Chapter 361: Human-Horse Reincarnated King: Temperamental Frost Mage

"A hat?"

Hearing Piōni's mutter, Luo Mu turned his gaze away from the two receding figures, lost in thought.

He hadn't expected to see that person again in Frozentown.

Mo En, the Alola-region Pokémon professor who studies Ultra Wormholes, husband of Lusamine and director of the Aether Foundation, known as the human embodiment of Vespiquen. Cough, cough.

As for the "person" beside Mo En, if Luo Mu remembered correctly, the white-and-yellow brim Piōni saw was likely the translucent edge of an Ultra Beast's umbrella—Shiny Vespiquen.

Ultra Beasts are beings from another world called the Ultra Space, extradimensional creatures; Vespiquen is one such.

Why Mo En lived alone in the Crown Tundra of the Galar region, and why he had an Ultra Beast daughter he called "Lillie."

The origin of it all lay in a single day years ago, when Mo En, researching how to open Ultra Wormholes, fell into one during an experiment accident and vanished.

But Mo En, having fallen into the Ultra Wormhole and entered Ultra Space, was discovered unconscious by a Shiny Vespiquen. The Vespiquen, using another Ultra Wormhole, tried to extract Mo En from Ultra Space—only to find themselves emerging in the icy, snowy Crown Tundra.

Through its unique ability, Vespiquen read fragments of Mo En's memories. Perhaps due to some peculiar emotion, it gazed at the amnesiac, bewildered Mo En before it.

Vespiquen thus settled down with him in the Crown Tundra, while Lusamine, far away in Alola, launched research into Ultra Wormholes to find her husband.

Regarding Mo En, Luo Mu thought he might wait until after resolving matters with Reincarnated King, then pay him another visit to confirm his current condition.

He'd better inform Lusamine about it only when he himself traveled to Alola, based on the circumstances.

At that moment, accompanied by the old village chief's booming shout, he completed the final stitch of the Bond Reins.

The surrounding villagers and tourists clapped enthusiastically, clearly impressed by the old man's dazzling sewing skill.

A few others, however, stared at the reins in his hands—crude in appearance, poorly stitched in many places, barely recognizable in shape, a disaster of detail—and looked as if they wanted to speak but held back.

Naturally, this included Luo Mu and Piōni.

Clearly, the old chief noticed this. He adjusted his reading glasses and said to Luo Mu: "Though I consider myself dexterous, that was only when I was young."

"Though I hate to admit it, my vision has severely declined, and my hands tremble uncontrollably now—this is only a half-finished product. Hmm, if only someone skillful and nimble were here."

Luo Mu had been about to raise his hand and volunteer—after all, besides the Bond Reins mixed with Spiritomb mane, he'd likely need to sew the Frost Mage's reins too.

To make a new, cute fabric skin for Mimikyu, he'd recently been learning sewing from Nurse Joy—and sewing Bond Reins was no longer a problem.

But

As if remembering something, Luo Mu suddenly turned to Piōni beside him and said, under his bewildered expression: "My soul friend, you've cared so well for Xia Keya and Mudkip, even sewed their clothes yourself—surely you're skilled and nimble."

Piōni tilted his head, sensing something odd, but hearing "soul friend" from Luo Mu for the first time—and being praised as a father—his pride surged. He crossed his arms and laughed loudly:

"Wah~haha! I've sewn countless outfits for my wild girl and homebody girl! Just tying a rope? Piece of cake!"

Saying this, Piōni beamed at the old chief and extended his hand: "Leave it to me!"

The old chief was startled by his drinking buddy's sudden change, but under the watchful eyes of many, he handed Piōni the half-finished Bond Reins and materials. Leaning close so others couldn't hear, he raised his voice: "Now, please welcome tourist Piōni-san to experience Frozentown's traditional craftsmanship!"

His words instantly sparked curiosity among several tourist groups, who fixed their gazes on the stage.

Piōni held the Radiant Petals and black mane, asking the old chief: "Then what? What do I do with these petals and hair?"

The old chief demonstrated in the air: "Just do this first, then this, and finally this—that's it!"

Piōni nodded in sudden understanding: "Ah, I see!"

Luo Mu: "."

What the hell did you understand?!

Fortunately, Luo Mu considered his observation sharp, and with his basic knowledge, he could reconstruct the sewing steps in his mind from Piōni's motions.

Soon after Piōni began sewing, the reason Luo Mu had been willing to forgo sewing the Bond Reins himself appeared.

The old chief said: "My great-grandfather told me that when sewing Bond Reins, you must also sing a folk song to fully infuse your heart into the reins—like sharpening a sword, to make it shine truly."

"Cough, cough… Allow me to hum two lines."

"Flowers curl in perfect rounds~ Tuck the mane and offer it to Our King~"

"Come, everyone, sing along with me!"

"Flowers~ curl in perfect rounds~ Tuck the mane~ Offer it to~ Our King~"

As the old chief's strange folk melody rang out, the villagers exchanged glances and joined in singing.

They drew even a few tourists into the rhythm. Piōni, utterly unafraid, perfectly embodied social anxiety: singing the song at full, booming tenor volume while his hands never stopped sewing.

It was pure chaos. Luo Mu, thoroughly awkward, wondered whether they were all mad—or if he himself was the lunatic.

Fortunately, even amid the tide of conformity, Luo Mu held fast to his own mind. He didn't succumb to herd mentality, but watched Piōni's sewing process with full focus, imprinting every step and technique into his memory for future use.

"My soul friend, I entrust the Bond Reins to you."

Piōni smiled and handed Luo Mu the Bond Reins, now shimmering under daylight, speaking in a way only they could understand.

Luo Mu nodded, took the reins, and was about to speak—when Piōni leaned close, whispering in a voice only he could hear: "I can tell, the Bountiful King still holds some wariness toward us."

"We, descendants of those who betrayed and forgot it, will remain in Frozentown, waiting for your good news."

Piōni spoke plainly—he knew his place, and chose to stay in the village with the children, no longer wandering before Reincarnated King and stirring painful memories.

Perhaps, in the future, the Bountiful King would never again favor the Galar region.

Carrying the Bond Reins, Luo Mu returned to the old chief, discussed a few matters, then left Frozentown, arriving at the Ancient Tomb before sunset.

Reincarnated King had already been waiting there long.

The black carrots in the field beside the Ancient Tomb had vanished entirely. Spiritomb lay beside the field, gazing longingly at the soil, as if its stare alone could coax new black carrots to grow.

On Spiritomb's back, Sixtail, Cosmog, and Cosmoem happily played with its mane—but Spiritomb dared not complain.

To its left stood Reincarnated King; to its right, Raichu—both watching intently. How could it dare move? All it could do was flick its tail, hoping the soil would sprout new black carrots to soothe its wounded spirit.

Watching this, Luo Mu couldn't help smiling.

But he kept his expression composed, holding the reins—now dimmed by twilight—and offered them to Reincarnated King.

"These are the Bond Reins. Do you think they'll do?"

Reincarnated King used telekinesis to take the reins, holding them in its hands, examining them closely.

After a moment, Reincarnated King exclaimed excitedly: "Excellent! These are the Bond Reins! I don't know how to thank you, my friend!"

Instead of immediately seeking the slightly bristling Spiritomb, Reincarnated King stared at the reins in its hands and murmured softly:

"Once, I believed humans abandoned their faith in me, which is why they stopped offering Bond Reins."

"Now I see… perhaps it was I who failed to provide the materials needed to make them. For so long, I misunderstood humanity."

Once a king, Reincarnated King was upright—just as it chose, for various reasons, to no longer rely on human power or faith.

It never avoided admitting its mistakes, never used its power as an excuse to deny them.

Mistakes were mistakes—but even knowing this, it would not retract its decision.

Taking a deep breath, Reincarnated King used telekinesis to send the three Pokémon playing on Spiritomb's back to Luo Mu's side. Raichu, sensing something, stretched lazily and strolled over to stand beside Luo Mu.

Spiritomb, knowing what was coming, sighed and slowly rose, thinking it wasn't so bad.

The sensation of Reincarnated King's spiritual energy flooding its body, enhancing its spiritual power, was truly addictive.

Seeing its beloved steed ready, Reincarnated King's eyes flickered with nostalgia. It floated onto Spiritomb's back, swung the Bond Reins, and fastened them to either side of Spiritomb's face.

As Reincarnated King poured its spiritual energy through the reins into Spiritomb, a brilliant radiance erupted from Reincarnated King, Spiritomb, and the Bond Reins!

Reincarnated King pulled the reins tight. Now in perfect resonance, no words were needed—they understood each other completely, as one.

Spiritomb reared its front hooves high, letting out a blackened neigh. Psychic and Ghost energies twisted into a vortex around it and Reincarnated King. Amid the dazzling light, it seemed as if a miracle of evolution manifested upon Reincarnated King.

Its wing-like cape slowly elongated under the white light, transforming fully into a pure white cloak symbolizing kingship, flapping fiercely in the explosive energy currents.

After a moment, the energy swirling around Reincarnated King and Spiritomb finally calmed—marking its complete transformation into the fused… Human-Horse Form!

Reincarnated King closed its eyes, savoring the ocean-like surge of power within. After a fleeting moment of ecstasy, it regained composure, opened its eyes, and looked at Luo Mu: "My friend, come with me to the Snowy Stream Valley—let us complete the final piece!"

Beside his ear, Cosmog and Cosmoem cried out in astonishment. Watching Reincarnated King reclaim its former noble form, Luo Mu felt deep relief—and nodded without hesitation: "Yes!"

"Siiii—"

Spiritomb, in perfect sync with Reincarnated King, let out a spirited neigh.

It knew: Reincarnated King was about to head to the Snowy Stream Valley's field to plant Ice Carrots and lure Frost Mage.

Thinking of how Frost Mage, once its rival, had been humiliated under their combined assault, even watching half a sack of seeds turn into Ice Carrots filled Spiritomb with glee.

This emotion could only be described as schadenfreude.

"After all these years, my beloved steed, you haven't changed one bit."

Reincarnated King glanced down at Spiritomb with exasperation, sighing: since ancient times, Spiritomb and Frost Mage had been bitter rivals, each despising the other.

Spiritomb lifted its head proudly, thinking Reincarnated King praised it, and let out a loud neigh.

Luo Mu: "."

Suddenly, he felt Spiritomb resembled a giant, black Shiba Inu.

Raichu beside Luo Mu stared fixedly at the Human-Horse Reincarnated King and Spiritomb. Its usually calm heart now churned with turmoil.

Even this display of power far surpassed its expectations—Legendary Pokémon truly were powerful!

Reincarnated King, now serene after achieving Human-Horse Form, noticed Raichu's gaze. It smiled gently at Raichu, sending a telepathic message only Raichu could hear:

"After this is done, you may challenge me as many times as you wish—I will always accept."

The next instant, Reincarnated King's spiritual energy surged massively, enveloping the surroundings, and carried Luo Mu and the Pokémon across space, returning them to the Snowy Stream Valley!

The world blurred. Luo Mu's vision first showed a barren field buried under ice and snow, frozen solid by the frigid environment.

Then, the serene beauty of the twilight-lit valley unfolded before him.

"Without snow and wind, the night sky above the Crown Tundra, viewed from here, would be even more beautiful."

Reincarnated King's voice echoed gently in Luo Mu's mind.

Luo Mu turned his head and saw Reincarnated King allowing Cosmog to rest atop its crown, wearing a tender smile—whether directed at Cosmog or someone else, he couldn't tell.

Luo Mu opened his mouth to speak—but Reincarnated King suddenly raised its hand toward the sky.

Luo Mu looked up and saw thick clouds overhead—sure to bring a heavy blizzard.

The last glow of twilight faded. Night fully cloaked the Crown Tundra's sky.

Because the distance was short, Luo Mu could clearly see the terrifying black spiritual entity gathering in the hands of Regieleki.

When the black spiritual entities reached their peak concentration, they immediately radiated a heart-stopping aura.

As the Spiritomb let out a proud neigh, under Regieleki's control, the black spiritual entities shot straight into the sky like meteors rising from the ground.

"Fortunately, tonight has no cloud cover."

No sooner had Regieleki finished speaking than countless tiny spiritual entities exploded across the dark night sky. Because their color blended perfectly with the night, even Luo Mu, who had been watching closely, could only make out the final outlines after the explosions.

Violent winds swept through the sky, and though silent, the explosions were profoundly awe-inspiring.

After a long while, the explosions of the spiritual entities finally ceased.

What reflected in Luo Mu's eyes was a boundless, cloudless sky, glittering with stars!

He froze for a moment, a sense of disbelief rising in his heart.

Had Regieleki just… flirted with him?

To be honest, the power Regieleki had displayed after achieving unity with its body had completely surpassed Luo Mu's expectations.

With its signature move 【Star Shatter】, it had instantly cleared all the stratus clouds above Snowy Creek Valley!

Perhaps this is why Legendary Pokémon are called Legendary.

Like Mewtwo summoning storms with a wave of its hand, Lugia influencing ocean currents, or Rayquaza dominating the skies.

Eevee widened its eyes, sensing the power Regieleki had shown, and though stunned, its fighting spirit surged naturally.

It did not feel defeated by Regieleki's current strength, just as Gyarados had not after gaining Mega Evolution.

It would only deepen its battle fervor!

"Mogu!"

Cosmog gazed in delight at the sky, closing its eyes to bask in the moon's glow, slowly filling itself with energy.

Regieleki, sensing Cosmog's state, wore a thoughtful expression.

Though there had been signs long ago, it now seemed Cosmog greatly enjoyed basking in sunlight and moonlight—exposure to light allowed it to grow slowly?

Regieleki silently noted this observation, then turned its gaze to the field beside it.

Watching the rows of Pokémon sitting quietly, gazing at the night sky.

Luo Mu snapped out of his daze, pulled out the remaining half-bag of radish seeds from his pocket, and nodded slightly. "We're planting Ice Radishes to attract Snowy Stallion, right?"

"Correct."

Regieleki nodded and offered a suggestion.

"Among my steeds, Snowy Stallion is more temperamental than Spiritomb, but that doesn't mean it's merely reckless and charges blindly."

"Though Snowy Stallion once challenged any strong opponent, after being subdued by me, it has become more cautious. Even after the obvious commotion just now, even if the Ice Radishes matured, it wouldn't rashly rush forward into a trap."

"I have a proposal."

Regieleki explained its proposal to Luo Mu.

In short: it and Spiritomb would hide in the shadows after making the Ice Radishes mature, leaving only Luo Mu and his Pokémon in the field.

This way, Snowy Stallion wouldn't avoid appearing due to Regieleki and Spiritomb's presence, and Luo Mu and Eevee's strength ensured he could protect himself—and if they fought seriously, they could definitely defeat Snowy Stallion and Spiritomb.

Luo Mu had no objections and nodded slightly. "No problem. I can defeat Snowy Stallion directly if needed."

Regieleki smiled. "I trust in your and Eevee's strength, which is why I can entrust this task to you."

The plan began immediately.

Regieleki's benevolent power reappeared over the abandoned field in Snowy Creek Valley.

In an instant, the ice covering the field melted, and the hardened earth softened into ideal planting soil.

In just a short while, the entire field was covered with Ice Radishes.

Riding Spiritomb, which cast a disdainful glance at the Ice Radishes, Regieleki said: "I'll hide for now. My steed's sense of smell is keen—even from afar, it will arrive within an hour at the latest."

With that, Regieleki rode Spiritomb away at full speed, vanishing shortly after.

Luo Mu lowered his gaze, held Cosmog close, and quietly waited with Eevee and the others.

Though he hadn't waited a full hour as Regieleki had suggested, he had sat beside the Ice Radish field for over half an hour when, half-asleep, he finally heard distant neighing.

His drowsiness vanished instantly. Luo Mu looked up toward the distance.

In the dark night, a striking white figure was galloping toward them!

"It's Snowy Stallion!"

Luo Mu sprang to his feet at once, and Eevee stepped directly in front of him and the other Pokémon, its gaze serious as it faced the approaching foe.

Snowy Stallion's icy-armored face radiated authority; its ice-clad hooves struck the ground with heavy thuds, revealing the immense power in its powerful legs.

From its hooves, cold air continuously radiated, freezing surrounding snow into ice to carve a path for its advance.

Almost the instant Luo Mu and Eevee stood up, Snowy Stallion's eyes—glowing with a hint of aggression within its ice armor—locked onto them.

It ignored Luo Mu and Cosmog in his arms entirely, barely glancing at Ninetales and Victini, its gaze fixed solely on Eevee.

It sensed the aura of a powerful Pokémon from Eevee, yet Snowy Stallion showed no fear, letting out a loud, piercing neigh and charging straight ahead without stopping!

Just as Regieleki had said: as long as the opponent wasn't someone like Regieleki herself, who had left a "psychological shadow," the stronger the challenger, the more it stirred Snowy Stallion's competitive spirit!

(End of Chapter)