Chapter 285: Shifting the Battlefield
Will tried to use his Aura Power to call out to the three Pokémon.
But aside from Latias, who successfully received his message, the other two were like they had lost their connection.
"Lias~"
Latias turned to look in Will's direction.
She immediately spotted the little penguin swimming rapidly toward them.
"Someone stole Manaphy's egg and hid it in Alto Mare. Manaphy is furiously trying to find it."
Seeing that Latias still had her reason, Will quickly swam over and hugged her neck.
At the same time, he used his Aura Power to soothe Latias's unstable emotions.
"Lias?"
Latias gradually calmed down.
She carried Will, circling the battlefield and occasionally distracting Manaphy.
Hearing that Manaphy's egg was stolen, Latias felt sympathy.
As a female, Latias was naturally softer-hearted and more understanding of Manaphy than Latios. She didn't want to fight Manaphy anymore.
But the problem was...
If she didn't fight, Alto Mare would be destroyed.
This left her conflicted.
"Manaphy won't stop until it finds the egg. And it will summon more and more Pokémon to help. If this continues, not only will Alto Mare sink, but Latios might die fighting."
Will looked up at Latios, then lowered his head to communicate telepathically with Latias.
"Call your brother. Calm him down. Then, if possible, throw me onto his back."
"Lias."
Latias nodded.
She flew quickly toward Latios, her body glowing with a faint pink light.
Will didn't interrupt her.
If even Latias couldn't calm Latios down, then no creature in this world could.
In that case, Will would have to join forces with Latias and try to lure the battle further away.
"Water-type Pokémon are starting to gather..."
Will scanned the surrounding sea.
All kinds of Water-type Pokémon were swimming toward them.
However, their target wasn't the Eon Duo, but Alto Mare.
Manaphy seemed intent on distracting the siblings itself while having the Water Pokémon push Alto Mare over.
If that was the case, just moving the battle between the three Legendaries wouldn't help much.
Fortunately, Latias seemed to be making progress.
She must have explained Manaphy's situation to her brother.
Will could sense Latios's Aura beginning to fluctuate.
"Now! Throw me over. Distract Manaphy for a moment."
"Lias."
Latias nodded.
With a flick of her wing, she threw Will onto Latios's back.
Thanks to Latias's explanation, Latios didn't react badly to the sudden appearance of the penguin on his back.
Moreover, Will seized the moment to use his Aura Power to calm Latios.
Physical contact made the calming effect strongest; Will could transmit his Aura directly into Latios's heart.
"Latios, follow me. Lure the battle to the surface. There are humans there who will help you fight Manaphy. We just need to buy time."
Will was referring to Steven.
As long as they reached the surface, Steven's Metagross could be somewhat useful. Not to mention Lorelei was there.
With those two helping, the pressure on the Eon Duo would be significantly reduced.
"Lios."
Latios shook his head and pointed at the Water Pokémon behind Manaphy.
Just stalling Manaphy won't save Alto Mare.
"Leave those Pokémon... to me."
Will hesitated for a moment, then his gaze firmed.
"Lios?"
Latios looked at Will doubtfully.
He didn't think Will had any way to control that ocean of Water Pokémon.
"We have no other choice."
Latios fell silent, then nodded.
Will jumped off his back and swam toward Lorelei.
"Lios!"
"Lias."
The siblings exchanged a glance and fired two Dragon Breaths at Manaphy.
After fully capturing Manaphy's attention, they immediately flew in the direction Will had gone.
On the surface.
"Piplup!"
Lorelei saw the little penguin burst out of the water and immediately scooped him up into a hug.
"Run toward Alto Mare! Fast!"
"Lapras!"
"Meee~"
Lapras didn't hesitate, sprinting away.
Even without their command, the surging wave behind her was a clear reminder to speed up.
SPLASH!
The sound of the water breaking behind them caught Will and Lorelei's attention.
They looked back and turned pale.
Manaphy was riding a hundred-meter-tall tsunami, chasing right behind them! Inside the tsunami, hundreds of Water-type Pokémon were glaring at them hungrily!
The Eon Duo followed behind Lapras, looking unhurried.
"The 'Prince of the Sea,' Manaphy... so cute."
Lorelei's eyes lit up as she murmured.
SMACK!
"Are you crazy? Is this the time for that?! Send out Dewgong and Froslass to help!"
Will jumped up and slapped the back of her head.
Lorelei was going to be the death of him.
"Oh."
Lorelei threw two Poké Balls.
"Froslass, use Blizzard to freeze the wave under Manaphy! Dewgong, help Lapras speed up!"
Lorelei didn't need Will to tell her how to command.
After twenty years together, they had that much synergy.
Two mid-Elite Four level Pokémon.
They might not be much use in a fight against Manaphy, but they were definitely useful for running away.
"Latios, Latias, Tailwind!"
"Lias~" (x2)
The two jet-dragons flared their wings.
An invisible wind pushed from behind, speeding up the whole group.
Will wasn't idle either.
He clapped his flippers together.
A massive fireball, over twenty meters in diameter, shot through the air.
The rainbow-colored flames blasted a huge hole in the wave beneath Manaphy.
Manaphy stumbled, losing its balance for a moment.
Although the hole was quickly filled by seawater, its speed dropped for a few seconds.
Those few seconds were enough for Lapras to gain dozens of meters.
"Lias?!"
Latias's eyes widened.
She hadn't realized this little guy was so fierce.
"Sacred Fire isn't enough. Let's try Blizzard."
Will shook his head.
He had hoped the fireball would evaporate a huge chunk of the wave, maybe even collapse it.
He had overestimated himself.
If he had his "Alpha" and "Mega" status from his last life, even at Lv. 80, he probably could have done it.
Then, Will called Froslass to join him in using Blizzard.
A fierce storm of snow and wind swept across the turbulent, dark sea.
Seeing this, the Eon Duo joined in with Icy Wind.
The white torrent swept across the giant wave, freezing everything in its path.
Water Pokémon were frozen into ice blocks one by one, dropping into the sea like dumplings.
Manaphy's speed dropped significantly.
"Attack him."
Will gave the order.
The Pokémon immediately shifted their targets to Manaphy.
This wasn't to defeat Manaphy, but to maintain its aggro—in gaming terms, "drawing hate."
If Manaphy's aggro shifted, it would stop chasing Will's group and turn its attention back to Alto Mare's underwater foundations.
Several attacks shot toward Manaphy.
However, none of them hit.
Water Pokémon leaped out of the waves one after another, using their bodies as shields for Manaphy.
"This is the Prince of the Sea, the beloved of the ocean."
Lorelei pressed her lips together.
She stood on Lapras's back, arms crossed, letting the surging spray hit her, looking quite a bit like Liz in her armor.
"Almost there."
Will looked back.
He could already see the coast of Alto Mare.
"Lios?"
Latios flew to Will's side, anxiety in his eyes.
"If the buildings on the surface collapse, they can be rebuilt; it won't take long. If the underwater foundations collapse, Alto Mare is finished. Can't you see that?"
Will shook his head.
Alto Mare wasn't getting out of this unscathed.
It was just a choice between collapsing above or below the water.
"Lios."
"Lorelei, you and Steven team up to help Latios and Latias fight Manaphy. Defeat him if you can; if not, stall for time. I'm going to find those pirates."
Will turned to Lorelei.
He had Aura Power, and his range was decent now—scanning a few dozen meters was easy. Finding a group of bad guys should be relatively simple.
"Mm."
Lorelei nodded slightly.
On the distant shore, Steven sent out his Metagross immediately.
In this situation, he knew what to do without needing an explanation.
Stop the rampaging Manaphy.
"Skarmory, I'm counting on you."
Steven threw another Poké Ball from his belt.
The silver Skarmory carried Steven into the sky.
If Metagross wanted to use its full power, it couldn't carry Steven around like dead weight.
Fortunately, although Steven didn't have Water-types, he had the Flying-type Skarmory, so he wouldn't be drowned by the tsunami.
CRASH~
The hundred-meter tsunami crashed into the coastal area of Alto Mare.
Countless buildings were instantly submerged, and many trees were uprooted.
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the entire city of Alto Mare shook.
Then, the port of Alto Mare began to collapse piece by piece, debris falling into the sea.
Latios flew underwater to check.
A dozen Wailord were ramming Alto Mare's underwater foundations with all their might.
"Lios!"
He shared his vision with Will, letting Will see what was happening underwater.
"Leave it to me."
Will looked around, then pressed his lips together. "Tree of Beginning, Mew, I need your help."
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