Upon hearing the terms of Cain's deal, not only was Darkrai stunned, but even Slowking and Gengar showed expressions of astonishment.
Didn't this pace seem a bit strange? Starting straight with the finishing move?
"Become your Pokémon?" Darkrai found it difficult to accept.
"That's right, become my Pokémon. To be honest, with the strength you have left right now, you practically have no combat capability and can't provide me with much help."
"You saw how I captured Mismagius. You saw what my strength was like when she left, and now you're seeing me here, standing in front of you, with a very different level of strength. That proves I'm not someone who boasts without basis; I truly have the strength and the means to help you recover your peak level— and even help you surpass that peak!"
"Besides, you can ask Mismagius, Gengar, Slowking, or Honchkrow. I never force them to do anything they don't like. Don't think that becoming my Pokémon is doing me a favor. Before you're capable of helping me, I'm the one who has to help you recover your strength."
Cain spoke for quite some time, but it all boiled down to one idea: Follow me, you'll live well, you'll regain your power, and you won't do anything you don't want to do.
For a moment, the only sound in the cave was the clear clinking of chains colliding.
Cain continued, "Since you know humans, you should also know that our lives are limited. To put it bluntly, at most you'd only need to be my Pokémon for a few decades. For you, is a few decades really a long time?"
"Haven't you already been imprisoned by Giratina for longer than that?"
It was an irrefutable truth.
Cain was only eighteen years old. With luck, he might live seventy or eighty years; with bad luck, perhaps only twenty or thirty.
"And besides, you could help me teach Mismagius. I think that with your abilities, you could fully develop all her talent," Cain added, playing an emotional card.
From Darkrai's reaction upon seeing Mismagius, it was clear that he felt something special toward her... or toward his former life.
After saying this, Cain fell silent.
Too much would be counterproductive. He had already made the advantages and consequences clear. Now it was up to Darkrai to choose.
"Don't you... fear Giratina?" Darkrai suddenly asked.
"Of course... I do. The Dragon of Death, Giratina... I doubt there are many people or Pokémon who don't fear him."
Cain's answer was honest. But he continued, "However, being afraid is one thing, and taking action is another. You can't just stop doing something simply because it's frightening. There are far too many terrifying things in this world. If I avoided everything out of fear, life would be very boring."
"If one stopped doing things just because of fear, almost nothing could be accomplished. As they say, the best way to overcome fear is to face it."
Hearing this, Darkrai began to laugh. "Hahahahahaha— You really are a very interesting human!"
Cain didn't know what that laughter contained, but for the first time he felt Darkrai as a living Pokémon, with emotions and thoughts of his own.
Not an existence that could simply be manipulated.
And it was precisely because of this that he was worthy of becoming his Pokémon.
Even though his current strength did not reflect what he once was, Cain had great expectations for him.
"Fine. I accept! Being with her and becoming your Pokémon as well sounds interesting. I hope you'll take good care of me in the future... my trainer?" Darkrai finally stopped hesitating and accepted.
To be honest, he had no reason to refuse.
If Cain left with his Pokémon, it wouldn't be long before, just like Mismagius, Darkrai would turn into a completely new Ghost-type Pokémon... losing his consciousness.
But if he followed Cain, even if Cain couldn't restore him, at least he would be free.
And since a human's life isn't very long, what did a few decades matter?
Moreover, Darkrai was certain that he could recover his peak power, and when he did, he would go back to trouble Giratina once again.
Anything Giratina wanted, Darkrai would destroy.
Upon hearing his answer, Cain's heart felt delighted. Even if he currently had no way to deal with Darkrai's corruption, that didn't mean he couldn't find one in the future.
"But how do you plan to destroy these chains? They're filled with Giratina's energy. It's not something a normal Pokémon can endure," Darkrai asked.
Cain looked at Gengar, signaling him to prepare.
Gengar smiled with a "Kekeke" and nodded.
"If it's Giratina's energy that binds you, then all we have to do is absorb that energy."
As he spoke, Cain took out a stone from his pocket that emitted a strange glow.
"Gengar, Mega Evolve."
In an instant! Connected to Cain's heart, Gengar burst into multicolored light that completely enveloped him.
In the blink of an eye, the Mega Evolution was complete.
Mega Gengar.
With the Champion-level strength Gengar had in his normal state, his power was now far greater.
Darkrai's eyes gleamed.
Mega Gengar appeared behind him, grabbed the four chains with his massive hands, and began absorbing the energy flowing through them.
For the first time in so many years, Darkrai felt that the energy entering his body was not repulsive, and he almost let out a sigh of relief.
"Slowking! Honchkrow!" Cain shouted.
Both Pokémon understood instantly.
Once drained, the chains were nothing more than remnants of Ghost-type energy.
With two sharp blows—
Clang!
Clang!
All the chains shattered. In that instant, Darkrai was finally freed. As Mega Gengar continued absorbing the remaining energy, Slowking and Honchkrow returned to Cain's side.
Darkrai rubbed his wrists. After so many years, finally free. He couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
He slowly landed on the ground and stared at Cain, not knowing what thoughts were passing through his mind.
(End of chapter)