Chapter 167:
A searing pain, a numbing cold, the agony of frostbite— a sense of powerlessness washed over him.
This was the first time Salamence had endured the suffering, and nearly broke through the alloy restraints. But then came a thick needle plunged into its arm, injecting a clear, pale liquid that sapped all its strength immediately.
Yet its consciousness remained and could only watch helplessly as its blood was drawn while its body grow weaker and weaker.
After that, the needle remained lodged in its arm, perpetually draining its strength. Combined with the frost coating applied every three days and the blood draws, this torment continued unabated for half a year. Cold, piercing, weakness—these suffering clung to it for six long months, until Mewtwo arrived, destroyed the base, and gave it a chance to escape.
These sensations didn't fade with time; they grew sharper, more vivid, increasingly debilitating.
"Damn..." Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but curse under his breath after sensing all this.
No wonder Salamence was so volatile.
It was a naturally fierce Pokémon to begin with, compounded by six months of relentless suffering. That it only had -50 affinity was probably only due to the buff from his Veridian power.
Seeing Salamence still glaring at him with malice, Hayashi Kaede released his hand and asked instead, "It hurts, doesn't it?"
Salamence's expression faltered for a moment before it turned its head away.
Can't fight? Then I just won't look.
But Hayashi Kaede didn't give up. He stepped in front of it again. "Salamence, are you hungry?"
"Salamence?"
Salamence instinctively nodded, but then immediately grew furious again. "Salamence!" (What's it to you!? Don't mess with me!)
"If you're hungry, eat something."
Hayashi Kaede took out a pack of Petaya Berry SSS-grade Energy Cubes.
The cubes emitted a subtle, enticing fragrance.
These were SSS-grade Energy Cubes for enhancing special traits, but for Dragon-type Pokémon, they did more than just boost special energy.
The first time a Dragon Pokémon consumed them, the effectiveness of their stat-boosting moves would also significantly increase.
Plus, they helped heal old injuries, making them the most suitable Energy Cubes for Salamence at the moment.
But Salamence turned its head away again, refusing to even look, and clamped its jaws shut.
Though it hadn't eaten anything since being electrocuted on that island, did this human really think a little food would win it over?
No way!
This time, however, Hayashi Kaede didn't respond with gentleness. Instead, he turned to Mewtwo, his expression serious. "Whether it wants to eat or not isn't up to it. Mewtwo, help me pry its jaws open!"
"Huh?" Mewtwo was taken aback—this was the first time it had seen Hayashi Kaede like this.
"Just do as I say."
"Okay..."
Mewtwo immediately used its psychic power to force Salamence's mouth open. Under Salamence's stunned gaze, Hayashi Kaede used his own psychic abilities to stuff the Energy Cubes into its mouth one by one. After feeding it quite a few, he turned to Mewtwo. "Help it chew and swallow..."
"Uh..."
Mewtwo fell silent but complied.
Salamence's eyes burned with even greater fury, but restrained by Mewtwo's overwhelming psychic power, it could only glare angrily at Hayashi Kaede. This time, however, there was a hint of confusion in its gaze.
These Energy Cubes felt... strange.
Right now, the feeling of weakness in its body was fading, and there seemed to be some other change happening.
It suddenly felt like doing Dragon Dance?
It also instinctively felt that performing Dragon Dance now, its power increase will be even more?
But held captive by Mewtwo, it had no way to try.
After force-feeding about a dozen Energy Cubes, Hayashi Kaede had Mewtwo return Salamence to its Poké Ball.
After watching the entire process, Mewtwo asked, "You want to ease its relationship with humans?"
Hayashi Kaede nodded. "I have some ideas. After all, my main job is being a Breeder."
Then he shook his head. "But it's going to be difficult. Judging by Salamence's reaction, six months of intense suffering is just too long. Its hatred will not dissipate overnight.'"
"We'll see. If it can be eased, that's best. If not, it'll just have to stay in the Berry Plantation for the rest of its life."
"At the very least, it can't be released until it holds less malice toward humans. Otherwise, it'll be captured again quickly, and next time, things probably won't end well again."
"For the next few days, we'll have to let it out regularly. It can't stay cooped up in a Poké Ball—that'll just make it brood more. So, keeping an eye on it will be up to you."
Hayashi Kaede looked sincerely at Mewtwo. "It's a Pokémon you saved, after all."
Only Mewtwo or Mew had the power to ensure Salamence wouldn't cause trouble. Even Gardevoir wouldn't be enough to put Hayashi Kaede at ease.
But Mew's temperament wasn't calm enough for this, so the task could only fall to Mewtwo.
Mewtwo: "...Alright."
Just then, Goodra finished the Energy Cubes in its hand and looked sparklingly at Mewtwo. Its gaze toward Hayashi Kaede had also softened considerably.
"Good girl~" Hayashi Kaede tentatively reached out to rub its belly. It didn't resist this time; instead, it affectionately nuzzled closer.
This lifted Hayashi Kaede's spirits a little.
He sighed inwardly.
After all, this Goodra still had a childlike temperament—quick to hold a grudge, but quick to let it go too.
He needed to find a place for it to stay and let Indeedee (little sister) look after it, to help liven up its personality.
The cowshed would do for now... By stacking some Grepa Berry wine barrels, he could create a makeshift "room."
As for Salamence, it would have to stay obediently in Mewtwo's Poké Ball at night.
But speaking of places to stay...
Hayashi Kaede suddenly remembered something and said to Mewtwo, "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you—I gave the room you weren't using to Gardevoir. So, it seems you don't have a room now."
Mewtwo: "..."
"That's how it is. How about you stay in a Poké Ball for now too?"