Early the next morning.
Hayato awoke as usual.
He opened his eyes but did not move right away. Instead, he stared blankly at the ceiling, still mulling over the purpose of the dream Marshadow had shown him the night before.
Beyond its power to amplify the darkness in a person's heart, the Mythical Pokémon Marshadow also possessed a special ability: it could test human weakness by confronting them with the things they feared most.
For Hayato, there wasn't much he was particularly afraid of.
At present, the greatest fear in his heart was exactly what he had experienced in that dream last night.
To wake up one day and realize that everything he had lived through was nothing but an illusion.
That was why Marshadow's power had forced him to see that dream.
As for Marshadow's true intent…
Hayato could already guess at it.
But that no longer mattered.
Because he had already made his choice.
In this world, nothing was more important to him than his Pokémon companions and the family within the Ecological Park.
He whispered silent thanks to Marshadow in his heart, then prepared to rise from bed.
It had already been a full week since he'd returned to LaRousse City from the Arctic. It was about time to head back to Littleroot Town.
But just as he sat up, he noticed Marshadow drifting silently out from the Shadow World, half-hidden in a patch of darkness, watching him.
Hayato met its gaze for a while, then suddenly asked aloud:
"You really want me to challenge the Hero's Trial, don't you?"
Marshadow blinked in surprise, as though caught off guard. After a long pause, it nodded slowly. "Maa-sha."
That was its mission, after all.
Hearing that, Hayato gave a quiet laugh. "In that case, let's go together."
Once the crisis with the Pokémon Hunters was resolved, he could make a quick trip to the Johto Region.
There was no rush in challenging Gyms or collecting Badges. The road was long. This trial could be his way of thanking Marshadow for all the help it had given him.
"Ma… sha…" Marshadow stared at the boy in a daze, clearly sensing the sincerity of his gratitude.
This time, it wasn't about Ho-Oh.It wasn't about Entei.It wasn't about Suicune or Raikou.
The chosen one was willing to attempt the Hero's Trial—just to thank it.
Marshadow had never expected the boy who had been so indifferent and reluctant about the trial to suddenly change his mind because of such a small gesture.
Hayato, of course, had no idea what was running through Marshadow's thoughts.
After a brief pause, he added, "But before I head to the Bell Tower, there's something else I need to settle first."
That afternoon, Hayato bid farewell to Brendan and the others, then boarded a plane bound for Lilycove City, where he would regroup with the crew of the White Sea Lion.
During the flight, Hayato took some time to review the stance of the various Pokémon Leagues toward the Pokémon Hunters.
From what the old sailor had revealed, countless "wealthy patrons" had attended the rare Pokémon auction organized by the Hunters.
Among them were no small number of individuals from powerful families.
And within those families, it wasn't impossible that some held positions inside the League itself…
At that thought, Hayato shook his head. Perhaps he was overthinking.
After all, both Officer Jenny and the many Gym Leaders and Elite Four members despised the Hunters' actions and were actively pursuing them.
At 3 p.m., the plane landed in Lilycove City.
Hayato reunited with the White Sea Lion's crew.
When he arrived, the old sailor was still going over some documents. Looking up at last, he chuckled. "Finally, you're here!"
"How's the situation?" Hayato asked.
Yesterday, he had asked the old sailor to dig up more intel on the Pokémon Hunters.
The man shook his head. "Things aren't looking too optimistic."
Hayato's eyes narrowed.
The sailor went on, "Aside from Zapdos, I've also discovered that a rare Pokémon collector has offered a hefty bounty through the Hunters—on a Relicanth."
"…"
Hayato was speechless for a moment.
So Professor Birch's warning had been right all along.
The moment news of Relicanth spread, it would inevitably attract the attention of those with darker intentions.
This world wasn't only home to Trainers and Breeders.
There were also those with a far stranger obsession: collectors of rare Pokémon.
Just like in the movie The Power of One, where that collector sought to capture Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres, and Lugia, intending to preserve them as living trophies.
Such people saw Pokémon not as living beings, but as objects.
A twisted hobby.
Hayato was still considering his next move when a call came in from the Ecological Park.
Several Pokémon Hunters had attempted to infiltrate the reserve and steal Relicanth.
So much for coincidence—speak of the devil, and he appears.
Hayato's brow furrowed. "Did they succeed?"
Slowking's calm voice answered, "No. They had only just entered when Zapdos sensed them. There was no battle—they hadn't even released their Pokémon before being struck unconscious by its lightning."
"Are they dead?"
Slowking glanced at the charred bodies lying nearby. "…No, merely unconscious."
"Did you inform Officer Jenny?" Hayato pressed.
Slowking nodded. "Yes. Professor Birch happened to stop by and helped make the call."
Hearing that, Hayato felt a pang of regret.
He had been hoping Slowking might tie them up so he could interrogate them himself later.
But since Officer Jenny was already on her way, that idea would have to wait.
Interrogation wouldn't be difficult anyway. If need be, he could just grab someone directly at the auction.
Hanging up, Hayato looked back at the old sailor. "There's another auction tomorrow?"
The man nodded. "Yes. I've heard a certain 'treasure' had some trouble during transport, and it only just arrived in Lilycove. Word is, some important figures might show up this time."
"Treasure?" Hayato raised an eyebrow.
The old sailor nodded again, recalling the whispers he had gathered. "Apparently, it's an exceptionally rare Pokémon—one said to appear only once in a thousand years. But which Pokémon exactly, no one knows."
"…Fine," Hayato said at last. He had already decided. He would confront this organization, one very different from Team Magma and Team Aqua.
And as for that collector with his eyes on Relicanth—he would not escape either.
For Hayato, it was all or nothing.
Those who dared covet Zapdos and Relicanth would receive both a warning and a lesson they would never forget.
End of Chapter