Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 345: Unova



On March 28, in the year 199 of the Alliance Calendar, after a full day and night at sea, the luxury cruise ship carrying Naoki and Alder finally docked in the Unova region.

The massive ship came to rest at the port of Driftveil City. Under the clear blue sky, tourists disembarked in waves, flooding into the vibrant city.

Nearby, cargo ships and fishing vessels crowded the docks, with Pokémon and workers busily loading goods onto ships bound for other regions. Fishermen returning from their trips were sorting their catches, packing fresh fish into crates for delivery to the city's many restaurants.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the port, causing a commotion as several ladies' hats were whisked away, prompting startled gasps from the crowd.

Naoki and Alder's hair was blown every which way. Alder grinned through the gusts and shouted, "Welcome to Driftveil City! The strong winds here are one of its defining features!" Naoki shielded his face from the breeze and asked, "Is the Gym Leader here Clay?"

"That's right!" Alder nodded enthusiastically. "But being a Gym Leader is only one of his jobs. Clay's real claim to fame is that he owns a mining development company. See that tall mountain to the north?"

Naoki followed Alder's gesture, spotting the faint silhouette of a towering mountain in the distance.

"That's Driftveil Mountain," Alder explained. "The entire mountain belongs to Clay."

"Wow," Naoki murmured in admiration.

After disembarking, Alder led Naoki through the bustling port and into the heart of the city. "The coal mined from Driftveil Mountain powers the entire Unova region. Amazing, isn't it? Clay himself is hosting the banquet we're attending in a few days."

Naoki listened intently, nodding in fascination. These details weren't mentioned in the games, and he found them utterly engrossing-especially when Alder added, "Oh, and Clay has a daughter."

"A daughter?" Naoki echoed, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes, though I can't quite recall her name. I think it was Lacey... or something like that. I haven't seen her often," Alder replied, scratching his head.

"I see..." Naoki nodded, letting the subject drop as they continued their walk.

Alder checked a communicator in his pocket and said, "Good timing! My friend is expecting us. I'll take you to meet her."

"Alright," Naoki agreed, following Alder through a maze of streets until they stopped before a large, imposing building.

"Pokémon Breeders Association - Driftveil Branch" was written in bold lettering above the entrance.

Alder strode confidently into the building, bypassing the bustling lobby and heading straight for the elevators. They rode to the seventh floor, and with a soft ding, the doors opened to reveal a warmly decorated room.

Inside, a poised woman wearing casual attire and square-framed glasses was meticulously polishing the scales of a Gible. The little dragon Pokémon seemed to revel in the care, its eyes half-closed in bliss as its scales shimmered under her expert touch.

"Hey, Marina! Long time no see!" Alder greeted warmly.

The woman turned to face them, her sharp eyes scanning Alder and then Naoki. A flicker of surprise crossed her face when she saw Alder's cheerful demeanor.

"You're in good spirits," Marina said knowingly.

"That's because a big problem that's been weighing me down is finally solved," Alder replied with a grin.

"Really? Is Volcarona doing better?" Marina asked, her expression softening.

Alder nodded. "All thanks to Naoki here. The Gogoat he raised produces an extraordinary milk that healed all of Volcarona's injuries."

"Gogoat? Milk?" Marina echoed, clearly taken aback. She turned her gaze to Naoki, now thoroughly intrigued. "Naoki, right?"

"Yes," Naoki replied with a polite nod.

"Are you a Pokémon breeder?" Marina asked, tilting her head.

Naoki shook his head. "No, I'm just a rancher."

"...A rancher?" Marina blinked, her confusion evident.

Alder chuckled. "Naoki might be a rancher, but he's also a skilled Pokémon trainer. He's here to learn how to make Pokéblocks for his Pokémon."

Recognition dawned in Marina's eyes as she recalled Alder's earlier message. A smile spread across her face. "Since it's your request, leave it to me. I'll teach him everything he needs to know!"

"Then I'll leave it to you!" Alder said, turning to Naoki. "Marina will teach you how to make Pokéblocks. I'll take this opportunity to visit Clay and gather information about the banquet. I'll meet up with you later."

"Alright." After watching Alder step into the elevator and head downstairs, Naoki turned his attention to the woman in front of him. He politely greeted her, "Hello, Ms. Marina."

"Follow me," Marina said. "I'll take you to the preparation room where we make Pokéblocks."

The two descended the stairs, and as they passed through the lobby, Naoki noticed several young individuals engrossed in an assessment process.

"That's the Breeder Evaluation," Marina paused to explain, gesturing toward the scene. "Do you know what Pokémon breeders do?"

Naoki hesitated briefly before replying, "They take care of and raise Pokémon?"

"Yes, but there's more to it," Marina replied with a small smile. "Pokémon breeders specialize in the training and overall health management of Pokémon. They excel in making Pokémon look radiant through grooming and in preparing specialized food tailored to each Pokémon's specific needs."

"Breeders also dabble in Pokémon research and medical care. It's a profession with a broad scope," she added.

As they approached the evaluation area, Naoki observed several Pokémon standing beside their trainers. The trainers appeared to be carefully inspecting their partners.

"This is a vital skill for breeders," Marina explained. "They must assess a Pokémon's condition based on appearance and behavior, then propose optimization plans."

Naoki's interest was piqued. "You can tell so much just from appearance and expression?" "Absolutely," Marina said confidently. She approached Koraidon, who stood proudly next to Naoki, and began to evaluate it.

"Hmm, this Pokémon exudes a strong Dragon-type energy," she observed. "Its muscular frame and well-defined build suggest that its diet is rich in nutrients and high in calories."

She crouched slightly to meet Koraidon's gaze. "Its eyes are lively and full of affection. This Pokémon clearly adores you. Its happiness around you is evident in its expression. You've taken excellent care of it."

She concluded with a smile, "If you regularly polish this Pokémon's scales, its condition will become even more impeccable."

Naoki applauded enthusiastically. "That's amazing, Ms. Marina!"

Marina grinned. "What's this Pokémon called?"

Naoki gently patted Koraidon's head and replied, "This is Koraidon. It's been my companion

for a long time."

"Koraidon..." Marina repeated thoughtfully, committing the name to memory. "Alright then, let's move on. I'll show you how to make Pokéblocks."

She led Naoki to a well-equipped preparation room filled with specialized machines and

neatly organized refrigerators.

"This," Marina began, gesturing to a sleek machine, "is a fruit mixer. It's essential for

making Pokéblocks. The machine processes berries placed inside it and, after mixing and

refining, produces Pokéblocks."

The setup reminded Naoki of the berry blenders he had used in games. Curious, he asked, "So, does the machine do everything automatically? If so, it seems too simple."

Marina chuckled. "It's not that straightforward. If you toss in berries carelessly, the result will be unpalatable Pokéblocks that might make a Pokémon faint. I assume you grow berries

on your ranch?"

Naoki nodded. "Yes, I do."

"Then you know that berries differ in taste, nutrition, and effects," Marina said. "For instance, some berries have a spicy flavor and are highly nutritious, while others are sweet but

lack significant nutrients."

"A qualified breeder will select berries with the highest compatibility and balance their

unique properties. Only by leveraging the advantages of each berry can they produce high-

quality Pokéblocks," Marina explained.

"There are hundreds of berries to choose from, and even a slight change in the type or quantity can drastically alter the block's effect," she added.

Naoki leaned in with interest. "So, making Pokéblocks is about experimenting with berry

combinations?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Marina nodded slightly. "Exactly. Here, let's start with a basic recipe. You can give it a try."

She handed him a slip of paper.

Naoki took it and read the contents:

[Nutritional Pokéblock Recipe: Sitrus Berry x1, Oran Berry x1, Persim Berry x1.

Effect: Regular consumption makes Pokémon physically stronger over time.] "To make Pokéblocks, the first step is to clean the berries thoroughly," Marina instructed.

Naoki nodded, moving to the washing station. He carefully washed the three berries under running water, scrubbing the skins. While washing, he paused and asked, "Do I need to peel these first?"

Marina smiled. "It depends on the berry. For instance, with Sitrus Berries, you only use the pulp, so the skin needs to be removed. The same goes for bananas. But for berries like Oran, the skin is fine to leave on. It's all about the specific characteristics of each berry." With her guidance, Naoki peeled and prepared the berries as needed before placing them into

the berry processor.

After about fifteen minutes, the machine beeped, signaling that the process was complete. A small compartment at the bottom opened, releasing a dozen Pokéblocks, each the size of a marble and gleaming like polished gems.

Naoki picked one up, inspecting it. Suddenly, information about the block surfaced in his

mind:

[Strengthening Pokéblock (C): A Pokéblock made from Sitrus, Oran, and Persim Berries. It has a sour taste.

Effect: Level 1 Strength Boost. Regular consumption increases physical strength and aids

muscle growth.

Evaluation: A basic Pokéblock ideal for beginner breeders and trainers participating in

contests.]

"It looks like you succeeded on your first try," Marina said with an approving smile. "There

are barely any impurities in these Pokéblocks, which means their quality is quite decent."

"Can humans eat them too?" Naoki asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Of course," Marina replied with a knowing grin.

Encouraged, Naoki popped a Pokéblock into his mouth. The moment he bit into it, his face

twisted in surprise at the intense sourness.

"It's... very sour," Naoki muttered, trying to recover his composure.

Marina chuckled. "That's because it's designed for Pokémon. Their palates and nutritional

needs are very different from ours. What we find unpalatable can be a rare treat for them." Taking her advice, Naoki handed a Pokéblock to Koraidon. However, the Dragon-type Pokémon licked the block hesitantly before recoiling, its tongue sticking out in response to the sour taste. It began drooling uncontrollably. Naoki stared in silence. "...Did I mess something up?"

Marina burst into laughter. "No, not at all. It's just that every Pokémon has its preferences,

even with perfectly made Pokéblocks. Now that you've mastered the basics, try experimenting with different recipes. You'll discover combinations that suit your Pokémon's unique tastes and needs!"

"I still have tasks to handle. If you need anything, just use the phone over there to contact me.

Feel free to use the fruits from the trees here as much as you like," Marina said before turning

to leave.

Naoki wasn't worried. By now, he had a rough understanding of how to make blocks. The next step was to practice until he could master the process.

After Marina left, Naoki began experimenting, attempting to create his own poke block

formula.

First Attempt

His initial effort ended in disaster. He overloaded the processor with too much fruit, causing

it to overheat, emit smoke, and abruptly stop working.

Second Attempt

Determined, he tried again. This time, he used the wrong combination of berries. The

resulting poke blocks were filled with impurities and tasted so vile that even Koraidon, who

tried one bite, immediately spat it out. The Pokémon's face twisted in disgust, and it nearly fainted from the experience.

Third Attempt

Learning from his earlier mistakes, Naoki carefully selected fruits he was more familiar with.

His third attempt finally produced a usable poke block. [Nutrient Poke Block (D-): Effect: Provides minimal nutrients for Pokémon. Evaluation: Poor compatibility between fruits led to an extremely low-quality poke block.]

Naoki wiped the sweat off his forehead, staring at his hard-earned but underwhelming creation.

Creating Pokeblocks without a clear recipe was much harder than he anticipated. Still, he

wasn't ready to give up. With renewed determination, Naoki discarded the failed poke blocks

and continued experimenting.

Time passed as he repeated the process. The random mixing of berries felt like a game of

chance-a frustrating yet oddly addictive experience.

Countless Failures Later

After numerous missteps, Naoki finally produced another poke block. However, this one was

bizarre.

The poke block was a bluish-pink color, speckled with purple spots, resembling a toxic mushroom. Its appearance was unappealing, and it emitted a pungent, unpleasant odor.

The moment Koraidon saw it, the Pokémon recoiled, retreating several meters and pressing itself against the wall, its eyes wide with fear. Naoki sighed. "It's just a poke block. Is that reaction really necessary?"

He looked back at the poke block in his hand, and information about it appeared in his mind:

[Poison Baby (B+): This poke block smells awful and will cause any Pokémon that eats it to faint. However, it is a rare delicacy for Poipole.

Effect: Boosts Poipole's special attack and appeals to its favorite taste. When placed in the

wild, it has a chance to attract Poipole. This effect is exclusive to Poipole.

Evaluation: A specialized poke block tailored for Poipole.]

...

Thank you all for your unwavering support so far. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas filled

with joy and warmth❤!

You can read upto chapter 385 at patreon.com/Keepsmiling818