Chapter 283: Asahi's Debt Is Not Yet Repaid
Perched on Slaking's shoulder, Spinda suddenly stood up and began to dance.
Its clumsy, erratic movements looked a little comical.
But as its body swayed, a strange wave of energy rippled outward.
Teeter Dance!
A chaotic dance that indiscriminately caused all Pokémon in the vicinity to become confused.
Since the effect was universal, that included Slaking itself.
However, because of the Skill Swap, Slaking now had the Own Tempo ability, making it immune to confusion.
Clearly, this was part of Norman's carefully planned strategy.
For an ordinary Trainer, the expected outcome would be Swampert and Milotic getting confused, allowing Slaking to take them down in one sweep.
But…
Asahi's reaction speed was even faster than Norman had anticipated.
The moment Spinda started moving, Asahi—who had already sensed the fluctuating aura from Spinda's body—gave his command:
"Milotic, Safeguard!"
Milotic's tail swayed gently, its shimmering scales reflecting a dazzling rainbow light. A mystical barrier formed around both itself and Swampert.
"A clever strategy," Asahi smirked, "but how will you deal with Safeguard?"
Norman instantly realized the problem.
The chaotic energy from Teeter Dance was completely nullified by Safeguard.
And after using the move, Spinda's Truant ability reactivated, making it flop onto Slaking's shoulder like dead weight.
The battle had returned to a 2v1 scenario.
Asahi wasted no time capitalizing on the advantage.
"Swampert, Milotic—Finish it!"
One minutes later—
For the third time, Slaking fell into Swampert's Mire Trap, and under a final Muddy Water and Hydro Pump combo, it was knocked out.
"I lost…"
Norman recalled Slaking and Spinda into their Poké Balls.
The tactics Asahi had used weren't particularly complex, but what truly secured his victory was his impeccable sense of timing.
Norman was curious. "How did you do it?"
He had battled Steven before, but Steven's style was more about overwhelming force—identifying a weak point and relentlessly attacking it.
This level of anticipation and counterplay was something Norman had never seen before.
Asahi thought for a moment. "Talent, I suppose."
Technically, Aura was his talent, so he wasn't wrong.
And the system-given abilities counted as talent too!
Norman sighed in admiration.
No wonder Asahi was able to tame Rayquaza and earn its recognition.
With the battle over, the two sat back down for tea.
At that moment, Asahi finally revealed his true intentions, smiling as he asked, "I heard, Norman… you have a son?"
"…Huh?"
Norman was caught off guard.
Why had the conversation suddenly shifted to his son?
Steel Valley Base
"What a shame…"
Asahi sat in his chair, looking regretful.
"What's a shame?" Green asked, confused.
Earlier, Asahi had said he was visiting Petalburg City to chat with Norman. Now, he came back looking like this.
"I wanted to recruit a new member for our department, but I got rejected…" Asahi sighed.
"A new recruit?" Green blinked. "You mean Norman? He's a Gym Leader, so it's understandable that he wouldn't want to join…"
Not everyone was like Sabrina, after all.
But Asahi shook his head.
"Not Norman."
"Then who?"
"His son."
"…"
Green fell silent.
Norman's son… judging by Norman's age, he had probably only just become a Trainer.
If Norman had actually agreed to let his son join, that would've been the real shocker.
Besides—
"Does Norman's son have some kind of special talent?" Green asked, puzzled.
"You'd have to ask Zinnia about that," Asahi said, glancing at the person who had just barged into the office.
"Zinnia, why don't you tell us about the time you got beaten by a little kid while trying to save Rayquaza?"
"…!!!"
Zinnia had just stepped into the room, still unaware of the conversation—only for Asahi's words to instantly bring back an unpleasant memory.
"I never even fought him!" she protested. "My Salamence was the one that lost!"
Asahi smirked. "See? Even Zinnia wasn't his match. Now you know why I wanted to recruit him."
Green nodded in understanding.
If that was the case… then Asahi's decision made sense.
"Although, Norman didn't completely reject the idea…"
Ignoring the conversation, Zinnia suddenly noticed Asahi's smug expression, and for some reason, she felt an ominous premonition.
Her eyes shifted, and she suddenly approached Asahi with a suspiciously sweet expression.
"Hey, Asahi…"
Alarm bells went off in Asahi's head.
"…What do you want?"
"Well… I told my tribe that I've gotten close to Lord Rayquaza, but they all think I'm lying. Can I just take a quick photo with it? Just one!"
"A photo?"
"Yes!" Her eyes lit up with hope.
"Just one?"
"Yes!"
Just as her excitement peaked—
Asahi smiled.
"No."
Zinnia: "…"
Her hopes crashed from heaven to hell in an instant.
She clenched her fists.
Damn you, Asahi!!
Just as Zinnia was contemplating whether she should take advantage of their close proximity to land a few punches on Asahi to vent her frustration—
Asahi suddenly changed the subject.
"Still, you are a member of my department, and I can't let you lose face in front of your family…."
"How about this? Your family has an email, right? I have a couple of old photos that might help you save some face."
Zinnia's emotions swung like a roller coaster. Before she could think, she blurted out her clan leader's email.
But the moment she said it, she suddenly realized something.
Wait a minute…
Asahi guarded against her like a thief. Did she ever even take a close-up photo with Rayquaza before?
She turned to look at Asahi, only to see him skillfully open his album and select a few photos.
She saw them clearly.
In the photos, she was being held by Rayquaza—screaming in panic.
Asahi actually took pictures!?
She instinctively reached out to stop him.
"Don't—!"
But Asahi's finger was already on the Send button.
Ding!
Sent successfully.
Asahi turned his head and looked at Zinnia curiously. "What did you just say?"
Zinnia: "…"
I give up. Just let the world burn.
---
Ever since Asahi sent out those photos, a wandering ghost had appeared in Steel Valley Base.
She roamed the halls aimlessly, muttering incomprehensible phrases like "My social life is over" and "I can never go home again."
"Is she going to be okay?" Green poked Asahi's arm and asked.
"Don't underestimate people's resilience…" Asahi absentmindedly replied as he fed fries to a Pelipper. Then, suddenly, his expression changed, eyes widening in mock surprise. "Wait—is that Rayquaza?"
"Rayquaza!?"
The instant the name was spoken, Zinnia—who had been in standby mode—activated.
She snapped her head toward the direction Asahi was looking.
But all she saw was Gary, struggling to free himself from a Larvitar that had clamped onto his pant leg.
"…"
Realizing she had been tricked again, Zinnia bit down hard on the donut in her hand—pretending it was Asahi.
One day. One day, she swore, she would pin Asahi to the ground and make him pay double for everything he had ever done to her.
Asahi, seemingly oblivious, suddenly sighed.
"I'm a little busy today. I need someone to take care of Rayquaza for me… Any volunteers?"
Zinnia's mind went blank.
All of her previous rebellious thoughts vanished instantly.
"I—I'LL DO IT!"
She shot her hand up, eyes sparkling with expectation.
Asahi casually nodded. "Alright, then."
Zinnia felt as if the sun had finally broken through the clouds, warming her frozen heart.
She wanted to sing. Asahi's generosity was immeasurable.
Green, who had witnessed the whole process, facepalmed.
Zinnia was beyond saving.
---
With the full support of Devon Corporation, Hoenn's reconstruction was progressing rapidly.
With Pokémon assisting in the efforts, Asahi estimated it wouldn't be long before the region regained its former vitality.
"Maxie and Archie are all yours," Steven said, signaling to his subordinates to hand over the handcuffed leaders of Team Magma and Team Aqua to Asahi.
Asahi smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze toward Maxie and Archie.
He noticed that both of them were glaring at him with pure hatred.
Clearly, they had placed all the blame for their failed plans squarely on him.
Asahi shook his head. "You two really don't know what's good for you… Without me, you'd both be dead by now. Did you really think the Red and Blue Orbs were toys?"
In the original timeline, Maxie and Archie had attempted to use the Red and Blue Orbs to control Groudon and Kyogre. Instead, they were controlled by the Orbs, and the overwhelming energy nearly caused their bodies to disintegrate.
Only Archie had survived, thanks to armor provided by Sird.
Now, Asahi had saved them from that fate.
By all rights, he was their lifesaver.
But they didn't seem the least bit grateful.
Seeing their continued hateful stares, Asahi didn't bother explaining further. He simply signaled Sabrina to load them onto the transport truck.
"What's your plan, Asahi?" Steven asked.
With such a public prisoner transfer, it wouldn't be long before the remnants of Team Magma and Team Aqua got word.
Prison break attempts were almost guaranteed.
Asahi gave Steven a strange look.
"Obviously, I'm fishing."
"…"
That was way too confident.
Once again, Steven felt the stark difference between himself and Asahi.
Yeah, maybe he wasn't really Championship material.
Digging for stones seemed much more suitable for him.
"Alright, then. I'll leave it to you."
Once Steven left with his team, only Asahi, Sabrina, and the transport truck remained.
Unhurried, Asahi fed another fry to Pelipper on his shoulder.
"Sabrina, want to place a bet on how long it'll take for them to show up?"
Sabrina rolled her eyes and ignored him.
"Not even curious about the stakes?" Asahi teased.
This time, she actually responded—with just two words:
"Heh… heh."
The meaning was clear.
"Do you think I'm as gullible as Gary?"
"Ugh, boring…"
Asahi sighed, stuffing another fry into Pelipper's beak.
Then, he raised his hand.
Boom!
Swampert appeared, immediately unleashing a powerful stream of water toward the nearby forest.
A tidal wave surged forward.
A chorus of panicked screams rang out as a group of Team Magma grunts were swept out of hiding.
At the same time, Sabrina made her move.
Her Alakazam flicked its spoon—
Whoosh!
A surge of psychic energy erupted, and a group of Team Aqua grunts were unceremoniously yanked out of their cover.
Asahi clicked his tongue. "Should I call you guys brave or stupid? Steven just left, and you immediately show up—weren't you worried he'd double back and arrest you all at once?"
"Not to mention… you actually dared to try and take prisoners from ME?"
Hearing Asahi's words, the Team Magma and Team Aqua members instinctively clenched their Poké Balls.
"Release our leaders, and we'll leave!"
A woman with a cape stepped forward from Team Magma's side.
Not to be outdone, another woman from Team Aqua—a bandana tied around her head, a short jacket over a form-fitting top that accentuated her curves—stepped up.
"Release our boss!"
Asahi smirked.
"Funny, weren't you guys trying to kill each other before? And now you're working together?"
He turned toward the transport truck. "Maxie, Archie, any thoughts on this?"
No response.
"Oh… right. I forgot your mouths are taped shut." Asahi chuckled.
Then, he glanced at the trembling Magma and Aqua grunts, who had begun releasing their Pokémon.
Clearly, their best fighters had already been wiped out at Seafloor Cavern.
What was left… was just cannon fodder.
"Well, if you miss your bosses that much—"
Asahi's smile turned cold.
"—how about you all go to jail together?"
At that moment—
A shadow descended from above.
Mewtwo.
Its piercing gaze swept over the battlefield, its presence alone suffocating.
Some of the weaker grunts collapsed to the ground in terror.
Fishing for criminals?
No.
This was FISHING USING LAW.