c111: Pay It Back, Or Not?
Huaxia Pokémon Headquarters.
"Oh, that girl is quite sharp for thinking to lure Zapdos away like that."
Sun De, an Elite Four member from the Ground-type division, couldn't help but admire the scene replayed on the screen—Chen Xiaoxiao deftly redirecting the Legendary Bird Zapdos.
"If she weren't intelligent, she wouldn't have been able to raise such a powerful team. But something seems off about Zapdos' power. Isn't this the same one recorded by the Indigo Archives? That Zapdos had long surpassed the Champion level... now its attacks barely reach that tier."
Li Tianming, the Flying-type Elite, frowned.
As a specialist in Flying-type Pokémon, Li Tianming was especially alert to the power fluctuations in regional Legendaries like Zapdos, one of the three Legendary Birds from Kanto.
This Zapdos had previously been documented soaring over Mt. Tiantai's storm ridge, and Tianming had even accessed classified records linking this particular one to a high-level disturbance during a past magnetic storm. He remembered its energy readings vividly.
His sharp insight drew the others into a tense silence.
"As for the Electric-type riots lately, Chen Xiaoxiao may have already uncovered the root. It looks like something important was taken from Zapdos... But what item or essence could weaken a Legendary to this degree?"
His words lingered in the air with chilling weight.
Leng Xin, another high-ranking officer, spoke with a grim expression.
"Considering Zapdos' dramatic drop in strength and its berserk behavior, it's likely someone removed an elemental core or relic from it—perhaps a Magnet Stone, or worse, its Sacred Feather."
Hiss!
The entire room sucked in a breath.
"That's highly plausible," Li Tianming declared firmly. "It's the only explanation for its current instability and this level of aggression."
"If someone really took its Sacred Feather or energy core, what now?"
The one who asked was He Yong, a relatively new Elite, only two years into the position. A talented trainer from a civilian background, he was still gaining experience in navigating Legendary-class crises.
"If it was done unknowingly, it's still a mistake—but not one deserving punishment. Even I'd be tempted by such a relic. But knowing what that item meant to Zapdos and still taking it?"
Li Tianming shook his head gravely.
"Everyone here has now seen the outcome. Zapdos may be weakened temporarily, but it will recover. And when it does, we'll be staring down a full-powered Legendary again. That's not something any region can afford to provoke."
"Let's just hope it wasn't a professional poacher. Because if it was... the fallout will be catastrophic."
The others nodded solemnly.
In the Pokémon world, capturing wild Pokémon or obtaining items from the field was accepted—an integral part of the Trainer's journey. It wasn't always gentle, but it was a reality.
Still, provoking a Legendary-class being without being prepared for the consequences wasn't just reckless—it was a global threat.
If the act was unintentional, perhaps forgiveness was possible. If it was intentional, then someone would have to face the consequences.
Jail, exile, loss of Pokémon licenses—Li Tianming didn't elaborate, but everyone knew what he meant.
"Should it be returned… or not?"
He Yong voiced the question that had hovered unspoken in the room.
Everyone turned to Leng Xin.
"Honestly… I wish we could avoid returning it. But that's obviously impossible now."
Even that reply came with hesitation.
The others slowly nodded in agreement. Zapdos was far beyond their ability to restrain without causing major damage—physical, political, and ecological.
Slaying a Legendary? That was practically sacrilege within the Pokémon League charter. To do so without League sanction would brand the perpetrator as a criminal on par with the likes of Hunter J.
—Meanwhile, several kilometers away—
Chen Xiaoxiao had led Zapdos over ten kilometers from the main city area, where electromagnetic interference would no longer endanger civilians.
"Solgaleo, initiate spiritual link!"
A sudden burst of psychic energy surged from her, triggering a full spiritual sync with Solgaleo—an Ultra Beast-level entity not native to this region.
Pokémon: Solgaleo
Gender: Genderless
Level: 85 (Mid-Champion) ➝ 95 (High Champion with boost)
Type: Steel/Psychic
"Solgaleo, use Psychic! Latias, Light Screen! Meowstic, keep using Helping Hand on Solgaleo!"
Latias—bonded via Soul Link to Chen—glowed as she formed a shimmering Light Screen, shielding Solgaleo's flank.
Meowstic's aura flared, doubling Solgaleo's offensive potential with Helping Hand.
Solgaleo's eyes lit with cosmic energy, and a colossal Psychic pulse—enhanced by support—shot forward!
Zapdos was moving too fast to dodge—it took the hit squarely!
The impact sent it spinning midair, and an angry hum filled the sky as electricity surged across its wings.
"Solgaleo, Teleport!"
Sensing Zapdos charging a massive area attack—likely Thunder—Chen Xiaoxiao acted preemptively.
Boom!
A massive bolt crashed down where Solgaleo had just been. Nothing was hit. Zapdos screeched, frustrated.
Its rage caused it to release multiple Thunder Shock bursts, striking the ground randomly, sending up plumes of smoke and scorched earth.
"Now, Stone Edge!"
With perfect timing, Chen gave the command as Meowstic and Latias flanked behind.
Sharp stones erupted from beneath Zapdos in a crisscross pattern.
But Zapdos, sensing the threat, unleashed a devastating Thunderbolt, reducing the rocks to rubble in an explosion of electric force.
However, in its fury, Zapdos finally locked onto Solgaleo's position.
A second Thunderbolt cracked from the heavens—fast and merciless!
Boom!
Solgaleo took the hit full force.
"Solgaleo! Hang in there!"
Though resistant to Electric moves thanks to its Steel typing, and protected by Light Screen, the Legendary energy from Zapdos still inflicted heavy damage.
After all, even weakened, this was a Legendary Bird—still far stronger than most Champion-tier Pokémon.
Chen Xiaoxiao clenched her fists.
This wasn't just a battle anymore—it was a matter of survival and responsibility.
But the question still lingered in her mind, as it had in He Yong's:
"Pay it back… or not?"
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