Orus Forest, deep inside, where no light reached.

The riverbed lay dry, branches jutted skyward like jagged bones, and a blood-red mist hung in the air.

This was the core area shrouded by the Dark Aura;

not a single Pokémon could cross the boundary and survive deeper inside the forest.

Except for the legendary god of death, Yveltal.

A giant white-haired man, his forehead hair covering all but one eye, stepped through the outer ring of lively forest, crossed the boundary, and resolutely walked into the Dark Aura.

At the forest’s edge, a Bunnelby stared at the man in terror, unable to understand why he would walk into a death zone.

When the man’s whole body sank into the blood-red mist…

Deep within, a pool of motionless, dead water lay.

A dark-red cocoon sat submerged at the pool’s center. It felt the presence of life and sent ripples across the water.

While Teacher Lu and Diancie, and later Xerneas’s “fairy presence,” had been sensed for half an hour, AZ stepped into Yveltal’s Dark Aura and approached that deep pool of death, staring at the black-and-red, heart-like, pulsing giant cocoon at its center.

Blood-red translucent threads wound around the Destruction Cocoon from all directions, drawing energy from the surroundings and channeling it to the sleeping Yveltal.

AZ stared at this oppressive, terrifying scene and suddenly understood why the Holy Diamond of Ancy had withered.

It was because Yveltal needed to siphon every energy source, even underground mineral veins, to awaken.

AZ’s eyes flickered with fear and a strange joy;

he knew this trip was not in vain. He understood that this dark bird of the night would bring death to all life.

To reach that day of release, AZ had wandered three thousand years in repentance and pain—he was one step from freedom…

AZ waded into the deep pool like a newborn lamb stepping into a knee-deep stream.

The blood-red threads flashed continuously;

thick black mist surged toward AZ but recoiled in fear and dissipated.

“Yveltal—”

AZ said, “I have come to seek death.”

The pool suddenly boiled;

the translucent threads dimmed in an instant, like lightless jade crystals, and ‘kala’ fell and crumbled into dust.

Boom!!

The whole subterranean area began to tremble;

the forest panicked. The giant Destruction Cocoon suddenly opened its blue eyes!

The cocoon unfurled like opening arms.

Yveltal took shape like a gigantic letter Y, its tail stretched out like a grotesque hand, fanning blood-red wings as it hovered over the water.

AZ looked up in a daze, locking eyes with Yveltal.

He saw a trace of human-like mockery in its gaze.

“I will not forgive you, human… Now, live on for me.”

The night-black giant bird spread its blood-red wings and let out a sharp, prolonged cry. A fierce wind rose as it plunged into the clouds.

AZ’s pupils widened: the kingdom destroyed, his beloved gone, immortality a curse, death a luxury!

In an instant, black winds swirled, clouds covered the sky, and the core Dark Aura relentlessly spread outward.

Where the black mist spread, trees withered and crumbled, and Pokémon who could not escape turned to stone before one’s eyes, stiff and lifeless.

“Skree!!”

Under low-hanging clouds, Yveltal flapped its world-shadowing wings and released a taunting, long call toward the distant Tree of Life!

AZ’s knees hit the ground with a thud;

tears streamed down. In his mind flashed Diancie’s smile, Lu Ye’s fist bump, the orange-yellow streetlamps of night roads—the scenes quickly dimmed until only the disappointed gaze of his Eternal Flower as it left remained.

A deep despair surged up;

the king’s hoarse cries echoed as great swathes of forest withered, turned to ash, and vanished.

…

Bineck Town, clocktower, video conference.

Bang!

“You three idiots!”

Giovanni slapped the sofa armrest with a scowl;

the cat boss in his lap startled, and the Trio trembled.

“Why wasn’t the intel about Diancie going to Orus Forest reported sooner!” Giovanni scolded.

“Be-because… the staff didn’t mention the Destruction Cocoon beforehand, meow…”

“Yes, the Pokémon Centers only issued evacuation alerts, then we found out about a legendary like Yveltal…”

James wiped sweat from his brow, glanced at the silent Giovanni, then quickly bowed his head.

Within ten minutes, Yveltal’s Dark Aura had affected several nearby towns. Officer Jenny organized emergency evacuations, and citizens panicked.

The legendary god of death had actually awakened—that was a myth from three thousand years ago. By rights, it should be the kind of story parents told children!

And now, there might still be trainers who hadn’t evacuated in Orus Forest, and countless clustered Pokémon… the consequences were unimaginable.

Thankfully, with Hoenn’s experience facing Groudon and Kyogre, regions already had full emergency measures.

Team Rocket had even prepared countermeasures to restrain a legendary Pokémon—

“You three, head to our secret base in Orus Forest now.” Giovanni decided.

“Secret base?!” the Trio said in unison.

“You idiots. You really thought we'd be unprepared just because this is Kalos?” Giovanni slammed the armrest and said, “Now, immediately head to the location Matori sent and secure the safety of your operatives, understand?”

It was better to let these three idiots put their bodies between Yveltal’s Death Wing than to let Lu Ye risk himself alone!

The Trio snapped to attention: “Roger!”

Contact cut off.

Giovanni massaged his brow, as if sensing something.

“What’s wrong, Boss Giovanni?” Matori asked with concern.

“I forgot to tell them… where we put the Team Rocket Battleship’s manual.” Giovanni said, headache evident.

…

Orus Forest, Ash and his party rushed to an open cliff.

“Skree!!”

Yveltal beat its blood-red wings and spewed forth a surging purple beam that swept across the forest below.

Any creature struck by the purple beam instantly petrified, losing all signs of life.

Xerneas lifted its neck, worry in its eyes:

“That is… Yveltal’s Death Wing, with the power to drain life.”

“All the Pokémon we just saw—turned into statues.”

Bonnie hugged Dedenne and covered her cheeks, eyes full of sorrow.

Dedenne comforted Bonnie;

Diancie also lowered her gaze and hesitated, looking at her palm.

“I still don’t have the power to create the Holy Diamond…”

“Teacher Lu, did you see Mr. AZ?” Steven suddenly asked.

Lu Ye shook his head, then frowned as if remembering something.

AZ hadn’t come to help his friend Diancie save her country—

He had come to find Yveltal to end his own life!

Without AZ, Yveltal’s awakening would have been unavoidable, but AZ had made a vow with the king.

AZ hadn’t even reunited with his beloved Eternal Flower yet.

Lu Ye’s gaze hardened as he stared at the raging Yveltal overhead and shouted, “Ash, you go into the core and try to find AZ. Clemont, take care of Serena and Bonnie!”

“Leave it to me.” Pikachu leapt onto Ash’s shoulder. Ash ran and slid down the cliff slope.

Serena covered her mouth in surprise.

“Watch out for its Death Wing!!” Lu Ye shouted.

Yveltal, seeing the fast-moving lifeforms below, screamed provocatively and sprayed a purple beam.

“Aaaah!” Ash ran like his life depended on it;

the purple beam swept behind him, petrifying grass and trees, but Ash narrowly avoided it.

Bonnie’s eyes widened: “Ash… so amazing!”

Lu Ye felt a complicated emotion.

An Ash with max vitality in a movie-like scenario was indeed impressive—if only there were another draw to hold aggro and revive, things would be perfect!

“I don’t know by what means you can help me defeat Yveltal, human.”

Xerneas’s gaze was resolute, “But I will fight with all my strength.”

Then Xerneas sprang lightly like a deer, landing on a boulder atop a high ridge;

the branches overhead shimmered in seven-colored light.

“Skree!!” Yveltal noticed Xerneas, abandoned its pursuit of Ash, and under the drooping clouds flapped its wings, sending out razor-sharp air blades made solid with force.

Bang bang bang!!

Air Slash repeatedly struck Xerneas’s rising Light Screen, which exploded continuously. Xerneas raised its neck, a dazzling brilliance rising from its forehead like a signal into the sky.

Yveltal looked up and saw a dangerous full moon emerge from the dispersing clouds. Its pupils constricted as Moonblast descended from the heavens like an explosive bomb!

Boom!!

Yveltal crossed its arms over its head to protect itself;

smoke cleared, its blood-red wings bore scorch marks, and it screeched sharply. A violent Aura Sphere burst forth from its mouth and struck Xerneas!

Thud!!

Branches cracked with a ‘kala’;

Xerneas’s boughs flickered in the smoke—things looked grim.

Lu Ye was astonished. The Moonblast enhanced by the Fairy Plate nearly pinned the Y bird down.

But the problem was that Xerneas didn’t have a desperate will to fight to the death!

“Mr. Lu…” Diancie’s gaze flickered;

she covered her chest with trembling hands, voice quavering, “What should I do now?”

“Believe in yourself.”

Diancie looked up in bewilderment and saw the black-haired youth gently pat her head and smile, then take out a Poké Ball.

“Serena, Bonnie, and your country need you to protect them.”

“For the Pokémon who trust you behind you, you will become stronger.”

Lu Ye’s expression hardened, leaving a battle-scarred, seasoned silhouette as he shouted, “Latias, prepare for takeoff!”

“Rati~” Latias answered, appearing with shimmering feathers and kindly upturned eyes.

Nearby, the white Metagross clanged its iron fists together, full of defiant spirit: “Kongon!!”

Steven knelt on one knee atop Metagross and murmured to himself:

“Every time I travel with Teacher Lu, I end up fighting a legend… unbelievable.”

Darkrai crossed his arms and nodded faintly from the shadows.

Indeed!

Clemont stared in amazement at the two Pokémon taking flight and their trainers’ silhouettes.

Left and right, Latias and Metagross approached Yveltal in the sky as if it were an everyday scene!

“I must be dreaming… humans battling a legendary Pokémon—this is totally impossible!” Clemont slapped his cheek.

“You okay, Diancie?” Bonnie asked, holding Diancie’s small hand.

Diancie lowered her eyes, thoughtful, and shook her head ever so slightly.

“Mr. Lu said that for the Pokémon behind me, I’ll definitely become stronger.”

“They must be the Ralts little ones,” Bonnie said with a smile.

Diancie tilted her head and replied softly.

“They’re all waiting for their princess to return, so like me—Diancie—chin up!” Bonnie tapped her head with Dedenne and flexed.

Diancie blinked, nodded slightly, and smiled: “Mm, thank you, Bonnie~”

…

Orus Forest, deep within.

“Pikachu, I found him!”

Ash found AZ kneeling in the river like a statue. He slowed his pace and murmured, “I hope it’s not too late.”

“Pika!” Pikachu twitched his ears, signaling that AZ still showed faint movement.

Ash hurried over to AZ, wading through the river to his front. AZ’s eyes were vacant;

dirty tears streaked his face.

“Hey, wake up.” Ash tried to shake the white-haired man’s shoulder.

The white-haired man slowly lifted his gaze, focusing sluggishly, and rasped, “…Ash.”

“Why are you here? I looked everywhere for you!”

Ash extended his hand: “Come on, let’s go back. I still have to fight with Teacher Lu.”

“Fight…” AZ’s eyes were filled with terror as he remembered the war three thousand years ago that took Flabébé’s life.

AZ grabbed Ash’s hand, teeth chattering: “Promise me—don’t let your Pikachu fight…”

“Hey, what are you doing—”

“Promise me!” AZ roared.

Thud!

Ash pushed AZ away. The man’s eyes dimmed, and he lay sideways on the wavering water.

“If you don’t fight, more Pokémon will lose their lives.”

Ash shouted, “Because I am a Trainer, and Pikachu is my partner, so we fight side by side.”

“Pika.” Pikachu’s eyes were resolute;

sparks danced between his cheek pouches.

“…What is a Trainer, really?” AZ gave a bitter smile.

“Excuse me, is this your Poké Ball?”

Ash picked up a buoyant, shrunken Poké Ball, pressed the button to enlarge it, and put it into AZ’s palm.

“…a Poké Ball.” AZ recalled the Golurk that had accompanied him—how he’d found a Poké Ball in a trash bin and inadvertently captured Golurk. It had been convenient, so he carried it with him.

Ash said, “If you have a Poké Ball and a partner, you’re a Trainer too! Come back with me and fight Yveltal!”

AZ was stunned.

My partner…

His eyes cleared;

memories flowed back like a spring: moments with Flabébé, the warmth of Golurk’s back, huddling with Coalossal in icy caverns to keep warm, feeding fruit to the emblem bird…

What tormented him was not immortality, but his unforgivable obsession.

AZ looked at his withered, filthy hands;

the Poké Ball in his palm seemed especially small. Tears fell with a plop into his hand.

“Do I… have the right to be a Trainer?” the man knelt in the river, cradling the tiny Poké Ball.

“All right, let’s go back.”

Ash reached out his hand with a sunny grin, “Go support Teacher Lu and Diancie!”

AZ’s gaze grew steady. With Ash’s help, he rose to his towering height.

“Thank you very much, Ash.”

AZ rasped, “Now I finally feel free… freed from the sorrow that made me build the Ultimate Weapon…”

“What’s that?” Ash scratched his head.

“Nothing.” AZ forced an awkward smile and, a little unpracticed, tossed the Poké Ball.

“Golurk…” AZ hesitated, “Please, take us back.”

The enormous Golurk’s eyes lit up. It hoisted Ash and AZ and shot flames from its feet.

Amid Ash’s yelps, it sped toward the battlefield in the sky around Yveltal.

…

“Latias—Comet Punch!”

“Metagross, Flash Cannon!”

Under the low-hanging clouds, attack flashes streaked by.

Yveltal flapped and darted;

Latias’s Comet Punches trailed like missiles behind Yveltal.

Bang! Bang!

Yveltal sped upward to dodge;

the comet barrage missed and burst like fireworks.

Boom!!

Metagross’s Flash Cannon hit Yveltal’s back. Yveltal screamed in fury, circled in the sky to change direction, and its wings slashed out razor-sharp Air Slashes!

Latias’s Light Screen shattered instantly. Then Haunter leapt into action, launching Shadow Balls that collided with the Air Slashes.

Boom!!

In thick black smoke, Latias dove out. Lu Ye thrust his gloved right hand skyward, eyes hardening.

Rumble——

A chant was interrupted.

Steven and Lu Ye both looked in surprise toward the distant sky.

Yveltal also paused in midair and glanced toward a special battleship with a transparent coating on its hull far away.

The engine roar was oppressive as a large airship appeared.

Under the reflected light, the transparent coating on the airship peeled away, revealing black-gold armor. A huge R gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight!

Clemont’s face registered shock: “That is—”

“Team Rocket?!” Serena exclaimed.

Lu Ye’s eyes widened.

The airship Giovanni had used in past clashes with Red!

Recent appearances have been frequent, huh!

“Skree!!”

Yveltal shrieked and flapped its wings, issuing a warning to the airship.

The battle froze in a tense few seconds.

Metagross drew close to Latias;

Steven and Lu Ye stood shoulder to shoulder and looked up at the airship.

They saw the Team Rocket Battleship facing off with Yveltal and heard a booming broadcast:

“Since you asked so nicely—”

“We’ll be merciful and tell you!”

“This patch of Orus Forest has been taken over by Team Rocket, meow!”

Lu Ye: “…”

How did those fools manage to talk Giovanni into giving them control of the battleship…?

“Relying on science to fight a legendary?” Steven said with worry. “Many have tried and all have failed…”

“Usually, before Ultraman transforms, the Earth Defense Force’s ships are for sale.” Lu Ye said offhandedly.

But with Giovanni’s ride and the Trio’s unbeatable ‘pilots,’ Lu Ye’s eyes flickered.

This Team Rocket Battleship might actually deal some damage!

“Skree!!”

Yveltal fixed its target on the Battleship and tentatively unleashed a Dark Pulse. The hull shook for a few seconds but remained intact.

“Zozzo~” Meowth leaned on the console and into the microphone: “Don’t underestimate Team Rocket’s tech, meow.”

“Meowth, which one’s the missile button?” Musashi’s voice came through.

“Idiot, don’t press anything!” Meowth panicked, “I haven’t read the manual, meow!”

Bang! Bang!

The broadcast cut short as the ship’s missiles launched in a volley toward Yveltal!

Lu Ye was stunned.

“Science is truly wonderful!”

“Skree!!”

Yveltal’s purple beam instantly petrified the missiles mid-flight;

they fell stone-like into the river.

Then Yveltal flapped its blood-red wings and recklessly slammed into the Battleship!

Boom!!

Multiple explosions rocked the airship. The Trio hugged each other: “What an awful feeling~!”

Lu Ye rubbed his forehead.

For a moment there I almost thought the real protagonists had come to save the world…

He couldn’t dally any longer.

Lu Ye felt something heating in his pocket but had no time to investigate. The Keystone flared with brilliant light.

Haunter showed its fanged grin. Under everyone’s surprised gazes, it stretched out a hand to block Yveltal.

“Gengarrr!”

“Haunter—”

Lu Ye raised his hand: “Mega Evolution!!”