Absol didn’t imdiately answer Natsu’s question. Instead, it stood up and began checking its own body.
The injuries it had sustained seed to have completely healed. The strange energy that had been preventing its recovery had also vanished along with them.
Its body felt better than ever—almost as if it had just co fresh out of the factory.
Was it these two humans who had saved it?
Absol’s gaze lingered on both Natsu and i for a mont before finally settling on Natsu.
It should be this human.
Absol wasn’t entirely sure, but there was sothing about Natsu that made it feel an inexplicable sense of closeness.
If it were a Pokémon like a Glaow—one naturally inclined to be affectionate—it would probably already be lying on its back, showing its belly, begging Natsu for pets, hugs, and to be lifted high into the air.
Plus, in its unconscious state, Absol vaguely rembered hearing Natsu’s voice.
So Absol figured it must have been Natsu who saved it.
As for the human female next to him?
She was probably just there for decoration.
Absol had encountered human Trainers before. It seed like quite a few of them enjoyed bringing along a "flower vase" or so sort of "accessory" on their travels.
Not sure about their actual strength, but at least they provided so emotional support.
And when trouble ca, they acted just like NPCs in a ga—spouting the sa few lines over and over again.
At this mont, i, completely unaware that Absol had ntally categorized her as a decorative companion, was looking at it with concern.
"Sol."
Thank you for saving .
Though Absol had a lot of thoughts swirling in its mind, it didn't show any of them on the surface. It simply lowered its head slightly toward Natsu and i in gratitude.
This was quite different from the usual aloof and proud deanor of Absols, which took i by surprise.
Natsu and Slowking, however, remained unfazed.
For Natsu, it was simply because, since childhood, he had never t a Pokémon that stayed "cool and distant" around him.
He could even turn a stern police officer’s Houndoom into a playful goofball.
As for Slowking, it was probably the Pokémon on the farm that best understood just how unusual Natsu was.
When it evolved into Slowking, the seal placed by Uxie had dissolved.
Along with the surge of power that returned to it, a flood of knowledge left behind by Uxie had also rushed into its mind.
It was as if a parent, worried their child might go hungry while traveling, had left them with an excessive amount of money and food.
Uxie, the god of wisdom, had left behind a great deal of information.
As a self-proclaid wise mushroom (scratch that)—as the embodint of wisdom, Uxie possessed knowledge beyond what ordinary beings could comprehend.
And after receiving this sudden info dump, Slowking spent days sorting it all out.
With this knowledge, Slowking understood better than anyone just how abnormal Natsu was.
To Slowking, this farm was filled with unnatural occurrences.
That mysterious Zorua, always scheming and knowing far too much—not normal.
That Persian, with an absurdly powerful physique and energy—not normal.
That Corviknight, whose size and defensive capabilities were off the charts—not normal.
Even the farm itself seed to be evolving in strange ways.
But among all these abnormalities, Natsu was the most abnormal of them all.
This was one of the main reasons Slowking had decided to stay.
Maybe it wanted to find Uxie again. Maybe it just wanted to witness sothing different.
Either way, Slowking had chosen to remain here.
Helping Natsu manage this farm that, in its view, made no logical sense.
Not that it was complaining.
Work was work. Who actually likes working?
But then again, how many things in life do people really do just because they like them?
People don’t necessarily go to school because they like it—it’s just sothing they have to do, because everyone else does.
People don’t study for exams out of love for learning—they do it because they don’t want their years of effort to go to waste.
People don’t work because they enjoy it—it’s just that, well... they need money.
Slowking never resented its life. It knew that compared to most Pokémon, it was already living quite well.
And so, it was content.
But if there was ever an opportunity to nudge things along, to stir up the status quo just a little...
Slowking wouldn’t mind at all.
That was why it had called Natsu over to heal Absol in the first place.
As the blue glow in its eyes faded, Slowking returned to its usual calm expression.
The ability to foresee the future was a signature skill of the Lake Guardians.
And Slowking had picked up a thing or two.
Watching Natsu communicate effortlessly with Absol, Slowking silently stepped back behind i and Corviknight.
Now then... what should I eat tonight?
Maybe I’ll try that barbecue Natsu ntioned yesterday.
Slowking, lost in thought once again.
"I see. That’s what happened."
After a brief exchange with Absol, Natsu had a general grasp of the situation.
Its ho forest had been taken over by an unknown Pokémon, forcing many of its original inhabitants to leave.
And this Absol, apparently possessing quite the stubborn streak, had refused to leave.
Instead, it had relied on its speed and agility to launch a guerrilla-style resistance, striking at the intruder and retreating imdiately after.
But as everyone knows, people who love to tempt fate often don’t live long enough to regret it.
The more the forest was destroyed, the fewer places Absol had left to hide.
Eventually, it had no choice but to leave.
But running away just like that didn’t sit well with Absol.
So, before leaving, it had tried to deliver one last big attack—
And completely failed.
It had barely escaped with its life.
In its last monts of battle, all Absol rembered was the enemy lowering its head to the ground.
Then, the earth itself had split open, forming a bottomless chasm.
Everything after that was a blur.
It only recalled fleeing in an incredibly sorry state.
And the rest of the story was straightforward—
Absol had pushed through its injuries, made it all the way here, and finally collapsed, where it was found by Natsu.
Of course, what Absol didn’t admit was that it had no particular attachnt to that forest.
It simply couldn’t stand the Pokémon that had taken it over.
"Huh... that sounds kinda familiar."
For so reason, Natsu found this story oddly reminiscent of sothing.
Like he’d heard it before.
Who was it again...?
"Oh, right! The Bounsweet group!"
Natsu snapped his fingers in realization.
Hadn’t Steenee ntioned sothing similar before?
Its group had also fled their habitat after a powerful Pokémon had taken over.
"?"
Beside him, i looked completely lost.
She couldn’t understand what Absol was saying, nor did she know about the Bounsweet group’s situation.
Right now, she was just in a state of total confusion.
Fortunately, Natsu quickly explained the situation, allowing i to finally understand what was going on.
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