Chapter 498:
Kaede didn't hide anything from Gardevoir, explaining what had just happened. He then looked at the Pokémon who had been drawn over by the commotion and were now watching him.
Blaziken, Dragonite, Salamence, Pidgeot, Tsareena, Steenee, Happiny, Furret...
Those who had been with him early on, or since they were young, weren't particularly frightened. But some who hadn't been with Kaede for long, along with some Pokémon from the Wilderness Area, now wore faces full of anxiety and unease.
Kaede released his Viridian Power, soothing them, "It's alright, it's alright, don't worry..."
At the same time, he felt a pang of emotion.
In the Pokémon world... for weaker Pokémon, even if some powerful Pokémon aren't their natural predators, the fallout from their clashes can be an unavoidable disaster.
With such a big commotion, Zoroark naturally saw it too. But standing guard nearby, it now felt somewhat uneasy.
This little yard had always been so peaceful before.
Yet now, such a major conflict had erupted. Clearly, it was most likely because of its own matter.
"Don't worry. I said I'd help you, and I'll see this through to the end."
Kaede didn't spend time explaining further on this point, merely offering a word of reassurance to Zoroark. He then went straight to the reservoir and poured in some Grepa Berry Wine.
Not long after, a dark draconic shadow appeared on the water's surface. Then, Giratina emerged from the Distortion World.
[Pokémon: Giratina]
[Gender: Genderless]
[Type: Ghost, Dragon]
[Ability: Pressure]
[Potential: Divine]
[IVs: ....]
[Level: ???]
[Moves: Shadow Sneak, Dragon Breath, Shadow Ball, Shadow Force...]
[Happiness: 40 (Coming, coming~)]
[Friendship: 88 (It trusts you a great deal.)]
"I need you to do me a favor, Giratina!" Kaede's words were concise.
[What is it!?]
Giratina's eyes practically lit up.
Ha, was it finally Its turn to act?
"Help me find Dialga!"
Time, Space, Distortion—the three great Legendary Pokémon should have some sense of each other. If anyone could find Them, it would be one of Their own kind.
[Agreed!]
With Giratina's agreement, Kaede wasted no words. He took out Poké Balls for Gardevoir, Serperior, and Dragonite, recalled them as they followed, and then jumped into the water.
...
Above the ocean.
Vast and boundless, the once-calm sea surface suddenly erupted with fierce winds and torrential rain.
Next, waves were churned up as two colossal beasts surged from the depths. Lugia, energy coalescing in its mouth, used its massive, hand-like wings to grip Dialga's head firmly, then gathered energy in its maw, seemingly intent on firing a point-blank pulse.
But at the critical moment when the energy took form, Dialga finally broke free from Lugia's grasp, soaring into the sky. Once again, energy gathered in Its mouth for a Roar of Time.
Two torrents of energy swept forth, colliding mid-air. Instantly, countless waves were stirred, and intertwined space and time infinitely churned at the collision's epicenter, erupting in a pillar of annihilating energy.
After the pillars of light collided, neither Pokémon seemed injured in the slightest.
Lugia roared again, preparing to fly forward and launch another attack. But under the influence of some energy, shortly after taking flight, a mysterious trajectory pulled It right back to Its original spot.
"Lugia?" Lugia was stunned.
Dialga, seizing this opportunity, once again gathered energy within Its body, aiming to deliver a heavy blow to the opposing Pokémon.
But it was at this moment.
The sea surface, already darkened under the sky's reflection, grew even darker. Within dark and gloomy energy fluctuations, a familiar presence emerged, followed by a familiar figure surfacing from the water.
Undoubtedly, it was Giratina!
Only... was that a human standing on Its head?
Dialga blinked.
It seemed to be the human glimpsed earlier, although wearing a mask.
On Giratina's head?
It couldn't quite believe what it was seeing.
"Wait, wait, Dialga, Lugia!"
Having rushed here swiftly via the Distortion World, Kaede, seeing the scene before him, let out a sigh of relief.
Judging by the state of the sea, although the two had been battling, the scale of the conflict wasn't massive yet.
Dialga didn't speak. In this confrontation with Lugia, It had clearly gained the upper hand through Its temporal authority.
Making It cease hostilities wouldn't be easy.
Even if this human was standing atop Giratina.
Kaede's heartbeat also quickened. The opponent was the Temporal Pokémon, after all. In ordinary Pokémon battles, to be honest, his mind was usually calm as still water.
Because his own Pokémon's strength was evident; there were rarely battles that caused him worry.
But this was a clash of deities. If it truly escalated, not to mention the potential effects on time, space, and the Distortion World, even the nearby living creatures would suffer!
"Giratina!" But Giratina took the opportunity to let out a cry, boosting Kaede's confidence a bit.
At the same time, from beyond the sky, Mew, transformed into Latias, arrived at the battlefield with Victini in tow.
The two little ones, upon spotting Kaede and Giratina, immediately flew over.
But on their way, they saw Lugia trapped in the time loop and couldn't help but make a fuss.
ヾ(≧へ≦)〃!: "Mew, mew!" (Lugia? It dares bully you? Victini, let's go!)
Seeing Mew about to stir things up again upon arrival, Kaede hurriedly shouted, "Wait... wait!"
"Come back!"
"Mew?"
Mew, who was about to fly to Lugia's side with Victini to boost It, hit the brakes and looked back at Kaede in confusion.
"You come back first."
Kaede felt a slight weariness.
The Giratina beneath him already seemed eager to give Dialga a taste of Its power.
It seemed It hadn't fought in a long while either.
These Legendary Pokémon's temperaments seemed fiercer one after the other.
If he guessed correctly, the reason Lugia attacked Dialga was because Dialga made the first move upon arriving, then gave Lugia a scornful look.
And then they started fighting...
"Mew~"
Mew looked at Lugia, then at Dialga, and finally flew back to Kaede's side.
"Phew..."
Taking a deep breath at this sight, Kaede looked up at Dialga in the sky, his expression turning serious. "God of Time Pokémon, Dialga... let's pause the battle for now. I believe there must be some misunderstanding here."
He paused briefly before adding, "Of course, if you don't stop, I will have to consider adopting forceful measures to cease hostilities..."
His words were earnest.
Because no matter what, the battle had to be stopped.