NOVEL WEB Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Come Out… Latias?
Chapter 88: Come Out… Latias?
April 30th, Lightwater City.
In his hotel room, Hikaru sat on the bed, idly watching the news on TV.
"The Lightwater City Evening News reports that in three days, the rare phenomenon of a red moon will be visible in these waters…"
Click. Hikaru turned off the TV and summoned all of his Pokémon.
Out came Charizard, Greninja, Gardevoir, Lucario, Larvitar, and Manaphy. Next to them stood Latias—or rather, Dira—as if she were just another member of his team.
Wait a second. Hikaru paused, realizing he had instinctively grouped Dira with his Pokémon.
It wasn't entirely his fault. After all, Dira had been joining the others during mealtimes, giving him the same expectant look as his Pokémon.
"Whatever," Hikaru muttered. "Let's start by rolling for this week's trait."
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[Blue Trait: Gourmet Master]
Effect: Increases the flavor of energy cubes and grants a chance to produce cubes that enhance Pokémon stats.
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"Looks like I'm destined to be a chef," Hikaru joked, pulling out his cooking equipment.
The Precious Pokémon Guidance trait had shattered after the Larvitar incident, earning Hikaru a massive 2,000 Trait Coins. This was his first time learning how valuable red traits truly were!
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As he prepared energy cubes, Gardevoir floated gracefully in the room, her dress-like form swaying elegantly.
"Lucario, Larvitar, come over!" Hikaru called. He directed his attention toward Larvitar, who had recently joined the team. For this pseudo-legendary, Hikaru equipped two specific traits:
[Blue Trait: King of Sloth]
Effect: Even while idle, the Pokémon will slowly grow stronger. Growth depends on how 'lazy' the Pokémon is.
[Blue Trait: Thorn Armor]
Effect: Reflects 0–30% of damage taken back to the attacker. The amount depends on the attacker's strength.
Larvitar didn't yet have any personalized traits, so Hikaru temporarily added some universal ones.
"Hopefully, I'll get some traits tailored for Larvitar and Tyranitar soon," he murmured.
His ultimate wish? To see Tyranitar clad in armor, enhancing its already formidable defenses. Hikaru envisioned a Tyranitar resembling an armored warrior—a terrifying sight on the battlefield.
"Hey, Hikaru, look!"
Dira held up a painting she had just completed. The artwork depicted Tyranitar in the midst of its sandstorm frenzy, with pirates and their Pokémon being flung into the air.
"Not bad, Dira."
Despite his compliment, Hikaru noticed Larvitar gazing at the painting with starry eyes, clearly idolizing its parents.
"You'll get there one day," Hikaru reassured the little Larvitar. "Eat well, sleep well, and you'll be just as strong."
For Larvitar, the path to evolution required patience. All it needed to do during its growth phase was eat and sleep. Once it evolved into Pupitar, it would no longer require as much nourishment, entering a cocoon-like state.
Larvitar's response was straightforward: "Larviiiii!" (Eat and sleep? Got it!)
The little Pokémon dove headfirst into its meal, consuming energy cubes at an astonishing rate—nearly as much as the rest of Hikaru's team combined.
"Wow, you're going to eat me out of house and Car," Hikaru chuckled. "But that's okay—being able to eat is a blessing."
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While his Pokémon enjoyed their meals, Hikaru opened the Trait Shop to see the latest offerings.
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[Red-White Ball]: …
[Deluxe Energy Cube]: …
[Lucario's Mega Evolution Set]: Allows Lucario to Mega Evolve when the bond is strong enough. Cost: 1,000 Trait Coins.
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"So the Trait Shop's been granting my wishes again," Hikaru mused. Now, in addition to Mega Stones for Charizard and Gardevoir, he had Lucario's set as well.
He couldn't help but hope for a Mega Stone for Tyranitar. Even though Larvitar's evolution would take time, being prepared never hurt.
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Scrolling further, Hikaru noticed something else:
[Legendary Summon Card]: …
Though the price was steep, he purchased one without hesitation. This card would allow him to summon a bonded Legendary Pokémon in dire circumstances.
A mysterious black card with a "?" materialized in his hand.
"Alright," he said, turning to Dira. "You've been curious about the Poké Ball, right?"
"Yep! Can I have one?"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning to become a trainer? You'll need to register with the Alliance first. Here, this is Gardevoir's Poké Ball—take a look."
"No, no! I want a new one."
Dira's insistence puzzled him. Nonetheless, he purchased a Red-White Ball from the shop and handed it to her.
But the moment Dira touched the ball, something unexpected happened.
A flash of red light enveloped her.
Hikaru froze, his mind racing.
Red light?
The Poké Ball shook briefly before settling into silence.
Did I just… capture her?
As absurd as it sounded, the evidence was undeniable. Hikaru stared at the Poké Ball in his hand, his thoughts spiraling.
"Come out… Latias?" he stammered.
The ball opened, and out emerged the familiar red-and-white form of Latias.
"Whew~" Latias cheerfully stretched her wings.
"So, you're the Latias I met in water city?" Hikaru asked, piecing the puzzle together.
"Of course! I thought you knew," Latias replied, spinning happily around the room. She lifted Hikaru onto her back and soared around the hotel in circles.
"Super happy to be with you!"
Meanwhile, Gardevoir pouted from the sidelines, clearly jealous.
"Garde…?" (Why does she get to carry him around?)
It took some coaxing, but Hikaru eventually convinced Latias to let him down. As his thoughts settled, he realized the implications of his new partnership.
Latias wasn't just a companion. She was his-.
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To Be Continued...
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