Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 346: Charizard’s Third-Level Friendship Unlocked (Two-in-One)

"How is he in the Kanto League?!"

The Sinnoh League officials stared at the video feed, where Rio sat with his legs crossed and an arrogant expression, utterly shocked.

"See for yourselves! I told you Mr. Rio has been in Kanto the whole time! The only place he left was from Indigo Plateau to Green Town in Johto — he never went to Sinnoh!" Serīna stood beside Zoroark, who was disguised as Rio, and spoke angrily.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you seem very eager for me to visit your region?" Zoroark-as-Rio looked at the Sinnoh officials with disdain.

The officials exchanged bewildered glances, unable to speak. Finally, one spoke up: "Where is your Mewtwo? Show it to us! Our Eterna City museum director reported seeing your Mewtwo fighting Sinnoh’s Space God Palkia!"

"That’s right! Mewtwo is the only Pokémon in the world like that!"

"Exactly — show it to us! Even if you’re here, your Mewtwo causing chaos in Sinnoh is still an invasion of our region!"

The other officials chimed in, demanding that Zoroark release Mewtwo.

"Fine. Let me show you whether Mewtwo is with me or not." Zoroark glanced at Greninja beside it, smiled, and reached for its belt.

A flash of light — Mewtwo appeared.

The Sinnoh officials, who had been so vocal moments ago, fell completely silent, staring in disbelief. They exchanged more bewildered glances.

"See?! Keep making false accusations! Neither Mr. Rio nor Mewtwo went to Sinnoh!" Serīna continued her barrage. "You’re shameless! You blame everything on Mr. Rio! If you can’t solve your own problems, just say it’s Mr. Rio causing trouble! The Sinnoh League might as well disband — all of you are useless garbage!"

The Sinnoh officials had no response. They genuinely didn’t know how to blame Rio anymore. They had been so sure it was him — but he was clearly in Kanto, and Mewtwo was right there with him. How could they press charges now?

"I apologize, Mr. Rio, Miss Serīna. Our League’s investigation was flawed. I offer our apologies. We’ll get to the bottom of this immediately." One official stepped forward to apologize, and the others followed suit. They quickly ended the video call and retreated.

"The Sinnoh League is hopeless — they blame everything on Rio!" Serīna fumed after the call ended.

"It’s fine. I’m used to it. But..." Zoroark praised Serīna, "Woman, you did excellent just now."

Serīna blushed. "It’s my duty. And they shouldn’t be slandering you, Mr. Rio."

Zoroark nodded, and Serīna went back to work. After she left, the Mewtwo that had been released dissolved — it had all been an illusion.

"Greninja, wasn’t I amazing? I fooled them so easily." Zoroark boasted. "They couldn’t find a single flaw."

"If Rio had seen my performance, he should be on his knees calling me the Phantom God."

Greninja calmly replied: "Koga~" — You had one flaw. The Poké Ball Rio uses for Mewtwo is a Master Ball, not an ordinary one. Anyone familiar with Rio would have noticed immediately.

Zoroark’s smug expression froze. It had indeed forgotten that Rio kept Mewtwo in a Master Ball, not a regular or Luxury Ball.

"Whatever — I fooled them anyway." Zoroark stubbornly insisted.

Back in Eterna City, Sinnoh.

Origin Forme Palkia and Mewtwo Y were locked in an intense battle above the city. Neither could gain the upper hand. Rio arrived on Charizard with Shaymin and watched the fight with a frown.

In Origin Forme, Palkia’s level had risen by five — equal to Mewtwo Y’s level. "This is going to take a while." Rio muttered. "But we can’t drag this out — the Distortion World will suffer, and the real world too. And Dialga is still on its way. If it also enters Origin Forme, its strength will surpass Gengar’s, and we’ll be overwhelmed."

"No, that can’t happen. For the sake of world peace, we need to end this quickly — capture Palkia before Dialga arrives. But I don’t have many Pokémon that can help right now."

Rio squinted, pondering his options. Should he summon Rayquaza to help? With Rayquaza and Mewtwo teaming up against Origin Forme Palkia, capture would be easy — but by the time Rayquaza arrived, it would be too late. Dialga, even slowed by Gengar, would have reached Eterna and entered Origin Forme. Then Giratina might emerge from the Distortion World, take the Platinum Orb from Celestic Town, and join the fight in Origin Forme. That would mean Mewtwo Y, Gengar, Mega Rayquaza, Origin Forme Dialga, Origin Forme Palkia, and Origin Forme Giratina — six guardian-level legendaries battling across Sinnoh. That would likely attract the attention of the highest god — Arceus itself.

If Arceus showed up, Rio would be in serious trouble. No matter how strong he was now, he couldn’t beat Arceus. And Arceus, seeing him disrupting the world’s order, might very well come after him. That would be a disaster.

No. I need a quieter approach. Don’t summon Rayquaza. Keep Dialga and Giratina out of the fight. Capture Palkia quickly.

In the Distortion World, the battle between Mewtwo and Palkia was generating black pollutants. The fight between Gengar and Dialga was doing the same — though Palkia, in Origin Forme, was producing far more than Dialga.

Giratina watched in fury. It had finally broken free of the time loop Dialga had trapped it in.

"Giratina!!!" — Damn them! Damn them all! They’re polluting my home!

"Giratina!!!" — I need to kill them. Kill all of them!

Giratina’s gaze locked onto the battling Palkia and Mewtwo, then shifted to the Celestic Town research institute. Palkia had already entered Origin Forme — if Giratina charged out now, it would likely get beaten. It needed to enter Origin Forme too.

With that thought, Giratina surged through a mirror into the real world.

Above Celestic Town, Sinnoh, the sky churned with dark clouds. Researchers emerged from the institute, staring at the sky in terror.

"What’s happening?!" Carolina, Cynthia’s grandmother, exclaimed in disbelief. She had just heard that Palkia had taken its Lustrous Orb in Eterna City and entered Origin Forme to fight an unknown Pokémon. Now, their town was experiencing its own upheaval.

A moment later, Giratina emerged from a lake near Celestic Town. Its appearance terrified the entire town.

"What is this — is the world ending?!" Carolina was bewildered. "Why is Giratina, who lives in the Distortion World, appearing in the real world?!"

As she watched, an orb from their research institute flew out and merged with Giratina. A white light enveloped it as it transformed from its normal form into the centipede-like Origin Forme.

After evolving, Giratina glanced down at the humans below, then turned and flew back toward the lake.

In Eterna City, Origin Forme Palkia and Mewtwo Y continued their fierce battle — neither able to gain the upper hand.

Watching this, Rio realized there was only one way out of this predicament.

He looked down at Charizard. The only way to break the deadlock was to unlock Charizard’s third-level friendship and see what the system would grant. He didn’t know what it would be, but he believed it would turn the tide.

Sensing someone watching, Charizard turned back. They met eyes.

"Charizard, my only way out of this predicament is you." Rio said earnestly.

Charizard’s eyes widened. It hadn’t expected such heavy words. Rio was saying he was the only one who could solve this.

"Roooar~" — What’s wrong, Rio?

Even without understanding the roar, Rio knew what Charizard was asking. "I need to capture Palkia right away. But Mewtwo can’t do it alone. I can’t summon Rayquaza fast enough. So you’re my only hope. I believe you can help me capture Palkia."

Charizard was taken aback. Rio was placing so much trust in it — just like back when they first met, when Rio had believed in it so firmly, calling it a one-in-a-million Charmander. That same look in Rio’s eyes stirred something in Charizard. It didn’t want to let him down.

I will defeat Palkia.

Charizard turned, eyes blazing, and fixed its gaze on the Space God.

[Charizard’s friendship has increased]

[Friendship: 155 (-25 → 155) ]

At last, the long-awaited notification rang in Rio’s mind.

[Charizard’s starting friendship was -25. Current friendship is 155. Increase of 180 points. Third level reward unlocked. ]

[Reward Unlocked: Charizard’s talent upgraded to Legendary. Level increased to 88. Move proficiency raised to corresponding levels. ]

"Legendary talent? Level 88?" Rio’s eyes lit up. Not the most insane reward, but excellent for the situation. Charizard’s base level had been 74 — now it was 88, a 14-level increase. With Mega Evolution, it would reach 98, with maxed move proficiency. A level 98 Charizard against a level 95 Palkia — there was no way it could lose. Even Giratina would have to bow its head.

Excited, Rio recalled Charizard into its Poké Ball — and immediately began plummeting with Shaymin.

"Kid, what are you doing?! Trying to die?!" Shaymin was startled. How could this human be so affectionate with Charizard one moment, then recall it and let them both fall?

"Don’t worry — I know what I’m doing." Rio smiled, enjoying the freefall from hundreds of meters. When they were fifty meters from the ground, he pressed the Luxury Ball. A flash of light — Charizard emerged again.

This time, Charizard’s form was noticeably bulkier. It caught Rio and Shaymin and carried them back to the sky.

"Go, Charizard! Let the world witness your true power again! Let Palkia know what a one-in-a-million genius of the Charizard line looks like!" Rio shouted.

"Roooar~" — I am the strongest Charizard!

Charizard roared in excitement, feeling the surge of newfound power.

"Now’s the time to Mega Evolve!" Rio revealed the Key Stone on his chest. Charizard roared, and the Charizardite X on its neck responded. Moments later, it transformed from its base form to X Form — its level rising from 88 to 98.

"Charizard, Sacred Fire! Let Palkia feel your flames!" Rio commanded.

Golden flames gathered in Charizard’s mouth and were unleashed at Palkia.