Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 521: If You Need Me, I’ll Give It My All!

"Really?"

From the phone came Alder's shocked voice.

Johan had just informed him that Team Plasma might've captured Kyurem.

As the Champion of Unova, Alder was of course familiar with the situation inside Giant Chasm. Still, even a Champion wouldn't actively provoke a legendary Pokémon—especially not after losing his ace.

Fortunately, Kyurem had always been rather reclusive, quietly residing in Giant Chasm without causing trouble.

Because of this, the Unova League had a sort of unspoken understanding with Kyurem, choosing not to disturb it.

They'd even sealed off most information about Kyurem. Fewer than ten people knew the truth.

And now Johan was saying Team Plasma had taken Kyurem?

That was such a huge bombshell, even someone like Alder struggled to process it.

"I didn't see it with my own eyes, but the odds are high," Johan exhaled.

Honestly? It felt great knowing that when the sky falls, there's someone taller to catch it. This—this was why Champions and the Elite Four existed. They weren't just symbols of power—they were pillars people could lean on in times of crisis.

"This is a problem..." Alder muttered.

Johan agreed.

Team Plasma wasn't known for small plays. If they'd actually grabbed Kyurem, it meant they were going all-in.

"Based on Professor Juniper's analysis of Colress's research... he built a machine capable of controlling and amplifying a Pokémon's power—the 'Colress Machine,'" Alder said gravely.

"If they manage to enhance and control Kyurem with it, the consequences..."

Kyurem was terrifying as-is. Enhanced Kyurem?

"It probably... hasn't happened yet," Johan offered.

"Oh? Why?"

"The Colress Machine can empower and manipulate Pokémon—but not every Pokémon is easily controlled. And it doesn't happen instantly."

"You're saying Colress may not be able to control Kyurem?"

"I think that's the likelier scenario. Otherwise, wouldn't Team Plasma already be acting a lot more... bold?"

"Good point."

If they had Kyurem under control, they'd be flaunting it—not hiding.

Since the Unova League destroyed the P2 Lab, Team Plasma had been retreating. The League managed to seize some of their slower-to-evacuate bases, but most had slipped away.

Their reaction alone was proof enough.

Alder had just shared this info earlier on the call.

"Looks like we've got to act fast..."

Strike before they gain control of Kyurem. Stop them, free Kyurem.

He hung up.

"The Unova stuff... I'll leave that to their Champion."

Johan felt like he already had enough on his plate.

He'd helped Keldeo, and now he needed to figure out what to do about the Genesects.

But the big issue now—was where those Genesects had gone.

"Johan."

The wide open plains stretched under a setting sun. The golden light bathed the valley in warm hues.

Out on the grassy field—

Ceruledge, Tinkaton, Dragonite, Urshifu, and Larvitar were all learning from the three Swords of Justice and Keldeo.

The Swords' teachings weren't limited to swordplay. They trained Keldeo using rivers, grasslands, rocky forests—all kinds of terrain.

Their techniques—Swords Dance, Aura Sphere, close combat maneuvers—were all worth learning.

Cobalion, the leader among them, exuded a natural charisma. Wild Pokémon respected it, even the more brutish ones.

Ceruledge especially admired this—it was the kind of aura it aspired to have.

At the moment, Cobalion stood beside Johan, gazing out toward the distant valley.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Johan smiled, patting Cobalion's armored foreleg. "You've said that already."

"No."

Cobalion shook its head. "This thanks is for helping Keldeo."

Its gaze fell on Keldeo, who was being ridden like a horse by Larvitar—who gleefully shouted "Red Hare!" over and over while bouncing on its back.

Johan twitched at the sight.

Larvitar, buddy... can you not call someone's child a steed to their parent's face?

Still, Cobalion didn't seem to mind. It just sighed gently.

"We've always trained Keldeo. But to avoid making it arrogant, we never gave it true recognition. And in doing so, we overlooked its pride."

"You—and your partners—helped it realize the weight of the sword, what it truly means to be a Sword of Justice."

A sword is a weapon. But as Swords of Justice, theirs were always meant to protect the weak.

Just like they once stood between humans and Pokémon in war, and now stood as ambassadors negotiating with Kyurem for wild Pokémon...

To the Swords, the weight of the blade depended on the resolve to protect.

That's why Cobalion insisted on thanking Johan again.

"It would've figured it out eventually," Johan said humbly.

"Yes, but it could've taken years... decades... maybe longer."

Cobalion slowly lowered its head. From its forehead, a metallic horn extended.

This was the sword. The symbol of the Swords of Justice.

And on its tip—

Was a dark red, fist-sized shard.

Huh?

Johan blinked.

"Is that...?"

Instinctively taking it, his eyes widened.

"A fragment of the Fist Plate?!"

"You recognize it?"

Now it was Cobalion's turn to be surprised.

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It explained:

"We found it long ago—when the meteor fell, while protecting wild Pokémon."

Wait a second...

Did Arceus come to Unova when the meteor fell?

He wasn't Rayquaza. What would Arceus want with a meteor?

Then again—

That meteor held the seeds of Kyurem, Zekrom, and Reshiram. And all it left behind was Giant Chasm? That was a bit small.

The meteor in Hoenn that formed Sootopolis City made a whole crater lake.

And that was just a regular meteor. This one birthed three legendaries...

"This fragment doesn't serve us much anymore," Cobalion said. "But it might be useful to you—or your Pokémon."

Johan pursed his lips.

First Lugia had randomly pulled out a fragment of the Earth Plate.

Now Cobalion was offering a piece of the Fist Plate.

At this rate... Rayquaza, Giratina, Dialga, Palkia—surely they had a few fragments stashed somewhere, right?

Tsk.

Guess their friendship level wasn't high enough yet. Couldn't mooch off them.

Still, Plate fragments? You could never have too many.

"Then I'll accept... reluctantly," Johan smirked, pocketing the shard.

Buzz—

For some reason, his aura stirred—becoming energized and vibrant.

Wait.

He was originally going to give the Fist Plate fragment to Urshifu.

But now... even his own aura was reacting?

Aura, as in, Fighting-type energy.

His progress in aura had slowed to a crawl. Even injecting it into the Rainbow Wing barely made a difference now. The Wing always gave off a "that's enough" vibe.

But this Plate shard had stirred his aura back to life.

One question, though.

If he could use a Plate fragment—was he still human?

"...Am I becoming the ultimate protagonist?"

"One more thing."

After gifting the shard, Cobalion visibly relaxed—but spoke again.

"Go ahead."

"Those five who attacked Kyurem—the ones who attacked you..."

"Right, the Genesects. Pokémon from 300 million years ago. Resurrected from fossils, then altered by science."

"I see..." Cobalion's gaze darkened.

"I sensed sorrow and pain from them."

Sorrow and pain...

"If... if possible—could you help them?" Cobalion asked.

Their eyes met.

Cobalion had never truly trusted humans—not since the wars long ago.

But Johan had changed that.

Johan raised his head, drew a deep breath, and smiled:

"You might not believe this, but even before meeting Keldeo—I was already looking for them. Already searching for ways to help."

"If it's within my power—I'll help."

Cobalion continued to stare at him, moved.

It knew Johan wasn't lying.

Because Johan had helped Keldeo. Had helped them.

His aura confirmed it—his words were true.

A human, aiding Pokémon in need. A human whose bond with his Pokémon made others envious.

In that moment, the Sword of Justice saw something radiant in Johan.

A light of justice.

So bright, it made Cobalion shield its eyes.

This man... was truly worthy of respect.

Cobalion declared sincerely:

"If you ever need us—we will give it our all!"

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Powerstones?

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