Chapter 149: Lugia Was Seriously Injured?!
Will's performance was a flurry of activity, as fierce as a tiger, but the damage was a paltry two-fifty.
However, after a great deal of coaxing from the old Dragonite, he finally accepted that it wasn't because he was too weak, but because she was too strong.
After the battle, the two of them sat down to review it. Floragato and the young Dragonair listened quietly from the side.
"The idea to make the Focus Blast spin was a good one. Was it your own idea?" the old Dragonite asked curiously. From her past experience, a Lv. 40-something Focus Blast shouldn't have been able to hurt her at all. But by making it spin, Will had increased its power, and it had actually managed to scrape her palm.
"Hm? Oh, no. That move was inspired by a human's idea," Will said, shaking his head. The concept came from Naruto's Rasengan.
The difference between humans and Pokémon is their way of thinking. Pokémon mostly use their skills directly, following their instincts. Any special techniques they have are usually learned from observing other things or through simple imitation. But humans are completely different. Since ancient times, they have been a species that excels at developing and creating "techniques."
The same tools, the same body parts, the same moves... under the divergent thinking of the human brain, the same things can be derived into a thousand different strategies and skills, each with different functions and uses. Even a trainer like Ash could develop some brilliant tactics that were uniquely his own. This was one of the reasons why, at the same level and species, a trainer's Pokémon was usually stronger than a wild one.
Will himself had watched plenty of anime and manga. So, his use of moves was naturally a bit more creative.
"Oh, a very clever idea. And your use of Rock Tomb, it seems to suit you very well."
"Yes, it does. In the future, if my reaction time gets a little faster, I might be able to combine Extreme Speed with Agility," Will said with a satisfied nod.
Practice had proven that Rock Tomb could indeed help him create a terrain advantage, allowing his species' abilities to shine. Extreme Speed combined with a Sceptile's natural agility was an excellent combination. There were very few Pokémon suited for this tactic, and perhaps none who could do it better than the Sceptile line. It was just that his own reaction time couldn't quite keep up yet.
"Very impressive. More impressive than our old clan chief," the old Dragonite said.
"Speaking of which, how strong was your old chief?" Will asked. Although he had trained with the Alpha Dragonite for a long time, he had never been able to gauge his true strength.
"A little stronger than I was at my peak," the old Dragonite said, tilting her head in thought. At her peak, she had been a very powerful Dragonite. But there was still a gap between her and the old chief.
"That strong?" Will's mouth fell open, his eyes full of surprise. Although he had lived three lives, he had never met another Elite Four-level Pokémon. But judging by the old Dragonite's status and the respect she commanded, at her peak, she was definitely not weak. She had to have been at least Lv. 75. That meant the old Dragonite Chief was probably at the very top of the Elite Four tier. And with his "Alpha" designation, his true combat power might have even entered the Champion class.
"Yes, very strong. But even stronger were the two great birds that appeared a few hundred years ago. To this day, many people still worship them as 'gods'," the old Dragonite nodded, her mind drifting back in time. She still felt a lingering fear when she remembered the aftershocks and the sights from that day.
"That's right! You saying that reminds me. Why did that Lugia attack Dragonite Valley all those years ago?"
"Lugia? You mean that big white bird?" the old Dragonite asked, tilting her head. She had never heard the name "Lugia" before. If he hadn't mentioned the attack on the valley, she wouldn't have known what he was talking about.
"Yes. That's Lugia. It normally sleeps at the bottom of the ocean trenches. A single flap of its wings can blow away houses and even cause storms that last for months," Will nodded. In this era, besides the other Legendary Pokémon themselves, probably no one knew them better than he did.
"Oh, it was because the Tyranitar started a fight with it. At that time, the Tyranitar was right next to Mt. Silver. Its attack deflected Lugia's, and it ended up hitting our territory."
"You've got to be kidding me. How many Pokémon died then?" Will was speechless. He had thought Lugia was just picking a fight.
"There weren't many casualties. The chief blocked the attack and then quickly led everyone away. The plain was only flattened later by the aftershocks of their battle," she said, shaking her head.
"That's good," Will sighed in relief. He was glad that the residents of Dragonite Valley hadn't been seriously harmed. Otherwise, he would have had to go and find that Lugia and settle the score. The Dragonite Chief and his clan had taught him so much and had protected the human Dragonite Clan for so long. He couldn't have just stood by. But if that was the case, a difficult battle had been avoided.
"Then why did the Tyranitar and Lugia fight?"
"The human war at the time was too massive. Lugia and that red bird were trying to stop it, but their attacks stirred up a huge commotion that reached Mt. Silver."
"And the Tyranitar got angry?"
"Yes," the old Dragonite nodded. "That ruler has a very bad temper. He didn't know what the two big birds were trying to do, so he just attacked the closer one, Lugia."
"And the Tyranitar was killed?" Will asked, recalling what he had read in the history books.
"Yes. The ruler died, Lugia was seriously injured, the humans and Pokémon suffered heavy casualties, and the war ended..."
"Wait?! You said... Lugia was seriously injured?!"
Will's eyes widened. This was absolutely the most explosive news he had heard since coming to the Pokémon world. He knew these gods quite well, and Lugia was no pushover. In the original setting, it was the "God of the Sea." In the movie The Power of One, it was the very same.
According to its designer, they had had a hard time choosing between Water and Psychic for its type. They ultimately went with Psychic/Flying because it was a powerful combination in the early competitive environment. This was how the "God of the Sea" that had no Water type was born. Later, with the appearance of Kyogre, Lugia's name as the sea god faded, and it became the "God of Ocean Currents and Monsoons."
Because of its poor showing in its first movie, its reputation had once been very low; it was almost called the "shame of the First-Class Gods." But thankfully, the Hoopa movie came out and redeemed it, cementing four gods and one shame. The resident god of the movies, Pikachu, needs no mention. Then there was Team Rocket's Wobbuffet, who reflected an attack from Giratina. Then there was the Rayquaza that even people outside the fandom have heard of. And finally, there was Lugia, whose name was cleared.
In that movie, everyone knows that Mega Rayquaza took on seven other legendaries. But what they don't know is that before Rayquaza showed up, Lugia, while carrying two deadweights (Ash and the small Hoopa), held off the rampaging Hoopa Unbound for a long time. Hoopa Unbound got so annoyed that it eventually just sent Lugia back to the sea.
In terms of raw offensive power, Lugia might be at the bottom of the First-Class Gods. But in terms of tankiness, it could definitely compete for first place! Its combined special and physical defenses are over 280, higher than many other legendaries even in their special forms. And most importantly, it has Recover.
And yet, this super-tank of a god... the old Dragonite was telling him that it had been seriously injured by the Alpha Tyranitar of Mt. Silver? Then there was no question about that Tyranitar's level. It was at least at the peak of the Champion tier, and had probably even entered the Master Class. And with its "Alpha" designation... a Tyranitar like that must have been dozens of meters tall. No wonder one Earthquake from it had blocked the entire Mt. Silver Road.
"Yes. After the Tyranitar fell, the Lugia immediately flew back to the sea with a pained expression. That must be a sign of serious injury, right?"
"...It most likely is," Will nodded, still in disbelief.
"If it weren't for that time, I would never have known that such powerful Pokémon existed in this world."
"Yeah..." Will replied, still dazed.
"Have you seen the two big birds since?"
"Hmm... when I was young, I would occasionally fly around the world. I've seen the red one a few times. It seems to fly around a lot," the old Dragonite said, tapping her head as she tried to remember.
Will nodded, not surprised. Ho-Oh... its nice nickname is the "Cameraman," its not-so-nice one is the "Wanderer." It just can't sit still. It's always flying around the world, making appearances. But you can't blame it. It doesn't have its own movie. Its subordinates Entei and Raikou do, and Suicune has appeared many times in the anime. Only the boss doesn't have one, so of course it has to fly around.
"As for Lugia, it seems it has never appeared again."
Will thought for a moment, then gave up. Lugia certainly wasn't dead. And it was normal for it to not appear for six hundred years. These legendary Pokémon could disappear for thousands of years. Besides, Lugia was a homebody.
"What are you planning to do next?" the old Dragonite asked curiously.
"Hmm, I'll train Floragato for a little while longer. When she evolves, I should probably leave," Will said, thinking it was about time to set off. He now roughly knew how to proactively trigger the power of the Time Ripple. What he had to do next was not complicated: just follow its guidance and fulfill his two promises.
"Oh," the old Dragonite nodded, her face showing neither joy nor sorrow. After all, this was something she had known all along. She just hadn't expected it to come so soon. It felt like they had only just been reunited.
Although she wanted to go with him, she knew that was just a thought. She was old now and didn't want to run around anymore. And besides, Will was the one she loved, that was true. But her life was not a one-way street that only led to him. In these long, thousand years, she had also made important friends and partners, and the cute juniors in her clan still needed her guidance.
Being with him was the best. But she also knew that life doesn't always go as you wish. The world would not revolve around her. It was fine even without him. After all, she had walked this path for a thousand years. She couldn't leave this place. There were more things here that she needed to cherish and protect.
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