At the Blackthorn Clan Residence—
"Congratulations, N. I can't believe you actually became the Indigo Champion."
In the backyard, Lucas was lying comfortably on Marnie's lap, speaking teasingly into the phone pressed to his ear.
He had originally sent N and Zinnia to serve as members of Indigo's Elite Four, but he genuinely hadn't expected Chairman Loki to go as far as appointing N as the Champion of the Indigo League.
This, in itself, already showed just how highly the Chairman regarded N… or rather, how highly he valued the Black Dragon, Zekrom.
"That's mostly Zekrom's credit. If we're talking about my real strength… I probably still can't compare to Red or Blue."
N let out a helpless laugh. He had enough self-awareness to know that without Zekrom, he would never have been given the Champion's seat.
And even then, this Champion title was only temporary.
Even though N had already turned over a new leaf, he still carried an unerasable past—he had once been the King of Team Plasma. That identity was carved permanently into history.
Compared to N, Red and Blue were Indigo's two prodigies with perfect, unblemished reputations and were the ones Chairman Loki truly held in the highest regard.
Not to mention that Blue is Professor Oak's direct grandson, and Red is also someone Oak personally watched grow up.
So N's status as the Indigo Champion is really just an interim appointment.
Of course, N himself doesn't particularly care about that.
"Zekrom is also your partner. You obtained it by pursuing your ideals with your own strength. Don't go treating Zekrom like it doesn't count."
Hearing this, Lucas smiled lightly.
"Compared to that, how do you feel about the League so far?"
"Very good. The Chairman and everyone else have been extremely kind."
N nodded with praise, despite having only interacted with them for a short time.
But even within that brief period, he found the League easy to like.
The Chairman, the various Officer Jennys and Nurse Joys all left him with a positive impression.
"Well, that's only natural. All the parasites, rats, and lowlifes inside the League were already wiped clean by Lance. The Indigo League today is bound to be much nicer."
Lucas grinned broadly as he said this.
Even though the massacre at Indigo Plateau stained the stone with blood and cost the Indigo League many high-ranking officials…
In the long run, Lance had actually done the region a favor.
After all, there were simply far too many maggots infesting the Indigo League.
Lance may be arrogant and extreme, but at that time, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to kill innocent people.
Otherwise, how do you think Chairman Loki and the others survived?
Hearing this, N fell silent.
Even though he had once been the king of an criminal organization, matters involving killing were still something he couldn't easily adapt to.
Even at his worst, his ideals were only about separating Pokémon and humans into two opposing sides—like light and dark—not about murder.
Kind-hearted by nature, N had never once thought of taking a life.
"Lucas… why did you have us join the League in the first place?"
N skipped over the previous topic and finally voiced the question in his heart.
Because if Lucas simply wanted to join the League, he could have done so himself.
With his strength, even with a black mark on his record, Loki would have welcomed him with open arms.
But instead, Lucas pushed him and Zinnia into the League.
"It's nothing too serious. I just want the two of you to get used to League life ahead of time."
Lucas's smile deepened.
Yes—he simply wanted N and Zinnia to experience what it meant to be an Elite Four member in advance.
Because…
"Once the Indigo incident settles down, the two of you will need to take the lead."
"Take the lead?"
N was stunned, even more confused.
What situation would require them, as Elite Four members, to take the lead?
"You'll know when the time comes. That's enough for now."
Lucas was about to explain further when he suddenly felt something.
Raising an eyebrow, he said a few final words to N before directly hanging up.
"…"
N stared at the phone in his hand, speechless.
"…He really is a strange person."
After thinking for a while with no answer in sight, N shook his head.
Lucas's thought process was something he couldn't understand at all—but that wasn't a problem.
After all, their agreement was clear from the beginning: he would not accept any request that violated his principles.
As long as he judged for himself, it would be fine.
If Lucas ever asked for something unreasonable, he had every right to refuse.
Meanwhile, Lucas—
"Moshi moshi~? Well this is rare. Lugia, you're actually the one contacting me first?"
Sitting upright, Lucas retrieved a beautiful, pale feather—curious as he spoke to Lugia's mother through his mind.
Yes—the Silver Wing.
Back then, Lugia's mother entrusted her Silver Wing to Lucas, asking him to look after the young Lugia.
Through the Silver Wing, she could sense his location and contact him.
"It has been a while, Lucas. I'm afraid this time…I need your help."
Mother Lugia's gentle but exhausted voice echoed in his heart.
"Oh? Even something you can't handle?"
Lucas's interest rose immediately.
Mother Lugia's strength was nothing extraordinary among the highest-tier legends…
But she was still a legendary Pokémon.
Something even she couldn't resolve?
"Ah… do you remember what I told you last time? About our clan's leader?"
"I think so. You mentioned that your clan leader had been polluted, right?"
Lucas thought for a moment, recalling his previous conversation with her.
His memory was excellent, but even so, that was months ago—and he'd only spoken to Mother Lugia once.
"Yes. But I may not have described it accurately. When I returned to my mate's side, I realized that the clan leader was not merely 'polluted.' Its very essence has already changed!"
Shock rippled through Mother Lugia's mental voice.
Even now, she still couldn't comprehend it.
How could their clan leader undergo such a massive transformation?
"…Sorry, I don't quite understand. What do you mean its essence changed?"
"Rather than calling it pollution… calling it corruption would be more accurate.
Its appearance has changed. Its abilities have changed. And…"
Deep worry filled her voice.
"The clan leader's personality has completely changed. Its rationality is almost entirely gone. Its power continues to grow. Right now, it is little more than a monster driven purely by violent instinct!"
Lucas's brows furrowed slightly.
Pokémon changing appearance and abilities after birth?
Impossible… or maybe… not impossible.
Not in the mainline games, but in certain official side works of the Pokémon franchise.
Like the well-known Shadow Lugia and Shadow Mewtwo.
Shadow Mewtwo came from being possessed by a Shadow Synergy Stone.
Shadow Lugia existed as the strongest 'Shadow Pokémon,' created by sealing away its emotion.
But this world had no Cipher organization.
And their clan leader Lugia shouldn't be influenced by human schemes.
Besides, Mother Lugia had told him before:
the clan leader had begun acting strange over a hundred years ago, which was why her mate left Whirl Islands for the Orange Islands.
"So, Lugia—what exactly do you need me to do?"
Lucas asked after some thought.
"Because the clan leader keeps growing stronger, we can barely restrain it anymore. But yesterday… a mysterious power appeared—and took the clan leader away."
"We searched the entire sea. There was no trace."
Her voice trembled with worry.
This was the real problem.
The corrupted clan leader was far too dangerous now.
Its power had become frightening—enough to intimidate even the two Lugias.
But more importantly… it had almost no mind left.
If it reached the outside world, it would bring an immense catastrophe.
And so—
Mother Lugia immediately thought of Lucas.
"…But Lugia, with only this much information, even I can't find your clan leader."
Lucas blinked.
So, the clan leader was missing…
And Mother Lugia wanted him to help look for it?
Good grief—the world was huge.
Searching for one Pokémon would be insanely difficult.
"No… because just now, we sensed the clan leader's aura again. But Lucas… its power…"
Her voice tightened.
"I need your help."
So, they had sensed it recently—that was why she contacted him.
Given the clan leader's monstrous power, and Lucas's recognition by numerous legendary Pokémon, he was the best available ally.
"I see. Understood. Where are you now?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, excitement flickering across his expression.
He was actually quite curious about this clan leader—if its appearance and essence had changed…
Could it really be something like Shadow Lugia?
He didn't know.
So he wanted to see it with his own eyes.
"We are right outside the city you're in. There are too many humans and we're too large to enter."
It was daytime, so of course Mother Lugia wouldn't appear openly.
The attention would be overwhelming.
Some reckless trainers might even try to capture her.
After all, ordinary trainers had no concept of a legendary's true power.
Just like in the original Journey anime—
The first episode had a Lugia appear… and a whole bunch of trainers ran up trying to catch it.
Even Goh, who wasn't even a trainer at the time, ran over!
A perfect example of ignorance and boldness.
"All right. I'll head over now."
Ending the telepathic call, Lucas stood, stretching his neck.
Come to think of it, he hadn't gone out for days—Indigo had been too chaotic lately.
The online drama had been far too entertaining.
Lucas loved this kind of "lively atmosphere."
Even without participating in the chaos personally, he found it fun to watch.
Mother Lugia's request was the perfect excuse to get some fresh air.
…
Lake of Rage
"SCREEEEEEE!!"
A sharp, sinister cry pierced the air.
Shadow Lugia beat its massive wings, unleashing a violent, black storm that dyed the sky a pitch-dark shade.
A horrifying malicious aura swept across the lake.
The overwhelming black hurricane engulfed Mewtwo completely.
The exclusive move of Shadow Lugia—
Shadow Storm, a pure Dark-type attack.
Mewtwo frowned sharply, a blue spherical barrier enveloping its body.
But—
crack!
A crisp sound split the air.
The barrier fractured open, and black winds flooded inside, tearing into Mewtwo's body.
The shield shattered entirely, and Mewtwo was swept away, thrown violently to the ground moments later—covered in wounds.
Mewtwo was defeated.
"Hahaha! Stupid rat! Today is the day you die!"
A wild, manic laugh echoed.
Lance's expression twisted with vicious delight as he sneered at Giovanni.
This was power.
Defeating Giovanni's Mewtwo—at this moment, Lance felt as though he had transcended his limits.
"Mewtwo, are you all right?"
Giovanni ignored Lance completely and focused on Mewtwo.
After being struck by Shadow Storm, its injuries were severe.
"…My apologies. I'm not its match."
Mewtwo struggled to stand.
It hadn't lost its fighting ability entirely, but in this state…
It was almost impossible to fight.
It felt its weakness sharply.
If it survived this disaster, it would absolutely find a way to grow stronger.
"My, what touching loyalty. But—"
"Dark Pulse."
Lance snorted coldly and gave Shadow Lugia another command.
Someone was hiding in the shadows.
A black wave pulsed outward, striking its target.
A chilling frost spread silently across the ground.
As the smoke cleared, a giant wall of ice stood firm—completely blocking the attack.
Blocked?
Lance's eyebrow twitched sharply.
"So, there was another rat hiding. A masked one at that? Cowardly wretch. Giovanni's backup, I assume? Hmph."
From behind the ice wall, the masked elder, Pryce walked out slowly.
His aged eyes lingered on Shadow Lugia, deep in thought.
He made a decision.
He would capture this corrupted Lugia.
Maybe its feather would work as well…
(End of Chapter)