Chapter 335: SSS-Class Relic—Silver Feather, and Sakura's Past
"You tell me..."
Sakura pouted defiantly.
"..."
Hikaru paused. He didn't really believe it—but he didn't press either.
Instead, he explained, "There was no other choice. In that freezing snowfield, if she hadn't changed into something else, she could've gotten frostbite..."
He said it plainly, without guilt—because it was true. At the time, it hadn't even crossed his mind to think otherwise.
The room went quiet. The two stared at each other.
Eventually, Sakura's lips trembled as her eyes glimmered with a strange light.
"Pervert wolf..."
She flung herself into his arms, her small fists lightly pounding against his chest.
"You're a bad guy, a big pervert wolf..."
Hikaru was caught off guard by the sudden shift in her mood. His arms hung awkwardly in the air, stunned.
Only when he came back to himself did he start gently patting her back—just like when they were kids.
She had always been a crier, especially when she first arrived. Surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar place, she'd cry almost every other day.
Hikaru used to soothe her this way all the time.
Back then, the phrase he heard most from her was:
"Sakura wants her mom..."
Her chubby, teary face, combined with her delicate sobbing, had once melted Hikaru's heart.
He had asked around before about why Sakura ended up all alone.
The answer?
She and her mother had been playing on the beach, when suddenly, a massive lava beast and a giant flying fish erupted from the sea.
The two monsters started battling each other, turning the entire beach into molten chaos.
And somehow, her mother had used some unknown means to teleport Sakura to safety.
She was only five or six back then—barely able to form memories. What she told Hikaru had just been fragments.
But Hikaru had looked into it.
On August 4, 1998, Groudon and Kyogre appeared in Huaguo's eastern seas. The moment they met, they began to fight, pushing the battle into nearby coastal waters near the Sakura Nation.
Countless weaker Pokémon were killed in the collateral damage.
In Feng City, located in eastern Huaguo's coastal region, Groudon's ability to turn sea into land created a massive stretch of new ground.
Later, much of it was washed away by the tidal waves summoned by Lugia, the Sea Guardian.
Even so, remnants of that "Sea Road" were developed into a booming tourist destination.
The two Legendaries fought with increasing fury—Precipice Blades and Origin Pulse colliding, shaking the heavens and boiling the seas.
Sakura Nation and Huaguo sent their top trainers in an attempt to stop the rampage—but to no avail.
Against Legendary Pokémon, human trainers were like ants before a storm.
Finally, a dragon descended from the sky—emerald scales gleaming, long whiskers flowing, exuding divine draconic might.
Rayquaza.
Its roar alone caused waves to ripple across hundreds of miles.
With its arrival, Groudon and Kyogre finally ceased fighting.
The post-event reports were vague, but it was known that over fifty civilians in Huaguo died in the chaos.
Seven master-ranked trainers perished. One elite investigator went missing.
In the Sakura Nation, the toll was far worse—over 10,000 dead or missing. Entire coastal cities were submerged.
Economically, they were set back decades.
The message was clear:
Legendary Pokémon were not something humanity could yet control.
Even the nuclear arms of the pre-Pokémon era would barely scratch them.
Learning this, Hikaru never again blamed young Sakura for being a crybaby.
But now, this—holding the grown-up version of that same girl in his arms, gently whispering comfort—
This was a first.
He whispered, "There, there... don't cry."
Sakura immediately lifted her head stubbornly.
"I'm not crying!"
But her watery eyes betrayed her.
She declared, "I'm not a kid anymore!"
"Ah, right, right," Hikaru nodded immediately.
When it came to these little tantrums, it was always better to agree. That was one of his key lessons from raising her.
Of course, now that "the kid" had grown up...
"Right, right my butt, you dummy."
Sakura jumped up and thumped him on the head.
"You're always knocking me! Now it's my turn!"
"..."
...
After Sakura left, Hikaru shook his head with a smile, then went through his daily routines and entered the training room to work with his Pokémon.
The next morning—
December 4.
A new month.
Hikaru, as usual, opened his monthly perk.
A flash of red light made his eyes shine.
"Whoa… are the odds of high-tier traits going up or what?"
[Red Trait: "One Man Army"]
During battle, gain 10% bonus to same-type moves. For every additional enemy, gain +5% bonus, up to 100%.
A scaling trait based on enemy count.
This one was clearly best used in chaotic multi-battles or field missions.
Still, it had amazing synergy—especially when paired with [Magical Girl], a trait specific to female Pokémon like Latias and Gardevoir.
Together, it meant a minimum 43%+ increase in power—terrifying!
After opening his monthly reward, Hikaru checked the Trait Shop.
When he refreshed, something caught his eye: a shimmering, silver-white feather.
[SSS-Class Relic — Silver Feather]
Contains the origin power of the Sea Guardian Lugia. The closer the user is to Lugia, the stronger the resonance.
Can also be worn to enhance Psychic-type Pokémon's abilities by 15%–50% (depending on tier). Cost: Trait Coins.
Another Legendary item!
This time, it was from Lugia.
But when Hikaru looked at his remaining Trait Coins, he quietly sighed.
Still several thousand short...
If he wanted to buy this, he'd have to rely on how much Trait Coin the [Rare Pokémon's Guidance] event would yield.
To be continued...
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