Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 516: Keldeo — Slowly Being Changed

Humilau City was a traditional town, steeped in ancient customs.

One of them was this: Do not go out at night.

It was said that after dusk, a terrifying beast would appear, cloaked in cold winds, dragging off humans and Pokémon alike to devour them.

This legend stemmed from an ancient meteorite that had once crashed into the mountains far outside Humilau. The impact created a massive crater, whose searing heat burned deep into the ground, forming a sprawling, twisted underground labyrinth.

Years ago, a company tried to develop the area, hoping to profit from the mysterious crater. But they went bankrupt in the end. The cold in the cavern was simply too extreme for ordinary people to withstand.

And so, over time, the area came to be known as the Giant Chasm, and the rest of the region stopped paying attention to it.

Only the townsfolk of Humilau, whether believers of the legend or not, still strictly followed the rule: stay indoors at night.

"Where are we going?" Keldeo followed behind Johan, step by step.

Its wounds had visibly healed more, thanks to treatment from the Pokémon Center, Johan's potions, and energy cubes. It was recovering its strength.

"You said you wanted to rescue the three 'Swords of Justice,' didn't you?" Johan asked without turning his head.

"I..." Keldeo hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Yes! That's right!"

But after saying it aloud, it instinctively lowered its head, eyes flickering with doubt.

How?

Once, training under the Swords, it had believed it was strong. Maybe not their equal, but enough to stand beside them.

Until last night.

It saw the true power of the three Swords combined. Witnessed the strength of Kyurem—the mightiest dragon. Saw those unknown Pokémon that could go toe-to-toe with Kyurem...

Now it was unsure if it could do anything at all.

Guilt toward Cobalion and the others... fear of Kyurem...

The mix of emotions swirled inside it.

"Yoji."

Just as Keldeo started to sink again, Yoji—the little Larvitar—tapped its side, as if trying to say something.

"What is it?" Keldeo asked.

"Yoji~"

Yoji pointed at Keldeo's back, then at himself, rubbing his hands together sheepishly.

Can I ride on your back?

Keldeo: "???"

Excuse me, I thought we were friends, and you're trying to...

"Yoji~ Yoji~!"

🎶 Riding on my beloved little donkey~ I'll never be caught in traffic~ 🎶

And so, Yoji climbed onto Keldeo's back, gripping its fluffy red mane with a contented hum.

Keldeo was dazed.

Why had it agreed to that?

A dignified "Sword of Justice," turned into a mount...

Am I really a "Sword of Justice"?

Or just a useless burden, always protected by others...

Keldeo realized the reason it agreed—because, in its eyes, Yoji was the weakest of Johan's Pokémon. Like itself, Yoji was sheltered, watched over.

Maybe they were the same.

"Do you... ever feel useless?" Keldeo asked. "Always being protected and cared for?"

Yoji scratched his head, tilted it to the sky like he was pondering something deep.

"Yoji?"

Huh?

Keldeo thought Yoji didn't understand, so it tried again—

"Yoji!"

I get it!

Yoji mimicked Johan, putting his little fists under his chin thoughtfully.

"Yoji."

But right now, I am the weakest. That's just a fact.

Huh?

Keldeo was surprised. Most couldn't admit that truth so plainly.

"Yoji!" Yoji clenched his fists. "But I'll get stronger! One day, I'll be the one protecting everyone! So I have to work hard!"

Then he pulled out a chunk of ore—who knows from where—and started munching on it, cheeks puffed out.

Strength = food.

So he had to eat!

So I'll protect them after I get stronger...?

Keldeo lowered its head again. The guilt deepened.

Johan, listening to their exchange, chuckled to himself.

Our little Yoji, after all, was born from Uxie's claw—he's smart and food-obsessed.

In this environment, he's been naturally influenced—he doesn't see being the weakest as shameful.

Though if you touch his food, that's a different story...

As for Keldeo, Johan had a good read on its mental state now.

It was lacking confidence, steeped in guilt, and doubting itself. That wasn't something a pep talk could fix. It would take experience to rebuild that confidence.

As they left Humilau and approached the Giant Chasm, the sun dimmed and the cold began to bite.

Keldeo grew visibly tense, scanning its surroundings nervously.

"We..." Keldeo began.

"We're going to check the situation," Johan said. "See if Kyurem is still around, and whether those unknown Pokémon are still there. Then we'll decide how to rescue Cobalion and the others."

"...Got it."

Keldeo felt slightly relieved. With Johan here, it didn't feel as lost. It didn't have to worry so much about danger.

A creeping white fog surrounded them.

Or rather—they were walking into the icy mist.

Temperatures plummeted. Visibility dropped. Frost coated every branch and leaf.

"The cold from the Giant Chasm is reaching this far already..."

Johan glanced at the Rotom Map. They still had one more mountain to cross before reaching the chasm proper.

And the mist was still spreading.

That's the power of a Legendary.

Even unconscious release of energy could reshape the environment.

And when released fully?

It could change the world.

Look at those two Hoenn morons—one floods continents, the other dries up oceans.

"...So Kyurem is still in the chasm?"

The cold wasn't bad enough to freeze all of Opelucid yet, so maybe Kyurem was injured. Or holding back.

Either way—they had to hurry.

Johan picked up the pace.

Wild Pokémon scattered around them, fleeing the icy fog.

Keldeo breathed out steam, shivering slightly. It glanced at Johan—who walked calmly ahead.

So cold... yet he didn't seem affected at all?

He didn't even have heavy clothes on.

But for Johan?

This was nothing.

Not unless they got close to the chasm's core.

"Oowoo!"

"Ka-kaah!"

Ninetales and Gengar called out in unison.

Something was coming!

Ninetales felt the fog shift unnaturally.

Gengar sensed a change in the surroundings.

Ting ting ting—!

The crisp sound of crystals clinking together rang out. Geometric snowflakes floated through the fog toward them.

"Cryogonal, the Crystallizing Pokémon, Ice-type. Born in snowclouds, they adore the cold, Rotom!" said the Pokédex.

Kyurem's cold aura had drawn many Cryogonal to the chasm.

They were almost like extensions of its will.

"It's Cryogonal! That means Kyurem's nearby!" Keldeo shouted, instinctively fearful.

After all—last time, it didn't even see Kyurem clearly before its "sword" was broken.

Ting ting ting—!

The Cryogonal formed a circle around them.

"They think we're enemies."

"Goka!"

Clang!

Ceruledge's twin blades hummed, and it stepped forward.

We're here to help—cut us some slack!

Fwoom!

Blue flames flared from its armor as its swords ignited.

Swords...?

Keldeo stared. Was Ceruledge a fellow swordsman?

But the Cryogonal ignored its plea.

Whummm—

Cold energy gathered in their cores.

Blizzard incoming.

So many beams, all at once—

Keldeo hesitated, staring at Ceruledge.

How would a fellow "swordsman" respond?

Cobalion and the others might dodge—avoid a head-on fight.

But Ceruledge?

"Goka!"

Mess them up!

Keldeo: (＠_＠;)

And then—

WHOOSH!

Ceruledge charged.

Urshifu, Tinkaton, and Gengar joined in without hesitation.

Boom! Blue fire bloomed through the fog.

"Yoji! Yoji!"

Yoji pumped his fists, shadow-boxing like he was in the fight.

Keldeo stood dumbfounded.

Wait—aren't they afraid of angering Kyurem?

And these Cryogonal—there'd be more coming soon...

Then—

Ting ting ting—!

Behind it, more Cryogonal appeared, gathering frost energy.

"Draaa?"

Dragonite tensed, ready to intervene, but Johan held him back.

"Let's see what it does."

"Oowoo~"

Ninetales motioned that it could intervene in time if needed.

But Keldeo and Yoji didn't know that.

"Yoji!!"

Yoji and Keldeo noticed the ambush at the same time.

Attack them!

But Keldeo froze in place.

The cold intensified. The fog thickened.

In its mind—it saw the looming shape of Kyurem again.

No... no...

It stepped back. Limbs trembling.

"Yoji!"

Yoji jumped off its back and stood in front of it.

No fear. Just fists.

BOOM!

He slammed the ground.

Rocks erupted, forming a wall that blocked the incoming Ice Beams.

Crash!

Rock Slide!

He hurled icy stones at the Cryogonal, knocking them off balance.

"Yoji!!"

Yoji stood firm, arms akimbo, and pointed dramatically—

Come at me!

Keldeo stared, stunned.

Why was Yoji so brave?

These Cryogonal weren't weak. In this cold, this was their domain.

And yet—Yoji scared them.

They flinched.

"Yoji!"

Seeing that, Yoji roared—

Dragon Roar!

Head down, he charged.

Crack!!

One Cryogonal shattered, cracks spreading.

Iron Head!

Johan raised a brow.

This little guy had learned a new move without saying a word.

But the other Cryogonal prepared another volley.

Until—

WHOOOSH!

Water erupted under Keldeo's hooves.

It surged forward, landed several kicks, sending them flying.

Johan smiled. Ninetales and Dragonite relaxed.

Yoji turned back, saw Keldeo, and grinned.

"Yoji! (Д)b"

Thumbs up.

Keldeo nodded in return. A bit of guilt faded. Confidence flickered.

Together, they defeated the remaining Cryogonal.

"Yoji!"

Yoji clapped Keldeo's side proudly.

My noble steed!

Keldeo stumbled from the force. Stronger than expected...

Also—what's a "noble steed"?

"Well done, both of you," Johan said, smiling.

"Yoji!"

Yoji puffed out his chest, strutting.

Keldeo looked at Johan's face—at his clear approval—and felt a pang of shame.

He kept saying "You can do it." But when the time came... Keldeo had hesitated.

Even Yoji was braver.

And yet Johan kept believing in him.

Ceruledge and the others finished off the remaining Cryogonal.

"Let's go. We need to move faster," Johan said, turning toward the Giant Chasm.

Keldeo walked alongside Ceruledge, Yoji once again on its back.

"...Are you a swordsman?" Keldeo asked after a pause.

"Goka?"

Ceruledge looked at him.

Swordsman? Nah. I just fight for respect.

"Fight for... respect?"

"Goka~"

They don't know me, so they won't respect me.

But if I beat them once—they'll remember me. Then they will respect me.

Keldeo thought hard.

So...

The title of "swordsman" has to be earned.

Not something you just claim.

Only by earning recognition—can one become a "Sword of Justice."

Keldeo nodded.

"I understand!"

"Goka?"

Ceruledge tilted his head.

Understand what?

"Um... one more thing," Keldeo asked. "Do you know what it means—the 'weight of the sword'?"

The three Swords always told him to learn that. To understand why he drew his blade.

He never understood.

But maybe Ceruledge did.

Weight of the sword?

Ceruledge glanced at his blades. Gave them a light swing.

They're not heavy.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

"I meant—why you fight?"

Ah.

Ceruledge's expression turned serious. His swords glinted.

Clang!

"Goka!"

Because if I don't fight—they might hurt Johan!

Keldeo fell silent, deep in thought.

Johan, overhearing, had a weird expression.

He just wanted to say—

"If I have no sword, I can't protect you. But if I always carry one, I can't hold you close. LET'S JUST TEAR EVERYTHING APART!"

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Powerstones?

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