Chapter 235: Conqueror's Haki?
Three days passed.
Will successfully grasped the ability to project his Aura Power outwards. It's just that his projection seemed a little... different.
"Do it again."
Lucario frowned, looking at Will.
"Okay."
Will nodded and focused his flippers in front of his chest.
The next moment, his flippers did nothing. Instead, his eyes began to glow with blue light.
Lucario, being stared at by Will, felt a chill run down his spine, though he quickly used his own Aura to calm his emotions.
"How... how did you manage to learn it so... wrong?"
Lucario truly couldn't understand. He had been teaching Aura Sphere from the very beginning. How did Will's mind even work, to self-develop a move that intimidates a target?
"I don't know. Weren't you the one teaching me?" Will shook his head.
The other day, Lucario had shown him several ways to project Aura. Aura Sphere was the most basic application. Lucario could even raise a hand to form an 'Aura Barrier' to block attacks.
Even more impressively, Lucario had concentrated Aura energy into a long bone, using it as a weapon in combat.
In his era, it was common for humanoid Pokémon to learn to use cold weapons like staffs, swords, and spears. Lucario had learned how to use a staff.
Will had thought that was so cool, he'd practically forgotten to eat or sleep while trying to develop his own Aura Power.
And in the end, he developed something like a "Lite Version of Conqueror's Haki."
Conqueror's Haki from the One Piece world radiated outwards from the user, intimidating all living (and even non-living) things. It could also be focused on a single target, all depending on the user's control.
But Will's version could only be activated through his eyes, and only those who made direct eye contact would be affected, similar to a Dōjutsu from the Naruto world.
"..."
Lucario was speechless. Was this... his fault?
But he really couldn't understand. No Aura Guardian in history had ever developed such a move. This "kingly" disposition wasn't something an Aura Guardian should be able to release.
"Whatever. I'll figure it out later. I'll get it eventually. And I think this move is way more useful than Aura Sphere."
Will shrugged, not disappointed at all.
His new move really was like Conqueror's Haki. This kind of move... would be super-effective on animal-like Pokémon.
Although he hadn't tested it yet, he estimated that this move could probably stun an opponent of a similar level for at least two seconds. It could even interrupt an opponent's move at a critical moment.
Isn't that way better than Aura Sphere?
"Well, I must be going to the Tree of Beginning now."
"Go on. I should be leaving here too." Will waved his flipper at Lucario.
"Where do you plan to go next?"
"No idea. Based on what that Lorelei kid wants, probably west." Will scratched his head. What decisions could an adorable little penguin make?
Based on what Lorelei was planning, she wanted to tour the Kanto region before the Indigo Conference. The next city... should be Misty's hometown, Cerulean City. A city full of Water-type trainers. Lorelei had been talking about it for ages.
"I see."
"Why? Don't tell me you're going to follow us?" Will tilted his head, confused.
"Yes. I don't know what to do. I might as well teach you for a while longer. Besides... your Aura feels very familiar."
"Haha, great! If Lorelei knows she's getting another travel buddy, she'll be thrilled. You can use the Tree's crystals to find our location."
"Mm. It's a promise." Lucario bent down and offered Will a fist bump.
"Right, a promise." Will balled his flipper into a 'fist' and bumped it.
"The Aura is with me."
Will and Lorelei set off on their journey once more.
Queen Fulin had her steward drive them all the way to Cerulean City, saving them at least half a month of travel.
Cerulean City. A medium-sized city in northern Kanto. Although it wasn't coastal, a long river connected it to the ocean, so it wasn't lacking for Water-type Pokémon.
Arriving in the city, Lorelei, holding Will, ran straight for the large central building.
When they got to the entrance:
"Where is this?"
"It's the Cerulean Art Museum! It's not just a battleground for Water-type trainers, it's also the stage for the underwater ballet!"
Lorelei looked up at the massive building, her eyes full of yearning. "No Water-type trainer in Kanto doesn't know about this place!~"
So it's the future Cerulean Gym, Will muttered internally. He didn't know what Lorelei was doing here; it looked like it was closed.
"Auntie Sunflower~ Open the door~"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Lorelei ran up and started pounding on the door.
On a normal day, Will would have pecked her a few times to teach the brat some manners. But it seemed Lorelei knew someone inside.
Sunflower... who? Misty's mom? Will wondered.
In a moment, the Art Museum's main doors opened.
A young woman with short gray hair, wearing a black pencil skirt, stood in the doorway. At her leg was a little pipsqueak with yellow hair, wearing animal pajamas.
'It really is.'
Will was certain now. This graceful young woman was indeed the mother of Misty and her three sisters.
But... how did this one woman give birth to four kids with yellow, blue, pink, and orange hair?
Will stared at the... colorful... gray of Sunflower's hair.
Don't tell me their dad had green hair?
"Oh my, isn't it Lorelei? You're finally on your journey?"
"Mhm!" Lorelei nodded proudly, then held up Will. "Look, my Pokémon, Piplup!"
"A Water-type starter from Sinnoh? Mm-hm, very nice." Sunflower reached out and patted Will's round head.
"Popo~"
The little yellow-haired pipsqueak spoke. She looked up at Will in Lorelei's arms, reaching her chubby little hands into the air, grasping for him.
'Don't put me down,' Will looked down at her and quickly said (telepathically to Lorelei).
"Here you go!"
Lorelei, without a second thought, put Will right in front of the kid.
"...Agh~"
The little yellow-haired kid lunged and latched onto the top of Will's head with her mouth.
'I knew it.' Will sighed. His Aura Power wasn't a joke; it was sensitive to potential danger. He'd sensed that if he was put in front of this kid, he was going to suffer.
Thankfully, the kid didn't bite down. She just... gummed his scalp.
"Ah~ Daisy, you can't bite Piplup."
Sunflower bent down and picked up the little girl, whose name was Daisy. This was Misty's oldest sister.
"Popo~" Daisy had no idea what her mom was saying. She just wanted to hug the little penguin.
"Hehe, Piplup is just so charming!" Lorelei said, a little embarrassed but also proud. She felt honored that Daisy liked him so much.
"He certainly is. Piplup are very popular Water-types because of their cute appearance and tsundere personality... Hmm, but your Piplup doesn't seem very tsundere."
Sunflower nodded, but looked at Will curiously. She was a Water-type expert and had studied most of the Water Pokémon in the northern hemisphere.
'Tsundere is out of fashion,' Will thought, replying casually in his mind. He was discovering that not being able to speak human was a good thing. He could say whatever he wanted. He could complain about humans right to their faces, and it was fine.
"Alright, come on in. Daisy, you must be nice to Piplup, okay? No bullying."
Sunflower put her daughter back on the ground. The pipsqueak immediately lunged at Will again.
'Sigh.' Will sighed, but didn't dare dodge. With the kid's momentum and wobbly legs, if he moved, she'd definitely fall and probably lose two front teeth.
Thump. Daisy glomped Will. This time she didn't bite, she just hugged his head and started walking.
"Auntie Sunflower! Let's have a Pokémon battle!"
"Hoho~ Lorelei, you've got some nerve. I'm from your mother's generation, you know." Sunflower grinned and poked Lorelei's head.
"Don't underestimate us! We're strong!" Lorelei shouted.
"Alright, alright. Perfect timing. The League has a new policy, and I can test it out on you." Sunflower stretched and gestured to the three Poké Balls on her belt. She was one of the League's battle instructors, so she was at least mid-to-high level. She was always one of the first to be notified of any League movements.
"What policy?"
"You'll find out if you battle me." The young woman's playful smile was devastatingly charming.
"Your Pokémon have been training forever! That's just bullying a kid," Lorelei pouted.
"You know that perfectly well, and you still challenged me?"
"Hmph! We'll see who's stronger after we battle!"
"Fine, let's go. These three Pokémon were just raised in the last six months, so their levels aren't high. Don't say I bullied you if you lose~"
Sunflower smiled, relaxed. Although her three Pokémon were new, Lorelei had been on her journey for even less time. She was still a rookie trainer.
How strong could she be?
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