Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

"The weather's great today." Luo Yuan reclined on the head of his Gyarados, enjoying the azure skies and the refreshing sea breeze.

While he was at ease, the same couldn't be said for Lana, Kiawe, and the others.

Not far from Luo Yuan, they were undergoing swimming training.

This particular regimen, acquired from Bruno, was nothing short of brutal.

Even though Luo Yuan had scaled it down to match Lillie and the others' age and physical capabilities, the exercises were still so intense that only Kiawe, the fittest of the group, could barely keep up.

"I... I can't go on..." Sophocles, who was the least physically inclined, was the first to give in. He floated motionlessly on the water's surface, utterly exhausted.

The rest of the group, after swimming a few laps, were also nearing their limits.

Watching them struggle, Luo Yuan couldn't help but smile faintly.

He had anticipated this outcome and came prepared. With a casual motion, he unleashed his Viridian Aura.

The soothing power enveloped everyone, instantly washing away the fatigue accumulated from their training.

At the same time, Sabrina, who was temporarily acting as the safety supervisor, gave an order to her Gardevoir.

Hovering gracefully in the air, Gardevoir emitted a wave of calming psychic energy, mentally rejuvenating Lillie and the others.

The dual healing of body and mind gave the group a newfound burst of energy.

"That's amazing!"

Feeling as if they'd been brought back to life, everyone marveled at the miraculous power.

But their enthusiasm quickly vanished when Luo Yuan uttered his next words.

"Keep training."

Groans of despair echoed around him.

Even if their physical and mental fatigue could be erased, the memory of their bodies teetering on the brink of collapse was forever etched in their minds.

Watching them resume their swim, Luo Yuan chuckled to himself.

Bruno's training methods might be grueling, but they were undeniably effective in building physical strength.

Luo Yuan wasn't asking his students to reach Bruno's level of wrestling wild Machamps barehanded. But at the very least, they should be able to arm wrestle a Geodude, right?

---

As Luo Yuan gestured for Gyarados to shoo away a group of Corsola attracted by the Viridian Aura, he prepared to lie back on Gyarados's back and bask in the sun again.

Suddenly, he sensed a shadow darting into the range of his psychic detection at an imperceptible speed.

Instinctively, Luo Yuan activated his psychic powers, intercepting the rapidly moving shadow.

A flash of crackling electricity followed, revealing a Pokémon with shield-like arms and a bird-like body—Tapu Koko.

Caught off guard by Luo Yuan's psychic interception, Tapu Koko lost its balance mid-air, spinning wildly before finally coming to a halt some distance away.

"Tapu Koko!"

Kiawe, swimming nearby, was the first to recognize the Pokémon in the sky.

In the Alola region, four legendary Pokémon, each starting with "Tapu," were revered as the island guardians.

Tapu Koko, residing on Melemele Island, was known as the island's protector.

What shocked Kiawe most, however, was that Luo Yuan had managed to detect Tapu Koko's presence.

Although Tapu Koko often challenged trainers to battles, its speed made it nearly impossible to track when it didn't want to be seen. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Not only had Luo Yuan detected it, but judging by Tapu Koko's unsteady appearance, he'd clearly caught it off guard.

The others also turned their curious gazes toward Tapu Koko.

Luo Yuan looked up at the Pokémon in the sky, momentarily stunned.

He swore he'd just reflexively intercepted it without realizing it was Tapu Koko.

"Isn't this Alola guardian a bit... underwhelming?"

Sensing Tapu Koko's aura, Luo Yuan couldn't help but feel that the supposedly mighty island protector wasn't all that strong. Even its impressive speed, as seen through Kiawe's eyes, seemed fairly ordinary to him.

Compared to Deoxys in Speed Form, Tapu Koko's movement was nothing special.

Luo Yuan's psychic powers were accustomed to keeping up with Deoxys's high-speed movements, so tracking Tapu Koko was child's play.

If anyone could hear Luo Yuan's thoughts, they would undoubtedly scoff at his absurd expectations.

Of course, Luo Yuan quickly began reflecting on his rather boastful inner monologue.

The issue wasn't that Tapu Koko was weak—it was that his standards were too high.

After all, what kind of Pokémon did he usually interact with?

Deoxys was his loyal partner. He chatted casually with Mewtwo. He had already captured Rayquaza. Groudon and Kyogre had both been bested and subdued by him. Celebi even took him on time-traveling adventures.

Compared to that lineup, Tapu Koko naturally felt... average.

Unaware that it was being looked down upon, Tapu Koko observed Luo Yuan with an expression not of anger but of curiosity.

Before Luo Yuan, the only person on Melemele Island capable of sensing its presence had been the island kahuna, Hala.

But Luo Yuan hadn't just sensed it—he'd intercepted it mid-flight.

This piqued Tapu Koko's interest in him.

The island guardians of Alola were known for their quirky personalities, each with distinct traits.

Tapu Koko, in particular, had a highly combative nature.

Finding itself intrigued by Luo Yuan's extraordinary abilities, it immediately issued a challenge.

"That's not a good idea," Luo Yuan said, understanding its intent through his Viridian Aura. He looked slightly troubled.

It wasn't that he was afraid of losing. On the contrary, he was worried about what might happen if he defeated Tapu Koko too thoroughly.

As a Johto Elite Four member visiting Alola for an exchange program, getting into a scuffle with the island's guardian deity within three days of arrival didn't seem... appropriate.

Of course, Tapu Koko didn't understand Luo Yuan's reasoning and wasn't about to give up so easily.

Unaccustomed to rejection, it quickly came up with an alternative.

Disappearing for a brief moment, it reappeared and tossed two items toward Luo Yuan.

"A Z-Crystal and a Z-Ring!" Kiawe exclaimed, recognizing the objects in Luo Yuan's hands with wide-eyed envy.

For Kiawe, obtaining a Z-Ring was a personal dream, second only to saving enough money to study dance abroad. His ultimate goal was to inherit his late grandfather's Z-Ring by earning Island Queen Hapu's approval.

---

...

Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.

Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.

WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it... or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.

If you had fun, you know what to do:

👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]

And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.

👉 [discord.gg/wisetl]

Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.

—Leaf