Terrified howls and roars echoed from within the moonlight.
The four pseudo-Primal Pokémon disappeared beneath the radiant tide almost instantly. When the light finally receded, the two Houndoom and two Pyroar had returned to their normal forms.
All four lay unconscious on the cold ground, completely unable to battle.
Cresselia had defeated them with a single attack.
If the Protector had not needed them alive for questioning, there might not have been anything left to recover.
That was the gulf between a true Legendary Pokémon and ordinary Pokémon relying on borrowed power. No artificial transformation could bridge it so easily.
Unless, of course, you had a cheat of your own.
...
The Flame Knight stood frozen inside the prismatic dimension.
His mouth hung open as he stared at his fallen Pokémon.
"No..."
He shook his head.
"That's impossible."
His voice grew increasingly frantic.
"Primal Reversion is supposed to be the ultimate power! You couldn't have defeated all four of them with one attack!"
"This has to be an illusion!"
First, his two Champion-level Chandelure had been erased without resistance.
Now, even the four Pokémon he had subjected to pseudo-Primal Reversion had been defeated just as easily.
Everything the Flame Knight believed about his own strength—and the Primal Order's research—had been shattered in seconds.
For the first time, he understood just how insignificant he was before the power of a true Legendary Pokémon.
He looked up at the Protector and Cresselia, fury and fear twisting across his face.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Hualis is supposed to be a nation in decline! How can someone this powerful still exist here?"
The Protector's cloudy eyes turned cold.
"Hualis may no longer stand at the height it once did."
His voice remained calm, but every word carried unmistakable authority.
"That does not mean any opportunist can cross our borders, threaten our citizens, and leave unchallenged."
A trace of old anger entered his expression.
"If that man were still here, none of your so-called powers would have dared test us."
"A century ago, the name of Hualis alone was enough to make other nations think twice."
The Flame Knight tried to answer, but the Protector had already turned away from him.
"Cresselia, send him and his Pokémon to Edward."
His voice hardened.
"Have them questioned thoroughly. I want to know everything about the Primal Order—and exactly who helped a foreign Champion-level Trainer cross our border and reach Crown City."
"Understood."
Moonlight shimmered across Cresselia's body.
The Flame Knight vanished before he could protest, along with his unconscious Houndoom and Pyroar.
Only Aaron, Greninja, and the Protector remained within the prismatic dimension.
"Protector."
Aaron approached with a grateful smile.
"Thank you for saving me."
The old man's stern expression softened the moment he looked at him.
"Aaron. It has been a while."
He examined the young Trainer with open approval.
"I leave you alone for a few days, and you clear the ninth floor of the Hidden Dragon Tower."
A broad smile spread across his weathered face.
"That was no small achievement. You continue to exceed my expectations."
The warmth in his smile should have reassured Aaron.
Instead, it made his instincts scream danger.
He had seen that look before. It was the look of someone already making plans for his future without asking him.
Aaron gave an awkward laugh.
"I mostly got lucky."
The Protector nodded, apparently even more impressed.
Talented, humble, and unwilling to let success go to his head.
Excellent qualities for a future successor.
Aaron, meanwhile, had only been trying not to encourage him.
The old man's gaze shifted toward the Poké Balls at Aaron's waist.
"You received Zeraora's Egg after clearing the ninth floor, didn't you?"
"It should have hatched by now."
Aaron blinked.
He had not expected the Protector to know that.
Then he remembered Cresselia's powers and decided it was not particularly surprising.
He removed Zeraora's Poké Ball from his belt.
"Yes, it hatched earlier today."
Aaron pressed the release button.
"Come on out, Zeraora."
Red light flashed across the dimension.
"Zera!"
The moment he appeared, Zeraora hurried over and pressed himself affectionately against Aaron's side like an oversized cat.
Aaron smiled and scratched behind one of his ears.
The Protector studied the newborn carefully.
"Impressive."
His eyes lingered on Zeraora for several moments.
"This little one already possesses an extraordinary amount of power. Once fully grown, he will be formidable even by Legendary standards."
He looked back at Aaron.
"You really do have remarkable luck."
Aaron rubbed the back of his head.
"Thank you, sir."
What the Protector did not know was that Aaron had already fused the Zap Plate with Zeraora.
The artifact was constantly nourishing him, refining his body and expanding his potential while supplying him with an endless stream of pure Electric-type energy.
Zeraora had already advanced from Advanced (Early Stage) to Advanced (Mid Stage).
At this rate, reaching Advanced (Late Stage) would not take long.
His growth was even faster than it would have been with Rare Candies.
The Zap Plate truly deserved to be called one of the world's greatest treasures.
The Protector's expression soon turned serious.
"However, you must be careful."
Aaron stopped petting Zeraora and listened.
"Do not show him off merely because you are proud of him. If someone records Zeraora and posts the footage online, the news will spread far beyond Crown City."
His gaze sharpened.
"You will become a target overnight."
"Powerful families, corporations, foreign organizations—even veteran Trainers from earlier generations may decide that taking Zeraora from you is worth the risk."
The Protector looked directly into Aaron's eyes.
"Until you are strong enough to protect both yourself and him, keep Zeraora away from the public."
"Only reveal him once you possess enough strength that no one will dare try to take him from you."