Right now, the entire Kalos is boiling.
The name Lysandre is also definitely top-tier celebrity status in the Kalos Region.
Just the holographic image tech alone has already been applied across the entire region.
And now—what did Lysandre just say?
Use the Ultimate weapon to wipe out everything except Team Flare?
What the hell?!
And at this moment, Lysandre's speeches were still going on.
"Worthless lazy bastards…"
"all you do is gradually gnaw away at the Future."
"If this keeps going…"
"the world will only get uglier—and the fighting will come roaring back, again."
Lysandre's voice was extremely heavy.
In the hologram, Lysandre's expression was just as heavy.
"Let me repeat it."
"We Team Flare will use the Ultimate weapon…"
"to clean the world from top to bottom!"
"To everyone aside from Team Flare…"
"we're sorry, but goodbye."
The hologram cut out here.
But the real chaos was only just beginning.
Lysandre's declaration was broadcast to the entire region via holographic images.
Anyone with a Holographic image communicator would receive this message.
"Mr. Lysandre…"
"How could it turn out like this?!"
Serena was filled with disbelief.
She never expected Lysandre to hold such a terrifying, extreme ideology.
Everyone respected Mr. Lysandre so much.
"Then what is this Ultimate weapon again?"
Dawn was even more curious.
After all, on the first day she came to Kalos, during that meeting—
she already knew Lysandre wasn't some good person.
"A machine manufactured by the Kalos King three thousand years ago."
"revered as a 'God Item'…"
"and it holds an incredibly powerful force.
Damian stood up and explained simply.
The Kalos King from three thousand years ago—AZ—
had talent and technology that surpassed that era.
He manufactured the "Ultimate weapon."
Unfortunately, in the end, this Ultimate weapon became the source of his greatest suffering.
"Wipe out all life with the Ultimate weapon?"
"This guy has officially lost it."
Caitlin said that flatly.
"The Ultimate weapon needs a massive amount of life energy to activate."
"But you can also use other kinds of energy…"
"Come on—we can set off now too."
Damian stretched.
After waiting for so long, they could finally start.
"Since Lysandre already put out the declaration…"
"Team Flare has to move as well."
"Right now in Lumiose City…"
"it's probably already in total chaos, right?"
That was correct.
Damian's assessment wasn't wrong.
At this moment, Lumiose City really was in chaos.
The biggest reason was Lysandre's "announcement" just now—
and at the same time, Lumiose City had completely lost power.
Team Flare had taken over Kalos's power plant…
and siphoned off a huge amount of electricity.
That's what caused the blackout in Lumiose City.
"I don't understand."
Serena still couldn't wrap her head around it.
She accepted the reality.
That person who used to talk to her about dreams in such a beautiful, gentle way—
had now turned into an extreme terrorist.
"Mr. Lysandre…"
"he wants to create a dreams world."
"But why does he have to wipe out other humans and Pokémon?"
"Isn't that just pure slaughter?"
Yes.
That was the one thing Serena simply couldn't understand the most.
"In Lysandre's mindset…"
"he wants a world that's completely free of brawling."
Damian walked in front, heading toward Lysandre Research Laboratory.
And while he spoke, he explained.
"No matter whether it's wealth…"
"energy…"
"or even material things…"
"they'll trigger brawling."
"And when people brawl with each other…"
"something will inevitably get lost."
"To live a beautiful life without brawling…"
"there's only one way…"
"reduce the number of lives."
"And Pokémon are the same."
"Humans and Pokémon help each other…"
"and grow together…"
"and prosper together."
"But precisely because of that…"
"Lysandre believes Pokémon could become tools humans use…"
"to fight and brawl with each other."
Damian described Lysandre's ideology.
"This… it shouldn't be like this!"
Serena's pupils trembled slightly.
She couldn't endorse this idea at all.
"Yeah…"
"how extreme that is."
"It's wrong."
"That's why we have to correct him."
Damian nodded.
Disputes could never be completely erased.
As long as people existed—
that was how it was.
And Lysandre was stubborn.
Due to what happened in the past, he believed it was those filthy people who brought about such disputes…
but he didn't realize—
the true source of disputes was human hearts.
To be honest—
an extreme Lysandre could easily sit down at the same table as Cyrus.
Cyrus craved a world with no "soul."
Without souls, there were no hearts to begin with.
No hearts meant no desires.
No desires meant no disputes.
That was the "beautiful" world Lysandre longed for.
And who knew—
whether Lysandre still had any "salvation" left.
In front of Lysandre Research Laboratory.
A Team Flare member in an orange suit was fighting against Officer Jenny's officers.
But it was obvious that Officer Jenny's side was at a disadvantage.
"Head!"
"This won't work…"
"we can't hold out like this!"
"We still don't have reinforcements yet?!"
One of the officers recalled losing the ability to fight—Gogoat—
and told Officer Jenny with panic.
At the very first moment Lysandre's "announcement" ended,
Officer Jenny brought people here.
But Team Flare had planned for it in advance.
"I already noticed."
"Top said Malva is on her way with reinforcements."
Officer Jenny's face was ugly too.
She really hadn't expected Team Flare's strength to be this strong.
But this happened suddenly.
Team Flare's scale was truly beyond imagination.
From all directions in Lumiose City, Team Flare members had appeared.
They were trying to block Lumiose City's exits.
And because the power was out…
many machine devices couldn't even be activated.
"Is it not ready yet?!"
At the entrance of Lysandre Research Laboratory—
a woman with green hair wearing an orange dress was watching the battle ahead.
But her thoughts weren't really here.
She was Team Flare Admin Aliana.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A massive explosion echoed into her ears.
Aliana instinctively turned her head.
And she saw a fierce Salamence glaring down at her from midair.
"Yo~ you look like your status isn't low."
Drayton, with white hair drifting like it was floating, landed coolly from Salamence's back.
He wore a faint, almost lazy smile.
"Who are you?"
Aliana furrowed her brows slightly.
Her eyes grew more serious too.
This guy looked strong.
"Drayton."
"Team Rocket's executive Drayton."
"Sorry to trouble you…"
"but could you please stop your pointless resistance?"
Drayton tilted his head a little.
He pointed at the "R" letter on his black jacket.
And grinned at Aliana, introducing himself.
As an executive, he had the right to wear civilian clothes.
He didn't necessarily have to wear Team Rocket uniform.
As long as you had a Team Rocket emblem, it was fine.
That's why Drayton had tattooed the "R" letter icon for Team Rocket onto his favorite gold-trimmed black jacket.
Yeah.
Drayton thought it looked pretty stylish too.
"Team Rocket's executives…"
Aliana's stomach sank.
Team Rocket had come, as expected.
But on the surface, of course, she couldn't look like that.
"So Team Rocket people are as arrogant as you too, huh?"
"I'm Aliana."
Aliana threw out her Poké Ball.
Mightyena and Druddigon appeared in front of her.
"Team Flare's Admin…"
"and also a scientist."
"Tsk…"
"to be honest, I'm not really into fighting women."
"but you don't look like the type who'd just surrender."
Drayton clicked his tongue lightly.
Then he threw another Poké Ball.
Dragonite flapped its wings and landed.
Aliana's expression turned even darker.
Looking at Salamence and Dragonite in front of Drayton—
oh wow.
"But that's fine."
"Come on then."
"Let me see what kind of level the Team Flare Admin has."
Drayton rolled his hand a bit.
His lips stretched into a lengthening grin.
It looked kind of creepy.
"You said you'll wipe out every existence besides Team Flare…"
"so you should have pretty good strength, right?"
Drayton was really about to laugh to death.
An evil organization—
and they just casually talk about clearing out every other existence?
Did you ask us Team Rocket first?
Damn it.
Kill her!
And at this moment, outside Lysandre Research Laboratory—
the scene got even more chaotic.
Because another group of people joined the battlefield.
"Head!"
"Is this reinforcements?!"
The officers were stunned as they asked Officer Jenny.
"Do you have eyes or not?!"
"These people are Team Rocket's."
Officer Jenny sounded speechless.
After answering, she frowned.
These Team Rocket members didn't look old at all.
They looked about sixteen or seventeen on average.
But their strength was actually very good.
They were pressing Team Flare members down and beating them one by one.
And they all seemed…
excited?
"Team Rocket?"
"I know, supposedly they're an organization specifically dealing with evil forces…"
"but I didn't think it would be real."
A young officer sounded weird.
Officer Jenny didn't deny it.
Anyway—
with Team Rocket forces joining in, it truly helped them.
"Officer Jenny?"
Suddenly, a crisp and pleasant female voice rang out.
Officer Jenny turned her head.
And what she saw was a dark cherry-blossom-haired girl wearing a pink jacket.
Officer Jenny noticed the details fast.
She spotted the "R" mark on the girl's chest.
"Hello."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Lacey."
"Team Rocket's executive."
"I'm really honored to talk with you."
Lacey sounded a bit nervous.
She tugged the bangs in front of her forehead back.
Still, she kept a friendly and adorable smile as she spoke to Officer Jenny.
Officer Jenny, who had tons of experience, could tell she was tense.
Officer Jenny smiled back kindly.
"You don't need to be so formal."
"We're also happy to help…"
"so that everyone can battle."
Feeling Officer Jenny's friendly attitude—
Lacey relaxed a bit.
Hearing this girl's heartfelt words—
Officer Jenny's eyes softened even more.
This was a kind and pure-hearted girl.
"I've seen that a lot of officers are injured."
"If possible…"
"Officer Jenny, you can pull back and adjust first."
"Leave it here to us."
"We'll definitely capture all these Team Flare members."
Lacey said seriously.
"There are many Team Flare people around Lumiose City."
"I think those places need you more, Officer Jenny."
"We can handle this area."
"…Then please leave it to you."
"I'll keep a few teammates to assist you."
Officer Jenny thought it over.
Lacey was right.
Lumiose City was too chaotic right now.
And they needed manpower to organize ordinary civilians and get them to safety.
They really were short on people.
"Alright!"
"Our boss has already discussed this with Champion Diantha."
"For this overseas exchange…"
"our organization will fully assist you."
After that, Lacey added another piece of information.
"Okay."
"Thanks."
So it was cooperation between Champion Diantha and the Team Rocket boss.
Officer Jenny felt more at ease.
Whew—
Once Officer Jenny led people away,
Lacey also let out a sigh of relief.
Then she couldn't help complaining about Drayton and the others.
They said their diplomatic skills were strong.
And insisted she had to come negotiate with Officer Jenny.
Seriously—
Even if it was fine in school…
this was Lacey's first time "diplomacy" with the League as a Team Rocket Admin identity.
How could she not be nervous?
But after it was done, Lacey still couldn't help showing an adorable smile.
No choice.
If she could get League people to leave, that was the best outcome.
Because Team Rocket also needed those Team Flare captured.
If Officer Jenny's people were here too—
they might end up starting conflict due to the ownership issue of captured Team Flare.
No matter what, Lacey still didn't want a fight with League personnel.
Lacey looked toward the huge Lysandre Research Laboratory.
She threw a Poké Ball, preparing to join the battle.
These were all achievements.
Not far away, on a not-so-tall building,
Damian wore a mild smile and looked at the Research Laboratory.
Caitlin sat beside him.
And at this moment, inside the Research Laboratory—
Serperior and Hydreigon landed in front.
"Tsk~"
"This is all Team Flare's Admin level?"
Rosa played with the Poké Ball in her hand.
She looked at the Team Flare Admin kneeling on the ground in front.
That was a woman with purple hair.
Her name seemed to be Celosia, or something like that.
"Damn it!"
"Don't be arrogant—boss will take care of you!"
Celosia grit her teeth.
"Hehe~"
"Don't worry."
"I'll knock down your boss too."
Rosa tilted her head.
Then she ordered her subordinates to tie up this Team Flare Admin and take her away.
"Hurry up."
"These Team Flare Admins aren't that strong."
"Don't let the big fish slip by."
Hilda had already beaten some Team Flare members blocking the way.
She urged Rosa too.
"We haven't seen Dawn…"
"so maybe they already went in."
They hadn't entered the Research Laboratory from the front gate.
But Dawn's group likely did it the same way.
After all—
the main goal of this mission—
was the Champion-tier Team Flare boss, Lysandre.
That was the real big fish.
Rosa and Hilda pushed forward.
Soon, they arrived at the deepest room of the Research Laboratory.
And as expected, Dawn and Serena were already here.
They were standing off against Lysandre.
"Two more came?"
"And they're also Team Rocket's."
Lysandre still looked steady like always.
As if he didn't put the four of them in front of him in his eyes at all.
"Mr. Lysandre…"
"give up."
"Your dreams are just plain wrong!"
Serena couldn't help speaking up.
"Why?"
"Everyone trusts Mr. Lysandre."
"That's the truth."
"No?"
"Serena…"
"you still can't understand me."
Lysandre's expression grew heavy.
He looked at Serena with eyes full of disappointment.
He had once really believed in this Serena—this rookie junior.
But in the end…
Serena never truly understood him.
"I once wanted to use the profits from the Research Laboratory…"
"to help people."
"But…"
"it wasn't enough."
Lysandre pressed the mechanical device in his hand.
A red data eye sensor turned on.
Mechanical cameras flew out one by one from his forearm guards.
"The world is too big."
"There are too many stupidity idiots I can't save."
"And now, Serena…"
"I don't even expect you to understand my ideology."
"If you want to stop me…"
"then come and knock me down!"
"But…"
The main doors behind Lysandre slowly opened.
Deep, harsh, ear-splitting screams filled with pain and rage.
A terrifying red beam shot out from inside the Research Laboratory.
A huge black-and-red serpentine monster slowly slid out.
It came to Lysandre's side.
Brutality.
Rage.
Distortion!
50% form, controlled Z2—
enraged Zygarde!
~~
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~~~