Chapter 126: Captured Just Like That?
"Phero? (One of my kind?)"
Pheromosa instantly lost all interest in Xue Tong.
Like a classic fuckboy—just like Lorze—it had suddenly set its sights on a new, shiny toy.
In that sense, they really were "of the same kind."
"What do you mean?" Lorze asked. His mental power allowed him to understand the UB's speech, but the "kindred" part confused him.
"Phero. (You carry a scent similar to my own.)"
Pheromosa walked toward him with a look of intense curiosity, its hunting target clearly shifted.
Xue Tong's expression turned grim. Knowing how lethal this Ultra Beast was, she couldn't let it near her family.
She signaled her Pokémon to form a defensive wall.
With Lorze's current strength, how could he survive an attack from a creature like this?
I can't let that thing touch my brother!
However, as Xue Tong prepared to order an attack, Lorze shook his head at her.
He signaled her to stay calm and observe.
Lorze didn't know everything about UBs, but he knew Pheromosa's moods were flighty.
Provoking it would be a death sentence; it was better to talk.
Xue Tong frowned. She hated letting her brother take risks, but she knew how dangerous the Beast was. She chose to trust him.
She moved her team to surround Lorze, acting as a final line of defense.
Lorze resumed his dialogue with the alien creature.
"We do share some similarities. Calling us 'kindred' isn't entirely wrong."
"Are you looking for a companion? If you don't mind, why not come with me?"
Lorze was planning to "capture" the Ultra Beast.
In an era where humanity feared UBs as monsters, imagine the prestige of owning one~.
Especially a Shiny Pheromosa—stunningly beautiful and powerful enough to ignore a Champion-level Zoroark.
Everyone had seen how impressive Zoroark was.
For a Pokémon to be both high-tier "Aesthetic" and "Meta Strength" was a dream. He couldn't let it go.
The cockroach part?
A cockroach that loves baths and looks like a supermodel is a cockroach I can live with.
I'm going to claim her!
Xue Tong looked at him with disbelief. She always knew he was dangerously curious, but this was a suicide mission.
Humans had zero means of capturing UBs. Standard Poké Balls were useless against them.
Keeping a capricious, hyper-lethal alien by your side was pure madness.
"Phero? (You wish to collect me?)" Pheromosa rested its chin on its hand, looking at him mockingly. It seemed to find the human's ignorance hilarious.
"Not exactly. Human Poké Balls don't work on your kind, so I can't 'capture' you anyway."
"I simply want to live with a beautiful being like yourself." Lorze began his ultimate manipulation.
Balls didn't work now, but that didn't mean he couldn't develop Beast Balls later.
For now, he'd focus on "bonding" through daily life. Capturing her formally would be much easier once she was already addicted to him.
"Phero. (If you become part of my collection, we can live together forever.)" Pheromosa teased.
"I'm afraid the women by my side wouldn't allow that. They still need me." Lorze shook his head.
"Phero? (You think they can stop me?)"
"Maybe not through pure force. But humans and Pokémon travel together because our bonds create miracles."
"Phero. (Boring.)"
"You don't believe me? How about a bet?"
"Phero. (What kind of bet?)"
"A bet that the combined power of humans and Pokémon will leave you speechless!"
"Phero. (Fine. I will give you a chance.)"
"Deal."
Lorze immediately signaled Mother Xue. It was time for the "Vixen Queen" to stop hiding her power.
If Xue Tong's psychic energy could buff her team, then Auntie Xue's Dark-type aura should logically do the same for her partners.
Otherwise, what was the point of having a "Final Boss" aura?
Mother Xue understood instantly. Even though she thought Lorze's attempt to "tame" this monster was reckless, she wouldn't let her man lose face.
Powerful Pokémon are arrogant; they don't submit to the weak.
An S-Rank Ninetales wouldn't even look at Xue Yi. This black-silk UB was leagues above that; why would it look at Lorze?
But Lorze was her husband. She would support him.
Mother Xue unleashed her full Dark-type aura. Zoroark, sensing the familiar energy, let out a vibrant howl of excitement.
It had been drawn to Mother Xue as a Zorua because of this very energy; it craved this power.
Under the influence of the aura, Zoroark's presence exploded.
It used the howl to mask a cast of Nasty Plot, massively spiking its Special Attack.
In seconds, Zoroark's power level reached a terrifying height, causing the previously bored Pheromosa to narrow its eyes.
The raw energy signature was now on par with its own. It was genuinely surprised.
"Champion-rank..." Xue Tong whispered, her eyes wide. It was the first time she had seen her mother go all out.
As she suspected, her mother was a true S-Rank (Master/Champion).
The pressure was actually slightly higher than the regional Champion she knew. Was it the Nasty Plot buff?
"Phero. (Decent. But still lacking.)"
Pheromosa offered a rare spark of praise. It was impressed by the human's ability to augment a partner.
But power wasn't its primary advantage; speed was. It had toyed with enemies much stronger than Zoroark.
Plus, its Fighting-type energy was super-effective against the Fox.
"But don't forget, I have a team. If everyone targets you while Zoroark uses its illusions to disorient you, we can stall you indefinitely."
"And once our reinforcements arrive, you'll be in serious trouble." Lorze bluffed with total confidence.
"Phero? (Oh? So you choose to be my enemy?)" Pheromosa's gaze turned cold.
"Of course not. I said I wanted to live with you. Since neither of us can easily kill the other, why not just stay together for a bit?"
"I'll handle all your food requirements. If you decide the world isn't for you, you can leave whenever you want. What do you say?" Lorze continued the hustle.
He activated Telepathic Resonance, letting his mental energy flow outward.
The Resonance didn't just link minds; it had a soothing, calming effect on Pokémon emotions.
Then, he reached into his bag and pulled out a high-grade Fighting-type Pokéblock.
He had prepared them for Mawile's Focus Punch training, but standards didn't matter now. He had to "bait" this "Meta-tier Beauty" to his side.
This is a Champion-rank Pokémon!
Even with Lorze's massive ego, he wasn't sure he could raise a Champion from scratch. Finding a wild one was a golden opportunity he couldn't pass up.
Pheromosa looked at him mockingly. It knew he was plotting.
The idea that he could "buy" her loyalty with resources was cute, but the reality was different.
At its level, supplements did almost nothing. Growth was static. You couldn't bribe a god with a snack.
However... Pheromosa looked around at this new world.
It was less comfortable than Ultra Space, but Ultra Space was a desolate, sunless void. Staying in this "kin's" world for a while didn't sound like a bad vacation.
"Phero. (You are far too weak to collect me. But... as a 'servant' to attend me while I stay in this world? I suppose I can accept that.)"
Pheromosa pondered for a moment, its lips curling into a haughty smirk as it reached a decision.
"Rest assured, Lady Pheromosa~. I will be a most faithful servant and show you all the delicacies this world has to offer."
Lorze smiled, looking for all the world like he was happy to be its slave.
"Phero. (Good. Lead the way.)"
Pheromosa reached out her hand, signaling Lorze to come forward and support her.
"Yes, yes. Right away." Lorze didn't mind being ordered around.
A germaphobe had just offered him her hand. Why would he complain?
Besides, this was a Champion-rank asset. Lorze intended to grip that hand and never let go!
Xue Tong was left standing there in total bewilderment.
She had been fighting for her life against this thing for hours.
And Lorze... just took her home in five minutes???