Shortly after entering the tral region, a Honchkroeared, blog Dragonite's path.

  Honchkrow: "Leave my territory"

  A mid-Elite-tier Honchkrow. Entering such a strong Pokémht after entering the area firmed the reputation of this forbidden zone.

  Dragonite prepared to put Julian down and was ready to teach the Honchkrow a lesson. However, Celebi suddenly flew out from behind Julian.

  Julian had moved Celebi behind him—it was too eye-catg with its bright green body sitting on his head.

  “Cel, Cel~”

  Celebi said something to Honchkrow, and the tter’s hostility immediately decreased signifitly and Honoved aside to clear the path.

  Julian patted Dragonite, signaling it to move forward and then said in surprise: “Not bad—you’ve got some serious influence.”

  Hearing this, Celebi puffed up with pride.

  As the guardian of the forest, Celebi naturally ahe resped affe of other Pokémon. It was no wonder Dragonite had immediately chosen to protect it when they first met.

  Pokémon: Celebi (Psychic/Grass)

  Level: 75

  Potential: Blue

  Ability: Natural Cure

  Item: None

  Gender: Unknown

  Moves: fusion, Heal Bell, Magical Leaf, Baton Pass, A Power, Life Dew, Leech Seed, Recover, Future Sight, Healing Wish, Leaf Storm, Perish Song, Safeguard, Sor Beam

  TMs: None

  Egg Moves: None

  ---

  Despite possessing mid-Elite-tier strength, Celebi often acted timid. Its appearance, undeniably harmless, further added to its i fa?ade.

  As a mythical Psychic/Grass Pokémon, Celebi’s most coveted ability was its power to travel through time.

  Sightings of Celebi had beeed in rge forests worldwide, but no Trainer had ever succeeded in capturing it.

  There was even a tale of a Champion-level Trainer from a try who attempted to forcefully capture Celebi. The result? The Trainer vanished, only to reappear as a frail, withered old man.

  Celebi could lead you through time—or leave you trapped in it forever.

  Its harmless appearance was deceptive, hiding its true, awe-inspiring power.

  With Celebi’s assistance, Julian reached the Sealed Grounds smoothly. Along the way, they entered several pokemon, including a Roserade and a Magnezone, both Elite-tier Pokémon.

  However, thanks to Celebi, they allowed Julian and Dragonite safe passage through their territories.

  “It’s a bit cold here…”

  Reag the Sealed Grounds Celebi had poio, Julian observed the surroundings. There was little difference from the outside world—trees, rocks, even streams dotted the area.

  The only unusual feature was the unnaturally low temperature.

  He also sensed an overwhelming mali the area, though his Aura shield kept it at bay.

  Anyone—human or Pokémon—without a strong will would bee violent and bloodthirsty if they lived here for too long.

  Celebi: "Follow me"

  It flew ahead, prompting Julian and Dragoo follow closely behind.

  As they ventured deeper, the temperature tio drop, and the oppressive malice grew stronger.

  Julian occasionally caught glimpses of wisps of bck mist drifting through the air, but when he looked closer, they vanished without a trace.

  “This pce gives me the creeps,” he muttered. “And, why are the leaves bck?”

  The sery had started out vibrant and colorful, but the deeper they went, the more the colors faded. Now, everything was bck—the trees, the leaves, the ground, even the sky.

  Celebi: "We’re here"

  Just as Julian was about to ask Celebi, it stopped in front of a rge rock, roughly half a meter tall.

  As Julian approached, Celebi spoke softly;

  “This is the Sealed Grounds. Over a hundred years ago, I sealed it here with the help of the forest and many other Pokémon.”

  'Over a hundred years ago?'

  Beh that cute exterior was the soul of a being that had lived for at least a tury.

  “But now the seal is on the verge of breaking,” Celebi tinued.

  Julian frowned. “You mean its power has grown stronger while being sealed, allowing it to break free?”

  Celebi shook its head: “Not quite. It’s been using its power to slowly wear down the seal.”

  “Then why not reinforce the seal?” Julian asked. “Its current strength should already be weakened.”

  Celebi shook its head again: “Back then, I borrowed the forest’s energy to create the seal. The forest still hasn’t recovered from that, and if I were to draw on its energy again, it would turn this pto a barren wastend.”

  Julian realized he’d asked a foolish question. If reinf the seal tion, Celebi wouldn’t have sought him out in the first pce.

  Which reminded him—why had it chosen him? There were plenty of Trainers entering the White Mountain Range every day, some even at Elite-tier. Why him?

  Julian voiced his doubts.

  Celebi tilted its head and answered in a clear, cheerful voice: “Because you’re a good person.”

  To Celebi, Julian, with his strong Aura radiating goodness, practically screamed 'I’m a good person.'

  It had sidered Luis as a good person too, but unfortunately, he cked the strength.

  Julian's face froze slightly. If it weren't for Celebi's genuinely i expression, he might have retorted, 'Why are you giving me a good guy card out of nowhere?'

  Dragonite, however, nodded seriously, pletely agreeing with Celebi. In its eyes, there was er person in the world than its Trainer.

  Seeing both one big and small pokémon looking at him with such heartfelt agreement, Julia a bit awkward.

  "So... what am I supposed to do now?" he asked, gesturing toward the stohat represehe seal.

  If one looked closely, faint bck mist could be seen tinuously seeping out of the stone.

  And it had already cracked two-thirds of the way through.

  To be ho, the seal didn’t look very impressive.

  Who would believe that such a pin-looking rock could be holding back a powerful and malevolent Pokémon?

  Celebi: "When it breaks free, you’ll destroy it."

  Julian: "And how long until it breaks the seal?"

  Celebi: "Probably aen years or so"

  "Dragonite, let’s go."

  Julian mounted Dragonite bnkly and was about to leave, feeling that he was being pyed.

  Celebi quickly flew in front of him: "What’s wrong with you?"

  'What’s wrong with me? If it weren’t for your cute face, I would have beaten you up long ago'

  “I ’t wait that long,” Julian said ftly.

  Celebi: "Ten years is a long time? Just take a nap, and it’ll pass in no time."

  In Celebi’s mind, ten years was barely a short nap, possibly even shorter.

  I’m not evey yet. By the time you finish your ‘nap,’ I’ll be pushing thirty. Who knows, I might even have a kid by then'

  Julian grumbled internally, speechless for a while.

  *****

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