Chapter 143: The World Tree's Predicament
Night fell.
In the shadowy depths of the forest, a small, glowing figure darted desperately through the trees. Behind it, dark shapes followed in relentless pursuit.
"Mean Look!"
The sharp command carried a quiver of excitement. The voice belonged to none other than Lambda, hot on Mew's trail.
Having barely launched its last attack, Mew felt its connection to the World Tree weakening further. Exhaustion weighed heavy on its small frame. It wanted nothing more than to escape, but the pair of Murkrow chasing it had a clear mission: to prevent its retreat.
Mew…
Its energy felt like a boulder strapped to its very being, nearly impossible to summon. Its movements grew sluggish, and even the thought of Teleport seemed out of reach.
The World Tree was draining what little strength it had left, leaving it with no choice but to accept the inevitable.
Mew… (It looks like I'll have to sleep. But I won't get to hear Hikaru's stories anymore…)
It glanced wistfully toward the direction of Kyoto.
As it sensed another surge of hostile energy closing in behind it, Mew let its eyelids flutter shut.
"Ahahahaha! Mew, you're mine—" Lambda's triumphant cry cut off abruptly, his elation turning to stunned silence.
Before his very eyes, a shimmering, iridescent portal opened in the air beside Mew. The small Pokémon, almost instinctively, began to drift toward it.
Mew, forcing itself to stay awake, gazed curiously at the radiant gateway before it. Without hesitation, it allowed itself to be carried through.
"No! Mean Look again!" Lambda's voice cracked with desperation.
He couldn't believe it. After coming so close, was Mew about to slip through his fingers?
The two Murkrow unleashed another Mean Look, their dark energies crackling across the forest. But no matter how hard they tried, the gateway remained unaffected. The mystical portal shimmered brightly before closing, taking Mew with it.
"No! My Mew!"
Lambda's face twisted in disbelief. He frantically ordered his Pokémon to search the area, his breath ragged as he tried to process what had just happened.
How could this have happened? They'd maintained Mean Look the entire time! How had Mew managed to escape?
Despite his frantic efforts, it was clear—Mew was gone.
Collapsing to his knees in the scarred forest, Lambda sat motionless for what felt like an eternity.
And then his eyes lit up.
"There's still a chance," he muttered, almost manically. "Yes… there's still a chance."
He scrambled through the debris left by the battle, scanning the area obsessively. After a painstaking search, his eyes landed on a single pink hair, nestled in the dirt of a crater.
Holding it up to the faint light, Lambda let out a crazed laugh. "Yes… Yes! This is enough! It's not over yet, Mew…"
---
In Kyoto, the sudden tear in space startled everyone nearby. Even Latias and Gardevoir, standing close to Hikaru, flinched at the unexpected event.
Hikaru himself froze, staring at the rift with wide eyes. He hadn't expected the Pokémon Summoning Card to work quite like this.
When the light from the portal dimmed and the Pokémon emerged, Hikaru's breath caught in his throat.
A small, pink, cat-like creature with a long tail floated out. Its form was unmistakable.
Mew.
For a moment, Hikaru stood in silent awe. Then, as the creature's condition registered, his expression shifted.
The once-pristine Pokémon was covered in dirt and grime. A single green leaf clung to its head, and its cheeks were flushed red with fever. Mew looked as though it had been through an ordeal.
Hikaru reached out, gently placing a hand on Mew's forehead. It was burning up.
"What happened to it?" Latias asked, her voice tinged with concern as she gazed at the frail Pokémon.
Mew…
At the sound of her voice, Mew seemed to relax, its tension melting away as it recognized Hikaru. It felt safe here, its long journey and desperate struggles finally coming to an end.
It mustered its remaining strength to communicate through telepathy.
"World… Tree… World… Tree…"
Then it collapsed, its breathing shallow and labored.
"Is this the same Ralts we met before?" Gardevoir asked, floating closer to examine the unconscious Pokémon.
Hikaru shook his head. "No. This is Mew—a mythical Pokémon capable of transforming into any other Pokémon."
He activated his Insight Lens to analyze Mew's condition.
---
[Pokémon: Mew]
Ability: Synchronize
Gender: ???
Aptitude: Tier 1 Deity
Level: ??? (Weakened)
Skills: Mimic, Amnesia, Life Dew, Ancient Power, Imprison, Metronome, Aura Sphere, Psychic…
Description: Mew is a Pokémon intrinsically linked to the World Tree. When the World Tree experiences dormancy or an anomaly, Mew's condition is similarly affected. Containing the DNA of all Pokémon, it has the unique ability to transform into any Pokémon species.
---
Hikaru sighed. The specifics of Mew's power were beyond his comprehension, but one thing was clear: its condition was dire.
"It's just unconscious. Its health isn't the issue. The real problem lies with the World Tree."
Carefully laying Mew down, Hikaru noticed the worried expressions on his Pokémon. Clearly, Mew's earlier disguise as Ralts had endeared it to everyone.
"How are you going to help it?" Latias asked, her human form now seated on the bed beside Hikaru.
Hikaru hesitated. He didn't know much about the World Tree, except for stories from over a decade ago about the so-called Waveguide King. That trainer had once described a mystical World Tree in the northeast of the country, home to a legendary Pokémon capable of transformation.
That must have been Mew.
Closing his eyes, Hikaru placed a hand on Mew and activated his Aura.
A flood of images filled his mind—Mew defending the World Tree, seeking life-infused treasures to sustain it, and fleeing from a relentless pursuer. Though blurry, the scenes were enough to piece together the story.
"So the World Tree needs a life-rich treasure…" Hikaru murmured.
He frowned. Coincidentally, he had just the thing—Xerneas's Life Essence. It had already revived the massive Dragonite at Dragon Island. Perhaps it could save the World Tree, too.
"Do you have a plan?" Latias asked, her voice filled with hope.
Hikaru nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "Yes. We're going to save both Mew and the World Tree."
---
Read up to 20 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*