Because waterspouts had become a common weather phenomenon around the Whirl Islands, people here often referred to them as Whirlpool Tides.
However, in recent years, the Whirlpool Tides had grown increasingly fierce, seriously infringing upon the habitats of the island's lifeforms, which was why Elite Four level Trainers were now needed to defend the area.
And when Sato posed this question in front of Lugia, he noticed that Lugia's expression became noticeably uneasy.
"Is there... more to this?" Sato asked cautiously, also worried that Lugia might suddenly turn hostile again and try to drive them off.
But Lugia's expression shifted several times, hesitating, unable to say anything.
"Toto..."
Suddenly, a voice echoed through Sato's mind; it was Gardevoir in his arms, now awake, instinctively calling out his pet name…
"You're awake! Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Sato helped Gardevoir sit up, his voice full of concern.
Gardevoir shook her head, then turned to look at Lugia and gave a bow, so graceful that she seemed like a well-bred lady from a noble house~
Lugia also returned the gesture with a formality Sato had never seen before.
What followed was a cheerful conversation between Gardevoir and Lugia, with Sato and the other Pokémon completely unable to get a word in…
Fortunately, both were communicating through telepathy and didn't intentionally block out Sato and the others.
And what Lugia had been struggling to say for so long, it now willingly shared with Gardevoir.
It turned out that small-scale tides were originally a normal weather pattern of the Whirl Islands, but Lugia's arrival had directly triggered their increased frequency and strength.
The reason behind it lay with the egg resting quietly behind Lugia.
A Pokémon with a Legendary aspect, or domain authority, essentially possessed a form of immortality. And the longer the lifespan and the stronger the life force of a Pokémon, the harder it became to reproduce.
Because of their overwhelming power, any cell not part of the main body was often treated as a virus and destroyed.
This Lugia, though lacking a Legendary domain, still had a lifespan and strength far surpassing ordinary Pokémon.
So, in order to reproduce, Lugia had to forcibly suppress its own power, all to ensure that the child within it could develop and grow normally.
And how did it suppress that power…?
By constantly expending a large portion of its energy, through repeated Aeroblasts and air currents blown from beneath the ocean. These were the root cause behind the explosive growth of Whirlpool Tides
Lugia, a member of the legendary sea guardian clan, had become the source of disaster in order to nurture its child…
Sato couldn't help but recall the massive Whirlpool Tides he had witnessed earlier: divine wrath!
Under such legendary force, only E4 level Trainers could barely put up resistance.
Everyone else could do nothing but scream and flee in panic when the tides struck.
Thinking of this, Sato's gaze toward Lugia changed, openly, without hiding anything.
With Lugia's incredible sensitivity, it could immediately sense the shift in Sato's expression. It made the legendary Pokémon feel ashamed, furious, yet unable to argue.
It had made mistakes… no matter the reason, even if it was for the sake of its own child.
But those people and Pokémon who had suffered because of the tides... they were completely innocent!
"Human, you don't need to look at me like that. I am Lugia, of the sea guardian clan. For the wrongs I've committed, I will make amends!"
"Heh…" Sato chuckled lightly. "And how will you make amends?"
Rage surged in Lugia's eyes. It had said it would make up for it, and it would. This was the pride of the Guardian of the Seas lineage, why would it need a weak human to point fingers?
The pressure of a Legendary Pokémon came crashing down, and Sato instantly felt a domineering force slam into him head-on.
In the next moment, the Dark Energy within Sato's body began operating on its own, instantly pushing the pressure back.
At the same time, Gardevoir appeared in front of Sato in an instant, unleashing her full Elite Four aura, with a faint tendency to suppress Lugia's pressure.
"ZORO!"
"GAR!"
Zoroark and Gengar followed right after. Their aura instantly merged with Gardevoir's, firmly protecting Sato in the center.
Sharpedo didn't act rashly. It simply guarded Sato closely, while a small whirlpool beneath it spun wildly, as if ready to burst out at any moment.
Honchkrow, unable to move freely in the underground cavern and knowing it would be a burden in battle, proactively assumed a defensive role.
With its large wings, Honchkrow could assist any ally at close range by blocking one or two attacks.
Just a moment ago, both sides had been chatting enthusiastically. The next moment, they were at a standoff…
While the tension held, a blue figure suddenly charged at Lugia!
"Gren…"
With a frog's cry, it was Greninja -who had yet to break through to the Elite Four level- who launched the first attack.
With a slash of a purple-black energy blade, Greninja fiercely struck Lugia's arm.
Splat~
A critical hit from Night Slash!
Caught off guard, Lugia's maintained Legendary pressure instantly collapsed, and as a Psychic-type, it screamed in pain from the devastating Dark-type move.
{Quick, fall back!}
The synchronized resonance from Greninja's heart rang out. That urgency and concern made it instantly calm down.
That was reckless!
Greninja leapt backward and silently returned to Sato's side.
The expected scolding didn't come. Instead, Sato stepped in front of it, and the other teammates surrounded it protectively, expressions solemn and ready to fight at any moment.
"Gren… Ninja…"
Greninja let out a low croak, feeling both touched and regretful.
"GIAAAAA!!!"
Soon, an ear-piercing roar echoed again.
Having been ambushed by an ant level Greninja, how could Lugia not be enraged?
It frantically flapped its wings, sending terrifying gusts in all directions, clearly a sign of an impending Aeroblast.
But before Sato could counterattack, a rattling sound reached everyone's ears.
Lugia immediately canceled the Aeroblast and turned toward its egg.
Sure enough, the silver-white Pokémon egg had somehow been blown out of the nest and was wobbling toward the rear wall.
An egg crashing into rock?
In that instant, Lugia's heart leapt into its throat, but despite having Psychic powers, it was so panicked that it couldn't even use Confusion.
"Greninja!"
"Ninja." 'Hn.'
At the crucial moment, Greninja suddenly flicked out the tongue it wore like a scarf and caught the egg just before it hit the rock wall.
After carefully checking it over, the Pokémon egg was unharmed. But just as Sato instinctively moved to return the egg to Lugia…
He hesitated…