"All I need is a little bit of the Three Legendary Beasts' genetic material."
Giovanni shook his head. Beings of that level of legend weren't even worth his concern.
"I have a rather important mission here, and I need you to participate."
His tone gradually dropped to a deeper, more solemn pitch, and his deep eyes carried a faint shadow.
"Oh? So, we're going to clash with the League now?"
Lucas's smirk widened further, his red eyes flashing ominously with a dangerous glint.
The moment he heard it was a mission he was needed for; his mind immediately drifted to the Kanto Elite Four.
"I wonder… Will I get to run into my dear cousin?"
It was obvious from Lucas's expression—he was genuinely excited.
"Unfortunately, it's not quite what you think, Lucas. Now's really not the right time for us to go head-to-head with the League."
Giovanni let out a dry chuckle, his previously gloomy mood lifting ever so slightly.
He knew full well how much Lucas cared about Lance Blackthorn.
And honestly, he wasn't surprised—after all, by blood, Lance was Lucas's cousin.
Now, Lance stood tall as the Champion of the Kanto, holding the absolute peak of the League's power.
And in his heart, he harbored a deep, indescribable hatred for Team Rocket—the very organization that Lucas was now the top executive of.
Two blood-related clan members, yet positioned on completely opposite ends.
But it wasn't just Lucas who looked forward to clashing with Lance—
Giovanni was secretly looking forward to it too.
"Oh?"
Lucas glanced at Giovanni in surprise.
If the mission didn't involve the Kanto Elite Four, what kind of situation in Kanto would require his direct involvement?
"I can't explain clearly over a video call. You'll understand when you get back to Kanto. Try to return within a week, if possible—can you?"
Giovanni shook his head.
If it weren't absolutely necessary, he wouldn't trouble Lucas at all.
Even though Lucas was the strongest executive in name, Giovanni knew clearly—
If not for a chance incident where he helped Lucas once in the past, Lucas would never have agreed to join Team Rocket.
So, whenever a task required Lucas personally, Giovanni always made sure to discuss it with him directly.
And in day-to-day matters, he gave Lucas as much freedom as possible.
"I understand."
Lucas paused for a moment before nodding.
For Giovanni to call him personally meant it was clearly important—
And honestly, Lucas was intrigued.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Sheena, how's your body holding up?"
Kevin entered the underground chamber beneath the Ancient Temple and saw Sheena standing silently before a mural.
He walked over and asked with concern.
The mural depicted a massive meteor—and beneath it, fearlessly rising to meet it, a great alpaca-like creature.
Yes—this was the ancient mural of Arceus intercepting the doomsday meteor.
"I'm fine now. No need to worry."
Sheena's face had regained much of its color, and she shook her head gently in response.
"That's good. I was really worried just now."
Kevin breathed a sigh of relief—she'd looked so pale earlier, like someone with a grave illness.
Then, after a moment of hesitation, he decided to ask—
"Sheena, that man earlier…"
"Kevin… I can feel it. It's about to awaken."
Before he could finish his question, Sheena's exhausted voice cut in.
Kevin's expression changed drastically.
He knew exactly who "it" referred to.
"Could it be… you're mistaken?"
"No, there's no mistake. It's been like this for the past couple of days. Dialga confirmed it as well—the wave emanating from the Origin is becoming more and more distinct."
Sheena bit her lip, her face filled with deep worry and a hint of helpless confusion.
She wished she were mistaken.
Because she was terrified.
Why now?
Why during her generation?
Aside from the inherited power of Aura passed down from her ancestors, she had nothing.
She couldn't bear this responsibility.
She wasn't capable of carrying the weight of such a consequence.
It wasn't even her fault.
This was the sin of her ancestors.
So why…
Why did the burden have to fall on her?
"Will… the Jewel of Life really be able to quell Arceus's rage?"
She slowly approached a feng shui-like ornament, reaching up to retrieve the flower bud-shaped object at its top.
The bud opened slowly—
Inside was a mysterious green crystal sphere radiating a divine glow.
This was the legendary Jewel of Life, passed down through the ages for countless generations!
"Can it… really work?"
Sheena stared at the Jewel of Life, her eyes growing ever more lost and uncertain.
To be betrayed and wounded by those it trusted… to bear resentment for a thousand years—
Could simply returning this Jewel truly erase all that hatred?
She didn't know.
Or maybe… she just didn't dare to think about the answer.
Because this Jewel…
Was her only hope.
-----------------------------------------------------
Night fell swiftly. By the side of a clear lake…
"Fiery Wrath!"
The Galarian Moltres let out a piercing cry, its head thrown back in defiance.
Black-red flames ignited at its feet—right under Gardevoir.
In a graceful flicker of movement, Gardevoir vanished from where she stood, her dress twirling as she moved.
At that moment, a torrent of fierce, flame-like energy surged upward with immense force—visually stunning in its intensity.
But… that was all it was.
"Voirr~"
Gardevoir let out a soft, melodic chirp and tilted her head slightly, watching the blazing "fire pillar."
Mmm… Looked nice as fireworks, at least.
"Still too slow. And how many times do I have to say it—Moltres, you have to predict your opponent's movement and strike along their trajectory. Are you a bird or a rock?"
"How many times has Gardevoir dodged your attacks the same way? And another thing…"
Lucas frowned slightly, giving a sharp, merciless critique to the descending Galarian Moltres.
Yes—he was currently putting the Legendary Bird through a harsh training session.
Faced with Lucas's barrage of criticism, the Galarian Moltres looked utterly aggrieved.
The hell do you mean "got dodged" again?!
That Gardevoir moved like a freaking ghost!
By the time it even saw a blur, she was already gone!
How was it supposed to hit that?!
"Next up—resistance training. Gardevoir."
Seeing the bird bobbing its head like a chicken in understanding, Lucas smiled in satisfaction, then stepped back and called out to Gardevoir.
Resistance training?
Wait, no no no!
Galarian Moltres froze.
Its bird-eyes widened in terror as it turned to Gardevoir.
Resistance training meant tanking Gardevoir's attacks head-on!
But their strength wasn't even in the same realm!
Every single time, after the session ended—
It couldn't even feel its own body anymore!
"Voirr~"
Gardevoir let out a soft hum, bringing her slender arms together as a beautiful, colorful energy began to gather—
A magic sparkle of Dazzling Gleam!
In the next instant, the radiant energy shot forth like a meteor—
"SCREEEE!!!"
Moltres's agonized scream echoed far into the night.
----------------------------------------------------
Half an hour later.
"Screee …"
The Galarian Moltres lay flat on its back, completely limp.
Its body was motionless, its chirp weak and barely audible, eyes glistening with tears as it stared up at the night sky.
At that moment, its whole being felt weightless, drifting—
It could almost see the silhouette of the Creator…
What the hell did I do to deserve this?
Why… why the hell did I get possessed and willingly get captured a few days ago?!
If this keeps up, I'm going to die. Seriously. This human is a monster…
Half an hour.
It had been blasted by that fairy-type freak in a white dress for a full half hour!
There was nothing left of it.
Not even a feather of pride.
"Not bad. As expected of a legendary Moltres. In just a few days, you've already improved this much."
Lucas took out a bottle of top-grade healing potion from his bag and smiled with satisfaction.
Indeed—legendary Pokémon did have amazing potential.
Or maybe it was just his Moltres that was particularly exceptional.
After all, on the night he first caught it, Galarian Moltres could only endure 20 minutes of training with Gardevoir.
Now, in just a few days, it had lasted half an hour.
Sure, it was only starting out with structured training, so progress was expected to be fast—
But even so, this was pretty crazy.
"Scree~"
Hearing the praise, Galarian Moltres, who had just been crying a moment ago, immediately raised its head with pride, letting out a proud trill.
That half-dead look? Gone without a trace.
"Don't get too full of yourself. That's all for today. Rest up after I apply the medicine."
Noticing the change in the bird's expression, Lucas chuckled.
This Moltres really did have an amusing personality.
As he sprayed the healing mist onto Galarian Moltres's wounds, Lucas casually stretched—
Then looked toward a tree behind him.
"You've been watching for quite a while. Isn't it time you came out, Miss Caitlin?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
The Galarian Moltres, who had been enjoying its healing treatment while lying lazily on the ground, immediately snapped into a dignified pose.
Its lazy bird-eyes transformed into sharp, regal eyes, and it flapped its wings to stand tall.
The dignity of a divine bird must not be lost!
No way could it let a random human witness it in such a pathetic state!
Lucas blinked in astonishment as he looked at the now-elegant, noble Galarian Moltres meticulously preening its feathers with its beak.
What in the world?
This was… the legendary medical miracle?
Wasn't this the same bird that, just a moment ago, couldn't even lift a wing?
As expected of a Legendary Bird.
Its potential was overwhelming.
Looks like it's time to intensify training.
(End of Chapter)