[Lance:] Good grief! If that destructive force had hit the city, a third of Alto Mare would've been wiped out!
[Lugia:] That's probably the case when my counterpart isn't using its full strength. If it went all out… there should be no problem wiping out most of the city.
[Elite Four Flint:] This is the power of a Legendary-tier Pokémon… It's so enviable!
Flint sighed with emotion, growing ever more eager to reach that level. Not to boast, but among all the Champions, he should be the one closest to that realm. Even after Charizard Gigantamaxed, his Charizard could briefly touch that tier with a triple-powered super attack! But to truly reach Legendary-tier… there was still a gap.
[Cynthia:] Legendary-tier… I'm still far off. Even if my Garchomp Mega Evolves, I'm afraid it wouldn't reach that level.
[Caitlin:] Hey, hey, hey! Stop discussing these unrealistic things! At least I never thought about reaching Legendary-tier in my lifetime. I'd be thankful just to make Champion.
[Caitlin:] Compared to that, have you seen Rian's expression? She looks scared out of her mind! It's hilarious—this piece of trash finally has a day like this!
Over in the White World, although Rian and Sanna had received their just punishment, everyone felt that just going to jail was too light for them. If the laws of that world weren't so lenient, the crime of nearly drowning Alto Mare would have been enough to have them guillotined! This had led to widespread resentment toward the pair. Even Elite Four members used curses like "scumbags" when talking about them. Now, seeing the two women in the Black World frightened out of their wits by Black Ash, everyone felt a profound sense of catharsis.
[Flint:] I saw it! Good, good, good! So terrified! This is the first time I've seen someone's face change colors without a mask—from white to black, from black to green! Incredible!
[Volkner:] When it comes to changing faces, I'm convinced. Sanna outside probably doesn't know what's going on. When Ash arrives with Dark Lugia, I'm waiting to see her scared senseless!
[Volkner:] Reasonable, correct, you thief!!
...
In the Black World — After Rian witnessed Dark Lugia's might, she completely regretted provoking Ash. But regret was useless now; she had already provoked him, and running away was impossible. That huge bird-like creature wouldn't give them any time to escape! Now they had only one choice: use all the power at their disposal to snipe the opponent down!
"Maximum power… it has to work!"
Rian manipulated the complicated controls, murmuring to herself.
Outside, Sanna didn't know what was happening. She was just a little puzzled. Why had Rian, who was shouting just moments ago, fallen silent now?
Just as Rian adjusted the power to maximum, Latios's continuous cries of pain grew even louder! At the same time, the pure and beautiful Heart Dew atop the machine had now transformed into a filthy state. To describe it in one phrase… iridescent black! As Rian turned up the power, the blackening of the Heart Dew accelerated exponentially! Even hairline cracks began to appear on the outer crystal…
On the other side, after Ash and the others, riding Dark Lugia, defeated the Aerodactyl, the dazzling light and massive explosion woke many citizens. Those awakened tried to go see what was happening, only to find themselves locked in! All exits were blocked by iron bars, with no way out at all! Panic began to spread through the water city… What on earth was happening?!
After crushing the Aerodactyl, Dark Lugia led everyone forward again. But within seconds, another obstacle appeared. This time it wasn't a Pokémon, but water—a massive body of water! The entire water source in front of Dark Lugia coalesced into a colossal wave. The terrifying swell seemed to swallow the starry sky as it crashed toward Dark Lugia.
A trace of disdain flashed in Dark Lugia's eyes.
An attack of this level… who did it think it was fooling?
ROAR!!!!
A mighty roar erupted. Lugia beat its wings violently, stirring up a gale, and a storm gathered instantly. An unparalleled hurricane force blasted directly into the massive wave. A silver tornado pierced into the swell, sucking all the water into it. The silver tornado became a waterspout, hurtling skyward before finally exploding in the air, turning into a sky-full of rain.
Just as Dark Lugia prepared to press on, the falling rain suddenly surrounded them. In the blink of an eye, all the water transformed into a gigantic aquatic prison, rapidly closing in to crush them!
"Don't bother with it, Lugia! Just charge through!"
Ash looked at these seemingly conscious flowing waters, a bad feeling growing in his heart. It wasn't that these waters posed a threat to him, but… that the other side was suddenly using such a vast amount of energy. What would happen to Latios and the Heart Dew, the core energy suppliers?
He recalled the legend Kanon mentioned—one he never wanted to see come true. If the Heart Dew fell into the hands of someone with a filthy mind, it would become turbid and might even shatter! If the legend was true… then the trouble was serious!
Hearing this, Dark Lugia stopped playing games with the water. It beat its wings, and its body shot forward. Ash used his Aura power to shield Misty and the others so they wouldn't be thrown off or crushed by the terrifying wind pressure. In less than three seconds, Dark Lugia crossed a distance of several kilometers, arriving right in front of the Grand Cathedral!
When it stopped, the resulting gust of wind made the cathedral's pendulum chime violently. Kanon, tied up inside the Grand Cathedral, heard the sound and thought of Ash inexplicably.
"Is it Ash…?"
"No way… Although Latias ran to Ash for help, in this situation, with the thieves using the Heart Dew and Latios to control the city, even Ash couldn't get here so quickly, right?"
Earlier, she had heard Rian's furious voice, but then Rian fell silent. She naturally assumed Rian was using all her strength to stop Ash, and perhaps even Ash had been halted or attacked by the other side! But now the commotion outside… Could Ash really be here?
In the cockpit, Rian was nearly frightened out of her wits by the noise outside.
How… how is this possible? That distance… it's only been… three seconds?
How could it get here so fast!!
Why? Why can't all our efforts stop them?!
Why is that kid so strong!
After all our hardship, even the power obtained by sacrificing a gem and a Pokémon is useless against that brat?!
Why is this happening?!
Rian screamed at the top of her lungs in her heart, but no sound escaped. She didn't dare make a sound. Sweat beaded all over her body; she was drenched, feeling the entire cockpit was unbearably hot, yet she didn't dare step outside—as if going out would mean certain death!
"Hand over Latios!!"
A roaring voice echoed through the hall. Sanna's face, still confused by the earlier vibrations, instantly changed. This voice… unmistakably, it was that kid!
"What's going on, Rian? Shouldn't you be stopping him?"
Rian hadn't made a sound for a long time, so Sanna thought she was resisting Ash with all her might and hadn't wanted to disturb her. But what was happening now? Why had the brat reached their doorstep without Rian saying a word?
"Rian? Rian!! What's wrong with you, Rian?!"
Hearing no reply from Rian, Sanna finally realized something was wrong. She shouted and ran toward the cockpit.
At that moment, Ash and the other four burst in. Latias had already reverted to her true form, while Dark Lugia remained outside controlling the situation, just in case. Upon entering, Latios's pitiful state, Kanon and Ben tied to the wall, and the machine emitting a pitch-black light from the Heart Dew—all were reflected in Ash's eyes. Endless rage surged in Ash's heart… those two bastards!!
"Tch! They're really here… Ariados, Espeon, use—"
"Quick Attack!!"
Before Sanna could finish her command, Pikachu shot forward with lightning speed. A collision sent Ariados smashing into the wall with a violent crash, leaving dense cracks across the Grand Cathedral's stone. Not stopping for a moment, the lightning-bolt-shaped tail behind it lit up with a metallic gleam and, with a sound of tearing air, struck hard at Espeon's waist! In an instant, Espeon felt as if it were about to be sliced in two! Of course, that was just a sensation. No matter how angry, Pikachu still knew to control its strength. The next second, Espeon followed in Ariados's footsteps, firmly embedded in the wall.
Ash, meanwhile, used his bare hands to tear down the String Shot binding Ben and Kanon. Once freed, Kanon felt weak all over and couldn't help but fall into Ash's arms. Misty and Sabrina didn't mind this given the circumstances. What kind of time was this for jealousy…?
"Kanon, are you okay?"
"No… I'm fine… just feel a bit weak. But more importantly… Ash, save Latios! He's dying!"
Kanon clutched Ash's clothes tightly, pleading with him…
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