Chapter 442:
Latios: "???"
Lorenzo: "???"
Before coming, they had thought of many scenarios. For instance, Latios was determined to retrieve the Soul Dew no matter what.
Lorenzo worried both about his granddaughter and whether the Soul Dew had already been tainted by evil intentions.
Yet in the blink of an eye, they were being told that everything they feared was already resolved?
The crystalline Soul Dew was placed into Latios's care. Bianca, freed from her ropes by Gardevoir's Psychic, stood beside Lorenzo, looking utterly bewildered at the sight of Latias, Latios, and Kaede.
Logically, the matter should have been perfectly resolved here.
Kaede was about to reassure Latias that everything was fine.
But for the rogue sisters below, it seemed they weren't willing to let it go.
Grappling hooks and ropes—in moments, two figures leaped out from the museum windows.
"Who!? Who dares touch our Soul Dew?"
The two moved with agility, landing on the museum's rooftop, their Pokémon by their side.
[Pokémon: Ariados]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Insomnia]
[Type: Bug, Poison]
[Aptitude: Purple]
[Individual Values: …]
[Level: 51-53]
[Moves: Swords Dance, Poison Sting, String Shot, Bug Bite, Fell Stinger, Scary Face, Night Shade, Shadow Sneak, Pin Missile, Psychic…]
[Pokémon: Espeon]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Synchronize]
[Aptitude: Red]
[Individual Values: …]
[Level: 55-56]
[Moves: Tackle, Take Down, Double-Edge, Quick Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes, Swift, Psybeam, Psychic, Future Sight…]
Clearly, as internationally renowned thieves, the sisters' Pokémon were no pushovers.
Annie and Oakley landed on the roof, their eyes immediately finding Latias and Latios flying in the sky. Oakley's eyes lit up, words already forming on her lips. "Latios, Latias! Good, you've both come—"
But before she could finish, what greeted them was:
"Latias, Psychic!"
Kaede had no intention of wasting time with chit-chat. This was also a perfect chance for Latias to get some real combat experience.
"Latias? Latias!"
Clearly, Latias, facing her first real battle, was momentarily stunned upon hearing Kaede's Aura command. But then, her gaze immediately hardened.
These were the bad guys who stole the Soul Dew and kidnapped Bianca!
She flew out from beside Kaede, positioning herself before Espeon and Ariados, her eyes glowing with white light.
"Psychic? Espeon, Psychic!"
Seeing Latias take to the sky, Annie immediately ordered her Espeon to respond, muttering confidently even as she did so, "If even the brother Latios's Psychic power was nothing special, you, Latias…"
But before her words could finish, the clash of Psychic energies between the opposing Espeon and Latias had already concluded.
A pained expression immediately crossed Espeon's face. Then, under the force of the Psychic grip, its body was hurled downward toward the water at tremendous speed.
"Espeon?!" Annie stared in disbelief.
"How…? Ariados, use String Shot!" Oakley beside her, though shocked, reacted quickly and issued a command.
"Latias, dodge it, use Wing Attack!"
If Espeon couldn't withstand a single hit from the current Latias, Ariados stood even less of a chance.
In the air, Latias flashed past the silken threads. Light gleamed on her wings as she struck. With her speed, Ariados couldn't even react before it was hit, letting out a pained shriek. Just that one blow was enough to render it unable to battle.
"Impossible!!"
This outcome left the sisters with a thousand, ten thousand questions. Why was it that Latios, whose strength hadn't been impressive, had needed to rely on invisibility and speed to escape them, while his sister Latias, who should logically be weaker, now...
But the current situation made it clear: Latias's strength was far beyond what they could handle.
The two hurriedly pulled out Poké Balls, trying to recall Ariados and Espeon.
But obviously, Kaede in the sky wouldn't give them that chance.
Without their Pokémon for protection, the two sisters were, at best, just two agile ordinary humans.
Their bodies were quickly restrained by his Psychic power, and the Poké Balls on their persons were taken out one by one.
"Latias~!"
After defeating Ariados, Latias flew back up into the sky, staring blankly at the two Pokémon she had just dealt with below, her expression slightly dazed.
She had defeated those Pokémon!
Before, her brother had even said he couldn't beat them.
Now she had beaten the Pokémon her brother couldn't!
And she had retrieved the Soul Dew, saved Bianca, and successfully protected Alto Mare!
Instantly, her tone turned joyous. She happily circled in the air a few times before landing beside Kaede and Latios, ready to share her happiness with everyone.
But upon arrival, Latias found that Bianca, whom she had just rescued, Grandpa Lorenzo, and even her own brother Latios were all looking at her as if she were some strange creature. Their bewildered eyes seemed to ask, "Are you really the Latias we know?"
"Ooh?"
Latias looked at Kaede. Though she couldn't see any expression behind the mask, she could hear the praise conveyed through his Aura—"Well done, Latias."
"Ooh…"
Latias fell quiet, settling calmly beside Kaede. She realized that her changes over this period had been too drastic, hence everyone's reaction.
But she also knew that this growth was largely due to the training she had undergone at the Breeding House all these days.
Usually, Latias hadn't fully grasped the purpose of the training sessions Gardevoir led her through; she only knew there would be delicious treats afterward.
But at this critical moment today, she understood the value of that training. It made her stronger, capable of protecting Alto Mare, and even earned her brother's look of disbelief and astonishment.
All these changes suddenly filled Latias's heart with a warm, satisfying feeling.
She smiled to herself.
From now on, big brother won't have to nag in my ear anymore. I can protect him too.