After the three attacks collided, the blast and swirling dust quickly swallowed the entire area.
Even through the thick haze, Elias could tell one thing for sure—
The two Pokémon hadn't completely blocked Yveltal's strike.
A sharp, searing pain spread across his back.
Even with his dulled ghostly senses, the sting made him draw a sharp breath.
Luckily, the explosion's shockwave had flung them forward, sending Elias, Diancie, and the others tumbling into the passageway they'd come from.
Once inside, Yveltal—being a Flying Pokémon—would have a hard time reaching them again.
Unless it planned to dig three feet underground, which, judging from its battered condition, seemed unlikely.
"Ugh…"
Diantha groaned, pushing herself up from the dirt. Her once-pristine clothes and elegant face were now streaked with grime.
Not that she cared about that right now.
"Ralts, E… Elias-kun, are you both alright?" she asked, her tone full of worry.
At the second half of the sentence, her cheeks flushed faintly. Aside from Ralts, she'd never shown open concern for anyone—or any Pokémon—before.
As she spoke, her left hand tightened slightly, remembering how Elias had held it while they ran.
Now that his hand was gone, she felt an odd emptiness she couldn't name.
"I'm fine."
"Ralu~"
Elias and Ralts answered as they got to their feet.
Elias then turned to help Diancie up, brushing off the dirt clinging to her small frame.
Diancie puffed her cheeks, clearly displeased that Diantha had ignored her earlier.
Seeing this, Elias chuckled softly and spoke just in time:
"Your Highness Diancie, are you hurt anywhere?"
At that, Diancie tilted her tiny chin upward, pride gleaming in her eyes. Her irritation melted away.
"I'm fine, you know," she declared, even shooting a smug little glance at Diantha.
Elias only cares about me!
Childish.
Diantha made that quiet judgment in her heart, though a flicker of envy slipped in before she could stop it.
"Ralu…"
Just then, Ralts tugged at the hem of Diantha's clothes.
Diantha looked down, puzzled—only for worry to overtake her.
Ralts looked drained, her usual sparkle dimmed to a dull haze.
Was it from the strain of that Dazzling Gleam?
Diantha could still hardly believe her Ralts had produced such a powerful move.
But… she was sure Elias had something to do with it.
Otherwise, there was no way.
"Ralu~…"
Ralts whimpered weakly, lifting her left arm.
The sight made Diantha's pupils constrict sharply.
Ralts's soft, pale arm had begun to turn to stone—
and worse, the petrification was spreading.
Diantha froze, realization crashing down.
Ralts had been grazed by Yveltal's attack.
She didn't know much about that Pokémon,
but after seeing so many lifeless stone statues along their path, she could guess.
This was Yveltal's doing—its power to drain life itself.
Her stomach turned cold.
The thought of her beloved Pokémon slowly losing her warmth and breath was unbearable.
Desperate, Diantha pulled out Ralts's Poké Ball and tried to recall her.
Ping—
The red light shot out, but bounced right off.
Too late. Ralts couldn't be recalled anymore.
Diantha's heart plummeted.
Across from her, Ralts seemed to understand too. Her eyes shimmered, on the verge of tears.
"Elias-kun, is there a Pokémon Center nearby? Please—take me there," Diantha begged, voice trembling.
If any place could treat this, it had to be a Pokémon Center.
But Yveltal was a Legendary Pokémon. How could ordinary facilities know how to heal wounds like these?
That thought made her panic even more.
At her words, Elias and Diancie turned toward Ralts, instantly sensing the problem.
Elias swept her with telekinesis, then quickly stepped forward, crouching to lift her gently into his arms.
Ralts's tiny body felt weightless, frail.
As he held her, she turned her face away, trying not to show her fear.
If she really was turning to stone… she didn't want that frightened look to be her final expression.
But Elias's calm voice broke through her thoughts.
"I should be able to heal Yveltal's injuries," he said evenly.
Ralts froze.
So did Diantha.
Had she heard that right?
Her mind reeled—the hopeless suddenly made possible.
"Elias-kun… are you looking for a job?" she blurted out, half in disbelief, half in awe.
Sure enough, Elias kept his word.
Gentle green light flowed from his hands, washing over Ralts's arm.
The petrified skin cracked, then crumbled away like dust.
Within moments, Ralts was fully healed, asleep and safe in his arms.
Even Diantha's scraped knee was now wrapped neatly with a small white bandage—
a sign of how carefully Elias had tended to her once his energy ran low.
If he hadn't exhausted the Power of Viridian, she knew even that wouldn't have been necessary.
A ghost this capable… Diantha couldn't help thinking—
She wanted to hire him.
Any position would do.
She just wanted Elias for her own.
---
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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