"What are you?"
Riku's brow furrowed as he looked at the Pokémon that had suddenly appeared. His tone was impatient, yet filled with wariness.
Under normal circumstances, Riku would've found this Pokémon incredibly cool—the exact type he liked the most: handsome and mysterious. Especially with that piercing blue eye and its long, flowing white hair like drifting clouds, it was the most striking Pokémon he had ever seen.
Unfortunately, the situation was clearly hostile.
No matter how cool it looked, if it hurt Lapras, Riku would destroy it!
"Great existence, greetings. I am Darkrai."
The Pokémon before him suddenly spoke. As it did, Riku noticed something shocking—Agatha, who had been slowly approaching, suddenly collapsed to the ground.
The six Champion-level Pokémon that had been about to attack Lapras also collapsed without warning—just like her.
Seeing this, Riku grew more cautious as he stared at the Pokémon that called itself Darkrai.
"What did you just call me?"
"Great existence," Darkrai repeated.
"Please forgive my recklessness. If you wish to punish me, I will accept it willingly."
Riku blinked, baffled.
What was going on? Was this Darkrai out of its mind?
Then he thought of the system.
Whether he was great or not, Riku didn't know—but the one who created the system must certainly be a great being. Maybe it was some rule, or even fate itself, but it clearly wielded power.
"What happened to that old woman?" Riku asked, pointing at Agatha.
No matter what, she was a veteran member of the Indigo League's Elite Four. If she died here, Riku would never clear his name.
The gap between the Orange League and the Indigo League was like heaven and earth. If the Indigo League pressed charges, the Orange League would definitely hand him over.
"This Champion-level Pokémon Trainer tried to plot against me," Darkrai said calmly.
"So I controlled her mind."
"If the great existence is displeased, I can trap her in nightmares forever—turning her into a vegetable."
"Don't!" Riku immediately raised his voice, clearly startled.
"She didn't offend me. You were the one who made her attack just now."
"There are some things you can't just pin on an old woman, even if you're powerful."
Darkrai lowered its head.
"Great existence, I am guilty."
"If possible, I am willing to stay by your side and serve you—to atone for my sins."
Riku's heart skipped a beat.
Could this be real? Was this really happening?
This Darkrai was terrifyingly strong—able to control a veteran Elite Four member like Agatha.
If it could become his Pokémon, he could walk sideways across the entire Pokémon world!
Just as he was about to nod and welcome Darkrai into his growing family, the Pokémon spoke again:
"However, please forgive me—I cannot do so."
"Great existence, you carry an incredibly powerful aura."
"I don't know whether it comes from a Tier 1 legendary Pokémon, a tier 2, or perhaps both…"
"But one thing is certain—I am far from qualified to follow you as I am now."
"Please grant me time. When I evolve into a tier 2 legendary Pokémon and attain divine status, I will return to your side at the first opportunity—to atone."
Riku was completely dumbfounded.
He understood every word individually—but strung together, he had no clue what Darkrai was talking about.
"Great existence, farewell."
Suddenly, Darkrai turned and disappeared.
Riku instinctively reached out to stop it, but at that moment, Agatha, who had been unconscious, stirred and slowly sat up.
"You are…" she began, eyes still dazed and unfocused.
She scanned her surroundings nervously.
"Darkrai? Where is it? Kid… are you an incarnation of Darkrai?"
"Elite Four Agatha, I'm not," Riku replied, shaking his head.
"Darkrai is gone. Don't worry."
"Gone?" Agatha was stunned.
"Impossible! My Pokémon!"
Realizing something, she calmed down and looked around. Seeing her six Pokémon lying on the ground, she rushed over and checked each one. Only after confirming that they were unharmed did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"Young man, has Darkrai really left?" she asked doubtfully.
"Really," Riku said, exasperated.
"I have nothing to gain by lying to you."
Agatha sighed deeply.
"I never thought that I, a bird handler, would get pecked in the eye by a bird."
"Laughable. Pathetic."
She paused, then suddenly changed her tone.
"Young man, why did Darkrai suddenly leave? Aren't you going to give me a proper explanation?"
Riku frowned.
"I've already said everything I needed to say. What more do you want?"
"Just because you're old doesn't mean you can act senile."
"You Elite Four members suddenly show up in the Orange Archipelago, and I even saved your life."
"Have some conscience."
Agatha reflected for a moment. Then, surprisingly, she smiled.
"Indeed, I must thank you this time, young man."
"For saving my life, I'll give up the mission in the Orange Archipelago."
"Telling me is useless. If you're serious, come with me to Citrus Island," Riku replied with a serious expression.
"What needs to be said will be decided by the higher-ups in the League."
He didn't trust Agatha, nor did he trust crafty old foxes from the Indigo League.
And Agatha, a seasoned Elite Four member, wasn't afraid of anything the Orange League could do to her anyway.
Once her Pokémon had recovered, she followed Riku out to sea.
---
About fifteen minutes later, Riku spotted a familiar figure.
"Lorelei?! Why are you here?" he exclaimed.
Sitting on her Dewgong, Lorelei frowned.
"May rushed over and told me about your situation. She told me to hurry and save you."
"Then… why are you with Agatha?"
"Hehe," Agatha chuckled before Riku could respond.
"I didn't expect the Indigo League's beautiful Elite Four member to rush out in her pajamas in the middle of the night for a boy from the Orange League."
"If word of this gets out, I don't know how many of your admirers will be heartbroken."
"That's right. It's because I'm beautiful and have a great figure," Lorelei shot back with a cold smile.
"Unlike you—even if you ran naked with Grandpa Oak, no one would look twice."
"You…!" Agatha trembled with fury.
"Riku!" A familiar voice called out.
May suddenly appeared, riding her Blastoise.
Without hesitation, she jumped from Blastoise onto Lapras and threw her arms around Riku tightly.
Lorelei's brow furrowed slightly—not because she disapproved of May hugging Riku, but because…
She had the feeling Riku was still hiding something.
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter