Ever since its birth, Tornadus had never been struck by a Ground-type move. But now, torn nearly apart by a brutal Earthquake, it let out a pained cry before tumbling from the sky!
On the other side, Thundurus was stunned by what it saw. It tried to take to the air again, but Walking Wake pinned it down and blasted it with a violent Steam Eruption!
Thundurus's HP plummeted in an instant. Under the combined effects of Sunny Day and Rain Dance, the power of the steam was unimaginable. As the scorching mist spread, Thundurus tilted its head back, pupils losing focus, before crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.
Even the proud Gods of the Clouds would have their day of falling to earth!
Beads of sweat formed on N's brow. Whenever his Pokémon fell, his own spirit weakened as well. And now…
The Gods of the Clouds had lost to moves he had never even considered dangerous.
Only his Darmanitan remained.
Across from him, three Pokémon still stood, their fighting spirit burning bright—the ancient dragon roaring, the Wave Aura hero shining with light, and the embodiment of the sun radiating brilliance.
"Huff…" In its Zen Mode, Darmanitan breathed low and steady.
They were in dire straits now. On its own, it was impossible for it to defeat all three.
The opposing trainer's power was beyond imagination. With his Psychic powers, N could sense it—this trainer was projecting some kind of power and will directly into his Pokémon.
The power of the heart…
N thought back to Colress's research.
Were Pokémon partners, comrades, or tools?
Different ways of living together led to different degrees of growth or decline in a Pokémon's strength. Harsh training could make a Pokémon strong, but fighting side-by-side as true partners could bring forth that same power.
Back then, Colress's theory had left N unconvinced. He had believed his own love for Pokémon made the research pointless.
But now, he understood everything.
"Huff, huff—"
Darmanitan had caught N's thoughts. It had no intention of backing down—it would fight to the end!
"Raaah!"
Its opponent was Riolu.
The ancient dragon and the sun's avatar stepped back, leaving the little blue-furred pup whose twin paws now gathered the malice of the cosmos.
Dark Pulse, huh… It wouldn't survive a second hit, but for its friends, it would stay standing, even in defeat!
Especially when its opponent was also a friend—it couldn't lose face!
"You see me as a friend? Thanks!"
Hikaru smiled at Darmanitan.
Pokémon were simple to understand—Hikaru had once helped Darmanitan, so it saw him as a kind friend.
At the same time, Darmanitan sensed the smoldering anger within Riolu.
"Huff…"
So that was it… Even while trying to suppress it, anger still rose when facing a Team Plasma Pokémon.
Because they had ensnared your former trainer, you harbored feelings of vengeance?
Riolu shook its head.
No—this grudge was for that green-haired man alone!
Ah… Your trainer has green hair too, but not him!
N: "If not me… then Ghetsis."
"I see. Then… this will be the last move."
To accept defeat in place of his father—that was also his duty as a son.
N spread his arms wide, pouring all his heart into Darmanitan.
At the same time, Hikaru linked his heart to Riolu's.
"Before the decisive battle with Ghetsis—this is our warm-up and training. Never forget your training—show your greatest strength now, Riolu!"
The dark aura on Riolu's paws burst with lightning!
Wave Aura connected to the stars—Dark Pulse at maximum power!
In Zen Mode, Darmanitan gathered all its Psychic power and flames. This was the final blow—its most powerful Fire-type move, Overheat!
Brilliant fire clashed with cosmic malice atop the Celestial Tower, forming a dazzling shockwave. Black energy like venomous snakes pierced through the flames. The surging fighting spirit struck Darmanitan hard!
Overheat was torn apart!
With a burst of black light, Darmanitan fell in defeat—but still held its statue-like pose, refusing to topple!
"Thank you… Darmanitan. My friend."
"You took on all of Riolu's anger for me."
Sweat beaded on N's forehead; his mental strength was heavily drained. But he could feel Riolu's mood calming.
"…Friend, you've won. I've lost."
"You've defeated the king of Team Plasma!"
N nodded to Riolu, lifting the brim of his cap with a light breath.
The rippling shockwaves atop the Celestial Tower gradually faded, the bells echoing far and wide.
A mysterious presence gathered—Mesprit gazed with satisfaction upon the result, and the souls rejoiced in laughter!
Was the battle over?
[It's here! It's coming!]
Mesprit's voice reached Hikaru as a sudden disturbance arose.
Behind N, a colossal power formed, forcing him to turn.
The phantom of a silver-blue dragon appeared!
The whirlpool of the Spirit World churned like a vortex of hearts—countless souls cheered and roared. This battle had embodied the power of life!
[Does winning or losing truly matter?]
[The important thing is to fight—to feel alive!]
[The Gods of the Clouds were greedy, yet they gave their all in battle. Losing was not your fault—it was simply that your opponent's Pokémon were stronger.]
The silver-blue dragon's voice resonated within N's heart. He even felt its own restless urge—it seemed to want to test itself against the trainer before it. Or perhaps, as master of souls, it too wished to experience the brilliance of life!
[I want to fight too… That most radiant form of life—I have seen it, and so have the souls here! We are all pleased, all satisfied!]
[So, offer it—offer the burning soul of your lingering desire! Not to any world, but to yourself! Swear it upon your soul!]
"What… what is that?!"
The silver-blue dragon's sudden reappearance left everyone awestruck, as if they stood within a myth. This was no founding dragon of Unova!
Yogus and Asura, arriving near the Celestial Tower, also saw it. The soul-shaking presence of the silver-blue dragon made even the stars above turn.
Yes—night had already fallen. The stars were out!
Endless stars… as if they themselves were shining brighter.
Asura: "A legendary dragon… but unlike the records! Just how many dragons does Unova have?!"
Yogus: "This was sparked by the battle of two heroes… but who won?"
Unlike them, Vio's heart surged with excitement:
"Lord N and Lord Ghetsis were right! Lord N is being recognized by a legendary dragon! Even if it's not a founding dragon, only Lord N is worthy of such immense power!"
Underground in Mt. Roas!
"What… what is this stone?"
"A Frozen Rock? But it's huge… and why is it radiating such strange Dark Pulses?"
Clay, bundled in cold-weather gear, frowned at the massive boulder before him.
Beside him, a well-built, buzz-cut Fighting-type expert scanned the area warily.
"A natural cavern here? No… more like a giant chamber!"
"I can feel something behind that mountain wall."
Clay: "Hmph… Marshal, you feel it too? Just now, I felt—"
"Ever since I met that outsider, I think I've awakened Psychic powers too."
That buzz-cut man was none other than Marshal, Unova's Fighting-type Elite Four member. He often trained on Mt. Roas and knew Clay well.
"That foreigner?"
"Yes—Tarin said our ancestors shared a mysterious connection. Since leaving the Ancient Castle, I feel like the world's changed a little."
Clay's eyes stayed fixed on a certain spot on the cavern wall.
"If my ancestors truly bore some mission…"
"Then here, now—I can feel that thing's presence!"
They both stared at the dark stone wall. The Frozen Rock pulsed with endless black light—confirming its true nature.
It was a massive Dusk Stone!
The ancient cold chamber darkened further. Strange energy began to spread outward. They saw a sky full of stars—the cold stars of a black-and-white world—and…
The dark rock wall began to twist, a shadowy gateway growing clearer.
Boom!
From the darkness stepped a colossal, godlike figure, strange beeping echoing like ancient machinery coming to life.
The King of the Titans had awoken. Emerging from the dark gate, it broke through the underground walls. Without the call of the three golems, it had awakened on its own!
Regigigas had sensed a dragon's presence! Though different from the one in its memories, it too had come from the cosmos.
The starlight within itself trembled—there must be a dragon nearby!
The titan moved to engage—yet paused briefly.
It seemed someone else was already battling that dragon.
And this familiar feeling… was it the King of the Sun?
Then, it would send its will and strength to that person!
"A giant?!"
Clay and Marshal were stunned—the white titan exuded overwhelming power. Seeing the lights flashing on its face, they hastily released their Pokémon!
"Oh-ho! So this was the cause of the disturbances under Mt. Roas!"
"What incredible strength… Such power can only be wielded by the king of Team Plasma!"
A delighted voice came from behind Clay—an uninvited guest. It was Samuro, the sage responsible for ideology within Team Plasma. Though not skilled in ruins exploration, the freezing air within Mt. Roas had driven away most people.
With tunnels from mining opening paths deep inside, Samuro had marched in with his men unhindered, reaching this final chamber.
The sight of the Titan King stunned him.
What kind of Pokémon was this—stepping from twisted space in the dark, bringing such immense power? If their king could command it, who in Unova could oppose them?
Such power… was the very reason to be king!
And to study it, the first step was to put this Gym Leader and Elite Four member to sleep!
But while Clay was still processing, Marshal reacted instantly.
As Amoonguss unleashed Spore, Marshal sprang up and kicked a boulder loose!
Rock Tomb!
Before the spores could spread, the massive rock smashed Amoonguss in the face!
"Ugh! Fighting-types… so troublesome!"
As an Elite Four member and a formidable martial artist, Marshal was feared—especially since in the Pokémon world, the most dangerous humans were Psychics and Fighting-type masters! They could use Pokémon moves themselves, sometimes stronger than Pokémon could!
Marshal was no exception—a true "Super Unovan"!
Samuro was startled as the old sage ordered his men to engage—but Marshal tossed out two Poké Balls!
Conkeldurr and Breloom!
"Breloom—Mach Punch on the trainers!"
"Conkeldurr—Hammer Arm!"
In wild battles, the first rule for Fighting-type trainers was obvious—attack the opposing trainer first!
And Marshal knew this uniform all too well.
"Team Plasma!" Marshal growled.
Not long ago, they had stirred public outrage against his teacher, Champion Alder, accusing him over the state of his injured Volcarona and demanding he apologize.
If not for a special medicine from a certain person, that Volcarona might have died, and Alder's reputation would have been ruined. The grudge burned deep in Marshal's heart!
Breloom blurred forward—before a grunt could react, a Mach Punch smashed into his face like "Gian hitting Nobita"!
The trainer collapsed, and without his commands, his Pokémon panicked—Breloom followed up with another Mach Punch, KO'ing a freshly sent-out Liepard!
Meanwhile, Conkeldurr swung its concrete pillars, Hammer Arm blowing away both Pokémon and their trainers alike!
"Whoa—going straight for the trainers? Well, these guys do look shady."
Clay finally snapped out of it and sent out Excadrill to join the fight.
"Hmph… didn't think the Elite Four would be this troublesome. Then I'll use this."
Samuro pulled a strange machine from inside his robes. In an instant, a strange signal wave spread through the area!
[Unova Link (Celestial Tower) established!]
[Unova Link (Mt. Roas) established!]
[Description: The ruler of the Spirit World cannot step into reality—especially as a visitor from another universe. Normally, a major temporal Wave Aura is needed as a medium, but as master of the Spirit World, it has its own means! On a starry night, it will bring your souls to the borderland between the Moon's Domain and the Spirit World!]
[The dragon's arrival triggered Wave Aura tremors deep within Mt. Roas. The special Sun Stone and Moon Stone in your bag radiated cosmic aura, resonating with the Dusk Stone (Frozen Rock) underground!]
[The Gate of the Moon has opened! The Titan King has been awakened by the Wave Aura and starlight—use the Titan's Key to connect!]
What was it like to leave your body?
For Hikaru, it wasn't the first time. The world simply dimmed, the stars above shining brighter than ever—otherwise, it looked no different from reality.
Ah… It couldn't come over here—but it could pull someone over there.
Especially if it took the soul over… Giratina couldn't really do much about that. After all, the Reverse World wasn't the Spirit World.
"Graaah!"
Hikaru heard Giratina's roar—not the silver-blue dragon's, but the true Giratina's voice.
The master of the Reverse World was scolding the ruler of the Spirit World!
Though their origins differed, their typings were the same—and more importantly, how dare the Spirit Dragon interfere with its contractor in reality?!
Giratina tried to use the Reverse World's power to enter the Moon's Domain—but the silver-blue dragon's territory was hard to breach.
A vast vortex of the Spirit World appeared near the Celestial Tower, blurring the line between illusion and reality.
"My soul… has been chosen?"
N stared at the silver-blue dragon behind him—and understood.
It only wanted to use him to battle the trainer before it.
But even so, to be chosen as its temporary trainer was an honor beyond words.
Even if it had nothing to do with the founding legends…
This feeling was one he had never experienced before.
[Battles are, at their core, clashes of will, heart, and soul. Without the body, the collision of souls burns even brighter!]
The silver-blue dragon sensed the Wave Aura from Mt. Roas, the thunder of giant footsteps drawing near. It piqued its interest.
This was the rift between the Moon's Domain and the Spirit World.
The Moon's Domain was a land spoken of in other worlds—once, an ancient king used the Titan's Key to paint a mysterious picture, calling forth the Titan King from an unknown world, and with its power, waged war against a civilization.
In the world's reverse side, the Tao Trio did not exist.
[Across Unova are countless ruins of battles between titans and dragons.]
[In the Ancient Castle, in the Moon Ruins under Mt. Roas, in Dragonspiral Tower—there are golems everywhere.]
As master of the Spirit World, the silver-blue dragon remembered the history of souls well.
The war between the Ancient Castle and the Seafaring Nation… the dragons from beyond the stars, and the titans from the world's reverse—the clay golems, created by the ancients to protect Pokémon and humans, moved with mysterious energy.
And their form was modeled after the legendary titans themselves!
(End of Chapter)
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