As everyone knows, Team Galactic captured Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf to create the 'Red Chain' to control Dialga and Palkia.
Azelf, also known as the Being of Willpower, resides in a separate dimension within Lake Valor. Only specific individuals can see its spirit floating above the water's surface...
Legend has it that if Azelf is harmed, people will lose their inner resolve.
This was all information Caleb had read on the Pokémon Wiki.
The players' task was already complete. Those who had escaped the lake island watched the scene on the lake's surface with lingering fear.
Space was torn apart, and the lake water vanished as if swallowed by the earth. Soon, only a shallow puddle remained, exposing the cave beneath the lake island to plain sight.
At that moment, a small light-blue Pokémon with two tails appeared in the muddy pit. Its face twisted in pain as it trembled on the ground...
"That is..." Cynthia's beautiful eyes fixed on the figure.
Caleb replied solemnly, "The Being of Willpower, Azelf. The explosion just now tore open a passage between its dimension and our world."
Suddenly, the airship in the sky moved again. The cannons on its wings swiveled rapidly, their dark muzzles uniformly targeting the players on the shore and Caleb and Cynthia in the air.
"Damn it, Team Galactic is insane!" a player couldn't help but curse.
They had already witnessed the power of the Galactic Bomb, the entire lake had been drained. If they were hit, they'd be obliterated on the spot.
"What do we do?" Cynthia frowned, turning to Caleb with concern.
Azelf's capture was likely a forced plotline by the Infinite World.
Given the destructive power of the Galactic Bombs, even if Cynthia wasn't bound by the Infinite World's restrictions, Caleb didn't dare let her take the risk alone.
But he was different. He now had the Escape Rope, a cheat-like item that could teleport him away the moment he rescued Azelf...
After a moment of contemplation, he glanced at the school of Magikarps frantically flopping in the muddy pit below and said, "You should leave now. Get as far away as possible."
Cynthia was taken aback, "What about you?"
Caleb looked at Azelf and said, "I have to save it. I can't let Team Galactic capture it."
"No, it's too dangerous! Don't forget that you're just a three-year-old baby right now!" Cynthia's brows furrowed as she instinctively rejected the idea.
Caleb turned his head and couldn't help but laugh at the 'three-year-old baby' remark.
He grinned at Cynthia and said, "Trust me. I'll come back safely. Let's meet up at the Safari Zone."
After all, he had no idea where the Escape Rope would randomly teleport him.
Team Galactic had already begun sending operatives to capture Azelf. Seeing this, Caleb wasted no more time and dove toward the center of the dried-up Lake Valor on Dragonite.
Cynthia stared blankly at his retreating figure before frowning and saying, "Garchomp! Let's follow him!"
Garchomp was currently faster than Dragonite. Even if danger arose, she would surely be able to rescue Caleb in time.
Team Galactic's airship quickly noticed their movements.
From the cockpit, Saturn coldly ordered, "Fire!"
The next second, a barrage of gleaming silver bombs shot from the airship's wings, streaking across the sky toward Caleb at the center.
Upon reaching Azelf, Caleb immediately conveyed his intentions through his Viridian ability.
The small jellyfish-like Pokémon weakly lifted its eyelids and nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Caleb took out a Poké Ball and recalled Azelf...
*BOOOM!*
Just then, a piercing explosion erupted in the sky, accompanied by Cynthia's mature voice ringing out behind him:
"Garchomp, Dragon Pulse!"
Caleb turned to see a dazzling silver radiance blooming midair. Garchomp hovered behind him, firing beam after beam of draconic energy from its maw, intercepting the Galactic Bombs with pinpoint accuracy.
But there were simply too many bombs. No matter how strong Garchomp was, it couldn't stop them all.
One slipped through the net, landing amidst the school of Magikarp in the shallow puddle nearby.
Silver light surged, rapidly spreading outward.
Frowning, Caleb didn't hesitate. He and Dragonite shot toward Cynthia, his right hand pulled two Escape Ropes from his bag while his left grabbed Cynthia's hand. He quickly activated the Escape Ropes.
The next second, their figures vanished.
Immediately after, countless Galactic Bombs rained down. Blinding silver light shot into the sky, flattening Lake Valor entirely...
....
~Pastoria City Police Station~
Officer Jenny stared blankly at the little boy and woman who had suddenly appeared on her desk riding a Dragonite and Garchomp...
Frowning, she demanded, "Who are you?!"
Though Cynthia didn't fully understand what had just happened, she quickly regained her composure. Recalling Garchomp, she calmly reassured the visibly startled Officer Jenny.
Caleb hugged Dragonite, soothing it before returning it to its Poké Ball to rest. Only then did he survey their surroundings.
The familiar office, the familiar face, the familiar decor... Everything was identical to Snowpoint City's police station.
'This place really is safe...' he mused internally.
Cynthia smoothly explained their sudden appearance as a mishap during Teleport training for Pokémon, then left the station with Little Caleb in tow.
As they departed, Officer Jenny gazed at Caleb's adorable face and asked Cynthia, "Is he your little brother?"
Cynthia blinked, then smiled, "Ah? Mm, yes. We're siblings."
Officer Jenny covered her mouth with a giggle, "You two are such a good-looking pair."
While Cynthia chatted with Officer Jenny, Caleb petted the fluffy Growlithe nearby.
Growlithes were gentle, loyal, and highly trainable, with keen senses that made them ideal police partners for Officer Jennys.
This was actually Caleb's first time seeing a Growlithe in the Pokémon world. For some reason, Snowpoint City's police station didn't have any.
'Is it because Growlithes there couldn't handle the cold?' he wondered.
But that shouldn't be the case... Growlithe is a Fire-type Pokémon. It shouldn't fear the cold...