Everyone in the real world was shocked to the extreme.
In fact, not only Lugia, but many Legendary Pokémon who could not speak were also stunned beyond words.
They never expected that one day they would see a human perform such an operation….
At this moment, the situation in the world displayed on the Black World screen changed again.
In a Black World —
Ash looked at the smoke lingering in the sky and the enormous, slow-to-close crater in the sea, finally unable to help but sit down.
The technique just now had exhausted all his energy.
Although he hadn't launched a single move himself, just using his Aura to control the Thunder Kirin had been enough to drain him completely.
That was why he was in this state.
Pikachu beside him struck a similar pose.
Both of them had lost half their fighting strength. The rest… was up to Lugia.
Whoosh—
A dark figure emerged from the clouds.
Dark Lugia's body was now covered in scars. The Thunder Kirin hadn't killed it outright, but it had inflicted massive damage!
Just as Ash had declared, Dark Lugia's Dragon Dive had been shattered!
The moment Dark Lugia appeared, two powerful cyclones manifested before it!
With almost no interval, the two space-rending cyclones exploded right in Dark Lugia's face!
Lugia had muttered to himself earlier. Of course, Ash's words about wanting to kill his wife were just to provoke it.
If Dark Lugia had been completely defenseless, the Thunder Kirin might have been able to finish it off. However, Dark Lugia was still armored with its Dragon Dive, and coupled with its own Dragon typing, it had only taken significant damage in the head-on clash with the Kirin. It was far from dead, or even from losing the ability to fight.
Ash's Aura could sense the energy clearly, so the moment the aftermath dissipated, Lugia was already charging its next attack.
As Dark Lugia emerged from the clouds, the Aeroblast was already aimed directly at its face!
Another deafening explosion rang out, and a small mushroom cloud bloomed in the sky once more!
This time, Dark Lugia didn't even have time to defend. A mournful cry echoed through the air. A few seconds later, Dark Lugia plummeted from the sky, seemingly having completely lost its ability to fight.
Lugia flapped its wings, a gentle breeze lifting Dark Lugia up. Then, it carried Ash and Pikachu to a nearby island.
The half-hour-long battle had finally ended in Lugia's victory.
After all… Lugia's side was effectively two top-tier Legendaries, right? Dark Lugia was still in a frenzied state. If they couldn't win this, they might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.
After gently placing Dark Lugia on the ground, Ash, who had recovered somewhat, jumped down from Lugia.
"You don't need more rest? Didn't that Aura technique consume a huge amount?"
"No problem. If we rest and Dark Lugia wakes up, there could be trouble later. It's better to purge the dark power from it as soon as possible."
As he spoke, Ash slowly placed his palm on Dark Lugia's body. The vast Aura within him surged forth, intertwining with Dark Lugia's own Aura.
Just as Lugia had said, Ash's Aura carried a surge of righteous energy.
The moment Ash's Aura merged with Dark Lugia's, Dark Lugia's Aura reacted with extreme violence! It was like a mouse meeting a cat—its natural enemy!
Originally, Ash thought it would be a long struggle to purge the malevolent energy attached to the opponent's Aura, but the result…
Perhaps because Dark Lugia was severely injured and unconscious, and Ash's Aura inherently countered the power of darkness, the purification proceeded with unexpected smoothness.
In just three minutes, the evil energy within Dark Lugia was completely eradicated.
But…
Ash still had his doubts. Good and evil were opposing forces. Now, his Aura was stronger than Dark Lugia's, so this result seemed natural.
However, when he touched that dark power, he sensed something hidden within it… a feeling that its true target was actually him!
Yes, it was clearly within Dark Lugia, but Ash just felt that the power's real objective was to find him!
The feeling was utterly absurd. There was no evidence, let alone proof. Ash could only bury this matter in his heart. Perhaps the answer lay in the Aura within Lugia's body; he would have to find Vicious to get a clear explanation!
Under Lugia's anxious gaze, Ash slowly opened his eyes and offered a relieved smile.
"Fortunately, I didn't fail you."
Haaah—
Hearing this, Lugia released the breath it was holding in a great sigh.
It's fine… as long as she's fine!
It spread its broad wings and lovingly cradled its mate. In the battle just now, the one who suffered most… was Lugia itself! Seeing its beloved in pain, even having to attack her, finally beating her into unconsciousness… If there had been any other choice, Lugia would never have done such a thing…
A gentle, watery power slowly enveloped the two Lugia.
Trivia: Although Lugia is not Water-type, it is called the Guardian of the Seas not only because it lives in the ocean, but also because it has masterful control over water's power! Water—soft and nurturing—is one of the best attributes for healing injuries, second only to Grass-type.
The move Lugia was using now should be Aqua Ring. With its immense power, Dark Lugia's injuries were slowly repaired bit by bit.
Within just five minutes, Dark Lugia gradually awoke from its coma.
"Woo?"
Upon waking, Dark Lugia's eyes were still scarlet, but Ash clearly felt the violent fury within them was gone, replaced by confusion. Its soft cry was also its own true voice.
It seemed… she was back to normal!
As Lugia had said, turning "Dark" didn't make its mate violent; it only greatly increased her power. The real culprit behind the madness was the malevolent energy attached to the Aura within her body. One could also say that energy had latched onto her. After all, Aura was the reflection of life itself.
"Are you alright, Jing?"
"It feels like… I had a nightmare."
The two Lugia communicated in their own voices, but Ash's Aura power automatically translated it into words he could understand. Lugia's mate was named Jing. As for Lugia itself, its name was Hai…
After they conversed for a while, Dark Lugia looked at Ash.
"Thank you, young one. You saved me and our family. If not for you…"
"Just a small thing, a small thing… By the way, Little Yin, come out and see your mother."
Ash remembered Little Yin, who was already growing impatient in its Poké Ball, and released it. A touching reunion between father, mother, and child ensued.
After the brief, emotional reunion, the Guardian of the Seas turned to business with Ash.
'Ash, I must return to watch over Mewtwo's breakthrough soon. I leave my mate and child to you.'
"Don't worry. With the dark power purged from Jing's body, once her strength returns to its peak, who could possibly defeat her? It's not me protecting them; they should be the ones protecting me."
"Pika pika!"
Ash rubbed his nose, and Pikachu nodded in agreement. With their current strength, how could they possibly protect a top-tier Legendary like Dark Lugia? It should be the other way around—Dark Lugia should protect them.
Unexpectedly, Jing shook her head and spoke to Ash.
"My previous power was forcibly elevated to that level. In truth, my actual power is only at the sub-Legendary-tier. Moreover, that dark power severely damaged my life essence. Returning to my peak—the sub-Legendary-tier—will be quite difficult. However… there is a power that can help me quickly repair my essence and rapidly recover to my peak."
Ash saw Dark Lugia's intense gaze and understood instantly.
"You mean my Aura power?"
"Yes. Your Aura possesses a wondrous power. Rather than saying the Aura itself can repair my essence, it's better to say the darkness-dispelling power contained within your Aura can restore me. But don't worry, I don't need you to extract your Aura for me. I just need to stay by your side to slowly recover."
To be precise, Dark Lugia didn't need Ash to actively use his Aura; it only needed to absorb the special energy naturally emitted from his Aura. That energy was usually imperceptible even to Ash, what the Sea Guardian called Righteous Spirit.
While purging the evil energy, Ash had also sensed this power hidden within his own Aura. It seemed only when encountering naturally hostile, malevolent energy did this power manifest.
He still hadn't figured it out… why, besides his own Aura power and the Sea Guardian's blessing, there was yet another strange power within his body…
"So, Jing, you wish to stay with me?"
"Mm. Oh, and I won't occupy a slot in your Poké Ball. Normally, I'll sleep here. If you need me, just call." As she spoke, a dark feather slowly floated before Ash. From the feather, Ash felt a surging power of Dark and Dragon energy.
This… was similar to the Silver Wing, right? Just that the color and the elemental energy contained within had changed.
"This feather is similar to the one my mate gave you, also just crafted by him," came Dark Lugia's voice again, noticeably weaker now. Had crafting the feather worsened her injuries?
"However, there is one difference: this feather will not transform into a Poké Ball but will reside directly within your body. I will sleep within this feather. You need only call, and I will come. Furthermore, your body is also the place with the densest Aura, which is perfect for my recovery."
Inside his body again…
Ash grasped the feather before him, momentarily at a loss for words. He always felt… there were too many strange things taking up residence inside him!
Would he turn into a monster someday?
[Lance:] A classic 'will I turn into a monster' worry. Buddy, after all that, you already are one!
[Ash:] Ah… Even I think that other me is insane… But I really want to be him!
[Flint:] Phew~ Anyway, that battle's over, right? I was on the edge of my seat! Dang, that was intense!
[Caitlin:] It was like watching a movie… but far more thrilling than any movie.
[Cynthia:] By the way, did Black World Ash just… befriend a top-tier Legendary?
Silence—
The livestream fell quiet for over ten seconds before Professor Oak spoke softly.
[Professor Oak:] I suppose so. After all, for Ash, the most important criterion for forming a bond with a Pokémon isn't whether it enters a Poké Ball, but whether it feels a sense of recognition or affection for you. With that bond, the Pokémon is yours even without a Ball. Without it, even forced capture means nothing.
[Professor Oak:] Yes! Calling out Team Rocket by name!
[Giovanni:] ? ? ?
[Giovanni:] Picking on me, are you? How dare a flying-type specialist be so arrogant?
[Lance:] Hah, joking too much gets boring. They call me the Dragon Master, so do you, the 'flying king,' dare to challenge me?
[Giovanni:] What's there to fear? Why don't you go deal with the real criminal organizations like Team Galactic, Team Magma, Team Aqua, and Team Plasma first? Why is Team Rocket, just trying to make an honest living, always getting harassed?
[Lance:] Hah! I, the Johto Champion and Kanto Elite Four member, should ignore the biggest tumor in Kanto-Johto and go meddle in other regions' affairs? Is the problem with you or with me?
The two old rivals bickered once more.
[Caitlin:] Hey, hey… weren't we talking about Ash befriending a Legendary? How did we get here?
[Lance:] Tch… can't be bothered with that old fossil. He's already in custody anyway. His arrogance won't last long.
[Karen:] Dark Lugia is Dark/Dragon type, right? Woo~ I want it so much! A Dark-type… the black feathers, the sinister aura, the captivating darkness! Ahhhhh!
[Bruno:] ...
[Koga:] ...
[??? Kazuki:] Uh… I don't know her.
[Lance:] Ahem, Karen, rein in that… enthusiasm.
In the Black World —
Dark Lugia vanished into the black feather in Ash's hand, and the feather itself flew into Ash's body. With that… the pact was complete.
Ash still felt somewhat unreal. After Mewtwo… he had formed a bond with another Mythical Pokémon-level being? And this one was of a higher tier than Mewtwo! A top-tier Legendary!
How many top-tier Legendaries even existed in the world? Frankly, as long as he didn't run into the absolute pinnacle Legendaries, he could practically walk sideways across the world!
Even against the Elite Four, sending out Dark Lugia would make him virtually unbeatable! No one had ever trained a regular Pokémon to the level of a top-tier Legendary… yet.
But using Legendaries in ordinary battles? That was just not done! What kind of serious trainer used Legendaries in League matches? Legendaries were for dealing with other Legendaries!
And… he seemed to encounter Legendary-level events that others might see once in a century several times a year. Every time he needed help, but now it was different. He had a personal bodyguard. He wouldn't have to worry about facing a top-tier Legendary anymore!
"Thank you, Ash… thank you for helping my family."
"It was only right. Actually, I'm the one who benefited!"
Ash waved his hand, indicating Lugia didn't need to thank him. Seeing this, Lugia stopped. The friendship between them seemed to have moved beyond mere thanks.
But the next topic made Lugia's expression turn solemn.
"Ash… who is this 'Vicious'? Where is he?"
Unconcealable anger laced the words of the usually calm and benevolent Guardian of the Seas.
Before coming, Ash had told him the reason his mate became like this was all because of a man named Vicious!
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