Chapter 72: Finally Got a Photo of Rayquaza!

“Screech!”
The Ancient Moon Bird fixed its vacant gaze on the sea’s surface, its body closely following Rayquaza as both plummeted from the sky into the water below.
Moments later, chaos erupted beneath the waves. In a burst of spray, the Ancient Moon Bird soared back into the air.
But unlike before, this time it emerged with a massive green caterpillar clamped in its beak—no, not a caterpillar, but the sky dragon Rayquaza!
The Ancient Moon Bird stood only 0.8 meters tall, while the true form of Rayquaza measured nearly forty meters in length.
This tiny bird had caught the tip of a colossal creature’s tail, hauling it from the ocean as if fishing up prey.
The visual shock of the scene was akin to an asteroid exploding, a meteor slamming into the Earth.
“Roar!”
Rayquaza was nearly driven mad with rage.
Its dignity, its pride—utterly shredded!
The immense dragon began to thrash and struggle, yet it could not break free from the bird’s beak.
Hu Yang: “…”
He suddenly felt this was all utterly absurd.
Despite his incredulity, his hands moved with practiced precision.
Seizing the moment, he pressed the shutter on his camera.
With a click, the image was captured in time.
The crew: “…”
Madness!
With its wish fulfilled, the Ancient Moon Bird released Rayquaza’s tail.
The dragon’s body relaxed, and it immediately twisted away from the bird, keeping a wary eye on it, fearing the little bird might do something even more humiliating.
But the Ancient Moon Bird merely yawned, then lazily floated down to its trainer’s side.
“Haha.” Facing Rayquaza’s gaze, Hu Yang gave an awkward chuckle. “Well, uh, I’m terribly sorry about what just happened. As compensation…”
He glanced at Rayquaza’s stats.
[Species: Rayquaza ♂ (Shiny)]
Type: Dragon, Flying
Ability: Air Lock
Base Stats: 680 (HP: 105, Attack: 150, Defense: 90, Sp. Atk: 150, Sp. Def: 90, Speed: 95)
Known Moves: Twister, Ancient Power, Rest, Extreme Speed, Air Slash, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Dance, Outrage, Draco Meteor
Current Mood: Wary, Furious
Physical Condition: Injured (Moderately)
Friendship: -20
Hu Yang said, “As compensation, let me give you a little gift!”
With that, he added Recover and Dark Pulse to Rayquaza’s move pool.
This way, it could heal itself, and also have a move with a type advantage in case it ever faced Deoxys again.
Though he wasn’t sure if Rayquaza would ever encounter Deoxys in this world.
Before he passed out, Hu Yang quickly instructed Roserade to carry him back to his room.
“Click!” Roserade steadied him with its vines and took him back.
Rayquaza hovered in the air, staring in the direction they departed, unable to recover from the shock.
It sensed the new knowledge that suddenly appeared in its mind.
A god-beast’s mastery of energy far surpassed that of a mere Jangmo-o.
Thus, in the next instant, a white light shone from Rayquaza’s body.
Bathed in radiance, its wounds began to heal rapidly before the naked eye.
Rayquaza paused, momentarily stunned by the sight.
With intelligence no less than a human’s, it quickly realized that these two moves were the human’s idea of compensation.
He had injured it, yet also given it gifts…
Rayquaza had never encountered such a strange human before.
Unconsciously, the anger that had flared moments ago slowly dissipated.
After a long silence, Rayquaza turned and soared into the sky, leaving the place behind.
…
Twenty-four hours later.
Hu Yang awoke in bed and glanced at the clock: 2:25 a.m.
The room was silent, save for the gentle snores of Jangmo-o from the carpet.
Its belly, stuffed and round, rose and fell as it lay sprawled on its back, paws resting on its belly.
Roserade and the Ancient Moon Bird slept together on the sofa.
Magikarp drifted idly in its portable tank.
When Hu Yang slept, Gengar and Roserade would prepare food for the other Pokémon, so he never worried that his little companions would go hungry.
As he recalled the previous night’s events, he reached for his camera on the bedside table.
Powering it on, he opened the photo album.
Rayquaza’s image filled the screen.
Even now, Hu Yang could hardly believe it.
His Ancient Moon Bird had actually managed to subdue Rayquaza.
In truth, Hu Yang had done it partly out of curiosity.
He wanted to know if the Ancient Moon Bird was truly as absurdly strong as the data suggested.
With a single move it changed the weather, with another two it brought down Rayquaza, and despite its small size, it had hauled the enormous dragon from the sea.
Judging by these feats, the Ancient Moon Bird’s power far eclipsed even his wildest expectations…
Moreover, it seemed able to freely adjust the strength and scale of its moves.
He recalled the first time it used Origin Pulse—the scope and force back then were nothing compared to what it unleashed on Rayquaza that night.
He did feel a bit sorry for Rayquaza.
As the Sky God, Rayquaza usually dwelled in the upper atmosphere, intercepting meteors and shielding the world.
He hoped the two new moves he’d given Rayquaza would help soothe its wrath!
After all, they lived in the same world and would inevitably cross paths again. There was no need to tear things apart.
If Groudon and Kyogre ever went rogue, Rayquaza might be needed to save the day.
Looking at the photo of Rayquaza’s humiliating defeat, Hu Yang felt a twinge of regret.
He would have preferred to capture a picture that showcased the Sky God’s dignity—ideally one where Rayquaza struck a majestic pose for him.
But Rayquaza had given him no such chance.
He wondered if he would ever see Rayquaza again.
At that moment, Gengar’s voice drifted over: “You’re awake?”
Hu Yang turned to see Gengar floating out of its Poké Ball.
“Care to join me for a meal?” he asked.
Gengar wanted to say it couldn’t eat, but after a moment’s thought, it simply followed along.
So Hu Yang left the room with Gengar, quietly closing the door behind them so as not to disturb Jangmo-o and Roserade.
The cruise ship’s restaurant always had chefs on duty, twenty-four hours a day, so even in the dead of night, he could count on a good meal.
But… as soon as he entered the dining room, the crew members burning the midnight oil instantly fell silent and fixed their eyes on him.
Their gazes had changed noticeably since before, filled now with admiration and respect for a powerful trainer.
Hu Yang: “…”
He wasn’t worried about the Ancient Moon Bird’s feats being spread around.
Even if people talked, who would believe such tales?
And even if they did, there was nothing anyone could do about it.
With the Ancient Moon Bird by his side, he could walk anywhere unchallenged.
It was nothing to worry about!
Hu Yang strode calmly to the bar and began to order his meal.