Chapter 213. Lugia, It Probably Won't Appear
"Without further delay, let's set off!"
Ash instantly saw hope.
"Pika!"
Freed at last, Pikachu scrambled right back onto his shoulder.
"Wait!"
Natsume yanked him back.
"Lugia isn't going to show up.
We'll handle this ourselves."
Natsume waved his hand.
"Why?"
Everyone turned, looking at Natsume in confusion.
"Uh—"
Far off over the sea horizon, two figures were facing off.
Long-tailed, cat-eared humanoid—Mewtwo.
Blue body with white "fur" and little fangs—Lugia.
"You can't go.
The Authority you bear is heavy, and there can't be the slightest mishap."
Mewtwo folded its arms, barring Lugia's way.
"Oooo—"
Lugia shook its head, seemingly disapproving of Mewtwo's decision.
If it didn't fulfill its duty, how could it shoulder its Authority?
"You can't go."
Expressionless, Mewtwo merely began to gleam with the white light of Mega Evolution—
Elsewhere, on Zapdos Island—
Everyone stared at Natsume, hoping he would explain.
"Why are you all looking at me?
If Lugia comes and starts fighting them, Authorities will collide, and the weather will only get even more extreme."
Natsume waved his hand.
"Then how do we stop them?"
Professor Ivy looked worriedly up at the sky.
"Knock them out, that's all."
As he spoke, Natsume took a single step and appeared between the two battling Divine Legendary Pokémon.
"Battle Domain, on!"
[Divine Legendary Pokémon detected.
This battle will be a team battle.]
[Divinity logging started.
Please provide additional battle data.]
"Go, center-parted!
Go, Mewtwo-Ball Rotom!"
[Trainer Natsume sent out Mewtwo-Ball Rotom!]
[Trainer Natsume sent out center-parted, but he failed!]
Hearing the broadcast, Natsume blinked.
Only then did he realize center-parted wasn't on him.
Strictly speaking, from start to finish, he hadn't noticed where center-parted had run off to.
Not good!
Natsume's face shifted.
Without that little shit-stirrer, he'd still be a bit strained taking on two Divine Legendary Pokémon at once.
Natsume looked to Ash for help.
It seemed only the "fighting spirit" on Ash could help right now.
Ash, full of admiration, immediately understood when he met Natsume's eyes.
"Don't worry, Natsume.
Leave this to you here.
I'm going to find that jerk!"
Saying that, Ash mounted Charizard and flew toward the waters where Lawrence III had fallen.
Natsume: "…"
[Mewtwo (Natsume Form) joined the battle.]
Hearing it was like a burst of celestial music.
At last, Natsume got a bit of good news.
"What about Lugia?" Natsume glanced at Mewtwo.
The latter maintained its Mega Evolution, as if it had just been in a fight.
"It insisted on coming.
We agreed on a compromise—I'll take its place."
Expressionless, Mewtwo turned and stared straight at the far-off Divine Zapdos and Articuno.
[Mewtwo's Genetic Overlord took effect!]
[Mewtwo-Ball Rotom's Individual Values rose.
Zapdos's Individual Values fell.
Articuno's Individual Values fell!]
[Mewtwo used Psychic Collapse.
It hit Articuno!]
[Articuno was afflicted with Gene Lock and will have a hard time bringing out its potential!]
A dark-violet flash struck out and hit Articuno.
Half of the HP bar above its head vanished in an instant.
"Hold up—I need to collect their data.
Trade a few more rounds."
[Articuno used Ice Beam.
It successfully hit Mewtwo!]
[Ability: Eternal Winter took effect!
Mewtwo was frozen.
Articuno recovered HP.
Mewtwo lost fixed HP.]
A string of broadcast lines sounded.
Natsume raised an eyebrow.
[Zapdos's Individual Values fell.
Articuno's Individual Values fell.
Mewtwo-Ball Rotom's Individual Values rose!]
[Mewtwo-Ball Rotom used the Rob-the-Rich-to-Aid-the-Poor Ball on Mewtwo.
Stored Dynamax energy was released!]
[Mewtwo (Natsume Form) Dynamaxed and recovered from being frozen!]
Calmly, Natsume cooperated with Mewtwo, recording the Divinity data of the two Divine Legendary Pokémon.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced down at Ash.
Astride Charizard, Ash tore across the sea toward the distant waters.
"Ptui!"
On a certain island, Lawrence III crawled up from the water, bedraggled.
All around him, countless black rods lay scattered in disarray.
"Cough, cough!"
Spitting out the briny seawater, Lawrence III glared up into the sky.
Up there, a towering, purple, humanoid Pokémon had risen to its feet.
"It must be a Divine as rare as Lugia!"
Seeing Dynamax Mewtwo suppress two Divine Legendary Pokémon in an instant, a feverish gleam flashed in Lawrence III's eyes.
"Mew… no, not that—"
With trembling hands, he drew an ancient coin from his inner pocket.
On the coin, a long, slender tail was especially distinct—a Pokémon like a little cat.
It was plainly Mew!
"Bastard, surrender now!"
A shout cracked the air.
Charizard skimmed the water and shot skyward, sending up a splash as it landed behind Lawrence III.
Drenched by the spray, Lawrence III didn't care at all.
He only spared Ash a casual glance and reflexively reached for his belt.
"Give it up.
Your golden rod is right here!"
Ash pulled a golden rod from his jacket.
Lawrence III's face froze.
Then he forced out a bared-teeth grin.
"Saves me the trouble of looking for it.
Thanks, little boy."
With that, he drew a pitch-black Poké Ball from his belt.
"Zzztt—"
Red light flashed, and a stiff, black-flame-wreathed Moltres appeared.
"Hand over the golden rod."
Standing behind Moltres, Lawrence III cast a furtive glance at the sky.
He had no desire to waste time with Ash here.
"What happened to Moltres!"
Ash glared at Lawrence III.
Something about Moltres looked all wrong.
"This is a Dark Ball." Lawrence III raised the pitch-black Poké Ball.
"Any Pokémon released from it will turn evil and berserk."
As he spoke, Lawrence III stole another glance at the sky.
He could feel an oppressive force locking onto this place—either that psychic named Natsume, or that Divinity-empowered Legendary Pokémon that had overpowered the two Legendary Birds and might have been Mew.
"Normally it's useless on Divine Legendary Pokémon, but this Moltres was too fragile."
Lawrence III began to laugh.
"It was the first to be captured.
It barely lasted three months before it was done for."
"But its current state is strange.
It's hanging on in a single breath and just won't drop."
"Understand now, brat?
You're facing the strongest Moltres, one without a will, completely obeying my command!"
Lawrence III's voice abruptly swelled, pressing with every word.
"I don't understand!"
Ash's voice was louder.
"You defiler of a corpse—there's no way I'm letting you go!"
Ash's eyes were crimson with rage.
"Hah?
Flamethrower!"
Laughing in anger, Lawrence III cut the chatter and struck without hesitation.
"That kid Natsume's got a Legendary helping him.
What do you have?!"
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