Chapter 707 Prism Tower, The Leap of Faith!

"Who said we should nab that brat Pikachu to give our robot free charging!!"

Musashi, hanging from the treetop, shouted angrily.

"We can't help it... we can't even afford the electricity bill meow," Meowth said weakly.

To finance their Mega Stone surveying operation and make a windfall, the Trio had spent time and energy building a "Meowth-style Gundam."

But after burning through their funds, even charging became a problem, so James came up with the rotten idea of "borrowing Pikachu" for power.

"Who could've expected Froakie to jump out of nowhere..."

James sighed, a lightbulb appearing on his forehead. "Right, Meowth—what about that pedal-powered generator you made last time?"

"Oh yeah, almost forgot meow." Meowth said, suddenly remembering.

In the end, the Trio decided to use human-powered bicycles to charge the "Gundam"!

Beep beep beep.

Because of the Trio's excellent performance in Unova, Boss Giovanni rewarded them with a "holographic communicator."

Its features were more complete than a PokéNav, second only to the Rotom phone, and it was expensive.

Now the device's blue light projected a holographic image.

Lu Ye wore a serious expression.

"Cadre!" the Trio said in unison.

"What trouble are you causing this time?"

"Nothing meow."

Meowth blinked and recounted the whole Pikachu-catching scheme. "Now we plan to dig for Mega Stones and get rich meow!"

Lu Ye: "……"

Broke to the point of not affording electricity… isn't this just like my days raising Little Rotom!

Fortunately, they only went after Pikachu.

The Trio didn't escalate things to go after Garchomp.

Lu Ye relaxed.

With his mind at ease, Lu Ye continued preparing dinner, carrying a bowl of char siu ramen to the living room and switching on the TV projector.

Unexpectedly, every channel was broadcasting the same breaking news.

"There's a boy at the top of Prism Tower!"

Lu Ye: ???

On the live feed, Ash had one hand on an emergency ladder, climbing step by step toward the Garchomp at the highest level.

Dinner was off.

Lu Ye set down his bowl and chopsticks, rubbing his temples as he said:

"Latias, come out with me."

"What is it~" Latias mumbled around a piece of chocolate, vaguely looking up.

"Rescue operation!"

...

On the other hand, Ash was in a dire situation.

He had brought the injured Froakie to Professor Sycamore's Research Institute.

Professor Sycamore met Ash for the first time, introduced himself, and explained that he was researching Mega Evolution for Garchomp.

Garchomp's temperament was similar to Salamence: extremely volatile. Mega Evolution could easily go out of control, and in a rage it might rampage everywhere.

There were even cases of Mega Salamence attacking its trainer, earning it the nickname "the Bloodstained Crescent."

While Froakie was receiving treatment, Clemont and Sycamore sat down to chat, and Ash pressed his face to the incubator glass, watching Froakie closely.

The classic sequence of abandonment, bonding, and capture had begun!

Rumble——

The tea table shook, and everyone looked up in surprise.

"Doctor!"

An assistant rushed in in a panic. "Garchomp—it charged out onto the street!"

"What?"

"Roar!!"

Garchomp stood on the road with bloodshot eyes, roaring wildly;

the energy detector strapped to its neck clearly brought it pain!

A researcher tried to approach to remove it.

But the enraged Garchomp swung its twin scythes, and its Fire Blast slammed into the street, sparking a sea of flames and rolling black smoke!

Sycamore and Ash hurried outside the institute.

"This is bad... it's a stress reaction from Garchomp."

"Doctor, I—" the young researcher said, shamefaced.

"Don't worry, I'll handle this."

Sycamore put a hand on the researcher's shoulder, his face solemn, and approached the blood-red eyed Garchomp.

"Calm down, Garchomp!"

Unlike Cynthia's arrogant, disdainful Garchomp, this one was even more ferocious.

"Roar!!" Garchomp bellowed in anger, launching itself like a jet and heading straight for Prism Tower.

A figure dashed out;

Sycamore turned and saw Ash running after Garchomp, striding quickly.

"Wait for me, Garchomp!"

Because of Garchomp's out-of-control state, the south-side streets had descended into chaos.

As it landed on the top of Prism Tower, the surrounding area was cordoned off by officers led by Officer Jenny.

Officer Jenny spoke into her radio:

"Garchomp is in a rampaging, out-of-control state. Please evacuate surrounding areas and take shelter!"

The media mobilized immediately as well.

Helicopters circled Prism Tower under the night sky;

a reporter leaned on the cabin door:

"Breaking news: an out-of-control Garchomp has appeared atop Prism Tower. Citizens, please evacuate the surrounding area!"

On the live feed, the bloodshot-eyed, enraged Garchomp unleashed a Hyper Beam that tore across the skies above Miare City like a light cannon!

Officer Jenny watched the tower anxiously and saw a figure stepping away from the crowd: "Doctor?"

"I sincerely apologize for causing this disturbance," Sycamore said. "I'll resolve it."

"This area around Prism Tower is dangerous;

please don't approach!"

"Sir!" an officer called out. "Just now a boy wearing a hat rushed into the cordon!"

"What? Why didn't you stop him?"

The officer's face went strange. "That kid has inhuman strength—you couldn't stop him!"

The story was picked up by all the networks.

Kalos region, Asaka Town.

"Serena, come watch."

Serena, with chestnut hair and a bow, took a carton of milk from the fridge and looked at the TV.

"Is it a disaster movie?"

"Sounds like a lab accident—Garchomp lost control and flew to Prism Tower!"

Serena sat beside her mother, sipping milk, her turquoise eyes suddenly widening.

On the live feed, the red-capped, blue-vested boy was hugging the edge and walking along a narrow ledge far above the ground.

"A boy is on top of Prism Tower!" the host said. "He seems to be trying to rescue Garchomp!"

"Is he Garchomp's trainer?"

Serena didn't answer her mother. She stared at Ash's silhouette, entranced.

Night deepened.

Rows of police cars ringed Prism Tower;

beyond the cordon, curious citizens pointed up at the boy and whispered.

Officer Jenny looked grave. "How long until the aerial rescue team arrives?"

"About ten minutes!"

Searchlights swept the night around Prism Tower.

On the illuminated wall, Ash had one hand on the emergency ladder, climbing step by step toward the top.

Sycamore and Officer Jenny's pupils constricted;

the cordon stirred.

"That boy has climbed to the top of Prism Tower!" the host announced.

Serena covered her mouth and held her breath.

"Hu—"

The night wind blew as Ash stood on the tiny top platform, looking over the neon nightscape.

On the narrow front edge of the top platform, Garchomp panted, bloodshot eyes glaring: "Roar..."

"Garchomp, stay still."

Ash stepped toward Garchomp. "I know you're in pain and hurting. Please trust me this once—everyone's waiting for you to come back!"

Seeing Ash approach, Garchomp took tentative steps backward, cold sweat forming on its brow.

Cornered, Garchomp roared in fury and fired a Hyper Beam!

The cordon gasped.

Boom!!

The Hyper Beam struck just behind Ash, spraying gravel and black smoke.

Ash struggled to his feet, burns and scorch marks all over, eyes resolute: "Wait for me, Garchomp!"

"Roar!!" Garchomp's twin scythes forged together into a pale green, vicious Dragon Claw as it reared back and roared.

A beam of light suddenly shot into the night—Dazzling Gleam cut through the darkness, drawing everyone's attention.

Bang!

The beam burst like fireworks and a shadow streaked across the sky!

Garchomp hesitated and turned its head toward the heavens.

"That is..." Officer Jenny's pupils narrowed.

Spotlights tracked into the sky.

The crowd cried out.

A crimson, jet-like Pokémon was hurtling toward them at high speed!

The helicopter couldn't approach Prism Tower because of Garchomp's attacks, so its camera focused on the sky.

"Is that... the legendary Pokémon, Latias!?" the host blurted.

Whoosh—

A black-haired young man riding Latias drew every eye.

He crouched low, clutching Latias;

his black coat flapped in the wind. Lu Ye shouted:

"Get a little closer, Latias!"

"Rati~!"

Latias cut the air with her wings and spiraled toward Garchomp.

People outside the cordon looked up at the unknown trainer and murmured excitedly.

"Is that the aerial rescue team?"

"He's flying toward Garchomp!"

Scorched and battered, Ash looked up at Latias and the familiar figure riding her.

"Teacher Lu!" Ash exclaimed in surprise.

"Roar!!" Garchomp red-eyed, unleashed a torrent of Flamethrower, lighting up the sky!

Amid the shocked cries, Latias used graceful aerial maneuvers to dodge the sweeping flames.

She then rose up to Garchomp's head.

From above, Lu Ye called out:

"Latias, use Icy Wind downward!"

Latias beat her wings and unleashed a crystalline Icy Wind.

Garchomp looked frightened and covered its head with its forepaws;

the Icy Wind froze its feet and the platform beneath them.

"Now, Ash—go!" Lu Ye shouted.

"Got it—!!"

Ash roared and charged at Garchomp, ran around to its back, braced his legs, and wrapped his arms around Garchomp's neck!

"Crack!" Garchomp writhed in pain.

"Whoa whoa whoa!"

Ash poured everything into breaking the collar—the 'kala'—around Garchomp's neck!

Lu Ye's eyelid twitched.

Oh my Turtwig.

Of course you'd choke Garchomp unconscious—I wouldn't be surprised!

With the detector shattered, Garchomp panted and half-kneeled, the crimson receding from its eyes.

Silence fell over the cordon at the base of Prism Tower.

After a few seconds of stillness, an eruption of cheers broke out!

Officer Jenny breathed a deep sigh of relief and spoke into her radio:

"Garchomp has calmed down!"

Lu Ye guided Latias as she landed carefully on the tower top, and then stepped onto the platform himself.

A cold night breeze hit them. Lu Ye glanced at Ash and the now-calm Garchomp, looking out over the neon panorama.

Miare City viewpoint: Prism Tower unlocked!

"You okay, Ash?"

"I'm fine!" Ash, who had taken a Hyper Beam's backlash, grinned energetically. "Garchomp's back to normal too."

Lu Ye nodded gently. "Pikachu, watch your step—"

"Pika!"

Pikachu's feet suddenly slipped;

it lost footing and fell off the top of Prism Tower!

"Pikachu!"

Ash lunged forward, kicked off, and leapt from Miare City's highest point.

A leap of faith!

The crowd, which had just calmed, went pale with fear.

Sycamore and Officer Jenny widened their eyes.

The boy was plunging from the heights, and he dove to catch Pikachu in his arms!

Am I unlocking some reverse-jinx trait lately?!

Lu Ye didn't have time to think. "Latias, Agility!!"

Latias flashed like a streak of red and dove along the tower's smooth surface with her wings beating the air.

She quickly caught up with the falling Ash and Pikachu.

Under countless anxious gazes.

Latias safely carried Ash down and set him on the ground.

Ash and Pikachu were unharmed!

The crowd erupted into pandemonium, cheering wildly!

"Thanks, Latias!" Ash smiled at Latias.

"Rati!" Latias waved back, smiling.

The citizens applauded warmly.

Officer Jenny looked at Latias with awe, then glanced up at the shadowy figure perched higher up.

She knew whose partner Latias was.

That hero had stayed above to avoid interview noise and crowd congestion!

"He's so cool... Mister Lu..." Officer Jenny murmured.

At the top of Prism Tower.

Lu Ye calmly looked up at the night sky.

"Gengarrr~" Haunter materialized beside him like a shadow, grinning mischievously.

"It's not that I don't want to go down."

Lu Ye murmured, "it's that I don't dare move..."

A media helicopter came closer and turned its camera toward him. The female host was stunned by the handsome young man's appearance for a second, then recovered and stammered:

"Lu—Teacher Lu!?"

The live feed showed a close-up of the trainer.

In the night, Lu Ye stood atop Prism Tower with his hands in his pockets, his coat billowing, Haunter floating nearby.

In an instant,

viewers across the Kalos region were electrified!

"Damn, Teacher Lu!"

Their earlier worry over the anonymous trainer vanished.

Everyone online shared the same thought.

Damn it, he totally had us fooled!

...

After the incident, Garchomp was returned to the institute for treatment.

Ash gave a media interview, scratching his head and smiling in the sunshine:

"I didn't really think it through—I just jumped..."

A policeman who had tried to stop Ash eyed his wounds and looked puzzled.

This kid's strength is more than natural.

I suspect he trained in Donghua-style martial arts;

a 90° vertical drop is nothing to them!

Serena watched the broadcast and whispered:

"Ash..."

The next day.

Headlines across Miare City recounted Teacher Lu's heroic rescue.

The featured photo showed Lu Ye standing at the top of Prism Tower, face stern and posture straight.

Lu Ye flipped through the articles in silence.

He remembered pale skin and stiff legs at the time.

But the photos didn't reflect that...

All of last night's dreams had shown him jumping off Prism Tower.

Lu Ye rubbed his sore neck, yawned, and went to the living room, checking the group chat updates.

Ash: "I caught Froakie! [picture]"

Lu Ye smiled faintly and sent a congratulatory message.

Ting-a-ling—

The wind chimes rang.

Lu Ye looked up.

A gray-haired stranger in a cloak pushed open the café door, and a chilly aura swept in.

"Teacher Lu."

Darkrai said coldly, "I have waited a long time for this day!"

"The corner store next door has card packs half off." Lu Ye didn't bother to entertain him.

"Where, where!"