At that moment, Feng Che cast a glance at Ditto.
The Ditto was greedily devouring the stone plates. As one plate after another vanished into its body, its belly grew round and plump, and a look of deep satisfaction crossed its face.
"Now that the Shadow Sky God is resealed, Shaka, your secret arts are useless, aren't they?"
Feng Che turned his gaze toward the three remaining Temple Priests. "Sol, Luna, Nova... why aren't you avenging the Pope? This is the best opportunity to strike down the Pure Heaven Sect. If any of you manage to wipe them out, that merit alone might be enough to make you the next Sovereign of the Temple."
His voice was laced with a smooth, manipulative charm. Although the three priests had no love for the masked man, his suggestion set their ambitions ablaze. Their eyes flashed with a burning heat as they looked at High Priest Shaka—no longer as an ally, but as prey on a butcher's block.
With a final smirk, Feng Che snatched the "Jewel of Life" (the high-grade counterfeit) from the floor and vanished instantly using Teleport.
As Feng Che departed, the Shadow Stitch binding the others dissolved. The restored Sol, Luna, and Nova immediately threw their Poké Balls. They launched a savage assault under the banner of "avenging the Pope," though their hearts were set solely on the throne.
High Priest Shaka found himself in a miserable position. Weakened by the reverse wish, he could only rely on his four elemental attendants to fend off the three Elite-level Temple Priests. Meanwhile, the ordinary Temple guards, hearing that Shaka had murdered their leader, charged at the Pure Heaven Sect like a raging flood.
Every Temple member was fueled by a suicidal fury, commanding their Bronzong to launch desperate, self-destructive attacks. The Pure Heaven Sect suffered staggering casualties in the chaos. Under the frantic cover of the Wind, Fire, Water, and Earth Priests, Shaka managed a humiliating retreat from the floating palace.
"Feng Che! Do not celebrate for long!" Shaka hissed through bloodied teeth as he fled. "The Queen of the Wasp Syndicate has already begun her move. I will see to it that you are left without a corpse to bury!"
His eyes were like those of a vengeful ghost. Having been the untouchable High Priest for so long, this absolute defeat was a stain he could not bear.
Return to the Garden
Feng Che teleported directly to the Life Garden in Celestic Town.
"Go, Kommo-o!"
Cynthia, who was busy treating her clansmen, saw a masked figure suddenly appear and reacted with a Champion's reflexes. Her Kommo-o lunged forward, fists raised to strike. But before the blow could land, thousands of Shadow Claws erupted from the dragon's shadow, pinning it to the spot. Its fist stopped just three centimeters from Feng Che's face.
"It's me." Feng Che removed his mask, revealing his handsome features.
"Feng Che! You're back," Cynthia sighed, signaling Kommo-o to stand down.
"I've just returned from the Temple. It was raided by the Pure Heaven Sect, and the Pope has... unfortunately perished," Feng Che lied smoothly. "I managed to recover the Jewel of Life during the chaos, though most of its energy was drained by the Pope before he died."
He handed the glowing "Jewel" to Dr. Carolina, who had hurried over at the news. "Lorekeeper, you know more about these relics than I. Perhaps you can verify its authenticity."
Feng Che's plan was simple: place this "Jewel" in Celestic Town to act as a lightning rod for other factions. While the Town and the Garden family were currently allies, without the pressure of external enemies, the Town might eventually try to absorb the Garden family. He wanted Celestic Town to remain the "public target" for the Bertha and Volkner clans.
"It is real," Carolina gasped, her Dragon Power resonating with the stone. "I can feel the Dragon Orb within it. However, the five fragments have fused completely; I have no way of separating them now."
"Then let it stay here," Feng Che said sincerely. "The Garden family lacks the martial strength to protect such a treasure. It is safest in the Dragon God Shrine."
"More importantly," Feng Che shifted the subject, "I've brought the means to help my grandmother. I found a way to undo her petrification."
"Come out, Jirachi!"
The Wishing Star emerged from its ball, looking curiously at the sea of flowers created by Shaymin.
"This is the Wishing Star from the Starry Sky Temple. It has absorbed the energy of the comet. I can wish for Grandmother to be restored."
Dr. Carolina noticed that Jirachi had only one wish tag left on its head. "A single wish... what a shame. If only we had more, we could wish for the town's warriors to heal instantly. We could have crushed the Bertha and Volkner clans once and for all while they are weak."
She felt a pang of regret, but she knew the Jirachi belonged to Feng Che, and his priority was his family. "Follow me to the shrine."
The Last Wish
In the inner sanctum of the Dragon God Shrine, the petrified statue of Mishiko (Feng Che's grandmother) had been moved to a central clearing. Carolina reverently placed the Jewel of Life on the altar.
As the Jewel touched the stone, Feng Che heard the faint, distant roars of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina echoing in the spiritual realm.
"Are you ready, Jirachi?" Feng Che asked.
The Wishing Star nodded solemnly. The True Eye on its abdomen opened wide, and it reached up to pluck the final tag from its brow.
"Come," a majestic, ancient voice resonated from the True Eye. "Write your wish upon the tag."