Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 175: Saving Serperior

Hearing the League President's words, Hikaru finally felt relieved.

An hour.

That meant Gardevoir's Time Rewind could still work.

However…

There were too many people around.

Using such a miraculous ability in front of them…

That would be dangerous.

If word got out, it would bring unnecessary trouble.

"Ralts~"

A soft, familiar voice suddenly rang out.

A Ralts suddenly teleported into their midst.

Mew, feeling bored in the World Tree, had followed Hikaru's aura to find him.

Its sudden appearance left all three adults momentarily stunned.

A Ralts?

And it had teleported here on its own?

But Lance quickly realized what was going on.

This wasn't a Ralts—

It was Mew.

"You came?"

Hikaru's mind raced.

Then, he quickly turned to Lance.

"Champion Lance, I need to take this Serperior somewhere. There's still a chance to save it."

Lance knew about the World Tree.

As long as Hikaru gave a vague excuse, he could take Serperior somewhere private and heal it without revealing Gardevoir's ability.

In fact, Lance might even help cover for him.

Lance paused, then nodded slightly in understanding.

"Alright. I'll wait here for you."

"Thanks."

Hikaru nodded, then turned to Latias.

"Latias, carefully lift Serperior with Psychic. Be as gentle as possible."

"Mm…"

Latias, following Hikaru's teachings, never spoke in front of others.

Instead, she quietly nodded and used her Psychic power to gently lift Serperior off the ground.

She made sure to keep it completely stable.

Serperior couldn't handle any more trauma.

"Ralts?" (You're trying to save this Pokémon?)

Mew tilted its head curiously.

To Mew, who had lived for countless years, seeing Pokémon die was nothing new.

This Serperior…

It was already halfway to the afterlife.

Saving it?

That was nearly impossible.

Unless—

Hikaru still had some Xerneas's Life Essence left.

"Just follow me."

Hikaru didn't answer directly.

Instead, he jumped onto Latias's back.

Latias then lifted off, carrying Serperior with her.

"Ralts…"

Mew sighed and teleported up to follow them.

That left Granny and the League President standing there, puzzled.

After a moment—

Granny couldn't help but speak.

"Champion Lance, with Milotic's Life Dew and Hikaru's Verdant Power, Serperior might be able to last until we reach a medical center…"

If they could just get it to a proper facility, it might have a chance.

But that Ralts had also caught her attention.

Wasn't Hikaru's main Psychic-type Pokémon Gardevoir?

Now he had another Ralts?

Was he planning to train a Gallade?

"Just trust the kid."

Lance simply shook his head.

He wasn't putting his faith in Hikaru.

He was putting his faith in that mysterious tree—

And in Mew.

Even now, he could feel the energy density in the area slowly increasing.

---

Above the World Tree

Hikaru instructed Latias to fly high above the tree.

Once they reached the uppermost region, he immediately ordered—

"Latias, activate Invisibility Cloak."

"Meow?" (Is there really any hope?)

Mew finally returned to its true form, floating beside him.

"Yes."

Hikaru responded briefly, then summoned Gardevoir.

After a moment's thought, he turned to Mew.

"Mew, once Serperior is healed, I'll need you to hold it in place with Psychic."

He wasn't taking any chances.

A Level 70 Serperior suddenly recovering could result in an aggressive reaction.

A Leaf Storm or Leaf Blade at close range?

He didn't want to risk it.

"Meow~"

Mew nodded, giggling softly.

Helping Hikaru always made it happy.

"Gardevoir, use Time Rewind on Serperior!"

"Garde!"

Gardevoir nodded seriously, her red eyes glowing brightly.

A strange energy radiated from her gaze, descending onto Serperior.

And then—

In an instant—

Before their shocked eyes—

Serperior's wounds began vanishing.

Not healing.

Not closing.

They were simply… gone.

Within just a few seconds, Serperior had completely recovered.

Only a few scattered scales remained slightly ruffled.

[Time Rewind]…

Terrifying.

"…What the hell."

"Mm?"

"Meow?"

"Garde!?"

Even Gardevoir, the one who cast the move, was shocked.

She hadn't expected it to work so well.

A moment ago, Serperior had been on the verge of death.

Now?

It was perfectly fine.

This wasn't just rewinding time for the wounds—

It was rewinding time for Serperior itself.

"…Holy crap."

Hikaru stared at the fully healed Serperior, then turned to Gardevoir.

"That was amazing."

"…Garde?" (It was Hikaru's power…)

To his surprise, Gardevoir's face flushed red, just like when they first met.

She had blushed.

Hikaru was briefly stunned.

But before he could react—

Serperior's body twitched.

Mew immediately snapped back to attention.

Its Psychic expanded, locking Serperior in place.

---

Serperior's Perspective

When Serperior saw that Hyper Beam coming, she knew she wouldn't survive.

But she had still launched Leaf Storm.

Ever since Salamence first drove out the Budew and Ivysaur families,

She had known—

As long as the World Tree remained sick, Salamence wouldn't stop.

So she had tried to rally other Pokémon.

To unite against Salamence.

But she hadn't expected it to strike first.

She had only managed to convince Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Shiftry to stand with her.

And the result?

Even with four Pokémon at Champion-level,

They had been utterly crushed.

She remembered the Hyper Beam hitting her—

She had felt her life fading away.

And yet—

Now…

She was alive?

Wasn't she supposed to be dead?

Had she… survived?

Had her wounds healed?

No.

This was impossible.

---

Back to Reality

Serperior's eyes snapped open.

A bright sky.

Light.

She was… floating?

"Serp?"

Her body wasn't responding.

She instinctively tried to move.

And then—

She realized something shocking.

Her injuries were gone.

Everything felt normal.

"…Serp?" (What's happening…?)

Just then—

A calm, soothing voice reached her.

"Don't be afraid."

For the first time, Serperior looked around.

She was in the sky.

And she was being held in place.

"…Serp!!"

A proud Serperior could not accept being restrained.

Her energy surged—

Her leaf-blade tail sharpened.

Leaf Blade!

However—

No matter how hard she struggled—

Against Mew's Psychic,

She was completely helpless.

"Serperior, relax."

Hikaru spoke gently.

"…Serp?"

Something familiar brushed against her.

A warm, vibrant energy.

She had felt it before.

Back when she was dying.

This was…

His power.

"…Serp?" (You saved me?)

---

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