Chapter 289: Give it Back

When Barry reached Noctowl, it was already breathing faintly, more out than in. The Ursaring's Slash followed by a stomp had shattered most of its bones.

Frantically, Barry took out some medicine, only to realize in frustration that Noctowl couldn't even open its beak.

"Brother-in-law…"

Sam's face was filled with guilt and regret. If he hadn't insisted on stealing the Teddiursa, none of this would have happened.

"It's going to be okay. I'll save you. Don't be afraid."

Barry said gently as he carefully picked up Noctowl and ran toward the tent as fast as he could.

Inside the tent, Julian was still asleep.

He hadn't heard the sounds of the earlier battle—not because he was a heavy sleeper, but because the Slowking had used its psychic powers to block out all noise, leaving Julian completely unaware of what had been happening.

Lucario had only stepped in because it sensed that the battle between the Ursaring pair and Barry's group might spill over and affect the tent. Otherwise, it might not have interfered.

This wasn't because Lucario was cold-hearted, but because the moment Barry had stolen the Teddiursa, it had set them at odds with the Ursaring.

From a moral standpoint, Barry didn't exactly have the high ground here.

"Luca!~"

Seeing Barry stumbling over, Lucario stepped in and blocked his path.

Barry didn't dare to push past. Instead, he said anxiously, "Lucario, my Noctowl is dying! Please, let me see Young Master Julian!"

Lucario glanced at the faint aura coming from Noctowl, its condition was indeed dire. Barry's worry and urgency were genuine.

At that moment, Julian emerged from the tent.

Slowking, concerned about the life of a Pokémon, had woken him up.

"Here"

Julian said without wasting words, handing over a recovery potion. It wasn't a Max Revive—those were too extraordinary to use.

Barry hesitated for a moment as he looked at the potion in his hand, troubled by the fact that Noctowl couldn't swallow anything.

"It can be applied externally," Julian said.

Recovery medicines worked just as well when applied to wounds as when taken orally.

Upon hearing this, Barry immediately applied the medicine to Noctowl's injuries.

"Slowking"

Understanding its role, Slowking emitted a gentle wave of Heal Pulse, speeding up the recovery of Noctowl's injuries.

After this series of actions, Noctowl's condition stabilized. All it needed now was rest and time to fully recover.

Barry returned Noctowl to its Pokéball and turned to Julian with a face full of gratitude.

"Young Master Julian, thank you. Truly, thank you! If not for you—my... my..."

Overcome with emotion, Barry stumbled over his words, speaking incoherently in his excitement.

If not for Julian, the three of them and their Pokémon would have perished at the hands of the Ursaring pair, meeting the same fate as countless other trainers who ventured unprepared into the wild.

Sam, supporting the unconscious Phil, had just walked over when he saw his brother-in-law gazing at Julian with heartfelt gratitude.

The man's face struck a chord of familiarity in Sam's mind. Suddenly, a name flashed through his thoughts like lightning.

"King Julian!"

The words slipped from Sam's mouth.

Lucario, Slowking, and the unmistakable silver Metagross—there was no doubt about it. This was Julian, widely regarded as the best trainer of his generation in Drakoria.

He was an idol for most young trainers in Drakoria, including Sam himself.

Never had he expected to encounter his hero in the wild.

No wonder the man had such rare medicines and the confidence to light a fire to cook beef in the wilderness.

Sam had previously mocked him internally for his boldness, thinking he was reckless just because of his strength. Now, realizing this was his idol:

'No wonder he's my idol—he's so carefree in everything he does'

"Roar!"

At this moment, the female Ursaring and the recently awakened male appeared within a hundred meters of them.

"They're coming back?"

Sam was astonished. Even after being defeated by Lucario, they had the nerve to return?

The Ursaring pair stared at Lucario with deep wariness and fear. Yet, driven by their love for their child, they had no choice but to come back.

"What did you take from them?" Julian asked.

For the two Ursaring to return despite knowing the danger, their bravery in the face of death made Julian curious about what the group had stolen from them.

Barry was about to speak, but Sam blurted out first:

"We stole their child."

Julian: 'No wonder they're willing to risk everything for this'

"King Julian, can you kill them?" Sam asked.

These two Ursaring had nearly killed his companion and almost ended his and his brother-in-law's lives as well.

Given their obsession with their cub, Sam was certain they'd chase them down again once they parted ways with Julian. Next time, their luck might not hold.

"Return their cub to them."

Julian said, casting a sidelong glance at Sam, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval.

Stealing their child and then asking Julian to kill them for it? That was asking him to play the villain in this scenario.

If not for Julian's intervention, they'd already have paid the price for their actions. Yet Sam seemed oblivious to this fact.

"No way! I risked my life to catch it!" Sam shook his head frantically.

Judging by the strength of the Ursaring pair, it was easy to see the cub's potential. Whether he trained it himself or sold it, it could fetch millions.

Teddiursa was already a rare sight on the market, making its value even higher.

Blinded by greed, Sam failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. Instead, Barry smacked him on the head.

"Young Master Julian, please don't take offense. Sam is too young and thoughtless."

After apologizing, he turned to Sam with a furious glare and scolded, "Hurry up and release the Teddiursa!"

As he spoke, he kept signaling to Sam with his eyes, internally panicking. If this reckless kid kept pushing his luck, things could go very wrong.

Sam felt a wave of resentment. After all the effort they had gone through, they were walking away empty-handed.

Reluctantly, he took out the Poké Ball and tossed it forward. A dazed Teddiursa appeared on the ground.

Though he was frustrated with Julian's decision, Sam understood the situation. If Julian didn't deal with the Ursaring pair, they'd come after them the moment he left.

Keeping Teddiursa would only guarantee they'd lose not just the Pokémon, but their lives as well.

"Roar!"

The Ursaring pair called out urgently upon seeing their child.

Teddiursa finally noticed its parents and waddled over to them in excitement.

The female Ursaring scooped Teddiursa into her arms, her face radiating the joy of reunion.

Pokémon shared emotions akin to humans, and in some cases, their feelings were even purer.

The male Ursaring cast a final glare at Barry's group before shifting its gaze to Julian. Its eyes were filled with both gratitude and wariness. Without lingering further, it turned to lead its mate and Teddiursa away into the forest.

"All right, you can rest here for tonight. I'll have some questions for you tomorrow."

Julian said before turning and heading back into his tent to resume sleeping.

*****

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