[Why do you have my blessing?!]
That pleasant female voice rang out in Elias's mind again.
But unlike the earlier calm, Xerneas's tone now carried shock and urgency.
A blessing was something only a tiny handful of Pokémon would bestow under specific circumstances.
As the Pokémon that governed life, she was fortunate enough to possess that ability.
Any creature she blessed would gain extraordinarily vigorous vitality—its lifespan would far exceed others of its kind.
If it was gifted enough, it might even gain the ability to wield Life Energy.
But a blessing wasn't free.
Each time she bestowed one, her own strength would drop by a measure—and it couldn't be recovered in the short term.
Xerneas considered herself a very stingy deer. In thousands of years, she'd never once granted a blessing.
She'd almost forgotten the ability existed, buried in some corner of her mind.
But…
Feeling the spring-breeze vitality on Elias, and that aura identical to her own—
Xerneas had to admit it. This really was her blessing.
Even if another Xerneas existed in the world, it couldn't counterfeit it.
[Where did you get it?]
She stared at Elias, her head buzzing.
It was precisely because she'd confirmed it was real that she felt even more lost.
Was he born with it?
Don't tell her it was—
"Using this as my stake should be enough, right?"
Before she could follow the thought through, Elias asked again.
In the distance, Zygarde was still absorbing its cells arriving from all over the world.
As it transformed, the injuries it had taken seemed to be recovering as well.
In just a short while, the damage blasted open by the heavy machinery had vanished without a trace.
[You want to heal me with Life Energy?]
Xerneas gave a soft laugh, not understanding how he meant to use the blessing as leverage.
If it were any other Pokémon, Life Energy really could heal injuries quickly.
But she was the Life Pokémon. She lacked no way to heal herself.
[Your stake is useless to me.]
Xerneas shook her head, stating it plainly.
As she spoke, she turned her head away, as if she had no intention of listening to what Elias wanted to ask of her.
But—
"Bestowing a blessing costs strength. If the blessing returns, you should regain strength too."
Elias's unhurried voice still drifted into her ears.
Xerneas's ears twitched; she froze in place.
He was right.
A blessing didn't vanish into nothing. If it returned to its source, she would indeed grow stronger.
And judging by the aura on him, that blessing was no small thing.
If she could take it back, she could not only recover from all her injuries—she might even have a chance to fight Zygarde.
Only…
[The blessing on you—I can't take it back.]
Xerneas shot Elias a look, bewilderment rising again.
A normal blessing—she could give it, and she could reclaim it.
But the one on him was hers unmistakably, and yet the control of it wasn't in her hands.
Elias looked as though he'd known that all along; he wasn't surprised in the slightest.
Meeting her gaze, he lightly tapped at his own neck.
"I can't control the blessing, but…"
"As far as I know, if the one who's been blessed suffers a fatal accident, the blessing will automatically return to its source."
Elias's voice was calm, like he was stating a trivial fact that had nothing to do with him.
But the moment Xerneas understood what he meant, her eyes widened.
She never would've expected that.
"Once you reclaim the blessing, you can naturally escape from Zygarde."
"Using this as my stake should be enough, right?"
Elias's voice sounded again, echoing in Xerneas's ears.
From her reaction, he knew his plan had landed perfectly.
If it were Yveltal, after being reminded, it might have lashed out.
After all, killing him would make the blessing return all the same.
But Xerneas was a kind Pokémon—Elias believed she would trade with him fairly.
Only…
Unlike what he'd imagined, this deer seemed a little… slow to react.
"Just so you know—there isn't much time."
"Once Zygarde becomes complete, even if you take the blessing back, you won't be able to escape."
Elias gave a light cough, pulling her back to the moment.
Hearing him, Xerneas finally studied him seriously for the first time.
Even just now, she'd only been staring at the blessing on him.
Looking at him now, he was still a human ghost—young, it seemed.
[What you're asking me for… is it very important to you?]
She asked, her tone complicated.
"Very."
Elias answered without hesitation.
"My Pokémon was born with defects in her body. I'm asking you to grant her your blessing, to heal what's wrong with her."
"It doesn't need to be much—just enough. What I have on me should be more than sufficient."
Elias had clearly calculated everything in advance; the words came smoothly now.
Hearing it was for his Pokémon, Xerneas's gaze dimmed a little.
She'd come today carrying resentment.
But this Ghost Form had not only helped her beat down Yveltal, it had helped fend off Zygarde too—and on top of that, it carried a blessing she'd never once bestowed.
Now, for the sake of his Pokémon, he was even willing to pay with his own life.
Xerneas couldn't muster even a trace of anger anymore.
[Tell me about your Pokémon.]
She drew in a breath and spoke slowly.
The voice in Elias's mind was far softer and lighter than before.
"Diancie—the princess of the Underground Kingdom."
"But… by the time she finds this place, she should already be the queen."
Elias smiled as he answered.
Xerneas nodded.
She would get away from Zygarde intact, and then fulfill this ghost's wish.
"Thank you."
As Xerneas began walking toward him, Elias thanked her.
Xerneas didn't stop until she stood right in front of him.
Up close, her posture looked even more proud—her long neck lifted slightly, towering a bit over Elias.
Faintly, Elias caught a pleasant scent.
Like the mild fragrance of a forest after rain, mixed with the fresh green of flowers, grass, and trees.
[I'll be gentle.]
Xerneas's voice echoed in Elias's mind.
They'd only known each other for a short time, but he really had left a deep impression on her.
This was her first time getting close to a human like this, and it didn't feel bad.
As the words fell, Xerneas lowered her head, bringing her muzzle to Elias's neck.
She opened her mouth.
Bit down.
---
Xerneas: Tastes like ghost.
T/N: DID SHE JUST EAT HIS HEAD?????????????????????????????????????
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