Chapter 159: Now, I Ask, You Answer
Amid the chaotic swarm of Raticates and Rattatas,
a particularly large Raticate rose slowly into the air, suspended by an unseen force.
There was no doubt—this was the leader-level Raticate.
The Raticate looked around in terror, completely baffled as to why its body was suddenly floating.
---
On the ground.
The League Enforcement Officers stationed to guard the plantation had already braced themselves for the worst. They had prepared to salvage whatever crops they could, knowing full well the odds were against them.
Many of them had mentally accepted the blame that would fall on their shoulders should the Raticate swarm decimate the fields.
Though the sudden swarm had taken them by surprise, they knew there had been warning signs.
In hindsight, they had underestimated the threat.
Now, just as they were preparing for the fallout, they watched in shock as the situation changed before their eyes.
The previously organized swarm of Raticates and Rattatas was now in complete disarray, scattering chaotically.
"What… What's going on?"
The officers were stunned.
Looking toward the source of the disruption, their gazes landed on a figure high above.
There, hovering in the sunlight, was a Charizard, its white tail flame flickering like a beacon.
---
In the air.
Hikaru, mounted on Latias, observed the chaotic swarm below with a furrowed brow.
"Come out, Charizard," he commanded.
The swarm of Raticates and Rattatas numbered in the thousands. Such a large group wouldn't normally gather together without reason.
"Charizard, I'll leave it to you to drive them away."
The leader-level Raticate was already under Gardevoir's psychic control. Without its leadership, the rest of the swarm would naturally scatter when faced with overwhelming power.
"Roar!" Charizard growled in acknowledgment, its fierce eyes glinting.
With a powerful leap, Charizard soared through the air, its orange figure streaking across the sky.
The flames in its mouth erupted outward, forming a blazing torrent. The sheer heat of the attack frightened the lower-leveled Raticates and Rattatas into a panicked retreat, scattering like waves crashing against rocks.
---
On the ground, one of the enforcement officers caught sight of the distinctive white tail flame.
"It's the Charizard from the National High School League!"
The realization hit like a lightning bolt.
"That's Hikaru's Charizard!"
The captain of the enforcement team squinted against the sunlight, his gaze fixed on the descending Latias. As Gardevoir floated the leader-level Raticate down to them, Hikaru himself landed gracefully beside them.
Hikaru turned to Charizard, patting its head affectionately.
"Well done, Charizard."
"Roar!" (It was nothing!)
Charizard rumbled in satisfaction before Hikaru returned it to its Poké Ball.
---
"You're Hikaru, the High School League Champion, aren't you?"
The captain approached, his tone a mix of awe and gratitude.
Hikaru's youthful yet composed demeanor was a stark contrast to the chaos around them.
"Yes, that's me," Hikaru replied modestly.
"Thank you so much for your help. Without you, I don't think we could've held them off."
The captain's relief was palpable. As an enforcer, he had years of experience in handling wild Pokémon. Yet, even he was taken aback by the sheer scale of this Raticate swarm.
The officers nearby murmured among themselves, their admiration for Hikaru clear.
In this world, where Pokémon Trainers were as celebrated as celebrities, Hikaru's reputation as a champion preceded him. To see him in person, commanding such powerful Pokémon, was nothing short of inspiring.
Hikaru, however, remained humble. "It's nothing. I just happened to be passing through."
"No, no," the captain insisted. "This was no small feat. Without your intervention, this swarm could've devastated the plantation. You've saved this town a significant loss."
The captain's sincerity was evident, and Hikaru couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed by the praise.
To divert the attention, he gestured toward the trembling leader-level Raticate.
"This Raticate was the one coordinating the swarm," he explained. "With its influence removed, the rest of the Raticates will likely disperse. But I'd like to figure out why they were attacking in the first place."
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[Pokémon Analysis: Raticate]
Trait: Guts
Gender: Male
Talent: Gym-level
Level: 40
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Swords Dance, Quick Attack, Focus Energy, Crunch, Hyper Fang, Super Fang
Description: A leader that rose above thousands of Rattata, commanding its territory with exceptional cunning.
---
Hikaru studied the Raticate with genuine curiosity.
For a Pokémon like Raticate, achieving this level of strength was no small feat. Its Gym-level talent paired with a Level 40 strength suggested a relentless determination to survive and thrive.
Such cases, while rare, weren't entirely unheard of.
"Why would a Pokémon of your caliber lead a swarm to raid human settlements?" Hikaru murmured, his mind racing with possibilities.
The captain's eyes lit up as he remembered something.
"Wait! Hikaru, you're an Aura Guardian, aren't you?"
Hikaru nodded.
Aura was a revered concept in Aura Town, its namesake stemming from the legendary Aura Guardian who had once protected the region.
If anyone could communicate with Pokémon and uncover the truth, it was Hikaru.
---
Hikaru focused his Aura, sending a gentle wave of energy toward the Raticate.
"Raticate, now I ask, and you answer. Do you understand me?"
The leader Raticate, trembling under the pressure of Hikaru's presence, nodded frantically.
"Rati… Raticate…" (This human… is terrifying…)
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