Chapter 661 - 658

The tremors stopped, and the ripples floating through the air gradually faded.

Hikaru heard the two younger Rangers behind him and turned his head. Naturally, as the protagonists of the second Pokémon Ranger game, they had completed their captures as well!

Ninetales, Mismagius, and the two Riolu had all been captured!

The scene looked somewhat chaotic, though.

"Captain, you won!" Kate exclaimed. "Unbelievable! What was that evolution beyond evolution? What exactly is this so-called Ultimate Evolution?"

She was holding the unconscious Mismagius by the brim of its hat. She had clearly endured a grueling hands-on battle, which explained the strange look Kellyn was giving her.

"They never taught us to wrestle Pokémon at school," Kellyn said. "Are you secretly a martial artist or something?"

Still gripping Mismagius's hat, Kate flashed him a grin and raised her thumb.

"Maybe I have a natural talent for martial arts."

Then again...

"When you fought Blastoise in Vien Forest, didn't you go way overboard too?" Kate asked. "You charged straight into it with your own body. Honestly, you gain a little experience and suddenly start lecturing me like an old man."

Kellyn coughed violently.

"That was completely different! I was forced into it!"

"All right! Anyway, Captain defeated the guardian and obtained the Blue Gem. Our mission is complete."

Before the boy could finish, an excited shout interrupted him.

"Mission complete? Don't make me laugh! You deserve praise for opening the door to the Hall of Aura and defeating its guardian!"

The Sealed Door had been broken, causing the wall of light that had stood within the Hall of Aura for a thousand years to disappear.

Thanks to that, the Team Dim Sun admin who had been hiding inside the ancient castle could finally reach the throne.

As expected, the blue-haired young man dressed entirely in blue wore an expression filled with greed and delight.

"There he is!" Kate pointed at the doorway. "He's one of those secret villains who suddenly appears right at the end of a game!"

"So he really was hiding inside the castle," Kellyn said. "How did they even get in here? Could it really have been..."

The answer emerged from behind the blue-clad admin.

Several Pokémon under the directional control of Miniremos appeared: Froslass, Garchomp, and Gallade.

"Ice," Hikaru explained to Kate and Kellyn. "He's effectively the leader of the Sinis Trio, the commander among Team Dim Sun's regular admins, and the one responsible for seizing the Blue Gem."

"The Sinis Trio is the collective name for their group. And then there's this..."

"Ice, with blue hair and blue clothes."

"Lavana, with red hair and red clothes."

"Heath, with yellow hair and yellow clothes."

"Those three colors correspond perfectly to Almia's legendary princes. Is this some elaborate cosplay performance? Did Blake Hall deliberately select the three of you to match their hair colors and clothing?"

"Even after three thousand years, it seems the King of Almia still can't forget his three children."

The trio was composed of the classic stereotypes: the handsome young man, the beautiful woman, and the brutish giant.

Hardly original.

Confusion appeared on Ice's face. He knew nothing about the legend of the King of Almia and his three princes. All he knew was that the three legendary gems contained extraordinary power.

He stared warily at Hikaru, this unfamiliar Top Ranger.

Having spent so long inside the castle, Ice had no idea what had happened outside.

He knew nothing about the destruction of the Oil Field Hideout or Kincaid's capture.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ice said, "but we'll be taking the gem and the Legendary Lucario!"

"You've just endured an intense battle. You can't have much strength left."

"I happen to be a pacifist. If you surrender peacefully or abandon any thought of fighting, that would be ideal."

Ice's imagination painted a beautiful picture.

First, he had already captured three exceptionally powerful Pokémon. By swooping in after both sides had exhausted themselves, like the oriole waiting behind the mantis and cicada, he would unquestionably possess an overwhelming advantage.

However, as he had just said, Ice fancied himself a pacifist.

He wanted to intimidate his opponents with overwhelming force, compel them to surrender, and leave them trapped in helplessness and despair.

That was what truly delighted him.

After all, Hikaru's group had just fought a bitter battle that had left both sides exhausted. Ice had also brought plenty of subordinates. Twenty Team Dim Sun operatives had infiltrated the castle, and every Miniremo could control four Pokémon!

"You still don't understand?" Ice asked. "Would you prefer to experience it yourselves?"

A confident smile appeared on his face.

Behind him, Team Dim Sun's elites and grunts produced their Miniremos. The models they had brought into the castle were somewhat outdated, but superior numbers could compensate for inferior quality!

"With this, every Pokémon in the castle falls under Team Dim Sun's control!"

"We can control a total of eighty-four Pokémon!"

"If we organize the Pokémon into an army, these devices can command them to do whatever we want. There are one hundred available commands!"

"The devices might not support particularly complicated maneuvers, but if every Pokémon attacks at once and surrounds you here in the Throne Room..."

One warrior against a thousand.

The Gem Guardian could have defeated every one of those Pokémon with Aura Barrage. However, although Boss Blake had warned them how troublesome the guardian would be, it had already fallen!

Therefore...

"Eighty-four?" Hikaru asked. "That certainly is a lot, but it still doesn't seem like enough."

"What did you say?"

"I said I'm sorry, but we're the ones with a serious problem!"

"Gli-gar!"

Gliscor had been hanging from the ceiling, concealed in the darkness as it waited for an opportunity to strike!

The previous battle between the two aura Pokémon had been an eye-opening experience. Every punch thrown during their Extreme Speed clash had produced an explosive burst of air.

That was no longer a level ordinary Pokémon could reach. They had entered an entirely new realm.

Beldum's evolution had also stirred Gliscor's memories of its own evolution at the Peril Cliffs.

When the desire within one's heart resonated with a body tempered through years of hardship, evolution would occur!

To enter a wider world, one required a stronger soul and a stronger body!

"Fire Fang!"

Gliscor plunged from the ceiling of the Throne Room, opened its blazing jaws, and bit down fiercely on Ice's shoulder!

Towering flames instantly erupted across the young man's body!

Ice let out a terrified scream.

"Aaaagh! Fire! I'm on fire!"

"During a Pokémon battle, Pokémon aren't always the only ones who have to fight," Hikaru said. "Sometimes, the Trainers have to fight too. It appears you don't have much experience with combat in the wild."

"Trap Number Five: the attacker who drops from the ceiling!"

This was the fundamental combat logic of Dark Souls.

The next step would be to throw poisoned snacks or flaming barrels from some unknown corner!

"Glis! Gar-gar-gar!"

Gliscor swung one of its enormous pincers and smashed it toward the Miniremo in Ice's hand.

However, the Gallade with a crimson spiral above its head slashed at it with an elbow blade. At the same time, Froslass released a freezing wind.

Gliscor soared back into the air, swayed its enormous tail, and stuck out its tongue.

Roar...

These controlled Pokémon were snarling. Had their commands already been programmed?

And what was Garchomp doing here?

It had a quadruple weakness to Ice, yet someone had brought it to a snowy mountain!

"Graaarrgh..."

Garchomp released a teeth-grinding growl.

Its confused mind could no longer process much of anything. All it could do was obey the limited commands that had been programmed into its Miniremo in advance.

Attack.

Attack.

Attack at any cost!

"The Garchomp with the red spiral above its head was originally intended for Altru Inc.'s attack on Ranger Union headquarters," Hikaru said. "Ice probably captured it early because he wanted to gather the gems as quickly as possible."

"Now we can conveniently free it along with the others."

"Besides, we'll have to cross the ocean again very soon. Having Garchomp's help would be extremely useful."

Garchomp was one of the most suitable Pokémon for riding. It possessed tremendous combat ability and mobility.

As one of the powerful Pokémon controlled by the villainous organization, it also inhabited the Yellow Prince's temple. In Almia, it possessed the highest possible Field Move, Level Five Crush.

Yet by the time the series reached the Oblivia region, it had been weakened to Level One.

Every generation had its own reigning god.

"B-Boss Ice!" one of the Team Dim Sun elites cried. "Are you all right?"

"I-I'm fine!" Ice shouted. "Attack them! Even a pacifist like me is getting angry now!"

They had always been the ones who directly attacked the Rangers.

Never before had a Ranger directly attacked them.

As Ice saw it, attacking the opponent's operator was supposed to be the exclusive privilege of villains like them!

How could someone from a righteous organization possess so little moral restraint?

Fortunately, he still controlled plenty of Pokémon!

A bladed elbow suddenly swept upward!

Gallade's Leaf Blade!

Clang!

Ice blinked.

He stared in disbelief at the Top Ranger holding a greatsword and blocking Gallade's attack.

Wait...

"A sword?!"

Where had that sword come from?

"Captain..." Kate stared. "Captain suddenly pulled a weapon out of his backpack and blocked Gallade's attack! No, no, no! How could a human possibly block that? Where did that sword even come from?!"

"Just think of it as a spatial backpack."

"But something like that can't possibly exist!" Kellyn protested.

"Of course it can!"

Hikaru swung the Sword of Shun!

Combat Art: Parry!

"Gallade?!"

Gallade's attack was returned with even greater force.

A tremendous shock wave erupted through the Throne Room, blasting every Pokémon controlled by Team Dim Sun backward!

Hikaru pointed his sword at the staggered Gallade.

"You evolved too early!"

"Gallade is a relatively new evolutionary form confirmed only within recent years. It is a branched evolution exclusive to male Kirlia, and it is also one of the Pokémon that evolves through the use of an Evolution Stone."

"Dawn Stones are common in certain places but extremely rare elsewhere. They are a special mineral that was only formally identified in recent years."

"However, Dawn Stones may have existed in the Almia region for a very long time, and people here might have discovered them long ago."

"What most people don't know is that local environments can influence Pokémon. Members of the same species raised in different regions may possess different natural talents and learn different moves through training."

"Ralts, like Abra, can learn Teleport with incredible ease. Once Ralts grows and evolves into Kirlia, however..."

"If a male Kirlia immediately uses a Dawn Stone to evolve again, it can permanently lose access to some moves."

"That's right. Gallade could use Teleport to enter the castle and bypass the trials, yet it still couldn't open the Sealed Door."

"And that is because it never learned Psychic!"

Gallade possessed Level Five Cut. When it attacked, it could release slicing waves and psychic orbs.

Its Poké Assist was Psychic. It created a psychic field in the center of the capture area. Any Pokémon struck by that field would have its Friendship Gauge raised and become immobilized, leaving it unable to move or attack for a period of time.

However, a Gallade under a Miniremo's control could not use such sophisticated techniques.

Combined with the unfortunate timing of its evolution, Gallade's evolutionary path contained a genuine trap within this Generation IV side region!

The shock wave sent Ice flying as well.

He climbed awkwardly back to his feet and stared at the scene in disbelief.

"Impossible! A human fighting Pokémon? I've never seen a Ranger like you! Aren't Rangers supposed to use Capture Discs?!"

Hikaru swept the greatsword through the air. The resulting gust blew away the dust around him.

"Capture Discs are certainly convenient, but humans of the distant past naturally fought with weapons."

"Swords possess a long and storied history."

"I forgot to mention that I'm also a martial artist. In certain places, people call me..."

"The Swordsman from a Foreign Land!"

Ice's eyelids twitched.

His heart pounded as if warning him of an approaching crisis.

He immediately ordered the Team Dim Sun grunts to the front while commanding all eighty Pokémon to launch a combined assault.

Ice himself retreated behind the others and used them as shields!

"Eighty-four Pokémon! No, I personally control only three, so that makes eighty-three!"

"Either way, one more or one less doesn't matter! The final position was supposed to belong to the Gem Guardian!"

"I refuse to believe you can deal with this many Pokémon at once!"

"Gallade!"

"Attack again! The rest of you, move! Stop standing around like idiots!"

Ice was not normally the kind of person who shouted recklessly.

Occasionally, however, even he lost his composure.

The situation before him was one of those rare occasions!

Regardless...

Time for another attempt!

"Kellyn, Kate, capture those Pokémon!"

Hikaru issued a new mission to his teammates!

Capturing Pokémon with a Capture Styler did not necessarily mean keeping them nearby afterward.

A Ranger could choose to release a Pokémon immediately after capturing it. The number of Pokémon with whom one could communicate and establish a temporary partnership was limited.

The remaining Pokémon would therefore be released as soon as they were captured.

First, the capture would free them from their confusion and rage. It would allow them to understand the Rangers' feelings, grasp the current situation, and recognize what they needed to do.

Then they could leave!

"Understood!" Kate declared. "In the name of the Pokémon Rangers, I'll soothe their rage and pain!"

"In the name of the Pokémon Rangers," Kellyn said, "I'll become a bridge connecting the souls of humans and Pokémon!"

Despite their declarations, the two younger Rangers possessed completely different fighting styles.

The girl was a reckless brawler who fought by instinct, while the boy was a steady academic who faithfully followed his training.

Either approach was acceptable.

They were exactly the same as their portrayals in the manga and the Diamond and Pearl anime.

As long as they completed the mission successfully, nothing else mattered!

The Pokémon army's assault began immediately.

However, before the emerald blade could reach Hikaru...

Mega Lucario used Extreme Speed!

Its fist slammed heavily into Gallade's abdomen, and the violent force of the blow passed straight through its body!

The enormous blue hound closed its eyes.

An intense aura erupted from the fist pressed against its opponent's stomach.

Ki was the spiritual energy of life!

"Focus Punch!"

The glacier shattered.

Smoke and explosions surged throughout the Throne Room.

A glowing sphere of aura gathered in Mega Lucario's paw. With an explosive release, its tremendous energy instantly engulfed every Pokémon in the chamber!

It unleashed the explosive power of Mega Evolution, projected waves of energy, and freely guided them through the battlefield!

Terrified shouts rose from the Team Dim Sun grunts inside the dense smoke.

They saw that Mega-Evolved form, a shape completely different from any Pokémon they recognized.

"What's happening?"

"That form..."

"Which one of them is supposed to be the Gem Guardian?"

"Is that thing still Lucario?!"

"Extreme Speed!"

Neither Mega Lucario's form nor the resulting shock waves could be seen.

Its physical Attack had risen as high as 145.

The moment its fists struck, the Miniremos carried by the Team Dim Sun grunts shattered.

The grunts themselves were also sent flying by Mega Lucario's blows!

"Graaaargh!" Garchomp roared.

"Fros... Lass..." Froslass whispered.

"I almost forgot about you two!"

Deep crimson spirals still hovered above both Pokémon.

While under control, their condition resembled that of the rampaging Pokémon on the Crown Tundra.

Even with the Miniremos destroyed, the trauma of being controlled meant they would not immediately stop.

Instead, they would indiscriminately attack everyone nearby!

"To Pokémon, humans are creatures who possess the same hearts and souls, and even the origins of their languages are identical," Hikaru murmured. "Yet Pokémon can sometimes understand a situation perfectly, while at other times they become frenzied and hostile toward everyone."

"That is because they can't always determine the position or intentions of the humans before them."

"Differences in lifestyle, form of existence, reason, and instinct are what separate Pokémon from humans."

"Even among Pokémon, however, there are highly intelligent beings that attempt to control humans and other Pokémon."

"Could such Pokémon be considered a third kind of existence, separate from ordinary Pokémon and humans?"

"Malamar, for example."

While Hikaru murmured to himself, Metang and Gliscor had already prepared for battle!

The time had come!

"Use flight against the ground, and steel against ice and snow!"

The battlefield descended into violent chaos.

Pokémon and Team Dim Sun operatives were continuously sent flying, while the Rangers' partners fought their way through the rampaging army.

But defeating the Pokémon was not the objective!

Capturing them was the true mission!

Kate raised her torch, having fully entered her miniature-superhuman mode.

"Simply defeating them would be easy!"

Kellyn's Capture Disc traced a radiant path through the air.

He initiated a group capture and instantly secured one of the rampaging Houndour that Team Dim Sun had brought into the castle!

"But capturing them, calming them down, and allowing them to leave is what we're here to do!"

Froslass's Will-O-Wisp chased the Capture Disc through the air like artillery shells.

Ghostly flames also scattered across a wide area, threatening to engulf the other Pokémon.

That was when the Ninetales Kellyn had captured proved useful!

Ice stared in shock.

"Froslass's repeated Will-O-Wisp attacks didn't work?!"

"It's the Ability Flash Fire!" Kellyn said.

"Fire-type attacks and status moves become completely ineffective! Ninetales absorbs the flames, increasing the power of its own Fire-type moves!"

"Ninetales, use Sunny Day!"

Ninetales raised its head and howled, bringing out harsh sunlight!

"All right!" Kate cheered. "Fire-type moves are stronger, and none of the Pokémon can be frozen!"

"Even my torch is burning more intensely!"

Some of her companions were considerably less enthusiastic about the sunlight.

Scyther was a Bug type and weak to Fire.

Weezing might explode if surrounded by flames.

Weavile was an Ice type and naturally disliked heat.

Kate turned and saw all three staring at her strangely in the middle of the battle.

"Ahaha... Was I celebrating a little too much?"

"Weavile!"

"Scyther!"

"Weezing!"

Aside from Pachirisu and Vulpix, who seemed fairly delighted, her other three companions were unhappy.

Still, there was nothing she could do about it!

Besides, they had spent so long inside this dark castle, surrounded by snow throughout the year.

Occasionally stepping outside and battling beneath a bright, clear sky might not be so bad!

The Pokémon began thinking along those lines.

"Everyone here must rarely see sunlight," Kellyn said. "When you live inside and around a city covered by snow and darkness all year, witnessing a clear sky and brilliant light can't be easy!"

"I don't know what you're saying, but your expressions tell me everything."

"Take a good look at the sun you haven't seen for three thousand years!"

"Fire Poké Assist!"

Ninetales gathered tremendous flames in its mouth and swept away the icy haze overhead!

Blazing fire illuminated the Throne Room!

The ancient bracelet Hikaru had taken out began glowing, and its inscriptions shone with light!

"Gyro Ball!"

The move could be used for both offense and defense.

Many slow Steel-type Pokémon frequently used the centrifugal force and shock waves produced by Gyro Ball to block incoming attacks!

The move inflicted more damage the faster the target was compared with the user!

Metang possessed only 50 base Speed, while Froslass had an impressive 110!

Even by the relatively conservative statistical standards of Generation IV, that was astonishingly fast!

However, the price of such speed was mediocrity in its other five stats.

Despite its beautiful appearance, Froslass was not particularly powerful in serious battles.

It could serve as an effective trap against Garchomp and its quadruple weakness to Ice, but that was about it.

After the difference in Speed was calculated, Metang's same-type Gyro Ball possessed more than 80 base power while providing both offensive and defensive benefits!

Metang's spinning charge struck Froslass and sent it spiraling through the air!

"A blue spinning top charging forward. It's a true Blader!"

Aegislash and Archaludon could also use Gyro Ball.

However, Aegislash spun its enormous sword, making it resemble a giant windmill. Archaludon's Gyro Ball looked more like it was sliding horizontally, which appeared slightly strange.

By comparison, spinning came naturally to Metang.

The same would be true after it evolved into Metagross.

The greatest spinning tops were said to house powerful souls.

Skilled Bladers could use their tops to manipulate the weather, create fireballs and pillars of ice, or even tear apart dimensional space!

Across the entire world, adults and children alike were obsessed with competing using toys known as spinning tops!

"Metang!"

Metang thrust its enormous iron claw forward!

Grab!

What kind of move was Grab?

It wasn't a move.

It was a throwing technique!

When Metang discovered prey, it would seize the target tightly with its sharp claws. Then it would use tremendous psychic power to seal the prey's movements, leaving it nowhere to escape!

After securing the target, Metang would use an actual move.

That move was...

"Metal Claw!"

Metang slashed its opponent apart with claws of steel.

Sometimes the move would even increase its Attack!

At the same time, Gliscor confronted Garchomp!

Water-type Terastallization!

Brilliant Tera energy surrounded Gliscor's body.

When the crystalline shell erupted, a blue fountain-shaped jewel appeared above its head!

It was time to begin!

"Toxic!"

Gliscor spat a mouthful of poisonous liquid.

Garchomp raised its bladed arm to block, but as expected, it became badly poisoned!

Its body briefly froze.

When it saw Gliscor drawing closer, it immediately unleashed a blade-shaped shock wave!

The violent wind tore through Gliscor's body.

However, that body dissolved into bubbles and disappeared.

"Gliscor knows Ice Fang, so don't let it get close!" Ice ordered. "Fight from a distance with Stone Edge and Twister!"

"But what is that crystalline form?"

"Did it unlock that transformation after obtaining the Blue Gem?"

"I've never heard of the three colored gems possessing such an ability!"

Naturally, Ice could not understand the logic of Terastallization.

What happened next confused him even more!

As the ranged battle continued, Gliscor's vitality constantly recovered while Garchomp's steadily declined!

"Gliscor's Ability is Poison Heal," Hikaru explained. "Instead of losing vitality while poisoned, it gradually recovers!"

"Substitute, Protect, then Earthquake!"

Gliscor flew far away from Garchomp.

Although the continuous barrage of ranged attacks prevented it from approaching, a move that struck the entire battlefield did not require it to get close!

Its enormous pincer slammed into the floor!

A shock wave spread across the entire chamber.

Garchomp lost its balance as the damage from the worsening poison intensified!

Unsteady on its feet and rapidly losing strength, Garchomp saw the world spinning around it.

Then...

Freezing fangs suddenly clamped down on its shoulder!

"Ice Fang!"

Ice jerked his head upward.

He saw Hikaru swing his greatsword.

A flash of steel crossed the chamber!

How could this be happening?

He was an elite admin and the leader of a three-person unit.

Yet here, within this dark and snow-covered ancient castle...

He had been defeated by a human wielding a weapon!

The sword's edge swept across his body.

A human fighting with a cold weapon in modern society...

He needed to escape!

Escape!

Gallade had been defeated by the strangely shaped Lucario.

Froslass had been seized by an unidentified flying-disc monster and struck with a throwing technique.

As for Garchomp, the most powerful combatant Ice had counted on...

It had been defeated by a Gliscor!

Defeated with Ice Fang!

"The Swordsman from a Foreign Land?!"

Hikaru seemed like a character who had stepped straight out of an ancient storybook!

Ice collapsed with a thud.

Severely injured, he lost consciousness before he could escape the battlefield as the chaos gradually subsided.

Hikaru rested the greatsword against the floor.

"I'm not actually an ancient man."

"I'd like to claim that I struck you with the back of the blade, but this is a real greatsword, not a single-edged sword."

"So striking you with the flat probably worked better."

"Because the human body isn't sturdy enough, I deliberately avoided your vital points."

"You're lucky to be alive!"

Hikaru then turned toward the Legendary Lucario standing before the throne.

"Our trial is only truly complete now, isn't it?"

"It wasn't enough to obtain the Blue Gem. We also needed to prove that we could protect it. Otherwise, someone else would simply steal it from us."

That was what had happened to the Yellow Gem in the original story.

Losing something immediately after obtaining it would be an awful outcome.

The Legendary Lucario nodded.

["The prince's soul remains here as well."]

["Someone with your abilities will surely be capable of dispelling the darkness that will soon envelop Almia."]

"Draw the Emblem of Light and adorn the heavens," Hikaru said. "I may need your help in the future."

"I'll summon you through the Ranger Sign."

"There may come a place where the power of aura must be restored to the world. If that happens, I believe your power will be needed."

["If such a situation truly arises, then summon me."]

["Now the prince's soul is calling to you!"]

Brilliant blue light appeared at the far end of the chamber.

Beyond the Throne Room, within the Hall of Aura, it shone between the two Riolu statues.

The Blue Prince's soul appeared as a sphere of light.

This was not merely a lingering echo preserved within a pendant.

It was the true soul of the blue-haired prince!

In the game's story, the prince's soul appeared in this spherical form and transported heroes who had ventured into the depths of the three great ruins back to their entrances.

Aside from that, the three princes manifested during the final operation through the power of the gems and attempted to suppress the Shadow Crystal.

The Blue Prince spoke from within the sphere of light.

["Asking you to dispel the darkness covering Almia was the correct decision."]

["The man chosen by our father obtained technology from Galar, and the darkness within his heart can no longer be restrained."]

["War, hatred, sorrow, and pain. The wind from three thousand years ago continues to pass through these broken walls, creating an echo that will never fade."]

["Only a powerful soul can become kindling and allow flame and light to burn once more."]

["That is also why the castle gates could only be opened with torches."]

["Hunt the souls of kings."]

["We, our father, and everything he created were inevitably destined to decay and perish."]

["After three thousand years of devastation, nothing but desolation remains here in this cold and cruel world."]

Ashen Ones, warm one another before the flame fades.

Ranger Union Headquarters.

"The mission is complete! The team led by the Twelfth Top Ranger has obtained the Blue Gem, one of the objects known as the Tears of Princes!"

"At the same time, they captured the enemy admin Ice!"

"All twenty elite Team Dim Sun operatives have been arrested. More than eighty Pokémon under their control have been freed and are returning to their habitats!"

"They encountered the Legendary Lucario and successfully established contact with it!"

"They are now traveling toward Boyleland and Haruba Desert!"

"Operations to recover the Red Gem and Yellow Gem are beginning!"

Inside the Ranger Union's operations hall, the Operators rapidly confirmed the latest developments!

Wendy, the Flying Ranger, was responsible for maintaining contact with the various regions.

The other elite Rangers were all engaged in active operations. Some destroyed Miniremos, others calmed rampaging Pokémon, and still others ventured deep into ancient ruins.

Deeper and deeper!

"Contact with the Eleventh Top Ranger, Keith, remains severed."

"We've received a message from the Seventh Top Ranger, Mr. Sven!"

"They found it!"

"They discovered the ruins of the Shadow Crystal in the Chroma Highlands!"

"There are signs that large numbers of Pokémon were used for rapid excavation. We've also identified traces of technology we don't recognize. It may have come from technical support provided by the Galar region!"

"There's also a building..."

"Brighton!"

"Brighton's Diary!"

Professor Hastings and Chairperson Erma finally breathed sighs of relief.

"They finally found it!" Professor Hastings said. "They even found Brighton's Diary, just as Hikaru described!"

"Let me see. The situation is..."

"A secret passage outside the Shadow Crystal's ruins led to an extremely old and dilapidated building."

"Altru Oil!"

"It was one of Altru Inc.'s earliest offices!"

"The dates in the building's records indicate it was established seventy years ago."

"The diary is badly damaged. Parts of it are charred, and several sections have been burned away."

"Blake Hall did this!"

"Brighton was his father. The Shadow Crystal once bewitched his father and caused him to change his son's name. That concealed his son's true personality."

"It might sound like a fairy tale, but the resurrection of the King of Almia as a Dark Soul is already an undeniable fact."

"He once caused a tremendous disaster in Galar."

"The Burned Diary contains characters resembling the words dark and black..."

"Comparing the information now!"

Professor Hastings began recalling the legend Hikaru had described.

"Certain Month, Certain Day. The amount of oil remaining is only half of what we had last year. I'm deeply worried about Almia's future."

"However, some unfamiliar black crystals were excavated from the oil field today. They shine with a dark radiance, and I feel strangely drawn to their allure."

"Half a year later, I discovered the source of those crystals: the Shadow Crystal."

"However, a Pokémon resembling darkness incarnate guards the crystal. There is nothing I can do."

"For now, I can only collect small fragments of the Shadow Crystal and continue my research into dream energy."

"Today is also the thirteenth birthday of my only son, Wyatt Hall. Yet at a time like this, I have begun devoting myself entirely to researching the Shadow Crystal."

"One year later, despite my wife's objections, I changed my son's name to Blake Hall on his fourteenth birthday."

"I performed the renaming ceremony beside the Shadow Crystal!"

"Shadow Crystal, please grant my only son, Blake Hall, who carries the fate of Altru Inc. upon his shoulders, incomparable power!"

"Approximately two years later, I made a terrible mistake."

"My son, Blake Hall, has fallen into unfathomable darkness."

"He is young and talented and will undoubtedly inherit the position of president."

"The power of that black crystal seems to have corrupted his heart. His ambition grows stronger by the day."

"But even if it costs me these old bones, I will save you!"

"After that, the diary describes the secret of the red, blue, and yellow gems, as well as the legends of Almia!"

"Only by combining the power of all three Tears of Princes can the power of the Shadow Crystal be neutralized."

"A fragment from only one gem can weaken the black crystal's power by merely one-third."

"President Blake Hall must be in his thirties or forties now," Chairperson Erma said. "If the Shadow Crystal has been influencing him ever since he was fourteen..."

"And even before Altru Inc... No, before President Brighton Hall, there was another man who truly founded the company, wasn't there?"

"Yes," Professor Hastings replied. "His portrait is displayed in the exhibition hall on the first floor of the Altru Building."

"Doyle M. Hall."

"His original name was Dream."

"A dream."

"Altru Inc."

"Altru. Altruism, selflessness."

"Alternative, a substitute."

"Alter ego, another self."

"When each of those connected source words is transcribed into Unown script and then read aloud according to its pronunciation..."

(Ángel)

The romanization of one character differed from its pronunciation in the pure Galarian language, which also produced a difference in how it was written.

Fundamentally, however, they were the same thing.

The correct rendering was...

"The tower built by Altru Inc. is called Altru Tower."

"Altru and Tower. According to the translation of the Unown script presented at the previous meeting, the pronunciation should be..."

"Angel."

"Ángel!"

(End of Chapter)

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