55
The celebration will have to wait. As the light from the Z-Move fades, the Obsidian Key doesn't go dark—it shifts into a steady, pulsing compass needle, pointing directly into the closing Ultra-Wormhole.
"A 'Pilot's Heart,' huh?" I muttered, leaning on May as the Stamina Band hummed, slowly recharging my vitals. "Guess it's not done navigating yet."
The Departure: Final Checks
We stood at the edge of the interdimensional rift. Behind us, Hoenn was safe, the sun finally rising over Meteor Falls. But ahead, the violet swirls of Ultra Space promised a journey no Hoennian had ever taken.
Jerry (The Noble Rattata): Jerry stood at the front, his fur gleaming with a silver-gold luster that set him apart from any common Pokémon. As a Noble Rattata, he didn't need to be a Raticate; his power was compressed, his "Speed Surprise" now backed by the dignity of a god-slayer.
The Mega-Cool Down: Raven let out a soft sigh as the Mega Absol form receded. Her "wings" vanished, leaving her exhausted but steady. "Steven was right," I noted. "Mega Evolution is a sprint, not a marathon. We'll need to time it better where we're going."
The Call to Action
I looked at the squad. Kage, Blaze, Genji, Tammy, Raven, Eli, and the indomitable Jerry. They weren't just a team; they were a strike force.
"May, you coming?" I asked, offering a hand. She adjusted her bandana, her eyes sparkling with that same "Vigor" that had held the gods at bay. "You really think I'm letting you go to another dimension without a backup singer? Let's give them an encore."
[Chat Log: THE FINAL FRONTIER]
GymBro_Chuck: THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH?!
IceCreamQueen_C: The stream is going to get real laggy in Ultra Space, but I'm staying tuned!
Steven_Stone: Godspeed, Titans. Hoenn will be here when you get back.
Master_Oak: A Noble Rattata and a Singer in the world of the Ultra Beasts... fascinating.
"Titans! Let's Roll Out!"
I held the Obsidian Key forward. It pulsed in time with my heartbeat. Lillie and Nebby took the lead, and with a final wave to Zenia and Drake, we stepped into the rift.
The gravity shifted. The colors inverted. We weren't in Hoenn anymore.
"Lens! Keep the camera rolling!" I shouted as we plunged into the neon-streaked void. "We've got a new world to map and a star-god to get home!"