"Boss, are you okay?"
Seeing the tense atmosphere gradually forming between Lucas, Cynthia, and the others, Mars whispered a question to Cyrus.
"Don't act rashly. Wait for the right moment."
Cyrus replied in a low voice, his face serious. He knew exactly what Mars was trying to say.
But now wasn't the time. If that Rocket kid really fought with Cynthia, that would be their best chance to escape.
Though Crobat and Weavile had been seriously injured by Lucas, those weren't his only main Pokémon.
And for some reason—either due to carelessness or intent—that kid hadn't confiscated all the Poké Balls on him.
"You came to the Michina Ruins for the Jewel of Life?"
Cynthia's expression remained calm. Despite having just 'fought side by side,' she didn't let her guard down around Lucas.
After all, the person standing before her was a member of Team Rocket!
"That's right. I did come for the Jewel of Life.
Of course, there's also a little favor I'd like Miss Sheena to help with."
Lucas didn't try to hide it. He glanced at Sheena and smiled, his demeanor calm and elegant.
He looked like a completely different person from the malicious force he had been when facing Cyrus.
"But it seems Sheena isn't willing to hand over the Jewel of Life.
If you return it now and leave Sinnoh, we can pretend none of this ever happened."
Cynthia's clear, deep eyes glimmered slightly as she spoke in a cool voice.
As the Sinnoh Champion, normally she wouldn't let a member of an evil organization go.
But the situation here was different.
Lucas's strength made her wary.
The Jewel of Life was in his hands.
And beside her stood Sheena and Kevin—people with little to no combat ability.
Besides, no matter what his motives were, Lucas had helped defeat Cyrus and even captured him.
Strictly speaking, that was a considerable contribution.
"Such confidence, Miss Cynthia.
Do you really think you can beat me?"
Lucas's lips curled into a subtle smile, his head slightly tilted as he stared at Cynthia.
"If that's how you want to interpret it, so be it.
This is Sinnoh, not Kanto.
The League's personnel are already on their way."
Cynthia's expression remained unchanged.
She had already notified the Sinnoh League the moment Team Galactic appeared.
By now, they should be arriving at Michina soon.
"I don't care about those nobodies.
The Jewel of Life was formed from five elemental plates of Arceus.
Leaving it sealed in this ruined place is a waste—it has much better uses."
Lucas scoffed. The League's enforcement? He didn't care in the slightest.
"The Jewel of Life is the only thing that can quell Arceus' wrath!
If you take it, what will happen when Arceus returns in fury?"
Sheena finally couldn't hold back and cried out, her face pale.
The value of the Jewel of Life was exactly why she had never told anyone the full truth of what happened a thousand years ago.
She knew all too well—such a treasure would only attract those driven by ambition.
If she had a choice, Sheena wouldn't want to be its guardian either.
To her people, the Jewel represented the original sin of the Arc Heir clan.
But if she gave it away, what would happen when Arceus descended again?
"Arceus' wrath?"
Cynthia and Caitlin were both startled by her words—even Cyrus' eyes flickered with intrigue.
Apparently, the Jewel of Life still held secrets they didn't know.
"In the end, isn't it the sins of your Aura clan that brought this upon us? Besides..."
Lucas chuckled lightly as he spoke, casually raising the Jewel of Life high.
Sheena's face turned even paler as all eyes turned toward her. She felt pain deep in her heart.
"Watch closely."
Lucas's lips curled up as he slowly let go of the Jewel of Life before everyone's eyes.
"No—!"
Sheena's eyes widened in horror. Her face turned ghostly white.
How could he?!
"Garchomp!"
Cynthia's eyes hardened as she shouted toward her Pokémon.
Garchomp understood immediately and launched herself forward, aiming to catch the falling Jewel.
But Gardevoir raised her arm and pointed at Garchomp, her eyes glowing with a deep, intense blue.
Psychic!
Garchomp's charge was abruptly halted mid-air.
Cynthia's face grew grim.
That Gardevoir's Psychic was strong enough to momentarily immobilize even her Garchomp!
CRASH!
That brief delay was enough.
The Jewel of Life smashed hard against the stone floor and shattered into countless pieces.
"It's over…"
Sheena collapsed to the ground, utterly drained, her eyes locked on the fragments of the shattered Jewel.
It broke…
The Jewel of Life was destroyed.
What would happen now when Arceus returned?
All hope was gone. The Jewel had been her final safeguard. Now, there was nothing left.
"Tsk tsk~ So fragile.
Just one drop and it shattered to bits."
Lucas clicked his tongue as he examined the fragments.
It was a replica after all—it had always been a replica.
"Lucas…"
Marnie's eye twitched. She tugged on his sleeve and glanced around.
Seriously, how can you be this careless?
That was clearly some kind of artifact, and you just dropped it like trash.
"Why did you do that?"
Cynthia stared at him coldly.
She rarely got angry—but this time, she couldn't hide her fury.
Even if she didn't know all the details, it was clear how precious the Jewel was to Sheena.
And he had shattered it in front of her!
"Why? No reason, really.
I just felt like it.
Besides, the jewel is just a fake an—"
Lucas shrugged, still nonchalant.
But before he could finish—
"What have you done…?
What did you just do?!"
A deep, hoarse voice rang out suddenly.
Sheena slowly lifted her head, her once-clear eyes now tinged red with fury as she stared at Lucas.
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"I will never forgive you!
Never!"
Sheena gritted her teeth, her hands clenched before her chest as the power of the Aura surged from her body.
No matter the cost, she wouldn't let this go!
"Dialga!"
At that moment, the air itself seemed to freeze.
A visible vortex of time swirled above the great mountain of Michina, twisting and distorting.
A terrifying pressure descended, so intense that it became hard to breathe.
Most of the Team Galactic members looked up in horror, completely stunned.
From within the vortex emerged a massive Pokémon, floating high in the sky.
Its body radiated a sacred, azure glow, commanding reverence.
Lucas's eyes lit up.
He hadn't expected that in her fury, Sheena would actually summon it—
The Dragon of Time from Sinnoh's creation myth!
Dialga!
-----------------------------------------------------
Sinnoh is a particularly special region.
According to myth, the creator god Arceus formed Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina atop Mt. Coronet.
Dialga—the god of time.
Palkia—the god of space.
Giratina—the god of antimatter.
It was through their powers that the world finally stabilized.
Dialga controls time itself.
It adjusts the flow and dimensions of time, ensuring order in the world.
And now, this legendary being—normally residing in a separate dimension—had actually appeared before them!
Its body resembled a long-necked dinosaur, primarily deep blue with metallic plating and angular crests.
A large blue diamond was embedded in its chest.
Majestic and immense, it radiated a gentle blue divine aura—its presence undeniable and inviolable.
"Dialga actually appeared…"
Marnie's eyes sparkled with amazement. She instantly recognized the dragon of time from Sinnoh's legends.
This trip to Michina was so worth it!
She had only been in Sinnoh for two days, and she had already seen Dialga!
All thanks to Lucas stirring up trouble~
Marnie blinked and quickly took out her phone, snapping several close-up shots of Dialga.
Even Cynthia and Caitlin couldn't hide their shock as they stared at the deity before them.
"Sheena can summon Dialga?"
Cynthia was stunned.
Could the power of her Clan really reach even legendary Pokémon?
Unlike the others, Cyrus was now gazing at Dialga with burning desire in his eyes.
This was his dream—his ambition!
He had longed to control Dialga and Palkia, destroy the old world, and create a new one.
Now, one of them stood right before him.
But…
Cyrus forced himself to calm down.
So what if Dialga was here now?
He was a prisoner.
Still—
Cyrus's eyes flickered with schemes.
He glanced at Sheena.
Who would've thought that this girl had the power to summon Dialga?
That could be… useful.
Dialga hovered in the sky.
Its dragon eyes swept over the people below, briefly stopping on Lucas…
Then on the shattered fragments of the Jewel…
Finally, it looked at Sheena.
Strictly speaking, Dialga was one of the true gods of the Pokémon world.
But because of that, it also could not interfere in human affairs lightly.
To do so would break the balance.
(End of Chapter)