Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Chapter 165

"So you’re saying that as long as we can find those two items you mentioned, there’s a chance Ursaring could evolve into Ursaluna and Scyther could evolve into Kleavor?"

Professor Rowan’s voice was filled with obvious excitement.

"Uh... based on what I currently know, that should be possible," Mike replied carefully. "But we’ll still need to confirm whether it actually works."

"I understand. I’ll have the laboratory start searching for any records or traces of those two materials." Rowan thought for a moment before adding, "If they’re minerals, I’ll also contact Roark in Oreburgh City and Byron in Canalave City. There’s a reasonable chance one of them has encountered something similar."

"Thanks, Professor."

Mike suddenly remembered something.

"Actually, if possible, could you ask Roark to investigate the mining area between Jubilife City and Oreburgh City? There might still be Peat Blocks or Black Augurite buried there."

"That old mine near Oreburgh?"

"Yeah. When I traveled from Jubilife to Oreburgh, I completely forgot there was a mine in that area. Otherwise, I would’ve gone in and looked around."

That was technically true, although the real reason was much simpler: back then, Mike hadn’t even thought about Hisui or ancient evolutionary items.

"I understand."

Professor Rowan rubbed his brow and nodded.

When it became clear that Mike had nothing else to add, Rowan lowered his hand and stared seriously through the screen.

"Mike, tell me the truth. How many other major surprises are you still hiding from us?"

Mike blinked.

Sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.

"None."

He gave Rowan his most innocent smile.

"The Peat Block and Black Augurite idea only came up because Manryo and I were discussing Hamber’s Bloodmoon Ursaluna in Kitakami. Actually, Manryo was the one who reminded me."

Manryo, who had been sitting nearby playing with Sylveon, slowly turned his head.

His expression went completely blank.

’Me?’

’We discussed this?’

’I reminded you?!’

He looked down at Sylveon in his arms and silently pointed at himself.

’Was it really me?’

Sylveon blinked his pale blue eyes and, after a moment of uncertainty, gave a hesitant little nod.

"Vee?"

Manryo’s eyes widened.

’It WAS me!’

Professor Rowan remained silent on the other side of the screen.

Mike remained equally quiet.

The awkward silence lasted several seconds before Rowan finally sighed.

"I understand. Get some sleep. I’ll contact you if we find anything."

"Of course, Professor. Sorry for bothering you this late. Good night."

Just before Mike ended the call, he heard Rowan release another exhausted sigh.

He wisely said nothing and quietly disconnected.

Once the screen went dark, Mike turned toward Manryo and raised a thumb.

"As expected of you, Gholdengo Bro."

Manryo didn’t respond.

At this point, he couldn’t even be bothered arguing.

He simply lowered his head and continued playing with Sylveon as though Mike no longer existed.

Seeing that even Manryo had given up on him, Mike sighed mournfully and took Gengar and the others back aboard the yacht for a shower.

...

After washing up, Mike returned to the island.

Snivy had already replaced the old blanket with a clean one, and Mike stretched out on his back with both hands behind his head, gazing up at the star-filled night sky.

The steady sound of waves breaking against the rocks mixed with distant Wingull cries and the occasional splash of a Magikarp using Splash somewhere offshore.

Beside him, Glameow’s Soothe Bell chimed softly whenever she moved.

Gengar leaned toward Beedrill and whispered,

"Gar—"

[Want to go exploring inside the island with me?]

Beedrill nodded without hesitation.

Gengar immediately pulled out his thin bamboo staff and slipped quietly into the darkness, moving through the bushes with exaggerated stealth.

Beedrill followed close behind.

Without even turning his head, Mike called after them, "It’s dangerous at night. Don’t do anything stupid."

"Gar—"

[Don’t worry.]

Their figures vanished among the trees.

Some time later, the two returned carrying a jar of honey from somewhere deep inside the island.

A low roar suddenly echoed from the coast.

Gengar froze and looked warily toward the sound.

"Gar?"

Mike barely reacted.

"It’s fine. Just a few Gyarados resting near the island."

Manryo turned toward him.

"Gyarados come here to sleep?"

"Yeah. Pokémon like Gyarados often rest near small islands at night because the shallow water and rocks give them something to brace themselves against, which is more comfortable than floating around in open water."

As he spoke, Mike was already pulling out his camera and switching it to night mode.

Manryo noticed.

"What are you doing?"

Mike lifted the camera.

"What else? They came right to us. It’d be a waste not to film them."

Manryo stared at him in disbelief.

"Those are Gyarados. They’re famously aggressive!"

"I know. I’m not going to shove the camera into their faces."

With that, Mike headed toward the source of the roaring with Gengar and the others.

Manryo hesitated, then followed.

Using the moonlight for guidance, the group quietly approached the part of the island where the Gyarados were resting.

Mike hid behind a tree and raised his camera, and because the system-produced equipment could adapt to almost any environment, the image through the lens remained remarkably clear despite the darkness.

There were six Gyarados in total, including one rare red individual.

Mike’s eyebrows lifted.

’A shiny Gyarados. Nice.’

Naturally, he gave the red one a little more screen time.

The way Gyarados slept was far less dignified than their reputation suggested.

One lay almost flat across the surface of the water, another kept its tail submerged while resting the upper half of its body across the shallows, while a third slept with its mouth hanging open and occasionally released low growls as though it were dreaming about fighting something.

"So that’s how Gyarados sleep," Manryo murmured while looking through the camera beside Mike.

"First time I’ve seen it too."

Mike adjusted the focus and pointed toward one of the six.

"See that one? It isn’t actually asleep even though its eyes are closed."

Manryo looked more closely.

"It’s awake?"

"Yeah. It’s keeping watch. If something dangerous approaches, it’ll wake the others immediately. Wild Pokémon develop habits like that when they live in groups."

Mike filmed the resting Gyarados for a while longer, then lightly patted Gengar on the backside and began creeping toward the sentry with his camera in hand.

Manryo nearly stopped breathing.

Mike and Gengar carefully approached until they reached what Mike considered a relatively safe distance.

The instant they stopped, the supposedly sleeping Gyarados opened its eyes and fixed them on the pair.

Its red gaze was cold and alert.

Mike placed one finger against his lips.

"Shh."

Gengar opened the jar of honey he and Beedrill had "borrowed" earlier and held it toward Gyarados.

The Pokémon had already begun drawing breath for an angry roar when the rich, sweet scent reached it.

Its expression changed almost immediately, and its attention shifted toward the jar in Gengar’s hands.

"Grrrr?"

Its voice dropped to a confused rumble.

Behind Mike, Snivy quietly relaxed, and the leaves that had begun gathering around her for Leaf Storm dispersed.

Beedrill, however, kept both stingers raised while hovering above Mike, prepared to move the instant anything went wrong.

Gengar produced an oversized spoon, scooped up a generous portion of honey, and offered it.

Gyarados hesitated.

Eventually, curiosity and the smell won.

It opened its mouth and accepted the spoonful.

The sweetness hit its tongue, spread through its mouth, and seemed to sink straight into its soul.

"ROAR!"

Gyarados slapped its tail excitedly against the water and immediately lunged toward the jar for more.

Gengar spun aside with surprising agility, clutching the honey safely against his chest.

"Shh."

Mike hurriedly reminded Gyarados to keep its voice down before it woke the entire group, and while its attention remained fixed on the honey, he slowly closed the remaining distance.

Only when Mike was standing directly in front of Gyarados did he fully appreciate just how enormous the Pokémon actually was.

Most were six or seven meters long, while especially large individuals could reach eight or nine.

Under the moonlight, the massive serpentine body rose from the water like some ancient sea monster, its blue-and-white scales reflecting a cold sheen that made its already vicious face even more intimidating.

It was easy to understand why Gyarados had such a reputation for violence, rage, and overwhelming power.

Mike swallowed.

"Want more?"

Gyarados stared at him with cold eyes.

Mike held its gaze despite the fact that every muscle in his legs was already tense, ready to launch him into a sprint if the situation turned bad.

Beedrill released a faint pressure from above.

Leaves began circling Snivy once more.

Gengar held the honey jar in one hand while a Shadow Ball quietly spun above the other, although the huge grin on his face made him look as if they were all having a pleasant picnic.

Eventually, Gyarados withdrew its hostile gaze and nodded.

Mike relaxed slightly.

"You can have the whole jar, but you need to cooperate with my filming first."

"Grrr?"

Gyarados looked confused.

Mike raised the camera.

"This thing. I’m going to take some pictures and footage of you, like this."

He demonstrated by snapping several photographs.

Gyarados watched him.

"Grrrr?"

[That’s it?]

"Yep. That’s it."

Mike nodded.

Gyarados glanced at him, then at the honey in Gengar’s hands.

After weighing its options for a moment, it agreed.

Only then did Mike finally allow the tension to drain from his body.

Coming over here had sounded like a brilliant idea when the Gyarados were still thirty meters away. Standing face-to-face with one was a very different experience.

Its size alone generated an almost physical pressure, and staring directly into its eyes made Mike feel as though he were confronting some terrifying villain who had spent years terrorizing entire cities.

Neither the games nor the anime had ever truly captured how intimidating a real Gyarados could be.

Mike gestured for it to move slightly farther away from the sleeping group.

Gyarados glanced back toward its companions, apparently wondering whether it should wake them too.

Gengar tilted his head.

"Gar?"

[You planning to share the honey with them?]

Gyarados immediately swam toward the spot Mike had indicated.

Share?

Absolutely not!

There wasn’t even enough for itself.

Once they were far enough away that the other Gyarados were unlikely to wake, Mike began filming at close range.

He had Gyarados lower itself, rise from the water, open its mouth, turn its head, and change position several times so he could capture its body from every angle.

Manryo eventually came closer and watched with growing disbelief as Mike casually placed a hand against Gyarados and slowly ran it along the Pokémon’s body.