Chapter 486:

"Zoroark?!" (How is this possible?)

Its binding technique was blown away in an instant, leaving the Hisuian Zoroark utterly stunned. From the human woman’s memories it had probed, it knew this Dragonite was supposed to be extremely gentle!

How could it possess such formidable strength?!

"Groooar!"

Dragonite let out a furious roar. The disappearance of everything around it made it immediately realize that Megumi’s current situation was likely problematic—and the problem was this unknown Pokémon right before its eyes!

No matter!

Beat it to a pulp, take it back to the Trainer, and everything would be sorted!

In the Hisuian Zoroark’s eyes, it also knew that from the moment it attacked, any possibility of conversation between them was gone.

So the Shadow Ball gathered in its palm was hurled forward without hesitation.

...

Approximately one minute later.

"Dragonite!" Dragonite, holding the now unconscious Hisuian Zoroark, began searching the nearby area. Soon, with the Zoroark’s combat ability lost and its illusion power gone, Dragonite sensed a faint trace of Aura power emanating from a specific spot. Following this trace, it found Megumi deep in slumber within a cave.

The source of the Aura was a Poké Ball containing Blastoise.

"Dragonite...."

Seeing this, Dragonite sighed in relief.

Thank goodness nothing serious happened. If it had, it would have been too ashamed to return and face Kaede.

Thinking this, it patted Megumi’s cheek. No response. Clearly, she was under the effect of some hypnosis technique.

Dragonite promptly took an Energy Cube from the storage capsule in its backpack and placed it in her mouth.

Shortly after, the girl in its arms slowly opened her eyes.

Then she sat up with a shout, "Huh... Noivern, hurry, let’s get back!"

But when her eyes fully focused, she realized there was no sign of the so-called Zoroark around her. Only a... grinning Dragonite?

Wait, Dragonite?

Megumi rubbed her eyes and looked again. Seeing the pack on Dragonite’s back, it was clearly Kaede’s Dragonite!

She let out a huge sigh of relief, then quickly felt for her own Poké Balls. Finding them all safe, the final weight lifted from her heart.

Instantly, the delayed fear surged within her, and she hugged Dragonite tightly. "Waaah, Dragonite! Thank you so much...."

Dragonite was a bit flustered but soon gently patted her shoulder in comfort. "Dragonite...." (It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ve already defeated it.)

It even swung the Zoroark’s body to show her.

Megumi composed herself and looked at the Hisuian Zoroark, finally processing that the creature which had defeated all her Pokémon earlier was now beaten.

But confusion quickly followed.

"Huff... That’s so strange...."

News of the Hisuian Zoroark had spread naturally. Out of curiosity, she had decided to come see for herself.

Yet, strangely, the moment she entered these mountains, a peculiar feeling of being watched settled in her heart.

She immediately asked Blastoise to use its Aura to sense any anomalies.

But Blastoise hadn’t detected anything unusual.

This feeling alerted her to potential danger, and she promptly decided to return to a human town.

On the way back, she was blocked by a Gabite. After reluctantly capturing it, she immediately tried to call Kaede. But right at that moment,

this Hisuian Zoroark appeared like a ghost, swiftly defeated her Pokémon, and knocked her out.

The problem was, she had absolutely no prior connection to this Hisuian Zoroark!

Why would it do this?

However, thinking it over, Megumi quickly landed on a key point. "Phew... Speaking of which, how did Brother Kaede find me? Did he plant some Aura marker or psychic tag on me or something?"

Her eyes sparkled as she said this.

Ha, she knew it! Kaede wouldn’t just let her wander outside alone without a safety net.

"Dragonite?"

Dragonite puzzedly shook its head. It had no idea about that. It only knew Kaede had asked it to deliver something.

"Ah...."

"Dragonite...."

Such matters were better asked of the Trainer back home.

It looked at Megumi, asking if she wanted to return.

"Well then... I’ve been away from home so long anyway. I heard there have been sightings of Legendaries like Entei and Suicune near home recently. Let’s go back and check~"

Megumi agreed without hesitation. She initially thought of summoning Noivern, but considering Dragonite would undoubtedly be faster, she simply climbed onto its back and they soared into the sky.

...

Dragonite had departed after 3 PM and returned a little past 6 PM.

Kaede had just prepared its meal, not wanting it to come back to find no food and feel aggrieved.

But seeing the person and Pokémon it brought back, Kaede was taken aback.

White and red fur flowed ethereally, like a beautiful shadow floating in the air.

And on Dragonite’s back was Megumi, wearing a white T-shirt but noticeably tanner.

She waved at Kaede, calling out happily, "Brother!"

Kaede glanced at her, but his main attention was on the Hisuian Zoroark clutched in Dragonite’s claws.

Undoubtedly, a Hisuian Zoroark.

Judging by its state... it was captured?

Wait...

In the time between his call with Megumi, she not only encountered a Gabite but also a Hisuian Zoroark?

And according to what Megumi said on the phone, that Farfetch’d was also captured by her today.

Dragonite soon landed on the ground.

Megumi jumped down and came to Kaede’s side, her eyes practically welling up as she looked at him. "Brother, wuuu, you really do worry about me. You knew I was getting bullied out there."

Kaede: "???"

Question marks practically appeared above Kaede’s head.

She hadn’t mentioned anything like that on the phone earlier. In fact, during the call, she seemed quite resilient.

"Hold on..."

Kaede placed a hand on her forehead, preventing her from coming closer.

He then turned his gaze to the still-unconscious Hisuian Zoroark.

[Pokémon: Hisuian Zoroark]

[Gender: Female]

[Ability: Illusion]

[Potential: Gold]

[IVs: HP (27) Attack (29) Sp. Atk (31) Defense (27) Sp. Def (25) Speed (31)]

[Level: 72-76]

[Moves: Hone Claws, Shadow Sneak, Curse, Thief, Spite, Agility, Shadow Ball, Bitter Malice, Nasty Plot, Foul Play...]

[Friendship: 10 (It can sense your presence)]

[Happiness: 5]

[Description: A Hisuian Zoroark from the past...]