The Ice Titan slowly awakened from its petrified state.
A weak mechanical voice echoed.
"Re…gi…ice… (Was it you… who saved me, human…?)"
"Yes. Don't move yet," Peter said calmly. "Eat these first."
He tossed several recovery items toward it—healing sprays, berries like Sitrus Berry, and other stamina-restoring supplies.
Regice nodded.
In the center of its icy body, a slit slowly opened—forming a hidden mouth.
One by one, it dropped the items inside.
Peter blinked.
So the Regi Pokémon actually have hidden mouths…
Just as he was marveling at the discovery, the airship suddenly shuddered and stopped.
There was no time to explain further.
Peter quickly pulled out a Poké Ball.
"Regice, get inside for now. I'll send you back to the Iceberg Ruins soon."
Regice hesitated.
Then it gently tapped the Poké Ball.
A beam of red light absorbed it.
BEEP—CLICK!
Capture successful.
System Notification
[Achievement Unlocked: Legendary Capture]
Reward: Master Points ×1000
Peter stared at the Poké Ball in disbelief.
Technically, Regice could easily break free if it wanted to.
But still—
This was his first successful capture of a Legendary Pokémon.
A historic moment.
Unfortunately, this was not the time to celebrate.
Peter quickly released Lopunny, and together they rushed through the cargo hold, removing petrification from the captured Pokémon.
Then—
With a Flash Step, Peter teleported to the top of the airship.
He wanted to see the mysterious buyer.
…
The Buyer Appears
"Are the goods prepared?"
A tall man wearing a black cloak stepped out from behind a tree.
Hunter J and several Pokémon hunters approached him.
"They're ready."
She raised her hand to open the cargo bay.
But suddenly—
BOOOOM!
Several beams of energy blasted through the ship's interior, tearing open a massive hole.
Dozens of Pokémon burst out and escaped into the sky and forest.
Hunter J's expression changed instantly.
"What?! Stop them!"
She leapt onto Salamence and flew toward the cargo bay entrance.
When she looked inside—
The massive petrification chamber that once held Regice was empty.
Her face froze.
Behind her, the cloaked man suddenly appeared.
"So… once again, you disappoint me."
He floated calmly in midair.
Behind him, a shadow of pure nightmare formed.
An overwhelming aura of malice spread outward.
…
Peter's eyes widened.
What…?!
The man raised his head slightly.
One eye appeared—black as night.
The other was hidden behind strands of long blue-gray hair.
Fortunately, he failed to notice Peter on the airship.
Behind a nearby tree, Peter landed silently after teleporting away.
His heart pounded.
That moment earlier—
Had felt like death itself staring at him.
But now he was certain.
The man's identity was obvious.
Repeatedly targeting Legendary Pokémon.
Surrounded by an aura of living nightmares.
Everything pointed to one person.
Tobias.
The mysterious Legendary Pokémon Trainer.
Clearly, he had already captured Darkrai and was building an entire team of Legendary Pokémon.
Suicune earlier.
Now Regice.
All likely chosen by him.
But Peter frowned.
"If he already has Darkrai… why doesn't he capture them himself?"
"With Darkrai's power, that should be easy…"
Unable to figure it out, Peter peeked from behind the tree again.
But Tobias had vanished.
The next moment—
A chilling sensation crawled up Peter's spine.
His entire body froze.
That overwhelming malice was suddenly right behind him.
For a moment, even his thoughts seemed to freeze.
The Confrontation
POP—POP—POP—POP!
Seven Poké Balls burst open at once.
Lopunny
Arboliva
Slaking
Teddiursa
…and the rest of Peter's team.
They surrounded him instantly.
The pressure lifted.
Peter turned around slowly.
The cloaked figure hovered in the air.
Watching him silently.
"Hello."
The man spoke first.
Peter narrowed his eyes.
Oddly—
He felt no killing intent.
"My name is Tobias," the man said calmly.
"It means… Nightmare."
He descended slowly to the ground.
The terrifying aura vanished.
He looked like an ordinary man again.
Peter nodded politely.
"I'm Peter."
Tobias' gaze moved across Peter's Pokémon.
"So… you are the one chosen by the Nightmare."
"Interesting."
"Earlier, I encountered a boy with a Pikachu who carried the same aura."
Peter immediately understood.
That boy was Ash Ketchum.
But what Tobias said next confused him.
"Nightmare…?"
Tobias continued calmly.
"I am the Nightmare."
"You… and that boy…"
"And even this world itself."
"All of you are nightmares."
He looked toward Mount Coronet.
"Humans and Pokémon alike long for beautiful dreams."
"They fantasize about happiness."
"But dreams always end."
"They awaken."
"And reality… is cruel."
"When a beautiful illusion shatters…"
"Isn't that the true nightmare?"
He laughed.
Wild.
Unstable.
"Nightmares are dreams."
"Isn't that fascinating?"
"This world… needs nightmares."
Then suddenly—
His laughter stopped.
His eyes locked onto Peter.
"I will prove it."
"No matter what."
Before Peter could say a word—
Tobias vanished.
Completely.
As if he had never existed.
…
Peter stood there in silence.
He still didn't understand.
What exactly did Tobias mean?
What was this "nightmare" he kept talking about?
"And why was he trying to prove it to me?" Peter muttered.
He rubbed his forehead.
"Is he insane?"
Shaking his head, Peter decided not to dwell on it.
Eventually, everything would become clear.
For now—
The only thing that mattered was becoming stronger.
Only strength ensured that when disaster arrived…
You wouldn't be powerless.
-----
Returning to Camp
Peter contacted Officer Jenny through his Professor authorization.
Police sirens soon echoed across the mountain.
Hunter J managed to recover only a small portion of the escaped Pokémon before leaving in frustration.
By evening, Peter rode his bike back toward Mount Coronet.
Whitney had been waiting anxiously at the crossroads.
The moment she saw him—
She ran forward and leapt into his arms.
"Honey… are you okay?"
Holding his face, she searched his eyes nervously.
Peter smiled.
"Of course. I'm perfectly fine."
He pinched her soft cheek and kissed her lips.
"Sorry for making you worry."
"Ewwww…"
Mira shivered dramatically.
"That's so cheesy!"
Whitney and Peter ignored her.
They looked into each other's eyes.
Whitney stood on tiptoe.
Peter leaned down.
And they kissed again.
Finally separating, Peter gently patted her head.
"Babe, go make dinner."
"I'm going to return Regice."
She nodded sweetly.
"Okay."
--------------
T/N:
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