Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 511: Zekrom? Rotom, Hit It with a Blast!

Unova Region, Lacunosa Town.

After leaving the island where the P2 Laboratory was located, Johan didn't make any stops and headed straight for Lacunosa.

Meanwhile, the International Police Department of the Unova Region sprang into action in response to the intel Johan had sent.

Now that they'd finally caught Team Plasma slipping, they couldn't afford to waste time.

International Police agents were already on their way to Lacunosa.

As for Johan...

He paid a visit to Professor Juniper.

Her lab was located in Lacunosa Town — one of the "starter towns" in the games, like Pallet Town or Nuvema Town.

Standing in front of the lab's open clearing, Johan gently rubbed his chin.

"This is where Ash lost to Trip and his starter Snivy, huh?"

It was from that loss that the label "strong against strong, weak against weak" was attached to him.

"Poor Pikachu, forced to hold back and play dumb."

A Pokémon that had gone toe-to-toe with Legendaries... losing to a freshly-picked Snivy?

Pikachu had already been through four regions — that loss was just...

But Johan had to admit, compared to Shinji (Paul) from Sinnoh, Unova's rival Trip really was... underwhelming.

Ash's tactical growth from the Sinnoh League was seemingly tossed out in Unova.

The anime Pokémon: Best Wishes really wasn't great.

But the games Black/White and Black 2/White 2? Now those were solid.

They shifted the core themes from land, sea, time, and space... to truth and ideals.

Click.

Just as Johan's thoughts began to drift, the lab door opened, bringing him back to reality.

"Welcome, Johan,"

It was Professor Juniper — the Unova region's top Pokémon professor. Her field was Pokémon origins, and like Cynthia, she had a passion for archaeology.

"Sorry to intrude, Professor Juniper."

Since he'd scheduled his visit, Juniper wasn't surprised.

She led Johan inside.

Johan couldn't help but notice: female professors were quite different from their male counterparts.

For one, the lab was neat and tidy — which easily beat out Professor Oak, Professor Elm, and Professor Birch.

Even compared to the somewhat unkempt Professor Sycamore — well, he might be more handsome, but still.

"I heard you were attacked?"

Juniper, having heard some rumors, handed Johan a cup of coffee and asked.

"Mm."

Johan nodded, sipping.

He gave her a quick rundown of what happened on the island — especially the abnormal behavior of those Scolipede.

"Enhanced capabilities?"

As a professor, Juniper knew all too well the burden unrestrained enhancement could place on a Pokémon. Her brow furrowed.

"That reminds me of someone," she said, her tone heavy.

"You mean...?" Johan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Juniper nodded.

"A mad scientist. His name is Colress. We were classmates once."

Huh?

Johan hadn't expected that.

He'd known Juniper and Fennel studied together, but Colress too?

Juniper quickly shook her head.

"No... it probably isn't him. He's been gone for a long time. I haven't heard anything about him lately. Just that..."

He's on the League's most-wanted list.

No, it's definitely him, Johan thought silently.

To be honest, Colress reminded Johan of someone — Orochimaru.

Strictly speaking, in terms of scientific obsession.

"Can you tell me more about him?" Johan asked.

He only knew about Colress's activities after joining Team Plasma — nothing of his past.

Juniper didn't refuse.

"He was a smiling but withdrawn person. I know that sounds contradictory, but I remember noticing him during a lecture on Pokémon biology.

Everyone else was discussing why Pokémon had such special powers... and he asked the teacher:

'Since Pokémon are so special, why not dissect them and use them?'"

Johan went quiet.

Okay, yeah. Definitely Orochimaru vibes.

Meanwhile, Gengar and Larvitar were perched on the lab windowsill, gazing at the sea.

"Ka-kaah..."

Gengar yawned.

Kinda wanna go for a swim.

"Yoji..." Larvitar licked its lips.

Hey Gengar bro... do you think fish taste good?

Huh?

Gengar glanced at Larvitar, who was beaming.

The two had an instant unspoken agreement.

Let's go fishin'!

But wait...

Larvitar couldn't swim. It wasn't scared of water per se, but if it jumped into the sea, it'd just glug glug glug and vanish.

And Gengar could swim... but wasn't exactly a fishing expert.

Couldn't just catch a Water-type Pokémon and roast it.

Johan would kill them.

They needed someone good at fishing...

Gengar's eyes spun twice. Ding! Lightbulb.

Rotom-Dex suddenly shivered — and slowly turned to see Gengar and Larvitar staring at it with sinister smiles.

"Ro...Rotom..."

"Ka-kaah!" "Yoji!"

Big and small, they grinned "innocently."

"Ka-kaah Ka-kaah!"

Out by the harbor, Gengar hovered over the sea, scouting for fish.

Rotom buzzed with golden sparks, ready to electrocute.

Why fish with a rod when you can just zap?

Larvitar was their cheerleader.

"Ka-kaah!"

Suddenly, Gengar pointed at a spot.

ZAP!

Rotom was used to Gengar's quick-switch tactics. It reacted instantly.

BOOM!

Electricity exploded over the waves.

When it cleared, a good-sized fish floated up, twitching.

"Yoji!"

Larvitar cheered, fists clenched, eyes sparkling with tears of joy.

Slurp—

Gengar cackled and scooped up the fish.

Even regular fish in the Pokémon world were beefy!

"Ro-Rotom!"

But Rotom tugged Gengar's arm, pointing skyward.

Something's happening!

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar looked up.

Above them, a spiraling black cloud was rapidly forming — and within it...

A terrifying swirl of blue lightning pulsed and churned.

RUMBLE...

Thunder boomed.

"Yoji?"

Larvitar scratched its head.

Is someone transcending or something? Looks like divine judgment lightning...

Rotom gulped.

"Ro...Rotom (gulp)..."

No way...

We just zapped a fish! This seems... overkill!

Johan and Professor Juniper also noticed the change in the sky.

When Johan ran outside—

BOOM!!

A bolt of blinding blue lightning struck — straight down onto Rotom.

"ROTOM!!"

Rotom shrieked as it fell.

"Rotom!" Johan rushed over and caught the device.

"I... I guess... I won't be able to help clean your house anymore... Roto..."

Tears welled up in Rotom's eyes — like a last goodbye.

"...You're fine," Johan deadpanned.

He gave Rotom a little shake.

"Huh?"

Rotom opened its eyes, blinked, and floated up.

Wait, I'm fine?

Wait—

"Battery: One thousand percent, Roto! ⚡"

How did I charge this much in one go!?

"What did you two do?"

Johan turned toward Gengar and Larvitar.

"Ka-kaah!"

Nothin'!

Gengar quickly hid the fish behind its back, whistling like nothing happened.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

"Yoji..."

Larvitar looked down, pretending to count ants.

One ant, two ants...

Its little tail swayed innocently.

Johan's face twitched.

Nothing?

You did "nothing" and summoned Zekrom!?

This wasn't like when Ash first arrived in Unova and Zekrom showed up to say hi...

But really, all they'd done... was fish.

Zekrom couldn't be that uptight, right?

Still — the fact that the lightning didn't hurt Rotom showed it wasn't malicious.

Otherwise, Gengar would've reacted much differently.

So... what did it want?

Johan looked up.

In the churning storm clouds, amidst the lightning, a blurry silhouette and glowing red eyes began to emerge.

It really was Zekrom — the Dragon of Ideals!

Even though he'd suspected it, seeing it in person made Johan's heart skip.

"Rotom," Johan said calmly.

"Roto?"

Rotom was back to full power — more energized than ever.

"Hit it with a blast," Johan said.

"HUH?!" Rotom stared at him, stunned.

"...Just kidding."

"You scared me Roto!" Rotom clutched its chest, panting.

For a moment, Johan felt like he and Zekrom locked eyes.

The next second—

The clouds scattered.

The lightning vanished.

Zekrom's silhouette disappeared — as if it had never been there.

Johan frowned.

Zekrom wouldn't show up for no reason.

Was it trying to... warn them?

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance Chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates