Chapter 289: Sense of Crisis
Awakening from its slumber, Yveltal did not attack immediately as the Diamond Minister had predicted. Instead, Yveltal flapped its wings and landed beside Xerneas. Their eyes met, and a slightly hoarse telepathic voice spoke: "Long time no see, Xerneas."
Xerneas shook its head, withdrawing its Fairy Aura, while Yveltal also withdrew its Dark Aura. Xerneas crouched down, allowing Ryan and Lillie to jump off its back with Diancie, then glanced at Yveltal: "Indeed, it's been a long time, but I am not the Xerneas you know. I am Xerneas from another world. In our world, Yveltal, you are already dead."
Yveltal was momentarily stunned, unable to accept this information, its blue eyes showing confusion. But just then, another Xerneas leaped out of the forest. This Xerneas, looking at the scene before it, was instantly dumbfounded: How come there's another one of me here? How did Yveltal awaken from its slumber? And why are these two sitting together so calmly?!
Amidst countless questions, the native Xerneas approached the other Xerneas and Yveltal. It then asked with confusion, "Who are you? There can't be another Xerneas in this world."
"Let me explain."
Ryan's voice drew the attention of the native Xerneas and Yveltal. Both were curious about why these two humans and the Pokémon were in this place. However, the native Xerneas addressed Diancie, "You're Diancie from the Diamond Domain, right? I heard you were looking for me. But it seems you don't need my help anymore."
"Yes. With Ryan's help, our Diamond Domain's crisis has been resolved. And I've decided to follow Ryan, hoping to train myself here and become a qualified princess of the Diamond Domain," Diancie said elegantly to the native Xerneas.
Diancie's words made the native Xerneas and Yveltal look at Ryan with newfound respect.
"Ryan is now my trainer too. Although he captured me when I was weak, I sincerely admire his trainer abilities," the other Xerneas said calmly.
The other Xerneas's words completely dispelled any remaining contempt in the native Xerneas and Yveltal's hearts, and they began to take Ryan seriously.
"Then let me briefly explain," Ryan said gratefully, glancing at Xerneas and Diancie. "This Xerneas isn't the Xerneas of this world; it's a Legendary Pokémon from another parallel universe. Their world was destroyed by a terrifying being, and then my friends and I entered those damaged worlds and brought the surviving Pokémon to our world. That's their origin. I captured this Xerneas, a friend of mine captured that world's Yveltal, and many other Legendary Pokémon have appeared in this world. You'll meet them someday."
The native Xerneas and Yveltal took a long time to process Ryan's words. Then the native Xerneas seemed to realize something: "If that's the case, then what exactly is that being?"
The native Xerneas's words made Ryan nod in agreement. That being had always been a thorn in his side. Every time he thought of it, Ryan felt a nagging ache in his heart. He desperately wanted to know the answer. Only by fully understanding that being could he make adequate preparations, so that even if that being came to their world, Ryan and the others would be prepared!
The other-world Xerneas, seeing everyone's gaze focused on it, lowered its head and remained silent for a long while before saying, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I know far too little. Its strength is simply too great. That battle, even just the aftershocks, had already knocked me unconscious. When I woke up, the world was already like that. The only thing I know is that it is enormous, over twenty meters tall, its form completely shrouded in darkness."
Hearing Xerneas's words, Ryan thought of the ancient tablet; the creature shown on it was indeed the one Xerneas had described. Lillie had also thought of this and said, "Then what moves does it use? Or what are its attack methods? Knowing these things will allow us to be more targeted."
Lillie's question hit the nail on the head. Even if they didn't know its appearance, they should be able to glean some clues from its moves or attack methods.
However, Xerneas replied to Lillie's words, "I'm sorry, it crushed everyone like ants, and then a burst of energy struck, and I lost my ability to fight. I can't give you much information."
Ryan scratched his head in frustration; the clues had run cold again. What was known now was that it had a huge body, shrouded in darkness, had probably defeated Arceus, destroyed the world, and liked to crush Legendary Pokémon one by one like ants.
Wait, destroy the world? Ryan suddenly realized something and immediately took out the photo that his contact had given him from his backpack. Although it was incomplete, it still mentioned origins, light and darkness, that power would gradually weaken, and words like "true form." If Arceus, hailed as the creator god, was defeated by the power of this being, then wouldn't that entity's destruction of the world be an opposition to Arceus? Arceus's essence is creation, while that being's is destruction!
Once this idea became clear, then some other things could be explained. Following this line of thought, a bone-chilling cold swept through Ryan's body. Ryan crossed his arms and rubbed them to get rid of the goosebumps. Lillie, seeing that Ryan's expression was off, asked, "Ryan, have you thought of something?"
Lillie had always maintained a sense of curiosity about Ryan. After all, Ryan often came up with novel ideas, and he was quite knowledgeable about Pokémon or Legendary Pokémon, which was why Lillie was attracted to him. Now, looking at Ryan's expression and actions, Lillie was certain that Ryan had definitely thought of something.
Ryan gave a wry smile and said, "You'd better not know. I'm only guessing right now, and I can't be sure yet. But I'm certain of one thing: whether I'm right or wrong, our world is probably its next target."
(End of Chapter)
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