"Mii~"
After briefly comforting little Hoopa and letting the Regi Guardians take it away to play, Mew eagerly fluttered before Paul and showed off its newly-created aura ring.
It was like a child proudly flaunting a brand-new toy.
"Incredible… you can actually forge aura rings?"
Paul didn't hide his surprise. He never imagined that Mew could replicate even Hoopa's rings.
"Mii~"
Mew giggled, then shamelessly extended its tiny paws toward Paul, clearly begging for more Origin Ore.
"You want Origin Ore? Don't tell me… you can use it to make more aura rings?"
Paul instantly made the connection.
"Mii~"
Mew nodded. Other materials and energy needed for forging rings weren't too rare, it could scrape them together. But Origin Ore? That could only come from Paul.
Sure, Mew had one aura ring now. But just one?
That wasn't nearly enough!
Little Hoopa had three rings. Big Hoopa—Hoopa Unbound—had six. As for itself, Mew decided that surely anything less than seven would be an insult!
In Mew's mind, it was simple: the more rings it had, the more everyone would associate "aura rings" not with Hoopa, but with Mew.
And besides, hardly anyone in the world even knew about Hoopa. If "Super-Djinn Rings" were rebranded into "Mirage Rings", that seemed perfectly reasonable!
"…And where exactly do you plan to put all those rings?"
Paul eyed Mew's small frame. One ring around its neck looked fine.
But if it made too many… hanging them all from its neck and limbs would just look bizarre.
"Mii~"
With a sly grin, Mew demonstrated: it shrank the ring and slipped it around its tail, transforming it from a necklace into a cute tail ornament.
'See? Not dumb at all! A few around the neck and legs wouldn't hurt its cuteness. The rest? Stack them all on its tail.'
And if that still wasn't enough, it could just stash a pile at the Tree of Beginning and fetch them with a long-distance warp whenever needed.
"…Smart."
Paul chuckled, ruffling Mew's head before pouring out his entire supply of Origin Ore.
"This is all I have right now. After my match, I'll find more for you."
"Mii~"
Mew didn't mind. Based on its experience, this was enough to craft at least one more ring. Two rings were plenty to play with for now.
"The ore's yours. But in exchange, can you help me with two favors?"
Paul revealed his real intent.
"Mii~"
Mew puffed its chest. Between friends, of course it would help!
"The Adamant Orb, Lustrous Orb, and Griseous Orb… do they still exist in Sinnoh? If so, can you fetch them for me? And maybe the large variants too, if they exist here."
Paul hadn't forgotten his Dialga from Hisui or Akari's Palkia. Both could transform into their Origin Forms without orbs, but holding them still boosted their power.
He wasn't sure if the "Great Orbs" existed in this merged world, but the originals should still be obtainable if Team Galactic hadn't destroyed them.
"Mii~"
Mew shook its head first: in this timeline, the "Great Orbs" didn't exist. But then it reached into its aura ring, rummaged for a while, and proudly pulled out the three original orbs, placing them in front of Paul.
"Mii~"
'Done!'
Mew puffed itself up as if to say:
'See? Easy. Anything else?''
Paul carefully stored the three orbs in his bag. Then he asked, "If you make more rings someday… could you give one to Mewtwo?"
He didn't really expect Mewtwo to wield them like Hoopa or Mew. But it felt wrong not to give Mewtwo a chance.
"Mii~"
Mew glanced at the aloof Mewtwo, then giggled and nodded. Sure—if Paul brought enough ore, it could craft one for him.
"…Good. I've got an important match coming up. Send me and Mewtwo back. If you're curious, you can watch my stream in two days."
Seeing the sky darkening, Paul decided he couldn't linger here.
"Mii~"
'No problem.'
Mew expanded its aura ring, sending Paul and Mewtwo home. Only then did it turn to little Hoopa, already plotting how best to "train" it into a proper underling.
Meanwhile, Paul stepped out of the aura ring to find Reggie dialing his phone.
"Bro, what are you doing here?"
"Looking for you! I was about to call. Couldn't find you anywhere for dinner."
Reggie lowered his phone when he saw Paul returning with Mewtwo.
"Went out for a bit. Found Mewtwo."
Paul summarized bluntly.
"…Sorry to make you worry." Mewtwo added softly.
Reggie smiled faintly. "Nothing to worry about. Paul isn't a kid anymore."
Then his eyes narrowed, suspicion dawning. "At this timing, you didn't bring Mewtwo just to…?"
"Yes." Paul's tone was calm. "I plan to let Mewtwo step into the spotlight, against Champion Cynthia."
He had no doubts about his own skill. Defeating Cynthia was within reach. So why not make it Mewtwo's grand stage?
"…Then may Cynthia's will be as strong as her team."
Knowing a little of Mewtwo's power, Reggie silently prayed for her.
...
Finally, the day of the Champion Challenge arrived.
Barry: "Paul, go get 'em! You have to win! If you lose, I'm fining you!"
Dawn: "Do your best, Paul! We're cheering for you!"
Lucas: "When you're Champion, I'll be the next challenger! Promise me that battle, Paul!"
In the waiting hall, Paul strode forward with steady and confident steps, his friends' voices at his back.
The announcer's voice boomed across Lily of the Valley Island Stadium:
"Welcome to the grand stage of the Champion Challenge! After two days of Elite Four battles and a day of rest, the most anticipated match in Sinnoh is about to begin—the battle that will decide this year's Champion!"
"Introducing our challengers…"
"He began his journey barely a year ago, yet claimed victory at the Lily of the Valley Conference. He went on to conquer the Battle Frontier in Kanto, then defeated all four Sinnoh Elite Four with ease."
"A trainer who continues to grow stronger with every step—calm, calculating, and relentless. Here he is—Paul!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Paul entered the arena. For a fleeting moment, he almost felt as if he were reliving his conference victory.
"This time, too—I will win."
He clenched his fist.
"And now... her name echoes through myths and ruins. The Queen of the battlefield, the strongest Trainer in Sinnoh—"
"Our Champion—Cynthia!"
As the words rang out, Cynthia stepped from the tunnel, golden hair flowing, clad in her iconic black coat.
"Ahhh!!"
"Wooo!!"
The stadium roared.
"..."
A wave of cheers, even louder than before, swept across the entire stadium.
"I never thought you'd stand before me again so soon. I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Let's battle properly—here and now!"
Facing the rival she had once defeated long ago, Cynthia smiled faintly. From the moment of their first match, she had known that this day would come—that they were destined to meet again in battle.
"I've been waiting for this day as well."
Paul drew a Poké Ball, his voice firm and steady.
"This battle will be a six-on-six full battle! Both sides may switch Pokémon at will. Victory is achieved when one Trainer's entire team can no longer continue!"
With the formalities complete, the referee raised his flag:
"Now—Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
Paul and Cynthia locked eyes, then hurled their Poké Balls at the same time.
"Take flight, Togekiss!"
"Stand tall, Garchomp—prepare for battle!"
"Kiisss~!"
"Gaaar!"
With cries echoing through the arena, a snowy-white Togekiss floated gracefully in the sky while a steel-gray and blue-scaled Garchomp landed heavily on the battlefield, exuding an aura of dominance.
"The match begins!"
The referee's voice had barely fallen before the two Trainers issued their commands.
"Togekiss—Nasty Plot, then Moonblast!"
"Garchomp—Focus Energy, set up a Sandstorm, then strike with Iron Head!"
Togekiss executed Nasty Plot, soaring upward as psychic focus heightened its Special Attack. Just as it gathered power for Moonblast, a chilling and oppressive aura seized it—Garchomp had locked on, murderous intent freezing the air.
Togekiss shivered as though plunged into an icy abyss.
When it focused again, Garchomp was no longer the same.
Murderous aura raged around its body, crimson light blazing in its eyes, its whole form like a beast consumed by fury.
In a flash of white light, it underwent Mega Evolution—on its own.
Autonomous Mega Evolution, complete.
But even that was only the beginning.
A raging sandstorm whipped across the field, gravel swirling like fists around Mega Garchomp's frame, forming a natural shield. Within the storm, its power built higher, until the blue phantom of a colossal dragon emerged, glaring down with abyssal fury.
Rage, Bloodline Mode, Sandstorm Domain, Dragon Mode—all awakened in an instant.
Though it seemed an eternity, it had all happened in less than a single breath.
"Kiiisss!"
Startled, Togekiss launched its Moonblast in haste, the spinning crescent slicing into the sandstorm barrier and striking the dragon's head.
But Mega Garchomp did not flinch. It simply raised its crimson gaze to meet its opponent.
"Fire Fang. Go!"
"GAAAAAR!!!"
Paul's command thundered, followed by a roar that shook the heavens.
The dragon lunged skyward, flames igniting along its body, and its enormous jaws lined with fiery fangs.
"Kiss!!"
Togekiss panicked, trying to retreat—but the killing intent locked it in place. It could shield or fight back, but escape was impossible.
Radiance flared from Togekiss, a desperate light meant to purify all evil.
But that light was devoured by the raging inferno, consumed by violence.
In a blink, the dragon's flaming jaws snapped down upon it.
BOOM!!
A resounding crash shook the stadium. Spectators gasped as they saw Mega Garchomp biting down on a glowing green sphere.
Inside the sphere—was Togekiss.
Protect!
It had narrowly shielded itself. Dragon-type energy would never harm it directly. But this was different—the force of Garchomp's fangs, amplified by fire and sheer physical might, pressed the barrier to its breaking point.
"Throw it down. Then Iron Head."
Paul's voice was cold.
The colossal dragon hurled the orb earthward, then dove after it, body gleaming with metallic luster as though armored in steel.
Togekiss struck the ground hard, only for the steel-clad dragon to slam into it an instant later.
BOOM!!
The earth quaked, dust exploding skyward—then instantly scattered by the raging sandstorm.
When the air cleared, the monstrous dragon was gone. Garchomp had reverted from Mega form, standing proudly once more upon the battlefield.
In front of it, at the bottom of a crater, Togekiss lay unconscious.
"Togekiss is unable to battle! Garchomp wins!"
The referee declared decisively, even as the crowd reeled in shock.
"Ahhh!"
"No way!!"
"How is that even possible?!"
"Holy—what a monster of a dragon!!"
"Two moves—that's all it took to crush Togekiss?!"
"Could Cynthia's own Garchomp even do that?!"
"No chance—we've never seen it pull that off!"
"Old King Shark is dethroned—long live the new King!"
The stadium was chaos—cheers, shouts, and disbelief flooding every corner.
And who could blame them?
Togekiss was among Cynthia's top three battlers, a Pokémon of tremendous strength.
Yet Paul's Garchomp had obliterated it in just two moves. The only reason it survived the first was because it used Protect.
Cynthia's Garchomp could not have finished Togekiss in two strikes. Paul's had.
What did that mean?
It meant Paul's Garchomp might even one-shot Cynthia's.
"Gaaaaar."
Under the gaze of thousands, Garchomp flipped backward and landed calmly at Paul's side, surveying the world with quiet pride.
It had once been a bullied little Gible.
Now it stood as the strongest—Garchomp.
(End of Chapter)
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