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Outside the tree hollow, Liam led Ash along a short distance. Only after turning back and seeing that the hollow was already far behind did he finally stop. Turning his head, he looked at Ash—who was gritting his teeth and following closely behind—before speaking.
"Let's be straightforward, Ash… you must have come from the future, right?"
Liam didn't beat around the bush, directly striking at the heart of the matter.
"Ah! That… haha, how could something like that be possible? Hahaha, you sure know how to joke…"
Suddenly questioned like that, Ash broke out into a cold sweat and hurriedly denied it.
"There's no need to deny it. You should know I mean no harm—otherwise, I wouldn't have saved you and your Greninja. Celebi isn't a secret to me, so you don't have to hide anything. In fact, if you tell me what you've gone through, maybe I can even help you."
Ash's reaction didn't surprise Liam. After hearing the denial, Liam wasn't angry at all, but instead calmly continued.
"..."
After hearing Liam's words, Ash fell silent. His wide eyes flickered with hesitation as he looked at Liam.
"I can tell you my story. But before that… can you answer a few of my questions?"
After some thought, Ash finally made up his mind. He lifted his head, his expression serious as he looked at Liam.
"Ahem… alright."
Liam gave a soft cough, signaling that Ash could go ahead.
"I want to ask… that lady just now, the one called Delia—what's your relationship with her?"
As soon as Liam nodded, Ash impatiently blurted out the question. His eyes shone with hope, as if expecting a particular answer.
"…See this ring? It's the engagement ring between Delia and me. Right now, I'm her fiancé."
Hearing Ash's question, Liam slowly raised his hand, showing the glittering ring on his finger.
"..."
The moment he received the answer he longed for, Ash was overwhelmed with excitement. But after that excitement came a strange calmness. He didn't know what to say, only staring fixedly at Liam, as if he wanted to engrave Liam's face deep into his memory.
"…Ash… may I call you that?"
"Uh… of course."
"Mm. Ash, you traveled here from the future, didn't you? And just now, when you saw Delia, you called her 'Mom.' If that's the case… does that mean… am I… I'm…"
Liam trailed off. For some reason, his eyes began to moisten. A wave of indescribable emotions rose in his chest—excitement, joy, confusion, and helplessness all at once.
Drip… drip…
"Uhh… uhh…"
Unable to hold back anymore, Ash's large tears rolled down his cheeks, his sobs breaking the silence.
"It's okay…"
Seeing this, Liam could no longer restrain himself either. Being hit by a wave of unknown emotions, he strode forward and pulled Ash tightly into a hug.
Held in Liam's hug, Ash also wrapped his arms around him, burying his face into Liam's shoulder. The tears wouldn't stop flowing.
"Hush… don't cry anymore. Haha, can I ask you something now?"
"Mm!"
"Haha, honestly… you're already grown up, yet you're crying like a little kid."
"Uhh…"
"When you saw Delia earlier, you immediately recognized her as your mom. But why didn't you recognize me? Did… something happen to me?"
Liam gently patted Ash's back as he voiced his doubt.
"That… I don't really know. When I was very little, I seemed to have some faint memories, but after I grew old enough to remember things, I knew nothing about you anymore. I once asked Mom, but she only smiled mysteriously and said Dad had gone to a faraway place, refusing to say more. Later, I stopped asking…"
Ash frowned, lifting his head as he tried hard to recall his childhood memories. But nothing clear surfaced.
"…Heh, don't worry. If I left, it must have been for some important reason. Once everything is settled, I'll surely return to see you both."
At that moment, countless thoughts flashed through Liam's mind—the system in his body, the powerful legends of this world, including Mew, all sorts of unexpected dangers. In the end, he could only give a wry smile.
"Mm! Mom and I have always believed it! That someday, you will come back! Professor Oak also said it—My dad is the strongest Pokémon Master in the world! No obstacle could ever stop him! I believe that too! That's why I've always aimed to become a Pokémon Master myself! I know it! As long as I keep getting stronger, I'll be able to catch up to your footsteps and follow your path! For that day, I've never given up!!"
Ash's eyes blazed with dazzling brilliance—pure, captivating, like eternal stars shining in the sky.
"Well said. I feel your conviction, your resolve. I believe you. And I believe that day will truly come. When it does… I'll be sure to test your strength. Don't let me down."
Ash's firm words poured courage and hope back into Liam's heart. Ever since learning he might vanish in the future, an unconscious fear had started to grow in him. But now, after hearing Ash, that fear was completely swept away—replaced only by bright expectations and hope. The future—he no longer feared it.
"Yes Dad! In fact, we don't need to wait! We can battle right now! I've been looking forward to this fight!!"
As expected of a battle maniac, the moment Ash heard there could be a match, his spirit flared up. Even his pain was forgotten in an instant.
"Nonsense. You're still injured. Once you've healed, I'll battle you properly. For now… why don't you first tell me how you got so badly hurt?"
Liam didn't agree to Ash's challenge. Instead, he rapped Ash lightly on the head and spoke sternly.
"Oww… fine, I'll talk… but why'd you have to hit my head? You'll make me stupid…"
Ash rubbed his forehead, pouting.
Liam: "... (Clearly, I wasn't the one who named/raised you.)"
"Ahem… actually, Greninja and I were hurt in a battle against a whole group of enemies. During that fight, Pikachu and the others got separated from me… I'm really worried about them."
Ash coughed lightly, straightened himself, and explained seriously.
"Hm? A whole group? Who would dare gang up on you two? Which organization? How shameless! I'll end them myself!"
Hearing that Ash and Greninja had been injured from being besieged, Liam's expression darkened, his anger rising sharply.
"They weren't humans… Dad, you might not know yet, but they were a group of special Pokémon called Ultra Beasts! They tore open dimensional rifts and poured out from a place called Ultra Space. In a short time, they've already occupied many areas…"
"My partners and I were separated during the battle against them. In the end, only Greninja and Celebi stayed with me. But Greninja was gravely injured, so I think… it must have been then that Celebi used its power to bring us here. Right now… Celebi must have exhausted its strength and is hiding in the currents of time to recover. Once Celebi regains its power, I have to return immediately! My friends are still waiting for me—to fight side by side!!"
Ash clenched his fist tightly, his eyes shining with unwavering determination, his fighting spirit burning brightly.
Liam: "..."