Chapter 231: Manaphy

Although this world had already discovered most Pokémon, many remained undiscovered, such as Unown, Manaphy, Urshifu, the Ultra Beasts and so on.

Manaphy, despite being a Water-type mythical Pokémon and not a Legendary, could somehow draw out a powerful first-class Legendary like Kyogre to rescue it.

The main reason lay in its unique bond with the ocean—it was considered the child of the sea, even regarded as a creation of the ocean itself.

This gave Manaphy a natural affinity with all Water-type Pokémon, compelling them to instinctively protect it, Kyogre included. In a way, Manaphy could even be seen as Kyogre's godchild.

The skies were filled with torrential rain and fierce winds, the downpour so intense it obscured visibility. Combined with the darkness of night, it made the already low visibility nearly impossible to see.

The worst part was the five million citizens in Haitian City who had yet to evacuate. Now, they fully realized what they were up against—a Legendary Pokémon.

A First-class Legendary at that.

Even from within the city, the massive tsunami loomed large, visible to all.

If that wave crashed down, it wouldn't just obliterate Haitian City but would devastate neighboring cities as well.

Fear and panic spread like wildfire throughout the city.

Rioting and looting erupted as chaos overtook order.

The level of destruction in the city was steadily rising.

But Julian couldn't afford to focus on that. Completing his original task had become secondary—finding Manaphy was now his top priority.

Only by finding Manaphy could the source of all this chaos be addressed.

Holding the Dowsing Machine in his hands, Julian had already scoured every corner of Haitian City. Yet the device showed no more than a third of its screen lighting up with red indicators.

He recalled Kyogre's explanation that something had isolated Manaphy, preventing it from being sensed.

It seemed whatever had been used to shield Manaphy was also blocking the Dowsing Machine.

Unable to locate Manaphy and powerless against Kyogre, Julian felt momentarily lost.

The rain had long since drenched him to the skin. His eyes, filled with uncertainty, stared blankly at the brightly lit but utterly chaotic city below.

--

The secret chamber of the Miller family mansion.

Derek stared wide-eyed at the Pokémon within the isolation device—Manaphy. He also learned its name from Kyogre.

And he also knew that if Kyogre couldn't locate Manaphy within half an hour, the entire Haitian City would be destroyed.

"Big Brother—"

Derek's lips trembled slightly as he looked at his eldest brother, Erick, who was busy packing up some valuable items.

"Third Brother, it's too late. There's no chance anymore. Even if we hand over Manaphy to Kyogre now, do you think the Trainer Association will let our Miller family go?"

"They won't. They'll just use this as an excuse to wipe us out completely."

Erick cut him off, knowing exactly what Derek was about to say. There was no turning back now. He could only push forward—because the alternative meant the death of the entire Miller family.

"Big Brother, no! This is all part of that mysterious man's scheme. We can't gamble with the lives of the entire Miller family, Big Brother!!!"

The Miller family consisted of over three hundred people, a large clan. Derek couldn't bear to imagine what would happen if Erick's stubbornness led to the destruction of both their family and Haitian City.

And it was all because of him and his elder brother.

"Yes, gamble. I 'will' gamble!" Erick's voice grew hoarse and desperate. "Third Brother, the Miller family has no hope left. I don't care what kind of scheme that mysterious man is plotting."

"But Manaphy is real!"

Practically shouting, Erick grabbed the isolation box. Inside, the trembling Manaphy shut its eyes tightly, its tiny body shaking in fear.

It had only just been born, its level low and utterly powerless.

"As long as we keep it in our hands, Kyogre won't dare make a move. We can even use it to control Kyogre!"

"Third Brother, join me! Together, we can succeed. We can make the Miller family stand at the top of the world. The Drake family and Walker family will be nothing—they'll polish our shoes!"

As he spoke, he slowly extended his hand toward Derek, his eyes filled with brotherly affection. They were family—his only brother.

Derek's face showed hesitation and inner turmoil. But when he saw the emotion in Erick's eyes, his body shook slightly. After a moment's pause, he began to extend his hand toward Erick's.

Just as their hands were about to meet, Derek suddenly stepped forward and shoved Erick forcefully away.

Then, he grabbed the isolation box containing Manaphy.

"Bang!"

A Shiftry appeared as he released it from its Poké Ball.

"Big Brother, you've lost your mind! The Walker and Drake families may be hateful, but we cannot gamble with the lives of everyone in Haitian City!"

"Shiftry, Sleep Powder!"

As Shiftry's fan-like hands gently waved, a cloud of powder wafted toward Erick.

"Third Bother, you—watch out!!"

Erick's expression shifted suddenly, anger replaced by alarm.

Derek, sensing the unusual tension behind him, instinctively turned his head. To his horror, a Mismagius had silently appeared at his back.

"Shk!"

Mismagius's ghostly hand pierced through Derek's skull. In his final moments, Derek's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure standing behind Mismagius.

With a dull thud, Derek's lifeless body collapsed to the ground, and the isolation box fell from his hand.

Seeing its trainer die right before its eyes, Shiftry's gaze turned crimson with fury.

It was about to lunge at Mismagius in a fit of rage, only to find the ghostly Pokémon already before it.

A strange light radiated from Mismagius's eyes. Shiftry felt a sudden drowsiness washing over its mind. Just as it was about to succumb to the sleep, its blurry vision landed on the blood-soaked corpse.

That was-the body of its trainer.

Its mind snapped back to clarity in an instant.

Shiftry's arm glowed with a vibrant green light as it slashed downward with Leaf Blade, cutting into Mismagius.

"Hmm?"

This unexpected display of resistance surprised the mysterious figure in the shadows.

Although Shiftry's brief clarity had allowed it to land a blow, it couldn't dispel the lingering effects of Hypnosis. After the strike, Shiftry once again felt the haze overtaking its mind.

Dark pulses of energy formed into Shadow Balls, striking Shiftry relentlessly.

Its body slammed hard against the chamber's reinforced walls, the impact inflicting further damage.

Mismagius hovered over Shiftry, ready to end it once and for all.

Even as it lay there with its eyes half-closed, Shiftry mustered its remaining strength, unleashing another Leaf Blade. However, Mismagius evaded the attack with ease, its eyes flashing with a hint of disdain.

But Shiftry's target wasn't Mismagius. Its blade curved away, aiming for the isolation box.

Clang!

The blade struck the box with a metallic clang, only to leave it entirely unscathed.

Despair flickered in Shiftry's eyes as it realized that not even its Elite-level strength could damage the box.

"Pathetic"

The mysterious figure sneered, his tone dripping with contempt.

Refusing to give up, Shiftry tried once more to raise its arm for another attack. But as soon as it did, its limb was seized by Mismagius.

With a sickening twist, Mismagius snapped Shiftry's arm.

In the next moment, the ghost Pokémon's psychic grip turned to Shiftry's neck, snapping it effortlessly.

Shiftry's body fell lifelessly to the floor, joining its fallen trainer.

(T/N: A moment of silence for my man Derek and Shiftry, both were Heroes.)