"Bang!" Giratina suddenly emerged from the Pokeball. Even though Rayquaza had been using telepathy to communicate moments ago, it hadn't specifically blocked Giratina out.
For a Pokemon of the Netherworld Dragon's level, eavesdropping on such unshielded telepathy wasn't a difficult task.
So, Giratina came out. It wanted to find similarities in the incident where Rayquaza lost the Green Treasure Pearl, just like its own Griseous Orb disappearance.
To this day, it still didn't know how its Griseous Orb, its life-bound artifact, suddenly vanished from its body and ended up in Cyrus's hands.
Rayquaza's voice slowly echoed in everyone's hearts. Although calm on the surface, it was clear Rayquaza's emotions were far from tranquil.
'That day, I could clearly feel the Green Treasure Pearl disappearing from within me, as if an invisible giant hand forcibly extracted it from my body.'
'I attempted to stop it, using every means at my disposal at the time, but that force seemed like some ancient rule, completely ignoring my interference.'
'All the power within the pearl condensed cleanly at that moment, almost as if it disappeared, then it simply detached from me, vanishing into the crevice of time and space.'
Ash furrowed his eyebrows. How similar this was to Giratina's situation.
Both had their essential artifacts mysteriously disappear from their bodies, without any trace of interference. The only difference was Giratina's Griseous Orb vanished into thin air, whereas Rayquaza clearly sensed the entire detachment process.
'Since then, my people have been searching for the Green Treasure Pearl's whereabouts.'
This treasure pearl to my people is not just a fundamental artifact. Without it, I cannot undergo MEGA Evolution, and my power can never reach its peak state.'
'And MEGA Evolution is my people's trump card against those with malicious intentions. Without the trump card, trouble inevitably followed.'
A complex look flashed in Rayquaza's eyes. Clearly, this "trouble" wasn't minor, but such clan secrets didn't need to be shared with Ash and the others.
The fact that Rayquaza was safely here now meant that they had successfully navigated the crisis back then. As for who dared to encroach upon a clan with a significant number of Divine Domain Level Rayquazas, only they would know.
'Throughout these years, my people have sworn oaths with those humans encountered. Any human who obtains the Green Treasure Pearl may challenge my people with it. If they win the battle, the defeated Rayquaza will acknowledge them as their Trainer and accompany them.'
'Additionally, a human who obtains the Green Treasure Pearl can order any member of my people, including the leader, to perform a task that causes no harm unconditionally.'
Ash listened intently, recalling the information about the Green Treasure Pearl he had heard from Champion Ash.
The rights of challenge and command were indeed exactly as Rayquaza described.
But then again… if he hadn't heard this information from Champion Ash, who would have known that obtaining the Green Treasure Pearl could confer such privileges!
Not many should know of the Green Treasure Pearl legend, and Ash was clearly not among those in the loop.
Fortunately, Champion Ash had disclosed this intel; otherwise, today would surely have ended disastrously.
'This oath has persisted for ages, and until recently, the Green Treasure Pearl's whereabouts remained unknown.' Rayquaza said, its golden eyes fixed on Ash.
'Ash, you have found my people's most treasured possession. If this artifact had ended up in the hands of someone with ill intentions, like Cyrus as Giratina mentioned, our fate might not have been any better than Giratina's. Here, as the leader of the Rayquaza clan, I formally thank you.'
With that, Rayquaza surprisingly lowered its proud head.
For Rayquaza to bow its head, it must have taken a great favor to achieve this.
Before this, although Rayquaza was anxious about the loss of the Green Treasure Pearl, it wasn't particularly concerned, as once someone obtained and used the Green Treasure Pearl, it could undoubtedly sense it.
And for others, although the Green Treasure Pearl had great utility, compared to the Rayquaza clan, its use was merely a trivial additive, incapable of causing a qualitative change like it could for them.
Therefore, even if someone else obtained the Green Treasure Pearl, extracting its power would have been impossible—or so Rayquaza had always thought.
Who could have imagined that humanity's technology would advance so rapidly!
Even the power of Legendary Beasts could be extracted and utilized.
If by any chance the Green Treasure Pearl fell into the hands of someone like Cyrus, its fate wouldn't be much better than Giratina's.
Although its innate strength was a notch above Giratina's, it was just a notch. Without the Green Treasure Pearl and unable to MEGA Evolve, it couldn't reach the Quasi-Creator Level.
If Cyrus used the Green Treasure Pearl to study a machine similar to the one controlling Giratina, Rayquaza might also find it inescapable.
Although there aren't many people like Cyrus in the world, Rayquaza feels there's always an inexplicable force controlling the path of them, the Legendary Beasts.
Like Giratina's Griseous Orb disappearing without cause, or its Green Treasure Pearl that couldn't be recovered even if noticed, it's the same.
In Rayquaza's understanding, the only entity that could reach this level is the Creator God, Arceus!
But Arceus has no reason or need to target them with such methods, right?
Although Arceus is the Creator God, essentially it is also a Pokémon, belonging to the Pokémon side, and the Legendary Beasts dutifully follow their Divine Position, protecting this part of the world, what reason would Arceus have to do this to them?
It couldn't be just for amusement in its long years.
However, aside from the Creator God, Rayquaza couldn't think of anyone else capable of forcibly stripping away their Divine Domain Level innate items to this degree.
This seems somewhat too defiant.
No matter who is behind this, Rayquaza knows one thing for sure, which is that a conspiracy targeting the Legendary Beasts is quietly unfolding.
Rayquaza doubts, if Ash hadn't found the Green Treasure Pearl sooner, the Pearl would likely have fallen into the hands of some evil human scientist.
If more Legendary Beasts with Divine Positions were controlled by humans, the order of the world would completely collapse!
Therefore, Rayquaza bowed in gratitude, not only because Ash retrieved the Green Treasure Pearl, but also that the Pearl didn't fall into evil hands, and their Rayquaza clan could fully exert their power from now on.
Besides, as the top clan in the world, once they can fully express their power, the outstanding members of the clan would not be easily defeated even against other Legendary Beasts with Divine Positions.
Conversely, if their clan were controlled, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"No need to be so polite, today if you hadn't come, Rayquaza, I think my life would've been in danger. If thanks are in order, it should be me thanking you." Ash responded with a cheeky smile.
Pikachu waved its paw beside him, expressing gratitude to Rayquaza. He couldn't imagine what he would do if Ash truly died protecting him.
At that moment, he even felt a mysterious destructive force within him about to explode, but Rayquaza's timely rescue composed that power as if it were just an illusion.
'I must return to the ozone layer to continue upholding my Divine Position, the remaining aftermath is up to you.'
"Hmm, don't worry, we'll take care of it."
With Ash's nod, a green scale flew from Rayquaza's body and slowly landed in front of Ash.
Facing Ash's puzzled gaze, Rayquaza explained:
'This is a green scale, my Outrage, although it doesn't have the miraculous effect on Pokémon like the Green Treasure Pearl, it provides a substantial boost to Flying Type and Dragon Type Pokémon, whether it's temporary power enhancement or long-term training improvement, it is significantly helpful, lasting until Champion Peak.'
'Additionally, you can use this scale to summon me, similar to the principle of the Green Treasure Pearl, although you can only use this scale once. After summoning me, whether to challenge or seek my assistance, feel free, after which I will reclaim this Outrage.'
Upon hearing this, Ash took the dragon scale, unsure what material it was, cool to the touch, its surface emitting a faint green glow, allowing Ash to feel the immense power contained within the scale.
There's an ancient saying, "Touch a dragon's Outrage and die."
Now that Rayquaza has entrusted his Outrage to him, it signifies trust and apologies for repossessing the Green Treasure Pearl before conditions were fulfilled.
This Outrage seems not to be inferior in significance to Rayquaza compared to the Green Treasure Pearl.
However, the Green Treasure Pearl affects the entire Rayquaza clan, whereas the Outrage is specifically for Rayquaza itself.
'Furthermore, if you think you can't defeat me, you may choose among my clan members, our clan's weakest now being Champion Peak, having them on the field makes an easy victory.'
Rayquaza's golden gaze turned to Mewtwo beside them, this Pokémon possessing near Divine Domain Peak power, effortlessly defeating even a Champion Level Rayquaza.
Yet it trusts that Ash wouldn't make such a choice.
Ash squeezed the scale and smiled widely: "Of course, I'll challenge the highest difficulty! Once Mewtwo and I grow stronger, we will challenge you, Rayquaza!!"
Upon hearing this, Rayquaza nodded its enormous dragon head: 'Then I shall await your challenge.'
With that, Rayquaza's form soared into the sky, disappearing as a black dot in Ash and others' gaze.
Rayquaza has left.
Giratina pondered in place, considering what's truly influencing Rayquaza, similarly affected as itself.
If it were only Giratina facing an anomaly, it could be attributed to chance; however, if it's not just Giratina, then it goes beyond a mere accident.
Still, a definite conclusion can't be made yet. Besides Giratina, there are those other two dumb dragons with innate items. Were it not for its current closely watched state by Cyrus, it would have found those two first.
Now, it can only temporarily stay around Ash, slowly observing the situation. Giratina has a hunch that following this young man might unfold unexpected gains.
'Then I shall return to my Pokeball for now, if you need my help, feel free to ask.'
"Wait, did you see Entei, Giratina?" Just as Giratina was about to return to its Pokeball, Ash quickly inquired.
He hadn't forgotten that initially, when Professor Oak explored the Crystal Tower, he was obstructed by an Entei.
Although that Entei seemed odd, if it were Ho-Oh's Entei, he could seek it for a final trial.
'Entei? Are you referring to the fake one? That was created by the little girl next to you using Unown, originally meant to protect her, but...' Giratina's face showed a flash of guilt.
'Cyrus and another Team Galactic member exploited my Space Ability, directly entering the Crystal Tower and compelling me to eliminate that Entei. Subsequently, Pluton manipulated a machine to brainwash the girl, preventing her from using Unown's powers to regenerate Entei.'
Even though that Entei was a creation of Unown, Giratina felt remorse. Even while controlled, it clearly recalled the girl's heart-wrenching cries for her 'father'.
At that time, the girl's mental state seemed abnormal. She aimed to create her father using Unown, inadvertently creating Entei instead and regarding it as her father.
Afterward, Giratina personally killed the girl's 'father', something it had never done in its life of bullying the weak.
This incident would undoubtedly be a thorn in Giratina's lifelong shame.
Hearing this, Ash turned his gaze to Mitsumi, peacefully sleeping beside him; indeed, she's the biggest victim of this incident.
First losing her father twice, the power brought by her father benefiting the wicked instead, herself brainwashed...
"Sleep tight, I will find your father." Ash gently ruffled Mitsumi's hair, filled with determination.
No matter the outside's portrayal, he trusts Professor Spencer Hale won't meet trouble so easily; perhaps clues lie with those Unown.
...
In Pallet Town, Misty and others were growing impatient; Ash had been gone for nearly two hours. Given Ash's prowess, it shouldn't have taken this long.
Moreover, the recent explosion at the Crystal Tower has sparked whispers among Pallet Town's residents, suspecting Ash has encountered misfortune.
This heightened their unrest.
Just as Misty slapped the table, preparing to find Ash, the space twisted, and three figures landed inside Oak's Research Institute.
It was Ash, Pikachu, and Mewtwo!
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