Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [459]

After listening carefully to Meray's description, Diantha nodded thoughtfully. "I'll inform the League staff in Dahara City to assist you."

August turned toward Sabrina and Blue.

"Sabrina, you’ll come with me and Meray to Dahara City. Blue..." August pulled out a business card and handed it to her. "Could you go with Serena to meet Professor Sycamore? I've already arranged things with him. Please take Serena there to pick out her first Pokémon."

"This—Mr. August…" Serena was overwhelmed.

She hadn't expected August to arrange a starter Pokémon for her. Already touched that he was helping her reunite with Ash, this added gesture left her feeling flustered and undeserving.

August smiled warmly. "It’s nothing. Ash’s girlfriend is my friend too."

"Besides," he teased, "Ash has grown into a really strong trainer. Serena, you wouldn't want to fall too far behind him, would you?"

Hearing August casually call her "Ash’s girlfriend," Serena blushed brightly, nodding shyly as she accepted his thoughtful gift.

Watching her reaction, August found himself looking forward to the drama when Ash finally faced the legendary romantic battlefield that awaited him.

How entertaining would that scene be?

...

Kalos Region
Near Dahara City

With Diantha's assistance, August's group had pinpointed the approximate location of the Prison Bottle’s seal. The scorching sand whipped painfully against their skin as they trudged through the desert.

"Pffft—ack!"

Just as Mew opened her mouth wide to pop in a potato chip, a gust of wind sent sand flying straight into her mouth.

"Mew!"

Finally spitting out the gritty sand, Mew glared furiously at the relentless desert.

Meray noticed Mew’s discomfort and kindly offered her a scarf.

"Mew?"

Initially confused, Mew glanced up, but when Meray gently nodded in reassurance, she happily wrapped herself snugly in the scarf.

Shielded at last from the stinging sand, Mew brightened instantly.

"Mew!" she exclaimed, looking approvingly at Meray. After a brief struggle with herself, Mew generously offered Meray some of her chips—a remarkably friendly gesture by Mew standards.

Meray quickly waved her hands in polite refusal.

Seeing Meray refuse, Mew felt relieved, mentally awarding Meray a "good person" card. Contentedly, she grabbed a chip and munched it.

Crunch!

The dreadful sound of teeth grinding against sand sent a shiver through Mew’s tiny body, freezing her mid-chew.

Beside her, Hoopa burst out laughing, clutching its stomach gleefully. "Hee hee hee hee!"

August sighed wearily, watching Mew nearly brought to tears by her own silliness.

Is it too late to pretend I don’t know her?

Scooping up the teary-eyed Mew into his arms, August turned to Meray. "Is this the place where Hoopa's power was sealed?"

According to the original story, the Prison Bottle was hidden somewhere in this desert near Dahara City.

"It should be nearby," Meray said.

Her intuition confirmed they were close, but she lacked her brother Baraz’s more powerful sensing abilities.

If only her brother were awake…

Thinking this, she turned to glance at Baraz, who was still unconscious, floating behind them thanks to Solrock’s Psychic power. Meray couldn't help but ask once again, "Mr. August, when will my brother wake up?"

"Shouldn't be long now!" August answered reassuringly for the umpteenth time.

Meray nodded in acceptance.

At that moment, they noticed the outline of a group of ruined structures in the sandstorm ahead.

Everyone perked up immediately.

Had they finally found it?

As they approached, the ruins emerged fully into view, weathered by countless years and sandstorms, crumbling and partly collapsed.

August glanced at Meray.

Catching his glance, Meray nodded. She took a deep breath, grasped the pendant at her chest, and closed her eyes.

A moment later, the pendant emitted a golden glow.

"Mew!" Mew instantly sensed a familiar energy, abandoning the potato chip in her excitement, and peeked eagerly from August’s arms.

August gently pushed her head back down. "Behave yourself—we’re doing something important."

With Mew subdued, August observed Meray’s power carefully. As he had guessed, it was linked to Arceus’s power.

Suddenly, Meray’s eyes opened, her expression determined.

"This way, Mr. August!" she urged, walking swiftly toward a particular building. She pushed open the ancient, crumbling door. "My power tells me the [Prison Bottle] is hidden beneath here…"

Seeing the structure inside, August’s eyes sparkled. "Ah, is this finally my favorite puzzle-solving time?"

...

Ten minutes later…

August stood in frustration, having searched every inch of the room to no avail.

Puzzle? Solve a Voltorb!

Who puts such a complicated mechanism out in the middle of nowhere, anyway?

Embarrassed and irritated, August turned abruptly to Gardevoir. "Gardevoir! Open up a path!"

Everyone, including Gardevoir, silently looked at August with speechless expressions.

Though no one said a word, their faces all clearly said the same thing:

And this is your 'favorite' puzzle-solving?

But despite their silent judgments, Gardevoir moved swiftly. Her eyes glowed blue as [Psychic] spread throughout the building, instantly constructing a complete 3D model in her mind.

Once finished, the hidden mechanisms were easily revealed.

Gardevoir gently raised a hand, tapping a precise spot on the wall with [Psychic].

Clack-clack-clack!

With a sound of ancient gears shifting, the center of the room sank, revealing a stairway downward.

August immediately recognized the style.

Ancient civilization again…they really knew how to annoy people!

He peered into the dark passage, then casually tossed Mew inside, much to her shock. "Go, Mew! Use [Flash]!"

"Mew?!" Mew complained indignantly.

Why am I the flashlight this time?!

But despite her grumbling, Mew obediently emitted a soft, gentle white light, illuminating the corridor without harshness.

The group descended the staircase cautiously.

After a while, the stairs abruptly vanished, leaving them to leap down to a spacious cavern.

Landing gracefully, August exhaled in relief at the sight of a raised platform ahead. "Finally made it!"

Sabrina landed softly beside him using [Psychic], scanning the area.

"Is this it? Where’s the [Prison Bottle]?"

She saw nothing remotely bottle-like.

"Mew!" Mew stared toward the platform, sensing something important there.

Hearing Mew, August teased Sabrina. "Look, even Mew is smarter than you!"

Sabrina: "…?"

She felt August’s words had somehow insulted both her and Mew simultaneously.

Seeing Mew’s bashful delight at August’s "compliment," Sabrina’s eye twitched with deeper indignation.

Just then, Meray and Hoopa arrived beside them.

"Yes! This is it!" Meray said excitedly. "It matches exactly what my great-grandfather described!"

Finding her ancestor’s story brought vividly to life left Meray thrilled. "According to his notes, the seal can only be broken by me and my brother!"

Without delay, Meray grasped her pendant and extended her hand toward the platform.

As her power activated, a rippling effect revealed the [Prison Bottle], bound by six ethereal ropes, floating before them.

"Mew…" Sensing the immense power within the bottle, Mew anxiously snuggled deeper into August’s embrace.

She had a feeling that if Hoopa regained its strength, she might not stand a chance.

Hoopa, meanwhile, giggled eagerly, already plotting how to torment August once its power was restored.

"Hoopa!"

Confirming the [Prison Bottle’s] authenticity, Meray felt increasingly energized.

But just as she prepared to break the seal entirely, soft rustling sounds echoed from every direction.

"What’s that noise?" Meray wondered nervously.

"It seems breaking the seal awakened the guardian Pokémon here," Sabrina replied calmly, scanning their surroundings, but not particularly concerned herself.

After all, August was right there.

August, however, was confused. This hadn’t happened in the original story. Had his presence triggered some special mechanism?

Before he could finish wondering, a group of Pokémon led by a Claydol quickly surrounded them, including several Baltoy, a cluster of Unown—and oddly—a Cofagrigus, usually native to Unova.

"Is this Cofagrigus even legal in Kalos?" August complained aloud.

As if offended, Cofagrigus launched a [Shadow Ball] in reply.

The black orb flew straight toward August—but before he could react, Gardevoir casually raised a hand, effortlessly shattering it with [Psychic].

Gardevoir’s eyes flashed dangerously.

How dare they attack August in front of her…

Meeting her icy gaze, Cofagrigus, despite being a Ghost-type Pokémon, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill.

In the next instant, overwhelming psychic power flooded the cavern.

[Psychic]

The Baltoy and scattered Unown were instantly blasted away, crashing against the cave walls unconscious.

One strike had cleared most of their attackers. The remaining Claydol huddled trembling in the corner, utterly defeated.

"Mew!" Still glowing brightly, Mew munched chips and cheered enthusiastically for Gardevoir.

Hoopa, however, shivered behind Meray, recalling its previous humiliating defeat at Gardevoir’s hands.

"S-so powerful…" Meray stammered, awed despite witnessing Gardevoir’s strength earlier.

Sabrina remained unsurprised. This was just a tiny fragment of August’s true power.

"Break the seal," August instructed calmly.

Meray snapped back, hastily nodding. She released her power again, and the invisible ropes binding the [Prison Bottle] vanished.

The bottle fell free—

Snap!

—but August caught it firmly midair.

Meray sighed with relief, wiping sweat from her brow. "Now we can restore Hoopa’s powers!"

Just then, Sabrina's expression suddenly darkened. "August, watch out!"

Sensing deep malice surging from the bottle, she warned urgently.

"Huh?" August turned, puzzled.

Before he finished speaking, red energy surged from the [Prison Bottle], enveloping August’s hand, freezing him in place. His eyes briefly flickered crimson.

"Mr. August!" Meray cried out.

Sabrina almost moved to help—then paused, recalling August’s past antics. A quick glance at Gardevoir showed her utterly indifferent.

Noticing even Mew calmly munching chips above without concern, Sabrina’s panic faded into weary resignation.

[Psychic_Pretty_Girl]: Is this really fun for you?

[The_Punisher]: What are you talking about? I don’t understand. I'm possessed by Hoopa’s vengeful power, ready to punish you!

[Psychic_Pretty_Girl]: …

August’s condition had worsened again…

Just because Blue wasn’t around, he thought he could act out without consequences!

---

T/N: hehehe

This is a fan translation of 我，宝可梦称号大师！ by 落唯 白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!