Inside the Great Temple.
Feng Che looked up at Jirachi, who was earnestly absorbing the energy of the Millennium Comet. By now, the True Eye on Jirachi's abdomen was halfway turned to a cosmic blue. Once the eye turned completely blue, Jirachi would become a true "Wishing Star" capable of altering reality.
In that moment, Jirachi subtly winked at Feng Che. It clearly recognized him.
"Sol, Luna, Nova, Furukawa—Jirachi's energy is almost peaked. I do not wish for any outside disturbances at this critical juncture," the Pope stated, casting a meaningful glance toward the closed doors.
With that, the Pope gripped his staff and sat upon his golden throne, closing his eyes to rest. Seeing him drift off, the three priests and Feng Che (disguised as Furukawa) stood perfectly still. No one dared to make a sound, fearing the Pope's wrath.
Feng Che noticed that the rejuvenated Pope radiated an even more oppressive aura. A Champion-level pressure permeated the entire hall. The sixteen imitation plates circled the throne, acting as a defensive perimeter.
These plates represent sixteen attributes, but they lack the 'Normal' and 'Fairy' types, Feng Che communicated telepathically to Mewtwo. Arceus is naturally a Normal-type, and the Fairy-type was undiscovered in ancient times.
Therefore, the weakness of the Pope's defense lies in Fairy-type moves. Skills like Fairy Wind, Dazzling Gleam, or Moonblast could easily bypass the plates' shielding.
Feng Che quietly scanned the room with his psychic power. Beyond the plates, the hall was rigged with numerous hidden traps. Even if an intruder breached the main doors, the Pope could activate these mechanisms to instantly annihilate them.
Time ticked by. Under the Pope's crushing pressure, the three priests felt as if every second was an eternity. Their bodies began to tremble slightly from the strain.
Finally, when the True Eye on Jirachi's stomach turned a solid, brilliant blue, the Pope slowly opened his eyes. They were filled with fanatical expectation. He stood and walked toward Jirachi with pious steps, chanting the ancient liturgy for the realization of wishes. The Wish Tag in his hand erupted with a turquoise glow.
As he reached the high altar, the tag floated before the True Eye. A blinding blue beam shot from the eye, striking the tag. The hall was instantly bathed in a radiant light.
"Your wish... is granted."
A thunderous voice echoed from the True Eye. In that exact moment, a surge of black Hellfire suddenly erupted around the Pope.
"Argh! No! What is happening?!"
The Pope watched in horror as his body began to age at an impossible speed. The vigorous youth of twenty vanished, replaced by deep wrinkles, age spots, and thinning white hair. His hands clawed at the air, his clouded eyes unable to even see Jirachi anymore.
"Why?! Why is this happening?!" "Is this the price for defying the gods?!" "I planned for decades... only to end like this!"
The Pope leaned heavily on his staff, staring at the approaching Hellfire with eyes full of absolute despair. Before the flames could even touch him, his withered body collapsed into a pile of gray ash, scattering into the wind. The ambitious ruler who had held Sinnoh in his grip for sixty years was gone.
The sixteen plates fell to the floor with a series of heavy clatters. One heavy stone slab struck the golden throne, snapping it in half.
"Hahaha! Pope, did you think I wouldn't leave a mark? I planted the seed of Hellfire on you long ago!"
The doors of the hall swung open as the Pope expired. High Priest Shaka entered, followed by his four elemental attendants. Because the Pope's rapid aging occurred exactly as Shaka unleashed his black flames, everyone present—save for Feng Che—believed Shaka had killed the Pope.
Only Feng Che, the architect of this chaos, knew the truth. The Pope's wish for "Eternal Life," granted by a Reverse Jirachi, could only result in instantaneous, terminal aging.
Perfect, Feng Che thought. Shaka just became the perfect scapegoat for the Pope's death.
Shaka snapped his fingers. A ring of Hellfire surrounded Sol, Luna, Nova, and Feng Che.
"If a single spark of this fire touches you, you will feel the agony of ten thousand fire ants devouring your flesh," Shaka sneered. "I suggest you don't test it. Once the Sky God descends, I will perform the rite of the Pure Heaven Sect to convert all of you into our faithful servants."
Shaka walked toward Jirachi, his elemental priests guarding his back. He raised his own Wish Tag and shouted his prayer.
"Great God of the Stars, speaker for the Millennium Comet! Grant my wish! Release the Shadow Sky God from the seal of the Phoenix!"
The tag in Shaka's hand glowed with a violent light. The True Eye fired another beam of blue energy.
"Your wish is granted."
Suddenly, pillars of white-hot Flames of Purification (Sacred Fire) erupted from thin air around Shaka.
A massive cloud of black miasma was purged from Shaka's body, vaporizing instantly under the holy fire. Shaka screamed as the Sacred Fire singed his very soul. Fortunately for him, the white flames vanished after only a second. Had they lingered, he would have been turned to ash. The black Hellfire previously filling the hall was also snuffed out instantly by the holy presence.
Far Away in Johto
In the Submerged Rock Cave, High Priest Shamiao of the Johto branch felt a surge of dread. The Rainbow Wing that had been pinning down the Shadow Sky God suddenly turned pitch black.