A long-lost peaceful life.
The first few days after returning from the Alternate Space were spent in a semi-relaxed manner.
This allowed Natsuhiko and the Pokémon to achieve comprehensive physical and mental relaxation.
Both Natsuhiko and his Pokémon were too tightly wound and needed a break to adjust.
Originally, Natsuhiko thought that in such a relaxing phase, the Pokémon could maintain a good state, stay competitive, and not lose any strength.
But it turns out that a reasonable combination of work and rest can sometimes be as effective as relentless hard work.
During these days of rest.
To prevent Pokémon like Beedrill and Yujira from overtraining autonomously, Natsuhiko deliberately took them to hang around, play, and frolic in his newly built "pasture."
He humorously called it familiarizing with their own estate.
Unexpectedly.
Yujira, fully relaxed, not only did not lose any strength but also improved, although not significantly; it successfully touched the Gym Leader Level threshold.
After analyzing, Natsuhiko concluded the reason.
It should be that the long-term mental tension and self-training made Yujira's Spiritual Power somewhat weak, which neither Yujira nor Natsuhiko noticed.
Once relaxed, Yujira's Spiritual Power had enough recovery time, naturally resulting in a strength increase.
Natsuhiko remembers once after playing tired at the "pasture," Yujira fell asleep leaning against him.
When it woke up again, its strength had increased, its psychic power reached a higher level.
Truly, it got stronger while 'sleeping.'
Natsuhiko found this both amusing and frustrating.
Under Yujira's puzzled gaze, Natsuhiko hesitated for a long time before offering two words as an answer: Epiphany.
Though a joke, it wasn't entirely without reason.
Yujira getting stronger while sleeping allowed the Pokémon to relax and play easier without worrying too much.
The most "righteous" among them was Togetic.
It thought, Yujira can get stronger by sleeping?
For someone who's best at sleeping, how could it not be envious?
So it naturally became a "sleeping bag" hanging on Natsuhiko.
But, during the day they played.
At night, Natsuhiko still gave each Pokémon a full massage to relax their bodies and states.
This routine lasted for five days.
Five full days of rest.
They did not maintain a high-intensity training state despite the upcoming competition.
For Natsuhiko, though the competition is important, a single competition's outcome pales next to the Pokémon's long-term development and growth.
But after these five days of rest.
Starting from the sixth day, Natsuhiko began leading the Pokémon in recovery training.
It lasted for two days.
By the eighth day.
They had nearly returned to the training rhythm and mode from before entering the Alternate Space.
After resting for five days, the Pokémon were in excellent form again once they resumed training, far better than when they just came out of the Alternate Space.
Their focus during training increased, and training efficiency showed evident improvement.
This state was exactly what Natsuhiko needed.
Though the short rest slowed progress, it was a necessary buffer for better future advancement.
From that day, the Pokémon formally entered the preparation stage for the "Lily Youth Competition."
It felt like returning to the days at the Silver Pokémon Battle Club, only spending time with his Pokémon daily, enjoying the hard training and the joy of working together with them.
The whole preparation lasted for four days.
Until one week was left before the "Lily Youth Competition," the practical plan arranged by Natsuhiko was finally implemented.
...
...
The white snow, the howling cold wind.
Natsuhiko took a few Pokémon back to Celestial Crown Mountain.
Looking at the cave entrance once again covered by snow and ice, Natsuhiko rubbed his temple.
Today, he wasn't in great shape.
Because the night before, he had the same dream again about the "Destroyed World" and Giratina.
The same scene, the same time, the same outcome.
If it happened once, it could be a coincidence, but twice was definitely problematic.
Yet when he asked Dragapult, it told Natsuhiko it didn't sense anything.
This gave Natsuhiko a sense of powerlessness.
There was nothing he could do.
He could only temporarily put it aside and continue with the plan.
This place.
Was confirmed last time with Yujira, potentially containing stone fragments in the Ice Cave.
Due to lack of time and the strength of the Cryogonal guarding the entrance, they had to withdraw and prepare to explore later.
Now.
This ice cave became an important part of Natsuhiko's practical plan.
The purpose wasn't only to explore for stone fragments but also to let the Pokémon feel the combat experience and regain competitiveness.
"Yongji?" Yujira looked at Natsuhiko with some concern.
It could feel Natsuhiko's unwell state, noticing the slight languor in spirit.
"I'm fine."
Natsuhiko shook his head, temporarily setting aside thoughts of the dream that appeared twice, focusing on the present situation.
If nothing unexpected happens,
This time, they should be able to fully explore the ice cave; if there really is a stone fragment inside, it could give his Pokémon some power increase before the competition begins.
"Chimchar, just watch how everyone battles this time," Natsuhiko said to the Chimchar on his shoulder.
Chimchar's strength was far behind Beedrill and the others, and currently, it and Natsuhiko were more in a phase of integration, deepening mutual understanding, so it didn't need to join this practical combat.
"Cha!"
Chimchar nodded heavily, constantly glancing around.
Snow...
Something it had never seen, confirming further Togetic's tales of ice cream.
Apparently, there really are icy cool things.
Taking a deep breath, the cold air filled his lungs along with the wind, invigorating his cells, improving Natsuhiko's spirits somewhat.
"Let's strive to get a full grasp of this place today, Beedrill."
"Buzz!"
Beedrill understood, crossed its stingers, a Cross Cut slashed on the thick ice and snow before them, revealing a shimmering ice cave to Natsuhiko.
With the entrance opened, the Cryogonal living inside immediately poured out.
To deal with these Cryogonal, the main force this time was Doublade!
Now, Doublade had initially adapted to its coated body, its proficiency with the Holy Sword Slash combo was incomparable; even without a giant leap in power, handling these Cryogonal was many times easier.
Every blue sword shadow falling brought down numerous Cryogonal.
And this successfully attracted the Cryogonals' leader, a Cryogonal barely reaching Gym Leader level in strength.
But after the journey in Groudon's Alternate Space, a Gym Leader-level opponent posed negligible pressure on Natsuhiko's Pokémon.
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Keep going, it's the sixth update~~Pleas vote~~