Chapter 1176: The Bond of Diantha

"This is..."

Diantha obtained a Dragonium Z.

This was something the Kommo-o had snatched from the Totem Pokémon.

Caitlin leaned in to observe, saying, "This must be a Z-Crystal, right? I remember it allows Pokémon to unleash exceptionally powerful strength!"

Because All Baimu had used one, she had specifically looked it up.

A Z-Crystal?

Diantha felt a spark of interest, though it was from the perspective of historical research.

She had spent the better part of yesterday reading history and mythology records, which included introductions to Z-Crystals, Z-Moves, and Z-Power.

If she remembered correctly, a Z-Crystal also required a tool called a Z-Ring to be used.

"Let's go, let's go up and take a look."

Diantha and Caitlin headed to the upper level of the Altar of the Sunne.

The mysterious sun patterns and the towering mountains were exactly as described in the records.

Although she had not witnessed the birth of Solgaleo or the invasion of Necrozma with her own eyes, the various materials she had collected still allowed her to imagine those scenes.

Her teacher once said that researching history requires a rich imagination.

Simply because everything is possible!

"It's too beautiful."

Diantha sighed from the bottom of her heart, looking out as the weight and colorful diversity of history entered her eyes.

Whenever this happened, she was moved beyond control.

Caitlin was equally dazzled, though she was merely attracted by Diantha's perfect profile.

From childhood to adulthood, Diantha was the only one who still made her feel exceptionally longing.

Strength was one aspect, but her mature personality, reliable character, and handsome appearance were all other facets.

Caitlin really wanted to become closer partners with her, but it was hard for an Unova Elite Four member to transfer to Sinnoh as an Elite Four member; she currently only had two possibilities—

First, challenge Iris to become the Unova Champion; second, challenge Diantha to become the Sinnoh Champion.

Caitlin really wanted to defeat Diantha, but she didn't want to replace her.

Therefore, she was currently working hard to challenge Iris.

"I—"

Just as she was about to speak, the Kommo-o beside them suddenly let out a low growl, its voice filled with vigilance.

Diantha looked to the side and was shocked to see a huge Hydreigon flying in from the horizon.

Caitlin, who had almost stayed up all night watching battle replays, recognized it instantly: "It's All Baimu's Hydreigon! Why is he here?"

Diantha said with a smile, "It seems we are quite fated."

Quite fated!?

Alarm bells rang in Caitlin's heart.

Although she knew very well that she was overthinking, many romance novels recommended to her by Shauntal described curiosity as the beginning of a relationship.

Not to mention All Baimu was very handsome!

Damn it!

Caitlin's eyes were deep and her long hair danced; at first glance, she looked just like Medusa with her petrifying gaze activated.

All Baimu, who had just landed, asked curiously, "Miss Caitlin? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Caitlin?"

Diantha's gaze barely retracted from the Hydreigon as she turned to look at her friend.

Caitlin quickly restrained her surging mental power and elegantly covered her mouth, saying, "Oh ho ho ho~ It's nothing~ Perhaps you misunderstood~"

All Baimu nodded, not dwelling on such a small matter, and said, "Are you two enjoying the ancient ruins?"

"Yes, I've always been very curious about Alolan history."

Diantha's eyes smiled, "Are you too?"

He replied, "I had an experience here before, and I came specifically to take a look this time."

Diantha was suddenly curious, "An experience? Related to Solgaleo?"

All Baimu was surprised, "You know?"

Logically speaking, only a handful of people like the Ultra Guardians knew about things related to Solgaleo.

Oh, and Team Rocket.

Diantha smiled, "I actually don't know much; can you share what you know?"

"..."

All Baimu looked at the deep-eyed Caitlin and said, "Sorry, this involves some other people's privacy."

The Solgaleo incident seemed closely related to Ultra Beasts, but the actual main characters were Lusamine's family.

Even if he knew Diantha couldn't go around spreading it, he didn't want to be a gossip.

"I see."

Diantha felt quite disappointed, but she understood very well.

Caitlin's impression of All Baimu also changed significantly.

Just a moment ago, she thought the other party would take this opportunity to get close to Diantha! But he refused?

"I won't disturb your interest any longer; see you both the day after tomorrow."

All Baimu didn't stay at the Altar of the Sunne for too long; he really just came to take a look.

He had cleared the Battle Tree once again.

He hadn't met the talent he was looking for at all.

His target, Ryuki, wasn't at the Battle Tree, and Hau would likely have to succeed as the Island King of Melemele Island...

It seemed there were no more walls to poach from?

A disappointed All Baimu then bid farewell to the brutally abused Hau.

But the kid's mentality had grown a lot; he could actually smile and say goodbye to him after losing so miserably.

He was much better than the group of Battle Tree Trainers nearby who were silent with dark faces!

"SHAZAAN!!"

Hydreigon carried All Baimu, let out an angry roar, flapped its wings, and left.

Its speed was very fast, and it disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Kommo-o: "..."

That guy was roaring for it to hear!

Diantha, who was also very familiar with the Dragon type, smiled with curved eyebrows, "Hahaha! What a vibrant Hydreigon!"

It wasn't just a saying that the higher the Pokémon's level, the more stable it became.

Her Garchomp, which she had raised since childhood, was now almost like an old grandfather, despite being a dragon in its prime at only ten-plus years old.

Hydreigon's vitality truly made her feel envious.

More importantly, she could feel the terrifying power contained within Hydreigon.

On par with Garchomp...

No!

It was even faintly above it!

This made Diantha very curious about All Baimu's training methods.

You have to know that Pokémon and Trainers often achieve each other; if either side drags their feet, they cannot reach the pinnacle.

But if both sides are gifted individuals, then one plus one will be far greater than two!

"Diantha!"

Caitlin called back Diantha's wandering thoughts.

She smiled embarrassedly and said, "Sorry, I got distracted; let's continue!"

According to the books Lillie gave her, Diantha found the secret chamber engraved with the deeds of the Radiant One.

Yes!

This is it!

Diantha observed the huge mural excitedly, wanting to take out her phone to take a picture, but worried that the flash would accelerate its oxidation.

She had no choice but to admire it for a while before retreating, stacking the wall bricks neatly, and sealing the gap.

She said, "I must mention this to the Island King of Bonidao to properly protect the Altar of the Sunne."

"These are treasures for all mankind; it would be a pity if they were just oxidized and weathered away."

Caitlin nodded frantically, "Yes! Yes!"

The two arrived at the town on Bonidao, and through various inquiries, learned that the Island Queen here was a yellow-haired girl.

A yellow-haired girl?

When Diantha and Caitlin saw the real person, they realized that what others described was not wrong at all.

Hapu, who was drinking tea, looked confused, "Who are you? What are you looking for me for?"

Diantha: "We have something we'd like to discuss with you."

Just as the words fell.

A rich aroma wafted out from the brick house next door.

Hapu was intoxicated by it, "As expected of the Poni radishes I grew, the only fragrance of its kind in the world!"

"They'll be ready to eat soon!"

All Baimu, wearing an apron, pushed the door open and couldn't help but smile when he saw Diantha and Caitlin: "We meet again, what a coincidence!"

The two looked at each other in silence.

The Alola region was neither big nor small; meeting so frequently could only prove that they were truly fated.

Hapu asked suspiciously, "All Baimu, are they people you know?"

"Of course, maybe you know them too."

All Baimu introduced, "This is Miss Diantha, the Sinnoh Champion; this is Miss Caitlin, the Unova Elite Four!"

Hapu was shocked, "Diantha! Caitlin!"

She then hurriedly introduced herself, "I, I am the Island Queen of Bonidao! Hapu!"

How could Hapu not know the gold content of a Champion and an Elite Four member?

Even though she had lived on this island since she was a child and had never left, she could still peek at the whole world through her Rotom Phone.

"Hello! Respected Island Queen Miss Hapu!"

Diantha greeted with a smile.

Caitlin also echoed politely.

Hapu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Have you eaten yet? Would you like to join?"

The aroma permeating the air was mouth-watering.

Caitlin wanted to be reserved, but Diantha beside her decisively agreed, "Then we'll trouble you!"

At the dinner table.

Diantha wanted to take the opportunity to mention her intentions, but the dazzling array of delicacies triggered her choice paralysis.

Fortunately, after All Baimu discovered this, he cleverly adopted a portioned meal system.

When she saw that she could eat all the food, Diantha started to enjoy it with satisfaction.

As a result, she didn't slowly stop until she had finished the entire portion.

"Phew... it's been a long time since I've eaten so satisfactorily."

Diantha wiped her mouth and smiled, "Thank you very much for your cooking, Chef All Baimu."

"As long as you're satisfied."

All Baimu smiled; being able to see the Champion he once admired like his cooking so much made even him feel very happy.

Caitlin put down her tableware with a complex expression, "Thank you, Chef."

Although she really didn't want to admit it, All Baimu was really a perfect man.

Strong strength, superb looks, and polite to others.

He even mastered such excellent culinary skills!

To put it bluntly, if she hadn't met Diantha first, maybe she really would have...

Woo!

Caitlin suddenly used her sleeve to block her blushing face.

What on earth was she thinking?

She shouldn't have gone to Shauntal to ask for so many novels to read!

Caitlin tried hard to adjust her emotions, squeezing a dignified smile on her face.

Diantha and Hapu didn't notice her strangeness; the two were discussing the issue of the Altar of the Sunne.

All Baimu noticed, but didn't quite understand why she was blushing.

High spirits?

There was no chili in today's food either.

Can't figure it out.

He shook his head, then heard Hapu tell Diantha about what happened at the Altar of the Sunne.

She wasn't the Island Queen back then, but after succeeding, she also learned a little bit from her predecessor and Tapu Fini.

"Ultra Beasts, huh."

Diantha's eyes were filled with endless curiosity.

She really wanted to see these magical creatures with her own eyes, but it sounded like they existed in another... some worlds?

All Baimu didn't speak, even though he knew where the whereabouts of the Ultra Beasts were.

The meal was enjoyed by both host and guest.

Hapu also adopted Diantha's opinion, but she had a small request—

"Battle me!"

"Of course."

The determination of the question and the decisiveness of the reply made the battle All Baimu was deeply curious about officially unfold.

However, the battle lasted for a very short time.

Compared to All Baimu, who didn't send out Aggron very often, Garchomp's usage rate with Diantha probably accounted for 50% or more.

He was able to witness with his own eyes Garchomp using its fins to continuously take damage, making Golett's output completely in vain, and successfully killing it in one hit with Dragon Rush.

An ordinary person might find it difficult to obtain enough effective information from such a one-sided battle.

All Baimu was different.

He had fought Hapu's Golett many times and could completely peek at what he wanted from its reactions.

"As expected of Diantha..."

All Baimu realized that his foresight was indeed correct.

Garchomp's energy level might not be as high as his Aggron's, but the experience Diantha had accumulated as a Champion over the past decade was enough for her to bridge that gap.

If he wasn't mistaken, Garchomp's energy level was probably around level 85.

This was already a very terrifying number.

The ace of many senior Elite Four teams was only level 75 at most; Garchomp reached this level purely on its own strength!

The gold content was beyond doubt!

If Diantha was like this, what about Leon's Charizard?

All Baimu looked forward to the Masters Eight tournament even more.

——

Returning from Bonidao to Melemele Island.

All Baimu didn't run into those two again; he began to prepare for the day after tomorrow's match.

"I've decided to let you two go on stage."

He looked at Blissey and the Shiny Milotic.

Caitlin mastered various Mega Evolutions, and he believed she would show them in the upcoming match.

And if he wasn't mistaken, the remaining ones should be Mega Alakazam and Mega Metagross.

Choosing one of the two...

It was probably Mega Metagross.

All Baimu knew very well that the other party had also studied his team; a fragile one like Mega Alakazam had no room for error on his side.

As long as Caitlin's brain wasn't broken, she wouldn't send this Pokémon up.

"Happy!"

"Milotic~"

Blissey and Milotic nodded in agreement.

But if the opponent was Metagross, it was slightly disadvantageous for Blissey.

All Baimu narrowed his eyes.

... It's fine!

Rely on hard strength to crush them directly!

He also wanted to show his strength to Diantha, preparing in advance for the upcoming Master Ball Tier tournament.

Because Ash only reached the Master Tier at the end of the season, he thought that the ranking was fixed after reaching the Master Tier.

But actually, that wasn't the case.

There were also battles between Master Ball Tier players, and the ranking would be determined by points.

It's just that such battles often appeared between the 8th and 7th place, used to push players with insufficient combat power to the back, giving "up-and-coming stars" a chance to challenge them and snatch their positions.

All Baimu happened to be such an up-and-coming star.

The next two days.

He stayed in the beach cabin preparing for the battle, occasionally going to Bewear's nest to take a look, and then picking up Gengar and Porygon2 from the tavern.

Time passed like a white horse passing a crack.

In the blink of an eye, the time for the official match with Caitlin arrived.

The venue was at the Manalo Conference stadium, and the audience seats were packed with people from all over the world.

Because Diantha was discovered by the organizer while buying ice cream, she was invited to be a guest responsible for discussing the match. ===== CHAPTER 1177 =====