Summer politely declined Melony's generous offer, assuring her that he had no interest in such things. However, Melony was adamant about expressing her gratitude. Reconciling with Gordie had been a weight on her heart for years, and now that it was resolved, she was determined to return the favor. Since Summer wasn't interested in her initial proposal, she instead let him decide—as long as it was something within her ability, she would fulfill it.
Seeing that Melony wouldn't take no for an answer, Summer turned to the Ice-type Pokémon around him. Their strength still had room for improvement, and since Melony was an expert in Ice-types, it made perfect sense to have her train them.
When he proposed this idea, Melony agreed without hesitation. She had already taken notice of the Ice Pokémon in the Snowy Forest, and they looked healthier than any she had ever seen—perhaps due to the unique environment of Sunset Forest. To her, they were ideal training partners.
The Pokémon, unaware of what was coming, looked excited at the prospect of training with a Gym Leader. Off to the side, Lapras let out a sigh, shaking its head. So naïve…
Did they really think a Trainer who put her own son through hellish training would go easy on them? Heh. Just wait until they experienced a training regimen harsher than the frozen tundra itself. If they could endure it, they'd come out reborn.
"Summer, since my mom has expressed her thanks, I can't just sit back and do nothing," Gordie said, adjusting his sunglasses. "Is there anything you need my help with?"
Part of it was gratitude, but more than that, Gordie wanted to strengthen his bond with Summer. He could see that Summer was a rising star in Galar, and forging ties with him was a smart move for the future.
Hearing this, Summer's mind drifted to something important—Shining Armorite. Steelix's evolution, Corviknight's Mirror Armor, and many other Pokémon-related developments relied on this mysterious mineral.
He had done some research before, but all he found were random glowing rocks that weren't what he was looking for. Maybe Gordie, as a Rock-type expert, knew something?
"Gordie, have you ever heard of Shining Armorite?" Summer asked.
Gordie raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I wasn't expecting you to know that name," he said with interest. Due to his upbringing among miners, Gordie had developed a deep fascination with minerals. Not only did he love collecting them, but they were also his Pokémon's favorite snacks.
His passion led him to befriend many mineral collectors, and he even served as the Vice President of the Global Ore Enthusiasts' Association. Occasionally, he would personally excavate rare minerals—the blue gemstone embedded in his chest accessory was one such discovery.
"'Shining Armorite' is just another name for Armorite Ore," Gordie explained. "It's a rare mineral found only on the Isle of Armor. When struck, it emits a brilliant light, which is how it got its nickname."
"Armorite Ore is one of the sturdiest materials in history. Armor forged with it was renowned for its durability, which is why it was named Armorite in the first place."
Summer nodded thoughtfully. "So, the only way to get it is to go to the Isle of Armor?"
"Yep. It's only found there," Gordie confirmed. "Unfortunately, I already gave my personal stash to a friend from Hoenn. But if you need some, I can probably get you some in two weeks." He flashed a confident grin.
Summer shook his head. "No, just knowing where to find it is enough. I'll head there myself."
In reality, Summer had another reason for going to the Isle of Armor—collecting Max Mushrooms.
Both Rillaboom and Corviknight had the potential to Gigantamax, but Sunset Forest didn't support Gigantamax transformations. Still, it was better to be prepared for the future—especially with Eternatus still out there.
"Got it," Gordie said. "Oh, one more thing—Armorite Ore attracts powerful Pokémon. I don't know why, but I'm sure someone with your strength won't have a problem handling them."
Summer appreciated the warning. Before he could respond, Melony suddenly hugged Gordie again. "Gordie, you know so much! It must be because of your love for Rock-type Pokémon!" she cooed.
"Mom, stop it…!" Gordie groaned, his expression filled with despair. If his fans saw this, his cool-guy image would be ruined.
While mother and son reconciled, another scene was unfolding at Misty Lake.
Nessa was deep in thought. A Hatterene using Thunder?
As a Water-type specialist, Nessa was hyper-aware of Electric-type moves. She had suffered a humiliating defeat in the last Championship due to Leon's Charizard using Max Overgrowth, and she refused to make the same mistake again.
She would never underestimate unexpected coverage moves again.
In fact, after she returned home, she checked the move compatibility list on her Pokédex app—just to be sure.
But there was no way Hatterene could learn Thunder… right?
She glanced at the Pokémon League's official app, debating whether to contact the developers. They should really update their databases…
She stared at Summer's Hatterene, who was humming a little tune, clearly enjoying the praise it was receiving.
A terrifying thought crossed Nessa's mind. Is it Sunset Forest that produces these freakishly strong Pokémon… or is it Summer himself?
She wasn't sure, but one thing was certain—this Hatterene was absolutely broken.
Summer, meanwhile, was already planning his trip to the Isle of Armor.
Steelix's Mirror Armor required Armorite Ore. Gigantamaxing Rillaboom and Corviknight required Max Mushrooms. And the Pokémon guarding the ore? They were bound to be strong, making this the perfect training opportunity.
His first choices were obvious—Corviknight, Rillaboom, and Ogerpon. Corviknight was his main form of transportation and directly tied to the mission. Rillaboom needed Max Mushrooms. Ogerpon? If she was left behind, she'd probably throw a tantrum.
Hatterene and Milotic would stay back to continue training and maintain the rainy climate, respectively. They deserved a break.
As for the final team members, Summer chose Lilligant, Hisuian Lilligant, and Jangmo-o.
The two Lilligants were candidates to rule Gracidea Prairie. If they wanted to earn their place, they needed real battle experience.
Jangmo-o, meanwhile, was still young. But it had incredible potential, and this would be its first adventure outside Sunset Forest.
With everything set in motion, Summer knew that once he wrapped up business with the Gym Leaders, he would finally set off for the Isle of Armor.
But one question still remained in his mind—just how powerful were the Pokémon guarding Armorite Ore?