After installing all the equipment, Aoki activated the systems across the entire island.
Suddenly, the entire island vanished from sight.
Standing inside, Aoki and the others felt no different, and the surroundings appeared unchanged. However, from the outside, the small island had completely disappeared into the ocean.
Under normal circumstances, this would go unnoticed—no one or Pokémon would pay attention to such an insignificant, unremarkable island.
But today was different.
The previous night, when the Altaria attempted to Mega Evolve, it had drawn unusual attention.
A curious observer lingered just beyond the island's borders, adhering to his mother's warnings.
Yet the strange light from the night before had piqued his interest, keeping him lingering outside the island all night instead of departing.
His patience yielded no answers—until the entire island abruptly vanished into the sea.
This startled him.
Having lived in the ocean for so long, he had never witnessed an island disappear without a trace.
He had seen islands destroyed before, but never one that simply faded away without disturbance or ripple.
Combined with the mysterious lights from the night before, his curiosity flared.
Ignoring his mother's repeated warnings, he could no longer resist.
His wings, capable of cutting through water and air alike, propelled him upward with minimal splash.
Hovering in the air, he cautiously approached where the island had been.
Then, something extraordinary happened.
As his wingtips brushed forward, they vanished from sight.
Startled, he jerked back—only to find them unharmed.
Reassured, he extended his wings again. Once more, they disappeared, yet he felt nothing.
Amused, he repeated the motion, watching his wings flicker in and out of visibility.
Then, hesitantly, he pushed his head forward.
With a blink, he found himself peering inside the barrier.
Twisting his neck, he saw the island—still there, just hidden.
His body remained visible behind him, but beyond the barrier, only open sea stretched endlessly.
His curiosity only grew.
Resolved, he flapped his wings hard and surged forward—passing entirely through the barrier.
Landing unharmed, he exhaled in relief before studying his surroundings.
The strange film that had obscured the island seemed to emanate from odd devices embedded in the ground.
What had once been an ordinary island now felt like a secret world.
Meanwhile, Aoki, having just finished setting up the barrier, was about to rest when the system alarms blared.
Something—or someone—had breached the barrier.
At first, Aoki dismissed it. With no ships nearby, it had to be a wild Pokémon.
Oceanic Pokémon were abundant; one stray crossing wasn't unusual.
But the alarms kept sounding.
Repeatedly.
Nonstop.
Enough! If it wanted in, why keep testing the barrier?
Annoyed, Aoki grabbed Slowking and the drowsy Ralts nestled in his arms, heading for the shore where the alarms originated.
He wanted to see what Pokémon was causing such a disturbance.
Using Teleport, Slowking transported them to the beach in an instant.
When Aoki's vision cleared, he froze.
There, playfully darting in and out of the barrier, was the Pokémon.
And the sight of it stunned him.
Most of its body was white, its underbelly a soft blue, with matching blue ridges along its back and around its eyes. Its wing-like appendages doubled as powerful limbs, and its tail and legs were thick and muscular.
At a glance, it resembled a bird—but its other features hinted at something far more extraordinary.
This was no ordinary Pokémon.
This was Lugia.
The legendary Lugia, said to be the guardian of the seas.
Stories of Lugia originated in Johto, but its legend had spread worldwide, whispered among sailors and Trainers alike.
It was said that Lugia could summon storms lasting forty days with a single flap of its wings.
Its power was so immense that it lived in isolation, deep beneath the waves.
Lugia was a deity, a being on par with Ho-Oh—a true Legendary Pokémon.
Though Psychic- and Flying-type, its mastery over the ocean was unmatched.
Aoki's initial shock gave way to realization: This Lugia wasn't the colossal figure of legend.
Myths described Lugia as towering over five meters tall—far larger than even Kyogre.
This one stood just over two meters.
Which meant only one thing:
This was Lugia's offspring.
Though genderless, Lugia could reproduce, much like the Regi trio.
And this young Lugia, Aoki recalled, would one day be captured by Team Rocket.
Its identity was undeniable.
And with that confirmation, a reckless, thrilling idea seized Aoki.
Catch it.
Tame it.
The true Divine Lugia was untouchable, a force of nature beyond human reach.
But this juvenile?
It bore no divine mantle. It could be captured.
As if sensing Aoki's intent—or perhaps the weight of his gaze—the young Lugia suddenly stilled.
Hovering in the air, it fixed Aoki with a piercing stare.
There had been malice in that human's thoughts.
As a Legendary, even a young one, its instincts were razor-sharp.
Aoki met its eyes—and every thought of capture evaporated.
It was suicidal to anger legendary Pokemon.