"Ah… it still feels better in the Pokémon world!"
Stepping out of the space rift, Axel stood on Gyarados's back and stretched lazily. Even the air felt especially sweet.
"Axel!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind.
Axel's eyes lit up. It was Cynthia, whom he had not seen for quite some time.
Besides her, there were also Leon and Lance, whom he had never met in this world before.
"What are you all doing here?", Axel gave Leon and Lance a slight nod, then stopped beside Cynthia.
When he asked Necrozma to open the passage, he had deliberately chosen a remote place with no people around, just to avoid causing a huge commotion.
He did not expect that even in such a remote spot, so many Champions would still gather.
Cynthia rarely rolled her eyes, her tone full of grievance, "Who told you to make such a big move without saying a word to me?"
"You went to such a dangerous place and didn't take me. Did you forget about me?"
"If Dad and Mom don't like me because of this, just see how I make Garchomp bite you to death!"
Garchomp quietly took half a step back and helplessly covered her forehead.
'Can you not drag me into your threats?'
'Before, dragging me to fight the gods of time and space is one thing. Now you want me to face Axel, this monster that even the time-space dragons fear?'
'With your relationship with Axel, if I win I get scolded, if I lose I get beaten, alright?'
'I'm not taking this job. The time-space dragons look much more suitable!'
Axel: "..."
At the time, he had only been thinking about rescuing his parents as quickly as possible. He really had accidentally forgotten about Cynthia.
Seeing Axel's awkward expression, Cynthia knew she was still in his heart. She gently brushed her golden hair aside, and her voice softened.
"Since you were in a hurry to save people, I'll forgive you for not taking me last time."
"But when you go to Paldea this time to find Diao Chan and Gardevoir in the Great Platinum Orb, you have to take me with you."
"These past few days I helped you look into it. The Paldea region isn't as simple as it looks on the surface."
"The Explorers and the Rising Volt Tacklers are both pretty outstanding forces."
"Especially the Explorers. They even have the strength to covet the black Rayquaza and the gods of Paldea. But for some reason, they keep an extremely low profile. It's even hard to find records of them."
"With me there, we should be able to avoid a lot of accidents."
Axel: "..."
He had thought the idea about Giratina would not come true. Who knew it would really turn into a prophecy, and he would actually have to take Cynthia to rescue Diao Chan?
Seeing Axel's conflicted look, Cynthia jumped down from Garchomp and appeared in front of him.
"It's just going to rescue your little wife. Why are you sneaking around?"
As soon as Cynthia said that, the time-space dragons and Giratina all stiffened instinctively.
'Oh no, exposed!'
Giratina shot a puzzled look at the time-space dragons. The meaning was clear.
'Didn't you say you wouldn't tell Cynthia?'
The time-space dragons were just as confused. Cynthia clearly said she wouldn't tell Axel. Who knew she would suddenly backstab like this.
Fortunately, the scene they were worried about, Axel rubbing them into the ground, did not happen.
Cynthia lightly adjusted the frameless glasses on her nose. Her next words easily drew Axel's attention away.
"I've been taking good care of Platinum and the others for you. Do you think I'd harm Diao Chan?"
"And since we're going to Paldea this time, we can also stay at Iono's place for a while..."
"Hiss!", Axel could not help but suck in a breath.
As a regional Champion, Cynthia was truly too strong.
Whether it was personality dominance or intelligence networks, everything was maxed out.
What could Cynthia possibly do by going to Iono's house with him?
Axel could figure it out even if he used Gyarados to think.
"Th-then…", Axel swallowed, "Then let's go together?"
Cynthia smiled sweetly and held Axel's arm on the other side of Gardevoir.
"Okay!"
"But there's one more thing. Since you're already out, it's better to let Mr. Lance tell you himself."
Hearing Cynthia say that, Lance and Leon finally rode their Pokémon forward.
Leon waved lightly, "Long time no see. You're getting stronger and stronger. Raihan really has a good eye."
Axel glanced at the Entei behind Leon, "You're not bad either. A few days ago when Raihan had dinner with me, he was almost crying from being annoyed by you."
Leon: O(∩_∩)O Haha~
"Oh? Really? Haha!"
"Let me introduce you. It should be your first time meeting. This is Mr. Lance from the Kanto region."
After speaking, Leon added, "Before you showed up, he was the League's strongest Dragon-type master."
Lance: "..."
'You really didn't have to add that last part.'
"Nice to meet you!", After Leon's brief introduction, Lance straightforwardly extended his hand to Axel.
"I'm Lance. In front of you, I can't really call myself a Dragon-type master."
"But I have a small request. Could my Gyarados have a battle with Rayquaza?"
"No," Axel refused without hesitation. What was the point of using Rayquaza to fight Lance?
If he was going to battle, he would use the black and white dragons. They carried the Dragon God's Will trait, which could greatly suppress dragons or Pokémon that thought they were dragons.
Compared to that, Rayquaza was not as tempting.
Ahem, Axel was definitely not trying to bully anyone. He just wanted Lance to experience what it felt like to truly be treated as a dragon.
Still, to let Lance save some face, Axel casually found an excuse.
"Another time. I'm a bit busy right now."
"Alright...", Lance lowered his eyelids, looking somewhat disappointed, but he did not say more.
"In that case, I'll leave first. Apollo from Team Rocket has just been captured. I need to hurry back and interrogate him."
"Otherwise… he might escape again."
Axel: "..."
Looking at Lance like this, Axel suddenly felt a bit sorry for him.
One man leading Brock, the Cerulean sisters, Erika and other weak Gym Leaders, facing the most luxurious villain organization in the Pokémon world.
No wonder Lance had become so short-tempered.
Axel planned to remind him not to put so much pressure on himself.
"Mr. Lance, don't carry too much stress. I happen to have some scores to settle with Team Rocket as well."
"And I have some of my own people inside Team Rocket. During this period, you can be a bit more lenient with your policies toward them."
"An undercover?", Lance, who had already turned away, suddenly stopped. It was hard to imagine someone managing to plant an undercover agent under Giovanni.
But after thinking about Axel's terrifying record, he could only shake his head helplessly.
"I… really am not as good as you. Professor Oak once said you might have a good relationship with his granddaughter, Miss Daisy."
"If that day truly comes, I'll hand over the Kanto Champion position to you!"
Axel's mouth hung open. Then he saw Leon quickly fly toward the Sinnoh region.
"I'm heading back to Galar. You guys chat!"
Cynthia grabbed Axel, who was about to run, and restrained his Gyarados.
"Why don't you tell me and Gardevoir the story about Daisy?"
Axel: "..."
"Lance, get back here! I agree to the spar!"
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