Chapter 299

Team Plasma people in silver uniforms were guarding in front of the Celestial Tower, and more members entered the interior of the Celestial Tower.

"We are here to mourn the deceased Pokémon."

Sage Rood led the Team Plasma people into the Celestial Tower. The guards here immediately warned: "This is the Celestial Tower, the place where righteous souls sleep. You are not allowed to mess around!"

"We don't want to cause trouble, this is just a mourning and preaching. People's longing for the deceased Pokémon has turned into wind, rain, and rivers. Those happy times will never fade. In order not to let the memories of the deceased be forgotten, and at the same time to comfort their souls, we want to hold a memorial service here."

"The friendship between humans and Pokémon is great. That is why the Celestial Tower appeared. This is an important place for people to mourn Pokémon, and we, Team Plasma, also respect this place."

"After all, we are a religious organization, and things related to souls need to be feared."

However, although Rood was talking about mourning, those Team Plasma people crowded this high tower. They arranged manpower on every floor. Rood looked at the people here with some emotion.

"It's different from other buildings that comfort souls. Unova's Celestial Tower has so many people, it doesn't look like a place with sad memories at all. This is very different from the style of a cemetery."

"People who are sad about losing Pokémon gathering here should have a darker atmosphere."

"Then... everyone, please calm down and listen to me."

Rood spread his hands, and his robe swayed gently with the breeze. Among the Seven Sages, Rood has the best image and the demeanor of a sage. In the past, when the Seven Sages were not yet gathered, most of the preaching was done by Rood and Zinzolin.

"The relationship between humans and Pokémon is essentially unequal. This relationship leads to the pain and sacrifice of Pokémon."

"Separation is the only way to avoid more pain. The deceased Pokémon cannot rest in peace because humans are still repeating mistakes."

"Injuries in battle, pressure from training, unexpected diseases, and even the wrong behavior of humans themselves have led to the death of Pokémon. What causes all this is human possessiveness toward Pokémon."

"Only when you lose do you know how to cherish, and only when you part do you understand pain."

"Do not form ties, lest you add to the sorrow."

"Let Pokémon stay away from human battlefields, human desires, and human mourning—in the true wilderness, redefine the meaning of 'living'."

"Isn't that so? This is the beginning of the chain of misfortune."

Rood's voice was transmitted to the hearts of the mourners present. They recalled the bits and pieces they had experienced with their partners. Those times and scenes were still vivid, but in the cold reality, all that remained were hard tombstones one after another.

Perhaps they shouldn't have formed ties with Pokémon in the first place.

Lifespan is an insurmountable hurdle. After humans pass away, partners will inevitably be sad, and if partners pass away, humans will also be incomparably painful.

Do not form ties, lest you add to the sorrow.

Deceased Pokémon and existing Pokémon, they seem to have no connection, but in fact, they have long been connected. The same relationship may lead to the same tragedy.

"Lord Rood speaks so well."

"That's right, meeting is the beginning of misfortune."

Team Plasma members were also whispering. They felt that Rood's words were very reasonable, hit the heart, and grasped the key point of the relationship between humans and Pokémon.

And in the crowd, an old painter looked at this scene coldly. In his hand was an old photo with a Sawsbuck and a smiling Munna.

In a trance, he seemed to be able to hear Munna's shouting. That once joyful laughter was still in his ears, as well as the Sawsbuck with four-season colors he met in Mistralton City.

Because Munna died, and he didn't want to bear this pain again, he released the remaining Pokémon.

Perhaps meeting is the beginning of misfortune, this sentence is absolutely correct. If they didn't meet, then these tragic things wouldn't happen.

He no longer has dreams, and he can't paint new works. There is nothing on the blank canvas—he is already a useless person.

【There is no such thing...】

Vaguely, Old Man Vado heard a voice like his Munna, but then he gave a bitter smile.

His Pokémon has already passed away. Deceased souls don't talk, and Pokémon don't speak human languages.

It's just that there was a strange palpitation in his heart just now, like the feeling when he met his partner... How could it appear at this time?

————

【Festival Mission: Battle with the King at the Celestial Tower.】

【Description: The appointment with N is about to be fulfilled. The King of Team Plasma seems to have captured a powerful Pokémon. He is about to have a battle of belief with you at the Celestial Tower. Team Plasma has prepared a grand stage. Are you going up?】

【There are countless souls of Pokémon in the Celestial Tower, and there is huge and incredible power of emotion and soul there!】

【Rewards: Release Orb x15, Seeker's Belief x1, King's Rock x1, Passionate Soul (Master-level Spirit Connection), Soul Liberation!】

Whoosh—gloomy strong winds blew, the grass sea in the distance swayed, Sawsbuck carried the two, opened its four hooves, and quickly stepped from the town into the green ocean composed of tall grass!

Clatter!

The pouring rain began to fall. Just stepping on Route 7, they had to accept the test of wind and rain. Strong winds could overturn houses and uproot trees, and violent thunder fell from the sky, raging crazily here.

Traveling on Route 7, Sawsbuck's lost mood recovered a little. This is the hometown where it was born, the wilderness of Mistralton with distinct seasons. The tall grass is like a forest, surging like waves when blown by the wind. Sawsbuck let out a high-pitched cry, and soon, many small heads poked out from the grass.

Deerling, many Deerling looked curiously at this Sawsbuck. Some Deerling seemed to recognize Sawsbuck, and they happily let out deer cries, and Sawsbuck also returned greetings to them.

It used to be the leader of the deer herd here. The old man who was good at painting often used it as a template to paint. Just like that, he and the old man formed a deep friendship and voluntarily became his Pokémon, but in the end, he abandoned it and listened to the absurd remarks of those religious groups.

"Whoosh—wait a minute!"

Near the tall grass, a girl's voice sounded. Guangtai turned his head and saw Skyla who had fallen into the mud.

"Miss Skyla?"

"Ya hahaha, originally I was going to have Swanna take me over, but Route 7 suddenly had a thunderstorm, and the strong wind threw me directly from the sky."

"Today's wind is really angry. I felt this mood from the airflow..."

Skyla stood up, but her legs were a bit clumsy, and her body swayed violently. She glanced at her heel:

"Seems to have sprained it, but it doesn't matter, please take me to the Celestial Tower!"

Skyla was worried about the situation at the Celestial Tower, so even if she was injured, she had to go to that high tower. Guangtai reached out to Skyla, and with a light pull, a huge force pulled Skyla onto Sawsbuck!

"Woah! You are so strong!"

"Don't worry about that." Guangtai shrugged, then took out a potion from his pocket: "Apply this to your foot, and the injury will recover immediately."

"This is my special potion."

"Thank you!" Skyla was not polite and took the potion directly. The heavy rain was falling from the sky, but Guangtai's body was very dry, and an invisible barrier appeared beside Sawsbuck and the two.

"Can't feel the rain, this is... is it a barrier projected by superpowers!"

Guangtai: "Miss Skyla knows this ability?"

"Hmm!" Skyla nodded: "There are also psychics in the Celestial Tower. They will use psychic projection barriers to block wind or rain and keep their bodies clean, but this is the first time I've experienced it personally!"

"Come to think of it, I didn't have time to ask your identity just now! You are actually with Miss Wan Long of the Elite Four."

Guangtai: "Wan Long is my client. I am an item craftsman. My name is Guangtai. I am currently traveling in Unova with a strong purpose."

"Eh? A craftsman? This profession is rarely seen in Unova!"

Skyla became interested: "So you make battle items? I heard that the Battle Company in Mistralton City recently updated their virtual battle software, and it seems they added all kinds of strange battle items in it!"

Guangtai: "The Battle Company also cooperates with me. The development of various items in the new era will make Pokémon battles more diversified. Promoting battle items to various regions is one of my dreams."

The two communicated with each other. Skyla was very talkative and curious.

"Traveling... although I often fly planes to and from various parts of Unova, I have never really traveled on foot."

"Flying is an interesting thing. Even if it takes a long time to reach a place on foot, you can arrive in an instant if you fly a plane! And flying over mountains and forests really makes people feel a sense of refreshment from the bottom of their hearts."

Guangtai: "Although I have Pokémon that can float, I don't have Pokémon with the Flying type. The sky is still an unknown field for me."

Skyla was excited: "If that's the case, after things are over, if you are interested, let's take an aerial tour together! Because you helped the people of Mistralton City drive away Team Plasma, this is my thanks."

"Next time, I will also try to walk to other cities. Maybe I will have special feelings... Occasionally walking on the ground will also give birth to different emotions, just like now."

"I was rejected by the sky. Today's sky is very angry because the gods of wind and thunder have come..."

Guangtai: "Tornadus and Thundurus?"

"Do you know the legend of Mistralton? That's right, those two Pokémon are the ones that call for thunder and storms..."

Skyla pointed to the sky in the distance and suddenly froze.

The wind and rain stopped.

Without any warning, it stopped abruptly. The weather on Route 7 is like a child's face, changing as soon as it says so. The dark clouds began to disperse, and a touch of golden light fell on the Celestial Tower in the distance, setting off the stone tower as both ancient and sacred.

"I saw..."

Skyla's tone suddenly became very nervous: "Hey! Did you see it?"

"What?" Guangtai tilted his head in confusion. Skyla held Guangtai's shoulder: "A pilot's eyesight is very good! I just saw it, absolutely no mistake. The gods of wind and thunder appeared, but they were captured by someone!"

"So that's it." Guangtai nodded. Skyla was very confused: "What's wrong? Do you know what's going on?"

"The person who captured the gods of wind and thunder is the King of Team Plasma, and he can be considered my friend. However, I am opposed to the organization Team Plasma, and that King... should be considered a pretty good person."

"The King of Team Plasma?!" Skyla's expression became very nervous, and she grabbed Guangtai's shoulder unconsciously.

"Miss Skyla, you..."

"This is my responsibility!" Skyla didn't notice her strength at all, but her heart was a mess, as if blaming herself: "If they release legendary Pokémon at the Celestial Tower, it will definitely make everyone panic. That is a sacred place, they cannot be allowed to mess around like this!"

"That's right, they must be using legendary Pokémon to make everyone submit. The Team Plasma person just now did the same! Purrloin hunting, the tragedy that happened before must never be repeated!"

"Forcing others through behaviors like fighting is wrong."

"So, in order to stop this behavior, I must fight that person!"

Skyla rarely expressed a desire to fight. In the animation, she is a very casual person, and in the game, although she is slightly more serious, she is still an optimistic and cheerful character. Only in special animations did she show a militant side.

"Yo—"

Sawsbuck's neighing brought the two back to their senses. The Celestial Tower was already in sight!

"Ah. Are you here?"

N, who was brought back to the foot of the tower by the Shadow Triad's psychic power from the end of Route 7, saw the two coming on Sawsbuck. Guangtai arrived as promised, even much earlier than expected, which made N quite happy.

"Although there is a lack of time for coordination, this can better reflect the natural power of Pokémon. I firmly believe that my belief is correct."

N pointed to the top of the Celestial Tower: "Without further ado, my friends and I are in excellent condition now. Let's go to the top of the tower immediately."

"Wait a minute, who are you?"

Skyla jumped off Sawsbuck's back and questioned N, but N just smiled: "I am the King of Team Plasma."

"Miss Gym Leader, don't worry, nothing will happen here."

"The Celestial Tower is the place where righteous souls sleep. Lord Guangtai, just like we agreed, let's go to the top of the tower first."

"Miss Gym Leader, this is not your battlefield, your Pokémon are also saying so."

Skyla was surprised: "Not mine...?" Then she looked at Guangtai.

Guangtai smiled: "Let's go up together. It seems he doesn't want to accept your challenge, so let me have this opportunity."

Skyla had doubts in her heart, but then she understood that the significance of this duel might be very significant.

A duel between the highest leader of a religious organization and a traveler—what is it for?

Afterward, she remembered what the center-parted sage muttered when vomiting blood.

Legendary dragon, Unova's founding legend—that is a popular mythological story.

"Legendary dragon... Legendary... hero?!"

(End of chapter)