Pokémon League Headquarters.
At the central hub of global Pokémon authority, the white-bearded leader Sky sat hunched over a desk, scrutinizing a map of "Poacher's Island" presented by one of his Elite Four subordinates.
"This Gym Leader named Feng Che... he managed to extract the coordinates of the island from Julian's mouth," Sky remarked. "I sent scouts to verify, and the Poachers' nest is indeed at this location. King Kai has recalled the other five Generals back to the island."
"With six Elite-level trainers and the island fortified into an iron fortress, taking it down would require a massive deployment of Elite and Quasi-Elite forces. I want to excise this tumor once and for all, but I fear the moles hidden within the League. Last time we planned a raid, the information was leaked, allowing them to prepare. How can we gather enough Gym Leaders to strike without alerting the traitors?" Sky looked toward Julie for counsel.
"I suggest a 'Secret Training Camp' for Gym Leaders and Elite candidates," Julie replied, her hands busy annotating League documents with sticky notes. "The final examination for this camp would be the assault on Poacher's Island. The reward for the top performer? A slot to enter the Secret Realm."
Sky stroked his beard. "A sound plan, but a dangerous one. If we pull Gym Leaders from their posts, a major incident in their regions could have catastrophic consequences. I must consider this carefully."
The Infiltration
While the League deliberated, Feng Che had already successfully infiltrated the heart of the enemy: Galactic Building, the headquarters of Team Galactic.
He was currently lurking in a restroom on the 12th floor, waiting for the perfect prey. Soon, a man with silver-white hair wearing a Team Galactic squad leader uniform walked in, humming a tune. As the man leaned in to adjust his rumpled clothes in the mirror, he heard a faint cackle. His shadow suddenly sprouted two crimson eyes; his body stiffened, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
Feng Che used his psychic powers to sift through the man's memories. This squad leader, named Ryusei, was a gossip-monger who relied on his cousin, Saturn, for his position.
The Red Chain is nearly complete. Cyrus is preparing to head to the Spear Pillar on Mt. Coronet. He obtained the exact location from the ancient texts translated by Brandon. Ryusei is among the 'lucky' few chosen to accompany Cyrus on the first wave. He came in here to fix his hair because he's about to be summoned for a briefing.
Feng Che smirked. My luck is holding.
After petrifying Ryusei and stashing him away, Feng Che stepped out, now wearing the man's face. He took the high-security elevator directly to the 33rd floor.
The 33rd floor was a massive, high-tech laboratory spanning thousands of square meters. Researchers in white coats bustled between humming machines. In the center of the room sat a large device holding three glass vats filled with a thick, yellow nutrient solution. Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf were submerged within.
The machinery was slowly extracting a glowing substance from the three Pokémon. The Lake Guardians were visibly suffering, their bodies twitching as they emitted sharp, high-pitched cries. The extracted material flowed into a large central vessel where, under intense electrical stimulation, it began to weave into a crystalline structure: the Red Chain.
Cyrus sat in a chair nearby, his cold eyes fixed on the chain, idly turning the silver-gray Adamant Orb in his hands.
As Feng Che stepped off the elevator, he was immediately intercepted by Saturn.
"Ryusei!" Saturn barked, pulling him aside. "Cyrus has selected you for the Spear Pillar escort. Listen to me: keep your mouth shut and do your job. The ruins are extremely dangerous; you must drop that careless attitude of yours. Stay close to the Boss and don't wander off."
"I got it, cousin! Don't worry, I know the drill," Feng Che replied, mimicking Ryusei's slightly boastful tone. "Look, I even dressed up today to make a good impression on the Boss."
"Just make sure you grow up for once. Your strength is fine, but your discipline is a mess," Saturn grumbled.
Suddenly, a piercing shriek filled the lab. The Lake Guardians emitted a final, concussive cry of agony.
CRACK!
The glass vats shattered, nutrient fluid spilling across the floor. The red gems on the foreheads and tails of the Three Guardians faded to a dull, dead white as they fell into a deep coma. At that moment, the Red Chain crystallized into its final form.
"It is complete," Charon whispered, his eyes fanatical. He manipulated the robotic arms to lift the glowing chain and place it on a velvet-lined tray, which he presented to Cyrus.
Cyrus picked up the chain, admiring its ruby-like brilliance. He placed both the Adamant Orb and the Red Chain into a silver-gray alloy briefcase. He then gestured for Saturn.
Saturn walked over and took the case. He turned and handed it to Feng Che.
"This case is made of a specialized alloy; it can withstand a nuclear blast," Saturn said with absolute gravity. "Only Cyrus knows the code. I am entrusting this to you. You are to guard this with your life."
"Cousin, you can count on me. I'll defend it to the death!" Feng Che grinned sheepishly.
In a twist of fate, the keys to summoning and controlling the Gods of Time and Space had been handed directly to Feng Che.