In the air, Nergigante gathered all nearby Electric-type energy and unleashed Thunderbolt.
The overwhelming current struck Team Rocket's hot-air balloon, triggering a massive explosion that sent all four of them flying.
Team Rocket's scheme was shattered.
Watching the four figures streak across the sky like shooting stars, Bai Chen thought calmly:
These four are actually quite capable. They might be useful someday.
He used telekinesis to guide Pikachu back into Ash Ketchum's arms, then sheathed his longsword.
Above, Nergigante shrank down and landed lightly on Bai Chen's shoulder.
"Are you okay, Pikachu?" Ash asked anxiously.
"Pika!"
"That's good," Ash said in relief, then turned to Bai Chen.
"Thank you for saving Pikachu."
Bai Chen waved it off.
"Just a small favor."
Behind them, Serena and the others finally arrived.
Ash may not have noticed earlier, but they had clearly seen Bai Chen use telekinesis to control his blade and sever Team Rocket's mechanical arms.
They had thought the massive sword on his back was decorative.
Turns out—it was very real.
Bai Chen said to Ash,
"It's a pity, but let's pause our battle for now."
Ash nodded.
"That fight showed me a lot of my shortcomings. Once we finish special training, I'll challenge you again."
He wasn't foolish. After seeing Nergigante's full size, he knew Bai Chen had been holding back.
Pikachu wasn't ready yet.
"You're welcome anytime," Bai Chen replied, then added,
"Even though the Pokémon battle ended early, our Trainer match can still continue. Have you decided what to compete in?"
Ash rubbed his growling stomach.
"I'm hungry. How about… an eating contest?"
"That works," Bai Chen nodded.
"I already had breakfast, but I can still eat a bit more."
Soon, everyone redefined what "a bit more" really meant.
Even if Ash stuffed himself to the limit, he was nowhere near Bai Chen's appetite.
Clemont stared in disbelief.
"Is it really possible for someone to eat that much? Where does it all go?"
"I can't eat anymore…" Ash groaned, belly bulging. One more burp and he might throw up.
Bai Chen patted his shoulder, offering comfort—while quietly taking two skills from him.
"Don't be discouraged. Try again next time."
Having obtained what he wanted, Bai Chen asked about their next plans.
Serena answered,
"We planned to challenge the Shalour Gym, but since it's destroyed, we're heading to Anistar City first."
"I'm going there as well," Bai Chen said.
"How about we travel together?"
His gaze casually flicked toward Ash's Froakie.
That Pokémon was special.
Once it evolved into Greninja, Ash would synchronize with it and trigger the world-unique Bond Phenomenon, becoming Ash-Greninja.
When Ash challenged the Kalos League, how many fans believed Greninja would secure his victory?
Yet he lost—one of the most painful moments in the series.
Even Ash's later Alola Championship and World Championship couldn't fully erase that regret.
But that wasn't the key point.
The Bond Phenomenon itself fascinated Bai Chen.
With a Bond Stone in his possession, he suspected he could also master it.
And if memory served, shortly after Anistar City, Ash's group would encounter a first-tier Legendary Pokémon of Kalos.
Consider this payment for Aura, Pokémon Master, and research on Bond Evolution, Bai Chen thought.
I'll train you properly—and make you the Kalos League Champion.
Ash had no objections.
"Of course!" he said happily.
Serena and the others agreed as well. Having such a powerful companion was more than welcome.
"Then it's settled. I'll be traveling with you for a while."
That morning, Bai Chen released his Pokémon.
Seeing his seven companions, the group was stunned.
All seven were Pokémon they had never seen before—and more importantly—
He carried seven Pokémon at once.
Bai Chen explained:
"The reason most Trainers carry only six Pokémon is due to League regulations.
Six is considered optimal—too many Pokémon are hard to manage, so Poké Balls are locked once a seventh is captured."
"But many of my partners come from other worlds. Their Monster Balls are custom-made, so the six-Pokémon restriction doesn't apply."
He showed them the Monster Balls used for the four monsters, along with the Beast Ball used for Cosmog.
In truth, he had only captured two standard Pokémon so far—still far from the League limit.
"I see…" Ash replied absently.
He clearly didn't understand the explanation.
He was too busy staring at Bai Chen's partners.
Tinkatuff, Indeedee, and Gravios could all be identified by the Pokédex.
But Cosmog and Kirin returned no results.
"Are those Pokémon from another world too?" Ash asked excitedly.
"Tinkatuff is from Paldea. Indeedee is from Galar. The others are from another world."
"So cool!" Ash exclaimed.
Bai Chen saw the battle spirit in Ash's eyes—he clearly wanted to fight them all.
"Fuu~"
Indeedee stepped forward and held out her hands.
Understanding, Bai Chen handed her the two Monster Eggs from his pack.
"Don't return to your ball for now. They still need your care."
Indeedee nodded.
"Are those Pokémon Eggs?" Ash asked curiously.
"Yes."
"What will hatch from them?" Bonnie asked eagerly.
"That's a secret. You'll know once they hatch."
Rumble—
As they talked, thick storm clouds suddenly began gathering overhead.
Ash and the others stared upward, confused.
Bai Chen quickly recalled Zinogre and Kirin.
When Lord of Lightning and Lightning Sovereign were together, storms formed exponentially faster.
Bai Chen had calculated it before:
Kirin alone, going all out, needed 12 hours to trigger a disaster-level thunderstorm.
Not the Shalour Gym incident—that was just battle fallout.
A true disaster-level storm could paralyze an entire modern city.
But Kirin plus Zinogre?
Two hours were enough to bring catastrophe to a city.
To affect an entire region—or the world—would require higher rarity or Crown-tier mastery.
Clemont noticed Bai Chen had only recalled those two.
"Did they cause that storm?" he asked.
"Yes," Bai Chen admitted.
"I'm training them to control that power."
Pokémon that altered the weather were rare—but not unheard of.
The group didn't dwell on it.
In the afternoon, Serena wanted to explore Shalour City, so they agreed to depart for Anistar City the next day.
Bai Chen had no interest in shopping.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning," he said.
"I'm taking Zinogre and the others to train."
With that, he had Cosmog teleport him back to Alola.
Watching him vanish, Bonnie said softly,
"That Knight Bai Chen feels really mysterious."
The others nodded.
Ash wasn't interested in shopping either.
"Come on!" he said to Pikachu and Froakie.
"Let's train too—we can't fall behind!"
Back in Alola, Bai Chen immediately called Hala.
After a short wait, Hala answered via video.
Seeing Bai Chen's upgraded equipment, Hala laughed heartily.
"Only a month, and you've grown even stronger."
"I've gained a bit," Bai Chen replied.
Hala shook his head, dropping the topic.
"So—what do you need this time?"
Bai Chen smiled awkwardly.
"Are there any unclaimed islands near Melemele Island? Or perhaps a sea zone where I could build an artificial island?"
"An empty island?" Hala asked seriously.
"What would you use it for?"
Bai Chen explained honestly:
"I've recently captured a new partner whose power affects the weather and causes disasters.
I need a safe place to train them."
"…By disaster, you mean?" Hala pressed.
"Simply put—if they appear in a city, it would be destroyed within a day."
Hala's eyes widened.
"Can you control that power?"
"Yes—but I need a remote location."
Hala was silent for a moment.
"Come to me first. I want to see this for myself."
Before he finished speaking, Bai Chen's voice came from behind him.
"Maybe somewhere safer?"
Hala jumped.
Teleportation really was terrifying.
He ended the call and said,
"How about the beach? Hardly anyone there."
"That works."
They teleported to the beach where Bai Chen had once used a Z-Move.
Bai Chen released Kirin.
Just by looking at it, Hala felt its overwhelming strength.
Within seconds, storm clouds began gathering.
This wasn't like Rain Dance or Sunny Day.
Those were temporary.
This storm formed simply because Kirin existed.
"…We really do need a safe place," Hala muttered.
Just as Bai Chen prepared to recall Kirin—
A golden bolt struck Kirin directly.
Even with 80% lightning resistance, Kirin cried out in pain.
"That wasn't natural lightning," Bai Chen said, scanning the sky.
He spotted Tapu Koko, furious.
"Damn—it sees Kirin as an invader."
Bai Chen immediately recalled Kirin.
Tapu Koko turned toward Bai Chen.
"Great Guardian, this is a misunderstanding!" Bai Chen explained quickly.
Hala stepped in as well.
After the island kahuna's explanation, Tapu Koko withdrew its hostility.
"Kaah!"
Though Bai Chen didn't understand the words, the meaning was clear:
Do not release Kirin on Melemele Island again—or you'll be expelled.
Bai Chen agreed without hesitation.
Tapu Koko exchanged a glance with Nergigante and departed.
"Come home with me," Hala said.
"I have a complete map of Alola."
In Hala's study, he retrieved an old box filled with maps.
After searching, he found the one marking all nearby islands.
"Found it."
They spread the map across the table.
Excluding the four main islands and the Aether Paradise, Alola had very few islands.
Hala asked,
"How large an island do you want?"
Bai Chen paused.
"About the size of Melemele Island."
Hala stared at him.
"…Are you serious? What do you need that much land for?"
Melemele Island covers over 30,000 square kilometers.
"For retirement," Bai Chen replied calmly.
Future monsters would only grow larger and stronger.
Gravios already barely fit behind Lillie's home.
Zinogre and Kirin disliked crowded spaces.
And soon, Valstrax and Velkhana would hatch.
They all needed room.
"Is selling impossible?" Bai Chen asked.
Hala shook his head.
"No. I'm just curious what you plan to do with it."
If the Aether Foundation could build an artificial island, so could Bai Chen.
"And what if I capture Legendary Pokémon someday?" Bai Chen added.
"You expect me to keep them in my backyard?"
Hala sighed.
"…Fair point."
"Do you have the funds?" Hala asked.
Aether Paradise costs a fortune.
Bai Chen wanted something ten times larger.
"Not the funds," Bai Chen replied.
"But I have a method."
"…What method?"
"Do you know where there are submarine volcanoes nearby?"
Hala's expression changed.
"You're not thinking of triggering one, are you? That would be catastrophic."
"I'm not insane," Bai Chen replied.
"I won't endanger civilians."
"Then why ask?"
Bai Chen explained:
"Remember Basarios? He's evolved.
He can absorb geothermal energy, consume rock, and release magma to create land."
Gravios had inherited the legacy of Zorah Magdaros.
Volcanic Body (Rarity 9)
Removes size restrictions
Stores geothermal energy
Can release magma to form land
Hala remembered Basarios's Dynamax form.
"…That still sounds unreal."
Bai Chen patted his shoulder.
"Relax. You'll supervise the process."
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