Chapter 108: A Place to Return To and Hope

“A lone Honedge?” Su Yi looked at the scene before him in surprise.

Earlier, seeing the Meowth leader and the Steel Armored Crow seemingly searching specifically for him, he had thought it was something important.

But Su Yi never expected that they would simply push a lone Honedge right in front of him.

“Yin,” the Honedge glanced at the tall, robust Xuan Bird behind Su Yi, then looked down at its own tattered, filthy body, feeling a wave of insecurity.

“Can you tell me what’s going on?” Su Yi crouched down and asked softly.

The Honedge stepped forward, unfurling its ribbon to reveal a crumpled piece of dessert wrapper inside.

“Dessert wrapper?” Su Yi was momentarily puzzled.

The Honedge drew its uneven, pitted blade and began sketching something on the ground.

After studying it for a while, Su Yi realized it looked like a train.

“A train? The Ghost Train?” Su Yi suddenly recalled how, before boarding the Ghost Train, his Rotom phone had captured an image of a brown figure with a blue ribbon.

“You... followed me all the way from the Ghost Train?” Su Yi asked in disbelief.

“Yin~” The Honedge swayed gently, as if nodding.

“You want to come with me?” Su Yi asked hesitantly.

The Honedge hesitated; at this point, it seemed uncertain and reluctant to respond.

“Nia,” the Meowth leader nudged it.

The Honedge turned toward it, only to find that all the Pokémon in the abandoned factory had gathered around, chattering supportively as if encouraging it.

“Yin!” The Honedge mustered its courage and floated forward.

“Do you want to come with me?” Su Yi could hardly believe it—here was a Pokémon that had followed him all this way, wanting to become his companion.

He could imagine a lone Pokémon, unfamiliar with the bustling city, wandering aimlessly and lonely, with no one to rely on.

“Yin!” The Honedge swayed its body.

Su Yi took out a Poké Ball with a serious expression and held it out to the Honedge. “Have you made up your mind?”

“Yin~” Without hesitation, the Honedge moved forward, touched the switch on the Poké Ball, and was instantly captured.

*Thud!*

Without any ripples, the capture was successful.

Su Yi released the Honedge back out.

At that moment, the Pokémon in the abandoned factory cheered, as if congratulating the Honedge.

“Yin~” The Honedge looked at the group of Pokémon with deep emotion.

Marley pondered aloud, “Could it be that they’re blessing Honedge for no longer having to wander alone?”

Su Yi carefully wiped the Honedge clean with a cloth, but the damage to its sheath and blade was beyond repair.

He glanced at the wandering Pokémon around them. Perhaps, as Marley said, these Pokémon understood all too well how difficult it was to roam the big city alone, which was why they were so happy to see Honedge find a trainer.

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations on capturing a new Pokémon. It seems to really like you,” Nemo said with a smile.

The three Ursaluna approached, looking apologetic as they handed over their collections: an unused Poké Ball, some berries, and a few sparkling, beautiful fragments.

“For me?” Nemo asked in surprise.

“Jilu,” the Ursaluna nodded.

Feeling their sincere apology, Nemo smiled and said, “I accept your peace offerings.”

Just then, Nemo’s Rotom phone floated out, signaling an incoming call.

“Hello? Okay, got it.”

After finishing the call, Nemo sighed and said to Su Yi, “Su Yi, I really wanted to keep battling you, but something came up and I don’t know when I’ll be free again. I’m really sorry I can’t give you the exciting battle you wanted.”

“No problem,” Su Yi smiled, though he was admittedly a little disappointed the battle was cut short.

“Let’s exchange contact info. Maybe we’ll have another chance later,” Nemo said.

Su Yi took out his Rotom phone, and they exchanged information.

“See you!” Nemo waved goodbye, then hurried off, guided by her phone’s navigation.

“What a pity. That thrilling battle ended just like that,” Marley said regretfully.

That intense, passionate fight—with fierce offense and defense—was impressive even without using the Galarian Dynamax.

As the sun set, and the Pokémon saw them off, Su Yi and Marley’s group left the abandoned factory.

“Meow! Do those Pokémon also look forward to adventuring with humans?” Cress asked.

Su Yi replied, “Maybe. Some Pokémon want to get stronger, to travel, to fight and live alongside their trainers, and so they set out on their journeys.”

“Others prefer to stay with their groups, living quietly and peacefully through their lives.”

“But no matter what, I always respect a Pokémon’s choice. We all have the right to choose,” Su Yi said.

“Morubeku, do you want to battle and grow stronger with me?” Marley asked softly, looking down at the Morubeku in her arms.

“Morubei!” Morubeku nodded and smiled in response.

“I will keep getting stronger and then challenge you,” Marley said calmly.

Su Yi smiled. Today’s battle had clearly inspired the girl. It was obvious she was eager to grow stronger.

After parting ways with Marley, Su Yi found Onio sitting alone on the rooftop, lost in thought.

“Oh? You caught a new Pokémon?” Onio said, looking at the Honedge Su Yi had released.

Su Yi recounted the story of capturing Honedge.

“Following you all the way from the Ghost Train, then finding the wandering Pokémon for help, and finally finding you?” Onio said in surprise.

“Exactly. It’s less that I captured it, and more that it found me.”

“As for this little one’s thoughts, I’m not sure yet, so I wanted to ask you to communicate with it,” Su Yi said.

“Is that so? I’ll try talking with it,” Onio nodded and began communicating with Honedge.

After a while of silence, Onio said to Su Yi, “The Ghost Train carries Ghost-type Pokémon to their resting place. Ghost Pokémon aren’t immortal; those nearing death also have their own destinations.”

Su Yi frowned. “What do you mean?”

Onio lowered his voice: “Once Honedge’s body begins to deteriorate, it’s a sign that it’s gradually fading away.”

“Honedge’s intended stop was the Sword Graveyard—a place where Honedge and its kin, whose bodies are decaying and whose souls and energy are leaking away, find eternal rest.”

Onio’s tone grew heavy: “It wants to see the world before it completely disappears.”

Su Yi held Honedge gently, his gaze serious. “Is there a way to repair it?”

Onio was momentarily taken aback, then said, “I don’t know for sure, but there should be a way. If there are materials containing life force or energy, it might be possible.”

Su Yi murmured, “Materials containing life force or energy…”

“Does that mean I could—”

Su Yi’s eyes lit up as a bold, yet promising idea surfaced in his mind.

“Honedge, perhaps there’s still a way to fully restore you and give you a new life!” Su Yi said earnestly.

“Yin?!”

(The chapter ends.)