Pokémon: Start with a Dragon-type Gym Leader, and pick up Guroton.

A week passed quietly in training and rest.

During these seven days, under Li Luochen's guidance, Higanbana's weaknesses in her Elite Four Pokémon were gradually addressed, while Lucia and Lillie also made targeted preparations. The team's synergy and performance were all at their best.

Today, the four of us packed our bags, our destination being Orange Blossom Forest.

As they were leaving, the group happened to run into Du Juan at the street corner.

She was still wearing that smart trainer academy uniform, paired with her signature pink tights, and her pigtails were styled neatly and energetically.

Upon seeing Li Luochen and his group from afar, she raised her arm and waved enthusiastically before hurrying over to greet them.

"Li Luochen! Long time no see. Heading out so early, do you have a new target?"

"Yes, today is the day the meteorite is coming."

Li Luochen nodded slightly.

Du Juan was slightly taken aback, then patted her forehead somewhat embarrassed and laughed, "Oh right, with Master Li Luochen here, I completely forgot about it."

The megalith crisis is something that would create tension and unease in the air if any trainer brought it up.

But standing in front of Li Luochen, the anxiety that should have been there inexplicably disappeared.

It was as if as long as he stood there, even if the sky were to fall, someone could hold it up steadily.

Du Juan herself didn't realize that her shoulders were much more relaxed than before.

"It's a pity I have other matters to attend to, otherwise I would really like to witness the charisma of Pavilion Master Luo Chen."

Du Juan stood with her hands behind her back, looking somewhat dejected.

She still had teaching and research tasks waiting for her at the college, so she really couldn't get away.

"We'll have a chance to meet again later."

Li Luochen smiled and waved to her.

Du Juan gave a soft "hmm," nodded vigorously, and then turned and disappeared into the depths of the streets bathed in morning light.

Li Luochen watched her walk away, then turned his gaze away and led Xijiana and the other two towards the Orange Blossom Forest.

Kanaz City is not far from Orange Blossom Forest. Heading south along the main road, the city's hustle and bustle is quickly left behind.

The houses on both sides of the road gradually thinned out, replaced by increasingly dense tree canopies, and the air became increasingly crisp.

Before long, the vast Orange Blossom Forest came into view, with towering ancient trees blocking out the sun, and the forest filled with the fresh scent of grass and soil.

Meanwhile, many League Trainers have already arrived in Petalburg Woods.

They either checked their Poké Balls in twos and threes, or looked up at the sky with different expressions.

The entire forest was enveloped in a tense yet orderly atmosphere. Everyone knew what they were going to face today, but no one backed down.

Daigo stood in the forest, his suit making him stand out in the crowd, yet it did not prevent him from blending into the primitive and solemn woods.

With his hands in his pockets, he was talking quietly with several high-ranking members of the alliance beside him when he caught sight of Li Luochen out of the corner of his eye. He immediately stopped talking, a smile playing on his lips, and stepped forward to greet him.

"Earlier than I expected."

Daigo stepped forward, gently patted Li Luochen on the shoulder, and said in a familiar and natural tone, "How are you? Nervous? When that meteorite hits later, it's no joke."

Li Luochen chuckled upon hearing this and asked in return, "Are you nervous?"

Daigo put his hands back in his suit pockets and looked up at the sky above, fragmented by the treetops: "To be honest, a little. After all, we're always dealing with rocks, but this one is definitely a bit oversized."

"When the Green Ridge Universe Center sent me the data, I almost thought they'd added an extra zero. But..."

Daigo withdrew his gaze and looked at Li Luochen again. "Seeing you standing here makes me feel much more at ease."

"Then I must live up to your trust," Li Luochen said.

"When have you ever apologized?" Daigo raised an eyebrow, his tone as casual as if he were discussing what to have for dinner. "Back when we first chatted on the forum, I knew you were no ordinary kid."

"Now look at you, I have to think twice before picking any one of those legendary Pokémon you have."

"You're too modest." Li Luochen shook his head. "The title of Hoenn champion didn't come for nothing."

Daigo laughed and said, "But to be honest, although the League is nominally in charge of this operation, we trainers are the ones who really bear the brunt of the burden."

"The meteorite data provided by the Green Moss Space Research Center, the rocket fuel provided by Devon Corporation, and the ground-based interception devices are all just auxiliary. The final blow still depends on Pokémon."

"Rocket fuel?" Li Luochen caught the key word.

"Yes, that's our second plan from Devon Corporation," Daigo explained. "If the meteorite fragments are too large and exceed the interception threshold, the Alliance will use rockets carrying high-explosive warheads to intercept them in the outer atmosphere."

"However, this is a last resort. Once activated, the area where the debris is scattered will expand by at least three times. At that time, the affected area will not be just Petalburg Woods, but the entire southwestern Hoenn."

Li Luochen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Therefore, the best outcome is to intercept the meteorite in near-Earth orbit before it enters the atmosphere."

"That's right." Daigo nodded.

Just as Li Luochen was about to say something, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps from not far away.

A young researcher dressed in a white research suit rushed out of the makeshift observation station, holding up a glowing flat panel screen.

He stretched out his arm, his index finger trembling as he pointed to the sky above:

"Attention everyone! The latest orbital data has just arrived from the center of the universe! The meteorite has entered the outer edge of the atmosphere and is expected to enter visibility in ten minutes! Everyone, everyone to your designated positions!"

"Groudon, come out."

Li Luochen took out a Poké Ball from his waist and held it in front of him.

A burst of red light erupted, and Groudon's massive body, as large as a moving mountain, crashed to the ground, its thick feet causing the ground to tremble slightly.

It let out a deep roar, and scorching breath escaped from between its teeth, instantly making the surrounding air dry and hot.

Li Luochen pointed to the sky and asked, "Groudon, can you aim the meteorite in the sky with Precipice Sword?"

Groudon tilted its head back following his finger, its lava-like vertical pupils blinking.

"Meteorite? Where did this meteorite come from?"

Its roar carried a hint of bewilderment, as if it had just woken up, clearly indicating that it hadn't fully grasped the situation.

Groudon twisted its neck, its gaze passing through the gaps in the tree canopy to look higher into the sky, expanding its sensory range, and its vertical pupils suddenly focused.

"Wait, there really is one!"

Everyone: ? ? ?

This young man from the Eastern Empire, he actually sent out Groudon right afterward?!

……

Please urge me to update more, give me some free gifts, and leave a five-star review!