September 15th, Wednesday.

The ship sailed along the river, with a pleasant breeze blowing against their faces.

"Ahead lies Orus Forest," Steven said.

King AZ leaned against the railing, his gaze tinged with a trace of reminiscence.

"I've truly enjoyed traveling with everyone."

Princess Diancie said with a gentle smile, "Including last night's camping trip, Bonnie, I'll never forget it."

"Are you going to leave once we meet Xerneas, Diancie?" Ash said regretfully.

"Yes, I must return to my country."

Diancie said seriously, "But we'll definitely have a chance to meet again!"

"Where exactly is the Mineral Kingdom?" Steven asked with some curiosity.

Diancie said proudly, "The entire underground mineral veins of Kalos are the territory of the Mineral Kingdom."

"But..." Diancie sighed softly, "Due to the depletion of the Sacred Diamond, several mineral veins have lost connection with the sacred ores."

"After we meet Xerneas, you could build a mineral vein leading to Miare City."

Bonnie's eyes lit up, "That way, I can often play with Diancie~"

"No problem," Diancie smiled, "Because we're friends, Bonnie!"

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

Build a mineral vein to Miare City?

I need to find a way to trick Diancie into visiting the café once, so she can turn the ground beneath the courtyard into a diamond mine!

Of course, the diamond mine here doesn't refer to 'Ralts', but diamonds of exceptional hardness that can enhance Pupitar's physical constitution when fed to it.

The prerequisite is helping Diancie save her country.

Lu Ye's eyes gleamed.

In that case, repaying with a diamond mine should be no problem at all!

After another half hour of travel.

The ship docked, and the group walked deeper into the forest.

The forest's outer perimeter was lush with greenery, but the core area was a withered wasteland, presenting a peculiar concentric circle landscape.

The moment they stepped into the forest, Teacher Lu detected a strong reaction from the Power of Transcendence, with radar-like white beams scanning out prominent light points.

Lu Ye's expression was complex.

It's practically screaming 'the Fairy Plate is here with me, come and get it' written all over my face!

Xerneas's habitat was deep within the forest, said to appear in the form of a 'Rainbow Tree'.

Therefore, the group followed the iridescent glow, passing through roaring waterfalls and deep, dense forests, arriving at a bird-filled, flower-scented altar.

King AZ stopped walking and said hoarsely:

"Let's part ways here, Diancie."

"Aren't you coming with me to see Xerneas?" Diancie turned and asked.

"No," King AZ smiled.

King AZ had once deceived them under the name of Wise King, using their power to create the Ultimate Weapon, knowing full well they wouldn't forgive him.

And where he needed to go was the other end of the forest, seeking to fall into eternal slumber in the river of the Destruction Cocoon.

"I'll wait for you outside," King AZ said, "Lu... Teacher, farewell here."

Lu Ye gave King AZ a surprised look.

Seeing the determined gaze beneath his white hair, Lu Ye warned, "Don't do anything foolish, I'll be back soon."

For the Fairy Plate, Lu Ye needed to personally negotiate with Xerneas.

What King AZ meant to these two deities, Teacher Lu wasn't clear about.

But one thing was obvious—even the mild-tempered Xerneas wouldn't want to see King AZ.

King AZ's facial muscles twitched, "I will... Teacher Lu."

Lu Ye shuddered, feeling uncomfortable being called 'teacher' by a millennia-old monster.

Although the King of Pokélantis had once thought he was an Aura Guardian from the same era...

Lu Ye casually waved his hand, leading Diancie along the deep path behind the altar, "Let's go, Diancie, follow me."

"Okay, Mr. Lu Ye," Diancie hopped along, following Lu Ye's steps.

Steven signaled with his eyes for Ash and the others to follow, then nodded gently to King AZ.

Watching the disappearing backs of the group.

King AZ looked up at the sky, hazy beams of light filtering through the gaps in the canopy, casting mottled shadows, surrounded by birdsong and floral fragrance, full of vitality.

"So beautiful..."

King AZ murmured to himself, sadness welling in his heart, yet not regret for his choices.

For three thousand years, King AZ had constantly questioned himself whether he would risk the destruction of his kingdom to resurrect Flabébé.

The answer was yes.

Even though the disappointed Eternal Flower left him because of it, King AZ never hesitated.

The tall man turned and strode toward the other end of the forest.

There lay a dead land where vegetation withered and rivers dried up.

In the center of the dead land, within pitch-black springs, a cocoon dark as night pulsed like a heartbeat, gradually awakening...

...

Forest shadows dappled the ground, hazy mist swirled, and iridescent light sprinkled down.

Lu Ye and Diancie advanced toward the direction of the rainbow glow.

"Mr. Lu Ye, Mr. Lu Ye?" Diancie called softly.

"What is it?"

"Are you very short on money?" Diancie asked seriously.

"Ahem... who told you that?"

"Because you've been softly muttering about diamonds since earlier," Diancie's face was full of innocence.

Lu Ye scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Teacher Lu had been thinking about how to ask for a diamond mine for Pupitar without seeming overly greedy.

Now, under Diancie's pure gaze, Teacher Lu felt his conscience being pricked...

"Sorry," Lu Ye said decisively, "Money is always in short supply, but it's nothing major."

Because I have Cynthia the sugar mommy!

"If you want diamonds, I can give you one."

Diancie blinked her crystal-clear eyes, spreading her small hand and offering a pink diamond to Lu Ye, "But it will dissipate once the energy is used up... so don't be too sad when that happens."

Teacher Lu was deeply moved by Princess Diancie's kindness. He wanted to pat Diancie's head but withdrew his hand, smiling instead:

"Thank you, Diancie, I'll accept it."

"Gengarrr~" Haunter floated over from the side.

Lu Ye's expression changed, quickly hiding the pink diamond in his pocket, "No licking this one!"

Diancie covered her mouth with a light laugh, "Mr. Lu Ye and Haunter are very good friends too."

"This is called bond."

Lu Ye let Haunter give him a lick, forcibly resisting the paralysis state, calmly saying:

"Bond can cure paralysis."

"Bond... is amazing!" Diancie opened her eyes wide in disbelief.

Steven: "..."

What cures paralysis with bond is Pokémon!

What trainer cures paralysis with bond!

While chatting, the iridescent glow became more crystalline.

In a clearing in the forest, a colorful tree was extremely eye-catching.

Colorful branches extended in all directions, surging with vibrant life energy. The deep blue trunk flickered with green crystalline light, earth energy flowing from the roots to the trunk.

"So beautiful..." Bonnie whispered.

"I feel... the fairy atmosphere," Diancie gently closed her eyes.

Lu Ye took out a Poké Ball—the aura here would be very helpful for Sylveon.

"Bu-bii!" Sylveon's azure blue round eyes focused on the tree trunk, slightly baring her teeth.

Suddenly, the 'tree trunk' rose from the ground.

Black roots exposed from the earth, forming agile deer-like limbs, the blue trunk becoming its slender neck.

Xerneas, with colorful life branches on its head, gazed gently at Lu Ye, Diancie, and the others.

"The tree turned into a rainbow deer?" Ash scratched his head.

"It really is Xerneas!" Clemont exclaimed in shock.

Steven felt emotional, never expecting to actually see the legendary God of Life, Xerneas.

Traveling with Teacher Lu... you always get to see legendary Pokémon that are usually hard to encounter!

Diancie hopped forward, her gaze worried, hand over her chest:

"Xerneas, I beg for your help to save my kingdom and my people!"

Xerneas's gaze held a trace of reminiscence.

Three thousand years ago, a human had said the same words to it. That betrayal had caused Xerneas to fall into a three-thousand-year slumber.

Now, Xerneas's gaze met Diancie's, choosing to give trust once more.

『I already know your purpose.』

Xerneas's gentle telepathy echoed in everyone's minds.

『The so-called fairy atmosphere is an aura surging with life energy, also my gift.』

The colorful branches on Xerneas's head bloomed with iridescent radiance, becoming more dazzling. Light blossomed throughout the forest as its form shifted from 'relaxed mode' to 'active mode'.

Bathed in this radiance, Diancie gently closed her eyes, and Sylveon also sensed unique energy.

Teacher Lu nodded gently to Sylveon, and the little one finally closed her eyes to feel it peacefully.

Lu Ye looked at Xerneas sharing its life energy, feeling emotional.

Among all deities, Xerneas was one of the most reasonable deities.

Bathing in the fairy aura, Sylveon, whose rank had stagnated for a long time, officially became champion-level combat strength.

And this wasn't even counting the Fairy Plate's enhancement...

This trip indeed brought unexpected gains!

As the iridescent radiance receded, Xerneas's gentle gaze rested on Diancie.

Diancie tried to gather diamonds but still failed. Serena and Bonnie quickly comforted her.

Xerneas didn't dwell on it, having done what it should. Its gaze turned to Lu Ye.

『Then, state your purpose, Envoy of Arceus.』

Clemont and Serena were learning about Teacher Lu's identity for the first time, looking at him in shock.

Lu Ye looked at Xerneas, hand over his chest, politely saying:

"I have received Arceus's revelation to retrieve the Fairy Plate it left behind from you, Xerneas."

Contrary to Teacher Lu's expectations, Xerneas showed hesitation in its eyes, then actually shook its head.

『Sorry, I cannot return the Fairy Plate yet.』

Xerneas raised its slender neck, its benevolent gaze falling upon the vibrant forest, yet clouded with shadow.

『In the depths of the forest, the deity about to awaken—I need the Fairy Plate's power to confront it.』

Lu Ye could understand.

The God of Life, compared to the God of Death, wasn't naturally skilled in combat. Having shared large amounts of life energy, it needed the Fairy Plate's power to stand against its old rival.

Xerneas spoke:

『As compensation, Envoy of Arceus, I will teach your Sylveon...』

Before Geomancy could be spoken.

BOOM!!

A violent explosion suddenly occurred deep in the forest, a piercing, shrill cry tearing through the sky!

Ash turned to look at the sky, only to see an ink-black, crimson-black large bird spreading wings that blotted out the sky, screeching fiercely!

Xerneas's gaze turned grave.

『Yveltal, has awakened.』

Blood-red Dark Aura enveloped the forest's center, constantly eroding the surrounding Fairy Aura. Pokémon unable to retreat in time were instantly petrified, lush trees withering instantly under the Dark Aura!

Steven frowned.

If encountering natural disasters like floods or heavenly fires, trainers still had room to react.

But in the Dark Aura that petrifies and steals life, humans had no means to confront Yveltal at all!

"We need to battle it outside the Dark Aura!" Steven said.

Xerneas looked worried, when suddenly it heard the black-haired young man beside it call out:

"Xerneas."

Xerneas's concerned gaze met the black-haired young man's sharp eyes.

Lu Ye put on his wristband, the pitch-black Dark Z emitting a faint glow.

"If I help you defeat Yveltal... then you can return the Fairy Plate, right?" Lu Ye said solemnly.

Xerneas showed surprise in its eyes, then gently nodded.

...