Chapter 66: Powerless
Chapter 66: Powerless
High-density electricity surged madly into Lu Yun's body, then, guided by the Thunder Stones, roared and coursed through him, scouring every inch of his being.
Lu Yun felt a pain like his body was being torn apart from every direction.
Beside him, Zeraora stood silently, its icy blue eyes devoid of emotion.
Very soon, Lu Yun’s body felt as if it were a balloon, filled to the brim with the dense electricity from the surrounding air.
“Huff... huff...”
As the pain ebbed, Lu Yun gasped for breath, his lungs heaving. He felt like a powder keg packed to bursting—one wrong move, and he’d explode into pieces!
Clenching his teeth, the swelling in his limbs made him afraid to move much at all. With great care, he slowly propped himself up with both hands, trembling as he rose to his feet.
Looking up at the coldly impassive Zeraora before him, Lu Yun silently bowed his head.
In this world of Pokémon, strength was everything.
Faced with a mighty legendary like Zeraora, he was just a helpless Wooloo, utterly powerless to act.
A faint sense of humiliation welled up inside him, and with it, an even stronger hunger for power.
“Roar!”
Zeraora let out a low growl, then turned and headed back the way they had come.
Behind, Lu Yun hobbled along like a little follower, limping with each step.
This time, though, every movement was measured with utmost caution—he truly felt that if he moved any more forcefully, the high-density current inside him would burst forth.
But, mercifully, it seemed Zeraora also understood his awkward state, and deliberately slowed its pace, so Lu Yun didn’t have to struggle to keep up.
At last,
Taking twice as long as it had before, Lu Yun and Zeraora returned to the gap in the canyon.
It was like stepping from the swelter of midsummer straight into the cool embrace of an air-conditioned room—a wave of comfort radiated from the air.
Lu Yun glanced at the Thunder Stones embedded in the rock wall in their unique sequence, puzzling over their effect.
He didn’t know how it worked, but even though this place was filled with high-density electricity like outside, the air here was far more comfortable.
Like a woman heavy with child, Lu Yun leaned gingerly against the rock wall and sat down with great care.
“Phew…”
He exhaled in relief and looked ahead to where Zeraora sat cross-legged as always, not far away.
Resignation flickered across his face.
He reached casually for a pink berry from a nearby branch and popped it in his mouth.
A warm current slid down his throat.
Lu Yun’s eyes narrowed in surprise.
He realized that, unlike usual, the heat from the pink berry didn’t settle in his belly. Instead, it flowed through his body like blood, following a specific pattern.
A sudden wave of heat surged within him.
Just as he had begun to relax, tension gripped him anew.
He didn’t know if this change was for better or worse. A deep sense of helplessness rose from the depths of his heart.
He’d had enough for one day!
Whether it was Zeraora’s inexplicable actions, or the strange effect of the berry, all these unknowns, these things beyond his control, left him restless and frustrated.
In the end, it all came back to his lack of strength. If only he were as powerful as Arceus, none of this would be happening!
Closing his eyes, Lu Yun focused inward, sensing the changes within.
As time passed,
His expression gradually eased.
He discovered that, as the warmth cycled through his body again and again, the swelling caused by the high-density electricity began to subside.
He let out a breath of relief, plucked another berry, and, glaring at the cross-legged Zeraora, shoved it into his mouth and bit down hard.
…
The next day,
Lu Yun opened his eyes and stretched, feeling utterly refreshed.
After eating several berries the previous night and letting their heat circulate through him as he slept, the swelling within his body had vanished.
In its place was a robust, abundant current of high-quality electricity, filling him with powerful confidence.
He even noticed, faintly, that the storage limit he hadn’t been able to push past for a long time had finally increased, if only a little, after all this ordeal.
A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he pondered.
Ahead, Zeraora, who had sat cross-legged all night, also awoke.
Wreathed in silver-white lightning, Zeraora rose, stretched with a few jumps in place, then turned to look at Lu Yun.
“Roar!”
With a growl, it stepped out of the gap.
Lu Yun understood it wanted him to follow.
A sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
“No way… not again…”
On the way,
As the scenery grew more and more familiar, Lu Yun’s expression darkened.
The air was still charged with high-density electricity, but after a night’s adjustment and improvement, he managed to walk almost thirty meters farther than yesterday.
“Huff…”
Lu Yun dropped one knee to the ground, breathing heavily. Suddenly, a familiar magnetic force enveloped him, lifting him into the air.
He looked up at Zeraora’s glowing, electrified paw stretched toward him, and, as if resigned to his fate, closed his eyes, murmuring inwardly,
“So it begins… again…”
…
Meanwhile,
Outside the dense northern forests of the Kela Mountains,
A small convoy of three black jeeps slowed and came to a stop.
Louis sat in the backseat, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the forest ahead, which seemed dark and foreboding even in daylight. A look of wariness crossed his face.
Clap clap.
After stepping out, Louis clapped his hands, signaling for his team to gather.
“Ahem—”
Clearing his throat, Louis began to speak.
“Everyone knows how dangerous this mission is. I expect all of you to remain vigilant at all times—no slacking off!”
“If anyone makes a mistake out of carelessness, you won’t just be endangering yourself, but our entire team!”
His tone sharpened, his eyes lingering on the more unruly members of the group.
A tense atmosphere settled over the convoy, and one by one, the team members lowered their heads, silent.
They weren’t fools—everyone had heard tales growing up about the dangers lurking in the Kela Mountains.
Before this mission, consultants assigned by the organization had even pointed out some of the perils they might encounter along the way. The risks were enough to make even the most reckless members uneasy, keeping them in line.
“…Alright, that’s enough. You all know what’s at stake.”
“Check your gear one last time—we’re moving out!”
Louis wrapped up, tightening the special belt at his waist that held Poké Balls.
His gaze lingered on one particularly distinctive black Poké Ball, and a sense of reassurance settled in his heart.