No matter how much Chen Shi tried to tempt and trick it, Mew absolutely refused to repeat those words.
It wasn't stupid.
Chen Shi had obviously angered some hidden existence by saying that earlier, and Mew hadn't even been able to tell how the other party had attacked.
That meant whoever was behind it was definitely stronger than Mew.
Why would it risk getting struck by lightning just to satisfy its curiosity?
Chen Shi curled his lips.
"Coward."
Mew's eyes darted around, completely ignoring the insult.
[How about this? Give me that robe and mask you're wearing, and I'll tell you what the Giant Energy Stone really is.]
Hearing that, Chen Shi laughed.
"I can give them to you."
"I'm just afraid you won't dare take them."
[What a joke! Is there anything in this world that the great Mew wouldn't dare take?]
[If you dare give them to me, then I dare take them!]
"Oh, really?"
Chen Shi looked at the black-hearted cat with a half-smile.
"Then how about I introduce this robe and mask first?"
[Sure. Go ahead.]
"There's actually nothing particularly special about them."
"They only have one function—blocking all forms of detection."
"As long as I'm wearing them, no Legendary Pokémon in this world can see through my disguise."
"Except Arceus."
Chen Shi grinned.
"So? Tempted?"
No Legendary Pokémon could see through them?
Mew stared at the white robe covering Chen Shi, both curious and vaguely suspicious.
Could this thing really be that ridiculous?
It didn't think Chen Shi was bluffing.
After all, Mew genuinely couldn't see through it.
As a Psychic-type Mythical Pokémon, Mew had a natural advantage when it came to sensing and probing others.
If even its powers couldn't penetrate the disguise, then even Legendary Pokémon stronger than it, like Rayquaza, probably wouldn't be able to either.
Mew was at least confident about that much.
But if this robe and mask were really that extraordinary...
Who had created them?
Mew fell into thought.
Chen Shi ignored it and continued watching the distant battle with Jirachi in his arms.
Groudon and Kyogre were still locked in a back-and-forth struggle.
Everything revolved around the Giant Energy Stone.
Both wanted to seize it.
Neither would allow the other to succeed.
The battle had fallen into a stalemate.
Beside him, Mew suddenly seemed to realize something.
Its pupils contracted.
[Wait... those clothes couldn't have been given to you by Lord Arceus, could they?]
Normally, Mew wouldn't have immediately suspected Arceus.
But Chen Shi had specifically said that he was willing to hand the robe over—
He was simply afraid Mew wouldn't dare accept it.
In this entire world, the only possessions Mew genuinely wouldn't dare casually take were Arceus's.
Chen Shi chuckled.
"Oh? You're pretty smart."
"So?"
"Want me to take them off and give them to you?"
Mew fell silent for a moment.
Then it gave an awkward little laugh.
It had thought Chen Shi was merely a somewhat unusual human.
Who would've expected him to have ties to Lord Arceus?
Nope.
Couldn't afford to offend him.
Time to leave.
"..."
"And here I thought you were impressive."
Chen Shi watched Mew retreat and clicked his tongue.
"'There's nothing in this world the great Mew wouldn't dare take,' huh?"
Jirachi, still hidden in his arms, looked rather disappointed.
Mew had spent the whole time talking with Chen Shi, so Jirachi never even got the chance to chat with it.
But shortly after Mew left—
The previously calm sky suddenly changed.
Rumble—!
Thunder exploded overhead.
Massive black clouds surged in from every direction, rapidly gathering above the sea.
Within moments, raindrops the size of beans came pouring down in torrents.
"Kyogre underwent Primal Reversion?"
Chen Shi's expression immediately became serious as he looked toward the ocean.
No.
It wasn't only Kyogre.
Groudon had undergone Primal Reversion as well.
It was simply that their current location happened to fall within the range of Kyogre's Ability.
"L-Lord Qiu! What do we do?!"
Shate hurried over from behind, visibly anxious.
The rain was obviously unnatural.
Each heavy drop struck painfully against exposed skin.
"This has nothing to do with you anymore."
"Go find somewhere to shelter from the rain."
"Since the battle has reached this stage, it's about time for it to end."
Chen Shi took a deep breath as he gave the order.
Shate instinctively asked,
"Then what about you?"
"Me?"
"I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do."
Chen Shi glanced back at him.
"Remember this."
"While I'm gone, protect your people."
Then he gently rubbed Jirachi's head.
"Jirachi, I'll need you to take me to Rayquaza now~"
"Okay~"
Jirachi understood that they were going to find Rayquaza in order to stop Groudon and Kyogre's battle.
So it agreed immediately.
The next instant—
Teleport!
Chen Shi and Jirachi vanished from in front of Shate.
Aji hurried over.
"Brother! What did Lord Qiu say?"
Shate shook his head.
"I don't really know."
"He told me to take everyone somewhere to shelter from the rain."
"And... he said this battle should be ending soon."
"Huh?"
Aji stood there blankly, completely confused.
...
They weren't far from Rayquaza's location.
With only a single Teleport, Jirachi brought Chen Shi back into the clouds.
And there they found Rayquaza.
Except...
Rayquaza wasn't watching the battle below like Chen Shi had expected.
Instead—
Its enormous body was twisting rhythmically through the air.
It was performing some kind of mysterious dance.
Chen Shi's mouth slowly fell open.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
How could he possibly not recognize that dance?
Wasn't this—
Dragon Dance?!
The lifelong pain of every Garchomp!
While Chen Shi was still stunned, Rayquaza completed one Dragon Dance and immediately started a second.
Chen Shi fell silent.
He genuinely didn't know what to say.
The invincible image of Rayquaza he had carried in his heart cracked ever so slightly.
This guy...
Was secretly hiding in the clouds stacking Dragon Dance?!
Chen Shi genuinely hadn't expected this move.
No wonder Rayquaza always waited until late in the battle before appearing whenever Hoenn's three great Legendary Pokémon fought.
Could it be that every single time...
Rayquaza hid in the sky, stacked a few Dragon Dances, and then went down to beat them up?
If Groudon and Kyogre ever found out, they would probably curse Rayquaza for having no sense of honor whatsoever.
Rayquaza finished its third Dragon Dance.
Chen Shi had been watching from the side the entire time.
The scene was simply too ridiculous.
After struggling to hold it in for several seconds, he finally failed.
A laugh escaped him.
"What are you doing?"
Rayquaza had been completely focused on dancing.
The sudden voice made its entire body freeze.
Very slowly...
It turned its head.
A trace of panic flashed through its eyes.
But it was quickly replaced by irritation.
"What I'm doing is none of your damn business!"
"And why did you suddenly come back?!"
"Well, Groudon and Kyogre have already undergone Primal Reversion."
"I figured it was about time for you to make your move, so I came to find you."
Rayquaza awkwardly turned its head away.
Its body shifted uneasily.
It had lived for countless years and had always presented itself as overwhelmingly powerful and domineering.
And now—
A human had caught it secretly stacking Dragon Dance in the clouds.
This was way too embarrassing.
If word got out...
Wouldn't its legendary reputation be ruined?
Maybe...
It should just kill this human and silence him?
...
What's wrong with the God of the Sky stacking a few Dragon Dances?
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon → [email protected]/lucarioTL (replace @ with a)