**Meanwhile, as the others were locked in battle with Team Epitaph, Xavier and Devon were desperately trying to locate the missing Kyle.**
"So Kyle was kidnapped by the New World Association? How can you be so sure?" Xavier asked, his voice laced with concern as he scanned the debris-strewn hallway.
"I just took down a few of their members a moment ago," Devon replied, tapping his temple with a knowing smirk. "I checked their memories. Your friend was definitely taken—I saw it clearly. Trust me on this."
Xavier let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "The New World Association... How many branches does that organization even have? It feels like they never run out of members, no matter how many of their bases we've destroyed."
"I wish I had an answer for you," Devon said, shrugging his shoulders. "They're like a hydra—cut off one head, and two more grow back. They always seem to recruit new members, and even though they're technically one organization, each team operates independently. It makes them nearly impossible to wipe out completely. They're not a single entity—they're a web."
"So... how do we save Kyle?" Xavier asked, his brow furrowing as he considered their limited options. "If we want to perform a ritual to his location, I don't have any materials. I don't carry things like that around with me."
"Seriously? You don't have a single object connected to him?" Devon asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
"No, I don't," Xavier admitted, his voice tinged with frustration.
Devon let out a long, weary sigh. He turned and locked eyes with Xavier, his expression shifting to one of grim determination. "Then we'll have to go with Plan B. I'll extract a fragment of your memory."
"Wait a minute—you can actually do that?" Xavier asked, his eyes widening with uncertainty.
Without another word, Devon's Alakazam stepped forward, its eyes glowing with an intense psychic energy. The spoon in its right hand began to emit a soft, pulsating light. Xavier felt a strange sensation—like a gentle tug at the back of his mind. Alakazam was carefully sifting through his memories, navigating the labyrinth of his thoughts with practiced ease.
When it reached the memories involving Kyle, it paused. With surgical precision, Alakazam gently extracted that specific memory, pulling it free like a thread from a woven tapestry.
Xavier blinked, suddenly aware that a small gap had formed in his recollection—the exact moment he'd last seen Kyle was now hazy, blurred at the edges. But at least they had what they needed.
"Here. Still doubt me?" Devon asked, holding up the shimmering memory fragment between his fingers.
"It really is possible..." Xavier murmured, squinting as he studied the ethereal fragment. "So, how are we going to use this now?"
"Through a ritual, of course. What else did you expect?" Devon replied, already beginning to prepare the necessary components.
"Wait—what kind of ritual are we talking about?" Xavier pressed, his curiosity piqued. "Are you planning to bring us to him? Or summon him here?"
"Obviously, I'm bringing him *here*. I'm not foolish enough to teleport straight into enemy territory, surrounded by who knows how many hostiles," Devon said, a hint of pride in his voice. "That would be suicide."
He reached into his Inventory Box and pulled out a piece of chalk, holding it up for Xavier to see. "I don't need your materials—keep them. Just clear this area for me. Make sure there's no debris or obstructions."
"Understood," Xavier replied.
He gently lifted Cubble off his head and motioned for Chatot to step down from his shoulder. Together with his two Pokémon, he began sweeping the area clean of rubble and broken fragments.
"Hey Cubble, think you can clear this place out with your Bubble attack?" Xavier asked, looking down at his drowsy little companion.
"Cubble..." Cubble replied with a yawn, still half-asleep. It blinked a few times, trying to focus on the task at hand, then began producing a stream of shimmering bubbles. They floated around the area, popping against sharp debris and gently clearing away the smaller fragments.
But the bubbles weren't strong enough to break through larger chunks of rubble. They burst harmlessly against the jagged edges of broken stone and twisted metal.
"Not quite effective enough, huh? Alright then, new plan—let's destroy it first, then clean up the mess," Xavier decided.
"Cubble, use Bubble to break down the larger debris," he commanded. "Chatot, be ready with Defog to clear away the dust."
Cubble perked up, shaking off its drowsiness. It opened its mouth wide and launched a volley of energy-infused bubbles toward the larger chunks of rubble. The bubbles struck with surprising force, shattering the debris into fine dust and smaller pieces.
Immediately after, Chatot spread its wings and let out a sharp cry. A strong gust of wind swept through the area, kicking up the dust and carrying it out of the cleared space. The air gradually became clean and breathable.
Xavier shielded his face with his arm to avoid inhaling the dust, but Devon remained completely unbothered—his focus entirely on the ritual he was drawing. With steady, deliberate strokes, the chalk traced intricate patterns across the museum floor. Circles within circles, geometric shapes, and symbols Xavier couldn't recognize began to take shape.
Curiosity got the better of him. Xavier started to step closer, hoping to get a better look at the pattern. But before he could take more than a single step, Devon's hand shot out, grabbing him firmly by the collar and yanking him back.
"Don't even *think* about getting close to that circle," Devon warned, his voice deadly serious. "The moment it activates, we need to run. Understood?"
Xavier immediately retreated several steps, positioning himself behind Devon. He watched as Devon reached into his Inventory Box and produced a single, luminous pearl. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the center of the ritual circle.
The moment the pearl touched the chalk, the circle erupted with blinding light. The ground beneath them began to tremble violently. The geometric patterns glowed with an ethereal energy as the ritual activated, and the very air in the room began to distort.
Even from a distance, Azure felt the disturbance. Her head snapped up, her expression sharpening as she sensed the spatial distortion rippling through the museum's coordinates. *"Devon is performing a Palkia ritual..."* she realized, her eyes narrowing.
---
**Meanwhile, back in the main hall, Alvion was still locked in battle with Xian and Ren.** The museum's space was beginning to warp around them—the walls shimmered, and the floors seemed to bend at impossible angles.
*"This isn't good,"* Alvion thought, his composure cracking slightly. *"The museum's spatial integrity is destabilizing. Someone is performing a ritual—and if I allow it to continue, things will only get worse. I need to find out who's responsible."*
His gaze shifted toward Vera. *"You're becoming a liability here. Now find out who's behind this ritual,"* he commanded telepathically.
Vera gave a quick, silent nod. Without a word, she activated her own ability and teleported out of the main hall, vanishing in a ripple of distorted light as she followed the trail of spatial disruption toward the ritual's location.
Xian noticed Vera's disappearance. With grim determination, he reached for his Great Ball and tossed it into the air. A Lapras materialized beside him, its majestic form gleaming under the shifting lights of the distorted hall.
Ren followed suit, throwing a Safari Ball. From within emerged a Nidoking—its powerful frame radiating raw strength, its horn crackling with latent energy.
"You're not going to give up, are you?" Alvion said, his voice carrying a note of reluctant respect.
"We don't have that luxury," Ren replied, his grip tightening on his Poké Ball. Inside, however, he couldn't help but think, *"I just hope the police division arrives soon... we're investigators, not frontline combatants. This isn't supposed to be our fight..."*
Xian, standing beside him, kept his mind deliberately blank. He knew that any stray thought could be intercepted by the Esper leader before them—so he focused on nothing but the battle ahead.
---
**Meanwhile, outside the museum,** Alied had finally tracked down Theo, who was standing alongside Keith near the perimeter.
"I've been waiting for you for a while now. Why are you just arriving?" Alied asked, his tone sharp and demanding.
Theo responded with his characteristic calm. "I had to handle a theft at the academy. It couldn't wait."
"Oh? Then why is Keith here with you? Shouldn't he be at Mirror Sea leading the rest of his crew?" Alied pressed, his gaze shifting to the young man beside Theo.
"I was skeptical at first too," Theo admitted. "But this Keith isn't the one we know—he's from an *alternate reality*."
"A different reality? Which type?" Alied asked, his interest piqued.
"I'm not sure yet," Theo replied, glancing at Keith.
Keith, being an Esper himself, understood the unspoken question. "Honestly, I have no idea why I'm here either. But based on my hypothesis, there are a few possibilities: first—Alcrypna. Second—someone's ritual. Third—there might be another factor we haven't accounted for. Those are my best guesses for now."
"That's... actually quite fascinating," Alied admitted, raising an eyebrow. He then turned back to Theo. "Is your team ready?"
As if on cue, the distant wail of police sirens filled the air, growing louder and more numerous with each passing second. Squad cars swarmed the museum, surrounding the special barrier that had been erected around the building.
Theo allowed himself a rare, small smile. "Don't worry. I've already prepared everything."