While the Battle Frontier hosted other Legendary Pokémon—such as the Articuno belonging to Noland, the Factory Head—Articuno, unlike Raikou, was not unique. It was a species, albeit an incredibly rare one.
Raikou, however, was different. There was only one in the entire world.
This made it all the more captivating to trainers across the globe.
Lucius had come here, but not for the Battle Tower or the Battle Pyramid. He was here because he knew that Anabel had returned.
Ever since Anabel had received Lugia's aid, she had been able to block Lucius' tracking, preventing him from sensing her movements consistently. Even with his Emperor Strain, he could only vaguely detect her whereabouts.
But today, Lucius saw her—through Weavile's eyes.
"You've been infected too…"
Anabel floated in midair, still inhabiting Celebi's body. Her large eyes, however, were filled with sorrow.
She could sense that her Weavile and Alakazam had been completely taken over by the virus. Unlike her, they lacked Lugia's protection and were now entirely under the virus' control.
After a long pause, her expression softened.
"Very well… Then let's go to Ultra Space together."
"Metagross, Mismagius, Lucario—I need you to help me one last time."
Anabel communicated telepathically with her Pokémon.
Metagross and Mismagius had not been contaminated during the ambush against Archer, and Lucario had not participated in that mission.
She had already made up her mind.
She would inform the League of everything she knew and then head to Mount Coronet. She would seek the aid of the Mythical Pokémon and eliminate every infected entity in one decisive strike.
For this mission, she needed her Pokémon's assistance.
As she was speaking, her expression suddenly changed.
Turning around, she saw a blond-haired man standing in front of the massive glass panels, smiling at her.
"Volkner…"
Anabel froze for a few seconds before her gaze darkened.
"Even he has been corrupted by you?"
"Hahaha."
Lucius chuckled. Seeing Anabel in such a helpless state stirred an inexplicable excitement in him.
This woman had been too strong, too unyielding when she ambushed him. Watching her change like this felt deeply satisfying.
Tsk. I really am the villain, huh?
"You noticed they were infected, yet you didn't run?" Lucius smirked.
"Why should I run?" Anabel said quietly. "Now that you're here, there's no need for me to go to Mount Coronet anymore."
Her eyes gleamed with a cyan-blue light.
A surge of psychic energy burst forth like a violent storm.
At the same time, Weavile—following Lucius' command—lunged at Anabel's back, claws poised to strike.
Alakazam used Psychic to restrain Lucario, Mismagius, and Metagross temporarily.
Lucius would never appear before her without a contingency plan.
Gardevoir acted simultaneously, unleashing Psychic Terrain.
It was as if an invisible tidal wave crashed into the Battle Tower.
A series of explosions shattered thousands of glass panes, transforming them into a dazzling rain of shards.
"Electivire, Fire Punch."
Lucius gave the command.
Electivire's fist ignited in roaring flames.
With a single punch, it tore through the top floor of the Battle Tower, burning a hole straight through it.
The melted walls glowed like molten lava.
More importantly, this strike blocked Anabel's escape route.
"Anabel, there are at least a few hundred people inside this Battle Tower."
Lucius listened to the commotion below.
"If we continue fighting, none of them will survive."
They were on the top floor, but every level beneath them was filled with staff members and challengers. If their Pokémon fought at full power, the entire building would collapse, dooming everyone inside.
"Are you proposing a ceasefire?" Anabel asked warily.
She didn't believe for a second that the Virus King responsible for the Sunburst Island Incident would be so merciful.
"Not just a ceasefire."
Lucius smiled.
"I want you to join us."
Anabel's expression flickered with scorn.
"Join you? You think you'll live long enough for that to matter?"
"Even if you send me to Ultra Space, I won't die."
Lucius' voice remained calm.
"Instead, the ones who will perish are all the living beings there."
Anabel's eyes widened in shock.
Ultra Space…
He knew?
How was that possible?
Lugia had already shielded her from prying eyes.
"I know all about your plan," Lucius continued.
"I also know that this was the Mythical Pokémon's idea."
"But do you really want to go through with it?"
"The people and Pokémon in Ultra Space are innocent. Are you really going to kill them?"
"Enough!"
Anabel's mind wavered.
This was the very question that had tormented her.
Should she sacrifice another world's inhabitants to save her own?
Was she truly saving the world, or was she dooming another in its place?
"Do you know why Lugia chose you for this mission?"
Lucius' voice was laced with intrigue.
"And why did Raikou choose you? Just because you defeated it?"
Anabel remained silent, but her expression shifted ever so slightly.
Lucius saw his persuasion taking effect and pressed on.
"Do you even remember who your real parents are?"
"Do you remember where they came from?"
Anabel's expression darkened as she cut him off sharply.
"What are you trying to say?! What do my parents have to do with this?"
"Everything."
Lucius' eyes gleamed.
"Because you're about to kill them."
"The truth is… You are from Ultra Space. You are not of this world."
Anabel's body stiffened.
Her expression fluctuated violently, but she quickly suppressed her emotions.
"You're just saying all this because you're afraid of being sealed in Ultra Space. You're trying to deceive me."
There was an opening...
Although Anabel was skilled at controlling her emotions, the virus had already infected her. At this close range, the Emperor Strain could sense her true feelings—it knew she was wavering.
"You came to this world through an Ultra Wormhole over a decade ago. You lost your memory, were taken in by a couple in Kanto, and raised as their daughter. Later, you joined the International Police." Lucius continued pressing her. "But deep down, you've always known—you don't belong to this world."
Anabel's lips parted slightly, her eyes flickering with disbelief.
She had arrived in this world through an Ultra Wormhole all those years ago. She had lost her memories and couldn't recall anything from before. But aside from a select few, no one should have known that.
How did this virus know?
How did it know?
Of course—it knew from the game. In Pokémon Sun & Moon, fragments of Anabel's past had already been revealed.
"There are countless Champions and leaders. Why would they send someone whose body has already been destroyed to save the world?" Lucius smirked. "The Mythical Pokémon don't care about you. They just want to use an outsider to erase another world. Raikou follows you because Ho-Oh commands it. You're nothing but a tool to them."
Anabel didn't scoff. She didn't lash out. She didn't even react.
But Lucius could feel it—her heart was in turmoil, a raging storm hidden beneath her unreadable expression.
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