Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

Chapter 139: You Can’t Refuse, So Just Give In (Power Stone Milestone Extra Chapter 1/2)

The video froze on the moment Miori stood alone in the empty Gym battlefield, holding Joltik’s Poké Ball.

[Ding! It’s question time!]

[Generating a random question...]

[Question: Where was the Joltik that Miori used during her final assessment caught?]

[A. Route 4]

[B. Route 16]

[C. The outskirts of Chargestone Cave]

[D. In front of the Gym]

[The buzzer round will begin in thirty seconds!]

[VIP Chat Group]

[May]: Ah! It’s time for another question!

[Gary]: Isn’t this question far too obscure? Who would know where that Joltik was caught?!

[Drayden]: Joltik are actually distributed across a fairly wide area in the Unova region. There have been sightings on Route 4, Route 16, and inside Chargestone Cave.

[Volkner]: Option D, ”In front of the Gym,” is obviously there as a joke. We can eliminate that one immediately.

[Lenora]: Chargestone Cave is the most suitable habitat for Joltik. Its electromagnetic field is powerful, and Electric-type Pokémon are at their most active there.

[Iris]: I see. I learned something new.

[Chili]: I didn’t expect everyone to work out the answer so quickly. Now it’s merely a contest of reaction speed.

[Cilan]: Chili, I think it would be better to remain cautious...

[Countdown: Three, two, one—]

[Ding! The buzzer round has begun!]

A huge red button appeared in the center of the screen.

[Ding! Congratulations to Steven for buzzing in first!]

[Steven]: Hahaha! I’m still quite confident in my reaction speed!

[Wallace]: I suggest you stop acting so pleased with yourself. Don’t forget what happened during your last punishment.

[Steven]: Wallace, could you stop bringing up the past? Today, I, Steven Stone, will prove that stone enthusiasts can have their moment too! I choose C—the outskirts of Chargestone Cave!

The screen flashed.

A bright-red notification appeared.

[Incorrect answer!]

In Rustboro City, Hoenn.

Steven had been looking exceptionally pleased with himself, only for the livestream to immediately pour cold water over his excitement.

He scratched his head in frustration.

It seemed he was about to publicly humiliate himself yet again.

Although he often made outrageous remarks in the livestream chat, he still cared about his dignity in real life.

It would be wonderful if someone could accompany him during the punishment.

The details of his punishment soon appeared on the screen.

[Punishment: Perform a complete street-dance routine for five minutes outside the main entrance of the Devon Corporation headquarters. The punished participant may select one ”musical accompanist” to perform the music live. The selected accompanist may not refuse.]

Steven stared at the screen and blinked.

Then he slowly raised his head and clenched both fists, his eyes burning with the passionate light of someone who had finally found an opportunity to drag his brother down with him.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Asher]: I don’t know why, but I suddenly have a terrible feeling.

[Steven]: Hehehe~

[Asher]: ?? Wait, you aren’t planning to—

[Steven]: Brother Asher, when brothers unite, nothing can stand in their way!

[Asher]: Screw off! Don’t choose me!!

[Steven]: It’s useless, Brother Asher. You can’t refuse, so just give in.

[Asher]: No!!!

[Leon]: Wasn’t Steven the one who answered incorrectly? Why does he seem so happy?

[Wallace]: As long as he can drag Asher down with him, I imagine Steven would be delighted by almost anything.

[Phoebe]: That’s Steven for you.

[Glacia]: That’s Steven for you.

[Raihan]: Is your Hoenn Champion’s mental state genuinely all right?

[Bruno]: I think I can imagine the expression on Asher’s face right now.

[Lorelei]: There’s no need to imagine it. He’s definitely regretting ever meeting Steven.

[Wallace]: It’s too late for regrets. The system says the selected person can’t refuse, so Asher won’t be able to escape this time.

In the real world, Steven excitedly announced:

”Livestream, I choose Asher!”

The instant Steven finished speaking, two pillars of white light descended from the sky and enveloped Steven and Asher simultaneously.

The next moment, both pillars of light rose outside the main entrance of the Devon Corporation headquarters.

The Devon Corporation’s headquarters towered high into the sky, with a broad plaza stretching out before its entrance.

The area surrounding the plaza was already packed with people. There were Devon Corporation employees, passing Trainers, and reporters who had rushed over after hearing the news.

Steven emerged from the pillar of light, straightened his tie, and waved to the crowd with an exceptionally relaxed and refreshed expression.

Asher stepped out of the other pillar with a face filled entirely with misery.

”Brother Asher!”

Steven spread his arms and approached him.

”Welcome to the Devon Corporation headquarters!”

Asher grabbed Steven by the tie and dragged him behind a nearby stone sculpture.

The crowd could only hear a series of muffled impacts and several extremely brief screams coming from behind it.

Half a minute later, Asher emerged from behind the sculpture while dusting off his hands.

Steven followed him.

His hairstyle remained perfectly intact, but faint bruised circles had appeared beneath both eyes. Despite that, a satisfied smile still remained on his face.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Wallace]: Well done!

[Lance]: That was satisfying.

[Misty]: Hit him harder, honey! I’ll give you an extra chicken drumstick when you come home!

[Cynthia]: Steven truly did deserve that beating.

[Diantha]: Even Cynthia says Steven deserved it. That means he unquestionably deserved it.

[Leon]: Steven has spent so long running his mouth in the VIP chat. Today, he finally received his retribution.

[Raihan]: I suggest the livestream replay that part. I want to watch Steven being beaten in slow motion.

[Phoebe]: How can he still smile after being beaten?

[Volkner]: Steven’s mental structure truly is different from that of an ordinary person.

[Raihan]: I believe it now. Steven really is far more terrifying than Leon.

In the real world, outside the Devon Corporation headquarters.

Steven stood in the center of the plaza and rolled his shoulders.

”Brother Asher, I’ll leave the music to you.”

Expressionless, Asher removed a miniature speaker from his pocket and placed it on the ground.

”Stop talking and start dancing.”

”Where’s the music?”

”What’s the rush?”

Asher swiped across the screen twice and selected a song.

The instant the introduction began playing, Steven froze.

He had never heard the melody before.

Its rhythm was lively, and the introduction was exceptionally catchy. It sounded somewhat like the theme song of an animated series.

The system took control of Steven’s body and forced him to begin dancing, but his expression gradually shifted from initial resistance to a strange degree of enthusiasm.

The song’s rhythm was unexpectedly suitable for street dancing. Its melody was so upbeat that as Steven continued, he even began to enjoy himself.

However, the person who truly sent the crowd into an uproar was Asher.

He leaned against the wall, moved his lips, and began singing along with the melody.

”Pokémon—gotta catch ’em all!”

The song’s melody erupted across the plaza.

Asher then continued singing the entire song.

The spectators were initially captivated by Steven’s street dancing, but their heads soon turned in unison toward the man leaning against the stone sculpture and singing.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Wallace]: Wait, wait, wait! Why have I never heard this song before?!

[Ash]: This is my first time hearing it too! But the melody is incredible! It makes me want to put on my backpack and immediately set out on a journey!

[Pikachu]: Pika, pika! (Its tail began swaying to the rhythm.)

[Valerie]: The melody is so catchy! The lyrics are incredibly inspiring too. Listening to it makes me want to rush outside and catch Pokémon immediately!

[Piers]: The musical arrangement is highly professional. It doesn’t sound like something written casually. The emotional progression in the chorus is particularly smooth. Whoever composed the music and wrote the lyrics is extremely skilled.

[Diantha]: As an actress, I can responsibly say that Asher is also an exceptionally talented singer. Given the opportunity, I would like to invite him to Kalos to participate in a musical.

[Lisia]: Aaaaaah! I want to collaborate with Mr. Asher on this song too! It sounds amazing!

[Elesa]: Did he really write this song himself? I’ve never heard anything in this style before.

[Misty]: I’ve never heard him sing before... but it seems he has always been capable of far more than we imagined.

[Steven]: Is no one going to comment on my dancing?

[Lance]: No.

[Leon]: No one cares.

[Raihan]: We only want to hear the song.

[Steven]: ...

...

TL: I’m pretty sure the song is めざせポケモンマスター | Mezase Pokemon Master.