Question: What's it like to ride a dragon?
Natsuhiko: It's a bit high.
Supplement: A bit nerve-racking.
Natsuhiko never thought that one day he could stand on the back of a Shining Charizard, able to command this Pokémon that even Agatha and Uncle Liu, the two champions, found troublesome.
Though it was with the help of Marshadow's power.
But being able to borrow power is a skill in itself, isn't it?
Below.
"Who is he?" Black Tide asked in a deep voice.
Just as the plan was about to succeed, how did someone suddenly appear?
And he came from Binina's ship, there must be some connection with Binina, he thought.
Then, a crew member who was previously on Henry's ship, now eager to prove himself after joining Black Tide, stepped up and said:
"Master Black Tide, this guy was just on the 'Charm' side's ship, helping them fight against us. He has a very powerful Beedrill in his hand, probably at Elite Level."
"Then how do you explain this Shining Charizard?" Black Tide glanced at him and asked coldly.
"This...."
"Elite Level? This Shining Charizard is very strong, and we all might fall here this time." Black Tide bit his lip, yet he couldn't muster the determination to attack this Shining Charizard.
This felt like facing an enraged leader, with even more pressure.
After all, he knew that no matter how angry the leader was, he wouldn't attack him.
'Could this guy be some high-ranking official's kid from the Alliance, out for training, and this Shining Charizard is his secret weapon from home?' Black Tide couldn't help but think.
Can't blame him for thinking that way.
It was indeed because Natsuhiko was quite young. To say this Shining Charizard was raised by him, Black Tide wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.
Moreover, if it were really raised by Natsuhiko, his fame would definitely not be small.
And among the famous people, none in Black Tide's mind matched the description.
So it seemed that there was only this reasonable explanation left.
Fortunately.
Black Tide felt somewhat relieved that he had been "polite" and hadn't resorted immediately to violence.
Not just Black Tide, but Binina and Gerwin were equally shocked.
"Gerwin, is this the.... friend you mentioned?" Binina murmured.
Gerwin's expression was also losing control, swallowing saliva lightly, "I don't know..."
She really didn't know.
How could she have known that Natsuhiko could bring out a Shining Charizard that was terrifying just to look at?
"Who exactly is he?"
"I don't know..."
Gerwin's mind was also in turmoil.
How did someone living in the same second-class cabin as her suddenly become a presence everyone feared?
Soon, images of her meeting and spending time with Natsuhiko flashed through Gerwin's mind.
Suddenly, a jolt.
"Sister, he once said he has a teacher who taught him a lot of tactics... many very... powerful tactics..."
Let's use the word "powerful" for now.
Because Natsuhiko's tactics were sometimes, frankly, quite... unspeakable.
Binina strongly agreed with Gerwin's description of Natsuhiko's tactics.
She then recalled Natsuhiko advising her to change her existing tactical system and use "becoming small" as a filthy tactic, which she herself found a bit dirty.
"So... this tremendously powerful Shining Charizard is his teacher's Pokémon?"
"No... that's impossible."
No one would think of this Shining Charizard as Natsuhiko's Pokémon, mainly because it's too unrealistic.
But with the explanation of a "teacher," everything seemed relatively reasonable.
In the Pokémon Realm, elders lending their Pokémon to juniors as a life-saving card was rare, but not uncommon.
After all, traveling in the perilous Pokémon Realm, you're bound to encounter various problems and unforeseen dangers.
Having a life-saving card granted by elders undoubtedly increases safety significantly.
However, this way, the effect of the travel might not be as significant.
Besides, using such a Shining Charizard for protection—isn't that a bit over the top?
"No wonder his tactical prowess is so high, even if his strength is decent, but compared to his tactical ability, it's still much inferior." Binina lamented.
"How about... sister, you really take him under your wing this time? I think it's pretty reliable." Gerwin suggested.
As the two conversed, their deliberately suppressed voices gradually got louder.
Hearing Gerwin's suggestion, the surrounding crew nodded.
This "Ship Pet" seems to have the tendency to leap into a "Ship Tyrant."
But if it's really as Gerwin and Binina guessed, they just want to say...
Really fragrant!
Binina rolled her eyes at Gerwin, "At a time like this, you're thinking of such things?"
"I can't help it, I'm nervous, sister, if he becomes my brother-in-law, I might not be nervous anymore..." Gerwin said weakly.
Hearing her words, Binina laughed angrily.
Did she really think she couldn't get married?
If not for her family pushing her to get married, would she have had to run away on her own and become a pirate?
But...
Binina looked up just in time to see Natsuhiko's resolute edges and cold, handsome face.
Unconsciously, a rosy blush crept onto her face.
'This young man...'
What was Natsuhiko doing at the moment?
Straight-faced, listening to Marshadow's instructions, he also learned a lot from Marshadow about why they had come here.
It turned out that that day, after Marshadow awakened the enraged Shining Charizard, it flew south all the way, crossing many seas, to reach here.
Coming to this small island was not only because Marshadow felt it resembled the Spirit Realm, but also because it had something that could heal some of Shining Charizard's injuries.
Did you really think that consuming so many "Blazing Energy Blocks" to dramatically increase its special attack came without side effects?
If not for Marshadow bringing the Shining Charizard here, its condition might have become very strange, possibly unable to maintain its consciousness.
Marshadow not leaving the island was partly because of the Shining Charizard.
But it wasn't the main reason.
It was because of one of its duties.
Marshadow didn't say much about what it was exactly.
Maybe it couldn't explain it clearly either.
In the end, Marshadow instructed the Shining Charizard to follow Natsuhiko's orders during this period.
Even though Shining Charizard was somewhat reluctant, Marshadow's words left it no room to refuse.
Just like that.
Natsuhiko temporarily gained command of the Shining Charizard, becoming a Dragon Knight for real.
Even if, it didn't have a Dragon Attribute.
But it didn't matter, just learn from someone's shamelessness, and it would be fine.
Natsuhiko tried sitting on the back of the Shining Charizard, gently tapping it.
"Charizard, Jet Flame."
Shining Charizard glared at him, somewhat unwillingly spitting out a scorching blue flame near black.
Black Flame!
It pierced a huge opening through the dense clouds, allowing long-awaited moonlight to shine down.
Indeed it listens!
Natsuhiko felt somewhat exhilarated inside.
"Descend."
Whoosh——
Accompanied by a sharp, whistling airflow, the Shining Charizard landed in front of Black Tide.
Black Tide's face darkened, momentarily unsure of what to say.
Natsuhiko grinned, slowly saying: "Black Tide, your leader... seems a bit restless..."
Upon hearing, Black Tide's pupils shrunk abruptly.
He knew!
He actually knew!
He is indeed the offspring of some high-ranking official in the Alliance!