Yveltal was knocked out, so Damian no longer had to worry about his safety. He walked toward Xerneas.
"Hello, Xerneas. It is a great honor to meet you," Damian greeted Xerneas politely.
"Hello, human. Thank you very much for stopping Yveltal."
Xerneas was also very kind. Its telepathy sounded like a gentle female voice. Just from hearing it, one could tell that its owner had a very gentle nature.
It was clear that Xerneas had a good impression of Damian. After all, how could someone who stopped Yveltal's destruction be a bad person?
"Thank you. I feel ashamed that I still arrived a bit late," Damian said modestly.
"Do not worry about it. You have already done very well." Xerneas looked at Shadow Mewtwo Y. What a powerful human...
Xerneas could feel the immense power inside Shadow Mewtwo Y. This was power that surpassed Yveltal.
As a Fairy-type Legendary Pokémon that had fought Yveltal for countless years, Xerneas was very sensitive to the power of the Dark type.
"This place... it is so sad."
Xerneas looked around at the surroundings and let out a soft sigh.
Filled with love for life, it could not help but feel pity every time it saw these dead lands left behind after Yveltal stole their life energy.
But what could it do?
It could not predict when Yveltal would wake up. So every time, it could only rush over as fast as possible after Yveltal had already awakened.
But every time, it still arrived one step too late.
"Human, what is your name?" Xerneas turned its gentle gaze toward Damian.
"Damian. You can just call me Damian," he replied with a smile.
"Very well, Damian. I can feel that you are a very remarkable human. You carry a great burden on your shoulders."
Xerneas's telepathy held a trace of wonder. It was the legendary Xerneas; it was extremely sensitive to life.
It could feel the incredibly strong life force coming from this human.
To put it simply, he had many powerful Pokémon with him.
This was something Xerneas had never seen before.
Because of this, Xerneas had an idea.
"Thank you."
"So, I want to ask a favor of you, Damian. I believe you are the only one who can do this," Xerneas said.
"Can you tell me what it is?" Damian raised an eyebrow.
Xerneas actually had a request? Damian was truly curious.
"I have always believed that life is the greatest thing in this world. Nothing can replace it."
Xerneas slowly raised its head. Its gentle telepathy felt soft and distant at that moment.
Damian nodded silently. Wasn't that obvious? Life is life. Without life, everything is just dust.
"What is the meaning of life? Actually, even I cannot define it. In my long life, I have seen too much, especially in humans."
Xerneas spoke slowly.
"Some say the meaning of life is to find what you love and work toward it."
"Some say the meaning of life is to keep learning and become a better version of yourself."
"Some say the meaning of life is to leave a unique mark on the world so that life was not wasted."
"And some say the meaning of life is to chase the truth and understand the essence of existence."
Xerneas looked into the distance. This rainbow deer, glowing with a faint light, had an aura that was striking.
"I have gradually come to understand the weight of the word 'life.' Every person, every Pokémon, every tree, and even every tiny blade of grass, they are all trying their best to tell the story of their lives."
"I can see each life shining in its own way. Life really is that unique."
"However, not all living things respect life."
Xerneas looked down at Yveltal on the ground. Its eyes held emotions that Damian and Caitlin could not understand.
"I love life. I love all life. I do not just want to witness it. I only hope that every creature can live out its life completely."
"Because their lives are not long. Their lives are short, but within that short time, they can still burn brightly."
"But then, it appeared."
Xerneas sighed quietly.
"Yveltal..." Caitlin softly spoke the name.
"Yes, Yveltal. It is Death, the one who takes away all life. At first, I could not understand why it had to cruelly steal their lives. To protect those innocent lives, I tried to persuade it, and I fought it for the sake of those lives."
"But... I later realized that I cannot change its will. It will not understand the meaning of life. It cannot understand how precious life is."
"It only knows how to steal without mercy. From the beginning until now, it has always been this way."
How long had this struggle between it and Yveltal lasted?
Xerneas could no longer remember. Xerneas did not feel tired. Because it knew the value of life, it would not grow tired as long as it was saving those lives.
But every time it saw these lives that had lost their color, Xerneas felt sorrow and heartache.
Even if it could return life to them, the pain and fear they felt at the moment their life was stolen could not be erased.
The ones who suffered were still these living beings.
"So..." Damian roughly understood what Xerneas meant.
"We cannot escape this cycle. But Damian, you can."
"You want me to catch Yveltal?"
"Exactly. You have the ability, Damian." Xerneas nodded.
"Yveltal was born for destruction. I cannot change its will, because in its life, there is only death and destruction."
"You can break this chain. You can enter its life, Damian. You are capable of doing this."
Xerneas spoke to Damian seriously.
"Is that so?" Damian looked at Yveltal, acting as if he were thinking deeply.
"I know this is very difficult and very dangerous. But of all the humans I have seen, only you can do it, Damian."
Xerneas knew this was not an easy task. One could even say it involved great risk.
Yveltal was truly too dangerous. If he caught Yveltal, what if Yveltal went on another rampage in the future?
But Xerneas still asked Damian for this favor. In Xerneas's view, this was truly a rare opportunity.
By catching Yveltal and letting it experience meanings other than death and destruction, it was a rare chance to change Yveltal's will.
"I understand. If this is something only I can do, then I am willing to accept."
Damian thought for a moment and then replied to Xerneas with a smile.
"Thank you, Damian." A gentle smile, almost human in its warmth, appeared on Xerneas's face. Its telepathy was also filled with sincere gratitude.
"You're welcome. This is also for the sake of the world. However, Xerneas, I also have something I would like to ask of you."
"As long as it is something I can do, I will help."
Xerneas did not mind at all; it even made a promise.
After all, in Xerneas's view, Damian had agreed to take on such a dangerous task despite the risks.
"It's like this. I met a Diancie earlier... Hmm? Yveltal is waking up."
Damian took out a Poké Ball and was about to talk about Diancie.
Yveltal was slowly waking up. It seemed that because Xerneas had stomped on its head earlier, it was still a bit dizzy.
But before it could fully wake up, it saw a deer hoof rapidly growing larger in its vision.
Thud!
"Damian, you can continue speaking."
Xerneas stomped Yveltal unconscious again. Its gentle telepathy did not change at all.
Caitlin: (○—○)
This...
Caitlin looked at the unconscious Yveltal again, and then at Xerneas.
Is this really okay?
"Diancie's Eternal Diamond in the Diamond Domain has disappeared. It needs to create a new one. Otherwise, its kingdom will not be able to survive."
"So it has been looking for you, hoping that you can help it."
Damian opened the Poké Ball, and Diancie appeared by his side.
Diancie was a bit nervous and also a bit excited as it looked at the legendary Xerneas.
"I see. I am very happy to help."
Xerneas did not hesitate at all. As long as it was to ensure the continuation of life, Xerneas was very willing.
And it also roughly understood what Diancie needed.
The colorful antlers on Xerneas's head sparkled with a soft, rainbow light. The light continued to shimmer as it floated toward Diancie.
Diancie could not help but close its eyes and let out a comfortable, soft cry.
This was the life energy shared by Xerneas. The reason Diancie could not create an Eternal Diamond was simply because it was not strong enough.
Xerneas directly shared part of its life energy with Diancie. This directly raised Diancie's life force and gave it the boost it needed. Now, it could do it.
This was the incredible thing about Xerneas. It could directly share its life energy with other living beings.
It was an astonishing ability.
Before long, the light on Xerneas's body slowly faded.
"There. That should do it."
Xerneas's soft telepathy rang out.
"Diancie, how is it?" Damian asked Diancie.
Diancie tried it out. A pink diamond formed in front of it. Then, a look of joy immediately appeared on Diancie's face.
"It really worked! Thank you, Xerneas!"
Diancie bowed to Xerneas in thanks. Its telepathy was full of gratitude.
Originally, the diamonds it made could not last long. But now, Diancie was sure that its diamonds would never disappear.
It really could do it now.
"Damian! I can do it now!" Diancie then looked at Damian, overjoyed.
"That's good." Damian replied with a smile.
"Is there anything else I can help with, Damian?"
Xerneas's voice was still incredibly gentle. To it, sharing a little life energy just now was a very small matter.
"Yes, there is indeed one more thing I need your help with, Xerneas."
Damian knew what Xerneas meant. After helping him, Xerneas would most likely share its life energy completely to save this dead land.
Then, it would return to its tree form and fall asleep while recovering the life energy it had lost.
Well, Damian had already made a decision. Once Xerneas returned to its tree form, Damian would move it back to the Tree of Beginning.
Surely Mew and Regigigas would both be very happy to welcome Xerneas.
How could such a gentle rainbow deer be left outside to face the wind and rain?
It should be moved to the Tree of Beginning!
He would let Erika and the others take good care of it. They should water it and fertilize it often so Xerneas could recover even better!
Usually, people could even take a nap under Xerneas's tree form. How nice would that be?
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