The Kingdom of Michina.
The power of time sent Sheena back to the period before the eclipse. Unlike what happened in the movie, she was not transported twice.
Dialga's time travel had been extremely precise. However, as a Pokémon, Dialga had always been governed by instinct more than reason.
Its thought process could probably be summarized as:
[This is an emergency. I'll send Sheena back first and worry about the details later. It's not like I can simply kill her.]
Unfortunately, that placed Sheena directly in enemy hands.
At the height of its prosperity, the kingdom possessed a large population, along with countless soldiers and armored magical beasts. Because the city had been built among the mountains, it was extremely easy to defend against anything except an attack from the sky.
Marcus, the priest who controlled the kingdom, possessed a Bronzong skilled in Hypnosis and a Heatran capable of breathing fire.
Another Heatran...
Sheena had never encountered that species before. While she was still confused by its appearance, it attacked her with flames.
"Who are you?!"
The soldiers surrounded her.
Marcus, the red-haired priest, immediately sensed that something was wrong.
In the original history, Sheena had openly declared that she came from the future and told Marcus everything that would happen.
She did not know him then and had no idea he was the mastermind behind Arceus's betrayal. She had believed her ancestor Damos was the enemy.
But the Sheena who arrived this time knew part of the truth, so she refused to speak.
That only made Marcus more curious.
"Bronzong, use Hypnosis."
In ancient times, most people merely exploited the violence and raw power of magical beasts. Very few seriously studied their moves.
Anyone who understood even one or two Pokémon moves was already considered extraordinary.
Someone who could wield Hypnosis with remarkable skill was especially dangerous.
Sheena remembered the Oblivian legend in which a priest used Hypnosis to manipulate a king.
It was nearly identical to Michina's history.
The light gradually faded from Sheena's eyes.
"I... came from the future..."
"What utter nonsense," Marcus said. "How could such a thing be possible? Bronzong, intensify the Hypnosis. Make her tell us the truth."
Bronzong, controlled by Marcus's restraining equipment, used a stronger Hypnosis.
Sheena's consciousness completely dispersed.
She revealed information about Arceus, Damos, and some of Marcus's future actions.
The surrounding soldiers erupted in shock.
However, the question of whether to return the Jewel of Life was already something everyone avoided discussing.
Marcus's expression changed dramatically.
"You attacked it with lightning and falling rocks, yet Arceus still survived?"
"Lock this woman away. Put her in Damos's cell. No, I'll take her there myself."
Sheena was imprisoned.
Marcus had never felt so nervous.
Damos, already locked inside the underground prison, raised his head from the shadows once more. Yet the pain in his eyes earned no sympathy from the priest.
"Damos, stop looking at us like that. The moment that will determine Michina's survival has arrived."
"We must prepare more magical beasts. We must be ready to face Arceus. We must kill it with silver water."
"We must do all of this. We need to strengthen the temple's defenses. We must..."
Overcome with fear, Marcus imprisoned Sheena, issued orders, and replaced the Jewel of Life with a counterfeit.
He mobilized the kingdom for war and impatiently hid the true jewel.
Staring at the green gemstone, he muttered continuously, deceiving and hypnotizing himself.
As long as he possessed the jewel, this land would never become a wasteland again.
His authority would endure as well.
As for the inconvenient truth that the people had only survived because Damos formed a friendship with the creator...
"I have never regretted bringing life to this land," Damos said.
"What I regret is that you will control me and force me to betray my friend."
"Even more than that, I regret failing to recognize what lay within your heart."
Marcus's expression darkened.
"Enough. It's far too late for such words."
"I am Michina's leader now!"
"You will regret this," Damos replied calmly.
Marcus stared at the man's steady, confident eyes.
He had no idea where Damos's confidence came from. Every magical beast that had once followed him was already under Marcus's control.
Did he still possess some way to reverse the situation?
Marcus gritted his teeth.
"Watch carefully, Damos."
"This woman claims she came from the future. She is supposedly your descendant."
"Not only have I imprisoned you, but I have also imprisoned your descendant."
"Thanks to her arrival, I will change history and become a hero."
"Your descendants will thank me one day."
"I will save the future by ensuring Arceus truly dies here!"
"This time, we will succeed. If Arceus is killed here, it will never appear in the future!"
As the effects of Hypnosis receded, clarity gradually returned to Sheena's eyes.
She heard Marcus's arrogant declaration.
It was identical to the legend the Sage had told Sinnoh's Champion.
"That belief... is foolish."
"In the original history, Michina and the land of Sinnoh both disappeared."
"In another region, there was a priest who shared your beliefs. That entire region was destroyed as well."
"Yet our land still exists one thousand years in the future."
"This time, I will not cause a catastrophic disaster," Sheena continued.
"As for you, I believe you are destined to die here."
"If I have traveled through time, then at this very moment, countless people connected to Arceus must be fighting and challenging the creator."
"Some of them can travel through time."
"They will undoubtedly reach this era and crush your ambitions."
"Dialga probably brought me here so I could begin the second history."
"Time resembles a river, and we are nothing more than bones drifting upon its currents."
"Countless histories are like branches growing from a tree."
Marcus's heart pounded.
An overwhelming sense of danger surged inside him.
"What nonsense are you babbling? What are you trying to say?!"
Sheena's eyes were clear and calm, much like Damos's.
Her former confusion and naivety gradually disappeared as she began to understand everything.
"Our history survived because of a second Almighty Sinnoh."
"Do you still not understand?"
"The creator who came from the distant celestial realm was not the only one."
"They say avatars of Arceus exist throughout every universe."
Marcus's expression changed dramatically, though he continued challenging her in a forceful voice.
"Impossible!"
"That creature lost several Life Plates when it collided with the fragment of a star."
"Are you claiming beings as powerful as that one exist throughout the heavens?!"
"If that were not true, why would the ancient Celestica people worship it?" Sheena asked.
"It is the magical beast that created everything..."
"No."
"It is the Pokémon that created everything."
Marcus was terrified.
He could not accept such a possibility.
If it were true, killing one Arceus would be meaningless.
A new Arceus could immediately descend from among the stars, see the miserable remains of its counterpart, and pass judgment upon the world.
Such an idea was beyond the understanding of ancient humanity, especially the people of Michina.
In the earliest days, they regarded Arceus as the god of all magical beasts.
Over time, their understanding of it deteriorated until they believed it was merely a god that could be killed.
Once a god could bleed, people no longer feared it.
Marcus fled as though attempting to escape reality.
Damos looked at Sheena in astonishment.
"You truly came from the future?"
"You are one of my descendants?"
"You seem to know far more than I do."
"Take my hand."
Damos reached through the bars of the prison.
Sheena stared at him in surprise, and he explained.
"I can sense that you possess the ability to communicate with magical beasts through the heart."
"That proves beyond doubt that you are my descendant."
"You must have inherited my extraordinary ability: Transcending the Laws of Space-Time."
"Judging by your confusion, you probably do not know this."
"When two people possessing the same ability hold hands, they can completely share their thoughts and feelings without speaking."
"This ability does not only work on magical beasts."
"We can also perceive the state of another being's life and death. We can see the guidance and flow of power."
"Living beings radiate light. Those who have lost their lives resemble nothingness, appearing as an abyssal blue without the slightest radiance."
"I once used this power to perceive Arceus's dying life."
"I followed the trail of light and returned its Life Plates."
"Now, let us join hands."
"It will symbolize reconciliation and friendship, allowing us to understand one another."
Damos and Sheena clasped hands inside the prison.
The powers of ancestor and descendant intertwined across one thousand years.
Through their connection, Damos experienced Sheena's memories, feelings, and knowledge.
"Damos... Can you hear my heart?" Sheena asked.
"Yes," he replied. "I understand."
"I know the mission that brought you here."
"You came for this very moment, didn't you?"
"You needed to tell Marcus the truth, but you were also brought here to show me the future."
"Among all the people who formed bonds with Arceus throughout history, I may have been the most foolish."
"I was far too naive."
"When I received the creator's power, I was overjoyed. I believed this desolate land could prosper forever and its people could live in abundance."
"But I had been wrong from the very beginning."
"I understand the actions of the Celestica people much better now."
"They displayed humanity's strength to Almighty Sinnoh, then allowed it to return to the heavens."
"People do not cherish things they receive without earning them through their own efforts."
"Such gifts only breed dependence and conspiracy."
"Our people became too reliant on the Jewel of Life and ignored their own abilities."
"Was this barren land truly impossible to cultivate?"
"After the meteor devastated this place, was survival really beyond us?"
"If I had known what would happen, perhaps it would have been better if Arceus and I had never met."
"If we had never met, I could never have betrayed my friend or created so much suffering."
"The great celestial object that guided Arceus and me toward one another..."
"Do you know of the Millennium Comet?"
"I believe that incomparable, blazing fragment of a star was carried here by the Millennium Comet."
Sheena's eyes widened.
"Legends say that one thousand years ago, meteors fell across the world."
"An enormous meteor struck the distant Hoenn region."
"A rainbow-colored stone fell with it, and the ancient people of Hoenn performed a magnificent song and dance as they prayed to the stone from the stars."
"Could the enormous meteor that struck Hoenn and the rainbow-colored stone both have been fragments of the blazing meteor that fell upon Sinnoh?"
"They were all brought here by the Millennium Comet!"
The myths of the world's different regions were not closely connected.
However, careful examination revealed that many of them involved disasters originating in space.
Some Pokémon had traveled upon celestial objects, crossing the distant stars before reaching this planet and multiplying.
The Millennium Comet brought power to this world, but it also brought disaster.
Perhaps calming those disasters was one of the trials Arceus had given to humanity.
Sheena did not know why that thought had occurred to her.
A god betrayed by humanity would feel rage and hatred. But before that betrayal, it had loved humanity deeply.
Did that mean cold and indifferent gods also existed?
If every Arceus was merely an avatar, what kind of being was its true body?
"So that is what it means for the celestial realm to tremble," Sheena murmured.
"That fragment of a star may have come from Arceus's heavenly realm."
"Damos?"
Damos clenched both hands and released the Law of Space-Time, the power of transcendence.
"I can hear it."
"Arceus's voice is speaking to me across time and space."
"This has never happened before."
"I can also hear countless other voices."
"This power is extraordinary. It seems to have crossed the ages."
Within his transcendent perception, the world became an expanse of blue light.
Phantoms of radiant humans appeared one after another.
"I hear Arceus crying out in sorrow."
"I hear that the sun still shines beyond the horizon, illuminating the sky!"
"I hear a promise from ancient Sinnoh."
"I hear voices from distant lands yearning for happiness."
"And I hear the thoughts of people in the future shouting from the summit of Mount Coronet."
"There was once a legend about a swordsman in Sinnoh. But at some point, that story was lost."
"A sword..." Sheena murmured.
Before she could understand what Damos meant, he charged at the iron bars and slammed his body against the prison door.
"I once had a partner," Damos said. "If that spiky-eared companion were still here, I could find a way to steal the key and open this cell."
"But things would not necessarily go so smoothly."
"And now..."
For the first time, Damos displayed open fury.
He glared at the hesitant and terrified old jailer guarding the prison.
"Tapu! Open this door!"
"If you do not want the people of Michina to be destroyed, open it now!"
"The Law of Transcendence has warned me. The voice of heaven has delivered its revelation."
"The sword hanging above our heads has arrived!"
"I am no longer speaking as Michina's leader."
"I am merely a man enraged by the death of his friend!"
"You are all about to die!"
"Do you still not understand?!"
The old jailer was named Tapu.
He knew Damos was a kind man and a wise leader. Like many people in Michina, he had benefited greatly from Damos's leadership.
However, Damos had insisted on returning the Jewel of Life to the creator.
That frightened many people and caused them to side with the priest.
Tapu did not know whether that choice was right or wrong, so he had given up trying to decide.
In his old age, there was little he could do. He could only remain within the underground prison and guard Damos.
He still did not understand what was happening.
In all his memories, Damos had always treated others with kindness and courtesy. He had never shown such anger.
Tapu had also overheard the conversation between Damos and Sheena.
Confusion and fear continued growing within him until thunder and explosions shook the entire underground prison.
The mountains themselves seemed to be trembling on the verge of collapse.
Smoke, roars, and the panicked screams of soldiers echoed outside the prison.
Then the soldiers' screams disappeared with shocking speed, like a storm ending without warning.
Tapu finally released Damos and Sheena.
After leaving the underground ruins and passing through the Iron Corridor, they saw the ancient city of Michina being bombarded by lightning and meteors.
In the distance, Hikaru was advancing toward the summit of Michina's mountain.
Sheena stared in shock.
"That man... He's the Sage Champion!"
"He came to this era?"
"I saw his arrival within your memories and the future images shown to me by the god," Damos replied.
"Like you, Dialga's power sent him to this era."
"And he is also the swordsman."
"The beast of lightning, its messenger, and the legendary swordsman of Sinnoh have arrived."
"He must have made some kind of agreement with Arceus."
"This kingdom is going to be destroyed."
"Perhaps that is for the best."
"From now on, we can live as an ordinary town or settlement."
"We fear losing this land's abundance because we did not create it through our own strength."
"The time has come for humanity to part from the gods."
"Excessive dependence upon divine beings produces betrayal and suspicion, along with the terror of losing that support."
"That is why conspiracies and darkness arise. That is why lives suffer."
"We ultimately failed to create the ideal world the god desired."
"If we cannot sever the cord joining us to it, we will forever remain helpless infants."
"Therefore..."
"Let us return every blessing granted by heaven!"
...
The gates of Michina's temple had been blasted apart.
Marcus desperately commanded Bronzong and Heatran.
Before him, the Spiky-eared Pichu pointed directly at the priest as though identifying a criminal.
It had once lived inside this temple and knew Marcus extremely well.
He constantly controlled young Pokémon and forced them to work without rest, day and night.
Everyone had feared him too much to resist.
But now...
"Isn't that the lightning beast that once lived here and constantly played tricks?"
"I think it was one of Lord Damos's companions!"
Armed with steel pitchforks, the soldiers stared fearfully at the Electric-type Pokémon that had appeared before them.
The armored magical beasts released from the prison were defeated one after another.
Even the human soldiers were completely incapable of opposing the invaders.
More terrifying still, a gate had opened in the sky and Arceus had descended.
Yet it made no attempt to stop the swordsman.
It merely watched the people of Michina with cold indifference.
The soldiers finally understood.
Arceus had brought destruction upon them.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Marcus shouted. "I've already hidden the jewel. You'll never find it!"
"Heatran, use Flamethrower!"
Marcus's Heatran opened its enormous mouth and released a torrent of blazing fire.
But the intense flames were gradually absorbed.
From within the fire emerged the ancient dancer who had stirred the winds of Hisui.
Role Play!
Hisuian Lilligant used Role Play to copy Heatran's Ability, gaining Flash Fire.
It absorbed every Fire-type move without injury, increasing the power of its own Fire-type attacks.
[Although the only Fire-type move I know is Weather Ball under harsh sunlight,] Hisuian Lilligant said, [that Bronzong's Ability is Levitate, not Heatproof.]
[In other words, this was entirely your own mistake.]
The soldiers stared in horror.
"That magical beast looks like a plant."
"No, it's Grass-type, isn't it?"
"But it absorbed the flames, and now..."
While they were speaking, Hisuian Lilligant sprang forward with unstoppable force and appeared directly in front of Heatran.
Oh...
It wasn't the same one.
After thinking about it, that made sense.
Her Trainer had already told her that Heatran were born from fragments of space-time. By now, he had encountered more Heatran than he could count.
This one was much weaker than the Lord of the Harsh Mountain.
Compared to the Red Crystal Guardian, flames of this level were hardly worth mentioning.
[Then farewell, weak-looking fire turtle!]
Hisuian Lilligant used Close Combat!
A storm of vicious kicks struck Marcus's Heatran.
The Lava Dome Pokémon was blasted into the distance, howling in pain.
Bronzong was the next to face disaster.
Deafening explosions shook the distant mountains and land.
Marcus staggered backward in terror.
He could hardly believe his eyes.
These two Pokémon had allowed him to dominate other magical beasts and control his soldiers.
Now both had been defeated with ease.
He looked up at Arceus in the sky.
"The Celestica people are attacking!"
There could be no mistake.
That form belonged to one of the legendary nobles empowered by Almighty Sinnoh.
Long ago, it had been worshiped within the southern marshlands.
The Lady of the Ridge!
The roars of magical beasts shook the mountains surrounding Michina's temple.
Smoke, flames, and flashing lightning filled the region. The footsteps, screams, shouts, and terror of soldiers echoed between the peaks.
"Enemy attack!"
"These magical beasts aren't wild!"
"They may not be wearing restraining equipment, but someone must be controlling them!"
"There are thirty of them!"
Causing destruction was what these Pokémon did best.
That was particularly true of the Treasures of Ruin.
They immediately assembled into formation.
It had been so long since they had last done this.
A thousand years, perhaps?
[Has the destruction of a nation finally returned?] Ting-Lu cried. [Heaven and earth collapse as war splits the land!]
[Hurry, hurry, hurry!] Chi-Yu exclaimed. [Begin the ritual! Jealousy and greed flow like molten lava!]
[Does this country truly wish to survive?] Wo-Chien asked. [That decision is no longer theirs to make! Its crimes are too numerous to record, even if every bamboo stalk were used for writing!]
Chien-Pao: [...]
The kitty thought for a long time.
It could not think of anything impressive to say, so it simply transformed into a Spinosaurus.
However, Chien-Pao suddenly considered an important question.
If this was one thousand years in the past, then the distant Paldean Empire should currently be suffering its own disaster involving the Treasures of Ruin.
That meant the four Pokémon of this era were currently destroying another nation in a distant land!
Could a certain Pokémon tamer have heard about the disaster in Sinnoh, then learned that the same kind of calamity had appeared in the Paldean Empire?
Had that person immediately rushed to the distant land like a whirlwind and sealed all four Treasures of Ruin?
Hmm...
That question was far too profound.
Chien-Pao was not good at thinking.
It was, however, very good at running!
Better to forget such unpleasant things.
After tucking its paws beneath its chest like a loafing cat...
It instantly transformed into a cold and merciless sword, charging forward like an avalanche.
The heavens collapsed.
The earth split.
Every law and tradition fell into ruin!
"Hah!"
The ultimate frosty huff!
The mightiest attack!
Ruination!
The temple and surrounding mountains shattered.
A nation-destroying calamity returned to the land.
The golden crown symbolizing Marcus's divine authority fell from his head during the earthquake.
"The kingdom has been destroyed!" Marcus screamed.
"Our kingdom is gone!"
"All the work the people of Michina carried out over so many years has been destroyed!"
"This land has no future!"
He stared at the approaching swordsman and lightning Pokémon in terror.
His emotions collapsed. He frantically waved his arms and scepter, screaming at them.
"Stay away!"
"You monster commanding an army of magical beasts!"
"This happened because of all of you!"
"You're one of the Celestica people too, aren't you?"
"A Celestica swordsman!"
"Are you human or a ghost?"
"Are you the ancient swordsman from the oldest legends of this land?"
"This is all your fault!"
"You brought the legendary nobles to challenge the gods and forced Almighty Sinnoh to return to the heavens."
"That is why we suffered so much!"
"Now we finally possess the Jewel of Life. At last, we can make this land flourish forever!"
"Why?"
"Why do people like you receive Arceus's eternal protection and favor?"
"Why can't wretched people like us receive its blessing?"
"Every inch of Sinnoh is overflowing with prosperity. The entire region is a paradise!"
"Yet nothing existed in this wilderness!"
"Did you treat us this way merely because we possessed different writing and different ancient customs?"
"We worshiped Almighty Sinnoh too!"
"Our languages even sound similar, and our architecture developed in almost exactly the same form!"
"You received the god's blessing only because you arrived first!"
Hikaru shook his head.
He raised his sword toward the terrified priest. The blade obscured the sun as lightning struck in the distance.
"Nothing existed here?" Hikaru asked.
"That isn't true."
"Even before Arceus arrived, many species of Pokémon lived in this wilderness."
"Golem could enrich the soil. Sandshrew could cultivate the land. Onix could dig tunnels."
"All of them lived here."
"If you had used their abilities properly and formed friendships with them, this land could have recovered without the Jewel of Life."
"But because you did not understand them and viewed them with fear, you used restraining equipment and weapons to control their movements."
"You appeared to possess complete control over them, but all you truly did was increase the distance between you."
"Of course, from your perspective, perhaps you do not believe you did anything wrong."
"You called these mysterious creatures magical beasts because Pokémon can be terrifying."
"That is something humanity has always understood."
"During ancient eras, humans and Pokémon hunted and killed one another. Each regarded the other as prey."
"Many legends and ecological records were created because of that conflict."
"Some humans became capable of freely commanding Pokémon in battle."
"Depending on their achievements and actions, they received titles such as Beast Messenger, Pokémon Tamer, Warlord, Hero of Light, or simply Hero."
"They could be found in the sky, upon the land, and across the sea."
"From ancient people to those of the distant future, humanity continued traveling and training alongside Pokémon."
"They met, grew stronger, and eventually parted."
"You asked why the Celestica people received Arceus's protection and favor."
"You claimed they simply arrived first."
"But do you understand what happened long ago?"
"Humans possessed neither sharp claws nor fangs. After Sinnoh's ancient swordsman broke the divine sword, no human remained capable of battling Pokémon as an equal."
"The ancient swordsman made this vow:"
"'Because I possessed this sword, I forgot that you were also living beings. I swear never to commit such barbarity again. This sword shall never again be used.'"
"The ancient Celestica people paid for their understanding with tremendous bloodshed and sacrifice."
"They gradually learned how Pokémon lived and formed friendships with some of them."
"Almighty Sinnoh took pity upon them and granted them lightning, transforming those Pokémon into humanity's strength."
"Can you neither see nor hear the hearts of the ancient people?"
Marcus stared at the steadily approaching blade, so terrified that he nearly lost his senses.
He had never behaved so shamefully since becoming a priest and taking control of the kingdom.
The only other time had been in the first history, when he fell from the cliff to his death.
"The hearts of the ancient people...?" Marcus stammered.
"Magical beasts are monsters! They're nothing more than tools!"
"Once tamed, they're extremely useful!"
"We... We did this because..."
"We did this to preserve our kingdom!"
"These creatures possess all kinds of extraordinary powers," Hikaru said.
"They summon lightning, breathe fire, and call forth floods."
"Yet many rulers treated these miraculous beings as nothing more than biological weapons."
"That is precisely why their kingdoms were destroyed."
Marcus: "...!"
"The ancient Celestica people must have endured countless sacrifices throughout their long history while attempting to understand these creatures."
"Eventually, a Pokémon formed a particular wish."
"'If a human ever needs help, we shall appear within the tall grass.'"
"And so history changed."
"The Myth of the Sinnoh Region says that long ago, when Sinnoh was first created, humans and Pokémon exchanged goods, supported one another, and lived in mutual cooperation."
"Could the nameless Pokémon that asked the others to reveal themselves within the world have been one of the oldest Arceus?"
"Later, even stranger events occurred."
"Sinnoh Folk Tale Two tells of a Pokémon that lived within a forest."
"Inside the forest, it shed its outer hide, returned to human form, and fell asleep."
"Upon waking, it put on its Pokémon hide again and traveled to a village."
"Sinnoh Folk Tale Three says Pokémon once married humans, and humans once married Pokémon."
"In those days, such unions were perfectly ordinary because humans and Pokémon were the same."
"The ancient Celestica people paid in blood and lives before they understood Pokémon."
"Some even transformed into Pokémon. Legends claim many Pokémon were once humans."
"Humans and Pokémon seem to share the same origin. At their roots, they are the same kind of existence."
"Yet you refuse to understand anything or pay any price."
"You simply expect to receive the same favor and protection the ancient people earned, all because you possess a jewel."
"Other regions have barren wildernesses too."
"Does that mean the people living there cannot survive?"
"The materials needed to create a Jewel of Life have always existed upon this land."
"The Plates themselves are a form of material."
"They possess nearly the same properties as Origin Ore, differing primarily in their types."
"You witnessed Arceus combine five enormous Life Plates and transform them into the jewel!"
"The Old Verses say this:"
"'The Plates scattered across Hisui contain the power of all creation.'"
"You became too dependent upon the Jewel of Life."
"You feared that losing it would mean losing your kingdom and your land."
"As I said before..."
"That is why your kingdom was destroyed!"
Fear of death flooded Marcus's heart.
The world suddenly collapsed around him as the ground split apart.
Only then did Marcus realize he had somehow been driven to the edge of a cliff.
Earthquakes and lightning roared around him.
A bolt struck his body, and he released an agonized scream.
He lost his balance.
Accompanied by falling rocks, he plunged from the summit of this false sacred mountain and fell toward the abyssal canyon below.
Terror twisted his face.
"N-No!"
"God! Please!"
"Save me!"
"I don't want to die!"
"I can't disappear like this!"
He reached out as though attempting to grasp something.
But there was nothing around him except smoke and dust.
Far above, the cold and indifferent creator god merely watched him fall.
At that moment, Marcus prayed sincerely.
He begged the creator to extend a hand and save him.
This temple had originally been built in imitation of the Temple of Sinnoh. It had been intended to display Arceus's tremendous power and worship the heavens through music and dance.
Now it was destined for destruction.
Meanwhile, the true temple on Mount Coronet still stood in this era.
The wind tore at Marcus's body.
Falling rocks smashed into his head.
He saw countless stars rotating before his eyes and heard a furious cry.
The blazing meteor from the first history descended and burned the land.
[We are the beings who determine the future of the stars and carve inscriptions upon them.]
[To that end, we have nurtured knowledge, created resources, and guided the flow of countless lives.]
Countless Arceus appeared behind the transcendent Almighty.
They watched this world from among the stars.
Marcus's expression twisted.
"Ah... The blessings granted by heaven!"
He fell from the towering cliff and disappeared into a bottomless abyss.
No one could survive a fall from that height.
Even if Marcus somehow survived, it would make no difference.
He had no descendants upon the land of Michina in either history.
"Just like the first history," Hikaru said. "When the platform collapsed, Marcus fell from the cliff and died alongside Damos."
"In the second history, the same fall occurred again. But through extraordinary luck, he survived, though he paid the price by becoming a slave."
"A man like that probably had no opportunity to leave descendants."
"That is why his crimes were never recorded."
"It resembles the convergence of worldlines."
"Death inevitably occurs."
Still, how should one put it?
Some people contributed far more to the world through their deaths than they ever could by remaining alive.
At the very least, their deaths brought peace and stability.
That was no exaggeration.
It was much like the ancient King AZ of Kalos.
Influenced by a moment of foolish emotion, he made the wrong choice and transformed into a god of destruction.
Would everything have ended differently if he had chosen another path?
No one could prove it.
"Marcus's death represents the disappearance of the god of war," Hikaru said.
"It signifies the end of war."
"Betrayal and hatred shall also end here!"
"Marcus... Yes, that is the correct name."
"But perhaps he should truly have been called Mars."
The priest's original name carried ideas of both a loyal minister and suspicious doubt.
In the Galarian language, however, the name Marcus originated from Mars, the Roman god of land, war, agriculture, and spring.
For those unfamiliar with Roman mythology...
Mars corresponded to Ares in Greek mythology.
As for Damos, the man who originally led Michina...
The meaning could be understood from his name.
"Damos refers to Damocles."
"In other words, the Sword of Damocles."
"The suspended sword must eventually fall."
"The fear of that sword causes the person seated upon the throne to abandon their desire for royal and divine authority."
All the people of Michina possessed Greek-style names.
"Damos saw the future through Arceus's memories."
"Something similar was recorded in Oblivia's story and within the missions of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs."
"The transcendent Almighty can share its memories and everything it has witnessed through images."
"It can allow several people to see those memories, enabling them to make their own judgments."
"With the power of the Shining Jewel, that is only natural."
Hikaru turned and saw Damos and Sheena approaching.
Damos's expression had returned to normal. His fury was gone, but regret and sorrow remained within his eyes.
"Marcus is dead," Damos said.
"He fell from the summit of Michina's mountain into a bottomless abyss."
"He could not have survived."
"He was driven to his death by a swordsman from the future, one who also symbolizes the origins of Sinnoh's history."
"Perhaps that was this land's punishment."
"Marcus was once my subordinate."
"He worked faithfully and diligently for this land. Eventually, he became a powerful priest whose authority was second only to mine."
"He was stern and believed magical beasts should be controlled through restraining equipment and violence."
"Yet because of his hard work and practical efforts, this land did gradually become wealthier and stronger."
"He used Bronzong's Hypnosis to capture many powerful Pokémon and forced them to serve this land."
"I heard that other kingdoms also placed equipment upon Pokémon, arming and enhancing them so they could serve as soldiers."
"For that reason, I never believed there was anything wrong with it."
"But I understand now."
"That equipment restricting their movements was precisely what separated us from you."
"It was the seed from which our kingdom's destruction grew."
"How did we define these creatures from the very beginning?"
"Arceus and I became friends because it could communicate with me."
"But I saw no problem with placing restraining equipment upon other Pokémon."
"The seed of our mistake had already been planted."
"I treated them differently simply because they could not speak the human language."
"The change from calling them magical beasts to calling them Pokémon symbolizes progress in our relationship," Hikaru replied.
"You already know where I came from."
"Sheena and I are from the same era, though we had never met before."
"However, your name makes it impossible for us not to know you," Sheena said.
"Is there anyone in the world who hasn't heard of the Sage Champion?"
"Galar's publicity and the people of Sinnoh both praise you without end."
"I understand your experiences now," Damos said. "I know what kind of person you are."
"You represent an entire era."
"The Celestica people truly have existed throughout the whole history of this land."
"We were merely travelers passing through it."
"After hearing your words, I have finally awakened."
"How should humanity offer its heart to the heavens?"
"Not by building temples."
"Not by imitating ancient music and dance."
"A kingdom created through imitation will always be false!"
"The ancient paradise no longer exists."
"At this moment, I shall begin creating a new paradise."
"Not with the Jewel of Life, but with our own hands and every ounce of our strength."
"Please battle Arceus and calm its fury."
"I will pray for both you and Arceus!"
Damos looked over the devastated kingdom.
"This false prosperity ends here."
His expression became solemn.
With complete sincerity, he clasped his hands and released tremendous power.
"Transcend the Laws of Space-Time!"
A powerful mental connection spread outward.
Damos perceived every armored magical beast being commanded by the soldiers, along with those that had panicked and gone berserk.
His will also connected with the hearts of the Pokémon Hikaru had brought.
"Everyone, please listen to me!"
"Arceus sacrificed part of its own life to save us and this land!"
"Please stop attacking and fighting!"
"All these sins began because of me."
"I swear that I will grant all of you your freedom!"
"The ancient name of 'magical beast' shall be abandoned here and now!"
"Every piece of equipment restricting your movement will be destroyed!"
"The kingdom I built with my own hands is hereby declared extinct!"
"I hope this land will become a better place filled with love."
"I shall remain here and pray forever!"
That connection also reached the grieving and furious heart of the transcendent Almighty.
"I will devote all my strength to cultivating this land," Damos declared.
"I will never again rely upon the Jewel of Life."
"Through the efforts of humans and Pokémon, I shall restore life to this land!"
"Arceus, I return every fragment of the power you granted me!"
"I will spend the rest of my life searching for the Jewel of Life that was lost here."
"I will search until the day the world ends and wait for you to reclaim it!"
"Damos..." the transcendent Almighty said.
"Had I known there would be no happy ending, perhaps it would have been better if we had never met."
"Even the way you address me has become so distant."
Damos lowered himself and knelt before Arceus.
"This change in how I address you does not signify distance between us."
"If you do not return to the heavens, people like Marcus will continue appearing one after another."
"Human lives are short."
"By the time you return to this world, I will have disappeared into the distant past."
"But my thoughts will transcend one thousand years."
"I will sincerely offer you an eternal prayer."
"I pray that you will never again suffer betrayal or pain."
"I pray that you will find everlasting happiness."
"When you next return to this land, you will see a paradise we cultivated with our lives, blood, and sweat."
"That vow will be passed down from generation to generation."
"Like the descendants of the Celestica people, we will ensure the promise endures."
"Michina will continue to flourish."
"It will look exactly like the land preserved within your memories."
"I will teach my descendants to grow food and refreshing fruit with their own hands, then offer them to you."
"When you see Michina one thousand years from now, you will surely remember the person I am today."
"Within the land of Sinnoh, there will still be one forgotten town."
"Perhaps seeing it will allow you to feel a trace of nostalgia."
"That would be my greatest happiness."
"Countless ruins symbolize the endless passage of time."
"Pure water and abundant fruit symbolize the boundless expanse of space."
"My thoughts will transcend the boundaries of time and space."
"They will overcome every hardship and eventually reach the heavens, where they will remain beside you!"
Let the thoughts of humanity reach the heavens.
May such a wish be passed down within the hearts of all people.
The transcendent Almighty's rage gradually subsided.
It descended from the sky and landed upon the high platform.
"The stars have begun to move."
"In the end, I still..."
"The battle shall begin here."
"This will be the battle in which I bid farewell to the world!"
"Arceus shall disappear during its battle against 'Sinnoh'!"
It looked ahead.
The swordsman from Sinjoh raised a red Origin Ball.
[An Origin Ball...]
[A red sphere. A red fruit!]
[Is that the power and conviction you obtained and now wish to display?]
"That's right," Hikaru replied.
"Do you remember what happened in that distant land, in Oblivia, which was filled with light?"
"No matter how much pain and conflict we once endured, offering a red fruit allowed us to resolve our grievances and become friends again."
"But this ball isn't meant to capture you."
"It is a gift."
"At the same time..."
"I am going to quell you, Arceus!"
"This will be the third time, after the Mystri Stage and the Sinjoh Ruins of another world!"
(End of Chapter)
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