"Side Quest (Mysterious Branch) completed. Mission Evaluation: S. Mission Reward: 70,000 Gold Coins, 50 Mission Points."
"The gift package has been stored for you and can be claimed at any time."
Ace soon left the temporal rift. His face was slightly grim as he held the two feathers.
Recalling Gardevoir and Ninetales, Ace once again left the Illusion Island and reunited with Zinnia.
"Lord Ace..."
Zinnia had waited outside for a full six hours before Ace emerged.
But seeing Ace's dark expression, Zinnia swallowed the rest of her question.
"Zinnia, you will stay on Illusion Island to train. I have some matters to go out and handle."
Ace tossed two Poké Balls and two feathers towards Zinnia. "While I'm gone, these two will accompany you in your special training."
Zinnia, standing on the back of a Wailmer, clumsily caught the Poké Balls for Blissey and Ninetales, as well as the crucial two feathers, then pressed Ace for details: "Lord Ace, what is it? Do you need me to..."
"Just focus on your training."
Ace interrupted Zinnia. "This is my business."
"...Yes."
Zinnia lowered her head, finally saying nothing more.
Ace glanced at Zinnia, then his Aerodactyl instantly entered its Mega Evolution mode. A flap of its wings turned it into a streak of light, rocketing towards the northwest.
"What happened?"
Zinnia watched Ace leave, her brows knitted together.
After pondering for a long time, Zinnia took out her communication device and instructed her subordinates to keep a constant eye on Ace's whereabouts.
"That's all I can do."
Zinnia sighed. She then squatted down and patted the Wailmer. The Wailmer understood and carried Zinnia toward Mossdeep City.
Zinnia needed to prepare some supplies, and then, as Ace instructed, she would conduct her special training alone on Illusion Island.
The strong wind howled. A thin membrane appeared on Ace's skin, protecting him from the gale.
No longer needing to conserve effort for Ace, the Mega Evolved Aerodactyl's speed soared again. In less than an hour, Aerodactyl brought Ace to the Meteor Falls settlement.
Entering the settlement, Ace purposefully found the Dragon Elder. After discussing things with her for several hours, Ace set off again under the cover of night, quickly leaving Meteor Falls.
Seeing Ace depart, a group of Meteor Falls residents surrounded the Dragon Elder, asking with a mixture of confusion and concern: "Elder, why did the Heir-sama come here? It's so late, why didn't you ask the Heir-sama to rest?"
The Dragon Elder smiled but said nothing. However, she sighed internally, thinking helplessly, "A troubled autumn indeed..."
On the other side, Ace bought a ticket for the Unova Region that very night. He then boarded a plane and flew directly to Unova.
After an overnight flight, Ace arrived at Mistralton City in the Unova Region early the next morning.
Rushing out of the airport, Ace had no time to appreciate Unova's unique geography or local customs. He purchased an electronic map of the region from the System, immediately released his Aerodactyl, and, with its help, flew rapidly toward the Desert Resort area of Unova.
Meanwhile, in the Ancient Castle within the Desert Resort, a shabbily dressed, sallow-faced man was searching the castle with a Drapion.
"It must be here. As long as I find that thing, I can change my fate!"
The man clearly suffered from malnutrition, but his eyes showed no trace of despair.
His gaze was tenacious and filled with resolve.
High above the Desert Resort, a streak of light flashed by. The Mega Evolved Aerodactyl brought Ace down into the desolate, uninhabited desert.
"This is the place."
Ace looked at the scene before him. His eyes, which hadn't closed all night, were now heavily bloodshot.
A Dragon-patterned Poké Ball dropped. A Garchomp burst out and plunged straight into the sand.
Ace looked at the excavated hole, jumped in without a word.
Garchomp rapidly dug through the ground, quickly leading Ace to a wall.
"Dragon Claw."
Ace's voice rang out. Garchomp slashed with its Dragon Claw, instantly slicing the wall open and revealing a pitch-black space within.
The light from Ace's digital watch flickered on, illuminating the empty space. What was revealed before Ace was a dilapidated structure resembling an altar.
"Just in time."
Ace saw that the room was empty. He walked in with Garchomp.
His foot struck a piece of rubble, but the next moment, the rubble crumbled into two halves.
In the long river of history, time is the great enemy of all.
Ace sat down on a broken step. Garchomp stood faithfully beside him.
The light went out. Ace adjusted his breathing and waited patiently.
Time slowly passed. After waiting for a while, faint footsteps could be heard in the silent space.
Hearing the sound, Ace stood up, his muscles tense, entering a battle ready state.
"Clop, clop, clop..."
The footsteps grew clearer. Soon, a bright light shone into the pitch-black space. The shabbily dressed, sallow-faced man entered the space with his Drapion.
But before he could react, Garchomp charged out, launching a Dragon Claw straight down at the man's head.
"A wild Pokémon?! Drapion!"
The man was terrified by the sudden attack, but thankfully he had his Pokémon. He rolled clumsily to the side, and his Drapion met Garchomp's Dragon Claw with a Cross Poison.
"Boom!"
The Cross Poison and Dragon Claw collided. The equal contest the man expected did not happen. The moment Drapion's attack met the Dragon Claw, it was blasted away.
After smashing through a wall, Drapion fell to the ground, defeated.
With one strike, Garchomp dealt with Drapion, then turned its attention to the man.
It opened its mouth suddenly, and a Dragon Pulse shot toward the man.
"Clang!"
A loud, bell-like sound echoed. A Bronzong blocked the man, defending against Garchomp's attack.
"Damn it, this Garchomp is too strong. Bronzong can't hold out for long. I have to retreat."
The man's face was ugly as he got up, and it darkened further when he saw Bronzong.
"Trying to leave? Where are you going?"
Just then, Ace spoke calmly. The sudden sound made the man jump. He quickly shone his flashlight in Ace's direction.
The harsh light caused Ace's pupils to contract, but he did not close his eyes. He stared intently at the man before him, a cold smile appearing on his lips: "This place is your tomb."
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