"Piplup!"
Seeing the enormous island suddenly appear before it,
the astonished Empoleon leaped straight out of the water.
Tetsuya helplessly facepalmed. "You scaredy-cat, didn't you say yourself that there was an island here?
Why are you so scared now that it's right in front of you?"
"Piplup."
Empoleon blushed furiously.
Could that be called fear? It had clearly jumped out because it was worried about its Trainer in the sky getting hurt.
"Ah, yes, yes. You're amazing."
Tetsuya nodded perfunctorily, then turned his attention to the island.
"Piplup, Piplup."
"Yes, yes, you're right. You weren't scared."
"Piplup, Piplup, Piplup!"
"I didn't deny it. I'm agreeing with you."
The human and Pokemon bickered with practiced ease.
Cynthia chuckled softly, long since accustomed to it.
Most Trainers got along with their partners this way—like friends, yet also like family.
Of course, the way it showed differed depending on the personalities of the person and Pokemon.
She took out a hair tie and secured part of her golden hair.
With a new hairstyle in an instant, she looked valiant and dashing, brimming with combat power.
The lush green island was filled with towering ancient trees, their trunks so thick that several people would be needed to encircle them.
The fragrant scent of earth traveled through their noses and into their bodies, making them feel refreshed.
Over the past several million years,
the number of humans who had set foot on this island could perhaps be counted on one hand.
It was precisely for this reason that it had retained the most ancient ecological environment of the Pokemon World.
The only unsettling thing was
that the island was utterly silent, without the slightest trace of living creatures.
It was impossible not to feel a chill in one's heart.
Of course,
both Tetsuya and Cynthia