Initially, Aoki wanted to release Moltres for some minor treatment first; given his status and constitution as a Legendary Pokémon, his recovery speed would be relatively fast.
Perhaps he could even be of some use in the upcoming battle against The Cult.
As for whether he would be obedient then, that wouldn't be up to him.
However, the changes occurring in Tyranitar's body now were somewhat beyond Aoki's expectations.
Mega Tyranitar automatically reverted from his Mega Evolution form; he kept his eyes tightly shut, wearing a solemn expression.
Not only that, the dark red markings that originally appeared in his Mega Tyranitar form had not dissipated; instead, these dark red markings were flickering rhythmically, appearing quite mystical.
Aoki didn't know what was happening with Tyranitar until he used the chip to scan him, discovering that after defeating Moltres, Tyranitar had actually polished his strength to the very peak of the first hurdle of the Champion Level and was now in the process of breaking through!
And it seemed it wasn't just a simple breakthrough; the markings on his body held a special significance.
"Kuike—" Darkrai appeared beside Aoki, and Gengar also released his Mega Evolution to join Aoki, both watching the strangely conditioned Tyranitar.
Hearing Darkrai's words, Aoki's eyes widened. "What do you mean? You're saying you feel an aura from Tyranitar that's similar to the one on Moltres just now? Although it's clearly much thinner, it's definitely not an aura an ordinary Pokémon should possess."
Darkrai nodded with a serious expression. This was the first time he had seen such a phenomenon, but Tyranitar had indeed become tainted with some of Moltres's aura.
If Tyranitar were a Legendary Pokémon like an ordinary Moltres or Articuno, being tainted with this aura would mean he had gained the opportunity to compete for a divine office!
Because whether it's Moltres, Articuno, or Zapdos, their species are relatively numerous compared to other Legendary Pokémon, yet within their species, there is only ever one with the divine office.
If another Pokémon wants to obtain the divine office, there is only one way: defeat that Legendary Pokémon head-on and seize the divine office from their body.
But before that, not just any Moltres or Zapdos can seize a divine office; they must at least first possess the aura belonging to a true Legendary Pokémon to be considered as having the chance to compete.
And usually, when such Pokémon meet, it inevitably results in a tragic slaughter.
How can one allow others to Snore beside their bed? Any Pokémon qualified to compete for a divine office is a mortal enemy to these true Legendary Pokémon; meeting them inevitably leads to a brutal battle until death separates them.
This is the law of the Pokémon World: survival of the fittest, extremely cruel.
However, in such cases, ninety-nine percent of the time, the Pokémon already holding the divine office wins, simultaneously absorbing the divine office aura from the opponent to strengthen themselves, making their own divine office more stable and powerful.
Earlier, Darkrai felt that although this Moltres was a Legendary Pokémon, his divine office was exceptionally ethereal and unstable; he didn't know why then, but now he finally understood.
It was because after obtaining the divine office, this Moltres had stayed cooped up inside Mt. Silver, never facing challenges from other Moltres. Thus, his divine office was ethereal and unstable, unable to display its true power, which resulted in this Moltres being strong but not excessively so.
Whether he stayed inside Mt. Silver of his own accord, or because League restrictions forced him to, or perhaps both, it didn't have much to do with Aoki.
He now only wanted to know what would happen when this law, which exists between Moltres, Zapdos, Articuno, and other Legendary Pokémon, occurred in Tyranitar.
Although Pokémon like Tyranitar, Metagross, Hydreigon, and Dragonite have strength far exceeding ordinary Pokémon and are called Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, this is really just a playful term used by Trainers; they are not Legendary Pokémon, and Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon still belong among ordinary Pokémon.
He had never heard of a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon being able to possess a divine office.
Granted, because Tyranitar had integrated Groudon's items multiple times, he possessed Groudon's abilities and characteristics to a certain extent. Furthermore, eating the pokémon eggs of the three Legendary Pokémon—Giratina, Dialga, and Palkia—at the summit of Space-Time Mountain made him different from other Pokémon to some degree.
If one had to say, the current Tyranitar was actually no longer a pure Tyranitar to some extent; his mystical nature was not something an ordinary Tyranitar could possess.
Could it be that because he absorbed so many things from Legendary Pokémon, it led to Tyranitar being able to possess the aura of a divine office?
Upon learning of Aoki's confusion, Darkrai indicated that he wasn't very sure either.
Although he knew quite a bit more than Aoki—having once been a being who possessed such an aura, proving he had the qualification to accept a divine office, which was why he was called the most likely Pokémon to receive the Darkrai divine office by the entire Darkrai population.
However, it was merely contact; he had never truly become a Legendary Pokémon and didn't know the secrets within.
He could only tell Aoki that perhaps Tyranitar really did have the capacity to hold a divine office!
But no one knew what a divine office for a non-Legendary Pokémon would be.
Listening to Darkrai's words, Aoki fell silent again. If his Pokémon could become a Legendary Pokémon, he would naturally be overjoyed, but now the situation felt somewhat out of his control, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
If a divine office could really be had, why not just give it directly? Why all this fuss?
Then Aoki asked a question that left Darkrai dumbfounded. "I'm saying if, just as an example.
If I had Tyranitar finish off this Moltres, could Tyranitar receive the divine office belonging to Moltres? You know, my Tyranitar has the ability to control flames."
"..."
Darkrai felt a bit of a cold sweat upon hearing Aoki's question, but he was also stumped by it.
Because he didn't know if such a thing would happen. Rationally speaking, if it were an ordinary Moltres, perhaps killing this Moltres would allow them to inherit the divine office. If they could hold it for a period with their own strength and stabilize it, they would become a true Legendary Pokémon Moltres.
But for Tyranitar, this was a first, and fundamentally, Tyranitar's own typing didn't include Fire-type; Fire-type was his hidden attribute. Could he really inherit a Fire-type divine office?
Not necessarily.
Actually, Aoki was just talking nonsense; a bold thought had suddenly flashed through his mind. If he really had to have Tyranitar kill Moltres, he would still be somewhat reluctant.
After all, this was the Legendary Pokémon Moltres!
Putting aside this unrealistic thought, Aoki shifted all his attention back to Tyranitar.
At this moment, the flickering dark red markings on Tyranitar's body had mostly stabilized. The fluctuations of Tyranitar's aura were also becoming steady, and even the Legendary Pokémon aura on him had been restrained quite a bit; it could only be felt at close range.
However, Aoki had already had the chip record these special aura fluctuations. The next time he encountered this aura, he would likely be able to detect it himself without needing Darkrai's reminder.
"Ban!!!"
Tyranitar roared to the heavens, a fierce aura gushing forth. Aoki, who was closest, subconsciously enveloped himself in Psychic power, but even so, he was pushed back repeatedly by Tyranitar's aura. If Darkrai hadn't reacted and appeared by Aoki's side to block this aura, he probably would have been blown back quite a distance.
Finally, after a moment, Tyranitar's aura completely stabilized.
And now Tyranitar, in terms of both strength and aura, had reached the level of the second hurdle of the Champion Level.
Aoki scanned with the chip and obtained Tyranitar's current data, data reaching the second hurdle of the Champion Level!
pokémon: Tyranitar (Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 90
Type: Rock-type + Dark-type (Ground-type + Fire-type + Dragon-type)
Ability: Sand Stream
Held Items: sandy rock, Tyranitarite, Qualification Aura
Egg Moves: Dragon Dance, Outrage, Ancient Power, Stealth Rock
Basic Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Bite, Glare, Sandstorm, Screech, Chip Away, Rock Slide, Scary Face, Thrash, Dark Pulse, Payback, Crunch, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact
Learnt Moves: Iron Tail, Dragon Pulse, Thunder Punch, Iron Defense, Aqua Tail, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Snore, Earth Power, Sacred Sword (70%), Stomping Tantrum
TM Movse: Protect, Earthquake, Thunder, Brick Break, Flamethrower, Shadow Claw, Rock Polish, Stone Edge, Dragon Claw, Taunt, Aerial Ace, Dragon Tail, Substitute
His level had broken through to level 90 in one go, and in the held items column, a new item called Qualification Aura appeared. This was the first time Aoki had seen it, but it likely had a strong connection to the Legendary Pokémon aura Darkrai mentioned.
Moving his thoughts onto it, he indeed got an explanation from the chip.
Name: Qualification Aura
Description: A mysterious aura originating from the true Legendary Pokémon Moltres. It is said to possess unpredictable powers and concerns the true identity of a Legendary Pokémon.
Effect: Unknown
Note: Not something an ordinary pokémon can possess; any possessor is bound to be a standout among many pokémon.
Seeing the description was no different from not seeing it at all.
How to put it? Likely, the chip's database didn't have any data stored about this item, so even though it was obtained and identified, the specific function remained unknown.
Keeping this matter in mind for the time being, Aoki looked at Tyranitar with a smile. "Tyranitar, how do you feel?"
"Ban!!" Tyranitar called out with narrowed eyes.
His condition couldn't be better; he even showed off his massive biceps to Aoki, looking very robust.
"Haha, good! I expect there's another tough battle ahead, so you'd better be ready." When mentioning the tough battle, Aoki's expression became somewhat solemn.
Currently, The Cult had already sealed off the entire summit of Mt. Silver; something must be happening inside. If the League had the upper hand, it would be fine, but if The Cult had the upper hand... Aoki didn't know if entering would be a good or bad thing.
Thinking of this, Aoki summoned the Moltres he had just captured.
A Legendary Pokémon truly lived up to its name; his self-recovery ability was very strong. In just this short amount of time, the wilted feathers on his body had mostly recovered.
Only because Gengar and Darkrai had used Dream Eater so relentlessly, his mental state was quite severely damaged, and combined with Tyranitar's thrashing, his bones were somewhat displaced and out of alignment.
He took out a large pile of special potions and pills and applied them directly to Moltres. With these medicines combined with his own powerful recovery, he would likely have the ability to fight before long.
After treating Moltres's injuries, he recalled him. Aoki then summoned Salamence, jumped on his back, and flew toward the summit of Mt. Silver.
What helped him make the decision wasn't so-called conscience.
But rather, he had just sensed something entering his range of perception, heading toward Mt. Silver at extreme speed.
If that person was there, even if The Cult really held a certain advantage, Aoki wouldn't be so worried.
Moreover, possessing numerous Unown, he would have the power to Protect himself even if he couldn't withstand The Cult's attacks.
From Aoki's current perspective, it wasn't time for the League to collapse yet. After all, his current foundation was primarily built upon the League's system, followed by Team Rockets, and finally Team Sky.
The collapse of the League would inevitably deal a massive blow to his interests.
Furthermore, a society that suddenly lost the League's oversight would surely fall into chaos, and such chaos was not something Aoki wished to see.
Only in a stable society could he steadily reap profits.
Although there was a non-negligible chance that Aoki could gain even more benefits after the League's collapse—and might even completely take control of the Hoenn Region if he played his cards right—it was risky.
But was the League really that easy to take down?
Clearly, it wasn't that simple. Even Team Rockets hadn't managed to reach that stage, let alone this The Cult.
The plan was good, and they had many hidden methods, but Aoki didn't believe the League, which had ruled the Pokémon World for so many years, would be without its own trump cards. At the very least, that mysterious Elder of the League was no simple figure.
Salamence was very fast, reaching the summit of Mt. Silver in no time.
Perhaps because Aoki arrived in time, or perhaps because he and Steven had dealt with Wallace quickly enough, The Cult members had only just finished descending and were clashing with the defensive forces of the League Headquarters before he even entered the Psychic barrier they had set up.
To be honest, The Cult's surprise attack had indeed exceeded the League's expectations.
This was because the current Grand Chairman of the League, the Elder, possessed certain special abilities. To a degree, he could foresee specific events and sense major occurrences affecting the entire Pokémon World. It was precisely because of these special abilities that everyone in the League held him in high esteem.
Of course, his own strength was also a key factor, but these special abilities had indeed played a significant role.
During his tenure leading the League, its ability to develop smoothly to its current level was closely related to this power.
However, for some reason, the Elder had failed to sense this major threat to the League. Due to some misjudgments, several experts from The Master League had even been dispatched to suppress The Cult uprisings elsewhere.
The various Elite members and combat personnel from the Kanto and Johto regions had shifted their attention to various cities within their regions during this time.
Therefore, the League Headquarters at Mt. Silver was currently at its weakest in terms of defensive strength, and The Cult had accurately seized this opportunity to mobilize their entire force.
They had enveloped the summit of Mt. Silver, cutting off all signal transmissions, so those outside were unaware of the situation at the peak.
Although League legions were stationed at the summit of Mt. Silver year-round, these legions were now in a precarious state under the assault of The Cult's main force.
They were also short on high-end power and could barely manage to hold the line.
However, at this moment, the Cult Bishop was hovering in mid-air without taking action, and the Elder, the Chairman of The Master League, had yet to appear.
People of their level were the ones who truly decided the outcome of this battle. No matter how hard the others fought, the final victory would be determined by those few individuals.
Inside the League Headquarters building, the Elder sat cross-legged, his face full of helplessness and a somewhat desolate expression. "Sigh, in the end, it has come to this."
"Since all of this started with me, then let me be the one to resolve it in the end."
As he spoke, the Elder slowly stood up and gently brushed the dust off his clothes. His originally hunched back straightened, and the peaceful aura about him suddenly became sharp and piercing.
His body was surrounded by a ring of white light, and he abruptly vanished from the room.
At that moment, Aoki, riding Salamence, broke through the Psychic barrier created by The Cult without any resistance.
Now, as long as Aoki wanted to go somewhere, there were basically no barriers that could stop him, except for some specially designed ones.
He could even go to the Distortion World where Giratina resided if he wished, though he feared he might never return from such a trip.
As Aoki approached silently, he found that while the battle between The Cult and the League had begun, the two true leaders had not yet started their fight.
The Middle-aged Man in the purple robes was the Cult Bishop. Facing him, with his hands behind his back and wearing coarse grey hemp clothes, was the straight-backed old man who was the true power behind the League, the Grand Chairman, the Elder!
Just as Aoki was wondering whether he should reveal himself, he felt the Cult Bishop shift his gaze toward his position. A faint smile played on the Bishop's face, as if he could see him.
But Aoki was currently using the power of the Question Mark Unown to completely cloak himself.
Yet, seeing the other's eyes, Aoki felt a chill run down his spine; he had a feeling that the man knew he was there.
If the Cult Bishop hadn't glanced away and ignored him after that one look, Aoki might have bolted right out of the barrier.
The Cult Bishop's smile was truly unnerving.
"Elder!" the Bishop called out across the space to the grey-robed Elder. He didn't use Psychic power; he simply spoke with his voice.
Hearing the call, the Elder nodded slightly. "Qian, you came after all!"
"Qian? Is that the Cult Bishop's name? It seems that, as Giovanni said, he wasn't the only one who saw through the Cult Bishop's identity. Others did too, and the League's Elder is one of them," Aoki thought to himself.
Upon hearing this, Qian grinned widely. At that moment, he looked like a big child, lacking any of the bearing of a hegemon of a major power like the Cult Bishop, looking instead like a League Trainer.
Aoki narrowed his eyes. It seemed highly probable that this Cult Bishop had once been part of the League, and held a high position at that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have such detailed knowledge of the League, nor could he have planted so many moles within it.
"If I hadn't left the League back then, I would probably have this kind of smile now, wouldn't I? And with my abilities, I'd be a high-ranking official by now. Even if I hadn't reached the rank of Champion, I'd at least be one of the Elite Four," Qian said, his smile fading into an indifferent, cold expression.
The Elder slowly shook his head. "If you hadn't chosen not to return from the Space-Time Continent back then, you would already be the Vice-Chairman of The Master League. And whenever I could no longer carry on, the Chairmanship would have been yours!"
Vice-Chairman of The Master League?!
He would have been the next Chairman once the Elder stepped down?!
Just who was this Qian to be held in such high regard by the Elder?
But Qian's face was full of disdain. He curled his lip and said, "Tch, as if I'd believe you. You're a wicked old man. You probably said the same thing to that fellow Giovanni back then, didn't you?"
Aoki's eyes widened. Had he just heard a profound truth?!
"Hahahaha—the two of you were indeed the ones I favored most. Facts have proven that I wasn't wrong about either of you; you both truly possessed the potential to become top-tier powerhouses in this world," the Elder laughed heartily, as if reminiscing about how Giovanni and Qian were back then.
"But it seems you couldn't keep either of us," Qian's voice grew colder. "The longer one is in contact with the League, the more one realizes it has existed for too long. Many of its methods are outdated, decayed, and unsuited for the current Pokémon World."
"Under your management, the League's development is far too slow. It's completely unable to systematically manage the entire world."
"Your methods are too soft, too hesitant, and filled with too many worries. Every proposal seems like an extreme idea to you. In your old age, you only think of maintaining the status quo and have no desire for progress!!"
From these words, one could hear his deep dissatisfaction with the entire League.
However, the Elder's expression remained unchanged. He continued to smile and said, "That is why it is said that the League will eventually be handed over to you young people, to be expanded and glorified in your hands..."
"But I can't wait!" Qian interrupted the Elder before he could finish, his face turning slightly distorted. "Relying on the support and help of Arceus, you old fogey have lived for who knows how many years. No one knows exactly how old you are now. Who knows how much longer you'll live!?"
The power of Arceus?!
No wonder the Elder looked so robust despite his great age, and no wonder he possessed so many miraculous abilities. If it was Arceus, then everything made sense.
The League was born under the support of Arceus and had developed to its current stage. Looking at it this way, it was understandable.
Arceus created the Pokémon World, and the League controlled it. To say the League managed the world on behalf of Arceus wouldn't be incorrect.
"I am but a decaying man. The reason I have held on until now is simply because I haven't found someone I can trust to hand the League over to. So, I'm afraid this old man will have to persevere for a while longer," the Elder said calmly.
In fact, fundamentally, he had long reached the limits of human lifespan. He only remained because no one had appeared in the League whom he could fully trust with its future.
There were those he favored, but they hadn't grown up yet. He needed to hold on for them for a bit longer, at least until they matured.
The League's conservative development over the past few years wasn't because it wanted to be that way, but because he had to provide a relatively stable environment for the younger generation.
Now, the younger generation of the League had slowly grown to become the pillars of various regions. He believed that if he held on a bit longer, he could finally hand the League over with peace of mind.
"Pfft—" Qian chuckled, noncommittal about the Elder's words. Who knew if what he said was true?
"My purpose for coming here is simple. I can choose not to destroy the League, and I can choose not to kill everyone here, as long as you give me that thing!" Qian's face turned serious as he extended a hand and spoke flatly.
Looking down at the Elder from a superior position, his demand for the item seemed full of imposing momentum.
The Elder slowly shook his head. "Even if you destroy this entire League Headquarters and bury everyone here, you will not obtain what you seek."
"Old man! Is it worth it?!"
"If you just hand that item over, I can even guarantee that I will never appear in the Pokémon World again, disappearing forever." Qian frowned deeply, appearing determined to get his hands on whatever that 'thing' was.
Watching from the side, Aoki also frowned. What exactly was it that the Cult Bishop was so desperate to obtain?
It now appeared that his true goal wasn't to destroy the League Headquarters, but to obtain something kept there. According to the Elder, even if everyone there died, he wouldn't let Qian have it.
"Further talk is useless. If you want to take it, then try. I would like to see just how far your strength has reached after all these years of biding your time," the Elder said as he slowly began to hover. His wide grey hemp clothes fluttered without wind, revealing the Poké Balls at his waist.
Aoki narrowed his eyes. This Elder should represent the pinnacle of combat power in the current world. He wondered just how strong the man really was.
"Heh, although I've worked hard to improve myself these past years, I still have self-awareness. I know I'm not yet your match. That's why I've found a quite excellent opponent for you this time, Elder. I expect they will be able to satisfy your long-unexercised combat power," Qian said with a half-smile, tracing a gentle line in the air with his left hand.
Watching his movement, the Elder frowned. He had a very bad feeling.
"Roar—"
As the space-time rift was torn open, rows of upside-down floating islands could be seen through it.
Distortion World!
A dark shadow emerged from the rift; after leaving the crack, this Pokémon suddenly transformed from its original Origin Forme into its Altered Forme!
This was its battle stance!
Giratina! Giratina!
This dark shadow rushing from the Distortion World into the Pokémon World was none other than the master of the Distortion World who had always wanted to claim the Pokémon World for himself—Giratina!
Watching Giratina's descent, Elder's expression was no longer as calm and indifferent as before; it was now somewhat solemn.
He let out a long breath. "Although I prepared for this and roughly guessed this outcome, I never expected that the person eventually subdued by Giratina would be you!"
One could see the deep regret on Elder's face, and his eyes held an irrepressible pity as he looked at Qian.
"Don't look at me with those eyes. Since you know my identity, you should understand that a Dragon-type Pokémon of the Legendary Pokémon level like Giratina is irresistible. I'm not like that old geezer from the Hoenn Region who knew he was no match for Giratina but still went to his death, ending up as neither human nor ghost!" Qian sneered.
Moreover, in his view, he and Giratina were simply using each other to get what they needed; there was no such thing as one subduing the other.
"It was before you went to the Space-Time Continent, wasn't it? Giratina contacted you secretly before then?" Elder asked.
This Qian showed no abnormalities before going to the Space-Time Continent, but after he went there, he wasn't among those who returned.
Just like with Aoki not long ago, after multiple failed search attempts, they eventually chose to give up.
Those who entered later also failed to find any trace of him, and since then, the casualty rate for everyone entering the Space-Time Continent has only increased.
Now it seems everything is closely related to this Qian.
A faint smile played on Qian's face. Without saying more to Elder, he turned directly toward Aoki's direction and said, "It's Aoki, right? Why don't you come out? There's no need to keep hiding; Elder already discovered you the moment you arrived."
Then, with a wave of Qian's left hand, the special ability belonging to the Question Mark Unown that enveloped Aoki suddenly dissolved, revealing his form.
Aoki felt the special barrier around him dissolve, but he didn't focus on that. Instead, he stared intently at Qian—specifically, at Qian's left hand.
On the back of his left hand was a tattoo shaped like an exclamation mark!
If Aoki guessed correctly, this exclamation mark tattoo had to be one of the two most special among all Unown: the Exclamation Mark Unown!
It was a pair with the Question Mark Unown currently on his wrist.
Aoki had noticed the tattoo on his left hand when Qian casually tore open space just now.
He had been in too much of a hurry last time and hadn't noticed, but seeing it now, he could hardly suppress the shock in his heart.
"Young Aoki, I presume you already made your choice before coming here? How about lending the League a hand? I will surely reward you handsomely afterward!" Elder didn't look at Aoki, but his voice reached Aoki's ears.
Just as Qian said, Elder had sensed Aoki's presence before he arrived, but since Aoki hadn't revealed himself, Elder didn't know how to make him appear. However, Qian of The Cult possessed such an ability.
It seemed they came from the same source.
Aoki's attention was still on Qian's left hand, but he was slightly stunned upon hearing Elder's words.
"Lend the League a hand?"
It sounded like Elder didn't consider Aoki to be a member of the League.
This meant that Elder had actually known Aoki's identity for a long time but hadn't made it public for some reason.
Either he felt Aoki's strength wasn't enough to affect the entire League, or he felt Aoki hadn't caused significant damage to the League's interests yet, or perhaps he valued some quality or ability of Aoki's... In short, Elder knew Aoki's identity but hadn't exposed him, which surely had a deep meaning. Even the voice appearing by Aoki's ear could only be heard by him alone and wasn't audible to the League members below.
Although he didn't know what Elder's purpose was or why he was doing this.
But as he said, Aoki had already made his choice before coming; between the League and The Cult, he would certainly stand with the League.
If the behemoth that was the League collapsed now without a replacement power appearing, the entire Pokémon World would revert to a state of fragmentation, which didn't hold much appeal for Aoki.
It was more appropriate for the League to continue existing.
Furthermore, the grudge between Aoki and The Cult was not small. Since they had come out in full force this time, it would be best if they could be kept here. If they were allowed to gain power, Aoki would likely have to return to a life of hiding.
Add to that The Cult's alliance with Giratina; Aoki's Pokémon also had a significant grudge against Giratina.
He nodded slightly, indicating he knew what he had to do.
Although he wasn't looking at Aoki, Elder could feel Aoki's consenting nod, and a slight smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
With Aoki here, it meant the people in the Hoenn Region would know, and then the people in other regions would know too. As long as they stalled for a while and everyone returned, it would surely be the day The Cult was wiped out.
Knowing Aoki was present, Qian obviously realized that Wallace, who was responsible for the Hoenn Region, must have been dealt with, though he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
However, despite the surprise, he didn't care much.
"Elder, your opponent is here. I hope you have fun!"
The Altered Forme Giratina flapped its wings and charged at Elder, completely unconcerned that the opponent was a human, treating him entirely like a Pokémon.
Because on Elder's body, it felt the aura it disliked most—the aura belonging to Arceus.
Elder's expression tightened as he watched Giratina charge. He unclipped a Poké Ball from his waist and threw it toward Giratina.
"Screee!!!"
Crackle—
A giant bird covered in golden lightning burst from the Poké Ball and collided with the charging Giratina, causing the once-calm sky to suddenly erupt with Thunder and lightning.
Compared to the Moltres Aoki had captured before, this Zapdos looked even more majestic. Its imposing appearance and fierce eyes made it clear at a glance that it was a Pokémon with rich battle experience, showing no signs of neglect despite Elder's age.
However, while this Zapdos seemed extraordinarily powerful, it was still no match for Giratina. After barely stopping the initial impact, it immediately fell into a disadvantage.
Elder's expression remained unchanged as he threw out two more Poké Balls.
"Screee—"
"Screee—"
One red and one blue, two bird Pokémon that looked similar to Zapdos rushed out. Without needing a word from Elder, they charged straight at Giratina.
Moltres! Articuno!
At this moment, the three Legendary Birds of the Kanto Region were gathered!
They fought together against Giratina.
Under the combined effort of the three Legendary Birds, they finally managed to barely hold Giratina back. Moreover, the three birds seemed to be very deliberately blasting Giratina toward the Distortion World, completely unconcerned that it was the opponent's territory.
Elder followed behind the Pokémon, slowly drifting toward the Distortion World. Upon reaching the edge of the spatial rift, he said to Aoki, "Young Aoki, hold on for a while; reinforcements will arrive soon!"
With that, he stepped into the spatial rift, entering the Distortion World along with the three Legendary Birds and Giratina.
"..."
Aoki watched Elder disappear into the spatial rift, momentarily at a loss for words.
Originally, it was a confrontation between Elder and this Qian, with Aoki watching from the sidelines, so the pressure wasn't very great.
After all, in his view, soldiers face soldiers and generals face generals. Dealing with a powerhouse like the Cult Bishop, who could to some extent rival Giovanni of Team Rockets, was not something a rising star like himself could handle.
His task was only to join the battle below, deal with The Cult Executives and ordinary members, and relieve the pressure on the League's side.
But now Elder had entered the Distortion World with Giratina, leaving the Cult Bishop and himself here in a standoff; no matter how he looked at it, he felt like he'd been sold out.
Aoki looked around and found the place empty; besides himself and the faintly smiling Cult Bishop in front of him, there was no one else.
Being all alone made Aoki feel a bit creeped out.
"It looks like it's just the two of us left, Aoki!
Although I don't come to the Pokémon World often, I frequently hear people talk about you—the standout of the League's younger generation, one of the top experts.
The one who made my The Cult's highest Executive, Wallace, and others suffer greatly on the Space-Time Continent, and even used schemes to make my The Cult members attack each other.
We didn't have time for a detailed exchange last time, but now it seems you indeed have the look of a top expert from the League's younger generation; I just don't know how strong you actually are," Qian said with a faint smile.
Aoki's expression stiffened. From that brief glimpse back then, he had seen just the tip of the iceberg of this mysterious Cult Bishop's power. Although he now possessed Darkrai and Tyranitar at the second stage of the Champion Level—and if counted, Mega Gengar after Mega Evolution, as well as the Moltres he had just forcibly subdued after grinding it into the dirt.
But Aoki estimated that all his Pokémon combined could probably only block one or two of the opponent's Pokémon at most.
At the very least, that Latios with the mega stone back then could have held off so many of his Pokémon once it Mega Evolved.
"Uh, if I said I was just passing by, would anyone believe me?" Aoki's expression was awkward.
To his surprise, Qian shrugged and said, "I believe you. Since you're just passing by, don't get involved in this matter. If you leave now, I definitely won't stop you!"
"..."
Seeing his solemn assurance, Aoki almost believed him.
"However... aren't you curious about the special Unown on my hand? Aren't you curious about my original identity? Aren't you curious about what exactly is in the League that I'm so determined to get?" Qian continued, his words full of temptation and playfulness.
Aoki looked at his left hand and nodded honestly. "If I say I'm curious, will you tell me?"
Qian nodded. "Sure, I'll tell you if you beat me!"
"..."