Having learned that Victini and Lorze were messing around together, Carlita and Damon rushed over to meet Lorze.
After a few brief words, they challenged him to a duel in the form of a sibling tag team.
Though a two-on-one might be considered slightly unfair, Lorze didn't seem to care in the slightest.
The skill level of these two was far below that of Alder or Giovanni; he didn't feel a hint of nervousness.
The current scene was Victini & Meloetta VS Reuniclus & Hydreigon.
In terms of type matchups, the two Psychic-type lolis didn't seem to have much of an advantage.
It looked like a tough battle for Lorze... but was that really the case?
Although Carlita didn't recognize Meloetta, her intuition told her it was a Psychic-type Pokémon.
Wouldn't a single Dark Pulse from her Hydreigon be enough to defeat it?
Despite not having the thick nostalgia filter she had for her clan's mascot Victini, the maiden-hearted Carlita liked Meloetta at first sight.
The little songstress was undoubtedly a cute little creature, making Carlita feel a bit of pity and reluctance to strike...
Lorze expressed: Instead of worrying about Meloetta, you should worry about your Hydreigon first.
"Meloetta, Relic Song!"
A melodious and graceful song drifted from the little songstress's mouth.
But this was no free performance; the song pulled and moved the hearts of Hydreigon and Reuniclus with an invisible power.
This was Meloetta's attack!
The power of Relic Song in the games isn't considered strong—barely 75—but it has a very annoying special effect.
It has a chance to put the opponent to sleep, and Meloetta's ability, Serene Grace, doubles the trigger probability of additional move effects.
And now, Hydreigon, under the continuous mental assault of Meloetta's song, actually felt incredibly drowsy.
Its three pairs of eyelids fought to stay open, but ultimately, all three heads fell into a deep slumber!
The dragon heads drooping in all directions were hilariously comical.
It created quite a contrast with Hydreigon's original ferocious appearance.
Carlita immediately felt things were going south: falling asleep in a battle is a major taboo.
Although she didn't know how Meloetta did it, the current situation was undoubtedly critical!
"Hydreigon, wake up! Hydreigon, Hydreigon!"
The girl hurriedly called out to Hydreigon to wake it up, but it was too late.
Hydreigon had even started snoring, with a massive snot bubble growing and shrinking from the nostrils of its three heads.
Meanwhile, its opponent Meloetta, due to Relic Song, underwent a change in the flow of energy in her body.
She transformed into her Pirouette Forme, which boasted superior strength and speed!
Moreover, Meloetta in her Pirouette Forme was also red-themed, much like Tiga's Power Type.
Our Meloetta has her own strength form as well.
Now Meloetta was Normal and Fighting-type, which not only removed her weakness to Dark-types but conversely allowed her to counter Hydreigon.
She could deal a devastating blow!
Even Carlita could see that the current Meloetta was highly aggressive.
She truly panicked; at this rate, Hydreigon would definitely be the first to be eliminated.
Then it would be a 2v1, and Reuniclus wouldn't have the capability to fight off multiple opponents alone.
"Brother! Help..."
She wanted to call for her brother's assistance, only to find Damon shaking his head with a bitter smile.
It turned out that while Carlita wasn't paying attention, Victini and Reuniclus had also engaged in a bit of tactical maneuvering.
The method to break through a "tank" (defensive Pokémon), besides a direct physical crush, usually involves using the move Trick to swap one's Choice Scarf onto the opponent.
The effect of a Choice Scarf in the games is: speed is increased by 1.5 times, but you can only use the first move you selected.
Switching out resets this effect. In a real battle, this effect applies similarly, making it a rather "conceptual" item.
Thus, the tank on the field could only use one move, unable to balance health regeneration and disruption.
The defense collapsed on its own. After all, a pure sandbag that can only heal has its strategic value greatly diminished.
Not to mention, the PP of healing moves isn't exactly infinite.
Under Lorze's command, Victini used Trick to swap items across space, placing the Choice Scarf on Reuniclus.
Damon had wanted to test Victini's attack power, so he ordered Reuniclus to use Recover to observe the situation.
The result was... now Reuniclus could use nothing but Recover.
It was distressed by this, wanting only to tear off that broken scarf, but that clearly wasn't something it could do instantly.
This meant Reuniclus couldn't support Hydreigon, and Meloetta could attack without worry.
The first round for the siblings could be described as a complete wipeout by Lorze.
It was partly because Lorze was a step ahead in skill, and partly because of a bit of luck, like the effect of Relic Song.
But in reality, it didn't matter much; it just accelerated the predetermined outcome.
"Let's win this in one hit. Close Combat!"
The previously gentle and frail girl became valiant and heroic.
Meloetta's Pirouette Forme was a different person from her Aria Forme, not just in styling but in temperament.
Stepping closer to Hydreigon's side with dance-like footwork, she unleashed Close Combat.
A flurry of punches and kicks followed, as smooth and continuous as flowing water!
Close Combat is already a top-tier Fighting-type move.
Now, as Meloetta's STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move, her mastery over it took its power to another level.
Finally, with a heavy kick from Meloetta's developed leg strength, Hydreigon actually flew backward, dragging its heavy stomach along!
Though Hydreigon's durability wasn't terrible, it was ultimately an attacker.
There was a gap in raw strength compared to Meloetta, and it was one-shot just like that.
Poor Hydreigon, it didn't even know what had happened before being knocked out with spiral eyes in its sleep.
The primary damage dealer had lost the ability to act.
A Reuniclus locked into Recover had no meaning.
As such, Damon's side was likely finished...
Lorze expected Damon to surrender after Hydreigon was defeated.
However, to his surprise, Damon showed considerable backbone in the face of certain defeat.
He stated that only knocking down the opponent is true respect for a warrior.
Damon spoke grandly, but he wasn't the one getting hurt.
Lorze clearly saw Reuniclus revealing an extremely shocked expression: I've been sold out!? Reuniclus: I have an objection.
In fact, Damon wasn't some warrior who valued honor and dignity.
He acted this way only to see with his own eyes how much power Victini could truly unleash.
If he surrendered now... wouldn't his challenge have been for nothing?
Although Reuniclus was move-locked, it could continue using Recover until it was exhausted.
Unless Victini could explode with the intensity to win in one hit, the battle would become a test of endurance and a war of attrition.
Subjectively speaking, an instant burst of power is always more shocking.
Did Victini have that kind of power?
On the other side, Meloetta, who had won her duel, seemed to enter "spectator mode."
She and Victini handling one each was just right; she wouldn't step in to steal her little sister's spotlight.
Meloetta believed Victini could handle it alone.
"Big Brother Lorze, hehe❤~"
Seeing that Meloetta had already reverted to her Aria Forme and floated back to sit on his shoulder, hugging his head in a spoiled manner, Lorze knew she had no intention of fighting further.
He merely commanded Victini to throw various skills at Reuniclus to pass the "garbage time."
Yet even so, Reuniclus persisted, never being knocked down by Victini.
This guy was as hard as if it were wearing a turtle shell, its level of annoyance exactly the same as in the games.
Damon couldn't help but curl his lip: His Reuniclus was specially trained in durability.
Even if its body was mostly destroyed, it could heal rapidly with Recover.
It seemed even Victini couldn't break through this solid shield.
This made Damon a bit smug. Victini, the Pokémon of legend... was only this much after all.
However, seeing it recover from a bloody mess to as good as new was a bit "sanity-draining" if watched too much.
Lorze even felt bad for Reuniclus itself.
He wasn't interested in acts of slaughter or torment—though SM play with his wives didn't count...
Anyway, it was time to end this farce quickly—
"Victini, release all your power! V-create!"
Victini was very surprised: How did Lorze know she still had this ultimate move?
Furthermore, while the previous attacks failed to kill Reuniclus, they had allowed Victini to warm up properly.
Now... she was indeed holding a breath of energy, ready to strike with the move she was most proud of!
"Vini—!!"
Victini let out a loud shout.
Her V-shaped pointed ears suddenly burst with a dazzling, scorching light.
Under the shocked gazes of Carlita and Damon, Victini, engulfed in flames, charged like a small rocket into Reuniclus's face, slamming into it with a V-shaped inferno!
The incredible power unleashed by this strike directly broke through Reuniclus's threshold of endurance, knocking it unconscious.
The scorching heat wave from the explosion even affected the people present...
Lorze nodded in approval: Don't be fooled by Victini's cute appearance.
She is the Pokémon that can "create victory."
Moreover, Lorze could see that this use of V-create was just minor play.
In the movie Victini and the Black/White Heroes, V-girl could explode with energy far beyond what normal people could comprehend.
However, that level of momentum would only be shown in a moment of crisis.
After using V-create, blue rings symbolizing the lowering of both defenses and speed fell from above Victini's head.
The result, which was practically a total wipeout by Lorze, left the siblings feeling quite bitter.
But they no longer had a shred of doubt regarding Meloetta and Victini's strength.
Damon shook Lorze's hand respectfully and offered his praise.
At the same time, he concluded that Lorze was certainly no ordinary man.
Since he could befriend Victini, he must have thousands of connections to Damon's wish of reviving the Village of the Vale.
Therefore, he sincerely invited Lorze to the Sword of the Vale castle as a guest, so that he, as the leader of the People of the Vale, could show some hospitality.
His selfish motive... was undoubtedly related to the People of the Vale.
Dread had always been dedicated to the restoration of the Village of the Vale, which was actually his mother Janta's wish. Lorze knew all of this.
Looking at it this way, the invitation to the Sword of the Vale seemed to have ulterior motives.
It's just that he probably didn't expect that Lorze wouldn't help him, but was rather here to stop him and take Victini away.
But Lorze still accepted gladly.
No other reason than because Victini also wanted to take Lorze to see her home.
Setting aside the fact that it had locked her up for a thousand years, the Sword of the Vale castle was indeed quite magnificent and grand.
Because Hydreigon had been beaten down by Meloetta, Carlita had to ride the Golurk with her brother.
When the siblings looked at Lorze, this guy had already mounted the Rapidash he had released at some unknown time.
That dazzling, flowing mane and handsome posture... super stylish!
Lorze also held Victini and Meloetta in his arms.
At this moment, he looked like a Prince Charming for two little princesses.
Rapidash running on the ground was not a bit slower than Golurk flying in the sky.
Her jumping ability was also excellent.
She entered the castle almost at the same time as the Golurk.
The castle's main hall was somewhat empty, but the exquisiteness of the stone brick floors and pillars was still visible.
Victini's bright red color was particularly striking amidst the gray tones of the castle.
Undoubtedly, she was the existence that gave this castle life and vitality, a true priceless treasure.
"Welcome to the Sword of the Vale, Your Excellency Lorze. Just treat this as the crystallization of the civilization created by our ancestors."
Damon and Carlita also led Lorze to tour the Sword of the Vale castle.
Damon vaguely revealed to Lorze that the true power of this castle was even more shocking than its grand exterior.
He was currently conducting restoration work on the castle.
At the same time, he stated that if he could borrow Victini's power... his ambition could certainly be realized.
But when Damon said these things with such passion, Victini only hid in Lorze's arms.
She didn't seem to want to contribute her power to Damon.
Lorze gently stroked and comforted Victini, telling her via telepathy that it was okay, he was here.
This put Victini much more at ease.
They stepped onto a narrow spiral staircase and climbed floor by floor.
Everyone eventually arrived at a study with a balcony.
Damon took a book from the shelf.
As the pages were turned, 3D illustrations were revealed to Lorze, and Damon explained from the side—
About a thousand years ago, the land of Unova was ruled by the King of the People of the Vale.
At that time, the kingdom was prosperous, and Victini was revered as a mascot.
She was the King's Pokémon back then.
The second page showed a scene of the Village of the Vale, the original home of the People of the Vale.
Legend has it that the People of the Vale used the energy of the underground Dragon Pulse to create a place where humans, nature, and Pokémon lived in harmony.
However, such a beautiful and peaceful life did not last long.
The King's twin princes had a disagreement over governance.
One was the Hero of Ideals, backed by the Black Dragon Zekrom.
The other was the Hero of Truth, backed by the White Dragon Reshiram.
The two giant dragons would only grant wisdom and power to those they recognized.
The conflict between the two princes ignited a frantic war, resulting in mutual destruction.
The Black and White dragons, having consumed a massive amount of energy, turned into two stones and fell into a long slumber...
By the time the princes realized their mistakes, it was too late.
The Dragon Pulse energy was in chaos, and the land was destroyed.
As a last resort, the King set up a barrier around the castle to gather Victini's power.
Then, he drove the castle to suppress the out-of-control Dragon Pulse.
The "Sword of the Vale" then landed on its current mountaintop.
But the King passed away due to exhausting his strength.
Only the protective pillars and the barrier remained here.
The two princes also placed the Black and White Dragon stones in unknown locations.
Just like that, the People of the Vale lost their bond with the land and scattered across Unova, leaving Victini to guard the castle alone.
That is the entire story of the People of the Vale.
"I am going to bring the Village of the Vale back to life, and I am currently dedicated to that cause."
Damon looked back at the past of the Village of the Vale with a heavy heart, and then forcefully invited Lorze.
"Your Excellency Lorze, your relationship with Victini is even closer than that of us, the People of the Vale.
You... will surely agree to assist me in my wish to revive the Village of the Vale, won't you?"
However, Lorze merely held the warm Victini tight in his arms and shook his head.
He had no interest in Damon's grand ambitions.
He only wanted to take his little bride in his arms back to their love nest at the Tree of Beginning and live a good life.
Lorze's refusal seemed to make Damon a bit anxious.
He felt the chips he displayed weren't enough.
Resolving himself, he directly brought out his trump card—the Dark Stone in which Zekrom slept!
"Perhaps Your Excellency feels I am speaking grandiosely, but I have my own confidence.
Just as Your Excellency sees, I have actually gained the recognition of the Dragon of Ideals, Zekrom.
Doesn't this prove I am the Hero favored by Ideals?
Zekrom also told me that the People of the Vale used this castle to control the Dragon Pulse energy in the past!"
Reviving the Village of the Vale had become an obsession for Damon.
With this hysterical look... it would be hard to find anyone to walk the same path with him.
"No, it's not because of that—"
Regarding the feelings of reviving one's home, Lorze could understand Damon.
It was just a difference in stance.
But that was no reason for them to disregard Victini's feelings.
That was an unforgivable point.
You have to know that in the movie, Damon forcibly activating the Sword of the Vale... almost killed Victini!
"Regarding the history of the Village of the Vale, there is actually a very important part missing.
That is... the Sword of the Vale was originally created to suppress the source of the chaotic Dragon Pulse back then.
If you move the Sword of the Vale again, the Dragon Pulse will fall into chaos once more.
At that time, the entire world will be in peril!"
If the Tree of Beginning has a problem, the world is in peril.
If the Dragon Pulse has a problem, the world is also in peril.
The Pokémon world faces destruction on a daily basis. Lorze was already used to it and too lazy to complain.
The anime and movie settings are just like that...
"Do not remain obstinate. It is impossible to revive the Village of the Vale. Do you still not understand!?"
Lorze's words were like a sharp sword piercing Damon's chest.
His denial undoubtedly caused Damon's long-held faith to collapse.
At this moment, his heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife...
Driven by a biological defensive mechanism, Damon's attitude was—instant denial.
He let out a cold laugh as if he had just realized something.
"Hmph, alarmist talk! What right do you, an outsider, have to point fingers at our ancestral history?
If you cannot state a definitive source for this information, I can only treat it as history fabricated by Your Excellency.
Furthermore, if it were truly so, how could Zekrom not have told me?
Would he harm the People of the Vale?
I understand, Your Excellency Lorze, you are just like those other people, you don't want to see the restoration of the Village of the Vale."
Damon had actually asked a good question.
Because in the movie, this information was conveyed by Victini via telepathy.
The two dragons with the most say were unaware because they had turned into stones first.
This information gap was also a major reason for Damon's grave mistake.
But Victini... unfortunately, she cannot speak. Only Lorze could understand her cute cries.
"Victini told me. Her seniority among the People of the Vale is probably higher than yours, Mr. Damon?"
"Victini? You're saying you can understand Victini's words?
But that is just your side of the story.
Unless Victini can tell us personally, I will not believe Your Excellency in anything beyond that."
This was truly like eating a bitter melon—having a grievance but being unable to voice it.
Even telling Damon the truth was useless. Lorze was truly too lazy to keep arguing with him.
"No need for further words. It seems Your Excellency and I are not only not comrades, but enemies obstructing the great cause of our People of the Vale!"
Clearly, they had a falling out.
But Lorze felt it was quite bizarre: Damon was the one who proactively invited him to the castle, and Damon was the first to break off the relationship.
The speed of his face-changing was way too fast. Doesn't it cost any bean (credits)?
It seemed he was triggered by Lorze. Damon became even more paranoid, to the point of stepping onto the wrong path ahead of time.
"Tomorrow I shall attempt to activate the Sword of the Vale. At that time, the glory of the Village of the Vale shall reappear in the world.
I permit Your Excellency Lorze to witness this great feat.
Of course, you can try to stop me, but Zekrom's strength... is not something a Reuniclus can compare to.
If you think you can do it, then try!"
This really put Lorze in a bind. The strength of a Primary Legendary (Level 1 God) is no joke.
Even if he pulled in Big Sister Mewtwo, Latias, and Gardevoir from their postpartum recovery at the Tree of Beginning, they wouldn't necessarily be able to defeat Zekrom steadily.
The bloody battle with Yveltal was still fresh in his memory, and that was just stalling for Xerneas.
If they had to fight themselves, there was truly zero probability of defeating Yveltal.
But it's not like there was no way at all. Simple: I'll just become the [True] Hero, won't I?
Since things had come to this, in order to stop Damon, Lorze had no choice but to bite the bullet and head to the underground of the Sword of the Vale.
He had to take Reshiram's trial and gain its recognition.
Then, riding Reshiram, he would have a head-on duel with Damon and Zekrom.
For him, this was both a last-stand battle and an opportunity.
Maybe... he could do something incredible with Reshiram?