Facing the murderous Delibird, Natsume immediately backed down.
"Gengar," Natsume called over his shoulder, "treat our guest to some candy!"
"Gengar~ ta-da!"
The overly friendly Gengar pulled out a glass jar from its pocket, popping the cork with a flourish. The moment the lid came off, a dazzling golden glow erupted from the bottle.
Unown, Silver, and the others all froze in shock.
Delibird, still clutching its delivery bag, sniffed the air, its expression turning blank.
"Standard procedure," Natsume said calmly. "I added Golden Razz Berries."
"Gengar~" Gengar poured out two shimmering Pokéblocks and offered them to Delibird with a grin.
"Delibird!" Delibird winced, visibly torn, but ultimately shook its head.
Natsume thought to himself, As expected of Pryce's Delibird—the one that can solo Ho-Oh!
That resolve, that backbone… I salute you, warrior!
Let's part ways here and never meet again!
While Delibird was stuck in a Confused state, Natsume shot the red-haired youth a meaningful look.
Silver immediately caught on, whispering something to Professor Hale before the two slipped through the portal and escaped.
Now, only the intimidating Delibird and the currently fleeing Natsume remained in the Ancient Ruins chamber.
Surprisingly, Delibird finally caved and accepted Natsume's "kindness."
"Delibird!" It gulped down the treat, shuddered violently, then gave the black-haired young man a flat stare.
I've got backup to deliver… I'll let you off this time!
Delibird was dazed and staggering towards the Portal with the delivery bag on his shoulder, looking like he was drunk.
Natsume stood still, exchanging a glance with Gengar before rubbing his chin.
If Pryce finds out Delibird ate my Pokéblocks… is he gonna be mad?
That old man is terrifying, unlike me… I'd never hurt my Gengar!
Natsume shook his head, dispelling the disturbing mental image, as rumbling tremors echoed from outside the ruins.
"Let's go," Natsume said, eyeing the dust falling from the ceiling. "After a couple more bites, we're outta here."
"Larvitar!" Larvitar patted its full belly and cheerfully raised a claw.
The Unown hovering at the center of the chamber formed a pulsing spatial gateway.
They all stared at the feasting Larvitar, overcome with grief.
...
Outside the Ruins of Alph
The cap-wearing young man gripped his pool cue, staring solemnly at the sky.
"This is the kind of monster Natsume-sensei fought before," Gold mused, shaking his head. "Incredible… just incredible."
Dialga and Giratina clashed above the ruins, their violent collision nearly tearing the sky apart.
The cobalt-blue Dialga, levitating midair on all fours, cursed internally.
Last time you beat me up was bad enough, but now you're stalking me?!
"ROAR!!" Giratina's golden helm gleamed, its crimson eyes blazing.
You little runt, I let you escape last time—but not today!
Just as the two faced off, another anomaly struck.
Space itself split open, as though slashed apart by a blade.
Both beasts halted, turning toward the figure that had ripped through reality.
Palkia, its body a deep rose hue, stood firmly on two legs.
The pearls embedded in its shoulder plates shimmered brilliantly as it gathered razor-sharp energy in its claws.
"ROAR!!" Palkia, ever the peacemaker, tried to intervene.
Stop fighting! Cut it out already!
Dialga and Giratina exchanged a glance.
Then—
The Temporal Dragon and the God of the Reverse World resumed their brutal battle.
WHOOSH—!!
Giratina's eyes burned red as it vanished into the shadows, reappearing above Dialga in an instant. Phantom Force slammed Dialga straight into the river below!
BOOM!!
A towering geyser erupted, but Dialga knelt in the water, roaring. Time froze—not a single droplet fell.
Roar of Time unleashed a shockwave toward Giratina—only for a blade of energy to slice it apart midair!
"ROAR!!"
Palkia, barely containing its fury, glared at Giratina and Dialga.
Talk it out like adults, unless you wanna attract him!
Dialga stiffened, the image of that black-haired young man—the one obsessed with restraint play—flashing through its mind. It shook its head violently.
Every time I see him, it's trouble… Maybe this fight isn't worth it.
Giratina paused, recalling that same black-haired young man—the one skilled at riding play—and its eyes lit up.
Perfect… With Aura Ripple, I could fight all day!
"ROAR!!" Giratina bellowed, charging at Dialga again.
Dialga's expression turned eerily human—pure dread.
I can't take this… Why am I always the punching bag?!
"ROAR!!" Dialga braced itself, colliding with Giratina once more.
Palkia, now thoroughly fed up, swung its claws. Spacial Rend slashed toward Giratina's back!
BOOM!!
Fine. Ignore me? Then let's see who else shows up to break this up!
...
"So..."
Gold wiped sweat from his brow, forcing a grin. "This got outta hand fast..."
Fumbling with his phone, he suddenly tightened his grip on the pool cue, whirling to point it behind him.
"Knew you were there," Gold said without turning, smirk widening. "Bit late for ambushes, don'tcha think?"
He spun—and froze.
"P-Pryce?!"
"Disgraceful." The wheelchair-bound old man's voice was glacial.
As Gold gaped, Pryce stroked the Swinub in his lap, gazing skyward.
"Pathetic," he muttered, like winter given voice.
"Me?!" Gold jabbed a thumb at his chest. "You calling me pathetic, old timer?"
Pryce ignored him. "Deities, yet consumed by human pettiness." His laugh was bitter. "Proves even gods can be surpassed."
"Whoa, old man!" Gold suddenly pointed up. "Check it—flying Tauros!"
Pryce blinked. "Where?"
"Didn't you brag about it?"
Gold scoffed, wiping his nose triumphantly. "Still got wrecked by this champ, didn'tcha? Hah!"
"...We must stop them," Pryce sighed.
"We...us?" Gold took a half step back: "Old man, I'm not tired of living yet!"
"Since when do heroes fear death?" Pryce sneered.
The cap-wearing teen stared. Then—
Pool cue trembling in his grip, Gold threw back his head with a feral grin.
"Old man, you got that right!"
"Exbo!" Gold roared, fist clenched. "Blast Burn!!"
Opening with the ultimate move of the Starter Pokémon trio, Typhlosion's neck flared with towering flames as it unleashed a torrent of scorching fire!!
The clash of the three Legendary Pokémon faltered for a moment.
Giratina swung its wings, deflecting the surging Blast Burn, its crimson gaze locking onto the figure on the cliff.
"Dumbass, I'm right here!"
It was just an Aipom wearing Gold's clothes and cap.
Gold, bare-chested, glided through the air on Togebo, his black bangs whipping in the wind. "Togebo, Air Slash!"
"Togekiss!" Togebo flapped its wings, sending razor-sharp blades of air slicing toward Giratina, only to vanish into the shadows surrounding it.
Giratina's eyes flickered with confusion. This human… it couldn't bring itself to strike him down.
After all, lingering on him was a trace of an Aura it recognized…
Giratina's crimson eyes gleamed as its golden claws gathered energy, firing off a pitch-black Shadow Ball.
"Woo-hoo! I'm gonna brag about this in the group chat for a whole year!"
Gold whooped, commanding Togebo to dodge with an aerial stunt, narrowly avoiding the Shadow Ball.
Dialga watched indifferently until a human's voice reached its ears.
"Hey, Temporal Dragon."
The cobalt-blue beast slowly turned its massive head, its enormous pupils reflecting an old man in a wheelchair at the cliff's edge.
The frail old man had sharp white hair, a sleepy Swinub nestled in his arms.
His gaze was as cold as ice, his voice swallowed by the mountain winds.
"Your opponent is me."
Dialga almost laughed, opening its maw toward Pryce.
The howling winds roared as Dialga bellowed, the vegetation behind Pryce withering and crumbling.
Yet the old man in the wheelchair remained unmoved, like a statue of ice, staring coldly at Dialga.
Dialga hesitated, a flicker of unease rising—but it was too late.
"Swinub." Pryce stroked the Swinub in his lap and murmured, "Blizzard."
"Swinub~" Swinub exhaled a frosty breath as if sighing in its sleep.
A bone-chilling blizzard erupted, encasing the entire cliff and the cobalt-blue beast in an instant glacial prison!
Crack—crack—
Dialga stood frozen, only its eyes moving, locked onto the old man.
Who was he? Why was he here? How did he possess such strength?
"I have only one request, Temporal Dragon."
Pryce spoke slowly. "I want to see that Lapras again… the one from back then."
『Pathetic human. Defeat me first.』
Dialga's gaze was contemptuous.
CRACK!
The ice shattered as Dialga gathered a chaotic, devastating Roar of Time in its maw!
"Hmph. Time… how amusing."
Pryce tapped his cane lightly on the ground.
Swinub leaped from his lap, its Frost Breath freezing a bridge in midair, stretching toward Dialga.
The docile Swinub slid down the icy path like a child on a slide, straight toward the Temporal Dragon—then snapped its eyes open.
『Blizzard』!!
Elsewhere in the sky, Gold clung to Togebo's back, desperately dodging Giratina's Shadow Ball.
Explosions thundered as the Shadow Balls detonated around them.
Gold gritted his teeth, a wild grin on his face despite the near-death struggle, his gaze darting toward the Ancient Ruins.
"Buddy… Natsume-sensei…"
He laughed through clenched teeth. "Get outta here… I can't hold out much longer!"
Giratina hovered, its hellish wings spread, staring at the young man in bewilderment.
He was just a human, yet Giratina saw courage rivaling that of a deity—
A conviction it had only witnessed in one black-haired young man before…
No. And another—a boy named Ash.
With a final flap of its wings, Giratina abruptly ended the battle, much to Gold's shock.
Gold blinked, then shouted, "Hey! You scared or something?! Come fight me for real!"
Giratina gave him a sidelong glance—then suddenly sensed danger.
It vanished into the shadows just as a streak of red pierced the clouds, diving at breakneck speed, twin stingers gleaming with lethal light!
A Beedrill, its ruby-like compound eyes sharp, yellow-and-black stripes cutting through the air, needles pulsing with crimson energy!
BOOM!!
Beedrill broke through Giratina's spatial ripples, its stingers clashing against the platinum armor in a shower of sparks!
"Beedrill?!" Gold's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up.
Emerging from the dark clouds was a massive airship.
Its extended runway stretched from the bow, the midsection armored in dark gold, hatches wide open as wind howled inside.
A man in a black trench coat stood with hands in his pockets, his coat flapping wildly, his gaze imperious.
Giovanni, Leader of Team Rainbow Rocket.
"Stand down, Giratina." His cold command resonated directly in Giratina's mind through a sonic device.
Giratina's wings spread as it reappeared before Giovanni, eyes burning red.
『You do not command me, human.』 Its voice was devoid of emotion.
Giovanni remained unfazed, hands still in his pockets.
His gaze briefly softened as he glanced toward the Ancient Ruins, thinking of the cold red-haired youth and the gentle mentor inside.
Then, he locked eyes with Giratina and spoke slowly, deliberately.
"I'll say it once more. Leave. Now."
"Humans have no place in the battles of deities."
Giratina's six platinum claws spread with a metallic hiss.
"Or would you care to test that theory?"
Giovanni stood like an unshakable mountain.
Long ago, he too had been a prodigy, striving to become a League Champion.
Only the kind-hearted like Yellow, the righteous like Lance, were blessed by Viridian Forest, granted the 『Aura of Viridian』.
Giovanni had been one of them.
Even now, he sometimes remembered the sunlight filtering through Viridian Forest's leaves, glinting on cocoons—the day he caught his first Pokémon, the day he first understood the bond between humans and Pokémon.
The day the entire forest blessed him.
"Beedrill."
Giovanni's eyes snapped open, the pure embodiment of evil speaking calmly.
"Mega Evolution."
In the raging winds, Mega Beedrill emerged from the white light, its stingers transforming into unstoppable lances, its tail spikes gleaming lethally.
With a flash of Throat Chop, it lunged at Giratina's armor, sparks flying as metal shrieked!
Giratina's eyes widened slightly before it vanished into shadows—only for Beedrill to pursue it through the storm clouds!
The sky erupted with the sounds of clashing steel and shrill insectoid cries.
Mega Beedrill, its compound eyes burning red, fought Giratina in a dazzling battle, their clashes igniting the heavens!
...
Elsewhere in the sky.
The gentle-tempered Palkia stood silently, unmoving.
It had refrained from acting earlier, fearing collateral damage to innocent lives—after all, it would then have to expend its Space powers to restore everything.
But was this truly reasonable?!
A Swinub that could freeze the Temporal Dragon!!
A Beedrill capable of rivaling Giratina!!
Palkia reeled from the sheer impact of it all.
Then it glanced at the young man performing aerial stunts and promptly dismissed him.
...Yeah, that one's just an idiot. Ignore him.
Though Palkia observed the raging battle calmly, its heart weighed heavy.
As the Spatial Dragon, its grasp over Space was far more refined than its hot-tempered counterparts.
And Palkia knew—something terrifying was awakening.
Most likely, the Creator itself… Arceus.
The infighting among deities, humanity's defiance toward them, the betrayals they suffered…
Any of these could ignite Arceus' wrath.
Palkia sighed deeply, feeling utterly powerless.
Then, abruptly, an image flashed in its mind.
Palkia's heart jolted.
A pulse rippled through the nearby Space—
Wait.
That human… was here!!
At the same moment—
Palkia's head snapped up as a Garchomp tore through the distant clouds.
A golden-haired beauty, clad in black, crouched low on Garchomp's back, her brows furrowed as she surveyed the apocalyptic battlefield.
"The surrounding Space has been sealed by white mist."
Her voice was grave. "Just like in Alamos Town."
Her eyes locked onto Palkia's form. With a sharp glance, she commanded Garchomp closer.
Palkia blinked in recognition.
『We met once in Alamos Town!』
"Long time no see."
Cynthia approached, giving an elegant nod, though the gravity in her gaze was unmistakable.
"Can you stop them?"
She tilted her pale neck, staring at the dazzling lightshow above.
"This chaos… is worse than Alamos Town."
Palkia shook its head, expression solemn.
""There's only one way."
"Awaken Arceus—"
Cynthia glanced toward Sinjoh Ruins, then back at Palkia. "Like how Rayquaza quelled Hoenn's twin deities?"
Palkia stiffened in surprise.
This human woman's wisdom and courage far exceeded its expectations.
『But when Arceus awakens… I cannot predict what it will do.』 Palkia warned.
Cynthia pressed a slender finger to her chin, deep in thought—then met Palkia's gaze with resolve.
"Then I'll command you."
Palkia: ?
"I'll command you."
She repeated firmly. "We'll work together to stop Giratina and Dialga."
"I have not acknowledged you, human." Palkia rumbled.
"Then acknowledge me now."
Cynthia's eyes gleamed, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
Palkia hesitated.
It feared Cynthia couldn't handle its power.
Just as only one Trainer could be recognized by the twin Orbs…
If a Pokémon's strength surpassed its Trainer's, rampage and loss of control were inevitable.
The Temporal Dragon studied the proud golden-haired beauty, torn.
Then—
A violent spatial pulse erupted from the Ancient Ruins.
Palkia whirled around, disbelief flashing across its face.
A Space warp formed by Unown?!
The entire battlefield froze mid-duel at the sudden disturbance.
Swinub hopped back onto Pryce's lap. Dialga clamped its jaws shut.
Beedrill hovered beside Giovanni. Giratina's crimson wings stilled.
All eyes turned to the portal forming on the ground.
A red-haired youth stepped out first, supporting Professor Hale, his expression unreadable.
As if sensing something, Silver looked up—past the thick clouds, locking eyes with Giovanni standing at the airship's hatch.
For a moment, the ice between them seemed to thaw.
No words were exchanged. Their expressions mirrored each other—unyielding, unwavering.
Then Giovanni caught the movement of Silver's lips.
A jolt struck him.
He recognized that silent word. He hoped it was—
『Father.』
The spatial pulse continued.
A sharp-eyed Delibird shot out of the portal, riding its delivery bag.
Gold whooped. "Old man, look! It's your Delibird!"
"Watch your tongue," Pryce said coldly.
Then—
Everyone tensed, yet exhaled as if they'd expected this.
A powerful sense of déjà vu made the Sinnoh three gods frown.
Memories resurfaced—
The Red Chain binding the temporal and spatial dragons.
A ride atop Giratina, soaring over Mount Coronet.
The Trainer who had left an indelible mark on them, destined to meet again!
Palkia and Dialga stiffened.
Giratina, however, slowly grinned.
From the blinding light of the portal—
A black-haired young man stepped forward, his sharp features calm, a Gengar levitating beside him.
The wind stirred as he emerged onto the desolate, ice-scarred battlefield, his shirt fluttering slightly.
Natsume was mentally drafting negotiation terms—
Until he felt multiple gazes burning into him.
He looked up.
"This atmosphere is… off." A familiar chill crept down his spine.
On the cliff by the stream, Pryce sat in his wheelchair, facing a Dialga encased in ice.
Above, an airship rumbled—Boss Giovanni stared down, hands in pockets, Giratina nodding slightly at Natsume.
Natsume: "…"
Then, straight ahead—
The golden-haired beauty stood beside Palkia, offering him a warm, dazzling smile.
The battlefield fell into eerie silence.
The Sinnoh three gods's turmoil had paused—because of this human.
Natsume vaguely understood the situation.
But not fully.
"Everyone, stop floating around…" He cleared his throat.
"Let's sit down and talk."
Then, with utmost sincerity—
"Please give me some face!"
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