Chapter 659 - 656

The cargo ship came to rest in the harbor.

The Ranger School students had been chatting in Ascension Square when they saw a black ship being carried through the ocean by Palafin and forcibly turned back toward shore. The sight scared them half to death.

Every teacher in the school came outside to watch. Students began running through the halls, their thundering footsteps sounding like the crashing waves of the sea.

"Ms. April!"

Kate waved both arms as hard as she could. The moment she spotted her former homeroom teacher, she hurried over and explained what had happened.

Meanwhile, Kellyn was reporting the situation to Ranger Union Headquarters. His request was quickly approved.

Principal Lamont would soon return to the school, which would temporarily shelter the rescued Pokémon. They couldn't be returned to their habitats yet, or they might be controlled and harmed a second time.

Ms. April gazed at Hikaru from a distance and asked Kate, "Is that the new Top Ranger? The Pokémon Trainer from that faraway region? I've heard that people who battle alongside Pokémon in Sinnoh are called Trainers."

"Some people living in Vientown originally moved here from Sinnoh and Kanto, too."

"Yes!" Kate exclaimed. "Listen, Ms. April! Our captain is considered a Champion-level Trainer in other regions, and he came here specifically to support us! He's unbelievably strong! He's like one of those secret characters who only appears during an RPG's second playthrough..."

"Oh, dear. You play far too many games."

Ms. April smiled helplessly.

Many students had gathered around Palafin. After putting down the cargo ship, the Hero of the Sea repeatedly struck different poses, drawing wave after wave of cheers.

"Man!"

Palafin pointed a thumb at itself, then waved its hand and pointed at the students instead.

I'm only an ordinary hero.

But you children, my friends, are the true heroes!

Another round of cheers erupted.

No one had any idea what Palafin was saying, but that didn't matter. When everyone else cheered, you cheered with them!

"A hero... So there are even Legendary Pokémon like this," Ms. April murmured. "There are many more Pokémon in distant lands, as well as Trainers who fight alongside them."

"People, Pokémon, and events that we would never encounter here in Almia."

"Kate, you and Kellyn will become wonderful Rangers. 'Running in the hallways'... So that was what it truly meant."

Kate nodded. "'Running in the hallways' doesn't just mean running all over Almia. I think it means running all over the world."

"That's what it means to be a true Pokémon Ranger!"

"Pachi!"

Pachirisu climbed onto Kate's head and released a faint electric discharge, announcing that it would help with whatever came next.

Kellyn jogged over.

"Ms. April, please take this card. It's part of the mission our captain assigned us, and it's connected to an order from the Ranger Union."

"A card?"

A love letter would have made some sense, but Ms. April had never met this newly arrived Top Ranger before. Had they encountered each other somewhere without her realizing it?

A strange pattern had been drawn across the card.

"It's a path of light," Kellyn explained. "It can apparently summon a powerful Pokémon from far away. Captain told us to use this card if we run into danger."

"It sounds incredible, but according to Professor Hastings, a similar legend really does exist in Oblivia. It's almost hard to believe."

"Danger?" Ms. April asked. "Does that mean something terrible might happen soon?"

"Uh... We don't know, either. But Team Dim Sun is definitely accelerating its operations. As for what they're planning..."

Kellyn had already heard part of the answer from Hikaru.

Even so, he still found it difficult to believe what might happen in Almia.

The entire region could fall into darkness, beginning a second Long Night. Pokémon across Almia could be controlled en masse. Then there was the Incredible Machine, the Shadow Crystal, and all the other problems that came with them.

They shouldn't have known about any of this yet.

Now, however, they had no choice but to involve themselves. A terrifying maelstrom was forming, and Kellyn was much more perceptive than Kate.

He had already displayed that side of himself during the Diamond and Pearl arc.

"I think there might be something like a massive Pokémon stampede that sweeps across the entire region."

That was precisely why their captain had promoted both Kellyn and Kate to Ranger Rank 7, granting them the greatest authority available at their level.

Nema was reportedly developing an upgraded capture program with an even higher limit, trying to increase the number of Pokémon they could command from seven to more than a dozen.

But if she succeeded, Rangers might find themselves unable to issue orders effectively.

Pokémon Rangers didn't battle using Poké Balls. Once they captured more than seven Pokémon, they had to command all of them simultaneously. That placed immense demands on a Ranger's knowledge of moves, types, and type matchups, as well as their ability to recognize the right moment to act.

Worry appeared on Ms. April's face. After accepting the card, she nodded to Kellyn.

"It feels as though your graduation happened only yesterday. If you're about to undertake another dangerous mission, please be careful."

"Both of you, please be very careful."

She watched the rescued Pokémon stream into the hills behind the school. The students excitedly raised their School Stylers, attempting to form bonds with them.

She saw the rescued Rangers from Vientown.

And she watched the students who were preparing to leave, students who would soon stir great waves throughout the Almia region.

Run through the hallways.

Run toward a brighter tomorrow, racing tirelessly across Almia!

Become a bridge between the hearts of people and Pokémon, one capable of helping every living being and preventing tragedy!

Another teacher hurried over and called out to Ms. April, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Ms. April! Principal Lamont had some equipment sent over from the Ranger Union!"

"They're apparently called Anti-Control Devices. He wants them installed throughout the school immediately!"

Soon afterward, Ms. April received a message from another former student she knew, someone now living in a distant land.

It was signed:

Summer.

She was the heroine of the third Pokémon Ranger game.

Far above the school, Gliscor spread its wings and glided freely upon the breeze, soaring across the sky over the Ranger School!

The frigid snow country lay in northern Almia.

Reaching it normally required traveling through Crysta Cave, a cavern filled with crystals and mineral formations. A river connected it to Union Road, and Surf was required to enter.

The Cave of the Dead.

The Iron Passage.

The Frigid Outskirts.

The cave lay near the freezing Hia Valley. Snow had accumulated in the section closest to the Hia Valley exit, and an enormous block of ice had once sealed the passage. A Salamence was even hidden somewhere within the cavern.

"Hia Valley? No, perhaps I should call it Irithyll of the Boreal Valley."

Of course, the three-person team possessed High-Altitude Flight, so there was no need for them to enter the cave using Surf. Instead, they flew directly over the frigid mountain barrier and arrived in the snowbound northern reaches.

After crossing the Ice Lake, the two young Rangers stared at the scenery in awe.

Snow danced through a world of pure white. A blurry fog hung in the distance, making it impossible to see the path ahead across this Consecrated Snowfield.

Kate rubbed her arms.

"I heard there's a research team stationed in the snow country. Their base is called Shiver Camp! Brrr! It's so cold!"

"Captain, Keith wasn't at the Oil Field Hideout. If we retrieve the Blue Gem first, will they really bring their hostage here?"

Kellyn considered the situation.

"Well, Team Dim Sun certainly doesn't seem like the sort of group that would obediently release a hostage. Captain Barlow and the others said they might kidnap Isaac's sister, so the Ranger Union already moved his entire family to headquarters. But if they can kidnap someone once, they can always kidnap someone else. Kincaid probably has no value to them anymore, though."

"This might sound callous toward Keith," Hikaru said, "but a hostage is only valuable while they're alive. There's no need to worry about his safety for now."

"Even if we storm Altru Inc.'s headquarters before obtaining the three Gems, it won't accomplish anything. The Shadow Crystal could appear at any moment. Even if we find it, we won't be able to purify it without the Gems, and then we'll have to make three more trips."

"The Incredible Machine can be destroyed easily, but the Shadow Crystal itself cannot. That's why we must secure the other Gems first. Besides, obtaining the Gems was my original reason for coming here. This is a request from the princes."

"As long as the enemy still wants the Gems, the king still possesses his Dark Soul, and he remains afraid of his own children, he will undoubtedly send an admin to exchange for them."

That was exactly what had happened in the original story.

Those admins talked a good game, but they were incompetent in practice. They couldn't defeat the Legendary Pokémon guarding the Gems, so they resorted to the so-called supreme strategy of taking hostages.

Everything President Blake Hall did was driven by the Shadow Crystal. His own will was irrelevant. In reality, the King of Almia was personally micromanaging the entire operation.

"The Ranger Union has probably already asked Mrs. Winter about the legend of the King of Almia and the three princes. Still, I doubt that old woman knows as much about it as I do."

Many Pokémon adapted to icy environments lived along the road leading to Almia Castle.

Hikaru took out his Pokédex and recorded every Pokémon they encountered. Kellyn and Kate's Capture Stylers had a similar function, granting them a database much like the Pokédex.

"A Vulpix."

A Vulpix had appeared through the snowy mist.

Despite living in a frozen region, it wasn't in its Alolan form. It had retained its original Fire typing instead of becoming an Ice type.

"Captain, is something wrong with that Vulpix?" Kellyn asked.

"In a distant region, Vulpix that live in snowy lands become Ice types. People in ancient times called them Keokeo."

"What?" Kate exclaimed. "A Pokémon's type can change depending on the region where it lives?"

"That phenomenon is known as a regional form, and it's influenced by the local environment. A professor in Sinnoh asked me to record Almia's regional ecology while I'm working here. This snow country is a perfect example. Why has Vulpix retained its original form when it lives in an environment just as cold as Alola? That's an important subject for investigation."

Of course, the real reason was that regional forms hadn't been invented during Generation IV. Similar regional variations had appeared in the Orange Archipelago, but the concept hadn't yet been formally added to the games.

Still, there was an actual reason why Fire-type Vulpix lived here.

Several passages and doors inside Almia Castle could only be opened by lighting torches.

Otherwise...

Thump!

"Why won't this door open?!"

Kate pushed against the castle gate with all her strength, but the ancient door didn't budge.

After thinking for a moment, inspiration struck.

"Pachirisu, use Spark!"

Power: 65.

The user cloaks itself in electricity and slams into the target. This may also leave the target paralyzed!

"Pachi!"

Pachirisu crashed into the gate in a burst of dazzling electricity.

Despite appearing ancient and decayed, the door remained completely unmoved.

Pachirisu stood frozen for several seconds before looking dejected.

"Pachi...?"

"Hey, don't damage the ruins!" Kellyn exclaimed. "Uh... Although it doesn't look like the ruins are particularly worried about being damaged."

After examining the gate, Kellyn said, "This looks like some sort of mechanism."

"Does not open from this side?"

(Remembrance of the King of Almia)

(The power of its namesake can be unlocked through this remembrance.)

This shattered gate carried memories of the King of Almia's past. Though it had long since fallen into decay, it continued to radiate a faint, malicious presence.

Perhaps it represented a sacred duty.

Or perhaps it was a curse.

[Feel hatred, for this door cannot be opened from this side.]

"Normally, we would need a Field Move to break through a sealed gate like this," Kellyn said. "But Pachirisu's Field Move is Recharge."

"There's Crush, which destroys an obstacle through brute force, and Cut, which can sever trees, hedges, and fences."

"My Starly is good at Cut, but damaging ancient ruins would be..."

"Starly!"

Starly eagerly flapped its wings.

Cut it! Cut it! I'll chop this stupid thing apart!

"Calm down!"

Kellyn hurriedly grabbed his ill-tempered little bird.

Then he heard Hikaru's suggestion.

"Capture some of those Vulpix. Do you see the torches outside the castle? I don't know why the king designed them this way, but the torches must be lit before the gate will open. That's why Vulpix live here."

"Then again, those Vulpix have remained unchanged even after three thousand years. Perhaps that's because if they had become an Ice-type regional form, this door would forever be impossible to open from this side."

"Does the Blue Gem's raw material affect the local environment? I'll record that possibility for now."

It would have been easy for Hikaru to use one of his own Pokémon to light the torches, but observation was more important.

Besides, there would be plenty of battles once they entered the castle. As the captain of a three-person team, it was vital that he continuously monitor the growth of his teammates.

If you didn't want your teammates to become dead weight, you had to share experience with them.

"Don't limit yourselves to Vulpix. Capture as many Pokémon around here as possible. Your maximum is seven, which means a fully optimized team of six Friend Pokémon plus one Partner Pokémon."

"Rare Pokémon live inside the castle. Let them help you battle. Just don't bring anything too large, or it won't fit through some of the passages."

"The castle's environment is unusual. Many Pokémon inside will attack without warning. They hide around corners, behind doors, and in other places you wouldn't notice. Some will suddenly leap at you, while others mix fast and delayed attacks."

There was nothing wrong with calling Almia Castle the Castle of the Dead, or even Hidetaka Miyazaki's Castle.

Its entire design was deeply unnatural.

Scyther attacked three times in a single second. Weezing suddenly exploded. Haunter hid beside doors and ambushed anyone who entered.

Aggressive Pokémon like those were everywhere inside.

Who would believe this place wasn't Irithyll of the Boreal Valley or the ancient royal capital of Anor Londo? The entire area before it was a frozen valley, and there were even bonfires outside the entrance.

The Capture Lines shone.

Two Vulpix breathing hot air beside the road were captured and formed bonds of trust with the Rangers.

Even after establishing that bond, they continued breathing hot air!

"Use Flamethrower on the bonfire... No, use it on the torches!" Kate ordered.

"Vuu... Pix!"

Fierce flames ignited torches that hadn't burned for thousands of years.

Crimson fire roared to life, activating a mechanism within the castle. The gate rumbled, shaking the ground and dislodging snow from the walls.

This door could now be opened from this side!

"Captain, this castle feels really creepy."

"Didn't the king once live here? Why would anyone install so many traps inside their own home?"

"The prince in blue lived here after the king died... No, the prince in blue died too, didn't he?"

Question marks practically sprouted above Kate and Kellyn's heads as they talked.

Now that they had returned to the vicinity of Almia Castle, the power of the Blue Gem had begun to stir.

The prince in blue's damaged soul chose to remain silent when he heard how his descendants spoke of him and his father.

Why did we place so many mechanisms inside this castle?

Obviously, they were meant to protect the Blue Gem. Did that even need to be asked?

Admittedly, many Pokémon already lived here, and the castle contained countless mechanisms even before the Blue Gem was placed inside...

[This was the king's home. Naturally, it needed defenses against foreign enemies.]

[Still, I apologize for the trouble these mechanisms have caused you. Try to look on the bright side. They prevent evildoers from stealing the Gem. The instant most intruders see the first door and receive the message, "Does not open from this side," they'll turn around and go home.]

Those were the thoughts of the prince in blue's spirit.

In any case, he could only apologize again.

Brave and fearless people of the future...

You will surely overcome this castle and successfully obtain the Blue Gem!

Have faith in the wisdom of future generations!

"What is wrong with this entrance?! The moment I stepped inside, two Haunter leaped out of the shadows! They came screaming at me and hit me with two Shadow Punches!"

Kate sat on the floor, clutching herself indignantly.

Kellyn had already captured both Haunter, and they were now making faces at her.

"That's simply how this castle works," Hikaru said. "Between two and four Haunter hide behind the front gate and ambush anyone who enters."

"What do you mean, 'that's simply how it works'?! This is completely insane!"

Kate climbed awkwardly to her feet, looking around with an aggrieved expression. The resentment radiating from her body made the two Haunter exchange uncertain glances.

Could a human really possess more resentment than a Ghost type?

We only punched you twice. You weren't even hurt!

"That was the first trap," Hikaru explained. "An enemy launches a surprise attack from the shadows or another blind spot the instant you enter. Most victims find something clinging to their face before they can react."

"Glis!"

Gliscor swayed from side to side on the ground, releasing a hoarse laugh.

It had shivered terribly while they were outside, but it had never seen such a magnificent place in its entire life.

Of course, the experience would have been even better if it weren't four times weak to Ice.

"Don't panic. The Haunter have been captured. Now that we're inside Almia Castle, I'm issuing our next mission."

Hikaru pointed toward the three paths ahead.

"Obtain the Blue Gem!"

Straight ahead was the main hall, where an astonishing sight awaited them.

"Candles?!"

Kellyn stared blankly at the enormous dining table, the kind used by nobles and kings.

It was a long, narrow table formed from several wooden panels joined atop a frame. A white satin cloth covered its surface, making its connection to status and hierarchy unmistakable.

But none of that mattered.

These objects dated back to the ancient kingdom. Who had arranged the candles, and why were they still burning?

Plates, knives, and forks had been laid out neatly. Every chair stood in its proper place, but every seat was empty, as though the castle were waiting for invited guests to arrive.

"Candles that have burned continuously for three thousand years," Hikaru said. "There's a Pokémon like that in Unova and other distant regions."

"That means these candles may have originated from Litwick. Litwick burns by draining the life force of people and Pokémon. Whenever it absorbs life energy, its flame glows brightly. The younger the soul it consumes, the brighter and more sinister the candle atop its head burns."

"However, Litwick's flame is bluish-purple, while the candles in this castle have red flames. They must be some form of ancient lost technology."

"I'll take a few candles when we leave."

"What?!" Kellyn exclaimed. "Captain, we're part of an honorable organization! Isn't stealing wrong?"

"It's fine. I asked the prince in blue, and he said I could have them."

"...?"

"There are many valuable things inside this castle. Don't let appearances deceive you. Important items must be used at critical moments."

Hikaru cleared his throat.

"What I meant was, let's keep moving and see if we can find anything valuable."

Kellyn felt as though he had boarded a pirate ship.

The Twelfth Top Ranger spoke wildly and acted without regard for convention.

Then again, Professor Hastings had said that their captain genuinely knew the princes' souls.

That somehow made the whole situation feel even stranger.

"Ow!"

A furious clatter came from the door on the left, followed by Kate's scream.

A moment later, she ran out in a panic with a Scyther charging after her, its blades already raised.

"What is wrong with this place?! The moment I walked through the door, a Scyther rushed over and slashed me three times! It almost cut me to pieces!"

"It even hops around and mixes fast and delayed attacks!"

"The second trap," Hikaru said. "A master of unpredictable timing hides around a corner, then launches a chain of attacks that rapidly destroys your poise."

"Scyther!"

The Pokémon furiously waved its scythes behind Kate, frightening her so badly that she covered her hair.

I waited all this time for some fool to step through that door so I could slash her!

Long ago, the castle's guardian told me, "Don't worry. You're a Scyther with a base stat total of 500. You can slash anyone you want!"

Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you?!

I take flight, and then I slash!

The two Haunter that Kellyn had captured seemed to realize something.

"What is wrong with this castle?!" Kate shouted. "This layout is pure evil! Hey, there's a glowing item over there!"

She rushed into the room on the right.

An explosion immediately thundered from within.

Kate was blown straight back through the doorway.

Hikaru stared at her.

"Weezing used Self-Destruct."

"The third trap. Place a glowing item near the entrance to lure someone closer. The instant they open the door, ambush them with an explosion."

"No matter how you look at it, this castle's Pokémon seem to be deliberately waiting for us before they attack," Kellyn said. "Right?"

He suspiciously glanced at the two Haunter he had captured.

Wild Pokémon could be aggressive, but this was different. It felt as though something knew the three of them had arrived and was commanding the castle's inhabitants from behind the scenes.

"Haunt... Haunt..."

Sweat seemed to appear above the Haunter's heads as they began whistling innocently.

We won't tell you anything!

Besides, we're the ones who should be shocked!

[Why is that human girl so durable? Is she really human?]

[Two Shadow Punches, three slashes, and one Self-Destruct... Yet she's still acting like nothing happened. She's incredibly difficult to kill.]

"The legendary Lucario."

Hikaru looked directly at the Haunter.

"The guardian of the Blue Gem is commanding you through its aura. That's what's happening, isn't it?"

The two Haunter recoiled in shock.

Wait a minute! Where's your proof?!

This is slander!

"If we take the right-hand path, it leads to the frozen library on the second floor. Beyond that, we pass through the room with Weezing and cross an open-air corridor filled with snow before reaching another sealed door."

"After traversing the crystal passage where icicles fall from the ceiling, we'll reach a room containing a portrait. A Ninetales lives there, and its power can destroy the enormous block of ice."

"But we don't need to go that way now."

"Why didn't you say that earlier?!"

Kate had already climbed to her feet and angrily started toward that corridor.

A righteous throwing knife nearly shaved off part of her hair.

The Pokémon standing at the top of the stairs was Weavile.

"The fourth trap," Hikaru said. "Scatter worthless items along a difficult route. Whether they're Alluring Skulls or not, the bait always works."

[Why the King of Almia Was the Founder of Dark Souls.]

The first gate required fire.

There were invisible walls inside.

Some paths were dead ends.

Other doors were sealed.

Whenever you woke up and left the room, you discovered the Haunter had respawned and were waiting to punch you twice.

Of course, the road leading to Ninetales didn't just require crossing a maliciously designed map. There was also a Dratini that looked powerful but was completely useless.

That Dratini would eventually evolve into Dragonair during a certain Ranger Quest.

Dragonair was the Pokémon Elaine wanted to see. However, Elaine wasn't here. She was currently busy working on machinery and probably wasn't thinking about Dragonair at all.

Besides, Dratini practically infested Casseroya Lake in Paldea. If she truly wanted one, she could simply arrange a business trip there.

"In a frozen environment, fire is certainly the best tool for keeping warm and melting ice."

"However, another type is strong against Ice."

"Steel!"

A Poké Ball opened in a flash of white light.

Magnetic forces cycled through the air as Beldum became unusually active and floated above the floor.

Hikaru's cold and composed partner only displayed traces of joy or excitement when it smashed an opponent apart with a single blow.

Beldum had played an important role in the Slumbering Weald and the Crown Tundra. If it worked with a Pokémon capable of throwing it, the result was an incredibly powerful explosive attack reminiscent of Stella.

For Beldum, it meant releasing all its strength at once through the most powerful Steel-type attack to benefit from same-type attack bonus.

Aside from Take Down, it was Beldum's best option.

Either way, the recoil would hurt. Losing a little HP was still losing HP, and Beldum was already accustomed to taking recoil damage.

That was simply part of its ecology.

"There are Pokémon that battle or even evolve through recoil damage, such as White-Striped Basculin..."

"Bel!"

Beldum's eye rotated.

As an unevolved Pokémon, it rarely had a chance to participate in high-level battles.

But when the task involved smashing or ramming something...

Surely that was its area of expertise.

The interior of the ancient castle was somewhat narrow, though not narrow enough to prevent all battling. Even so, Aerodactyl, Celesteela, Archaludon, Genesect, and Aegislash couldn't fight freely here.

Overwhelming attacks could destroy the entire castle.

Admittedly, if the opponent were Lucario, Beldum wouldn't have much room to complain.

Even Lucario faced situations where Bullet Punch was difficult to use. Overall, Beldum's present advantage was that it was small, sturdy, and efficient!

Light erupted from Beldum's body.

Fire blasted from behind the claws around its rear.

Like a rocket, it slammed into the wall of ice.

Steel Beam!

Beldum shattered the enormous mass of ice blocking the gate and charged straight through the opening!

This violent act of breaking down the door, refusing to solve puzzles, and skipping the intended route caused the boss deep within the castle to narrow its eyes.

"Ruff!"

Hikaru's Lucario emerged from its Great Ball.

It had sensed an immensely powerful aura, along with a mysterious energy permeating the depths of the castle.

Through aura, the two Lucario could perceive one another's emotions and feelings, sensing the vibrations of the soul.

Lucario said through aura, [Something is speaking in the depths of the castle. It sent me a message. We have violated the rules governing our progress.]

"Then tell it this," Hikaru replied. "There's a Ninetales responsible for opening the ice gate, a Mismagius responsible for opening the sealed door, and several Riolu whose aura barrier seals the final chamber."

"If the guardian of the Gem believes we violated the castle's rules, it can gather those Pokémon and challenge us to a Pokémon battle."

"Besides, there may be other humans inside this castle."

Lucario nodded and spread Hikaru's intentions through its aura.

The Lucario's sudden appearance also caused Kate and Kellyn to realize something.

"Come to think of it, Captain said the guardian of Almia Castle was a Lucario!" Kate said.

"Then the legendary Lucario using aura really is the one commanding these Pokémon!" Kellyn exclaimed. "It must have awakened when the gate opened! But..."

"Right. If we were the first people to open the entrance, does that mean the other humans inside are Team Dim Sun? How did they get in? There weren't any signs that the gate had already been opened."

It was like asking why villains always reached the destination before the heroes, almost as though they had teleported inside.

Then again, Team Dim Sun might genuinely have teleported.

Some Pokémon could use Teleport, after all.

However, once they reached the final section, the sealed door and blue aura barrier would prevent further teleportation.

The castle's designer had clearly anticipated that someone might use dishonest methods to skip the intended route, so they had installed additional countermeasures.

Beyond the gate behind the shattered ice was a warm resting room.

After climbing to the second floor, the three encountered a sight guaranteed to raise anyone's blood pressure.

A field of crumbling platforms.

Ice blocked the path, and the floor consisted of frozen platforms that shattered when stepped upon. Anyone who remained on one for too long would fall all the way to the lowest level.

Yet another malicious little design.

But if the platforms only broke when someone stepped on them...

Then why step on them at all?

"Beldum, carry Kate. Haunter, you two take Kellyn."

"Lucario..."

"We'll use Magnet Rise."

In the deepest chamber, the legendary Lucario guarding the Blue Gem sensed what was happening through its aura.

Even the aura apprentices of Cameran Palace could perform a similar feat.

For a Lucario that had lived for three thousand years, monitoring the entire castle was effortless.

And now...

"Lucar!"

You people are skipping the level?!

It seemed they weren't like the other humans who had infiltrated the castle.

Their knees hadn't been amputated, none of them were overencumbered, and they weren't warriors with only nine Intelligence.

Still, Magnet Rise...

What kind of move was that?

A flying Lucario?

Interesting.

It had lived for three thousand years without realizing such a strategy existed. These opponents couldn't be underestimated.

People guided here by the soul of the prince in blue after the guardian awakened from three thousand years of slumber...

[Ninetales, guardian of the ice gate!]

[Mismagius, guardian of the sealed door!]

[Riolu, defenders of the aura barrier!]

[Gather in the hall before the Blue Gem!]

[Descendants of the Pokémon left behind by the prince in blue, I summon you in the name of the Gem Guardian!]

[Awaken the Giant of Ice as well!]

Boom!

The sealed door was destroyed with Psychic.

The frozen deathtrap of a road was bypassed through the air.

The violent tremors alerted Ice, a Team Dim Sun admin hiding inside the castle and racking his brain for a way forward.

Ice, as in frozen water.

Cryo, as in bitter cold.

Together with two other admins, he belonged to the Sinis Trio.

Kincaid made four, but everyone knew that three admins could have four members, just as the Elite Four could have five.

Had those tremors come from the sealed door?

No.

They had come from somewhere even deeper.

The Aura Hall?

That was impossible.

Ice still hadn't discovered any way to break the sealed door. There should have been a Pokémon inside the castle capable of using Level 3 Psy Power, but no matter how thoroughly they searched, they couldn't find it.

There was nothing here except Dratini!

What use was Dratini?!

"I managed to control a Froslass, but even Froslass can't open the gate. Which Pokémon are we missing?"

Froslass could technically learn Psychic, but there were no TMs available in this region.

"All of you, get moving!"

"Someone may have opened the gate from the front! They're going to take the Blue Gem!"

"We've been stuck here for ages, and at last, an opportunity has appeared. I was starting to wonder what we would do next! I don't understand the situation, but the timing couldn't be better!"

"The Pokémon guarding the Blue Gem is said to be incredibly powerful. Those outsiders must also be after the legendary Gem."

"We'll wait until they've exhausted each other in battle, then swoop in and claim the reward!"

Team Dim Sun's analysis unit began moving, converging on the Aura Hall.

Before the Aura Hall, which had once been sealed by a wall of light, the power released by two Riolu statues suddenly fell still.

The blue curtain of light opened.

The passage into the final hall lay before them.

Kellyn could hardly believe it.

"I can't believe we've already reached the final stage. We bypassed all those terrain hazards. Uh... Although the ambushes along the way were still pretty relentless."

Kate cheered.

Unlike Kellyn, she looked like someone who had just survived a fatal ordeal.

"As expected of our captain! That was incredible! We're finally free! I never want to see another map like that again!"

"The King of Almia had completely lost his mind! Who fills their own home with so many traps designed to torture people?!"

Kellyn looked at the battered Kate and shook his head alongside the two Haunter.

She really was difficult to kill.

Kate's muttering continued.

"Kellyn! Captain! Listen to this!"

"When the King of Almia first took the throne, he shouted, 'For the kingdom!' and immediately severed all three of his sons' questlines. From that day forward, the King of Almia never saw his sons again."

"One day, he fell asleep while reviewing government documents. When he woke up, all the documents had respawned."

"When he tried to enter the dining room, he discovered that the door couldn't be opened from his side. A Weezing guarding the entrance used Explosion, so he had no choice but to climb through a window."

"But a Scyther was waiting outside. It slashed him once and knocked him onto the crumbling platforms."

"The platform broke, and he fell to the floor below, where Weavile started chasing him."

"The king tried to use a nearby Dratini to fight back, only to discover that Dratini was too afraid to move because of Pressure. Its PP had been reduced to zero."

"Afterward, darkness consumed the king's heart. He resolved to create a device capable of forcing every Pokémon into submission."

"But when he consulted the kingdom's sage, all he received was Unknown Item Production Notes 01."

"Later, the prince in blue stormed into the throne room with his weapon and his Pokémon."

"The king stood up to leave, but discovered that a fog gate had appeared at the entrance."

"He pulled the king's sword from its resting place, only to realize that he didn't meet the required stats and had to wield it with both hands for the weapon to function properly."

"After a brutal battle with his own child, the soul of the prince in blue began to shine. He summoned light back into the world and awakened his second phase."

"Then everything went black before the king's eyes."

"The words [YOU DIED] appeared!"

"How tragic! And that was how the Shadow Crystal formed!"

"You really do play too many games," Kellyn said. "But why do some parts line up perfectly? That was almost identical to the legend Captain told us."

"Is that what people call a loose adaptation? Still, the king's heart truly was dark. Literally dark. Even the three princes closed their eyes."

Hearing the two young Rangers turn the entire legend into a comedy routine finally allowed Hikaru to relax.

Anyone who had visited Almia Castle understood just how cruel its intended route was.

Worse, Rangers normally arrived here at a much lower rank. They had to repeatedly cross the malicious terrain, survive ambushes, and capture the specific Pokémon needed to unlock the next section.

How could Hikaru allow the next generation to endure the same suffering he once had?

As a Top Ranger, the first lesson he had to teach his successors was how to skip content!

"If we followed the intended route, we could waste an entire month inside this castle. That's especially true when most Rangers have only one permanent Partner Pokémon."

Hikaru cleared his throat.

"But those unpleasant obstacles are behind us. From this point forward, skipping the route is no longer an option."

He looked at Kate and Kellyn.

"Listen carefully. You'll be responsible for capturing Ninetales, Mismagius, and the two Riolu. They're some of the strongest Pokémon in Almia Castle, especially the first two."

"They're probably descendants of the prince in blue's partners, though it's also possible that they're the original Pokémon, sealed here for all these years."

"Once Ninetales lives for more than two hundred years, it gains incredible psychic power. It's said to live for a thousand years and can release a strange light from its crimson eyes to manipulate the minds of others."

"That refers to Hypnosis, Will-O-Wisp, Extrasensory, and Disable."

"Mismagius chants a variety of spells. The longer it lives, the more incantations it learns. Its curses allow it to produce spell-like cries that cause unbearable headaches or terrifying hallucinations."

"However, it can also chant spells that ward off evil, grant happiness, or fulfill wishes of love."

"Those powers correspond to Curse, Will-O-Wisp, Lucky Chant, and Phantom Force."

"As for Riolu, very few possess true aura rather than mere ripples of energy. A Riolu that controls aura can use Aura Sphere freely."

"Aura Sphere tracks your body and knows your position. It's a move that cannot miss."

The Pokémon guarding Almia Castle appeared on the path leading to the throne where the Blue Gem rested.

Kate and Kellyn adjusted their Stylers while the Pokémon behind them prepared for battle.

Kate's team:

Scyther, specializing in fast and delayed attacks.

Weezing, specializing in explosions.

Weavile, armed with righteous throwing knives.

Vulpix, providing fire enchantments.

Pachirisu, her Partner Pokémon.

Kellyn's team:

Two Haunter, specializing in ambushes.

Vaporeon, using liquefying rolls.

Vulpix, providing fire enchantments.

Starly, his Partner Pokémon.

The Scyther that used deceptive attack timings was only average in size. In fact, it was slightly smaller than most Scyther.

How could it launch proper ambushes if it weren't small enough to hide?

"Your team seems stronger than mine," Kellyn muttered.

"That's because I suffered so much!" Kate replied. "Thank goodness breathing restores HP. I'll fight Mismagius, and you can fight Ninetales! I'm furious! I absolutely have to win!"

Its countless moves may be as dreadful as the vilest monster, but I'll give everything I have to defeat it!

Every one of the expected Pokémon appeared.

And beyond them stood something else.

"Regi... Ice!"

The eternal Giant of Ice radiated freezing air as Mismagius brought it into the chamber.

Hikaru suddenly remembered something.

Right.

To release Regigigas in Almia, three Legendary giants had to be awakened.

Although the king of the giants had been a friend of the prince in yellow, the three giants themselves had been sealed in different locations using a special sealing technique found only in Almia.

"There's the sealed stone door that requires Psy Power, as well as the statues sealing the three Legendary giants!"

The Regice statue resembled a mechanical pedestal impaled by a massive stake of ice. It had been hidden in the depths of Almia Castle beside Mismagius.

The Regirock and Registeel statues had the same design, but they were hidden deep within Vien Forest and the Chroma Ruins.

"Normally, Level 5 Burn is required to awaken Regice. Is this... hard mode?"

Ninetales.

Mismagius.

Two Riolu.

Regice.

Lucario.

The prince in blue had left behind a complete six-Pokémon team!

["Will this be three against two?"]

The voice traveled through the aura like telepathy.

Brilliant blue light appeared before them.

Resting upon the throne was a genuine teardrop-shaped treasure.

The Blue Gem.

And standing beside it was the legendary Lucario that had guarded the Gem for three thousand years.

"No. This will be two against two."

Hikaru glanced at Gliscor, which was eager to fight, then ordered it to fly up and hang upside down above the entrance.

Gliscor didn't understand why until it looked at the towering pillar of ice ahead.

All right.

That thing definitely looked like it could use Blizzard.

"If you're four times weak to Ice, you can't participate in this battle. We'll let Steel-type Pokémon, which become especially valuable in this frozen land, do the fighting!"

"Besides, if this is a Dark Souls world, no experience would be complete without an ambush dropping from above."

"On the other side, I'll use Beldum against Regice."

The dots on Regice's face flashed without emotion.

Beldum's eye was equally cold.

The emotionless and the merciless.

This was the perfect opportunity for Beldum to demonstrate its power.

Shatter that unyielding ice!

Beldum unleashed a tremendous magnetic force.

"Then my Lucario will battle you."

Hikaru faced the legendary Lucario.

"An Aura Guardian from a distant land once said that you and the prince in blue were the progenitors of aura."

"Did you ever meet the Aura Hero from a thousand years ago?"

The legendary Lucario answered:

["I see. Your Lucario is unusual. I can sense a rapidly surging power within it. Hmm... What is the object it carries?"]

["I already understand why you've come. You intend to purify the Shadow Crystal."]

["However, according to the rules left behind by the prince, you bypassed many mechanisms. Such behavior would ordinarily be forbidden."]

["Therefore, the difficulty of your final battle will be increased."]

["That is Almia Castle's trial."]

["As for the progenitor of aura, perhaps aura existed in an even more ancient era, or perhaps it did not."]

["But the prince and I were indeed the first living beings in this region to cultivate aura."]

["That is why I, an ordinary Pokémon, could stand alongside three Legendary Pokémon as an equal!"]

["Heatran guards the Red Gem."]

["Cresselia guards the Yellow Gem."]

["Darkrai guards the Shadow Crystal."]

["Three thousand years ago, the king's heart summoned limitless darkness from across the world."]

["He feared war and the destruction of this region. The great conflict that engulfed seven regions filled him with dread."]

["The hatred, grief, and suffering born from war, together with the souls of the dead, gathered in Almia, the weakest of those regions."]

["Yet we survived."]

["The power of the princes ended the conflict that reached our homeland, just as the king had once ended the conflicts between his sons."]

["They withdrew from the maelstrom of war before it could consume everything."]

["But they always waited until they had lost everything before realizing that what they had done was wrong."]

["That is why the Gems were left behind."]

["After three thousand years, perhaps you can finally give me an enjoyable battle."]

["Show me whether you're worthy of being entrusted with the Blue Gem!"]

A brilliant blue radiance erupted from Lucario's body, drawing in the immense spiritual energy permeating Almia Castle.

Lucario (Almia).

Shadows of Almia.

Almia Browser Number: R-233.

Type: Fighting/Steel.

Battle-capability description:

Fires Aura Spheres. Becomes stronger after being relentlessly struck by aura.

Ability unknown. Presumed to be Inner Focus.

A Pokémon with this Ability will not be frightened or made to flinch, and it remains unmoved even when faced with Intimidate!

Additional capabilities:

"Aura": Begins charging without warning, then rapidly launches three Aura Spheres. When empowered by spiritual energy, the three spheres multiply into dozens, sweeping across a wide area.

"Electromagnetism": Its body shines with a deep-blue light before it quickly throws two energy spheres to either side, obstructing the Capture Styler's movement. When empowered by spiritual energy, the number of electromagnetic spheres increases to four.

"Fighting Spirit": Lucario abruptly stops moving, then swings forward with an enormous golden fist of concentrated fighting energy.

"Aura: Special": A deep-blue halo envelops Lucario's entire body, further increasing its capabilities and greatly strengthening even its ordinary attacks!

A Pokémon praised as the progenitor of aura.

And the origin of the Almia region's name:

Almia.

Alma, a Spanish word, or a word from the Paldean language.

Soul!

Tamashii!

"Ruff!"

Hikaru's Lucario prepared for battle.

It calmed its heart and focused its mind.

Then it raised the power of its aura to the absolute limit!

Swordsmanship.

Mind Reader.

Foresight.

Activate!

Finally, it raised the Mega Stone before its chest.

Lucario thought:

Difficult foe ahead.

Therefore, time for courage!

The legendary Lucario suddenly leaped!

Two incredibly powerful Pokémon of the same species unleashed the same move simultaneously.

Dazzling blue radiance gathered into surging waves of energy.

Aura Sphere!

The two attacks collided in front of the throne, creating a swirling vortex of energy.

The legendary guardian's excited roar pierced the blue curtain of light.

["Those who swear upon their souls shall bring an end to the darkness of this world."]

["Come! Show me your power, Hero of Aura!"]

(End of Chapter)

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