"Gary! Staravia found Team Rocket—over there!" Ash shouted urgently.
"Got it!" Gary replied.
To be honest, Gary didn't really want to get involved anymore. Things were already spiraling far beyond a simple conflict. But at this point, there was no way to step back. Since he was already here, he could only follow through.
"Come out, Cyclizar."
Gary released Cyclizar and leapt onto its back.
"Cyy—!"
Cyclizar let out a sharp cry, its wheel-like body tensing as it prepared to sprint.
Cynthia glanced at the Pokémon with a hint of surprise.
"You know it?" Gary asked.
"I've traveled there before," Cynthia replied calmly. "I've seen Cyclizar in the wild. I didn't expect you to have one as your partner."
She didn't dwell on it for long. Right now, catching Team Rocket was the priority.
"Let's move."
Following Staravia's guidance, the group quickly arrived near the Celestic Ruins—the so-called Witch Ruins.
At the entrance, several police officers lay unconscious on the ground.
Ash's expression darkened immediately. "They've all been taken out…"
"This was definitely Team Galactic," Cynthia said coldly. "Which means Team Rocket is hiding inside the ruins."
Gary clicked his tongue softly.
Hiding in the most dangerous place to make it the safest—Team Rocket's survival instincts were strangely impressive.
"Garchomp, go in and scout ahead," Gary ordered.
"Staravia, Pikachu, you too," Ash said quickly.
"Piplup, go help them," Dawn added.
"Pika!"
"Piplup!"
"Star!"
Pikachu and Piplup leapt onto Garchomp's back, while Staravia flew low and fast toward the shrine entrance.
Cynthia and the others followed closely, running up the stone steps leading into the ruins.
Bang!!
Bang!!
Two heavy impacts echoed from inside.
When they reached the shrine entrance, the scene before them made everyone freeze.
Inside the shrine, Garchomp, Pikachu, Staravia, and Piplup were standing guard in battle formation.
On the ground lay several defeated Pokémon—Team Galactic's.
Bronzor lay tilted on its side, motionless. Nearby, Purugly was sprawled out, clearly unconscious.
"Team Galactic?!" Ash exclaimed.
"And… Grandma? Mr. Cyrus?!" Dawn added in shock.
Ash and Dawn stared in disbelief.
Standing deeper inside the shrine were Professor Carolina and Cyrus.
Gary was just as surprised.
Cyrus had been at the Pokémon Center earlier. After their conversation, he had quietly left. It now seemed obvious that he had received a message from his subordinates and rushed here immediately.
"So you're finally here," Professor Carolina said, pressing a hand to her chest as if still shaken. "When I heard the ruins were bombed, I rushed over. I ran into Cyrus on the way, and we came together. I never imagined Team Galactic would be hiding inside…"
Her tone made it clear how close she'd come to a heart attack.
James shouted nervously, "Don't move! The Lustrous Orb is in our hands!"
Carnivine opened its massive mouth wide.
Inside, resting precariously between its sharp teeth, was the Lustrous Orb.
"That's right!" Jessie yelled. "As long as we have this thing, you can't touch us!"
"Exactly! We're invincible now, meow!" Meowth added smugly.
For a brief moment, Team Rocket stood at the center of attention, holding Sinnoh's priceless treasure like an emperor's seal.
Cyrus's expression twisted instantly.
"Do you even understand how important the Lustrous Orb is?!" he roared.
His calm and polite demeanor vanished completely, replaced by barely contained fury.
"According to the murals on this altar," Cyrus continued sharply, pointing toward the ancient carvings behind him, "the Adamant Orb and the Lustrous Orb can amplify the power of Dialga and Palkia. Their true power can only be awakened together with the three Lake Guardians!"
Everyone was stunned.
Cynthia and Professor Carolina had long believed that the two Orbs were connected to space-time, but their research had never reached such a definitive conclusion.
Cyrus, however, spoke with absolute certainty.
"The truth," Cyrus said coldly, "is that the three Lake Guardians and the two Orbs together can trigger the descent of a god."
The words echoed heavily inside the shrine.
Professor Carolina's face went pale. "Cyrus… you…"
Cyrus cut her off.
"Professor, you should explain this clearly to them," he said sharply, glaring at Team Rocket. "Otherwise, it would be unbearably foolish for the Lustrous Orb to be destroyed here."
He turned his gaze toward Jessie, James, and Meowth.
"Listen carefully. The Adamant Orb and the Lustrous Orb can summon Dialga and Palkia to this world."
The moment those words fell—
Shrill cries filled the air.
"Gyaaah—!"
Dozens upon dozens of Golbat poured in through the broken openings above the shrine. Purple wings beat violently as they surrounded Team Rocket in an instant.
"Hey! Where did all these Golbat come from?!" Jessie screamed.
"Don't bite my face!" James shouted.
"Hey! Don't bite Meowth's coin, meow!!"
Team Rocket was instantly overwhelmed.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.
"Pika—CHU!!"
A powerful bolt of lightning tore through the air, blasting several Golbat aside.
"Piplup, Bubble Beam!"
"Piplup!!"
Streams of bubbles shot outward, forcing a temporary opening.
"Garchomp, Dragon Claw!" Gary commanded.
"Gar!!"
Garchomp surged forward, claws glowing as it struck down Golbat after Golbat.
"Cyclizar, Thunderbolt!" Gary added.
"Cyy—!!"
Electricity erupted again, scattering the swarm.
Cynthia acted as well, but with restraint. She only allowed her Garchomp to use close-range attacks like Dragon Claw.
If she unleashed her full power, the already-damaged ruins would collapse—and worse, the Lustrous Orb might be destroyed.
Despite their efforts, it was useless.
There were simply too many Golbat.
Team Galactic was clearly deploying every Pokémon they had. Individually, these Golbat were no match for Cynthia, Gary, or even Ash. But in such overwhelming numbers, they couldn't be cleared quickly enough.
And then—
"Skun—tank!!"
A Skuntank suddenly leapt down from above.
It landed perfectly on Carnivine's head.
With a single powerful slap of its claw—
Smack!!
Carnivine's head snapped back, its mouth flying open.
The Lustrous Orb was knocked free.
Before it could hit the ground, Skuntank's thick tail swept underneath and caught it cleanly.
In the next instant, Skuntank fired a powerful blast straight at Team Rocket.
Boom!!
"What a bad feeling about this!"
The familiar cry echoed as Team Rocket was blasted away.
The day's farce ended there.
With the Lustrous Orb secured, Golbat immediately formed a protective corridor around Skuntank.
Skuntank didn't hesitate for even a second—it turned and ran.
Everyone was still being swarmed by Golbat. Even Cynthia hesitated to attack recklessly.
If Garchomp struck Skuntank by accident and damaged the Lustrous Orb, the consequences would be irreversible.
All they could do was watch as Skuntank disappeared into the darkness.
"Retreat!" a voice shouted from outside.
After Skuntank escaped, the remaining Team Galactic members withdrew rapidly. Golbat scattered in all directions, vanishing into the night.
"No—after them!" Ash shouted.
"Garchomp!"
"Staravia!"
Cynthia and Ash immediately sent their Pokémon to search from the air. Gary released his own Garchomp as well, joining the search.
They searched until the sun dipped below the horizon.
But there was no trace of Team Galactic.
In the end, exhausted and frustrated, they had no choice but to stop.