Pokémon: Above the Top-Chapter 281: Have Some Sympathy for Yourself

Smeargle nodded furiously. It once again wrapped its tail around itself, the paint on it turning violet.

Psychic activated. Smeargle lifted a fresh white cloth with its mind, sealing up the completed painting tightly, and led the way out of the room.

"Thank you, Smeargle!"

"Smeargle~"

Sato followed close behind, watching them go. He couldn't help but feel a bit of anticipation for what was about to happen.

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"Gengarr~"

Suddenly, a voice Sato had longed to hear echoed in his ears.

With surprise and joy in his eyes, Sato turned to see Gengar crawling out from within the cloth-wrapped painting.

"Gengar!"

Gengar immediately spotted Sato and ran over with an excited grin.

"These people can't see me. Can they see you?"

Gengar glanced at Sato in confusion, then dove into the next room without a word.

A moment later, it came back out and nodded at him.

"Try this... use a miniature Shadow Ball on that pillar."

Gengar found the order odd, but still released a ping-pong-ball-sized Shadow Ball.

Pop~

A small pit appeared on the pillar's surface.

Shadow Ball was effective!

Sato let out a long breath. Gengar's return had finally put his heart at ease.

Without another word, Sato and Gengar rushed after the painter.

The painter had already reached the deck. Without even looking for Makie, he just stood there in shock, watching the grand battle raging above.

"Smeargle!"

Smeargle tugged at his sleeve, reminding him they had something more important to do.

The painter snapped out of it and began looking frantically for Makie. Because of the chaos in the sky, no one was paying him any attention.

"Makie!"

There weren't many Tamers left on the deck, so it didn't take long for the painter to spot Makie and run toward her.

"Makie, Smeargle and I finally finished the painting. Take a look... do you like it?" the painter said excitedly, grabbing the cloth and beginning to unwrap it.

"Are you kidding me?"

A clear yet cold voice cut through. The painter froze mid-motion and turned to face Makie.

"Do you even know what time it is? We're on the verge of dying here, and you're still worried about your painting!"

"Makie, I'm sorry, I..."

"Where were you when we were fighting?"

"..." The painter opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He looked into Makie's eyes, so full of coldness, anger, and disdain, and found not a trace of affection.

"...I hid. I was afraid to die." The painter laughed and cried.

By now, several people had taken notice of their argument.

These were Tamers who had once fought beside them. The looks they gave the painter were full of contempt.

The painter could feel the ridicule coming from those around him, and he accepted it. He knew he had made a mistake... of course he deserved punishment.

'But... but Makie, couldn't you at least not look at me that way?'

"ROAAAH!"

Suddenly, a thunderous roar from Kyogre drew everyone's attention once more.

It unleashed its signature move, Origin Pulse, blasting a bright blue energy wave that slammed Palkia down onto the icy surface near the ship.

Cries of alarm rang out across the deck as countless shards of ice rained down toward the people below.

The painter looked up too, and saw one particularly sharp shard speeding directly toward Makie.

His eyes lit up with sudden clarity. He rushed forward and pushed Makie out of the way before she even noticed the danger.

At that critical moment, he pulled out the painting he had spent over half a month completing, every stroke drawn with love for Makie, and held it close to his chest as he stood protectively before her.

Thump!

The shard of ice pierced straight through the painting and drove deep into the painter's chest, the tip protruding from his back.

In Makie's horrified gaze, his white shirt turned red in an instant as blood gushed from the wound.

He collapsed sideways beside her, blood pouring uncontrollably from his mouth. But the look in his eyes as he gazed at Makie was full of peace.

"Makie... I was cowardly and weak, but...

...I love you...!"

The sudden ice storm passed. Because the Tamers were protected by their Beast, most suffered only minor injuries.

Only the painter, with death in his heart, had taken that deadly shard meant for Makie.

The painting was destroyed.

And with his final words spoken, the painter died... without regret.

Makie knelt beside him, staring blankly at the now lifeless body. She had even forgotten how to cry.

The surrounding Tamers silently retracted their earlier ridicule. A quiet sense of remorse welled up within them... but only briefly.

The painter wasn't the first Tamer to die. He wouldn't be the last; none of them had control over their fates.

Sympathy... better save some for yourself.

---

The battle in the sky had passed its most intense phase. Both Kyogre and Palkia now bore serious wounds.

Kyogre's massive gash had stopped bleeding, but the exposed pale flesh made it clear it was in bad shape.

As for Palkia, its left arm hung limp. A fine crack had formed in the jewel embedded in its left shoulder.

That gem was its most vital component. Now that it had been damaged, its condition was easy to imagine.

"ROOAAH!"

"PAAAAL!"

As if by unspoken agreement, Kyogre and Palkia began charging up simultaneously, each selecting its signature move.

Origin Pulse.

Spacial Rend.

The two terrifying moves clashed once more in the sky. This time, with the added charge-up, the impact was more devastating than ever before.

For a moment, all sound vanished. In the eyes of those watching, only blinding white light remained.

Gengar instinctively used Protect, shielding them from the incoming wave of force.

Sato, still existing outside of this plane, retained some of his vision.

Through the light, he saw something: a tiny, fingernail-sized pink gem flying straight toward the painting, now soaked in blood.