[ It's story happened before Dragon Attack 4th Part ]
"Alvion... I'll kill you this time."
Theo clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the museum encased within the enormous magical dome. His eyes burned with barely restrained hatred.
"Hey, Allied. There's something I want to ask you. Do you know how to kill an Esper?"
"There's no way to kill them," Allied replied, standing beside him.
"Why not?"
"You know that Espers possess psychic abilities, don't you?"
Theo frowned.
"You mean as long as their minds still exist, they can't truly be killed? If that's the case, is there a way to erase their minds entirely?"
"I'm not sure."
Allied reached into his Inventory Box and retrieved a Poké Ball along with a pair of pistols.
"You know, for something to qualify as a complete existence, it must possess three fundamental aspects."
He paused, examining the weapons in his hands.
"Mind, body, and soul."
Theo's attention immediately shifted to the pistols.
"Wait a second! Where the hell did you get those?"
"I picked them up from the ship earlier," Allied replied casually.
He released a Gengar from its Poké Ball before continuing.
"And you're right about one thing. Of those three aspects, only the body can truly die."
Theo narrowed his eyes.
"Hold on. Shouldn't the mind die when the body dies, too? I thought the soul was the only part that could survive death."
"No. Think about it. How could spirits continue to act if they had no minds of their own?"
Allied calmly loaded two different types of ammunition into his pistols before securing them.
"All three aspects must exist. The only difference lies in the form they take."
Theo fell silent for a moment, considering his explanation.
All three aspects must exist, but their forms can differ...
His gaze drifted toward the Dragapult hovering beside him.
Then what about Ghost-type Pokémon? Aren't they supposed to lack physical bodies?
He turned back to Allied.
"Can you give me a concrete example?"
"Let's keep it simple. You can still see your Dragapult, can't you?"
"Of course. Although it can disappear sometimes..."
Theo trailed off.
His eyes widened as he noticed Allied preparing his ammunition while staring directly at the magical dome.
"...Wait. Are you planning to break through the barrier?"
"Dragapult can still be attacked, can't it?"
"Yes, but it still has immunity to Normal- and Fighting-type moves! Hey, seriously, stop what you're doing! If you damage the barrier, you might compromise the entire dome!"
Allied ignored his protests.
"It still possesses a form—a representation through which it is defined and through which it defines itself."
Theo stared at him.
"...Are you seriously planning to destroy the entire city?"
"That means it still possesses a form."
"Hey! I'm being serious!"
"So am I."
"Then why are you loading those dangerous bullets?! If the dome collapses, they could escape and destroy everything outside!"
Allied finally turned toward him.
"Trust me. They've done it before."
His voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable firmness in his words.
"There's no point in continuing to defend this barrier. They have Alcrypna, and they have the ability known as Line. This dome won't stop them from connecting the location inside it to somewhere else."
He glanced toward the museum.
"They can bypass the barrier entirely by linking their current location to another one. So our best option is to destroy it ourselves and defeat them before they get their hands on the artifact."
Theo said nothing.
A memory from five years ago resurfaced in his mind.
The Viora Incident.
He remembered the magical dome collapsing, followed by the disappearance of half the city. Buildings, streets, and countless other things had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.
And at the center of it all stood Alvion, wielding Alcrypna.
Theo's expression darkened.
Five years ago... I was probably still too young to understand what was happening.
He clenched his fists.
"Fine. Do it."
His gaze hardened.
"I refuse to let that old man get what he wants again."
Allied raised his pistol and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet pierced the magical barrier, tearing a hole through its outer surface.
Theo watched the opening form before turning toward the others.
"All right. It's time to move."
Allied raised his other pistol toward the sky and fired a second shot.
The bullet shot upward before exploding high above them, its detonation serving as a signal.
Personnel who had been waiting nearby immediately gathered at their designated positions.
Once everyone had assembled, Allied addressed the group.
"Remember the plan. Your objective is to secure the Nexus Sapphire. You don't need to win this battle—just make sure the artifact doesn't fall into their hands."
"Leave it to us," Theo replied.
He turned and began walking toward the opening, leaving Allied behind.
Before entering, however, he glanced over his shoulder.
"What about you, Allied? What are you going to do?"
"I need to help the others deal with Alvion. They won't last long without me."
As he spoke, Gengar's shadow spread beneath his feet. The Ghost-type Pokémon began drawing its trainer into the Shadow Realm, gradually swallowing his figure into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Theo and the other personnel advanced into the museum.
Allied watched them disappear from view before allowing the shadows to consume him completely.
---
I've been through so much.
I've faced countless Espers, searched through ancient inscriptions, and fought them one after another. Yet, even after everything I've learned, I still don't know what they truly are.
As Allied moved through Gengar's Shadow Realm, his thoughts grew increasingly troubled.
I'm certain they can never truly lose their consciousness. But I still don't know how to define the mind itself, let alone how to destroy one.
Consciousness... it never truly dies.
It passes through one era after another, inhabiting body after body. Stories unfold, events take place, and civilizations rise and fall, yet somehow, it persists.
I don't know what they've learned throughout their existence. I don't know what they possess, what they've experienced, or what will happen as long as they continue to exist.
He reached into his Inventory Box and retrieved a small black ammunition case. He opening it, and see three bullets resting inside.
Allied stared at them in silence.
Three chances... that's all I have to defeat him.
He selected one of the bullets and carefully loaded it into his pistol. Once he was finished, he returned the remaining ammunition case to his Inventory Box.
For a moment, he simply stood there, surrounded by the shifting darkness of the Shadow Realm.
Then, he tightened his grip on the weapon.
I'll leave the rest to my own fate.