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After listening to what Ash said, Liam finally realized the severity of the situation in the future world. For the first time, a trace of unease and uncertainty took root in his heart.
For all the Pokémon in this world, Liam had never truly felt fear or worry. He knew them well.
Even the most powerful beings among Pokémon—the Legendary Pokémon that transcended human imagination—Liam did not fear, because he understood them. But the "Ultra Beasts" Ash spoke of… those were something beyond his knowledge.
It wasn't that Liam had never heard of them. Back when Pokémon Sun and Moon was first promoted, Liam already knew about these strange Pokémon that could cross dimensions. But that was just surface knowledge. He had never truly understood them.
Now that he knew such unknown beings would wreak havoc in the future, Liam couldn't help but feel concerned.
"These Ultra Beasts you mentioned—I've only heard of them before. So, Ash, you've fought against them. How strong are they?"
If he didn't know, he had to ask. Liam firmly believed in this principle. And with Ash right before him—the one who had actually experienced it—there was no better source of truth.
Ash frowned slightly, lost in thought for a moment, before answering.
"They're a really troublesome bunch. Individually, they're not all that powerful. When acting alone, they're just a little difficult to deal with. But their numbers… their numbers are overwhelming. We simply didn't have enough people to handle them. That's why we kept getting pushed back… and in the end… things turned out like this. I don't even know how the others are doing now…"
Ash's eyes dimmed with worry as he spoke, clearly thinking about his scattered companions.
"So troublesome? Ash, how many Pokémon did you have fighting with you at that time? Didn't you have teammates supporting you?"
Liam frowned, puzzled.
"Because it was such a critical time, I gathered all of my strongest partners! I had many powerful Pokémon by my side! Greninja rushed back from the Kalos region! Charizard came all the way from Charicific Valley! Infernape from Professor Oak's lab! Snorlax! Sceptile! And, of course, Pikachu, who's always with me! Finally, Canon came rushing from Alto Mare! Oh, oh—Canon is actually a Latias! Her real name isn't Canon, but I've gotten used to calling her that, haha."
Ash's face lit up with pride and joy as he spoke about his partners.
Liam: "…"
Liam could only stare silently at Ash, who was happily talking to himself.
That Latias from Alto Mare… Liam remembered. She had once received Ash's help, so now she was repaying the favor by coming to support him. Yes, that must be it.
Still, the more Liam thought about it, the more concerned he became.
The Pokémon Ash had just listed—those were without question his strongest main force. Their strength was undeniable. And yet, even with such a lineup, Ash had been left battered and injured. This was proof enough that the Ultra Beasts were not to be underestimated.
"Wait—among all those you mentioned, I didn't hear Celebi's name. What happened? Weren't you together?"
Suddenly realizing this, Liam's expression shifted, and he couldn't help but ask.
"Uh… Celebi wasn't captured by anyone. They joined the fight on their own. They helped us a lot. They healed countless Pokémon. Without them, we would never have been able to withstand the Ultra Beasts' relentless assaults. Honestly, it was thanks to Celebi that we managed to survive so many battles… even this time…"
Ash's face lit up again, his words filled with gratitude.
"They!? You mean there were many Celebi!?"
Liam was stunned. Of course, he knew there was more than one Celebi, but he never imagined they would appear en masse—and during a war, no less! Celebi were supposed to be a symbol of peace!
"Yes! Quite a lot of them came. They were the greatest support our side had!" Ash nodded firmly.
"…I see. If so many Celebi were helping you, then I can believe you'll definitely achieve victory."
Celebi might not be powerful fighters, but their unique abilities were extraordinary. Especially when they appeared in large numbers, it wasn't an exaggeration to say they could bring the dead back to life.
Thinking this, Liam finally relaxed. His frown faded, and a small smile tugged at his lips. Suddenly, he recalled the name Ash had called out right after waking up.
"Oh, right! Ash, when you just regained consciousness, you called out a girl's name. Wasn't it Serena? Hehe~ Who is she?"
His tone carried a teasing lilt. Ash instantly turned red, scratching his head nervously, avoiding Liam's gaze.
"S-Serena is my good friend… At that time… we were together when the Ultra Beasts suddenly attacked. We got separated. I was sent here, and she must still be fighting there. But it's okay! I sent Latias and the others to protect Serena. She's definitely safe. Besides… Serena is really strong too!"
When Ash spoke of Serena, his eyes shone with light, clearly full of excitement.
"Hehe…"
Seeing this, Liam chuckled, walked forward, and patted Ash on the shoulder. His voice softened.
"Did you tell your mom about Serena?"
Ash froze, looked up at him, then shook his head.
"Then make sure—when you go back—if you get the chance, bring Serena to meet your mom. I think she'd be very happy."
For some reason, as Liam said this, a faint melancholy stirred within him, tinged with regret.
"...Yeah! I understand! Once I return, I'll take Serena to see my mom right away!"
Ash, oblivious to the subtle weight in Liam's tone, still had his face flushed red, but this time his expression was firm as he made the promise.
"Good! Then it's a deal. Don't be shy when it comes to chasing a girl! You've got to be bold. Don't drag your feet! Back in the day, with your mom, I…" (Random Dad mode)
For Ash's happiness, Liam decided to pass on a few of his "tricks," even though he wasn't sure how useful they'd be.
Meanwhile, Ash just stared blankly at the now "endlessly rambling" Liam, utterly dumbfounded.