Sinnoh region, Michina.
"So there's a ruin here too. During our vacation, we might find some treasures in these ruins!"
Jessie's eyes sparkled at the thought of ancient treasures and jewelry.
"If we find treasures to give to Teacher Johan, maybe he'll 'speak up for us,' meow!"
Meowth gritted his teeth at the thought of that Pichu, but that Pichu had Matori behind it, and he couldn't mess with that...
Hearing this, Jessie naturally thought of the "haughty" Matori. If she could please Teacher Johan, perhaps he would help her kick that melon-headed glasses girl's butt!
Nearby, James opened his mouth to say something, but seeing the "evil" smiles on Meowth and Jessie's faces, he wisely shrank his neck and stayed silent.
However, on second thought, he might also find some ancient vessel lids in the ruins, or even bottle caps, which wouldn't be a bad thing.
"Alright! The treasure hunting mission officially begins!" Jessie declared forcefully.
"Wobbuffet~! ∠(°ゝ°)"
Johan and Cynthia's sudden return surprised Lucian, Flint, and the others.
Had the situation been resolved?
However, the feedback they received was... it's time for a raid.
What raid?
As they wondered...
Woosh—
A large shadow suddenly appeared on the sun high in the sky, gradually devouring it like it would swallow the entire sun.
Solar eclipse!
The mountains gradually darkened, and the sky slowly lost its color. Johan and Cynthia exchanged glances, both showing serious expressions.
It's here!
"RAWR?"
"ROAR?"
Dialga and Palkia, who had been resting on the ground after eating their fill, had much stronger reactions than Johan and the others. They hastily stood up, looking toward the sky, and couldn't help but swallow.
[It's coming?]
The awakening process was much faster than they had anticipated.
At this moment.
A strange rift appeared at the edge of the eclipse-darkened sky, and a radiance representing holiness and divinity emerged from the rift.
Arceus awakened from its slumber, and as soon as it regained consciousness, it arrived at this place that felt familiar—a place that filled its heart with anger and disappointment.
[Michina, Damos]
For Arceus, the disappointment and sadness in its heart actually far exceeded its anger.
It had once trusted a human so much, only to be betrayed. As the creator of everything, it believed humans must be punished to understand how terribly wrong they were.
As they say, the deeper the love, the harsher the discipline. If it hadn't paid so much attention to humans, if it hadn't placed so much hope and care in them, how could it feel such profound disappointment?
[Humans, accept your judgment!]
Arceus's gaze suddenly turned cold, truly becoming a deity without emotion in this moment, to deliver so-called divine punishment and judgment.
Woosh—
The "Thousand Arms" on its back, shaped like a diagonal cross, glowed brilliantly, gathering dazzling white beams of light.
This was the power Arceus wielded—divine judgment, filled with destructive power beyond the reach of ordinary people and Pokémon.
[Judgment!!]
BOOM—
The falling light beams were like meteorites, like falling stars, scattered across Michina's land—soil made fertile by Arceus's power!
For this fertile land, it had suffered unprecedented betrayal and "seen" the ugly side of humanity.
Such a disturbance naturally caught the attention of not only Johan's group who witnessed Arceus's descent, but also the residents of Michina, including Damos's descendant—Sheena!
"How could it awaken at this time?"
Sheena looked at Arceus, her face filled with shock.
This differed from what she had expected and from the warnings of the time-space apparatus beneath the temple. It was much earlier.
But regardless...
Sheena took out the "Jewel of Life" that had been preserved by her family for generations and ran out of the temple.
"Arceus! Please stop!" she called.
Seeing Sheena, hearing her voice, and noticing what she held in her hand, Arceus's expression momentarily faltered.
[Damos]
But it quickly realized this wasn't Damos.
"Arceus, I know my ancestor disappointed you, but please give us another chance. This 'Jewel of Life'..."
[Jewel of Life?]
Arceus's voice turned cold again as it stared at Sheena, the anger suppressed in its heart rising once more.
[Human, what gives you the confidence to try to deceive me again and again!]
"Deceive?"
Sheena was stunned, then her expression changed drastically as she looked at the "Jewel of Life" in her hand. Could it be...
Crack—
The "Jewel of Life" in her hand developed a crack, then shattered into crystalline fragments.
A fake!
Sheena's face immediately paled, her mouth open, not knowing how to explain.
[Foolish humans!]
Arceus roared, the Thousand Arms on its back once again glowing with brilliant light, gathering white beams for another Judgment attack.
But at this moment.
"RAWR—!!"
A fierce roar transformed into a wave of azure time energy, charging toward Arceus's position.
Hmm?
Feeling this familiar power, Arceus's expression shifted slightly. As it dodged Dialga's Roar of Time, it looked up to see Dialga approaching through the air!
Simultaneously.
"ROAR!!!"
The silver-white Palkia swung its arms, creating spatial barriers where Judgment was about to fall, blocking the descent of the attack!
BOOM BOOM BOOM—
[It's you]
Arceus's expression faltered slightly, then it roared.
[You also wish to stand with the humans?!]
Seeing Arceus's angry appearance, Dialga and Palkia instinctively shrank their necks, exchanging glances.
Palkia: [Don't think we can win...]
Dialga: [Be more confident, remove the 'think.']
Palkia: [So we still fight?]
Dialga: [What's to fear! Worst case, we surrender later. At most we'll be sealed for a few hundred or thousand years!]
Like Giratina was.
At this moment.
A black shadow darted past them, and Darkrai, with a stern expression, gave the two a "disdainful" glance.
"Keep talking and there won't be any food for you!"
Hearing this, Dialga's expression immediately became solemn, and Palkia's gaze grew determined.
Humans should not perish like this!
[It seems you don't understand what you're doing!]
Facing Dialga, Palkia, and Darkrai, Arceus didn't show any decline in momentum. Instead, its already terrifying aura grew even stronger.
As the Original One, the lineup before it posed no significant threat.
"It's you who doesn't understand what you're doing, Arceus!"
At this moment.
A voice came from below.
"You've been blinded by anger and hatred, thinking what you see is the whole truth, not knowing that humans are the beings least representable by a single individual!"
Arceus looked down.
Dialga, Palkia, and Darkrai slightly moved aside, revealing the black-haired young man wearing a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a monocle, standing on the Michina ruins platform.
The young man's expression was calm, his eyes stern, as he stood on the platform of the Michina ruins.
Behind him was a sneering Gengar wearing sunglasses, a golden-haired beauty in a black coat, a youth in a burgundy suit adjusting his glasses, a chuunibyou-like boy with exploding hair and hands in his pockets, and a bewildered young man with a cowlick...
Though their posture looked cool and imposing, Lucian couldn't help but quietly say:
"Is this really Arceus? Are we really going to battle such a being?"
Flint twisted his lips, "What's the big deal with Arceus? Teacher Johan already said, just think of it as a llama. Let's take it down together!"
Aaron: "Oh~~ Arceus..."
Johan gave a slight smile.
"It's fine, Flint, you go first to test its strength."
Flint's expression froze as he looked at the destruction caused by Judgment, and couldn't help but swallow.
They're really sending him first?
Meanwhile.
Team Rocket, who had nearly been blown away by Arceus's Judgment, was about to flee when they saw Johan and the others standing on the ruins platform.
"Wow, it's Teacher Johan, so cool!" James exclaimed.
"Where, where, where?" Jessie quickly looked around.
"Teacher Johan is here, so everything will be fine. Let's hurry and bring him the treasures we found, meow~"
"Wobbuffet~! ∠(°ゝ°)"
In the sky, when Arceus saw Johan, a light flashed in its eyes, as if it "remembered" something.
[If you want to prove something, they alone are not enough!]
Arceus's voice resonated in everyone's minds.
"How about adding this one?" Johan gave Gengar a look.
"Ka-kaah~~"
Gengar stuck out its tongue, winking provocatively at Arceus, then made a slash in the air behind it.
A pitch-black rift appeared out of nowhere.
The next second.
A pair of hellish wings emerged from the rift, and Giratina's massive body moved out, roaring excitedly at Arceus in the sky.
Finally waited for you!!
The Renegade Pokémon, Giratina!
Johan seemed to hear this BGM in his ears: "Waited so long, finally waited for today..."
The rebellious dragon had appeared again!
Gone was its previous laid-back tea-drinking demeanor, now its heart was filled with excitement.
Johan hadn't lied to it!
Since Giratina first met Johan, he had been telling it "there will be a chance," and the patiently waiting Giratina hadn't expected... that this opportunity would really come!
The slave will rise up and sing, today! Right now!
"ROAR—!!"
Giratina roared, moving its body without hesitation, heading straight for Arceus.
Having Dialga and Palkia lead the charge? Those two were too cautious with too many concerns. Darkrai had no concerns but its strength was slightly lacking. But with Giratina acting as the main tank, wasn't that perfect?
Like in a raid, if no one actively takes the front line as the tank, doesn't... the slowest runner become the tank?
Let's go!!
Seeing Giratina, Arceus's expression immediately became more serious.
[You've earned the approval of these beings?]
Giratina, Dialga, Palkia, Darkrai...
[This is getting a bit interesting.]
But Arceus was, after all, the Original One. Strictly speaking, all these beings were its creations!
How could a creator fear what it had created?
Woosh—
The golden Thousand Arms glowed brilliantly again, extending countless meteor-like beams of light, shooting like raindrops toward the three dragons.
Giratina roared again, black mist surging from its body, seemingly expanding its already formidable wings to envelop those beams of light.
Dialga followed with a great roar, azure time beams shooting toward Arceus.
Roar of Time!
Palkia's red pearl on its shoulder flashed, as it swung out two dazzling blades of light, slashing toward Arceus.
Spacial Rend!
"I don't fear anything! After today, Johan better bring a truck to my place! OOOHHH—!!"
Darkrai shouted while forming a massive black hole, also trying to envelop Arceus.
"Vii~(≧≦)v"
Victini made a victory sign, showing its adorable fangs, covering the entire area with its "Victory Star" power.
BOOM!!
An incredibly terrifying noise seemed about to explode at this moment.
"Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
"Garchomp, Draco Meteor!"
"Bronzong, Psychic!"
"Infernape, Blast Burn!"
"Yanmega, Bug Buzz!"
Johan and the others, along with their Pokémon, also unleashed their moves.
Although their attacks might not seem to cause significant damage compared to those above, but...
This conflict was between humans and Arceus. To just stand and watch clearly wasn't the way Johan's group operated.
Of course, as for the result—
BOOM!!
As the massive rumble dissipated and the terrifying shockwaves scattered, Arceus remained undamaged, hovering in mid-air. A barrier had appeared around it, almost blocking all attacks.
This was an almost cheat-like "Protect."
Dialga and Palkia exchanged helpless glances.
There it is again...
Nothing they could do. Arceus possessed plates, which meant the plates could block all power impacts.
At this point, Johan also remembered...
He found it puzzling that Arceus, as the mighty Original One, would lose immunity to attacks of certain types after losing the plates. That was genuinely confusing.
Was it the Original One Arceus with eighteen plates that ruled, or eighteen plates carrying an Arceus that dominated?
You're the Original One, not the Plate One!
But at this moment, there seemed to be only one method to try.
"Attack it with Ground, Water, Grass, Electric, and Dragon-type moves!"
If history hadn't been changed, then Arceus's plates wouldn't have been fully restored.
Hearing this, Arceus's expression slightly changed. After giving Johan a deep look, it didn't show much panic.
At the same time, Giratina, Dialga, Palkia, and Darkrai launched another attack.
They might not be able to do much else, but weren't Roar of Time and Spacial Rend Dragon-type moves?
"The powers of time and space aren't needed, as they originate from Arceus itself."
However, just as they were about to launch another full-scale attack, Johan used his aura power to speak in their minds:
"Don't just attack all at once. Learn to attack in phases and with rhythm. Listen to my commands!"
Dialga and Palkia exchanged glances again.
Listen to his commands?
[Listen to him!]
Giratina spoke gravely, while its form flashed, a terrifying dragon aura manifesting outside its body, dragging its formidable wings as it charged directly at Arceus.
Dragon Rush!
Arceus's eyes gleamed, and the jewel on its cross-shaped Thousand Arms flashed to a light blue color.
Ice-type!
Even without the Dragon plate to be immune to Dragon-type moves, Ice-type could counter Dragon-type attacks.
Seeing this, Johan adjusted his monocle.
So... Arceus doesn't have a Fairy plate, right?
That... makes things much easier.
Arceus seemed to notice the smile on Johan's face from the corner of its eye.
Smiling?
The next second.
Palkia crossed through folded space, appearing behind Arceus, launching a huge blue aura bomb like an energy wave.
In front of Dialga, a membrane of time appeared, and a silvery Hyper Beam shot from its mouth, manipulated by temporal power to ensure it would hit simultaneously with Palkia and Giratina's attacks.
Fighting? Steel?
These were extremely effective against an Ice-type Arceus.
The smile on Johan's face grew wider.
If you use a barrier to block, you won't stop Giratina's charge. If you don't use a barrier, you'll take Dialga and Palkia's attacks head-on.
There's something for everyone, Arceus!
Arceus felt quite speechless. It feared not the reckless thug, but the educated thug with strategy!
BOOM—!!!
Another rumble, less dramatic than before but causing real damage to Arceus.
[Cunning human!]
Arceus's golden pupils flashed.
"Cunning?" Johan's smile remained.
The real "cunning" was just beginning.
Woosh—
Just when Arceus thought the attack was over, Darkrai appeared behind it, its massive Dark Void enveloping Arceus.
"Hmph!" Darkrai snorted coldly, "Even if you are Arceus..."
I'll still grab you!
"ROAR—!!!"
Giratina roared excitedly.
[Great! Great!!! (voice cracking)]
Although it was under the most pressure, as long as it could pummel Arceus, that was enough.
Whoosh—
As the smoke cleared.
A cold snort filled with authority exploded in everyone's hearts.
[Hmph!]
Arceus reappeared in everyone's sight.
Johan looked at Darkrai.
Even with Victini's Victory Star boosting your Dark Void, you couldn't put it to sleep? Has your accuracy been nerfed too?
Darkrai shot back an irritated look—only you would dare to think of putting Arceus to sleep!
[Even with coordination, you alone are far from enough!]
Arceus somewhat arrogantly swept its gaze over the three dragons, Darkrai, and Johan's group.
With such a lineup, even without plates, it still had absolute confidence.
"Then let's add more!" Johan shouted without backing down as soon as Arceus finished:
"Palkia!"
Woosh—
Kanto, Viridian City, Team Rocket Headquarters.
Mewtwo looked at the cloned Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur before it, its expression gentle.
"Charmander Two, Squirtle Two, Bulbasaur Two..."
These were among the few companions in its memory.
"Just missing Ai Two," Mewtwo took a deep breath and said gravely.
What it wanted to do was restore all its former companions, and for this, it was willing to pay a price.
"Char~"
"Squirtle~"
"Bulba~~"
The three little ones approached Mewtwo, bringing a slight smile to its face.
Suddenly.
Mewtwo's expression paused. It crouched down, patting the three little ones' heads, saying softly:
"Wait for me here. Someone very important to me needs my help."
Hearing this, the three little ones immediately let go of Mewtwo, giving encouraging, supportive looks.
Feeling their encouragement and recalling what that person had said to it, Mewtwo felt an indescribable power surging from its heart.
Woosh—
A rift appeared beside it, and Mewtwo held its head high, striding into it.
The laboratory staff immediately reported this to Boss Giovanni, receiving the response...
Mewtwo has its own choices, don't interfere too much.
Unova region, on the roof of N's Castle, former Team Plasma headquarters.
N, wearing a cap, sat on the railing of the roof, feeling the warm breeze and looking at the scene before him with a satisfied smile.
Outside what was once N's Castle was a wasteland, almost a desert, but now...
Patches of green had been added, with many former Team Plasma followers busy changing the environment.
And the environmental change had brought... a place where wild Pokémon, released Pokémon, and abandoned Pokémon could live.
Beside N, a massive black dragon suddenly raised its head. Above, what seemed like a black cloud appeared, with lightning plasma faintly visible within.
"What's wrong, Zekrom?" N keenly sensed Zekrom's change.
Zekrom lowered its head.
[He needs me.]
N was momentarily stunned, then reacted with some delight: "Teacher?"
Zekrom nodded.
"Then go quickly," N stood up, stretching a bit. "I'm rested enough and should join the work too."
With that, N leaped off the railing. A bird Pokémon flew up from below, catching him and carrying him down to the busy crowd.
After giving N one last look, Zekrom turned and walked into a spatial rift that had appeared nearby.
Unova region, Eindoak Town.
The white dragon Reshiram, lying atop the Sword of the Vale, yawned out of boredom, looking at the respectful People of the Vale before it, not knowing what to say.
It felt this boring life was worse than returning to slumber inside the "Light Stone."
"Lord Reshiram, we're planning to build a statue of Teacher Johan in town. Do you think your image should be—"
The mayor of Eindoak Town cautiously asked.
Should it be a statue of Teacher Johan riding Reshiram, or Reshiram standing beside Teacher Johan...
Suddenly.
Reshiram's expression straightened as it stood up, flapping its snow-white wings.
It gave a sideways glance at the mayor and the People of the Vale.
It really wanted to ask, does it have to be ridden?
Couldn't they...
Reshiram didn't speak, but to everyone's astonishment, it turned and walked into a spatial rift that had appeared.
[Truth, I feel an incredibly strong truth!]
On the vast ocean, a mysterious island shrouded in mist.
"Bwooo—"
The small Lugia flapped its wings, skimming over the sea surface near the island, stirring up layers of water spray, having a wonderful time.
Suddenly.
It stopped, looking toward its mother resting on the shore.
The former blackness on its mother had completely faded, restored to a snow-white crystalline appearance.
And now, Lugia had raised its head, looking into the distance, its gaze seemingly crossing vast distances to land somewhere.
"Bwooo?"
Baby Lugia quickly flew to its mother's side, only to be held back by its wing.
Lugia smiled slightly at Baby Lugia.
[You're still young. Wait until you grow up before going.]
"Bwooo..." Baby Lugia drooped its head.
At this moment, it truly longed to grow up.
Lugia gently embraced the little one, soothing its emotions.
[Wait for me here, don't wander off.]
With that, Lugia spread its wings, becoming a streak of light, seemingly carrying countless streams of water as it entered the rift.
"Bwooo!"
Watching its mother disappear, Baby Lugia's expression became exceptionally serious as it let out a long cry toward the island.
It must work hard to grow stronger!
On this day, the wild Pokémon on the mysterious Lugia Island all seemed to have a nightmare.
Sinnoh region, Michina.
Under Arceus's puzzled gaze, Palkia opened several spatial rifts leading to unknown destinations.
To be honest, even Palkia wasn't completely sure. It was just following Johan's instructions to open these rifts.
But the next second.
Palkia's mouth slowly opened wide, and nearby, Dialga couldn't help but swallow. Only Giratina's expression grew more excited and increasingly uncontainable.
[Is this what Johan promised?]
Truly a man of his word!
He said he'd gather help to deal with Arceus, and indeed, he brought in a large group!
Giratina glared fiercely at Arceus.
Today! Right now!
After a brief confusion, Arceus also showed some astonishment.
Whoosh—
Mewtwo appeared first, its psychic power immediately sweeping across the field. After exchanging a glance with Johan and giving a slight nod, it fixed its piercing gaze on Arceus.
The Original One?
It wanted to know what difference there was between Pokémon created by humans and those created by the Original One.
It wanted to know even more if the Original One... could help resurrect Ai Two!
Most importantly...
Even if you are the Original One, you can't just bully Johan!
Woosh—
The Dragon of Ideals, Zekrom, and the Dragon of Truth, Reshiram, simultaneously flew out from two spatial rifts on either side of Johan, hovering to his left and right.
Facing Arceus and striving for humanity's future—this ideal has been received!
Zekrom seemed to feel limitless power surging in its heart.
The stronger the ideal, the stronger the Dragon of Ideals!
Fearlessly facing the Original One without the slightest hesitation, recognizing reality is recognizing truth—this truth presented with courage, I have also felt!
The stronger the truth, the stronger the Dragon of Truth!
"Bwooo—"
The bright white Lugia appeared last. It gave Johan a deep look, sending grateful thoughts.
The debt for saving its child, the debt of help—this kindness is beyond repayment. Even if the opponent is Arceus, I will give my all!
In the sky, it seemed rain and wind were about to fall.
"This-this..." Flint's mouth hung open, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Zekrom, Reshiram, Lugia, and other legendary Pokémon I don't recognize but that are no less imposing, plus the ones from before..."
Lucian was equally shocked.
He thought Teacher Johan was already impressive, but he turned out to be even more so!
Calling in so many legendary Pokémon!
"And you said you weren't a legendary magnet!"
No wonder he dared to face the Original One.
Now, things are really getting interesting...
Lucian pushed his glasses, excitement rising uncontrollably in his eyes.
"Phew—"
Johan let out a light sigh.
Although he had called in so many beings at once, the pressure was truly immense.
If just a few of them didn't respect him, the commotion they could cause would be more than enough to devastate the entire Sinnoh region.
Suddenly.
He felt his palm warm slightly as a slender but firm hand slipped into his. Looking over, he saw Cynthia's encouraging and supportive smile.
Johan's heart steadied.
Damn it! At worst... they could destroy Sinnoh, and he could trick Cynthia into coming home with him!
"Arceus!" Johan stepped forward and shouted.
Arceus's eye twitched.
It really wanted to say, are you really just an ordinary person?
Could an ordinary person call in so many legendary Pokémon?
Even Arceus felt the pressure.
However, it still remained calm.
Its gaze passed over the many legendary and mythical Pokémon, past Johan and his group, looking into the distance.
[You say what I've seen doesn't represent all of humanity. But no matter how hard you try, there will always be 'betrayers' among humans.]
In the distance, a Team Galactic aircraft was approaching.
The aura of the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb on board made Dialga and Palkia's expressions change.
If someone were to use the power of these two orbs...
They both swallowed.
Would they have to fight against one, two, three... legendary Pokémon?
Then...
Palkia: [We'd be beaten to death, right?]
Dialga: [Be more confident, remove the 'right.']
Palkia: [...]
Even if they were "turned," Arceus's side would still be outnumbered...
"Team Galactic," Cynthia said gravely.
Although the aircraft was just a small black dot, she and Johan had "seen" it in the ancient past, and this was her greatest concern so far.
Johan patted the back of her hand, indicating she shouldn't worry.
Looking at Arceus, Johan nodded and said:
"Indeed. So... human issues, human shortcomings, why not let humans solve them themselves?"
The next second.
Beneath Team Galactic's rapidly approaching aircraft, at the last rift Palkia had left, two enormous arms suddenly stretched out, striking the Team Galactic aircraft.
Hmm?
Everyone was startled, except for Johan who smiled.
"REGI—"
A honest but firm voice came from the rift.
"GIGAS!!"
BOOM!
Under the incredibly terrifying force, Team Galactic's aircraft was swatted like a fly...
Then, an ancient giant wobbled out of the final rift—none other than the King of the Regis, Regigigas!!!
Palkia looked enlightened; no wonder Johan had asked it to open five rifts earlier.
This was his plan.
Regigigas, the King of the Regis, whose "Slow Start"... had been slow for quite a while.
Seeing Regigigas appear, Arceus's expression changed once more.
[Even the King of the Regis...]
Johan looked at Arceus again, smiling:
"You see, humans can actually solve problems quite simply."
Arceus's expression froze as its gaze swept over:
Giratina, Dialga, Palkia, Darkrai, Mewtwo, Zekrom, Reshiram, Lugia, Regigigas, plus... Victini whose Victory Star buff had been maximized.
Even for Arceus, facing such a lineup made it sweat a little.
"Arceus, why not do me a favor and let's talk?"
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Powerstones?
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