Darkrai: "..."
Turned his head away.
Natsuhiko: "..."
He felt that if Darkrai could whistle, he might have shown off a tune by now.
If it weren't for the mural suddenly painting itself, Natsuhiko might not have known until he left that Darkrai had followed him to this alternate space.
Though you are a Phantom Beast.
You can do whatever you want.
But this is Rayquaza's territory after all, you should give a little face?
After staring at Darkrai for a while, Natsuhiko shook his head helplessly.
He couldn't do anything about it.
If it dared to come to Rayquaza's alternate space, it must have some confidence.
Keep going upwards.
It was here that Natsuhiko realized that, unknowingly, they were already quite near to the top of the Celestial Pillar as they watched the contents of the mural.
Afterward, there were no more murals.
Presumably to leave space for potential stories that might occur later.
"Natsuhiko, who is this guy?" Ono leaned close to Natsuhiko, whispering, eyes darting toward Darkrai.
Natsuhiko smiled and pressed his hand against her head, "Don't ask."
"Oh..."
Looking at the obedient and innocent girl beside him and feeling the real sensation from his palm, Natsuhiko still found it hard to accept the bold speculation rising uncontrollably in his heart.
Luckily.
Soon, they finally arrived at the top of the Celestial Pillar.
At this moment, outside the Celestial Pillar was truly a vast starry sky.
It seemed as if they were now in the universe, yet their breathing was not affected at all.
Only.
Upon reaching the top, they did not see Rayquaza's figure.
Natsuhiko furrowed his brows.
Was his initial belief that ascending the Celestial Pillar would allow them to leave incorrect?
Suddenly.
Darkrai looked up.
They saw.
In the vast starry sky, a straight green figure, like an arrow, swiftly crossed the distant space and appeared before them.
The terrifying aura rushing toward them instantly drenched Natsuhiko's back with sweat.
This cyan giant dragon was like an azure dragon coiling above the heavens.
Even with just a glance, it brought Natsuhiko immense pressure.
The difference between a true Divine Beast and ordinary Pokémon does not just reflect in strength.
There's also that invisible oppressiveness, as if they're naturally superior to ordinary Pokémon.
"Roar——!!"
Rayquaza let out a dragon roar toward the sky.
The clouds and thin mist around the Celestial Pillar gradually faded away.
Latios beside Natsuhiko wasn't scared at all and just stared dumbly at Rayquaza, lost in thought.
Not only it, but Ono also stared blankly at Rayquaza, not knowing what she was thinking.
Darkrai's eyes glowed slightly, trying to communicate with Rayquaza.
No one knew what it was saying to Rayquaza, but after listening, Rayquaza's expression did not change.
Instead, its gaze fell upon Latios.
Crack——
A faint crisp sound came from Latios.
Then, in its confusion, it took out the Seven-Colored Crystal Stone fused with a massive amount of ordinary crystal stones and infinite energy.
The surface was covered with countless cracks.
As Latios moved, these cracks became denser, and small pieces of crystal fell off, revealing what was truly wrapped beneath.
"Super Evolution Stone?"
Natsuhiko looked at the round stone left after the small crystal chips fell off.
The middle was leaf-shaped, similar to the Super Evolution Stone Natsuhiko had acquired before, but with a different color.
The one in Latios's hand was intertwined with silver-gray and blue forming a "leaf."
Indeed, it was Latios's Super Evolution Stone!
Who knew that those crystal stones plus infinite energy would eventually give birth to Latios's Super Evolution Stone!
Then Rayquaza's gaze shifted to Ono.
Ono's pure and bright eyes also stared directly at Rayquaza, not feeling any fear.
Instead, deep down, there was a slight sense of closeness.
This feeling made Ono feel very strange.
And after Rayquaza stared at Ono for a while, it unexpectedly showed an expression of helplessness, silently shaking its head.
Though it did nothing.
Rayquaza's behavior was undoubtedly a confirmation of Natsuhiko's inner speculation.
Ono... truly is she?
Why doesn't she feel it herself?
Finally.
Rayquaza's gaze landed on Natsuhiko.
Golden eyes without any emotion.
Just silently looking at him.
Yet Natsuhiko felt.
The meaning in Rayquaza's eyes seemed somewhat like...
Having spent so much effort raising a precious daughter only for her to be taken away by a pig...
Mild resentment?
After a long while.
Just when Natsuhiko couldn't help but want to speak and break the uncomfortable silence.
Rayquaza suddenly flipped its body, surging terrifying energy forth.
The dragon roar echoed throughout the alternate space, carrying unmatched majesty.
Darkrai flashed in front of Natsuhiko.
With arms stretched wide, two black holes appeared in its hands, completely blocking the terrifying might emanating from Rayquaza.
Immediately followed.
A huge rift appeared in the vast starry sky, and Rayquaza swung its body, heading towards that rift.
"Follow it."
Darkrai withdrew its hands, a voice resounding in Natsuhiko's mind.
Natsuhiko let out a long breath.
That brief moment was almost like the feeling when he first touched the grass-green Treasure Pearl and saw Rayquaza, that sense of being swallowed whole.