Want to read ahead. You know where
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Inside Diantha's grand castle, the atmosphere was unusually heavy.
The champion of Kalos sat across from Cynthia, her close friend and fellow champion from Sinnoh.
This time, they weren't meeting to exchange pleasantries.
The topic on the table was far more serious.
Cynthia leaned forward, her golden hair glinting faintly under the chandelier's light.
"Diantha, let's skip the formalities. I heard the 'Cocoon of Destruction' is showing signs of awakening. What's the situation exactly?"
Diantha folded her hands and took a deep breath.
"You've heard the old legend of Kalos, haven't you? Every thousand years, Yveltal, the God of Destruction, awakens from its cocoon. It's almost become a grim cycle."
She paused, her expression tightening.
"Based on the records, Yveltal last awoke exactly a millennium ago. That means… it will awaken again in half a month."
Her tone grew heavier with each word.
"But this time," she continued, "things are different from a thousand years ago. The world has changed. Cities have expanded, people have multiplied… If Yveltal awakens now and flies over an urban area, "
Her gaze darkened.
"The devastation could be unimaginable."
Sam, sitting quietly beside Cynthia, couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
The God of Destruction… Yveltal.
A Pokémon whose power rivals even Kyurem of Unova.
A being whose very presence drains life from all it touches.
It wasn't just a legend; it was a living catastrophe waiting to unfold.
Sam spoke next, his voice calm but grave.
"According to the historical records, Xerneas, the God of Life, has always opposed Yveltal. Their relationship is similar to Groudon and Kyogre in Hoenn, constantly clashing in balance."
Diantha nodded.
"Exactly. Xerneas, despite its gentle nature, always rises when Yveltal stirs. They balance each other's existence. But this time…"
Her words trailed off when a voice interrupted from outside the door.
"But this time, the gears of fate have shifted," said a calm, resonant voice.
"The world will not follow its old rhythm."
The door opened, and a woman stepped in, draped in a deep violet cloak speckled with star-like patterns.
Two Meowstic followed gracefully at her side.
It was Olympia, the psychic-type Gym Leader of Anistar City.
"Apologies for my delay, Diantha," Olympia said with a slight bow before her gaze shifted across the room.
Her piercing violet eyes landed directly on Sam.
Cynthia, sitting beside him, noticed immediately.
Her grip on Sam's arm tightened subtly, just enough to send a message.
'He's mine.'
Olympia's expression remained unreadable, but her tone softened as she stepped closer.
"So, this is Professor Samuel," she said.
"I've heard much about you."
Sam blinked, a little caught off guard by the directness.
"Ah, thank you, I suppose."
Cynthia's jaw twitched.
She wasn't jealous by nature, but the way Olympia seemed to ignore everyone else in the room rubbed her the wrong way.
She leaned closer to Sam, her smile sweet but her tone icy.
"Professor Samuel already has quite the reputation. I'm sure you've heard enough stories."
The tension in the air was almost tangible.
Diantha, sensing the awkwardness, rose quickly and gestured between them.
"Olympia, allow me to properly introduce everyone. This is Cynthia, Champion of the Sinnoh Region, and beside her is Professor Samuel, a Researcher."
Olympia nodded but didn't take her eyes off Sam.
"It's an honor," she said, extending her hand.
Sam hesitated for a moment before shaking it, feeling Cynthia's grip on his arm tighten another notch.
Awkward silence filled the room for a moment, broken only by the soft hum of the chandelier above.
Sam noticed Cynthia's subtle tension and smiled softly, deciding to ease the situation.
"The name Olympia comes up often," he said warmly.
"My fiancée, Cynthia, speaks of you quite a bit."
He made sure to emphasize the word fiancée, a casual reminder, but one with purpose.
The last thing he wanted was for Cynthia's jealousy to flare up mid-discussion.
At his words, Olympia blinked as though just realizing Cynthia's presence properly for the first time.
She turned toward her and extended her hand with a composed smile.
"Miss Cynthia, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Hello," Cynthia replied, her voice polite but clipped.
Their hands met briefly, no warmth, no lingering, and then Cynthia sat back down beside Sam, tugging him along with her.
"Hehe," Olympia chuckled softly, reading the mood.
She didn't seem offended by Cynthia's coldness; she was simply amused.
Without further comment, she reached into her cloak and retrieved a gleaming crystal sphere.
The moment it touched her palm, a faint psychic aura shimmered around her.
The air in the room seemed to hum.
Purple energy threads danced between her fingertips as she began to move them over the crystal's surface in slow, practiced motions.
Within moments, images began to swirl inside the sphere, a dark, shadowy cocoon pulsing faintly with crimson light.
Everyone in the room leaned forward.
Then, before their eyes, the cocoon split open.
From the cracks, a massive shape unfolded, a creature covered in jet-black feathers streaked with red, its wings stretching like talons ready to tear the sky apart.
"...Yveltal," Cynthia whispered, her eyes narrowing.
Even Sam, who had read about the Pokémon countless times, felt a chill creep up his spine at seeing its form so vividly rendered by psychic energy.
The God of Destruction looked every bit as terrifying as the legends claimed.
The image shifted again.
Now, another figure appeared, graceful, radiant, and full of life.
Xerneas, the God of Life.
Its antlers shimmered like crystal branches, glowing with pure energy.
The two legends clashed.
Waves of destruction and renewal collided within the crystal sphere.
At first, it seemed evenly matched, Xerneas's radiant light countering Yveltal's dark aura.
But soon, the balance began to tilt.
Yveltal's wings spread wide, releasing a storm of crimson energy.
Each attack struck with devastating precision, and despite its advantage in attributes, Xerneas faltered under the relentless assault.
Cynthia's eyes widened as she saw Xerneas stagger.
"No… that's impossible."
But the image continued.
With each blow, the forest around Xerneas began to wither.
The luminous stag's glow dimmed, its majestic form losing strength until, finally, it froze in place, its body turning to a lifeless, withered tree.
In that instant, the world within the crystal darkened.
Yveltal's scream echoed, a sound that seemed to drain even the air from the room.
Flowers wilted. Rivers dried.
The ground cracked and turned to ash. Everything, every trace of life, was devoured by its power.
Soon, only black and white remained.
A dead world. Silent. Hollow.
Then the image shattered, fading into smoke as Olympia released her psychic hold.
The crystal dimmed, returning to its normal state.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Cynthia was the first to break the silence.
"What was that just now?" she asked, her tone low but urgent.
"Was that a vision, or a prophecy? And Xerneas… are you saying it dies?"
Her disbelief hung in the air.
Even Diantha looked shaken, staring at Olympia for answers.