Chapter 191: Jirachi Awakens
On the League's side, Drake was arguing with Phoebe, who was leading the operation: "No, while we need to secure Jirachi, the League can't afford any more losses. I object to striking first. There are many more desperate than us—we don't need to be the first to act."
Just as Drake said, many were more desperate than the League, such as Courtney of Team Magma. Although she had prosthetic replacements after losing both hands in a previous battle, if she obtained Jirachi, regrowing her hands wouldn't be an impossible dream.
But while the idea was appealing, one of Team Magma's three commanders, Blaise, had betrayed them, and another key member had left. Although two more operatives were promoted, Team Magma was no longer as strong as Team Aqua. Courtney gritted her teeth and sent a message to the League representatives.
Phoebe understood, nodded, and said, "Okay, but you have to make the first move."
The Team Magma members returned with the message. Upon hearing this, Courtney gritted her teeth and said, "Do it!"
At the League's position, Drake frowned and asked Phoebe, "What did Team Magma say?"
"Nothing much—they want to team up with us. The condition is that they want one wish for themselves, to restore her hands," Phoebe said.
"You agreed?"
"Of course I agreed. Why not use cannon fodder when it's offered on a silver platter?" Phoebe said nonchalantly, then issued orders to coordinate with Team Magma's assault.
Upon receiving Courtney's signal, Team Magma immediately rushed forward to seize Jirachi's crystal cocoon. But before they could succeed, Team Aqua also charged in. The two teams already had a bitter grudge, and they immediately clashed, Fire and Water-type attacks splashing everywhere.
Phoebe was about to signal the League's advance, but immediately stopped her forces. Nearly two hundred Gyarados appeared on the eastern cliff, and then the Gyarados unleashed a devastating barrage of Hyper Beams. A violent explosion erupted in the valley, blasting countless Pokémon and trainers away, instantly clearing the entire area.
Phoebe couldn't help but swallow hard, saying, "Where did Ryan get so many Gyarados? It seems his claim that each guild member is equipped with at least three Pokémon, including Gyarados, is actually true!"
Drake frowned, saying, "They probably know a method to help Magikarp evolve quickly. They have over two hundred Gyarados now. Without our Legendary Pokémon, it'll be difficult to contest them."
Phoebe nodded, thinking of Team Rocket's disposable Legendary Bird clones. If the League acquired that technology, at least no one would dare cross their red lines.
The Gyarados fired again, and the valley fell into stunned silence. Lycoris flew out on a Mega Salamence, saying calmly, "Our Mercenary Guild is determined to obtain Jirachi. Please show our guild some respect."
"Heh, the Mercenary Guild certainly has a big mouth." A member of Team Rocket stepped forward. No one would have guessed she was Jessie, once part of the bumbling trio that appeared in early reports about the Kanto region.
But the current Jessie was no laughing matter. Beside her stood an Arbok and a Scyther, both radiating menace, their cruel, bloodthirsty gazes fixed on Lycoris, causing her to frown.
Phoebe, seeing Jessie, frowned and asked an aide nearby, "Who is that woman? Her strength seems to rival that of an Elite Four member."
A field analyst nearby checked their tablet and said, "Jessie, currently a key operative in Team Rocket. She used to be relatively weak, but she frequently encountered Ash Ketchum, the Chosen of Ho-Oh. After disappearing for a period, she returned with drastically increased strength. Her signature Pokémon are these serpentine creatures—they're extremely strong, comparable to any of the Elite Four."
Phoebe nodded, knowing this would be a tough opponent. But the current situation was exactly what she wanted to see—when two tigers fight, one must be injured. She would sit back and watch the conflict, reaping the benefits!
Seeing that Jessie showed no sign of backing down, Lycoris launched an attack without hesitation. Mega Salamence opened its mouth, unleashing a Dragon Pulse toward Jessie. The Arbok beside Jessie instantly blocked her path, its venomous tail deflecting the Dragon Pulse. At the same time, its body expanded, revealing hypnotic patterns across its hood.
Mega Salamence, momentarily careless, was instantly paralyzed by the serpent's Glare. Arbok immediately spewed out a large quantity of Acid, aiming it at Lycoris without hesitation.
Lycoris immediately sensed mortal danger, but just then, a voice rang out: "Reshiram, Blue Flare!"
A blue flame instantly evaporated the corrosive liquid. Ryan, standing on Reshiram's back, looked down at the crowd below and calmly said, "Show me some respect and retreat now, or—hey! That kid! Put Jirachi down!"
Before Ryan could finish his commanding entrance, a boy and his Blaziken grabbed Jirachi's crystal cocoon, ready to snatch it and run. In fact, that's exactly what he did. The boy's Blaziken, with its incredible jumping ability and swift speed, instantly reached Jirachi's location, grabbed the crystal cocoon, and bolted.
This was absolutely unacceptable! Ryan threw out a Poké Ball, and Charizard, engulfed in fierce flames, instantly blocked Blaziken's path. Simultaneously, a Fire Punch blast sent Blaziken flying, and Charizard carried the crystal cocoon back to Ryan's side.
"Ahem," Ryan coughed twice, clutching the crystal cocoon, and said, "Please show me some respect—it's not too late to retreat now. Don't make me resort to more aggressive methods."
Reshiram slowly descended into the valley, the red glow from its tail turbine dissipating, but the immense heat still forced many people and Pokémon backward.
Phoebe looked at Ryan helplessly and loudly announced, "The League withdraws from this matter."
With that, she led the League members away. Jessie looked at Ryan and said, "Team Rocket also withdraws."
With that, Jessie led the Team Rocket operatives away. The remaining Team Magma and Team Aqua members, seeing the two major forces departing and considering the Mercenary Guild's strength, also left reluctantly. The other independent trainers also dispersed helplessly—after all, they were no match for a large organization, and no one was foolish enough to steal from such a powerful guild.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, the boy who had tried to steal Jirachi glared at Ryan with hatred. He said, "Ryan, right? I'll also be participating in this Ever Grande Conference. Don't let me catch you in the tournament. My name is Wally—remember that name!"
With that, he left with his Blaziken. Ryan looked at the boy who called himself Wally with amusement: a promising talent, refusing to admit defeat even when facing overwhelming strength—either a fool or a genius. Which would you turn out to be?
Seeing that the crowd had mostly dispersed, Ryan released Meloetta. The reason he'd wanted to capture Meloetta so badly was because of its song.
Jirachi awakens once every thousand years, roused from its millennia-long slumber upon hearing a voice of purity. The only truly pure song Ryan could think of was Meloetta's, and only Meloetta's melody could truly be called the purest sound in existence.
Ryan looked at Meloetta, who nodded and softly began to sing a beautiful melody. As Meloetta sang, Ryan felt the crystal cocoon in his arms begin to tremble. The crystalline shell gradually cracked and fell away, and a beam of light emerged from within.
The light dissipated, and Jirachi floated in the air, opening its eyes. Jirachi had a star-like appearance, with two ribbon-like appendages on its back, eye-like patterns on its abdomen, blue-green square structures at the ends of its star-shaped points, and blue-green triangular markings below its eyes.
Ryan didn't make a wish immediately. Instead, he took out some Pokéblocks from his backpack and said, "Jirachi, after sleeping for a thousand years, you must be hungry. I'll take good care of you for the next seven days."
Jirachi floated over, took a Pokéblock from Ryan's hand, and nibbled it in small bites. Then, clearly enjoying the treat, Jirachi happily perched on Ryan's shoulder and used its psychic powers to levitate the Pokéblock container in Ryan's hand closer, eating contentedly.
(End of Chapter)
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