Pokemon: A New Path

Koraidon twisted midair in a flash. While shifting into its combat form, it lunged toward Kyurem with a fierce, primal roar.

Kyurem immediately sensed the overwhelming force behind the charge. In an instant, it summoned a Shadow Claw and thundered across the ice on heavy legs to meet the blow.

The two Pokémon collided head-on.

In that instant, two wildly different forces clashed, and a shockwave of pure energy burst out from the impact.

With a thunderous crash, Kyurem was sent flying backwards. Its massive body slammed into the cavern wall, causing a rumble to echo through the mine.

In the first exchange… Koraidon had come out on top.

"Hah…" Kyurem exhaled heavily, the expression on its face caught between shock and exhilaration.

This Pokémon, its strength was immense. Even stronger than its own.

But that only made Kyurem more excited.

It flew back into the air, eyes gleaming with energy, and let out a booming cry.

"Yes! That is what I am talking about! Show me your full strength!"

Suddenly, Kyurem's aura erupted like a blizzard, and the air's temperature plummeted. Frigid energy began swirling through the arena, freezing everything it touched.

Naoki's expression darkened.

Not again!

Even though Koraidon was powerful, this was still Kyurem, one of the strongest Ice-type Legendary Pokémon. Ice had a natural advantage over Koraidon's typing. The situation was dangerous.

Naoki's mind raced, then suddenly he remembered.

There was one move Koraidon had kept hidden. A move it rarely used because it made it feel like it had lost its dragon pride.

Naoki clenched his fist.

"That is it!"

"Koraidon, Dig, now!" he shouted.

It was risky, but if Koraidon could burrow underground in time, it could avoid the brunt of Kyurem's devastating attack.

The moment Naoki gave the command, Koraidon sprang into action.

It reared back and smashed its claws into the ice, carving a tunnel in seconds and disappearing below the surface.

Kyurem let out a thunderous roar, and the icy tempest exploded outward.

A dome of blue-white energy engulfed the battlefield. Shards of ice spiraled across the mine like razors. Fortunately, Mewtwo had already thrown up a psychic barrier in front of Naoki and Sylveon, shielding them from the storm.

The cold was nearly unbearable.

Eventually, the storm began to calm, and the field of ice settled. Kyurem surveyed the area, its expression grim.

Gone?

Did it escape?

Just then, Naoki's voice rang out from across the field.

"Koraidon, now!"

Kyurem's pupils contracted. Something was not right!

Before it could move, the ground directly beneath its feet cracked open. Koraidon shot out from below with brutal momentum.

Koraidon poured all its power into the strike. It let go of all defense, landing a flurry of devastating blows directly onto Kyurem's body.

Even Kyurem, tough as it was, grimaced in pain. But instead of retreating, it only grew more thrilled.

"Yes! That is the feeling!" it roared, and raised its claws.

In the next second, Kyurem's pupils turned crimson. Its entire body quaked with raw, chaotic power. Its attacks became erratic, ferocious, wild.

That was… Outrage!

Kyurem slammed its body into Koraidon with reckless abandon. Its tail, claws, and wings pounded down like an avalanche. There was no pattern, no rhythm, only pure aggression.

Koraidon braced itself, shielding with its forearms, but Kyurem kept advancing. Blow after blow, it forced Koraidon back across the field. Cuts and bruises spread across the ancient dragon's scales, and its breath grew heavier.

But Kyurem was not faring much better.

The earlier Collision Course and the surprise attack had taken a toll. Its breathing had turned ragged. Fatigue began to set in.

Naoki watched intently as the two titans clashed, fists and claws echoing through the cavern.

Then, with a calm but focused tone, he gave his next command.

"Koraidon, prepare to use Counter!"

"Ah-gash!"

Koraidon responded with a loud cry, and the fighting energy in its body surged violently, spreading through its limbs as it absorbed the brunt of Kyurem's furious attacks.

If Kyurem had been calm, it might have noticed something was wrong and backed off. But in its confused rage after using Outrage, it continued attacking Koraidon nonstop.

Koraidon kept stepping back until there was nowhere left to retreat.

At that moment, after a relentless barrage, Kyurem's strikes began to slow. Signs of fatigue were showing.

Naoki's sharp eyes caught it immediately.

"Now!"

At his command, the energy Koraidon had stored exploded outward.

Boosted by the power of Outrage, the counterattack's force was magnified to an astonishing degree.

Boom!

A powerful shockwave erupted. Kyurem's massive frame was flung backward, slamming into the mine's rock wall with a thunderous crash. Its eyes rolled back—it was knocked out.

"Ah... gah..."

Koraidon panted heavily. Exhausted, it dropped to one knee on the icy ground, clearly at its limit.

Seeing this, Naoki hurried to its side. He pulled out a bottle of Life Goat Milk and some PokéFood from his backpack and quickly fed them to Koraidon.

The warm milk and food worked quickly. Koraidon's breathing steadied, and it regained strength.

Happy after its victory, Koraidon licked Naoki's face with its warm, rough tongue.

"Ah-gah!"

"Well done!" Naoki laughed as he patted Koraidon's head. He was used to this affectionate habit.

From the battle just now, it was clear, Koraidon's strength and speed surpassed even Kyurem's.

Naoki hadn't realized just how strong Koraidon had become. Even if Kyurem had taken its Black Kyurem form, Koraidon would have stood a fair chance.

But now, the battle was over.

Naoki stood and walked toward Kyurem with Koraidon by his side.

Kyurem was stirring. Still breathing heavily, it looked up at them and said in a deep, raspy voice, "You performed excellently."

It hadn't met such a powerful opponent in years.

That hard-fought battle had stirred something within it. It felt... alive.

Naoki offered Kyurem another bottle of Life Goat Milk. "Are you willing to come with us to the World Tree now?"

"Of course. A promise is a promise," Kyurem said. Then it added with a grin, "Come on, use your human method to capture me!"

"As you wish."

Naoki pulled out an empty Poké Ball from his belt and hurled it at Kyurem.

The ball struck Kyurem's body, bounced upward, and then opened midair. A red beam of light shot out, engulfing Kyurem and pulling it inside.

Thunk!

The Poké Ball hit the icy ground and began shaking.

Once...

Twice...

Three times...

The red light on the button blinked, then faded.

Click.

The Poké Ball stopped moving.

The capture was successful!

Naoki was overjoyed. He stepped forward and picked up the Poké Ball.

He had done it. He had captured Kyurem.

"Kyurem, please take care of me from now on," Naoki said gently to the Poké Ball.

The ball trembled slightly in his palm, as if Kyurem inside was acknowledging him with a silent nod.

Naoki smiled, then turned and looked down at Sylveon.

"How do you feel now?"

"Booee~!"

Sylveon leapt into the air, sparkling with joy.

"Great. Then it's time to go home."

As Kyurem vanished into the Poké Ball, the cold that had hung over the mine gradually dispersed. The temperature began to rise, if only slightly. But the ice that coated the cavern walls remained. It wouldn't melt.

The pokemon that had fled earlier now returned one by one, dancing gently in the air, hovering over the ice cave just as before.

With no sunlight reaching this deep underground, this frozen mine would remain untouched by time. A sanctuary of eternal winter.

At least, Naoki thought, he wouldn't have to worry about the pokemon losing their home after Kyurem's departure.

He recalled Sylveon into its Poké Ball, then climbed onto Koraidon's back. Mewtwo joined them in the air.

Taking out his phone, Naoki sent a message to Giratina.

Moments later, a ripple of purple light split the sky in front of them.

"Let's go."

At his command, Koraidon and Mewtwo flew into the rift.

By two in the afternoon, they had returned to the Paldea region.

Naoki didn't go straight to the ranch. Instead, he made his way to the World Tree, the sanctuary where Legendary Pokémon now gathered.

He brought Kyurem to a quiet settlement in the northern edge of the Tree, an ice-and-snow town formed by Articuno's breath.

"From now on, this is your home," Naoki said softly.

Kyurem looked around, sensing the deep, natural energy of the place. It gave no protest.

It turned its large, powerful body to face Naoki and said, "If you ever need my strength, come find me."

It would help protect the future Naoki dreamed of.

Naoki was surprised for a moment, then smiled and nodded. "I will."