"It was an illusion… just an illusion," Mira murmured to herself, trying to calm down.
But deep inside, she knew that wasn't true.
It had felt far too real—so vivid, so painful it pierced her very soul.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The roar of explosions from the sky snapped her back to reality.
And then—she heard it.
A faint, pained voice calling her name.
"Mira… Mira…"
Her heart lurched. "Azelf!"
Mira raised her head sharply, staring at the heavens.
The sky was still engulfed in darkness, with only the faintest trace of seven-colored light flickering weakly—like a candle about to go out.
"Azelf!" she shouted, her voice trembling as she reached out with her psychic power to connect with him.
But the moment her power extended, a stabbing pain shot through her skull, exploding in her mind like thunder!
Her vision blurred—and when she opened her eyes again, she saw a streak of seven-colored light plummeting from the sky.
It struck the ground with a thunderous crash, shaking the earth!
"Azelf!"
Mira's voice cracked as she cried out, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
From afar, the knights of Aspiration City all saw it too—the sight of their guardian deity falling from the heavens.
Their faces turned ashen. With grim determination, they exchanged glances and began to charge toward the battlefield, hoping to aid their protector.
But before they could even take a few steps, their bodies suddenly froze. They couldn't move at all.
Above them, Darkrai descended slowly from the air, its entire form shrouded in dark mist.
It glanced indifferently toward the immobilized knights, then turned its gaze to the massive crater below.
Raising one clawed hand, it gestured—and Azelf's limp body rose into the air.
Azelf's eyes were tightly shut, his expression twisted with unbearable pain.
"Lord Azelf!"
The cries of despair from the knights echoed across the battlefield, their faces filled with grief and helplessness.
Even Azelf had fallen. Then who else could possibly save Aspiration City?
Could it be that this city, a city said to be invincible was truly destined to perish today?
"The battle is over."
The Grand Sorcerer slowly stepped forward. A black crystal gleamed in his hand, and a shroud of ominous energy coiled around his entire body.
His sinister gaze fell upon Mira.
"All that remains is to eliminate Azelf's chosen guardian, and our mission will be complete."
As soon as his voice faded, Darkrai raised one hand, and quickly conjured a shadow ball in his hand, its powerful energy surging and causing the surrounding space to tremble..
Under the horrified stares of everyone present, the Shadow Ball shot forth like a cannon of darkness, roaring straight toward the ruler of Aspiration City.
Its overwhelming power devoured everything in its path.
"Princess Mira!!!" the knights in the distance screamed desperately.
"Is this… the end?"
Mira watched as the Shadow Ball grew larger and larger before her eyes, filling her entire field of vision.
In that fleeting instant, countless images flashed through her mind like shards of light—memories of her people, her city, her friends until finally culminating in a low, mournful voice echoed faintly in her heart:
"I'm sorry."
BOOM!
A deafening explosion followed, shaking heaven and earth. The shockwave swallowed everything in its wake.
"Lady Mira!!!"
The distant knights fell to their knees in grief and despair.
They were the guardians of Aspiration City, yet at this moment, they could do nothing but watch helplessly as their beloved lord vanished before their eyes.
The Grand Sorcerer's lips curled into a cold, satisfied smile as he observed the destruction before him.
But a moment later, that smile froze. His brow furrowed slightly, and doubt flickered in his eyes as he stared at the raging storm of energy ahead.
Within the storm, Mira stood frozen in place, eyes closed, quietly waiting for death to claim her.
Yet as the roaring explosion thundered around her, she suddenly realized—there was no pain.
Puzzled, she slowly opened her eyes… and froze.
Before her stood a tall figure in white, his back turned toward her, firmly shielding her from the blast.
As the smoke and dust gradually cleared, the battlefield came into view—utterly devastated.
And before Aven stood a host of his Pokémon: Lilligant, Froslass, Kirlia, Rhydon, Nidoking, Drapion, and Garchomp—each one exuding fierce, radiant power.
"Huh? That's… the Pokémon Domain's Earl Aven?"
The Grand Sorcerer's eyes narrowed as he recognized the white-clad man.
His frown deepened.
Why had this rising figure appeared here of all times?
"Aven… Aven?" Mira's eyes widened in disbelief.
Aven turned slightly and gave her a reassuring nod.
"Princess Mira, leave the rest to me."
His expression was grave. Through his prior psychic connection with Azelf, he already understood everything that had transpired.
He stepped forward slowly and as he did, a brilliant seven-colored radiance began to shimmer across his entire body.
"This… this is Azelf's power?"
Sensing the immense energy emanating from Aven, the Grand Sorcerer's face changed drastically.
According to legend, only those chosen by Azelf could wield its divine power.
But wasn't Mira the one it had chosen?
Why then did Aven also possess that same radiant force?
Not only was the Grand Sorcerer stunned but even Mira herself stared blankly at Aven's glowing figure, unable to comprehend what was happening.
The knights of Aspiration City were equally bewildered. They looked at Aven, then at Mira, their minds spinning in confusion.
As they struggled to understand, Azelf's body in the distance suddenly flared with dazzling, seven-colored light once more.
The next instant, its eyes snapped open.
A powerful surge of psychic energy burst forth from its body, colliding with Darkrai's shadowy aura and scattering the darkness in an instant.
Then, with a flicker of light, Azelf vanished—reappearing beside Aven in the blink of an eye.
"Aven, do you still remember the question I asked you before?"
"Do you truly believe that a world where Pokémon and humans coexist in harmony will one day come to be?"
Azelf's soft, telepathic voice resonated directly within Aven's mind.
"I remember."
"And now, I can tell you this with absolute certainty—
that world will come. Humans and Pokémon will live side by side in peace!"
As his words fell, the seven-colored light surrounding his body flared brighter and brighter.
At the same time, countless beams of prismatic light began to descend from the heavens, merging directly into Aven's form.
"Yes… I believe it too."
Azelf nodded solemnly, conviction burning in its gaze.
Then, its body radiated the same seven-colored brilliance, intertwining with Aven's aura until their lights became one.
For a brief moment, visions flashed through Azelf's consciousness—countless scenes of humans and Pokémon living together in harmony, side by side, smiling beneath the same sky.
At the same time within its mind, countless prayers from both humans and Pokémon appeared in its consciousness crying out in unison:
"Lord Aven, please… save Aspiration City!"
All those images, all the prayers, all those hopes, froze on Aven.
Azelf could feel it clearly now— it sensed the combined willpower of countless humans and Pokémon forming a subtle connection between them and Aven!
"Azelf… will you fight beside me?" Aven lifted his head, meeting the Lake Guardian's gaze.
Without hesitation, Azelf nodded firmly.
Then it floated closer, until it hovered right before him.
Aven smiled faintly, his tone resolute.
"Then take all of my strength!"
"Very well."
Azelf reached out its hand and pressed it gently against Aven's forehead.
In that instant, a magnificent explosion of seven-colored light erupted from Azelf's body.
Its power surged skyward like a beacon piercing through the blackened heavens.
The radiant beam split through the dark clouds above and expanded outward, sweeping away the darkness that had engulfed the world.
The Grand Sorcerer could only watch in stunned disbelief.
Through his own arcane senses, he could feel Azelf's power rising—rising higher than even before the fight.
"How… how is this possible?" he muttered, eyes wide with horror.
According to his calculations, the entire city of Aspiration should now be consumed by chaos. The will of its people should be broken, their spiritual strength nearly gone.
Darkrai had already defeated Azelf once, there was no reason this should be happening!
But with Aven's arrival, everything had changed.
The strength of life and will radiating from him was immense—far beyond comprehension.
Just what had this man done to possess such power?
In midair, Darkrai floated silently. The black mist around it roiled violently as it gathered another orb of pure darkness—then launched it toward Azelf at blinding speed.
Seeing this, Aven's Pokémon tensed instantly. They knew well how destructive that attack was; it had nearly annihilated them before.
Each one gathered energy in preparation—but before they could act, Azelf suddenly unleashed a radiant beam of seven-colored light.
The beam struck the Shadow Ball head-on—
and shattered it effortlessly!
"How can this be?!"
The Grand Sorcerer's hands tightened around the black crystal, his eyes burning with madness.
He couldn't accept what he was seeing. He was about to capture Azelf! Everything was supposed to be under his control!
So why had the tide turned so suddenly?
(End of Chapter)