Chapter 711: You Repent, My King
At the dining table.
Kazuya glanced at the people and Pokémon around him.
AZ, King of the Azoth Kingdom; XY, the ancestor of Team Flare; Floette of the Eternal Flower; Diancie, Princess of the Ore Kingdom; Volcanion, God of the Plains...
And him.
Two gods, two humans, two Mythical Pokémon.
Incredible, truly incredible.
Although besides him, none of the other creatures were at the pinnacle of the world.
But not just anyone could participate in this meal either.
Unfortunately.
Only he knew the true weight of this meal.
"AZ, the research on the Soul Heart should be starting now, right?"
Kazuya put down his goblet and turned to look at the two people sitting beside him.
AZ and XY were twin brothers.
The former the elder brother.
The latter the younger brother.
Not only did they look identical, but they also excelled in the same things.
Both were masters in the field of mysterious science.
However.
The differences between the two in certain areas were also quite significant.
AZ was an extreme scientist; his infatuation with mysterious science bordered on fanaticism.
Kazuya even felt that AZ would sacrifice anything except Floette for his mysterious science.
XY was different.
He engaged in mysterious science partly to help his brother, and partly because he hoped to create tools that would make life more convenient for the citizens of the Azoth Kingdom.
As for himself, he didn't particularly like mysterious science.
It could be said.
XY was more like a normal person, and also more suited to be the King of the Azoth Kingdom.
But it couldn't be helped.
Who told AZ to be the crown prince?
XY could only become the behind-the-scenes king and regent of the Azoth Kingdom, playing a role of doing the emperor's work without the emperor's status.
"The plan is already completed. Currently, we are just missing some rather special mineral materials and are still searching for them. Once found, we can start testing, and there shouldn't be any problems."
AZ immediately perked up upon hearing Kazuya bring this up.
"What mineral materials?"
"A kind of stone that can only be formed in extreme environments. It has extremely strong absorption properties and is the key to creating the Soul Heart."
While speaking, AZ waved to the side.
A waiting butler stepped forward, exchanged a few words with AZ, and then went to fetch a hand-drawn map of Kalos.
Kazuya glanced at it and nodded inwardly.
The Azoth Kingdom's exploration of the Kalos surface was highly complete. The drawn terrain didn't differ much from the maps in the League Era.
"This kind of ore only appears on mountain peaks with extremely low temperatures. So far, we've only found it here, but mining it is extremely difficult."
AZ pointed to a certain mountain on the map. "Up to now, we still haven't managed to mine this ore and plan to look for it elsewhere."
Kazuya stared at the place AZ pointed at for two seconds.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
He actually recognized this place.
[Mt. Xiaoyao].
A high mountain in Kalos, named because a Pokémon incense ingredient called "Xiaoyao" grows on it.
He and Cynthia had climbed to the peak once, and the process was indeed not easy.
For humans of the Magical Beast Era, the difficulty of climbing to the peak of such a high mountain was probably extraordinarily high.
True.
Humans in the Magical Beast Era had stronger physiques.
But the fatal flaws were:
Outdated tools, lack of climbing experience, and no Pokémon assistance.
Just as AZ was about to say something else.
"We'll go get it for you."
Kazuya interrupted him.
This matter concerned the construction of the Soul Heart, which also meant the birth of Magearna.
It couldn't be taken lightly.
He and Volcanion, the two "fathers," had to put in some effort.
For them.
Climbing to the top of Mt. Xiaoyao wasn't difficult.
At least it was much simpler than humans going up.
"...Eh? Really? That's wonderful!"
AZ was stunned for a moment, then revealed a pleasantly surprised expression.
Things that might be impossible for humans.
Should be very simple for magical beasts, right?
After all.
Those two magical beasts that appeared in the Allearth Forest were so powerful.
If Kazuya and Volcanion were to find this mineral material.
Then the construction of the Soul Heart could undoubtedly be brought forward significantly.
"You need to have someone draw a picture of what that mineral material looks like."
"No problem."
AZ immediately nodded and gave the order, then smilingly shared the secret of the Soul Heart with Kazuya, "The key to the Soul Heart is 'eternity'. Only a Soul Heart that can autonomously absorb energy from nature can be called an eternal heart. Therefore, this mineral material is crucial. I leave it to you."
"Natural energy?"
Kazuya looked at AZ curiously.
He remembered AZ's thoughts were still focused on elemental energy before.
He didn't expect him to directly target natural energy now; the difficulty had increased by more than just a little bit.
However.
Only such an incredible Soul Heart.
Could give birth to a Mythical Pokémon like Magearna.
"Mhm, actively absorbing energy is only the first step. Later, we still need to figure out how to utilize this energy..."
AZ nodded, then muttered with a strange expression.
"AZ, you guy, are you still harboring that idea?!"
XY's ears twitched. Hearing this, he slammed the table and jumped up.
The Champion Maids waiting nearby were all startled and bowed as they backed out, afraid of hearing something they shouldn't.
Diancie, who had been eating happily, hid behind Volcanion in fear, while the latter stared at the two brothers with a weird expression.
Floette sighed, seeming somewhat accustomed to this scene.
"...?"
Kazuya also looked at AZ and XY with a strange expression, not knowing what these two brothers were up to.
AZ's idea?
What idea?
To cause XY to have such a huge reaction?
One must know that XY was usually a very calm person.
Of course.
If he wasn't calm.
The Azoth Kingdom would sooner or later collapse or be partitioned by the other two major kingdoms.
"XY, don't make a fuss, we have guests."
AZ gave his younger brother a somewhat dissatisfied look.
In just these past few days.
They had argued over this matter no less than dozens of times.
"We agreed initially that the creation of the Soul Heart was so the Azoth Kingdom would never have to worry about energy again. But now you actually plan to forge it into a weapon?!"
XY didn't care about anything else, pointing at AZ's nose and shouting.
"You saw it too, right? The power of those legendary gods."
AZ sighed and said without changing his expression.
"I saw it, so what?"
"If one day in the future, humans go to war with the gods, how should we respond?"
"..."
Clearly, XY didn't know either.
The power of Yveltal and Xerneas was despair-inducing.
If humans went to war with them.
It seemed there was no other path to take besides waiting for death.
"It's precisely for the day when that happens, so that humans won't be helpless, that I made this decision. Striving to reclaim the mastery of destiny for humanity."
AZ's expression was firm. Even if he wasn't understood, he didn't waver in the slightest. "My mind is made up, you need not say more."
"AZ, you will regret this!"
"XY, I am the King."
AZ crossed his hands and propped up his chin.
"Hmph! Suit yourself!"
XY couldn't out-argue him and stormed out the door in a huff.
Crack.
"..."
Kazuya glanced at the empty doorframe, lacking the heart to even comment.
"Heh, he's got quite a temper."
Volcanion looked at Kazuya cheerfully.
Only to find that Kazuya's expression wasn't good right now.
"...Phew, AZ, is it convenient to tell me about that matter just now?"
Kazuya took a deep breath and decided to ask carefully.
"Of course. Following the 'Soul Heart' plan, a few days ago, the idea of the 'Ultimate Weapon' also formed in my mind..."
AZ was very happy to share his whimsical ideas with a "fellow enthusiast" like Kazuya.
Especially regarding the creation of the Soul Heart.
Kazuya not only provided some theoretical support but would also provide an important material contribution.
AZ believed Kazuya had the right to know about this matter.
However.
As AZ narrated.
Kazuya's mood grew increasingly unpleasant.
He never expected.
That AZ would still develop the idea of researching the Ultimate Weapon.
Even though Floette hadn't died in this life!
AZ's heart wasn't clouded by hatred, yet he still decided to forge the Ultimate Weapon.
"Kazuya, what do you think of my idea?"
After AZ finished speaking, he looked at Kazuya expectantly, even placing a hand over Kazuya's.
It seemed that having just experienced XY's rejection, AZ was extremely eager to gain Kazuya's approval.
But unfortunately.
Kazuya's thoughts were the same as XY's. Even knowing it would displease AZ and might be meaningless, he still spoke up to advise: "My view is the same as XY's. AZ, that thing is too dangerous."
"The Soul Heart is a very great invention. I fully support you in creating it."
"But the Ultimate Weapon..."
"Have you ever thought that some bad people might use this thing in an attempt to rule the continent?"
Kazuya was talking about the descendant of the Azoth Kingdom's royal family, XY's descendant—Lysandre.
Although Lysandre's original intention was good.
To put it bluntly.
That was merely his wishful thinking.
What he did would indeed harm far too many people and Pokémon, cause massive destruction to the Kalos region, and even anger the three gods of Kalos.
In short.
The consequences of activating the Ultimate Weapon were unpredictable.
Who could have ever expected.
That Lysandre's ancestor, XY, would do everything in his power to stop the birth of the Ultimate Weapon, yet Lysandre himself would want to use the Ultimate Weapon to purge Kalos.
"...I'll keep what you said in mind. You guys eat first, I won't keep you company anymore."
After leaving behind one sentence, AZ turned and left with a cold expression.
Seeing this.
Kazuya sighed.
He knew it would turn out like this.
Could it be.
That it would really be like in the original work.
Without any changes?
While Kazuya pondered here, AZ had already returned to the basement.
He indeed hadn't listened to what XY said.
After all, that was just a younger brother.
Isn't it completely normal for an older brother not to listen to his younger brother?
But as for Kazuya's words.
AZ did listen to some of them.
Kazuya had indeed taught him some theories back then, and in AZ's heart, he was considered half a scholar and mentor.
AZ stood in front of the research table, pinching his chin and pondering: "If that's the case..."
"Should I add some restrictions to the Ultimate Weapon..."
"Mhm, let's do this. The Ultimate Weapon cannot be easily activated. If one wishes to activate the Ultimate Weapon..."
"They must first gain the approval of the 'Guardian'."
As AZ's voice fell.
A temporary plan named [Guardian] was born.
He casually drew a small mechanical doll on the paper in front of him.
If Kazuya were here.
He would definitely be able to tell.
This so-called [Guardian] was actually Magearna!
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