Chapter 656: Give Me a Hug

The sea area of the Kanto region.

Above the sea surface shrouded in thick fog, the monsoon surged.

Lugia's arrival was undoubtedly a heavy hammer blow to the Tentacruel swarm, which had just been acting with arrogant ferocity.

That sense of oppression, stemming from the very level of life, made most Tentacool subconsciously reveal expressions of timidity.

Even the giant Tentacruel looked at Lugia with eyes containing some hesitation and apprehension.

It was indeed a rash fool; it had even wanted to try challenging the giant Dragonite upon seeing it.

After all, since it had evolved and mutated into such a massive size, there had been no opponent for it within the entire Tentacruel swarm of this sea area.

Even those humans, who were always so domineering, had merely sent people to reach a non-aggression peace treaty with them after that incident.

Becoming swollen with pride was only natural, but the sudden intervention of Lugia was an entirely different situation.

At the very least, the giant Tentacruel, long accustomed to running amok, did not dare to rashly launch a direct attack against Lugia.

In fact, Lugia itself felt quite helpless at this moment.

For it, the Sea God, to have to mediate conflicts between Pokémon—if news of such a thing got out, who knew how that fellow Ho-Oh would mock it.

But there was no helping it.

During the time it had wandered near the Hoenn sea area with the giant Dragonite, it had also come to understand the loneliness the other had endured.

It was precisely for this reason that Lugia chose to step in.

Even though Lugia was not very sensitive to so-called loneliness, and was even somewhat dull to it, it still wished to avoid conflict arising between the two parties.

After all, if they truly started fighting, it would be difficult to make friends or establish a good relationship afterward.

It wasn't like those three headache-inducing children of its own in their Rebellious Phase, for whom brawling had become a habit, picking fights every now and then, and feeling uncomfortable all over if they didn't fight.

The effect of Lugia's intervention was also very significant.

The Tentacool stopped making trouble, and the giant Tentacruel showed no intention of flashing its tentacles at the slightest disagreement.

Lugia retreated several body lengths with satisfaction, giving the giant Dragonite a chance to act.

The giant Dragonite lowered its head slightly, using a question it had brewed for a long time and could finally ask as its opening line.

"Roar?" (Are you also troubled by your own size?)

The giant Tentacruel immediately froze in shock.

Originally, it had been wondering what exactly Lugia and the giant Dragonite were up to, and whether or not they had come to seize territory.

But the giant Dragonite had suddenly asked a question that made the giant Tentacruel's first reaction be "What nonsense are you spouting?", only for it to fall abruptly silent immediately after.

Was it troubled by its size or not?

The giant Tentacruel wanted to say no, but certain memories surged into its heart at this moment.

Once, it had been just an ordinary Tentacool, with its own playmates, its own joys and worries.

It often secretly poked the buttocks of humans swimming in the nearby sea areas together with its companions, and relying on its toxins as a rare Poison-type Pokémon of the sea along with their numerical superiority, it ran amok in the coral reef groups where it originally lived, driving away other wild aquatic Pokémon.

But these joys turned into worries after an unexpected disaster struck from the sky.

Not only did humans drive them away from their dwelling places, they even brought in Trainers to drive away those trying to reclaim their homeland.

Even though some aquatic Pokémon said that heaven's way brings retribution and that evil people will be ground down by evil ones, they paid no heed, merely secretly stinging them while they were asleep.

These were the worries it had when it was still a Tentacool.

But all these joys and worries changed the moment that man wearing a white uniform with an 'R' pattern happened to throw a barrel containing three cups of vinegar onto its head while it was amidst the Tentacool swarm.

A strange principle triggered a special evolution.

Usually muddled and with nothing much in its brain, as its size began to grow, it understood more, even gaining the ability to control other Pokémon through neurotoxins released via its tentacles, such as the ability to speak through the mouth of a Meowth.

Its size also became unprecedentedly huge; the Tentacruel chieftain it once revered was now so small that it could flick its tentacles and send him flying hundreds of meters away.

The Tentacool companions it was once close with also began to keep their distance from it; even if it wanted to approach them, the water currents stirred up just by its swimming were enough to push them far away.

After exacting revenge upon humans, it naturally became the overlord of this sea area, the king of the Tentacruel swarm.

But... it could not feel happy at all.

Everything familiar had drifted far away from it, and a sense of loneliness similar to standing at the very peak arose spontaneously.

Even if the giant Tentacruel did not want to admit it, it could not utter the four words "not troubled."

Its nearly eighty swaying tentacles hung down, and it fell silent.

The giant Dragonite gazed at it, softened its voice, and cried out, "Boo-wu~" (Don't be afraid, I am the same~)

"Boo-wu?" (Want a hug?)

The giant Dragonite opened its arms, its simple and honest eyes full of gentleness.

Precisely because it had endured unknown amounts of time, it understood this particular kind of loneliness and isolation very well.

Therefore, the giant Dragonite wanted to help the giant Tentacruel; similarly, this was also helping itself.

"..."

The giant Tentacruel shook its tentacles, showing no intention of moving.

But the giant Dragonite seemed to clearly understand the giant Tentacruel's concerns; looking at the hesitant giant Tentacruel, it cried out again.

"Boo-wu~" (Don't look at me like this, I have already developed resistance to most toxins over the accumulation of days and months~)

"... Du-ku." (Then, I will reluctantly hug you.)

This time, the giant Tentacruel did not refuse.

In the path cleared by the many Tentacool, its hostility vanished as it slowly swam to the front of the giant Dragonite, trying to wrap its tentacles around the other's body.

To be honest, this scene looked quite terrible; Luo Mu even had the vivid impression that the giant Tentacruel was "predating" upon the giant Dragonite.

But for two Pokémon whose sizes far exceeded the standard, this might be the peaceful embrace they had not enjoyed for a long time, one containing no worry and requiring no fear?

In the Hoenn region, on Dreamth Isle.

At this moment, the grunts of Team Aqua and Team Magma had already clashed into a tangled mess, the light effects of moves flying about chaotically, making the scene extremely chaotic for a time.

Yet amidst such chaotic scenes, there were a few battlegrounds that even the grunts of both Magma and Aqua Teams actively chose to avoid.

Before Archie, a Sharpedo with a ferocious aura, using some technique to wrap water currents around its body and hover mid-air, bared its row of sharp fangs.

Maxie's expression remained unchanged, for before him stood a Camerupt with a heavy aura, vigilantly watching the Sharpedo.

Aside from these two leaders,

the two admins, each holding a spy from the opposing organization hostage, were also locked in a stalemate.

For they all knew clearly that if even they started fighting, some hidden "fisherman" might reap the benefits.

This left Lance, mixed within the crowd, somewhat disappointed; yet, if the bosses of evil organizations were so easily trapped, what need would there be for an Investigator like him to intervene?

Lance vaguely sensed the Gyarados's aura drawing nearer; he had long since gripped the Poké Ball belonging to his Dragonite in hand, resolved to command it to attack the Camerupt the moment the Gyarados appeared, while simultaneously having the Dragonite suppress the Sharpedo.

Such a risk might be high, but compared to a situation where both sides were on high alert, this chaotic state was a rare opportunity indeed.

Lance was uncertain whether such a chance would arise again later; besides, delay breeds change, so he had already prepared to go all out.

—Soon, a rumbling sound emanating from the woods near the altar immediately caught the attention of numerous members of both Aqua and Magma Teams.

Amidst rows of fallen trees, a massive, conspicuously red Gyarados charged out wildly.

Lance's eyes lit up, but upon seeing the full six human figures on the Gyarados's back, most of whom were teenagers, his vision instantly went dark.

No!? Didn't I specifically instruct the Gyarados to drop Brock and the others off before landing on the island?

And why has the number of people doubled?!

Let alone the fact that even Ash is beyond saving—are they messing with him?

Yet no one could understand the collapse and helplessness currently churning within Lance's heart.

"Who goes there!?"

Archie and Maxie shouted sharply in unison; their Sharpedo and Camerupt, neglecting their fight with each other, instead turned their sights toward the six intruders and the red Gyarados.

Though these two organizations argued and made noise among themselves,

their first reaction upon encountering a problem was always to unite against outsiders.

Even the grunts of Aqua and Magma Teams, who had been locked in melee combat, showed signs of halting their disputes.

In response to this,

Hearing Hearing Nimo, not afraid in the slightest, leaped down from the back of the red Gyarados, taking the lead.

Hearing Hearing Nimo directly borrowed a line her teacher often had on his lips: "Just an ordinary Trainer passing by!"

"Dusknoir, use Shadow Punch on him!"

Hearing Hearing Nimo threw a Poké Ball with a crooked flight trajectory; a Pokémon wrapped entirely in bandages, revealing a pair of red single eyes, immediately punched toward Archie.

Paul also directly sent out his Skeledirge—oh no, his Skeledirge—and launched an attack against Maxie using "Torch Song."

—Meanwhile, Shizuka's Chansey directly waved its wicked little hands, causing two waves of gravity to descend from the sky, pressing down on Archie and Maxie so they could not dodge for a moment.

Such skilled instinct and coordination in attacking Trainers was almost as if someone had specially trained Hearing Hearing Nimo and the others.

Let alone Brock and the others, or even Lance;

even Maxie and Archie were now completely stunned.

Wait, how are you guys so skilled at this!?

But since the two were at least leaders of evil organizations that had ravaged an entire region, they naturally possessed defensive forces at their side.

In this critical moment, Matt pushed away Flannery, whom he was controlling, threw a Poké Ball, and released a Crawdaunt to shield Archie.

Tabitha did the same, positioning a Magcargo directly beside Maxie for defense.

Bang!

The attacks from Dusknoir and Skeledirge were directly blocked by the two Pokémon!

"Tsk."

Paul frowned; indeed, Teacher Luo Mu was right—this surprise attack only worked against lone "bad guys."

Once there were more people, unexpected variables appeared.

"—Damn it!"

At this moment, realizing he had nearly been ambushed by some brats, Archie roared in anger, and his Sharpedo, equally furious, slammed into Dusknoir.

—The Dark-type move "Night Slash" proved extremely effective.

Dusknoir was immediately knocked to the ground.

For a Pokémon that had just evolved, Archie's Sharpedo's furious strike was indeed somewhat difficult to withstand.

The issue of experience now became apparent.

Hearing Hearing Nimo had intended to use the Ghost-type characteristics of Dusknoir to win by surprise, but her consideration was not thorough enough.

"Sorry, my oversight; come back and rest first."

After clumsily catching the Poké Ball picked up by Shizuka and recalling Dusknoir, even though she regretted that if she had carried Decidueye with her, she wouldn't have needed to put Dusknoir at risk,

Hearing Hearing Nimo could still distinguish between what was urgent and what was not; this time, she sent out her ace without hesitation.

"Pawmot!"

On the other side, Paul also recalled his Skeledirge, which had been repelled by Magcargo, bringing it back before him, with no intention of switching Pokémon for now.

Shizuka had Chansey provide emergency treatment to Dusknoir, then sent out her Venusaur to guard beside the three of them against any surprise attacks.

In the blink of an eye, the first round of exchanges came to an end.

"Marshtomp!" "Combusken!" Reacting promptly, Brock and May also sent out their respective Pokémon.

However, they could only serve as mere additions.

After all, at this moment, the several of them, along with the red Gyarados, were genuinely surrounded by six people.

"Brats, you've gone too far."

Archie gazed at them with a gloomy expression, completely unaffected by the threatening roar of the red Gyarados.

Just a hair's breadth! If Chao hadn't been by his side, even without being injured, the vermilion orb in his hand might have slipped away.

Truly unforgivable!

As the leader of an evil organization, Archie never lacked the will to make decisions; although he previously didn't mind letting Maxie let Brock and the others escape, at this moment, he had truly turned ruthless.

Chao and Aqua, now freed, likewise followed Archie's will, turning their spears toward Hearing Hearing Nimo and the others.

Over on Maxie's side, the situation was much the same; he, along with Blaise and the newly freed Courtney, closed in step by step on Brock and his two companions.

Several Pokémon began to charge up moves in their mouths.

Brock glanced at May and Max beside him, thinking inwardly that this was bad.

He hadn't brought his main team as a Gym Leader when he set out this time!

Marshtomp? Or Forretress? Neither seemed capable of resolving the current predicament.

May was not skilled at battling, and Max wasn't even a Trainer; it seemed the only one they could rely on was the Gyarados behind them.

Just then, a loud male voice suddenly rang out from among the Magma Grunts.

"Gyarados, Hydro Pump!"

The instant that voice was heard, the red Gyarados without hesitation unleashed its fully charged Hydro Pump, resisting the scorching attacks of the three Fire-type Pokémon on Maxie's side.

At the same time, knowing he could no longer maintain his disguise, Lance directly threw back his hood and tossed out a Poké Ball.

"Dragonite—"

"Extreme Speed!"

The moment the Poké Ball snapped open.

An orange-yellow figure, moving with a swiftness belied by its size, charged to behind Maxie and with a single slap knocked the indigo orb from his grasp!

"—What!?"

Maxie immediately froze, never expecting someone to be hiding behind him.

On the other side, the overconfident Archie also met his Waterloo.

Thinking that Dusknoir represented Hearing Hearing Nimo's level, he stared in disbelief as his Sharpedo was being chased down and electrocuted by Pawmot.

Seeing that Shinji and Shizuka were struggling to handle Chao and Aqua, the Aqua Admins.

Hearing Hearing Nimo simply summoned her Tauros and Ursaluna as well; without issuing commands, she let them directly intercept the Kingambit and Walrein.

(End of Chapter)