Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 95: Ancient Gyarados

"Ancient Gyarados were said to be able to fly," Rio muttered, watching the Red Gyarados soar through the sky. He recalled more lore about ancient Gyarados from the original stories. Some said they were true dragons—even unevolved Magikarp could easily leap over mountains, fitting the legend of the carp leaping over the dragon gate. Others called them gods of destruction from ancient times—once enraged, they would destroy everything in their path, even amid raging storms. But at some point, a sudden mutation occurred, stripping them of their flight and weakening their power. The entire species had declined from its former glory. What caused that mutation remained a mystery, waiting for archaeologists to uncover.

"ROAR!!!"

Just as Rio was lost in thought, the Red Gyarados seemed to feel an itch for destruction and began firing Hyper Beams recklessly—straight at the James family’s garden.

BOOM!

The entire garden was reduced to a blazing inferno in an instant.

Rio’s mouth twitched. James had told him during a tour that the garden had cost two million League coins to build.

"The world is so beautiful, and yet you’re so violent—this isn’t good, not good..." Rio took a deep breath, then tossed out two Poké Balls.

Charizard and Primeape appeared in a flash.

"Primeape—knock it down!" Rio commanded coldly.

Damn it—you couldn’t even give me a heads-up before blasting a Hyper Beam. And now you’re flying higher and higher, out of recall range.

"Pu-cha~" Primeape punched itself in the face, then jumped onto Charizard’s back.

Ten seconds later, Primeape rode the Red Gyarados back down from the sky, crashing hard into the ground.

Rio was finally able to check the Red Gyarados’s updated stats.

[Pokémon: Gyarados (Shiny)]

[Level: 44 (Time until next level: 134 days)]

[Talent: Champion]

[Friendship: 40 (from -20 to 40)]

[Ability: Moxie]

[Gender: Male]

[Moves: Thrash (58%), Bite (58%), Dragon Rage (58%), Twister (58%), Rain Dance (58%), Hydro Pump (58%), Hyper Beam (58%), Dragon Dance (57%), Dragon Pulse (57%)]

[Description: This is a Gyarados whose ancient genes have been fully awakened. Rage is its nature. When it was still a carefree Magikarp...]

Reading the description, Rio raised an eyebrow. The latter part noted that with all its ancient genes awakened, its berserker genes would cause it to frequently lose control and seek destruction—only external force could stop it.

"Well—that makes it a perfect match with Primeape. Two rage-monsters: one goes berserk, one goes crazy—together they’re the ’Madness Combo,’" Rio muttered.

As he spoke, President Takuma, James, and Dairo approached.

"Rio—what’s going on with your Red Gyarados? Why is it flying?" President Takuma asked, rubbing his hands together—clearly already scheming.

James and Dairo also looked at him curiously. Notably, Dairo showed no anger at the destroyed garden—apparently, understanding the flying Gyarados was more important to him.

"It’s always been able to fly—that’s why I caught it. But the ability comes and goes. Sometimes it can fly, sometimes it can’t. Today just happens to be one of the days it can," Rio said, weaving a half-truth.

"Really?" President Takuma’s eyes lit up. "Would you let Silph Co. study it?"

Rio shook his head.

"I swear we won’t harm it—and we’ll pay 500,000 League coins per study session," Takuma pressed.

Rio shook his head again. "Grandpa Takuma, you don’t know me well enough. I’m not the kind of person who sells out his Pokémon for money."

A snicker came from behind—James and his father Dairo. Rio shot them a glance. James immediately lowered his head. Dairo instinctively wanted to snap back, but remembering how Rio had made him faint three times in one day, he chose to look away instead.

Can’t win—so I’ll just avoid him.

"One million," Takuma said, giving Rio a deadpan look. "We know each other well enough—don’t play games with me, kid. That’s my final offer. Take it or leave it."

To his surprise, Rio shook his head again.

Takuma’s eyes widened. He turned and walked away, fully expecting Rio to call him back within seven or eight seconds—because past experience told him Rio loved playing money games, and as a seasoned businessman, Takuma knew exactly how to counter that.

But...

Eight seconds passed. Nine. Ten.

By the time Takuma was almost out of the estate gates, Rio still hadn’t called after him.

"What the hell? Did I misjudge him? Was I wrong about him?" Takuma muttered internally. "Maybe deep down, he actually has principles when it comes to his Pokémon—and once those principles are crossed, no amount of money can change his mind."

A flicker of regret crossed his face. "Damn it—a flying Gyarados right in front of me, and I’m just letting it slip away? That’s like throwing away a treasure. Maybe I should go back and offer two million? If he refuses again, I’ll just have to let it go."

Takuma stopped, thought for a long moment, and finally walked back.

He spoke earnestly: "Rio—two million. This really is my final offer. Any more and the shareholders would—"

But Rio cut him off: "Fine—two million it is."

And he said it with a smile.

Takuma was dumbfounded. It took him a moment to realize what had just happened.

Damn it—I’ve been played. After all that, I still got outmaneuvered.

"Kid, you’re something else." Takuma huffed, his mustache bristling, then gave Rio a thumbs-up—half in frustration, half in respect. After decades in business, he’d just lost a psychological battle to a kid barely twenty.

Rio grinned at the old man. Hey—I’m a psychology major. Trying to out-psyche me? That’s like a dung beetle trying to move Mount Tai—you’re way out of your league.

From small details in people’s actions, Rio could read their intentions—whether they were lying, angry, or pretending to be calm. Only someone who wanted to play games would accuse others of playing games, to undermine their confidence and gain the upper hand. And that "walk away" move? That was amateur hour—something he’d seen a thousand times from bargain-hunting aunties in his past life.