Pokémon Court-Chapter 537: Touching a Taboo

"Mr. Hala, I'm here to take the trial."

When Terrance arrived at Mr. Hala's residence, the Island Kahuna had already prepared the contents of the trial.

"Hmm?" Seeing the Rotom Pokédex floating beside Terrance, Hala was momentarily stunned before quickly speaking. "I've already decided on the trial stage, but this time, it won't be a battle. Instead, it will test your abilities."

"My abilities?" Terrance let out a surprised exclamation.

"That's right. The Island Challenge... isn't something that can be completed just by relying on Pokémon. The Trainer themselves must also possess a certain level of ability."

"What exactly do I have to do?" Terrance asked with interest.

"In the north of Melemele Island is Verdant Cavern, we'll be heading there first. The core of this trial is 'endurance and concentration,' and your opponent in this endurance trial won't be a person—it will be a Pokémon, Gumshoos," Hala said calmly.

After seeing the strength of Terrance's Arcanine, Hala believed that testing Terrance in battle was unnecessary, as he already met the required qualifications. Conducting another battle-related trial would simply be a waste of time.

A Trainer who completes the Island Challenge must excel in all aspects. Only then can they withstand the baptism of Z-Power.

After careful consideration, Hala decided to test Terrance's personal abilities in advance.

"Competing in endurance with a Pokémon?" Terrance pondered for a moment. Just then, the Rotom Pokédex floated up and quickly spoke: "Gumshoos possess extraordinary patience. Its prey has almost no chance of escape facing its patience."

Gumshoos hunts by ambush, using its immense patience to kill its prey. In terms of endurance and concentration, it is an expert.

"Well said." Mr. Hala glanced at Rotom Pokédex in surprise before turning to Terrance. "You should know that Gumshoos ranks highly among all Pokémon when it comes to patience and concentration. This trial won't be easy—are you ready?"

"As long as it's a trial I can understand, I won't admit defeat," Terrance said with a slight smile.

Whether it was endurance or concentration, even if he might be slightly lacking, he would undoubtedly keep striving to improve himself, break through his limits, and challenge again.

As long as he didn't see the trial as completely meaningless, Terrance wouldn't refuse it.

"Um... Mr. Hala," Terrance suddenly spoke.

"What is it?" Island Kahuna Hala asked curiously.

"The Pokémon testing me—is it a Totem Pokémon as well?" Terrance asked, his bright eyes staring directly at Hala.

Island Kahuna Hala walked to the door and pushed it open directly, saying, "That's right. Beating it won't be an easy task."

The two walked out the door, but as Hala led the way, his body suddenly stiffened upon hearing another question from Terrance behind him.

"Mr. Hala, has there ever been a case where a Totem Pokémon was captured?"

Seeing the calm expression on Terrance's face, Mr. Hala observed him carefully and confirmed that he wasn't joking.

"No. Totem Pokémon do not become a Trainer's Pokémon."

"What about capturing one by force?" Terrance asked.

"If someone tries to capture a Totem Pokémon by force, I won't stand idly by," Mr. Hala said, narrowing his eyes and coughing lightly. "Why are you asking about this?"

Keeping up with him, Terrance replied, "It's nothing. I was just curious—Totem Pokémon are so powerful, so why has no Trainer ever attempted to capture them?"

"Even if it's difficult to earn their recognition, there should still be a chance, right...?"

Mr. Hala shook his head. "Totem Pokémon cannot be captured—it's a taboo in Alola. There's no harm in telling you this: Totem Pokémon share a special bond with each island's guardian deity. That's largely why no one dares to capture them."

In Alola, the guardian deities of each island were regarded as supreme.

Terrance understood this, but it only made him more curious.

Tapu Koko had once activated the hidden power of his bracelet, which was made from Sparkling Stone. From what Terrance knew, the Sparkling Stone was related to the Z-Power system. If Tapu Koko could control the power of the Sparkling Stone, then the guardian deities must be deeply connected to the Z-Power system.

Moreover, in Alola, it was well known that a Trainer who hadn't completed the Island Challenge could not fully control Z-Power.

And to pass the Island Challenge, one needed the recognition of both the Totem Pokémon and the Island Kahuna...

That meant, in some sense, if the Totem Pokémon were connected to the guardian deities, then the Island Kahunas were inevitably involved as well.

Terrance suddenly stopped walking. Though he knew it was abrupt, he instinctively asked, "Mr. Hala, you must be quite familiar with Tapu Koko, right?"

"Why do you ask that...?" Hala stopped in his tracks and looked at Terrance.

"Because of this." Terrance extended his wrist. "Tapu Koko appeared and activated the power of my bracelet. Although I can't form a Z-Move, I can feel a special force pulling me and my Pokémon together... This power—is it also a type of Z-Power? Or perhaps, an incomplete version of it?"

"You saw Tapu Koko?" Hala was shocked. "When?"

"Right after I left yesterday..." Terrance exhaled and continued, "At the time, I was thinking—since completing the Island Challenge and gaining the recognition of the Island Kahuna and Totem Pokémon allows one to wield Z-Moves, and since Tapu Koko can directly control the power within a Sparkling Stone... Just like you said, if Totem Pokémon and the guardian deities share a bond, then Mr. Hala, you must also be very familiar with the guardian deity, right?"

Island Kahuna Hala remained silent. The wind made his martial arts robe flutter. After a long pause, he slowly spoke. "Since you've seen Tapu Koko and have already figured out this much, hiding this 'not-so-secret' secret from you makes no difference."

"In truth, every Island Kahuna is personally chosen by the guardian deity of their island."

Hearing this, Terrance was momentarily stunned.

The Island Kahuna is the chief who governs the island. In the Alola region, each of the four islands is overseen by its own Island Kahuna, a position of great importance.

They are not only powerful Trainers but also the leaders managing each island's affairs.

Yet in human settlements, these figures of authority were actually selected by Pokémon?

"Then... does that mean the method of mastering Z-Power is held by the guardian deities?!" Terrance asked excitedly, feeling like he had grasped an important clue.

However, Mr. Hala did not answer his question. Instead, he cast a puzzled look at him.

"Terrance, your true goal isn't just to challenge the Island Challenge, is it? A Trainer like you doesn't actually need to rely too much on Z-Moves. Z-Moves are powerful, but they are also a restriction—you should be able to see that with your level of strength. More than that, you seem to be curious about something else..."

"But you should know that in the Alola region, the matters related to the guardian deities... are a taboo that must not be touched."

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