Aoki stared at the Altaria in surprise, though their Telepathic link remained unbroken.
"Aoki... I can leave with you," the Altaria said hesitantly, "but I must bring my two children. And once we're outside, you cannot restrict our freedom."
Her eyes betrayed an internal struggle.
Truthfully, she had long been curious about the world beyond the island—an itch that had grown over time. Yet her young still needed protection, making reckless adventure impossible.
As for Aoki, she couldn't fully trust him. His actions were clearly calculated.
But compared to others, he was the most credible option.
Over the past few days, she had vanished each morning to verify his warnings. What she witnessed confirmed his words: humans like him, accompanied by their Pokémon, slaughtered indiscriminately across the island, harvesting resources with ruthless greed.
Unable to bear it, she had intervened—eliminating one such invader. But the encounter left her shaken.
Aoki hadn't lied. Outsiders were coming. If she didn't act now, she couldn't guarantee her children's safety.
After much deliberation, she made her choice.
Even if Aoki had ulterior motives, she would accept it—so long as her children were protected. Being a mere enforcer mattered little.
And perhaps... beyond the island, she might reunite with the father of her young. His memory had lingered in her heart for years.
Aoki's face lit up with unrestrained joy.
Honestly, he'd never expected this outcome. His earlier efforts—shared meals, small kindnesses—had been gambles. What if it works?
But now, against all odds, it had.
"Are you certain?" he pressed, needing absolute clarity.
An Altaria of her power—quasi-Champion level, fiercely independent—wasn't something he could control. Unlike the obedient Florette he'd encountered, this Dragon-type had a will of her own.
Yet that very will made her formidable. A freshly evolved Champion-level Pokémon might still fall to her.
The Altaria nodded firmly. "You may use your Pokéballs to capture my children. It's the only way to take them beyond this place. But once we leave, our freedom is non-negotiable. We decide whether to stay or go."
"Agreed," Aoki said without hesitation.
Even if she chose to leave later, the bond would remain. Perhaps, in time, he could win her over—or at least secure her aid in raising her offspring.
"One more condition," the Altaria added. "No locking the Pokéballs."
Unlocked, she could emerge at will. Not that a locked ball could hold her—she'd break free eventually, though Aoki wouldn't enjoy the aftermath.
"Understood. But in return, while on the island, you follow my lead. I won't ask much—only that you intervene against threats I can't handle."
With a satisfied smile, Aoki produced a Luxury Ball. The Altaria touched its center with a wingtip, vanishing in a flash of red.
No struggle. Instant capture.
Yet before Aoki could even recall her, she burst free on her own.
The disobedience irked him more than he cared to admit.
Trainers thrived on control.
Noticing his tension, the Altaria dipped her head slightly—an unspoken apology. Then she called her two Swablu forward.
Watching them, Aoki's frustration eased.
He captured the young ones swiftly, releasing them immediately. They didn't understand, but their mother would explain. Check latest chapters at novelꞁire.net
For now, that was enough.
A quasi-Champion Altaria—temporarily his.
As he returned to camp, his team stared in disbelief.
First the Swablu flock. Now this?
Their trainer's silver tongue was terrifying.
Tomorrow, they'd head toward the island's heart.