Naoki went to the side and helped Cyclizar dry off with a dry towel.
Cyclizar obediently stretched its arms and raised its head, allowing Naoki to dry its body, revealing a comfortable expression on its face.
Not far away, Kubfu, who had also come ashore, shook the water from its fur vigorously.
The water flicked off splashed towards Naoki.
Kubfu: Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ
"Hmm?" Naoki smiled and reassured, "Don't worry, it's okay. Why don't you join us for lunch?"
"Beya..."
Kubfu looked up dazedly.
Just when Naoki thought Kubfu would happily join, the little bear suddenly became shy.
It fiddled with its small, short paws, seemingly unsure of where to put them.
Finally, Kubfu suddenly looked towards the nearby Bamboo Forest.
"Beya!"
It quickly ran over, pulled out a bamboo shoot growing nearby, and offered it to Naoki.
[Kubfu's Grateful Bamboo Shoot: A special ingredient, a gift offered by Kubfu with a grateful heart, which may have unexpected effects when used in cooking.]
Looking at the bamboo shoot in his hand, Naoki was slightly taken aback, "For me?"
"Beya!" Kubfu seemed a bit embarrassed.
Naoki immediately understood, realizing that Kubfu was expressing gratitude for his guidance earlier!
"I get it, I really like your gift." Naoki said softly.
Kubfu touched its head in embarrassment, "Beya～"
"Then join us for a meal!"
Naoki brought over a plate of snacks for Kubfu.
Sitting cross-legged on the grass, Kubfu curiously picked up a piece of snack with its hand before tasting it.
In the next moment, Kubfu's eyes lit up brightly.
"Beya!"
"Gao～"
Cyclizar had fond feelings toward this little Bear-type Pokemon practicing with it under the waterfall.
It eagerly introduced, "Gao!" (These are all handmade by Naoki!)
"Beya?" Naoki? Is that the human's name?
Cyclizar nodded affirmatively, "Gao!" (That's right!)
Naoki sat beside Koraidon, eating a sandwich while observing Cyclizar and Kubfu's interaction.
"They really seem to get along well!"
Koraidon: "Agassi..."
But come to think of it, Kubfu really is adorable!
Such a serious-tempered little Bear-type Pokemon, and it's shy too.
Naoki pondered the idea of inviting Kubfu to join them.
He quietly whispered to Koraidon, "Koraidon, do you think Kubfu would agree to come back to the ranch and live with us?"
Koraidon confidently replied, "Agassi!"
Surprised by Koraidon's certainty, Naoki asked, "How do you know?"
Koraidon replied matter-of-factly, "Agassi!" Because Naoki is the world's best Trainer!
Naoki: "..."
That may not be exactly true, because to every Pokemon, their own Trainer is unique.
A Pokemon like Kubfu is enthusiastic about physical training.
Although the ranch doesn't have a suitable waterfall for training right now, Naoki thought he could find an alternative.
Perhaps it could learn about the mysteries of water flow at Sea God Kyogre's habitat, and keep Cyclizar company too.
The two Pokemon could do special training together.
But for now, there are more pressing matters to attend to.
After lunch, Naoki began the search for the last stake.
He intended to continue enlisting the Pokemon's help for the search.
But upon hearing this, Kubfu suddenly spoke up:
"Beya?"
Through the Power of Viridian, Naoki sensed Kubfu's thoughts.
It was asking: Are you looking for a glowing stake?
Naoki was slightly surprised, then asked, "Do you know where it is?"
"Beya!"
Kubfu nodded its head, then led the way ahead.
Naoki quickly caught up. Under Kubfu's guidance, he soon discovered the last stake that sealed Chi-Yu in a hidden cave.
The entrance of the cave was covered with yellowed bamboo leaves, making it look very inconspicuous, no wonder Gastly and the others didn't find this place before.
According to Kubfu, this small cave was discovered during a rain shelter.
The entrance of the cave was only about thirty centimeters in diameter, extremely narrow. Naoki couldn't enter, so he asked Kubfu to go in and help pull out the stake.
"Bayah!"
Kubfu nodded its small head and agreed.
Standing only sixty centimeters tall, Kubfu easily slipped into the cave.
Before long, as the last stake was removed, a silent sound echoed from afar.
The surrounding Pokemon heard the sound too, turning their heads to look around, confused at each other.
The seal on Chi-Yu has been lifted!
To avoid Chi-Yu breaking the seal and causing calamity, Naoki briefly explained the situation to the group of Pokemon, asking them to wait here while he rode Koraidon swiftly toward that direction.
Watching the scene, Kubfu sensed something bad was about to happen and decisively followed along.
The Firescourge Shrine was located behind an inconspicuous waterfall.
The waterfall cascaded down from the cliff above, forming a spacious lake below.
When Naoki arrived, fog was rising over the lake.
Reflections of red firelight were cast behind the waterfall; the fog was steam produced from the lake water evaporating at high temperatures!
Suddenly, a red shadow appeared on the lake surface.
The next moment, Naoki saw a Pokemon swimming leisurely in the water.
It was a Pokemon shaped like a goldfish, mostly yellow, with its tail and fins like clusters of burning flames.
Its pupils were large and black, taking up most of its eyes, each surrounded by two beads that faded from the hole-end.
At this moment, Chi-Yu also noticed the intruding human and Pokemon.
The beads around its eyes suddenly flashed with a short burst of golden light accompanied by a red glow.
This was proof that Chi-Yu was in an excited state!
The next second, rolling heat waves swept in, golden-red flames enveloped the entire lake, making the whole lake seem like a sea of lava.
Steam generated by the melting lake water spread all around as Chi-Yu's figure vanished within.
"Koraidon, prepare for battle!" Naoki said in a deep voice.
"Gaaah!"
Koraidon replied reliably.
Then it transformed into its standing form, scarlet energy flowed over its crimson body.
Koraidon stomped the ground with its right foot, letting out an ancient roar.
In an instant, the ground cracked with black fissures, extending toward the lake where Chi-Yu was.
Bulldoze!
A powerful shockwave instantly stirred massive waves, and the Chi-Yu in the water was also shaken out.
Under dazzling sunlight, Koraidon locked onto Chi-Yu in mid-air through the diffusing mist with its golden eyes.
The next moment, its body shot out swiftly, transforming while launching a fierce Tackle at Chi-Yu.
Terror-inducing ancient power instantly triggered a frightful explosion.
Chi-Yu, unable to react, fell into the water.
A moment later, the unconscious Chi-Yu floated to the water's surface.
Koraidon looked back at Naoki.
Naoki, in sync, took out a Poke Ball and threw it at Chi-Yu.
The Poke Ball struck Chi-Yu, accompanied by a click, automatically opening to capture Chi-Yu inside, then closed automatically, gently floating on the lake surface.
The Poke Ball's button flashed with red light.
Once, twice, three times, four times...
Until the fifth time, the flashing red light disappeared, and the Poke Ball stopped moving.
This signified a successful capture!
The Poke Ball containing Chi-Yu gradually floated to the shore along with the lake's ripples.
Naoki stepped forward to pick it up, exhaling deeply.
With this, only the last Wo-Chien and Chien-Pao remain among the four Ruinous Pokemon!
In the Bamboo Forest, the following Kubfu looked down at Naoki and the Pokemon named Koraidon, shocked.
In just one encounter, that Pokemon who melted lake water and evaporated the waterfall was defeated...
Amazing, truly amazing!
....
Attached is a ranch image: