After a long voyage across the sea, the ironwood ship finally arrived at Stark Island.
In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, the ship sailed around the island once before quietly making landfall at a concealed location.
Before them stretched a dense forest. Only by crossing this forest could they reach the location of Stark Mountain.
"Gyarados and Tentacruel are limited in combat effectiveness on land. You'll stay here for now."
"Bibarel Knights, follow me onto the island. Everyone stay alert—what we may be facing this time could very well be Guardian Deities."
Aven issued his instructions seriously. When the time came, the ordinary Sorcerers and their Pokémon from the Sorcerer Organization would be their primary opponents. As for battles at the King-level or Guardian Deity level, those were conflicts they simply could not intervene in.
"I understand, Lord Aven."
"We'll guard the ironwood ship along the shore and await your return…"
Mado led the knights in a salute, watching as Aven departed with the remaining knights and advanced into the forest.
Along the way, the forest was also home to a Grand number of Pokémon. Thanks to the natural fertility provided by volcanic ash, the vegetation here grew exceptionally lush.
Of course, for the current Pokémon Domain Knight Order, the combat strength of these Pokémon tribes was hardly worth mentioning. Even if there were King-level Pokémon groups present, they posed no significant threat.
As they drew closer and closer to Stark Mountain at the very center of the forest, the effects of the intense heat became increasingly apparent. The surrounding vegetation gradually thinned out, eventually transforming into a barren wasteland.
Just as they were about to reach Stark Mountain, the figures of Lilligant, Froslass, and Gardevoir all halted at once, their gazes turning toward the distant mountain. They could all sense an intense surge of energy radiating from that direction.
"Lilli~"
Lilligant looked toward Aven, having already sensed a familiar aura of life.
"Hm? Has the Sorcerer Organization already arrived at Stark Mountain?" Aven's expression remained calm. He had long been prepared for the Sorcerers' arrival.
At the same time, atop the summit of Stark Mountain, the Grand Sorcerers had also long since discovered Aven and the others landing on the island. They stopped their actions of undoing Heatran's seal.
"They actually came. It seems our plan can be put into action ahead of schedule." The brown-robed Grand Sorcerer licked his slightly parched lips.
Seeing this, the other three Grand Sorcerers simultaneously took out a golden ring. Immediately afterward, space rippled within the ring, and three figures shot out from it!
"Lord Aven, what should we do now?" Kale came to Aven's side.
Beside him stood the Lord of Meteor City as well. At this moment, the city lord was trembling with excitement throughout his entire body due to his proximity to Heatran.
However, upon hearing that the Sorcerer Organization had arrived at Stark Mountain ahead of them, hesitation surfaced on his face. He understood the power of Guardian Deities all too well!
"You stay here and wait. Leave them to me." Aven raised his head and looked toward the sky.
At this moment, seven-colored light began to surface around his body. From afar, he could already sense waves of Guardian Deity power rapidly approaching.
As he moved, the phantoms of the Lake Guardian Trio also slowly emerged. Mesprit and Uxie were the other two of the Lake Guardian Trio; in appearance, the three of them were remarkably similar.
"Azelf, Mesprit, Uxie—this time, I'll be counting on you."
Upon hearing Aven's words, Azelf nodded quickly, while Mesprit and Uxie calmly glanced at him once before their figures flashed and vanished from where they stood.
High in the sky, three masses of clouds were rapidly approaching. Faintly, humanoid silhouettes could be seen connected to the clouds.
Each of the three cloud masses bore a humanoid figure. The one in the center was orange in color, with three sharp pink horns arranged in a bow-like shape on its forehead.
Behind its head grew a white protrusion resembling a log, while jagged white whiskers hung from its chin. On both sides of its head were two pointed orange ears.
Its entire lower body was completely enveloped in pure white clouds, from which extended a thick, curled, brown, branch-like tail. Along the tail of the Land Incarnate were many flat protrusions, each ending in a deep pink color.
The other two figures looked extremely similar to the one in the center, differing only in body color—one blue, one green. Their tail shapes were also different, and all three radiated overwhelming energy fluctuations.
The three figures rode the clouds at high speed. However, halfway through their flight, they all abruptly stopped, turning their gazes toward the space ahead of them.
Suddenly, ripples spread through the air. Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie emerged, appearing out of thin air as they faced off against the three figures from afar.
"They've appeared—the legendary Master of the Forces of Nature trio!" Aven's gaze fell upon the three figures in the sky.
From Azelf, he had long since heard of the opponents they would face this time. Back when the Sorcerer Organization attempted to capture Azelf, it was precisely these Forces of Nature trio who had restrained Mesprit and Uxie.
Among them, the Guardian of the Fields was the strongest. Alone, it possessed power comparable to the combined strength of the other two Forces of Nature. Back then, it had single-handedly held off Mesprit while Mesprit was within its own alternate space.
As for the other two, Thundurus and Tornadus—they had restrained Uxie, preventing the two Lake Guardians from supporting Azelf through their mutual connection.
Of course, that had all been under the condition that Mesprit and Uxie were within their own alternate spaces, where their power was further enhanced by faith within their domains.
On Stark Island, however, the power of the Lake Guardians was greatly weakened. Under such circumstances, the Three Forces of Nature alone possessed the strength to contend directly with the Lake Trio!
"Aven, leave this place to us. You go to Stark Mountain and lift Heatran's seal."
"With Heatran's help, we'll be able to completely defeat the Three Forces of Nature!"
Azelf floated beside Aven, its gaze fixed on Landorus Guardian of the Fields. They had already prepared themselves for a hard-fought battle.
"Alright. I'll leave it to you." Aven nodded.
Then, under the power of Gardevoir, he vanished from the spot together with Lilligant and Froslass.
"Azelf, is that the human you chose?" Mesprit and Uxie looked in the direction where Aven had disappeared.
"That's right. His name is Aven—a very special person."
"From him, I can see a truly kind heart. When you have the chance, you really should visit Aspiration City. The city there is already completely different from how it used to be!"
Azelf smiled and nodded, confidence surging from its body. A world where humans and Pokémon coexist in harmony—everything it had hoped for was now slowly becoming reality in Aspiration City.
(End of Chapter)