Chapter 451: Jikai Jikai Pecharunt, Okidogi's Companion!

On a hillside near Ghost Mountain.

"That is..."

Gazing at the pillar of purple light shooting skyward from the direction of Verdant Town, Luo Mu murmured softly.

For some reason, he always felt the aura of that light pillar was somewhat ominous.

He then looked at Okidogi, who was leaning against his side with a hint of attachment.

At this moment, Okidogi seemed to have sensed some aura as well and lifted its head.

After Okidogi awakened and they had breakfast, before Luo Mu could even say anything, it had approached him on its own to express its desire to leave with him.

This made Luo Mu deeply suspect that Okidogi was a hidden foodie; could one breakfast really capture its heart?

Everything that followed became so natural.

Luo Mu took out a Friend Ball suitable for Okidogi and, witnessed by Luxray, Serperior, Mimikyu, and the rest of his Pokémon, completed the capture.

Not long after, that pillar of purple light erupted.

Judging by Okidogi's reaction, Luo Mu guessed a few things, but still asked, "Is it related to the Three Treasures?"

"Poni..."

Okidogi nodded, then shook its head.

As a witness to the events, it knew very well that the so-called Three Treasures—Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Ogerpon—were merely underlings of a mastermind behind the scenes.

The true culprit was a Pokémon named Pecharunt!

Okidogi picked up a twig, found a bare patch of ground without grass, and, relying on memories that were neither blurry nor clear, drew a peach.

Then, pointing at this peach, it let out a few more cries.

This fellow was the true culprit behind the scenes!

Fortunately, with Serperior present to translate, Luo Mu, now aware of more undisclosed information, drew in a sharp breath.

Could it be that behind the Three Treasures, there was actually a true culprit hiding?

Pecharunt, Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Ogerpon; this combination... felt somewhat familiar.

Momotaro? Compared to the positive roles in the story, the actions of these four Pokémon in this world were truly infuriating.

After pondering for a moment, Luo Mu spoke, "Shall we go take a look?"

"Poni oh?"

Okidogi hesitated somewhat; if it approached that town, it feared it would be driven away by the villagers again.

"Gah-lok."

Serperior snorted coldly and used its vines to lift Okidogi's small hand.

It dared to see who would try such a thing! Luxray also stepped forward; it had always been protective of its own.

Since Okidogi had already become one of their own, it could not bear to see anyone bully it.

Mimikyu was also contemplating the possibility of using its true form to cause the residents of Verdant Town to faint.

Okidogi was deeply moved; at this moment, Luo Mu's hand happened to land on its head.

"It's fine; with us here, they wouldn't dare do anything out of line."

Feeling the warm palm atop its head, Okidogi revealed a happy smile and nodded vigorously.

"Poni!"

Inside Verdant Town.

The originally peaceful and tranquil countryside town was now in complete chaos; on the streets throughout the entire town, a crowd of people with suspicious tracks and strange movements wandered about.

If they encountered someone behaving differently from them, or even someone fleeing in panic, they would swarm over, seize that person, and feed them a sticky rice cake glowing with a purple hue, looking as if it contained some kind of toxin.

Not long after swallowing the sticky rice cake, the panicked person immediately calmed down; the color of their eyes, like those people, also turned purple, and muttering "Jikai Jikai," they danced with uncoordinated bodies before beginning to patrol the town again.

At the same time, within the Civic Center, the only place in Verdant Town that had not yet fallen, where tourists and visitors were received, a denunciation was taking place.

"It must be you who took the masks, causing the great and sacred Treasure Pokémon to lose their sanity; return them quickly!"

The town mayor angrily accused Carmine, who was holding three masks.

Carmine sneered.

Her Noctowl and Leafeon were still outside resisting the attacks of those "zombies"; were they turning against her so soon?

Growlithe angrily blocked in front of Carmine, letting out threatening roars at the mayor, but all of this was to no avail.

Because at this moment, all the townspeople who had survived the earlier chaos inside the Civic Center unanimously pointed their spears at Carmine, the outsider.

"I said it long ago: allowing outsiders to run wild in Kitakami is a disaster waiting to happen!"

"As long as we exchange the masks to the Three Treasures, they will surely understand us and return to the shrines to accept offerings!"

"We might even use the resurrected Three Treasures as a selling point to take Kitakami's tourism industry to the next level!"

Listening to the remarks of these people who were already blinded by greed, Carmine was so angry she could not speak for a moment.

At the same time, she was also somewhat worried about Mr. Yukito and his family, as well as the two children, Kieran and Carmine's sister.

Although she did not see this family among that crowd of zombie-like people while fleeing, another Green Grass Mask was in Mr. Yukito's hands, so there was no guarantee they were still safe and sound.

While fleeing the pursuit of those three resurrected Pokémon, she didn't know where her phone had fallen, but fortunately, her lifeblood camera was still with her.

It was just impossible to contact others now.

Carmine watched these townspeople warily, who seemed even more fierce and vicious than the mindless corpses outside, and took a few steps back, leaning against the wall to find a sense of security.

She felt exceptionally unlucky tonight.

First, helping Okidogi retrieve the masks, she witnessed the resurrection of the Three Treasures and a strange peach capable of controlling people.

Immediately after, that strange peach, by some unknown power, directly controlled more than half of Verdant Town's residents and all the tourists!

These people, each like mindless walking corpses, muttering something like "Jikai Jikai" and dancing a very disgusting dance, made Carmine, who was experienced in horror movies, think she had stumbled onto some horror movie set.

Added to that was this group of aggressive, unreasonable villagers! For a moment, she couldn't help but shout in her heart.

Once this incident is over, I'm leaving; I never want to come back to this damn Northern Village again! And furthermore—

Luo Mu, where are you!? At the same time, in the woods near Apple Hill in Verdant Town.

Cornered with nowhere left to retreat, Kieran and Carmine's faces were deathly pale, while their Dipplin and Poltchageist had barely any stamina remaining.

Before them, Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti stood side by side like the three sworn brothers under the moon, striking poses difficult for ordinary people to replicate.

Above the heads of these three Pokémon, hovering where it had once been known as the "Unrotting Peach" at the Momochi Store—a former signature item—it had now transformed into a strange-looking Pokémon with a peach-shaped shell floating at its side. This was Pecharunt, master of Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, and the true culprit behind this "zombie" parade incident.

As if mocking Kieran and Carmine's overconfidence, Pecharunt chuckled, while its three lackey companions joined in with echoing laughter.

"Damn it, what kind of Treasure Companions are these guys!"

Carmine, still unaware of the truth, was so furious her face turned red with heat.

Kieran clenched the hem of his clothes tightly, feeling confirmed in his belief.

Ghosts are indeed better than Treasure Companions!

Behind them, the elderly couple, Yukito and Kibi, whom they were protecting, wore equally anxious expressions.

On one hand, they did not want the Verdant Mask, which they had worked so hard to repair, to fall into the hands of the three Treasure Companions and that Pokémon who seemed to be the true mastermind.

On the other hand, they did not want their granddaughter and grandson to continue protecting them like this; if this went on, the children would get hurt too! Pecharunt gave the two elders no time to deliberate; its slightly greedy eyes locked firmly onto the Verdant Mask, and it spoke without hesitation.

"Gee-hee! Gee-hee!"

Speaking in a cute tone, Pecharunt nevertheless chose the most despicable method.

It intended to have Fezandipiti release mind-bewitching pheromones, watching these four grandparents and grandchildren attack each other, finally obtaining the mask without lifting a finger! Receiving the order, Fezandipiti made an elegant entrance, preparing to flap its gorgeous wings to scatter the pheromones.

Okidogi and Munkidori also grinned wickedly, rubbing their palms together, almost writing their eagerness to fight across their faces.

"Let us play too!" Even in the past, they might have had some reason for being forced to work for Pecharunt, but now, they had fully embraced their identities and were enjoying the process of doing evil.

As for Pecharunt, possessing the Toxic Puppeteer ability, everything in this world was like a puppet doll to it, subject to its manipulation; whatever it wanted, it must obtain, by any means necessary!

When Luo Mu, riding his Shadow Rider Calyrex, entered Verdant Town, dodging the creepy, zombie-like people along the way, and finally arrived near the inn, this was the scene he witnessed.

His expression instantly turned cold.

Just as he and Ogerpon had said in the story, these three guys, along with that purple peach floating in the sky, were all bad seeds!

Luo Mu knew very well that there was no such thing as an absolutely good race in this world; even among Pokémon, there were evil Togepi and evil Malamar.

Therefore, he would absolutely show no mercy to these creatures.

Apart from the Luxray and Serperior he had sent to find Lacey, Luo Mu quickly threw out several Poké Balls.

The figures of Mimikyu, Feng Su Gou, Ursaluna, and Gyarados appeared together! "Feng Su Gou, Mimikyu, protect Mr. Yukito and the others; Gyarados, go up into the sky to block these four's escape route; Ursaluna..."

"Gah-eh-peng!"

Before Luo Mu could finish his command, Ogerpon, seeing the four familiar and hateful figures, leaped angrily from Shadow Rider Calyrex's back and landed on top of Ursaluna's head.

Ursaluna seemed to cooperate well with Ogerpon; after confirming that Feng Su Gou, with wind-like speed, had carried Mimikyu to stand before the four grandparents and grandchildren while simultaneously erecting a "Protect" barrier...

It stepped forward without hesitation and began charging! In an instant, although there was no real moon and its power was not at the peak level of that night, once the illusory blood-red moon formed, a terrifying beam of blood-red light shot straight toward the three Treasure Companions!

Unfortunately, its intention was too obvious; under Pecharunt's toxins, the abilities of the three Treasure Companions had been enhanced, and with Munkidori's ability to foresee the future providing a warning, both the three companions and Pecharunt successfully dodged this Blood Moon attack.

Retreating a few steps, without needing Pecharunt to express anything, the three lackees bared their teeth and glared at Ursaluna, emitting threatening growls.

How dare they ruin their good deeds! Ursaluna was not intimidated in the slightest; its massive body, merely standing there, exerted immense pressure on Okidogi, who was actually the largest in size among the three Treasure Companions.

For Ursaluna, it also found this group of creatures annoying.

Not to mention that on that full moon night long ago, it already had certain connections with these four.

After all, the times it went out to forage were basically on full moon nights, or on foggy nights.

It was also on that full moon night that these guys basely and shamelessly attacked that man.

Ursaluna decided that, as Ogerpon's friend in the forest, it, Bear Big, would today stand up for Ogerpon!

Coincidentally, at this moment, the four Pokémon led by Pecharunt noticed the small figure perched on top of Ursaluna's head.

Instantly, they subconsciously stepped back in unison.

How is this guy here too!? The three Treasure Companions and Pecharunt clearly remembered that long, long ago, after they obtained the masks, they were beaten senseless by the furious, lightning-fast Ogerpon—three of them defeated and one driven into seclusion.

That was a fear Ke Yin into their instincts; even after such a long time, those painful memories still lingered in their minds.

But upon seeing nothing on Ogerpon's face, they became bold again.

Based on their prior investigation, they knew clearly that if Ogerpon did not have a mask, its power was negligible.

Now was the perfect opportunity for revenge!

Especially Pecharunt; it planned to teach Ogerpon a lesson, then forcibly make Ogerpon eat the Chain Mochi to become its slave!

Pecharunt directly consumed a large amount of energy to generate three pieces of Chain Mochi within its peach-shaped shell, throwing them directly into the mouths of the three Treasure Companions to further enhance their power.

Empowered once again, the three Treasure Companions exploded with confidence; even Ursaluna's threat was no longer in their eyes.

Simply following the desires amplified by the Chain Mochi, they greedily gazed at the mask held by Yukito, who was protected in the rear, their eyes filled with longing.

Facts proved that Pecharunt's toxins might come with some intelligence-lowering effects.

Even though they had previously been defeated one-against-four by Ogerpon, Pecharunt's toxins caused the three Treasure Companions to ignore the reality that, at this very moment, Ogerpon and the repaired Verdant Mask were in the same area.

They were merely eager to snatch the mask, with only this single thought existing in their minds.

Riding Shadow Rider Calyrex, Luo Mu leaped directly over the three Treasure Companions and Pecharunt, asking the four who were still shaken: "Are anyone injured or poisoned?"

The couple, Yukito and Kibi, shook their heads; just as they were about to speak, they were surprised to find their usually quiet grandson excitedly speaking up first.

"No problem, thank you for Mr. Luo Mu's assistance!"

At this moment, Kieran's eyes were sparkling so brightly that the couple almost thought their grandson had been swapped.

This child was usually not so outgoing! "Thank you, Mr. Luo Mu!"

Carmine immediately followed up with a thank you as well.

"That's good."

Luo Mu smiled slightly, then looked toward the other side.

"Wait a moment; this matter will be resolved shortly."

The four subconsciously nodded, while Xue Zhong, as if suddenly remembering something, raised the Verdant Grass Mask in his hand and quickly said, "The mask has been repaired."

As he spoke, he directly handed the Verdant Grass Mask to Luo Mu.

Luo Mu took the Verdant Grass Mask, glanced at it hastily, concealed the astonishment in his eyes, and then directly tossed the Verdant Grass Mask to the Pecharunt perched atop the Head of the Moon Bear not far away.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he declared in a clear voice, "Pecharunt, together with your companions, do what you desire most!"

As if to echo Luo Mu's words, apart from Mimikyu, who usually never left Luo Mu's side, and Spectrier, who had other plans,

Feng Su Gou, the Head of the Moon Bear, and Gyarados all let out a mighty roar, their gazes burning intensely as they fixed their eyes on the Three Treasures Companions and Tao Dai Lang.

(End of Chapter)