Chapter 515: Keldeo's Growing Influence
Chapter 515: Keldeo's Growing Influence
Cage Eye Town was an old-fashioned town, adhering to ancient customs.
One of these customs was that it was best to stay indoors at night, as a legend spoke of a terrifying Monstrous Beast that roamed the night, accompanied by cold winds, capturing and devouring people and Pokemon.
This legend originated from a meteorite that had fallen in the distant woods outside the town long ago.
The impact of the meteorite created an enormous crater, and the scorching heat eroded and burned the ground beneath it, forming a vast and intricate Subterranean Labyrinth.
Once, a company attempted to develop the Meteorite Crater after hearing the legend, but they eventually went bankrupt due to the extreme cold, which was beyond what ordinary people could endure.
Over time, the place known as the Giant Cavern outside Cage Eye Town gradually lost its appeal, and fewer people paid attention to it.
Only the residents of Cage Eye Town, whether they believed in the legend or not, adhered to the custom of staying indoors at night.
"Where are we going?" Keldeo asked, following Jinghe closely.
Keldeo's injuries seemed to have improved significantly, thanks to the treatment at the Pokemon Center, Jinghe's medicine, and the Energy Cube, which gradually restored its abilities.
"Aren't you going to save those three Saint Swordsmen?" Jinghe asked, not turning his head.
"I..." Keldeo hesitated, then nodded firmly, "Yes! That's right!"
However, after saying this, he unconsciously lowered his head, his eyes filled with a hint of struggle.
How could he save them?
Originally, Keldeo had believed that his training with the three Saint Swordsmen had made him strong enough to rival them, or at least hold his own against one or two of them.
But last night, he witnessed the combined might of the three Saint Swordsmen, the strength of the Surface Supreme Dragon Tyrantrum, and the power of the mysterious Pokemon that could match Tyrantrum.
This encounter left Keldeo with deep doubts about his own abilities.
Could he accomplish this with his current strength?
Aside from his self-doubt, he couldn't shake off his guilt towards Hoopa and his fear of Tyrantrum.
A wave of complex emotions overwhelmed him.
"Yo-gi."
As Keldeo hung his head in dejection, the young Tyrogue walking beside him suddenly patted him, as if wanting to say something but stopping short.
"What's wrong?" Keldeo asked.
"Yo-gi~~"
The young Tyrogue pointed to Keldeo's back and then at himself, rubbing his hands together shyly.
Can I sit here?
Keldeo: "???"
Wow, I thought you were my friend, but you want to ride me?
"Yo-gi~ Yo-gi~"
Riding on my beloved little donkey~ I'll never be stuck in traffic again~
The young Tyrogue eventually sat on Keldeo's back, holding onto his red, fluffy mane, looking relaxed and carefree.
Keldeo, on the other hand, was completely bewildered.
Why did he agree to such a request?
As a Saint Swordsman, he had become a mere mount.
Am I a Saint Swordsman?
I'm just a useless creature who needs to be cared for and protected by others.
Keldeo understood why he had agreed to the young Tyrogue's request.
In his eyes, all of Jinghe's Pokemon were strong, except for the young Tyrogue, who seemed to be in the same situation as Keldeo, receiving care and protection from all the other Pokemon.
Keldeo thought that perhaps the young Tyrogue was like him.
"Do you feel useless because you're always being protected and cared for by everyone?" Keldeo asked the young Tyrogue on his back.
The cheerful young Tyrogue scratched his head, tilted his head back forty-five degrees, and thought for a moment.
"Yo-gi?"
Huh?
This was his response.
Keldeo thought the young Tyrogue hadn't understood him, so he spoke again:
"What I mean is..."
"Yo-gi!"
I understand what you mean.
The young Tyrogue interrupted him.
The little guy imitated Jinghe's pose, resting his chin on his hands and rubbing them gently.
"Yo-gi."
But the fact that I'm weaker than everyone else right now is true.
Hmm?
Keldeo was a bit surprised.
Not everyone could accept being the weakest and needing protection so easily.
"Yo-gi!" The young Tyrogue balled his fists, looking serious.
But! I will become strong one day! When I do, I can protect everyone, so I must strive to become stronger!
As he spoke, the young Tyrogue pulled out a piece of mineral from somewhere and popped it into his mouth, chewing with a "crunch, crunch" sound, his cheeks bulging.
Becoming stronger is the way to go!
So he had to keep working hard!
Keldeo lowered his head again, feeling even more guilty.
Listening to their conversation, Jinghe smiled.
What a joke.
Our young Tyrogue was at least hatched from the claw of the Wisdom God Uxie; aside from working hard, he's also very smart.
Moreover, under the subtle influence of the others, the young Tyrogue didn't see any problem with this.
But when it came to working hard, the little guy might still have some emotional fluctuations.
Jinghe already had a good understanding of Keldeo's psychological state.
However, it was clear that Keldeo was currently lacking confidence, feeling guilty, and doubting himself severely. This wasn't something that could be solved with a simple word or two, so Jinghe didn't speak up.
Rebuilding confidence also required help from reality.
As they left Cage Eye Town and headed towards the Giant Cavern, the sky gradually darkened, and the temperature continued to drop.
Keldeo became visibly tense, constantly scanning their surroundings with caution.
"We..." Keldeo spoke up.
"Let's first check the situation, see if Tyrantrum is still there, and also look for the group of mysterious Pokemon you mentioned. Then we'll decide how to save Hoopa and the others," Jinghe said, explaining his plan.
"Alright."
Keldeo heaved a slight sigh of relief, feeling more at ease with Jinghe by his side. With her presence, he felt a sense of reassurance, no longer worrying about the unknown dangers that might lie ahead.
A white mist gradually appeared, or more accurately, Jinghe and the others entered a frosty fog.
Where the mist lingered, the temperature dropped sharply, visibility decreased significantly, and even some leaves and branches were covered in a layer of frost.
"The cold from Giant Cavern has already spread this far."
Glancing at the map on the Rotom-Dex, they were still at least one mountain away from Giant Cavern.
And the cold mist continued to spread.
This was the power of a Legendary Pokemon, even an unconscious release of power could have a significant impact on the natural environment.
When a Legendary Pokemon unleashed its power without restraint...
Altering the natural environment was just the beginning.
Just look at the Hoenn duo, who could submerge continents or cause continents to vanish with their mere presence.
"Could it be that Tyrantrum is still in Giant Cavern?"
While the cold wasn't spreading at a rate that could instantly freeze the entire Shuanglong City, it was possible that Tyrantrum was injured or had slightly restrained its power.
They needed to hurry!
Jinghe made an instant decision.
But they couldn't fly in on Rapid Dragon.
The Plasma Destroyer might be nearby, and flying into the sky would make them an easy target. The best approach was to use the cover of the cold mist to get closer.
They quickened their pace.
Along the way, they spotted numerous wild Pokemon fleeing the encroaching mist.
Keldeo exhaled a puff of hot air, its body swaying slightly. It looked at Jinghe in front with a hint of surprise.
In such a cold place, why did this human seem completely unaffected? He wasn't even wearing many layers.
But for Jinghe, the cold was nothing.
Before they got close to Tyrantrum or the core area of Giant Cavern, this chill was like a light sprinkle.
"Woof!"
"Hng!"
Ice Nine Tails and Gramps barked almost simultaneously.
Something was happening!
Ice Nine Tails could sense the change in the surrounding mist, and Gramps had always been perceptive of environmental changes.
Ding, ding, ding—
Accompanied by crisp sounds, like the clinking of ice crystals, a group of floating Geometric Snowflakes emerged from the white mist, heading towards Jinghe and the others.
"Geometric Snowflakes, Crystal Pokemon, Ice Type. They are Pokemon that thrive in cold environments, born from snow clouds, Rotom!"
The cold released by Tyrantrum attracted the most wild Pokemon, and the Geometric Snowflakes were among them.
They could even be considered an extension of Tyrantrum's will.
"It's the Geometric Snowflakes! Tyrantrum is here!"
The Geometric Snowflakes elicited the strongest reaction from Keldeo.
It instinctively felt a sense of awe towards Tyrantrum.
Indeed, the proud Keldeo, who aspired to become a Saint Swordsman, had its 'sword' cut off before it could even get a good look at Tyrantrum.
Ding, ding, ding—
The Geometric Snowflakes connected, forming a circle around Jinghe and the others.
"Looks like they consider us enemies."
"Gucha!"
Clang!!
Azure Flame Blade Demon's longsword emitted a sharp ring as it stepped forward, its voice deep and resonant.
"We're here to help, so please give us some face!"
Bear!!
A cluster of ethereal blue flames erupted from the seams of Azure Flame Blade Demon's armor, gradually enveloping its longsword.
A sword? Keldeo was momentarily distracted by the two swords in Azure Flame Blade Demon's hands.
Could it be a swordsman too?
But the Geometric Snowflakes chose to ignore Azure Flame Blade Demon's words.
Hum—
A surge of freezing energy began to condense in the center of the snowflakes.
Clearly, they were preparing to unleash Frost Beam.
Facing the combined Frost Beam attacks of so many Geometric Snowflakes, Keldeo took a half-step back, his gaze fixed on Azure Flame Blade Demon.
He was curious to see how a swordsman would handle this situation. If it were Hoopa or Diancie, Keldeo could predict that they would choose to temporarily yield, avoiding unnecessary conflict and also to not provoke Tyrantrum.
But what about Azure Flame Blade Demon?
In Keldeo's expectant gaze, he only heard three words from Azure Flame Blade Demon.
"Gucha!"
"Take them out!"
Keldeo: (@)
The next moment—
Hum—
Azure Flame Blade Demon charged forward without hesitation, followed closely by Martial Bear Master, Gigaforg, and Gramps, who also showed no restraint.
Bear!!
A bouquet of ethereal blue flames blossomed silently in the midst of the white mist.
"Yoshi! Yoshi!"
Tyrogue clenched its fists, punching left and right as if it were in the middle of a battle.
Keldeo watched, momentarily stunned.
Why did they suddenly start fighting?
Weren't they afraid of offending Tyrantrum? And there were more Geometric Snowflakes than just these few; they would continue to gather towards them.
Ding, ding, ding—
A crisp sound of ice crystals clinking together suddenly came from behind Keldeo.
He quickly turned, only to see several Geometric Snowflakes that had somehow appeared behind him without him noticing.
A chilling Frost Beam was rapidly taking form.
"Woof!"
Rapid Dragon flapped its wings, ready to intervene, but Jinghe stopped it.
"Woof?"
Jinghe narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly, "Let's see how it reacts."
"Woof~~"
Ice Nine Tails signaled to Rapid Dragon that it could handle the situation.
But Keldeo and Tyrogue on its back were unaware of this.
"Yoshi!!"
Tyrogue and Keldeo both noticed the situation behind them, and Tyrogue shouted.
"Take them out!"
But Keldeo froze in place.
The increasingly dense cold, the frenzied concentration of Ice-type energy, the thickening mist—in the haze, he seemed to see Tyrantrum's shadow and outline once more.
No, no.
Keldeo instinctively took a half-step back, his limbs trembling slightly.
"Yoji!"
Upon seeing this, Tyrogue shouted and jumped off Keldeo's back, landing in front of the geometric snowflakes.
Facing several of these snowflakes, Tyrogue showed no fear. He clenched his fists and stomped on the ground.
Boom!!
The ground suddenly exploded, and large rocks flew up, forming a crisscrossing rock "barrier" that blocked the incoming Frost Beam.
Immediately after.
Facing the geometric snowflakes, Tyrogue called out again, and the ice-covered stones smashed into the snowflakes in a wide area.
Rockslide!
Bang bang bang—
The geometric snowflakes were hit by the rocks and staggered.
"Yoji!!"
Tyrogue stood with his hands on his hips and pointed at the snowflakes.
Come on!! Witnessing the entire scene, Keldeo, standing behind Tyrogue, was stunned. He stared blankly at the diminutive Tyrogue.
He couldn't understand why Tyrogue dared to face four or five geometric snowflakes.
Each of these snowflakes was at least as strong as him.
And in this misty environment, it was almost like the snowflakes' home field advantage.
How dare he?
More importantly, Keldeo realized that the geometric snowflakes seemed to be intimidated by Tyrogue's aura and froze in their tracks.
Cowering state!
"Yoji!"
Seeing that the snowflakes weren't moving, Tyrogue didn't back down. Instead, he roared at the sky, a Hungry Dragon Roar! He lowered his head and charged at the nearest geometric snowflake.
Clang!!
The snowflake was knocked away, and cracks appeared on its body.
Iron Head!
Jinghe's eyebrows rose slightly.
This little guy had quietly learned another move.
But after knocking away one geometric snowflake, the remaining snowflakes reacted and once again gathered their extreme cold power to attack Tyrogue.
The next moment.
Whoosh—
The sound of rushing water echoed.
Keldeo's feet sprayed water, and he quickly approached the geometric snowflakes using water jets. Then, he turned and kicked them away one by one.
Seeing this, Jinghe smiled, and Ice Nine Tails and Rapid Dragon also temporarily relaxed their guard.
Tyrogue turned around.
He saw Keldeo behind him and immediately grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Yoji! (Д)b"
Keldeo nodded slightly, his expression less concerned, and his eyes more determined. He gestured to Tyrogue.
Subsequently, Keldeo and Tyrogue worked together to defeat all the geometric snowflakes.
"Yoji!"
Tyrogue stood by Keldeo's side and couldn't help but pat him.
As expected of my Crimson Horse! Keldeo was knocked off balance by Tyrogue's pat, surprised by his strength but more curious.
What's Crimson Horse?
"Well done, Tyrogue, Keldeo," Jinghe finally spoke up.
He smiled at Tyrogue and Keldeo.
"Yoji!"
Tyrogue put his hands on his hips and raised his head proudly.
Keldeo looked at Jinghe, seeing the approval in his face and eyes, and felt a twinge of guilt.
He had agreed to "handle it," but when faced with the situation, he had backed down, even less brave than Tyrogue. Yet, he was the one who had come to help, and he had been acknowledged repeatedly.
This acknowledgment made him feel guilty.
He should have been the one who was most determined and eager.
Meanwhile, Azure Flame Blade Demon and the others quickly dealt with the remaining geometric snowflakes.
"Let's go; we need to pick up the pace," Jinghe said.
He turned and continued toward the location of the Giant Cavern.
Keldeo, who had climbed onto Tyrogue's back again, walked up to Azure Flame Blade Demon and turned to look at him.
"Are you a 'Swordsman'?" Keldeo asked after hesitating several times.
"Gucha?"
Azure Flame Blade Demon had also noticed him.
Swordsman? I only know that face is earned.
"Face is earned?"
"Gucha~"
They didn't know me, so they wouldn't give me face, but after I beat them once, they knew me and would give me face in the future.
Keldeo thought for a moment and then realized.
So, the title of "Swordsman" also had to be earned!
It's not about shouting, "I am a 'Saint Swordsman'" and then becoming one.
It's about earning the acknowledgment of everyone!
Keldeo nodded heavily.
"Understood!"
"Gucha?"
Azure Flame Blade Demon tilted his head.
What did you understand?
"Um, can I ask, do you know what the 'Weight of the Sword' is?" Keldeo asked again.
Previously, Hoopa's three "Saint Swordsmen" had always told him that he needed to understand the "Weight of the Sword" or realize why he wielded a sword.
He never understood.
But he felt that Azure Flame Blade Demon should know.
Weight of the Sword?
Azure Flame Blade Demon looked down at his twin blades and waved them lightly.
It's light, not heavy.
Or, why wield a sword? Keldeo added.
Oh.
Azure Flame Blade Demon understood.
Why wield a sword?
His expression became slightly more serious, and the sword's edge emitted a faint ringing sound.
Clang!
"Gucha!"
Because if they didn't wield a sword, they might hurt Jinghe!
Keldeo, who had also heard the question, looked perplexed. He wanted to say one thing:
If I don't have a sword, I can't protect you, and if I hold a sword, I can't hold you tightly. Tear them all apart!!
(End of Chapter)
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