Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: The Last Hope – Dusk Ball

"I admit defeat."Renjiro raised his hands slowly, his voice calm but edged with purpose. "You win. I'll join you."His words rang through the clearing like a surrender—but in truth, his mind raced, plotting his next move. His eyes never left the dark figure of Zhu Qiaolan, nor the monstrous Bangiras standing beside her.Shu Wan clutched the corner of Renjiro's shirt. "Renjiro…?" she whispered, her voice filled with concern and confusion.Renjiro gently placed his hand over hers, squeezing softly, both to reassure her and to signal her to trust him, to stay silent, and to wait.Zhu Qiaolan burst into laughter, tossing her head back as if Renjiro's surrender was the most amusing thing she'd heard all day."Haha! After all that bluster and bravado, you want to join me now? Do you think I'm a fool? There's no such thing as mercy in this world, boy!"Her gaze darkened, the amusement in her voice replaced by cold cruelty."Bangiras, Dark Pulse. Kill that Pikachu."Her voice dripped with venom. The hatred she held for the tiny electric mouse that had dared attack her burned in her eyes."Pika!" Pikachu braced itself, but the blast was coming too fast."Careful!" Renjiro shouted, diving forward, grabbing Pikachu in his arms, and twisting his body to shield it.A deafening explosion tore through the forest floor."Renjiro!" Shu Wan's scream echoed as the smoke and dust rose, clouding everything.When the dust cleared, Shu Wan's heart clenched. Renjiro knelt on the ground, his back shredded and bloody, but Pikachu was safe in his arms."Renjiro…!" Tears streamed down her face.Renjiro coughed, his breath ragged, but he lifted his head and smiled at Pikachu, gently setting it down."See? You're alright. I'll still need you, buddy," he said softly."Pika…" Pikachu's eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed by the sacrifice Renjiro had just made.Shu Wan rushed to his side, examining his injuries in a panic."I'm fine. Don't worry about me," Renjiro said, though every movement sent fresh waves of pain down his spine.He leaned in closer to Shu Wan and whispered, "No matter what I say next, don't react. Trust me."Slowly, with agonizing effort, Renjiro rose to his feet, holding Pikachu close. He took a few shaky steps forward, channeling the power of Tokiwa through his hands, quietly restoring Pikachu's strength.Pikachu's eyes widened as it felt energy surging back into its tiny body."How about a deal?" Renjiro called out to Zhu Qiaolan, his voice steady despite the pain."A deal?" Zhu Qiaolan tilted her head, curious."I'll give you the secret of Mega Evolution," Renjiro said, his eyes sharp as steel. "But you have to let them go."He glanced at Shu Wan and Pikachu. "No one knows more about Pokémon than I do. Trust me—you'll get what you want."Zhu Qiaolan's lips curled into a cruel smile."The secret of Mega Evolution?" she repeated, savoring the words. "Fine. Give me that, and the secret of Feebas evolving into Milotic. Then I'll let them go."She pointed at Shu Wan and Pikachu.Renjiro's heart sank. So that's her game."You're working for Jiang Xiaoyue," he said, his voice low. The pieces clicked into place. The missing assistant of Liu Shuyun—she was Qingyan Sect all along."Not quite," Zhu Qiaolan said smoothly. "She works for me. Zhu Qiaolan, head of the Phoenix Hall of Qingyan Sect, at your service."Renjiro's mind raced. So Jiang Xiaoyue was part of Qingyan Sect this whole time…"Tell me the secrets," Zhu Qiaolan demanded.Renjiro took a breath."Mega Evolution allows a Pokémon to break through its limits. True Mega Evolution requires a deep bond between Pokémon and trainer. The trainer's will, focused through a key stone, resonates with the Mega Stone held by the Pokémon. That resonance triggers the evolution."He spoke slowly, watching her reaction carefully.Zhu Qiaolan frowned, puzzled."Key stone? Mega Stone?"She'd never heard of such things, but something in Renjiro's voice rang with truth."This," Renjiro said, slipping the bracelet from his wrist and tossing it to her. "This is the key."Zhu Qiaolan caught the bracelet, studying it.I've seen things like this in the Qingyan Sect's treasure stores, she thought. Pretty trinkets… we thought they were worthless.Her mind spun with greed at the thought of returning to claim those hidden items.That was the moment Renjiro had waited for.With one swift, fluid motion, he pulled the Dusk Ball from his pocket and hurled it at Bangiras with all his might."What?!" Zhu Qiaolan cried, realizing too late what was happening.The deep black ball struck Bangiras.A flash of black light.Bangiras vanished into the Dusk Ball.Zhu Qiaolan stumbled, thrown off balance without her Pokémon to lean on."You did it!" Shu Wan gasped, covering her mouth in shock.Renjiro's heart pounded. "Pikachu, Quick Attack! Bring that ball back!""Pika!"Pikachu, now restored, sprinted toward the Dusk Ball, scooping it up.But Zhu Qiaolan recovered fast."Stop him! Pidgeot!"Pidgeot shot forward, wings spread wide, eyes blazing.Pikachu saw it coming. At the last second, it jumped, tossing the Dusk Ball with all its strength back toward Renjiro.The next instant, Pidgeot slammed Pikachu into a tree, knocking it out cold.But the ball flew true.Renjiro ran forward and caught it, flipping open the switch.A surge of black light burst forth—"ROAR!"Bangiras reappeared, now under Renjiro's control.The ground shook as the mighty beast landed, its red eyes locked on its former master.Zhu Qiaolan's face turned pale as death."No… no, this can't be…"Renjiro wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes burning with fury and determination."This is over," he said, his voice low and cold. "Bangiras—show her what true power looks like."The tables had turned.---