I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 696: Sky Pillar, The Successor Scroll

I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 696: Sky Pillar, The Successor Scroll

Sinnoh region, Eterna Town.
This is a town embraced by seas of flowers;
a breeze brushes across the fields, lifting petals and the scent of fruit from the trees.
Not far from Eterna Town is the Gracidea flower sea, where Teacher Lu once met Shaymin.
Pushing aside the tall pampas grass, a mirror-still lake seldom visited by people came into view.
A four-legged cobalt beast bowed its head to drink, ears twitching as it listened to a faint ripple passing through space, then lifted its head and let out a sharp cry.
"Roar—!!"
Space tore open in a crack. The crimson Palkia withdrew the edge of its blade, the pearls on its arms sparkling, and shot out from the rift.
Dialga stared at the uninvited guest, lifted its regal head, and gathered a Roar of Time in its throat.
"You know why I came." Palkia said calmly. "He needs our help."
The Roar of Time faded. Dialga muttered irritably, "I thought you wanted to fight again."
Palkia said nothing in response and continued, "He saved the turbulent space-time—he saved us without meaning to. Besides..."
The words halted. The two temporal gods tacitly fell silent;
their expressions turned subtle.
Besides, when we first met him, he bound us with a red chain;
the second time, he rode Giratina;
the third time... he smashed a fragment of Arceus's projection to pieces...
There is no reason to refuse helping him.
This is not cowardice.
This is social decency.
Swoosh—
A blade of subspace light cut through the rippling teleportation in the void.
Palkia hovered before the portal and looked back:
"Besides us, other deities may arrive."
"Do you mean Giratina?" Dialga asked, puzzled.
"Maybe." Palkia said vaguely, "Maybe more..."
Just sensing them, three waves of equal-level fluctuations streaked across space toward them!
God only knows how many legendary Pokémon Lu Ye has provoked—looks like they're mobilizing en masse!
This lineup... probably only a super-deity sealed by Arceus in legend could match Lu Ye...
Palkia shook its head, its eyes flashing, and dove into the teleportation.
They could be facing deities from other regions who hold different authorities...
When multiple parties meet, you can't lose face!
Dialga's cobalt body rippled with light as it leapt into the portal.
Honestly, Dialga was a little curious about the energy cubes stored over at Giratina's place.
"Roar—!!"
Dialga exploded into a roar.
If you put in the effort in a fight, maybe you can scrounge a dinner at Lu Ye's place!
August 16, Monday.
Lu Ye opened his weary eyes, his throat dry, his bones feeling as if they were falling apart.
"Gengarrr!" Haunter handed over a glass.
"Thanks, lifesaver..." Lu Ye groaned as he took the glass;
his throat felt like it was on fire. He blinked hard. "Is this... cola with ice!?"
"Gengar~" Haunter chuckled and scratched its head.
Lu Ye: _(´ཀL`」∠)
Awsl, this is it—I'm really dead now...
In the end, Cynthia rose with unhurried grace, poured a cup of warm water for Lu Ye, sat at the bedside with her legs crossed, and propped her chin on her hand.
"Twenty continuous hours of battle, commanding Regigigas against Primal Groudon, and performing two Mega Evolutions in one day."
Cynthia sighed softly. "I've heard of your champion deeds... sleeping only eight hours—how could you not be exhausted?"
"If I'd stayed up the whole night, I might not have felt so tired. Now the aftermath hit me." Lu Ye rubbed his brow and said hoarsely, "Little V's energy can prevent my life force from draining away, but humans really do have limits..."
A breeze stirred the window screen. Cynthia extended her cool, delicate fingers and lightly stroked Lu Ye's brow. Lu Ye closed his eyes and suddenly said:
"By the way, those legendary Pokémon have responded."
"Don't command them to fight." Cynthia frowned.
"Don't worry, I'm just going for the face show." Lu Ye replied. "Maybe I can even invite them to dinner..."
Lu Ye paused, stunned for a moment.
A legendary Pokémon version of the Last Supper?
Buddy, don't plant that flag!
Last night he wanted to press his luck with Mengmengda, but he was too exhausted. It felt like getting punched in the face by a bear-glove—everything went black and he fell asleep.
But it wasn't entirely bad.
Lu Ye's gaze drifted to Cynthia's beautiful, fair cheek and he became slightly dazed.
"What are you thinking about?" Cynthia asked softly.
"Thinking about marrying you."
Lu Ye blurted out instinctively. Then he remembered the trial from Zekrom, and his face flushed.
The ticking of the clock seemed to stop. A flicker of surprise crossed Cynthia's face;
her snow-white neck flushed lightly as she lifted a soft pillow and buried it over Lu Ye's face.
"I'm going to make breakfast."
Lu Ye heard Cynthia speak in a rising, gentle tone, smiling faintly.
He lay still, staring at the pillow, feeling his chest flutter. Suddenly he froze.
Cynthia's making breakfast!?
"Let me do it!" Lu Ye shouted.
After breakfast, per their prior plan, Cynthia would return to Sinnoh to stabilize the League.
Lu Ye would handle Hoenn's crisis while ensuring his own safety.
This matter involved Sinnoh's three dragons, the Black and White Dragons, Darkrai, and Little V... Teacher Lu couldn't be careless.
Maybe even throw in the cameo of Latias—
"You're too weak;
we don't need you involved." Lu Ye said sideways.
Latias puffed its little bun-like cheeks: "Rati!"
"Then fly there yourself!" Lu Ye snapped.
Latias blinked, and immediately Lu Ye apologized: "Sorry, I need you!"
"Rati~" Latias curled its eyes in pride.
Wait!
This time, I might be able to ride the white dragon Reshiram?!
Lu Ye rubbed his chin, eyeing the fluttering Latias like a cad, thinking:
"First I'll sweet-talk Latias over... make it a backup ride..."
The day was bright and clear, the sky a pure blue without a single cloud.
Beside Lu Ye floated Victini and Haunter;
the frail Meloetta was resting inside a Love Ball for the time being.
Although not captured, Meloetta willingly accepted being in the ball, choosing where to be... convenient to carry around.
Little V and Latias had a similar relationship. Mythical Pokémon have very long lifespans;
compared to a Poké Ball, a bond is often a tighter connection.
Lu Ye turned his silent gaze to Darkrai.
So what kind of relationship do Darkrai and I have?
Comrades, partners, superior-subordinate?
"Do you think Rayquaza will suddenly Mega Evolve and one-shot all of us?" Darkrai muttered.
Suddenly, Teacher Lu had an epiphany.
Reverse-jinxing—Darkrai and I have a reverse-jinx bond!
"Then we won't fight it." Lu Ye said. "We'll try persuasion."
Darkrai eyed him skeptically.
Time, space, reversal, reality, ideals.
Five legendary dragons—this hardly looks like a situation you can talk your way out of!
At this point, they'd only have to climb aboard this dodgy ship and try to get a few more energy cubes—
Darkrai froze, bereft of tears.
Oh no, he had promised Lu Ye beforehand not to take any pay this time!
This is going to be a big loss!
"Teacher Lu!"
Steven waved from the plaza in front of the Devon Corporation building as he met Lu Ye.
Lu Ye nodded and looked to the flat-top man beside him: "Qianli."
"Thank you for helping to look for my son... we appreciate it, Mr. Lu!" Qianli suddenly bowed ninety degrees, startling Lu Ye.
"Not at all." Lu Ye waved a hand. "Let's hurry up and move."
The portal Palkia provided was located on the first level of the Sky Pillar;
they had to get there first.
They reached the top floor of the Devon building and deployed flying Pokémon.
Qianli's flying partner was Staraptor;
the man rode it, burdened with heavy thoughts and speaking little.
Lu Ye rode on Latias's back, flying side by side with Steven's white Metagross, and asked:
"How are Groudon and Kyogre doing?"
"They've already fallen into slumber."
"And A-Jin and the others?"
"They stayed in Kanaz City;
Red is watching over them. I believe he won't let A-Jin act rashly." Steven smiled.
That was something... after all, A-Jin had been hung out to dry by Red on Mt. Silver more times than he could count.
They learned through conversation that Alain's Charizard suffered severe injuries;
kind-hearted Ash had volunteered to use the Power of Viridian to help heal it.
After this ordeal, Alain and the Water-Absorb Charizard would probably have gained valuable mental growth.
Lu Ye looked up at the sky.
To be honest, Alain had shown the most outstanding combat performance among their rivals.
But Satoshi's growth was evident. From becoming the Lily of the Valley runner-up and sailing along since, the loss at the Vertress Conference plus the Mt. Silver training would certainly become key nourishment.
The flight scenery was monotonous. Following Steven's lead, they plunged into a sea of clouds and, after a while, burst out into a broad view.
"That—"
Steven pointed in the distance at a towering stone spire that pierced the clouds and said in a deep voice:
"It is the tall tower built by the Meteor People that venerates Rayquaza—the Sky Pillar!"
Lu Ye narrowed his eyes with a sense of awe.
Centuries ago, the Meteor People erected these cloud-piercing stone towers. Even with Pokémon assistance, it remained a sheerer feat of engineering.
The Sky Pillar had fallen into disrepair over the years. In the game Emerald, to climb this tower you needed to ride a Mach Bike over the cracks or you'd fall down the stairs.
Lu Ye wondered whether they could simply fly up with Pokémon... or whether the tower had a no-fly barrier inside.
While pondering, Qianli shouted, "Mr. Lu, Mr. Steven, there's evidence of a battle here!"
"Evidence..." Lu Ye scanned the empty cloud sea.
"It's flight-route clouds."
Steven frowned. "After Pokémon fly, they leave invisible flight-route clouds in the air... the Meteor People can edly see these clouds and use them in combat. So aerial battles still leave traces."
"How could Qianli sense that?"
"Perhaps... a father-son connection." Steven said.
Lu Ye thought for a moment and chose a more direct detection method. Closing his eyes and centering himself, his Power of Transcendence began scanning the surroundings.
The cloud sea became clearer and more three-dimensional. As Qianli said, Ruby and Sapphire had stayed in this airspace and fought another trainer!
The image in his mind revealed the Meteor People successor attempting to ride Rayquaza—Zinnia.
"A rebellious girl, hard to handle..." Lu Ye muttered.
The residual energy fluctuations in the air dated from about fourteen hours earlier, when Teacher Lu was resisting Primal Kyogre.
Ruby and Sapphire, at Steven's request, had gone to the Sky Pillar to undergo the trial and try to awaken Rayquaza.
"Tororo, go faster!"
Sapphire's red bandanna was drenched by heavy rain as she shouted.
"Uu—"
Tropius beat its great banana-like leaves, carrying Ruby and Sapphire across a sea churned by towering waves.
"POP-O's Sunny Day not working?"
Ruby stared at the floating bubble inside the Poké Ball and clenched his teeth. "We have to reach the Sky Pillar quickly..."
Even if they couldn't make Rayquaza Mega Evolve, they had to petition it and try to dissuade Kyogre and Groudon!
"Ruby, ahead!" Sapphire warned.
Ruby looked up. Lightning-streaked storm clouds reflected in his pupils. He swept an arm to shield Sapphire behind him.
Rumble!
A muffled thunder cracked;
Tropius burst through the thunderclouds unharmed.
Sapphire rested her head in Ruby's arms, cheeks flushed—not from fear but with a little thrill.
"It's okay now." Ruby looked around in surprise. "Here... it's strangely calm!"
The torrential rain and blazing sun did not reach this airspace.
Far ahead the Sky Pillar stood tall, ringed by clouds, a pocket of clear weather like the eye of a hurricane.
Thunder still grumbled in the distance. The two stared at the Sky Pillar in astonishment. Ruby soothed the trembling Tropius:
"Go on, Tororo... we'll walk up from the first level."
"Uu..."
Tropius gave a weak cry and slowly beat its wings.
But as they neared the Sky Pillar, a sense of danger surged through Ruby, and he warned:
"Tororo, be careful!"
At the same time, a scorching jet of Flamethrower came shooting from higher within the clouds and struck Tropius's flank, erupting in black smoke!
Boom!!
"Uu!!" Tropius cried and plunged from the sky. Ruby and Sapphire clung desperately to the Tropius.
Swoosh—
Tropius barely righted itself. Ruby looked up at the trainer who had just launched the attack.
"You're from the Devon Corporation, aren't you?"
A black-haired, cold-faced girl in a gray cloak stood on the back of a Salamence and asked with a chill in her voice.
"Roar!!"
At her words, the Salamence, its scales gleaming blue, flapped its blood-stained wings, opened its maw, and erupted into a roar!
Ruby and Sapphire did not answer. They watched Zinnia, whose arrival was clearly hostile, and quietly tightened their hold on their Poké Balls, preparing to fight.
"Leave this place." Zinnia said coldly. "That was your last warning. One more step closer and I won't guarantee you'll leave alive."
She didn't fully mean it. But if the two got any nearer to the Dragon God's lair, Zinnia swore she'd render them unconscious.
Ruby stared at the Salamence;
his eyes sharpened. He bit down, and in a voice only he could hear murmured:
"Even if the body decays, beauty's heart endures. Bearing tears of yearning, turning into bitter sorrow..."
"Hey! What trick are you playing!" Zinnia raised her voice.
"MIMI." In dramatic fashion, Ruby threw a Poké Ball into the air. "Attracting Voice!"
"Fuu~!" Milotic sprang from the ball as if rising from water, cherry-colored strands shaking off glittering dust, and sang high—a fairy-like melody.
A coordinator's dazzling performance, unmistakable now.
"Roar!!" Zinnia's Salamence's eyes went blood-red and it suddenly went berserk, ignoring orders and lunging at Milotic!
Ruby recalled Milotic and released a Gardevoir floating in front of him, its white gown gently swirling. It declared:
"RURU, Dazzling Gleam!"
Gardevoir's heart-shaped chest shone. Its sweeping hands unleashed blinding beams that struck Salamence!
Amid the white flash, Salamence howled in pain. Zinnia tossed another Poké Ball and leaped onto the back of an Altaria, hissing:
"Altaria, Boomburst!!"
Energy poured forth and collided with the Flamethrower Sapphire's Blaziken launched.
From the rising black smoke, Zinnia saw Ruby and Sapphire had already landed on the lower levels of the Sky Pillar and were forcing their way into the enclosure!
"Damn it!"
Zinnia ground her teeth. "Without the Successor Scroll, offending the Dragon God... Devon Corporation will be blamed for the devastation of Hoenn!"
As a Meteor People descendant, Zinnia originally planned to awaken Rayquaza herself. But with Hoenn's two guardian deities suddenly reawakened, she had to accelerate her plans.
She never expected that at the same time she arrived at the Sky Pillar, two Devon trainers would also be there!
"The trial takes at least a day..."
Zinnia looked past the clouds as though she could see the chaos in Hoenn—roiling tsunamis and scorching sun.
If the Dragon God would respond to her... she could perhaps calm Kyogre and Groudon!
Her eyes hardened with resolve.
"Wait for me, Dragon God..."
Zinnia opened a glowing scroll from her cloak and whispered, "I will become the successor and fulfill the mission to save Hoenn!"
The scroll bore exquisite carvings and was made of a special material, ancient script written in gold-green patterns.
If Teacher Lu were there, he would certainly be able to decipher the ancient writing on the scroll, which was also the key to Rayquaza's Mega Evolution.
Besides the energy boost from the Prismatic Meteor, Rayquaza's Mega Evolution required a signature move—
Dragon Ascent!

Chapter 696: Sky Pillar, The Successor Scroll