Chapter 122 – A Gift from the Legendary Pokémon

[Bonus Chapter]

Day 35 of survival on the deserted island. Clear skies.

Last night had been peaceful. Reiji slept soundly—perhaps too exhausted to dream—until the sun was already high.

He didn't wake his Pokémon for morning training. They were all worn out from the previous night. Letting them rest longer was fine.

No training today either. The danger hadn't passed. The poacher was still hiding somewhere in the forest, like a venomous snake. Reiji had to stay alert.

If another wildfire broke out like the one last night, they'd have no choice but to flee. Battles at the Elite Four level were simply out of their league.

There'd be time for revenge later. For now, it was enough that Krabby, Wingull, and Poliwhirl had survived—though badly burned. If not for the Oddish tribe's Grassy Terrain, Reiji wasn't sure how he could have saved them.

He would remember this debt. If they crossed paths again and he had the power to fight, he would kill that poacher—rip him to shreds.

That towering inferno was still vivid in his memory. He would never forget it.

Quietly, he got up and opened the treehouse door. Outside was a lush, misty forest. A faint grassy scent drifted on the breeze. Leaves unfurled new green buds—gentle, almost shy.

Reiji wasn't surprised. He just found it all a little miraculous.

After seeing the Grassy Terrain restore the forest, he realized that burned land wasn't just ruin—it could come back to life. Pokémon and nature had ways of healing each other.

But those charred branches and dead leaves wouldn't return. The wild Pokémon that perished in the flames were gone for good.

And if the poacher thought he could burn the forest again to drive Pokémon out, it wouldn't work. There was nothing left to burn.

Just as he was about to step outside, a flash caught his eye—like a mirror reflecting the sun. But there shouldn't be anything like that in the room.

He turned. It was glinting from Poliwhirl's round belly as it rose and fell with sleep. Something shiny was tucked there, reflecting sunlight into his eyes.

"What's this?" Reiji reached out and picked it up. A silver feather. In the sunlight, it shimmered faintly—pale, metallic light.

A Silver Wing? Where had this come from?

He stared at the shining feather in his palm, lost in thought.

He knew a bit about Silver Wings. They were said to be Lugia's feathers.

But why would one show up on Poliwhirl's belly? Did Lugia break into his home?

"Could it be the forest fire last night that drew Lugia here?" Reiji murmured.

He was on Fairchild Island, part of the Orange Archipelago—Lugia's domain. The guardian deity of the sea.

A wildfire that massive? Of course Lugia would come. Unless it wasn't home. But apparently, it was.

Which meant… maybe that torrential rain last night was Lugia's doing. Maybe it had added power to Rain Dance—turning a drizzle into a downpour.

Still… why not put out the fire itself? Why wait for Reiji and the others to act?

And why leave a Silver Wing?

Reiji couldn't make sense of it.

According to lore, Lugia was cold and aloof. It would only leave behind a feather for a worthy Trainer—or a survivor of a disaster it had saved.

And the Silver Wing wasn't just a keepsake. It was said to be able to summon Lugia. A Legendary Pokémon.

What had Reiji done to deserve this?

He could barely believe he was holding a genuine Silver Wing. But there it was—real.

Just thinking about it made him giddy. This feather was a nuclear deterrent—one-time use, sure, but enough to save his life.

He quickly wrapped it in cloth and stored it with his most precious items—alongside the Dragon Scale.

Since the Silver Wing had been found on Poliwhirl's belly, it was probably meant for him.

Maybe Lugia had granted him more than just a feather.

Reiji pulled up Poliwhirl's move panel. It had been three days since he last checked.

[Poliwhirl]

Type: Water

Gender: Male

Potential: 49.99%

Level: 29.63%

Ability: Damp (11.13%) | Hidden: Swift Swim (7.13%)

Moves: Mind Reader (10.21%), Ice Ball (1.31%), Refresh (8.11%), Double Slap (10.12%), Water Gun (22.14%), Water Sport (15.21%), Waterfall (5.22%), Rain Dance (1.11%)

Reiji immediately noticed the difference.

Poliwhirl's potential had jumped five points. A gift from the god?

Three level increases too—now Level 29.

Damp rose by two percent. Over 10% now.

Swift Swim rose by three percent.

Mind Reader—up two percent.

Refresh—up three percent.

Water Gun—up two percent.

Water Sport—up three percent.

Waterfall—up three percent.

And a new move—Rain Dance.

All of this… it had to be from Lugia.

Reiji stared at the panel, deep in thought.

He didn't obsess over the ".99%" on the potential. That was Lugia's call, not his.

Still, it was overwhelming. Even Lugia's "scraps" were enough to change a Pokémon's life.

All of Poliwhirl's Water-type traits had been boosted—abilities, moves, everything. But most of all, his potential.

No wonder so many Trainers in the past chased after Legendary Pokémon for a lifetime. It wasn't just devotion—there were real rewards.

If Poliwhirl had benefited… what about Krabby and Wingull?

[Krabby]

Type: Water

Gender: Male

Potential: 59.99%

Level: 21.16%

Ability: Hyper Cutter (12.22%) | Hidden: Sheer Force (3.53%)

Moves: Hammer Arm (0.22%), Leer (0.43%), Water Gun (13.35%), Harden (10.14%), Metal Claw (2.34%), Dig (9.54%), Mud-Slap (4.24%), Rain Dance (1.04%)

First time he'd checked in three days.

Krabby's potential was now just shy of 60%—a barrier that felt impossible to cross. Even with a Legendary's gift.

60% or higher… that was reserved for truly exceptional Pokémon.

Still, three levels gained. Hyper Cutter up by 2%. Water Gun and Mud-Slap both up 2%. Even Sheer Force went up—triggered by Mud-Slap.

And a new move: Rain Dance.

But Krabby's shell was still soft. Reiji gave him crushed Sharpedo bones to help harden it—using Harden to speed up absorption.

"Krabby, don't move around today. Just soak in the nutrients…"

"Kwak-chi! Kwak-chi!" Krabby clacked his pincers in response, then settled down.

Definitely a gift from Lugia.

Time to check Wingull.

[Wingull]

Type: Water/Flying

Gender: Female

Potential: 59.99%

Level: 24.17%

Ability: Hydration (8.39%)

Moves: Gust (7.59%), Roost (8.01%), Aqua Ring (8.23%), Water Gun (18.49%), Quick Attack (9.29%), Wing Attack (6.58%), Water Pulse (3.87%), Agility (1.37%), Rain Dance (1.17%)

It had only been two days since the last check.

The ".99%" didn't faze Reiji anymore. He was used to it. If this panel had a physical form, he would've dug it out with his fingernails by now.

Level 24. That number made his breath catch.

At this rate, Wingull could evolve into Pelipper tonight—or tomorrow at the latest. Then they could try flying.

If Pelipper could carry his full weight, they might finally escape the island—and its horrors—for new horrors elsewhere.

They could even take the Rhyhorn with them. The amphibious one.

Other changes: Hydration up 2%, not very useful, and would reset on evolution anyway.

Aqua Ring—up 3%. Used in the fire to resist burns, though she still got burned.

Water Gun—up 3%.

Water Pulse—up 3%.

And just like the others—she learned Rain Dance.

All three had learned it.

Lugia's gift—no doubt.

Reiji closed the panel. Then checked Butterfree's.

No change in potential. He closed it again.

He hadn't expected her to be blessed anyway.

Poliwhirl, Krabby, and Wingull getting anything at all was already beyond his expectations. Especially that Silver Wing.

After reviewing the panels, Reiji stepped outside and began jogging around the treehouse for morning training.

His Pokémon—Butterfree, Wingull, Krabby, Spinarak—were already awake and exploring the changed forest with awe.

Poliwhirl was still asleep, along with Rhyhorn, Magikarp, and Wishiwashi. He left them in their Poké Balls for now. It still wasn't safe.

They could come out at lunch.

Eventually Poliwhirl woke up. Noticing everyone else was already up, he looked a little embarrassed and started jogging.

But after one lap around the treehouse, Reiji stopped him.

"Poliwhirl, don't run today."

"Yobo?" Poliwhirl tilted his head, confused.

"I need you rested. We'll need that energy to deal with the Hunter," Reiji explained.

At the mention of the poacher, Poliwhirl's eyes filled with rage.

That bastard had burned the forest, killed so many Pokémon, left others homeless… and nearly killed them too.

But remembering the poacher's strength, the fire in his eyes faded. He'd seen yesterday's battle with the Pidgeot. Even one of the hunter's Pokémon was too strong for all of them combined.

"Everyone, come here."

Reiji looked at his Pokémon. He saw their anger. And their frustration—because the enemy was too powerful.

But once he made up his mind, there were always ways.

Before, he hadn't wanted to provoke that monster. He didn't want trouble. Or to die.

But now, he was involved whether he liked it or not.

And the real reason? The Pidgeot totem would never rest until it recovered its child.

Which left three problems.

First: The poacher wanted to escape the island with the Pidgeot chick.

Second: The totem Pidgeot wouldn't allow that. It wanted its child back—and it wanted the poacher dead. Maybe all humans dead.

Third: Reiji was stuck in the middle. He didn't want to be collateral damage. He just wanted to survive and get off the island.

But until Wingull evolved, he couldn't leave. For now, he had no choice but to weather the storm between two monsters.

[End of Chapter]

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