"Rayquaza, this rock… can it let you return to your primal form?" Edward held up the meteorite in his hand, looking happily at the majestic dragon before him as he asked. Rayquaza's golden eyes stared silently at him, and only after a few seconds did it give a small nod.
Edward finally let out a breath of relief. With this problem settled, the next step was simple—he just needed to obtain a spacesuit from the rocket launch center, then he could ride Rayquaza and head into space.
But a new question still lingered: would Rayquaza even allow him to ride on its back? That was something worth pondering carefully. After all, Edward knew full well that Legendary Pokémon all carried pride and arrogance within them.
And Rayquaza, standing before him now, had a grudge against his family. After all, his own father had once helped the League capture Rayquaza. Although it hadn't truly been kept for research, the fact that it had been hunted surely left some resentment in Rayquaza's heart.
"Rayquaza, a meteorite is about to fall… when the time comes…" Edward said nervously, his heart pounding harder than when he had confessed to the girl he once liked for the very first time.
At least if you failed a confession, you could always try again later, or else simply bury yourself in your studies and work. But if Rayquaza rejected him… that would be troublesome. He couldn't possibly go searching for the "main character" of this world, could he? And besides, Ash was still in the Kanto region.
A sharp cry, "ROOOAR!" suddenly rang out. In the next instant, Rayquaza's claws seized Edward, and it soared upward with explosive speed. The Sky Pillar beneath them shrank rapidly in his vision, the vast ocean below becoming smaller and smaller. Edward was fortunate he didn't suffer from acrophobia.
But then—Rayquaza released him! He plummeted straight down through the open sky. Before he could even cry out, Rayquaza appeared beneath him in a flash, allowing him to land securely on its back.
Clutching his chest, Edward realized belatedly how wildly his heart was racing—thump, thump, thump! The adrenaline coursing through his veins surged stronger than ever.
"This speed…" Edward swallowed as he glanced at the shadows of towns streaking by far below them.
The Pokédex often described Pokémon with flashy notes—some supposedly could circle the globe, others boasted impossible speeds. Yet in the actual games, their Speed stats weren't always the highest. Those descriptions often left fans debating their accuracy.
But now Edward had a clear, firsthand understanding of Rayquaza's speed.
This mighty Legendary truly was that fast. At full force, it could easily outpace most passenger aircraft, its speed reaching an awe-inspiring level.
"Roooar!" Rayquaza cried again. The meteorite in Edward's hand suddenly grew hotter, unbearably so. At the same time, his heartbeat quickened in tandem, as though resonating with Rayquaza. Edward instantly understood what it meant.
Clutching the meteorite tightly, though it was somewhat large, he still felt the strange power surging within it. His breathing grew rapid, his vision blurred faintly. He realized that this was him—calling out, summoning Rayquaza, urging it to respond to his will, and to ascend into its Mega Evolution!
The next moment, Rayquaza beneath him blazed with dazzling light. In a flash, it transformed—Mega Rayquaza! Its speed skyrocketed instantly. Moments ago, Edward could still faintly make out towns beneath them. Now everything blurred so quickly it felt like he was watching a slideshow, the world whipping past in disjointed flashes.
Rayquaza shrieked sharply, and then its speed leapt even higher. Edward could no longer make out any scenery below at all. By the time Rayquaza stopped, he found himself once more above the Sky Pillar, the dragon gradually descending.
"Thank you, Rayquaza. Just now… did you circle the entire world?" Edward patted its scales, then suddenly thought of something and asked. Hearing this, Rayquaza nodded.
Its golden eyes glanced at him again, leaving Edward stunned. Already? They had only just taken flight, and it had already completed a full lap around the world. That was terrifyingly fast. And though he couldn't clearly see much of the scenery below, he still noticed many islands, and even a massive continent they passed. Clearly, there were regions within the Pokémon world that the League had yet to publicly disclose.
Edward felt a twinge of regret. If only he could go down and take a closer look… then he could "spoil" things for his friends. But thinking again, even if he did discover unknown Pokémon and regions, what good would it do? His friends hadn't transmigrated here, so he couldn't tell them anyway.
Rayquaza carried Edward back to the Sky Pillar. On its summit, a group of people were busy at work. When they saw Edward return atop Rayquaza, shock spread across their faces. Leading Officer Jenny let out a long breath of relief, putting down her phone.
Jumping down from Rayquaza's back, Edward landed firmly. Rayquaza gave him one last glance before soaring back into the skies. As it rose higher, Edward felt his heart slow slightly—the Mega Evolution link had ended now that Rayquaza was too far away.
"Edward, just now, Rayquaza…" Officer Jenny looked at him in amazement, unable to resist asking. Edward instantly knew what she meant. He gave a small nod, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
The League knew of Rayquaza's standard form, of course, but what she had just seen was something entirely different. And somehow… it was connected to Edward.
"Yes. It should be something like Mega Evolution." Edward said casually. "Now, I need a spacesuit capable of functioning in outer space. When the time comes, I'll ride Rayquaza up there and shatter the meteorite."
Hearing this, Officer Jenny froze in silence for a moment, then nodded.
And so, unexpectedly yet inevitably, Hoenn's meteorite crisis was essentially resolved—thanks to Edward's bold maneuvering. Although he hadn't yet received a spacesuit, that wouldn't be a problem. Humanity might lack deep knowledge of outer space, but basic spacesuits were well within their capabilities. With that, Edward and Rayquaza could head up together when the time came.
Edward thought this marked the end of his troubles. But he soon discovered that the moment people learned he could travel into space, his life became busier than ever.
"Boss, the head researcher from the Alola Institute wishes to arrange a meeting with you." Three days after Rayquaza's Mega Evolution incident, Edward was sitting in his office when Zoroark entered with a stack of documents, delivering news that made Edward's head ache. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed.
"How troublesome… how many is that now?"
Since the news spread of him going to space to solve the meteorite problem, his phone had been ringing nonstop. Every contact channel he had exploded with requests. Researchers from countless institutions hounded him like madmen, all eager to discuss outer space with him.
Some even wanted to mount measuring devices directly onto Rayquaza, to gather extraterrestrial data!
And each new person seemed to carry more weight than the last. Even meeting the head of an institute was the simplest case. Edward had even been approached by professors who regularly attended the League's highest-level conferences—respected old scholars who carried immense authority. Rejecting them outright was awkward, but agreeing was equally troublesome.
"Boss, based on current requests, you'll need to meet with thirty-two more directors. Most are Doctors, and five are academicians." Zoroark reported calmly.
Edward groaned, rubbing his face in pain. He had never expected this many. Yet he couldn't ignore them either—he was the future president of Devon Corporation. These connections were invaluable for the future.
"…Fine, I understand." Edward exhaled. Wealth brought him what, exactly? It was satisfying, yes, but also came with countless burdens. Still, he couldn't deny he enjoyed it. Being a rich second-generation heir truly was wonderful. He could never bring himself to spout nonsense like, 'My happiest days were when I had no money.'
"Oh, right, boss—famous film critic Brad, who has served on the panel at many League Film Festivals, just published a review of The Truman Show." Zoroark added, offering some good news.
"Oh?" Edward's interest perked up. He knew of Brad —once a dashing actor, even a Best Actor winner, who later became a successful director before retiring. Now a film critic, he still held enormous influence.
Though, admittedly, his name always made Edward feel a little out of place.
Regardless, his opinion mattered. His review could determine whether The Truman Show succeeded in clinching major awards at the festival. Edward quickly pulled out his phone, searching. Within an hour of its posting, Tom's review had already broken thirty million views. His influence was undeniable.
The review read:
"The Truman Show is a deeply thought-provoking science fiction drama. Personally, I even feel that Director Edward Stone has crafted an autobiographical film, in a way, for certain unique individuals within the film industry itself.
The film tells Truman's story. But to me, it was not only Truman's. While watching, I sometimes felt as though I myself were a part of it.
Truman grew up in what appeared to be a normal town, yet beneath the surface it was all fabricated. From his birth, his life was recorded and broadcast as part of a reality show named The Truman Show. Billions worldwide tuned in daily to watch every moment of his life. His father, mother, wife, friends, even strangers on the street—all were actors.
His life followed routine: driving to work, chatting with neighbors, shopping at the supermarket. Ordinary, just like any of us. Yet as he aged, cracks appeared. A stage light fell from the sky. Strange radio transmissions leaked through. His memories sometimes didn't add up. His wife's exaggerated product placements. A bizarre thunderstorm. These signs planted seeds of doubt.
He began to search for truth. Every step of the way, obstacles blocked him, with everyone around him striving to maintain the false world. Truman's plight reflects the extreme development of our own entertainment industry—where an individual's life can be commodified, consumed as mere entertainment for the masses.
At times, even I felt as though I, too, were merely an actor, watched by unseen eyes.
What thrilled me most, however, was the performance of the lead—Jim Carrey. I know him. A remarkable actor. Precisely because of his talent, he once faced many difficulties. Yet it seems he has emerged stronger. His brilliant acting vividly conveyed Truman's transformation—from naïve acceptance, to yearning for truth, to determined rebellion.
When Truman at last uncovered the truth, breaking through barrier after barrier to reach the boundless ocean of reality, he defied the director's control. He rejected the false comforts of that fabricated world.
The film delivers a powerful message: in our own lives, we too may be lost within illusions. Only by clinging to truth as Truman did, can we realize our true value and free our souls.
I eagerly look forward to presenting Director Edward an award at the League Film Festival."
The review wasn't overly long, but Edward was delighted nonetheless. For Brad to write this meant he had already secured a strong step toward Best Picture. All that remained was to see his competitors.
The film world was strange sometimes. In a given year, there might be only a handful of excellent films. At award season, everyone expected film A to win. If not A, then B or C would suffice. Yet, out of nowhere, the award sometimes went to D—a film few considered in the same league.
But Edward wasn't worried. If corruption and backroom deals ever influenced results, then he was the one most capable of pulling strings.
"Well, those haters can't say I've never won anything now, right?" he chuckled.
"Boss… they're saying you've never won Best Picture." Zoroark added quietly.
(End of Chapter)