Chapter 292: Chapter 292
Brook's choice left countless viewers baffled.
"You used such a precious opportunity to ask for a house?"
"I'll give you a hundred houses if you give me that chance instead."
"Damn it, I wouldn't mind if he'd chosen to revive someone or gain immense power."
Many couldn't understand Brook's thinking.
Eternal life.
Immunity to illness.
Resurrection of the dead.
So many things to choose from, and yet he asked for a house, something seemingly trivial.
Though, to be fair, this house wasn't entirely worthless—it would be the only house floating on the sea near Alliance City.
To many, however, it held little value or meaning.
After all, as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, he was entitled to a house in Alliance City as part of his duties. Why ask for another?
But ordinary people couldn't fathom Brook's motives or ambitions.
Everyone has different aspirations; not everyone would choose something universally considered precious if given such an opportunity.
For instance...
For Saul, he would wish to unveil the hidden history from 800 years ago, revealing the truth the World Government tried to bury.
For Hannibal, he would wish for more power, authority, and fame.
For Kuzan, he might wish for a permanent paid vacation.
For Mihawk, he might wish for the recovery of his Pokémon's health.
For Brook, all he wanted was to leave cherished memories with his current companions. He had no grand ambitions or unachievable desires beyond that.
Brook, after all, was already an "undead." He wouldn't age, fall ill, or perish. He could live a long, long time with his Ghost-type companions.
Even if his friends faced death, it was something they had all come to terms with as pirates long ago.
The one thing that lingered in his heart, however, was an unfulfilled promise.
For Brook, nothing else was as important as that promise, aside from his companions.
The house he requested was, in fact, meant for a particular friend.
At the end, Brook and his Pokémon took a group photo with the golden trophy.
The trophy resembled an ice cream cone, with the "ice cream" portion as a solid gold Poké Ball.
With that, the awards ceremony concluded, and Dak didn't make a speech.
The group photo would be displayed in the Alliance's main hall, where it would hang for years to come.
After Brook's unique request was fully understood, the Alliance staff realized the significance of the house he had asked for.
The house, built on the sea near Alliance City, would be a special three-level structure.
The top two levels would be above the water, with the lowest level submerged.
While the top two levels were ordinary 150-square-meter spaces, the underwater level was spacious enough to accommodate a full-grown Wailord.
Clearly, Brook intended for Laboon to reside on Pokémon Island as his family.
Brook was genuinely concerned about Laboon being hunted, either by people or by predatory sea creatures in the Grand Line.
At the same time, statues of the Four Heavenly Kings were being added to the newly constructed Hall of Beginnings in the northwest corner of Alliance City.
...
As night fell.
"Alright, it's time for you to go back."
"Mm, I'm ready!"
Charlotte nodded, a bit reluctant but sensible, without any tears.
A necklace now adorned Charlotte's neck, a gift from Dak.
The necklace held a rainbow-colored stone—a Mega Evolution Stone for Charizard X.
"Also, remember, you have a house in Yggdrasil. I've instructed the Alliance staff to keep it for you. Check it out in a hundred years."
"Oh! I nearly forgot!" Charlotte's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A house near the World Tree in Yggdrasil is super expensive, and I've got one!"
Though houses in Yggdrasil weren't currently as valuable as she thought, a century from now would be an entirely different story.
With the World Tree as a landmark, Yggdrasil would hold unparalleled value on Pokémon Island in the future.
"Alright, Dialga."
Dak nodded and gestured to his side.
A massive head emerged from a time rift—Dialga's. Just its head was dozens of meters high.
"Shrink down."
Seeing the large head appear suddenly, Dak gave a helpless look.
He glanced at Charlotte beside him, who had frozen in place.
Using his Aura abilities, Dak sensed that her heart rate was rapidly escalating, and she was about to faint. Fortunately, Dialga was a calm and obedient Pokémon.
In the next moment, Dialga's enormous head shrank to less than a meter in height.
"T-this…" Charlotte stammered, overwhelmed.
"Yes, this is the legendary Time Deity, Dialga. You've likely never seen it before."
Few had witnessed the legendary Pokémon, even among the gods in the Shrine of Beginnings.
"Mm-hm." Charlotte nodded. "In our time, many trainers and archaeologists pursued the secrets and traces of these legendary Pokémon, but few ever saw a real 'god.'"
"Dialga, please take this child back to her time. You should be able to pinpoint it accurately with your abilities."
Dialga nodded and looked at Charlotte.
"Goodbye, First Alliance Leader! I'll tell everyone how handsome and kind you are!"
"I appreciate it."
Dak smiled and waved as Dialga led Charlotte through the time portal.
After they left, Dak's expression grew serious.
"Phew, I've got a lot to do. Let's wrap things up in the Ninja World before Tezoro and Stella's wedding."
Dak stretched.
Just then, Dialga reappeared beside him.
"So soon?"
Dialga nodded.
"How was it? No mistakes with the destination?"
Dialga responded with a low hum, "She participated in the 100th Pokémon Battle Tournament, but even with Mega Evolution, she didn't make it past the qualifiers."
This revealed that Dialga had peered even further into the future.
"Didn't I tell you not to wander around different time periods?"
Dak playfully punched Dialga's knee.
Dialga, unaffected but apologetic, bowed its head, as it was still a young Pokémon.
"Alright, let's go check on the Ninja World."
Dak waved it off, letting the matter slide.
Though he found it surprising that Charlotte's team of level 45 Pokémon hadn't even reached the qualifiers, it wasn't his concern.
The last time Dak ventured into the Ninja World, he brought Darkrai and Palkia. This time, it was Darkrai and Dialga.
Darkrai remained hidden in Dak's shadow, only appearing when necessary.
Given Dak's strength, he rarely faced danger.
Ninja World
Dak and Dialga appeared amidst the clouds over Konoha Village.
"Wait…" Dak used psychic powers and Haki to scan the area, and his face grew stunned.
There wasn't a single ninja in the village. No Pokémon, either—just civilians and academy students!
All the civilians were frail, showing signs of poor nutrition and sleeplessness.
Dak confirmed it with a deeper scan.
Konoha had no ninjas left!
"Even Hiruzen and the Hyuga clan leaders have been deployed?!"
Dak's eyes widened in disbelief at what could have driven the Hyuga clan, usually cautious and self-preserving, to the frontlines.
Without further hesitation, he moved toward the northern Fire Country border.
The small size of the Ninja World allowed Dak to arrive at the Fire Country's edge almost instantly using teleportation and the Door-Door Fruit.
There, he stopped.
The battlefield was right below.
Bodies of humans, summoned creatures, and Pokémon lay strewn across the blood-stained forest.
When a battlefield becomes so brutal that there's no time to cremate or bury the fallen, no words can fully capture its horror and savagery.
(End of Chapter)