novelraw Chapter 763: Hoopa, Pick!
Chapter 763: Hoopa, Pick!
Chapter 763: Hoopa, Pick!The next day, Teacher Lu rebooked his flight to Wilder City Airport.
The three Pokédex holders from the Kanto group said they would arrive shortly.
As expected, Silver went on the mission with A-Jin.
Teacher Lu felt considerably relieved.
This was basically like "Lu Ye shakes" first summoning Kanto’s Giovanni to the field!
Wilder City’s tourism was thriving, it was peak season, and the airport was full of travelers.
Lu Ye wore sunglasses and a shirt, Sylveon leading him by the hand as they walked through the terminal.
“I actually know the way;
I don’t need a guide dog…” Lu Ye suggested softly.
“Bu-bii! o(´^｀)o” Sylveon lifted her head with a haughty air.
I’m just worried you’d get lost with Meloetta!Meloetta sat invisibly on Lu Ye’s shoulder, peeking around curiously.
Wilder City was bright with sunlight and pleasant temperatures, skyscrapers rising in the distance, a blue harbor dividing the city, and scattered palm groves.
The city was highly modernized, an oasis markedly different from the desert outside.
“President Tang, I’ve already arrived in Wilder City,” Lu Ye said, pressing his Bluetooth.
“Hmm… the Wilder City contact, Barza, has suddenly gone missing,” President Tang replied in a low voice.
“Don’t rush, meet your contact first before taking action,” he added.
Meet the contact first… but Hoopa has already scooped out several legendaries by now!
Teacher Lu felt a twinge of emotion, but he couldn’t admit to President Tang that he already knew the script, so he decided to investigate on his own.
He cut the connection.
Lu Ye raised his eyes toward the very conspicuous tower in the distance.
The rectangular tower rose imposing beneath the sun, built from white stone inlaid with traces of gold.
Behind the tower sat a huge metallic wheel, the golden ring symbol of Arceus.
“The Desert Tower… that’s where the Punishment Jar was created…” Lu Ye murmured.
“Gengarrr~” Haunter floated beside Lu Ye, inhaling crisp air loudly and puffing up its cheeks.
It widened its eyes until it couldn’t hold it in, then exhaled in one go.
Haunter inhaled again, puffed its cheeks and drifted over to Lu Ye in a show of bravado.
Lu Ye poked Haunter and it flew backward like a deflated balloon.
“You cosplay as Jigglypuff, huh,” Lu Ye said with a smile.
“Gengarrr~” Haunter hovered in the air, chuckled, and scratched its head.
Lu Ye smiled slightly, his mood easing considerably. He and Haunter stood at the street corner, gazing toward the Desert Tower.
He planned to meet A-Jin and the others later… for now, what mattered was sensing the unknown seal location.
Once certain the area was quiet, Lu Ye closed his eyes and spoke softly:
“Power of Transcendence, law of space-time!”
In an instant, millions of threads of light appeared within his darkened vision, tangling and extending like radar sweeps probing all around.
One valley’s space-time energy shone especially intense;
that was the “Genesis Valley” where the Transcendence Clan resided.
Another force radiated a particularly strong evil intent, a black shadow that kept gnawing at the advancing white light.
Lu Ye’s expression turned grave.
Greed, rage, arrogance… those were the sinful impulses forming the liberating “evil shadow” of Hoopa.
Fortunately, those desires were still under some form of seal, not yet fully unleashed.
When the white light was completely consumed, Lu Ye lost his connection to that “evil shadow.”
“That… should be the Punishment Jar,” Lu Ye said in a steady voice.
A weak fatigue washed over him.
Lu Ye quickly summoned little V and had it perch on his head to help restore him with its Infinite Energy.
“Nimi~” Victini’s V emblem glowed with a faint red light.
Lu Ye exhaled in relief and smiled, “Thanks, V-little beast.”
“Nimi~” Victini bared its tiny fangs in a grin.
Although it added another nickname… I kind of like it~!
Teacher Lu had confirmed the Punishment Jar’s location.
They would head to Genesis Valley and, together with the local Transcendence Clan, reinforce the seal.
“Looks like the mission isn’t that hard after all,” Lu Ye said cheerfully.
In the shadows, Darkrai’s brow beaded with cold sweat.
This is bad!
Every time he thinks, “I’ve got this,” the next second something huge happens!
Suddenly, Lu Ye flinched slightly, sensing a familiar aura.
On the Transcendence power radar, an envoy of the Thunder Monster was approaching the direction of Genesis Valley!
A cold drop of sweat rolled down Teacher Lu’s forehead.
Oh no, damn it, Ash also entered the movie version!
**
Genesis Valley.
An ancient, tranquil valley with a history stretching back a thousand years. Ivory sculptures pulsed with energy everywhere.
A gold-ringed sculpture stood at the valley’s center, symbolizing the deity worshiped here.
It was autumn, a gentle breeze swayed golden waves across the valley’s wheat fields.
To reap the harvest, one must first toil in sweat.
This was the lesson the Arceus’s envoy, Goris, taught when he sealed the big Hoopa’s evil shadow, adopted little Hoopa and raised him.
Now, Goris had long passed away.
Little Hoopa still lived carefree in Genesis Valley, occasionally staring at the wheat fields in a daze.
A girl named Meyali, wearing a white linen robe, felt a strange fluctuation and turned her head toward Wilder City.
“What is it, sister?” a man named Barza asked in a low voice.
He didn’t look well;
his eyes were bloodshot, as if he had not slept for nights, or as if some force had taken hold of him.
Meyali didn’t notice anything odd because she knew her brother had been losing sleep over matters related to the Punishment Jar.
“Brother…” Meyali hesitated. “I just…I think I sensed a very powerful Transcendence force…it seems comparable to our great-grandfather…”
“You must be hallucinating,” Barza said sharply, his eyes red and his voice shrill. “Great-grandfather was the greatest envoy of Transcendence in history. How could anyone be compared to him!”
Their great-grandfather Goris, centuries ago and with the help of an Aura hero, had successfully sealed the evil shadow released by big Hoopa.
Even today, Goris was revered, and his statue stood in Genesis Valley.
“So…I might be mistaken…” Meyali said, bowing her head.
“All right, stay in the valley and don’t move,” Barza said irritably. “I’ll go reinforce the Punishment Jar’s seal with Transcendence power!”
Meyali watched her brother’s back and lowered her head in dejection.
Lately she felt her brother had grown much more irritable.
It was understandable.
With their great-grandfather gone, it would be extremely difficult for just her and her brother to fully seal the Punishment Jar’s evil shadow…
Meyali sighed softly and recalled scenes from her childhood.
On a sunlit ridge, great-grandfather Goris smiled as he extended a seed in his palm.
She, her brother, and little Hoopa all peered curiously at the seed.
“If you want a harvest, try planting it yourselves,” Goris had said with a smile.
“What? If you want food, leave it to Hoopa~!” little Hoopa grinned, took the golden ring hanging on its horn, and hovered it into place to form a teleport circle, about to reach in.
Slap!
Goris sealed the ring with Transcendence power and shook his head sternly at little Hoopa.
Little Hoopa pouted, shrugged, and helped plant the seeds dejectedly.
Meyali and her brother exchanged smiles and joined in to help Hoopa.
That memory dated back more than ten years.
Meyali sighed with relief;
she and little Hoopa were still good friends as always.
“Hoopa!”
Meyali pushed open the wooden hut and called out, “Where are you?”
Little Hoopa was nowhere to be found.
Meyali searched the entire Genesis Valley in a panic and discovered the truth.
Little Hoopa had sneaked out of Genesis Valley!
**
Genesis Valley, sealed cavern.
Barza’s eyes were red as he bit his teeth and looked at the Punishment Jar before him.
“Power of Transcendence…space-time…” he began.
Before he finished, a deep purple shadow welled up from the Punishment Jar, a monstrous evil shadow like ghostly flames rising!
A faint light flashed in Barza’s eyes and he collapsed unconscious.
After a long while, Barza slowly came to, murmuring, “What’s…happened to me…”
He shook his head in bewilderment and picked up the Punishment Jar from the altar.
Crack!
The withered vines wrapped round the jar shattered at the sound.
Barza staggered, dazed and muddled.
One thing was certain—
I must take the Punishment Jar back to Genesis Valley.
Together with little Hoopa, we’ll seal the stirring evil intent within!
The Punishment Jar glowed faintly, a low sinister laugh drifted across the empty space, then subsided.
……
Wilder City, Manaphy Hotel.
“Teacher Lu, you’re so slow,” Gold the Fifth complained in the polished lobby, wearing goggles on his head.
“Oww~ it hurts!” A-Jin gritted his teeth.
“Watch how you speak to the champion,” Kris chided A-Jin, tugging his ear gently, then bowed and said politely, “Teacher Lu, it’s an honor you invited us.”
“Not at all,” Lu Ye smiled. “I’m the one who needs your help.”
As the Suicune Catcher, Kris had exceptional ball-throwing skill.
If necessary, she could have Crystal throw a Master Ball to assist.
That was one of Teacher Lu’s contingency plans.
“There’s no information about Genesis Valley online,” Silver said calmly, pocketing his phone. “Teacher Lu, are we heading straight there?”
“I’m starving—saving my appetite for the big meal!” A-Jin said loudly.
Everyone ignored Gold the Fifth’s shouting.
Lu Ye nodded. “Yes… given the urgency, I know the route. We’ll leave for Genesis Valley immediately.”
“You need to eat to have energy!” A-Jin called.
“I know a buffet on the way to Genesis Valley,” Lu Ye said.
A-Jin: “Huh? Aren’t we eating here?”
Lu Ye replied calmly, “This place is too expensive.”
**
The table was full of all kinds of dishes.
Poffin bread, bofuretsu, macarons…good quality and affordable.
“Nom!” A-Jin devoured his food with gusto.
Silver scanned his Pokédex without surprise, calmly browsing entries.
Kris looked over and smiled, “Togebro and Togepi really are so close.”
“After all, they’re siblings,” Lu Ye glanced over.
“Bok~ (๑´ㅂ`๑)” Togebro scratched his head with a small wing.
“Dui~ヾ(◍°∇°◍)ﾉﾞ”
Togepi waddled along the wooden floor on tiny feet.
Everyone watched Togepi, then suddenly widened their eyes in shock.
An empty hole opened right in front of Togepi;
without warning, it fell in!
The teleport ring closed;
Togepi vanished, even its aura trace disappearing!
The group hadn’t yet reacted.
Lu Ye’s expression turned stern, he sprang up and, guided by Transcendence sensing, dashed toward the marble plaza.
“Togebro, come with me!” Lu Ye called in a firm voice.
“Bok!! (╬◣д◢)” Togebro flapped its wings and flew above Lu Ye.
“Wait for me, Teacher Lu!” A-Jin ran over, holding a piece of bread.
The marble plaza was empty, lined with obelisk spires.
Small pink-and-gray Pokémon with mischief on their faces had taken the golden rings from atop their heads.
“Hoopa~ pick~!”
Little Hoopa pursed its lips and pulled a Togepi out of the light ring, saying in surprise:
“Oops, Hoopa wanted to grab food, wrong target.”
“Chaji duyi~!”
Togepi glared angrily at little Hoopa and shook its finger.
Togepi, shake!
A wave of dark Dark Pulse formed a halo and swept from around Togepi toward little Hoopa.
“Wow!”
Little Hoopa screamed and covered its head with both hands.
The golden ring enlarged into a transport hole and drew the Dark Pulse away.
Hoopa finally exhaled.
“You!” little Hoopa pointed at Togepi and said angrily, “Hoopa didn’t scoop you out. You should go back!”
“Dui~” (You’re making things up~)
Togepi puffed up its cheeks.
The small eggshell turned, and tiny eyes suddenly gleamed.
Lu Ye was running quickly from the distance;
his pupils narrowed to slits as he halted abruptly.
Before him stood the ringed true Super Deity form—the Hoopa of the golden ring!
Hoopa glanced at Lu Ye and covered its mouth with a sly smile.
Looks like a target for a prank~
In an instant, little Hoopa flashed in front of Lu Ye.
“lue!”
Hoopa stuck its head out of the ring and grinned wickedly:
“Were you scared?”
Lu Ye: “……”
“Lu Ye” started melting, its features blurring until it formed Haunter’s sinister face.
“Gengarrr!” Haunter waggled its big tongue and rolled its eyes.
Ally Switch plus a fear face!
Little Hoopa: Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)
The trembling little Hoopa went pale and floated backward, hugging its tiny hands.
Lu Ye stepped out from behind an obelisk, poked Hoopa’s shoulder and asked with a smile:
“Were you scared?”
“Amazing…” little Hoopa gaped for a moment, then laughed around Lu Ye and pointed at Haunter: “So amazing, this one is so amazing!”
Seeing Togepi was okay, Lu Ye relaxed, recalling it into its Poké Ball.
But… Hoopa actually turned up here.
Lu Ye looked up toward Genesis Valley.
It must have sneaked out to play.
“Enga, enga~!” little Hoopa practiced calling around Haunter.
“Gengarrr~!” Haunter scratched its head and chuckled.
Hoopa pointed at Lu Ye, a teasing, provocative smile on its lips, “You, play with Hoopa!”
“What game?” Lu Ye asked in surprise.
Hoopa grinned, opened both hands, and two golden rings beside it expanded into transport holes.
“Hoopa~ pick!!”
Lu Ye’s eyes widened.
Hundreds of Haunters poured out one after another from the transport holes!!
There were squinty-eyed Haunters, Haunters with Pikachu tails, Haunters with flaming tail tips, shiny Haunters…from the Kanto Pokédex to the Galar Pokédex, they were all there!
“Enga~ enga~”
“Jie jie jie!”
“Gengarrr~!”
The Haunters clustered in groups, baring teeth and greeting each other.
Lu Ye was shocked.
Full forms—hundreds of Haunters!!