[Lance: So that's it. Hoopa's rings also use spatial power, and with Palkia's assistance, multiple escape routes can be opened at once.]
[Professor Oak: Exactly. If one God of Space is not enough, then two can work together. Although Hoopa's rings function differently from Palkia's direct control over space, both rely on spatial energy, which allows their powers to combine.]
[Iris: So that means their abilities can stack together… That's actually an amazing idea. I didn't expect Ash to come up with something like that so quickly. As expected, he's very sharp when it comes to situations like this.]
[Norman: However, there's still a problem. Hoopa itself cannot pass through its own rings. So in the end… how is Hoopa supposed to escape?]
That question immediately caused everyone to fall silent. Until now, all attention had been focused on evacuating the people, but Norman's words pointed out a crucial issue that no one had considered. Hoopa, the one who had created the escape routes, was also the one who could not use them.
In the Footage—
As Mewtwo continued to maintain order using its Psychic power, the evacuation progressed faster than expected.
Even though the surrounding space continued collapsing inward, most of the civilians had already been safely evacuated through the rings.
The number of people remaining inside the tower rapidly decreased, leaving only Ash, Hoopa, and the Legendary Pokémon behind.
At that moment, Baraz spoke up, pointing out the same issue that Norman had raised. Hoopa could not pass through the rings.
Hearing this, Ash's expression froze for a brief moment. The relief he had felt from successfully saving so many people disappeared instantly, replaced by a serious and determined look.
However, Ash did not hesitate for long. He quickly raised his head, his eyes filled with resolve. "How do we know if it won't work unless we try?" he said firmly. "Hoopa, I'll take you through the ring with me."
"Hoopa… believes in Ash!" Hoopa responded, its voice filled with trust.
At this moment, the surrounding space continued to collapse at an accelerating rate. Even with Palkia supporting the rings using its spatial power, the stability of the portals began to weaken, and their size gradually shrank. It was clear that they did not have much time left.
Seeing the situation, Ash immediately made a decision. He asked Mewtwo to leave first and instructed it to prepare to assist from the outside.
He and Hoopa would be the last to leave. If they were unable to pass through, Mewtwo, along with Latias and Latios, would use their Psychic abilities to pull them through by force.
After confirming that all the remaining civilians and Pokémon had exited safely, Ash adjusted his hat, took a deep breath, and firmly held Hoopa in his arms. His expression was resolute, showing no fear despite the dangerous situation.
"I'm going, Hoopa!" Ash said.
"Okay!" Hoopa replied.
With a shout, Ash rushed forward, carrying Hoopa toward the nearest ring. The collapsing space behind them pressed forward like an unstoppable force, threatening to swallow everything.
However, just as they reached the ring, an invisible force suddenly blocked their path.
It was as if an unseen barrier had appeared out of nowhere, preventing them from passing through.
This was the restriction placed by Baraz's ancestors using the power of Arceus. Its original purpose had been to prevent Hoopa from recklessly using its power and leaving the ring without understanding responsibility.
But now, in this critical moment, that very restriction had become the greatest obstacle to their escape.
Ash and Hoopa tried to push forward with all their strength, but no matter how hard they struggled, they could not break through the barrier.
Outside the ring, Mewtwo, Latias, and Latios used their Psychic power to try and pull them through, but even their combined strength was not enough to overcome the restriction.
The barrier, created with the power of Arceus, was simply too strong.
Meanwhile, the space inside the Desert Tower continued collapsing. The purple-black distortion pressed closer and closer, reducing the available space to almost nothing. Even the rings themselves began shrinking under the pressure, becoming smaller and more unstable.
Palkia, who had been maintaining the rings using its spatial power, was now visibly exhausted. Sweat formed on its face as it struggled to hold the portals open.
The strain of supporting both the rings and resisting the collapsing space was pushing it to its limits.
At that moment, Hoopa reverted back to its Confined form, using all its remaining strength to stabilize the ring from within. Even so, the situation continued to worsen.
The space had already shrunk to the point where only a single person could barely pass through the ring.
Everyone was running out of options.
Just as the space was about to collapse completely and swallow everything—
A brilliant golden light suddenly descended from the sky.
The light shone down upon the dark purple collapsing space, illuminating everything in its path. The moment the golden radiance touched the distorted space, something incredible happened.
The collapse stopped.
The chaotic distortion froze in place, as if time itself had been halted. The overwhelming pressure that had been crushing everything suddenly disappeared, leaving everyone stunned.
There was no time to think about what had just happened.
Seizing the opportunity, everyone immediately focused all their strength on pulling Ash and Hoopa through the barrier. Mewtwo, Latias, and Latios combined their Psychic power, while Ash and Hoopa pushed forward with everything they had.
At this moment, Hoopa finally understood something.
After recalling everything that had happened, it realized the true meaning behind the punishment that had been placed upon it. It wasn't meant to restrict it forever—it was meant to guide it, to help it grow, and to make it understand the importance of its power.
"I want to stay with everyone… forever!" Hoopa shouted.
At that moment, the restriction shattered.
The invisible barrier broke apart, and Ash and Hoopa successfully passed through the ring, escaping the collapsing space. Immediately afterward, the ring shrank and returned to Hoopa's body.
Palkia, having exhausted all its strength, collapsed onto the ground.
Beside it, Dialga let out a low roar, as if teasing or mocking its fellow deity. The implication was clear—what kind of God of Space struggles like this?
Palkia did not respond.
Partly because it was too exhausted to speak, and partly because it had no way to argue.
Today, it had nearly lost all its dignity.
Fortunately, in the end, it had still contributed something.
As everyone recovered from the immediate danger, their attention was drawn to the source of the golden light. The distorted space had completely disappeared, and everything had returned to normal.
However, the Desert Tower, the last remaining structure of Dahara City, had been completely destroyed.
Even so, no one cared about that at the moment.
What mattered was the mysterious golden light that had appeared.
What was it?
And how could it stop something that even Palkia, the God of Space, could not?
As everyone wondered, the clouds in the sky slowly parted.
From above, a radiant figure began to descend.
It resembled a divine unicorn, its body white and shining with a holy glow. Its hooves were golden, and a golden ring encircled its body, giving off an overwhelming sense of divinity.
This Pokémon was none other than the legendary Creator God—Arceus.
...
[Cynthia: Oh my… even Arceus has appeared?!]
The shock this brought was beyond words. From the beginning of this event until now, one unbelievable development had followed another.
Hoopa controlling multiple Legendary Pokémon, Rayquaza and Lugia appearing, Mega Evolutions, Mewtwo, the Sinnoh Creation Trio, and now even Arceus itself had descended.
But what happened next shocked everyone even more.
In the Footage—
As Arceus appeared, the people of Dahara City instinctively closed their eyes and brought their hands together in prayer. Faced with the Creator God, even the bravest individuals could not help but show reverence.
Everyone did this—
Except Ash.
Not only did he not kneel or pray, but he actually raised his hand and waved.
"Hey! Arceus! Long time no see!!"
Everyone froze.
Baraz froze.
Serena froze.
What did he just say?
Long time no see?
Had he… met Arceus before?
Before anyone could process this, Arceus responded.
"Ash… it has been a long time. After awakening from my slumber, I sensed that you were in danger, so I came."
Silence fell over the entire scene.
Ash scratched his head casually, as if this was completely normal.
"Oh, really? Thanks, Arceus. Did our battle wake you up?"
"More or less. Unless there is a major disturbance, I do not awaken easily."
Ash began chatting with Arceus as if speaking to an old friend. Even Pikachu chimed in from time to time, clearly familiar with the Creator God as well.
At that moment, everyone watching—both inside and outside the Footage—felt their minds go completely blank.
Arceus not only knew Ash—
It had come specifically to save him.
The entire world fell silent.
The barrage that had been constantly scrolling suddenly stopped.
It wasn't that the system had crashed.
It was that everyone's brains had.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 60 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.