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As time passed and Kael drew closer to his destination, the strange stirring in his heart intensified.
The sense of urgency grew heavier with each step, like a storm about to break. It fueled his desire to evolve, to grow stronger, and to prepare for whatever was to come.
But desire alone meant nothing.
Without experience, evolution remained out of reach.
The only solution was to find powerful opponents. To fill the last gap in his experience before the coming disaster.
Fortunately, as the child of Gaia's will, as the true chosen one of this world, he did not need to search for long.
Thump. Thump.
Polished leather shoes pressed into the damp grass, sinking slightly with each step.
Golden hair shifted beneath a round-brimmed hat, gleaming in the sunlight.
Sapphire-blue eyes shone with cold elegance, paired with a sharp, aristocratic face that gave him the air of a nobleman.
"Well now…"
"I finally found you."
"Test Subject Number 267."
Zeke smiled faintly, adjusting the brim of his hat.
He had been surprised when he first saw Kael.
Though Kael had changed greatly, the lingering aura he had tracked years ago still remained.
There was no mistaking it.
This was the same rare Machop that had escaped from the underground facility.
And now…
It had evolved into a Machoke.
Dr. Darr's experiment had not been a failure after all.
Unfortunately, Dr. Darr was dead, and the research had been destroyed with the base.
Whatever transformation had occurred in Kael could no longer be replicated.
A pity.
It would have strengthened the Phantom Order considerably.
Zeke's sapphire eyes reflected Kael's dark purple form.
There was contempt in them.
He had expected an enemy organization.
Not a single Pokémon.
Still, revenge was a universal instinct.
Humans felt it.
Pokémon did too.
Which only made the Order's fallen outposts more embarrassing.
To think they had been destroyed by this.
To Zeke, Kael was nothing more than a slightly larger Machoke.
Stronger than average, perhaps.
But still insignificant.
After all, only a few years had passed since his escape.
Reaching this level was impressive.
But not enough.
Zeke gave a small wave to the shadow at his side.
His Bisharp stepped forward silently.
Confident in his partner's strength, Zeke did not bother watching.
The battle would be over in seconds.
He turned and began walking away.
---
Kael watched him go, confused.
A strange human had appeared, said incomprehensible things, and now walked away as if the outcome were already decided.
It was absurd.
But none of that mattered.
What mattered was the killing intent.
Kael could feel it clearly.
That alone was enough.
He did not need explanations.
He needed only one outcome.
Death.
Bzzzz—
A blade of silver light appeared beside Zeke.
Bisharp's killing intent locked onto Kael.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"So this is what it means to be chosen by the world."
"What I need comes straight to me."
---
Fifty kilometers away.
Deep within the Sandalwood Forest.
Something was happening.
"I found it…"
"I finally found it."
Raven's voice trembled.
Her body shook beneath her combat suit.
Before her stood the silver tree.
Its smooth, metallic surface gleamed like mithril, radiating divine energy.
The air grew heavy.
Sacred.
No one spoke.
"Move!"
"Hurry!"
"If night falls before we're finished, none of us will survive!"
Her sharp command snapped the others from their trance.
The Phantom Order's senior officers sprang into action.
They retrieved advanced instruments from their packs, placing them around the silver tree with precision.
But Raven did not join them immediately.
She stepped forward alone.
Slowly.
Reverently.
Her fingers brushed the tree's surface.
It was warm.
Alive.
At last.
At last, she had found it.
Xerneas.
The embodiment of life itself.
The guardian of nature.
Now reduced to a dormant state under the corruption of the Nightmare Seeds.
This was her chance.
Her only chance.
She was not afraid of awakening it.
The Phantom Order possessed an ancient control device, recovered from forgotten ruins.
She had tested it herself.
Even their strongest Pokémon could not resist it.
Not even slightly.
Yes, there was risk.
But the reward was divine power.
In this dying world, Raven had no choice.
If they did nothing, they would be consumed like everyone else.
But with Xerneas, they could rule.
They could reshape the world.
Failure meant death.
Success meant everything.
It was a gamble worth taking.
Her pale fingers traced the mithril surface gently.
Warmth flowed into her skin.
Life itself pulsed beneath her touch.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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