"It's an Ultra Beast!!"
"Honey, watch out!!"
The instant danger appeared, everyone reacted.
Gladion clenched his teeth and stepped in front of his sister.
Lusamine's eyes widened—not entirely with fear, but with unmistakable shock and fascination.
Burnet froze in disbelief.
Only Whitney moved without hesitation.
She threw herself toward Peter.
She was terrified.
Terrified beyond words.
But her body moved before her mind could think.
Peter reacted just as quickly. His hand reached for a Poké Ball almost instantly.
Yet right before the jelly-like tendrils touched his chest—right before his thumb pressed the release switch—
a black figure suddenly appeared between them.
"TAI——!!!"
With a furious roar, it unleashed a massive blade of compressed air and blasted the attacker backward several meters.
Air Slash!
"Ah…"
Watching that scene, some of the fear faded from Lillie's eyes.
Peter finally got a clear look at the humanoid jellyfish in front of him.
[Nihilego ♀ Lv.61 (Elite Four – Low Tier)]
Description: A Nihilego originating from Ultra Space. It possesses powerful neurotoxins and can survive by parasitizing Pokémon and humans.
"Utsa…"
Nihilego tilted its head and immediately lunged at Peter again.
Peter met Type: Null's gaze.
From each other's eyes—
they saw the same thing.
The desire to fight.
"Alright… Type: Null, use Iron Head!"
"Tai…!!"
Metallic light condensed around the axe-shaped crest atop its head.
Then it charged.
BOOM—
Iron Head smashed directly into Nihilego's head.
"UTSA!!"
It cried out and was sent flying.
"Tai…"
Type: Null blinked in confusion.
Its Air Slash earlier hadn't done much.
Peter explained immediately.
"Its weak point is physical defense, and it's Rock and Poison-type. Iron Head will deal much more damage."
For a future Silvally equipped with the AR System, combat was supposed to involve a certain degree of autonomous judgment.
But after being suppressed and sealed beneath restraints for so long—
that instinct had dulled.
Now it acted strangely blank and hesitant.
So Peter intended to guide it little by little through battle.
"Tai…"
Type: Null nodded and gathered metallic energy again before charging forward.
Soon the two Pokémon were locked in fierce combat.
Lusamine stared in amazement.
"That's… Experiment No. 3? It's actually following Peter's commands…"
Burnet raised an eyebrow.
"So that's the Beast Killer your foundation developed using Arceus research?"
Lusamine nodded.
"Yes…"
"It escaped due to an accident some time ago. I never expected to see it here."
"It must have sensed the Ultra Beast aura."
Gladion suddenly spoke.
"Mother."
"That jellyfish Pokémon…"
"It's the Ultra Beast that attacked Lillie over a year ago."
"…What?!"
Lusamine immediately turned.
Lillie stood trembling as she stared at the battle.
Her eyes flickered between confusion and fear.
Lusamine pulled her daughter tightly into her arms.
"It's okay."
"Mom's here."
"You don't need to be afraid."
"…Mm."
Feeling her mother's warmth, the fear in Lillie's face eased.
At the edge of the field, Whitney had already taken out a Poké Ball and was ready to join the battle—
but Peter stopped her.
This chance—
to fight side by side with Type: Null—
was too precious.
If they could drive Nihilego back—
then there was a very good chance he could earn its trust.
BOOM—
Another collision.
Nihilego staggered.
Type: Null began to breathe heavily.
Burnet called out,
"Peter! Ultra Wormholes are unstable spatial channels! You have to send it back before the opening collapses!"
Peter nodded.
"No problem."
"Leave it to me and Type: Null."
Then he looked at it again.
"…Will you trust me?"
"Tai…"
Beneath the restraint mask—
its eyes trembled.
It remembered.
Several days ago—
when it woke from weakness and unconsciousness—
the first thing it saw…
had been those deep black eyes.
Back then—
they held anger.
And pity.
Now—
they held only one thing.
Expectation.
"TAI!"
It nodded heavily.
The restraint mask shook, producing a crisp metallic sound.
Peter smiled.
"Good!"
"Then let our friend from another world…"
"…taste Alola's hospitality!!"
He crossed his arms sharply.
The Z-Ring burst into dazzling light.
Golden brilliance dimmed the entire sky.
Visible waves of power poured into Type: Null's body.
"Z-Move…"
"ULTIMATE SPIRAL STRIKE——!!!!"
"TAI——!!!"
Metallic light spread across Type: Null's body.
A violent steel storm gathered around it—
compressing—
spinning—
forming a terrifying spiral before erupting forward.
"UTSA!"
Nihilego raised its arm and condensed a glowing gemstone before throwing it.
Power Gem.
But before the overwhelming force of a Z-Move—
that resistance looked laughably small.
BOOM—
Power Gem shattered instantly.
Ultimate Spiral Strike tore straight through and slammed into Nihilego's chest.
"UTSAAAA——!!!"
With a painful scream—
it was blasted directly into the Ultra Wormhole.
The opening rapidly shrank—
and vanished.
The crisis ended just as suddenly as it began.
Lillie blinked.
Then suddenly grabbed her head.
"…I…"
"I think…"
"I remember…"
"…Brother…"
"…Mother…"
Lusamine's eyes widened.
"My little Lillie… really?! Mommy's so happy!!"
Gladion smiled softly.
"Congratulations, little sister."
Tap.
Type: Null landed.
It slowly turned and exchanged one final look with Peter.
Then—
without hesitation—
it turned away.
As if preparing to leave.
Peter froze.
The fist he had unconsciously clenched slowly loosened.
His hand lifted slightly—
wanting to stop it—
but then lowered again.
For a Pokémon imprisoned for so many years…
perhaps freedom mattered more.
"…Sigh."
He lowered his head.
His quiet sigh carried unmistakable disappointment.
Just as he turned—
two talon-like feet entered his view.
Peter looked up immediately.
Standing before him—
Type: Null held the food bag he had thrown earlier in its mouth.
It lowered its head.
Placed the bag down gently.
Then leaped back more than ten meters.
"TAI!"
Burnet blinked.
"Is that…"
"An invitation to a capture battle?"
Lusamine folded her arms and smiled.
"They gained each other's trust through battle…"
"This really is the most beautiful bond between humans and Pokémon."
Whitney smiled brightly and shouted—
"Go, Honey!"
Peter nodded.
Then looked at Type: Null standing opposite him—
battle-ready.
Just like the first time they had locked eyes after it awakened.
But this time—
everything had changed.