Chapter 572: Please Give Me, Lu Ye, Some Face
Facing the murderous giant penguin, Teacher Lu immediately backed down.
"Haunter," Lu Ye turned his head and said, "Come feed the young master some candy!"
"Gengarrr~ Ta-da!"
The ultra-friendly Haunter pulled out a glass jar from its pocket, popping the cork open with a flourish, causing golden light to burst from the opening.
Both the Unown and Xiao Yin's group froze in shock.
The Delibird carrying its sack sniffed the drifting aroma, revealing a confused expression.
"Standard procedure," Lu Ye calmly explained. "I added Golden Razz Berries."
"Geng~" Haunter poured out two crystal-clear Poffins and amiably offered them to Delibird.
"Ooo!" Delibird showed a pained, conflicted expression but ultimately shook its head.
Lu Ye thought to himself: "As expected of Liu Bo's Delibird that could solo Ho-Oh!" Such determination, such backbone—I salute you as a true hero!
Our paths may cross again someday, but let's hope they don't!
Taking advantage of Delibird's confused state, Lu Ye shot the red-haired youth a meaningful look.
Xiao Yin immediately understood, whispering something to Dr. Show before the two departed through the portal first.
The ruins chamber now only contained the naturally intimidating Delibird and Teacher Lu who was preparing to make his escape.
Unexpectedly, Delibird ultimately yielded and accepted Teacher Lu's goodwill.
"Ooo!" Delibird swallowed it whole, shuddered violently, then gave the black-haired youth a faint glance.
I still need to return to provide support... I'll let you off this time!
The giant penguin wobbled unsteadily, staggering toward the portal with its sack like it had drunk fake liquor.
Lu Ye stood in place, exchanging a glance with Haunter while stroking his chin.
If Liu Bo finds out Delibird ate my Poffins, would he get angry?
That old man is indeed terrifying, unlike me... I only know how to cherish Haunter!
Lu Ye shook his head, dispelling the unpleasant mental image as rumbling tremors came from outside the ruins.
"Let's go," Lu Ye looked up at the falling plaster from the ceiling. "After a couple more bites, we'll head out."
"Yoji!" Larvitar patted its belly happily while raising its right claw.
The Unown hovered at the room's center, forming a spatial distortion portal.
They collectively stared at the well-fed Larvitar, overcome with sorrow.
How cruel! The mountain's Pancham are practically starving to death!
**
Unown Ruins, exterior.
The baseball-capped youth held a pool cue, solemnly gazing at the sky.
"Teacher Lu fought against monsters like these back then."
A-Jin sighed emotionally, shaking his head. "Incredible, simply incredible..."
Dialga and Giratina clashed above the ruins, their violent tremors nearly tearing the sky apart.
The cobalt-blue Dialga floated midair on four limbs, internally cursing its bad luck.
Last time you beat me up was one thing, but why do I keep running into this reckless fool everywhere!
"ROAR!!" Giratina's golden helmet gleamed as its crimson eyes blazed.
You bastard, last time you got away, but now I've finally caught you!
As the two faced off, an anomaly suddenly occurred.
The surrounding space split open as if sliced by a blade's edge.
Both behemoths halted, simultaneously turning toward the figure that had torn through space.
The magenta Palkia stood firmly on two legs.
The pearls on its shoulder discs shimmered brilliantly while its claws condensed sharp blade energy.
"ROAR!!" The mild-mannered Palkia attempted to mediate.
Stop fighting, cease this at once, don't continue!
Dialga and Giratina exchanged a glance.
The next moment.
The Temporal God and the Renegade God resumed their fierce collision!
Whooshing wind sounds!!
Crimson-eyed Giratina melted into shadows, reappearing above Dialga in an instant, using Phantom Force to violently slam Dialga into the stream!
BOOM!!
A water column erupted as Dialga knelt in the stream roaring skyward—time itself froze, not a single water droplet fell!
Roar of Time formed a shockwave toward the airborne Giratina when a sudden blade slash intercepted the temporal attack!
"ROAR!!"
Suppressing its anger, Palkia surveyed Giratina and Dialga.
Let's talk this out properly, don't attract that guy over here!
Dialga froze, an image of the black-haired youth who enjoyed bondage play flashing through its mind as it shook its head.
Nothing good ever happens when I see him... better call off this fight!
Giratina paused, envisioning the black-haired youth skilled at riding techniques, its eyes lighting up.
That sounds perfect... with Aura, I could fight all day!
"ROAR!!" Giratina bellowed furiously, charging at Dialga again.
Dialga's expression stiffened almost humanly.
Can't take this anymore, why am I always the punching bag!
"ROAR!!" Dialga bent its limbs, colliding with Giratina.
Palkia grew thoroughly annoyed, swinging its claws as Spacial Rend's blade energy slashed toward Giratina's back!
BOOM!!
If you won't listen to reason, then we'll all fight and see who shows up!
**
"So you're saying..."
A-Jin gritted his teeth with a smile, wiping sweat from his brow. "The situation's pretty bad..."
Fiddling with his phone, he suddenly gripped his pool cue tightly, pointing it behind him.
"I noticed long ago," A-Jin said without turning. "Under these circumstances, sneak attacks are pointless, right?"
Slowly turning, he saw the elderly man in a wheelchair behind him and froze.
"L-Liu Bo!?"
"No manners," Liu Bo said coldly.
Under A-Jin's stunned gaze.
Liu Bo petted the Swinub in his lap while looking skyward from his wheelchair.
"How pitiful," Liu Bo's voice was like a rock in winter.
"Pitiful?" A-Jin pointed at himself. "Old man, you mean me?"
"..." Still gazing upward, Liu Bo continued, "As deities, they harbor hatred and anger just like humans."
"In the end."
Liu Bo smiled self-deprecatingly, his eyes icy. "Humans can surpass even gods."
"Whoa, old man, look!" A-Jin pointed skyward. "There's a Tauros flying!"
Liu Bo paused. "Where?"
"Weren't you the one blowing hot air just now?"
A-Jin gave Liu Bo a disdainful look, proudly wiping his nose as he laughed loudly. "No matter how strong you are, didn't I still take you down? Hahaha!"
"..." The white-haired elder sighed softly. "We need to stop them."
"We...?" A-Jin stepped back. "Old man, I'm not tired of living yet!"
"Isn't saving the world your specialty?" Liu Bo mocked.
The baseball-capped youth stood dumbfounded for a long moment.
Clutching his pool cue tightly, his body trembling slightly, A-Jin looked up with a reckless, defiant grin.
"Old man, you're right about that!"
"Explosion Boy!" A-Jin shouted, raising a fist. "Blast Burn!!"
Opening with the starter's ultimate move, Typhlosion's neck erupted with towering flames, spewing forth a torrent of fire!!
The three deities' clash momentarily halted.
Giratina flapped its wings, deflecting the incoming Blast Burn as its crimson gaze fixed on the cliffside figure.
"Fool, I'm over here!"
It was just an Aipom wearing A-Jin's clothes and cap.
Shirtless A-Jin rode Togebro gliding through the air, his black bangs fluttering in the wind. "Togebro, Air Slash!"
"Toge!" Togebro flapped its wings, sending sharp air blades toward Giratina that vanished into the shadows surrounding it.
Giratina looked puzzled—this human made it hesitate to strike.
After all, Giratina sensed traces of lingering Aura from him...
Giratina's crimson eyes flashed as golden claws gathered, launching a dark Shadow Ball.
"Wahoo! I'm gonna brag about this in the group chat for a year!"
A-Jin cheered while directing Togebro through aerial acrobatics to dodge the Shadow Ball.
Dialga observed indifferently until a human voice reached its ears.
"Hey, Temporal God."
The cobalt behemoth slowly turned, its massive pupils reflecting an elderly man in a wheelchair on the cliff.
The frail white-haired elder held a drowsy Swinub, his eyes cold as ice, voice drowned by mountain winds.
"Your opponent is me."
Dialga found this amusing, opening its maw toward Liu Bo.
Fierce winds howled as Dialga roared, causing vegetation behind Liu Bo to wither and die.
Yet the wheelchair-bound elder remained unchanged, like an ice sculpture staring coldly at Dialga.
Dialga paused, feeling a hint of wariness—but it was too late.
"Swinub," Liu Bo gently stroked the Swinub, whispering, "Blizzard."
"Snore~~" The Swinub exhaled an icy breath as if yawning.
A bone-chilling blizzard, like a frozen world, instantly encased the entire cliff and cobalt beast in ice!!
Crack, crack—
Dialga trapped in ice could only move its eyes, staring fixedly at the elder.
Who was he? Why was he here? How was he so powerful?
"I have one request, Temporal God."
Liu Bo spoke slowly. "I want to see that Lapras from back then again."
Petty human, defeat me first then. Dialga's gaze was contemptuous.
CRACK!
The ice shattered as Dialga gathered chaotic temporal energy for Roar of Time!!
"Hmph, time... interesting."
Liu Bo lightly tapped his cane.
Swinub leaped from his lap, its icy breath freezing a bridge midair toward Dialga.
The docile Swinub slid down the bridge toward the Temporal God like a slide, then opened its eyes.
Blizzard!!
Elsewhere in the sky, A-Jin clung to Togebro's back, desperately dodging Giratina's Shadow Balls.
Exploding Shadow Balls filled the sky with thunderous booms.
Gritting his teeth with death-defying excitement, A-Jin looked toward the ruins.
"Buddies... Teacher Lu..."
A-Jin grinned through clenched teeth. "Hurry and retreat... I can't hold out much longer!"
Giratina flapped its hellish wings, massive body hovering midair as it studied this youth curiously.
Though merely human, Giratina saw courage rivaling the gods—
A conviction it had only witnessed in one black-haired youth...
No, and also in a boy named Ash.
Giratina flapped its wings, abandoning the fight with A-Jin to his surprise.
A-Jin froze, then shouted, "Hey, scared already? Let's keep going!!"
Giratina glanced sideways at A-Jin when sudden danger sense struck.
It swiftly moved from its position.
A crimson streak pierced the clouds, plummeting with needle points gleaming coldly!
A rapidly flying Beedrill, compound eyes like gorgeous red agates, yellow-black striped body with glowing red stingers!
BAM!!
Beedrill broke through Giratina's spatial ripples, stingers clashing against platinum armor with dazzling sparks!
"Beedrill!?"
A-Jin looked up in shock.
Above the clouds, an enormous airship slowly emerged from thick storm clouds.
The ship's extended runway, dark golden armored hull with open bay doors allowing fierce winds inside.
A buzz-cut man in a black trench coat stood hands in pockets, coat flapping majestically.
Giovanni, leader of Team Rainbow Rocket.
"Stand down, Giratina," Giovanni coldly commanded, voice transmitted directly into Giratina's mind via device.
Giratina vanished into shadows, reappearing before Giovanni at eye level.
You cannot command me, human. Giratina's crimson eyes showed no emotion.
Giovanni remained composed, gaze unchanging.
His peripheral vision caught the ruins, thoughts drifting to the aloof red-haired youth and gentle mentor inside, expression softening slightly.
Then he focused on Giratina, enunciating each word.
"I repeat—leave this place."
Humans have no place in battles between gods.
Giratina's six platinum claws extended with metallic clicks, voice devoid of fluctuation.
Or you may try.
Giovanni stood like an immovable mountain.
Years ago, he too had been a prodigy trainer aspiring to be champion.
Only kind souls like Ash or righteous ones like Lance received Viridian Forest's blessing of Power of Viridian.
Giovanni had been one such recipient.
Over the years, he often recalled sunlight filtering through Viridian's leaves onto cocoons—his first Pokémon capture, experiencing precious bonds between humans and Pokémon, and when the entire forest blessed him.
"Beedrill."
Giovanni opened his eyes, the purely evil leader speaking calmly.
"Mega Evolution!"
In the fierce winds, Mega Beedrill shed white light, stingers becoming unstoppable lances with three sharp tail needles.
The lance tips glowed red with Throat Chop, directly piercing Giratina's armor with screeching metal!
Giratina showed surprise, vanishing into shadows only for Mega Beedrill to pursue through clouds!
Continuous metallic clashes and high-pitched buzzing filled the air as crimson-eyed Mega Beedrill battled Giratina, dazzling sparks illuminating the cloud layer!
**
Elsewhere in the sky.
The good-natured Palkia stood silently observing.
It had remained inactive, worried about collateral damage requiring spatial restoration later.
But was this really reasonable!?
A Swinub freezing the Temporal God!!
A Beedrill matching Giratina!!
Palkia felt profoundly impacted.
Noticing the acrobatic youth, it quickly dismissed him.
Hmm... just an idiot, ignore him.
Watching the chaotic skies, Palkia felt heavy-hearted.
As Spatial God, it sensed space more acutely than its hotheaded counterparts.
Palkia knew an immensely powerful force was awakening—likely Arceus itself.
Infighting among gods, human disrespect toward deities, betrayal...
All could provoke Arceus' wrath.
Palkia sighed deeply, feeling powerless.
Suddenly recalling a certain figure, Palkia shuddered.
Nearby spatial distortions—
Wait.
That human was nearby!!
Simultaneously.
Palkia looked up alertly as a Garchomp streaked through the clouds.
A golden-haired beauty in black leaned against Garchomp, frowning at the apocalyptic battle.
"The surrounding space is already isolated by white mist."
She murmured gravely. "Just like in White Poplar Town."
Eyes reflecting Palkia's form, she directed Garchomp closer.
Palkia blinked in recognition.
We met in White Poplar Town!
"Long time no see."
Cynthia approached gracefully, golden hair swaying as her concealed eyes showed deep concern.
"Can you stop them?"
Lifting her fair neck toward the radiant sky, she whispered:
"This chaos surpasses White Poplar Town's!"
Palkia shook its head solemnly.
There's only one way.
"Awaken Arceus—"
Cynthia glanced at the sacred ruins, then Palkia. "Like Rayquaza calmed the Hoenn duo?"
Palkia looked astonished.
This human woman's wisdom and courage exceeded expectations.
When Arceus awakens, what it will do... I cannot guarantee. Palkia warned.
Cynthia pondered briefly before meeting Palkia's gaze resolutely.
"I'll command you."
Palkia: ?
"I'll command you."
Cynthia repeated. "Together, we'll pacify Giratina and Dialga!"
I haven't acknowledged you, human. Palkia said gravely.
"Then acknowledge me now." Cynthia's sharp eyes gleamed with a smile.
Palkia hesitated.
It feared Cynthia couldn't control its power.
Like the orbs' chosen master being singular.
When Pokémon's power exceeds trainers', rampages are inevitable...
The Spatial God faced the proud golden-haired woman, deeply conflicted.
Suddenly, intense spatial distortions came from the ruins.
Palkia whirled around in shock.
A Unown-constructed spatial warp?!
The entire battlefield paused at this unexpected development.
Swinub returned to Liu Bo's lap;
Dialga ceased roaring.
Beedrill hovered beside Giovanni;
Giratina flapped crimson wings.
All eyes turned toward the portal's exit.
The red-haired youth supporting Dr. Show emerged first, expression cold.
Sensing something, Xiao Yin looked up, locking eyes with Giovanni across the clouds through the bay doors.
Instantly, an invisible ice seemed to melt.
Without words, father and son shared identical stoic expressions.
Seeing Xiao Yin's lips move, Giovanni felt a powerful impact stirring his emotions.
He read Xiao Yin's lips, hoping the words were—
Father.
The spatial warp continued as a sharp-eyed Delibird rode its sack through the portal.
A-Jin yelled dramatically, "Old man look, it's your penguin!"
"Watch your mouth," Liu Bo said coldly.
Suddenly, everyone showed surprise yet relief—as if expecting this.
Strong déjà vu made the Sinnoh trio frown.
Memories surfaced—
The red chain binding the spacetime duo.
Riding Giratina across Mt. Coronet.
The trainer who left lasting impressions was fated to reunite with them!
Palkia and Dialga stiffened.
Giratina slowly smiled.
Backlit by light.
A remarkably handsome black-haired youth stepped calmly from the portal with Haunter floating beside him.
Breezes stirred across the desolate, ice-and-crack covered battlefield.
Emerging from the spatial rift, his shirt fluttering slightly, Lu Ye contemplated negotiation tactics.
Feeling multiple gazes upon him, he looked up sharply.
"The atmosphere feels off..." Lu Ye felt familiar chills down his spine.
On the cliff by the stream, Liu Bo sat in his wheelchair before the ice-encased Dialga.
Sky rumbling with engines, Giovanni looked down hands in pockets, Giratina nodding slightly at Lu Ye.
Lu Ye: "..."
Ahead near the ruins, a golden-haired beauty stood beside Palkia, smiling warmly and brightly.
An eerie silence fell over the battlefield.
The Sinnoh trio's conflict temporarily halted because of this human.
Lu Ye roughly grasped the situation but not entirely.
"Everyone, stop floating around... let's sit and talk."
Clearing his throat, Lu Ye spoke:
"Please give me, Lu Ye, some face!"
...
