After ascending the mountain, Aoki recalled his Tropius into its Pokeball.
From this vantage point, the entirety of the Ancient Tree of Life at the heart of the island was visible. Observing it now, Aoki could gauge just how far he was from reaching it.
Most of the Team Rocket operatives who had infiltrated the island were likely targeting the ruins beneath the Ancient Tree of Life. Whatever lay within was their primary objective.
Moreover, Aoki suspected that the island held a connection to Mew's genetic material—though whether it had already been discovered or would be found later remained uncertain.
Following this operation, Team Rocket would enter a period of relative dormancy, diverting most of their resources toward researching Mew's genes for years to come.
Afterward, the League would experience a surge in power, consolidating control over multiple regions and solidifying its unshakable dominance.
It had to be acknowledged that this incident caused Team Rocket to lose their best opportunity.
Of course, Sakaki's decision couldn't be wrong. If he truly mastered control over a legendary Pokémon, combined with his tactical genius and combat prowess, he would undoubtedly become the strongest Trainer in the world—without question.
For now, Aoki had no part to play in Team Rocket's plans.
He took a long, contemplative look at the Ancient Tree of Life. There were still mysteries hidden within it—perhaps even clues to Mew's disappearance.
Why had Mew created this island? By the time Team Rocket discovered it, Mew was already gone.
Where it had gone, nobody knew.
As one of the world's most enigmatic Pokémon, Mew remained shrouded in mystery—just like its name suggested: dreamlike and intangible.
After marking the location of the Ancient Tree of Life in his mind, Aoki chose not to advance further. Instead, he descended the mountain with the help of his Slowking.
There was still time. He wasn't in a hurry to be the first to act.
Once the initial wave of explorers entered the ruins, Aoki could find another opportunity to slip in.
The first group would inevitably become targets—a foolish position Aoki had no intention of putting himself in.
Over the next few days, Aoki avoided rushing toward the ruins.
The island was an excellent training ground, teeming with powerful wild Pokémon. Battling them took priority.
Later, when Aoki crossed paths with Altaria in its territory, there was no interaction between them. It was as if their previous communication—Trainer to Pokémon—had been forgotten.
After several days of steady training, the dangers of the island became more apparent. Quasi-Champion-level Pokémon frequently appeared during battles.
With his full team, Aoki could handle elite-level opponents, retreating if necessary. But against a quasi-Champion-level Pokémon, escape was the only option.
Over time, Aoki and his Pokémon grew accustomed to these encounters.
Fight when possible.
Flee when outmatched—those who lagged behind risked taking heavier hits.
In this way, their evasion skills were honed to perfection.
Additionally, each Pokémon's strength improved in some way.
Honchkrow, Gengar, and Drapion seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement, all rising to level 43. Slowking, already the highest-leveled, had evolved earlier, so the recent battles hadn't pushed it further.
Meanwhile, Weavile gained a level, reaching 42.
Now, Aoki's team was firmly established at the elite tier, pushing toward greater heights.
Aoki had deliberately balanced their growth, ensuring no single Pokémon lagged too far behind. A well-rounded team allowed for better coordination in group battles.
The most notable improvement came from his Florette as a support Pokémon.
Now at level 35, its healing abilities had earned unanimous approval from the rest of the team.
Capturing Florette had been one of Aoki's best decisions on the island.
Thanks to its presence, the others could fight without restraint, knowing they'd be healed afterward.
After every intense battle, Florette's Grass Field provided immediate recovery.
Under Aoki's training, Florette's mastery of Grass Field had grown increasingly refined.
By the end of this training period, it was already the tenth night on the island.
Tonight, the Pokémon rested, recuperating and consolidating their gains from the battles.
They needed to be at their best—because on the eleventh day, Aoki planned to head for the Ancient Tree of Life. If possible, he would enter the ruins, hoping for new discoveries.
After dinner, the Pokémon gathered as instructed, relaxing and discussing battle techniques.
With overlapping move types among them, sharing insights could lead to learning new techniques—one of Aoki's key goals.
Meanwhile, Aoki approached the Altaria, who was basking alone in the moonlight.
Over the past few days, the Altaria had appeared during meals, eaten quietly, and then returned to its perch. The two Swablu accompanying it had also grown more familiar with Aoki's team.
Standing beside the Altaria—taller by comparison—Aoki activated his Telepathy.
"Altaria, we'll likely be leaving tomorrow. I'm heading to the Ancient Tree of Life at the island's center to investigate the ruins."
"Within ten days, the more dangerous intruders will arrive. When they do, you must hide with your young. You may not be able to defeat them, but with your flight, evading shouldn't be difficult."
"Once they've swept through, the outer barrier should fade. Then you can leave—and never return."
Aoki spoke at length, every word sincere.
He had given up on deceiving the Altaria.
This Dragon-type, at the peak of quasi-Champion strength, was far more intelligent than most Pokémon—and with two young to protect, it had plenty of concerns.
Aoki had offered his final advice.
But as he turned to leave, the Altaria stopped him.