Deep within the mountains and ancient forests of Forina, over a hundred miles north of the amusement park, the land was currently shrouded beneath a thick curtain of night.
Massive cylindrical mountain peaks towered into the sky like sleeping giants. Their surfaces were blanketed with lush green vegetation, tangled vines, and towering ancient trees, forming an incomparably beautiful primeval landscape.
The reason Forina possessed such thriving jungles and abundant life was all because of Jirachi's existence.
Throughout its thousand year slumber, Jirachi would unconsciously absorb the energy of the comet drifting through the cosmos.
Then, once its seven day awakening period ended and it was about to fall asleep once more, it would open the true eye on its stomach and release the accumulated comet energy into the land, nourishing all living things.
Over countless centuries, this land had already become deeply intertwined with Jirachi's energy, forming a unique ecological cycle unlike anywhere else in the world.
At the heart of this mountainous rainforest, inside a hidden canyon sinkhole, Butler stood alone atop a flat stone platform.
After ending his communication with Tabitha and Brodie and confirming that Diane had fallen asleep, he had secretly ridden Salamence here by himself.
This was the exact place where he and Diane had first discovered the sleeping Jirachi.
At this moment, Butler raised his head slightly, staring at the faint stars scattered across the night sky as he silently waited for Tabitha and Brodie to arrive.
In one corner of the sinkhole stood an extremely sturdy steel cage.
Inside the cage was a canine Pokémon covered in white fur.
Its skin was black, with a sweep of white hair hanging diagonally across one side of its forehead, while the other side bore a sharp black crescent shaped horn that resembled a sickle. Its entire body radiated a cold, lonely, and noble aura.
It was none other than the Disaster Pokémon, Absol.
Absol possessed the ability to sense changes in nature's balance and accurately predict natural disasters.
But precisely because of this, every time it appeared before humans, disaster often followed soon after. Over time, people began treating it as an ominous harbinger of catastrophe.
At this moment, Absol was pacing anxiously inside the cage.
Its sharp eyes were locked firmly onto Butler.
Every so often, it let out low growls and violently slammed its body against the steel bars, producing loud metallic crashes again and again.
Yet no matter how hard it struggled, the cage did not budge in the slightest.
The cage had been specially constructed by Butler using a unique alloy material. It had originally been intended for capturing Jirachi, but now it had become Absol's prison instead.
"Absol, stop wasting your strength."
Butler slowly turned around and looked toward the trapped Pokémon with a cold smile curling across his lips.
"Can't you sense Jirachi's aura? Then hurry and call it here. As long as it comes, you'll regain your freedom."
Absol clearly understood Butler's words.
Its violent attacks suddenly paused for a moment before an even angrier roar burst from its throat. Its eyes overflowed with contempt and vigilance.
Immediately afterward, it lunged forward once more, swinging its crescent shaped horn viciously against the bars.
Sparks exploded everywhere.
Yet the cage still remained unbroken.
Butler merely chuckled dismissively.
"Go ahead and struggle all you want. Let's see if you can still stay this stubborn later."
Not long afterward, the faint sound of wings cutting through the air echoed from the distance, gradually growing clearer.
Butler raised his head.
Two black silhouettes sliced through the night sky as they rapidly descended toward the sinkhole.
It was Tabitha and Brodie, each riding atop a Crobat before landing steadily beside Butler.
"You two finally made it."
There was no emotion in Butler's voice.
Brodie jumped down from Crobat's back and glanced around the area with a frown.
"Butler, where's that little Wallace Junior and Jirachi? This place is completely deserted. It doesn't look inhabited at all."
"They're not here. They're still near the amusement park."
Butler replied calmly.
"But don't worry. They'll come here on their own soon enough."
"Oh?"
Tabitha looked intrigued.
"So you've already arranged everything?"
"Mm."
Butler nodded before turning toward Tabitha.
"Take out Courtney's Reverse Energy Activation Device.
If we wait any longer, it'll be too late. Five days have already passed. If Jirachi falls asleep again, my experiment will never have another chance to succeed."
A feverish obsession flashed through his eyes.
"Perfect timing. I'll let you witness just how magnificent my experiment truly is.
Courtney's Reverse Energy Activation Device may not compare to the long lasting power of the Millenium Comet energy I originally envisioned, but sustaining things for half a day should be enough.
Soon you'll all understand…"
His expression became almost crazed.
"I, Butler, am the greatest scientist in Team Magma!"
"Yeah yeah, we got it already."
Brodie snorted impatiently.
"Just hurry up and lure over that Wallace kid and Jirachi already. The sooner this mission is over, the sooner we can get back to our own work."
Butler's expression instantly darkened at Brodie's dismissive attitude.
He glared fiercely at him, his fists unconsciously tightening.
"Alright, enough arguing."
Tabitha hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over while carefully removing a spherical machine protected beneath a glass cover from the backpack behind him.
A dim red glow pulsed faintly from inside the machine.
It was the Reverse Energy Activation Device.
Tabitha carefully handed it over.
"Here."
Butler accepted the device with both hands and stared at it silently for several seconds before taking a deep breath and summoning Salamence.
"Follow me."
He leaped onto Salamence's back and flew toward one of the mountain peaks beside the sinkhole's center.
Tabitha and Brodie quickly followed on their Crobat.
Only then did the surrounding mountain peaks become clearly visible.
Thick steel cables had been embedded into the tops of each mountain.
Those cables connected to an enormous floating metallic platform suspended in the middle of the air.
Atop the platform sat an intricate mechanism resembling a giant astronomical instrument.
It was obvious Butler had prepared all of this long ago.
Soon, the three of them arrived at the floating metal altar.
Butler jumped off Salamence's back and carefully placed the Reverse Energy Activation Device at the very center of the platform before beginning a long series of complicated calibrations.
His fingers danced rapidly across the control panel.
Indicator lights lit up one after another, accompanied by constant beeping sounds.
After completing the adjustments, Butler took a deep breath and violently pulled down a lever at the side of the altar.
"Bzzzzzz—"
The crimson light at the center of the Reverse Energy Activation Device instantly intensified.
A massive red beam erupted downward from beneath the platform like a scarlet dragon, plunging straight into the earth before disappearing underground.
The surroundings fell silent for several moments.
Aside from the whistling wind and the low humming of the machine, nothing unusual seemed to happen.
Brodie crossed his arms impatiently and sneered:
"What's wrong? No reaction? Don't tell me your experiment failed again, Butler?"
Butler turned and shot him a vicious glare but said nothing.
He simply continued staring fixedly at the ground below.
Then suddenly—
The earth trembled lightly.
Immediately afterward, loud rumbling sounds echoed from the surrounding mountain peaks as chunks of broken stone began rolling down the mountainsides.
(End of Chapter)