Pokémon: Victini
Level: 1
Potential: ???
Ability: Victory Star
Gender: None
Moves: V-create, Quick Attack, Searing Shot, Confusion, Light Screen
Looking at the data scanned by the system, Chen Shi felt a surge of excitement.
Victini's level might be low—but its potential couldn't even be measured by the system.
Even Dragapult's Sub-Legendary-tier potential could be detected.
For Victini to show "???"—
That could only mean one thing.
Its potential was even higher.
And on top of that—
It had already mastered V-create right after hatching.
A Fire-type move with overwhelming power.
There was no way Chen Shi wouldn't be thrilled.
Without hesitation, he took out a bottle of MooMoo Milk he had prepared earlier and handed it over.
"Here, little V. Drink this."
"Vee?"
Victini tilted its head curiously, then leaned in to sniff the bottle.
The moment it caught the scent—
Its eyes lit up.
"Vee~!"
Hugging the bottle, it began drinking eagerly, gulp after gulp.
Chen Shi smiled.
No surprise there.
Even he, someone with a picky palate, couldn't resist MooMoo Milk.
Watching Victini happily drink, Chen Shi shifted his attention.
He hadn't forgotten—
Victini's hatching was all thanks to Jirachi.
"Chen Shi…"
Jirachi's voice was weak now.
Its energy was clearly fading—it was about to fall asleep.
Chen Shi stepped forward and gently held it in his arms.
"Thank you, Jirachi."
"It's okay… helping Chen Shi makes Jirachi happy…"
Even in its exhausted state, Jirachi forced a soft, sweet smile.
"But Jirachi is going to sleep soon…"
"I won't be able to stay by your side anymore…"
"Let little V take my place…"
"Vee?"
Victini glanced at Jirachi in confusion, not quite understanding, before returning to its milk.
Chen Shi fell silent for a moment, then asked softly:
"Jirachi… you've lived for so long. You must have granted a lot of wishes, right?"
"Mm! When Jirachi grants wishes… people are very happy."
Its eyes brightened slightly, as if it truly found joy in helping others.
"Then what about you?" Chen Shi asked gently. "Do you have any wishes of your own?"
Jirachi paused.
Then its expression dimmed.
"Jirachi… doesn't want to sleep for so long…"
"Even if I could only live for a hundred years…"
"That would be enough…"
"Then I could always stay with Chen Shi and play…"
Its small body curled up in his arms, looking heartbreakingly fragile.
Cynthia and Phoebe turned their heads away, unable to watch.
Such a simple wish.
It didn't ask for power.
Didn't ask for greatness.
It only wanted to stay with its friends… and be happy.
But even that—
Was impossible.
Jirachi would still fall asleep.
And awaken again a thousand years later.
And by then—
Would there still be someone like Chen Shi?
Someone who would play with it… bring it delicious food… help it rediscover a world that had changed beyond recognition?
"…Not wanting to sleep…"
Chen Shi murmured to himself, deep in thought.
Then he suddenly asked:
"Jirachi… a thousand years ago, did I ever say anything important to you? Or leave you any message?"
"Mm…"
Jirachi rubbed its eyes, trying to recall.
Chen Shi didn't rush it. He simply waited.
After a long moment—
Jirachi seemed to remember.
Back then, just before it fell asleep, Chen Shi had repeatedly told it one sentence.
And had told it—
To make sure to pass it on to his future self.
But Jirachi hadn't understood it at the time.
And after waking up, it had been too busy playing to remember.
Only now did it recall.
"Chen Shi said…"
"Use magic to defeat magic."
"…What does that even mean?" Phoebe scratched her head in confusion.
Cynthia frowned slightly as well.
Magic?
What was that?
Did such a thing even exist in this world?
And why would Chen Shi from the future say something like that?
"Use magic to defeat magic…"
Chen Shi repeated the words.
Then—
His eyes lit up.
Others might not understand.
But he did.
It was a phrase from his previous world.
And the meaning was simple—
To counter a supernatural force…
You needed another supernatural force.
In that instant—
He understood what his future self had meant.
At that moment, Jirachi suddenly gathered its remaining strength and floated into the air.
Its eyes were filled with reluctance.
"Chen Shi… I really have to sleep now…"
"Being able to meet you twice… Jirachi is very happy…"
"Thank you for appearing in my long… yet short life…"
"These days… have been the happiest I've ever had…"
"Before I go…"
"Do you have any wish?"
"Quick—tell me while I'm still awake!"
"Let this be my final gift to you…"
Chen Shi smiled and spread his arms.
"Then I'll make a wish."
"Okay!"
Jirachi closed its eyes, bringing its hands together.
The Eye of Truth on its abdomen opened once more.
Cynthia, Phoebe, and all the Pokémon watched in silence.
Even Victini stopped drinking, staring intently.
Chen Shi cleared his throat.
"Here it comes…"
"Go ahead, Chen Shi~"
"My wish is—"
"Jirachi will no longer fall asleep."
"And can live happily forever."
"Okay… Jirachi will grant your wi—"
Jirachi had already begun to draw upon the comet's power—
But suddenly—
It froze.
Its eyes snapped open, staring at Chen Shi in shock.
Cynthia and Phoebe froze for a moment—
Then their expressions turned to excitement.
High above—
The once-in-a-millennium comet blazed with blinding light.
Half the sky lit up like a second sun.
Across the world, countless people looked up in shock, unable to understand what was happening.
At this moment—
The very rules of the comet began to conflict.
One force trying to grant Chen Shi's wish—
And the other—
Trying to pull Jirachi into its destined slumber.
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