It wasn't just Xerosic—Diancie found it strange too.
She'd checked this area again and again herself.
Only after confirming there were no gaps did she deploy the Carbink to stand guard along the perimeter.
And yet… someone had appeared out of nowhere, at the most sensitive possible moment—right before the operation.
Diancie's gaze cooled, little by little.
Thinking of what Diantha had said, this was very likely someone sent by another organization.
A major organization like Team Rocket having ways to slip past a cordon wasn't surprising at all.
What Diancie could think of, Lysandre could think of too—and more.
"You. Take Pyroar and go. Consider it making up for your mistake."
In this situation, Lysandre's expression was ugly, but he had no intention of settling accounts with Xerosic right now.
Instead, he unhooked a Poké Ball from his waist and tossed it to him.
"Yes!"
Xerosic let out a breath and nodded rapidly.
He understood—this was Lysandre sparing him, in disguise.
With his command ability and Pyroar's solid strength, even if he ran into an Elite Four member, he could still hold them off.
Whether it was Team Rocket or Team Galactic, Xerosic was confident he could make the intruder end the fight on their knees.
"Oh, and take Alain with you."
As if worried Xerosic alone wouldn't be enough, Lysandre added another line.
Alain was an admin he'd recruited not long ago—young, but far from weak.
Especially his Charizard, which could practically contend with Lysandre's Pyroar.
At least among the younger generation, Lysandre couldn't think of anyone stronger.
"Understood, Boss. I'll get him right away."
As Xerosic withdrew, Diancie and Lysandre's attention fixed completely on the large electronic screen at the center.
On the screen was Yveltal—already cocooned up, sunk deep into sleep.
Whether it was Yveltal or Xerneas, once injured, both would enter a period of dormancy.
Diancie couldn't help rubbing her fingertips together, barely containing her anticipation.
"Begin."
She turned to Lysandre and said evenly.
Subduing Yveltal while it slept was the optimal solution—the smallest cost for the greatest gain.
"Alright."
Lysandre nodded, answering in a low voice.
Not far away Dianna was also watching the sleeping Yveltal, yet she said nothing.
Seeing how impatient Diancie looked, she pressed her lips together.
If…
If the legend was false, or the Ultimate Weapon couldn't revive the dead...
Then what would Diancie do?
She was just as desperate at heart, but she still had other things to consider. And she knew Diancie—though she'd never say it aloud—probably had the same thoughts.
It was just that Diancie didn't dare imagine what happened if they failed…
"Haa…"
Dianna let out a quiet breath, her gaze lowering.
"Elias… if you could come back… that would be enough."
She murmured softly.
...
On the other side of the forest—staring at the straight, sturdy trunks surrounding him, Elias's face darkened.
He never should've believed Dialga's nonsense and let it "handle it."
Not only had he been dropped into some unknown forest—
Forget exact coordinates. He didn't even know the general area yet.
What made his blood pressure spike even harder was that he'd been separated from Gardevoir and the others.
Dialga had apparently been afraid something would happen to him, so it added an extra layer of "protection."
And that very "protection" was what caused his landing point to differ from the others'.
For Gardevoir to find him, it would take time.
Taking a deep breath—and firmly deciding he'd punish Dialga once he got back—Elias surveyed the surroundings.
Thick, towering trees existed in every region.
But this humid, sultry heat… that ruled out several areas around Kanto right away.
Kalos?
Or Alola?
Just then, a red bird flashed past through the shrubbery not far away.
It was fast, but Elias still caught it clearly.
Fletchinder.
"Then it's Kalos."
Elias finally let out a breath. At least he hadn't drifted too far.
If Dialga had tossed him into Paldea's underground mines, it would take months just to crawl back out.
"Hm?"
After sweeping the nearby brush with psychokinesis, Elias suddenly froze.
Then a surge of delight rose in his chest.
He could sense a small lake not far away.
That was normal—Kalos was rich in waterways, and little lakes like this often appeared in its forests.
But within that lake, he felt a familiar presence.
"Delphox?!"
Elias swallowed, both thrilled and guilty.
Back then, for Delphox's safety, he'd petrified her and teleported her to another part of the forest.
Now it seemed… maybe because he'd sent her into the water, Diancie hadn't been able to find her all these years.
The statue might've even grown moss…
At once, Elias prepared to blink straight to the lakeside.
Even now, he could still control Life Energy—freeing Delphox from petrification would be effortless.
However the instant before he moved, a big, blazing 大-shaped burst hurtled straight at him.
Elias's eyes sharpened. The psychokinesis he'd been gathering to blink redirected in a snap, smashing into the Fire Blast midair.
BOOM!
The explosion thundered across the canopy, heat and shockwaves peeling outward in waves.
Elias used the opening to retreat a few steps.
Only after putting distance between them did he look up.
A young man in a dark blue jacket hovered in the air atop a Charizard, staring straight at him.
"Alain?"
Elias narrowed his eyes, recognizing him.
If he remembered right, this was one of Lysandre's people.
Had Lysandre turned on them?
Elias shook his head and dismissed the idea himself.
A Pokémon like Pyroar was fiercely loyal—Lysandre didn't seem like the type to betray.
And besides…
He'd only just arrived. Lysandre couldn't possibly know he was here.
Before Elias could piece it together, the Charizard moved again.
From the posture, it looked like a close-range Fire Punch this time.
But unlike before, Elias was ready.
After so many Simulations, his psychokinesis had steadily grown.
Mid-flight, Charizard suddenly felt the air around it churn—as if the space itself had been stirred into chaos.
An invisible pressure spread toward it.
Alain—who'd been expressionless—widened his eyes slightly.
"Fall back. Wait for Xerosic to get here."
Sensing something was wrong, he gave the order without hesitation, choosing to wait for backup.
---
T/N: hehehe cliffhanger basically also yay delphox is back
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