Afterward, Shiro carefully summarized the powers and uses of the four Unown.
The first was their ability to transform into Legendary Pokémon.
After studying it more closely, he discovered that when Unown A and the other three Unown transformed into the Legendary Birds, they also possessed the corresponding authority of those Pokémon. For example, Articuno naturally had control over extreme ice, while Suicune possessed its purification ability.
While these abilities weren't especially impressive with the three Legendary Birds and the three Legendary Beasts, that was mainly because they were among the weaker Legendary Pokémon.
If they could gather more Unown and transform into Pokémon like Groudon or Kyogre, perhaps they could even create land and oceans. From this, it seemed the Unown's power increased exponentially with their numbers rather than being evenly distributed among them.
The second ability was the one they had just demonstrated.
They could replicate battle mechanics like Mega Evolution and Dynamax, although they could only assist one Pokémon at a time. For now, the ability wasn't especially useful. It didn't significantly increase the team's overall strength in the short term. But in the long run, it held tremendous potential.
Still, Shiro had one lingering question. "A, can't you have G merge with you too? Five should be stronger than four, right?"
Floating through the air with its three expressionless companions behind it, Unown A proudly shook itself. 'The four of us are already perfectly balanced after merging. If G joined in, it would actually disrupt that balance. Besides... after merging, one consciousness has to take control. G wouldn't want to end up like them.'
Unown A floated lower so Shiro could see more clearly. The three Unown behind it, Unown F, Unown P, and Unown Y, had completely lost their awareness and couldn't act on their own. They simply followed Unown A passively.
Shiro slowly nodded. "Then if you separate later, will they..."
Unown A suddenly stopped. The three Unown behind it instantly disappeared before it transformed back into Entei. Patting its chest confidently, it said, 'It's actually more troublesome to let them out. Staying with me is the same.'
Understanding that this state could be maintained indefinitely, Shiro finally stopped asking.
Buzz!
At that moment, the communicator in his pocket rang.
When he answered it, he found Rowan on the other end. His voice sounded slightly anxious. "Shiro, I could see from the laboratory that there was an extremely powerful Pokémon to the southeast. The aftereffects of its moves were definitely at the Champion-level."
Shiro froze slightly, recalling the Gigantamax Gengar from earlier. Even though he had canceled the transformation almost immediately, it seemed the commotion had still been noticed over at the lab.
He quickly asked, "Was it a giant red dome?"
"Exactly!" Rowan replied. "What happened? Is there another danger? Cynthia has already gone to your location."
"It's fine. I was just testing some research," Shiro explained before making up a few theories to barely justify what had happened.
Though Rowan still sounded doubtful, he didn't press the issue further. "It's getting late. Come back soon."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Shiro prepared to pack everything up and leave.
Just then, he heard someone call his name from nearby.
"Shiro?"
In midair, Cynthia leaped gracefully from Garchomp's back as it landed. The moment she saw Shiro, her beautiful brows knitted together in confusion before her expression quickly shifted to shock.
She cautiously walked over and slowly reached out a hand.
Shiro instinctively responded, but seeing her strange expression left him equally puzzled. It wasn't until he turned his head and saw Entei A sitting beside him that he finally understood.
The enormous Entei was more than twice the size of Growlithe. Its shoulders alone stood over 1.8 meters high, nearly matching Shiro's height. Sitting there with its imposing and dignified appearance, it was impossible to ignore.
"Enntei?" (What's wrong?)
Entei A scratched its backside with a hind leg. It couldn't understand why both Shiro and this woman were acting so strangely.
"Uh..."
Shiro rubbed his forehead. Even after thinking for a moment, he couldn't come up with a good explanation.
Cynthia came from a family with extensive knowledge. Judging by her reaction, she had clearly recognized Entei.
But how was he supposed to explain it? Tell her Entei was fake and actually created by a group of Psychic-type Pokémon?
As soon as he said that, Cynthia would definitely ask what kind of Psychic Pokémon they were and probably try to recreate the phenomenon herself.
Or maybe...
While he was still thinking, Cynthia stopped in front of him. Resting a slender finger against her chin, she carefully examined the Entei, which somehow gave off unmistakable Growlithe vibes no matter how she looked at it.
Was this really Entei? One of the three Legendary Beasts from the Kanto region that served Ho-Oh?
Entei A still hadn't figured out what was happening. It let out another bark toward Shiro.
"En, Enteiiii?" (What's going on? Why does this woman keep staring at me?)
It's just a dumb dog. What's so interesting about looking at it...
The corner of Shiro's eye twitched. He immediately used his psychic power to tell Unown A, 'Quick! Turn into Ditto! Then pretend I recalled you into a Poké Ball!'
Meanwhile, Cynthia continued watching the unusually dog-like Entei, countless questions filling her mind.
According to the records, the Legendary Beasts, Entei, Suicune, and Raikou, are all calm and majestic Pokémon. Entei in particular is said to have a rather fierce temperament because of its Fire typing.
But this one… why does it act exactly like a big dog?
Were the records just rumors?
Or... could this Entei actually be a fake created by Shiro? Maybe some Psychic Pokémon's illusion, or...
"Sorry. This is my Ditto. I got carried away earlier and had it transform into Entei, the Legendary Pokémon from Kanto, for some research."
As Shiro spoke, the Entei beside him suddenly melted into a huge lump of gray-white slime.
However, because the four Unown themselves were high level, this Ditto form was just as enormous as the Entei had been moments earlier. It stood as tall as Shiro, with two tiny black bead-like eyes full of... questionable intelligence.
"Return."
Shiro casually took out a Poké Ball. Cooperating perfectly, Ditto A transformed into a beam of red light and disappeared into it.
Cynthia nodded in realization and smiled. "No wonder the Ditto looked a little like Growlithe. They must be very close, right?"
"That's right," Shiro answered while continuing to pack up his materials and backpack. "Let's go."
He threw out a Poké Ball, jumped onto Corviknight's back, and flew toward the research institute.
Behind him, Cynthia silently watched his departing figure, her brows still tightly furrowed.
The aura that Entei had emitted earlier was unmistakable. Its Master-level pressure had been so overwhelming that even her Garchomp had trembled. Yet after turning back into Ditto, it was still at the Master-level.
Since when did Shiro train a Master-level Ditto?
A Ditto transforming into Entei… that explanation felt a little forced.
Still, Cynthia had never been the type to pry into other people's secrets. She simply buried her doubts deep inside and chose not to ask another question.
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