In the original depiction, the southeast of Melemele Island featured a dormant volcano adjacent to the Melemele Sea, the southwest housed Hau'oli City—the largest city in the Alola Region—and the northeast consisted of mountainous terrain with lush forest scenery.
However, now there were no signs of human activity in the Alola spiritual realm, so the so-called city had been mercilessly reclaimed by nature.
Everywhere you looked, you could see the ruins of what had once been a concrete and steel metropolis, now overtaken by trees and vegetation.
The door of a shop marked "Breakfast" on the first floor still hung open. Drawers and steamers lay scattered to the side, and a thriving tree stood silently beside the stove.
The tree had broken through the roof of the two-story building, demonstrating the raw power of life with its sprawling branches.
Under the shade of these trees, occasionally small Bug-type Pokemon would scurry past, still clutching red berries in their mouths from who knows where.
The berries looked sweet and delicious.
After being consumed, red juice would be left behind on the ground, and brown seeds would be buried in the soil, waiting for their time to come before desperately sprouting forth.
Roy walked on foot along the asphalt road that had been covered by dirt and wild plants. You could faintly make out the traces of zebra crossings beneath the growth. Beside them stood dead streetlamps that had been pecked at by Bird Pokemon over the years.
"This really is a bit heartbreaking..."
Caroline walked beside Roy, not understanding why this person suddenly displayed such an expression.
Sadness, helplessness, melancholy...
Caroline observed the surrounding environment and cross-referenced it with information she had reviewed previously.
No human habitation, no signs of civilization, ruins, abandoned for a long time...
Logically, there was nothing particularly unusual about it.
For the first time, Caroline found herself wanting to know what was going through Roy's mind.
He always did things like this—actions she couldn't quite comprehend.
However, Roy didn't give Caroline such an opportunity, quickly composing himself.
Through his Aura sense, Roy could detect Kommo-o's presence across the distance.
The power of Aura had revealed this to him.
Mimikyu perched on Roy's shoulder keeping watch, Lucario led the way in front, and Blastoise leisurely followed behind at his own pace.
There was no need to worry about Blastoise getting lost, though. Gardevoir was still engaged in a game of catching leaves with him.
Sometimes when Roy turned around to look back, he would see the elegant Gardevoir with a genuinely happy smile on her face, and Blastoise, who had nothing remotely cute about his appearance, playing along enthusiastically.
Don't young ladies nowadays prefer silly, endearing types like Blastoise?
It's not me who's out of touch—it's the world that's changed.
The good news was that Caroline and Roy did exchange some words about Psychic-type training along the way.
Although their conversation wasn't extensive, it did ease the awkward atmosphere considerably.
At least things felt somewhat like they had before their encounter.
Not easy at all, not easy.
Melemele Island was quite expansive, and by the time they got near Kommo-o's territory, Roy's stomach was already growling audibly.
Caroline glanced at Roy's noisy stomach, not understanding why he had gotten hungry so quickly.
Roy rubbed his stomach, as if trying to deflect Caroline's focused attention.
"Well... I didn't eat breakfast this morning."
Caroline's expression showed sudden understanding, and then she retrieved a chocolate bar from her pocket.
"Here."
Roy looked at it with some surprise. He hadn't expected the Queen to carry around such convenient snack food.
Caroline seemed to have roughly guessed what Roy was thinking and explained slowly.
"This has high energy content and can maintain satiety effectively."
Roy accepted the chocolate from Caroline's hand. This chocolate bar really was quite plain-looking... Well, never mind that!
Hearing the Queen's explanation, it did seem to fit her practical nature.
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
While Roy was eating, Kommo-o was growing impatient.
The dragon's small head poked through the dense foliage. His large eyes looked at Roy and Caroline as the scales on his tail clanked continuously, clearly expressing his impatience.
"Kommo..."
Hurry up already.
Roy found it difficult to eat properly while being constantly rushed, so he had to set down the food in his hand.
"Alright, alright, we're coming."
Only then did Kommo-o retract his head in satisfaction and wait quietly.
Roy and Caroline entered Kommo-o's territory together.
Kommo-o changed from his previous demeanor and became composed and serious.
"Kommo?"
Have you come to accept my trial?
Roy looked at Kommo-o, noting the significant difference between his earlier impatience and current formality, and was momentarily taken aback.
Why do you have two completely different personalities, old dragon?
However, outwardly, he still maintained the appropriate behavior of a trial participant.
"Yes."
Kommo-o nodded with satisfaction. Based on what he had observed so far, these two individuals were far superior to that weak person from earlier.
If Avi discovered that Kommo-o was secretly criticizing him behind his back, he would probably be so furious he'd cough up blood.
"Kommo..."
The trial's content is to defeat me.
You may release all your Pokemon.
However, you only have one opportunity for this trial.
So, who will go first?
When Kommo-o finished his last statement, he looked at Roy eagerly.
Then he scanned Lucario, Mimikyu, and Blastoise, noting their calm expressions without any trace of fear.
Excellent. Truly worthy of being a noble person recognized by the deity.
Even after learning from the guardian deity that Roy's trials had all become inheritance trials, Kommo-o was secretly eager to seize this opportunity to battle Roy's Pokemon.
However, Roy was unaware of Kommo-o's hidden thoughts. He assumed that he had simply completed the inheritance trial, while Caroline still needed to complete the Island Challenge trial.
The Island Challenge trial was meant to select a participant who completed all the trials first and became an Island Kahuna.
In addition to this title, there should be opportunities to learn certain inheritances or receive other rewards.
For the Alola spiritual realm that had not yet fully integrated with the outside world, the existence of Island Kahuna was to select a "representative" of the Alola spiritual realm.
Hmm... If one had to describe it, it was somewhat like being a liaison for the deities?
Roy rubbed his chin, feeling that being a mere liaison was somewhat beneath his capabilities.
He glanced at Caroline, only to discover that she was also looking at him at the same moment.
Her calm, unwavering eyes clearly reflected Roy's figure.
Perhaps it was because people with strong mental abilities could easily maintain focus, which made Caroline's gaze appear as though she was looking only at you and nothing else.
"How about you go first?"
Caroline raised her eyebrows slightly. She seemed somewhat surprised by Roy's suggestion.
Everyone knew the rules of the trial, and reaching this point was simply a matter of completing it.
She had no particular interest in any of this and had assumed Roy would want to go first.