Paldea region, Casseroya Lake, Dragon Tamer family territory.
The ice crystals covering Walking Wake gradually melted.
Lance, Cynthia, Clair, and the Dragon Tamer family patriarch had been temporarily asked to leave by Johan.
"Ka-kaah~ Ka-kaah~"
"Draa~"
Gengar and Dragonite happily searched for scales beneath the waterfall.
These naturally shed scales were all Dragon Scales, and given Walking Wake's displayed strength, these Dragon Scales wouldn't be poor quality—quite rare treats for Dragonite.
Of course, if sold for money, they'd probably earn quite a bit.
The ice crystals completely melted.
But perhaps due to being frozen too long, or being affected by Rakua elements too long, Walking Wake's body remained stiff after breaking free, its eyes vacant, mouth agape.
It looked like drool was about to fall.
"Cha?"
Did it become stupid?
Tinkaton waved its hand in front of Walking Wake—no response.
"Cha!"
Tinkaton straightened its expression and grabbed the hammer handle on the ground.
Let me give it one hammer blow—one hit and it'll wake up.
"Draa!!"
Dragonite, searching for scales in the pool, suddenly raised its hand and called out, patting its cheek as electricity sparked between its antennae.
Let me do it! I'm best at "wake-up services"!
As Tinkaton and Dragonite debated who should try "awakening" Walking Wake, Walking Wake's body suddenly trembled.
"Roar..."
Its eyes quickly regained clarity, blinking twice.
Johan quickly raised his hand to stop Tinkaton and Dragonite. "No need, it's awake."
"Roar..."
Walking Wake looked at Johan with some "resentment."
If it hadn't woken up, given those two's attitude, it feared it might never wake up again.
Seeing Ninetales beside Johan, Walking Wake's eyes filled with deep wariness.
Good grief.
One Ninetales, one Freeze-Dry had almost instantly defeated it.
Though Walking Wake had been affected by "Rakua elements," that didn't mean it hadn't remembered what happened earlier.
Seeing Walking Wake's wariness toward Ninetales made Johan very happy.
Of course, not because Walking Wake was bullied... cough cough, at least not entirely.
Mainly because, since Walking Wake could remember Ninetales defeating it, it likely remembered why it had been affected by "Rakua elements."
"Eat something first, recover your strength."
Johan didn't immediately question Walking Wake but first took out some Energy Cubes.
"Roar..."
Walking Wake looked at Johan, then at the Energy Cubes he produced, then back at Gengar and the others searching for scales in the pool.
It silently lowered its head and began eating.
Johan also took out several bottles of "Heal Spray" to treat some frostbite wounds on Walking Wake's body.
After Walking Wake finished eating, Johan inquired about the main matter, using his aura power: "Walking Wake, do you remember where you were infected with 'Rakua elements'?"
"Roar?"
Rakua elements?
Walking Wake looked confused.
It didn't know what "Rakua elements" were.
"Rotom."
Johan beckoned to the Rotom Pokédex. "Show it what happened earlier."
Fortunately, Rotom had a photography hobby. While Gengar was busy collecting scales, Rotom's filming hadn't been affected much by Gengar.
Soon Walking Wake saw that after being defeated and frozen by Ninetales, pink energy had escaped from its body.
"This is 'Rakua elements'—also the reason you became like that before."
Walking Wake frowned, lowering its eyes in thought.
Johan didn't disturb it, just waited silently.
After a long while, Walking Wake slowly spoke.
"Roar..."
I... actually aren't sure. I only know that last time I left here, I followed Casseroya Lake's currents eastward. Many things happened, and though I encountered some people, most didn't notice me...
Johan frowned slightly.
All the way east?
The journey was too long with too many events—who knew where it had contracted "Rakua elements"?
No, that's not right!
Johan quickly asked: "So why did you return? Because you'd reached your destination?"
"Roar..." Walking Wake hesitantly spoke again.
I vaguely remember, it seemed like I was almost at the ocean, and human cities blocked the way, so... I inexplicably became irritated, then turned back.
Ocean? Human cities?
Johan caught the key points. "So you felt yourself becoming irritated then?"
"Roar..."
Walking Wake nodded.
All the way east, passing rivers and mountains, about to reach the ocean with human cities blocking—these elements combined pointed to only one answer.
Levincia City!
Coincidentally, the person possessing "Rakua elements" was only Gibeon and his Outstanding Inc.!
This matched up.
But... Johan didn't understand whether Walking Wake had accidentally encountered Outstanding Inc.'s research, or if Outstanding Inc. had discovered Walking Wake and used it for experiments.
If the latter, that was manageable, but if the former... it meant Outstanding Inc. was conducting indiscriminate entity research!
More Pokémon might be affected.
Regardless, targeting Outstanding Inc. definitely wouldn't be wrong.
"Do you remember encountering anyone in that area?" Johan asked again.
"Roar..." Walking Wake tried hard to remember but finally shook its head.
I don't remember. That power made me very irritable then. I might have remembered things at the time, but as time passed, I can't recall.
"Would you mind if I examined your body?"
Walking Wake instinctively stepped back, looking at Johan with some alarm, clamping its legs together.
What do you want to do?
Johan: "..."
Where did you learn that reaction?
So that's why you shouldn't wander human areas—easy to be influenced.
Walking Wake seemed to realize its overreaction, lowered its head, stepped forward, and mumbled:
"Roar..."
Johan shook his head and placed his hand on Walking Wake's back, immediately feeling a cool sensation transmitted from its body.
Like putting his hand into cool spring water.
Aura dwells within the heart!
Hmm?
Johan furrowed his brow.
For ordinary-born trainers like Johan who had walked this path alone to achieve current strength, many aspects required self-reliance.
For example, Energy Cube production, cooking three meals daily, daily care and massage for Pokémon, plus emergency treatment when Pokémon were injured.
So though Johan couldn't compare with Nurse Joy professionally, he could understand Pokémon conditions to some degree.
Especially when using aura power.
Therefore, Johan quickly noticed abnormalities in Walking Wake's body.
Honestly, it wasn't really a major abnormality, just...
Walking Wake's body seemed to be undergoing rapid transformation.
Normally, anyone's body was constantly "transforming."
Like human cells constantly aging and replacing—after several years with all cells replaced, it was essentially a new person.
Pokémon were the same.
But Walking Wake's current "transformation" speed was obviously abnormal.
Though Johan's aura power couldn't sense cellular levels, he could sense the general situation.
So this was why Walking Wake had shed so many scales in the pool?
Johan withdrew his aura power and removed his hand, saying to the confused Walking Wake: "Wait here for a moment."
Then he strode out of the cave.
The Dragon Tamer family patriarch, Cynthia, Lance, and Clair were still waiting outside the cave.
Except for the patriarch's somewhat serious expression, Cynthia and the others were admiring Casseroya Lake's scenery.
"Teacher Johan, how is it?" the patriarch asked eagerly upon seeing Johan emerge.
"No major problems."
Hearing this, the patriarch relaxed.
"However..."
Johan's next words made him tense again.
"Sir, your Dragon Tamer family has professional doctors, right?"
This further intensified the patriarch's expression, but he still said: "Of course. Teacher Johan, what exactly is..."
"Do you have advanced equipment? Or doctors more skilled with herbal medicine?"
In the Pokémon world, treating Pokémon was divided into herbal medicine and technology approaches. The Joy family primarily used equipment, supplemented by Pokémon healing methods and medications.
But some famous non-Joy family doctors were more skilled with herbal medicine.
Not knowing Walking Wake's exact problem, the patriarch honestly answered:
"They're all experienced doctors. Whether people or Pokémon in our family get sick, they can basically handle it."
That would be troublesome.
Johan shook his head.
"Forget it, I'll take Walking Wake to a Pokémon Center."
"A Pokémon Center? No need—I'll have a Nurse Joy come here. What equipment do you need, Teacher Johan?"
Johan was stunned.
Have a Nurse Joy come?
With equipment?
Oh right, he'd forgotten—the Dragon Tamer family was among the top three families in the Paldea region.
Heh, wealthy folks!
"Bring..." Johan roughly stated his needs, and the patriarch immediately arranged it.
Before long, a professional medical helicopter landed on the plaza behind the Dragon Tamer family residence.
Following Johan's instructions, with Nurse Joy and Indeedee's help and Walking Wake's cooperation, they entered the professional equipment inside the medical helicopter.
Though neither Nurse Joy nor League databases had much information about Walking Wake with no usable data, basic physical information could still be examined.
Soon, Nurse Joy found Johan with the results.
"Teacher Johan, here's Walking Wake's physical condition. Overall, except for weakness, it's actually quite healthy, just..."
Taking the results from Nurse Joy, Johan quickly found the item he was concerned about and got a definitive answer.
"I understand. Thank you, Nurse Joy," Johan said.
Seeing Teacher Johan immediately find what she wanted to mention, Nurse Joy didn't continue.
But she was somewhat surprised internally.
Teacher Johan wasn't just a famous "Heart Master" and Hoenn League Champion, reportedly excellent at Energy Cube production and cooking... who knew he had medical knowledge too?
Such a person, even for the Joy clan, was...
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Johan's serious expression, Cynthia couldn't help asking.
Wasn't Walking Wake mostly recovered?
Were there still hidden dangers?
Not just Cynthia—Walking Wake itself thought so, looking nervously at Johan.
"Roar..."
Don't tell me I have a terminal illness?
The Dragon Tamer patriarch was also uneasy.
Walking Wake didn't really have hidden dangers, did it?
Hearing Cynthia's question and seeing Walking Wake and the patriarch's expressions, Johan suddenly realized he seemed... too serious.
He laughed helplessly.
Pressing his hands down: "Don't be nervous. I said Walking Wake doesn't have major problems. At most, it's just..."
Walking Wake and the patriarch became more nervous.
Could you hurry up with this transition?
"Cough cough, at most it'll just live a few years less."
Live a few years less? No problem then.
Huh?!
Wait!
Walking Wake's eyes widened.
What do you mean "just"?
A few years less life!
But thinking about it, considering how long it had lived, a few years really didn't seem like much.
Walking Wake glanced at Johan somewhat resentfully.
This guy scared it badly.
"So this is..." Lance nearby looked at Joy's helicopter.
Such a big production just to check Walking Wake would live a few years less?
As something resembling Suicune, Walking Wake could at least count as half a legendary?
"That's not the point." Johan waved his hand. "The point is why Walking Wake will live fewer years."
Huh?
Everyone was stunned.
Johan continued: "More importantly, losing a few years might not matter for Walking Wake, but what if it affects us ordinary people or ordinary Pokémon?"
"Ka-kaah?" Gengar pointed at itself.
Me?
Johan irritably pushed his Gengar back into the shadows.
But Johan's words made everyone react. After several expression changes, they gradually became serious.
Right...
What if Walking Wake's situation happened to them and their Pokémon?
"You mean 'Rakua elements' reduce organisms' lifespans," Cynthia said after thinking, summarizing Johan's behavior and previous factors.
Johan gave Cynthia a thumbs up.
Worthy of his little Cynthia—so smart.
Simultaneously, he said: "Strictly speaking, 'Rakua elements' don't exactly reduce organisms' lifespans, but rather accelerate cellular division and renewal speed in exchange for more powerful strength."
This was why he insisted on professional equipment to examine Walking Wake.
His aura could only determine Walking Wake's body "transformation" speed was wrong, but combined with Gibeon's longevity and professional instruments, he reached this conclusion.
"Rakua elements" exchanged power for accelerated cellular transformation speed, and faster cellular transformation naturally meant reduced lifespan.
After all, whether organisms lived long or short, cellular division and transformation times were always limited.
Hearing Johan's conclusion, everyone finally understood why he was so serious.
Reduced lifespan!
How was this different from making organisms slowly commit suicide?
Moreover, they didn't know where these so-called "Rakua elements" came from or how much existed.
If there was enough to permeate the entire Paldea region, then...
"Since Teacher Johan knows about these so-called 'Rakua elements,' do you know where they come from, or how to prevent or counter them?" the patriarch asked.
Johan spread his hands.
"Sorry, I only saw information about 'Rakua elements' in an unknown ancient text. I only know they come from a place called 'Rakua Paradise.' As for prevention and countermeasures..."
After pondering briefly, he continued:
"Just like dealing with Walking Wake—defeat those infected with 'Rakua elements' to resolve it."
Defeat?
Lance and Cynthia understood.
Lance: "That's simple then."
Cynthia: "Yes."
The patriarch and Clair looked at each other.
Simple?
Those infected with "Rakua elements" obviously gained significantly enhanced strength. Only Champions like you would act like it's nothing...
"As for prevention..."
Johan shook his head.
He didn't know either.
However... in the storyline, the "Explorers" ultimately used Terapagos sharing power with Lucius's "Six Heroes," who used Terapagos's power to seal "Rakua Paradise."
So most likely, Terapagos, as the origin of Paldea region's Terastallization, could probably prevent "Rakua elements."
But current Terapagos was probably still just a pendant, sleeping.
The "Six Heroes" with Terapagos's power could be considered.
Additionally, Gibeon's white Zygarde had split into cells to prevent "Rakua elements" spread.
Perhaps Zygarde could do it too.
Thinking this, Johan felt much better.
Though Gibeon's Zygarde was shiny, it obviously wasn't a true legendary, while the real "Order God" Zygarde in the Kalos region still owed him several favors.
Worst case... call the real "Order God" over.
No big problem.
"Anyway, no major issues," Johan said.
Patriarch: "?"
Earlier you looked so serious, said it was hard to prevent, then suddenly no major issues?
Plus Lance and Cynthia's "indeed so" expressions.
The patriarch suddenly felt... was he really getting old?
So tired...
Was this Champions' confidence?
"But this matter should be reported to Chairman Geeta—let her worry about it," Johan added.
The three of them weren't Paldea region Champions. Discovering this was already a huge favor to Chairman Geeta.
"Yes." Cynthia nodded.
They'd already found and solved many troubles for Chairman Geeta during this Paldea trip.
Plus helped the Dragon Tamer family solve a problem.
Wait.
They hadn't eaten yet!
The patriarch seemed to finally react, hurrying: "This time really thank you, Teacher Johan. I've prepared food..."
Before finishing—
"Ka-kaah!!"
Gengar raised both arms in celebration.
"Draa!!"
"Draa~~"
Johan and Lance's Dragonite also cheered.
"Shaka!"
Garchomp glanced at them disdainfully, curling its lip.
What's the excitement?
Despite saying this, its claw-sharpening motions didn't stop.
"Bangi?"
Dinner? Dinner? Where's dinner?
Tyranitar ran out of its Poké Ball, its huge head looking around.
The initially cheerful patriarch, seeing these "massive" hungry creatures, somehow started sweating profusely.
However... just a few Pokémon couldn't possibly bankrupt the vast Dragon Tamer family, right?
"Ka-kaah~"
Such good people~
Gengar, picking its teeth, waved goodbye to the Dragon Tamer family members while distributing "good person cards."
Of course, even with Gengar, Tyranitar, Garchomp, two Dragonite and other Pokémon completely opening their stomachs, they couldn't bankrupt the Dragon Tamer family in one meal.
Unless Gengar ate and took extras, or ate continuously for months.
But though they didn't bankrupt them, they exhausted all the Dragon Tamer family's chefs.
After eating their fill, they "embarrassedly" accepted gratitude gifts from the Dragon Tamer family.
Johan had Dragonite, Cynthia had Garchomp, Lance and Clair had many Dragon-type Pokémon, so the gifts were naturally materials and food useful for Dragon-types—Dragon Scales, Dragon Fangs, etc.
What made Johan happy was avoiding "stubborn" and arrogant trainers who'd arrogantly challenge him upon seeing him.
Great families were smarter without so many hotheads.
Another thing that made Johan happy was that after learning he sought "Herba Mystica," the Dragon Tamer family gave him Casseroya Lake's share.
After all, it was in Casseroya Lake—the Dragon Tamer family couldn't not know.
Though somewhat curious about Altaria and Noivern's "fusion evolution," saving trouble was good.
This way, Johan had collected all "Herba Mystica" from the Paldea region.
When opportunity arose, he'd make a feast for his Pokémon and little Cynthia!
"Where are you going next?" Johan asked before leaving the Dragon Tamer family.
"Us?" Lance patted Dragonite, laughing: "Back to Medali Town for more battles with strong opponents."
Then he asked back: "What about you?"
"Us..." Johan smiled, taking Cynthia's hand: "We'll tour the Paldea region, see different scenery—maybe wait until the 'points stage' ends."
He'd given up struggling.
Bottom of "Master Ball Tier" was still "Master Ball Tier."
Rather than fighting many battles now for points, better to fight once in the "Master Replacement Battle."
He'd figured out the math.
"Great! See you in the 'Master Tournament'!" Lance said confidently. Terastallization seemed to give him more confidence, completely missing Clair's resentful gaze beside him.
Others held hands to see scenery and play, while her cousin had to return to battle.
Such suffering...
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Powerstones?
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