Chapter 658 - 655

How long had it been since the man in black, wearing a mask and glasses, had captured it?

Gliscor had no idea.

At some point, a spiral had appeared above its head. From that moment onward, neither its body nor its mind had obeyed its will.

It had once lived among the Peril Cliffs, nesting along the steep rock walls and soaring freely upon the wind.

According to the stories, when an exceptionally powerful Gligar evolved, it could circle the entire planet without flapping its wings even once, so long as it caught a faint breeze properly.

But what was a planet?

Was it a place even vaster than the skies above the Peril Cliffs, with even more room to fly?

The other Gligar in its colony did not know either.

"A planet is the world we live on. If you ride a faint breeze and circle the world, you'll see all kinds of human cities. You'll see the habitats of countless different Pokémon, and you'll discover Berries you've never encountered before."

"You might see Jumpluff traveling around the world on seasonal winds. You might even see the legendary Dragonite, capable of circling the planet in only sixteen hours."

"You may even reach the habitat you've always dreamed of finding."

"Or perhaps, after flying around the entire world and returning to your homeland, you'll see it in a completely different way."

"Look! That kid from our colony who evolved really fulfilled the ancient legend and traveled around the world!"

"Perhaps Pokémon communities will speak of you that way. Perhaps they'll even begin to admire you."

"If you want to soar higher and fly toward an even more distant world, you must learn to control your flight and read the wind. You must become as calm as the sky itself."

"Ride upon the winds of freedom."

Gliscor heard those words.

Its consciousness slowly emerged from the haze, and it discovered that it was inside a container filled with electronic light.

Then...

The container opened, and brilliant blue light shone before its eyes.

Red light represented a container capturing a Pokémon.

Blue light represented a container releasing a Pokémon.

Pokémon in distant regions had never seen anything like a Poké Ball, so Gliscor naturally knew nothing about that.

Even so, it understood one thing.

It could ride the winds of freedom again.

It was free.

"Captain, that Gliscor..." Kate began.

"I violated regulations by using a Poké Ball to bring it out," Hikaru said. "Don't tell Professor Hastings."

Kate hurriedly waved her hands.

"No, that isn't what I meant. I've never seen a Poké Ball before, so I was only curious."

"But that Gliscor keeps circling above us. It doesn't seem to have any intention of leaving."

Now that it had regained its freedom, Gliscor merely stared at Hikaru. It had no intention of entering another Poké Ball, but neither did it plan to leave immediately.

Instead, it roared at Hikaru, trying to communicate something.

It was free.

It could ride the winds of freedom, just as this human had told it!

If possible, it wanted to see the new world Hikaru had described. It wanted to witness the true face of this entire planet.

Before that, however, they needed to resolve the problem of the Pokémon being controlled. Otherwise, Gliscor would no longer have a home to return to.

Pokémon would not simply relax because a powerful individual had arrived to save them. They would always try to accomplish something through their own strength.

"Then, before we depart, would you like to become my temporary partner while I fight in Almia?"

"Glis!"

Gliscor answered with an affirmative roar.

It would fight for its homeland and for the place it wished to return to!

"I use different team compositions in different regions so that each of my partners has an opportunity to fight," Hikaru explained. "Some of my companions are also better suited to certain environments. They can display far greater strength under particular weather conditions, terrains, or circumstances."

"Kincaid understood Gliscor reasonably well, but only to a point. His understanding was far from complete."

Hikaru tossed Gliscor a patch.

Gliscor caught it between its pincers, then slapped it onto its own head.

The patch symbolized its newfound uniqueness. Its altered appearance could also help the others identify it.

At the same time, Gliscor felt a peculiar change taking place within its body.

It was especially noticeable where poison was concerned.

"What was that?" Kate asked.

"I modified its Ability. Gliscor's Ability has changed from Sand Veil to Poison Heal. Next comes..."

Hikaru weighed several azure gemstones in his hand.

Water Tera Shards.

Tera Water, Poison Heal, Toxic Orb Gliscor.

In competitive battling, it was a genuinely cancerous existence. Although Breloom had pioneered the strategy, Gliscor had become the true representative of Toxic, Protect, and Substitute, and it was even more terrifying than its predecessor.

There had been competitive environments in which Ting-Lu, Ho-Oh, and countless other Pokémon had been completely helpless against it.

It belonged at the same table as Lord Salt himself, Garganacl. Whenever Gliscor, Garganacl, Amoonguss, and similar horrors appeared in three-on-three battles, there was truly...

Not a trace of positive energy anywhere.

Of course, Gliscor also had teammates with terrible compatibility.

Weezing, for example.

The moment that thing appeared, it would probably stare at Gliscor in confusion.

Why does Gliscor keep losing HP.jpg

"Take this too!"

Hikaru threw Gliscor a tightly wrapped Toxic Orb sealed inside a small pouch.

He had obtained several of them in the past, but since touching one caused poisoning, they had never been especially useful. The number of situations in which someone would deliberately use a Toxic Orb was limited.

Even when attempting to combine a status condition with Guts, Marvel Scale, Facade, or similar Abilities and moves, most people preferred a Flame Orb.

The self-inflicted damage from a Toxic Orb was simply too severe.

"Glis!"

Gliscor licked its lips.

The Toxic Orb contained an intense poison. In the past, it would have stayed as far away from such an object as possible.

Now, however, merely carrying it felt incredibly comfortable.

It could feel its vitality continuously recovering!

Kate stared in astonishment.

"Ah! It's poisoned, but its strength is recovering? Gliscor really is..."

"That's Poison Heal," Hikaru said. "It recovers HP while poisoned. Only three species of Pokémon possess such a rare Ability."

Gliscor itself was not a Poison type. It was Ground and Flying, so even though it possessed Poison Heal, Toxic Orbs were not normally part of its diet.

Kate marveled at the wonders of Pokémon before turning to Hikaru again.

"So that's why you raised our capture authorization to the maximum earlier. You wanted us to capture as many Pokémon as possible!"

She turned around.

A large number of Pokémon followed behind her, steadily emerging from the Oil Field Hideout.

When the underwater facility was destroyed, many Pokémon had been evacuated from below. They had presumably been captured and imprisoned by Team Dim Sun to serve as combat forces.

Without Poké Balls, the frightened Pokémon had been confined inside armored containers or specially prepared rooms. Now they followed behind Kate as she led them out.

"Kellyn said that people in distant regions sometimes use Poké Balls to poach Pokémon," Kate said. "But here, since people don't have artificial containers like those, even poachers can only use remote-control devices and imprison Pokémon in cramped places."

"By capturing them with my Capture Styler, I could feel how frightened they were. The moment they saw me, they became stressed and furious. If my Styler hadn't been upgraded, capturing them would probably have been extremely difficult."

Hikaru gave her a strange look.

"Extremely difficult? You didn't even consider the possibility that they might defeat you?"

Rangers were practically miniature superhumans. Their physical abilities were astonishing.

After all, in the games they constantly faced direct attacks from Pokémon.

As for their Partner Pokémon, no one seriously expected Pachirisu or Starly to carry the entire battle, right?

Admittedly, the White Devil Pachirisu had earned a fearsome reputation. Even then, however, it needed the right strategy in a Double Battle. As far as electric rodents were concerned, there were still plenty of Pokémon capable of taking Pachirisu's place.

"When the fire broke out in Vien Forest, I encountered many Pokémon that had gone berserk because of the flames," Kate said. "Fighting and capturing agitated Pokémon so they can calm down is part of our job."

"I helped Kellyn capture three Blastoise and had them use Rain Dance over a wide area. That was how we extinguished the fire in Vien Forest."

"The Blastoise were extremely agitated when they saw the fire. They kept blasting us with Hydro Pump. We were beaten into a miserable state and even knocked into the river, but we still captured them in the end."

"So you took Hydro Pump directly to the face without suffering any injuries?" Hikaru asked. "A 110-power move couldn't even break through those red vests. You two really do have promising futures."

"Were you speaking to Gliscor earlier?" Kate asked, blinking. "Were you actually conversing with a Pokémon? It felt slightly different from an ordinary conversation."

"I heard its inner voice and understood what it wanted to say. Human language evolved from Pokémon cries. The same is true of our written language, so mutual understanding is possible."

"I once recommended someone for a position in the Ranger organization. He possesses the natural ability to understand the voices of Pokémon."

"He used to lead an enormous organization and was known as the King of Pokémon. He's currently stationed in Fiore. Originally, I planned to send him here to help you, but Keith was displaying greater initiative, so..."

Right, Keith!

Kate immediately snapped to attention.

Behind her, the other Rangers emerged from the ship's interior with groups of captured Pokémon.

Once the leader of a group was captured, the remaining members would follow that leader's actions.

Kellyn waved as he ran toward them.

"Top Ranger! I'm back! Every captured Pokémon has been rescued. We confirmed that none were left behind!"

The way he ran toward everyone while waving looked exactly like the human host of an Ultraman returning after ending his transformation. The resemblance was uncanny.

The other rescued Rangers followed behind Kellyn.

Among them was Barlow, the muscular leader of the Vientown Ranger Base. He had participated in the assault under Keith's command.

Barlow's greatest specialty was performing Target Clears with his own body, which essentially meant charging through iron doors with nothing but brute strength.

He had also been kidnapped once in the original plot. Back then, however, he had fought alone until he was exhausted and finally captured. It had taken eight Pokémon and eight humans working together to restrain the enormous man.

Later, he had fought the Drapion controlled by Kincaid and still emerged relatively unharmed.

He belonged to the category of people who could be shot three times and still retreat under their own power.

The battle here had barely begun before Barlow's health bar had practically shoved itself down Kincaid's throat.

The Drapion that had once fought Barlow could testify to that.

It had been one of the Pokémon Kincaid controlled, serving alongside Gliscor as an enforcer guarding the Oil Field Hideout.

Now that the remote-control effect had been removed, Drapion wore a rather complicated expression.

While controlled, it had been unable to command its own body, and its thoughts had been chaotic.

Even so, it clearly remembered fighting this human with its bare claws.

How could the pincers of a mere Pokémon possibly overcome a human body tempered through years of training?

Drapion had initially considered that an absurd boast.

Now it shook its head.

Do you understand how powerful I am?

I have a sturdy shell capable of deflecting swords and tremendous physical strength. I can rampage wherever I please, and the claws on my arms can tear a car into scrap metal!

"I'm ashamed of myself!" Barlow declared.

He had already learned what had happened. Guilt filled his expression.

"This happened because I failed to protect everyone. As the leader of the Vientown Ranger Base, I accept responsibility."

Barlow had not commanded the operation, but he had no intention of allowing Keith to shoulder the blame.

Keith was still young. He possessed a bright future filled with possibilities.

As an Area Ranger Leader, Barlow had failed to point out the flaws in Keith's plan or notice the enemy's ambush in time. He considered both failures proof that his own strength was inadequate.

"You must be the twelfth Top Ranger dispatched by Professor Hastings. Somehow, the number of Top Rangers has already risen to twelve!"

"This is also my first time meeting a Pokémon Trainer."

Hikaru gave him a peculiar look.

"Your first time?"

"Uh, yes. Is something wrong?"

Of course Barlow did not understand.

His ancestors had not originally come from Almia.

Barlow was a burly, heavyset Ranger Leader from the second Pokémon Ranger game. However, a man who looked remarkably similar to him had appeared in Oblivia's ancient past during the third game.

According to the laws of genetics in the Pokémon world, that ancient man, Tanvir, was most likely Barlow's ancestor.

Tanvir had once been a Steelhead, one of the armored humans capable of controlling Pokémon in battle. He had guarded the Forest Temple before eventually resigning from his position.

Of course, none of that had anything to do with the present Barlow.

"No. Drapion simply seems interested in you."

"Drap!" Drapion blinked and revealed a strange expression.

It had not expected the man in the red vest to understand its thoughts and emotions.

Interesting.

None of the previous humans had possessed that ability.

"Interested in me?" Barlow asked.

"You competed against it in a test of strength, even though your capture ultimately failed," Hikaru said. "Drapion possesses astonishing physical power. You were able to fight it head-on because of your exceptional hand-to-hand combat skills."

"I wonder if it admires powerful individuals like you."

"Is that true?"

"Drap!"

"It cried out!" Barlow exclaimed. "I didn't expect it to genuinely take an interest in me."

"Maku!"

A Makuhita stood beside Barlow. It was his Partner Pokémon.

Makuhita said something to Drapion, causing the enormous poisonous pseudo-bug to excitedly wave its claws.

Clack, clack.

It seemed to be showing off its strength to Barlow.

"Drapion says it has accepted Makuhita's suggestion and wants to become your Partner Pokémon."

"It believes that by combining its strength with yours, no one in this world will be able to stop you. It also wants to challenge you to another contest of strength."

Hikaru explained Drapion's feelings.

The burly man froze for a long moment before his expression changed dramatically.

"Someone who can talk to Pokémon...?"

"Now that you mention it, I heard there was someone like that in Fiore."

"That's apparently the person the Top Ranger recommended," Kate explained. "He once led an enormous organization and was known as the King of Pokémon."

This revelation surprised Barlow even further.

Then he sighed with emotion.

"You don't need a Capture Styler to connect your heart with a Pokémon, and you can even free Pokémon from mind control."

"So that's how it is. This Drapion truly feels that way."

"Thank you! If it wishes to become my second Partner Pokémon, then I certainly can't refuse!"

"Drap!"

Drapion roared, its pincers clacking loudly.

Rage burned within the scorpion's heart, rage at having been controlled. It was determined to find a way to take revenge.

It noticed the frostbitten Kincaid, whose body remained covered in shattered pieces of ice, and its gaze immediately became vicious.

You and I will form a combination of overwhelming brute force capable of destroying everything!

Once Makuhita evolves, no one in this entire region will be able to stop us!

"Still, I never imagined Kellyn and Kate would be the ones to rescue us," Barlow said.

He looked at the two companions beside him, then at Kellyn and Kate before finally turning toward Hikaru.

"Because they were still young Rangers and lacked experience, I believed they weren't ready to participate in an operation of this level. I assigned them to remain behind in Vientown, calm the residents, and prevent them from becoming frightened by the rampaging Pokémon."

"A Ranger's duty is to reassure both humans and Pokémon, connecting the two sides and becoming a bridge between them."

"But in Vientown, Pueltown, the Peril Cliffs, and during the fire in Vien Forest, these two rescued countless Pokémon. I had already begun to suspect..."

"You are their leader now. Under your command, the true abilities of these two children will finally emerge."

"As their former leader, I was unable to draw out the full strength and potential of my team members. That's why it's time for me to step aside."

"Before that, however, please allow me to say one final thing as their former leader."

Hikaru looked at the two young Rangers.

Kellyn and Kate stared at Barlow with confused expressions.

A relieved smile appeared on the large man's face.

"I didn't want you to see how pathetic I looked earlier, but you already did, so there's nothing I can do about it."

"Still, I never dreamed that you would be the ones to rescue me."

"Thank you."

"Mission Clear!"

"Under the leadership of your new captain, under the leadership of a Top Ranger, you rescued the hostages and Pokémon and evacuated them from beneath the sea with remarkable speed and efficiency!"

"I always knew this day would come. Neither of you was the kind of person who would become the guardian of some little country town and then stop moving forward."

"I sensed it when I first handed you your Stylers, but I never expected this day to arrive so quickly."

"As your former leader, I'm proud of you. I'm filled with hope and anticipation for your futures!"

"To put it simply, this is the happiest moment of my life! But under your new captain's leadership, perhaps you'll give me even happier moments in the future!"

Talented and capable young people would always reveal their brilliance when least expected.

A capable person was like an awl placed inside a cloth bag. Its sharp point would immediately pierce through and reveal itself.

"If someone like that had been placed in the right bag one day sooner, the entire awl would have burst through already. It wouldn't have revealed only the tip!"

"Leader, we..." Kate began.

"The stage belongs to you now!" Barlow declared. "Everyone has something they're capable of accomplishing. Go out there and do it! I'll pray for you and offer you my sincerest blessings!"

"Thank you for everything you taught us, Leader," Kellyn said.

"After we graduated from school, we were assigned to Vientown. We accepted requests, helped the residents, and protected Pokémon."

"Vientown used to be an exceptionally quiet and peaceful town. Nothing particularly terrible ever happened there."

"But now, the entire region is changing."

"That's true," Barlow said. "I've heard that incidents constantly occur in other regions throughout the world. Perhaps Almia has been peaceful for too long."

"Right, Top Ranger!"

He turned toward Hikaru.

"I've delivered the feelings of gratitude and trust that I wanted to entrust to them. Now we need to discuss Keith."

"He isn't here. They took him away!"

"I believe Team Dim Sun intends to use Keith as a bargaining chip, a trump card to play at the critical moment!"

"We also need to escort these Pokémon away from the Oil Field Hideout and return them to their original habitats."

"As for transportation, I overheard the Team Dim Sun grunts guarding us. They said a large ship was heading here, carrying remote-control devices and captured Pokémon!"

"It's their Cargo Ship!"

"I understand what ship you're referring to," Hikaru said. "In that case, our second mission will be to assault the Cargo Ship!"

"A-assault it?!" Barlow froze.

He looked at Kellyn and Kate, only to discover that the two youngsters wore expressions suggesting they saw nothing wrong with the idea.

Ahem!

That was not something a leader from a righteous organization should say!

It sounded extremely easy to misunderstand. It was also disturbingly aggressive!

"Still, attacking a large ship... No, I mean boarding it with all these Pokémon and hijacking... No, wait! That isn't right either!"

"Anyway, this won't be simple. We need to develop a plan for boarding the ship."

Even Barlow became tangled in his words and briefly forgot how to describe their objective.

Hikaru laughed.

"There's nothing wrong with assaulting a villainous organization. As long as everyone understands what we mean, that's enough."

In the original story, Barlow had been captured aboard the Cargo Ship and later rescued by the protagonists.

Kincaid had also commanded the Cargo Ship. During the main storyline, the protagonists were supposed to fight him aboard the ship first, then confront him again at the Oil Field Hideout.

The order of the battles had been reversed, but that hardly mattered.

"Strictly speaking, the Cargo Ship isn't called the Unsinkable," Hikaru explained. "What they call the Unsinkable is actually the Kingston Valve, the massive plug fitted into the bottom of the vessel. Pull it out, and the entire ship will sink."

"Team Dim Sun prepared it as a contingency measure in case their mission failed."

"They apparently consider the ship completely expendable. As for the remote-control devices and captured Pokémon, they would rather destroy the equipment and drown the Pokémon than allow the Rangers to recover them."

Everyone's expressions changed dramatically.

Hikaru waved his hand.

"However, stopping the ship won't be difficult."

"Stopping it?" Barlow asked. "Are you planning to seize control of the helm, or...?"

"Neither. I mean exactly what I said."

"We'll stop the ship with one hand!"

Far out at sea, the Cargo Ship's silhouette had already become faintly visible because of Kincaid's earlier message.

The black vessel cut through the wind and waves as it approached.

However, after losing contact with the Oil Field Hideout's control room, the Team Dim Sun elites aboard the ship realized that something was wrong.

They examined the Oil Field Hideout through binoculars and spotted people in red uniforms standing on the facility's platform.

The red clothing was exceptionally conspicuous.

Wait!

"Rangers?! This is bad! The Oil Field Hideout has been captured! Hard to starboard!"

The black vessel immediately began turning around.

Someone shouted, "What about Instructor Kincaid? We've lost contact with him!"

"He can fend for himself! The Rangers have already appeared. Do you seriously think anyone from our organization remains inside the Oil Field Hideout? They probably jumped into the sea!"

If you could not avenge the murder of your father and had no chance to settle the score another day, then all that remained was to sever the relationship entirely!

You want me to rescue my teacher?

I'm self-taught. I've never had a teacher.

Boom!

The black ship suddenly shook violently.

Its propellers continued spinning with tremendous force, yet the vessel failed to produce any forward momentum.

Chaos erupted aboard the ship.

"What's happening?!" the Team Dim Sun captain shouted. "Move! Why aren't we moving?!"

"Captain!" a terrified grunt screamed. "The ship... The entire Cargo Ship is being lifted! We're rising away from the surface of the water!"

If anyone said such a thing during a voyage across the open ocean, the captain would assume they had not fully awakened.

However, the sight unfolding before his eyes forced him to believe it.

Viewed through the control room windows, the ocean's surface really did appear to be sinking lower.

It was not the sea level falling.

The ship itself was rising!

Something was beneath the vessel. Radar scans showed the silhouette of a Pokémon.

Yet that Pokémon was not large at all!

Barlow, Crawford, and Luana of the Vientown Ranger team stared at the scene in stunned silence.

Everything they knew had been overturned.

The black Cargo Ship was an enormous oceangoing vessel used to capture Pokémon.

Yet something had brought it to a complete stop.

A Pokémon stood upon the ocean, surrounded by currents and mist.

It stretched both hands forward.

It's only a ship!

Watch me stop it!

"Fina!"

The superman of the sea seized control of the ship's forward momentum, carving enormous waves across the ocean.

Then every muscle in its body began exerting force.

Bulk Up! Bulk Up! Bulk Up!

Waterfall!

An enormous wave accompanied by overwhelming physical strength forcibly changed the ship's course.

"What kind of Pokémon is that?" Barlow exclaimed. "I've never seen one before. What incredible strength!"

The enormous man stared in shock.

Drapion, which had only moments ago dreamed of dominating the world through brute force, widened its eyes in disbelief at the sight of a Pokémon stopping a ship with one hand.

Hey, hey! What kind of monstrous strength is that?

Just how high is your base Attack?!

Please forgive me for boasting in front of you.

Compared with you, I'm nothing but a rookie who just crawled out of its shell!

"That's the Pokémon that defeated Kincaid," Kate said.

Kincaid had once been a teacher to both her and Kellyn, though technically he had taught the neighboring class.

Now that she understood his true identity as a spy planted by a villainous organization...

His constant warning not to run in the hallways had probably meant, "Don't interfere with the experimental data being collected in the basement."

That must have been it.

"It changed the Cargo Ship's course," Kellyn said. "It lifted the ship out of the water and is swimming toward us!"

Amid the commotion and excited cries of the humans and Pokémon, Palafin's voice echoed across the distance.

As a hero of the sea, it had finally accomplished something upon this vast ocean worthy of being called legendary!

Hikaru watched Palafin stop the vessel with one hand and thought, You're Whitebeard too.

Once he assembled four Water-type Pokémon, he could call them the Four Emperors of the Sea.

Thinking about it, Walking Wake, Wellspring Mask Ogerpon, and Palafin already seemed like the beginnings of such a group.

They were only missing one member.

Perhaps he would encounter a special Pokémon somewhere in Alola, a region filled with sunshine and ocean currents.

Then Hikaru addressed the others.

"In a distant region, there is a Pokémon known as Finizen. It enjoys playing with others using the ring of water around its tail fin, and it can use ultrasonic waves to sense the emotions of living creatures."

"When the ancient genes within certain Finizen awaken, their appearance undergoes an extraordinary change."

"It's called Zero to Hero!"

"It transforms just like a hero in a tokusatsu series or television program."

"After transforming, the bubble lenses covering its eyes enhance its vision, allowing it to see events occurring dozens of miles away."

"Its tremendous strength allows it to lift an enormous cruise ship with only one fin!"

"In academic terms, this is a form change that causes an extreme shift in its base stats, including its strength, speed, defenses, and overall physical ability."

"Legends in distant regions call this Pokémon the Hero of the Ocean. It swims at fifty knots to rescue drowning humans and Pokémon, and it frequently saves those in danger."

"However, no one has ever witnessed the exact moment when Palafin transforms."

"For that reason, it could also be considered a legendary Pokémon!"

Everyone, Pokémon and humans alike, remained frozen in place.

Hikaru snapped his fingers.

"And now our ship has arrived!"

"In that case, the nearest port is..."

"The Ranger School, right?" Kellyn said.

"It may only be a small harbor, but the Ranger School students could care for these Pokémon. That would improve their practical skills while providing shelter for the Pokémon whose original habitats remain unknown."

"Uh, Ms. April might be frightened," Kate said. "But we really are suffering from a personnel shortage. We'll need the students to help us too."

"Let's head there!"

Barlow watched the three-person squad discuss their plans with enthusiasm.

A relieved smile appeared on his face.

"The harbor plaza at the Ranger School is called Ascension Square. The Pledge Stone of our region stands beside the port."

"Legend says that any pledge made beneath the stone will eventually come true."

"Every student at the school speaks of their dreams beneath the statue before setting sail upon the ocean known as society."

"They develop and mature within society before eventually returning in a new form."

"That was the dream of Principal Lamont, the founder of the Ranger School."

Palafin carried the Cargo Ship to the Oil Field Hideout.

The Team Dim Sun grunts aboard the vessel jumped into the sea one after another. Those unwilling to jump were captured and tied up.

Kincaid, finally thawed from the ice, watched everything unfold.

"What's happening? How could this happen?!"

"My dream of receiving a promotion and a raise! My dream of rising above everyone else! My power and my future!"

"It's all been destroyed!"

"I didn't accomplish anything!"

Hikaru glanced at him.

Correct password.

Login attempt from an unfamiliar location.

Account flagged for suspicious activity.

"Pokémon Trainer! Y-you bastard..."

Although Kincaid had thawed, the point-blank Blizzard had left him severely frostbitten. His entire body trembled.

Kate covered her eyes.

"It's difficult to believe that this person used to teach the class next to ours."

"Kincaid's ambitions end here," Kellyn said, shaking his head. "Among Team Dim Sun's four commanders, he was the most ambitious and responsible for the greatest number of operations."

"You two!" Kincaid shouted.

Drapion held him between its pincers, but the sight of two students from the neighboring class caused his anger to explode.

"You ran in the hallways! You ran all across the Almia region and interfered with my plans! If I had known this would happen, I should have..."

"What should you have done?" Hikaru asked thoughtfully. "Withheld their diplomas?"

"Your teaching license will probably be revoked, though. You have demonstrated professional misconduct, insulted students, caused severe harm, and accumulated an extensive criminal record."

"Instead of scolding your former students, you should start thinking about your life in prison."

"The Ranger organization has no authority to pass judgment on me," Kincaid said.

"Of course not," Hikaru replied. "But I'm also an International Police officer."

Kincaid's expression changed dramatically.

"You mean..."

"You'll be sent somewhere far away, where you'll spend the rest of your life."

"If you don't like that option, I can use my connections to arrange something else. I could throw you into an Ultra Wormhole, for example."

"Trust me. You won't feel any pain. It will be far gentler than any execution or judgment."

"There will be no physical suffering and no spiritual remorse."

"After being cleansed by the aura of light, you'll completely lose every memory of the first half of your life."

"Your sins and memories will be washed away as you travel through the distant universe."

"Then you'll welcome the beginning of a brand-new life."

Ultra Wormholes were extremely convenient in situations like this.

They were like trash cans or recycling bins.

Throw a criminal inside, and as long as Necrozma did not interfere, the aura of light would flood into that person. They would experience rebirth and transformation.

For stubborn people who refused to change, it was far more convenient than shattering their minds with psychic power.

Despite the bright future Hikaru described, Kincaid sensed something terrifying about the mysterious Top Ranger standing before him.

He was serious!

Kincaid had never heard any of those terms, but they clearly belonged to a world far beyond his reach.

He trembled as Hikaru's description forced him to imagine himself becoming an entirely new person, stripped of everything from his past.

For a man consumed by ambition, that outcome was completely unacceptable.

How could this happen?

How could...

Then something appeared above his head.

The tiny Pokémon resembled drifting gas and cosmic dust. It bathed in the light while producing curious, ethereal cries and emitting faint energy.

Something resembling a crack opened before Kincaid's eyes, though it might also have been an illusion.

Drapion clacked its pincers and glared at the man who had once controlled it so carelessly.

Cross Poison!

Gwah! Behold my hot dog tongs!

Kincaid's face twisted with terror.

His scream echoed across the sky.

"W-w-wuaaaagh! Boss Blake, save me!"

(End of Chapter)

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