Chapter 496: So Teacher Lu Revealed His True Strength?
White Poplar Town basked in a hazy, gentle glow.
The towering Tower of Time and Space swayed its massive clock hammer, playing the cheerful melody of "Oración."
Wallace picked up his white hat from the ground, dusted it off, gazed at it for a moment, then draped it over his arm instead of wearing it.
He looked up with emerald eyes at the revitalized town, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"We succeeded... Teacher Lu."
The damaged buildings had restored themselves. People rubbed their cheeks, confirming they had truly survived.
The tranquil town was filled only with the flowing melody of "Oración," like the quiet Don River.
In the Pokémon garden, Alice trembled slightly and murmured as if in a dream:
"Did we... survive?"
A golden-haired girl with a ponytail smiled brightly. Hands on her hips, she turned to Alice, her swaying ponytail catching the breeze:
"Yeah, everything's alright now."
Alice threw herself into the girl's arms, clinging to her neck as tears soaked her shoulder: "D-Darkrai..."
The girl blinked in surprise.
Then, a reassuring smile spread across her face as she gazed at the distant sky, eyes shining:
"With Teacher Lu here, it'll definitely be safe."
"B-but..."
"Just trust him!"
The girl somehow produced a straw hat and put it back on, grinning:
"After all, he's Teacher Lu!"
People emerged from Pokémon Centers and shelters.
Every face bore expressions of disbelief—especially Baron 'Lickitung,' who had led the earlier cheers.
Looking utterly stunned, he turned trembling to Ami:
"M-Miss Ami... am I dreaming?"
Ami stood atop her Steelix in a white sundress.
From her vantage point, she had clearly witnessed the battle's climax—
Teacher Lu standing before the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons, raising one hand as crimson chains tore through the sky.
The roaring ceased instantly as the twin dragons crashed down, ending the cataclysmic battle!
"I-I don't know," Ami whispered, cheeks flushed red. "B-but..."
She looked up, her small frame trembling slightly as her dress fluttered.
"That was... really cool," Ami murmured to herself.
...
At the tower's summit:
"Hey! Can anyone hear me?!" Ash's voice boomed from the record player room.
James stuck fingers in his ears and shouted back: "We can hear you!"
"Is it over outside?!"
"Teacher Lu drove away the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons!" Jessie yelled impatiently.
"Why aren't you surprised at all, meow?" Meowth asked Jessie.
Jessie crossed her arms and huffed: "With an Executive here, what's so scary about some dragons?"
"We've seen big things too," James grinned. "We're the boss's ride-or-die team!"
"Such a great feeling~"
"So~ nan su!"
Ash's eyes widened in shock at the summit.
"Teacher Lu... made the twin dragons run away?!"
...
"Did you see that? Teacher Lu just raised his hand and those monsters froze!"
"What? He made them fall from the sky with one move?"
"Holy crap, Teacher Lu punched the twin dragons into pieces?!"
"...I don't believe it."
"Who dares doubt?! That's freaking Teacher Lu!"
Rumors spread like wildfire as "Oración" played, bringing comfort to every face.
This was the sense of security a proper Champion brought.
With a regional Champion present,
No disaster could shake people's hearts.
Baron 'Lickitung's' eyes flickered uncertainly.
He debated whether to reveal Teacher Lu's true power to everyone.
Because Teacher Lu hadn't just tamed a godlike Darkrai—
He possessed strength to repel two deities singlehandedly.
This terrifying power... had manifested right before his eyes.
His entire worldview had been overturned!
"Cynthia came to help too, right?" Albert nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin.
"Who else was there...?"
"Ah, can't remember..."
Shaking his head, Albert couldn't suppress his urge to gossip.
He knew exposing Teacher Lu's strength would cause unnecessary trouble.
And Teacher Lu had kept his cards close for good reason...
Taking a deep breath, Albert resolved:
"I won't betray Teacher Lu!"
"Mr. Albert," an assistant rushed over, "we're waiting for damage assessment."
"Perfect timing."
Albert beckoned mysteriously, whispering: "I'll only tell you..."
"About... Teacher Lu's true power..."
The assistant's eyes gradually lit up before snapping to attention:
"Don't worry, my lips are sealed!"
Satisfied, Albert waved him off: "Go on."
Thirty minutes later:
"Teacher Lu overpowered two Champions?"
"He must've hidden his identity to spare their pride!"
"Oh right, that new trend called..."
Nurse Joy blinked cutely while Chansey waved its paws:
"Teacher Lu revealed his hand, right?"
...
Beneath shady trees by a babbling brook,
Haunter stretched its tongue toward an Oran Berry.
"Pika pika~ヾ(◍°∇°◍)ﾉﾞ"
Togepi happily circled the meditating Darkrai.
"Quack! (´థ౪థ)σ"
Sirfetch'd stumbled after them, its leek occasionally poking Darkrai's rear.
"......" A vein pulsed on Darkrai's forehead.
It peeked at the unremarkable duck before closing its eyes again.
Don't lose temper...
That duck could probably solo Zacian and Zamazenta.
"Blastoise...ヾ(⌐■_■)"
The sunglasses-wearing turtle seemed to sense Darkrai's explosive aura.
Frowning, it quietly retreated behind Garchomp.
"Garchomp? (⊙ˍ⊙)" The dragon scratched its head with a scythe-claw in confusion.
"Oración's" melody drifted through the air with sparkling energy particles.
Darkrai opened its eyes, gazing softly toward the garden before looking down at the sleeping black-haired young man.
Closing its eyes, it resumed its silent vigil.
The cheerful melody played as Cynthia's Milotic rested on a riverside rock, adding ethereal cries.
Sylveon lay nearby, its ribbons settling as it hummed: "Eevee~"
The music seeped into Lu Ye's dreams, conjuring images of a non-tsundere Sylveon acting cute.
Lu Ye jolted: "My nightmare is... a non-tsundere Sylveon?!"
Outside the nightmare, Cynthia asked softly: "When will he wake?"
Darkrai replied without opening its eyes: "Just exhausted from wielding the orbs. Sleep will restore him."
Cynthia nodded, relieved to confirm Lu Ye was merely asleep.
Remembering their earlier contact, her ears turned pink, golden hair hiding her flushed cheeks.
'Grandma... I did it!' Cynthia cheered internally while maintaining her usual elegant composure.
She drew her knees up, edging closer to Lu Ye.
Propping her chin on one hand, she twirled a golden lock while humming along with the town's melody.
Lu Ye felt an itch on his face, fighting a sneeze.
Activating both orbs had been tremendously draining.
Even with the "Key" and orbs accepting him, it was more taxing than Mega Evolution.
In the special Ruby/Sapphire chapter, Ruby and Sapphire nearly got absorbed by the orbs while controlling them.
That Lu Ye stayed conscious was thanks to his brief activation time, plus his Aura and Rainbow Wing.
Creating a "world without hearts" like Cyrus wanted
Would betray Lu Ye's bonds with Pokémon... and Mengmengda.
In the hazy darkness,
Lu Ye saw countless spacetime fragments.
Countless parallel dimensions born from Palkia and Dialga's existence, with Arceus projecting countless avatars.
It was a vast universe—but being able to hold loved ones and share peaceful days
Was more than enough for Teacher Lu.
He'd downloaded "Oración" after the movie years ago.
He'd wondered if the Darkrai appearing at the end was just its final consciousness.
But now, with him here,
Lu Ye resolved firmly,
He wouldn't allow such tragedies.
...
Lu Ye slept peacefully on Cynthia's lap, handsome as a world-saving hero.
Cynthia watched his sleeping face with a soft smile, not disturbing him.
Dong, dong, dong—
The clocktower chimed as "Oración" reached its upbeat second half.
Night fell as fireworks bloomed above the celebrating town.
Cynthia looked up, fireworks illuminating her golden hair and fair neck.
"Gengarrr~(￣～￣)"
Seizing the moment, Haunter chewed berries while pulling out a microphone.
"Ta-dah! (✪ω✪)"
It grinned widely into the mic—
"Gengarrr~ gengarrr~♫"
Darkrai's blue eyes shot open in horror.
The being unfazed by godly dragons now looked ready to crack!
"Pika pi~˚‧º·(˚˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅)‧º·˚"
Togepi burst into tears.
"Gengarrr!" Encouraged, Haunter wiped imaginary tears and sang louder: "Gengarrr~♫"
Just as Darkrai neared breaking point,
A red beam recalled Haunter into its Pokéball.
Lu Ye nodded expressionlessly at Darkrai's grateful look,
Then turned to Cynthia's gaze and asked politely:
"Can I... stay like this a bit longer?"
"Of course," Cynthia smiled gently.
"Th-thanks." Teacher Lu blushed.
"You'll explain everything properly later."
Lu Ye froze: "If I said it was all coincidences...?"
Cynthia smiled wordlessly, leaning closer until golden strands brushed his face.
Her gray eyes held his gaze before she suddenly showed her phone screen.
Lu Ye: ?
"These forum posts," Cynthia sighed, "have tens of thousands of comments. All Sinnoh knows now."
The headline read:
[Clash at Time-Space Tower! Teacher Lu vs Palkia vs Dialga!]
Lu Ye: "Who writes these ridiculous titles?"
Cynthia: "Doesn't matter. Everyone believes you fought the dragons evenly."
Lu Ye: "Wasn't that you and Darkrai... and Wallace?"
Cynthia just smiled.
"You know me," Lu Ye said seriously. "I'm not that strong."
"I know. The dragons kneeled before you without me needing to intervene," Cynthia teased.
"Without my wife's equipment, Darkrai and I would've been toast," Lu Ye vowed.
"Wasn't Wallace there?" Cynthia countered.
"You're not denying the 'wife' part?" Lu Ye blinked.
"..."
"Ow ow ow! Not there! You can't pinch there!"
Darkrai watched impassively.
It's just a neck massage. Why the drama?
It's not like we're—
*Crack!*
Darkrai: Σ(°△°|||)︴
You still owe me Pokéblocks, don't you dare die!
...
Later,
Rubbing his sore neck under the tree, Lu Ye checked his system rewards.
Cynthia leaned against the trunk beside him, watching distant fireworks.
"Tired?" she suddenly asked softly.
After a long pause, Lu Ye sighed: "A bit."
Blushing slightly, Cynthia tucked golden locks behind her ear and extended her arms:
"You can... rest a while longer."
Lu Ye blinked: "One sec."
Turning to Darkrai: "No peeking!!"
"Tch." Darkrai sank into shadows—
Leaving only swirling mist and one glowing blue eye.
Lu Ye: "..."
Darkrai: "...Not peeking."
Lu Ye: "Is this how you spied on Grandma Alice bathing?"
Darkrai's shadowy form turned reddish.
Lu Ye: "You damn lolicon?!"
Darkrai: "...I'll teach Haunter Dark Void."
"Don't change the subject!!"
...
Under fireworks, Cynthia sat at a café table enjoying ice cream.
Lu Ye watched dancers by the fountain, having received heroic cheers earlier.
The crowd had tactfully left the two Champions to their date.
Checking his system rewards, Lu Ye pondered:
With Haunter training Dark Void, they'd stay in town longer.
The [Spacetime Power (Pokémon)] reward intrigued him.
"Last time was Aura... how does this work?"
[System: Consume Platinum/Diamond Orb fragments orally.]
Lu Ye: "...Like effervescent tablets?"
[System: Wearing them works too, just slower.]
Nodding, Lu Ye considered which Pokémon could use it.
Blastoise was unsuitable...
Sylveon's Fairy typing conflicted with the dragons...
Haunter was learning shadow techniques from Darkrai—perhaps aiming to emulate Giratina.
This [Spacetime Power]...
Only one little guy fit perfectly.
Realization dawned on Teacher Lu's face.
"Oh no..."
"Is this... the Space-Time-Housework Triple Jutsu?!"