"Doctor, how confident are you in that signal stabilization system?"
"I'm not!"
"Fine then. I'm going down personally!"
Faced with Dr. Akihabara's unapologetically honest response, Kashiwagi abandoned any fantasies regarding the micro-sub.
If they had a repeat of last time—where the cavern vanished while they were back at the surface—the mission would be a total bust.
Of course, a personal investigation carried risks.
However, considering that Lugia was generally known to be more gentle and hospitable toward humans compared to other Legendaries, the danger was likely manageable.
Besides, with Neo Team Aqua's technology, they could at least guarantee an emergency escape if things turned sour.
With that decided, Shelly led him to a simplified dock at the very bottom of the massive ship.
There sat a small submarine shaped like a Carvanha. It looked fierce, sleek, and dangerous.
"The Carvanha-class sub can hold up to ten people," Shelly said, prying open the hatch and sliding inside. "Based on the micro-sub's measurements of the entrance, we can definitely squeeze through."
Kashiwagi followed.
He entered a narrow passageway that opened up into a surprisingly spacious cabin. Aside from the pilot's seat at the front, the interior was lined with plush seats similar to a sightseeing bus.
The "windows" were actually large high-definition screens displaying external camera feeds.
Given the armored steel exterior he'd seen, he figured Pokémon world technology hadn't quite reached the point of making metal transparent yet.
"Prepare for launch!" Shelly commanded the pilot.
A low hum vibrated through the floor.
The water level rose until it completely engulfed the sub, and the bright light of the surface world faded into the distance.
"Feeling nervous?" Shelly asked with a smile.
"A little." Kashiwagi nodded.
Finding Lugia was one of the core missions of his journey.
If he could confirm this was the one from Orre, half the job was done.
Shelly continued, "If this Lugia really is the one from Orre, will you try to capture it?"
"Capture it? Absolutely not."
He rejected the idea instantly.
"Setting aside whether I even have the strength to do so, dragging it back against its will—even with good intentions—is no different from a villainous act."
"I see..."
"As long as I can communicate with it and try to persuade it, I'll have a clear conscience, even if it chooses not to come back."
Kashiwagi had thought this through.
Once Yamamino spread the news, some people in Orre might pin all their hopes on him, expecting him to bring back a god to fix their environment.
But both he and Yamamino preferred for the people of Orre to rebuild their home slowly, generation by generation, with their own hands.
Only then would they feel a true sense of belonging.
Orre would no longer be a cage built by Team Cipher, but a true homeland of the soul.
Legendary assistance was welcome, but it shouldn't foster a culture of dependency.
Shelly watched the quiet, composed young man.
She had already felt he was extraordinary, but now he seemed to shine like a beacon.
He reminded her of Archie in his younger years.
She understood that those with grand ideals naturally emitted a light that drew in the lost.
What she didn't know was that on a certain night in distant Orre, under a sky full of stars and fireworks, countless idealists had stepped into the darkness to light the way for the future. Kashiwagi's light was merely one of those many sparks.
...
...
The sub dove deeper.
Before long, they located the micro-sub parked at the entrance of the undersea cavern.
"Target reached," the pilot announced.
"Proceed!"
Shelly waved her hand after Kashiwagi nodded.
The Carvanha crept forward into the pitch-black void. After traveling a certain distance, the screens flickered—the video signal was becoming unstable.
"We've lost contact with the Walrein!" the communications officer warned, referring to the surface ship.
"Expected! Keep going!" Shelly's voice remained rock-steady.
In an unknown environment, the leader's composure is everything. As long as she stayed calm, the crew wouldn't panic.
After two minutes, the sub hit a "dead end," but sonar showed a massive open space directly above them.
The sub rose rapidly, breaking the surface and entering a silent, dark grotto.
"Oxygen levels sufficient!"
"No toxins detected!"
"We're here," Shelly said, being the first to jump out onto the dry land.
Her courage was legendary; she once infiltrated Team Magma's ship alone to sabotage the restraints on Kyogre.
Kashiwagi followed her.
Even with flashlights, the cavern felt oppressive and vast. Water dripped from the ceiling with a rhythmic drip-drop.
He felt a strange, heavy pressure in the air.
Buzz—
The micro-sub switched to land-cruise mode and rolled out beside them.
Knowing it had a low-frequency sonic emitter to ward off hostile Pokémon gave him a bit of peace of mind.
Of the ten-man team, four stayed with the sub while five, including Shelly and Kashiwagi, ventured deeper.
They released their Pokémon.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Several large, mean-looking Crawdaunt appeared.
Kashiwagi released his Galarian Corsola, waking her up with a tap on her shell and letting her perch on his shoulder.
The group moved toward the heart of the cavern.
The trek was shorter than expected.
The massive grotto ended at an opening that emitted a faint, ethereal blue glow. The opening was easily large enough for a Lugia to pass through.
Kashiwagi and Shelly shared a look and stepped through.
As they crossed the threshold, a sensation like walking through a thin film of cool water washed over his skin. At the far end of the chamber, he saw... a massive waterfall?
The glowing blue light radiated from the cascading water, but strangely, there was no thunderous roar—only absolute silence.
As they entered, a silver phantom slowly emerged from within the falls.
"Whroooo—"
A long, whale-like cry echoed through the chamber.
Everyone's eyes widened, captivated by the majestic sight of the Sea God.
Everyone, that is, except Kashiwagi, who wore a look of utter confusion.
"...Huh?"