Pokemon: The Chosen Ranger

The next time distortion was set to occur in a week. After his last experience, Summer planned to upgrade all his supplies, ensuring he wouldn't be caught unprepared again.

That was the plan—until a phone call from Milo interrupted his preparations.

"Yo, Summer, it's Milo."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Milo. Is something wrong?" Summer asked, holding up his phone.

Normally, he and Milo only contacted each other once every two weeks to discuss the condition of the forest. This time, however, it had been less than two weeks, making Summer wonder if something urgent had come up.

"Afternoon to you too," Milo sighed—a rare sight, considering he was always smiling.

"…Bad news?"

"No, no, just a bit exhausted from making phone calls all morning. Sorry for making you worry," Milo said with a tired chuckle.

"Calling people… tired you out?" Summer raised an eyebrow. This was the same Milo who could casually lift huge bundles of hay? A superhuman Galarian like him should have endless stamina.

"I oversee a total of twenty-three forest rangers. Since morning, I've been calling every single one of your senior rangers. Good news—you're the last one."

"If it were just a simple announcement, it wouldn't be so exhausting. But this time, the notice came suddenly, with strict demands, so discussing the details took forever."

Milo exhaled in relief. "Anyway, thanks for listening to me complain. I'll keep it short—the League has ordered every Galarian ranger to participate in an official ranger examination."

His tone was noticeably lighter now.

"Wait… But Galar has never had an official ranger exam before."

"Exactly. That's why this was such a sudden announcement," Milo explained. "Remember the ranger exchange conference we had last time? This is the same deal. It's because of Team Dawn. Actually, every region has been dealing with some major criminal event lately."

"For example—in Kanto, Team Rocket—which was supposed to be disbanded—has started moving again. Over in Paldea, a series of explosions have occurred. The suspects? Team Dawn."

Milo's voice grew sharper with frustration. "This damn Team Dawn. Wreaking havoc everywhere. That's why the League wants to strengthen the ranger force, leading to this exam."

On the other end of the call, Summer fell silent.

Forget Team Rocket and Team Dawn for a moment—the biggest threat in Galar right now wasn't even them. It was Chairman Rose, and nobody else seemed to realize it yet.

But even if he told people now, who would believe him?

"…Cough. The exam will be held at Motostoke Stadium, and the examiner is Gym Leader Kabu. The test? Battles."

Summer frowned. "And if I don't go?"

"No worries. If you don't attend, the League will simply send an examiner to conduct a personal evaluation in your forest." Milo answered smoothly, clearly having repeated this line twenty-three times already.

Summer's frown deepened. An examiner from the League? If that person was one of Rose's men, that could cause trouble.

"…Alright, I'll go. By the way, what happens if I fail?"

"Don't worry—failing won't get your ranger license revoked. It just means you'll be forced into additional training until you pass."

Summer sighed. That… sounds exactly like something Galar would do.

"Oh, and one more thing, Summer. Since you're attending the exam, I should mention—there are rewards for outstanding performers."

"The League… is offering rewards?"

"We're not some kind of evil corporation, you know," Milo laughed. "Also, your travel expenses, lodging, and meals will be covered. It's a way to encourage rangers who are too attached to their forests to actually participate."

(Actually, the funding for those accommodations? Milo's own money. He knew exactly how stubborn Galar's rangers were—without proper incentives, none of them would leave their forests.)

"As for forest management while you're away, I'll arrange for trainers from Turffield Gym to take over."

"No need for that, Mr. Milo," Summer said. "I've already got it covered."

"Ah, I see. Then let me give you the details. The exam runs for one week starting tomorrow. Just show your ranger license at the Motostoke Stadium front desk, and they'll guide you through the process."

"Kabu himself will announce your results and distribute the rewards, so the earlier you participate, the better your chances. However…" Milo paused for dramatic effect.

"If you fail, you'll be stuck in Kabu's training program. He's a strict trainer who believes in endless training until death."

Then, with a teasing chuckle, Milo added, "But I have no doubt you'll pass, Summer. So don't stress too much. Best of luck!"

"…Thanks. You should get some rest too, Mr. Milo."

Hanging up, Summer immediately began thinking about which Pokémon to bring.

Rillaboom was an obvious choice, given its strength and their perfect teamwork. Corviknight would allow him to reach Motostoke quickly, cutting down on travel time. As for the last spot—there was really no need to decide. Ogerpon was already bouncing with excitement, eager to join.

For managing Sunset Forest while he was gone, Summer entrusted the responsibility to Munkidori.

Yes, Munkidori had made mistakes in the past, but its recent actions had proven its trustworthiness. It was clever, and as long as it focused on the right things, there wouldn't be any problems.

Everyone in Spikemuth was too busy handling the massive influx of visitors from the concert. He couldn't keep relying on them for everything.

When Summer informed Munkidori of its temporary leadership, the monkey Pokémon immediately burst into tears. Being trusted felt… so good.

And as for security? Milotic, Hatterene, Ursaluna, Hisuian Lilligant, and Trevenant were all powerful guardians. Any normal Pokémon hunter wouldn't even stand a chance.

Still, Summer took extra precautions. He instructed Munkidori to immediately seek help from Piers or Gideon in Spikemuth if something went wrong. He even described their appearances in detail.

Munkidori swore on its life that not a single threat would harm Sunset Forest while Summer was gone.

As for the man hunting Celebi—no need to worry. Celebi had given a clear timeline. That man wouldn't arrive for at least another month, since Celebi's time ripple predictions only covered futures one month ahead.

This exam trip wasn't just about passing—it was a perfect three-day window to upgrade his supplies, making the journey even more worthwhile.

Meanwhile, in Motostoke Stadium, Kabu crossed his arms, gazing at the three-part test he had prepared.

"Hmm. This should be enough to determine if a ranger is truly qualified."

If someone failed?

No worries.

Because he would personally train them until they passed.

A small smile crept onto his face as he thought about the upcoming challenge.

"I look forward to this, Galarian rangers. Let's forge ourselves through fire—and grow stronger together!"

(End of Chapter)