Chapter 666 - 666: 663
"For every Pokémon, there is a dream! And people's dreams will never end!"
"Following the ocean currents southeast, born from the sea itself as the terrified Pokémon of the ocean flee before it! This prince is destined to rule over these waters, and I shall be the one to hatch it!"
"Zehahahaha!"
An enormous submarine burst through the waves and surfaced upon the sea. Compared to it, the two-person dinghy used by the Rangers looked downright pitiful.
Attention!
The legendary great pirate, the Phantom, has appeared!
"Proceed at once and bring him down!"
As Hikaru spoke, he lowered himself into a martial artist's stance and stabilized his body. Jack, on the other hand, swayed unsteadily. The sea was rough, and the approach of such an enormous vessel inevitably sent powerful waves rolling toward them.
Even under these circumstances, Jack still had the presence of mind to ask another question.
"By the way, Captain, why didn't you stay in Almia for the concert? Everyone's been looking forward to the Go-Rock Quads performing. Professor Hastings said Tiffany already invited you, didn't she? The concert was only postponed because of the Shadow Crystal and the Long Night."
"Maybe that was for the best, though. Once Roxie and her famous Unovan band, Koffing and the Toxics, arrive to perform with them, it's bound to become a magnificent commemorative concert!"
"I saw Tiffany near Ranger Union HQ earlier," Hikaru explained. "There's nothing I can do about missing the official performance. Almia is about to become extremely busy, after all. So I asked her and her three older brothers to hold a little rehearsal near HQ ahead of schedule."
"It was only an unofficial performance, but it was still quite popular!"
"Man, the official concert is going to be even livelier. It's a shame we're so busy right now. Oh, I also recorded their new song."
Jack's eyes lit up.
"Whoa! Can you send me a copy later?"
Hikaru readily agreed. Then he looked up at the sky.
A rainbow-colored light swept through the heavens, making him pause.
Ho-Oh?
For it to appear while he was returning to Johto was truly...
And judging by the direction it had come from, had it really flown here from Oblivia?
"Those who witness its rainbow radiance will receive a Rainbow Wing from Ho-Oh!"
Still, the one aspiring to become the Rainbow Hero should have been Aegislash, not him!
Hikaru opened the files on his Poké Device and played the new song Tiffany had given him, "Fusion: Song of the Surging Winds." She had written it on a sudden burst of inspiration after witnessing Almia become engulfed in darkness, only for dawn to break across it once more. The song drew upon Almia's legends.
["You can't come watch our official concert, but since you're a Ranger, a Champion-level Trainer, and our very important Captain, and you joined yesterday's rehearsal to help us record the new song, I'll forgive you!"]
["If we announced that the Top Ranger was also our band's backup guitar hero, our popularity would shoot through the roof again, wouldn't it? Oh, this doesn't count as leeching off your fame. You're Almia's great hero, after all."]
["Hehe. Roxie probably wouldn't be happy about it, but what if you appeared as the 'Swordsman from a Foreign Land'? You could work as a mercenary guitarist, offering support to other bands whenever they need it! I heard someone once worked with thirty bands at the same time."]
["Keep this song and engrave it firmly in your heart. Maybe we'll visit Alola for a vacation someday. But next time, I hope we don't encounter anything this dangerous!"]
The Go-Rock Quads had once operated as a villainous organization in Fiore, but they had since become a world-famous musical group touring the globe. What happened in Almia had left even Tiffany deeply shaken.
Compared to this, the trouble they had once caused in Fiore had been nothing more than children playing pretend.
How could the malice of modern people possibly compare to the hatred harbored by those from ancient times?
They had truly underestimated the ancients.
And if they continued traveling to other regions, they might encounter something even worse!
"Well, that's certainly possible."
In later games, the Go-Rock Quads appeared mostly as cameo characters. They traveled from place to place, shopping, composing music, and holding concerts.
The amusing part was that whenever they arrived in a new region, Tiffany was always the one left worrying and issuing missions.
Her three older brothers would scatter across the entire map in search of inspiration, flying around like the Dragon Balls, then suddenly lose all contact.
Compared to her brothers, who never came home, Tiffany had learned to value her time more by the third game. Her behavior and personality had settled down considerably, making her unexpectedly dependable.
That probably counted as character development.
Their band had also hired an exceptionally capable manager.
"Have you ever considered teaching music at a school between tours? You could become a music teacher, or perhaps a visiting professor in the music department."
["A visiting professor of music? Is that a job offer? It sounds pretty interesting."]
"Exactly! It's a prestigious academy with eight hundred years of history. You specialize in the violin, don't you? If someone famous joined the academy's faculty, it would surely motivate the students."
When it came to playing in a band, Roxie was clearly more professional.
However, it had to be emphasized that Tiffany was actually a violinist.
Surely that put her above a bassist... right?
["An academy with eight hundred years of history... Teaching music to students does sound interesting, but I feel like it would come with plenty of trouble. If I only teach the occasional class, we'll have to negotiate my salary and benefits carefully!"]
"I'm sure that won't be a problem! Then it's settled."
["Hello? Hey, it sounds pretty noisy over there. What are you doing?"]
"Me? I'm currently fighting a pirate crew for the world's greatest treasure!"
Let's see.
There was Raifort, a tomb-robbing remnant of royalty, and a world-famous violinist who used to belong to a villainous organization.
What kind of person would join Naranja Academy's faculty next?
This year's new teachers were looking better and better. The academy was truly flourishing!
Hikaru gave Jack a hand signal.
The submarine pulled alongside them, and members of the pirate crew emerged onto its deck. Hikaru pushed off with both legs.
Telekinesis!
"Whoa! You actually flew for a moment!" Jack exclaimed. "I heard you were a psychic, but it's really true!"
Jack cupped both hands around his mouth.
"Captain! I'll leave everything up there to you!"
He shouted because the pirate grunts were boarding their boat!
Boarding was a naval tactic dating back to the age of sail. When two ships drew close, combatants would cross a gangplank or leap directly onto the enemy vessel to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
"You traitor!" a grunt roared. "Give the Egg back!"
"Whoops, sorry," Jack replied. "I was never one of you in the first place. Isn't it common for someone from the navy to infiltrate a pirate crew?"
"This is only a two-person dinghy. It'll sink if so many of you climb aboard. Besides, shouldn't you be worried about your boss?"
"Worried about our boss? What are you talking about?! The captain of our pirate crew is the great pirate renowned for his superhuman strength! Your Ranger captain is a dead man!"
Several people began fighting at close quarters aboard the tiny dinghy.
In one corner of the chaotic brawl, the green Zygarde Core clung nervously to the side of the boat.
[Hey! There isn't enough room for this many people! What am I supposed to do if I fall into the ocean? Hurry up and get rid of those pirates!]
[And why did Ho-Oh appear in the distant sky? Was it deliberately waiting for this little boat to set sail? What an extraordinary sight!]
Jack glanced around.
"I could've sworn I heard something talking... Maybe it was my imagination! Hah!"
He began playing Mortal Kombat for real, knocking a grunt into the ocean with a single punch.
On the submarine's deck, the great pirate Phantom let out a delighted laugh.
"There are two kinds of people in this world: those who chase, and those who are chased! And I'm one of the chasers!"
"You have nowhere left to run! Pokémon Rangers, hand over the Egg!"
Hikaru ended his conversation with Tiffany, put away his Poké Device, and looked at the great pirate.
"You've got some nerve. Attacking Ranger Union HQ is a serious crime. You'll be put on trial at Unity Tower. Then again, you're a pirate who already ignores the law, so explaining any of this is probably a waste of breath."
"It'll be more efficient to arrest you directly. Once I've taken you down, I'll confiscate this submarine too!"
Phantom froze.
What?
Was that really something a member of the good guys was supposed to say?!
"Anything that doesn't already belong to someone else belongs to me! Don't underestimate me, boy! You think you can wave a weapon around and call yourself the 'Swordsman from a Foreign Land'? Let me see what you can really do!"
The great pirate gripped his cane and delivered a classic Gian declaration before charging straight at the "swordsman."
At the same time, he released two Pokémon.
Pinsir and Parasect!
When Hikaru saw the two Pokémon, he remembered the opening scenes of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
This man was a pirate who aspired to become the Pirate King, yet his team consisted almost entirely of Bug-type Pokémon, along with a Chatot. Even his first mate used a Beedrill.
Shouldn't a pirate at least have two or three Water-type Pokémon?
Compared to them, Team Aqua was far more deserving of the title of Pirate King's crew!
"What an idiot! I'm the great pirate famous for my superhuman strength! How dare you challenge me to a contest of power!"
Boom!
The tremendous collision sent violent force surging through Phantom's arms, nearly breaking them. He was driven backward more than a dozen steps in a single breath.
His expression changed from a confident grin to sheer terror.
"You've got to be kidding me! There are two kinds of people in this world! Those who are strong, and those who..."
"And those who are even stronger!" Hikaru finished.
His second sword strike crashed down.
The cane in Phantom's hands snapped cleanly in half. The blow sent convulsions racing through his entire body, leaving him trembling uncontrollably.
Hikaru reached out and seized him by the face.
"There really are two kinds of people in this world. Those who possess tremendous strength of their own, and those who use technology to make themselves stronger!"
"I know you're wearing an exoskeletal powered vest under your clothes. That's the source of your monstrous strength! Unfortunately for you, it still isn't enough. Come back after eating a Devil Fruit!"
"And I'm confiscating that powered vest!"
Pinsir's great horns clicked together while Parasect crossed its claws with a sharp scrape.
Both Pokémon stared blankly after seeing their Trainer cut down in three strikes.
As Pokémon, they had already found it shocking that a human wearing an advanced powered vest could exert physical strength surpassing their own.
But if someone could shatter that vest with one hand...
Just how strong was this man?!
A Super-Duper Almian!
"If you want treasure, you can have it! I left every treasure in the world right here!"
Hikaru tore open Phantom's captain's coat, revealing the powered vest underneath. It had been destroyed by his sword.
At the same time, Hikaru searched him and found several gold coins.
Phantom lay on the deck, staring at the coins scattered across the floor in panic.
"Wait! Don't take my money! That's my treasure!"
"Your treasure belongs to me too!"
Hikaru tossed a glittering gold coin behind him.
The chest monster came hopping over with a series of thumps and eagerly accepted the shining coin.
The time for evolution had arrived!
Golden light illuminated the submarine's deck, bathing every pirate grunt and Pokémon in its radiance.
"Gold... The coins are forming a human body?!"
"What is that thing? A Pokémon?"
"A golden man... The treasure has gained a will of its own! Why am I having a dream like this?"
The pirates' expressions changed dramatically.
Gold was supposed to be immortal and everlasting. It was an eternal, unchanging substance that symbolized the beauty of dreams.
Yet now, their treasure had gained a consciousness of its own.
It had transformed and was preparing to attack them.
"Snap!"
The golden man snapped its fingers.
Then it threw back its head and laughed.
Hikaru kept Phantom pinned beneath his sword.
"The treasures of ancient kings, the riches pursued by pirates, and humanity's desire for adventure and gold gave birth to this Pokémon!"
"Its body consists of one thousand ancient coins. It evolves through the thoughts and desires attached to those thousand coins!"
"Shine brightly, golden ghost!"
Its body, formed from stacks of coins, was extraordinarily sturdy. It could overwhelm enemies by firing coin after coin in rapid succession.
A golden man stood proudly upon the sea.
People's dreams would never end!
Gimmighoul had evolved into Gholdengo!
It was the Pokémon with the highest "gold content" in the entire history of the Pokédex!
Ability: Good as Gold!
Its sturdy golden body would never oxidize and rendered it immune to an opponent's status moves!
It was a golden man who had eaten the Gold-Gold Fruit!
Gholdengo clenched its fists and savored its unprecedented power.
Ah!
As a Ghost-type Pokémon, it had gained the Steel type after evolving, and its move pool had expanded enormously!
Flutter Mane had once hissed at it and declared that, aside from Aegislash, she was the strongest Ghost-type Pokémon in the team.
Unfortunately for her, Shedinja had appeared immediately afterward.
In practical use, the peculiar ghost cicada, with all its strange little tricks, seemed to be one of their Trainer's favorites too.
But now Gholdengo possessed the Steel type.
It might finally be capable of challenging Flutter Mane!
Which was more useful?
An ill-tempered little Fairy-type boss girl, or a golden sovereign possessing the King's Treasure and the ability to manufacture gold?
The answer was obvious!
If Gholdengo obtained some rusty iron and asked Armarouge to melt and cast it, perhaps it could acquire resistance to Ghost-type attacks too.
Then no matter how unhappy Flutter Mane became, she would be unable to challenge Gholdengo for the number-two position!
Whether among Ghost types or Steel types, Gholdengo's position in the team was about to rise dramatically!
Gholdengo looked at the panicking pirate grunts and their Pokémon.
Pinsir raised its massive horns with a series of clicks, then charged straight at it!
Oh?
After beholding my sacred golden body, you choose not to flee, but to approach me instead?
"Pinsir, use X-Scissor!"
"Beedrill, use Fury Attack!"
"Parasect, use Slash!"
The pirate crew's first mate commanded the three Bug-type Pokémon to attack.
Pinsir's enormous pincers slammed into Gholdengo.
Boom!
Pinsir had two enormous horns covered in small spikes. Those sharp protrusions resembled fangs and saw teeth.
Its horns were powerful enough to snap a large tree. Once Pinsir caught something, it wouldn't release its victim until it had torn it apart. The spikes on the sturdy horns would dig deeply into the opponent's body, making escape nearly impossible.
But now, those spikes suddenly shattered!
"Gyaaaah!"
Pinsir released its grip and recoiled, staring in terror at the completely unharmed little golden man.
What was with that hardness?
It looked like gold, but was it actually made of something else?
Gold was supposed to be soft!
[This is what it means to possess the Steel type! I may look like gold, but I also possess the hardness of steel! And one more thing...]
[I take only one-quarter damage from Bug-type attacks!]
[Do you want my treasure?]
[If you want it, then you can have all of it! I left everything there!]
[But in exchange, I'll be taking your wallets and coins!]
Gimmighoul had always been somewhat greedy.
After evolving into Gholdengo, it might have developed a "billionaire-next-door" friendliness, but Hikaru discovered that his Gholdengo had retained its covetous interest in other people's wallets!
My wallet belongs to me, and your wallets belong to me too!
Its quadruple resistance to Bug-type attacks allowed Gholdengo to completely ignore the assaults from all three Pokémon.
The last two were especially useless.
"You actually ordered Fury Attack and Slash against a Ghost-type Pokémon. They're both Normal-type moves. Even when they strike a Ghost Pokémon with a physical body, they only create the most basic impact."
"The moves' power and damage are completely nullified. And since Gholdengo is also a Steel type, even that physical impact has no effect!"
Pinned beneath the sword, Phantom grimaced as his expression changed violently.
"What?! A dual Ghost and Steel type?!"
"Gholdengo," Hikaru said.
"Use Nasty Plot twice!"
"Then use Make It Rain!"
It was a devastating Steel-type special attack with 120 base power. It attacked by throwing an enormous number of coins, though it lowered the user's Special Attack afterward.
For every target struck, it scattered gold coins equal to five times the user's level across the ground.
If Gholdengo's side won the battle, they could pick up those coins!
Its range included every opposing Pokémon it could reach!
Gholdengo's eyes spun around. The golden braids on its head swayed several times as its Special Attack rose tremendously!
"Golden," Gholdengo declared.
"Let's go!"
[Money should be kept where it belongs. For example, inside a wallet made of gold...]
[Your money is my money!]
Special Attack +4!
Gholdengo spread both arms as though preparing to embrace the sky.
Countless golden coins appeared behind it and began circling its body like a raging storm!
Open the gates of the Golden Capital!
King's Treasure: Gate of Babylon!
Store within this treasury the prototypes of every Noble Phantasm and treasure in the world!
Then fire those collected treasures like arrows!
This was the gate that opened the path to the Golden Capital!
"Has anyone ever experienced what it's like to be bludgeoned to death by coins?"
"If pirates didn't have any gold, would they have become heroes long ago?"
"No, probably not."
After throwing the pirate grunts off the dinghy and into the sea, Jack looked toward the golden storm erupting across the submarine's deck.
The King's Treasure shone brilliantly, triggering a massive explosion!
Piles of coins formed from Steel-type energy burst in every direction. Every grunt aboard the submarine was blasted overboard.
Soon, the Phantom was the only pirate left on deck!
"My men! What happened to my men?!"
It would probably be difficult for the scattered crew members to reunite.
If they continued drifting with the ocean currents, all anyone could do was wish them enough luck to meet again at the Sabaody Archipelago two years from now.
But not everyone could become the Pirate King!
"I almost forgot. There's also this."
Hikaru searched the great pirate and found a necklace made from broken shells.
[Ancient Item: Proof of the People of the Water.]
[Description: Travel to temple ruins associated with the People of the Water or to the Sea Temple, Samiya. Use the Proof of the People of the Water to awaken the Sea Crown slumbering beyond the great gates. Whoever obtains the Sea Crown will become the true King of the Sea.]
[Effect: Opens Samiya's sealed stone tablet, granting passage to the deepest reaches of the Sea Temple.]
"That belongs to me!" Phantom shouted. "Give me back the Proof of the People of the Water!"
"There are two kinds of people in this world," Hikaru replied. "Those suited to possessing treasure and those who are not."
"Unfortunately, you belong to the latter group."
"And there's one more thing."
Hikaru took out his identification.
The great pirate's expression changed violently.
"Y-You... You're..."
"Sorry, but I'm with the International Police."
"Phantom, captain of the Phantom Pirate Crew! Your bounty is..."
"Well, unfortunately for you, you're under arrest!"
(End of Chapter)
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