"Roar~"
"Mooh~"
"Meeeh~"
"Waaaooh~"
After Seva agreed to let Liam ascend the Sky Pillar and use the meteorites enshrined there, the entire Draconid tribe immediately sprang into action.
At this moment, numerous Dragon-type Pokémon were circling rapidly around the towering Sky Pillar, roaring continuously as they flew.
On the ground below, Liam lowered his head respectfully toward the watching tribespeople. Then he turned, jumped onto Aerodactyl's back, and followed behind Seva, who was riding a black Charizard, as they flew upward together.
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
In the air, Charizard led the way straight toward the top of the altar. Along the path, Dragon-type Pokémon lined up neatly in two rows, opening a passage down the middle. They watched solemnly as Liam and Aerodactyl flew past toward the heavens.
"ROAR!!"
Charizard and Seva reached the top first.
However, Seva didn't land on the altar. Instead, she remained hovering in the air, moving aside quietly as she waited for Liam and Aerodactyl to arrive.
"Roar!"
Liam and Aerodactyl weren't far behind. Only a few seconds later, Aerodactyl carried Liam up to the summit.
"This is the Sky Altar, Mr. Liam."
"Please, go ahead."
Seva extended her hand in a gesture of invitation.
"…Alright. Thanks, Aerodactyl. Head back down."
Though Liam didn't quite understand why Seva refused to land with him, he didn't think too much about it. Aerodactyl descended onto the altar.
After landing, Liam jumped down from Aerodactyl's back. The very first thing he noticed was the large pile of black meteorites enshrined at the center of the altar.
Aside from four stone pillars around the edges, the altar itself was completely open. The meteorites in the center looked casually stacked together. It was obvious at a glance that this altar had existed for an unimaginably long time—everywhere bore the marks of age and history.
Looking at the ancient altar before him, Liam took a deep breath. Then he pulled out the Core Stone, which had already begun glowing brightly.
Holding the stone carefully in both hands, he slowly walked toward the meteorite pile.
Glow~ Glow~
As Liam approached the meteorites, the yellow light from the Core Stone became brighter and brighter!
A faint vibration even began emanating from within the stone itself—something that had never happened before.
Liam couldn't help feeling both surprised and excited.
Then—
The moment Liam finally reached the meteorite pile and placed the Core Stone atop it—
"Bzzzz!!"
A loud hum erupted from the stone along with intense vibrations!
Immediately afterward….. right before Liam and Seva's astonished eyes... the Core Stone slowly floated upward on its own!
Brilliant yellow light burst forth… Far stronger than ever before, the radiance illuminated the entire surrounding space!
The meteorites beneath the Core Stone also began resonating with it. Vast amounts of cosmic energy poured into the stone, causing it to gradually change!
Squirm… squirm… squirm…
The Core Stone—which had previously been nothing more than a rock—began transforming!
Soft, flesh-like masses rapidly spread outward from the stone, writhing and multiplying continuously!
And as the Core Stone transformed… the aurora appeared once more!
Brilliant auroras filled the entire cavern!
Not only that—they pierced straight through the rocky ceiling above and appeared in the night sky outside. The dazzling rainbow-colored lights illuminated the heavens alongside the full moon!
And at that exact moment…
"Eu! Eu! Eus!! Deoxys!!"
On the altar… the completely restored Deoxys finally awakened with a sharp cry!
"Hah! It finally worked!"
Only now did the tension Liam had been carrying finally ease slightly. Smiling broadly, he shouted happily.
"Eu? Eu? Eus…"
Liam's voice caught Deoxys's attention.
The newly awakened alien Pokémon silently stared at Liam with its triangular eyes. After making several confused sounds, it slowly extended one of its tentacles.
The tentacle stretched forward until it stopped before Liam.
"Hm?"
Liam looked at Deoxys's action in confusion. But perhaps instinctively, he slowly reached out his hand and grasped Deoxys's tentacle.
And then—
"Bzzz~ Y-you… thank… thank you… for saving me…"
A broken, intermittent voice suddenly echoed inside Liam's mind.
Liam's eyes widened. He immediately realized Deoxys was communicating telepathically.
Smiling, Liam replied softly,
"It's nothing. I'm just glad to see you like this now. Honestly, you look a lot better than when you were just a rock."
It was obvious from Deoxys's reaction that even while dormant, it had still been aware of the outside world. Everything Liam had done for it… Deoxys had seen it all.
"Bzzz~ Thank… you… very much… for helping me. Long… long ago… when I came here from space… I was suddenly attacked by an unknown enemy. My body was destroyed… only my core survived. After sleeping for an unknown amount of time… today I finally awakened again. I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. But right now… I still have something important to do. I must find the one who ambushed me. Once I defeat him… I will return to find you…"
Bit by bit, Deoxys explained what had happened to it.
After hearing everything, Liam felt somewhat speechless. He couldn't help sighing inwardly—after all the effort he had spent these past days, it looked like it was about to amount to nothing.
"…Go then, Deoxys. Go do what you need to do. I'll wait for you. Once you defeat the one who attacked you… come find me again. Then we'll fight side by side."
Though reluctant, Liam didn't try to stop it. He squeezed Deoxys's tentacle tightly and smiled as he spoke.
"Bzzz~ Thank… you…"
BOOM!! RUMBLE!!
"ROOOAR!!!"
Just as Deoxys finished thanking Liam…. violent explosion suddenly erupted from the glowing cavern ceiling above!
And immediately following that explosion came a dragon roar Liam knew all too well!!
"ROOOAR!!"
Another roar thundered out!
At this point, the rocky ceiling had been blasted open into an enormous hole. Moonlight and aurora light poured into the cavern simultaneously!
And descending through those lights…. was the black Rayquaza Liam had battled before!
Its massive serpentine body twisted down through the opening, golden eyes locked firmly onto Deoxys atop the altar.
An overwhelming fury blazed within its gaze!
But at this moment…. Rayquaza wasn't the only one consumed by rage.
Liam was still holding Deoxys's tentacle. And as Deoxys's body trembled violently….. an equally furious thought exploded directly into Liam's mind!!
"BZZZ!! FOUND YOU!! It's this one!! THIS ONE!! I found the one who attacked me!!"
"EUUS!! EUUS!!"
The deafening mental roar made Liam's head spin. His grip loosened instinctively, and the telepathic noise vanished instantly.
All that remained ringing in his ears was Deoxys's furious, enraged screech!!