Dialga and Palkia were undoubtedly the perfect duo to stir up chaos.
Not only were they immensely powerful, but their brains weren't exactly sharp.
Most importantly…
After narrowly evading yet another [Shadow Claw] from Zoroark, Giratina bitterly realized escaping from her and Gardevoir in the Distortion World was nearly impossible.
Even though this was supposed to be its domain, Zoroark was equally familiar with the terrain. No matter where Giratina ran, Zoroark effortlessly tracked it, leaving the legendary Pokémon increasingly frustrated.
The quickest way Giratina could think of to turn the tables was to get Dialga and Palkia fighting. The disturbance from their clash would temporarily weaken the barrier between the Distortion World and the real world, giving it a chance to shake off its pursuers.
With this plan in mind, Giratina's crimson eyes narrowed slightly. Locking onto the location of Spear Pillar, it rapidly sped off toward its new target.
"Don't worry, Elias. It won't get away!"
Seeing Giratina vanish again, Zoroark panted in exhaustion. Truth be told, their opponent was even more slippery than she'd expected.
Initially, she'd thought with Gardevoir's help they'd swiftly dispatch the giant centipede. Instead, despite clearly holding the advantage, Giratina always managed to slip away at crucial moments.
Beside her, Elias gently rubbed both Zoroark's and Gardevoir's backs. As the two Pokémon slowly caught their breath, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
If things continued like this, even once both Pokémon were drained of energy, they might still fail to capture Giratina.
As expected of one of the strongest legendary Pokémon, Giratina's durability was no joke. From what Elias observed, Gardevoir's and Zoroark's attacks were still not quite powerful enough to decisively injure it.
He needed to find an opportunity to deal significant damage.
Thinking this through, Elias narrowed his eyes in determination.
"Let's keep going."
"We'll have to rely on our luck from now on."
Having roughly planned his next move, Elias lightly tapped the two Pokémon, signaling them onward.
...
Having shaken off Elias momentarily, Giratina quickly swam toward the Spear Pillar's location within the Distortion World.
The barrier between here and the real world was weakest at this spot, and Dialga and Palkia frequently passed through here, making it ideal for an ambush.
What delighted Giratina even more was that, as soon as it arrived, it immediately sensed Palkia's aura.
Careful observation told Giratina this wasn't Palkia itself, but rather something very similar. The source was unmistakable—the [Lustrous Orb], a guaranteed lure for the space deity.
With any luck, Dialga might also follow shortly afterward. For Giratina, this was easily the best stroke of luck it had encountered in centuries.
Thinking this, Giratina quickly concealed its massive form within the shadows nearby.
In the darkness, a pair of sinister crimson eyes glinted ominously like a viper lying in wait.
Seizing this fortunate turn, Giratina prepared to gamble once more. It planned to capture Palkia before Elias and the others arrived. If successful, its grand scheme would effectively be secured.
As Giratina plotted, a faint ripple of spatial energy flickered briefly ahead.
Initially anxious, Giratina's eyes suddenly widened in shock. Even it was somewhat stunned by its own incredible luck.
The spatial ripple was clearly a sign that Palkia was approaching. Normally elusive, dwelling in the gaps between space and time, the legendary Pokémon had actually been lured out by the [Lustrous Orb].
Further restraining its aura, Giratina's gaze grew even more vicious.
Right now, all its attention focused solely on Palkia's imminent arrival, ignoring everything else.
Perhaps spatial Pokémon traveled particularly fast. Before long, as the surroundings warped noticeably, Giratina realized clearly—Palkia had arrived.
However, it seemed Palkia had no intention of entering Giratina's Distortion World. Instead, it intended to slip past directly into the real world, seeking the orb that promised greater power.
Right before Palkia could escape, Giratina struck.
Like a viper finally springing from the shadows, Giratina viciously tore open the boundary of the Distortion World and surged into the spatial gap.
[Shadow Force]
Giratina's massive form became ghost-like in its swift and stealthy attack.
Palkia instantly sensed danger and spun around to flee, but Giratina left it no room for escape.
A thick dragon tail glowing with emerald energy whipped through the air with tremendous force.
BOOM—!
Giratina's [Dragon Tail] landed squarely on Palkia, sending it crashing uncontrollably out of the spatial gap and slamming heavily onto the ground of the Distortion World.
"ROAAR—!"
Palkia roared in agony. But before it could even rise, another deafening impact echoed nearby, accompanied by a familiar cry of pain.
Turning its head, Palkia saw its old rival, Dialga, kneeling awkwardly on the ground nearby. Dialga quickly averted its gaze, unusually embarrassed. Clearly, the temporal deity had also suffered a similar ambush.
High above them, Giratina triumphantly surveyed its two defeated foes.
Dialga had been an unexpected bonus. Giratina never imagined its casual hope earlier would fully materialize.
Now, with Dialga and Palkia in its grasp, shattering the barrier between worlds would be easy.
...
Dialga and Palkia's abrupt appearance caused severe instability in the outside world's space-time, too.
Witnessing these strange phenomena, Cynthia furrowed her brows deeply.
All these unnatural signs indicated clearly that something major had occurred beyond her sight—most likely in the Distortion World itself.
Was Giratina attacked?
That was Cynthia's first thought.
For her, this scenario could only be considered good news. Yet, for Lance and the others, it was nothing but a troubling complication.
This uncertainty caused Cynthia to hesitate briefly.