Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [152]

When Lucario gave him that strange, conflicted look and shook his head, Elias instinctively felt that some misunderstanding had just taken root.

He cleared his throat and brought the conversation back on track.

"You said you wanted to talk... Where exactly are we going?"

As far as he could recall, he'd never interacted directly with this Lucario before.

And he'd certainly never seen him around Cogita, either.

So now, seeing Lucario show up with such certainty and seek him out, Elias couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.

At the mention of business, Lucario grew serious, giving a solemn nod.

"Please come with me. This concerns my future."

"Of course, I won't take up much of your time—rest assured on that."

"I'll repay the favor, properly."

Lucario's voice was earnest, and his expression was surprisingly plaintive.

Seeing this, Zoroark's eyes narrowed. A subtle sense of crisis stirred within her.

Truth be told, this Lucario bore some resemblance to her—slender build, sharp features—and, apparently, he knew how to play the "helpless" card.

What if Elias, who liked her, also found Lucario interesting...?

The idea made Zoroark nervous.

Completely unaware of the fox's spiraling suspicions, Elias considered Lucario's request in silence.

The guy didn't seem to be lying.

He still didn't know what exactly this was all about, but Lucario's gaze was full of anticipation, and that made him slowly nod.

"Alright..."

"But only on one condition—wherever this is, it can't be dangerous."

He said it seriously, mindful of Zoroark's safety.

Hearing that, Lucario thumped his chest with pride and raised his head confidently.

"Don't worry. That place—aside from me, no other Pokémon would dare set foot there."

He waved his bone staff as if to prove the weight of his words.

---

[With Lucario's assurance, you finally decide to follow him, Zoroark in tow.]

[Along the way, you notice something curious—wherever Lucario goes, not a single Pokémon dares to approach.]

"How about it? I'm impressive, aren't I?"

Lucario asked, clearly proud, a flicker of smugness in his eyes.

Before Elias could respond, Zoroark had already turned away in disdain.

From their brief clash earlier, she could tell—sure, this big mutt was stronger than her... but only slightly.

There had to be a trick to all this, some kind of bluff.

Hmph. Just trying to show off in front of Elias.

With that thought, Zoroark stepped forward and wrapped herself around Elias, shooting Lucario a death glare over his shoulder.

Lucario caught the look and lowered his head in thought.

So... the degenerate one wasn't Elias.

It was the fox?

A guilty pang stirred in him.

He'd wronged this human.

---

[Amid Zoroark and Lucario's not-so-subtle standoff, the three of you eventually arrive at the base of an ice mountain.]

"This is the place," Lucario said, face taking on a rare seriousness.

At that, Elias looked around.

They stood beneath a towering glacier, and unlike the rough terrain elsewhere, the ground here was surprisingly level.

But the way forward was blocked—dozens of thick ice spires jutted up in a crisscrossing maze.

If Lucario hadn't led them here, Elias likely never would have noticed this entrance.

"Let's go."

Lucario pulled out his bone staff with one hand and conjured several Aura Spheres in the other.

Like a seasoned striker, he launched the spheres one after another.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The icy wall and towering spikes ahead shattered in sequence, opening a clear path.

Mist rose quickly, swirling through the cavern's base.

Elias narrowed his eyes.

Now that the ice had broken, he could sense—using a bit of telepathy—something strange behind the walls.

A constructed surface... stone?

When the fog cleared, Lucario stepped forward and rapped his knuckles on the bricks.

Clack—clack—

A hidden mechanism triggered. The stone wall split open, revealing a shadowy corridor beyond.

Seeing Lucario's move, Zoroark immediately moved to block Elias, placing herself between him and the dark passage.

Her fur bristled. She bared her teeth at Lucario in a clear warning.

She wasn't about to let Elias waltz into some strange, trap-filled ruin just because this dog said so.

Seeing her this tense, Elias chuckled softly.

He reached out to gently squeeze the back of her neck and murmured:

"It's okay. I'm a little curious myself about what's inside."

"And besides... don't I have you with me if things get dangerous?"

He said the second part directly into her ear.

Zoroark hesitated. Her fierce expression softened slightly, a faint heat creeping up her cheeks.

Lucario, watching silently, raised an eyebrow in amusement.

Eventually, she grudgingly stepped aside.

"F-Fine~_~."

---

[With Zoroark's reluctant consent, you and Lucario begin making your way into the corridor.]

[According to Lucario, this was just a hidden back entrance.]

[Which only made you more curious—what kind of massive structure had to be built with a secret back door?]

[But soon, the answer would reveal itself...]

The narrow passage opened into a vast hollowed-out space—like the heart of the entire glacier had been excavated.

It was massive.

So massive that flying Pokémon could soar freely in the air above, unrestrained.

And yet, in this colossal chamber, only one Pokémon sat—half-reclined.

Bathed in soft light, Elias froze when he saw the giant in the distance.

It was a towering creature, pure white, patches of moss-like greenery sprouting across its body.

Even in this immense cavern, its body felt almost too large. Like it didn't quite fit.

At first glance, Elias thought it was a statue.

But then...

The giant turned its head. Slowly. Deliberately.

Its eyes locked onto them.

"Regigiga——"

A deep, distorted rumble echoed through the cavern. The sound wasn't quite speech—more like glitchy static rumbling through stone.

Elias winced at the sheer volume.

But all he could think about was—

What the hell is that thing?

It couldn't be a Pokémon... could it?

Zoroark looked even more shaken.

Ever since she evolved, she'd felt like she was close to the top of the Pokémon food chain.

But this thing—

This giant, ancient being was so vast she wouldn't even dare imagine it into one of her illusions.

She had no doubt it could flatten her with a single swipe.

She bit her lip hard, frustration rising in her chest.

I promised I'd protect Elias... and then we run into this thing?

Am I really this powerless...?

"I've brought the human."

Lucario sent out a calm pulse of aura, projecting his message.

Then he turned toward Elias, explaining:

"He's the one who wanted to meet you."

He nodded toward Regigigas.

Elias: ......

That's when it hit him.

Lucario... had tricked him.

No wonder no other Pokémon dared come near this place—

There was this behemoth waiting inside.