Walking Wake unleashed another Steam Surge. Confident in its defense, Honedge braced itself for impact—only to realize a second later that the attack was a feint!
"Substitute!"
Hikaru quickly issued the command, and Honedge conjured another decoy.
However, Walking Wake completely ignored the Substitute and lunged straight at Hikaru!
It had only used Steam Surge to create an opening!
Crunch!
The massive dragon jaws snapped toward Hikaru!
Right… Wild Pokémon don't play by battle rules.
At that mont, Hikaru dug desperately into his bag—
Item acquired: Rusted Shield!
The Rusted Shield—the legendary artifact of Zamazenta, one of Galar's heroic Pokémon! A dium-sized shield, tarnished with age but still bearing its mythical strength!
"Perfect timing!"
Hikaru imdiately raised the Rusted Shield to block the attack.
CRUNCH!
Walking Wake clamped down on the shield, its sharp teeth gnawing against the ancient tal. But this was the very shield once wielded by the Shield King, Zamazenta—practically an extension of its own body!
It wasn't going to break so easily!
However, Walking Wake wasn't deterred. Instead, it simply wrenched the Rusted Shield away from Hikaru and tossed it aside with brute force.
Humans couldn't match a dragon's raw strength!
But that was enough ti to counterattack.
With his free hand now available, Hikaru quickly gave another command:
"tal Sound!"
A piercing screech filled the air, sending shudders of pain through Walking Wake's body!
"Psycho Cut!"
A blade of psychic energy materialized and slashed into Walking Wake. With its defenses weakened, the impact staggered it!
Now was the ti!
Hikaru reached into his bag and perford another god-tier grab!
A green, sticky orb was pulled out!
"Sticky Glob—ready for battle!"
Without hesitation, Hikaru hurled the Sticky Glob at Walking Wake and imdiately dashed away. He continued flinging multiple globs, pelting the Pokémon relentlessly.
Even for Walking Wake, the repeated hits took their toll!
Sticky Globs were designed to slow Pokémon down, sotis even causing them to stumble and freeze for five seconds!
The ancient dragon wobbled as dizziness overtook it. Not understanding the nature of this strange item, it refused to dodge, allowing itself to be struck over and over again!
Next step—Heavy Ball!
A black, heavy Poké Ball erged from Hikaru's bag!
"Heavy Ball!"
Sticky Glob Heavy Ball—an unstoppable combo!
Hikaru threw the Heavy Ball with full force, smashing it directly against Walking Wake's body!
The Heavy Ball, black with intricate gray markings, was an advanced form of the standard Heavy Ball. Though difficult to throw over long distances, if it landed on an unaware Pokémon, it greatly boosted capture chances!
However…
A one-shot catch wasn't that easy.
Despite the powerful item, Walking Wake burst out of the Heavy Ball, cracking the ball's surface in the process!
Freed and furious, Walking Wake let out a rage-filled roar—only to be pelted by another wave of Sticky Globs!
Followed by yet another Heavy Ball!
BAM!
This was the battle style of Hisui trainers!
By continuously stunning the target with Sticky Globs and striking from behind, one could execute the secret technique—
"Back Strike!"
(…which was really just hitting the Pokémon when it wasn't looking.)
Hikaru's endless bag of supplies ensured that Sticky Globs and Heavy Balls kept coming without pause!
Even Honedge, which had rushed forward to assist, ended up doing nothing. Seeing the Sticky Globs reminded it of a certain traumatic incident from a week ago.
Unpleasant mories increased.
"Honedge, keep using tal Sound and Psycho Cut!"
"If it ever turns toward , use Shadow Sneak to distract it!"
Honedge twirled its hilt in agreent. anwhile, Hikaru secretly signaled it in hand gestures.
Ti for an advanced field tactic—Forced Position Swap!
As planned, Honedge created another Substitute exactly where Hikaru had been standing.
Everything was going according to strategy.
Checkmate.
"ROAR!!"
Walking Wake broke free from another Heavy Ball and imdiately lunged at Hikaru—or so it thought.
It whipped its tail toward the trainer—
Only to strike Honedge's Substitute instead!
"Huh?!"
THWACK!
At that exact mont, another Sticky Glob struck its face, stunning it once more.
Followed by a third Heavy Ball!
"ROOOAAARRR!!!"
Its furious cry echoed through the Burned Tower, its voice unfiltered by the Poké Ball's seal.
Hikaru realized sothing—
Poké Balls in Hisui didn't have soundproof technology like modern-day ones.
That ant Pokémon could hear everything happening outside while inside the ball.
So, Walking Wake was fully aware of Hikaru's antics.
Walking Wake broke free over and over again, but each ti, it was struck by a new Sticky Glob and another Heavy Ball.
With repeated tal Sound and Psycho Cut weakening it further…
Finally, on the eighth attempt, the ancient dragon collapsed from exhaustion.
One final Heavy Ball landed cleanly—
And this ti, it stayed shut.
The Heavy Ball wobbled intensely for several seconds—
Then, at last—
It stopped moving.
Victory!
"Hah…!"
Hikaru exhaled, his body drenched in sweat.
"Did I win this battle without using a Pokémon?"
No, technically he did use a Pokémon.
This was what it ant to be a Pokémon Trainer!
A Pokémon battle was more than just having Pokémon fight each other. The trainer's own actions played a huge role!
This had been one of the toughest wild encounters Hikaru had ever experienced.
With the battlefield's tight space, the flammable wooden structure, and the overwhelming power difference, everything had been stacked against him.
But in the end—
The result was all that mattered.
"Walking Wake has been caught!"
"...Though it's only in a dream."
Hikaru sighed, just as new knowledge flooded into his mind.
The Dragon Slate's Wisdom
So this was why…
The Dragon Slate had granted him this insight.
Hikaru held the Heavy Ball and focused. The knowledge told him that only in close proximity to Dragon-type Pokémon could this power take effect.
He reached out, sending a calming pulse toward the Poké Ball.
Then, cautiously—he opened it.
Walking Wake reappeared, its eyes filled with wariness.
"Grrr…"
It still didn't understand what had happened.
At first, it had completely dismissed Hikaru. But now?
Its attitude shifted.
It was curious. It was cautious.
And… It was afraid.
This human should have died—but no matter what it threw at him, he never fell.
"...What… are you?"
Walking Wake growled in confusion.
And yet—its territorial aggression had completely vanished.
Hikaru listened.
Through Dragon Tar intuition, he heard Walking Wake's thoughts—
Unfamiliar surroundings.
Intruders in its domain.
Anxious instincts warning it that sothing was wrong.
"...I think this is all just a dream."
"This isn't your real territory."
Walking Wake's eyes widened.
Hikaru continued:
"But it's okay. This place will disappear soon. You'll go back to where you belong."
Then, he reached into his bag—
And pulled out a Pecha Berry.
Hikaru looked up and spoke directly to Walking Wake.
The ancient dragon let out a startled growl.
Wait… this human can hear my thoughts?!
"Yeah. Ever since we made contact," Hikaru replied calmly.
Walking Wake's confusion deepened.
In all its existence, it had never encountered a human with such an unnatural ability.
But then, its eyes flickered toward sothing else—
The pink fruit Hikaru was holding.
A Pecha Berry.
Even in its own prehistoric world, similar sweet fruits had existed. And this particular kind…
Was one of its absolute favorites.
"Pokémon with an impatient nature tend to love sweet flavors and dislike sour ones," Hikaru mused.
"Among all Berries, Pecha Berries are the sweetest. Many Pokémon love them."
With a casual motion, Hikaru tossed the Pecha Berry toward Walking Wake's feet.
"I've got plenty. Eat as much as you want."
Walking Wake hesitated… then lowered its head.
After a mont of cautious sniffing, it finally took a small bite—
And imdiately, the sweetness flooded its mouth.
For the first ti since this battle started, Walking Wake let out a low, satisfied hum.
"Yo~!"
Honedge floated closer, its expression relieved.
That was when Hikaru noticed—
His body was turning transparent.
Not just him—Honedge, Walking Wake, even the surroundings of Burned Tower were starting to fade.
The dream was ending.
Too bad… I never got to see Suicune.
But before everything vanished, Hikaru had one last request.
"Sorry, but could you show your forehead crest?"
Walking Wake blinked.
Even now, after everything, he was still asking about that?
At first, it seed reluctant. Then, after a mont of thought, the ancient dragon slowly stepped forward—and lowered its head.
Tiny fragnts of its crest crumbled to the ground—remnants from Honedge's earlier attacks.
Hikaru carefully picked up a piece, running his fingers over its smooth, gemstone-like texture.
It was remarkable.
A material unlike anything found in the modern world, yet…
It felt so familiar.
"Just as I thought… you really are Suicune's Paradox form."
Walking Wake studied Hikaru closely.
Just a short while ago, it had viewed him as nothing more than prey.
But now… it felt sothing entirely different.
A strange, almost instinctual recognition.
The Instinct of a Dragon
For ancient Pokémon, the law of battle was simple—
The defeated submits to the victor.
And if this human was actually one of its own kind—
Then submission was only natural.
At first, Walking Wake had thought Hikaru was just a weak, ordinary human.
But after their battle…
It saw sothing else.
Not a human.
A humanoid dragon.
"Hmph. Guess that's fine, then."
(End of Chapter)
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