Seeing Volcarona enveloped in that multicolored light, Nathan felt a deep pain in his heart. He had no idea what this tree was doing.
And precisely because of the unknown, Nathan became increasingly worried.
What if the tree was absorbing Volcarona's life force?
What if the tree was trying to kill Volcarona?
Seeing that the Pokémon's attacks were having no effect, Nathan was overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness.
Suddenly, Nathan thought of the system!
"System! Quick! Help me solve this situation and save Volcarona! I'll pay whatever it takes!"
Nathan loved money, but he loved his Volcarona even more.
This was his very first Pokémon, the one that had grown up with him since childhood—something no amount of money could ever replace.
But the system remained unresponsive, as if it had gone into hibernation.
"I'll give you over ten billion PokéDollars! Just help me save Volcarona!"
Seeing the system ignore him, Nathan shouted again.
Over ten billion PokéDollars could probably buy a small country in the outside world.
But to Nathan, even that amount paled in comparison to a single wing of his Volcarona.
Money could always be earned again—but once Volcarona was gone, it would truly be gone forever!
Still, the system showed no response.
This was the same system that used to bicker with him over just 2,000 PokéDollars.
Yet now, even when Nathan offered over ten billion, it remained unmoved.
"How much do you want? I'll write you an IOU for another twenty billion—will that be enough!?"
Nathan roared in frustration.
At the most critical moment, the system actually chose to abandon him.
While Nathan was arguing with the system, the rainbow-colored light surrounding Volcarona intensified.
Not only that, but the massive tree itself began to glow even more brightly.
The surrounding trees rustled loudly, resonating with the giant tree at the center.
Seeing this, Nathan grew even more anxious.
What exactly was happening!?
Was this really going to be the day he lost Volcarona?
Nathan was beginning to regret ever coming to this place.
If he hadn't come, none of this would have happened.
As regret filled his heart, the multicolored light suddenly burst forth, causing Nathan to instinctively shut his eyes.
Once the light faded, Nathan slowly opened his eyes.
In front of him was Volcarona, its wings still flapping steadily.
Seeing that Volcarona was unharmed, Nathan immediately let out a huge sigh of relief.
He rushed forward and pulled Volcarona behind him protectively, then turned to face the large tree.
But what he saw next stunned him.
The tree was gone!
In its place stood a Pokémon.
This Pokémon resembled a deer in shape, with a striking blue and black body.
From its head sprouted eight antler-like horns, each branching into two tips.
Each antler was a beige color, adorned with dazzling protrusions in orange, red, purple, and aqua blue.
The left and right antlers mirrored each other, with colors gradually transitioning from bright at the base to darker at the tips.
Its head was covered in deep blue skin, and the antlers grew from both sides of its cheeks.
The base of the antlers extended downward, framing its eyes and nose.
Its eyes matched the color of its fur, with pupils shaped like the letter "X."
Its body, when viewed from the front, also formed an X-shape.
The blue parts of its body extended outward from a "fur tuft" on its chest and curled upward at the ends like twin horns.
The rest of its body was black, with a blue stripe running along its spine.
At the end of this stripe was a small, fluffy black tail.
Its four legs ended in beige, hooked hooves, forming a cross-like pattern.
The lower edges of its front limbs revealed intricate, beautiful designs.
Seeing this Pokémon, Nathan immediately scanned its information for name and attributes.
And when the name appeared before his eyes, he was completely stunned.
Xerneas!
Before he could even say a word, Xerneas's antlers began to emit a brilliant, multicolored light.
This light washed over both Nathan and his Pokémon.
Nathan immediately felt a soothing warmth spread through his body.
The areas where he had once been injured now tingled with a gentle itch, as though being healed.
It felt like he was immersed in a hot spring, enveloped in comfort, to the point that he almost wanted to fall asleep right then and there.
And suddenly, a phrase echoed in Nathan's mind:
"Xerneas, after sleeping for a thousand years in the form of a tree, revives and, when its antlers shine with seven-colored light, it shares the gift of eternal life."
In other words—he was receiving eternal life from Xerneas!
The process lasted for two to three minutes before gradually coming to an end.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were Xerneas,"
Nathan bowed deeply in apology to Xerneas once the sharing of life was complete.
No matter what Xerneas had done to Volcarona earlier, the fact that it still chose to share life with them—even after being attacked by Nathan's Pokémon—was already incredibly generous.
"It's all right, human. Tell me—have you encountered Yveltal before?"
Xerneas spoke in a soft, almost ethereal voice, gentle and soothing to the soul.
This was Xerneas's nature—gentle to all living beings.
Hearing this, Nathan immediately recalled how Xerneas had forcibly pulled Volcarona out of its Poké Ball.
Volcarona had once been attacked and injured by Yveltal.
Xerneas must have sensed Yveltal's aura from Volcarona, prompting its actions.
But wasn't that a bit too powerful?
To be able to detect Yveltal's aura through a Poké Ball—this truly was a legendary Pokémon.
Among all Legendary Pokémon, Yveltal and Xerneas were practically at the very top.
"Yes, we once encountered Yveltal and were attacked by it,"
Nathan nodded and explained.
"My Volcarona was injured during that attack while protecting me."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke Volcarona's soft, downy wings.
"You and your Pokémon were lucky," Xerneas said calmly.
"If Yveltal had chosen to absorb its life force, you wouldn't be standing here now to see me."
Yveltal's attacks were capable of draining life energy.
Why it hadn't done so during that encounter was something Nathan would never know.
Indeed, luck had played a part.
Now, with Xerneas's shared eternal life, Nathan might be the only human in the world with this blessing.
After all, Xerneas only shared life after waking from its thousand-year slumber.
"So… now that you're awake, do you plan to seek out Yveltal?"
Nathan asked cautiously.
If possible, Nathan would love to bring Xerneas straight to Yveltal—and maybe bring along Entei, Suicune, and Raikou to settle the score.
Before, he hadn't had the strength to deal with Yveltal.
But now that Xerneas had awakened, Yveltal shouldn't be that much of a threat, especially if the other three Legendary Beasts joined in.
"Yes, where is Yveltal located?"
Xerneas nodded, and the light gleaming off its majestic antlers made Nathan want to reach out and touch them.
"It's in a mystic realm in an island. If you want to go, I can take you there right now."
Nathan replied eagerly.
However, Xerneas tilted its head, slightly confused.
Having slept for a thousand years, it didn't understand what a "mystic realm" was.
"What is a mystic realm?"
Xerneas asked, its voice filled with genuine curiosity.
During its long slumber, it had missed all the changes in the world.
Nathan quickly explained everything he knew about mystic realms—how they existed parallel to the world, how they operated, and, most importantly, how Pokémon inside them couldn't leave on their own unless the realm merged with the outside world.
Hearing this, Xerneas frowned.
If that was the case, then Yveltal couldn't currently leave its realm to wreak havoc elsewhere.
But once the mystic realm merged with the outside world, it could freely roam.
If that realm was the one to merge, wouldn't it mean that Yveltal would be free to destroy at will?
"Human, can you take me out of here?"
Xerneas asked, brows furrowed.
Yveltal and Xerneas were destined to be eternal rivals—one representing life, the other death.
Both possessed everlasting lifespans.
Now that Yveltal had awakened, so too had Xerneas.
They were bound to cross paths again.
But before that happened, Xerneas didn't want to see more innocent lives taken by Yveltal.
"I can. Even if you want me to bring you directly to Yveltal, I'll do it!"
Nathan said joyfully.
How could he refuse such a request from Xerneas?
(End of Chapter)