr. Sada chuckled lightly. "There's no need for such formalities. Turo and I are only about eight years older than you-not such a big gap, really."

Naoki found himself smiling at her relaxed demeanor. Dr. Sada continued, "And honestly, without your help, we wouldn't have made progress with the Paradox Pokémon as quickly as we did."

Naoki gave a modest shrug. "I'm sure you and Dr. Turo would've figured things out eventually."

Dr. Sada escorted Naoki to the serving area, introducing him to the cheerful chef stationed behind the counter.

"You can come by anytime if you're hungry," she said with a nod toward the bearded chef.

The chef waved a ladle in greeting, his eyes twinkling with warmth. "Don't worry, Doctor, I'll take good care of our guests!"

Dr. Sada gave the chef a grateful nod, then called over a young researcher. "After dinner, please show our guest to his quarters."

"Of course!" The researcher responded promptly, standing straight as he glanced curiously at Naoki.

"Hi! I'm Butch, Dr. Sada's assistant," the young researcher introduced himself with a grin. He looked at Koraidon, his eyes sparkling with recognition. "Is this the first Koraidon?"

Naoki raised an eyebrow. "The first one?"

Butch eagerly explained, "Yes, this is the first Koraidon summoned by the professor. We also have a second Koraidon and a Miraidon in the institute, but their personalities clash, so we had to keep them separated."

Naoki blinked in surprise. "So, there are two Koraidons and one Miraidon here?"

Butch nodded enthusiastically.

'It's a bit different from how things played out in the game, right? Some things seem to have shifted with the way the worlds have merged.'

Naoki kept his thoughts to himself, though the deviation from the game's plot puzzled him. Typically, the game's storyline involved a conflict among four Pokémon-two Koraidons and two Miraidons—resulting in one Koraidon escaping and being found by the player character. 'Maybe the fusion of the worlds in this version caused some changes,' Naoki mused silently. He set aside his confusion for the moment, releasing Dragonite and Pawmot from their Poké Balls. The two Pokémon materialized in flashes of light, excitedly stretching as they took in their surroundings.

Naoki retrieved some Pokémon food from the counter and found a random seat for himself and his team.

It didn't take him long to notice the stark contrast between the food offered to humans and the Pokémon fare. While the researchers' meals were basic and plain, the variety of Pokémon food was impressive.

The selection included sweet Poffins, vibrant energy cubes, crunchy Pokémon cookies, and an array of fresh fruits. Each item was carefully crafted to suit the tastes of different Pokémon species.

Naoki guessed that the variety of food must have been something the professors had specially prepared to help tame the Paradox Pokémon.

Butch, a cheerful young man about the same age as Naoki, sat across from him during the meal. As Naoki ate, Butch chatted enthusiastically about Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo.

"They're incredible people," Butch said with admiration. "They invented Terastallization, and they've even risked their lives to make contact with Paradox Pokémon."

As Naoki listened, he recalled his interactions with the two professors. Despite their dream of bringing ancient and future Pokémon into the present era-a concept that still felt slightly reckless-they had been nothing but kind to him.

Butch's voice carried a spark of ambition. "Everyone at the institute admires the professors! That's why I applied to be Dr. Sada's assistant. I want to be just like them-a great researcher someday!"

Naoki gave a polite nod, though his mind drifted, unsure how to respond. Just then, he caught snippets of a hushed conversation from behind him.

"Those Paradox Pokémon are terrifying," one researcher whispered, sounding shaken. "Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo want to release them from the crater. But... I heard some researchers were attacked. Some didn't make it. I can't die-my wife and daughter are waiting for me at

home."

Another voice murmured in response, "Are you thinking about quitting?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"What choice do we have?" The man sighed heavily. "I just don't understand why they moved the entire base to the Zero Zone Research Institute..."

Before the conversation could continue, Butch stood and interrupted them sharply.

"Hey! Now's not the time for that kind of talk! Research on Paradox Pokémon is at a critical stage. Even if it costs us our lives, it's worth it! Our work will advance Pokémon science for generations to come!"

The two researchers immediately fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances before returning to their meals.

Butch returned to his seat and grinned at Naoki, unfazed by the tension. "It's fine. Humans have never stopped exploring. Sacrifice is part of progress. Our predecessors made sacrifices so we could get here, and we have to leave something behind for future generations."

Naoki nodded thoughtfully, though inwardly he had his doubts.

'So this explains why there aren't any researchers left at the institute in the game,' he mused. 'With dwindling manpower and trust issues, the professors eventually created AI assistants to

help them run things.'

It seemed that the signs of that development were already appearing.

After finishing his meal, Naoki followed Butch to his assigned room-a sleek, silver-toned

space that felt more functional than comfortable.

The room was small, containing only the essentials: a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. A bathroom and toilet were tucked near the door. The metallic walls gave the space a cold,

technological feel-far from the warmth of home.

Upon entering, Dragonite, Pawmot, and Koraidon looked visibly uneasy, their expressions mirroring Naoki's own discomfort. The lifeless atmosphere of the room weighed on them.

Seeing their downcast faces, Naoki sighed. "I know... This place isn't exactly cozy. I didn't realize it would be like this. But I promise, as soon as we finish what we came here to do, we'll

go home and never come back."

Naoki's curiosity about the research institute was more than satisfied. However, the atmosphere of Area Zero felt strange and unsettling. Naoki couldn't shake the feeling that this place didn't sit right with him.

His Pokémon, sensing his discomfort, gave soft, obedient calls and nodded in agreement. Naoki smiled, affectionately patting each of them in turn. "Alright, time to rest!" he said warmly.

...

The following morning, a knock sounded at Naoki's door.

Naoki, already dressed and finished with breakfast, answered the door to find Butch waiting outside, wearing his usual cheerful grin.

"Good morning!" Butch greeted him with enthusiasm. "The doctor asked me to take you to

see her!"

"Okay." Naoki gave a small nod and followed Butch down the corridor, with Koraidon.

They made their way through a twisting corridor, turning a corner into a laboratory filled with advanced research instruments and humming machines.

Inside, Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo-both in white lab coats-were busy fine-tuning a complex-

looking machine.

When they noticed Naoki's arrival, Dr. Sada approached with a friendly smile. "Good morning, Naoki. We'd like to run a quick health check on Koraidon."

"Raao?" Koraidon tilted its head, clearly confused.

Noticing the Pokémon's hesitation, Dr. Sada smiled gently. "Don't worry, big guy. We're just

making sure everything's okay. This won't hurt at all."

Koraidon glanced at Naoki for reassurance.

Naoki gave it a comforting nod. "Go ahead."

With a small rumble, Koraidon trotted forward and stood atop the machine as instructed.

While Dr. Sada monitored the scan, Dr. Turo typed rapidly at a nearby computer console. As the machine hummed softly, Koraidon's data began to appear on the screen.

Dr. Turo's eyes widened in surprise. "Incredible! The energy readings from this Koraidon are off the charts. Its power far exceeds the other Koraidon we've examined- and even

Miraidon!"

Dr. Sada peered at the screen. "Wow... You've really taken great care of it, Naoki. The muscle density alone shows how well-trained it is. It's clearly in peak condition."

She turned to Naoki with a look of admiration. "It's not often we see Pokémon maintained this well outside of professional circuits. You've done a fantastic job." Naoki scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure how to respond. "Uh... thanks?"

Dr. Turo's excitement grew as he made another discovery. "This Koraidon is slowly adapting to the modern world. Look at these brainwave readings-it's engaging in deeper cognitive processes. That's usually something we see in Pokémon that have lived alongside humans for

generations."

"Are you sure?" Dr. Sada hurried forward to check the results on the computer.

Dr. Turo nodded, his voice filled with excitement. "Compared to the other Koraidon and Miraidon we've observed, this one shows remarkable signs of adaptation. This means that Paradox Pokémon can truly adjust to life in this world and coexist with humans over time!" "That's amazing!" Dr. Sada's eyes sparkled with excitement. "This is really incredible!"

Naoki stood silently to the side, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of emotions. A thought crossed his mind. Had his arrival changed anything?

'No,' Naoki told himself. 'Even without me, the two professors would have discovered this

sooner or later.'

After all, in the game's storyline, the professors never gave up on their dream-not even until the end of their lives. Even the AI they created to carry on their legacy eventually traveled through time to explore the world where Paradox Pokémon lived.

Just then, Dr. Sada approached Naoki, her expression warm and full of gratitude. "Thank you

so much for taking care of Koraidon all this time."

Naoki blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

Her words made him uneasy as if she was about to reclaim Koraidon. His heart sank-there

was no way he would let that happen.

But Dr. Sada's intentions were nothing of the sort.

She glanced from Koraidon to Naoki and smiled gently. "You two have built a remarkable

bond. And now... it's time."

"Time?" Naoki echoed, puzzled.

Dr. Sada clapped her hands, and one of the assistants hurried over, carrying a small, sleek black orb about the size of a Poké Ball.

She held the orb out to Naoki. "This is a Tera Orb-something Dr. Turo and I developed together. From now on, it's yours. With it, you'll be able to unlock the full potential of your Pokémon through Terastallization during battles."

Naoki stared at the orb, momentarily speechless. "Wait... you're really giving this to me?"

Dr. Sada chuckled. "Of course. You've proven yourself to be an exceptional trainer. You and Koraidon share a bond that very few achieve. You've earned this."

Hesitating for just a moment, Naoki reached out and took the Tera Orb, the smooth surface cool beneath his fingertips. "This... this is unreal," Naoki whispered, still in disbelief.

"You'll do great things with it, Naoki." Dr. Sada gave him an encouraging smile. "I have no

doubt."

Naoki: "..."

Even though he didn't quite understand everything, now it seemed like he was about to find

out.

Dr. Sada gave a small wave to Koraidon, signaling it to step forward.

"Raao?"

Koraidon tilted its head but walked over to Naoki.

Looking at the trainer and Pokémon standing side by side, Dr. Sada's eyes gleamed with

excitement. "Now, let Koraidon undergo Terastallization! Turo and I have been waiting to witness this moment with our own eyes!"

Naoki blinked, utterly confused. He glanced at the Tera Orb in his hand, clearly unsure of what

to do next.

Under the eager gazes of the two professors, Naoki hesitated. "Uh... how exactly do I use this?"

Dr. Sada: "..."

Dr. Turo: "..."

The two professors exchanged amused glances before Dr. Turo explained, "It's quite simple.

Just like you would throw a Poké Ball-toss the Tera Orb toward your Pokémon. When it's close enough, the Tera Energy inside will merge with the Pokémon automatically." Naoki nodded slowly. "Okay... let's give this a shot."

Taking a deep breath, he aimed at Koraidon and tossed the sleek black Tera Orb into the air. Koraidon's golden pupils focused intently on the orb as it sailed toward it.

As the Tera Orb hovered just above Koraidon's head, a brilliant burst of shimmering energy

erupted from within the orb. The dazzling light enveloped Koraidon in an instant, surrounding it in a massive crystalline cocoon.

The next moment, a sound like glass shattering echoed through the room.

crack!

The crystal encasing Koraidon splintered into tiny shards, scattering like stardust and filling

the air with a soft, radiant glow.

In the midst of the floating starlight, Koraidon's body began to shine like a perfectly polished

gem, as though it had been wrapped in a transparent layer of crystals.

A majestic crown-like crystal gem formed atop Koraidon's head. From the center of the gem,

a glowing fist-made entirely of pure Fighting-type Tera Energy-emerged, radiating with power.

Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo stared in awe at the transformation, their excitement palpable.

"It worked! Koraidon successfully Terastallized!" Dr. Sada exclaimed, practically bouncing

with joy.

Dr. Turo grinned. "This Koraidon's Tera Type is Fighting! In this form, any Fighting-type

moves it uses will be massively amplified. This is a perfect fit for Koraidon-it complements

its battle style beautifully!"

...

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