CHAPTER 698: RIDING MY BELOVED RAYQUAZA

The turn of events was far too sudden.

When they reached the rooftop, Steven and the others were stunned by Rayquaza’s mountain-like pressure, and they saw a furious orb of light flashing in Rayquaza’s maw!

Teacher Lu reacted first. Latias dashed forward at top speed and carried Zinnia away behind a massive rock for cover.

The black-haired youth stepped forward, lifting his chiselled, handsome face as he locked eyes with Rayquaza’s vast, coiled body!

What on earth was he trying to do?!

That question churned in everyone’s minds.

Then the wide sky above them suddenly split open with rifts of space, and surging currents poured out!

Jagged rocks rose, seas of cloud swirled, Lu Ye’s coat tails billowed, and the sky behind him fractured into diamond-blue, crimson, slate-gray, deep black, and pure white—five different colors of spatial fluctuation, each pulsing with a different authority and conviction, all aligned behind Lu Ye!

Rayquaza straightened, looking up at the heavens. Its yellow eyes widened and its lower jaw parted slightly as if stunned for a moment.

What was happening?

Time, space, reversal, ideal, reality.

This trainer had encountered five legendary dragons? And had even formed bonds with them?!

Rayquaza glanced at the black-haired youth, its mind filled with question marks.

Where did this freak even come from!

Are you a human possessed by the super-demon Hoopa?!

Qianli’s pupils reflected a sky of interwoven lightning and flame. His arms, which were wrapped around himself, stiffened as he croaked hoarsely:

“That is... Unova’s twin dragons, Zekrom and Reshiram.”

Steven’s blue hair fluttered in the wind;

his eyes flickered:

“And Sinnoh’s gods of time and space and mirror… Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.”

The two powerful trainers fell suddenly silent.

The entire battlefield, including Rayquaza, froze in a moment of disbelief.

Short-haired Zinnia stared blankly, lifting her eyes to the black-haired youth under the rent sky and said dazedly:

“That trainer… is the Dragon God, isn’t he…”

Rum—!!

In an instant the teleport rifts widened, and the five legendary dragons tore through space and emerged, imposing and colossal!!

Even the composed Steven had a curse stuck in his throat.

Everyone gaped toward the heavens.

On the right of the sky were the black dragon of ideals with spiraling engine electrodes, Zekrom, its black-and-gold armor gleaming in the sun;

and the white dragon of reality with booster-fed orange flames, Reshiram, beating its broad snowy wings. 𝘙𝘼𝐍ổꞖÈꞨ

Centered between the black-and-white duo was a white-gold-armored Giratina bristling with spines.

To its left were Dialga, a diamond-blue quadrupedal dragon, and crimson Palkia, a bipedal dragon!!

Lu Ye stood beneath the sky threatening to shatter, rainbow Feather and DNA Splicers tucked one in each pocket of his shirt, forcibly sustaining the energy on hand.

Under the oppressive presence of the five dragons, even speaking seemed difficult. Lu Ye gripped the Luxury Ball burning in his palm;

little V’s “Victory Flame” flowed into his body.

Lu Ye said calmly, “I will give you a reason you cannot refuse.”

Rayquaza froze, jaw dropping slightly, pupils dilating.

You this, I that... what are all those things behind you!?!

Rayquaza glanced up at the sky, curbed its temper, and spoke again in a clipped voice:

“Who exactly are you?”

Lu Ye turned and looked at the sky behind him, clicking his tongue slightly—he himself was a bit startled by the spectacle.

Before him the five legendary dragon Pokémon lowered their heads, meeting his gaze.

Lu Ye’s expression was complex.

Unwittingly, he had cleared so many instances and encountered so many legendary Pokémon!

Turning his back, Lu Ye felt a chill run along his spine.

Those scars were proof of being torn and battered, evidence of fights endured to this point.

“Standing before you is—”

Lu Ye took a breath and answered loudly:

“The one who saved Sinnoh’s tumultuous, shattered time, the stabilizer of the Reversed World, the hero where reality and ideal converge, the peacemaker between Hoenn’s two guardian deities… (pant) the Rainbow Hero, the Aura Hero, Arceus’s envoy, Mengmengda’s husband, Cynthia’s boyfriend, Bamboo Lan’s lover!!”

Everyone: ﾉ)ﾟДﾟ（.

There’s some weird titles mixed in there, Teacher Lu!

Rayquaza: ???

I can agree with the front half, but what are those back titles?!

The five legendary dragons behind remembered events at the mention of those long titles and felt oddly stirred, then began to chat among themselves.

Giratina said, “You two came along as well?”

Palkia said amicably, “Doesn’t that show your leadership skills?”

Dialga said in a low voice, “Indeed, Lu Ye still owes us much.”

Zekrom intoned, “He is the teacher of the hero I favor;

assistance is warranted.”

Reshiram covered its face with one snow-white wing and remained silent.

Although unwilling to admit it, this shameless trainer… is indeed a hero I recognize for reality!

Darkrai stayed in Lu Ye’s shadow and didn’t fly up to join the excitement;

its mouth twitched.

It could understand why these five deities had chosen to come assist.

Scenes from the past flashed—Lu Ye had, without realizing it, entwined himself with countless beliefs and bonds.

By saving Sinnoh’s chaotic time and the collapsing Reversed World, he had unwittingly repaid life debts to Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.

Being acknowledged by Reshiram as a hero, he had freed Zekrom from Kyurem’s body…

Darkrai stared at Lu Ye’s back and belatedly exclaimed in shock:

“He’s actually this powerful!?”

Steven fell into bewilderment;

commanding the three Regi pillars had been his limit.

In contrast, Teacher Lu had shaken hands with Regigigas and then with Sinnoh’s three dragons and the black-and-white duo.

So that’s what a trainer who “never loses” and is “blessed by the Victory Star” actually looks like!

Rayquaza gazed up at the vault, its vast body tingling numbly, slipping into a kind of mental paralysis.

If we fight... without Mega Evolution we might not win...

If we don’t fight... being sought out like this is a blow to my pride.

Suddenly.

Rayquaza had an epiphany!

I’m not cowardly—this is about giving Arceus face!

Giving Arceus’s envoy a chance to negotiate is perfectly fine!

Rayquaza glanced sideways at the sky crammed with strange beasts and deliberately looked away, lowering its head arrogantly in disdain as it said in a deep voice:

“Arceus’s envoy, state your request!!”

A gale erupted from Rayquaza’s open maw and whipped Lu Ye’s garments;

the chill of that pressure felt almost tangible.

Qianli and the others stiffened in their legs. Steven frowned slightly and watched Rayquaza.

Even if Teacher Lu had formed bonds with so many legendaries… that colossal meteor arriving in ten days could not be resolved by these legendaries alone.

After all, the cosmos is Rayquaza’s domain;

even the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons cannot interfere.

To solve Hoenn’s crisis still required Mega Rayquaza’s power!

Lu Ye breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Without the backing he had shaken loose, whether Rayquaza would be willing to negotiate remained uncertain.

At least for now, the haughty Rayquaza had no intention of attacking proactively.

“I want you to shatter the colossal meteor that will fall on Hoenn in ten days. After all, if the meteor strikes Earth, it would damage the ozone layer you dwell in.”

A flicker of interest passed through Rayquaza’s yellow eyes.

Lu Ye continued: “At the same time, you may choose a successor you favor to inherit the name ‘Dragon God’.”

Rayquaza lazily glanced at Zinnia behind the boulder, then looked over the five dragons already landed on the ground.

It decided to give Lu Ye face and no longer pursue Zinnia’s matter.

At the moment, the five dragons had not unleashed their full forms and were around three to four meters in size—similar to the heights recorded in the Pokédex.

Yet, looking at these legendary Pokémon all within arm’s reach, Steven still felt a strong palpitation of awe and gained even more respect for Teacher Lu.

“A successor chosen here?” Rayquaza eyed the surroundings with displeasure and asked.

“If you would allow a non-successor to ride you... it won’t matter if you don’t pick,” Lu Ye said quietly.

Rayquaza sneered at Lu Ye.

So this kid’s plan from the start was to ride me and then shatter the meteor.

Although it disapproved of Lu Ye’s methods of gathering allies, Rayquaza did have cause to break the meteor—it concerned its vital ozone.

“Also...” Lu Ye glanced at Ruby and said to Rayquaza, “If you don’t mind, you could try this child’s energy cubes.”

Rayquaza froze and looked skeptically at Ruby.

“Teacher Lu?” Ruby probed softly.

Qianli frowned slightly, a bit uneasy, but Teacher Lu’s approach likely had his reasons.

“It’s fine.” Lu Ye said earnestly. “I trust your ability as a Pokédex holder!”

Ruby’s talent, called ‘Charmer,’ gave him supreme aptitude in coordination fields and the knack to tell a Pokémon’s preferred taste at a glance.

Lu Ye didn’t know Rayquaza’s palate, and his prior tactics had been rather forceful.

Recommending Ruby as a successor was a face-saving move for Rayquaza, a way to give it a step down to accept.

Coercion, inducement, and giving a way out—this was the best plan Lu Ye could devise.

“Let me try.”

Ruby looked at Saphira and Qianli, pinched Saphira’s hand gently, then pulled an energy cube case from his chest and pushed up his glasses.

Approaching the imposing, unruffled Rayquaza, Ruby knelt on one knee, spread his palm with a smile, and looked up:

“Dragon God... no, Rayquaza, I hope you’ll enjoy this flavor.”

Rayquaza narrowed its eyes, lowering its intimidating green body to sniff the unassuming red cube.

It had fed on meteoric matter before... this sort of human-world Pokémon food was new to it.

Lu Ye frowned slightly, deep in thought.

In the special episode “Origin Stone,” Ruby used a spicy red cube as a return gift to Rayquaza.

But he wondered whether, in this world, it would satisfy Rayquaza…

Under everyone’s anxious gazes.

Rayquaza signalled for Ruby to feed it the red cube. After Ruby complied, Rayquaza’s narrowed eyes gradually relaxed.

“Now I’m kinda hungry,” Dialga muttered.

“Hmm... I’ll drop by Lu Ye’s for dinner later,” Giratina said.

From what Giratina had seen in the Reversed World through the mirror, it had long been salivating for Lu Ye’s kitchen.

This suggestion even won the approval of the black-and-white duo.

Size wasn’t an issue;

if they could shrink down a bit, they could sit at the table!

After a moment, Rayquaza suddenly flew up into the sky, its vast form circling within the sea of clouds and whipping up a storm. Then it spread its talons and fixed its yellow gaze on the group. Rayquaza opened its mouth and proclaimed with full authority:

“My choice of successors has been decided!”

Zinnia looked up dazedly, a wash of disappointment and a strange lightness at being freed from fate.

“Someone... took on the mission to save Hoenn for me...” she whispered.

Ruby swallowed nervously.

Lu Ye stroked his chin.

He wondered whether this Rayquaza could Mega Evolve on its own using Dragon Ascent.

If not... they’d have to go back to Hoenn Corporation and use that recovered Prismatic Meteor.

Under everyone’s focus, Rayquaza extended its talon and pointed at the designated successors. Its talon swept past Lu Ye, Zinnia, and even Ruby.

Saphira, wearing her red headscarf, glanced around and then shockedly pointed at herself:

“Me?!”

“Indeed!”

Rayquaza glanced at the equally bewildered Lu Ye and, feeling a rush of exhilaration, said indifferently:

“You possess a constitution uncommon among mortals;

you may come with me to the cosmos!”

Lu Ye: (°ー°〃)

Well, that’s fine... Rayquaza didn’t choose Ruby whom I recommended, nor did it pick a fight with Giratina and the others—

A slightly tsundere Dragon God.

“I wonder which would be tougher—if it fought the black Rayquaza in the film or this one...” Lu Ye pondered meaninglessly.

In the game “Ultra Sun and Moon,” Rainbow Rocket gathered villains from many universes who completed dark ideals and controlled legendary beasts. For example, Archie came from a world where oceans swallowed the land, while Maxie came from a world of land swallowing the sea.

In a single plane I managed to sway all those legendaries—truly bonds outdo ambition every time!

Ruby looked at a flustered Saphira and, worried, said to Rayquaza:

“Dragon God, please allow Saphira and me to go to the cosmos together!”

Lu Ye brightened inwardly.

Good—back to the main plot. The Hoenn couple will ride Rayquaza and stop the colossal meteor!

So I can slack off a bit, right?!

Rayquaza glanced at the silent Lu Ye and cheerfully declared:

“No problem!”

Suddenly two more successors were to ride Rayquaza into space.

Zinnia sank into self-doubt.

Being a successor is this easy?!

Could it be because... I can’t make energy cubes?

Zinnia decided to free herself from that mission and try being a Coordinator when she returned home.

Lu Ye was relieved not to have to go to space, but Qianli leaned in and said:

“Mr. Lu Ye... I worry it’s unsafe for only Ruby and Saphira to go into space.”

“So, if possible, I would like to...”

Qianli paused, his gaze resolute. “No... I will personally negotiate with Rayquaza.”

As Qianli stepped toward Rayquaza, Lu Ye felt conflicted and quickly grabbed him.

In another timeline, Qianli had disappeared after riding Rayquaza... there was no need to take that risk!

“I understand your meaning, Mr. Qianli.”

Lu Ye sighed lightly. “Leave the negotiations to me.”

Qianli was taken aback;

this mountain-like man’s look almost transmitted a tangible resolve.

“I have no intention of becoming a successor, but... may I act as guardian and accompany your two successors to space?”

Lu Ye rubbed his hands and approached under Rayquaza’s doubtful gaze:

“No other reason—just a bit curious about space travel, and Victini and I can easily supply you with energy!”

“Nimi~” Victini suddenly appeared, showing its little fangs and flashing a V sign.

The MVP here wasn’t the five legendaries Lu Ye had rallied, but the power bank that provided infinite energy and prevented Lu Ye’s sudden death—

The Victory Star, Victini!

Rayquaza coldly eyed Lu Ye as the latter’s hand rested on its green flank. Rayquaza vowed that if Lu Ye had other designs, it would punish him even at the risk of clashing with five deities.

At that moment.

A soft blue light bloomed from Lu Ye’s palm.

Teacher Lu used Aura!

Under Rayquaza’s previously arrogant expression, its demeanor suddenly slackened as it perceived the gentle Aura from the Tree of Beginning;

its speech slowed a few degrees.

“Hmm... there is... still room for negotiation...”

In the end, Rayquaza designated Ruby and Saphira as successors.

Lu Ye didn’t gain the title of “successor,” but he did become “guardian of the successors.”

Teacher Lu would accompany Ruby and Saphira, riding Rayquaza into outer space to shatter the meteor.

“So in the end you still let me ride...” Lu Ye muttered.

That must be Rayquaza’s dignity as the sky deity.

With the conflict diffused, Palkia and Reshiram breathed easier, while Dialga and Zekrom found it a bit dull.

After all, chances to jointly thrash an arrogant sky god aren’t frequent...

The black Rayquaza from the film probably bullied other deities in his own time!

Giratina was indifferent... its real combat ability was always inferior to Rayquaza’s, and hauling Rayquaza into the Reversed World might not help.

As tensions eased, Rayquaza chewed the spicy cube Ruby had fed it and looked down at Steven walking forward.

“I am Hoenn’s champion, Steven Stone.” The blue-haired man placed a hand gently on his chest. “I would like to ask you something...”

Regarding Steven’s tactful question about whether Rayquaza could Mega Evolve on its own, Rayquaza didn’t dislike the topic and answered lazily.

First, it needed the energy from the Prismatic Meteor;

Steven would hand the energy core to Teacher Lu for safekeeping then.

Second, a scroll containing the technique “Dragon Ascent.”

“Is it this?” Saphira picked up a scroll from the ground and glanced at the wounded Zinnia.

Zinnia extended one leg and had her arm draped over the other knee, avoiding Saphira’s gaze.

Saphira murmured an apology and returned the scroll to Steven.

“This is indeed the item.” Rayquaza said indifferently.

With permission obtained, Steven unfurled the golden scroll. The ancient script wound in serpentine strokes and made him frown.

The Meteor People should be able to comprehend the ancient tongue and thus read the scroll, chaining a Keystone and Mega Stone into resonance with Rayquaza.

But Rayquaza had not sensed this ability in Zinnia, one of the causes of its rage.

“It is no longer necessary.”

Rayquaza lifted its yellow eyes to the heavens and replied coldly, “My power alone suffices to shatter the meteor!”

Ancient-language scholar Lu Ye: “May I see the scroll?”

Under Rayquaza’s disdainful gaze.

Lu Ye accepted the scroll Steven handed him and unfurled it. He was stunned. The short line of ancient text was simple and clear.

[■■■■ (Technique Record · Dragon Ascent)]

Lu Ye: ???

Who’s looking down on whom!