Evening of May 29, Lucas's farm.
Night had mostly covered the dusk. After seeing off the foreman and the Machamp construction crew, Lucas planted his hands on his hips and looked back.
What used to be pitch black at night was now lit by bright streetlights, and the newly laid stone roads were clear to see.
It was the symbol of human wisdom, the morning star in the night—light!
"Nice. When you patrol with Arcanine and the others, you won't need to spam Flash anymore."
Lucas smiled as he watched the Luxray beside him staring, entranced, at the lights.
Seeing the farm aglow, Luxray recalled the time it lived in a city's shadows before it met Lucas.
Back then, looking at the neon that lit the city and the laughter of people and Pokémon behind glass walls, Luxray wondered whether it would one day find a brightly lit place to call home.
Now it seemed that wish had long since come true.
Lucas let Luxray savor the moment. When it had had its fill, he spoke gently: "Come on. Let's check out the new warehouse and ice cellar."
Luxray pulled its gaze back and nodded lightly, padding after Lucas with a buoyant step—anyone could tell it was in a great mood.
In front of the expanded and reinforced new warehouse, Lucas raised an eyebrow. He'd been mentally prepared, but the size was still impressive—three to four times the old warehouse.
He opened the new doors and went in. Bright incandescent lights illuminated everything. The stock that had crammed the old warehouse—stored produce, food, and consumables—now took up only a quarter of the space, leaving the rest strikingly empty.
Whether for new harvests or new supplies, Lucas was already thinking that someday he'd fill the whole place.
In one corner of the warehouse, the floor held a large metal hatch, like a secret basement entrance from a movie.
Besides this, the newly built building next to the warehouse also led straight down into the ice cellar. Having an entrance in the warehouse would make it easier to move goods between the cellar and storage.
He opened the hatch. No cold air or mist billowed up—the ice cellar had just been finished, and no Ice-type Pokémon had moved in to chill it yet.
Down a not-so-steep staircase, a vast underground space came into view, much larger than the new warehouse.
In Lucas's plan, beyond serving as an ice cellar, the upper level would also house the Ice-type Pokémon he would one day bring back to the farm.
The entire cellar used insulating materials with good breathability, and the upper level had generous space. The Ice-types would rest upstairs and, at the same time, bring the cellar's temperature down.
Looking at the empty space, Lucas realized he'd need quite a few Ice-types to make this work.
But before that—time to test this guy.
He took out an Ultra Ball, exchanged a nod with Luxray, and released the Pokémon inside.
With a crisp metallic clank, Iron Bundle—defeated by Moltres—appeared in its captured state: powered down.
"It's barely different from a machine. Next to it, Genesect is basically just a bio-weapon in a metal shell…"
He muttered, then picked an ice-blue stone with snowflake patterns from the basket he'd brought and tossed it at the inert Iron Bundle.
After a bit—
No reaction. Iron Bundle didn't absorb the Ice Stone's energy.
So Ice Stones won't charge it. Lucas thought a moment, then signaled Luxray to discharge into the port-like spot on Iron Bundle's back.
Generally, robots run on electricity, right?
Sure enough, charging worked. In Lucas's view, the dim points of light on Iron Bundle's body lit up as Luxray's current flowed in.
To avoid overcharging and sparking a rampage, Lucas had Luxray stop after a short while.
Under their gaze, Iron Bundle's digital eyes lit, and it stood. Its head turned left and right, apparently surveying the environment.
Luxray watched it warily—if it showed aggression, it would drop it in an instant.
But Iron Bundle merely glanced at Luxray and Lucas, then turned, lifted the spherical device under its wing, and blasted a stream of extreme cold at the open space.
[Energy reserves restored. Beginning environmental remodeling.]
It just began altering the ice cellar as if no one else existed, completely ignoring Lucas and Luxray.
Lucas & Luxray: "…"
According to Three Scar—now evolved into Corviknight—so long as you don't interfere with Iron Bundle's environmental remodeling, it won't become hostile.
The Corvisquire and Fletchinder flocks had been wiped out because they resisted to protect the forest's environment.
As for its attitude after finishing the remodel, Lucas didn't know—maybe he'd find out today.
He and Luxray backed off and silently watched Iron Bundle reshape the cellar, pondering how maxed-out its tool-bird attributes were.
No matter what, the ice cellar was far smaller than Three Scar's forest and lake. Even with suboptimal energy, Iron Bundle took less than ten minutes to turn the cellar into a winter wasteland.
Fortunately, Lucas had prepared thick winter gear and donned it while Iron Bundle worked.
Even so, he shivered. Luxray kept calm under its fur.
The entire cellar was now sheathed in thick ice. Each breath bit with cold. Iron Bundle stood on a pile of snow atop the ice, still active.
Lucas and Luxray exchanged a glance. The electricity Luxray had discharged was maybe enough to run a refrigerator for a month.
Yet Iron Bundle had not only rebooted on that but also remodeled such a big space. This thing was ridiculously energy-efficient.
Born to be exploited—cough, cough.
Before Lucas could imagine a hundred use cases, Luxray suddenly growled a warning.
Looking closely, he saw Iron Bundle had turned to face them at some point. Its emotionless eyes were fixed on him and Luxray.
[Environmental remodeling complete. To ensure survival and continued activity, begin hunting.]
[Target: organism with abundant electrical power.]
Iron Bundle raised the spherical device. Ice-type energy gathered, about to blast forth—when Luxray's body crackled, and in the next instant a terrifying current split the air and engulfed Iron Bundle.
Unlike the gentle charge from before, this current was ferocious. Under Luxray's control, it deliberately avoided Iron Bundle's charging port.
Violent electricity pounded Iron Bundle's body. The frost stream from its device couldn't pierce Luxray's discharge at all.
In no time, Iron Bundle toppled into a slushy pile, smoke curling from it.
[System heavily damaged. Energy reserves all diverted to self-repair.]
[Warning, warning: energy insufficient. To ensure survival, forced shutdown.]
Seeing it go limp, Luxray wore a disgusted look.
What was that—noob yet loves to play?
…
A while later.
On the phone, Lucas said, "Yes, Iron Bundle's habit seems to be remodeling its environment to suit itself. Before completion it shows no aggression, but after, either to replenish energy or from territorial instincts, it attacks nearby life."
"It's not suited to the outside world. I've decided to return it to the Great Crater of Paldea."
On the other end, Geeta nodded. "Understood. If you can't communicate with it, returning it to Area Zero is the only option. You don't need to go down this time—have Larry make the run."
Lucas: "Huh? Make Larry go?"
Geeta sounded puzzled. "With his strength, isn't that the safest approach?"
After hanging up, Lucas looked at the Ultra Ball in his hand.
He sighed—who knew whether he was lamenting Larry's corporate-slave lot or the release of Iron Bundle.
Alas, such a good ice-maker that's energy-efficient, and he had to let it go—what a pity.
For Lucas, the farm Pokémon's safety came first. Iron Bundle's instability was too great. No matter how careful, something could slip through. Better to uproot the danger at the start.
There were plenty of other Ice-types in this world. Rather than keep an unstable factor, he'd recruit normal Ice Pokémon.
He shook his head. When he set out, he'd drop the Ultra Ball with Iron Bundle to Larry.
Departure for Unova was fast approaching. He also planned to check whether his four students had cleared the Montenevera Gym.
So Lucas mounted Dragonite, flew over Paldea's mountains and rivers, paused at Casseroya Lake to let Dragonite reminisce, then shot up the great waterfall into the Montenevera range.
He'd been to Montenevera more than once and had even captured a notorious Pokémon hunter en route, so Dragonite knew the route like the back of its claw.
As Montenevera's silhouette grew, Lucas fell into thought.
Where were Hunter J and her cohorts imprisoned now? Since he'd put her away, she probably wouldn't be meddling in Sinnoh's Team Galactic and the lake guardians, right?
Even with summer near, Montenevera Town was its usual wintry self, though the weather was a touch sunnier and greener.
Wearing the same tactical outfit from Hunter J's arrest, Lucas had barely landed in town when someone called out to him.
"Isn't that Lucas? Long time no see!"
He turned. It was old Mr. Tron, who'd accompanied him and Anabel up Montenevera Mountain.
The old gentleman looked as spry as ever, with rosy cheeks—seemed to be in good spirits.
At Tron's feet, a Greavard looked curiously at Lucas.
"Mr. Tron, long time no see." Lucas replied, then his eyes lit as he looked at the flickering flame atop Greavard's head. "Looks like you're getting along well with Greavard."
Tron smiled, crouched, and patted Greavard's head. "Thanks to you, my wife has recovered as well. She's been wanting to meet you. If you don't mind, would you honor us by coming to our humble home for a cup of hot tea?"
"It was just a small favor." Lucas scratched his head, apologetic. "I was planning to check on my students—They're challenging the Montenevera Gym right now—so I can't go at the moment. It'll have to be later."
"No matter, no matter. As long as you come, we—and Greavard—will be delighted."
Tron waved it off, then seemed to recall something and smiled. "Your students—would they be Arven, Nemona, Penny, and Eri, those four?"
"If so, their challenges are already over. They've been staying in Montenevera for a week. There were some bumps, but they all finished this morning."
"Right now, I believe Gym Leader Ryme is hosting them."
"That's great!" Lucas's eyes lit up. They'd done him proud. He bowed slightly. "Then I'll take my leave and visit later."
Tron waved with a smile. "Bring those four children along, too."
Lucas nodded. "Will do!"
Watching Lucas's departing back, Tron smiled, turned into a shop, and chose a suitable envelope.
Then he took up a pen and carefully filled in the address—Eindoak.
..
Walking the streets of Montenevera, Lucas lavished praise on the four and made a promise.
"You all did great. As a reward, before we set out I'll treat you to a big meal at the Treasure Eatery."
Ryme had said Nemona finished the next day, Eri on day four, Penny on day five, and Arven this morning.
Even Ryme praised their week's progress and their taking the sixth badge. A reward was in order.
"Hooray!"
The four cheered in delight. Every Paldean knows the Treasure Eatery's reputation.
Arven was already fantasizing about what to order. The Eatery's signature dish was, of course—
Having been there many times, Nemona cared less about "the Eatery" than about "a reward from Lucas." She asked excitedly, "Teacher Lucas, are we heading down the mountain now?"
Penny and Eri also looked at him curiously. After a week in Montenevera, they knew the paths; this one should lead to the residential area…
Lucas smiled mysteriously and wagged a finger. "You'll know when we get there."