Chapter 140: The Race Between Latias and Dragonite!
When they left Dragon Island, it was "Little Eighteen" who carried everyone back.
Over the sea, Little Eighteen wasn't just friendly with Hayashi Yuki; it also got along exceptionally well with Hikaru. It even offered to personally fly them back.
Hikaru couldn't help but think, Is Little Eighteen about to become a full-time chauffeur?
Despite being a Heavenly King-level Dragonite, it acted so attentively.
In the end, Hikaru politely declined its offer. Instead, he wanted to test Latias' current speed after its improvements.
"Woo~" Latias let out a soft, clear cry, its tone brimming with confidence. Hikaru sat in the front, with Yuki seated behind him.
She had used the excuse, "My Dragonair hasn't evolved yet and can't handle long-distance flight," to secure a spot on Latias' back.
Hikaru shook his head at her cheekiness but decided to play along.
"Want to have a little race?"
He turned to Hayashi Ten and Hayashi Fire, both riding their Dragonites, and threw out a playful challenge.
"Huh?"
"Not sure if that's a good idea…"
The two exchanged a glance, then looked at Hikaru's Latias. They had heard rumors of the legendary guardian of Alto Mare, but this Latias was still in its youthful phase. Its power shouldn't yet rival that of their master-level Dragonites, known for their speed and endurance.
"Come on, give it a shot!" Hikaru grinned. He was confident that his Latias had the edge.
Since entering the Dragon Pool, Latias' abilities had grown significantly:
[Pokémon: Latias]
Trait: Levitate
Gender: Female
Talent: Level 3 Divine Beast
Level: 48 (Recovering)
Skills: Mist Ball, Wish, Helping Hand, Safeguard, Dragon Breath, Refresh, Dragon Pulse, Heal Pulse…
Overview: A guardian of Alto Mare.
Now at Level 48, Latias had recovered much of its power.
Plus, Hikaru had stacked the deck with various buffs:
Dragon Knight: A bonus to special attack and speed while riding dragon-type Pokémon.
Wind Rhythm: Increased speed in aerial combat.
Blessing of the Ocean: Boosts speed by 15% over water.
Without the weight of the Gravity Ball, Latias would soar at full potential.
"Ready, Latias?" Hikaru patted its head gently.
"Woo~" Latias replied with a cheerful chirp, its confidence apparent.
"Latias, you can do it! I believe in you!" Yuki cheered enthusiastically from behind, her fists raised in encouragement.
"Alright then…"
Hayashi Ten and Hayashi Fire reluctantly agreed. If Hikaru's Latias fell too far behind, they could always let up to avoid embarrassing him.
With everyone in position, Yuki signaled the start.
"Begin!"
In an instant, Latias shot forward like an arrow. The sea rippled in its wake, a streak of white foam marking its incredible speed.
"Holy—what?! So fast?" Hayashi Ten blurted out in shock, his words echoing Hayashi Fire's thoughts.
They had expected Latias to be quick, but this was beyond their imagination.
"Stop gawking! Use Extreme Speed, Dragonite!"
Both riders urged their Pokémon to give chase. The two Dragonites, known for their speed, surged forward with bursts of energy. Yet, even with Extreme Speed, they barely closed the gap.
Ahead, Hikaru laughed in exhilaration. The wind whipped past, and the ocean below blurred into streaks of blue.
Flying at such incredible speeds was a thrilling experience like no other.
In the end, the race concluded with Latias narrowly winning. Despite the Dragonites' strong performance, Latias' natural affinity for speed and Hikaru's buffs tipped the scales in their favor.
Hayashi Ten and Hayashi Fire exchanged wry smiles.
They had underestimated Latias, thinking it was still too young to compete seriously. Yet, even with their Dragonites at full power, they could barely keep up.
Upon returning, Hayashi Ten and Hayashi Fire intended to rest after their adventure. However, they soon crossed paths with Hayashi Dou (Yuki's father) and the family's champion, Hayashi Wataru (Lance).
The brothers recounted the events on Dragon Island, including the incredible transformations of the enormous Dragonite.
"Are you certain about this?" Lance's usually composed demeanor cracked as he processed the story.
"Yes, Uncle Wataru," Hayashi Ten confirmed. "At first, I misjudged Hikaru, but he proved himself capable beyond imagination."
Hayashi Fire nodded, adding, "Yuki was with us the entire time, and Hikaru even gained the Dragon Pool's blessings, including the power of Dragon Mastery."
Lance's eyes glinted with interest.
This was a rare opportunity. It wasn't every day someone outside the Hayashi lineage gained access to the Dragon Pool's unique energies.
"Very well. I will confirm this myself," Lance declared, summoning his own Dragonite.
Hayashi Dou frowned but eventually followed suit. Despite their differences, both understood the importance of what Hikaru had accomplished.
Ten minutes later, Lance and Hayashi Dou hovered outside Dragon Island's protective storm barrier.
As they surveyed the area, Lance broke into laughter.
"You see now? Even you can't deny the significance of his actions!"
Hayashi Dou remained silent, his expression complex. The enormous Dragonite had been an irreplaceable part of the Hayashi legacy, a guardian of unparalleled strength.
For years, the family had sought ways to extend its lifespan, pouring resources into rare life-restoring treasures. Yet, none had succeeded.
And now, a young outsider had achieved what they could not.
"Fine," Hayashi Dou finally relented. "If the children wish to forge their own paths, I won't interfere."
"Ha! That's more like it," Lance said, smirking as he urged his Dragonite forward.
"Shall we spar to celebrate?"
"Fine, but clear the area first!" Hayashi Dou snapped, already preparing his own Dragonite for battle.
The rivalry between the brothers was about to heat up once again.
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