Cherreads

Chapter 15 - Berserk Darkrai

Under the black shroud of night, two shadows strayed between broken cliffs and soundless trees 

Sam and Lucario.

Their destination:

The peak of the highest mountain on Mine Island, the center of the nightmare.

Lucario's strides were swift, movements quicksilver like a dash of moonlit silver.

Even as a human, Sam managed to keep up, muscles working hard, breathing tight.

With Aura now flowing through his body, Sam had surpassed base human stats.

Not quite a Pokémon…

But no longer merely a man either.

"Luka~!"

Lucario growled a low warning bark, indicating that they were near.

Sam nodded curtly.

"I can feel it too. Be on your guard, Luca."

The champion-level Lucario didn't require the reminder.

Aura energy rippled across his body in visible waves, sweeping the area before him; his stance was taut and wound, like a coiled spring.

The air was heavy.

Thick.

As if the night itself were wheezing improperly.

Moments passed, and they topped the last ridge.

And there it stood.

Darkrai.

Drifting among churning shadows like a demon spawned from the abyss.

Its form contorted in a spasm of darkness.

"HISSSHHHRRAAAHH!!!"

The bloodshot eyes.

The bursts of black Haze spewing from its form like acid.

The shrill wails that rang out like the cries of a soul in torment.

Sam tightened his fists.

"It's lost control…" 

He squinted and concentrated.

"Eye of Detection!"

A glassy overlay appeared in his field of view. Information flooded in:

[Pokémon: Darkrai]

[Type: Dark]

[Ability: Nightmare – Causes stamina loss when the opponent is sleeping.]

[Level: 60 (Entry Champion Class)]

[Potential: Low-Class Tier 3 Legendary]

[Moves: Ominous Wind, Disable, Hypnosis, Sucker Punch, Foul Play, Double Team, Haze, Dark Pulse…]

[Exclusive Skill: Dark Void]

[Condition: Berserk, Affected by an unknown soundwave frequency. Flow of energy in chaos. Imminent aggressive behavior.]

[Remark: Legendary build. Innate compatibility with dark energy. Steep growth curve.]

[Warning: Permanence of this berserk state will induce irreparable psychological trauma.]

Sam's eyes furrowed with worry.

"Soundwaves?"

"Somebody's actively destabilizing its energy."

Lucario's snarl intensified to his side, his Aura shifting brighter in response to the ill intent of the resonance surrounding them.

"This is on purpose."

Sam's eyes hardened as he gazed past Darkrai toward the shadow of the cliff's southern face.

Flickering warmth signatures… movement… binoculars catching the dark.

"We're not alone."

"Luca. Someone is here."

Lucario nodded, moving into a defensive position, his aura increasing in readiness.

Sam dipped into his coat pocket.

The night was no longer quiet.

It throbbed.

Breathing with malice and manipulation.

"Hold on, Darkrai…" 

"We're going to make it right."

Most Pokémon Legendary Pokémon, were solitary in nature.

But they did not stand alone; they had species, ranges, and backstories.

Even a sparsely found Pokémon like Darkrai, feared and worshiped, was not quite alone in the world.

There were four confirmed to exist in the anime.

But the one standing before Sam now.

Was not.

It was corrupted.

Broken.

Bleeding aura into the sky like a tear in nightmares ripped apart.

Sam squinted.

"Drugged… or destabilized by artificial frequencies."

"That's why Darkrai's aura is leaking uncontrollably…"

"The insomnia throughout Mine Island… It's unnatural."

As if answering his discovery, a sharp chime echoed in his mind 

[Ding! The host has activated a Random Mission.]

[Mission Goal: Subdue the rampaging Darkrai]

[Reward: Viridian Force]

[Punishment: None]

[Viridian Force – Effect 1: Cures physical and spiritual wounds in Pokémon]

[Effect 2: Provides sight through intuition of Pokémon]

[Does the host accept the mission?]

Sam's eyes sparkled.

"Accept."

With Aura, he had already surpassed regular trainers.

Keen senses. Quicker reflexes. Greater attunement to Lucario.

And now, with the possible Power of Viridian?

He could be something more.

An actual bridge between Pokémon and humans.

He gazed at Lucario, who stood beside him like a guard, eyes aflame with an electric blue aura. 

"Luca, this is it."

"Your first true opponent."

Lucario let out a low growl of anticipation. 

"Luka~!"

Lost was the carefree ease of previous matches. 

This wasn't Ash's Pikachu anymore. 

This was a clash between equals, two individuals who had danced on the cusp of power. 

"Let's go!"

Sam's coat was billowing as he ran ahead, Lucario racing along beside him in a whirl of Aura energy.

High up, the Darkrai responded at once.

"SSSHHHRYYYYYAAAH!!!"

The pent fury broke free.

Black whips of nightmare force tore out of its body like lashes of a ghost god.

The soul-shade under Darkrai writhed and contorted abnormally, hungrier than ever to devour.

It had found foes.

----------

Meanwhile, off in the distance at the edge of the cliff on the southern ridge of Mine Island…

Charon of Team Galactic dropped his telescope, face tightening with recognition.

"Lockwood…?"

"Why is he here? He should still be in Celestic Town!"

Sird, at his side with her arms crossed and brows furrowed, turned slowly.

Her sharp eyes sparkled coldly under the moonlight.

"Who?"

Charon did not look away from the riot around him.

"Sam… Scholar. Researcher. Celestic Laboratory."

"Well known in Sinnoh's academic circles."

"But he's not a fighter."

Sirda clucked her tongue.

"Tch."

She had Darkrai all but in her hands.

And now this kid, this so-called "scholar," has the nerve to get in the way?

"Then I'll remember his name."

"Sam… Let's see how long you last against a god's nightmare."

On the battlefield again 

Sam skidded to a stop as Lucario jumped forward, slamming the ground with a radiating Bone Rush to negate a Dark Pulse that threatened them.

Sam breathed deeply.

The air was thick with evil dreams.

"Luca Aura combat form."

Lucario obeyed.

His aura burst.

The battle had fully commenced.

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