The Nightmare Pokémon, Darkrai!
Upon seeing this Pokémon's appearance, Aoki knew its name.
Not only because of its Legendary status, but also because, in Aoki's opinion, this Pokémon's appearance was among the top three in the Pokémon world.
Of course, this was Aoki's view of Darkrai before coming to the Pokémon world, back in a place called Earth.
After arriving in the Pokémon world, he might have held some extravagant hopes for Darkrai in his previous life, but after gradually coming into contact with the true reality of this world, he realized that it wasn't even an extravagant hope, but rather a fantasy.
Yet, he never expected this Pokémon to appear before him now.
In fact, in his previous life, he wasn't very far from its location. However, with his strength in that life, he probably couldn't even survive in the initial space, let alone reach this place where Ghost-type energy was extremely dense.
However, as Aoki looked at this Darkrai, he noticed that its condition was not very good. The most direct evidence was the four chains binding its wrists.
Then, Aoki thought of Giratina, and his heart trembled.
Could it be that everything here was caused by Giratina?
Was its purpose to bind this Darkrai here?
Or, was this merely a means to achieve a goal, and the true objective was actually related to this Darkrai?
A turbid, constantly swirling white, hair-like substance covered most of its face, revealing only a pair of bright blue eyes.
Around its neck was a red, jagged, collar-like object.
Long, black, tattered cloth-like things hung from each shoulder, and it had black, claw-like hands with three claws.
This was Darkrai's appearance. Other than the extreme weariness Aoki could see in its eyes, and the four chains on its wrists, he didn't find many abnormalities.
Darkrai silently watched Aoki, suspended over the lake.
Normally, Darkrai chooses to float, but if it wishes, it can also form two leg-like structures and walk on the ground.
It was very clear that the chains binding Darkrai's arms had strong energy fluctuations. It seemed that a large amount of Ghost-type energy was being injected into Darkrai's body through these chains.
As a Dark-type Pokémon, it is resistant to Ghost-type energy, but it was currently being continuously infused with it.
It was like someone who absolutely hated eating a certain food being forced to eat it continuously, an immense torture.
Darkrai stared at Aoki for a long time, then shifted its gaze to Mismagius beside him.
A flicker of emotion appeared in its unchanging eyes, even revealing a hint of doting, longing, and nostalgia towards Mismagius, a complex mix of emotions.
Aoki noticed the change in Darkrai's gaze.
Mismagius showed no fear towards Darkrai; instead, its eyes were filled with deep confusion.
Normally, a Ghost-type Pokémon shouldn't like a Dark-type Pokémon. The wary Gengar was the expected reaction.
The entire cave fell silent. Aoki didn't know how to speak for a moment, while Darkrai kept looking at Mismagius, as if recalling something.
"Darkrai!" Finally, Aoki spoke first, as he had too many doubts and questions for which he wanted answers.
Hearing Aoki call its name, Darkrai shifted its gaze back to him.
"Although asking this question might be a bit impolite, it is indeed the most perplexing question for me right now.
Are you trapped here by Giratina?" Aoki asked.
"..."
For a moment, the cave fell silent again.
Although the question was indeed a bit abrupt, Aoki was most concerned about this right now.
Giratina! The Renegade Pokémon!
A legendary Pokémon capable of opposing the Creator God. Although legend says it was created by Arceus, there are also legends that it hatched from three dragon eggs in the endless void. How it came into being is no longer verifiable, but its ability to oppose the Creator God alone indicates its immense power.
Aoki had also witnessed its power, but that was when Ho-Oh was blocking it.
Although he was currently in the Pokémon world, Giratina could not enter without Arceus's permission. However, Aoki might leave the Pokémon world and enter other dimensions.
What if he was targeted then?
"We meet again, human." A weak voice sounded in Aoki's ear.
Although it was sudden, Aoki knew it was Darkrai's voice.
His question hadn't been answered, but Aoki wasn't in a hurry.
"We've met?"
"You haven't seen me, but I've seen you more than once," Darkrai said.
Upon hearing this, Aoki's heart stirred, then he quickly frowned.
"When I first entered here, were you unconsciously hypnotizing me? Or influencing me? Is that why I unconsciously chose this side of the wall? My encounter with Mismagius wasn't really accidental, but rather you felt that Mismagius couldn't live here anymore, so you let me discover her and take her away!?"
Aoki felt as if he was completely under someone's control.
Although Darkrai might have only slightly influenced his choice, and perhaps it was already his truest inner thought, merely stirred by Darkrai, it really made Aoki feel very uncomfortable.
"You are very clever, human, but unfortunately, your past self was too weak." Darkrai showed no intention of denying it.
The Aoki of the past was indeed that weak. Even if it was trapped like this, it could still have some influence on Aoki.
However, when Aoki came again this time, Darkrai had no way to influence him.
It was, after all, too weak and exhausted.
"You haven't answered my first question yet, Darkrai." Aoki felt slightly annoyed, so his tone was more direct.
There was another period of silence.
"Yes!" Darkrai said.
Aoki wasn't surprised, because Gengar said that the Ghost-type energy here had Giratina's scent. Now he had found the source of that scent: the four chains binding Darkrai's arms, which were filled with a large amount of Giratina's aura. Gengar was all too familiar with this aura.
"Why?" Aoki frowned. His previous annoyance completely vanished due to Darkrai's answer.
It wasn't a particularly important matter anyway.
Compared to that, Aoki was more concerned about why Giratina would imprison Darkrai.