Standing beside Delibird was another Pokémon, known throughout history as the Disaster Pokémon, Absol.
From that epithet alone, one could tell just how much fear this Pokémon once instilled in humans.
In ancient times, when superstition ran deep, Absol was despised for being seen as a harbinger of calamity and was driven into the mountains.
People believed that whenever an Absol appeared, a natural disaster such as an earthquake or tsunami would soon follow. Thus, it came to be called the Disaster Pokémon.
However, in modern times, with greater understanding of Pokémon behavior, people eventually learned the real reason Absol tended to appear before disasters struck.
The key lay in the curved, scythe-like horn on the right side of its head.
That horn can sense subtle changes in the sky and earth, granting Absol the ability to detect approaching natural disasters.
In other words, it doesn't cause calamities. Absol foresees them and appears to warn humans before they occur.
Unfortunately, before this truth was discovered, no one had ever regarded Absol as a warning messenger, only as a bringer of misfortune. Thus, it was long hated and feared.
Despite being a Dark-type Pokémon, Absol is known for its gentle and noble disposition, reflected in its pure white fur, an unusual color for its type.
Most Dark-type Pokémon have darker colors like black or brown, due to the energy they wield. Absol is a rare exception.
Perhaps its calm temperament influenced this rare trait.
Even now, there are still many people who insist that Absol brings disasters and continue to shun it.
Even Sidney, the Hoenn Elite Four's Dark-type specialist, has repeatedly clarified and defended Absol's reputation. Yet, due to his own delinquent past, his words only convinced skeptics further.
Sidney is so devoted to changing Absol's image because one of his ace Pokémon is, in fact, an Absol.
He cannot stand seeing others recoil in disgust at his Absol, it's far too unjust to the Pokémon itself.
Unlike humans, Pokémon respect Absol's abilities.
If the Absol here had sensed the coming flood and warned the weaker Pokémon to flee in advance, their unusual migration patterns made perfect sense.
As for why it didn't warn the stronger wild Pokémon, Silas checked Zero's display this Absol only had Advance-tier strength.
That likely explained it.
Respect or not, the wild follows a simple rule: only the strong get to speak. If an Absol too weak approached a territorial predator, it would be attacked before it could even warn them.
In the wild, strength determines whether one's words carry weight.
"I see… thank you very much."
Ranger Morinan bowed deeply to Absol.
Had it not been for Absol's warning, the flood's casualties would've been far worse.
Many lives, both human and Pokémon might have been lost.
As a Ranger, Morinan harbored no ill will toward Absol; instead, he was profoundly grateful.
He had merely called it a "Disaster Beast" earlier out of habit—after all, that nickname was ingrained in everyone's mind.
In truth, it might be more accurate to say that "Absol" became the name after the title "Disaster Beast."
In an ancient language, Absol meant "the sun departs," a reference to eclipses once thought to herald disaster. Thus, "Disaster Beast" was likely its original title.
Perched upon a snow-covered tree, Absol lowered its head slightly in acknowledgment of Morinan's gratitude.
Its red eyes then flicked briefly toward Silas before meeting Delibird's gaze.
The plump Delibird gave a cheerful shake, signaling it could leave.
Absol nodded and vanished into the icy forest in a flash of white light.
Capturing it was out of the question.
Although Absol is a rare species, most trainers tacitly agree not to capture Pokémon like it.
Their abilities are best used in the wild—saving lives.
The same Absol they spared today might one day save hundreds or even thousands of people and Pokémon.
Besides, Absol isn't particularly strong in battle.
Sidney's Absol, raised from an egg, was a remarkable exception.
"At least that's good news."
Morinan exhaled, visibly relieved, and smiled at Silas and Pryce.
Silas, still deep in thought, offered a distracted response. The air grew still once again.
Delibird, a Champion-tier Pokémon, emanated a pressure so immense that all nearby wild Pokémon cowered in silence, not daring to make a sound.
None wanted to draw the Champion's attention—lest they be frozen solid like the forest around them.
"I'll… head back to the command center," Morinan finally said, glancing at Pryce, who was quietly leaning on his cane. "My squad needs me to handle something."
Sensing the old Gym Leader's frosty mood, he wisely excused himself, leaving Silas alone with him.
Once Morinan had departed, Pryce broke the silence.
"You've met Suicune recently?" he asked calmly, stroking Delibird's feathers. "It sensed the aura of the north wind clinging to you."
"Yes," Silas replied. "Just yesterday."
"Is that so… Good," Pryce murmured indifferently, as if meeting one of the Legendary Beasts was nothing unusual.
Then again, this was a man whose strength rivaled that of a near-Tier-3 Legendary Pokémon.
As for why Delibird's power fluctuated between Champion and Tier-3 Legendary levels, Silas had an idea.
It was likely tied to Pryce's unresolved guilt over his Mamoswine, a regret that weighed on both their hearts.
If things followed the path Silas remembered, Ash's future encounter with Pryce would help him move past that burden and unlock even greater strength.
Silas wasn't surprised at Pryce's power.
He had already grown used to seeing "familiar faces" far stronger than their anime counterparts.
And, having heard rumors of Pryce's feats in the Pokémon Adventures manga, where he could stand toe-to-toe with a Legendary Pokémon, Silas knew this version was already holding back.
"Tell me," Pryce said again, "have you visited any mountainous areas recently?"
"Mountainous areas?" Silas blinked. "No, not really."
He couldn't understand why Pryce would suddenly ask about his travel routes.
"Then why did that Absol say it followed you here?" Pryce frowned slightly. "Delibird confirmed it during their exchange."
Everyone knows Absols live deep in rugged mountains, rarely descending unless they sense impending disaster.
"The Tohjo Falls, maybe?" Silas thought aloud after reviewing his recent travels.
He had gone through Viridian Forest on his way to New Bark Town—no Absols there.
And Cherrygrove City was too populated; any Absol appearing nearby would've been driven away.
So the only plausible place was the Tohjo Falls, a remnant of an ancient meteor impact zone surrounded by cliffs.
But still, why would an Absol follow him all the way from the Falls to this place?
That was an absurdly long distance.
"Don't tell me…" Silas muttered with a wry smile. "I'm the disaster?"
Silas thought wryly, unable to help but laugh at himself.
"Tohjo Falls?" Pryce pondered for a moment. "For an Absol, that would indeed be a very well-hidden place to live."
It seemed he would need to find time to inspect that area himself and see if anything was amiss, Pryce made his judgment.
He was also curious as to why Absol had followed Silas over such a long distance, as that behavior clearly went against its natural habits.
As for talk of disasters, Pryce didn't take it seriously at all.
Aside from catastrophes caused by Legendary Pokémon, ordinary natural disasters were things he had ways to deal with, just like this flood.
"One last question," Pryce said, finally voicing what he most wanted to ask.
"Have you… ever met Celebi?"
"Celebi?" Silas froze again.
Pryce's rapid series of questions had completely thrown him off.
Suicune and Absol were one thing but Celebi suddenly entering the conversation was another matter entirely.
Wait.
Silas suddenly seemed to recall something.
Since Pryce was asking this, and since Suicune had mentioned that he carried a strong aura of nature—
Could it be…?
Seeing Silas standing there blankly, Pryce tapped his cane lightly against the ground and repeated his question.
"Now that you mention it," Silas replied honestly, "I'm not even sure myself whether I've actually met Celebi."
Not knowing how else to answer, he briefly recounted his conversation with Suicune to Pryce.
At the same time, he explained his own speculation, that he might have encountered a concealed Celebi within the Mysterious Garden.
Although Celebi is capable of traveling through time, it is more commonly revered as the Guardian of the Forest.
It brings vitality to any place it visits, can revive fallen companions, and possesses purifying powers—wherever it passes, forests grow lush and vibrant.
It would be perfectly natural for the Mysterious Garden to belong to Celebi.
"Probably not there," Pryce said bluntly, immediately refuting Silas's guess.
"Didn't Professor Oak tell you? The Mysterious Garden is actually the resting place of Xerneas."
He spoke calmly, revealing secrets about Legendary Pokémon that ordinary people could never hope to know.
"You must have seen that withered tree inside," Pryce continued.
"That was Xerneas, in its tree form."
Seeing Silas's expression grow even more stunned, Pryce kindly elaborated further.
Silas recalled it slightly, the branches of that dead tree really did resemble the antlers recorded in legends of Xerneas.
But who would ever casually associate a withered tree with Xerneas?
This was the Life Pokémon. A dead tree couldn't feel more incompatible.
So it turned out he had already encountered a genuine Legendary Pokémon.
"Then again, it's not impossible," Pryce added, overturning his own conclusion.
"It's said that the Xerneas of our region has quite a good relationship with the Celebi tribe. You might've simply happened upon the two of them reminiscing."
Still in a state of shock, Silas silently committed Pryce's words to memory.
He had no reason to doubt him.
For one thing, Pryce's overwhelming strength alone was proof enough. Trainers of that caliber rarely lacked knowledge and if they wanted answers, they could simply ask. Few would dare refuse.
For another, Pryce's background and connections mattered greatly.
Not only was he the Gym Leader of the ancient ninja town, but one of his close friends was Professor Oak.
Silas might not know many things but as a transmigrator, he had plenty to say about Professor Oak's close relationship with Celebi.
As an aside, Silas had once found a sketchbook tucked into a corner of Oak's laboratory.
The drawings of Celebi inside were astonishingly detailed and vivid.
Silas simply refused to believe that anyone who had never seen the real Celebi could draw it so accurately, not even someone as skilled at sketching Pokémon as Professor Oak.
The frozen forest returned once more to silence.
But unlike before, Silas no longer felt tense—his mind was completely dizzy.
He had only come here to pick up some Sweet Honey along the way. He had only been unlucky enough to run into a flood.
So how had he suddenly been told that he'd already encountered Celebi and Xerneas?
Those were genuine Legendary Pokémon.
Could it be… that I'm the so-called protagonist of this world?
Even someone as self-controlled as Silas couldn't help but indulge in a bit of fantasy at that thought.
Then his gaze shifted to Pryce, standing nearby with his cane.
Pryce's white hair framed a body that looked frail and thin, as if a gentle push could knock him over.
"An illusion. It's all just an illusion."
Silas immediately calmed himself and reminded himself repeatedly.
What was so special about encountering Legendary Pokémon?
Judging by Pryce alone, this was clearly someone who had dealt with many of them.
Professor Oak likely hadn't told him any of this because he felt it held no meaning for Silas at his current stage and might even disrupt his focus.
.....
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