Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Chapter 133 The True Plot Trigger

"Bonnie!"

The Egui Peng landed at the edge of the pit, its rock club still shrouded in wisps of smoke. Looking through its mask at the motionless black and red figure at the bottom of the pit, its starry eyes gleamed with eager anticipation—that blow just now had been incredibly satisfying!

Zhang Jianying strode forward, patted Egui's head, and whispered, "Give it another hit. Strike while the iron is hot!"

"Bonnie!" The Evil Ponnie's eyes lit up; it was exactly what it wanted!

Without saying a word, it grabbed the still-steaming thorny vine and excitedly jumped into the pit, ready to give the big black bird a "finishing blow".

However, just as it was about to jump...

"Eh-!!!"

A deafening roar erupted from the bottom of the pit!

A dark aura, even more violent and intense than before, erupted into the sky like a volcanic eruption!

Dark energy ripples spread outwards from the crater, distorting and swallowing even the light in their wake!

Zhang Jianying was thrown back a few steps by the sudden burst of energy, but fortunately, Evil Ghost reacted quickly and blocked the trainer's path.

At the bottom of the pit, Yveltal shook his head, struggled to flap his wings, and took off again.

It looked utterly disheveled at that moment.

Its jet-black feathers were disheveled, and a large "Kyogre-style" pouch bulged on its head, with wisps of blue smoke swirling around it. Countless fine cracks were etched into its chest by the diamond storm, and the black patterns were dull and lifeless.

But the rage burning in Yveltal's crimson eyes was even more intense than before.

shame!

What a shame!

As a legendary Pokémon that holds the power of death, it was actually forced into this situation by a group of "ordinary" little creatures! And its head was even swollen by a tiny green thing hitting it with a stick!

Yveltal felt his dignity being trampled into the ground.

In the split second before it fell, it secretly used [Feather Perch] at the last moment. Although it didn't recover much stamina, it was enough for it to launch another full-force attack.

enough.

Once is enough.

It aims to crush all that's in its way at once, turning that damned diamond Pokémon and all those annoying ants into eternal sculptures!

Yveltal no longer roared, no longer vented its anger. It hovered in mid-air, its eyes as cold as ancient ice, the dark aura emanating from its body fluctuating violently, compressing, and condensing—

It is gathering strength.

Prepare to wager all remaining energy for one final strike.

If I fail, I will die trying.

At worst, it will just sleep for another thousand years. A thousand years later, these despicable creatures will have long since turned to dust, while it will still awaken from the realm of the dead and continue to exercise its authority.

Thinking of this, Yveltal even felt a sense of relief.

Thankfully, Xerneas, that old nemesis, is still asleep, otherwise today would have been a real disaster.

"Garuda!"

"Metamorphosis!"

On the ground, Cynthia and Steven gave the order almost simultaneously.

Two heavily wounded pseudo-legendary Pokémon immediately stepped in front of the group. Garchomp lowered its body, its scythe-like forelimbs plunging into the ground, its dragon eyes locked on Yveltal in the air. Metagross spread its four metal claws, psychic energy swirling around its body, ready to strike at any moment.

Erguilan gripped the rock club tightly, standing in front of the trainer, his starry eyes beneath the mask sharp as knives.

The atmosphere in the arena was tense, with swords drawn.

Battle is imminent.

Meanwhile, in a ruin about 300 meters away from the main battlefield.

"Cough, cough cough cough————"

-

Musashi crawled out of a pile of broken walls and ruins, his long red hair covered in dust and his face bearing several scratches.

"Kojiro! Meow meow! Are you alright?!"

"I...I'm alright—" Kojiro poked his head out from another pile of rubble, his clothes tattered, but he was still relatively intact.

"I almost turned into stone, meow—"

Meow Meow shook off the dust and looked at the distance with lingering fear.

There, a round, blue figure remained motionless, its hands outstretched in a pushing motion.

Sure enough, old man.

Its body had completely turned into a gray-white stone statue, with only its large eyes retaining the determination of the last moment.

A few minutes ago, the Rockets' trio experienced a thrilling moment.

They had been secretly following Ash and his friends. Not long after Steven arrived in Kalos, the trio also arrived in the town in a modified hot air balloon.

From a distance, they witnessed the comical scene of Milis and her father's "brave" charge into battle only to be instantly defeated, and they mercilessly mocked these two amateur villains.

After all, the Rockets are an experienced organization, and they would never be so foolish as to try to snatch Diancie away from several champions!

Subsequently, they witnessed the awe-inspiring scene of Zhang Jianying and his group battling Yveltal.

Based on the principle of "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," the trio decided to stay at a safe distance, wait for both sides to be weakened, and then reap the benefits.

The plan is wonderful.

But reality is harsh.

In the chaotic energy clash just now, Yveltal's Deathwing, which had missed its target, struck them squarely in the direction where they were hiding!

The pitch-black death energy swept in like a tsunami, turning everything in its path to stone.

At that moment, the trio had only one thought in their minds.

Oh no, this time I really have to shout that classic line!

Just as Musashi opened her mouth, about to shout "This feeling is awful—", the Poké Ball on her body suddenly opened automatically.

"Whoosh—Nus!"

Sure enough, Weng jumped out and stood in front of the three of them without hesitation.

As expected, Ivy ignored Musashi's command to use "Double Return" and instead determined on her own that Yveltal's attack was a special attack move.

Therefore, it used its most effective method: specular reflection.

A blue barrier unfolded in front of it. Deathwing's energy wolf slammed into the barrier, then bounced off, deflected, and flew past the trio's heads before crashing into a distant mountainside.

However, the cost was heavy.

Because it's too far from the main battlefield, the [Mist Field] effect maintained by the Gardevoirs cannot reach this area.

Under the direct influence of Yveltal's authority, Wojnarowski's body rapidly petrified, starting from the parts that came into contact with the energy.

Within seconds, it turned into a stone statue.

He maintained the posture of pushing his hands forward, as if he was still protecting the three people behind him.

"As expected of the old man—"

Musashi stumbled to the stone statue, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. She reached out her trembling hand, wanting to touch the statue, yet afraid of breaking it.

"You, you idiot, who told you to jump out like that?!"

Kojiro and Meow Meow also came over. Kojiro tore off his tattered clothes and vigorously wiped his eyes.

Meow's whiskers twitched, and its paws were clenched into fists.

The three of them stared silently at the stone statue.

At this moment, they forgot all about catching diamond Pokémon, getting promoted and making money, and proving themselves to be elite team members.

They had only one thought in their minds—to save it.

We must save Guoran Weng.

"Xerneas—"

Kojiro suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, "Legend has it that Xerneas can remove Yveltal's petrification."

Musashi suddenly looked up: "What did you say?!"

"Xerneas is the god of life, meow!" Meowth remembered too, "His power can heal petrification! If Xerneas really is sleeping in the Orianes Forest, then we..."

The three exchanged a glance.

The next second, they made the same decision.

Kojiro and Musashi bent down and carefully hoisted the petrified Wobbuffet onto their shoulders. Meowth stood guard beside them, and the three of them raced towards the center of the Oriannes Forest.

Compared to catching diamond Pokémon, Wobbuffet, who is like family to them, is more important.

In the center of the Oruans Forest.

The once withered sacred tree is slowly regaining its vitality as Diancie comprehends the true meaning of life and opens up energy pathways. The colorful leaves are regaining their luster, and the veins on the trunk flow with gentle life energy.

Team Rocket's trio, carrying the petrified Wobbuffet, arrived at the Divine Tree.

"Please—Lord Xernias—"

Musashi knelt before the sacred tree, hands clasped together, tears falling onto the earth. "Please save Wobbuffet! It did this to save us—"

Kojiro gently placed the petrified Wobbuffet in front of the sacred tree and knelt down as well: "We are willing to pay any price, just please save it."

Meowth wiped its eyes with its paw: "Please, Meowth, Wobbuffet is our most important partner—"

The trio's prayers were sincere and humble.

For the first time, they were praying not for their own desires, but for the lives of their companions.

The sacred tree trembled slightly.

A rainbow of light seeped from the tree trunk, growing brighter and more intense. Within the light, the tree's outline began to change; its roots contracted, its branches reshaped, and antler-like veins extended—

Finally, amidst the dazzling light, a divine deer emerged, stepping out of the light.

It has colorful antlers, an elegant figure, and flowers bloom with every step it takes. It is surrounded by a warm and powerful aura of life, as if the spring sunshine has come to life.

Xerneas in his relaxed mode has been resurrected after three thousand years.

It lowered its head, its eyes gentle and compassionate, looking at the three people kneeling before it, and then at the petrified statue of Guo Guo Weng.

It spoke no words, yet it seemed to understand everything.

Xernias gently bent down and touched the antlers to the statue of the Gouldian fawn.

Seven-colored life energy flowed into the stone statue like water, the gray-white surface began to fade, and the blue gradually returned. The petrified texture dissolved inch by inch, and the colors of life bloomed anew.

"Whoosh~ Nas!"

A familiar call rang out.

Sure enough, Weng blinked, looking around blankly, then at his body that had returned to normal.

"Woof Woof!!"

Musashi, Kojiro, and Meowth rushed over and hugged it tightly. The two people and the two Pokémon huddled together, tears streaming down their faces, their cries and laughter mingling together.

"Idiot! Don't do that again!"

"Thank you, Woof Woof, thank you so much."

"We thought we were going to lose you, meow—"

Sure enough, Weng was a little shy from being hugged, its bald head turning slightly red, but it still stretched out its short arms and hugged the two of them back with a meow.

"Sonas~"

Xerneas watched this scene quietly from the side, his eyes gentle.

It raised its head and looked into the depths of the forest, where the fluctuations of the [dark aura] were becoming increasingly violent.

Death and life, these eternal adversaries, are about to clash once again.

Xerneas took a step forward, and his seven-colored antlers shone even brighter.

Then, it leaped lightly into the air, walking on air as if stepping on invisible stairs, heading towards the battlefield.

The main battlefield.

Yveltal has completed charging up.

The Dark Aura was pushed to its limit, condensing into a jet-black energy ball of astonishing diameter in front of its chest.

Inside the energy sphere, dark red patterns pulsated like blood vessels, emanating a suffocating aura of death.

This strike will exhaust all its remaining power.

But enough.

If it hits, all life present will turn to stone. It will then absorb the residual life energy within these statues to recover some of its strength before calmly departing.

Yveltal's crimson pupils swept over the people below who were on high alert, finally locking onto Super Diancie.

Let this little thing, and all those annoying ants behind it, become collectibles in the land of death!

Yveltal swung his wings forward with a sudden burst!

However, just as the energy was about to explode, its movements suddenly froze, and it almost forgot how to flap its wings.

The energy flow stalled, and the fluctuations of the [Dark Aura] became disordered. Even the huge energy ball on his chest trembled and almost went out of control.

Yveltal's crimson pupils suddenly contracted as he stared intently at what was behind them.

There, a figure appeared out of nowhere.

With its colorful antlers, elegant figure, and flowers blooming beneath its hooves, it exudes a warm aura of life.

Zergnas.

It stood there quietly, as if it had stepped out of an ancient mural, gazing at Yveltal in the air with its gentle yet profound eyes.

Yveltal: ————

In that instant, thoughts flashed through its mind like a slideshow:

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Why is Xerneas here? Shouldn't it be asleep?!

That damned divine tree hasn't fully recovered yet!

Why is it here?! And why now of all times?!

Yveltal felt its bird life was filled with malice. It had finally mustered the courage to go all in for one last gamble, only to find its old nemesis standing right there watching?

What's the point of fighting now?!

Just as Yveltal was in a daze, the people on the ground also noticed the abnormality.

"Hmm?" Zhang Jianying was the first to sense the fluctuation of life energy behind him, and he turned around in confusion.

Then, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Cynthia, Steven, Karney, Ash—everyone turned around to look in the direction Yveltal was looking.

A divine deer radiating seven-colored light stood quietly not far behind them. It showed no hostility, nor did it display any imposing power; it simply stood there silently, as if it were the embodiment of life, a miracle of nature.

The tense atmosphere on the battlefield seemed to freeze at that moment.

The tense standoff turned into an awkward silence due to Xerneas's sudden appearance.

Yveltal's black energy sphere on its chest was still trembling, but it was no longer willing to release it easily. Xerneas was watching from below, and he knew that if this attack came down, the other side would definitely intervene.

At that point, it will no longer be a battle between life and death, but Yveltal taking on a group of overpowered Pokémon.

In its current state, it is clear that it cannot defeat the opponent.

Reason told Yveltal it was time to retreat. But dignity told it it couldn't just slink away like that.

Just as Yveltal was struggling with her inner turmoil, Mega Diancie floated gently forward.

It gazed at Xerneas, its eyes flashing with a complex light—reverence, gratitude, and a hint of kinship at seeing an elder.

"Lord Xerneas----"

Diancie called out softly through telepathy.

Xernias turned to look at it, his eyes gentle. It nodded slightly, the iridescent light on its antlers shimmering faintly, as if in response, or perhaps in approval.

Then, Xerneas looked back at Yveltal in the sky.

It took a step forward.

Flowers bloom beneath his hooves.

The seven-colored life energy spread out from it, and wherever it passed, the land that had been eroded by the dark aura was revitalized, the scorched grass and trees sprouted new buds, and even the suffocating death aura in the air was dispelled.

This is a declaration.

The realm of life must not be trampled upon by death.