Chapter 1082

Contrary to their guesses.

Long Ren had not fallen into the deepest part of the giant pit.

At least he had no memory of it in his mind; he only remembered being knocked out by some strange Pokémon, and when he woke up, he was near the bottom level.

"I feel like I've lost a lot of memories."

Long Ren looked distressed.

What was more uncomfortable than not going out on an adventure was undoubtedly having gone on one but forgetting it.

Arven said, "You wouldn't happen to have been knocked into amnesia, would you?"

"Eh!?"

Penny was taken aback.

All Baimu slapped his back hard and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense. I was about the same when I first came back. Don't rush; you'll remember eventually if you think about it slowly."

"I'll try my best... By the way, didn't you guys encounter that Pokémon? It was reddish and looked a lot like a Cyclizar. I suspect it's an evolved form of Cyclizar."

Long Ren described it vividly.

Nemona said, "What you're talking about should be Koraidon! It's the guardian here; we were almost attacked by it when we arrived too."

"Guardian?"

Long Ren froze for a moment, then asked expectantly, "Is it around here?"

Everyone turned their heads in unison to look at the motionless Turo AI. The information streams were still flashing crazily in its eyes, and this state had persisted for a very long time.

"Dad—"

Arven choked as if he had swallowed the second half of the address, his expression slightly conflicted as he said, "... What happened to Koraidon?"

Although he acknowledged the AI before him that possessed the equivalent memories of Professor Turo, calling it "Dad" to its face was truly awkward and hard to say.

Fortunately, the Turo AI didn't mind. Its eyes flickered as its consciousness returned, and it said, "After it lost to Miraidon, it has been staying in its Poké Ball and hasn't come out. It might have been hit hard by the defeat."

"Lost to Miraidon?"

Upon hearing this, Long Ren felt something was wrong and looked at All Baimu, saying, "This Miraidon thing, it wouldn't happen to be your Pokémon, would it?"

He silently turned his head, "..."

Long Ren grabbed All Baimu's clothes in grief and indignation, shaking him vigorously, "It's like this again! It's like this again! You never take me—huh? Why did I say 'again'? Never mind! We agreed to go on an adventure together!"

"Hey! Let's get this straight. It's not that I didn't take you; you were the one who snuck in first. What could I do?"

His body stood as steady as a mountain, his hands spread wide, looking completely innocent.

Long Ren gritted his teeth, "Even so, I want to battle it! I'm going to get back at it for the loss!"

"Alright, compared to battling, I think you need to rest and recover your memory more. Do you know you've been missing for nearly a month!"

All Baimu rejected his request.

It was currently two in the morning, and everyone had to recover their energy for the return trip tomorrow morning.

Long Ren was quite unwilling, but he couldn't win against the inevitable.

Soon.

The Area Zero Research Station returned to silence.

The Turo AI returned to the laboratory, took the elevator all the way down past the time machine, and arrived at a deep, sparkling cave.

Beside the elevator door, many documents were placed in a mess.

The Turo AI did not enter, but just muttered, "The Treasure of Area Zero... has it awakened?"

It hadn't been lying to them earlier when it said special procedures and permissions were needed to reach this place; the Turo AI had just used some small tricks to bypass the computer program—

The Porygon army's changes to the computer program had caused it to undergo additional transformations.

At this moment, the Turo AI had become more flexible and adaptable.

Just as it hadn't violated permissions by not leaving the elevator.

But some hidden system logs had been truly instilled into its thinking program.

"The source of the crystals... Terapagos... I hope your awakening won't bring trouble."

The Turo AI closed the elevator door and returned to the laboratory.

If the time machine, which should have been completely shut down, were to restart due to Terapagos's power, it really wouldn't know what to do.

——

The next day.

When the clouds above the cave lit up with white light.

Long Ren got his wish and saw Koraidon, and had a revenge battle with this wild, big lizard.

But perhaps because it had lost to Miraidon, Koraidon had very little interest in fighting. Before long, it flew away as if admitting defeat, lay on a large crystal, smacked its lips listlessly, and buried its head to sleep.

"A Pokémon that has been defeated is like an apple that has been bitten..."

Long Ren's eyes were exceptionally resentful.

All Baimu pretended not to hear and stroked the proud Miraidon with one hand.

The timid lizard... no, it should be called the victorious lizard now. Perhaps it was used to the motorcycle form, even though it could maintain a battle stance at any time.

It still chose this harmless appearance.

"Gah-sii~"

Miraidon looked proudly at the area near the Zero Lab.

This territory that originally belonged to it had been successfully taken back by it again. It felt so good!

However...

"Ah-gah-sii!"

It roared at Koraidon, indicating that it was letting it have this piece of turf.

In the past, it might have had some nostalgia for this place, but now Miraidon only wanted to follow All Baimu.

And when Koraidon heard this, it only felt a great humiliation.

Let?

Did it need to be let?

It had let this guy win once by luck, and now it dared to push its luck—

"Awoo-roar!!"

Koraidon roared suddenly, its whole body wreathed in crimson light, tumbling toward Miraidon like a wheel of light!

【Collision】!

Rumble—

Invisible waves in the air surged!

The group, who were packing up, were startled by Koraidon's sudden attack.

Miraidon was not afraid at all. In an instant, it changed into its battle stance, also spinning into a flashing blue electric wheel, and met it head-on!

【Lightning Rush】!

The two energy streams of red and blue collided with a bang!

Thud!!

The entire cave trembled due to the aftermath of their battle, and countless gravel fell with a clatter.

Long Ren said excitedly, "Now that's more like it! Hey! Count me in!"

Neither of the two big lizards paid him any mind.

These two guys were like the most common dual protagonists in sports anime—the scatterbrain and the grumpy one—not necessarily in love, but definitely at each other's throats!

What's funny is that Koraidon from the ancient times is the grumpy one, and Miraidon from the future is the scatterbrain.

It's the exact opposite of the character elements in general situations.

"Let them fight, let it fight to its heart's content." All Baimu stopped the Turo AI from taking out a Poké Ball.

For Miraidon, this was mostly a farewell battle.

It wasn't certain if it could come back in the future, so it had to make a thorough farewell to the opponent that had once left it covered in wounds.

"Have you remembered everything?"

All Baimu asked Long Ren, who was watching intently.

Long Ren said, "Almost, except for the part after Pecharunt fed me the mochi."

Is it because it's a dark history that you don't want to remember it?

All Baimu thought to himself.

By the time Nemona and the others finished packing, the battle between Miraidon and Koraidon was over.

The loser was undoubtedly Koraidon.

The move 【Dazzling Gleam】 was too authoritative; Koraidon, with its four-fold weakness to Fairy, couldn't take it at all.

"Goo-roar..."

The ancient Cyclizar lying on its back was sulking.

The future Cyclizar ran in front of All Baimu to ask for a head-pat reward, "Gah-roar~"

Big brother is strong, right?

From now on, big brother will cover you!

It held its head high spiritedly, its four lightning eyebrows fluttering and trembling, paired with its star-shining chest and the tail-flame-spewing hind legs, it was indeed very cool.

"Sure, very impressive."

All Baimu chuckled, took out a Poké Ball to release Aggron, and installed the newly modified saddle for it.

The big monster felt puzzled about the "basket" on its back.

"Goo-roar?"

"I'm favoring you today, please carry me out." He jumped onto Aggron's back, very satisfied with the results of his all-nighter last night.

Aggron was speechless, and had long been accustomed to its Trainer's occasional sudden whims.

Nemona circled around it and said, "This thing is not bad, eh. I wonder if my Skeledirge can have one made..."

"Please spare it. Skeledirge isn't really a Pokémon suitable for riding."

Penny commented.

Arven came to Miraidon's side and patted its back, "Hey! Please carry us out in a bit!"

"Gah-roar~"

Miraidon rolled and changed back into its motorcycle form.

The Turo AI watched silently from the side, a sense of melancholy rising in its heart for no reason, even though it had only known these children for a day.

"Children..."

It opened its mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Nemona smiled and said, "Professor Turo, you don't have to worry. Once the Chairwoman knows about what happened here, she will definitely come to help you too!"

"Has it already been decided to report it... As expected of Paldea's Champion-level Trainer." Penny said, as if complaining about a simple and honest corporate slave.

Little did she know that she had long been on Geeta's talent list, just waiting for the right opportunity to offer her a job.

Arven bit his lower lip and said, "Dad... Dad, I will come to see you often."

"Good, I'll wait for you."

The Turo AI nodded with soft eyes.

As long as Arven was willing to acknowledge him, he was that Professor Turo who loved his family deeply.

All Baimu suddenly remembered something, took a photo out of his pocket, and flew it toward the Turo AI, "Sorry, Professor. I took your thing before, now I'm returning it to you."

"Thing?"

The Turo AI took it, and seeing the young Arven and Mabosstiff in the photo, its face was filled with vivid humanity.

It carefully placed it close to its body.

Arven asked, "What was that photo?"

"It was a key item that, if Professor Turo went berserk, would be very likely to awaken his humanity."

All Baimu thought it would come in handy when he took it.

As it turned out, Porygon2 was too effective and didn't give him a chance to use this key treasure at all.

The group set off.

The Turo AI and Koraidon watched them leave until their backs were no longer visible.

The Zero Lab returned to its former silence.

——

On the way back.

Long Ren was resentfully looking for new prey.

According to him, since he had come all the way to Area Zero, and even snuck in, how could he leave without gaining anything?

If Nemona hadn't stopped him, Long Ren would likely have set his sights on the deeper parts of the giant pit.

Little did they expect that when the group left the cave and arrived at the sun-drenched lower level, and were about to see the third observation station.

Three familiar figures stood on the cliff, looking down at them.

"It's you guys again!"

Long Ren looked at the mechanical-looking future Swords of Justice and immediately set his sights on them, "Come on! Let's continue the battle that didn't finish yesterday!"

"Count me in!"

Nemona's hands were also itching; she hadn't managed to join the fray yesterday, today was just right!

Both of them looked at All Baimu on Aggron's back.

Wouldn't it be great for each person to have one?

All Baimu waved his hand, "I'll pass. Arven, Penny, whichever of you needs one, go ahead."

Having seen too many unfamiliar Pokémon in a short period, he was a bit tired.

Penny shook her head repeatedly and said, "I'm afraid of having nightmares at night, and I only like Eevee."

She was a die-hard Eevee fan!

Arven hesitated for a moment, but actually rolled up his sleeves and decided to give it a try.

"From now on, I want to try coming in by myself!"

All Baimu and Nemona couldn't be his bodyguards every time, Arven was very clear about that.

The three future Swords of Justice seemed to have chosen their opponents as well, jumping down to engage in battle with the Pokémon sent out by the three.

Bang!

Rumble!

Various explosion sounds echoed in the lower level of Area Zero.

All Baimu leaned down and pressed against the back of Aggron's head, the thick iron armor feeling cool, "I missed you so much~ big monster~"

"Goo-roar~"

Aggron turned its head, the same emotion echoing in its deep blue eyes.

How could it not want to stay with All Baimu every moment?

It was just a pity that its size was too large, making it difficult to coordinate with his actions.

But being able to press against the Trainer's body even inside the Poké Ball made Aggron feel very satisfied.

All Baimu pressed his left cheek against it and whispered, "Next time, I'll stick to you guys even when I sleep."

"Goo-roar~"

Aggron responded gently.

The pair of partners, one speaking and one responding, didn't pay any attention to the several battles in the distance.

Penny, who was forced to eavesdrop, felt her ears turn red. She was surprised that All Baimu had such a mushy side; it seemed only his Pokémon could make him like this.

A moment later.

Arven, who was fighting Iron Leaves, was defeated.

Mabosstiff was quite strong, but Iron Leaves' combat ability was extraordinary, taking all its moves with just a few light swords.

The Iron Thorns and Iron Crown nearby were the same, not using other moves, and spent the whole time clashing with Dragonite and Skeledirge using light swords.

"These Pokémon seem to be using Arven and the others as whetstones." Penny gave her judgment.

All Baimu nodded, "You're right. Not only do they look like the Swords of Justice, but their behavior is also like the Swords of Justice."

The Swords of Justice in the Unova legends helped the weak and protected small Pokémon, while also challenging powerful Pokémon to prove themselves—

For example, Kyurem.

In the movie, Keldeo only gained the identity of a Sword of Justice from the other three after being recognized by Kyurem.

After Iron Leaves defeated Arven's Mabosstiff, it set its sights on Aggron under All Baimu.

"Bip!"

Light flashed in its crimson electronic eyes.

Aggron turned its head and refused its challenge.

Iron Leaves didn't force the challenge either, jumping back to a high place using the protrusions of the rock, looking down at the battle of its other two teammates.

It was just that compared to Arven, who was bad at battling, Long Ren and Nemona were much stronger. Before long, Iron Crown, who was fighting Skeledirge, was defeated.

"Hahaha! You're still a bit short!"

Nemona laughed and took out a Poké Ball, then awkwardly put it back, "Sorry, sorry."

She had wanted to catch the future Swords of Justice before, but after learning that they helped Professor Turo guard Area Zero and didn't let other future Pokémon escape, she gave up the idea.

Iron Crown looked at her, lowered its head to show respect for the strong, and returned to the mountain.

Long Ren's battle ended last.

They fought all the way to the far distance, to the point where even the figures of All Baimu and the others were almost invisible, before ending the battle.

The defeated Iron Thorns knelt halfway. Long Ren threw a Poké Ball as a matter of course, but unfortunately, a single one couldn't catch Iron Thorns. After Iron Thorns broke free, it fled to where its companions were.

"Where did my Poké Ball go? Right! It was used up by All Baimu."

Long Ren searched all his pockets before finding a second empty Poké Ball, feeling a bit annoyed about missing the opportunity.

But he wasn't too obsessed with it.

He put his hands on his hips and said refreshingly, "Finally satisfied! Haha! This feeling is still the best!"

Always being intercepted by All Baimu, he was almost developing a psychological shadow.

At this moment.

A wobbly "Delibird" passed by him, its arrogant appearance making him blink repeatedly.

"You... why do you look like that?"

(End of chapter)