Chapter 756: Is This Piplup You?
Kazuya placed his hands on Lucario.
Since that separation...
He and Lucario indeed rarely met.
But they occasionally communicated through various means.
He remembered that time the Tree of Beginning had told him, Lucario was in the Sinnoh region teaching a pair of Aura novices, exactly Riley and his Lucario.
A few years later.
Lucario sacrificed himself in the space-time battle in Alamos Town.
So.
If Lucario had a disciple, it could only be Riley and his Lucario.
"Eh? How did you know? Did you hear Master mention Riley?"
Lucario blinked in confusion.
"Something like that. This is me."
Kazuya smiled faintly and pointed at the Piplup in that photo.
From this moment on.
His gaze towards Lucario completely changed.
Before this.
Kazuya had no relation to this Lucario, so they could be considered peers.
But now...
This Lucario had to be of the same generation as Scizor.
At this time, Scizor's attention was drawn, and upon turning his head and hearing Kazuya's words, his head was instantly filled with question marks.
Did Master point to the wrong one?
Scizor was somewhat baffled.
Master should be the Mega Sceptile on the other side.
What did he have to do with this Piplup?
This Piplup was no ordinary character, but the illustrious "God of the Sea" from a hundred and fifty years ago, the ace of the Kanto region's Water-type Elite Four Lorelei, an existence that suppressed Lance for half his life.
Even if Master wanted to impersonate someone to get closer, he shouldn't pick such a famous figure.
Moreover.
Scizor didn't think his Master would do something so shameless.
Besides.
The God of Wood's fame and status in history were actually much higher than the God of the Sea's.
The former was a globally renowned great deity, whose status as a "God" was officially recognized by the Pokémon League.
And the latter was just a "false god" promoted by the Indigo League and the Hoenn League, equivalent to a trending celebrity, only famous for a period before falling silent, even disappearing from Elite Four Lorelei's side without a trace.
Impersonating the God of the Sea.
For his Master, was simply degrading himself.
In Scizor's eyes, it was completely unnecessary.
Just directly announcing his identity would be enough to make any Aura Guardian in this world bow down in submission.
"Hm?"
Lucario turned his head to look at the penguin, then frowned slightly, "I've never heard Master talk about the God of the Sea."
"?"
Kazuya's eyes instantly bulged out.
Unbelievable!
Lucario actually hadn't told others about his existence!
Kazuya couldn't accept it.
Was he really that unpresentable?!
He indignantly pressed further: "Your Master didn't tell you the name 'Kazuya'?!"
"Of course he did! Lord Kazuya is the legendary Aura Guardian who saved the world, and even the first Pokémon Hero recorded in the League's history, the great God of Wood! Master frequently mentioned Lord Kazuya and was full of praise for him, he is a powerhouse that Riley and I deeply respect..."
At the mention of "Kazuya", Lucario instantly became energetic.
That dog mouth babbled on like the waters of the Yellow River, an endless torrent, showing that the respect he spoke of was not fake.
Kazuya, on the other hand, nodded slowly in satisfaction, raising a hand to stroke a non-existent "elder's beard".
As expected.
It was impossible for Lucario not to mention him to his disciple.
And the reason for attaching the name "Kazuya" to the God of Wood lifetime, but not acknowledging the God of the Sea lifetime...
Was probably out of a "protective" mindset.
Kazuya didn't think it was because Lucario looked down on his achievements as the God of the Sea.
Lucario simply wasn't that kind of vain Pokémon.
Furthermore.
At the end of the day.
He and Lucario formed their bond when Kazuya was still a Piplup in his fourth life.
If they were really talking about closeness, then it was definitely the God of the Sea who was closer to Lucario, and the latter would definitely be more willing to mention the God of the Sea.
Then the only possible reason was to keep a secret.
To keep secret the fact that the God of Wood and the God of the Sea were the same person, and that this person was still alive.
When Lucario mentioned Kazuya to his two disciples, it was probably around League Calendar Year 200, an era where evil organizations from various regions ran rampant.
The other party didn't want to cause trouble for Kazuya and Lorelei, who were serving in the Indigo League at the time.
So he didn't dare tell anyone that the God of the Sea was actually the God of Wood.
Even to his own two disciples, he didn't dare to speak, fearing that if evil organizations learned of this news, they would capture Kazuya for research.
So.
Even if he mentioned Kazuya.
He only dared to crown the deceased "God of Wood" with this name.
Although these were only Kazuya's personal guesses, based on his understanding of Lucario, it was highly likely the latter held this mindset.
After all...
When Sir Aaron sacrificed himself over a thousand years ago, he chose a similarly natured approach.
He hid his true intentions, just to protect Lucario.
Thinking of this.
Kazuya lowered his hand and sighed: "The God of Wood and the God of the Sea are actually the same person, which is me, Kazuya."
"!" x2
Two faces stared dumbfounded.
Both Scizor and Lucario were shocked by Kazuya's words.
If both of those gods are you, then what about this God of Nightmares now?
That's right.
Still Kazuya.
"I know you guys might not understand for a little while, and that's okay, I will slowly explain it to you. Let's find a place suitable for talking first."
Kazuya pursed his lips, not planning to hide anything from these two Pokémon.
Both were trustworthy.
And...
Given the current situation of this world.
Even if he ran to the streets outside and shouted that Kazuya was those two gods, there probably wouldn't be any humans or Pokémon who could hear it; it would only attract a bunch of magical beasts.
"...Please follow me."
Lucario reached out his hand belatedly.
His attitude was more than twice as respectful as it was at the beginning.
Under his guidance.
The three Pokémon went all the way to the basement of Cameran Palace. There were only some props used for past events and celebrations here.
According to Scizor.
The terrain that refreshed every day could isolate the aura of the living.
So hiding inside the terrain was extremely safe and secure.
"It's a long story. You should know there are many incredible powers in this world, including some abilities that bring the dead back to life or traverse space and time..."
Kazuya crossed his hands in front of his chin.
He slowly recounted his transition from his third life to his fourth life to the two juniors, and then skipped directly from the fourth life to his current eighth life.
Mainly because the middle lifetimes all took place in the second world.
There was no point in telling them.
So Kazuya took the easy way out and skipped them directly.
"Unbelievable! Not only is Master the legendary Guardian Dragon of the Nation, but he actually holds the titles of the God of Wood and the God of the Sea simultaneously, and this time he was directly reincarnated as the God of Nightmares!"
The color of great shock still lingered in Scizor's eyes.
He felt that he probably knew more now than Meowscarada did.
However...
If Meowscarada knew that Master was still alive now.
She would definitely jump up happily, and then hug Master and cry loudly.
Thinking of this.
The shock in Scizor's eyes gradually faded.
He became even more determined in his heart to help Master find Meowscarada.
Moreover...
With such an incredible Master, they could definitely save the world, right?
Scizor ultimately still preferred that beautiful world from the past. If possible, he hoped this world could return to its original appearance.
After listening to all this, the Lucario beside them.
He quietly walked to the side and opened a small wooden box, took out a somewhat graying photo from it, and then brought it over and held it upright in front of Kazuya: "Excuse me, this Piplup is you, right?"
In the photo.
A Lucario was carrying a chubby Piplup in his arms while walking, and a beautiful red-haired girl followed beside them.
You could see that Piplup looking smugly at the beautiful girl beside him, seemingly saying something, and even picking his feet, looking somewhat sleazy.
"No..."
Kazuya was just about to nod and admit it.
But he caught a glimpse of Scizor's look from the side.
That gaze paused on the penguin in the photo for a few seconds, revealing a look of an idol's image being shattered.
"No."
Kazuya braced himself and shook his head.
He was the majestic Lord God of Wood.
"But, you just said you were the Piplup beside Elite Four Lorelei."
Lucario twitched his ears, a look of dilemma on his face.
"Yes."
Kazuya nodded.
"Then in this photo..."
Lucario shook the photo.
"No."
Kazuya shook his head.
"..."
What exactly do you want?
Lucario looked speechless.
He felt that this Lord Kazuya seemed a bit too different from the image his Master had described.
But Lucario never thought about the fact that everything he heard from his Master were the deeds of the "God of Wood", he had never heard of the deeds of that Piplup.
Otherwise, he definitely wouldn't feel a contrast now.
But none of that mattered.
Lucario had already gotten the answer he wanted.
Right.
Actually, whether Kazuya admitted it or not didn't matter.
As an Aura Guardian, Lucario could judge whether he was telling the truth himself.
As early as when Kazuya first answered.
Lucario already knew the score in his heart.
Ultimately.
Lucario still put the photo away, not continuing to make things difficult for Kazuya.
Their Lucario species had always been this considerate of people.
They were all warm dogs.
However...
Judging from Scizor's expression and little look.
Kazuya's stubbornness just now seemed meaningless.
This disciple had already seen through it; that fat penguin was his heroic Master.
Damn it...
Kazuya secretly clenched his fists.
How did he not know that Lucario kept that kind of photo.
And...
Which bastard secretly took that picture.
His image in his disciple's eyes was ruined!
At the end of the day.
It was all Lorelei's fault!
Because that girl was too foolish at the time, Kazuya in that lifetime was somewhat infected by some of her goofiness.
Sure enough.
Trainers and Pokémon would influence each other.
This was the power of bonds!
But one thing is one thing.
Kazuya had already made up his mind.
When he found that girl in the future.
He would definitely let her know what a Piplup King Flying Kick was.
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