novelraw Chapter 765: Celebi Appears! Traversing Time and Space
Chapter 765: Celebi Appears! Traversing Time and Space
The Punishment Jar stood on the ground, utterly silent.
“So this means the sealing worked?”
A-Jin poked the Punishment Jar twice with a pool cue, sounding casual.
Balza’s expression shifted slightly, “Please be more careful.”
If the Punishment Jar were to be shattered, there would be no way to restrain and recontain Hoopa!
“Don’t worry, I’m a professional, haha.”
A-Jin wiped his nose and put the cue away.
When it comes to tempting fate, Gold the Fifth really is a professional.
Recalling what had just happened, Meyali looked at Teacher Lu with reverence.
This envoy of Arceus could even call upon the power of the Fairy Plate... If he hadn’t been here, Hoopa’s release might have already run rampant!
“What exactly was that just now?”
Silver asked Balza, “Why was there such violent power?”
“That was... the negative emotions sealed inside the Punishment Jar — Hoopa’s shadowed malice. My great-grandfather called it the ‘Evil Shade.’”
Balza answered gloomily, “I tried to reinforce the seal, but the Evil Shade took control of me...”
“You can’t be blamed entirely.”
Lu Ye adjusted his breathing and put the Fairy Plate away, “The urgent matter is ensuring the Evil Shade won’t appear again.”
“Hoopa~”
Hoopa was curled on Lu Ye’s shoulder, its face pale.
“The Evil Shade tried to devour Hoopa so it could become more whole and stronger.”
Balza continued, “Although it was stored in the Punishment Jar, the seal is already precarious. The Evil Shade will surely return.”
“So...”
Balza glanced at the Punishment Jar, which had developed a crack along its body, his gaze grave:
“We need to make a new Punishment Jar.”
“A new one? You can actually make another one of those?” A-Jin exclaimed in surprise.
Meyali nodded, “Our great-grandfather, Goris, used Arceus’s water, fire, and earth energies, combined with the Power of Transcendence, to craft the Punishment Jar at the roulette of the Desert Tower.”
“To this day, the Desert Tower still holds the original water source, fire source, and earth energy needed to create a Punishment Jar, but...”
“But the method for making the Punishment Jar has been lost.” Balza gave a bitter smile.
“Lost?” Everyone spoke in unison.
“Yes.” Balza lowered his voice, “Great-grandfather intended to teach me the method, but my cultivation wasn’t sufficient back then. Later... he grew forgetful, and then he passed away.”
Lu Ye paused, surprised.
Such an important technique could be lost to time?
No wonder you were taken over by Hoopa when it was released... clearly your training was lacking!
“So we must obtain the method for making the Punishment Jar.”
Meyali declared, “The plan is for my brother and me to travel back to the past and ask him in person!”
“Hold on, that’s insane—going back to the ancient past...” A-Jin hesitated.
Wait, haven’t Teacher Lu and I already done similar things before?
Meyali said, “Hoopa’s teleportation ring can summon Pokémon capable of traversing time and space, so going back to the past is not a fantasy.”
Balza said, “No, Meyali, you stay here to guard Hoopa and the Punishment Jar.”
“Brother, it should be me—”
“Stop arguing.”
Lu Ye looked a little annoyed and spoke, “Let the professional handle it.”
These two siblings are too reckless. Letting them go to the past is too risky;
I’ll go myself.
The siblings exchanged surprised glances at Teacher Lu.
Lu Ye’s Power of Transcendence earlier had convinced them even more.
Having him act personally might raise the odds of success...
“Then I’m coming with you.” A-Jin volunteered eagerly.
Lu Ye said, “You stay here with Balza and watch the Punishment Jar.”
“Don’t tempt fate.” Lu Ye warned, “If the Punishment Jar is shattered, I’ll hold you responsible.”
A-Jin: ?
Why does it always end up being me who gets blamed!
“Hoopa, I’m counting on you.”
Lu Ye turned to the trembling Hoopa behind him and spoke earnestly, “Summon a Pokémon that can pass through time and space... Hoopa, you can do this!”
“But... Hoopa will disappear...” Hoopa’s voice was weak, like it had caught a cold.
“You won’t.”
Lu Ye held Hoopa’s small hand;
gentle Aura flowed from his palm.
“Please trust me.” His gaze was deep, “We will get through this safely!”
Hoopa opened its half-closed eyes and gave Lu Ye a timid, reassured look.
It felt the rising Aura within, and courage and strength swelled again.
Hoopa lifted the corner of its mouth, floated up, and removed the ring around its horns.
“Hehe, leave it to Hoopa—”
Taking a deep breath, the ring formed a dazzling teleportation circle. Hoopa shouted loudly, “Hoopa~ Lo-lo!!”
Ilex Forest’s trees were dense, cicadas chirped in quiet, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled patterns.
A light mist hung in the air;
the shrine suddenly bloomed with radiance, startling Pidgey and Spearow into flight.
A green, fairy-like Pokémon fluttered in like a tiny will-o’-wisp, curious as it examined the appearing teleportation circle.
The teleportation ring flowed with strange spatial energy.
A friendly wave of Aura guided Celebi into the circle.
When it opened its eyes again, Celebi had already appeared eighty miles away in Barren City.
“Celebi?!” A-Jin stared in astonishment.
“You actually summoned Celebi.” Silver’s eyes trembled.
Both of them had prior contact with Celebi.
Old man Liu Bo had spent countless efforts trying to reach Celebi but failed at the last moment.
And yet... little Hoopa just pulled Celebi out that easily!?
“Sha~”
Celebi narrowed its dark, pupil-like eyes and joyfully flew around everyone.
Known as the forest’s guardian spirit, it loves to help humans and truly possesses the miraculous power to travel through time and space.
Hoopa covered its mouth, giggling at everyone’s expressions, “Hehe, were you scared?”
Kris murmured, “Yeah, this time we really were scared...”
Lu Ye looked amazed;
this was his first encounter with Celebi too.
He had expected Hoopa to summon Dialga, the God of Time. But for time travel, Celebi is indeed more convenient than Dialga.
“Please help us, Celebi.”
Lu Ye pressed a hand to his chest and spoke gravely, “Take me and Hoopa back to Goris’s era to save this world from its crisis!”
A benevolent surge of Aura coalesced into a misty white light and flowed toward Celebi.
Celebi may not have understood everything, but it was eager to help humans.
“Sha~” Celebi curved its eyes and flew freely in the air.
“Celebi is asking us for the exact time,” Lu Ye turned and said.
“One hundred years ago! That’s the safest time—my grandfather created the Punishment Jar and sealed the Evil Shade then!” Balza shouted.
Lu Ye nodded lightly and looked up, “Please, Celebi!”
“Sha!”
Celebi opened its tiny hands and beat its wings, producing a narrow rift in time.
The little creature looked back to signal Lu Ye to follow, then fluttered into the tear.
“Teacher Lu, you must come back safely!!” A-Jin shouted.
Lu Ye waved, and under the hopeful gazes of the others, took Hoopa into his arms and dove into the time rift.
“Slide, slide~” Hoopa called happily.
“It’s not a slide, it’s a time tunnel!”
Before Lu Ye’s eyes flashed countless fragments of time: scenes from different timelines and images from parallel universes.
The torrent of time carried Lu Ye like a wave, tossing his body as if he were a small boat adrift at sea, disoriented.
But ahead sparkled a guiding Celebi like a morning star.
Lu Ye hugged Hoopa tightly and, under Celebi’s lead, kept flying toward the unknown time zone.
...
New Island, Team Rocket secret base.
“Super Demon God... Hoopa, huh.”
A shadow obscured the man’s face as he murmured hoarsely and set aside the documents in his hand.
“Yes. Goris, guardian of the Valley of Transcendence, recently passed away, and rumors have spread in Barren City that a Punishment Hoopa was sighted.” Matori reported respectfully.
Tap, tap.
Giovanni’s fingers drummed the arm of his sofa. He pressed a hand to his temple and rasped, “Can Hoopa be used by Team Rocket?”
“According to historical records, one hundred years ago, when Hoopa was unleashed it summoned metal giants that darkened the skies and displayed overwhelming power.”
Matori spoke in a low voice, “Even with Colossal Pokémon, it was difficult to match unleashed Hoopa... Therefore, I do not think it is necessary to risk arousing Hoopa for our purposes.”
“That was Regigigas before it was awakened.”
Giovanni had seen the power of an activated Regigigas;
even Arceus would have to steer clear of its edge. He said calmly, “Then how was the Hoopa incident resolved?”
“One hundred years ago, Arceus’s envoy crafted the Punishment Jar and, together with local Aura heroes, sealed the unleashed Hoopa.”
Matori added, “Now that Goris is deceased, I fear there’s no one left in Genesis Valley who can control the power of the Punishment Jar.”
Giovanni frowned slightly and issued orders briskly, “Notify Rocket Delivery in Barren City to prepare for wartime contingencies... dispatch nearby cadre members to provide support.”
“Nearby cadre members...” Matori’s expression grew subtle.
Jessie, James, Meowth...
Although they have been promoted to junior cadres, could they really accomplish anything before an unleashed Super Demon God Hoopa?
“What is it?” Giovanni asked.
“Nothing. I will carry out your orders at once!” Matori hurried off.
Giovanni stood with his hands behind his back by the floor-to-ceiling window. The reflection showed a middle-aged man with furrowed brows and tightened features.
Legend says Super Demon God Hoopa can manipulate interdimensional power, causing universes to intersect under its force.
Giovanni’s deep gaze pierced the clouds, as if locking eyes with another self.
A parallel-universe me... what would he have accomplished?
Would he have destroyed the League, subjugated the legendary Pokémon, or ruled the world...?
Giovanni narrowed his eyes;
a cold glint flashed within them.
There must be someone who succeeds.
Because that someone could be me, the leader of an evil organization, Giovanni with the R emblem.
But now...
Giovanni looked down at the pocket watch in his palm, a photo inlaid inside showing a red-haired youth’s indifferent face.
He slowly closed his hand, donned his trench coat with its hood, and turned away. The hatch opened and shut;
his figure vanished.
I am myself.
Giovanni of this earth.
...
“Looks like the weather’s changing.”
Serena tilted her head to watch the heavy clouds.
“Not sure where the pool water went.” Ash scratched his head.
“Oh no, I hope we don’t have to reimburse everyone!” Clemont exclaimed.
“Please don’t worry.”
On the marble balcony next to the seaside resort, a refined blue-haired gentleman in a suit held a champagne glass with a smile, “This resort belongs to Devon Corporation;
enjoy yourselves.”
Ash and the others exchanged wide-eyed looks of astonishment.
“Good day.” Steven smiled, “I learned of your itinerary in the group chat.”
“I happened to be near Wilder City, so I came to see what’s going on.”
“Steven!” Ash brightened, then asked, “But why are you in Wilder City?”
“As for that...” Steven pondered, “The guardian of Genesis Valley petitioned multiple Leagues for aid. I represent the Hoenn League in investigating. Teacher Lu likely went ahead of me;
he tends to be quicker.”
“Teacher Lu is also in Barren City?” Ash asked in surprise.
“That’s just conjecture;
after all, he is a champion of the Donghua League... didn’t he contact you?”
“No, he probably didn’t know we were vacationing in Barren City.” Ash scratched his head.
“I see... Ash, do you want to come with me?” Steven offered with a smile. “Let’s go to Genesis Valley and see for ourselves.”
“Of course, please lead the way, Steven!” Ash called out.
**
Storm clouds gathered as Meowth’s hot air balloon drifted in the sky.
The Trio peered through binoculars and scanned below.
“Where is the Punishment Jar Giovanni mentioned, meow...” Meowth worried.
“I heard it’s a powerful treasure. If we present it to a cadre and he gives it to Giovanni, he’ll be delighted.” James grinned.
“Idiot, we’re junior cadres of Team Rocket — if we’re going to do anything, make it big!” Jessie said with determination.
James and Meowth glanced at Jessie. Jessie snorted, “We’ll wait until this Hoopa shows up, then present both it and the Punishment Jar to a cadre!”
“Sura~ nashi!” Jessie declared.
“Found it, meow!”
Through Meowth’s binoculars, a crowd gathered around a red jar in the center of the square.
A-Jin carried his pool cue, Kris had a backpack, Silver held a Pokédex, and all eyes were on the red vessel.
“That has to be the Punishment Jar, meow!” Meowth pointed.
...
One hundred years ago.
Barren City was still a small settlement in the midst of desert.
Sandstorms swept, yellow dust filled the sky.
A narrow tear in space suddenly appeared on a high dune.
Celebi emerged first, fairy-like, turning to look behind it.
Thud!
Lu Ye landed face-first onto the coarse sand with a couple of coughing spats.
Using Celebi to travel for the first time, his landing technique needed work!
“Sha~” Celebi gave a gentle smile.
“Hoopa was startled too!” Hoopa floated up, looking around in shock.
This area that would later be the city was still just desert.
“At this time, Barren City hasn’t developed yet, but Hoopa’s past release has already been sealed...”
Before Lu Ye finished speaking, he raised his head and his heart stopped.
In the distance, toward a tribal settlement, a hundred-zhang-tall colossal demon god towered, its six claws spewing formidable power. An umbral vortex wove through its chest, and it laughed thunderously, “Hoopa— is the most powerful!”
Lu Ye: ?
Wasn’t this supposed to be a safe time point?
This is the most dangerous node imaginable!