In the blink of an eye.
Baimu withdrew his palm. If time allowed, he actually wanted to show Z2 more.
"Art thou unharmed?"
Z1 once again initiated an inquiry, but compared to the earlier urgent concern, this time it was actually more like curiosity.
"...Unharmed."
Z2 shook its head. Looking up at Baimu, its single eye was filled with complicated emotion. It spoke softly to him, "Since such is the case, I shall trust thee this once. O one who lays bare the radiance of his heart, if thou art willing, I can lend thee my aid."
Z1 was instantly dumbfounded.
What's going on?
Bro, didn't your attitude change a bit too fast? I was still thinking about how to convince you!
"Being able to receive your assistance is my honor." Baimu replied with a smile. He felt like this Divine Heart of his was practically a rebooted version of Transcendence.
As long as he finished communicating with a Legendary Pokémon, the other party would definitely be willing to offer its power.
Just like in "Super Overcoming Space-Time," where Time God Emperor Dialga shared its power with the Super Overcoming Inheritor Shina.
He stood up, saw that most of the unconscious researchers around had already been moved away by Hoopa, and that two more technicians were copying the research data here, so he immediately asked:
"Where are Youx Lijia and the others? Are they still over there?"
"Youx Lijia? She and Xiaozi went to look for someone called Alik~"
"Alik?"
Baimu froze for a second, then reacted, "You mean Ailan, right?"
"Yeah! That's Alik!" Hoopa nodded.
Baimu: "..."
One of these days I'm gonna straighten out that tongue of yours!
But didn't Mr. Da Wu send Ailan away? Why would Ash Ketchum and the others go looking for Ailan?
"I'm the one who called him back."
Pachira's voice rang out not far away. Leaning against the wall, she smiled and said, "My original intention was to talk to him about Fladari, but I didn't expect to run into something like this as soon as I came back."
"Why are you still here?"
Baimu looked at her in confusion, then turned to Hoopa. "Why didn't you move her out?"
Hoopa tilted its head. "Wasn't Xiaobai chatting with her? You two looked like you were talking pretty happily just now."
In truth, after getting shut down by Fladari, it had planned to make up for it on Pachira, who seemed likely to try escaping, then brag about it later.
Can't catch Fladari but can't catch you either!?
Naihe, Pachira just wouldn't run.
"Not happy at all!"
Baimu lightly chopped its head with the side of his hand. Hoopa theatrically clutched its head, acting like it hurt like hell.
"Cut the crap. Take her… uh… take her to Ash Ketchum's side, tell them she's a bad guy, then come back."
He thought for a moment, removed all the Pokeballs from Pachira, and said to her, "Since you don't plan on running, then take a good look at this world's future."
"The Future..."
Before Pachira could finish her sentence, Hoopa sent her away via Golden Ring.
The lab instantly quieted down, leaving only the two techs responsible for copying data still seriously working the computers.
Baimu went back to the two Zygarde Cores, stood guard with them at the doorway to prevent more Flashing Flame Team Members from rushing in.
Honestly.
By this point, his mission was already complete.
He had found Z2 and captured two Flashing Flame Team executives; this alone was enough to make him the MVP of this operation. What remained was probably just dealing with the Legendary Giant Stone and capturing Fladari and the remaining executives.
But dealing with the Legendary Giant Stone was up to Da Wu and Xijana. Those two together were way stronger than him; it shouldn't be possible for them to wipe.
It shouldn't... right?
To be safe, Baimu felt he should go take a look. What if something went wrong?
With that in mind.
He turned his head and said to Z1 and Z2, "I'm gonna ask you two for a favor in a bit..."
He briefly explained his plan.
The two Zygarde Cores looked at each other, then both nodded. "We understand."
As soon as they finished speaking.
A Golden Ring opened beside them.
"Xiaobai! I'm here to pick you up!" Hoopa said as it squeezed through. "Xiaobai, you don't know this, but Xiaozi and Alik started fighting, y'know!"
Baimu: "...Huh?"
"Wait, fighting? What do you mean? Ash Ketchum hit Ailan?" His heart lurched.
Even though he had taught Ash Ketchum the Beidou Friendship Face-Breaking Fist earlier, logically it still shouldn't have escalated to a physical fight between these two, right?
Was Ailan really that reckless?
"Yeah, Greninja and Charizard can transform just like Hoopa! It really scared me!" Hoopa nodded very seriously.
"Uh… by 'fighting' you mean a Pokémon battle?"
"Yeah. What else?"
"Never mind then."
Baimu tugged at the corner of his mouth. He'd almost thought the Pokémon series had turned into a youth Fighting series, but it was just a Pokémon battle?
A pre-release of the Lumiose Conference finals?
"Enough about that. How's it going on Mr. Da Wu's side? Any news?"
He asked anxiously.
Hoopa replied, "They said something like they were in a tough fight. Hoopa really wanted to go help, but Balza and Mei Yali wouldn't let me."
"A tough fight? Both Mr. Da Wu and Xijana are in a tough fight?"
Baimu's eyes went wide.
Spoke of the devil... What the hell was happening near the Legendary Giant Stone? Under normal circumstances, Da Wu and Xijana shouldn't be able to lose to the Flashing Flame Team, right?
"Hoopa's not sure. That's just what I heard earlier." Hoopa waved a hand and opened a Golden Ring. "Does Xiaobai wanna go take a look?"
"Of course—you're not going!"
He nodded quickly, and while stepping into the ring he blocked the Hoopa that wanted to follow. "Send these two to the surface!"
So far, he still didn't know where the Mind System was located. If it was near the Legendary Giant Stone and some Flashing Flame Team grunt saw the ring and decided to fire at it...
That kind of dramatic scene very much could happen.
"—Hmph!"
Hoopa glanced at Z1 and Z2, still standing unmoving where they were and not following either, and the resentment in its heart faded quite a bit.
Fairness is about not fearing scarcity but inequality.
Either everyone goes, or no one goes!
The Golden Ring vanished.
——
In the lab that had practically turned into ruins—
Baimu walked out from a corner, and Fladari's roar rang in his ears.
"Your actions are meaningless! Why do you insist on getting in my way! I only want to make this world a better place!"
"Your so-called better place means stripping others of their lives?"
Da Wu's furious voice followed. "What do you take human lives for!?"
Looking around—
Fladari could be seen hovering in the air, his back to the glowing red Legendary Giant Stone, overlooking Da Wu not far below.
Between them were Mega Gyarados and Mega Metagross, and the former's face was twisted in unbearable pain, raw energy erupting from all over its body.
Xijana and Salamence were positioned a bit farther away.
Both trainer and dragon were covered in red light, its source being the two female Flashing Flame Team executives. Their clothes were tattered, faces marked with wounds, and in their hands were strange guns that fired beams of light, pinning Xijana and Salamence in place.
Beside them lay two more unconscious female executives.
Isn't that the Black Technology they used to capture Z2!?
Baimu remembered that Z2 had been caught by the Flashing Flame Team because of those two guns, and now they were using them on people... No wonder it was a tough battle!
Black Technology like this, even a Champion can't tank it!
He pulled out a Pokeball and rushed out.
Bang!
A flash of white light.
"Grrroar!"
Mega Aggron landed, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"Baimu!"
"Bai—"
Da Wu and Xijana each called out.
Fladari looked over at him, the anger in his eyes burning hotter. "You again! If you hadn't stolen Z2, my plan would've succeeded long ago! What did you do to Pachira!?"
"Nothing, just—"
Baimu smiled faintly. "Sent her to see the future she wanted to see, that's all."
"Aaah—!!"
The slightly ambiguous wording instantly made Fladari let out an uncontrollable roar, and the two remaining Flashing Flame Team scientist executives also showed looks of shock.
At the very same instant that Youxin moved.
Two azure Dragon Arrows suddenly flew out through the air, striking each of them square-on.
"Ah!"
"Gyaaah!"
The two of them immediately collapsed within the blast and smoke, while Xijana and Salamence regained their freedom.
"Now it's three-on-one. Let's see if you make it out alive."
Baimu licked the corner of his lips, the corner of his mouth curling up as he looked at the enraged Fladari.