Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 538: Flint: "Johan, Help Me!"

Mistralton City.

A coastal metropolis located in the central part of the Unova region, Mistralton is the largest city and seaport in Unova, brimming with towering skyscrapers. It's the region's commercial and economic hub.

Johan and the others had taken a ferry from Undella Town to reach Mistralton, docking directly at its massive port.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar stood proudly, chin up, gawking at the skyscrapers scraping the clouds, clicking its tongue in awe.

As an international city, Mistralton's port was likely the largest in the Pokémon world. With the Junior Masters World Championship around the corner, the harbor was packed with vessels large and small.

Despite having been in Unova for some time, this was Johan's first visit to Mistralton.

Its layout resembled Lumiose City in Kalos—a circular design with concentric ring roads, and a vast central park home to many wild Pokémon.

The streets were decked out with lights and decorations, selling goods from all over the world. The local stalls were particularly popular.

"Oricorio feather fans! All four colors available—mix-and-match options too!"

"Got trash? Don't litter—give it to my Trubbish! It'll break it down. Just don't get too close—the gas is toxic. Me? Don't worry, I took antidotes!"

"Fortune-telling! Gothorita will read your fate, love life, career..."

Mistralton was already bustling, and the championship made it even more lively.

The economic boost from all the tourists and fans flooding in from around the world would surely multiply the city's revenue severalfold.

"I heard Mistralton Ice Cream is famous."

Before Johan could finish, Cynthia, Gengar, and Larvitar's eyes lit up.

Welp. Shouldn't have said that.

But sure enough, when they reached the shop, a huge line had already formed.

Looks like it'd be at least half an hour.

Thankfully, they weren't in a rush, so they queued up.

Surprisingly, the line moved fast. In under ten minutes, it was their turn.

"Ka-kaah~ Ka-kaah~~"

"Yoji~~"

"Melo?"

Gengar, ever the expert, pointed to his choices rapidly, stacking five scoops into a towering cone.

Larvitar picked all vanilla—its favorite.

Meloetta looked confused by the colorful ice cream options—it was its first time.

And it wasn't alone.

Cynthia stood there, torn. "Vanilla's nice, but mint looks good... and chocolate..."

Johan glanced behind them. If he let her keep thinking, people were going to riot.

So under the grateful gaze of the employee, Johan decisively ordered, "Two vanilla, two mint, one chocolate. Thanks."

"Got it!"

Cynthia quietly breathed a sigh of relief, accepting the selection Johan made.

With cones in hand, they strolled toward the city center.

"Melo~!"

Meloetta took one lick, and its eyes sparkled with joy. The cool, sweet treat had won it over instantly.

"Don't eat too much, Meloetta. You'll get a tummy ache," Johan warned.

"Melo!!"

Meloetta nodded obediently.

The streets were packed with people and Pokémon alike. It was common here to bring Pokémon along while shopping or walking.

Not just Trainers—even regular citizens walked with their partners.

An elderly man strolled with his Pidove, who perched faithfully on his shoulder, guiding him like a lifelong companion.

A child rode a Blitzle. His legs didn't work, so Blitzle became his feet—his companion to explore the world.

"Humans and Pokémon are inseparable..." Johan murmured.

Team Plasma's ideology of separating Pokémon and humans seemed so absurd when faced with scenes like these.

Sure, there were disputes—but the bonds, the trust, the support—they far outweighed the negatives.

"Why separate them?" Cynthia asked, licking her ice cream, her eyes clear.

Yeah—why?

"I've even heard stories of humans and Pokémon falling in love and having children~" Caitlin added.

Johan blinked.

She meant N, didn't she?

Like Mewtwo, N wasn't quite sure whether he was human or Pokémon—but he chose to stand with Pokémon.

Not just N—there were children raised by Pokémon who believed they were Pokémon too.

Like Koko, raised by Zarude—who saw it as his father.

Feelings between humans, between Pokémon, and between humans and Pokémon... these things couldn't be explained by numbers or data.

"Ka-kaah?"

Hearing that last line, Gengar looked back at Johan.

"Not talking about you!" Johan shot back.

"Ka-kaah..."

Gengar sighed in relief, patting its chest.

His true love was Minccino, okay?

Johan's eye twitched. What goes on in that head of his?

Cynthia giggled. "Actually, I've seen ancient texts with those stories. Might not be fiction."

"Of course," Johan adjusted his hat.

"You sound confident. Have you seen it?" Caitlin asked suspiciously.

"Seen it? No. But I know people who can fistfight Pokémon."

"Like Bruno?"

"No, Bruno's just really fit. I mean kids who've never trained."

Super Protagonist Mode: Activate!

"You're kidding..."

Johan shot her a look.

You're one to talk.

Your psychic power alone can overpower most Pokémon.

Reading his stare, Caitlin scoffed. "Don't look at me like that. You're not much better."

"Uh..."

She wasn't wrong.

He was becoming less and less like a normal human himself.

So are humans truly just human? Or one branch of Pokémon?

Tough question.

"This the stadium?"

Reaching Mistralton's central park, the trio stared, stunned.

The Unova League went all out!

They hadn't removed or rebuilt the park—instead, they built a floating stadium above it!

Each road leading to the park had escalators taking people up to the venue.

It minimized disruption to wild Pokémon while giving spectators an aerial view of the city.

The investment must've been enormous.

The park also had various battlefields for Trainers to enjoy, and even a new Pokémon Center nearby for quick healing.

No wonder they picked Mistralton as the host city.

Felt like the Olympics in Johan's past life.

They even had a player village and commercial districts set up.

"Yoji!"

Larvitar pointed—wild Pokémon were wandering the park: Deerling, Petilil, Swadloon...

They weren't afraid of people, just curious—especially about Meloetta sitting on Johan's shoulder.

"Melo~~"

In high spirits, Meloetta floated up and began to sing.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

Its beautiful melody flowed like a spring stream into the hearts of all nearby—people and Pokémon alike.

Everything felt peaceful and wonderful...

"Ka-kaah!!"

Gengar cleared its throat dramatically.

If Meloetta's singing moved people—wait till he sang!

With a flutter, Gengar floated up beside Meloetta.

Huh? Another performer?

Meloetta's charm and song had left many awestruck. And now another dared join?

Gengar puffed up and—

"Ka~ Ka-kaah~~ Ka-kaah-kaah~~"

Everyone: "..."

They had... overestimated him.

Still, Gengar landed beside Meloetta, grinning. They bowed together.

"Melo~~"

Meloetta didn't mind at all. Gengar sang with feeling—who cares about pitch?

As long as it wasn't Perish Song, Johan would allow it.

"Where is everyone?"

The tournament starts the day after tomorrow. Shouldn't they all be here by now?

"Weren't you the one arranging it?" Caitlin asked.

"Me?"

Johan looked at Cynthia—she looked back.

Welp. No one did.

He pulled out his phone and called Steven.

"Professor?"

Steven's voice came through, slightly muffled with background noise.

"Where are you?"

"Me? I'm in the desert. Heard there are rare rocks here!"

The desert?

North of Mistralton lies Unova's largest desert.

Of course Steven went rock-hunting first thing.

"What about Flint and Volkner? With you?"

"Oh, them? Flint's missing."

"...What."

"They came with me to explore. Flint vanished shortly after we entered the desert. Volkner went back to the city library."

Johan felt something bad coming.

Sure enough—

Right after the call ended, his phone rang again.

"Johan!! Finally got through!! I—"

Johan: "..."

He shared a look with Cynthia and Caitlin.

Classic Flint.

"I don't know where I am! I was walking, then suddenly fell into sand... now I'm in some ancient ruin. Barely have signal! You don't know what I went through to make this call—"

In the ruins deep within the desert, Flint stood atop Infernape's shoulders, which stood on Magmortar, which stood on Rapidash.

Rapidash: "&@#&@"

"Johan, help!!"

The call dropped.

Johan looked at Cynthia and Caitlin again.

Cynthia looked intrigued at the words "ancient ruin."

Caitlin? Unbothered.

"My suggestion—"

Cynthia cut in, "Let's check it out?"

Johan: "..."

He suspected Flint fell into the Desert Resort's ancient castle—no legendary Pokémon there...

But there might be a very strong and ancient Volcarona!

"Won't we get lost?"

"No worries. I'll leave a psychic beacon here in Mistralton. We can return anytime," Caitlin said smugly.

Psychics really could do whatever they wanted.

Johan was jealous.

One day, he'd master Aura Sphere...

Since both agreed, he gave in.

"Alright."

Let's just hope we don't run into Volcarona. Find Flint, smack him, and get out.

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Powerstones?

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