Tetsuya's jaw dropped.
A pivot like that—executed so smoothly, without losing momentum—was nearly impossible!
This Miltank wasn't just rolling—it was gliding across the battlefield with terrifying precision!
If this was how it battled, then Fuecoco was in serious trouble.
And sure enough, the next few moments proved his theory correct.
Miltank continued to roll nonstop, striking fear into Fuecoco, who could do nothing but desperately try to dodge.
It was no use.
After a few unsuccessful attempts to escape, Fuecoco was eventually caught by Rollout's ever-increasing momentum and sent flying across the field.
The impact left Fuecoco completely unconscious.
"They actually specialized Miltank's training specifically for Rollout?" Tetsuya muttered in disbelief.
The results were undeniable—this Miltank had mastered the move far beyond what most trainers would ever expect.
Who was this trainer?
Whoever they were, they clearly weren't ordinary.
But that didn't mean Miltank was truly unstoppable.
After a few moments of thought, Tetsuya started typing in the comment section.
[NaughtyBomb Isn't Naughty]:
"This Miltank is strong, no doubt, but I wouldn't call it 'invincible.' There are definitely ways to counter its Rollout strategy!"
"For example, timing is key—moves like Disable or Encore could completely shut down Rollout, leaving Miltank wide open to attacks."
"Even if it tries to heal with Milk Drink, a simple move like Taunt would force it to keep attacking instead of recovering."
"And if you're struggling to dodge, just change the battlefield! Moves like Mud-Slap, Earthquake, or Dig can mess with Miltank's balance, stopping Rollout in its tracks."
"Of course, the easiest counter? Just use a Flying-type Pokémon. Rollout only works if it hits something. If Miltank's opponent stays airborne, it'll never land a single attack."
After submitting his comment, Tetsuya refreshed the page.
To his amusement, he saw that many people were flaming the video's creator for their clickbait title.
Some even laughed at how exaggerated the claim was.
"That Miltank isn't invincible at all!"
"I was expecting some legendary-level strategy, but this is just good Rollout training!"
"Whoever posted this really wants views, huh?"
It wasn't long before the infamous Goldenrod Gym Leader, Whitney, herself stumbled across the video.
She left a surprisingly positive review.
[ExplosivelyCuteGirl]:
"That Miltank has been trained REALLY well!"
"Just from this video alone, I can tell how much work went into it! Its fur is incredibly smooth, and the muscle structure underneath shows impressive conditioning."
"Whoever trained it must have put it through specialized power training!"
If anyone knew how frightening a well-trained Miltank could be, it was her.
She had spent years refining her own Miltank's Rollout technique, which had caused countless challengers to struggle.
And yet, even she was impressed.
But what Whitney didn't know was that this Miltank—and all the other Miltanks at Naoki's ranch—were just ordinary dairy Pokémon responsible for producing MooMoo Milk.
...
Paldea Academy
The trio anxiously refreshed the comment section, watching as new responses rolled in.
"There are replies!" The boy's eyes widened as he read out loud. "Disable, Encore, Taunt, Dig… Wow! These all sound like solid counters!"
"Uh… but it looks like some people are also… scolding us," his friend muttered, pointing to a string of critical comments.
The girl sighed. "I told you that clickbait title was going to backfire."
"Wait a minute!" The boy's face suddenly darkened. He pointed at a particular comment, and the others leaned in to see.
It was dripping with disdain.
[ElegantPrince]: Hmph. Overhyped nonsense. That Miltank looks totally ordinary, and honestly… kinda dumb.
Their expressions turned grim.
"He's mocking Mr. Naoki!"
"Unacceptable! Everyone knows Mr. Naoki is the strongest trainer in the Paldea region! Even the Top Champion recognizes it!"
It was true.
Naoki's Green Grass Trial, Storm Trial, and Lightning Trial had crushed countless trainers from across Paldea.
And now?
Some random internet stranger dared to question Mr. Naoki's strength?!
"Absolutely not!" The boy scowled and immediately began typing furiously.
[FieryCroc]: You don't get to insult Mr. Naoki!
[ElegantPrince]: Naoki? Who even is that? Some kind of celebrity? Never heard of him.
[Slowpoke]: Mr. Naoki is the hidden champion of the Paldea region—the strongest trainer in all of Paldea!
[ElegantPrince]: As far as I know, the actual champion of Paldea is Geeta. She should be the strongest. As for Naoki, I just looked him up, and all I see is some rancher living in the countryside.
[FieryCroc]: Mr. Naoki isn't just a "farmer"! He's the strongest rancher in the world! If you don't believe me, why don't you challenge him yourself?!
Then… silence.
ElegantPrince didn't respond.
At first, the argument didn't cause much of a stir.
But soon, students from Paldea Academy discovered the debate—and the video's comment section quickly exploded.
Many of them had personally experienced Naoki's trials. Others had heard the rumors circulating throughout the academy.
A well-known student, LittleLion, posted a comment that ignited a firestorm.
[LittleLion]: It's true! In Paldea, there's a long-standing rumor:
Even if you pass the Paldea League and defeat the Top Champion, you are still not the strongest trainer.
To truly claim that title… you must first defeat Naoki—the Hidden Boss of Paldea.
The claim shocked outsiders who had been lurking in the comments.
"Wait, what?!"
Some immediately dismissed it as nonsense.
"Isn't that guy just a rancher? Why are people treating him like some legendary figure?!"
However, longtime fans of Naoki stepped in to clarify.
[PaldeaChampionFan]: No, no, no! Mr. Naoki wasn't always a rancher. He used to be a Champion-level trainer!
But because he was so powerful and had no worthy opponents left, he decided to retire and live in seclusion with his Pokémon on the ranch!
Among the flood of comments, one particularly enthusiastic netizen chimed in:
[TrueTrainer69]: That's right! Mr. Naoki is an incredible trainer! He's also a great person! Even though he's retired, he still creates special trials at his ranch to help passing trainers strengthen their Pokémon and improve their skills!
With testimonials like this, curiosity about Naoki skyrocketed among trainers outside Paldea.
Soon, a well-known Pokémon battle streamer, [Rival Serperior], decided to investigate.
Seizing the surging online buzz, he announced his plan:
"I'll go to this so-called Hidden Boss's ranch and see for myself if this Naoki guy is really as strong as people claim!"
That very afternoon, Rival Serperior booked a plane ticket to Paldea.
His live chat exploded with excitement.
"Is this guy really that strong?"
"Naoki's just a rancher, right? He can't be that tough!"
"No way a random farmer is stronger than the Top Champion!"
"He raised those insane Miltank?! I gotta see this!"
Even Whitney, the famous Goldenrod Gym Leader, dropped into the chat to watch the spectacle unfold. She was especially curious about how Naoki trained his Miltank to use Rollout so effectively.
Meanwhile, at Naoki's Ranch.
Unaware of the online frenzy, Naoki was calmly browsing Pokémon tech products on the PokéMart Shopping App.
His current interest? The Poké Ball Transporter—a revolutionary device allowing trainers to electronically transfer Pokémon across regions.
Developed by Professor Bill and his research team, this state-of-the-art machine had become a must-have for Pokémon trainers who traveled frequently.
With a Poké Ball Transporter, Naoki could place one at his main ranch and another at his Alola ranch, ensuring a seamless transfer of Pokémon between the two locations during vacation season.
Just as he was about to complete his order, his Rotom Phone suddenly rang.
Caller: Iono
Naoki raised an eyebrow.
"Why is she calling at this hour? Shouldn't she be busy with her streams?"
Curious, he answered.
"Hello?"
Before he could say another word, Iono's panicked voice came through the speakers.
"Naoki, you're going viral! This is unbelievable!"
"Huh?"
Naoki blinked in confusion.
"Listen! Your name has blown up all over the internet! Trainers from outside Paldea have heard about you! There's even a live streamer on his way to your ranch—he's planning to challenge you on camera!"
"What."
Naoki was speechless.
"What is going on?"
Sensing his confusion, Iono quickly explained everything.
Naoki quickly found the video that had gone viral.
The moment he saw the Fuecoco getting overwhelmed by Miltank's Rollout, he immediately understood the situation.
Naoki: "…"
This is really one fan against ten haters.
"What Are You Going to Do?"
Iono, still on the line, asked worriedly.
Naoki thought for a moment before replying calmly,
"Just welcome them normally. Don't worry—I'll handle everything."
After hanging up, Naoki shook his head helplessly.
Well, if they want to come, let them come. I've got nothing to hide.
With that decision made, he calmed his thoughts, preparing to receive these challengers just as he did with the students from Naranja Academy.
Meanwhile, in the Paldea Region…
A well-known Pokémon battle streamer, Rival Serperior, had just arrived in Paldea.
The moment he stepped off the plane, he launched his live broadcast on his Rotom Phone.
Rotom, with its built-in aerial photography mode, activated its floating follow camera and focused on him.
The chat exploded as thousands of viewers tuned in.
"He really went all the way to Paldea for this?"
"Yo, is this Naoki guy really that strong?"
"I still think this 'Hidden Boss' thing is a joke."
"Lmao, I bet this 'Naoki' is just some old man with a bunch of cows."
Onscreen, Rival Serperior finally appeared.
He was a young man with an almost ghostly pale complexion, looking as if he hadn't slept in days.
And perched calmly on his shoulder was his signature partner—a Serperior with a cool, collected demeanor.
"Alright, everyone! We've officially landed in Paldea!"
Rival Serperior grinned at the camera, his voice carrying an energetic yet mischievous tone.
"Now then, let's head over to the legendary Naoki Ranch and see if this so-called 'Hidden Boss of Paldea' is the real deal."
"Hahaha! If you're watching, don't forget to tap that little red heart and follow—I wouldn't want you getting lost!"
He flashed a wink before continuing,
"Alright, let's not waste any more time! Let's head straight to the ranch, folks—come with me and Serperior, and let's see if this place is as legendary as people say!"
...
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